JULIAN ROSKAMS OF MALVERN ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD SEX IMAGE SCANDAL

In June 2018, Julian Roskams, a former mayor of Malvern, faced a significant legal decision following his admission to possessing and downloading child sexual abuse images. Roskams, aged 55 at the time, was found to have engaged in the collection of such material over a period spanning from 2011 to 2016. His collection included a disturbing total of 283 images classified in the most obscene category, some depicting children under the age of five. The material also contained a substantial number of sadistic images, illustrating children being physically abused through tying up and restraint, highlighting the severity and depravity of his actions.

Roskams was sentenced at Worcester Crown Court in March 2017 to a 16-month jail term, which was suspended, meaning he would not serve time unless he committed further offenses. During the sentencing, the judge described the collection of images and videos as ‘abhorrent,’ emphasizing the gravity of his crimes. The court also imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which included restrictions such as a ban on unsupervised contact with children under 16 and a prohibition on possessing any computer or mobile device capable of accessing the internet without notifying authorities.

However, in a subsequent appeal heard in June 2018, Roskams’s legal representatives argued that some of these restrictions were excessive, particularly the ban on unsupervised contact with minors, given that Roskams had not physically harmed any children. Annie Brown, representing Roskams, contended that the restrictions were disproportionate. Judge Martyn Zeidman, presiding over the appeal, acknowledged that in some cases, restrictions on contact might be necessary even without a contact offense, but in this instance, he found that the evidence did not justify such measures. He stated, “We cannot see the need for this prohibition and it will be quashed.”

Furthermore, the judge overturned the requirement for Roskams to notify authorities before using devices capable of internet access. The original restrictions, which were indefinite, were reduced to a period of ten years. Despite the serious nature of his offenses, Judge Zeidman recognized that Roskams had shown genuine remorse, had sought counseling prior to his arrest, and had acknowledged his problem. He remarked, “Although he can’t undo what he has done, he has shown real contrition.”

Prior to the 2018 appeal, Roskams had already been convicted in March 2017 of downloading over 1,000 indecent images of children, including four movies depicting rape and torture. During that hearing, he received a 16-month suspended sentence, a fine, and was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work. The court also issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and mandated the destruction of all devices storing the illegal images. Prosecutor Peter Grace detailed that Roskams had stored images on an iPhone, three computers, and a hard drive, with material depicting children under ten being sexually abused, some in bondage or restrained scenes.

Roskams, a father of six residing on Worcester Road in Malvern, admitted during police interviews that he was aware of having ‘a few issues’ related to his behavior. Judge Robert Dukes QC noted that while the images were ‘abhorrent,’ Roskams’s honesty and efforts to seek help prior to his arrest were factors in his favor. The judge also highlighted that the timing of his family breakdown coincided with the start of his offending, which he considered a mitigating factor. The court warned that if Roskams committed another offense within 18 months, further punishment would follow. All devices containing the illegal images are to be destroyed, and the restrictions imposed by the original SHPO will now last for a decade, rather than indefinitely, reflecting a nuanced approach to his rehabilitation and the severity of his crimes.