Robert Gates

Robert Gates, a 70-year-old resident of Ludlow in Shropshire, faced justice at Shrewsbury Crown Court for his repeated involvement in child sexual exploitation offences. In November 2024, Gates had been handed a two-year suspended sentence for making and distributing indecent images of children, a decision that allowed him to avoid immediate imprisonment. However, his compliance with the terms of that suspension was short-lived.

By August 2025, officers from West Mercia Police were alerted by colleagues at the Metropolitan Police to suspicious online activity involving Gates. The Metropolitan Police had arrested an individual for sharing indecent images of children online, and investigations revealed that this person had recently been in contact with Gates. Acting swiftly, West Mercia Police arrested Gates at his home address and seized several electronic devices for forensic examination.

The analysis of the seized devices uncovered two category B indecent images of children and two category C images, confirming Gates' continued engagement in these illegal activities. Further evidence emerged from online conversations where Gates had discussed the sexual abuse of children, demonstrating a persistent and disturbing interest in such material. These discoveries led to Gates being charged with two counts of making indecent images of children and two counts of distributing indecent photos of children.

Gates pleaded guilty to all charges. On 7 November 2025, at Shrewsbury Crown Court, he was sentenced to a 12-month custodial term for the new offences, with an additional 12 months imposed for breaching the conditions of his previous suspended sentence. The sentences were ordered to run consecutively, resulting in a total of 24 months' imprisonment. PC Ellie Williams, from Shropshire’s protecting vulnerable people team at West Mercia Police, commented on the case, stating: 'Gates is a deeply disturbing individual with a clear interest in the sexual abuse of children. Having previously avoided prison, he has now rightly received a two-year custodial sentence for his actions. Gates' sickening offending demonstrates a shocking disregard for the harm and trauma his behaviour inflicts on young victims.' This case underscores the vigilance of law enforcement in monitoring and addressing online child sexual exploitation within the United Kingdom.