ROY STOBBS FROM MELTHAM AND SLAITHWAITE BUSTED AGAIN FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN YORKSHIRE

In a series of disturbing incidents spanning several years, Roy Stobbs, a resident of Meltham and Slaithwaite in West Yorkshire, has repeatedly been found guilty of possessing indecent images of children and breaching court orders designed to restrict his access to such material.

Stobbs, now aged 64, has a long history of criminal behavior related to child exploitation. His latest conviction comes after a pattern of offenses that have seen him caught multiple times with indecent images, despite previous court orders and restrictions. His criminal record includes a 2010 conviction at Bradford Crown Court, where he was given a three-year community order for making and possessing indecent photographs of children.

In 2011, police seized two computers from his residence in The Hollow, Meltham, uncovering an additional 87 indecent images, some involving children as young as three years old. These images were found following routine police visits and searches, which revealed that Stobbs had attempted to delete the files using secure software, although evidence suggested he believed he had successfully hidden his activities.

His repeated offenses led to a jury conviction last year at Leeds Crown Court on 25 specimen charges of making indecent images, along with a charge of breaching a sexual offences prevention order issued in 2010. The court heard that despite the court's restrictions, Stobbs continued to access such material, often using his own computers rather than public facilities, which he justified by claiming he was conducting innocent research or browsing newspapers.

In one instance, he admitted to using his desktop computer to access the internet between January 11 and February 18 of the current year without the required monitoring software being installed, a breach of his court order. Further, in February and March, he was found to have used a tablet device connected to the internet without notifying the police, which was another violation of his restrictions.

Prosecutors highlighted that Stobbs had a history of attempting to conceal his activities, including using software to delete files and making internet searches for terms like “nude boy.” His defense argued that his actions were innocent and that he had been misled by scams and misunderstandings about technology, particularly regarding the use of mobile devices and monitoring software.

Despite his claims of innocence and his responsibilities caring for his elderly mother suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, the court was unpersuaded. Judge Geoffrey Marson QC sentenced Stobbs to four months in prison for breaching his court orders, emphasizing his prior convictions and ongoing misconduct. The judge also noted Stobbs’ history of previous convictions, including a 1981 indecent assault on a male under 16.

In a related case, Stobbs was also convicted in 2014 of making 25 indecent images of children, some as young as three, and breaching a sexual offences prevention order. The court found that he had accessed the internet using second-hand computers and had attempted to cover his tracks with secure deletion software. His actions demonstrated a continued pattern of offending despite previous legal interventions.

Throughout these proceedings, Stobbs’ defense counsel argued that he had not committed any offenses since 2011 and urged the court to consider programs aimed at confronting such behavior. They also highlighted his role as a caregiver for his mother, suggesting that incarceration would significantly impact her well-being.

However, the courts have consistently recognized the danger posed by Stobbs, especially given his history and the nature of his offenses. In 2010, Judge Jonathan Rose at Bradford Crown Court described him as a potential danger to children, particularly young boys, and opted for a community order over imprisonment, citing concerns about his treatment and the risk of reoffending.

Stobbs’ case underscores the ongoing challenge of managing repeat offenders involved in child exploitation crimes, especially those who continue to breach court restrictions and pose a significant threat to the safety of children in the Yorkshire area.