ROBERT EVANS SENTENCED IN CARDIFF AFTER SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST CHILDREN
A convicted paedophile, Robert Evans, 58, of Cardiff, committed serious sexual assaults on a young boy despite being legally prohibited from having contact with minors.Following his arrest, Evans told his supervising officer, "Sorry, this is the only one." The victim recounted his traumatic experience, saying his memories of the abuse were "burned onto his mind." During a hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday, it was revealed that Evans was subject to lifelong sex offender notification requirements after serving a 12-month sentence in 1998 for multiple convictions, including buggery of a boy under 16, gross indecency, rape of a boy under 16, and indecent assault of a boy under 16.
These offences involved six different victims.
Despite the court restrictions preventing him from contact with children under 18, Evans still engaged with the victim and repeatedly sexually abused him.
The abuse was uncovered after the victim confided in his mother, leading to police interviews.
The victim told officers that Evans had asked him to perform a sex act, and that he was scared but obeyed.
The victim described instances of touch, attempted rape, oral rape, and being shown pornography, followed by further assaults.
The victim explained he had not received proper sex education at the time, only later realising his experiences were wrong.
Reflecting on the impact, he said, "burned on his mind," and added, "I do not like being touched and became violent when being touched by partners growing up.
It has deprived me of getting to know people or having relationships.
It has created a barrier, has ruined friendships and relationships.
I want to put it to the back of my mind and bury it." Upon his arrest, Evans was taken to custody where he encountered his sex offender supervisor.
He stated, "Sorry, this is the only one," acknowledging his guilt and saying he thought he could "trust himself" to accept responsibility.
Evans further told officers he had been anticipating his arrest for some time.
During police interviews, Evans made additional admissions, including incidents not previously disclosed by the victim, though he denied being a "violent person." He admitted to performing oral sex on the boy, simulating sex, and masturbating while showing pornography.
He also acknowledged touching the victim inappropriately, though unable to recall the number of incidents.
Evans, of Mill Road, Ely, later pleaded guilty to multiple charges: rape of a child, causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, sexual assault of a child under 13, engaging in sexual activity in front of a child, causing a child to watch a sexual act, and breaching sex offender register requirements.
In mitigation, lawyer Dan Jones stated that Evans had not sought to minimise his actions and had cooperated with authorities, expressing remorse and apologies.
Evans suffers from COPD and high blood pressure, and Mr.
Jones argued that a determinate prison sentence would be appropriate, rather than an extended sentence for dangerousness.
Judge Paul Hobson sentenced Evans to 12 years and eight months in prison, with an extended eight-year licence.
He will serve two-thirds of his sentence before being considered for parole.
Evans was also ordered to comply with sex offender notification requirements and an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
The judge emphasized the gravity of Evans’ grooming and abuse, highlighting that his longstanding sexual interest in children continued into middle age despite previous convictions, stating, "You groomed this young boy...
What you were doing in fact was sexually abusing him and exploiting him...
Your sexual interest in male children is a long term interest and has continued well into your middle age.
Although you admitted your previous offending, that did not stop you from returning to abusing a young child."
