ROBERT ALEXANDER LEAKED IN LEEK: ONLINE PREDATOR SENTENCED AFTER POLICE FIND HIS PHONE

In April 2021, Robert Alexander, a 23-year-old resident of Leek, found himself at the center of a serious criminal case involving online predatory behavior and breaches of court orders. The case unfolded with disturbing revelations about his attempts to conceal his use of digital devices and his previous history of engaging in sexual activities with minors.

Alexander, who had previously been handed a suspended prison sentence in 2018 for serious offenses involving children, appeared in Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court to face new charges. His earlier convictions included two counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. During that earlier case, it was established that he had contacted boys via Facebook, leading to video messaging exchanges and the sending of sexually suggestive emojis. He even attempted to persuade a 14-year-old boy to meet him in person, but his plans were thwarted when the victims blocked him on social media and reported his behavior to their school authorities.

Following his previous convictions, Alexander was subjected to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). This court-imposed restriction prohibited him from using any device capable of accessing the internet unless he notified the police within three days of acquiring it. Additionally, he was barred from possessing any device capable of storing digital images unless he made such images available for inspection upon request. These measures were designed to prevent further online misconduct and to monitor his digital activity.

Despite these restrictions, police investigations revealed that Alexander had been secretly using a mobile phone. On May 18, police visited his residence on West Street in Leek and inquired about his devices. Initially, Alexander claimed he only possessed a basic black phone with no internet capabilities. However, during a subsequent visit on July 7, police encountered delays in his response, and he attempted to hide the phone. It was later discovered that he had handed a Samsung mobile phone to a woman, who then left the scene with it. The police recovered this device, which was later analyzed and found to have been used for internet activity since May 1, 2020, the day after his previous suspended sentence expired.

In his police interview, Alexander admitted that he had found the Samsung phone in February 2020 and had used it from May 1 until it was confiscated. He claimed to have resisted the temptation to use the device until that date, and police analysis showed no evidence of malicious activity between May 1 and July 7. Nevertheless, his breach of the SHPO was clear, and he acknowledged that his use of the phone was inappropriate.

Representing himself in court, Alexander’s defense argued that he had been living alone and that the phone was old but capable of internet access. They emphasized that there was no evidence of malicious intent during the period of use and that the device had been returned to him. His legal team also highlighted that Alexander had been physically isolated during May 2020 and that his use of the phone was primarily for social contact with known individuals. He expressed remorse for breaching the court order and asked for understanding.

Judge Paul Glenn sentenced Alexander to eight months in prison, noting that he had been fortunate not to have been sent to prison in 2018. The judge condemned Alexander’s deceptive behavior, pointing out that when police first visited, he falsely claimed to have no internet-enabled devices. The court was told that during the second visit, Alexander was slow to answer the door because he was persuading a female friend to take the phone away to prevent police from discovering it. Further inquiries confirmed that Alexander had been actively using the phone since May 1, the day after his previous sentence ended.

This case underscores the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in monitoring and prosecuting online sexual offenses, especially when offenders attempt to circumvent restrictions. Alexander’s case from Leek serves as a stark reminder of the importance of strict surveillance and the persistent threat posed by individuals who seek to exploit digital platforms for harmful purposes.