STEPHEN HANSON FROM BOOTLE AND ORMSKIRK JAILED FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGES

In a disturbing case that highlights ongoing concerns about child exploitation, Stephen Hanson, a man with ties to Bootle and Ormskirk, has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison after being found guilty of possessing and distributing a large collection of indecent images of children. The case came to light following a police search of Hanson’s residence in Aughton, where authorities uncovered a staggering 2,645 illicit images stored on his computer equipment.

Hanson, aged 27 and residing on Claremont Drive, initially claimed that his involvement in a probation-run sex offenders’ programme had helped him distance himself from previous offending behaviors. However, during police interviews, he admitted that his interest in child abuse images had been rekindled during group therapy sessions with other offenders, raising serious concerns about the effectiveness of such rehabilitation methods.

He pleaded guilty to a total of 40 charges related to the creation of indecent images of children, along with one charge of possession and another of distribution. The prosecution, led by David Pickup, presented evidence that linked Hanson to a broader investigation involving international paedophile rings. This investigation was initially initiated by authorities in North Yorkshire, who were examining the activities of a suspected online paedophile network. The inquiry ultimately led to Hanson’s arrest and subsequent charges.

During the sentencing hearing at Preston Crown Court, Hanson’s legal representative, Andrew Alty, highlighted that Hanson had previously received a community rehabilitation order in 2000 for similar offences. Alty explained that Hanson had undergone counseling alongside convicted rapists, but he acknowledged that the rehabilitation programme had failed to prevent his reoffending. The judge, Jonathan Foster QC, emphasized the seriousness of Hanson’s crimes and ordered that he be placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely. Additionally, Hanson was banned from working with children for an indefinite period, reflecting the court’s concern for public safety.

Beyond his criminal activities, Hanson established a decorating business called Harmony Decorating Ltd in 2010. This move is seen as an example of how individuals with a history of offending sometimes create their own companies to bypass background checks such as CRB and DBS, which are designed to protect vulnerable members of society. The case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in monitoring and preventing individuals with a history of child exploitation from re-entering the workforce in roles that could put children at risk.