VIVIAN SAWYER FROM TROWBRIDGE ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES
| Red Rose Database
Trowbridge Child Sexual Abuser
In a case that has shocked the community of Trowbridge, Vivian Sawyer, a 65-year-old resident of Windermere Road, was brought before Swindon Crown Court to face serious allegations related to child pornography. Sawyer pleaded guilty to eight counts of creating indecent images of children, along with an additional charge of possessing such images. The court proceedings, held on a Monday, resulted in a sentence that, while lenient in appearance, carries significant legal consequences.
Authorities acted swiftly after receiving intelligence that linked Sawyer to the possession of illicit material. On April 22 of the previous year, police officers from Wiltshire Police, acting on this information, arrested Sawyer at his workplace in Trowbridge. The investigation revealed that his home computer contained a disturbing collection of over 2,700 images, which had been downloaded over a span of more than six years, from February 2002 to April 2008.
Following the search of his residence, law enforcement seized multiple computers and storage devices. The evidence uncovered was substantial, highlighting the extent of Sawyer’s involvement in the possession and creation of indecent images of children. Despite the gravity of the charges, Sawyer was sentenced to nine months in prison, but this sentence was suspended for two years, meaning he will not serve time unless he commits another offence within that period.
In addition to the suspended sentence, Sawyer was mandated to participate in the Thames Valley Sex Offenders Programme within two years. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for a decade and disqualified from working with children for five years. The court further ordered him to pay £822 in legal costs, which must be settled within 28 days.
Detective Constable Jason Roberts, who leads the child protection unit at Wiltshire Police and was responsible for the case, commented on the outcome. He stated, “I think he’s been dealt with appropriately considering the charges against him. Hopefully this sentence will send out a clear message to anyone who is considering carrying out similar acts. The public should be made aware that we will continue to act on any information we receive regarding child abuse.”
Authorities acted swiftly after receiving intelligence that linked Sawyer to the possession of illicit material. On April 22 of the previous year, police officers from Wiltshire Police, acting on this information, arrested Sawyer at his workplace in Trowbridge. The investigation revealed that his home computer contained a disturbing collection of over 2,700 images, which had been downloaded over a span of more than six years, from February 2002 to April 2008.
Following the search of his residence, law enforcement seized multiple computers and storage devices. The evidence uncovered was substantial, highlighting the extent of Sawyer’s involvement in the possession and creation of indecent images of children. Despite the gravity of the charges, Sawyer was sentenced to nine months in prison, but this sentence was suspended for two years, meaning he will not serve time unless he commits another offence within that period.
In addition to the suspended sentence, Sawyer was mandated to participate in the Thames Valley Sex Offenders Programme within two years. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for a decade and disqualified from working with children for five years. The court further ordered him to pay £822 in legal costs, which must be settled within 28 days.
Detective Constable Jason Roberts, who leads the child protection unit at Wiltshire Police and was responsible for the case, commented on the outcome. He stated, “I think he’s been dealt with appropriately considering the charges against him. Hopefully this sentence will send out a clear message to anyone who is considering carrying out similar acts. The public should be made aware that we will continue to act on any information we receive regarding child abuse.”