ROBERT WHITE FROM WRITTLE JAILED FOR NEARLY 14,000 CHILD PORN IMAGES FOUND ON COMPUTER

In a case that has shocked the community of Writtle, Essex, Robert White, aged 44, has been sentenced to two years in prison after being found in possession of an alarming collection of nearly 14,000 indecent images of children. The disturbing discovery was made after a woman in the United States noticed what she described as 'soft-porn' photographs of minors on a social media platform, prompting her to report her concerns to the authorities.

Following the tip-off, Essex police launched a thorough investigation. During a search of White’s residence in Long Brandocks, Writtle, officers seized a computer that contained the illicit images. The police confirmed that the material was deeply disturbing, with the images spanning a range of severity levels from one to five, and accumulated over an eight-year period dating back to the late 1990s.

White was charged with multiple offenses, including two counts of possessing a large quantity of indecent images. Although a charge of sexual assault involving a boy was initially considered, it was left on the file, and White admitted to the possession of the images. The court was informed that White was involved in various activities, including working as a foster carer through a private agency, participating in the Boys Brigade, running a modelling agency, giving trumpet lessons, and assisting with an after-school club. Despite these roles, the judge made it clear that White’s involvement in fostering was over, emphasizing that there was no possibility of him returning to such work.

Judge David Turner delivered a stern warning to White, stating, “You accumulated a dreadful pile of material. There’s not the remotest prospect of returning to fostering in any shape or form.” He further condemned White’s actions, describing the images as “unpleasant and worrying,” and highlighted the serious nature of the offense. The judge also ordered White to remain on the sex offenders’ register for ten years and imposed a Sex Offenders Prevention Order, which prohibits him from working with children in any capacity.

Prosecutor Allan Compton explained that the images were discovered after a concerned woman in the United States came across the photographs of children in underwear, which she recognized as inappropriate. Her report led to the matter being handed over to UK authorities, who then collaborated with Essex police to investigate. During police interviews, White admitted to downloading the images over an extended period, from the late 1990s through to recent years.

Matthew Dance, representing White in mitigation, revealed that the defendant suffers from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He suggested that White’s interest in viewing such images was linked to depression following the loss of his business, implying that his mental health struggles may have contributed to his actions. Nonetheless, the court’s verdict was clear in condemning White’s conduct and emphasizing the severity of possessing such a vast collection of illegal material.