Sick Child Abuser Paul Roberts Jailed for Over Three Years
Paul Roberts, 39, from St Helens, has been locked up for three years and four months after breaching his Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO). He illegally communicated with a child under 16 without supervision and let the child visit his home without parental consent.
Dark Web Chats and Shocking Assaults
In a chilling twist, National Crime Agency (NCA) officers uncovered that in December 2020, Roberts sexually assaulted another boy under 13. He sent explicit messages to the child and even discussed his crimes in detail with a user on the dark web.
Investigators found matching messages between Roberts and the victim on WhatsApp, confirming his abusive activities. He assaulted the boy twice, including once after inviting him to his flat to watch TV. Roberts also sent sexual messages as recently as April 2021.
Evidence and Guilty Plea
Authorities seized Roberts’ electronic devices, which showed attempts to hide his online behaviour from his offender manager. They also discovered indecent images of children—one of the most severe categories and three category B images, none involving the victim.
Roberts was charged with two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, one count of engaging in sexual communication with a child, and two counts of making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child. He pleaded guilty via video link from prison and was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court.
Harsh Punishment and Official Response
- 3 years 4 months in jail
- Placed on sex offenders register for life
- Given lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order
- Destruction order on electronic devices
“Despite the conditions imposed on him, Roberts persistently sought out opportunities to satisfy his sexual interest in children,” said NCA Operations Manager Hazel Stewart.
“He groomed and manipulated a child into thinking he could trust him and that this abuse was normal.”
“Protecting children from sex offenders is a priority for the NCA, and we continue to pursue criminals in the UK and internationally to ensure abusers like Roberts are held to account.”
