Convicted Sex Offender Found with 21,000 Indecent Images

Connor Stephens, a 21-year-old convicted sex offender, was found to have 21,000 indecent photos and videos of children on devices he had hidden from police during routine monitoring of his behavior. Stephens was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) but breached it in November 2023.

Lincolnshire Police discovered two devices concealed from MOSOVO (management of sex offenders and violent offenders) managers, containing explicit material. Stephens subsequently claimed he had been sexually assaulted in an unrelated incident, but further investigation and CCTV evidence proved this claim false.

Stephens, who had resided at multiple addresses in the Boston area, pleaded guilty to three breaches of his SHPO, possession of child sexual abuse material, prohibited material, and extreme pornography. He was also sentenced for perverting the course of justice and breaching a suspended sentence order.

At Lincoln Crown Court on Thursday, July 11, Stephens received a five-year prison sentence, a five-year extended license, and an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Lincolnshire Police highlighted the "brilliant" team effort involved in the case, with contributions from various police units. DS Nicola Stafford stated: "MOSOVO worked to manage Stephens in line with his SHPO, and a digital media investigator within POLIT (Paedophile Online Investigation Team) conducted cloud extractions, essentially evidencing thousands of indecent images. DFU (Digital Forensics Unit) went above and beyond to ensure urgent device downloads and uploads were done within a tight timeframe for court. Prison intelligence officers assisted the officer in charge, so Stephens could be interviewed about the offences whilst he was on remand. It really was a brilliant example of an interdepartmental effort, spanning several months from November 2023 to now."