ROBERT MILLS FROM BASSINGBOURN SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN CAMBRIDGE

In November 2019, Robert Mills, a 46-year-old resident of Bassingbourn, was convicted and sentenced for possessing a significant collection of indecent images of children. The investigation into Mills' activities was initiated after authorities identified his Internet Protocol (IP) address as being linked to the upload of an illegal image depicting a child. This discovery prompted a thorough investigation by the Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT), which led to a warrant being executed at Mills' residence on Old North Road, Bassingbourn, on April 19, 2017.

During the raid, law enforcement officers seized 32 electronic devices for detailed forensic analysis. The subsequent examination uncovered a disturbing cache of 5,879 indecent images and videos of children, with a particularly alarming subset of 1,649 images classified as Category A, indicating the most severe form of child exploitation material. The investigation revealed that Mills had not only stored these images but was also involved in their distribution.

Further developments occurred on July 17, when Mills was detained following a new report that prompted additional searches. During this subsequent search, authorities confiscated more devices, which yielded an additional 1,362 indecent images. Mills was subsequently charged with multiple offenses, including seven counts of making indecent images of children and four counts of distributing such images.

At Cambridge Crown Court on Monday, November 18, Mills faced justice. The court sentenced him to three years in prison for his crimes. In addition to his custodial sentence, Mills was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which imposes restrictions aimed at preventing future offenses. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely, ensuring ongoing monitoring and management of his activities to protect the public from potential harm.