STEPHEN WADDINGHAM FROM CRAWLEY BACK ONLINE TRYING TO PERV ON DAUGHTER AFTER SUSPENDED SENTENCE
In February 2021, Stephen Waddingham, a resident of Enfield Road in Crawley, found himself at the center of a disturbing incident that underscored the ongoing threat posed by individuals with a history of child exploitation.Waddingham had previously been convicted for possessing vile images of child sex abuse, a crime that led to his appearance before Lewes Crown Court.
During that hearing, he admitted to possessing these heinous images, which included the most depraved forms of sexual abuse categorized as Category A.
As part of his sentence, he was given a suspended prison term and was placed under a strict Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
This order was specifically designed to restrict his access to children and to prevent him from using any computer devices capable of searching, storing, or deleting images or videos related to child abuse.
Despite these measures, Waddingham demonstrated a blatant disregard for the court's directives.
Just weeks after narrowly avoiding imprisonment, he was found to have gone back online, engaging in further disturbing behavior.
The incident came to light when Waddingham approached a man who had shared a photograph of his wife and daughter.
Waddingham inquired about their ages, and upon being told they were 32 and 14 respectively, he made a chilling remark, asking, “Do they know you perv over them?” He also questioned whether the man's daughter had seen the man naked, revealing his continued obsession and perverted interests.
The police investigation revealed that Waddingham had been warned about the consequences of breaching his SHPO just three weeks prior.
During that visit, a police officer explained the restrictions imposed on him, yet Waddingham's actions suggested he had little regard for these legal boundaries.
When asked if the photograph of the man's family was his wife and daughter, Waddingham responded affirmatively and then made a disturbing comment, saying, “Nice, you are lucky to perv over them.” Waddingham's behavior culminated in his arrest and subsequent sentencing.
Her Honour Judge Janet Waddicor sentenced him to two years and two months in prison for breaching his suspended sentence and violating the terms of the Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
The judge expressed her disappointment, stating, “You came within a whisker of going to prison, but how seriously did you take it?
The answer is not at all.” Prosecutor Rowan Jenkinson provided context, revealing that Waddingham's initial conviction in October 2020 involved the possession of prohibited images of children, including those depicting the most severe forms of abuse.
The court heard that Waddingham's actions after the warning demonstrated a blatant disregard for the law and the safety of children.
Judge Waddicor emphasized that Waddingham's claims of ignorance about breaching the order were unacceptable, describing his excuses as “pathetic.” She underscored that Waddingham was well aware of how close he had come to immediate imprisonment and should have known better than to indulge in any further offending, especially given his perverted interests.
