ROY WOOLLARD AND GLYN ROGERS FROM BROMBOROUGH AND WALTON GRANGE SENTENCED IN CHILD PORN RING CASE

In a harrowing case that has shocked the local communities of Bromborough and Walton Grange, a court has handed down severe sentences to four men involved in an extensive international child pornography network. The case, heard at Liverpool Crown Court, revealed the disturbing extent of their activities, which included the distribution and sharing of thousands of indecent images and videos depicting the most extreme forms of abuse against children.

Judge David Aubrey QC, presiding over the case, expressed his profound emotional distress during the sentencing. He recounted how he was haunted by the screams of a young victim who was filmed being sexually abused for the purposes of the illicit network. The judge’s comments underscored the severity of the crimes committed, emphasizing the trauma inflicted upon the victims. He stated, “I could never have imagined such abuse, such exploitation and such consequential trauma. I can still hear the screams of that baby, see the distress that was captured on those young children’s faces.”

The court was informed that the criminal operation was masterminded by Roy Woollard, a 61-year-old father of four, who resided on Eastern Avenue in Bromborough. Woollard was identified as the key figure behind the ring, actively sharing over 35,000 indecent images of children on his computer. These images included videos of very young victims being tortured, highlighting the grotesque nature of the material involved. Analysis of Woollard’s computer revealed that he distributed these obscene images to 587 email addresses across the globe, including contacts in the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Prosecutor David McLachlan described Woollard as a “prolific distributor of indecent images,” who also used online chat rooms to groom minors. Woollard targeted two 15-year-old boys, encouraging them to send explicit pictures and engage in sexual activities via web cameras. The court heard that Woollard’s activities extended beyond mere distribution; he actively sought to feed the perverted tastes of others involved in the network.

Woollard’s co-accused, Glyn Rogers, aged 37 and residing on Carlake Grove in Walton Grange, was identified as having the most serious collection of images among the group. The relationship between Woollard and Rogers was described as one of “mutual admiration,” with the latter being heavily involved in the possession and sharing of the most extreme material. Rogers admitted to 13 charges, including the distribution of indecent images, and was sentenced to four years in prison.

The other two men involved were Martin Flack, aged 25 from Ellesmere Port, who pleaded guilty to 14 offences and received a sentence of 27 months, and William Ebrell, aged 48 from Rock Ferry, who admitted to eight charges. Ebrell’s six-month sentence was suspended for two years, and he was placed under a supervision order. All three men were disqualified from working with children and were subject to sexual offenders’ prevention orders.

Woollard, who also faced charges of perverting the course of justice after destroying a computer hard drive when police arrived, was sentenced to an indefinite period of detention for public protection, with a minimum term of four years. His actions and the evidence presented in court highlighted the disturbing nature of this criminal enterprise, which has left a lasting impact on the victims and the community at large.