STEVE COLTON FROM BELFAST JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN BELFAST AND HOLYWOOD

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community, Steven Vincent Colton, a 53-year-old teacher from Belfast, was sentenced to two years in prison after being found guilty of possessing an alarming collection of nearly 70,000 child abuse images. The incident unfolded at his residence in Ballygoskin Road, Crossgar, following a police raid that uncovered a horrifying cache of illegal material.

Colton, who was employed as a history and politics teacher at Sullivan Upper School in Holywood, was arrested on January 8 of the previous year. The police investigation was initiated after authorities identified suspicious activity linked to his online payment details, which had been used on websites hosting child pornography. During the raid, law enforcement officials seized multiple electronic devices, including a laptop, several CD-ROMs, and a USB memory stick, all of which contained a vast amount of illicit content.

The police investigation revealed a staggering 67,428 still images and 180 hours of video footage depicting children as young as six being abused. The footage and images were downloaded and stored on Colton’s devices, highlighting the severity of his involvement. The Crown’s barrister, David McDowell, detailed the findings during the court proceedings, emphasizing the disturbing nature of the material and Colton’s role in possessing and viewing such content.

At Craigavon Crown Court on March 20, Colton pleaded guilty to 30 charges related to making indecent images of children. His defense lawyer, Barry McGrory QC, acknowledged the gravity of Colton’s actions, stating that his client accepted the seriousness of his conduct and recognized the consequences. McGrory also highlighted that, prior to his arrest, Colton had maintained an exemplary record as a teacher and was regarded as an inspiring educator at Sullivan Upper School.

His Honour Judge Markey, presiding over the case, delivered a stern judgment, describing Colton’s conduct as “virtually unspeakable.” The judge pointed out that Colton’s interest in such material provided a disturbing audience for those involved in abusing children, and he condemned the double layer of abuse inflicted upon the victims—first by the perpetrators recording the abuse, and second by individuals like Colton who viewed and stored the images. Judge Markey sentenced Colton to two years in prison and imposed a three-year probation period upon his release, emphasizing the need for ongoing supervision and intervention to prevent further harm.