THOMAS STEPHENSON FROM WADE SENTENCED FOR CHILD GROOMING IN NEWCASTLE AND KENTON

In August 2017, Thomas Stephenson, a resident of Wade, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison after being convicted of grooming a 13-year-old girl online. The case drew significant attention due to the disturbing nature of his actions and the subsequent treatment he received while incarcerated.

Stephenson, aged 38, was found guilty on five counts of engaging in sexual activities with a minor. His criminal activities took place in the context of his online interactions, where he used gifts and flirtatious messages to manipulate the young girl. Despite warnings from authorities and others to cease contact, Stephenson persisted in his attempts to groom the child.

To conceal his intentions, he went as far as creating a Facebook profile under a false name, aiming to give the impression that the girl had a boyfriend. This was an effort to divert suspicion and avoid detection. His actions not only led to his imprisonment but also resulted in him being required to register as a sex offender for life. Additionally, he was subjected to a sexual harm prevention order that will remain in effect for ten years.

While serving his sentence at Northumberland prison, Stephenson expressed dissatisfaction with the treatment he received, specifically regarding his diet. He complained to the prisoner magazine Inside Time that his lactose-free milk had been taken away. He claimed that prison authorities at Northumberland had decided to stop providing him with lactose-free milk after he ordered a meal that was not lactose-free, despite the fact that the prison menu does not specify which foods are lactose-free. Stephenson lamented, “I have been on a lactose-free diet and the kitchens decided to take me off it. They say it was because I ordered something from the menu that was not lactose-free. But it does not tell us on the menu what food is lactose-free and what isn’t. My soya milk was stopped (lactose-free) so I could not even have breakfast cereal.”

In a related incident, another inmate at HMP Littlehey in Cambridgeshire also voiced grievances about prison provisions. This prisoner, identified as Simpson, wrote to Inside Time criticizing the reduction in milk portions. He pointed out that the official Catering Manual states that a standard serving of semi-skimmed milk should be 200ml, yet since April, the portions have been cut to 189ml. Simpson sarcastically remarked that this decision was likely made to save money, reducing prisoner rations by 5.5 percent, and questioned the morality of such cuts, suggesting that deliberately lowering rations below dietary standards could be considered a war crime if done by an enemy.

Thomas Stephenson from Wade was 30 years old when he initiated his grooming campaign against the young girl. His actions, which included the use of gifts and flirtatious messaging, were part of a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior. Despite warnings and attempts to distance himself, he continued his pursuit, ultimately leading to his arrest and conviction. His case highlights the ongoing issues surrounding online grooming and the importance of vigilance in protecting minors from exploitation.