August 2022

Paedophile who had sex parties with children allowed to change his name

A paedophile who arranged parties to engage children into sexual acts has been allowed to change his name.

Steven Sullivan was jailed for six years in 2009 after the then 18-year-old hosted sick events attended by boys and girls aged as young as 12.

Between 10 and 20 kids would attend each sordid gathering and were plied with drink and drugs.

The pervert would arrange for taxis to pick his victims up, and indecent pictures and videos of children were found on computers and mobile phones when police raided his home.

Officers also discovered disturbing chat logs where Sullivan groomed girls and asked other twisted adults to send him images of five-year-olds.

He was subsequently convicted a string of sexual offences but was released on licence in January 2012.

Just over a year later, in April 2013, he was arrested on suspicion of raping a 15-year-old girl – but charges were ultimately dropped “due to weaknesses in the case”.

However, Sullivan was recalled for breaching his licence conditions and remained in prison until November 2014.

The sex offender continued with his despicable behaviour though, playing with himself in front of a camera while talking to a 14-year-old girl online.

He also bought two mobile phones without telling police – against the terms of his sexual offences prevention order – and used one of them to send the teenager sexually charged texts during 2015.

Sullivan, then of Speke, admitted engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and breaching his SOPO. He was locked up for three years aged 27 in July 2016.

The aforementioned order was extended at this point, and it now runs indefinitely.

Yesterday, Friday, Sullivan appeared back before Liverpool Crown Court in a bid to have its conditions amended in order to allow him to change his name.

Wearing a white 2007/08 Liverpool away shirt in court, he submitted that he had struggled to gain and keep employment in the past due to the publicity of his crimes in the media. He also claimed that he had been subjected to harassment at his home address on several occasions.

Judge Denis Watson approved a change to the SOPO which will allow Sullivan to change his name by deed poll in the next 10 weeks.

He must also notify Lancashire Police, the Probation Service, the Crown Prosecution Service and Liverpool Crown Court of his new identity within 48 hours of this alteration.

An additional requirement was also added to the order, requiring him to inform the authorities of the details of any planned foreign travel at least seven days before his scheduled departure.

Giving his judgement, the QC said: “In short, Mr Sullivan’s offending was reported with his name prominent in the reporting such that a general search of his name and this area leads very quickly to a detailed report of some of the facts that underline the convictions – which has led to a numbers of issues for Mr Sullivan, including the loss of employment where he has performed his job well and without complaint.

“But when employers find out about his past, which he did not have to disclose because it didn’t involve working with children, he has been summarily dismissed and his accommodation has been targeted by those hostile with him by reason of his previous convictions. He is clear in his application that he does not seek to alter the other prohibitions.

“However, he does say he is unable effectively to function and continue his rehabilitation – which he is trying to do – while the public and employers are able to read of his past, because it prevents him from obtaining work or retaining work and because of the risks to him from others. He now wishes to try and protect himself by changing his name

“The protections of the system are still in place, because they will have responsibility for checking up on him. They will know precisely where he is and what name he is going under.”

No parties objected to the amendments passed. The SOPO also limits Sullivan’s use of electronic devices capable of accessing the internet and his contact with children, while he is banned from keeping any image of an under 18 without the permission of their parent or guardian.

July 2016

Speke paedophile jailed for having sex parties with kids is sent back to prison

A paedophile jailed for having sex parties with children was sent back to prison after breaching the terms of his release.

Steven Sullivan, 27, of Speke, was locked up for six years in 2009, after hosting the events when he was 18.

Nicola Daley, prosecuting, said: “Some male and female children as young as 12-years-old were frequenting these parties and given illegal drugs and alcohol.

“It was thought some 10 to 20 children would attend at any one time. The children were encouraged to have sex with each other, or with Sullivan and his friends.”

Liverpool Crown Court heard Sullivan often organised taxis to collect victims and take them to his home.

When police raided his property they seized computers and mobile phones containing indecent pictures and videos.

Officers also discovered grooming chat logs with girls and chats when Sullivan asked other perverts to send him images of children aged five and six.

Sullivan was convicted of 10 sexual activity charges, plus making, possessing and distributing indecent images of children.

He was released on licence in January 2012, but arrested on suspicion of raping a 15-year-old girl in April 2013.

Ms Daley said charges were dropped “due to the weaknesses in the case”.

However, Sullivan was recalled for breaching his licence and remained in prison until November 2014.

When released again he spoke with officers, who reiterated the terms of his Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO).

He took part in an assessment in March 2015, when he said he did not have friends his own age, and was found to be a “high risk”.

Ms Daley said: “He told the officer that he could not guarantee that he would not re-offend again and would have sex with ‘anything’.”

Sullivan was deemed to be of ‘medium risk’ in July last year, after showing “measurable changes”, such as seeking a job, gaining a new home and managing his SOPO “without any difficulty”.

But the officer said: “It is now clear that Sullivan concealed his continued sexual attraction to children and has demonstrated his dishonesty.”

Ms Daley said Sullivan broke the order by playing with himself in front of a camera while talking to a 14-year-old girl online.

He also bought two mobile phones without telling police and used one of them to send her sex texts last year.

Sullivan admitted engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and breaching his SOPO.

The judge, Recorder Rowena Goode, said the girl was 12 years younger than him.

She said: “The contact that you had with her was extensive and it was sexual in nature.”

She sentenced Sullivan to three years in prison, with an extended four years on licence.

He must sign on the Sex Offenders Register and be subject to the SOPO for life.