GLOSSOP MAN STEVEN ROWLAND JAILED FOR CHILD INDECENT IMAGES AND EXTREME PORNOGRAPHY

In a case that has shocked the community of Glossop, Steven Rowland, a 48-year-old resident of the town, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after being found guilty of possessing a vast collection of illegal and highly disturbing material involving children and extreme pornography. The conviction follows a police search of his home on St Mary’s Road, where authorities uncovered a staggering total of 2,954 illicit images and videos, including 837 classified as the most severe category of such material.

These disturbing files included content depicting girls as young as two years old, with some images dating back to July 2011. The police investigation revealed that Rowland had downloaded and distributed these images through online platforms, specifically using the Yahoo Messenger instant messaging service. Prosecutor Sarah Slater detailed that the defendant initially accessed material involving adult women but gradually transitioned to images of children, some of which had been saved just before the police arrived at his residence.

During the police search on November 13, officers encountered Rowland, who reportedly asked for ten minutes to 'get rid of some stuff' before complying with their instructions. The authorities found on his hard drive a total of 2,231 indecent images and 655 films, with additional material stored on his laptop, including 64 images and four films featuring girls aged between two and 16 years old. The illegal content was collected over a period extending from July 2011 onwards.

Further investigations revealed that Rowland had shared some of these images online via Yahoo Messenger, sourcing them from chatrooms and various pornographic websites. The case was brought before Derby Crown Court, where the judge heard the full extent of Rowland’s activities and the disturbing nature of the material involved.

In his defense, Richard Dewsbury argued that Rowland initially panicked when police arrived but then cooperated fully, leading officers to the relevant drives on his computer and making honest admissions. Dewsbury explained that Rowland’s personal circumstances had contributed to his actions: following a breakup with a long-term partner, he was reportedly struggling with depression, excessive drinking, and mounting debt. The lawyer described how Rowland, who had previously maintained a good character, had become increasingly isolated, spending much of his time alone at home and engaging in online activities that spiraled out of control.

According to Dewsbury, Rowland had started collecting and exchanging illegal images with others, describing his behavior as a sort of 'game' to cope with his personal issues, especially after he could no longer afford online gambling. The lawyer emphasized that Rowland’s distribution of images was on a small, ad hoc scale, with no financial transactions involved, and that he was not involved in the production or solicitation of such material.

Despite acknowledging Rowland’s remorse and previous good character, Recorder Michael Elsom stated that he could not suspend the prison sentence. The court also ordered Rowland to pay a statutory surcharge of £100 and imposed a ten-year sexual offences prevention order to restrict his future conduct and protect the community from potential harm.