DESMOND ROBINSON BALLYMENA YOGA TEACHER GUILTY OF SEX CHARGES INVOLVING CHILDREN

In December 2016, a prominent yoga instructor from Ballymena, Desmond Robinson, faced serious legal charges related to his conduct with two female victims spanning over a decade. Robinson, aged 73 and residing at Kintullagh Court, was brought before Antrim Crown Court to answer allegations of sexual misconduct that dated back to the period between 1979 and 1990.

Initially, Robinson denied a total of 39 charges, which included 25 counts of indecent assault and 14 counts of gross indecency involving the two females when they were children. The identities and ages of the victims at the time of the alleged offenses remain undisclosed, and the precise locations where the abuse occurred have not been revealed publicly. Despite his initial denial, Robinson changed his plea during the court proceedings held on a Wednesday, admitting to 10 of the charges. The remaining charges were left on the court's record, with the prosecution choosing not to pursue them further at this stage.

Robinson’s legal situation is ongoing. He was granted bail with conditions, and a pre-sentence report is scheduled to be prepared ahead of his next court appearance in February. As part of his sentencing obligations, Robinson will be required to register on the Sex Offenders Register, although the duration of his registration has not yet been determined.

Further details about Robinson’s activities reveal that he was involved in organizing yoga courses. An online listing indicates that in the spring of 2015, he was offering ten-week Svatantra Yoga classes at a fee of £46.90 per participant. These courses purportedly included a variety of yoga practices such as meditation, breathing exercises, classical postures, Bandhas, and Yoga Nidra, with all activities tailored to individual needs.

The promotional material emphasized the health benefits of yoga, including stress management and the prevention of common ailments, alongside advice on healthy eating and diet specific to yoga practice. The course aimed to promote balance and harmony of body, mind, and spirit, encapsulated in the phrase “balance and harmony of body, mind and spirit, peace, health and harmony – Svatantra Yogi Om Tat Sa.” The classes were held at Ballymena’s Seven Towers Leisure Centre, among other locations, and were marketed as a holistic approach to well-being, integrating yoga as a complementary activity to other forms of fitness and sport.