ROGER COLGATE FROM DATCHET SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN BERKSHIRE

In a case that has spanned several decades, Roger Colgate, a 78-year-old resident of Datchet, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term of nine years and four months for a series of serious child sex offences. The sentencing took place at Reading Crown Court on Friday, February 10, following a guilty plea to multiple charges.

Colgate, who formerly resided on Percy Place in Datchet, faced a total of twelve charges, including eleven counts of indecent assault and one count of producing indecent photographs of children. The offences date back to different periods, with the earliest occurring between 1972 and 1979, when he indecently assaulted a young girl in Berkshire. The abuse continued into the early 2000s, with a second victim subjected to sexual abuse in Berkshire between 2001 and 2003.

The investigation into Colgate’s actions was initiated after his arrest on August 5, 2015. Subsequently, on October 27, 2016, he was formally charged with three counts of indecent assault. During the police inquiry, authorities seized Colgate’s laptop, which was found to contain approximately 90 indecent images classified as ‘category C,’ indicating a significant level of exploitation material.

Further legal proceedings unfolded when Colgate appeared at Slough Magistrates’ Court on November 29, 2016. During this hearing, an additional charge was added against him for making indecent photographs of children, expanding the scope of the case.

In early January of this year, the prosecution reviewed the case details and decided to reorganize the charges to better assist the judge in delivering an appropriate sentence. As a result, four of the original charges were increased, bringing the total to twelve counts. The court ultimately sentenced Colgate to over nine years in prison, reflecting the gravity of his offences and the impact on his victims.