West Cumbria Man Given Suspended Prison Sentence After Police Crack Phone PIN To Find Illegal Images
A West Cumbria man has received a suspended prison sentence after police uncovered hundreds of indecent images of children on his mobile phone.
Robin Crawley, 32, of The Banks, Seascale, appeared at Carlisle Crown Court after investigators examined his mobile phone following concerns raised by an internet service provider. Officers visited his address in February 2025 after receiving information that a device associated with him was being used for an improper purpose. A Samsung mobile phone was seized during the investigation and subsequently examined by specialist officers from Cumbria Police.
During the investigation, Crawley was asked to provide the PIN code needed to access his phone but refused. Police subsequently referred the device to their specialist digital investigation team, which successfully bypassed the security code and gained access to its contents. A forensic examination revealed that he had downloaded 446 indecent photographs of children, including 159 classified as Category A, the most serious classification under the legal system.
The investigation also uncovered evidence of online activity involving the distribution of illegal material. During social media conversations, Crawley had allegedly pretended to be a girl in her early teens and distributed 28 indecent images, including two classified as Category A. Prosecutors also told the court that he had attempted to engage in sexualised conversations with another online user who had identified themselves as being 13 years old.
Crawley admitted nine offences before the court, covering the making and distribution of Category A, B and C indecent photographs of children, as well as attempted sexual communication with a child. His guilty pleas also included possessing 224 prohibited images of children and 41 extreme pornographic images depicting bestiality. The offences were considered as part of the sentencing proceedings at Carlisle Crown Court, where the judge heard details of the police investigation and the material recovered from his devices.
The court was told that Crawley had no previous convictions and had voluntarily sought professional help since the offending came to light. His solicitor said he was ashamed of his actions and explained that the offences had occurred following the breakdown of a relationship, while he was spending time at home awaiting surgery. The circumstances were presented to the court as part of the mitigation before the judge considered the appropriate sentence.
Recorder Kristian Cavanagh imposed a two-year prison sentence but suspended it for 18 months. The decision means Crawley will not immediately serve the custodial term, provided he complies with the requirements attached to the suspended sentence. He must also complete a probation requirement and undertake 150 hours of unpaid work as part of his punishment.
In addition to the sentence, Crawley was ordered to comply with sex offender notification requirements for 10 years. He must also follow a sexual harm prevention order imposing restrictions on his online activities. The court further prohibited him from working with children and vulnerable adults, placing additional restrictions on his future activities as part of measures intended to protect vulnerable people.
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