❓WHAT HAPPENED: Stephen Ireland, co-founder of “Pride in Surrey,” was sentenced to 24 years in prison for raping a 12-year-old boy after meeting him on a gay hook-up app.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Stephen Ireland, 41, and his co-defendant David Sutton, 27, were both convicted of multiple sexual offences against children.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The crimes occurred on April 19, 2024, at Ireland’s apartment in Addlestone, England. Sentencing took place at Guildford Crown Court on October 2024.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Stephen Ireland, who targeted me with endless abuse on here because I oppose the chemical castration of children and the removal of protected spaces for women and girls, has just been sentenced… for child rape.” — J.K. Rowling.
🎯IMPACT: Ireland and Sutton were found guilty of a string of sexual offences.
Stephen Ireland, co-founder of England’s “Pride in Surrey” LGBT organization, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison for raping a 12-year-old boy he met on gay hook-up app Grindr. His co-defendant, David Sutton, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years for separate offences, including making and distributing indecent images of children. Notably, Ireland was a prolific social media users, regularly chastising supporters of U.S. President Donald J. Trump and so-called trans-exclusionary radical feminist (TERF) author J.K. Rowling for opposing child sex changes.
The crimes took place in Addlestone, Surrey, on April 19, 2024, after Ireland invited the boy—referred to in court as “Child A”—to his apartment. Child A, who had been reported missing, told police that Ireland and Sutton engaged in sexual activities with him, played pornography on a laptop, and provided him with a bong containing methamphetamine.
Judge Patricia Lees, presiding over the case at Guildford Crown Court, noted that Ireland “took advantage” of a vulnerable child. The court heard that Ireland supposedly believed the boy was 17 at first but later learned he was younger and chose to proceed regardless, telling the boy, “OK—we just have to keep it a secret.”
Further evidence revealed that Ireland and Sutton exchanged messages about the boy after the encounter, with Ireland describing the child as a “14-year-old baby” and sending Sutton a photo of him. The pair also discussed plans to procure another underage boy for Sutton’s birthday in 2022. Judge Lees condemned their actions, stating, “You definitely supported one another in your perversions.”
Ireland was convicted of multiple charges, including rape, causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and possession of indecent images of children. Sutton was found guilty of voyeurism and perverting the course of justice. Both men attempted to destroy evidence by deleting material from their phones after being released on police bail.
Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, regularly berated by Ireland on social media, noted that the pedophile “targeted me with endless abuse on here because I oppose the chemical castration of children and the removal of protected spaces for women and girls” prior to his upcoming imprisonment “for child rape.”
Ireland has previously referred to Trump voters as “not inclusive and accepting of all… trans exclusionary, racist and narrow minded,” and said another Pride organizer who disagreed with him on transgenderism was “not what Pride stands for.”
Stephen Ireland, who targeted me with endless abuse on here because I oppose the chemical castration of children and the removal of protected spaces for women and girls, has just been sentenced to 30 years in jail for child rape. pic.twitter.com/0HHctRocB4
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 30, 2025
Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.
