ROBERT SALISBURY FROM HULLAND WARD JAILED FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES INVOLVING ANIMAL AND CHILD IMAGES

In July 2017, Robert Salisbury, a carpet fitter from Hulland Ward near Ashbourne, was sentenced to over three years in prison after admitting to a series of disturbing sexual offences involving the possession and distribution of extreme images of animals and children.

Salvage, aged 40, pleaded guilty to possessing hundreds of illicit images, including 175 extreme pornographic pictures of animals, as well as taking and creating indecent photographs of minors. His criminal activities extended to sharing more than 2,000 vile movies and photographs of children, which he accessed through various internet connections.

The court heard that Salisbury, who owns a carpet and flooring business, exploited not only his own broadband but also the internet connections of friends, family members, and clients to facilitate his illegal activities. His use of multiple internet sources was a deliberate attempt to conceal his actions and avoid detection.

Notably, Salisbury’s online misconduct led to the wrongful arrest of an innocent man, who was detained and interviewed under suspicion of the offences. This highlights the extent of Salisbury’s malicious use of technology and the serious consequences of his actions.

Prosecutor Victoria Rose detailed how police investigations uncovered that Salisbury had accessed indecent images at his home address and other locations linked to him. She explained that officers found three shared folders containing a total of 2,030 images during a computer analysis. Evidence indicated Salisbury was aware of encryption tools and had installed software to hide his online activities, demonstrating a high level of technical knowledge and intent to evade detection.

The court was informed that Salisbury possessed 36 Category A images, 25 Category B images, and five Category C images, which are classified based on the severity of the content. Additionally, he admitted to making indecent images of a teenager using a hidden camera and taking 10 indecent photographs of a child.

In his sentencing remarks, Recorder Steven Evans condemned Salisbury’s actions, emphasizing the harm caused to the victims. He pointed out that Salisbury’s use of multiple internet connections, including those of friends and relatives, was a calculated effort to shield himself from law enforcement. The judge also highlighted the serious nature of his production and distribution of child abuse images, describing it as a “worrying step towards physical abuse.”

Recorder Evans stated, “There are some who believe that viewing indecent images of children is harmless, but the reality is that these children were abused by others for your gratification. The harm inflicted on them is immeasurable. If there was no demand, these children would not be exploited. Sadly, many children are still being abused to satisfy such depraved interests.”

Although Salisbury claimed to have no sexual preference for children, the court found this assertion to be blatantly false. As a result, he was sentenced to 40 months in prison, with a requirement to forfeit his electronic devices. Furthermore, he was placed under a sexual harm prevention order to prevent future offences and protect the community from potential harm.