KENDAL SEX OFFENDER STEVEN AIREY SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND SEXUAL OFFENSES
| Red Rose Database
Kendal Child Sexual Abuser
In July 2018, a man from Kendal, Steven Airey, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison after being convicted of multiple serious sexual offenses and possessing a large collection of indecent images of children. The case highlighted the disturbing nature of Airey's crimes and the ongoing threat posed by individuals classified as dangerous offenders.
According to court reports, Airey, aged 50, initially engaged in grooming behavior towards a 14-year-old girl. He used tactics such as offering cigarettes, alcohol, and expensive gifts to manipulate and gain the trust of his young victim. The teenage girl later revealed the profound emotional distress she endured as a result of Airey's past sexual offenses. In her impact statement, she expressed that she had tried to suppress the trauma, stating, "I buried the issue deep in my mind to avoid having to think about it, but it has always been there."
The court proceedings also uncovered that Airey was a dedicated collector of highly disturbing indecent images depicting very young children. These illicit images were stored on a mobile phone that Airey refused to unlock by providing the passcode. However, law enforcement officials were eventually able to access the device, revealing a staggering collection of over 1,600 illegal images. Among these, 564 were classified as Category A, indicating the most severe level of indecency and criminality.
During the trial, Airey admitted to two counts of indecent assault, as well as charges related to indecency and engaging in sexual activity with a minor. He also confessed to the creation and distribution of child pornography images. The court heard that Airey’s actions were not isolated incidents but part of a pattern of criminal behavior.
Judge James Adkin, presiding over the case at Carlisle Crown Court, sentenced Airey to four and a half years in prison. Additionally, the judge imposed an extended three-year license period, requiring Airey to remain under supervision after his release. As part of the sentence, Airey is mandated to register as a sex offender and adhere to a lifelong sexual harm prevention order. Judge Adkin explicitly stated, "I am satisfied you are a dangerous offender," emphasizing the severity of Airey’s conduct and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.
Prior to this conviction, in December 2017, Airey had already admitted to downloading and possessing over 1,600 indecent images of children. During a court hearing via video link from HMP Preston, he pleaded guilty to six charges, including making 564 Category A images, 284 Category B images, and 762 Category C images, all between February and August of that year. He also admitted to distributing some of these images during the same period. The prosecutor described the case as "a very bad case of its type," highlighting the particularly distasteful nature of the images and the fact that Airey was involved in their distribution.
Judge Hughes, who presided over the case, ordered a background report to be prepared by the probation service before sentencing. Airey was remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear again at the crown court on January 23. The case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat the proliferation of child exploitation material and the importance of stringent sentencing for offenders involved in such heinous crimes.
According to court reports, Airey, aged 50, initially engaged in grooming behavior towards a 14-year-old girl. He used tactics such as offering cigarettes, alcohol, and expensive gifts to manipulate and gain the trust of his young victim. The teenage girl later revealed the profound emotional distress she endured as a result of Airey's past sexual offenses. In her impact statement, she expressed that she had tried to suppress the trauma, stating, "I buried the issue deep in my mind to avoid having to think about it, but it has always been there."
The court proceedings also uncovered that Airey was a dedicated collector of highly disturbing indecent images depicting very young children. These illicit images were stored on a mobile phone that Airey refused to unlock by providing the passcode. However, law enforcement officials were eventually able to access the device, revealing a staggering collection of over 1,600 illegal images. Among these, 564 were classified as Category A, indicating the most severe level of indecency and criminality.
During the trial, Airey admitted to two counts of indecent assault, as well as charges related to indecency and engaging in sexual activity with a minor. He also confessed to the creation and distribution of child pornography images. The court heard that Airey’s actions were not isolated incidents but part of a pattern of criminal behavior.
Judge James Adkin, presiding over the case at Carlisle Crown Court, sentenced Airey to four and a half years in prison. Additionally, the judge imposed an extended three-year license period, requiring Airey to remain under supervision after his release. As part of the sentence, Airey is mandated to register as a sex offender and adhere to a lifelong sexual harm prevention order. Judge Adkin explicitly stated, "I am satisfied you are a dangerous offender," emphasizing the severity of Airey’s conduct and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.
Prior to this conviction, in December 2017, Airey had already admitted to downloading and possessing over 1,600 indecent images of children. During a court hearing via video link from HMP Preston, he pleaded guilty to six charges, including making 564 Category A images, 284 Category B images, and 762 Category C images, all between February and August of that year. He also admitted to distributing some of these images during the same period. The prosecutor described the case as "a very bad case of its type," highlighting the particularly distasteful nature of the images and the fact that Airey was involved in their distribution.
Judge Hughes, who presided over the case, ordered a background report to be prepared by the probation service before sentencing. Airey was remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear again at the crown court on January 23. The case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat the proliferation of child exploitation material and the importance of stringent sentencing for offenders involved in such heinous crimes.