Stephen Rogers

Stephen Rogers, 25, formerly of Thornhill, Egremont, was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court after admitting two breaches of a sexual harm prevention order, two breaches of his sex offender registration requirements, and three new offences relating to indecent images of children.

The court heard that Rogers had previously been placed on the Sex Offender Register after amassing more than 50,000 illegal abuse images, which he viewed over a period of more than two years. Despite this, he continued to offend.

Prosecutor Gabrielle Harrison outlined how the new offences came to light when Rogers was visited by his police offender manager and asked to hand over his mobile device for inspection. Officers discovered he had set up social media accounts on Instagram and Reddit, using a female name for one, and had not declared these accounts to the police as required.

A specialist examination of seized phones on 3 June 2025 revealed Rogers had accessed two Category A indecent images – the most serious classification – along with one Category B, one Category C, and two prohibited child images.

In mitigation, defence counsel Marion Weir said Rogers had struggled to engage with the Probation rehabilitation programmes designed to help him. He had previously worked for a local bookmaker but had found it difficult to secure new employment because of his criminal record. “There is a willingness to engage,” she told the court.

Recorder Philip Grundy noted that the children depicted in the images were boys and girls aged between eight and 12. He imposed a 26-month prison sentence and extended the Sex Offender Register requirement for a decade. Rogers will also remain subject to a sexual harm prevention order that curbs his online activity.