MICHAEL ROBERTS FROM BOLSOVER SENTENCED AFTER CHILD SEX OFFENCES AND ILLEGAL IMAGES DISCOVERY

In May 2022, a disturbing case emerged involving Michael Roberts, a long-standing offender from Bolsover with a deeply troubling criminal history dating back to 1982. Roberts, who has accumulated 13 convictions for a total of 63 offences, was found to have engaged in a series of heinous activities involving minors, including the possession and sale of indecent images of children.

According to court proceedings at Derby Crown Court, Roberts was involved in grooming a 15-year-old boy through online communications. The court heard that the two exchanged more than 400 messages, some of which were uncovered when the victim’s mother examined her son’s phone out of concern. These messages revealed a disturbing pattern of contact, with Roberts inviting the young boy to his residence to smoke cannabis and listen to music, raising serious questions about his intentions and conduct.

Roberts, aged 59, has a long history of offending against children, with his first conviction for indecent assault dating back to 1982. His criminal record also includes a conviction for gross indecency with a child in 1990 and conspiracy to commit gross indecency with a child in 1993, for which he received an eight-year prison sentence. His repeated offences highlight a pattern of predatory behavior spanning decades.

Further investigations revealed that Roberts had sold a mobile phone containing vile sexual abuse images. A member of the public purchased the device in August 2020 and discovered the illegal content on it. Analysis of the phone uncovered 44 indecent images depicting a girl approximately seven years old and a young boy. Experts also identified web searches related to child sexual abuse, including the phrase “young gay,” indicating a disturbing interest in such material.

Prosecutor Eunice Opare-Addo explained that Roberts had previously been subject to a sexual offences prevention order in 2014, which prohibited him from contacting anyone under the age of 16. However, on January 28 of the same year, police visited Roberts and examined his phone, finding messages that raised serious concerns. These messages were from a boy, and it became evident that Roberts had been visiting him to smoke cannabis. The boy’s mother had contacted the police after discovering her son’s phone and finding evidence that Roberts had been inviting him over to his address.

It was confirmed that Roberts and the boy had been smoking cannabis and listening to music together. The court was told that there were 404 messages exchanged between Roberts and the boy, further illustrating the inappropriate relationship.

Roberts pleaded guilty to charges of possession of indecent images of children and breaching the sexual harm prevention order. His criminal record, which includes a significant number of sex offences against children, underscores the severity of his misconduct. In addition to the 28-month prison sentence handed down by Judge Jonathan Bennett, Roberts was also subjected to a new 10-year sexual harm prevention order, aimed at protecting the public from further harm.

Judge Bennett emphasized the aggravating features of the case but acknowledged Roberts’s prior convictions and history of offending. The judge stated, “There is a plethora of aggravating features in your case but you are entitled to some credit. Your history of sex offending is against young boys primarily but also young girls. Your first conviction was for indecent assault in 1982, gross indecency with a child in 1990 and conspiracy to commit gross indecency with a child in 1993 for which you received an eight-year sentence. It goes without saying that custody is inevitable.”