ROBERT GREENING CAUGHT WITH 15,000 CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN PLYMOUTH AND FLORE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local communities of Plymouth and Flore, Robert Greening, a 46-year-old man, was found to be in possession of an alarming collection of over 15,000 indecent images of children. The images, which had been downloaded over a span of 13 years, included some depicting children being abused by adults, highlighting the severity and depravity of the material involved.

Greening’s arrest and subsequent court proceedings revealed the extent of his illicit activities. During police investigations, officers executed a warrant at his former residence, a modest one-bedroom flat in Plymouth, on April 2 of the previous year. The authorities uncovered a disturbing cache of digital material, including 32 accessible Category A images on a computer tower and hard drive. These Category A images are classified as the most severe, showing children being subjected to abuse. In addition, investigators found 185 accessible Class B images and a staggering 14,992 images categorized under the lowest severity, Class C.

Throughout the court hearing at Plymouth Crown Court, Greening admitted to three counts of making or downloading indecent images, covering all three levels of severity. His defense highlighted his cooperation with law enforcement and the steps he had taken to address his problematic behavior. Greening expressed a sense of relief at being arrested, claiming that it had allowed him to stop his harmful habits, even stating that he felt he had been 'rescued.'

The presiding judge, Judge James Townsend, emphasized the seriousness of possessing indecent images of children, describing it as a grave offence. Despite this, he acknowledged Greening’s good behavior and cooperation, which led to a more lenient sentence. Greening was sentenced to six months in prison, but this was suspended for 18 months, meaning he would not serve time unless he committed further offences within that period. Additionally, he was ordered to complete 35 days of probation through the Rehabilitation Activity Requirement, aimed at addressing his issues.

Furthermore, Greening was mandated to sign the Sex Offender Register for a period of seven years, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities. A Sexual Harm Prevention Order was also issued, lasting the same duration, which grants authorities the authority to oversee and restrict his internet use to prevent further offending. The court also ordered the destruction of the computer tower and hard drive containing the illicit images, aiming to prevent any future access to such material. This case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat the distribution and possession of child abuse images, and the importance of judicial measures to protect vulnerable children from exploitation.