GEORGE ROONEY OF BRADFORD SENTENCED AGAIN FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES AFTER EARLIER JAIL TIME
Geoffrey Rooney, formerly of Moore Avenue in Bradford, has faced renewed prison sentences after a prior conviction and release.Originally jailed in 2015 at Plymouth Crown Court for 14 years due to child abuse, Rooney’s criminal history was marked by disturbing offenses including raping a child under 13 and sexually assaulting another girl under 13.
The 39-year-old, previously a Royal Navy sailor from Devonport, also admitted to making and sharing hundreds of indecent images of children with other offenders.
Rooney was released from prison in January 2022 but soon continued his unlawful activities.
In December 2021, he pleaded guilty to charges of arranging or facilitating child sex offenses and violating a sexual harm prevention order.
Today, at Bradford Crown Court, he received an extended sentence comprising eight years behind bars with an additional six years on license.
He is required to serve at least two-thirds of the prison term before being eligible for parole.
Rooney was also placed under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and registered as a sex offender.
Judge David Hatton QC described the images Rooney shared as 'grotesque and defy comprehension' and emphasized that he posed a 'significant risk' to the public.
The court revealed that Rooney was caught after exchanging messages with two undercover officers using the alias 'Yorks BL' on online platforms.
He attempted to arrange a meeting with an officer, believing he was meeting a paedophile’s young son, and asked the officers to send him indecent images as proof they were not police.
Rooney also sent videos depicting children being abused, with victims believed to range from a few days old to eight years old.
Rooney, who changed his name to Daniel Walker after his initial conviction, was apprehended at his workplace in November.
Authorities found over 600 indecent images on his phones and laptops.
His offending period was between July and November 2021, during which a joint operation by West Yorkshire Police and the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit led to his arrest.
Regarding his past, Rooney’s 2015 court appearance in Plymouth revealed he caused 'the destruction of a happy home life' for two victims’ families.
Judge Paul Darlow condemned his actions as 'callous and predatory.' Prosecutors linked Rooney’s initial arrest to a 2014 case where police found indecent images on a man's phone; Rooney had asked the man to bring his children for abuse.
Rooney’s career included a notable posting at Whitehall from 2009 to 2010, where he reportedly reset nuclear codes each night.
During interviews, Rooney admitted his sexual interest in children and his possession of indecent images.
Authorities discovered he had messaged others during the abuse, providing real-time commentary while abusing a girl, and sent explicit images of himself to numerous men.
He also took and shared images of other minors’ anatomy, further underscoring the severity of his crimes.
