In 2014, the Offender Database recorded that then 36-year-old Steven Purchase—of Severn Close, Sandhurst—was jailed for seven and a half years for a “calculating” and predatory strike against a seven-year-old girl. The investigation established that Purchase, an IT professional, groomed the child into referring to him as her “boyfriend” before subjecting her to a horrific sexual assault. The prosecution reported at Reading Crown Court that the incident occurred in July 2012 when the victim was staying at Purchase’s home.
The investigation established that Purchase exploited the child’s trust after a family meal, persuading her to be naked in his living room and perform a sex act on him. The prosecution reported that following his arrest, police discovered two computers containing 6,449 indecent images of children, ranging from infants as young as 12 months to 16-year-olds. Judge Angela Morris noted that Purchase’s actions transformed a “confident and fearless” little girl into a child who was “self-conscious, shy, and nervous,” suffering from profound anger and confusion.
BREACH OF TRUST AND JUDICIAL FINDINGS
The court reported that Purchase knowingly downloaded the massive hoard of abuse material for his own perverted pleasure, initially lying to officers by claiming he only possessed adult pornography. The investigation established that while Purchase previously maintained a “good character” and a career in computing, this was a mask for his serial predatory interests. The prosecution reported that the judge viewed the combination of the physical assault and the digital collection as a severe violation of human decency and the safety of children.
Judge-led proceedings at Reading Crown Court concluded on 10 April 2014. For his actions in Sandhurst and the nature of the serial child sexual abuse reported, Steven Purchase was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison. The investigation established that he received seven years for inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and a further six months, to run consecutively, for making indecent images. He was also legally mandated to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.
STATUS AND STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS
Based on the judicial records as of 2014:
- Legal Status: CONVICTED (Inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity; Making indecent images x3).
- Custodial Status: JAILED (In 2014, serving a 7.5-year sentence; eligible for release on licence in 2018).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active FOR LIFE.
- DBS Status: Placed on the Barred List (Indefinite and permanent ban from any role involving children or regulated activity).
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Reading Crown Court; investigated by Thames Valley Police.
- Criminal Record: IT worker who abused a 7-year-old girl in his home; Groomed the victim to call him her “boyfriend”; Possessed 6,449 child abuse images; Jailed for 7.5 years in 2014.
- Origin: Severn Close, Sandhurst, Berkshire.
MONITORING AND PUBLIC PROTECTION
Purchase is managed as a high-risk offender under the statutory requirements of the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) in Berkshire. Due to the nature of his behaviour—specifically his “serial” collection of thousands of images and the young age of his physical victim—he is a priority for digital forensic monitoring and strict post-release supervision. Authorities reported that the 2014 conviction ensures Purchase is permanently flagged on national databases, meaning any attempt to return to a position of trust or work in IT with access to children in Sandhurst or elsewhere is strictly blocked.
As a registered sex offender for life, his details are permanently logged on the national police database. Authorities state that Purchase’s behaviour identifies an individual who prioritised his own perverted gratification over the safety and human rights of a seven-year-old child. Any failure by Purchase to adhere to his notification requirements or his restrictive court orders will result in immediate police intervention to ensure the ongoing protection of the community from a man who has violated the principles of human decency through child sexual abuse.
QUESTION – Given that the offender used his “IT Professional Skills” to download and hide nearly 6,500 images of children, do you believe the law should legally mandate that any tech professional convicted of such crimes should be “Permanently Banned” from working in any IT-related role for life?
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