GARETH ROBERTS FROM BROUGH LIVING NEAR PRIMARY SCHOOL AND CHILDREN'S PARK CAUGHT WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

In November 2018, a wave of outrage swept through the community of Brough when it was revealed that Gareth Roberts, a married man residing in the town, was involved in serious criminal activity involving child exploitation. The revelation came after police uncovered a disturbing collection of indecent images depicting children as young as four years old, some of whom appeared to be in obvious pain or distress.

Roberts, aged 36, was found to have stored hundreds of such images on his computer, which was seized from his home on Munstead Way during a police raid on March 2, 2017. A forensic examination of his device uncovered a total of 58 images classified as Category A—the most severe level—along with 228 images in Category B and 133 in Category C. The investigation was complicated by Roberts's use of a file-shredding application, which obscured the full extent of his downloads over the six years he was involved in this illicit activity. Consequently, the authorities based their sentencing on the number of images they could recover.

Following the court's decision and the publication of Roberts's case, local parents expressed their shock and anger on social media platforms, particularly Facebook. Many were alarmed to learn that Roberts's residence was situated just two streets away from a popular children’s park located centrally within the housing development. Additionally, his home was located around the corner from Welton Primary School, raising concerns about the proximity of such a dangerous individual to places frequented by children.

A mother from the community voiced her horror, stating, “How has he got away with this? Feel sick that he lives on the next street!” Another parent commented, “WOW!! You just never know who lives down the road. That’s so scary to think how close we live to him.” A further resident expressed concern, saying, “Too near to Welton school in my opinion,” while a father added, “Terrible, you never know who you live near.”

In the wake of the initial report, photographs of Roberts circulated on Facebook as a warning to other parents and residents, emphasizing the importance of community vigilance. The investigation revealed that Roberts had actively searched for disturbing images using terms such as “pre-teen hardcore” and “allowed my underage daughter to sleep with men,” as detailed during his court proceedings at Hull Crown Court.

Prosecutor Ben Campbell explained that the images included children as young as four, with some showing signs of pain or distress. The police officer who examined Roberts’s devices noted the disturbing nature of the content. Roberts also used an online service called IRC, or internet relay chat, to communicate with others who shared an interest in indecent images, further highlighting the extent of his engagement in this illicit activity.

Roberts admitted to three counts of making indecent photographs of children, with offenses spanning from 2011 to 2017. He had no prior convictions and described himself during police interviews as “highly computer literate.” Despite the severity of his actions, Roberts’s personal circumstances were acknowledged; he was described as a married man who had managed to repair some damage to his relationship, although it was still a work in progress.

In sentencing, Judge Mark Bury sentenced Roberts to ten months in prison, suspended for 12 months. The judge emphasized the gravity of the offense, stating, “You don’t need me to tell you, Mr Roberts, that each time you view an image of this type it represents an abused child. Some child somewhere has been abused in the making of the image, and the reason that happens is because there is a market for such images fueled by people like you, and therefore you must be under no illusion, as must anybody else, how serious this offending is.”

Roberts was also ordered to undergo up to 50 days of rehabilitation and to pay costs of £500 within 28 days, reflecting the court’s recognition of the need for both punishment and potential reform.