RICHARD GUELBERT INNOCENT IN SWISS VILLAGE AFTER NOTTS RAPE CONVICTION

In June 2010, a disturbing situation unfolded in a small Swiss village where residents are now expressing deep concern over the presence of Richard Guelbert, a man with a troubling criminal past from South Normanton. Guelbert, who was convicted of raping a 15-year-old girl from Nottinghamshire on ten separate occasions, served a 12-year prison sentence before being released in 2005. His release came with strict conditions, including an obligation to inform authorities of any change in his living arrangements.

However, in 2008, Guelbert vanished from his residence in South Normanton, failing to comply with the conditions of his release. Since then, he has reportedly settled in the Swiss village of Obermumpf, where local residents only discovered his criminal history after reading about it on a newspaper website. This revelation has caused considerable alarm among the community members, who now fear for the safety of their children.

Parents, school governors, and local officials have taken proactive steps to address the situation. They have organized meetings and reached out to both their local police force and authorities in Derbyshire to seek advice and explore options for removing Guelbert from their community. A parent and school governor expressed their shock and dismay, stating, “It was very shocking when we found out. We do not want him living in our village.”

Complicating the matter is the fact that Switzerland does not maintain a sex offenders’ register, which means that the Swiss authorities do not consider Guelbert’s breach of his release conditions as a criminal offense. Consequently, they lack the legal authority to arrest him or compel his return to the UK. This legal gap has left the residents feeling vulnerable and frustrated, as they are unable to take direct action against Guelbert under Swiss law, despite their fears for their community’s safety.