MICHAEL ROSENTHAL'S RE-OFFENSE IN ROXTON: SHPO BREACH LEADS TO THREE-YEAR JAIL SENTENCE

In November 2019, the case of Michael Rosenthal, a registered sex offender from Roxton, took a serious turn as he was convicted of breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) by continuing to create and distribute indecent images of children. This violation resulted in a prison sentence of three years.

Rosenthal, aged 66 and residing on Ford Lane in Roxton, appeared before Luton Crown Court on Tuesday, December 3, where he pleaded guilty to six counts—three related to the production of indecent images and three concerning their distribution. His prior convictions for similar offenses date back to 2007, which led to the imposition of the SHPO, explicitly forbidding him from accessing online forums or platforms involving children under 16.

Throughout his supervision, Bedfordshire Police’s Offender Management Unit regularly monitored Rosenthal’s devices to ensure compliance. However, authorities received intelligence indicating that someone at his residence was sharing indecent images via peer-to-peer file sharing software. Acting on this information, officers executed a warrant at his home, seizing multiple computers and storage devices, including a laptop that Rosenthal had been attempting to conceal.

An examination of the seized devices uncovered over 70 videos and images, categorized from the most serious Category A to Category B. The evidence prompted Rosenthal’s arrest and subsequent charging with the offenses.

Earlier incidents involving Rosenthal also highlight his repeated violations. In April 2012, a routine police check revealed that he had once again been viewing and downloading child sex abuse images. During that hearing, a judge expressed disappointment, stating, “It was hoped that with assistance you would mend your ways and resist the temptation to look at this material but you failed.”

At that time, Rosenthal, aged 59, pleaded guilty to nineteen charges related to making and possessing indecent images, along with a charge of breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO). He was sentenced to eight months in prison at Luton Crown Court on April 13, 2012.

Prosecutor John Carmichael explained that Rosenthal had previously been given a community order in March 2007 after being convicted of fifteen charges of creating indecent photographs of a child. As part of that order, he attended a sex offender’s rehabilitation course and was required to register as a sex offender. Additionally, he was subject to the SOPO indefinitely, which prohibited him from accessing websites or chat rooms related to children under 16.

Further investigations in June of the previous year revealed that police visited his Ford Lane residence in Roxton for a routine check. During the search, they discovered a computer containing 563 sexual images of children, along with evidence indicating that Rosenthal had visited websites with titles such as ‘Tiny Teens’ and ‘Little Models’. He claimed that the images had been downloaded while he was viewing pictures of celebrities, a defense that did little to mitigate his culpability.

Defense attorney Robert English described Rosenthal as “a rather sad and pathetic figure, who is isolated and has few friends.” He added that Rosenthal had completed the sex offender’s course and was making efforts to overcome his urges, likening his struggle to a drug addiction that is difficult to break free from.

However, Judge David Farrell QC emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “The course you attended seemed to be a success until the early part of last year when you could not avoid the temptation and returned to doing what you had been doing before. Those who view this type of material are furthering the abuse of children, and in my opinion, the time has come to punish you with imprisonment.”