ROBERT NORMAN FROM WHITTESY SENTENCED TO TEN YEARS FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND SEXUAL OFFENSES IN CAMBRIDGE

In a significant case that has shocked the community of Whittlesey, Robert Norman, aged 41, has been sentenced to a decade behind bars after being found guilty of possessing a large collection of indecent images of children and engaging in illegal online communications. The incident came to light in January of the previous year when law enforcement officers executed a search at Norman’s residence on Drybread Road, following credible intelligence indicating his involvement in downloading and sharing illicit material.

During the police operation, officers confiscated two Samsung mobile phones and a hard drive from Norman’s home. A detailed forensic analysis revealed that these devices contained a staggering total of 1,716 indecent images depicting minors. The evidence uncovered painted a disturbing picture of Norman’s activities, which included not only the possession of such material but also active online communication with a person he believed to be a ten-year-old girl.

Further investigation uncovered that Norman had been engaging in sexually explicit conversations with the supposed young girl, passing her personal details to other individuals who were also involved in illegal activities. This behavior demonstrated a clear pattern of grooming and exploitation, raising serious concerns about his intentions and the safety of minors.

Norman’s violations extended beyond the possession and online communication. He had previously been handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order in 2015 following a prior conviction related to indecent images of children. Despite this, he repeatedly breached the order, demonstrating a blatant disregard for the restrictions imposed upon him. Notably, he failed to disclose the existence of a second Samsung mobile phone capable of internet access, which he had hidden beneath a pillowcase, while only surrendering the other device to authorities.

In addition to these breaches, Norman used the internet to communicate with the young girl, and in doing so, he deliberately deleted web browsing history from all devices, further violating the terms of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order. His attempts to conceal his online activities did not stop there; he also failed to inform authorities of new online usernames, which was a direct breach of his obligations under the Sex Offender Register Notification Requirements.

Norman’s case was brought before Cambridge Crown Court on Friday, 31 January. During the proceedings, he pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including three counts of making indecent images of children, three counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, one count of failing to comply with notification requirements, and one count of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor. The court’s judgment reflected the severity of his actions, resulting in a ten-year prison sentence that underscores the seriousness with which such offenses are treated.