NEILL SOBEY FROM SOUTH ZEAL FACES JAIL OVER CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AND BESTIALITY PICTURES

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of South Zeal and the surrounding areas, Neill Sobey, a 73-year-old resident of Hillhead, was found to have downloaded and possessed a significant number of illegal images and videos depicting child abuse and bestiality. The investigation revealed that Sobey had been involved in this illicit activity during April 2016, just four weeks after his previous sentence had expired, raising serious concerns about his compliance with court orders and the measures put in place to monitor his internet activity.

Back in 2014, Sobey was initially caught in an international operation targeting online child exploitation. Authorities discovered that he had joined a website called Child Love, which featured extremely disturbing content, including videos of children being forced into sexual acts by adults and images depicting sadism and bestiality. Among the most heinous material found were three movies showing children being sexually abused, as well as six images illustrating sadistic acts or involving animals. One particularly distressing image showed a young child, approximately two years old, being subjected to abuse, while another depicted a girl aged between six and eight, who was tied up and wearing a mask. Additionally, police uncovered a shocking video of a man engaging in sexual acts with a Golden Retriever, highlighting the severity of the material Sobey had accessed.

Following this discovery, Sobey was prosecuted and sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for two years. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to pay costs amounting to £225, attend a specialized internet sex offenders’ treatment program, and be subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO). This order restricted his access to certain types of software and allowed authorities to monitor his online activity closely. The court also mandated that Sobey register as a sex offender for a period of two years.

Despite these measures, Sobey’s activities continued to breach the restrictions. In April 2016, during a routine police check at his residence in Hillhead, South Zeal, officers seized devices from Sobey’s home. A subsequent examination of these devices revealed that he had downloaded over 1,600 images at the lowest category (Category C) and four images at a higher category (Category B). The police also found files with incriminating titles, including one labeled ‘pre-teen model,’ indicating his intent to conceal his activities. The seized material included a total of 1,611 images at Category C and four at Category B, all of which were illegal under the existing court orders.

When confronted with the evidence, Sobey admitted to making indecent images of children and breaching the terms of his sexual offences prevention order. His case was brought before Judge Philip Parker, QC, who adjourned proceedings to allow for a probation report to be prepared. Sobey was released on bail but was warned that the most probable outcome would be immediate custody due to the breach of the court order. The judge emphasized the gravity of Sobey’s actions, stating, “The most likely sentence is immediate custody because of the breach of the order.”

In his sentencing, Judge Parker highlighted Sobey’s age and health issues, including a severe respiratory condition that required him to carry an oxygen pump. Nevertheless, he made it clear that Sobey’s repeated violations and the nature of his offenses left no alternative but to impose a custodial sentence. Sobey was subsequently sentenced to six months in prison, with the judge also imposing a new Sexual Harm Prevention Order and extending his registration as a sex offender for an additional seven years.

During the court proceedings, Judge Parker remarked, “When you received a suspended sentence in 2014, a shot was fired across your bows. You have ignored it. You were subject to an order prohibiting certain types of software. You broke that quite deliberately.” The judge further explained that, given Sobey’s history and the breach, immediate imprisonment was unavoidable, despite his age and health considerations.

This case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in monitoring and controlling individuals with a history of sexual offenses, especially those who continue to access illegal material online. Sobey’s case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of strict enforcement of court orders and the need for vigilant oversight to prevent further harm to vulnerable children and animals.