MARK ROULSON FROM STEVENAGE ESCAPES SECOND JAIL SENTENCE DESPITE MASSIVE CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CACHE

In a case that has shocked the local community of Stevenage, Mark Roulson, a man with a disturbing history related to child exploitation images, has narrowly avoided serving a second prison term despite possessing an enormous collection of illegal material. The incident unfolded on March 3 of the previous year when police officers arrived at Roulson's residence in Prestatyn Close, Stevenage, following suspicions about his involvement with indecent images of children.

During the police inquiry, Roulson was confronted about his online activities concerning illegal content. His response was chillingly candid; he remarked, “What like the last time in ’99? Well, yes, I have seen some children.” This statement alluded to a prior conviction from 1999, when he was sentenced to five months in prison after being found guilty of possessing ten counts of indecent images of minors.

Fast forward to the recent investigation, authorities discovered that Roulson was in possession of an astonishing 62,000 videos, a quantity so vast that it was deemed unmanageable to examine fully. The police found 381 movies and 131 still photographs classified as Category A, indicating the most severe level of illegal content involving children aged between four and fifteen. Additionally, there were 118 movies and 150 still images at Category B, and 129 movies along with 4,040 stills at Category C, depicting minors in various exploitative scenarios. The collection also included seven movies and 72 stills of bestiality, as well as a prohibited cartoon.

Despite the enormity of the collection, the charges brought against Roulson covered only a subset of the material. Prosecutors revealed that the police had identified 61,853 videos that had not been examined due to the extensive time and resources required—an effort estimated to take hundreds of hours. These unexamined videos were not included in the formal charges.

At Cambridge Crown Court, Judge Jonathan Haworth addressed the court, noting that he had initially intended to impose a custodial sentence. However, a pre-sentence report provided compelling reasons to consider a different approach. The report suggested that a suspended sentence combined with a rehabilitation program could be more effective in preventing future offending.

Consequently, Roulson was sentenced to 16 months in prison, but this term was suspended for two years. He was also ordered to participate in a 30-day rehabilitation activity and to pay costs amounting to £425. Furthermore, he was mandated to register as a sex offender for the next ten years and was subject to a 12-year sexual harm prevention order, which grants authorities ongoing oversight of his internet activity.

The court heard that Roulson, now 51, was previously employed in Sainsbury’s computer and IT department in 1999, where he was caught downloading indecent images onto his work computer—a breach that led to his initial conviction. Defense lawyer Rosie Bayley emphasized that rehabilitation programs were unavailable at that time but are now accessible. She argued that Roulson was eager to participate in such programs to address his issues and reduce the risk of re-offending.

Bayley also highlighted Roulson’s reluctance to accept the attraction to children, describing it as something he has tried to suppress due to shame. She expressed hope that engaging in the rehabilitation process would help him come to terms with his feelings and significantly lower the likelihood of future offenses. The court’s decision reflects a cautious approach, balancing punishment with the potential for rehabilitation in hopes of preventing further harm.