A registered sex offender has been jailed for two years and six months after police uncovered explicit videos and images of child sexual abuse during a surprise inspection at his home in Snodland, Kent.
Roger Crabtree, 59, of Rectory Close, was already subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) following previous convictions for making and possessing indecent images of children.
On 2 November 2023, officers from Kent Police carried out an unannounced visit to his home, where Crabtree was found to be using a laptop. Under the SHPO, he was legally required to make any internet-enabled devices immediately available for inspection.
Upon reviewing the device, officers found concerning search terms, leading to the seizure of a laptop and multiple hard drives. Forensic analysis later revealed 33 illegal images and videos, including several in Category A, the most severe classification. The material depicted real children being subjected to abuse.
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Crabtree was arrested and charged with three counts of making indecent images of children, as well as breaching his SHPO by unlawfully deleting internet history from a Kindle device in January 2024.
At Maidstone Crown Court on 2 May 2025, Recorder David Wood sentenced him to 30 months in prison, citing a “high risk to children” and emphasising the horrific nature of the material.
“These are real victims having terrible things done to them,” the judge said.
PC Rob Allen, who led the investigation, added:
“Crabtree has a lengthy history of offending… He’s shown a flagrant disregard for the restrictions placed on him. This sentence shows that we will use every power available to bring such offenders to justice.”
The court also activated a previously suspended sentence, contributing to the total term.
