In 2025, the Offender Database reported that Ivan Robertshaw, then 23, of Thornton in Lonsdale, Ingleton, North Yorkshire, admitted to “reprehensible” digital offences. On Friday, 5 September 2025, Robertshaw appeared at Skipton Magistrates’ Court, where he pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent photographs of children, including material at the most “vicious” level of severity.
The investigation established that Robertshaw, who worked as a chef, “calculatingly” downloaded a series of still and moving images between August and October 2022. The prosecution reported that authorities in Cumbria were alerted in December 2022 that Robertshaw had been viewing “abhorrent” content on a mobile device. North Yorkshire Police subsequently raided his home and seized several electronic devices, uncovering a “vile” cache that included Category A, B, and C images.
Digital Forensic Findings and Judicial Process
Forensic analysis of the seized devices and Robertshaw’s browsing history revealed “sickening” content, with children in the images estimated to be as young as one to two years old. The court reported that Robertshaw “persistently” accessed these files over several months. In mitigation, his legal representative stated that he was full of “remorse and revulsion” for his “reprehensible” actions and noted that he had no previous convictions before this “serious” breach of the law.
Due to the “gravity” of the Category A images and the age of the infants involved, magistrates determined that their sentencing powers were insufficient. Robertshaw was “critically” ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register at Kendal police station within three days. The case was committed to Bradford Crown Court for a sentencing hearing on 30 September 2025, where a judge will decide on the “stringent” custodial term required for such “abhorrent” behaviour.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
Ivan Robertshaw was sent to Bradford Crown Court for sentencing. He faces:
- Custodial Sentence: A significant term of years in immediate custody (to be determined).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated immediately.
- SHPO: A Sexual Harm Prevention Order is expected to be imposed to monitor his digital access in North Yorkshire.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Robertshaw is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by North Yorkshire Police. His history of “calculatingly” downloading images of toddlers and the “systematic” nature of his browsing history mean his status remains under “critical” scrutiny.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, Robertshaw must comply with strict notification requirements regarding his address in Thornton-in-Lonsdale, Ingleton. Authorities state that the “vicious” nature of the imagery found requires long-term “stringent” supervision. Any breach of his registration conditions or his future SHPO following his eventual release will result in his immediate return to Bradford Crown Court.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.