Man Sentenced after Child Sex Offences Uncovered

Stephen Slimings from Hartlepool was sentenced on Tuesday 22^nd November to 56 months in prison after being convicted of child sex offences.

Slimings, aged 38, was convicted of causing/inciting child sexual exploitation of a child aged 13-17, engaging in sexual communication with a child, engaging in sexual activity with a girl aged 13-15, three charges of indecent images of children and one of prohibited images of children.

Slimings’ offences against children occurred mainly between September 2021 to March 2022, however, in November 2021 he went online using an alias and photographs of a male far younger than him in order to gain the trust of a child and coerce one girl into sending images of herself to him.

In March 2022, Slimings was arrested when he came to police attention through his activity online regarding indecent images. Following examination of his devices it became apparent that he had been committing other offences both in person and contacting children online overseas.

Detective Constable Lewis Hill from the Paedophile Online Investigation Team said: “Stephen Slimings came to the attention of police through his online activity and was arrested. It was then that the horror of his offending fully came to light, with victims found to have been sexually abused both in person and online.

“I’d like to thank both victims and their families in this case, who were extremely supportive in providing evidence. I’d also like to acknowledge overseas law enforcement who assisted us with contacting one of the victims.

“This outcome is a warning to anyone that thinks that this type of offending won’t go undetected; we will trace you and put you before the courts to be dealt with accordingly. I’m pleased that the victims have now got some form of justice and hope this will help them move forwards from their traumatic experiences.”

Stephen Slimings was sentenced to 56 months imprisonment and a restraining order was put in place. He will be on the Sex Offenders Register for life and is subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

 

*** Stephen Slimings from Hartlepool ***