Messages about children a “fantasy”, said the jury

The founder of a LGBTQ+ group said that his alleged conversations about abduction and sexual aggression of children were “fantasy” and “taboo”, he heard a trial.

Stephen Ireland, 40 years old, who co-founded Pride in Surrey in 2018, and David Sutton, 27, volunteer with the organization, are accused of “targeting their sexual proclivations” between 2022 and 2024, say Prosecutors.

They are accused of a total of 38 offenses between them, including conspiring the sexual aggression of children, arranging the Commission of sexual crimes for children and kidnapping – all they denied.

Mr. Ireland, who held discussions in schools, said Guildford Crown Court on Tuesday that there are no “real plans to do anything.”

The defendant said, “I and (Mr. Sutton) smoke too much, and your thoughts run with a fanciful taboo chat.”

Alex Krikler, the defense of Mr. Ireland, asked about WhatsApp messages in 2022, during which time the pair talked about “snatching” or “kidnapping” a child.

Prosecutor Isabel Delamere said before that conversations are beyond fantasy, and the jurors were told that the pair discussed the targeting of children outside the school gates, while pretending to be a talent trainer or a music manager and how to avoid CCTV.

Mr. Ireland said: “It’s a false taboo chat between David and I.

He told the jurors that he visited the schools to discuss the LGBTQ+ community with a “professional” capacity with the present staff and that he does not intend to do anything illegal.

Mr. Ireland also spoke about his “regret” about the messaging about sexual abuse of two children, including a six -year -old girl, saying that there are “stupid conversations” and that nothing happened.

He is accused exclusively by 21 of the 38 crimes, including a number of violation of a child, three accusations to cause a child under 13 years to get involved in sexual activities and a number of sexual aggression on a child.

The defendants are jointly accused of 13 crimes, including six charges of conspiracy to sexually assault a child, three charges of organizing a child sex and conspiracy offense to kidnap a child.

Mr. Sutton is also accused of four other crimes, including three charges of taking indecent photos of children.

The process continues.