Stephen Ireland, the founder of Surrey Pride organization, has been charged with multiple accounts of sexual abuse against children.

“Alongside Ireland, David Sutton, 26, a former volunteer with the organisation, was also arrested. Both men, who are from Addlestone, were taken into custody on Wednesday and have been remanded in custody,” The Express Tribune reports.

“Stephen Ireland, the founder of Pride in Surrey in the UK, has been arrested and charged with 37 counts related to rape and sexual abuse of children under the age of 13! David Sutton, a volunteer with the organization, also faces multiple child sexual abuse charges,” Billboard Chris wrote.

Ireland, 40, faces accusations of raping a child, multiple sexual assaults, voyeurism, making indecent photographs of children, and plotting to kidnap a child.

Per Daily Mail:

The 40-year-old, who was listed as a director of Pride in Surrey until June, appeared in court on Thursday accused of committing the offences over a two-year period from August 2022 to last month.

He was joined in court by David Sutton, 26, a fellow former Pride in Surrey volunteer who is accused of voyeurism, possession of extreme pornography, conspiracy to sexually assault a child and plotting to kidnap a youngster.

The pair, both from Addlestone in Surrey, were arrested on Wednesday and have since remanded into custody to appear in court again on September 12.

Ireland claims on his social media to be a patron of Educate and Celebrate, a LGBT+ charity which caused controversy after encouraging toddlers to question their gender.

The non-profit, which was set up by Dr Elly Cannon, said it had hoped to ’embed gender, gender identity and sexual orientation into the fabric’ of organisations including primary schools.

The Express Tribune reports:

These alleged offences are said to have occurred between August 2022 and last month. Surrey Police have confirmed that their investigation is ongoing.

A spokesperson for Pride in Surrey stated, “On 12 June, Pride in Surrey were informed by Surrey Police of an ongoing investigation surrounding two volunteers. Both volunteers were immediately suspended from the organisation.”

The spokesperson added that the organisation only became aware of the charges through a social media post on 15 August and has pledged to “fully co-operate” with the police investigation.

 

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