In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that Robert William Esson, 34, was jailed for 14 months after breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and possessing over 100 indecent images of children. On appearing at Preston Crown Court in 2019, the defendant, of Back Lane, Newton-in-Bowland, Lancashire, was sentenced for offences discovered during a compliance check by the police’s sexual offenders management unit. It was reported that Esson had previously been jailed in 2015 for making and distributing indecent images and attempting to engage in sexual activity with a child.
The investigation established the calculated and persistent nature of Esson’s digital activity. Lancashire Police reported that while Esson was under an indefinite SHPO which banned him from deleting his internet history, he had intentionally cleared his browser data to hide his searches. The prosecution reported that forensic experts uncovered searches for “young and pre-teen,” “forced rape,” and “age young videos,” proving that he had actively sought out the most serious Category A images rather than stumbling upon them.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Esson admitted his interest in children as young as three to eight years old. Preston Crown Court heard how the defendant told police that adult pornography did not satisfy his needs and that he gained sexual gratification from viewing the abuse of young girls. The investigation established that despite being placed on a sexual offender programme following a prior breach in 2018, Esson continued to bypass his restrictions to access a library of Category A, B, and C images on his iPhone and computer.
Judge Mark Brown noted that the defendant’s history of non-compliance and his specific sexual preferences posed a significant risk to the community. For his actions in Newton-in-Bowland, Esson pleaded guilty to making and possessing indecent images and breaching his SHPO. The judge noted the gravity of the “disgusting” material found on his devices and handed down a 14-month custodial sentence, emphasizing the failure of previous community-based interventions to curb his behavior.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of Robert William Esson is as follows:
- Custodial Sentence: 14 months in prison (2019).
- SHPO Status: Indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order remains active.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated for life (following his 2015 conviction).
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Preston Crown Court following a Lancashire Police investigation.
- Criminal Record: Making and possessing indecent images of children; Breach of SHPO (multiple counts).
- Origin: Back Lane, Newton-in-Bowland, Clitheroe, Lancashire.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Esson is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by the police and the National Probation Service in Lancashire. Due to the nature of his conduct in Newton-in-Bowland, which involved the persistent pursuit of child abuse material despite being under active police supervision, his management is subject to high-level scrutiny. Authorities state that his indefinite SHPO is a critical tool to ensure he is subject to unannounced digital forensic audits and strict internet monitoring upon any eventual release.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register for life, Esson must comply with all notification requirements regarding his identity and residence. Authorities state that his admitted sexual interest in children and his history of breaching court orders in Clitheroe and Newton-in-Bowland necessitates permanent vigilance. Any future attempt to delete internet history, possess unmonitored devices, or engage in inappropriate behavior in Lancashire or elsewhere will result in immediate arrest and a return to the court system for further incarceration.
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