STEPHEN WOOD CREWE AND LYMMS SHOCKING CHILD PORN CASE

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Crewe and Lymm, Stephen Wood, a 37-year-old teacher, has been implicated in a serious child pornography scandal that has tarnished his reputation and raised urgent concerns about safeguarding in schools.

It was revealed that Wood, who had been employed as a media and business studies teacher at Lymm High School since 1998, resigned from his position following the discovery of highly disturbing material stored on his school-issued laptop and personal computers. Authorities uncovered images depicting children engaged in sexual activities, some involving other children and adults, which are considered among the most disturbing types of child abuse imagery.

The investigation also uncovered sexually explicit conversations from online chat rooms, where Wood used the pseudonym 'teacher man.' During these chats, he engaged with young girls, including one who called herself 'fertile schoolgirl in ribbons' and another seeking a 'daddy.' Prosecutors described the conversations as involving scenarios where Wood fantasized about forcibly sexually abusing a schoolgirl and expressed sexual fantasies about girls in school uniforms.

On the day of his arrest in September, Wood’s partner reported his online activities to the police, prompting a thorough investigation. Authorities found that on his school laptop and personal software, there were nearly 250 search terms, including phrases like 'real kiddie porn,' which the prosecution described as titles indicative of child abuse. The evidence also included some of the most disturbing images available, which further underscored the severity of the case.

During the court proceedings at Macclesfield Magistrates’ Court, District Judge Bridget Knight addressed the gravity of the offense, stating, “This is the sort of thing that turns the stomach of right-thinking people. There were images of children, naked children in activity with other children and adults.”

Wood faced multiple charges, including 11 counts of possession and downloading child pornography. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for a period of time. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for the next seven years. The court heard that despite having children of his own, Wood’s actions demonstrated a grave breach of trust and morality.

His defense attorney, Andy Meachin, emphasized that this was Wood’s first conviction and acknowledged his remorse, stating, “To put it candidly, his life is ruined. He has thrown away a career, and his relationship has fallen apart.” The impact of these events extends beyond his personal life, affecting his ability to see his family and maintain his previous standing in the community.

Despite the negative aspects of his case, Judge Knight acknowledged the positive character references from Wood’s employer, noting that he was considered an excellent teacher. However, she made it clear that his professional reputation was irreparably damaged, and he could not return to his teaching career.

In response to the case, Norma Cadwallader, interim strategic director for children’s services at Warrington Borough Council, assured the public that the authorities had procedures in place to handle such situations swiftly. She confirmed that Wood was suspended in September 2005 following the allegations and resigned in January 2006 after an internal investigation. The case has since been referred to the Department for Education and Skills misconduct team.

To further protect the community, Wood has been ordered to participate in a three-year probation program for sex offenders. Judge Knight expressed her concern about the nature of such programs, stating, “I can’t think of any worse sentence than being sent to be with other sex offenders and hear them justify their offences.” Any violation of his probation could result in imprisonment.

This case marks the second major incident involving Lymm High School, following the suspension of Dr. James Hodkinson in 2003, who was found to have sent obscene text and voice messages to a 16-year-old pupil, highlighting ongoing concerns about safeguarding within the school community.