Man jailed for child indecency after exposing himself and possessing child abuse images

A man who indecently exposed himself to an 11-year-old girl while at a bus stop was sentenced to prison. Robert Swaine, 31, of Prospect Vale in Fairfield, was handed a sentence of two years and eight months in prison along with a two-year extended license on Monday, March 31, at Liverpool Crown Court. The court was informed that detectives received information indicating Swaine was distributing indecent images of children. Following a police search at his residence, five electronic devices were confiscated. Forensic analysis of these devices uncovered over a thousand indecent images and videos of children classified as category A, B, and C. Furthermore, during the investigation, Swaine was found to have exposed himself in September last year at a bus stop on County Road in Walton, in the presence of an 11-year-old child, and was arrested on site. Previously, Swaine admitted to six charges: indecent exposure, possessing prohibited images, and three counts of making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child (categories A, B, and C), as well as possession of such images (categories A, B, and C). Detective Inspector James Milligan commented: “This sentence follows a thorough investigation to bring Swaine before the courts and ensure he is held accountable for his utterly depraved and abhorrent crimes against children.” He added: “The impact on the victims of these heinous offenses is profound and long-lasting. Merseyside Police is committed to protecting children from sexual abuse and seeking innovative ways to identify offenders early to prevent further harm. If anyone has experienced sexual abuse or knows of a child being abused, they are urged to report it to the police. We treat all reports with sensitivity and compassion.” Support organizations such as NSPCC and Childline are available for victims and affected individuals, offering helplines at 0808 800 5000 and 0800 1111 respectively. Victims are encouraged to speak out and seek the help they need.