Description
Geoffrey Rooney was jailed in 2015 for 14 years - but within months of being released he went on to make and distribute vile and sickening indecent images of children 'from a few days to eight years old'
A former Royal Navy sailor who was jailed for raping a baby has now been jailed for further child sex offences - just months after being released from prison on licence.
Geoffrey Rooney, of Moore Avenue, Bradford, was jailed in 2015 at Plymouth Crown Court for 14 years for abusing children.
The then 39-year-old, who was from Devonport, pleaded guilty to a string of offences including the rape of a child aged under 13 and sexually assaulting girl aged under 13.
The former Chief Petty Officer made hundreds of sex images of children which he shared with other paedophiles.
After being released in January last year, Rooney made and distributed hundreds of indecent photographs of children.
In December 2021 he pleaded guilty to two counts of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence and breaching the terms of a sexual harm prevention order.
Appearing at Bradford Crown Court today, 11 February, Rooney was given an extended prison sentence, consisting of eight years in jail and a further six years on licence.
He must serve at least two thirds of the eight years before being considered for release. He has also been made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and place on the Sex Offenders Registry.
A report by ITV News noted how Judge David Hatton QC said the images Rooney shared were "grotesque and defy comprehension".
He said Rooney posed a "significant risk" to the public.
The court was told that Rooney was caught after exchanging messages with two undercover officers on online platforms, using the nickname 'Yorks BL'.
He tried to arrange a meeting with one of the officers in order to abuse what he thought was a fellow paedophile's young son.
On a number of occasions he asked the officers to provide indecent images to prove they were not police investigators and sent the officers videos of children being abused.
The victims in the videos were thought to range in age from a few days old to eight years old.
Rooney, who had changed his name to Daniel Walker after his previous conviction in Plymouth, was arrested at his workplace in November.
Police found more than 600 indecent images on phones and laptops.
The court had previously heard how Rooney's offending took place between July and November 2021 when he was arrested in a joint police operation involving West Yorkshire Police and the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit.
When Rooney appeared at Plymouth Crown Court in 2015 he made no response as Judge Paul Darlow told the former Chief Petty Officer he had caused the "destruction of a happy home life" in relation to the family of two of his victims.
Judge Darlow had said that Rooneys actions "demonstrate all the casual callous depravity of a predatory paedophile".
At the time prosecutors said the former weapons engineer was arrested following the arrest of another man in January 2014 whose wife found indecent pictures on his mobile phone.
The images were traced to Rooney who had asked the man to bring his own children to him for sexual abuse.
It is understood Rooney had a decorated career which included a posting at Whitehall between 2009 and 2010 where his work included re-setting the nuclear codes each night.
Rooney was interviewed and his mobile phone seized. He immediately admitted to his sexual interest in children and downloading indecent images of young children.
The court heard Rooney had pleaded guilty to raping a girl aged under 13, sexually assaulting another girl aged under 13, taking indecent photos of children, making indecent photos of children, distributing indecent photos of children with other suspected paedophile, sexually assaulting a boy aged under 16 and possessing indecent images of children.
Mr Beal explained how police discovered that Rooney had messaged other men "giving real time commentary" as he sexually abused one of the girls and sent nine pictures to dozens of men of him raping and sexually abusing the youngest child.
The court heard Rooney had also taken pictures of the backside of another very young boy and forwarded them onto other suspected paedophiles.