ROBERTO DANDO, FORMER OXFORDSHIRE CHURCH MINISTER AND MAGISTRATE, SENTENCED FOR DECADES OF SEXUAL ABUSE IN OXFORDSHIRE AND BEYOND

In April 2018, Robert Dando, a former church minister and magistrate from Oxfordshire with no fixed address, was sentenced to prison for sexually abusing multiple young boys over a span of more than twenty years. Dando showed little emotion as Oxford Crown Court detailed his grooming tactics, which involved manipulating vulnerable boys — all of whom cannot be named for legal reasons — into engaging in sexual acts, sometimes weekly.

Dando had already confessed to 13 counts of indecent and sexual assault involving seven victims from February 1985 to September 2009. He exploited his respected positions, including his roles as a minister at Bicester's Orchard Baptist Church and as a governor at Kings Meadow School, Bicester, to carry out his abuses.

During the sentencing, prosecutor Kim Preston highlighted Dando’s influence within the Baptist community, stating, “He is a man who it transpired used the church and his position within it to influence those who trusted him with their spiritual guidance and their most precious gifts; their children.” She described how Dando befriended boys through their parents, often showering them with expensive gifts, meals at London's Harrods, and little presents such as a mountain bike, actions she characterized as “grooming in its purest form,” aimed at bribing and manipulating his victims.

Court proceedings revealed that Dando had also made threats, warning one victim he would concoct stories about a sexual relationship between the boy and his brother if he ever disclosed the abuse. Many victims delayed coming forward for decades, fearing disbelief due to Dando’s community standing. Preston recounted a victim’s account, stating, “He described vividly the shame and disgust he felt being under the will of the defendant. He felt there was no one he could tell about this and he felt he would not be believed.”

Dando’s previous conviction in the US was brought up, where in July 2011, he was jailed in Virginia after a complaint from a 21-year-old that he had abused him between 1995 and 1999 while the victim was aged eight to 13. During that investigation, another victim came forward, revealing abuse at ages seven and eight, leading to Dando’s extradition and subsequent admission of all charges in the UK.

Judge Ian Pringle QC sentenced Dando to nine years and four months in prison and imposed a lifelong sexual harm prevention order, banning him from contact with children indefinitely. The judge remarked, “You were a leading light in the Baptist church community… for over twenty years, you grotesquely abused that trust and a large number of children. Your method was to gain the confidence of their caregivers to facilitate your sexual abuse.”

In February 2018, Dando admitted to a campaign of sexual abuse spanning 24 years, involving seven victims aged between 10 and 15. His earlier arrest in August 2017 led to his appearance at Oxford magistrates' court, with sentencing postponed until March 22 for a pre-sentence report and psychiatric evaluation. Dando’s roles included serving as a minister at Orchard Baptist Church in Bicester, a judge in Oxfordshire, and a school governor.

His history also includes previous allegations and convictions in the United States. In July 2011, he was sentenced in Fairfax, Virginia, to eight years for molesting two young boys between 1995 and 1999. The court heard that Dando, then a senior minister at Worcester Park Baptist Church, had molested the boys over numerous occasions, with one victim recounting abuse on 50 to 60 occasions. Dando had resigned from Worcester Park Baptist Church after his US arrest, and his wife Janice was a vice-president of the Boy’s Brigade.

A church spokesperson expressed sorrow, stating: “Robert Dando (Senior Minister at Worcester Park Baptist Church from 2007 until he resigned July 2010) has been sentenced by Fairfax County Circuit Court, Virginia, to eight years in total for sexually molesting two boys on visits to the USA. He will serve his prison term in the USA.” The church emphasized that any similar allegations within the Baptist Union would be immediately reported to authorities and social services.

Thames Valley Police confirmed they are investigating Dando’s conduct during his time in the UK, following ongoing inquiries into child protection issues associated with him. Dando, who was once a member of the Oxfordshire Family Panel, had been involved in child care and access proceedings in the region. His multiple convictions and longstanding abuse have left a profound impact on the victims and the community.