CAERPHILLY PAEDOPHILE DAVID ROBB CAUGHT WITH CHILD RAPE VIDEOS IN CWMCARN AND SCOTLAND

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, David Robb, an 81-year-old man from Cwmcarn, was found to possess an extensive collection of over 1,500 images and videos depicting child abuse, including some of the most severe forms of exploitation. The details emerged during a court hearing at Newport Crown Court, revealing the depth of Robb’s disturbing online activities.

According to prosecutors, Robb was actively browsing the internet while posing as a 13-year-old boy at a boarding school in Scotland. This online deception was part of his attempt to engage with others in illicit activities, as outlined by prosecutor Matthew Cobbe. The court heard that Robb’s criminal behavior was not isolated; he had previously been convicted of a sex offence at Swansea Crown Court when he was managing a children’s football team. During that earlier conviction, Robb had persuaded a young boy to sleep in the same bed as him, which was part of his pattern of predatory conduct.

The court was informed that Robb had accumulated a vast cache of child abuse images over a period stretching from August 8, 2020, to May 18, 2022. Among these were 488 images classified as Category A, which represent the most serious and disturbing material. These included 342 videos and 146 pictures, many of which depicted very young children being raped. Prosecutor Cobbe emphasized the severity of the content, stating, “The images included very young children being raped. Some of the children were asleep when they were raped, and others can be seen in great distress.” Shockingly, some victims were as young as four years old, highlighting the heinous nature of Robb’s offenses.

Robb pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including three counts of possessing indecent images of children and one count of possessing an extreme pornographic image involving bestiality. His address was listed as Edward Street, Cwmcarn. It was also revealed that Robb had a prior conviction related to child abuse images from 2015, for which he was sentenced to a community order.

During mitigation, Hilary Roberts spoke on Robb’s behalf, expressing remorse and shame for his actions. Roberts stated, “He regrets what he’s done and he feels ashamed of his repeat offending. The defendant is going to wash his hands of all electronic devices. He wants to put temptation aside and never repeat these offences.” The court was also informed of Robb’s health issues, including four heart attacks and epilepsy, and his role as the primary carer for his wife, who suffers from dementia.

Judge Recorder David Harris addressed Robb directly, condemning his actions but acknowledging his circumstances. “You did gain sexual gratification from these images. And you were searching the internet for category A images,” he said. The judge noted that Robb’s caring responsibilities for his wife had influenced the decision to suspend the sentence, stating, “He would be in jail now if it wasn’t for him caring for his ill wife.”

Ultimately, Robb was sentenced to 20 months in prison, but the sentence was suspended for two years. He is required to undertake a 30-day rehabilitation activity and attend 23 sessions of a sex offender treatment program. Additionally, he must register as a sex offender for the next ten years and is subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order. As part of his punishment, Robb was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £187.