NEVILLE PARKER AND GEMMA ROBERTSON'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN WORCESTER REVEALED
In a chilling case that has shocked the community of Worcester, Neville Parker, a 62-year-old man formerly residing on Lear Close in Dines Green, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term after being convicted of multiple heinous sexual offences against children.The sentencing took place at Worcester Crown Court on a Thursday, where His Honour Judge Juckes handed down a sentence of life imprisonment to Parker, emphasizing that he must serve a minimum of 11 years before he can be considered for parole.
Additionally, Parker is mandated to remain on the Sexual Offenders Register for the rest of his life, reflecting the severity of his crimes.
These grave offences span several decades, with the earliest incidents occurring between 1969 and 1975, and the most recent between 2005 and 2007.
The crimes involved a series of disturbing acts committed against young children, including two counts of inciting children aged between three and five to engage in sexual activities with another child, as well as sexually assaulting a boy in the same age range on two separate occasions.
The court also found Parker guilty of three counts of raping girls under the age of six, each on different occasions, and six counts of indecent assault against two girls under 13, acts that, under current legislation, would be classified as rape.
These offences, committed over a span of years, reveal a pattern of predatory behavior that has left a lasting scar on the victims.
In a related trial, Gemma Robertson, aged 31 and Parker’s partner, was also convicted and sentenced to six years in prison.
She was found guilty of cruelty to a girl under 16, an offence linked to an incident that took place between February 2005 and February 2006.
During this period, Robertson failed to protect a young girl, aged between five and six, from being sexually assaulted by Parker, a failure that contributed to her sentencing.
Detective Constable Michelle Cook, the lead investigator in the case, expressed her thoughts on the long and arduous process of bringing the offenders to justice.
She stated, “We have had to manage victims of sexual abuse, three who are still children, through a long and difficult process, which culminated in a trial.
We first became aware of concerns around Parker and Robertson’s behaviour in June 2011.
We quickly identified the three children involved, and despite their young age, they supported our investigation.
This led us to uncover other adult victims who also supported our prosecution.” She further highlighted the emotional toll on the victims, many of whom have endured decades of trauma.
“The defendants’ continued denial of the systematic abuse Parker subjected his victims to has made this much harder for the victims, who have had to give evidence in court, with the children testifying via video link, and relive their terrible experiences.
Some of these victims have suffered up to 40 years of distress because of what they endured at Parker’s hands.
I am certain there will be more difficult times ahead, but I hope these convictions will aid their journey toward healing.” Detective Inspector Neil Austin, who leads the Protecting Vulnerable People team in South Worcestershire, also commented on the case.
He acknowledged the complexity and duration of the investigation, stating, “This has been a difficult, lengthy, and protracted investigation, which took a significant amount of time and effort to reach this point.
We worked closely with other agencies, particularly Worcestershire County Council’s Children’s Social Care, to ensure that the victims who are still children received all necessary protection and support.” He reassured the public that victims of child abuse can come forward and expect compassionate treatment.
“Anyone who has been or is concerned about someone being abused can contact West Mercia Police via the non-emergency number 101.
Victims can also reach out to The Glade centre, which provides support services for men, women, and children who have experienced rape or sexual assault across Herefordshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire, and Telford and Wrekin.
The centre’s 24-hour self-referral number is 08081 782058, or they can email [email protected], or visit www.theglade.org.uk for more information.”
