ROBERT MITCHELL FROM BOLTON SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES IN BOLTON

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, Robert Mitchell, a resident of Bolton, has been sentenced to four years in prison after authorities uncovered nearly a quarter of a million indecent images of children stored on his personal computers. This revelation comes after Mitchell’s previous conviction in 2002, when he was found in possession of approximately 400,000 such images, marking him as a repeat offender with a long history of child exploitation crimes.

Following his initial conviction, Mitchell completed a rigorous three-year sex offenders rehabilitation program and was subject to a strict five-year police notification requirement, which mandated him to keep law enforcement informed of his whereabouts and movements. Despite these measures, Mitchell’s criminal behavior persisted, raising serious concerns about the effectiveness of the rehabilitation process and the ongoing risk he posed to children.

The latest incident came to light when Mitchell’s then-girlfriend became suspicious after he admitted to her that he had previous convictions and that he continued to collect child pornography. Alarmed by this confession, she conducted a search of his personal belongings and subsequently contacted the police. Mitchell, upon realizing the gravity of the situation, fled the scene and traveled to Cumbria in an attempt to evade arrest. However, his efforts were short-lived, as he was eventually apprehended after he re-established contact with his girlfriend, who then alerted the authorities once again.

Mitchell appeared before Bolton Crown Court last month, where he pleaded guilty to 13 counts of making indecent images of children and one count of possessing indecent images. The images in question included most of the 250,000 images stored on his devices, highlighting the extent of his illegal collection. The court’s proceedings revealed the disturbing nature of his offenses and the ongoing threat he posed to the safety of children.

During the hearing, Wayne Jackson, representing Mitchell, stated, “He doesn’t excuse what he’s done and is deeply ashamed of it. Having completed the five-year notification period and three-year rehabilitation program, he unfortunately reverted to his previous behavior. He’s not stupid; he should know better.”

As part of his sentencing, Mitchell, who resides at Heatherfield, Bolton, was issued a sexual offences prevention order. This order requires him to inform police of his accommodation details for the remainder of his life, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions aimed at preventing further offenses. The case underscores the persistent danger posed by individuals like Mitchell and raises questions about the adequacy of current rehabilitation and monitoring strategies for sex offenders.