ROBERT GABBOTT FROM MELKSHAM SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND PAEDOPHILIA IN WILTSHIRE
| Red Rose Database
Melksham Child Sexual Abuser
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Melksham, Wiltshire, Robert Gabbott, a 64-year-old former police officer, was found guilty of possessing and distributing a significant amount of indecent images of children, as well as engaging in disturbing online conversations involving child abuse. The case came to light after police investigations uncovered his illicit activities, revealing a pattern of disturbing behavior that spanned several months.
Gabbott, also known by the nickname Bob, was caught after authorities received intelligence about messages he had sent to another individual, which contained child abuse images. This led officers to his residence on Elizabeth Close in Melksham, where he was confronted and subsequently admitted that the email address associated with the messages was indeed his. During the search of his digital devices, including a Samsung S20 phone, law enforcement officials discovered a total of 856 indecent images of children. Of these, 200 were classified as the most severe category, indicating the most explicit and harmful content. The victims depicted ranged in age from toddlers to children as old as eleven.
Prosecutor Ellen McAnaw outlined the extent of Gabbott’s disturbing online behavior during a hearing at Swindon Crown Court. It was revealed that Gabbott had engaged in conversations with another paedophile based in Scotland. During these exchanges, he expressed a desire to sexually abuse a nine-year-old female relative, claiming her as his own and sending two indecent images purportedly of her. The court heard that Gabbott also discussed his fantasies about having a sexual relationship with young girls, including a desire to receive oral sex from two girls aged eight and nine, whom he falsely claimed were his relatives. He further disclosed that he had masturbated over images of his supposed relative, ejaculating over her stockings, and expressed a desire to take her virginity.
Initially, Gabbott claimed that he had come across the images unintentionally and had recorded them only to report his findings to the police. He denied any sexual interest in children. However, his guilty plea at Swindon Magistrates’ Court in December revealed a more troubling reality. He admitted to two charges of distributing seven indecent images of children, categorized as A and B, and three charges of making and collecting indecent images, including 200 in the most severe category A, 199 in category B, and 457 in category C.
During sentencing, Judge Taylor addressed Gabbott directly, stating that he “clearly derived sexual pleasure” from the images. The judge emphasized the disturbing nature of the content, noting that the children depicted were real victims, not fictional or fantasy figures. While acknowledging Gabbott’s remorse and efforts to address his offending behavior, the judge expressed disappointment at his apparent lack of empathy for the victims, as reflected in the pre-sentence report.
As a result, Gabbott was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for two years. He is also required to complete 175 hours of unpaid work and attend 60 days of rehabilitation activities, including a sex offender treatment program. Additionally, he will be registered as a sex offender for ten years and subject to a sexual harm prevention order. He was ordered to pay costs amounting to £425. The offenses took place between September 18, 2021, and January 14, 2022, and the individual Gabbott referred to as a relative in his conversations was not a real family member, adding another layer of deception to his disturbing conduct.
Gabbott, also known by the nickname Bob, was caught after authorities received intelligence about messages he had sent to another individual, which contained child abuse images. This led officers to his residence on Elizabeth Close in Melksham, where he was confronted and subsequently admitted that the email address associated with the messages was indeed his. During the search of his digital devices, including a Samsung S20 phone, law enforcement officials discovered a total of 856 indecent images of children. Of these, 200 were classified as the most severe category, indicating the most explicit and harmful content. The victims depicted ranged in age from toddlers to children as old as eleven.
Prosecutor Ellen McAnaw outlined the extent of Gabbott’s disturbing online behavior during a hearing at Swindon Crown Court. It was revealed that Gabbott had engaged in conversations with another paedophile based in Scotland. During these exchanges, he expressed a desire to sexually abuse a nine-year-old female relative, claiming her as his own and sending two indecent images purportedly of her. The court heard that Gabbott also discussed his fantasies about having a sexual relationship with young girls, including a desire to receive oral sex from two girls aged eight and nine, whom he falsely claimed were his relatives. He further disclosed that he had masturbated over images of his supposed relative, ejaculating over her stockings, and expressed a desire to take her virginity.
Initially, Gabbott claimed that he had come across the images unintentionally and had recorded them only to report his findings to the police. He denied any sexual interest in children. However, his guilty plea at Swindon Magistrates’ Court in December revealed a more troubling reality. He admitted to two charges of distributing seven indecent images of children, categorized as A and B, and three charges of making and collecting indecent images, including 200 in the most severe category A, 199 in category B, and 457 in category C.
During sentencing, Judge Taylor addressed Gabbott directly, stating that he “clearly derived sexual pleasure” from the images. The judge emphasized the disturbing nature of the content, noting that the children depicted were real victims, not fictional or fantasy figures. While acknowledging Gabbott’s remorse and efforts to address his offending behavior, the judge expressed disappointment at his apparent lack of empathy for the victims, as reflected in the pre-sentence report.
As a result, Gabbott was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for two years. He is also required to complete 175 hours of unpaid work and attend 60 days of rehabilitation activities, including a sex offender treatment program. Additionally, he will be registered as a sex offender for ten years and subject to a sexual harm prevention order. He was ordered to pay costs amounting to £425. The offenses took place between September 18, 2021, and January 14, 2022, and the individual Gabbott referred to as a relative in his conversations was not a real family member, adding another layer of deception to his disturbing conduct.