SHOCKING CRIME BY STEVE BLACKTHORNE IN WINCHESTER: GRAPHIC CHILD IMAGES ON TRAINS LEAVE VICTIMS TRAUMATIZED

A disturbing case involving Steve Blackthorne, a 38-year-old resident of Winchester, has come to light after he was found guilty of producing and distributing highly indecent images of children. The incident has left many victims and witnesses deeply traumatized by the graphic content he circulated.

Blackthorne was sentenced to two years in prison, but this sentence was suspended for two years, meaning he will only serve time if he commits another offense within that period. Additionally, he has been ordered to register as a sex offender for the next ten years and is subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order also lasting ten years. These measures are intended to monitor and restrict his activities to prevent further harm.

Detective Constable Phil James, who led the investigation, described the severity of Blackthorne’s actions, stating, “Such was the level of Blackthorne’s depravity that the images he had collated left those who inadvertently happened upon them deeply traumatised.”

The case was brought to court after a train guard in Winchester reported a disturbing incident that occurred on January 23, 2022. A passenger handed the guard six pages of A4 sheets containing horrific indecent images of children. The images included 16 Category A pictures, which are classified as the most severe, along with five Category B and 16 Category C images. The passenger had disembarked at Basingstoke, leaving the material behind.

The train guard was visibly distressed by the content, reportedly left in tears after viewing the pages, and promptly reported the incident to British Transport Police officers at Southampton Central railway station. The investigation deepened when, on January 31, 2022, a cleaner at Winchester discovered another batch of similar images while pulling down a folding table. The cleaner and his manager were both horrified and upset by the discovery, which prompted further police involvement.

This second batch also contained 16 Category A, five Category B, and 16 Category C images of children. CCTV footage later confirmed that Blackthorne had left the printouts on the train. His arrest was made on March 14 at Basingstoke railway station.

During the police investigation, officers found that Blackthorne’s mobile phone stored 60 Category A, 27 Category B, and 81 Category C images. Further disturbing images were uncovered on a laptop he was carrying, and an additional portable computer found at his residence contained even more sickening content.

Blackthorne admitted during police interviews that he had printed the images at his workplace using a work device. Detective Constable James emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “No one in their right mind would ever willingly choose to see these sickening images. Blackthorne showed no shame in his perversion, even transferring the images to a work computer so he could print them out at work and view them at his leisure.”