PHILIP ROBERTS FROM HULL SENTENCED FOR REPEATED OFFENSES AGAINST CHILDREN IN HULL AND EAST RIDING

In a series of disturbing incidents spanning over a decade, Philip Roberts, a resident of Hull, has been convicted and sentenced multiple times for offenses involving the exploitation and endangerment of children. His latest conviction marks his third prison term, highlighting the persistent nature of his criminal behavior.

Roberts, aged 40 and residing on Great Thornton Street in Hull, was found to have engaged in a pattern of illegal activities that included taking photographs of children in various outdoor settings across Hull and the East Riding area. Detectives, following his recent release from prison, conducted a routine check to ensure he was complying with the terms of his Sexual Offences Prevention Order (Sopo), which explicitly prohibited him from having any contact with children or taking photographs of minors. During this investigation, authorities uncovered a collection of photo albums and numerous images stored at his home, depicting children playing in their gardens and in snowy outdoor environments. These images included photographs of children, some of whom were captured without shirts, playing on trampolines through fences, and in other candid moments.

One particularly troubling photograph showed a young boy without a top, playing on a trampoline, which Roberts had taken through his garden fence. The police’s findings revealed that Roberts had been actively photographing children between October 2009 and December of the previous year, traveling as far as Hornsea, Withernsea, and North Ferriby to capture images of minors in various locations. His actions demonstrated a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior, with authorities describing him as a “danger” to children. Judge Jeremy Baker QC, presiding at Hull Crown Court, sentenced Roberts to 12 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to four counts of breaching his Sopo.

Roberts’s criminal history is extensive and deeply troubling. In 2007, he was previously jailed for two years after being convicted of sexual assault. His offenses also include targeting a schoolboy he was “obsessed” with, which led to a 13-month sentence last year. The earlier incidents involved Roberts luring a 10-year-old boy to his flat under the false pretense of being a trainspotter, as his former residence overlooked a railway line. He even traveled ten miles daily to the boy’s school, attempting to monitor and follow him, and bought the child a mobile phone, instructing him to hide it from his parents. Police later discovered videos in Roberts’s home, which contained footage of the boy’s school and nearby play areas.

Roberts’s criminal record also includes convictions for gross indecency with a child and indecent assault, dating back to 1997, when he assaulted a five-year-old boy on a ghost train fairground ride. Additionally, in 2001, he was cautioned for failing to notify police of a change of address, a legal requirement for sex offenders. His repeated breaches of legal restrictions and ongoing predatory behavior prompted the court to impose further sentences. Judge Roger Thorn QC, addressing Roberts during sentencing, remarked, “Over the last 10 years, you have accumulated a number of offences that show you have a wicked sexual interest in young boys.”

In total, Roberts was sentenced to an additional 13 months imprisonment for breaching his Sopo and for harassing his previous young victim, emphasizing the serious concern authorities have regarding his continued dangerousness and the need to protect children from his predatory actions.