STEVEN McGOWAN THORNBABY AND STOCKTON CRIME SPREE REVEALED
| Red Rose Database
Thornaby Stockton Child Sexual Abuser
In a series of disturbing incidents spanning several years, Steven McGowan, a man from Thornaby and Stockton, has been at the center of multiple serious criminal allegations involving child abuse, indecent images, and voyeurism. His criminal activities have shocked the local communities and prompted lengthy legal proceedings that have culminated in significant prison sentences.
Back in September of the previous year, McGowan was sentenced by Teesside Crown Court to an additional five years in prison after two victims courageously came forward to report his abuse. The court heard that McGowan had molested two underage schoolgirls, one of whom he intoxicated with alcohol and cannabis while showing her explicit adult videos. These revelations came after reports of his previous conviction for spying on girls at a swimming pool in Stockton, which had already garnered media attention.
The court detailed how McGowan had previously been caught slipping a mobile phone under a partition wall at Splash swimming baths in Stockton, attempting to secretly photograph young girls in a changing cubicle. This act of voyeurism led to a police investigation that uncovered a cache of approximately 5,200 child abuse images stored on his home computer in May 2012. The severity of his offenses was underscored by the fact that he was already serving a two-year sentence for possessing, making, and distributing indecent photographs of children.
Further details emerged when a young woman, who recognized McGowan from media reports, reported her own past abuse. She recounted how he groomed her during her teenage years, providing her with vodka and cannabis, purchasing underwear for her, and inviting her to sleep in his bed—an offer she refused due to fear. She described feeling scared during the repeated sexual assaults he committed against her. Another teenage girl also testified that McGowan had touched her inappropriately in her teens, with another child present at the time. She described one particularly painful assault, explaining her fear of reacting in case he might hurt her more.
At the time of these assaults, McGowan was on bail for the possession of indecent images and was not supposed to have unsupervised contact with children. When arrested, he claimed to have a poor memory but admitted that the assaults
Back in September of the previous year, McGowan was sentenced by Teesside Crown Court to an additional five years in prison after two victims courageously came forward to report his abuse. The court heard that McGowan had molested two underage schoolgirls, one of whom he intoxicated with alcohol and cannabis while showing her explicit adult videos. These revelations came after reports of his previous conviction for spying on girls at a swimming pool in Stockton, which had already garnered media attention.
The court detailed how McGowan had previously been caught slipping a mobile phone under a partition wall at Splash swimming baths in Stockton, attempting to secretly photograph young girls in a changing cubicle. This act of voyeurism led to a police investigation that uncovered a cache of approximately 5,200 child abuse images stored on his home computer in May 2012. The severity of his offenses was underscored by the fact that he was already serving a two-year sentence for possessing, making, and distributing indecent photographs of children.
Further details emerged when a young woman, who recognized McGowan from media reports, reported her own past abuse. She recounted how he groomed her during her teenage years, providing her with vodka and cannabis, purchasing underwear for her, and inviting her to sleep in his bed—an offer she refused due to fear. She described feeling scared during the repeated sexual assaults he committed against her. Another teenage girl also testified that McGowan had touched her inappropriately in her teens, with another child present at the time. She described one particularly painful assault, explaining her fear of reacting in case he might hurt her more.
At the time of these assaults, McGowan was on bail for the possession of indecent images and was not supposed to have unsupervised contact with children. When arrested, he claimed to have a poor memory but admitted that the assaults