NEIL ROSSER FROM BATH SENTENCED TO SIX YEARS FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENCES

In a case that has shocked the local community of Bath and the wider region, Neil Rosser, a 41-year-old former librarian and union official from King Georges Road in Twerton, has been sentenced to six years in prison for serious child pornography offences. The court heard that Rosser possessed an alarming collection of over 60,000 indecent images and videos depicting children, some as young as four months old.

Rosser admitted to owning these illicit materials, which included photographs and videos that showcased the most depraved and disturbing acts involving young children. His criminal activities extended beyond mere possession; he used the internet as a tool to connect with other offenders and potential victims. Specifically, he engaged in conversations via the instant messaging platform MSN, where he communicated with adolescent boys from various parts of the world. During these exchanges, he sent explicit images of child pornography and performed obscene acts in front of a webcam, further demonstrating his predatory behaviour.

One of the most troubling aspects of his offending was his attempt to meet a 15-year-old boy from Essex. Rosser had gone as far as booking a hotel room and paying for train fares in anticipation of the meeting. However, the potential victim changed his mind, preventing any further contact. The court was informed that Rosser’s awareness of his sexual attraction to young boys had been present since he was 19 years old. Despite this, he managed to control his urges until approximately ten years ago, when he purchased a computer. From that point onward, his behaviour escalated dramatically, as he downloaded, saved, and printed tens of thousands of indecent images, which he kept on his computer.

During the trial at Bristol Crown Court, Detective Constable Geoff Colvin, who led the investigation, described the material found on Rosser’s devices as some of the most disturbing he had encountered in his 24-year law enforcement career. The prosecution, led by Neil Treharne, revealed that Rosser’s offending spanned from 2001 until his arrest in November 2008. His arrest was the result of a joint operation involving the Avon and Somerset Police and Greater Manchester Police.

In interviews with police, Rosser provided extensive details about his activities, far more than investigators could have uncovered through their own efforts, due to the sheer volume of files stored on his computer. He was a former official of the union Unison, representing staff working for Bath and North East Somerset Council. However, he was dismissed from his position once his criminal actions came to light.

During questioning, Rosser admitted that he had fantasized about young boys in school uniforms, which he would see during his time working as a librarian. He insisted that he had never approached any children in person. He also acknowledged posting a profile picture on MSN featuring a bare-chested teenage boy with blonde hair, but claimed he had later told the boys he was communicating with about his true age.

His defence lawyer, Paul Connell, argued that Rosser was aware of the gravity of his actions and had been seeking help from the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, an organisation dedicated to working with sex offenders to help them modify their behaviour. Connell emphasized that Rosser had a genuine desire to address his issues and manage his sexual motivations.

Judge Mark Horton, presiding over the case, stated that Rosser would be required to serve at least half of his six-year sentence. The judge expressed hope that Rosser would continue to receive the necessary treatment and support, acknowledging the importance of rehabilitation. He described the images and videos found on Rosser’s devices as involving the most depraved abuse of children under 13, including infants as young as four months old. The judge remarked that these were the worst images he had seen in his 24 years of judicial experience and emphasized the tragedy of Rosser not seeking help earlier, as the offences began in 2001.

Detective Constable Colvin, who was commended by the court for his work, commented on the case, stating that Rosser had admitted he would not have stopped offending until law enforcement intervened. Colvin warned that if Rosser had not been arrested, he could have continued to commit contact offences involving children.

As part of his sentence, Rosser has been placed on the sex offenders’ register for life and has been issued with a sexual offences prevention order, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to prevent further offending.