Stephen Ireland, 41, co-founder of British LGBT+ organization Pride in Surrey, was sentenced to 24 years in prison with a six-year extended license at Guildford Crown Court on June 30, 2025, for raping a 12-year-old boy he met on Grindr.His former partner, David Sutton, 27, a Pride in Surrey volunteer, received four and a half years for child sex offences, including making indecent photographs and perverting the course of justice.Ireland, who established the organization in 2018 and served as its head of safeguarding, lured the boy to his flat on April 19, 2024, provided him with methamphetamine, and raped him after exchanging explicit messages.The boy, referred to as "Child A", initially told Ireland he was 17 but later revealed he was 13, to which Ireland replied, “Ok, we just have to keep it a secret.”.Scottish man raped two women, then changed gender before being found guilty.Judge Patricia Lees, who presided over the case, condemned Ireland’s exploitation, stating, “Stephen Ireland prided himself on being versed in the vulnerabilities of young people linked to Pride in Surrey, which he was pivotal to at the time. "Child 'A" was obviously an extremely vulnerable, highly sexualized child. Any responsible adult would have recognized he was likely groomed at a young age and been concerned for him, not taken advantage of him.”Surrey Police have praised the victim’s bravery, while Pride in Surrey condemned the actions and confirmed both men were removed from the group in June 2024.The case has sparked outrage across the UK with calls for stricter safeguarding in community groups being issued.
