BENJAMIN RODGERS FROM CHADSMOOR INDICTED OVER CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN WALSALL

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the local community, Benjamin Rodgers, a man with ties to Chadsmoor, has been brought before Walsall Magistrates Court to face serious allegations related to the possession of indecent images of young girls. The incident came to light in September 2008, after Rodgers, who was employed as a school caretaker and a tae kwon-do instructor, was found to be in possession of explicit images depicting minors.

Rodgers, aged 32 and residing on Cannock Road in Chadsmoor, was working with children in various capacities across the Walsall area. His employment history included roles with Walsall Council, where he served as a caretaker at multiple schools, as well as teaching martial arts at community centers located in Bloxwich and Willenhall. These positions placed him in close contact with numerous young children, raising concerns about his conduct.

The charges against Rodgers stem from the discovery of 32 images stored on his personal computer. It is important to note that there is no evidence suggesting that any of the children depicted in these images were individuals he had direct contact with. The investigation was initiated after Rodgers’ girlfriend, while at their home in Wednesfield, uncovered the disturbing images. She was reportedly shocked by the content and decided to seek a second opinion by forwarding the images to a friend, who then advised her to notify the police.

During the court proceedings, prosecutor Miss Siobhan Wilkins outlined the gravity of the case, stating, “He’s been a caretaker at a number of schools. He is also been a tae kwon-do teacher where he’s taught children. These images were of a very disturbing kind of schoolgirls, aged between 12 and 14, which were classed at levels one and level two.”

Rodgers, who was present in court, pleaded guilty to 11 charges of possessing indecent photographs of a child. His defense lawyer, Mr. David Nash, attempted to mitigate the severity of the charges, arguing that the images were primarily of a non-sexual nature, with only one being sexual. He emphasized that Rodgers was not a prolific downloader and suggested that a community sentence would be appropriate for his client.

As the case continues to unfold, the community remains deeply concerned about the safety of children and the implications of Rodgers’ actions, especially given his previous roles working directly with young people in the Walsall area.