Mersey Reporter - #Merseybites #News

ROBERT Swaine, 31 years, of Prospect Vale, Fairfield, Liverpool, has been jailed for indecently exposing himself to a young girl and possessing hundreds of child sexual abuse images.

On Monday, 31 March 2025, at Liverpool Crown Court, Robert Swaine was sentenced to 2 years and 8 months in prison and 2 years extended licence. He was also issued with a:- 'lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).'

The Court heard that Merseyside Police Detectives received information that a man was distributing indecent images of children, and a warrant was executed at Swaine's address. Following the search, 5 electronic devices were seized, and forensic examination of the devices uncovered more than a thousand indecent images and videos of children, graded category A, B and C.

Furthermore, while being investigated for those Offences, the court heard that Swaine indecently exposed himself at a bus stop on:- County Road, in Walton, in the presence of an 11 year old child in September 2024. Officers arrested him at the scene.

At a previous Court hearing Swaine pleaded guilty to all 6 of the of the following charges:- indecent exposure, possessing prohibited images, 3 counts of making indecent photograph / pseudo photograph of a child; category A, B and C, and possession of photograph / pseudo photograph of a child; category A,B and C.

Detective Inspector James Milligan said:- "This sentence follows a thorough investigation to bring Swaine before the Courts and ensure he is held accountable for his utterly depraved and abhorrent crimes against children. As you can imagine, the impact on the victims of these appalling offences is significant and long lasting. Merseyside Police is completely committed to protecting children from sexual abuse and those who seek to do them harm. If you have experienced any form of sexual abuse, or know of a child being abused, please come forward and report this to the Police. We take all such reports extremely seriously, and if you can find the courage to come forward and speak to us we have specially trained officers who will treat you with sensitivity and compassion."

Sex offending has such a huge and terrible impact on victims, and we are determined to continue looking to innovative new ways of identifying offenders at the earliest possible opportunity, to prevent young people coming to further harm from abuse and exploitation.

If you are a child or young person suffering sexual or physical abuse, the following organisations can also provide help and support:-

NSPCC:- 08088005000 or email:- Help@NSPCC.Org.UK.
Childline:- 08001111

If you've been affected by sexual violence of any kind, don't be afraid to tell someone, find the courage to come forward, and get the help you deserve.

You can report:- rape, sexual assault and other sexual offences anonymously, online at:- Merseyside.Police.UK.

There is a lot of support available from specialist officers within Merseyside Police and through the Police and Crime Commissioner's Victim Care Merseyside service, delivered jointly by 2 registered charities.

In Liverpool, Sefton and Wirral, support is provided by:- Rape and Sexual Abuse Support (RASA) Merseyside who are available on:- 01515581801 and, within St Helens and Knowsley, by the:- Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (RASASC) Cheshire and Merseyside, who can be contacted on:- 01925221546, or 03303630063.