ROBERT MILAN FROM HEREFORD AND MARDEN CAUGHT WITH INDECENT CHILD IMAGES

In October 2008, a former choirmaster from Hereford was brought to justice after admitting to possessing indecent images of children. Robert Milan, aged 62 and residing at Rudge Close in Marden, had been employed as a choirmaster and organist at St Nicholas Church located on Barton Road in Hereford. His arrest and subsequent confession revealed a disturbing collection of illicit material stored within his home.

Police investigations uncovered that Milan kept 31 photographs of children hidden away in a wardrobe at his residence. Among these images, five depicted sexual acts involving adults and minors, highlighting a grave concern for child exploitation. The remaining 26 photographs were classified as less severe in terms of their content but still constituted serious criminal material. The discovery of these images raised alarm among authorities and prompted further inquiry into Milan’s activities.

The case was brought to light after police received a complaint in October of the previous year. Witnesses reported seeing Milan taking a photograph of a schoolgirl standing at a bus stop, which prompted law enforcement to intervene. Authorities traced Milan through his vehicle registration details and located him. During the search, officers found a camera in his car that contained photographs of girls. Although these images were not deemed indecent at the time, they contributed to the suspicion surrounding Milan’s conduct.

Further investigation revealed that Milan had admitted to police that he possessed two folders of inappropriate images stored in a wardrobe at his home. These folders contained pictures downloaded from the internet, as well as newspaper cuttings, which he acknowledged as part of his collection. Milan explained that the indecent photographs had been provided by a man who had visited his workshop, adding a layer of context to the case.

Representing Milan in court, Andrew Davidson stated that his client had since resigned from his position at St Nicholas Church. Davidson emphasized that Milan had been honest and forthright throughout the legal process. He also pointed out that the offences fell into the lower end of the seriousness spectrum, suggesting a lesser degree of culpability.

Judge Richard Rundell considered Milan’s admissions, his previously good character, and the fact that he had entered an early guilty plea. The judge also noted that the images involved were not among the most serious category of child exploitation material. As a result, the judge decided against imposing a custodial sentence. Instead, Milan was sentenced to a three-year community order, which included a requirement to participate in a sex offenders’ programme. Additionally, he was subjected to a 10-year sexual offences prevention order, mandated to sign the sex offenders’ register for five years, and disqualified from working with children indefinitely. The court’s decision aimed to balance punishment with the recognition that Milan “clearly needs some help” to address his conduct.