PIETRO ROSSI FROM ROYAL WOOTTON BASSETT CAUGHT IN ONLINE CHILD SEXUAL PREDATION PLOT

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Royal Wootton Bassett, Pietro Rossi, a 60-year-old resident of Ruxley Close, found himself at the center of a serious criminal investigation involving online grooming and attempted sexual communication with a minor. The incident unfolded over a period from late April to early June 2020, during which Rossi engaged in a series of illicit exchanges with an individual he believed to be a 13-year-old girl, but who was in fact an undercover officer from the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit.

According to court proceedings, Robin Shellard, the prosecutor, detailed how Rossi used the internet chat platform CHATiw to communicate with the undercover officer. During these conversations, Rossi expressed his desire to abuse the girl and sent explicit images, including photographs of his erect penis and pornography depicting females engaged in oral sex. His disturbing messages did not stop there; he continued the conversation on the Kik messaging app, where he explicitly stated his intent to sexually abuse the girl and requested what he called “naughty pictures” of her bottom.

Rossi’s messages also included sexually explicit questions, such as whether she had digitally penetrated herself, and he expressed a wish that she was playing with his penis. These exchanges demonstrated a clear intent to engage in sexual activity with a minor, which he believed was a real girl at the time. However, Rossi’s criminal actions came to light in October 2021 when police officers arrived at his residence with a warrant. It was at this point that Rossi discovered he had been communicating with an undercover officer, not a minor.

The police raid took place at Rossi’s home, where he lived with his partner, stepchildren, and grandchildren. Following his arrest, Rossi was brought before Salisbury Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty in June to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. His guilty plea marked the culmination of a lengthy investigation into his online activities.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Barnett addressed Rossi’s case, emphasizing that his personal issues or circumstances did not justify or excuse his criminal behavior. The judge described Rossi’s actions as “plainly deliberate,” noting that he was actively trying to obtain images from someone he believed was a child. As a result, the court sentenced Rossi to 12 months in prison, but this sentence was suspended for 18 months to allow him the opportunity to seek help for his issues.

In addition to the suspended prison term, Rossi was ordered to complete 45 days of rehabilitation activity, perform 80 hours of unpaid community work, and adhere to a decade-long sexual harm prevention order. Furthermore, he is required to register as a sex offender for ten years, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities to protect the community from potential future harm.