SIMON ABBOTT'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN WHITBY: CHILD SEX OFFENDER SENTENCED FOR BREACHING COURT ORDER AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
| Red Rose Database
Whitby Rapist
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Whitby, Simon Abbott, a man with a long history of sexual offences against minors, has been sentenced to nearly two years in prison for breaching a court order designed to protect children from his predatory behavior. The incident underscores the ongoing threat posed by individuals with a proven record of child exploitation and highlights the importance of vigilant law enforcement.
Abbott, aged 34, was found guilty of deleting indecent images of children from his personal laptop, an act that directly contravened a strict court injunction imposed on him. This court order was put in place following his previous conviction in 2015, which involved a staggering 27 sexual offences, including the possession and distribution of thousands of indecent images of minors and the incitement of a young boy to engage in sexual acts. The court had explicitly prohibited Abbott from possessing or deleting such material, yet he deliberately violated these restrictions.
On July 14 of this year, police officers assigned to monitoring Abbott’s activities visited his residence on Iburndale Lane, Sleights, in Whitby. During this visit, they seized an Asus laptop, which was later subjected to forensic analysis. Prosecutor Victoria Hajba-Ward revealed that Abbott had confessed to officers that illegal images would be found on the device, and further admitted to deleting content from it. When questioned about his motives, Abbott reportedly stated that he could not help himself, indicating a compulsive behavior linked to his addiction to child exploitation material.
Investigations showed that Abbott had deleted his internet browsing history between January and July 2020, raising suspicions of ongoing illicit activity. The police forensic team is still analyzing the device for additional evidence, a process expected to take several months. Meanwhile, Abbott was arrested and charged with breaching a lifetime sexual-harm prevention order, which had been issued following his previous convictions. He pleaded guilty to this breach and appeared before the court to face sentencing.
Victoria Hajba-Ward emphasized that Abbott’s actions were a clear violation of the court’s directives. The original order, issued in January 2015, was a response to Abbott’s extensive criminal record, which included possession of approximately 30,000 indecent images of children, many of which were classified as extreme pornography, with 23,000 deemed to be of the most serious “Level 1” category. His prior convictions also involved 21 counts of possessing, making, or distributing indecent images, as well as four counts of inciting a 14-year-old boy to engage in sexual activity between 2007 and 2013. During that period, Abbott had shared indecent images with others via a Russian website.
Following his arrest for those offences, Abbott was released on bail but did not cease his illegal activities. Within a week of his release, he downloaded thousands of indecent images of children and uploaded them onto Instagram, further demonstrating his dangerous and persistent behavior. The police have classified Abbott as posing a “very high risk of causing serious harm” to children, a conclusion supported by his repeated breaches of court orders and his ongoing possession of illegal material.
Abbott’s history of violations includes a previous breach in August 2018, which resulted in his recall to prison, although he was not formally charged at that time. He was released again in January of the following year but was brought in for questioning after another breach, for which he received a police caution. Despite these interventions, Abbott continued his unlawful conduct, illustrating a pattern of disregard for legal restrictions and the safety of minors.
During the recent hearing, Judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York, addressed Abbott directly, stating, “You are addicted to paedophile images and you can’t stop looking at them. You have admitted that you have images of that matter on the device that is currently being (investigated) by police.” The judge made it clear that he would not wait for the forensic analysis to conclude before sentencing Abbott, citing the severity of the breach and Abbott’s apparent compulsive behavior. As a result, Abbott was sentenced to 22 months in prison, and the court ordered that the existing sexual-harm prevention order remain in effect. The judge also warned that if further charges are brought against Abbott based on the ongoing investigation, he could face additional consecutive sentences.
In a related case from January 2015, Abbott, then aged 27, was sentenced to five years in prison for similar offences. At that time, he was convicted of making and distributing over 30,000 indecent images of children, many of an extreme nature, and inciting a young boy to rape his sister. Abbott, a former military man living on Elgin Street in Whitby, had engaged in a six-year period of criminal activity from 2007 to 2013, which included downloading vast quantities of child pornography and encouraging a minor to commit sexual acts. His arrest in February 2013 led to the seizure of his computer equipment, revealing a horrifying collection of images involving young boys and girls.
During police interviews, Abbott admitted to sending and receiving horrific images via a Russian-based website. He also encouraged the young boy in Wiltshire to take indecent photographs of his sister and even discussed the possibility of meeting up at their respective homes for sexual purposes, although no physical acts were carried out. The court heard that Abbott’s actions posed a significant risk to the safety and well-being of children, especially given his history and the extent of his illegal activities. The judge, Recorder Benjamin Nolan QC, emphasized the danger Abbott represented, stating that he had “gorged himself” on child exploitation material for many years and that his influence could have led to real harm.
