ROB NORMAN FROM MALVERN SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL CHAT WITH 13-YEAR-OLD IN WORCESTER

In December 2022, Rob Norman, a resident of Malvern, faced serious legal consequences after attempting to engage in inappropriate sexual conversations with a girl he believed to be only 13 years old. The incident was uncovered through an online paedophile hunter sting operation, which ultimately led to his arrest and subsequent court proceedings.

Norman, aged 41 and residing on Mulberry Drive in Malvern, was caught in a series of messages sent over a two-week period to an individual named Stephanie. Unbeknownst to him, Stephanie was not a real young girl but a decoy operated by a paedophile hunting group. The group had set up the sting to catch individuals attempting to communicate sexually with minors, and they provided the evidence to the police authorities.

During the exchanges, Norman engaged in explicit discussions, including comments about the girl’s nipples and requests for photographs of her in underwear and in the shower. Prosecutor Andrew Mitchinson detailed that Norman believed he was communicating with a minor girl and had multiple conversations with her, asking for naked pictures and making inappropriate requests. The messages revealed Norman’s intent to pursue sexual communication with someone he thought was a vulnerable underage girl.

At the hearing held at Worcester Magistrates Court on Monday, December 19, the magistrates’ bench, chaired by Jayne Burton, addressed the gravity of Norman’s actions. The prosecutor emphasized that Norman’s conduct was extremely serious, given the nature of the messages and his apparent intent.

Norman was convicted of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. As part of his sentence, he was sentenced to six months in jail, but this sentence was suspended for a period of one year. Additionally, Norman was ordered to complete 14 days of rehabilitation activities aimed at preventing future offending. The court also mandated that he undertake 120 hours of unpaid work, pay costs of £185, and a victim surcharge of £128. The total amount of £315 was to be paid in full within 28 days.

These measures reflect the court’s focus on both punishment and rehabilitation, seeking to prevent any recurrence of such behavior. The case underscores the ongoing efforts by law enforcement and community groups to combat online child exploitation and protect vulnerable minors from predatory individuals like Norman.