A man previously jailed for sharing illegal images of children being sexually abused is starting another prison sentence for similar crimes.
David Robinson, 56, was first punished in 2015 for possessing and distributing indecent photographs of youngsters.
Robinson’s online chat with other paedophiles was of the most sickening nature, the court heard.
Carlisle Crown Court heard Robinson had offered to buy a child online in order to abuse them. He decorated a room in his city home for a youngster and applied to be a foster carer for young boys.
The sentencing judge concluded Robinson — at one point a front counter Cumbria police employee who was suspended and later left the force — presented one face to the outside world, another deeply unattractive one online.
Robinson was released from custody in October 2020 but new offences were uncovered when a police constable conducted a home visit and looked at his Motorola mobile phone.
There were WhatsApp chats between Robinson, latterly of Garfield Street, Carlisle, and men from Indonesia.
However, some WhatsApp messages and call logs had been deleted. “This frustrated attempts by police to see the history of those conversations,” said prosecutor Gerard Rogerson.
Robinson had also engaged the disappearing messages function on WhatsApp. This, along with the chat deletions, were in breach of a sexual offences prevention order imposed as part of his 2015 punishment to restrict his online use.
Indecent images of children — some in the most serious category A — were also found during an initial examination of Robinson’s phone. More illicit child pictures were located when the device was further analysed.
Robinson admitted a total of nine offences relating to breach of the order, making indecent photographs of children and possession of extreme pornographic images which were also found.
A defence solicitor said Robinson knew custody was inevitable and that he had to address his issues.
Judge Nicholas Barker imposed a 40-month prison sentence. Robinson must sign the sex offenders’ register for 10 years with a new and indefinite prevention order imposed.
“I am satisfied that the reason you deleted the messages was because the context of those messages was of a sexual and indecent nature, relating to the sexual abuse of children,” concluded the judge.
Judge Barker also announced that Robinson should again be classed as a dangerous offender, and, as a result, he imposed an extended three-year licence period.
