GEORGE ROBINSON FROM STRATFORD AND GWERSYLLT ESCAPES JAIL DESPITE CHILD ABUSE IMAGE CHARGES

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Gwersyllt and Stratford, a British Transport Police officer named Geoffrey Robinson, aged 57, narrowly avoided a prison sentence after admitting to possessing and downloading the most severe types of child abuse images. Robinson, who resides on Hardwick Drive in Gwersyllt, Wrexham, was found to have engaged in illegal activities involving indecent images of children, despite taking steps to conceal his actions.

According to court records, Robinson pleaded guilty to three counts of downloading indecent images of children. The investigation revealed that between June 2017 and May 2018, he had downloaded a total of nine illicit videos and images. Among these were two Category A videos, which depict the most serious form of child sexual abuse, along with two Category B videos and five additional indecent images. Despite his efforts to hide his activities by using shredding software, law enforcement officials uncovered the evidence during their investigation.

Robinson’s background includes a 12-year service in the Royal Air Force, after which he became a serving officer with the British Transport Police. His arrest took place while he was staying at his holiday residence in Gwersyllt, but he is originally from Stratford in London. The police action was carried out by North Wales Police, who responded swiftly to the evidence of his crimes.

At Mold Crown Court, Judge Timothy Petts delivered a sentence that, while lenient in appearance, carried significant restrictions. Robinson was sentenced to 12 months in jail, but this term was suspended for two years. Additionally, he was ordered to complete 200 hours of community service and to undergo a rehabilitation program. A sexual harm prevention order was also imposed, requiring him to register as a sex offender for a decade.

During the sentencing, Judge Petts emphasized the gravity of the images found on Robinson’s devices. He stated, “It’s sometimes easy to use the phrase indecent images without thinking about what it means. These images show the abuse of children. Two of the movies found on your laptop are of the most serious kind. They perpetuate the deviant demand for them by people like you. Your viewing merely perpetrated the abuse cycle. It is particularly aggravated by your attempts to hide what you were doing from investigators.”

The judge further commented on the personal consequences of Robinson’s actions, noting that the damage to his reputation and his family was entirely his own doing. He acknowledged the reports from probation services indicating that Robinson might be rehabilitated but expressed concern over the potential for his offending to escalate into contact offenses involving children.

In conclusion, Judge Petts explained that the maximum sentence available under current guidelines would not be sufficient to allow for proper rehabilitation, which influenced his decision to suspend the jail term. Robinson’s case highlights the ongoing issues surrounding child exploitation and the importance of strict enforcement and rehabilitation efforts.