ERIC ROBINSON FROM PLYMOUTH JAILED FOR WEBCAM SEX CRIME INVOLVING SCHOOLGIRL
In October 2012, a disturbing case emerged involving a pensioner from Plymouth who was sentenced to prison for engaging in heinous online activities targeting a young girl.The individual, identified as Eric Robinson, had established an online relationship with a schoolgirl, during which he engaged in manipulative and criminal behavior that culminated in serious charges.
Robinson, who resided on Hunterswell Road in Newton Abbot, exploited the anonymity of the internet to befriend the underage girl.
Over time, he manipulated her into performing webcam sex acts, providing her with money to purchase underwear that she would wear during these explicit recordings.
His sinister intentions went beyond simple coercion; he encouraged her to produce increasingly explicit images, pushing her further into a dangerous and illegal situation.
The case took a darker turn when Robinson requested the girl to perform sexual acts at her home in Plymouth while he watched remotely from his computer, which was located approximately 20 miles away.
This act of voyeurism was part of a pattern of predatory behavior that investigators uncovered during their probe.
Further evidence revealed that Robinson was involved in the exchange of vile and illegal images with other paedophiles on the internet.
Police investigations uncovered a cache of indecent images, including 125 still photographs and 34 videos, many of which depicted children under the age of ten being sexually abused by adults.
These images were part of a broader network of child exploitation that Robinson was actively participating in.
Robinson was also found to have distributed some of these disturbing images.
He admitted to sending them to a stranger who had requested to see pornography, highlighting his active role in the dissemination of child abuse material.
The police also discovered that Robinson possessed and shared indecent images, which led to his charges of possession and distribution of child pornography, as well as procuring a minor to produce indecent images.
During the court proceedings at Exeter Crown Court, Judge Francis Gilbert, QC, sentenced Robinson to five years in prison.
The judge expressed his profound disapproval, stating, “I don’t think that in my long career at the bar and on the bench have I come across such a case as this.
What you did was extremely serious.
You induced this girl to pose for your sexual gratification and you filmed her being sexually abused.
You also distributed horrifying images of children under ten being abused by adults.” Prosecutor Richard Crabb detailed the extent of Robinson’s crimes, emphasizing that the victim had been paid to perform webcam sex and had been encouraged to film herself being abused.
The investigation also revealed that Robinson’s computer contained a significant collection of child pornography, which included both images and videos depicting children being forced into sexual acts with adults.
Robinson’s defense lawyer, Sarah Vince, expressed remorse on his behalf, stating that he felt “horrible and disgusted” by his actions and was seeking treatment.
She highlighted his health issues and the harassment he had faced since the case went to court.
She also noted his concern for his wife, who would have to face the aftermath of his actions alone, and mentioned that Robinson was impotent, suggesting that any sexual gratification he derived from the images was limited.
Overall, the case underscores the severity of online child exploitation and the importance of rigorous law enforcement efforts to combat such heinous crimes, especially when they involve vulnerable minors in Plymouth and beyond.
