Ex-foster carer sentenced for child abuse images

A 40-year-old man who fostered and worked with vulnerable children in Wales has been given a suspended prison sentence after admitting to making indecent images of children. 📱

Steven Breslin-Green of Railway Street in Abertillery appeared at Newport Crown Court on Friday where he was sentenced for three counts of making indecent images of children.

The court heard that Breslin-Green had more than 200 indecent images on his laptop, including 40 category A images, 64 category B images, and 91 category C images, with videos of abuse in each category. The investigation took place between April 22, 2024 and May 21, 2024.

Sophie Keegan, prosecuting, told the court the images and videos depicted children who appeared to be between three and 14 years old.

Police executed a search warrant at Breslin-Green’s home on May 23, 2024, following intelligence about sexual abuse material. When officers arrived, he took them to his laptop and admitted he had some images on it.

Ms Keegan noted that Breslin-Green had previously worked with children in positions of trust, telling the court: “This is a man who held a position of responsibility towards children… [who expressed] ‘I’m attracted to young boys’, caveated by this being online not in real life. In my submission that doesn’t really make sense.”

Defending Breslin-Green, Gareth Williams said: “There is no evidence at all that there has been anything abusive beyond using a laptop or the internet. I can understand the concerns people would have.” He added that his client was remorseful and accepted his actions were wrong.

Recorder Robin Rouch sentenced Breslin-Green to eight months in prison suspended by 18 months, noting that he had been “candid about his interest in children” which gave him a prospect of rehabilitation.

Prior to his arrest, Breslin-Green worked in several settings with children and young people, including at a Newport council playscheme for children with complex needs and as a classroom assistant at Orbis Education and Care in Cardiff.

A spokesman for Orbis said: “During Mr Breslin-Green’s brief employment with us, he was subject to multiple background checks, including two enhanced DBS checks and four reference checks, with no issues identified. As a classroom assistant he supported our specialist teachers and no concerns about his behaviour were raised by our team. He left our employment in spring 2022 for a new role. The safety and wellbeing of the children and adults we support remain our highest priority and we have stringent safeguards in place to ensure safe recruitment and compassionate staffing.”

In 2022, he began working at Charles Williams Church In Wales primary school in Caerleon, Newport, and was approved as a foster carer in 2023 until summer 2024 when Newport council became aware of the allegations.

A Newport City Council spokesman said: “Stephen Breslin-Green has not worked in any capacity for Newport City Council since it became aware of the allegations. While he has never been directly employed by the council he has worked in a number of settings with children and young people in the city including local authority settings.

“Breslin-Green would have been under supervision at all times in these settings and would not have carried out personal care without another person present. He was approved as a local authority foster carer in the summer of 2023 following thorough background checks. This was terminated in the summer of 2024 when the council was made aware of these allegations.

“The charges he faced related to downloading images of children and do not relate to any child that he cared for or any local children. However that does not lessen the seriousness of such crimes as the young people in such images, wherever they live, are innocent victims and this behaviour cannot be tolerated.

“We, of course, share and understand the concerns of parents. The council, his employers, and the settings where he worked were prevented from making public statements or discussing the case while legal proceedings were ongoing. However direct inquiries from individuals have been addressed and they have been signposted to appropriate support if required.”