ROBERT HICKS FROM STAFFORD REPEATEDLY OFFENDS WITH CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AND BREACHES SEX OFFENDER ORDERS

In August 2018, Robert Hicks, a known sex offender from Stafford with a long history of criminal activity related to indecent images of children, found himself back behind bars after being caught with illegal material once again. Hicks, aged 64, who has been a registered sex offender since 2003, was recently released from prison just four months prior to his latest arrest. His reoffense involved breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) by possessing indecent photographs of children and using electronic devices to access or store such images.

According to court proceedings at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, police officers visited the Shelton bail hostel where Hicks was residing to verify his compliance with the indefinite SHPO, which explicitly prohibits him from using any device capable of connecting to the internet or storing images. During their search of his room, officers discovered a memory stick and an electronic tablet, both containing indecent images of children. Prosecutor Paul Spratt detailed that Hicks, who was released on April 20 and was provided accommodation at the Wharf Lane Hostel, was visited by police again on July 10 to ensure he was adhering to the restrictions imposed by his SHPO.

Mr. Spratt explained that Hicks initially claimed to officers that he only possessed a mobile phone, hoping to give the impression that he had no other devices. However, during the search, officers uncovered a memory stick and a tablet, with seven indecent images of children found on the memory stick. Hicks, of Rectory Road, Shelton, pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching the SHPO and one charge of making indecent images of children. It was revealed that Hicks has an extensive criminal record, with a total of 95 previous offences related to similar conduct.

Judge Paul Glenn sentenced Hicks to an additional 14 months in prison, condemning his manipulative behavior and blatant disregard for legal restrictions. The judge stated, “You are utterly devious. You have been totally undeterred by custodial sentences. When police visited you on July 10, you behaved as you usually do, lying about the items you possessed. You claimed only a mobile phone, but officers found a memory stick and a tablet. There was a small number of images on the memory stick, yet your conduct shows a pattern of deceit and violation of court orders.”

Hicks’s criminal history also includes a significant incident from October 2015, when he, then aged 61, fled Staffordshire to Aberdeen to evade arrest after breaching a sex order. Despite claiming to police that he possessed no internet-connected devices, authorities found multiple laptops and phones upon his arrest in Scotland. These devices contained over 2,200 indecent images, including categories A, B, and C, with the most serious images being category A. Police also discovered numerous searches for websites related to young girls and images depicting minors. Hicks had installed software to enable anonymous online communication and had even registered under a false name, Rob Lewis, to audition for a film.

He pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including failing to notify authorities about his bank account and breaching the SOPO. His defense argued that Hicks viewed his viewing of such images as an addiction, and that his move to Scotland was an attempt to avoid detection. Nonetheless, Judge Glenn emphasized the seriousness of his breaches, stating, “You have treated SOPOs with contempt. You are a devious man who fled from Staffordshire because you knew you would be arrested. Your breaches are deliberate and serious.”

Further back in his criminal timeline, in November 2013, Hicks was convicted of flouting an internet ban and possessing indecent images of children. Police found two laptops and other devices at his Stafford home during a routine check, which contained thousands of such images. Hicks, then 59, had a long history of convictions, including a previous 39-month sentence in January 2010. His addiction to viewing child pornography was acknowledged by the court, with the judge expressing hope that Hicks would seek help to address his compulsions.

In April 2009, Hicks successfully appealed an indefinite sentence, with the Court of Appeal reducing his term to one year, citing insufficient evidence of future risk. Despite his release, his criminal record remains extensive, highlighting a persistent pattern of offending and breaches of court orders. Hicks’s case underscores the ongoing challenges in managing and rehabilitating individuals with such serious offenses, especially those with a long history of violations and manipulative behavior.