ROGER NELSON FROM BAMPTON SENTENCED IN OXFORD FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGE OFFENSES

In August 2020, a man from Bampton, Roger Nelson, was brought before Oxford Crown Court to face charges related to the possession of indecent images of children. Nelson, aged 58 and residing on Weald Street in Bampton, had previously admitted to three counts of creating such illegal images. His appearance in court marked a significant step in the ongoing investigation into his activities.

According to prosecutors, police officers acted on intelligence that led to Nelson's arrest in December 2017. During questioning, Nelson pointed out a Lenovo laptop as the device of interest. A subsequent detailed examination of the computer revealed a disturbing collection of over 100 indecent images and videos depicting child abuse. The material was categorized into different severity levels, with six images classified as Category A, indicating the most severe form of illegal content. Additionally, there were 87 images in Category B and 53 in Category C, reflecting a range of exploitative material.

During the court proceedings, Nelson's defense lawyer, Michael Phillips, highlighted that his client had no prior criminal record. He explained that Nelson had fallen into the trap of illegal pornography and child abuse images, describing it as a 'rabbit hole.' Phillips emphasized that Nelson had since taken steps to distance himself from such material, suggesting a degree of remorse and an attempt at rehabilitation.

Judge Ian Pringle QC delivered the sentence, describing the images as 'obscene' and emphasizing the seriousness of the offense. Nelson was sentenced to a two-year community order, which includes the requirement to complete 25 days of rehabilitation activities and perform 100 hours of unpaid work. Furthermore, he was subjected to a five-year sexual harm prevention order, aimed at restricting his access to potentially harmful material and monitoring his behavior. The court also ordered Nelson to pay costs amounting to £425, along with a statutory victim surcharge, as part of the penalty for his crimes.