GEORGE ROONEY'S HORRIFIC CHILD ABUSE IN DEVONPORT AND PLYMOUTH REVEALED

In a chilling case that has shocked the community of Devonport and Plymouth, Geoffrey Rooney, a 39-year-old former Royal Navy chief petty officer, has been convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison for a series of heinous child sex offences. The crimes, which took place between December 2013 and January 2014 while Rooney was still serving in the Royal Navy, included the rape of a six-month-old baby, as well as numerous other sexual assaults and the possession and distribution of indecent images of children.

Rooney's disturbing activities came to light after police were alerted on January 9, 2014. The wife of another man discovered indecent images on her husband's phone, which led investigators to Rooney. Upon examination of Rooney’s mobile device, authorities uncovered more than 150 images and videos classified in the most severe category of child exploitation material. These images included photographs taken during the abuse of victims, revealing the extent of Rooney’s depravity.

During the court proceedings at Plymouth Crown Court, it was revealed that Rooney had sent these images to other paedophiles via his mobile phone. Furthermore, he engaged in online conversations where he made jokes about being a paedophile, demonstrating a disturbing lack of remorse. Rooney admitted to multiple charges, including the rape of a child under 13 and two counts of sexual assault on children under 13. He also posted a running commentary on social media, openly discussing his abuse of one child with other offenders.

The victims’ families, who are legally protected from being identified, issued a statement after the sentencing. They expressed the profound emotional trauma inflicted upon their children and the ongoing pain they endure. The families stated, “He has taken our children’s innocence and given us a life sentence. The emotional impact has been huge, and we are all taking each day as it comes.” They also criticized Rooney’s apparent lack of remorse, describing him as manipulative and highlighting how he exploited positions of trust to commit his crimes. The families emphasized their belief that Rooney’s sexual preferences for children are unlikely to be fully cured and expressed their difficulty in coming to terms with his actions.

Judge Paul Darlow described Rooney’s offences as “utterly incomprehensible,” condemning his actions as “the casual, callous depravity of a predatory paedophile.” The police, represented by Detective Constable Pete Shotton of Devon and Cornwall Police, condemned Rooney’s behavior, stating that he had “glorified” in his abuse and that he remains a danger to children. The police emphasized Rooney’s manipulative skills used to groom and exploit young victims. The Royal Navy declined to comment on the case.

Earlier, in November 2014, Rooney was publicly identified as a perverted individual guilty of multiple horrific offences against children. He faced a series of charges, including possession of indecent images, rape, sexual assault, and distribution of child pornography. Rooney pleaded guilty to several of these charges, which led to his remand in custody pending a psychiatric assessment to determine his dangerousness. The court heard that Rooney possessed over 249 indecent images, three of which were in the most depraved category, and took indecent photographs of children.

Despite his guilty pleas, Rooney denied an earlier allegation of indecent assault against a girl under 13, which was tried separately. The jury, after a five-day trial, found Rooney not guilty of that particular charge. The court was also informed that Rooney’s collection of indecent images included 13 photographs, with three in the most severe category. The jury was not made aware of his previous guilty pleas during the trial.

Rooney’s arrest was part of an ongoing investigation codenamed Operation Darkling. He remains in custody, awaiting a psychiatric report that will assess whether he poses a continued threat to the public. Depending on the findings, Rooney could face an indeterminate sentence, meaning he would not be released until authorities determine he is no longer dangerous. His sentencing is scheduled for the New Year, with the exact date yet to be announced.