ROBERT COURT SENTENCED IN ACCRINGTON FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES AND POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

In November 2017, Robert Gyles Court, a 25-year-old from Belfield Road, Accrington, was given a suspended prison sentence after being convicted of abusing a 13-year-old boy. The Preston Crown Court heard that the victim, whose identity remains confidential for legal reasons, struggled with confusion about his sexuality following the abuse and only shared his ordeal with trusted friends and family as an adult.

Court, who is currently on licence after serving half of a five-year sentence from June 2014, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting two minors and possessing a collection of child pornography. The earlier conviction involved sexual offences against a girl and a boy, and the possession of 173 indecent images of children aged between two and twelve, which police found on his computer during a raid in January 2013. The criminal activities also included indecent acts and grooming, with Court having previously been served with two Child Abduction Notices and subjected to a civil anti-social behaviour order by a housing authority for inappropriate conduct towards a 14-year-old girl.

Prosecutor Alison Mather described that the latest offence occurred prior to Court’s 2014 conviction. It involved Court luring the victim to a property in Pendle, where he showed the teenage boy pornography. Court then engaged in sexual acts with the teenager on two separate occasions, including undressing him and performing oral sex. Mather summarized the victim’s personal statement, highlighting his feelings of shame, embarrassment, difficulty trusting others, and the internal blame he directed at himself. She also mentioned that his father suspected something was wrong at the time, and was distressed upon learning that his suspicions were valid.

Court admitted to two counts of sexual activity with a child. Defense lawyer Ricky Holland argued that since being released on licence six months prior, Court had not committed any further offences. Holland emphasized that Court, who is originally from Trinidad, had completed a sex offenders’ treatment programme while in custody and was actively working with probation services. He stated, “Although this is plainly a troubling case, this is not a case where it could be said with any certainty there is a strong risk of re-offending.”

Judge Jonathan Gibson sentenced Court to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years. The judge remarked, “If it was not for the fact that you have already served a substantial period in custody in respect of sexual offences and you are currently completing substantive work with the probation service, I would have sentenced you to immediate custody.” Court remains subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and must register as a sex offender for life.