JAMES ROBERTS SHAMES CLACTON WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT VIDEO AND ONLINE SHARING

In March 2021, a disturbing case emerged involving James Roberts, a 32-year-old man from Clacton, who committed heinous acts of sexual misconduct and took steps to disseminate his crimes online. Roberts uploaded a video to a well-known pornographic website that captured him performing a sexual act on a sleeping woman, a footage that astonishingly garnered over 67,000 views. This act of sharing such explicit content not only violated the victim’s privacy but also amplified the trauma inflicted upon her.

Adding to the severity of his misconduct, Roberts included a link to the victim’s Facebook profile in the same online post. This malicious act allowed viewers to access her social media account, which ultimately led police to identify and locate her. The authorities’ investigation was initiated after the online posting drew attention, prompting a detailed search of Roberts’ residence in Carisbrooke Avenue, Clacton, in July 2019. During this search, law enforcement officials seized multiple electronic devices for forensic analysis.

Examination of the seized devices revealed a disturbing collection of images and videos. On a hard drive, investigators discovered 12 images classified as Category A, three as Category B, and 153 as Category C. These images depicted girls aged between 14 and 17, highlighting the extent of Roberts’ involvement in child exploitation. Further evidence was found on a computer, where an additional Category C image showed a girl estimated to be between 12 and 14 years old. An iPad contained an image classified as Category B, further underscoring the disturbing nature of the material.

In addition to the images, police uncovered evidence that Roberts had coerced a girl aged between 14 and 16 to watch him perform a sexual act on himself, a clear indication of his predatory behavior. On his mobile phone, investigators found messages in which Roberts advertised weights and various types of cannabis, indicating his involvement in drug supply activities.

Roberts faced multiple charges, including sexual assault, three counts of making indecent images of children, one count of taking an indecent image of a child, one count of causing a child to view a sexual act, and concerns related to the supply of cannabis. He admitted to these charges and entered an early guilty plea, which was taken into account during sentencing.

During the court proceedings at Chelmsford Crown Court, Recorder Kainth emphasized the gravity of Roberts’ actions. He pointed out that Roberts’ misconduct did not end with the initial act of photographing the sleeping victim but extended to uploading the footage online and sharing a link to her Facebook profile. The judge highlighted that the video’s widespread viewing, exceeding 60,000 times, compounded the victim’s humiliation and suffering. The court acknowledged the serious nature of these offenses, noting that Roberts’ actions caused significant distress and shame to the victim.

In sentencing, Roberts was handed an 18-month prison term. The judge underscored the importance of adhering to legal guidelines concerning sexual offenses and emphasized the need for accountability in such cases. Despite having no prior convictions, Roberts’ early guilty plea and the severity of his crimes were taken into consideration. The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of online sharing of exploitative material and the devastating impact it has on victims, especially minors from Clacton and surrounding areas.