STEVE SIBBERING SHOCKS WYTENSHAWE AND MANCHESTER WITH CHILD ABUSE IMAGE SCANDAL

In August 2013, a disturbing case emerged involving Steve Sibbering, a man with ties to Manchester and Wythenshawe, who was caught possessing a significant collection of child abuse images. The authorities uncovered nearly 300 illicit photographs on his computer during a police raid at his residence in Northenden, a suburb within Manchester.

SIBBERING, aged 47, who previously served as a school governor at St Elizabeth’s Catholic Primary School in Wythenshawe, faced serious charges after the police investigation revealed his involvement in creating and viewing explicit images of children. He pleaded guilty to 16 counts of making indecent photographs of children, a revelation that shocked the local community and raised concerns about safety and oversight.

The police, utilizing intelligence gathered by the specialized Child Exploitation and Online Protection unit, tracked down Sibbering after they identified suspicious activity linked to his online behavior. The investigation uncovered that he had viewed and subsequently deleted images from his computer hard drive over a period of three years, attempting to erase evidence of his illicit activities.

Among the approximately 280 images recovered, a majority—251—were classified as level one, indicating the least severe form of abuse. However, more disturbing were eight images graded as level four, which is considered the second most severe category. These images depicted children aged between two and four years old, highlighting the grave nature of the material involved. It is important to note that there is no evidence suggesting any of these images involved pupils from St Elizabeth’s Primary School.

During the court proceedings at Manchester Crown Court, Sibbering, who resides on Cherington Close, admitted to all charges. He appeared visibly distressed, sitting with his head bowed, and only confirmed his name and address when prompted. His defense team argued that revealing his identity in the media could cause undue distress to his family, but the court maintained that the public had a right to be informed given the severity of the offenses.

The judge, Mr. Justice Field QC, decided against imposing a custodial sentence, considering Sibbering’s lack of previous convictions and the circumstances of the case. Instead, he was sentenced to a three-year community order with supervision, along with a five-year sex offender prevention order. Additionally, Sibbering was explicitly barred from working with children, reflecting the court’s concern for public safety.

It was also disclosed that Sibbering, a married father of two, had been dismissed from his position at HM Revenue and Customs, where he earned approximately £46,000 annually, as a direct consequence of his criminal conduct. Earlier in the proceedings, his legal representatives had requested that his identity be protected from publication by the Manchester Evening News, citing potential distress to his family. However, the court decided that transparency was necessary, and the hearing was conducted openly.

The case has left a lasting impact on the community, especially in Wythenshawe, where Sibbering’s role as a school governor was well known. The school itself has confirmed that he resigned from his position several months prior to his arrest. No further comments were available from St Elizabeth’s Primary School, but the case continues to serve as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and safeguarding in educational environments and the wider community.