A registered sex offender from Medway has been sentenced to four years in prison after police discovered a secret phone containing more than 600 animated images depicting children being sexually abused, including material showing the abuse of an infant under one year old.
Stuart Wenham, 47, of no fixed address, had only been released from prison in March 2025 following a previous conviction in 2023 for making indecent images of children. Within months of his release, he breached multiple court orders designed to prevent reoffending and monitor his online activities.
Judge at Maidstone Crown Court described Wenham as “a dangerous man” with a long record of appalling similar offences when sentencing him on 12 September 2025.
Swift Return to Offending
Wenham’s latest crimes represent a shocking breach of trust, occurring just months after he was granted parole. Upon his release in March, he was subject to strict conditions including a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and notification requirements that required him to declare all devices and software to police.
These orders, designed to protect children from sexual harm, are standard measures imposed on convicted sex offenders. They typically include restrictions on internet use, requirements to declare all electronic devices, and prohibitions on deleting internet history.
Within weeks of his release, specialist officers managing sex offenders suspected Wenham was flouting these conditions. They believed he was using two mobile phones but had only registered one with authorities – a clear breach of his notification requirements.
Discovery of Secret Devices
Officers arrested Wenham on 6 June, leading to the seizure of the unregistered phone. When forensic specialists examined the device, they uncovered a disturbing catalogue of what prosecutors described as “pseudo-cartoon” images linked to the sexual abuse of children.
Further investigation revealed Wenham had also kept a laptop secret from authorities. Analysis of this device exposed multiple additional breaches, including:
- Illegal use of a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to hide online activity
- Prohibited use of cloud storage services
- Systematic deletion of internet browsing history
During previous routine checks by specialist officers, Wenham had repeatedly failed to declare either device, demonstrating a calculated pattern of deception.
Disturbing Justification
When questioned during police interviews, Wenham offered a chilling insight into his mindset. He told officers that in his view, the images showing abuse were not of “real children” and claimed the depicted children “appeared to be happy.”
This disturbing rationalisation highlights the dangerous thinking patterns that can lead offenders to minimise the severity of their crimes. Under UK law, animated or cartoon images depicting child sexual abuse are treated as serious criminal offences, regardless of whether real children were involved in their creation.
Legal Framework for Animated Images
The possession of prohibited images of children, including animated content, became a criminal offence under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009. This legislation specifically targets non-photographic images including computer-generated images, cartoons, manga images and drawings that depict children in sexual situations.
For an image to be illegal under this law, it must:
- Depict a child engaged in sexual activity or in a sexualised pose
- Be pornographic in nature
- Be grossly offensive, disgusting or of an obscene character
The maximum penalty for possessing prohibited images is three years’ imprisonment, though Wenham received a longer sentence due to his multiple breaches of court orders and previous convictions.
Legal experts note that whilst these images don’t involve real children in their creation, they normalise the sexualisation of children and can fuel demand for actual abuse material. The Crown Prosecution Service maintains that such content poses a risk by potentially reinforcing harmful sexual interests in children.
Pattern of Serious Offending
Wenham’s case represents a concerning pattern of escalating behaviour. His 2023 conviction for making indecent images of children had already marked him as a serious risk to child safety. The term “making” in legal context includes downloading or saving images to a device, creating copies that didn’t previously exist.
The fact that his latest offences included material depicting an infant under one year old particularly alarmed investigators and the court. Such extreme content indicates a deeply concerning level of sexual interest in children.
His immediate return to offending after release, despite knowing he would be monitored, suggests either an inability or unwillingness to control his behaviour – factors that likely influenced the judge’s assessment of him as “dangerous.”
Monitoring Sex Offenders
Wenham’s case highlights both the importance and challenges of monitoring registered sex offenders in the community. The Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) system brings together police, probation, and other agencies to manage the risks posed by sexual and violent offenders.
Officers conduct regular unannounced visits to check compliance with court orders, examine devices, and assess any changes in circumstances that might increase risk. In Wenham’s case, these checks proved crucial in detecting his secret devices and breach of conditions.
However, the case also demonstrates how determined offenders can attempt to circumvent monitoring through tactics like:
- Using unregistered devices purchased with cash
- Employing VPNs to mask online activity
- Storing material on hidden or encrypted devices
- Deleting browsing history between checks
Court’s Strong Response
At Maidstone Crown Court on 12 September 2025, Wenham pleaded guilty to multiple charges including:
- Breaches of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order
- Failing to comply with notification requirements
- Possessing a prohibited image of a child
The four-year sentence reflects the seriousness with which courts treat breaches of protective orders, particularly when combined with new offences. The judge’s description of Wenham as “a dangerous man” suggests consideration was given to extended sentences for public protection.
Upon release, Wenham will likely face even stricter monitoring conditions and an extended period on licence, during which any breach could see him immediately returned to prison.
Protecting Children Online
This case underscores the ongoing challenges authorities face in protecting children from online sexual exploitation. Whilst Wenham’s offences involved animated rather than photographic images, experts stress that all forms of child sexual abuse material contribute to a culture that sexualises and endangers children.
Kent Police’s proactive monitoring in this case prevented Wenham from potentially escalating to more serious offences and demonstrates the importance of robust supervision of convicted sex offenders in the community.
The case serves as a stark reminder that those who pose a risk to children will face serious consequences, with authorities employing sophisticated techniques to detect breaches and protect potential victims.
Follow for more updates on Britannia Daily
