RICHARD ROBSON FROM BLANDFORD FORUM INVOLVED IN CHILD INDECENT IMAGE SCANDAL IN BRADFORD

In August 2019, a disturbing case emerged involving Richard Robson, a secondary school teacher whose actions have shocked the local community. Robson, who was employed at a pupil referral unit in the Bradford area, was found to have been hoarding an alarming collection of indecent images depicting young girls. The investigation revealed that he had accumulated over 1,000 such images and videos, some of which were classified as Category A, indicating the most severe level of criminal content involving rape or torture of children.

Robson, aged 51 and residing on Salisbury Street in Blandford Forum, Dorset, was subjected to police searches on March 15, 2018. During the search, authorities seized his computer equipment, which contained the illicit material. The police reports indicated that Robson had openly admitted to having a sexual interest in children and had actively searched for terms such as ‘female and pubescent’ on his computer. Despite the gravity of the evidence, Robson did not make any comments to the police at the time of the seizure.

Following the discovery, Robson was interviewed again in March of the following year. During this interview, he acknowledged that he had sought counseling through probation services, suggesting some awareness of his problematic behavior. Prosecutor Soheil Khan stated in court that Robson accepted having a sexual interest in children and admitted to searching for specific terms related to young girls, but he denied any sexual contact or misconduct involving his students. The case drew significant attention due to the nature of the images and Robson’s position as an educator.

Robson pleaded guilty at the magistrates’ court on August 6 to three charges of making indecent images of children. The court subsequently referred the case to the Crown Court for sentencing. The images included videos of girls aged between nine and 15, all created in May 2017. Notably, some of these videos were lengthy, with one lasting 22 minutes, which was considered an aggravating factor by the prosecution. The images classified as Category C involved even younger girls, some as young as seven, and were downloaded over a period spanning from April 2014 to February 2018.

Judge David Hatton QC addressed Robson directly, acknowledging his remorse and shame. The judge remarked that Robson had lost much—his career, his wife, and some of his family—highlighting the profound personal consequences of his actions. Despite the severity of the crimes, the judge commended Robson for his honesty and efforts to move past his unlawful behavior.

As part of his sentence, Robson was given a two-year community order, which includes a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement. Additionally, he was placed under a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and is required to register as a sex offender for five years. Currently, Robson is working at a charity shop, attempting to rebuild his life after the conviction. The case remains a stark reminder of the dangers posed by individuals with inappropriate interests in children, especially those in positions of trust and authority.