ROBERT CALDWELL: DEVIZES AND LEICESTER CHILD SEX OFFENDER STRIKES AGAIN

In April 2014, Robert Caldwell, a convicted sex offender with a long and troubling history, found himself at the center of a series of serious legal violations after moving into Leicester with a single mother and her children. Caldwell, who had previously served a lengthy prison sentence for heinous crimes against young children, was ultimately sentenced to 20 months in jail for failing to comply with sex offender registration laws and breaching a court order that prohibited him from having unsupervised contact with children under the age of 14.

Prosecutor Victoria Rose addressed Leicester Crown Court, revealing that Caldwell was required to register his address as a sex offender following his 10-year imprisonment for the rape of a four-year-old girl. Despite this legal obligation, Caldwell admitted to two charges of failing to update his address with authorities between February 22 and March 18. Additionally, he acknowledged breaching an interim court order that barred him from unsupervised contact with minors during the same period.

It was further disclosed that Caldwell, aged 40 at the time, had previously been sentenced to a decade in prison in 2004 for crimes involving the sexual assault of a young girl. His last known residence was at the City Hotel in Leicester, where he had been staying until early 2014. Caldwell’s criminal history is extensive; he had met a single mother on a dating website, which led to him moving into her Leicester home in February 2014. Unbeknownst to her, Caldwell had a disturbing past, including a conviction for raping a four-year-old girl and other serious offenses.

During the court proceedings, Miss Rose detailed an incident where Caldwell accompanied the woman’s teenage son to Tesco, during which he obtained a passport photograph. The mother was devastated and shocked when police revealed Caldwell’s criminal background, which she had been unaware of at the time. Caldwell’s defense lawyer, Richard Holloway, argued that no inappropriate conduct had occurred during the shopping trip and suggested that Caldwell’s relationship with the woman developed rapidly, making it difficult for him to disclose his past immediately.

Judge Michael Pert QC was unequivocal in his condemnation, stating, “You knew perfectly well what you were doing. You have no right to be in the company of such a young child, whatever the circumstances. The law is not prepared to expose young children to the risk of being with you.” Caldwell was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his previous crimes, with the court emphasizing the danger he posed to children and the importance of public safety.

Earlier, in November 2013, Caldwell’s history of deception and predatory behavior was highlighted when it was revealed that he had concealed his past from a woman he met online. Caldwell, who had accumulated nearly 100 convictions, failed to disclose his recent release from a 10-year prison sentence for sex offenses involving a four-year-old girl. His criminal record also included convictions dating back to 1998, when he was jailed for five years for causing grievous bodily harm to a young boy and mistreating another child.

In that 2013 incident, Caldwell had moved into Leicester’s Park Hotel, also known as the City Hotel, after initially staying with a friend in Moira. He admitted to breaching sex offender registration requirements by not informing police of his change of address when he moved in with a new partner in the Saffron Lane area. Caldwell, then 43, was sentenced to nine months for this breach. The court heard how Caldwell had met the woman online, claiming he had recently left the Army, and had quickly integrated into her household, despite her being unaware of his criminal history.

Judge Pert described Caldwell as a “dangerous man,” emphasizing the risks he posed to the community. The woman, devastated by the deception, blamed herself for potentially exposing her children to Caldwell’s predatory tendencies. Police and social services intervened shortly after Caldwell moved in, with police visiting the home within a week. Caldwell was found upstairs during the visit, and he later claimed that officers had a vendetta against him and had not disclosed the full truth to the woman. It was only after a social services meeting that she realized the gravity of Caldwell’s past and the danger he represented.

Throughout the proceedings, Caldwell’s defense argued that there was no evidence of grooming or inappropriate behavior during his stay with the woman. They maintained that Caldwell simply sought a normal life and relationship, and that his only mistake was failing to update his address with authorities for a period of five to six weeks.

Historically, Caldwell’s criminal record is marked by a pattern of manipulative and predatory behavior. His earlier convictions include a 1998 sentence of five years for causing grievous bodily harm and child cruelty, and a 2004 sentence of 12 years for multiple offenses involving the sexual abuse of young children. Caldwell’s modus operandi often involved establishing relationships with single mothers through online platforms or lonely hearts advertisements, which he exploited to gain access to their children.

His victims ranged from a four-year-old girl from Devizes to a three-year-old boy from East Sussex. Caldwell’s manipulative tactics included charm and deception, often furnishing homes and dominating women to facilitate his abuse. Despite his lengthy criminal history, Caldwell continued to pose a significant threat, with authorities and child protection officers describing him as a “serial predatory paedophile.”

In summary, Robert Caldwell’s criminal activities and subsequent breaches of legal obligations highlight the ongoing dangers posed by individuals with such extensive and violent histories. His case underscores the importance of vigilant monitoring and strict enforcement of sex offender regulations to protect vulnerable children and communities from further harm.