RAYMOND ROBERTS FROM BELMONT CAUGHT WITH MASSIVE CHILD SEX ABUSE IMAGES IN DURHAM

In August 2017, a Durham court heard disturbing details about Raymond Roberts, a man residing in Belmont, who was found to possess an enormous collection of indecent images depicting children. The case revealed that Roberts had accumulated a vast and troubling volume of such material, including some images featuring infants, which raised serious concerns about his intentions and the potential harm caused to the victims.

Authorities seized multiple computer devices from Roberts' residence on Yorkshire Drive in Belmont, uncovering an estimated two million images of children. Many of these images were not classified as illegal, but the sheer quantity made it impossible for investigators to examine every file thoroughly. Instead, they analyzed a representative sample, which still revealed a horrifying extent of the material.

Prosecutor Phillip Morley explained that among the sampled content, 10,914 still images and 131 video clips, totaling approximately 68 hours of footage, contained explicit child abuse material. Alarmingly, 297 still images and 57 videos were categorized as the most severe, often depicting young girls aged between four and ten, some visibly distressed. These images were considered to be among the worst in terms of child exploitation.

Further investigation uncovered that Roberts had accessed much of this illicit content through the dark web, a hidden part of the internet designed to conceal such activities. Additionally, some images were exchanged with other individuals via Skype, indicating a network of sharing and possibly distribution. Police also found images involving bestiality and computer-generated pornography, adding to the severity of the case.

Roberts, aged 56, admitted to three counts of possessing indecent images of children, one count of possessing extreme pornography, and another of possessing prohibited images. During his police interview, however, he displayed a degree of denial, claiming he had no sexual interest in children, which the court found to be a foolish reaction. His responses suggested a lack of acknowledgment of the true nature of his actions.

Defense lawyer Paul Abrahams described Roberts as a hardworking individual with a good employment history and a degree-level education. He argued that Roberts's reaction during the interview was misguided and that he did have a sexual interest in children, a fact recognized by the draft Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) discussed with him. The lawyer warned that without acknowledgment of his offending, Roberts would remain a significant risk.

Judge Christopher Prince sentenced Roberts to 16 months in prison. The judge emphasized that viewing such images constitutes a form of voyeurism that harms the children depicted and fosters the risk of future contact offenses. As part of his sentence, Roberts was subjected to restrictions on contacting children and using the internet, in accordance with the terms of the SHPO. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.