Latest news with #PrideinSurrey
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Yahoo
Pride group founder raped boy, 12, he met on Grindr
The co-founder of a Surrey LGBTQ+ group has been found guilty of raping a 12-year-old boy he met on Grindr. Stephen Ireland, 41, was convicted of raping the child in the Addlestone flat he shared with David Sutton, 27, on 19 April 2024. Ireland, who co-founded Pride in Surrey in 2018, was also found guilty of three counts of causing a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity, one count of sexual assault of a child under 13 and six counts of making indecent images of children. Sutton, who also volunteered with the organisation, was found guilty of three counts of making indecent photographs of children and one count of possession of an extreme pornographic image. The trial at Guildford Crown Court heard how the boy had met Ireland at his flat after messaging on the dating app. Ireland suggested that they kiss and watch pornography, a jury was told, after which they had sex in the flat, smoked a bong and played pornography on a laptop. The pair were convicted after a month-long trial and nearly a week of deliberations. Ireland and Sutton were also acquitted of conspiring to kidnap a child while Sutton was cleared of six counts of conspiring to sexually assault a child. The pair also pleaded guilty to five counts that were not presented to the jury during the trial. Ireland and Sutton admitted possessing prohibited images of children while Ireland also admitted possessing and an extreme pornographic image. Sutton also pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing indecent photographs of a child. Debbie White, head of Surrey Police's public protection team, said: "Stephen Ireland was a sexual predator who targeted a young boy and took advantage of his age and vulnerability for his own gratification. "Both men then tried to cover up their offending by intentionally deleting material from their phones once they became aware of the police investigation and following their arrests. "This has been an extremely difficult and complex investigation, and I would like to thank all those involved for their hard work and dedication. "I hope the convictions today send a clear message to any victim of a sexual offence, that you will be listened to, you will be supported, and we will investigate such crimes thoroughly." A spokesperson for Pride in Surrey said it "utterly condemns" Ireland and Sutton's crimes, adding: "We remain committed to prioritising the safety and wellbeing of our community." The pair will be sentenced on 30 June. Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Pride group founder spoke about abuse, jury told Messages about children a 'fantasy', jury told HM Courts and Tribunals Service
BBC News
13-03-2025
- BBC News
Surrey Pride co-founder Stephen Ireland guilty of raping boy, 12
The co-founder of a Surrey LGBTQ+ group has been found guilty of raping a 12-year-old Ireland, 41, was convicted of raping the child in the Addlestone flat he shared with David Sutton, 27, on 19 April who co-founded Pride in Surrey in 2018, was also found guilty of three counts of causing a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity, one count of sexual assault of a child under 13 and six counts of making indecent images of who also volunteered with the organisation, was found guilty of three counts of making indecent photographs of children and one count of possession of an extreme pornographic image. The pair were convicted after a month-long trial and nearly a week of trial at Guildford Crown Court previously heard how Ireland and Sutton spoke of "snatching" or "kidnapping" a schoolchild in WhatsApp messages from heard the pair discussed targeting children outside school gates while pretending to be a talent coach or music manager, and how to avoid argued the messages were "fantasy" and "taboo".The trial was also told that Ireland and Sutton described themselves as "pedos" in messages and that they discussed kidnapping and raping someone in the changing rooms of a swimming and Sutton will be sentenced on 30 June.
The Independent
25-02-2025
- The Independent
Pride group founder says messages about children were ‘fantasy' and ‘taboo'
The founder of an LGBTQ+ group who gave talks in schools said his alleged conversations about kidnapping and sexually assaulting children were 'fantasy' and 'taboo' and that he was 'smoking too much'. Stephen Ireland, 40, who co-founded Pride in Surrey in 2018, and David Sutton, 27, a volunteer with the organisation, are accused of 'targeting children for their sexual proclivities' between 2022 and 2024, prosecutors say. They are charged with a total of 38 offences between them, including conspiring to sexually assault children, arranging the commission of child sex offences and kidnap. However, Ireland told Guildford Crown Court on Tuesday that there were 'no actual plans to do anything'. The defendant said: 'Me and (Sutton) were smoking too much and your thoughts run away with a fantasy taboo chat.' Alex Krikler, defending Ireland, asked about WhatsApp messages from 2022, during which the pair allegedly spoke of 'snatching' or 'kidnapping' a schoolchild. Prosecutor Isabel Delamere previously said the conversations were beyond fantasy and jurors were told that the pair discussed targeting children outside school gates while pretending to be a talent coach or music manager and how to avoid CCTV. Ireland said: 'It's a fake taboo chat between David and I.' He told jurors that he visited schools to give talks about the LGBTQ+ community, but that was in a 'professional' capacity with staff present and that he had no intention of doing anything unlawful. Ireland also spoke of his 'regret' over messaging about sexually abusing two children, including a girl aged six, saying they were 'stupid conversations' and that nothing happened. He said there was no intention to visit a swimming pool to 'perve', as prosecutors allege, saying that he would not go there because he is 'body conscious' and that the conversation was merely 'role-play'. Ireland also said that a 17-year-old boy who he is alleged to have secretly watched having sex with Sutton at their flat in Addlestone in March 2024 was aware that he was being filmed. The defendant allegedly sent Sutton messages such as 'he doesn't know I'm here', while telling him what to do, the court previously heard. Some discussions between the two defendants were about 'daddy-play' with someone else being submissive and role-playing as a younger person, jurors heard. Ireland is solely charged with 21 of the 38 offences, including one count of raping a child, three counts of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and one count of sexual assault on a child. The defendants are jointly charged with 13 offences, including six counts of conspiracy to sexually assault a child, three counts of arranging the commission of a child sex offence and one count of conspiracy to kidnap a child. Sutton is also charged with another four offences, including three counts of making indecent photographs of children. The trial continues.
