Founder of Surrey Pride charged with child sex abuse

[CriticalCondition]

Gosh. I remember this person from a few years ago when Starbucks was doing its Mermaid biscuits campaign. A local councillor (?) raised her concerns about safeguarding at Mermaids and he had a real go at her.

BBC News - Surrey Pride founder faces child sex abuse charges
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0k4g6ek3xvo

What a shock.

From that BBC News story:

Mr Ireland and Mr Sutton face a series of charges including six counts of conspiracy to sexually assault a child, conspiracy to kidnap a child, voyeurism and arranging the commission of a child sex offence.
In addition, Mr Ireland is facing a further 22 charges, including rape of a child under 13, sexual assault, making indecent photographs of children, and possession of an extreme pornographic image.
Mr Sutton is also charged with a further seven offences, including making indecent photographs of children and distributing indecent photographs of a child.
All the offences were alleged to have happened between August 2022 and last month. Surrey Police says its investigation is ongoing.

Far from trivial offences. Innocent until proven guilty, but in the current state of the criminal justice system the police must be pretty confident to have proceed to charge this pair.

Christ. Thoughts with the victims.

Horrific and disgusting. Those poor, poor children.

No doubt they'll only get a few years (if that!). I really don't think the justice system truly recognises how insidious pedophiles are and the lifelong damage they cause the child.

What another one?!

Dear God

Horrific to read.

But fucking hell. When does it end!

I'd like to think the children and families have appropriate support as it's likely the investigation and time to come to trial tends to be lengthy.

https://x.com/PrideInSurrey/status/1226298652316119041

conspiracy to kidnap a child,

Holy.... 😡

I'm wondering if they are partners tbh. Hope they both rot in hell (painfully).

Exactly. Awaiting the next level spin of shite on how it's actually 'poor them, it's someone else's fault because....'

I remember this person from a few years ago when Starbucks was doing its Mermaid biscuits campaign

Is this the story?

A Green Party candidate accused of “promoting transphobic myths” after making comments about “the rampant promotion of transgenderism in young children” has offered her “unreserved apology”.
Sharon Galliford made the comments in a Facebook post on February 8 when she shared an article in the National Review headlined ‘Starbucks’s Shameful Child Sex-Change Campaign’.
The article was referring to Starbucks’ advert on Channel 4, which shows a young trans man using his name for the first time when buying a coffee. Starbucks worked with trans kids charity Mermaids on the ad and is fundraising for Mermaids’ helpline by selling mermaid-tail cookies in UK stores.
“There are some very serious questions to be asked around the rampant promotion of transgenderism in young children,” said Galliford, who is the Green Party parliamentary candidate for Surrey Heath.
“Safeguarding and expert psychological support and consultation are the very bare minimum that should be insisted upon. Mermaids’ reputation is that it has a different agenda.”
…
Stephen Ireland, founder of Pride in Surrey, said: “Pride in Surrey has always and will always be fully inclusive. We are deeply saddened and shocked by Sharon Galliford’s remarks against the incredible charity Mermaids as well as our trans family members.
“We stand with Mermaids whose work of genderqueer/variant/trans young people is inspirational but also vital. One in three trans young people try to take their own lives (and those are only the ones we know about, it might be even higher) and Mermaids are desperately trying to change that and are absolutely saving lives.”
Ireland also invited Galliford to meet with Pride in Surrey so “we can educate you into how damaging your words are but also so you realise that your views are not that of those in Surrey Heath”.

https://www.thepinknews.com/2020/02/13/green-party-starbucks-transphobic-kids-sharon-galliford-surrey-heath/

thanks for the reminder.

It is a really important reminder too.

I felt sick reading that long list of charges.

https://www.facebook.com/hazelldeanofficial/posts/pfbid02ocgmUsSfRLkCVgKWyUDRp9uyttFsaACLUZPybkZ1PnbrMY22YKD39i5rgyAf85XFl

Statement from Hazell Dean, who is Patron.

'Statement
On the 12th of June 2024 I was made aware of a police investigation focusing on Mr Stephen Ireland, co-founder of Pride in Surrey, and David Sutton a team member.
At that time, information regarding the allegations against Mr Ireland and Mr Sutton were restricted under a non-disclosure clause.
That alone spoke volumes about the severity of the allegations.
The full co-operation of the team, and myself as patron during the police enquiry was guaranteed. Our only intention - to help secure justice.
Mr Ireland and Mr Sutton were suspended from all association with Pride in Surrey with immediate effect on 12th June 2024, with written notice served by two directors.
I personally have had no communication with Mr Ireland and Mr Sutton since 6th June 2024, when I attended a Pride launch event.
We are all deeply shocked and disgusted at the details of the charges that have been brought against them.
The Pride in Surrey team have worked tirelessly to provide safe spaces, create events, and provide services for the LGBTQ+ community in Surrey since August 2018.
A non-profit community interest company with a mission to celebrate, educate, and connect the LGBTQ+ and allies in Surrey.
The news that the co-founder and a member of the Pride in Surrey Team being alleged perpetrators of such heinous crimes is a huge shock and extremely distressing for the entire team.
The Pride in Surrey team and I remain firm in our resolve that should they be found guilty both must be punished to the full extent of the law and that justice be served for the sake of their victims.
Hazell Dean
Patron of Pride in Surrey

I'm having a Baileys laced hot chocolate in an effort to come to terms with it.

Not ANOTHER one!
How many now, I've lost count?

Ireland also invited Galliford to meet with Pride in Surrey so “we can educate you into how damaging your words are but also so you realise that your views are not that of those in Surrey Heath”.

You would have to be a sociopath to be able to say those sanctimonious comments about words being damaging when engaging in actual shocking horrific physical harm. It is beyond comprehension.

The news that the co-founder and a member of the Pride in Surrey Team being alleged perpetrators of such heinous crimes is a huge shock and extremely distressing for the entire team.

They are shocked and disgusted but not a mention of the children being harmed or their families. Just defending the Pride in Surrey’s tireless work and telling us about the poor distressed team. Really appalling how self serving that post is.

Yes,I know a family who are going through this at the moment and there seems to be no end in sight.
It's awful.

If she doesnt know about this someone on X should do her the kindness of sharing it with her.
She would have been mortified and humilliated.

I've always been struck by the lack of self-awareness of people with such charges and their sense of victimhood yet righteousness in lecturing others.

Distressing 3 part documentary series broadcast in 2002: The hunt for Britain's paedophiles

www.theguardian.com/society/2002/may/26/childrensservices.childprotection

Those charges are genuinely horrific. Surrey Police were falling over themselves to take part in Pride in Surrey parades. I hope someone somewhere is asking some serious questions. Is this the sort of thing the Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner should be looking into?

I dare say Lisa Townsend (Surrey PCC) might have something to say about this-and won't be pussy footing around either.

They just can't help it, can they? Why oh why is this so predictable?

I really hate starting to think that the arenas of "queer" and transgender activism are attractions - honeypots - for men with sexual perversions and criminal intent. But oh dear, how predictable ....

Of course!

It's good to see the clarification of child under 13. I've wondered if the reporting on CSA is confusing to the general reader sometimes because the same language is used for a 16 yo and a 7 yo and often without the clarification of age. I don't mean to suggest SA is less wrong if the victim is 14 but I do think it creates a clearer picture of the offender. Be interested to hear what others think on this.