ROBERT ALLO FROM BEDMINSTER SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN BRISTOL

In a case that spanned over a decade, Robert Allo, a man originally from Bedminster, Bristol, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term after being convicted of serious sexual offenses committed against two young girls during the 1990s. The case gained renewed attention when Allo was finally apprehended in France last year, ending a nine-year manhunt that began after his initial disappearance following his release on bail.

Allo, aged 46 at the time of sentencing, was arrested in France after an extensive investigation by the Avon and Somerset Police cold-case team. His arrest marked the culmination of a long effort to bring him to justice, and he was extradited back to England to face trial. The court proceedings revealed the disturbing details of his crimes, which involved the sexual abuse of two girls, both under the age of 14 at the time of the assaults. These offenses took place in Bristol during the 1990s, a period marked by trauma for the victims and a sense of frustration for law enforcement.

During the sentencing at Bristol Crown Court, Mr Justice Royce addressed Allo directly, stating, “You did not stay and face your trial. That inevitably must have had an effect on your two victims.” The judge’s words underscored the gravity of Allo’s decision to abscond, which compounded the suffering of those affected. The court heard that Allo was initially arrested in 1997 while residing in Bedminster, Bristol, and faced 15 counts of sexual assault. However, after being released on bail in August of that year, he vanished, evading justice and leaving his victims without closure for nearly a decade.

It was only in 2005 that authorities launched a dedicated operation to locate Allo. Their efforts bore fruit when he was finally located in France, where he was subsequently arrested and extradited to the UK. Prosecutor Robert Davies emphasized the profound impact of Allo’s crimes on the victims, particularly highlighting the case of one girl who was described as a “grade A” student before the abuse. Following the trauma, she struggled academically, failed her GCSEs, turned to drugs, and was placed into foster care. Mr Davies explained that the constant fear of Allo’s continued freedom haunted her, often manifesting in nightmares about his return and retribution.

In his defense, Neil Forde, representing Allo, acknowledged that his client “accepts that he failed to control himself and felt the urge to act as he did.” Prior to sentencing, Allo had pleaded guilty to rape in an earlier hearing, having previously admitted to 15 counts of indecent assault. The court responded to the severity of his crimes by imposing a life disqualification from working with children and ordering him to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life. Additionally, a Sexual Offenders’ Prevention Order was issued, prohibiting Allo from residing in any property with children under the age of 16. The sentence reflects the seriousness with which the justice system views such heinous offenses and the ongoing need to protect vulnerable members of society from individuals like Robert Allo from Bedminster, Bristol.