Ryan Robinson, a 22-year-old resident of Brandon in County Durham, appeared before Durham Crown Court on Tuesday, April 14, 2025, via video link from Holme House Prison in Stockton. Previously convicted of sexual offences, Robinson had been placed under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) in May 2024 following his sentencing at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court when he was 20 years old. Despite this, he faced new charges related to child sexual abuse material and extreme pornography.
The court heard that on March 16, 2025, Robinson admitted to making 15 indecent images of children in the most serious category A, nine of which he distributed to others via the internet. He also pleaded guilty to distributing a single category B indecent image on the same date. Additionally, Robinson admitted possessing an image classified as extreme pornography depicting bestiality, also dated March 16, 2025. Furthermore, he confessed to breaching his SHPO between February 2 and March 17, 2025, by downloading the social media app ‘Session’ without notifying his monitoring officer, in violation of the order's restrictions.
Robinson's counsel, Tony Davis, requested an adjournment for a mental health assessment prior to sentencing, emphasising the importance of exploring the defendant's background. Davis noted, “I accept in all likelihood a custodial sentence is coming, but there are very important issues which I would like to be explored. He understands there would be no guarantees, but he accepts the likely outcome.” Judge Richard Bennett agreed to the request, revoking the existing SHPO and indicating it would be replaced with a new, longer-term order as part of the forthcoming sentencing.
Addressing Robinson directly, Judge Bennett stated, “You have had the good sense to plead guilty to these matters including new charges just brought today. The fact I’m adjourning for the report called for shouldn’t be taken as any indication as to the likely sentence that will be passed. These are very serious offences, including a serious breach of the SHPO.” The judge made clear that, had sentencing proceeded that day, Robinson would have received a fairly lengthy prison sentence, with considerations for the totality of his penalties. Robinson, who remains registered as a sex offender from his 2024 conviction, was remanded in custody pending the sentencing hearing scheduled for Thursday, May 14, 2025.
This case was reported by The Northern Echo, with coverage by crime and court reporter Bruce Unwin, highlighting ongoing issues with compliance among individuals subject to SHPOs in the Durham area.