Labour MP's former aide who downloaded 500 indecent images of children spared jail

A former aide to a Labour MP has been spared jail after downloading more than 500 indecent images of children.

Conor McGrath, 29, was a borough councillor in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, between 2023 and 2025. He also worked for Stevenage MP Kevin Bonavia, who has condemned McGrath's "sickening criminality".

McGrath was handed an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, on Friday after he pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children last month.

"If you find your way back to me for offences of this type… I will revoke that order and off to prison you will go," Judge Jonathan Mann KC told McGrath.

The defendant admitted to having 77 category A images, 109 category B images, and 329 category C images and videos between June 2024 and March 2025.

He was arrested on 25 March last year on an unrelated matter and police seized several of his devices, including an iPhone and iPad.

After being released under investigation, McGrath met a colleague at a pub and told them about being worried officers would find "rude photographs" on his device and think he was a paedophile, as well as deleting or trying to delete images on his devices, the trial heard.

Officers launched a second search and seizure at McGrath's home after a referral was made to the Metropolitan Police Parliamentary Diplomatic Protection Command following the meeting with the colleague, with police eventually finding indecent images on the iPhone and iPad they originally seized.

Claire Beards from the Crown Prosecution Service said: "The volume and nature of the indecent images that McGrath collected and stored showed his sustained and unlawful sexual interest in children.

"Some of the images were among the most serious and disturbing for which a person can be prosecuted."

MP: No words to express horror I felt

McGrath has lost his political career and feels ashamed to have let down the people who elected him as a councillor, David Claxton, defending, told St Albans Crown Court on Friday.

He added that McGrath felt "genuine remorse" and had started therapy to understand what motivated him after childhood trauma.

After McGrath was sentenced, Mr Bonavia said about his former aide's crimes: "There aren't words to express the horror I felt upon being made aware of this sickening criminality.

"As soon as I was made aware of the allegations facing Mr McGrath, I immediately took action to ensure the information was brought to the attention of the authorities and his employment was terminated immediately upon his arrest. I have not had any contact with him since.

"My thoughts today are with the victims and survivors of child sexual abuse. We must continue to do all we can to rid this vile scourge from our society and anyone found guilty of committing such abhorrent crimes must face the full force of the law."

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A Labour Party spokesperson added: "It is right that Conor McGrath has been sentenced for these heinous crimes.

"The Labour Party took swift action to suspend Mr McGrath as soon as these allegations came to our attention. He is no longer a member of the Labour Party."

In addition to his suspended jail sentence, McGrath was also ordered to complete 25 days of rehabilitation activity requirement and 150 hours of unpaid work. He will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.

(c) Sky News 2026: Labour MP's former aide who downloaded 500 indecent images of children spared jail