Operation Spade
November 2014
Man sentenced for Operation Spade child sexual offences
A 60-year-old man has been sentenced to 19-months’ imprisonment after admitting offences relating to the purchasing of child abuse materials from Canada.
Robert Harper, from Batheaston, admitted five counts of making indecent images of children and four counts of voyeurism and was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court yesterday (17/11).
He will be on the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years and was also sentenced to a 10-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), which will start on his release from prison.
The charges are in connection with Operation Spade, an international investigation into the purchasing of child abuse materials from Canadian company Azov Films.
Information was submitted by Toronto police via Interpol to the UK. The National Crime Agency passed on details to UK police forces at the end of last year.
Harper bought indecent materials featuring children from Azov Films in Canada.
He was arrested in March and his home was searched. Officers seized equipment including a computer, laptop, tablet, mobile phone and USB sticks.
The equipment was analysed by officers with the High-Tech Crime Unit, who found almost 2,500 indecent images of children, as well as an indecent video. The majority of images found were graded between categories 1 to 2. A small number of images were found to be category 5, the most serious level.
Investigating officer Det Con Stuart Brooks said: “Robert Harper was arrested at his home in March and interviewed. He initially said he didn’t realise the images were indecent.
“As well as the indecent images and video, we also found videos of men being filmed in changing rooms without their knowledge.
“We were able to identify four men in the videos and they confirmed they did not give their consent to being filmed. All the victims were given access to expert help and guidance if they needed it.
“Our message is that anyone who purchases indecent materials of children plays an active role in fuelling this horrific industry and must face the consequences.
“While Harper may not have known the identities of the children he had indecent images of, the inescapable truth is that they’re real children being sexually exploited and abused.
“I welcome the sentence given by the court and hope this reminds people who want to make, purchase or sell indecent images of children that they aren’t anonymous and they will be caught.”
