In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that Steven Kenneth Evans, then 32, a former Police Community Support Officer (PCSO), was jailed for a “betrayal” of trust involving the grooming of children. Appearing at Burnley Crown Court, Evans, of Lyndhurst Road, Burnley, Lancashire, was sentenced after being caught in a sting operation by the Metropolitan Police. The court heard that Evans had been actively seeking to exploit a 13-year-old girl while living with a mother of four and her children.
The investigation established that in early 2019, Evans used a messaging service to chat with a persona he believed was a 13-year-old girl named “Maisie.” To facilitate the grooming, he submitted a fake profile picture depicting a young boy in swimming trunks. The “youngster” was actually an undercover officer. At the time of his arrest, Evans—who previously served as a PCSO in Chorley and Leyland, Lancashire—was using the alias “Steven Smith” to hide his past from his partner. It was further discovered that he had been babysitting her four children, aged 6 to 13.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Evans was already a convicted paedophile, having been handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) in 2009 for inciting an 11-year-old girl to perform sex acts on a webcam. Burnley Crown Court heard a victim’s personal statement from his partner, who expressed feeling “betrayed” by his lies and the fact that he had integrated himself into her family’s life while actively offending. Judge Andrew Jeffries QC noted that the defendant’s deception and continued predatory interest in children made him a significant danger.
The judge noted that while social services confirmed no offences had been committed against the partner’s own children, the risk posed by Evans was high. For his actions in Burnley, Lancashire, he admitted to seven offences, including breaches of his existing court orders. The judge imposed a 20-month extended licence period to ensure that Evans remains under strict supervision long after his physical release from prison.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, Steven Kenneth Evans was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: Immediate term of imprisonment (length included in the 20-month extension).
- Extended Licence: 20 months of mandatory supervision following release.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated.
- SHPO: A fresh 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Burnley Crown Court following guilty pleas to seven counts.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Evans is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Lancashire Constabulary and the Probation Service. Due to his history as a former PCSO in Chorley and Leyland, and his repeat offending in Burnley, Lancashire, his management is subject to the highest level of oversight by the Public Protection Unit.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, Evans must comply with notification requirements regarding his residence in Burnley for the duration of his term. Authorities state that his history of using aliases such as “Steven Smith” and fake profile pictures necessitates permanent and intensive scrutiny of his digital activity and social associations. Any breach of his registration conditions, his fresh 10-year SHPO, or the terms of his extended licence will result in immediate arrest and a return to Burnley Crown Court.
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