RAJ GOHIL CAUGHT IN CAMBRIDGE WITH CHILD INDECENT IMAGES AND ATTEMPTED TO HIDE LAPTOP AT POLICE STATION
In a disturbing case that has shocked the city of Cambridge, Raj Gohil, aged 31, of Brimley Road, found himself at the center of a serious criminal investigation involving the possession of indecent images of children.The incident unfolded in June 2017 when police officers, conducting routine checks, overheard Gohil making incriminating statements that revealed his attempt to conceal evidence.
According to court records, Gohil was in custody at Parkside Police Station on a separate matter, which was later dismissed.
During this time, officers overheard him speaking on the phone, where he explicitly told someone to “get rid of the laptop.” This statement raised immediate suspicion among the officers, prompting them to take swift action.
They attended his residence without delay and seized all electronic devices, including laptops and hard drives, for detailed forensic examination.
Further investigation uncovered a troubling collection of images stored on Gohil’s devices.
The police found multiple indecent images, some classified as Category A, which is considered the most severe level of such content.
These findings led to Gohil’s arrest and subsequent court proceedings.
It was revealed that Gohil had previously pleaded guilty in 2007 to a similar offence, which had resulted in avoiding prison time but marked him as a repeat offender.
In the courtroom, Gohil faced charges of making indecent images of children.
The prosecution presented evidence that included the discovery of 130 images on his laptop and hard drive, with six of these classified as Category A.
The jury at Cambridge Crown Court deliberated for only a few hours before returning a guilty verdict on both counts.
The court heard that Gohil shared his living space with others, who potentially had access to his devices, and that the images might have been downloaded automatically via pop-up advertisements on the internet.
Judge Gareth Hawksworth addressed the defence’s argument that the images could have been downloaded by others or through automatic pop-ups, stating that such explanations were highly unlikely given the volume of images found.
The prosecution’s representative, Benedict Peers, emphasized that the likelihood of pop-ups being responsible for such a large collection was minimal, and highlighted Gohil’s prior conviction as evidence of a pattern of offending behavior.
Gohil is scheduled to be sentenced after May 22, pending the completion of a probation report.
Until then, he remains remanded in custody.
This case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement in Cambridge to combat the possession and distribution of child exploitation material, and serves as a stark reminder of the persistent threat posed by individuals involved in such heinous crimes.
