ROBERT MAYERS FROM WARRINGTON INVOLVED IN INTERNET CHILD RAPE PLOT IN CHESTER AND LONDON

In February 2007, a disturbing case unfolded involving Robert Mayers, a resident of Warrington, Cheshire, who was implicated in a sinister online conspiracy to commit sexual offenses against young girls. The case, which garnered significant media attention, revealed the extent of premeditated plans to target two young sisters, with the men involved communicating extensively over the internet to coordinate their heinous intentions.

According to court proceedings held at London's Southwark Crown Court, Robert Mayers, along with David Beavan and Alan Hedgcock, engaged in detailed discussions in chatrooms about their disturbing plans. Despite never having met in person, the three men expressed a shared obsession with carrying out acts of sexual violence against children. Their conversations included references to the infamous Soham murders of 2002, where ten-year-olds Holly and Jessica were murdered by Ian Huntley, highlighting the chilling nature of their fantasies.

The police first became aware of their malicious scheme when David Beavan, a 42-year-old greeting card salesman from Shackleton Square, Bransgore, Hampshire, decided to turn himself in at Bournemouth Police Station. Beavan claimed he was acting as a vigilante, gathering evidence against paedophiles, but his actions led to his conviction on two counts of conspiracy to rape. His decision to report the plot was seen as a pivotal moment in the case, revealing the dangerous intentions of the group.

Alan Hedgcock, a 41-year-old film make-up artist from River Way, Twickenham, southwest London, was convicted earlier of conspiracy to rape. Meanwhile, Robert Mayers, also aged 42 and residing on Warrington's Brighton Street, faced similar charges. Mayers denied any involvement or wrongdoing but was ultimately convicted alongside the others.

Sentencing for the trio was handed down with severe penalties. Beavan received an indeterminate prison sentence with an 11-year tariff, reflecting the gravity of his crimes and his widespread distribution of indecent images of children. Hedgcock and Mayers each received an eight-year tariff, with Hedgcock arguing that his imagination was overactive, a claim rejected by the court.

All three men admitted to possessing, making, and distributing thousands of indecent images of children, with the court noting the disturbing nature of some photographs, including those of infants. Judge Geoffrey Rivlin QC emphasized that their actions posed a serious risk of physical and psychological harm to children, necessitating lifelong registration as sex offenders. The men were also ordered to undergo treatment programs and were subject to strict restrictions on their contact with minors, internet access, and photographic equipment through a sex offenders prevention order.

The judge described the chatroom logs as containing some of the most lurid and disgusting discussions he had encountered, with the men expressing a desire to abduct and rape children in woods, and exchanging pornographic images of young children. The court highlighted the severity of their intentions and the disturbing evidence found during investigations.

In his remarks, Judge Rivlin pointed out that Beavan had a pattern of turning himself in to authorities but was deeply involved in the sexual exploitation of children, even possessing photographs of infants. His personality disorder and bizarre behavior were noted, and the court expressed concern that he might have only reported the crimes out of fear of imminent arrest.

Hedgcock was characterized by the judge as having a blatant disregard for child safety, despite character testimonials describing him as humorous and considerate. The court noted that his detailed promotion of child rape should have been taken seriously, as it indicated a genuine intent rather than mere fantasy.

Mayers, despite his previous good character, was also deemed a serious risk to children. Outside the court, Detective Constable Dave Adams of the Metropolitan Police’s Child Abuse Investigation Command commented on the case, emphasizing that the investigation was groundbreaking in using internet chat logs to prove conspiracy charges. He warned that the internet is not a safe place for planning or participating in criminal acts.

Further details revealed that the men met in an incest chatroom, where Hedgcock expressed his desire to abuse two sisters aged 13 and 14. He planned to approach them as they walked through woods to school, and Beavan showed interest, making it clear he had no limits. Beavan also expressed a desire to kill his wife and described throttling motions with a prostitute. His enthusiasm for the plan was so intense that he later recruited Mayers via the internet.

However, Beavan eventually lost nerve, fearing police intervention, and betrayed his accomplices. Police found over 5,000 child porn images on his computer, including 1,249 downloaded in a single session. Beavan did not testify but claimed his online activities were purely for research, asserting that his discussions about raping underage girls were fantasies. Prosecutor Sir Allan Green QC dismissed these claims, emphasizing Beavan’s obsessive interest in child sexual abuse and the disturbing evidence of his intentions.

Overall, the case highlighted the serious dangers posed by online predators and the importance of vigilant law enforcement. The investigation demonstrated the potential for online communications to be used as concrete evidence in criminal proceedings, serving as a stark warning about the perils of internet anonymity in facilitating child exploitation.