ROBERT BILLSON'S SHOCKING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CASE IN BOURNEMOUTH AND LIVERPOOL REVEALS HORRIFIC IMAGES

In February 2021, a disturbing case emerged involving Robert John Billson, a 63-year-old businessman with ties to Bournemouth and Liverpool, who was found in possession of an appalling collection of indecent images involving children and extreme pornography depicting dead babies. The investigation revealed that Billson, who claimed to own a multi-million-pound recycling enterprise, was living at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Dovecot, Liverpool, when authorities uncovered his disturbing digital library.

Police initiated the investigation after receiving information that an image of child sexual abuse had been uploaded onto the internet via Google Photos from an email address linked to Billson. The email was traced back to his residence at the church vicarage on Dovecot Avenue. Early in 2019, officers executed a search warrant at the property, where they confronted Billson about the suspicious activity. During questioning, he acknowledged awareness of the images but claimed he could not recall the specific content, directing officers to devices upstairs.

Subsequent searches of Billson’s electronic devices uncovered a horrifying collection of over 500 illegal images. Among these were 52 Category A images, which are classified as the most severe, depicting child rape. Additionally, there were 39 Category B and 243 Category C images, along with 40 prohibited images of children and 135 extreme pornographic files. The material included graphic content involving boys and girls as young as four years old, some of whom were shown being sexually abused. Disturbingly, the collection also contained computer-generated images portraying toddlers being molested. One particularly grotesque image involved a dead baby and a man, while another depicted a dead girl at a mortuary with a man present.

During his police interview, Billson admitted to searching for and downloading these illicit images. He explained that he owned a recycling company operating across Northern Ireland, with at least 15 staff members using his computers for business purposes. He further stated that he had been under significant work-related pressure and claimed to have lost his moral compass while alone in hotel rooms at night.

The court heard that the images and videos he possessed were deeply disturbing, with some showing young children being sexually abused and others involving graphic, computer-generated depictions of toddlers being molested. The evidence was deemed extremely serious and vile by the judge.

On Friday, Liverpool Crown Court sentenced Billson to 18 months in prison, though the sentence was suspended for two years. He was also ordered to complete a 60-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and to adhere to a two-month home curfew from 7 pm to 6 am daily. Furthermore, Billson is required to register as a sex offender and must comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the next ten years.

Additional background information shows that Billson has been involved in multiple dissolved companies based in Chester and Preston, including Material Works and Revolve Recycling, according to data from Companies House. His case highlights the ongoing issues surrounding the possession and distribution of child abuse images and the importance of vigilant law enforcement efforts in tackling such heinous crimes.