PAUL ROBERTSON FROM NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME AND SILVERDALE ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD ABUSE IMAGE SCANDAL IN BLYTHE BRIDGE
| Red Rose Database
Newcastle-under-Lyme Silverdale Child Sexual Abuser
In a case that has shocked the local communities of Newcastle-under-Lyme and Silverdale, teacher Paul Robertson was handed a community order instead of a prison sentence after being found in possession of a large collection of indecent images of children. The incident came to light following a police raid on Robertson’s residence in Blythe Bridge in January 2013, where authorities uncovered disturbing evidence of his involvement in viewing and downloading child abuse material.
At the time of the raid, Robertson, aged 32 and employed at Blythe Bridge High School, was taken into custody. Police seized his computers and discovered a staggering total of 2,609 still images at the lowest level of severity, along with hundreds of other images at various levels of explicitness, including 134 at level three with one moving image, and 263 at level four, which is considered highly serious. Additionally, four images at the most severe level, level five, were found. The children depicted ranged in age from three to 15 years old, and the images had been accessed over a period stretching from August 2011 to January 2013.
Following his arrest, Robertson was released on bail and later underwent a second interview on June 27, during which he fully admitted to the charges. He revealed that his initial interest was in adult pornography, but over time, he began viewing child abuse images, which he admitted he did solely for his own sexual gratification. Robertson, who resides on High Street in Silverdale, pleaded guilty to seven counts of making indecent photographs of children and one count of possessing an extreme pornographic image.
During the court proceedings, prosecutor Howard Searle outlined the details of the police operation, emphasizing the severity of the material found and the timeline of access. The court was also informed that Robertson had resigned from his teaching position at Blythe Bridge High School, although the school declined to comment publicly on the matter.
In mitigation, lawyer Hamish Noble described Robertson as socially isolated and acknowledged his awareness of the harm caused by his actions. Noble stated, “He started accessing adult websites and then began downloading images, initially of teenage children. He has a high level of understanding of the harm caused to the children and that he contributed to the harm by accessing the images.” He also noted that Robertson had taken steps to address his issues by enrolling in a course aimed at tackling his problematic behavior.
Judge Paul Glenn, presiding over the case at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, decided against sending Robertson to prison. Instead, he imposed a three-year community order with supervision, requiring Robertson to participate in a community sex offenders group work program or an internet sex offending group work program, along with 100 hours of unpaid work. Robertson will also be placed on the sex offenders’ register for five years and is prohibited from engaging in activities involving children and vulnerable adults.
Judge Glenn made it clear that there was no evidence to suggest Robertson had behaved inappropriately towards any pupils at Blythe Bridge High School. He emphasized, “You taught 11 to 16-year-olds. But I make it plain there is absolutely no suggestion you have behaved inappropriately towards any of those pupils. If there was, be under no illusions, you would be going straight to prison.” The judge acknowledged Robertson’s long-standing addiction to pornography and his admission of deriving sexual gratification from both adult and child images.
He further explained that a prison sentence would likely result in Robertson’s early release without any formal treatment or supervision, which would not serve the public’s best interest. Instead, the community order was deemed a more effective way to manage the risk he poses. Robertson was also ordered to pay costs of £150. Blythe Bridge High School declined to comment on the case, leaving the community to grapple with the implications of the disturbing findings.
At the time of the raid, Robertson, aged 32 and employed at Blythe Bridge High School, was taken into custody. Police seized his computers and discovered a staggering total of 2,609 still images at the lowest level of severity, along with hundreds of other images at various levels of explicitness, including 134 at level three with one moving image, and 263 at level four, which is considered highly serious. Additionally, four images at the most severe level, level five, were found. The children depicted ranged in age from three to 15 years old, and the images had been accessed over a period stretching from August 2011 to January 2013.
Following his arrest, Robertson was released on bail and later underwent a second interview on June 27, during which he fully admitted to the charges. He revealed that his initial interest was in adult pornography, but over time, he began viewing child abuse images, which he admitted he did solely for his own sexual gratification. Robertson, who resides on High Street in Silverdale, pleaded guilty to seven counts of making indecent photographs of children and one count of possessing an extreme pornographic image.
During the court proceedings, prosecutor Howard Searle outlined the details of the police operation, emphasizing the severity of the material found and the timeline of access. The court was also informed that Robertson had resigned from his teaching position at Blythe Bridge High School, although the school declined to comment publicly on the matter.
In mitigation, lawyer Hamish Noble described Robertson as socially isolated and acknowledged his awareness of the harm caused by his actions. Noble stated, “He started accessing adult websites and then began downloading images, initially of teenage children. He has a high level of understanding of the harm caused to the children and that he contributed to the harm by accessing the images.” He also noted that Robertson had taken steps to address his issues by enrolling in a course aimed at tackling his problematic behavior.
Judge Paul Glenn, presiding over the case at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, decided against sending Robertson to prison. Instead, he imposed a three-year community order with supervision, requiring Robertson to participate in a community sex offenders group work program or an internet sex offending group work program, along with 100 hours of unpaid work. Robertson will also be placed on the sex offenders’ register for five years and is prohibited from engaging in activities involving children and vulnerable adults.
Judge Glenn made it clear that there was no evidence to suggest Robertson had behaved inappropriately towards any pupils at Blythe Bridge High School. He emphasized, “You taught 11 to 16-year-olds. But I make it plain there is absolutely no suggestion you have behaved inappropriately towards any of those pupils. If there was, be under no illusions, you would be going straight to prison.” The judge acknowledged Robertson’s long-standing addiction to pornography and his admission of deriving sexual gratification from both adult and child images.
He further explained that a prison sentence would likely result in Robertson’s early release without any formal treatment or supervision, which would not serve the public’s best interest. Instead, the community order was deemed a more effective way to manage the risk he poses. Robertson was also ordered to pay costs of £150. Blythe Bridge High School declined to comment on the case, leaving the community to grapple with the implications of the disturbing findings.