RAYMOND LAUNDRY PLYMOUTH NAVY CHIEF ADMITS TO CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND INDECENT IMAGES

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Plymouth, a senior officer in the Royal Navy, Chief Petty Officer Raymond Laundry, has confessed to a series of serious sexual offenses involving a young girl. The allegations and subsequent court proceedings have brought to light the disturbing nature of his crimes, which spanned over a period of three years.

Raymond Laundry, aged 47 and a resident of Plymouth, faced a court that heard detailed accounts of his offenses. He was convicted of six counts of assault on a girl under the age of 13 by penetration, along with ten counts related to the creation and possession of indecent images. The Plymouth Crown Court was informed that Laundry had also taken a photograph of his young victim using a mobile phone, which he later deleted to conceal his actions.

Having served in the Royal Navy for 26 years, Laundry’s career was abruptly halted when he voluntarily surrendered himself to police authorities on April 5 of the previous year. During police interviews, he admitted to the assaults and acknowledged possessing indecent images on his computer. The court was told that his disturbing interests initially involved viewing images of women and young girls dressed in school uniforms. Over time, his online activity escalated to accessing websites featuring Japanese schoolgirls and other content depicting teenagers and children, which he attempted to hide by deleting the sites from his computer.

In his defense, Laundry’s legal representatives argued that he recognized the wrongfulness of his actions and had taken steps to address his behavior. He enrolled in a ten-week course aimed at tackling his issues, demonstrating what his defense described as genuine remorse and a desire to change. The court was told that Laundry’s actions had profound implications not only for his young victim but also for the children depicted in the indecent images he possessed.

Judge Paul Darlow, presiding over the case, sentenced Laundry to four years and 32 weeks in prison. The judge emphasized the harm caused by such images, stating, “These images bring with them misery to the children involved in the taking of these photographs.” He also expressed hope that the victim and her family could find some measure of closure and begin to rebuild their lives.

Acting Detective Barry Walter of the Plymouth Child Abuse Team acknowledged the support from the Royal Navy during the investigation. He expressed hope that the young girl, with her family’s support, could focus on her future and move beyond the trauma inflicted upon her. A spokesperson from the Ministry of Defence confirmed that Laundry would be dismissed from the Royal Navy as a result of his actions, ending his military career in disgrace.