ERIC ROHTLA IN BRAMPTON AVOIDS PRISON BUT SENTENCED FOR POSSESSING CHILD ABUSE IMAGES

In January 2016, a man from Brampton named Eric Rohtla, aged 58, was spared prison after admitting to possessing over 1,300 images depicting child abuse. Prosecutors at Carlisle Crown Court highlighted that among the images found at his home on Crooked Holme, there were 23 classified as the most severe category A, 15 as category B, and the remaining 1,306 as category C. The images depicted children aged roughly seven and upwards.

Rohtla pleaded guilty to six counts of making indecent photographs of children, with the offences occurring between October 2012 and March 2014. Prosecutor Antony Longworth stated that the images were stored on a computer tower and a memory stick seized from Rohtla’s residence.

During police interviews, Rohtla was described as being frank and claimed he had an addiction to such images. He also denied interest in the most severe types of illegal pictures. However, Mr. Longworth emphasized: “He was interviewed and it is right to say he was frank. He reported to the police that he had what he described as an addiction.” Further, he noted, “The history and material recovered showed there were 23 such images retained on his computer.”

Although Rohtla was considered a man of previously good character, he displayed remorse from the start of proceedings. Nonetheless, Judge Peter Davies criticized his claims of ignorance about the illegality of the images. The judge stated: “In the pre-sentence report I have read, it says that when you started viewing the images you didn’t know it was illegal. Nonsense. You knew it was illegal.” Regarding his denial of understanding child abuse, the judge remarked: “You said you didn’t know it was a form of child abuse. Nonsense. Of course you knew it was.”

Judge Davies also addressed the exploitation of children by those profiting from such material, saying: “Children were exploited by people seeking to make money from such crimes. Somebody is doing that for their own profit. They cannot profit from anything unless people like you go to these websites and keep pervertedly looking at them.”

As part of his sentence, Rohtla received a three-year community order. The judge emphasized the importance of addressing the “addiction” he admitted to, which he considered in the public interest. Rohtla is required to attend an internet sexual offending treatment programme when scheduled and to complete 200 hours of unpaid work. He must also adhere to a sexual harm prevention order for ten years, which includes restrictions preventing him from working with children and vulnerable adults. Additionally, he is subject to sex offender notification requirements for five years.

In conclusion, Judge Davies made it clear: “These are serious offences. Anything you think to the contrary, because of the nature of the sentence, is wrong.”

Prior to the sentencing, Rohtla, of Crooked Holme Farmhouse, Brampton, had pleaded guilty to possessing a total of 1,330 images ranging from categories A to C, with category A being the most serious. The court heard that the children depicted varied in age, with the youngest roughly seven years old. The judge has adjourned the case for background report preparation, and Rohtla remains on conditional bail ahead of sentencing scheduled later in the month.