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19
Jun
Ripon man who possessed child sexual abuse images avoids jail
Warning: this article contains distressing information.
A Ripon man who possessed images of child sexual abuse and extreme pornography has avoided jail.
Royston Roe, 23, appeared at Harrogate Magistrates Court today (June 19) for sentencing after pleading guilty to making indecent photographs of a child and possessing extreme pornographic images at a previous hearing.
Antony Farrell, prosecuting, told the court that police attended Roe’s home address after acting on intelligence.
Mr Farrell said officers seized devices from Roe, including his mobile phone, which were then analysed.
The prosecution said that the phone contained two category A images — the most serious kind — which portrayed a child being sexually abused by an adult male.
Roe also possessed two images of sex between a female and a dog.
The court heard that offences took place in September 2023.
Mr Farrell said the 23-year-old gave a no comment interview to police after his arrest, but was charged and later pleaded guilty in court.
Roe, of Clotherholme Park in Ripon, had no previous convictions, the court heard.
Risks losing his employment
Martin Townend, defending, said Roe had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity to the charges.
Mr Townend added that the offences date back nearly three years and that Roe had been answering to police bail since his arrest in July 2024.
He said:
The bail conditions mean he has been living separately to his wife and child.
Roe, who is in the military, also risked losing his employment, Mr Townend added.
The defence said:
He will likely lose his employment today and will lose his good name today.
Magistrates sentenced Roe to an eight-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months.
He was ordered to attend 25 rehabilitation activity days.
Roe will also have to sign on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years and was subjected to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.
Magistrates also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of his mobile phone.
Roe was also ordered to pay court costs of £85 and a £187 victims’ surcharge.
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