In 2018, the Offender Database recorded that 29-year-old Steven Stalley—formerly of Renfrew but most recently of Dundonald Road, Paisley—was jailed for six months for breaching a strict court order. Stalley had previously groomed and had sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl and subsequently targeted another child on Facebook. It was reported that the investigation into his latest offending began after police discovered he had deleted several chatroom applications from his phone to conceal his digital activity.
The investigation established that Stalley was the subject of a Risk of Sexual Harm Order (RSHO) imposed at Paisley Sheriff Court in 2016. This order prohibited him from having contact with females under 16 and strictly banned him from deleting his internet history or changing settings to hide his online behaviour. Paisley Sheriff Court heard that, despite these restrictions, Stalley deleted apps including ‘Kids Chat’, ‘Meet Teens Free’, ‘Teen Chatroom’, and the dating app Badoo in an attempt to evade monitoring.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Stalley’s actions were a deliberate attempt to bypass the protection measures put in place to prevent further predatory behaviour. The investigation established that Stalley had a history of inundating minors with unwanted messages and had previously admitted to sexual activity with a schoolgirl, though a rape charge was cleared after he claimed the encounter was consensual. The prosecution reported that by deleting the specific “kids” chat applications, Stalley had committed a serious breach of the Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2005.
Judge-led proceedings at Paisley Sheriff Court concluded this week with Sheriff Colin Pettigrew ruling that a custodial sentence was the only appropriate response. For his actions in Paisley and Renfrew, Stalley was handed a six-month prison sentence. The sheriff noted that the calculated deletion of apps designed for teenagers, while under a strict digital prohibition, demonstrated that Stalley remained a significant risk to the safety of young females.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the records reported in Renfrewshire, the status of Steven Stalley as of April 7, 2026, was as follows:
- Custodial Status: RELEASED (Served 6-month term; sentenced 2018; released circa 2019).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active (Duration dependent on original RSHO/conviction status).
- RSHO/SHPO Status: Subject to strict digital monitoring and prohibitions on contacting minors.
- DBS Status: Placed on the Barring List (Indefinite ban on working with children).
- Legal Status: CONVICTED (Breach of the Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2005).
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Paisley Sheriff Court; investigated by Police Scotland.
- Criminal Record: Groomed and had sex with a 14-year-old; Targeted children on Facebook; Deleted ‘Kids Chat’ and ‘Teen Chatroom’ apps to hide activity.
- Origin: Dundonald Road, Paisley, Renfrewshire.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Stalley is managed as a high-risk registered sex offender within the Paisley area following his release from prison. Due to the nature of his conduct—specifically his “calculated deletion” of teenage-focused communication apps and his “persistent targeting” of 14-year-olds—his management is a priority for the Police Scotland Public Protection Unit. Authorities state that his history of bypassing digital safeguards proves he is a determined predator who requires intensive forensic oversight of his electronic devices.
As a registered sex offender, the defendant’s details are permanently logged on the national police database. Authorities state that his court orders include a total prohibition on the use of any chatroom or dating applications and mandatory disclosure of all internet-enabled devices. Any change of residence in Paisley, any further deletion of digital history, or any unauthorised proximity to children will result in immediate arrest to ensure the ongoing safety of the public from his demonstrated pattern of deceptive and predatory online behaviour.
QUESTION – Given that the offender deleted apps specifically named “Kids Chat” and “Teen Chatroom” while under a court order, do you believe that “Digital Concealment” should lead to a mandatory minimum two-year sentence to prevent further grooming?
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