Surrey Pride Founder Faces Multiple Child Sex Offences

Stephen Ireland, co-founder of Pride in Surrey, and his flatmate David Sutton are facing a total of 40 charges, including multiple child sex offences. The trial revealed that Ireland allegedly had sexual intercourse and smoked a bong with a 12-year-old boy at his flat after meeting through the dating app Grindr. Prosecutor Isabel Delamere detailed that Ireland sent suggestive messages to the boy, describing him as 'my secret underage boy' and discussing keeping their interactions secret. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty, asserting that the allegations are unfounded. They face numerous charges, including conspiracy to sexually assault a child and child rape, with the alleged crimes occurring between 2022 and 2024. The jury is hearing evidence that indicates a pattern of targeting children for sexual purposes.