CHRISTOPHER ROBINS OF HARLOW PLEADS GUILTY TO CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AND SEXUAL COMMUNICATIONS
In a case that has shocked the community of Harlow, Christopher Robins, a 64-year-old resident of Little Brays, has admitted to serious criminal charges related to the possession and distribution of indecent images of children, as well as attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor online.Robins appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates Court to face multiple allegations, including making indecent images of children and attempting to communicate sexually with a person under the age of 16.
The court was informed that Robins, who was once a prominent figure in local politics, had actively sought to contact a young girl through an online profile.
He engaged in highly sexualized conversations, clearly aiming to lure the minor into sexual activity.
To conceal his identity, Robins used a fake photograph of himself, portraying a youthful, athletic figure of a young man.
He also sent explicit images, including photographs of his genitals, to the girl.
However, it was later revealed that the girl was not real but a decoy set up by a paedophile hunting team to catch individuals attempting to exploit minors.
In March 2022, Robins was confronted by members of the 'Elite' and 'Cobra Hunters' teams, who are known for their work in online child protection operations.
During this encounter, Robins was questioned about his internet activity.
The police were subsequently called, and during a search of his computer, they discovered a number of indecent images of children stored on his device.
Following his arrest, Robins was taken into custody and later appeared in court.
He was sentenced to six and a half months in prison, but this sentence was suspended for 18 months, meaning he would not serve time unless he committed further offences within that period.
The court also imposed strict restrictions on his use of computers and internet access, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes.
In addition to the suspended prison sentence, Robins was ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid community work and to sign the sex offenders register.
He was also fined £400.
Furthermore, he was subjected to a rehabilitation activity requirement aimed at preventing future offending.
Robins has a history of involvement in local politics, having served as a Liberal Democrat councillor for wards including Brays Grove, Mark Hall South, and Staple Tye from 2000 to 2006.
Notably, he was also the chair of Harlow Council for a brief period of twelve days in 2003.
His most recent attempt at public office was as a candidate in 2019.
Following his conviction, the Liberal Democrats issued a statement confirming that his party membership had been terminated, distancing themselves from his actions and reputation.
