August 2013
Exeter youth worker had images of child abuse and women having sex with animals
A youth worker was found with child abuse images on his computer after contacting a 14-year-old girl on the internet.
Steven Griffin, aged 41, was tracked down by police after the teenager sent him a naked picture of herself and officers then found the vile images and movies.
He has been banned from working with children after telling a probation officer he had a sexual interest in girls aged 12 to 16.
Griffin, of Windermere Close, Exeter, pleaded guilty to seven charges of making or possessing indecent images of children and one of having 71 extreme images which showed adult women having sex with animals.
He was jailed for six months, suspended for two years and ordered to attend a sex offenders’ course as a part of a two year supervision order by Judge Erik Salomonsen at Exeter Crown Court.
The judge also imposed a Sexual Offences Prevention Order which restricts his contact with children and will prevent him working with them in the future. He has already lost his job in the care sector.
The Judge told him:” As a result of what was thought to be inappropriate behaviour involving a child the police came to your home and seized your computer equipment and found these images.
“You admitted to the police and probation officers you had an interest in children and say you have set about obtaining treatment.
“It is inevitable you will be barred from working with children and you will also be required to sign on the sex offenders’ register.”
Mr Gordon Richings, prosecuting, said police examined his computers after a complaint about his online contact with a 14-year-old girl who allegedly sent him a naked photo of herself.
The original inquiry did not result in any charges but police experts found 21 images or movies of children of which 13 showed adults having sex with girls.
He said:”He told the writer of the pre sentence report he had an interest in female children aged 12 to 16 and was sexually aroused by images of them.
“He also said he had started receiving counselling from a psychotherapist in Paignton. He was originally interviewed by the police in relation to his contacting a 14-year-old female on the internet.
“He accepted he had been sent a naked photograph by her but said it was not sexual. He denied searching the internet for child abuse images and at that stage denied any sexual interest in children.”
Mr Nick Bradley, defending, said Griffin recognises he needs help for his problems and has already sought it voluntarily and is said by his counsellor to be making progress.
He said:”At the time the employment he had involved helping young people and there is no suggestion he acted inappropriately in relation to these duties.
“The police visited him because there was some suggestion there was something inappropriate going on with his contact with a girl on the internet but it has not resulted in any charges.”
