TREVER CROTHERS FROM BANGOR CAUGHT WITH CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AND FRAUD CHARGES

In May 2016, Trevor Crothers, a 63-year-old resident of Bangor, found himself at the center of a serious criminal case that uncovered disturbing evidence of child exploitation and financial misconduct. The case came to light after Crothers was reported by his estranged wife, who accused him of theft and illicit online activity.

According to court records, Crothers had been stealing money from his wife to fund his addiction to adult pornography and dating websites. This financial misconduct was just one aspect of his criminal behavior. During a police investigation, authorities seized his laptop and other electronic devices, revealing a far more troubling pattern of abuse. The devices contained indecent images of children, including one depicting bestiality, which is considered a form of extreme pornography.

The police investigation was initiated after Crothers’ wife contacted law enforcement in October 2012, raising concerns about the content on his computer and his theft from her bank account. The authorities responded promptly, seizing the electronic storage devices for forensic analysis. The examination uncovered a series of disturbing images and search terms, including phrases like “teen” and “pre-teen,” indicating a disturbing interest in underage individuals.

Further investigation revealed that Crothers had used his estranged wife’s online account to access funds without her knowledge or approval. Between March 2010 and October 2012, he engaged in eight unauthorized transactions, totaling amounts ranging from £13 to £140. Although he paid money into the account, he had spent it without her consent, frittering away the funds on various purchases. Crothers admitted to these transactions during police interviews, acknowledging his misuse of the account and his involvement in the criminal activities.

At Downpatrick Crown Court, Crothers faced multiple charges, including five counts of possessing indecent images of children, one count of possessing extreme pornography, and two counts of fraud by misrepresentation. During the proceedings, he pleaded guilty to all charges. The court was informed that Crothers had used his ex-wife’s account because he lacked funds in his own account, which he explained was due to his addiction and financial mismanagement.

In mitigation, his defense lawyer argued that Crothers had been dealing with the emotional distress caused by his marriage breakdown. The lawyer also noted that Crothers had been consuming legal adult pornography but had crossed boundaries, leading to his current predicament. It was revealed that Crothers was set to receive an early retirement package later that month, including a lump sum of approximately £6,000, which he intended to use to compensate his estranged wife.

Judge Piers Grant sentenced Crothers to a two-year probation order, emphasizing that he would avoid jail if he fulfilled certain conditions. Additionally, Crothers was ordered to complete 100 hours of community service and was required to repay his wife the £1,318 he had spent on porn and dating sites. The judge issued a stern warning that failure to repay the money could result in imprisonment.

Furthermore, the court imposed a five-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), restricting Crothers from possessing electronic devices without prior approval. Judge Grant highlighted the severity of the crimes, stating, “Without you and people like you looking for these images, they would not be created.” He also expressed concern about the impact on child victims, emphasizing the terrible deprivation and degradation they endure due to such exploitation.