ROGER CRABTREE'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN SNODLAND: SEX OFFENDER'S ILLEGAL ONLINE ACTIVITY LEADS TO PRISON SENTENCE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Snodland, Kent, authorities have taken decisive action against Roger Crabtree, a registered sex offender with a troubling history. On November 2, 2023, police officers executed an unannounced search at Crabtree's residence on Rectory Close, a routine yet critical operation aimed at monitoring individuals under strict legal restrictions due to their past offenses.

During the search, law enforcement officials uncovered evidence of illegal online activity that raised serious concerns. The investigation revealed that Crabtree had been using his personal laptop to download and view illicit images of children, a grave violation of his legal obligations. The authorities seized his laptop along with several hard drives for forensic analysis, which confirmed the presence of 33 illegal images and videos depicting children, some of which were classified in the most severe category of abuse.

Crabtree, who had previously been convicted for making and possessing indecent images, was already subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). Despite these restrictions, he engaged in concerning online searches, which prompted further scrutiny. The forensic examination uncovered that he had unlawfully deleted internet history from a Kindle device in January 2024, an act that was considered a breach of his SHPO.

Following these discoveries, Crabtree was promptly arrested and charged with three counts of making indecent images of children. He subsequently pleaded guilty to these charges and admitted to breaching his SHPO. His guilty plea highlighted his blatant disregard for the restrictions designed to prevent him from reoffending and protect children from harm.

On May 2, 2025, at Maidstone Crown Court, Judge Recorder David Wood sentenced Crabtree, who is now 59 years old, to a prison term of two years and six months. The judge described Crabtree as being of high risk to children, emphasizing the severity of his actions and the danger he poses to the community. The sentence also included penalties for breaching a previous suspended sentence, underscoring the repeated nature of his violations.

Leading the investigation, PC Rob Allen expressed his concerns about Crabtree's history and behavior. He stated, "Crabtree has a lengthy history of offending connected to his desire to access and obtain images and videos of real children suffering appalling abuse. He has been given several chances by the courts but has repeatedly shown a flagrant disregard for the measures and restrictions imposed to protect children and prevent him from reoffending. Crabtree appears to have no understanding of the gravity of his actions, but as this case hopefully shows we will do everything within our powers to ensure offenders like him face the consequences."