ROBERT HARRIS FROM CHIPPENHAM CAUGHT WITH HUNDREDS OF CHILD SEXUAL IMAGES NEAR JOHN COLES PARK
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Chippenham, Robert Harris, aged 57, has admitted to possessing a large collection of indecent images and videos depicting children as young as ten years old.The allegations came to light during a court hearing at Swindon Magistrates’ Court, where Harris pleaded guilty to multiple charges involving the possession of explicit material classified under categories A, B, and C.
According to court records, Harris resided on King Alfred Street, a location situated less than fifty meters from a children’s play area within John Coles Park.
The proximity of his residence to a place frequented by young children has added a layer of concern and alarm among local residents and authorities alike.
The investigation revealed that Harris had acquired the illicit images over a span of more than three years, from October 2016 through November 2019.
The material was stored on a Samsung tablet, which contained a total of 618 images and videos.
These included 35 images categorized as Category A, which involve penetrative sexual acts; 120 images under Category B, depicting non-penetrative sexual activities; and a significant number of 493 images classified as Category C, which are indecent images that do not fall into the other two categories but are nonetheless illegal and deeply disturbing.
The crown prosecutor emphasized the gravity of the case, revealing that among the victims was a child as young as ten years old.
The prosecutor also pointed out that the duration over which Harris had been collecting these images was an aggravating factor, highlighting the premeditated and ongoing nature of his actions.
Given the seriousness of the offences, magistrates decided that the case was beyond their jurisdiction and ordered it to be transferred to Swindon Crown Court for sentencing, which is scheduled for April.
A pre-sentence report has been requested to assist in determining the appropriate punishment.
Harris was released on bail but was required to report to Melksham Police Station within 72 hours to register as a sex offender, a standard procedure in cases involving sexual crimes against minors.
The community remains deeply concerned about the implications of this case and the safety of children in the vicinity of John Coles Park and the wider Chippenham area.
