ROBIN DUFFY FROM LISBURN SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND HARASSMENT CASE

In June 2022, Robin Duffy, a 24-year-old man residing on Mountview Drive in Lisburn, was convicted of multiple serious offences involving child exploitation and harassment. The case drew significant attention due to the disturbing nature of his crimes and the impact on his former partner.

According to court proceedings held in Craigavon, Duffy was found guilty of possessing indecent images of children, including videos classified as Category A, which are considered among the most severe forms of child exploitation material. Police investigations revealed that Duffy’s devices contained these illicit images and videos, raising concerns about his ongoing involvement in such activities.

The court also heard about Duffy’s history of controlling and abusive behavior towards his ex-partner. After she ended their relationship, Duffy’s actions became increasingly aggressive and invasive. While she was away on holiday with friends, he bombarded her with hundreds of text messages and phone calls daily. These messages were described as “vile reading,” filled with cruel insults and threats. Duffy called her degrading names such as “s**t,” “w***e,” and a “child killing b*****d,” referencing her two miscarriages. He repeatedly urged her to “kill herself,” causing her significant emotional distress.

Despite her pleas for him to leave her alone, Duffy continued his harassment unabated. He also issued threats to kill her, burn her clothing, and damage her vehicle. The judge noted that the messages from Duffy were particularly foul and invasive, extending beyond personal abuse to vilify her family in the most vile terms. One of the most shocking comments was when Duffy told her, as she was preparing to fly home from her holiday, “Hope it crashes and you die a slow and painful death because that’s all wee w***e bag s***s like you deserve.”

Fortunately, the victim gathered the courage to report Duffy to the police. She provided them with all the evidence of his harassment and abusive messages. When police examined his devices, they uncovered not only the indecent images but also videos that further implicated him in child exploitation.

It was also revealed that Duffy had a troubling past. At the age of 12, he was prosecuted and placed under a three-year probation order for sexually assaulting a child under 13. This previous conviction was a breach of his current order, adding to the severity of his case.

During police interviews, Duffy initially attempted to downplay his actions, claiming that his ex-partner had replied to his messages. However, he later admitted that his messages were “vicious, vile and disgusting.” He also confessed to sending her an intimate photograph of himself.

The court sentenced Duffy to a three-year probation order, emphasizing that while he deserved imprisonment, society would benefit more from strict supervision. He was also ordered to complete 100 hours of community service and pay £2,000 in compensation to his former partner. Additionally, Duffy was handed a five-year sexual offences prevention order and was required to register as a sex offender for the same period.

The judge warned Duffy that any breach of the probation order would result in immediate imprisonment, stating, “If he breaches the order, he will be back before me and I can assure him, there will be no second breach because if he is back before me, I will dust off my sentencing notes and remind myself that he faces an eight-and-a-half month immediate custodial sentence.”