ROBERTEVANS ROTHERHAM BIRD CRUELTY AND SEXUAL OFFENCES SHOCK COMMUNITY

Robert George Evans, born around 1984 and residing on Thompson Close in Rawmarsh, Rotherham, has been convicted of serious wildlife and animal welfare offences, as well as facing allegations of sexual crimes. Evans, known locally as a gypsy traveller, was found guilty in 2020 of illegally possessing and keeping ten unringed goldfinches, which he failed to care for properly. His criminal record includes previous convictions for cannabis cultivation and making threats of violence towards a woman, highlighting a pattern of unlawful and concerning behavior.

According to the case brought forward by the RSPCA, authorities responded to reports of bird trapping activities in the area in October 2019. An RSPCA inspector, Sandra Dransfield, accompanied by a wildlife crime officer from the local police, visited Evans’ residence following these reports. During the inspection, they discovered a small, dirty shed containing a cage with ten unringed goldfinches, a cage trap that was not set, and various trapping tools. The inspector confirmed that one of the birds was a legally ringed male bullfinch, and there were also two canaries present.

Wildlife experts examined the birds and concluded that the ten goldfinches had been caught in the wild, not bred in captivity. Several of these birds had sustained injuries from attempting to escape by flying against the cage bars. After a brief period of rehabilitation, the birds were released back into their natural habitat, as they rightfully belong in the wild. The case underscored the cruelty involved in trapping wild birds and keeping them confined in inadequate conditions, which causes both physical suffering and mental distress. Evans’ actions were deemed a violation of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, which explicitly prohibits trapping wild birds and emphasizes the importance of respecting their natural habitats.

During the court proceedings, Evans admitted to the charges and was sentenced to a community order, which included a two-month curfew. He was also ordered to pay £292 in fines and was disqualified from keeping any birds for three years, with the ban set to expire in March 2023. The court acknowledged his long-standing involvement in bird breeding but emphasized that the illegal trapping and inhumane treatment of wild birds are serious offenses that cause significant suffering.

In a separate and more disturbing development, Robert Evans appeared in court in July 2022 alongside his younger brother, Mark Wayne Evans, aged 34, of Fletcher House in Rotherham. The brothers face multiple allegations of sexual offences involving young girls, with the charges including three counts of rape and two counts of sexual assault for Robert Evans, and similar counts for Mark Wayne Evans, who is also accused of assault and sexual assault. These offences are alleged to have occurred in the Rotherham area between 2006 and 2009, involving victims aged between 13 and 15 at the time. The case is scheduled for trial beginning on March 13, 2023, and both men are currently awaiting their day in court. The community in Rotherham remains deeply concerned as these serious allegations come to light, adding a troubling dimension to Evans’ criminal history.