OLIVER CORBETT FROM BOROUGHBRIDGE AND DISHFORTH JAILED FOR CHILD PORN IN HARROGATE

In September 2010, a disturbing case emerged involving Oliver Corbett, a school computer technician from North Yorkshire, who was sentenced to prison for operating a child pornography network from his own bedroom in Dishforth. The investigation revealed that Corbett had been running this illicit operation for nearly ten years, amassing an astonishing collection of nearly 63,000 images and videos depicting child abuse. This collection was identified as the largest ever discovered by North Yorkshire police, highlighting the severity of his offenses.

Among the material found, authorities uncovered close to 600 images classified as hardcore, with at least one child believed to be between the ages of three and five years old. The sheer volume and disturbing nature of the content underscored the gravity of Corbett’s crimes. Prosecutor Simon Ostler, speaking at York Crown Court, emphasized the heinousness of the material, noting that the images showed children being subjected to sexual abuse at a “dreadful level.”

Corbett, aged 25 at the time, was employed at St Aidan’s C of E School in Harrogate, as well as a school in Boroughbridge. His legal team, led by barrister Steven Crossley, revealed that Corbett had experienced a severe mental health crisis following the police raid on his residence in Dishforth. According to Crossley, Corbett nearly died after fleeing his home and living in his car for a month, overwhelmed by the shame and distress caused by the investigation.

In court, Recorder Euan Duff sentenced Corbett to 32 months in prison. The judge highlighted that Corbett had engaged in self-harm and that the images he possessed depicted real children being sexually abused, which he described as “a very serious” offense. He further explained that the circulation of these images continued to harm the victims, as “these children are growing up and learning images of them are circulated worldwide.”

Corbett faced multiple charges, including ten counts of possessing child pornography, nine counts of possessing such material with intent to distribute, and one count of possessing a staggering 62,779 images. Additional charges included possession of images found on a camera and possession of extreme adult pornography. The earliest child pornographic image in his collection was downloaded from the internet in 2000.

Following his conviction, Corbett was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and subjected to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for six years. The North Yorkshire education authority responded swiftly, suspending him immediately after the police raid in September 2009, and he subsequently resigned from his teaching positions.

Investigators revealed that Corbett used file-sharing software to allow other internet users to access his collection of child pornography. It was also noted that he left his computers on while at work, facilitating ongoing distribution. Despite his technical expertise, police confirmed that no children from either school he worked at were involved in any of the abuse depicted in the images.

During the investigation, police officers spent four months meticulously examining six million images and seized 94 computers and other electronic devices from Corbett’s residence. Sergeant Geoff Crocker, part of the police team, stated that Corbett was perceived as a talented and seemingly innocent young man with no prior convictions. The setup of his computer systems and the storage of illicit material were such that his family members were unlikely to have discovered his collection. Corbett’s case underscores the disturbing reality of online child exploitation and the importance of vigilant law enforcement in tackling such heinous crimes.