PAUL ROBERTS SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS IN KIDDERMINSTER FOR SEX OFFENSES

In November 2004, Paul Roberts, a 47-year-old resident of Goldsmith Walk, Offmore Farm, Kidderminster, was sentenced to 12 years in prison after being convicted of multiple sex offenses involving two schoolgirls.

He was found guilty of raping a 12-year-old girl, during which he held a pillow over her head to subdue her, and assaulting a 10-year-old girl by handcuffing her to a stool and stripping her of her clothes, as reported by Worcester Crown Court.

Roberts, who is married, did not work for the past decade claiming disability, and was acquitted of a third girl’s allegations, who is now 21.

He was convicted of two counts of rape, two indecent assaults, and five charges related to downloading child pornography onto his computer. He also pleaded guilty to taking an indecent photograph of his 12-year-old victim and possessing a collection of indecent images of children. The sentencing occurred last Thursday.

During sentencing, Judge Michael Mott remarked, “There is no doubt that for some time you have had a sexual interest in young girls, fueled by your consumption of internet pornography.”

The judge described the act of shackle-imposing a schoolgirl to a stool as part of the “disgusting story” the jury heard over the course of the week-long trial. He characterized the rape convictions as evidence of Roberts’s repeated exploitation of the 12-year-old.

The court was told that the police seized evidence from Roberts’s home, including photographs of the 12-year-old girl, who was first photographed clothed, then asked to expose herself for more pictures.

The other girl claimed Roberts took her to a shed and made her strip in front of some young men.

Prosecutor Mark Wall accused Roberts of attempting to deceive police by claiming health problems made him incapable of being an active sex offender, but a home video shown to the jury contradicted that, showing Roberts running and cycling 20 miles a day, as well as going fishing.

During cross-examination, Mr. Wall stated, “The abuse of children was an outlet for your sex drive.” Investigators also found bondage-related photographs and handcuffs at Roberts’s home.

Roberts, who has been a member of the Mormon church since 2001, admitted to discussing sex aids with one of the girls but claimed she was mature for her age, 13, and insisted he loved her “to bits,” but not in a sexual way.

The court also viewed samples of Roberts’s porn collection.

The mother of the rape victim told the court her daughter had expressed feeling like “Trouble is all I’m good for,” and it was noted she had tried to run away from home. Medical examinations revealed injuries consistent with sexual abuse.

Roberts was ordered to be placed on the sex offenders register for life, and he is prohibited from working with children after his release. His previous convictions included robbery but no prior sex offenses.