Stephen Ireland, the 42-year-old co-founder of Pride in Surrey, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison with an additional six years on extended licence for a series of grave sexual offences involving children for raping a 12-year-old boy he met on the dating app Grindr. The sentencing took place at Guildford Crown Court on Monday, where the court heard disturbing details of Ireland’s abuse of a 12-year-old boy and his broader pattern of predatory behaviour.
His partner, David Sutton, 27, was jailed for four-and-a-half years for related child sexual offences.
Ireland, who co-founded the LGBTQ+ organisation in 2018, was convicted of raping the child — referred to in court as Child A — at the flat he shared with his then-partner and co-defendant, David Sutton, 27, in Addlestone, Surrey, on April 19, 2024.
The court was told that Ireland had contacted the child via the dating app Grindr. The boy, who had been reported missing at the time, later told police that he had been taken to Ireland’s flat, where the two engaged in sexual activity, smoked a bong laced with methamphetamine, and watched pornography.
Presiding Judge Patricia Lees said Ireland had “taken advantage” of a highly vulnerable child, noting that his senior role in an LGBTQ+ youth organisation made his actions particularly egregious.
“Any responsible adult would have quickly appreciated that this was a child who had likely been sexually groomed by men before — and should have acted to protect, not exploit, him,” she said.
The court heard that although the boy initially claimed to be 17, he later told Ireland he was 13. Ireland responded, “OK – we just have to keep it a secret.” In follow-up Telegram messages, Ireland described the boy’s age as “naughty and kinky” and offered a threesome, sending the child images of himself and Sutton.
The prosecution revealed that Ireland and Sutton exchanged sexual messages about the boy and that Ireland had sent Sutton a photo of the child, describing him as a “14-year-old baby” who “wants to play with men’s bodies.”
Both men were found guilty earlier this year of a wide range of child sexual offences. This included voyeurism, arranging commission of a child sex offence, making and distributing indecent photographs of children, and possession of prohibited images. In one incident from March 2024, Ireland watched live video footage of Sutton having sex with a 16-year-old boy who was unaware he was being recorded. Ireland sent Sutton instructions during the act via text, stating, “He doesn’t know I’m here.”
The court was also told that in 2022, Ireland and Sutton discussed acquiring a 13-year-old boy as a “gift” for Sutton’s 25th birthday. Both were also convicted of voyeurism after Ireland secretly filmed Sutton having sex with a 16-year-old boy in their flat.
Judge Lees described the pair as feeding “off one another in your perversions.” Ireland received 24 years plus six on extended license for multiple offenses, including rape, child sexual exploitation, and possession of extreme pornography. Sutton was sentenced for voyeurism and distributing indecent images.
Ireland’s lawyer argued he did not exploit his LGBTQ+ advocacy role, but the judge emphasized his betrayal of trust. Surrey Police confirmed both men attempted to destroy evidence after their arrest.
(With inputs from Independent)
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