DAVID ROBSON FROM MIDDLESBROUGH ESCAPES PRISON AFTER CHILD ABUSE IMAGE SCANDAL IN TEESSIDE

A man from Middlesbrough, David Robson, narrowly avoided a prison sentence after being found guilty of possessing and distributing indecent images of children, following a disturbing incident linked to an application to join an angling club.

The case was heard at Teesside Crown Court, where it was revealed that Robson, aged 66, had inadvertently uploaded a highly inappropriate image during his attempt to join the Durham City Angling Club. Instead of submitting a photograph of himself for identification purposes, he mistakenly sent a picture of a naked young girl, approximately ten years old, lying on a bed with her genitals exposed.

The incident was brought to light when a fellow member of the angling club, who was reviewing the application, was shocked and disturbed by the image. Recognizing the severity of the content, the club member promptly alerted the police authorities. The police responded swiftly, executing a raid on Robson’s residence in Redcar, where they seized multiple electronic devices.

During the search, officers recovered nearly 50 other images depicting child abuse, stored across various digital storage devices. Prosecutor Albany Kidd detailed the findings, emphasizing that the photograph submitted with the application was not intended as a personal identification image but was, in fact, a sexually explicit image of a young girl.

Ms. Kidd further explained that Robson refused to cooperate with authorities by providing passwords or PINs for the devices, hindering the investigation. He admitted to actively searching for different types of pornography, including images of children, in an attempt to achieve and maintain an erection, which underscores the disturbing nature of his online activity.

A victim impact statement was read out during the hearing, in which the angling club official expressed his distress upon viewing the indecent image. He described feeling shaken and deeply concerned for the child depicted, highlighting the emotional toll such material inflicts on those who encounter it.

Robson pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including the distribution of a Category C indecent image, possession of four Category A images, and 43 Category B images. His solicitor, John Nixon, argued that Robson had led a law-abiding life prior to his arrest and that he had lost his job as a consequence of his conviction.

Nixon described his client as a man of previously good character who had endured a humiliating and devastating experience. He emphasized that Robson had worked throughout his life but was now facing the repercussions of his actions, which he acknowledged were self-inflicted.

The sentencing was delivered by Recorder Marco Giuliani, who sentenced Robson to eight months in prison, suspended for 18 months. The judge expressed disappointment that a man of Robson’s age had pleaded guilty to serious charges involving child exploitation images.

In addition to the suspended sentence, Robson was ordered to complete 24 days of rehabilitation activities and was placed under a 90-day alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement. He was also mandated to register as a sex offender for the next ten years.

The judge concluded by emphasizing the grave harm caused by such crimes, stating, “This is not a victimless crime; these are children who are severely abused, and that abuse leaves a lasting mark. The images and those who buy them cause permanent damage to the children involved, and it is crucial to recognize the profound and lasting impact of this abuse.”