DAVID ROBERTS CAUGHT IN BRIDGEND ONLINE CHILD PORN SCANDAL

In November 2009, a disturbing case unfolded in Bridgend involving a man named David Roberts, whose actions have shocked the local community and raised serious concerns about online safety and child exploitation.

Mrs. Cheryl Roberts, aged 61 and a mother of two, became increasingly suspicious of her husband’s activities within their home. She noticed that he was spending an unusual amount of time in his study, which prompted her to investigate further. Her suspicions intensified when a message appeared on their shared computer while her husband was away. The message was signed with the nickname 'Corky,' which was identified as Roberts’ own.

Realizing that her husband was communicating with someone online, Mrs. Roberts took a proactive step to catch him in the act. She created a separate online profile, pretending to be a 14-year-old girl, to engage with her husband in the chatroom he frequented. Unbeknownst to Roberts, his wife was monitoring his interactions from a nearby room. The court heard that during their online exchanges, Roberts propositioned the fictitious girl for sex and even used a webcam to perform indecent acts, which Mrs. Roberts could observe from her location.

Instead of confronting her husband directly, Mrs. Roberts chose to involve authorities. She contacted the NSPCC and the police, leading to a police investigation that uncovered a disturbing cache of illegal child pornography on Roberts’ home computer. Initially, Roberts believed he had been caught because of a download, but it was later revealed that his wife’s undercover operation was the true cause of his arrest.

During police interviews, Roberts denied having engaged in sexual activity with any schoolgirls but admitted he was 'prepared to do so.' The investigation also revealed that he had been involved in the possession and creation of illegal images. The court heard that Roberts, a former pub landlord from Bridgend, had a history of such behavior and had previously admitted to engaging in sexual acts in the presence of a child.

At Cardiff Crown Court, Roberts faced charges related to the possession of illegal images and sexual activity involving a minor. The court sentenced him to a three-year community order, with an indefinite ban on any contact with children under 18, whether in person or online. Additionally, Roberts was ordered to register as a sex offender for five years.

Roberts’ marriage to Mrs. Roberts, which lasted nearly 20 years, has now ended, and the couple is in the process of divorce. Mrs. Roberts has moved out of their shared home and is currently staying with friends. She expressed her disappointment with the sentence, stating, 'I was shocked at the sentence – I don’t think he’s got what he deserves. I thought the judge would be a lot harder and that he might go to prison.' She added, 'I still feel very angry towards him. It is hard to think that a man you married could do this. But I did the right thing and I don’t regret it. Now I just need some time to think and put all this behind me.'

Child protection advocate Claude Knights, director of the charity Kidscape, commented on the case, emphasizing the ongoing risks posed by online predators to young people. The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking on the internet and the importance of vigilance in protecting children from exploitation.