Man found with hundreds of indecent images of children is jailed

A man who had hundreds of indecent images of children on his phone has been jailed.

Ole Steinsland was found at Manchester Piccadilly train station in the company of a 16-year-old girl from Derbyshire, who had been reported missing.

The 46-year-old was arrested and found to be a Norwegian national. Contact was made with police in Norway who confirmed that he was a primary school teacher who had been reported missing.

Checks of Steinsland’s phone discovered hundreds of indecent images of children, including some featuring children as young as three.

He was subsequently charged with taking indecent images of children, making indecent images of children, possession of extreme pornography and possession of prohibited images.

He admitted the offences when he appeared at Derby Crown Court on September 27. Appearing at the same court for sentence on October 24, Steinsland, of Oslo, was jailed for three years. He was also handed a lifelong sexual harm prevention order, given a restraining order preventing him from having any contact with the teenager, and told he will be deported on release from prison.

Detective Constable Izabel Fowkes, who led the investigation, said: “Steinsland is clearly a very dangerous man and I have no doubt his appalling offending would have continued had he not been arrested. 

"Examination of his phone following his arrest showed he was in contact with a number of children online - including in Chile - and I have no doubt he would have continued attempting to find victims to abuse.

“The fact that Steinsland is a primary school teacher, a position that holds such trust, also magnifies his crimes.

“I am pleased that he is now behind bars where many young children will be safe from his depravity.”

To report or seek help about online sexual abuse, you can contact police in any of the following ways:

• Website– They have crime reporting tools on their website: use our online contact form
• Facebook– send a private message to the Derbyshire Constabulary Facebook page
• X (Twitter) – direct message the contact centre via @DerPolContact
• Phone – call 101
• If you are in immediate danger and need and emergency response, always dial 999.

You can also anonymously contact the independent charity CrimeStoppers, on 0800 555 111, or by visiting the CrimeStoppers website.

There are also a number of other organisations who may be able to help with advice or alternative ways in which you can report. They are:

• Child Exploitation Online Protection command (CEOP) - http://ceop.police.uk/
• Internet Watch Foundation - https://www.iwf.org.uk/
• NSPCC Helplines: Anyone concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC Helpline for advice on 0808 8005000
• Get Safe Online provide advice on staying safe online.
• Thinkuknow: An education programme keeping children and young people safe by teaching about sexual abuse and sexual exploitation.