Foster carer confesses to having a sexual interest in children after being discovered with hundreds of indecent images – Wales Online
Steven Breslin-Green, a man who had fostered and worked with vulnerable children in Wales, openly admitted to having a sexual interest in young boys. The unsettling revelation came to light at Newport Crown Court where Breslin-Green faced sentencing for three counts of making indecent images of children. The 40-year-old had pleaded guilty to the charges, acknowledging his possession of over 200 indecent images of children, including 40 category A images, 64 category B images, and 91 category C images on his laptop.
The investigation, which took place between April 22, 2024, and May 21, 2024, revealed videos of abuse in each category on Breslin-Green’s device. Making indecent images encompasses various actions, as per the CPS, such as accessing pornographic websites where such images appear through pop-up mechanisms. Prosecuting lawyer Sophie Keegan detailed that the images and videos depicted children ranging from as young as three to as old as 14, with one image hinting at “intrafamilial” content.
When the police carried out a search at Breslin-Green’s home on May 23, 2024, based on intelligence about sexual abuse material concerns, he swiftly directed them to his laptop, admitting to having some images on it. Subsequently, officers seized the laptop. During questioning, Breslin-Green remained silent. However, when his laptop was forensically examined, he continued to offer no comments.
Keegan emphasised in court that the significant volume of images, coupled with Breslin-Green’s prior roles working with children in positions of trust, posed aggravating factors. She highlighted his admission of being attracted to young boys, albeit only online, as perplexing. Breslin-Green’s defence attorney, Gareth Williams, stressed that despite his client’s disturbing behaviour online, no evidence suggested actual abusive actions beyond internet usage.
Recorder Robin Rouch, while sentencing Breslin-Green, acknowledged his acknowledgment of his attraction to children as a potential pathway to rehabilitation, noting the distress his actions caused to the children’s families he previously interacted with unknowingly. The court handed down a suspended eight-month prison sentence with an 18-month probation period. Before his arrest in 2024, Breslin-Green had worked extensively with children and young people in various settings.
He undertook roles at a Newport council playscheme for children with complex needs and served as a classroom assistant at Orbis Education and Care in Cardiff temporarily. Despite undergoing extensive background checks and receiving approvals as a foster carer in 2023 by Newport council, his employment was terminated in 2024 upon the council learning of the allegations. The council clarified that the charges did not involve any child under Breslin-Green’s care or any local children, stressing the gravity of his crimes against innocent victims.
As this distressing case unfolds, it serves as a chilling reminder of the importance of stringent background checks and ongoing monitoring for individuals working with vulnerable populations like children. The safeguarding measures in place, though stringent, do not always prevent such heinous actions, necessitating continuous vigilance. The impact on the children and families affected cannot be understated, prompting renewed calls for maintaining the highest standards of safety and protection in all settings involving children and young people.