"Stephen Ireland, who targeted me with endless abuse on here because I oppose the chemical castration of children and the removal of protected spaces for women and girls, has just been sentenced to 30 years in jail for child rape."
Stephen Ireland, 41, was also known for having cofounded Pride in Surrey in 2018. He was found guilty of sexually assaulting a child in an apartment that he shared with David Sutton, 27, who was also charged in the case, reports the BBC.
In April 2024, it was found that the boy, who was referred to in court documents as Child A, had been reported missing at the time. He reported to police that he had been sexually assaulted at the apartment. He was given a bong to smoke out of, which was found to have meth in it. The pair also watched pornographic material with the boy.
It was discovered that the boy had originally told Ireland that he was 17. After confessing that he was 13, Ireland told the boy that their relationship would have to be kept "a secret."
Judge Patricia Lees told Ireland that his response was "telling."
"Far from finding that repugnant, you found that exciting, and sought to do it again."
Messages from Telegram that were sent after the first encounter found Ireland sending Child A messages, where he told the boy that he was "naughty" and "kinky."
Jurors heard that Ireland sent an indecent picture of Child A, describing him as a "14-year-old baby" who "wants to play with men's bodies."
The two were found guilty of a string of sexual assaults on children as well as charges of voyeurism, arranging commission of a child sex offence, possession of prohibited images of children, and several other charges.
It was also discovered in August 2022, Ireland and Sutton discussed arrangements to procure a 13-year-old boy for Sutton's 25th birthday. It was also found that Ireland had a live camera feed of Sutton assaulting a 16-year-old at their apartment in March 2024. The teen had not consented to being recorded.
Judge Lees assessed that the two "fed off one another," adding that they "supported one another in [their] perversions."
Ireland and Sutton were also found guilty of perverting the course of justice by deleting messages on their phone and their search history after they were released on police bail in June 2024.
Sutton was sentenced for offences including voyeurism, possession and distribution of prohibited images of children, and perverting the course of justice.
Judge Lees said: "Stephen Ireland is a man who prided himself on being versed in and highly alive to the vulnerabilities of young people linked to the Surrey Pride organisation he was at the time pivotal to." She added, "'A' was quite obviously to any adult an extremely vulnerable child who was highly sexualised."
"Any responsible adult would have quickly appreciated that there was a high likelihood A is a young man who had been the subject of sexual grooming by adult men at a very early age and been concerned for him instead of taking advantage of him."
In response to the verdict, JK Rowling posted, “Stephen Ireland, who targeted me with endless abuse on here because I oppose the chemical castration of children and the removal of protected spaces for women and girls, has just been sentenced to 30 years in jail for child rape.”
Previous posts by Ireland criticized Rowling, calling Rowling’s views on biological sex “TERFism” and calling her hateful. “Rowling has clearly expressed a view that is transphobic, intersexist, and inconsiderate of the LGBTQ+ community who stand together in solidarity. SHAME ON YOU!”
Ireland, who also had pronouns in his bio, said that Rowling had ruined her legacy.
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