SWADLINCOTE MAN TOM ROE SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES IN DERBYSHIRE

In August 2021, a disturbing case emerged involving Tom Roe, a resident of Swadlincote, who was found to have downloaded and possessed a significant amount of indecent images and videos depicting children. The case was brought before Derby Crown Court, where the seriousness of his actions was thoroughly examined and condemned.

According to court reports, police officers executed a search warrant at Roe's home in Swadlincote in October 2019. During the raid, they seized six electronic devices, including computers and storage media, which contained a disturbing collection of illicit material. The investigation revealed that Roe, aged 32 at the time, had accessed and stored images and videos of young girls aged between eight and 15 years old. The material was classified into various categories, with 88 images and videos falling under the most severe Category A, 74 under Category B, and 60 under Category C. Among the disturbing content was an animated child abuse image and a photograph depicting an adult female engaged in sexual activity with an animal.

Prosecutor Steven Taylor detailed the findings, stating that police traced an internet address linked to Roe's residence in Swadlincote, which was actively accessing indecent images of children. During police interviews, Roe initially claimed that he was merely a gamer who downloaded games and did not expect illicit material to be present on his devices. However, during a subsequent interview in February, Roe attempted to justify his actions by claiming he watched videos about paedophile hunters, believing that his viewing was part of an effort to help eradicate such material. Despite this, he admitted to viewing the images but did not report them, fearing potential trouble.

Roe pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including three counts of making indecent images of children, one count of possessing an extreme pornographic image, and one count of possessing a prohibited image. The court heard that his actions caused significant harm, with the judge emphasizing the impact on victims and society at large.

Recorder Stuart Sprawson, presiding over the case, sentenced Roe to a ten-month prison term, which was suspended for two years. The judge expressed concern over the perception that such crimes are victimless, highlighting that the possession and distribution of these images perpetuate misery and the loss of innocence among children. He stated, “You perpetuate misery, you perpetuate children losing their innocence and you perpetuate this vile crime.”

In addition to the suspended sentence, Roe was subjected to an eight-month curfew, requiring him to remain at his home in Midway from 8:30 pm to 6 am each day. The court also ordered him to attend 35 days of rehabilitation programs, pay costs amounting to £420, and imposed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order. Furthermore, Roe was placed on the sex offender register for a decade, underscoring the gravity of his offenses and the ongoing risk he poses to society.