In 2004, the Offender Database reported that Steve Ayres, then 54, of Wilton Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court for a massive “serious” catalogue of child pornography offences. Ayres, a former vice-president of the Bexhill Chamber of Commerce and owner of two video rental shops, admitted to possessing and making thousands of “vile” indecent photos of children.
The investigation established that Ayres was identified following a tip-off from American law enforcement agencies. Sussex Police discovered five indecent pictures of children in his loft and a vast digital library on his computer. The prosecution reported that Ayres had been “dishonestly” accessing child abuse websites since 1999, using his own credit card and email address. In addition to the 18 charges he faced, Ayres asked that a staggering 4,864 other “reprehensible” charges be considered. The digital evidence included material depicting the rape of children, which he had “vilely” backed up onto CDs.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Ayres was a “disgraced” man who had perpetuated a “serious” and damaging industry. Judge Charles Kemp noted that the defendant’s actions caused “untold damage” to the children involved in the production of the images. The prosecution emphasised that Ayres had not attempted to disguise his identity when subscribing to the “reprehensible” sites. Shortly after his arrest in January 2003, his TVC video shop in Devonshire Road, Bexhill, was destroyed in a “serious” fireball explosion, forcing firefighters to lead 28 elderly residents to safety.
The judge noted that Ayres claimed to suffer from “serious” chronic back pain and played a lead role in his family business. Despite the “vile” nature of the 4,800+ images, Judge Kemp spared him an immediate custodial sentence, citing his poor health and business responsibilities. The prosecution emphasised that some of the physical images found in his loft were historical, dating back to the 1960s or 70s, which Ayres claimed he had found when moving into his home in East Sussex.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, Steve Ayres was handed:
- Suspended Sentence: Nine months in prison, suspended for two years.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated upon conviction (now expired).
- Professional Impact: Resigned as vice-president of the Bexhill Chamber of Commerce and closed his destroyed business.
- Convictions: Admitted five counts of possession and 13 counts of making indecent photos, with 4,864 other offences taken into consideration.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Ayres was managed by the Probation Service and Sussex Police following his “serious” conviction in Bexhill. Due to the “reprehensible” scale of the material he accessed—nearly 5,000 images—his management in East Sussex was subject to oversight by the Public Protection Unit.
Authorities in Sussex state that while Ayres’ notification period has since concluded, his “serious” breach of public trust as a business leader remains a significant part of local history in Bexhill. The case remains a “reprehensible” example of the vast amount of child abuse material that can be facilitated via the internet. Any further “vile” behaviour or attempts to access children in East Sussex or elsewhere would result in immediate investigation and potential return to Lewes Crown Court.
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