WILLERBY PAEDOPHILE ANTHONY ROYDHOUSE SENTENCED FOR ONLINE CHILD SEX OFFENSES IN GRIMSBY

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Willerby, Anthony Roydhouse, aged 47, has been convicted and sentenced for a series of heinous crimes involving the exploitation of young girls through online webcam sessions. The investigation revealed a pattern of predatory behavior that spanned several months, during which Roydhouse lured minors into exposing themselves on camera and recorded these illicit encounters.

Authorities first uncovered evidence of Roydhouse’s activities on April 6 of the previous year, when police officers arrived at his residence on Victoria Avenue, Willerby. During this early morning raid at approximately 6:45 am, officers seized his personal computer and other electronic devices. Initial inspections did not reveal any immediate concerns, but forensic analysis of his laptop later uncovered a disturbing collection of indecent videos.

Specifically, the forensic examination identified eleven video files, all created between October 7, 2015, and February 23, 2016. These files were categorized as six Category C and five Category B videos, indicating their explicit nature. Police also discovered file-sharing software on the device, which contained search histories with terms such as ‘paedo’ and references to underage individuals, raising further suspicions about Roydhouse’s activities.

During police interviews, Roydhouse initially denied any knowledge of the illicit material stored on his devices. However, after being released on bail, he was re-interviewed in February of this year. It was during this second interview that Roydhouse admitted to having a sex addiction and taking responsibility for the videos. He disclosed that he had engaged in webcam sessions with children, which he recorded using software called ‘Webcam and Screen Recorder.’

Further investigations confirmed that Roydhouse had been involved in camera-to-camera interactions on various online chat forums, some of which involved minors. His confessions revealed a troubling pattern of behavior, including the manipulation and exploitation of young girls. He admitted to inciting girls aged between 13 and 15 to engage in sexual activities and causing children as young as 10 and 11 to view or expose themselves in front of the camera. One of the victims, a girl aged between 10 and 14, was recorded pulling up her shirt to reveal her breasts.

Roydhouse’s actions were not only recorded but also stored on his personal laptop, with a total of 11 videos depicting these disturbing acts. The videos included footage of girls dressed in school uniforms and other minors exposing themselves during private online sessions. The police investigation also uncovered that Roydhouse had used specific software to record these webcam interactions, further implicating him in the ongoing exploitation.

Throughout the legal proceedings, Roydhouse pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including five counts of inciting a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity, two counts of causing a child to watch or look at sexual images, and two counts of making indecent photographs of a child. His case was scheduled for sentencing at Hull Crown Court on July 16, but it was adjourned to allow the court to assess whether the minors involved were being exploited for financial gain.

Despite the initial delays, Roydhouse was ultimately sentenced on August 7 at Grimsby Crown Court to 16 months in prison for his crimes. The judge, Mark Bury, emphasized the importance of understanding the extent of exploitation involved and expressed concern over whether the children had been subjected to further abuse or financial coercion. The case has raised serious questions about online safety and the protection of vulnerable minors from predators operating under the guise of digital anonymity.