ROBERT BILL FROM HOLYWELL AND ST ASAPH SENTENCED IN MOROCCO FOR CHILD ABDUCTION AND RAPE
| Red Rose Database
Holywell St Asaph Rapist
In a significant development in international criminal justice, Robert Bill, a 59-year-old former teacher from St Asaph, Denbighshire, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison in Morocco for heinous crimes involving the kidnapping and attempted sexual assault of three young girls. The conviction was handed down by a court in Tetouan, a city in northern Morocco, in a hearing that was notably attended by the victims and their families, underscoring the gravity of the case.
Bill’s arrest took place in June 2013 in the port town of Tetouan after local residents heard the distressing screams of a young girl from a vehicle. The incident prompted immediate police action, leading to his detention. The circumstances of his arrest were dramatic; residents had surrounded his Spanish-registered car, which was parked in the area, and alerted authorities. The girl, who was from a local family, managed to escape from Bill, who was later identified as the suspect.
Prior to this incident, Bill had a troubling criminal history in the UK. In 2009, he was sentenced to six years in prison at Caernarfon Crown Court for attempting to abduct a five-year-old girl in Holywell, Flintshire, in 2007. After appealing his sentence and pleading guilty at a retrial, he was subsequently sentenced to an additional two years at Chester Crown Court in 2010. His criminal record also includes convictions for child sex offenses, and he was described by a judge as a “sexual predator.”
Following his release from prison, Bill traveled to southern Spain, where he worked as an estate agent. His movements eventually led him to Morocco, arriving in November 2012 from the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Spanish authorities had already issued a warrant for his arrest on separate charges of paedophilia and kidnapping, which added to the international concern surrounding his activities.
In Morocco, Bill’s criminal activities continued. He was accused of kidnapping and attempting to rape two other Moroccan girls, one in Tetouan and another in the nearby town of Chefchaouen. His trial, which had previously been postponed due to legal complications—including the withdrawal of his Moroccan lawyers and a victim passing out during a court hearing—resumed in February. The court proceedings revealed that Bill was also wanted by Spanish authorities for attempting to abduct a 12-year-old girl in Velez Malaga in 2011.
During the trial, Mohammed Benaissa, head of the Northern Observatory for Human Rights, expressed support for the verdict, stating, “We welcome this ruling, because it protects the children and it sends a warning to paedophiles.” Bill, who had denied all charges, was fined 100,000 dirhams (approximately £7,350) and has the right to appeal within ten days.
His ex-wife, Jacqueline Bill, who has previously spoken out against him and was convicted in 2009 for destroying evidence related to his crimes, expressed relief at his arrest. She described him as “evil” and said she was “glad he’s not out there anymore.” Jacqueline also revealed that Bill had been living illegally in Morocco since early 2013 and had previously been convicted in Spain for similar offenses. She added, “I haven’t heard from him at all since he left the country. All I know is what I’ve already been told and I don’t know how much of it is true. I hope for the child’s sake none of it is true, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if everything that’s been said is true.”
Bill’s criminal history in the UK is extensive. Apart from his 2009 conviction, he had also been involved in other offenses, including the attempted abduction of a young girl and possession of indecent images of children. His previous convictions led to a reputation as a dangerous individual, and his activities in Morocco have only compounded concerns about his predatory behavior.
Authorities in both Spain and Morocco continue to pursue him, with Interpol issuing warrants for his arrest. His case highlights the ongoing challenges of tracking and prosecuting individuals with a history of child exploitation across international borders. The Moroccan court’s decision marks a significant step in holding Bill accountable for his actions and protecting vulnerable children from further harm.
Bill’s arrest took place in June 2013 in the port town of Tetouan after local residents heard the distressing screams of a young girl from a vehicle. The incident prompted immediate police action, leading to his detention. The circumstances of his arrest were dramatic; residents had surrounded his Spanish-registered car, which was parked in the area, and alerted authorities. The girl, who was from a local family, managed to escape from Bill, who was later identified as the suspect.
Prior to this incident, Bill had a troubling criminal history in the UK. In 2009, he was sentenced to six years in prison at Caernarfon Crown Court for attempting to abduct a five-year-old girl in Holywell, Flintshire, in 2007. After appealing his sentence and pleading guilty at a retrial, he was subsequently sentenced to an additional two years at Chester Crown Court in 2010. His criminal record also includes convictions for child sex offenses, and he was described by a judge as a “sexual predator.”
Following his release from prison, Bill traveled to southern Spain, where he worked as an estate agent. His movements eventually led him to Morocco, arriving in November 2012 from the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Spanish authorities had already issued a warrant for his arrest on separate charges of paedophilia and kidnapping, which added to the international concern surrounding his activities.
In Morocco, Bill’s criminal activities continued. He was accused of kidnapping and attempting to rape two other Moroccan girls, one in Tetouan and another in the nearby town of Chefchaouen. His trial, which had previously been postponed due to legal complications—including the withdrawal of his Moroccan lawyers and a victim passing out during a court hearing—resumed in February. The court proceedings revealed that Bill was also wanted by Spanish authorities for attempting to abduct a 12-year-old girl in Velez Malaga in 2011.
During the trial, Mohammed Benaissa, head of the Northern Observatory for Human Rights, expressed support for the verdict, stating, “We welcome this ruling, because it protects the children and it sends a warning to paedophiles.” Bill, who had denied all charges, was fined 100,000 dirhams (approximately £7,350) and has the right to appeal within ten days.
His ex-wife, Jacqueline Bill, who has previously spoken out against him and was convicted in 2009 for destroying evidence related to his crimes, expressed relief at his arrest. She described him as “evil” and said she was “glad he’s not out there anymore.” Jacqueline also revealed that Bill had been living illegally in Morocco since early 2013 and had previously been convicted in Spain for similar offenses. She added, “I haven’t heard from him at all since he left the country. All I know is what I’ve already been told and I don’t know how much of it is true. I hope for the child’s sake none of it is true, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if everything that’s been said is true.”
Bill’s criminal history in the UK is extensive. Apart from his 2009 conviction, he had also been involved in other offenses, including the attempted abduction of a young girl and possession of indecent images of children. His previous convictions led to a reputation as a dangerous individual, and his activities in Morocco have only compounded concerns about his predatory behavior.
Authorities in both Spain and Morocco continue to pursue him, with Interpol issuing warrants for his arrest. His case highlights the ongoing challenges of tracking and prosecuting individuals with a history of child exploitation across international borders. The Moroccan court’s decision marks a significant step in holding Bill accountable for his actions and protecting vulnerable children from further harm.