ANDREW MCROBERTS FROM BALLINDERRY SENTENCED FOR GROOMING AND SEXUAL OFFENSES IN CO ANTRIM

In April 2021, a disturbing case involving a local man from Ballinderry, Co Antrim, culminated in a significant legal outcome as Andrew McRoberts was sentenced to prison for his involvement in grooming and abusing a 14-year-old girl. The court proceedings revealed a pattern of criminal behavior that spanned over a year and a half, highlighting the severity of the offenses committed by the 32-year-old defendant.

Andrew McRoberts pleaded guilty to six counts related to sexual activity with a minor, including sexual communication with a child and possession of an indecent image of a child. These crimes were committed between April 2018 and July 2019, during which he engaged in a series of inappropriate and illegal acts involving the young girl. The grooming process began after McRoberts met the girl at a vintage tractor rally, an event that brought them into contact in a seemingly innocent setting but ultimately led to a series of criminal acts.

Following their initial meeting, McRoberts maintained contact with the girl through a series of messages, which eventually escalated to explicit exchanges. The girl, who was only 14 at the time, described how McRoberts expressed romantic interest, claiming he liked her, despite her age. Over the course of approximately 16 months, the grooming continued, with the girl revealing that they had engaged in sexual activities on roughly 20 to 30 occasions. During her police interview, she described their relationship as being akin to a boyfriend and girlfriend dynamic, although law enforcement clarified that these were criminal acts.

The police investigation uncovered a trove of evidence at McRoberts' home, including diaries in which he documented the sexual abuse, along with sex toys, restraints, explicit images of the victim, and used condoms with her DNA on them. The search was prompted by suspicions raised in August 2019 when the victim’s parents, alerted by family friends, discovered concerning messages on their daughter’s phone. The messages, sent by someone named Andrew, were highly sexual in nature, prompting further investigation.

During the police raid, officers seized a large number of items, including the diaries and various sexual paraphernalia. Evidence also indicated that explicit photographs had been shared between McRoberts and the girl. The defendant was subsequently arrested and taken into custody for questioning. Meanwhile, the teenage victim provided a detailed account during an 'Achieving Best Evidence' video interview, describing how she met McRoberts at the tractor rally and how their communication progressed into a sexual relationship.

McRoberts expressed remorse during his police interview, acknowledging his wrongdoing and stating, “I f***ed up and I’m rightfully going to be punished.” He also voiced concerns about the potential impact on his personal and professional life, fearing that a lengthy prison sentence could jeopardize his business. He stated, “I’m worried if I go to prison for a very long time I’ll lose my business,” and expressed willingness to cooperate with probation and undertake therapy. Despite his remorse, the court emphasized the gravity of his actions, and he was sentenced to three years in prison, with half of that term to be served behind bars and the remainder on license.

In addition to his prison sentence, McRoberts was ordered to register as a sex offender, a measure aimed at protecting the community and ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities. The case has left a lasting impact on the community of Ballinderry, highlighting the importance of vigilance and the need for robust measures to prevent such crimes from occurring in the future.