Abbott was ultimately sentenced to five years in prison and was placed on the sex-offenders’ register indefinitely, with an order to impose a sexual offences prevention order. His case remains a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by individuals with a history of child sexual abuse and the importance of rigorous monitoring and enforcement of court orders to protect vulnerable minors.
Abbott, aged 34, was found guilty of deleting indecent images of children from his personal laptop, an act that directly contravened a strict court injunction imposed on him. This court order was put in place following his previous conviction in 2015, which involved a staggering 27 sexual offences, including the possession and distribution of thousands of indecent images of minors and the incitement of a young boy to engage in sexual acts. The court had explicitly prohibited Abbott from possessing or deleting such material, yet he deliberately violated these restrictions.
On July 14 of this year, police officers assigned to monitoring Abbott’s activities visited his residence on Iburndale Lane, Sleights, in Whitby. During this visit, they seized an Asus laptop, which was later subjected to forensic analysis. Prosecutor Victoria Hajba-Ward revealed that Abbott had confessed to officers that illegal images would be found on the device, and further admitted to deleting content from it. When questioned about his motives, Abbott reportedly stated that he could not help himself, indicating a compulsive behavior linked to his addiction to child exploitation material.
Investigations showed that Abbott had deleted his internet browsing history between January and July 2020, raising suspicions of ongoing illicit activity. The police forensic team is still analyzing the device for additional evidence, a process expected to take several months. Meanwhile, Abbott was arrested and charged with breaching a lifetime sexual-harm prevention order, which had been issued following his previous convictions. He pleaded guilty to this breach and appeared before the court to face sentencing.
Victoria Hajba-Ward emphasized that Abbott’s actions were a clear violation of the court’s directives. The original order, issued in January 2015, was a response to Abbott’s extensive criminal record, which included possession of approximately 30,000 indecent images of children, many of which were classified as extreme pornography, with 23,000 deemed to be of the most serious “Level 1” category. His prior convictions also involved 21 counts of possessing, making, or distributing indecent images, as well as four counts of inciting a 14-year-old boy to engage in sexual activity between 2007 and 2013. During that period, Abbott had shared indecent images with others via a Russian website.
Following his arrest for those offences, Abbott was released on bail but did not cease his illegal activities. Within a week of his release, he downloaded thousands of indecent images of children and uploaded them onto Instagram, further demonstrating his dangerous and persistent behavior. The police have classified Abbott as posing a “very high risk of causing serious harm” to children, a conclusion supported by his repeated breaches of court orders and his ongoing possession of illegal material.
Abbott’s history of violations includes a previous breach in August 2018, which resulted in his recall to prison, although he was not formally charged at that time. He was released again in January of the following year but was brought in for questioning after another breach, for which he received a police caution. Despite these interventions, Abbott continued his unlawful conduct, illustrating a pattern of disregard for legal restrictions and the safety of minors.
During the recent hearing, Judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York, addressed Abbott directly, stating, “You are addicted to paedophile images and you can’t stop looking at them. You have admitted that you have images of that matter on the device that is currently being (investigated) by police.” The judge made it clear that he would not wait for the forensic analysis to conclude before sentencing Abbott, citing the severity of the breach and Abbott’s apparent compulsive behavior. As a result, Abbott was sentenced to 22 months in prison, and the court ordered that the existing sexual-harm prevention order remain in effect. The judge also warned that if further charges are brought against Abbott based on the ongoing investigation, he could face additional consecutive sentences.
In a related case from January 2015, Abbott, then aged 27, was sentenced to five years in prison for similar offences. At that time, he was convicted of making and distributing over 30,000 indecent images of children, many of an extreme nature, and inciting a young boy to rape his sister. Abbott, a former military man living on Elgin Street in Whitby, had engaged in a six-year period of criminal activity from 2007 to 2013, which included downloading vast quantities of child pornography and encouraging a minor to commit sexual acts. His arrest in February 2013 led to the seizure of his computer equipment, revealing a horrifying collection of images involving young boys and girls.
During police interviews, Abbott admitted to sending and receiving horrific images via a Russian-based website. He also encouraged the young boy in Wiltshire to take indecent photographs of his sister and even discussed the possibility of meeting up at their respective homes for sexual purposes, although no physical acts were carried out. The court heard that Abbott’s actions posed a significant risk to the safety and well-being of children, especially given his history and the extent of his illegal activities. The judge, Recorder Benjamin Nolan QC, emphasized the danger Abbott represented, stating that he had “gorged himself” on child exploitation material for many years and that his influence could have led to real harm.
Abbott was ultimately sentenced to five years in prison and was placed on the sex-offenders’ register indefinitely, with an order to impose a sexual offences prevention order. His case remains a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by individuals with a history of child sexual abuse and the importance of rigorous monitoring and enforcement of court orders to protect vulnerable minors.