Southend man jailed for assaulting child and possessing 125,000 indecent images
He was handed a seven-year prison sentence at Basildon Crown Court.
A man from Southend has been jailed for sexually assaulting a child and possessing more than 125,000 indecent images and videos of children.
Steven Field, 52, of Marks Court, was sentenced to seven years in prison, with an additional year on licence, at Basildon Crown Court.
Police began investigating Field’s activity after being alerted to concerning material on his devices. A warrant was executed, and forensic analysis of devices seized from his home revealed thousands of indecent images and videos, as well as internet searches and accounts linked to him.
Officers discovered some images that showed Field with a child. After working closely with the child and their family, the victim disclosed they had been sexually assaulted.
Field ultimately admitted charges of making and taking indecent images of children, which included thousands of photos and videos categorised as either Cat A, Cat B, or Cat C.
Field denied a separate charge of assaulting a child under the age of 13 by penetration but was found guilty following a jury trial in October 2025.
As part of his sentence, Field has been placed on the sex offenders register and must comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Detective Constable Rob Guiney, who led the investigation, praised the bravery of the child and their family, saying:
“They have shown such strength and determination throughout this very challenging investigation. They have bravely told their story and realised what happened to them was wrong and against the law.”
Guiney added:
“Field’s depraved offending has now been stopped, and he is rightly serving a prison sentence.
“Every child in every image is a victim, and we are dedicated to finding those who prey on the most vulnerable people in our society.
“Please do report any concerns you have to us, we are here and will thoroughly investigate all allegations made.”