ROBERT HIRD'S HORRIFIC CRIME IN CRAWLEY: CHILD VICTIM'S LIFE SHATTERED
A deeply disturbing case has come to light involving Robert Hird, a 35-year-old man whose heinous actions have left a young girl profoundly traumatized in Crawley.The victim, who was under the age of 13, was subjected to two separate instances of sexual abuse by Hird, with the first occurring when she was merely seven years old.
The second assault took place more recently, this year, inside Hird's van, further compounding the horror of his crimes.
During the court proceedings, Judge Jeremy Gold KC described Hird's conduct as catastrophic, emphasizing the devastating impact it has had on the young girl’s life.
As the details of the case were read aloud, Hird sat in the dock, visibly distressed, with his head bowed low.
The court was presented with a statement on behalf of the girl’s mother, who expressed her ongoing anguish.
She revealed that her daughter is constantly haunted by memories of the incidents, which have severely affected her ability to attend school regularly.
Prosecutor Ryan Richter highlighted the profound behavioral changes in the girl, stating, “There has been a significant change in her behaviour.
I can only describe her as destroyed by it, she is barely sleeping anymore.
She gets flashbacks of going past the place he took her.” The victim, once a sociable child who enjoyed spending time with friends, now lives in fear.
She attempted to resume her social activities after the abuse but was so overwhelmed by the fear of encountering Hird again that she froze in terror and has since withdrawn from social outings altogether.
Her mental health has deteriorated, leading to frequent angry outbursts and a pervasive sense of sadness that has drained her of her previous vitality.
In a victim impact statement read aloud in court, the girl expressed her ongoing struggles, mentioning persistent flashbacks and describing her primary emotions as anger and moodiness.
Her suffering underscores the profound and lasting scars inflicted by Hird’s actions.
Hird’s defense attorney, Andrew Forsyth, acknowledged that his client has battled substance abuse issues, including alcohol and cocaine addiction.
Hird, who has no fixed address, has a criminal record comprising nine convictions for sixteen different offenses, most of which were minor violent crimes.
In sentencing, Judge Gold initially imposed a seven-year prison term.
However, due to Hird’s early guilty plea, the sentence was reduced to four years and eight months.
Additionally, Hird will serve a six-year license period and will be registered as a sex offender for life.
For the first of the two offenses, Hird received a concurrent two-year sentence.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a girl under 13.
Judge Gold expressed a mixture of condemnation and hope, stating, “I am prepared to accept that you are disgusted by your behaviour.
I hope you have some understanding of the catastrophic impact it has had on this girl.
It must have been an absolutely terrifying experience.” The sentencing was finalized on Monday, April 29, marking a significant moment in the pursuit of justice for the young victim and her family.
