The Titchfield paedophile, Robert Pell, has been incarcerated for child sexual offences subsequent to a collaborative investigation by law enforcement in Hampshire and the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU).
In August 2022, 57-year-old Robert Pell engaged in an online communication with an individual he presumed to be a 14-year-old kid and arranged to meet at Fareham train station.
Upon Robert Pell’s arrival at the spot, he was confronted by police officers who apprehended him.
He was subsequently charged with attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to meet a boy under 16 years of age following grooming.
Following Robert Pell’s arrest, police seized his phone for examination.
The phone contained 80 indecent images of children, including images Robert Pell had taken of himself abusing a child.
Officers from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary identified and immediately safeguarded the child, before charging Robert Pell with two counts of taking an indecent photograph of a child, and one count of sexual activity with a child under the age of 13.
Appearing at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on 13 January 2023, Robert Pell, of the Titchfield area of Fareham, admitted all of the offences. He also admitted a further count of making indecent images of children at a hearing on 20 February.
He appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court today (Thursday 2 March) where he was sentenced to 4 years in prison. He was also made subject to a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), and must sign on the sex offenders register for life.
PC David Sloan, from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Child Abuse Investigation Team, said: “Pell’s crimes are nothing short of horrendous. He willingly arranged to meet with someone who he believed to be a child following a period of grooming, and the evidence that police uncovered throughout the subsequent investigation proved that he had already been actively involved in the sexual abuse of a child.
“This man poses a clear risk to children. I hope that the efforts of police and Pell’s subsequent jail sentence provides some reassurance to the community that we will do everything in our power, and use every tactic available, to identify perpetrators of child abuse, safeguard those affected, and bring offenders to justice.”
Detective Constable Colin Haynes, of SEROCU, said: “SEROCU officers worked closely in collaboration with Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary to ensure a thorough investigation was carried out and that Robert Pell was brought before a court to face the consequences of his abhorrent crimes.
“Child sexual abuse has devastating and lasting consequences for victims, so we will continue this vital work with police forces across the South East to ensure offenders who pose such a danger are identified and apprehended to face justice.”
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