Labour MP’s aide admits possessing 500 indecent images of children
The Labor MP’s former Stevenage aide has admitted charges of possessing more than 500 indecent images of children.
Conor McGrath, 29, worked for MP Kevin Bonavia and served as a borough councilor in Stevenage from 2023 to 2025.
He pleaded guilty at Stevenage Magistrates’ Court to three counts of making indecent images of children.
McGrath allegedly created 77 category A images, 109 category B images, and 329 category C images and videos between June 2024 and March 2025.
The 29-year-old actor spoke on Wednesday to confirm his personal information and admit the charges.
He was wearing a dark suit, white shirt and red tie on the dock and wiped his forehead as he entered his request.
The court heard police arrested McGrath at his home address on March 25, 2024, over an unrelated matter and seized several devices, including his iPhone and iPad.
Prosecutor Menekşe Şahan said that she was asked for a password and password, but she did not give it at the beginning.
While he was released under investigation, Hertfordshire Police received a referral from the Metropolitan Police following a report that he had made a reference to a colleague that police might find indecent images on his devices.
The court heard his electronic items were once again seized and police found indecent images on them.
It is understood Mr Bonavia took action to ensure police were notified as soon as he learned of the allegations against McGrath.
It is also understood that Mr Bonavia and McGrath have not had any contact since then.
Angela Horne, for McGrath, told the court: “Obviously mitigating action will be taken and this will include the life-changing prosecution of these charges and the fact that the defendant has suffered trauma in his childhood and as a result has a fragile mental health.”
District Judge Alan Thorn told the defendant that the matters fell outside the jurisdiction of the magistrates’ court to impose sentencing and that the matter would be referred to the Crown court.
McGrath was granted bail, including that he live at his home address in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire and have no unsupervised contact with anyone under 18.
A pre-sentence report was ordered, and on 17 April, St. He will be sentenced at Alban Crown Court.
