The founder of a prominent LGBTQ Pride organization in the United Kingdom has been charged with 37 child sex abuse crimes, including rape and conspiracy to kidnap a child. All victims were under the age of 13, police said.
Stephen Ireland, 40, of Surrey, was arrested on Wednesday along with his colleague David Sutton, 26, who has been charged with 22 offenses. Ireland founded Pride in Surrey, the largest LGBT Pride organization in the county, and Sutton volunteered for his organization, as reported by Reduxx.
The 37 child sex crime offenses that Ireland has been charged with include rape of a child under 13; two counts of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity (penetrative); sexual assault of a child under 13; sexual communication with a child; causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity (non-penetrative); six counts of making indecent photographs of children; two counts of possession of an extreme pornographic image; two counts of possession of prohibited images of children; five counts of distributing indecent photographs of a child, and one count of publishing an obscene article, according to Surrey Police.
The additional charges - that Sutton also received - include six counts of conspiracy to sexually assault a child; one count of conspiracy to kidnap a child; four counts of arranging the commission of a child sex offense; one count of conspiracy to administer a substance with intent; one count of publishing an obscene article; one count of voyeurism; and one count of perverting the course of justice.
Police said the horrifying atrocities occurred between Aug. 2022 and July 2024. Ireland and Sutton have been remanded to custody pending a hearing. Details about the alleged crimes have not yet been made public, and the investigation remains ongoing. Additionally, Ireland's profile on the Pride in Surrey website has been scrubbed. The organization had him listed as its inclusions director.
Anyone with information that could help the case is requested to get in touch with Surrey Police by contacting 101 or via their online reporting facility, referencing reference number PR/45240080974. If someone has information and would prefer not to communicate with the police directly, they can call Crimestoppers, an independent organization, at 0800 555 111.
Stephen Ireland, 40, of Surrey, was arrested on Wednesday along with his colleague David Sutton, 26, who has been charged with 22 offenses. Ireland founded Pride in Surrey, the largest LGBT Pride organization in the county, and Sutton volunteered for his organization, as reported by Reduxx.
The 37 child sex crime offenses that Ireland has been charged with include rape of a child under 13; two counts of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity (penetrative); sexual assault of a child under 13; sexual communication with a child; causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity (non-penetrative); six counts of making indecent photographs of children; two counts of possession of an extreme pornographic image; two counts of possession of prohibited images of children; five counts of distributing indecent photographs of a child, and one count of publishing an obscene article, according to Surrey Police.
The additional charges - that Sutton also received - include six counts of conspiracy to sexually assault a child; one count of conspiracy to kidnap a child; four counts of arranging the commission of a child sex offense; one count of conspiracy to administer a substance with intent; one count of publishing an obscene article; one count of voyeurism; and one count of perverting the course of justice.
Police said the horrifying atrocities occurred between Aug. 2022 and July 2024. Ireland and Sutton have been remanded to custody pending a hearing. Details about the alleged crimes have not yet been made public, and the investigation remains ongoing. Additionally, Ireland's profile on the Pride in Surrey website has been scrubbed. The organization had him listed as its inclusions director.
Anyone with information that could help the case is requested to get in touch with Surrey Police by contacting 101 or via their online reporting facility, referencing reference number PR/45240080974. If someone has information and would prefer not to communicate with the police directly, they can call Crimestoppers, an independent organization, at 0800 555 111.
