ROBIN JACKSON'S CRIMES IN MIDDLESBROUGH: SEX OFFENDER'S REPEATED OFFENSES AND LOCKDOWN SHAME
In September 2020, Robin Jackson, a known sex offender residing in Middlesbrough, made a startling confession to the police that ultimately led to his arrest and subsequent conviction.Jackson, aged 66 at the time, admitted to visiting male pornography websites multiple times daily during the COVID-19 lockdown period, a revelation that shocked the authorities and the public alike.
Jackson's criminal history is extensive, with previous convictions dating back to 1975.
His record includes offenses such as indecency with a child, possession of indecent images of children, and breaches of sexual offences prevention orders (SOPO).
Since 2009, he has been under a sexual offences prevention order, a legal measure designed to protect the community from individuals deemed a risk due to their sexual offending history.
On July 27, 2020, Philip Morley, prosecuting, stated that Jackson contacted his supervising officer to disclose his internet activity.
The very next day, police officers visited Jackson’s residence in Middlesbrough and seized a Nokia mobile phone.
An investigation revealed that Jackson had been accessing a particular website between May and July of that year, under a profile name that had not been previously reported to authorities.
This raised immediate concerns, as the police discovered that Jackson was actively seeking videos of males performing sexual acts, offering to pay money for such material, and searching terms like 'teen boy naked.' Although the profiles of the individuals in the videos were listed as over 18, some appeared to be quite young, which heightened the severity of the case.
During police interviews, Jackson fully admitted to the offenses, confirming that he was aware of the restrictions imposed by his SOPO.
He claimed that he was not attracted to male children but preferred adult males over 18.
However, his online activity contradicted his assertions, as he was visiting these sites daily, sometimes multiple times a day.
Judge Howard Crowson presided over the case at Middlesbrough Crown Court.
He highlighted Jackson’s long-standing history of sexual offenses, emphasizing the significant risk he posed to young males.
The judge noted Jackson’s own admission that he struggled with a sexual addiction, which he was attempting to control.
The court was told that Jackson had been visiting pornographic sites regularly, requesting videos that appeared to feature young males, despite the profile ages stating they were 18 or older.
The judge remarked that Jackson’s self-reporting of his internet activity only came after he recognized a pattern of repeated visits and sought help by reporting himself to authorities.
In light of these findings, Jackson was sentenced to 16 months in prison.
During the hearing, Jackson appeared via video link from Durham prison and expressed gratitude for the judge’s understanding.
He stated, “I don’t want these thoughts in my mind.
I haven’t wanted them for a long time.” Earlier, in June 2016, Jackson had already been jailed for over three years for breaching court orders intended to prevent him from causing further harm to children.
His breaches included attempting to view pornography in Hartlepool library, visiting a known cruising spot at Seaton Carew, and purchasing a mobile phone to access illicit material—all actions prohibited by his SOPO.
The court heard that Jackson approached staff at Hartlepool library, declared his status as a sex offender, and was allowed to join.
However, concerns arose when another library user reported suspicious activity involving a computer terminal, which was later confirmed to have been used by Jackson to access pornography.
Police later found Jackson at Seaton Carew beach, dressed only in shorts, with no upper clothing.
He admitted to having a sexual interest in boys over 13 and even suggested he would have engaged in a sexual encounter with a 15-year-old if the opportunity had arisen.
Jackson also confessed to purchasing a mobile phone for £24 from Argos to access pornography, actions he was explicitly banned from doing under his SOPO.
Jackson’s criminal record is extensive, with 18 previous convictions for sexual offenses spanning from 1975 to 2016.
His offenses include exposure, gross indecency with a child, indecent assault, and possession of indecent images.
His history also features multiple breaches of court orders, including the SOPO, which he repeatedly violated over the decades.
In May 2014, Jackson was convicted of a sexual assault that took place in Middlesbrough’s Cleveland Centre.
He assaulted a 40-year-old man at the entrance of a WHSmith store while the victim was waiting for his family.
The assault was unprovoked and left the victim deeply distressed, affecting his confidence, social life, and trust in others.
Jackson was found guilty after a trial, having denied the charges, and police discovered a tablet computer under his duvet containing images and videos of boys and teens, some of which were at the lowest level of seriousness.
Jackson claimed he obtained these images from a website claiming its models were over 18.
His defense argued that Jackson was a lonely and isolated man, frustrated by his circumstances, and that he viewed his inappropriate sexual thoughts as an addiction he wished to overcome.
Despite this, the court recognized the danger he posed and sentenced him to two years in prison for the assault and related offenses.
Throughout his criminal career, Jackson has demonstrated a persistent pattern of offending, with a total of 59 previous offenses, including multiple convictions for sexual offenses, breaches of court orders, and indecent exposure.
His case underscores the ongoing threat posed by individuals with such extensive criminal histories, especially when they continue to breach legal restrictions and engage in illegal online activities despite repeated convictions and court interventions.
