ROBERT BILSBOROUGH FROM PENWORTHAM CAUGHT WITH DISTURBING CHILD ABUSE VIDEOS IN LANCASHIRE

In June 2020, a disturbing case unfolded involving Robert Bilsborough, a resident of Penwortham, who was found to possess a horrifying collection of child abuse videos. The severity of the material was so distressing that it prompted an officer involved in the investigation to change careers due to the emotional toll.

Prosecutors detailed the nature of the content, describing videos that included babies being sexually assaulted. Witnesses and court officials recounted that some individuals present in the courtroom were moved to tears as they listened to the descriptions of the material. Prosecutor David Clarke explained that an experienced officer, tasked with cataloging and summarizing the images, was so traumatised by viewing a three-and-a-half-minute compilation of clips that depicted babies being attacked, that he subsequently sought counselling and changed his job.

Judge Philip Parry acknowledged that while there were multiple factors that could justify a prison sentence, the court had to consider the guidelines that emphasize rehabilitation over incarceration, especially given Bilsborough’s lack of prior convictions. The judge noted that current sentencing policies tend to favor community orders combined with sex offender treatment programs, particularly when the potential prison sentence might be relatively short.

The investigation into Bilsborough’s activities began when police attended his residence on Factory Lane in Penwortham, Lancashire, as part of an inquiry into online activity linked to an IP address. During the search, Bilsborough was arrested and cooperated fully, informing officers that there was no need to search for anyone else and providing details about the devices at his home, including security codes to access them.

Law enforcement officials seized a total of 14 electronic devices, such as laptops and USB sticks. However, due to resource limitations, only five of these devices could be examined thoroughly. It was estimated that across all devices, there could have been as many as 70,000 images, many of which were highly illegal. The investigation also uncovered that Bilsborough had installed software designed to conceal his browsing history.

During interviews, Bilsborough chose not to comment but later admitted to possessing 1,229 images classified as Category A, the most serious under law, along with 680 images in Category B, 988 in Category C, and 10 prohibited images of children. The court was told that the material was extremely distressing, prompting the specialist officer involved to seek counselling.

In sentencing, Judge Parry imposed a three-year community order requiring Bilsborough to attend a treatment program and participate in rehabilitation activities. Additionally, he was sentenced to perform 200 hours of unpaid work. Bilsborough was also issued a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which restricts his activities and contact, and he is required to register as a sex offender for five years. Furthermore, he was ordered to pay £800 in court costs, underscoring the seriousness of his offences and the impact on the community.