Ireland Case No. 22381Attempted communication to facilitate sexual exploitation of a child; possession of child abuse material · Co. Dublin · 3 Mar 2018
Robert Ashmore jailed for 16 months over online child sexual exploitation and possession of child abuse images
Robert Ashmore, 54, of Ballymun, Dublin, was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to attempting to communicate with a person to facilitate the sexual exploitation of a child and to possessing 71 cartoon images of child abuse material, following a sting operation by online vigilante groups who posed as a 13-year-old on WhatsApp.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced14 Feb
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports16 statements extracted from the articles
- whatAshmore was jailed for 16 months at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe pleaded guilty to attempting to communicate with another person to facilitate the sexual exploitation of a child. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe was in possession of 71 cartoon images of child abuse material depicting children aged 8 to 10 in sexual acts or with genitals exposed. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe offences came to light after representatives from the groups came to his workplace in the IT department of Beaumont Hospital. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offences occurred between 3 March 2018 and 23 April 2018. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationHe was caught through a sting operation by online vigilante groups who posed as a 13-year-old child in WhatsApp conversations. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe groups provided gardaí with copies of more than 2,000 WhatsApp exchanges, many of which were explicit in nature. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationHe went to Ballymun Garda station and handed over a mobile phone and his work laptop. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationHis former wife later provided gardaí with other devices. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe child abuse images were found on the laptop Ashmore used for work. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Martin Nolan. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceJudge Martin Nolan sentenced Ashmore to 16 months' imprisonment. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe vigilante groups were called Child Protection Awareness and Justice Reborn. (irishtimes.com)
- otherAshmore had no previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
- otherAshmore claimed he believed he was engaging in WhatsApp conversations with scammers. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe vigilante groups publicly identified Ashmore on social media and his marriage later ended. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 14 Feb2023Man caught by ‘vigilantes’ posing as 13-year-old child jailed for 16 months
Sentencing report: Ashmore jailed for 16 months after pleading guilty to two offences arising from a WhatsApp sting by vigilante groups; also in possession of 71 cartoon child abuse images found on his work laptop.
convicted, Robert Ashmore, 54, male, named, irish (judged from name)Robert Ashmore