A Long Eaton Paedophile firefighter, Robert Stevenson, who compensated children throughout the UK for nude photographs has been sentenced to seven years in prison. Robert Stevenson, 31, solicited pornographic photographs from girls on social media in exchange for monetary compensation while employed by Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Robert Stevenson emailed a teenage girl a photograph of himself in his uniform, asserting that he was 19 years old. A police inquiry commenced after a 15-year-old girl informed detectives that Stevenson had threatened to disseminate an obscene image of her online.
The police reported that he communicated with the victim on Instagram, enquiring if she was interested in earning £100. The dialogue transitioned to Snapchat, where Robert Stevenson informed her that he was 17 after she disclosed her age as 17.
Robert Stevenson was apprehended, and examinations of his equipment revealed that he had been communicating with other girls.
Robert Stevenson had even paid several of them to send him photos and videos of themselves.
Detectives discovered Robert Stevenson had been talking to children “in a sexual manner right across the country”.
Robert Stevenson was charged with a string of offences including inciting sexual exploitation of a child and inciting sexual activity and making indecent images of a child.
Robert Stevenson, of Long Eaton, Derbyshire, was found guilty following a trial at Derby Crown Court and jailed for seven years and ordered to sign the sex offenders register. Following his sentencing last Friday (27/9), Detective Sergeant Sophie Draycott of Derbyshire Police expressed her relief at the conclusion of the lengthy investigation into Robert Stevenson’s inappropriate communications with children nationwide.
She said: “This has been a long investigation which revealed Robert Stevenson has been communicating with children in a sexual manner right across the country.”
“His behaviour was appalling and repeated so I am pleased that he has now been brought to justice for his crimes and is serving a prison sentence.”
“I’d also like to thank all the victims for their bravery and support throughout the case.”
Det Sgt Draycott, who supervises Child Sexual Exploitation cases for the force, issued a stark warning to parents about online safety, emphasising: “Now that social media is such a massive part of our society, I’d encourage all parents to please be aware of who their children are communicating with online, urge them to make sure they are not sending any images to anyone and let their children know that if they do receive any unwanted or inappropriate messages they should tell an adult.”
It was confirmed by the Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service that Robert Stevenson had been employed between June 2018 and his suspension in November 2019. Although a dismissal hearing was scheduled for June 2020, Robert Stevenson chose to resign in May 2020 amid the ongoing inquiry.
A representative for the fire service commented on their commitment to community trust and safety, saying: “All employees with a public-facing role are now subject to enhanced DBS checks and are trusted within the communities we serve.”
“Former firefighter Robert Stevenson breached the trust of our communities by committing the significant offences for which he has now been sentenced.”
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