WELLINGBOROUGH MAN ROBERT FAIRNEY ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY DISCOVERY IN NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

In a case that has shocked the Northamptonshire community, 28-year-old Robert Fairney of Chatsworth Drive, Wellingborough, narrowly avoided immediate imprisonment after being found in possession of a staggering number of indecent images of children. The incident came to light following a police raid on his residence, which uncovered over 3,000 illicit images and videos stored on his laptops.

Fairney, a graduate in computer science, appeared before Northampton Crown Court on Thursday to face serious charges related to the possession, creation, and distribution of child pornography. The court was told that the police had initiated their investigation after receiving information that Fairney was using a file-sharing program known for circulating such illegal content. The police action was triggered by reports suggesting his involvement in sharing and downloading indecent material.

During the hearing, prosecutor Gregor Purcell detailed the extent of Fairney’s online activities. He revealed that Fairney had admitted to police that he had visited questionable websites, although he claimed this was not recent. However, digital forensic analysis of two of his laptops painted a far more disturbing picture. The investigation uncovered a total of 3,108 indecent images and videos, some depicting children engaged in sexual acts. Among these, police identified 32 videos and 170 still images classified as the most serious category, including content involving a male baby, which is considered among the most heinous forms of child exploitation.

Further investigation revealed that Fairney had conducted approximately 18,000 Google searches, with at least 2,000 search terms explicitly aimed at finding indecent images of children. The use of peer-to-peer file-sharing software was also discovered, which facilitated the distribution of these images to other users, amplifying the severity of his actions. Additionally, one of the laptops contained images of extreme pornography involving adults, indicating a broader pattern of deviant behavior.

Initially, Fairney denied downloading any of the illicit material, claiming that a Trojan virus had infected his computer, causing the images to appear on his hard drives without his knowledge. However, he later admitted to the charges during a case management hearing in September, just weeks before his trial was scheduled to commence.

In sentencing, Judge Michael Fowler acknowledged that Fairney had come within a 'hair’s breadth' of being sent to prison. Instead, he was given a three-year community order, which mandates regular attendance at a sex offenders’ treatment program. The judge emphasized the importance of Fairney addressing his issues, warning that if he appeared before the courts again, he would face imprisonment. Fairney was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for five years, underscoring the seriousness of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.