ROBERT FINLAY SHOCKS BOURNEMOUTH WITH CHILD ABUSE IMAGES CASE
In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through Bournemouth, a senior official working within the city’s children’s services has been implicated in possessing and creating indecent images of minors.The case has garnered significant attention, prompting calls for a review of the sentencing handed down to Robert Finlay, 53, who resides on Barnes Crescent in Bournemouth.
Initially, Finlay faced serious charges after admitting to making over 600 indecent images of children, with the court revealing that 94 of these images were classified at the highest levels of severity, levels four and five.
These images are considered the most egregious in terms of indecency, and their existence underscores the gravity of the offense.
Finlay pleaded guilty to 17 counts of creating these images, with the offenses spanning from January 2009 to April of an unspecified year.
The court proceedings, held at Bournemouth Crown Court, resulted in a sentence of eight months in prison, suspended for two years.
This decision has sparked controversy, with many arguing that the punishment was too lenient given the nature and volume of the images involved.
Following his conviction, Finlay was placed on the sex offenders register for a decade and was also subjected to a sexual offences prevention order.
This order restricts him from using any device capable of accessing the internet unless it can store internet history or is available for police inspection.
Additionally, he was dismissed from his role as a children’s services program leader at Bournemouth Borough Council, a position he held with responsibility for safeguarding children.
Representatives from child protection organizations, including Jon Brown of the NSPCC, expressed their disapproval of the sentence.
Brown emphasized that a custodial sentence would have conveyed a stronger message about the seriousness of such crimes.
He stated, “A jail term would have sent a much stronger message that this is a very serious crime.” In response to the case, Jane Portman, the council’s executive director for children and adults, expressed her surprise at the leniency of the sentence.
She acknowledged the distress caused within the council and the wider community, stating, “This has been a difficult time for all those in children’s services and many in the wider council.
This brings closure of the matter and allows everyone to move on.” Earlier in July 2013, Finlay had also admitted to similar charges related to the creation of indecent images.
During a brief court appearance, he pleaded guilty to 17 offenses, which included a range of images from levels one through five, with nearly 100 classified at the highest levels of indecency.
The court warned him that he is now a convicted sex offender and must report to police as part of his legal obligations.
Finlay’s professional background includes teaching roles at Epiphany Primary School in Muscliffe during the 1990s and at Winton Primary School from 1994 to 2004, where he served as the ICT coordinator.
He also held a position as a governor at The Bourne Academy in West Howe, from which he resigned following his arrest.
In a statement, Jane Portman reaffirmed the council’s commitment to safeguarding children, emphasizing that thorough background checks are standard procedure and that Finlay’s record was initially clean.
She assured the public that once the allegations surfaced, he was immediately suspended and subsequently dismissed through disciplinary proceedings.
The council continues to work closely with police and other agencies to ensure the safety and protection of children in Bournemouth, demonstrating its resolve to prevent such incidents from recurring.
