STEPHEN KESTERTON FROM MILLOM ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES
| Red Rose Database
Millom Child Sexual Abuser
In September 2005, a man from Millom named Stephen Robert Kesterton, aged 49, faced serious allegations related to the possession and download of indecent images of children. Despite the gravity of the charges, Kesterton was not sentenced to prison but was instead placed on the Sex Offenders Register for a period of five years.
The case was heard at Furness Magistrates’ Court, where prosecutor Mr. John Appleby outlined the disturbing details of the evidence against Kesterton. He explained that the images found on Kesterton’s computer depicted children believed to be between the ages of nine and 16. The images were categorized according to a severity scale from one to five, with five representing the most graphic and disturbing content. Kesterton’s collection included one level five image, three level four images, two level three images, three level two images, and four level one images.
According to Mr. Appleby, police acted on intelligence provided by the National Crime Squad, which indicated that Kesterton’s online account details had been used on various internet sites associated with child abuse material. A police raid was conducted at Kesterton’s residence, and during the search, evidence was uncovered showing that indecent images of children had been downloaded onto his home computer. Kesterton admitted to police that he had come across some of these images while downloading music, and others had been sent to him via email. He claimed to have deleted the images immediately after discovering them.
During the court proceedings, Michael Graham, representing Kesterton, emphasized his client’s previously good character and cooperation with law enforcement authorities. He requested that the magistrates consider the recommendations outlined in the pre-sentence report, which likely included measures other than imprisonment.
When it came to sentencing, magistrate Josie Garnett acknowledged Kesterton’s guilty plea and the fact that he did not keep a large library of images, did not profit commercially from his actions, and possessed only a small number of images. Based on these factors, she decided against a custodial sentence. Instead, Kesterton was sentenced to a two-year Community Punishment Order and was ordered to pay costs amounting to £55.
This case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat the distribution and possession of child abuse images, and the judicial system’s approach to sentencing offenders based on individual circumstances and the nature of their offenses.
The case was heard at Furness Magistrates’ Court, where prosecutor Mr. John Appleby outlined the disturbing details of the evidence against Kesterton. He explained that the images found on Kesterton’s computer depicted children believed to be between the ages of nine and 16. The images were categorized according to a severity scale from one to five, with five representing the most graphic and disturbing content. Kesterton’s collection included one level five image, three level four images, two level three images, three level two images, and four level one images.
According to Mr. Appleby, police acted on intelligence provided by the National Crime Squad, which indicated that Kesterton’s online account details had been used on various internet sites associated with child abuse material. A police raid was conducted at Kesterton’s residence, and during the search, evidence was uncovered showing that indecent images of children had been downloaded onto his home computer. Kesterton admitted to police that he had come across some of these images while downloading music, and others had been sent to him via email. He claimed to have deleted the images immediately after discovering them.
During the court proceedings, Michael Graham, representing Kesterton, emphasized his client’s previously good character and cooperation with law enforcement authorities. He requested that the magistrates consider the recommendations outlined in the pre-sentence report, which likely included measures other than imprisonment.
When it came to sentencing, magistrate Josie Garnett acknowledged Kesterton’s guilty plea and the fact that he did not keep a large library of images, did not profit commercially from his actions, and possessed only a small number of images. Based on these factors, she decided against a custodial sentence. Instead, Kesterton was sentenced to a two-year Community Punishment Order and was ordered to pay costs amounting to £55.
This case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat the distribution and possession of child abuse images, and the judicial system’s approach to sentencing offenders based on individual circumstances and the nature of their offenses.