STEPHEN LITTLE FROM BILLINGHAM AND HARTLEPOOL JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENCES

In October 2008, a disturbing case emerged involving Stephen Little, a former college lecturer from Hartlepool, who was sentenced to prison for serious child pornography offences. Little, who had been employed at the Hartlepool College of Further Education, was found to have engaged in the illegal downloading and trading of indecent images of children, leading to his arrest and subsequent conviction.

Police conducted a search of Little’s residence on Pendle Crescent in Billingham on September 17 of the previous year. During this operation, officers seized three computers from his home. An examination of these devices revealed a troubling collection of digital material, including a total of 790 images. Prosecutor Shaun Dodds explained that most of these images fell into the least serious category under the law, but more than 40 were classified as being of a more serious nature, indicating a disturbing level of content.

Further evidence presented in Teesside Crown Court included an electronic greeting card sent by Little, which explicitly offered to trade images and videos of children. This demonstrated an active intent to distribute and exchange such material. Additionally, investigators discovered that Little had used another computer, which was taken from his workplace, to search for similar images. However, no illicit content was found on that device.

During police interviews, Little admitted to downloading the images, accessing related websites, and inviting others to view and trade the material. He claimed that he had been viewing such images for “one or two years,” describing some as erotic while others he found disgusting. Importantly, he denied any sexual interest in children. Little, who was 52 years old at the time, acknowledged 16 charges of making indecent photographs of children, one charge of possessing such images, and one charge of distributing them. There was no evidence suggesting actual physical abuse or direct distribution beyond the digital sharing.

His defense lawyer, Peter Wishlade, stated that Little was “thoroughly ashamed” of his actions and assured the court that such behavior would not be repeated. The lawyer also highlighted Little’s prior good character, noting his service in the armed forces and an otherwise exemplary employment record before these crimes came to light. Unfortunately, Little was dismissed from his job following his arrest.

It was revealed that Little’s illicit activities were inadvertently triggered during a period when both his wife and adult daughter were seriously ill. During this difficult time, he accessed a website that contained the illegal images and proceeded to download them, an act that he later admitted to investigators.

Judge Recorder Paul Watson QC addressed Little directly, stating, “You are a man whose life lies in ruins.” The judge emphasized that the possession and viewing of such images contribute directly to the perpetuation of child abuse and increase demand for these “disgusting” and “repugnant” pictures. He condemned Little for continuing to derive pleasure from such material despite knowing it was wrong, describing the trade as “horrible.”

While acknowledging the tragic family circumstances that may have influenced Little’s actions, the judge expressed sympathy but underscored the need for justice. He remarked that Little’s family, once close-knit, was now under severe strain. Ultimately, the court sentenced Little to four months in prison and imposed an indefinite sexual offences prevention order. Additionally, Little was ordered to register as a sex offender for the next seven years, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes.