ROBERT PEARSON AND SIMON CHAN SHOCK LIVERPOOL AND SUNBURY-ON-THAMES WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CRIME

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Everton, Sunbury-on-Thames, and Liverpool, two men have been brought to justice for their involvement in heinous child pornography activities. Robert Pearson, a former headteacher and deputy head at Campion RC High School in Everton, and Simon Chan, a 27-year-old IT engineer from Sunbury-on-Thames, have both faced serious charges related to the production, distribution, and possession of indecent images of children.

Pearson, aged 60, has a long and troubling history that dates back to his time as acting head of the school in Everton. His initial arrest in 2003 uncovered his participation in a disturbing internet paedophile ring, which led to his conviction and a prison sentence of five years and nine months. During that period, Pearson was found guilty of making indecent images of children, indecent assault on a young girl, and conspiracy to distribute obscene material. His criminal activities extended beyond his professional life, as he used online pseudonyms such as 'Dark Star Man' to share images depicting young boys aged between five and seven being subjected to severe abuse.

According to court reports, Pearson’s online activities included receiving and distributing hundreds of illicit images. Police investigations revealed that he had received at least 434 images, including 17 particularly obscene pictures, from his online alias. His computer was seized during a raid at his residence on Oxford Road, Waterloo, and subsequent analysis uncovered a cache of approximately 180 pornographic images, some of which had been deleted. The court heard that the images were utterly abhorrent, illustrating the terrible abuse suffered by the children depicted.

Despite his previous conviction, Pearson’s criminal behavior persisted after his release in March 2006. By November of that year, he was actively involved in sharing more disturbing images through online chatrooms. His continued involvement in such activities led to his arrest in August of the following year, as part of a broader investigation into internet-based child abuse rings, known as Operation Informal. The police investigation uncovered that Pearson was a member of a notorious paedophile ring called Insurance, which engaged in live online abuse, the creation, and distribution of thousands of pornographic images and videos involving children.

The police investigation also linked Pearson to a group called Holiday PartyTime, further implicating him in the ongoing abuse network. Evidence collected from computers in the United States and the UK revealed that Pearson’s devices contained tens of thousands of images and videos—approximately 60,000 images and 5,000 videos—highlighting the scale of his involvement. His accomplice, Simon Chan, from Sunbury-on-Thames, was also implicated and sentenced to five and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy and multiple counts of making indecent images.

Judge Mark Brown, presiding over the case, condemned Pearson’s actions, emphasizing the contrast between his professional efforts to help young people and the dark, depraved side of his personality. The judge ordered Pearson to serve an additional 17 months on his existing license and imposed a further 31 months of imprisonment to run consecutively. Pearson was also ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely and was subjected to a lifetime Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which restricts his internet usage and access to children.

Representing Pearson, defense attorney Andrew Downie acknowledged that his client had received and viewed the images but claimed he had deleted them and was making efforts to resist temptation. Nonetheless, the court’s verdict underscored the severity of his crimes and the profound harm inflicted upon the victims.

Detective Superintendent Mick Deats of the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “This was a lengthy and complicated operation which drew on all the specialist skills of our officers. Most importantly, a child who was identified as a result of this operation is no longer at risk.”

In summary, the case of Robert Pearson and Simon Chan highlights the ongoing battle against online child exploitation, with law enforcement agencies working tirelessly to dismantle these dangerous networks and protect vulnerable children from further harm.