Paedophile stole data while working at council

A council worker who admitted accessing confidential social services records has died while on trial for sexual offences against a child, it has emerged.

Stephen Gregson, 49, pleaded guilty to obtaining personal details while working as a mailroom and records officer for Leeds City Council.

He was found dead during his trial at Leeds Crown Court, where he had denied three offences involving a 15-year-old girl, but admitted possessing more than 180 indecent images of children.

A council spokesperson said at the time of his death, Gregson had been suspended and later resigned and it had undertaken a "thorough review" of "security arrangements" as well as making changes following the data breach.

An inquest which opened at Wakefield Coroner's Court last week heard how Gregson, who was originally from Preston, was found dead in St John's Cemetery in Leeds on 19 November.

Coroner Oliver Longstaff adjourned the hearing until a later date.

At Gregson's trial last month, he denied causing a 15-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity, facilitating the sexual exploitation of a child and sexual assault.

The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed that Gregson had earlier pleaded guilty to making 182 images of indecent photographs of children as well as another charge of facilitating sexual exploitation of a child, relating to the 15-year-old girl.

Gregson was employed by the authority from 2010 until his resignation in May 2024, the council said.

According to the indictment, the data breach took place "on or before" 26 April last year while the two sex offences he admitted also took place last April.

The other charges are alleged to have taken place between 30 March and 26 April last year.

The data breach prompted the council to send out a letter to affected families on 5 November.

It said: "I am writing to inform you, with regret, of a personal data breach that affected your personal information and your child' personal information."

It added: "We have robust safeguards in place to protect the personal data that we hold and use, but despite these measures, a former member of staff has unlawfully removed information from one of our premises without consent.

"We do not believe that there is any immediate or ongoing risk to your family."

The council spokesperson said that Gregson was immediately suspended once they were notified of his arrest.

They added: "We have co-operated with the police on what has been a complex and sensitive investigation, including notifying those impacted.

"Following the data breach we undertook a thorough review of our security-related arrangements and implemented appropriate changes.

"The Information Commissioner's Office was immediately informed and they confirmed there was no further action required from them at the time."

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