sickening | 

Filthy farmer jailed for having sex with teen girl admits raft of new offences

When her parents examined her phone, they discovered ‘extremely sexual’ messages from someone called Andrew who had also shared explicit images with the schoolgirl

Today at 19:33

A filthy farmer jailed for having sex with a teenage girl has admitted possessing indecent images of children.

Andrew McRoberts pleaded guilty to six counts of having indecent images of minors and single counts of possessing extreme pornography and prohibited images of children on August 4, 2019.

Three other charges were left on the books.

The 34-year-old, from Lower Ballinderry Road in Ballinderry, Co Antrim, appeared before Craigavon Crown Court on Thursday.

Judge Patrick Lynch KC freed him on continuing bail ahead of the completion of a pre-sentence report and adjourned sentencing until November 24.

The pervert was handed a three-year sentence in April 2020 after he entered guilty pleas to eight offences, including sexual activity with a child, sexual communication with a child and possessing an indecent image of a child.

The latest charges stem from the same investigation.

His crimes came to light in 2019 after friends told the family of his victim they were worried about her relationship with McRoberts.

When her parents examined her phone, they discovered “extremely sexual” messages from someone called Andrew who had also shared explicit images with the schoolgirl. Police officers who raided the paedophile’s home the following day seized sex toys, restraints and three used contraceptives with the girl’s DNA on them.

The teenager later told detectives how she had met McRoberts at a vintage tractor rally.

She said that after a week of exchanging messages, he told her he “liked” her.

Their sexual relationship started a short time later and lasted for about 16 months.

According to the victim, they had sex 20 to 30 times.

Prosecuting counsel Ian Tannahill said that throughout a police interview, the teenager referred to herself as “being in a relationship, a boyfriend and girlfriend relationship”.

He added: “We know, of course, that it was a series of criminal acts by this man.”

The schoolgirl told police “she sent pictures of her private parts to him… of her own free will”, and that he would send her sexually explicit images of himself.

​According to McRoberts’ diaries and her PSNI interview, they first had sex on July 9, 2018, when she was 14.

He kept a record of the dates and times when they met and what they did.

He also recorded when she tried Buckfast for the first time.

Mr Tannahill said: “The diaries are distasteful and coarse.

“We make the proposition that what you see there is a diary of how a child is groomed, and then more serious offending over the course of that year by the defendant.

“(The diary records) an ascending list of events and activities.”

Handing McRoberts an 18-month sentence for the earlier offences, Judge Lynch told him he knew “what he was doing was wrong” and “had to be kept secret.”

He continued: “He knew the risks and, ultimately, he has to pay for those risks.”