ROBERT IND SENTENCED IN OXFORD FOR CHILD ABUSE - VICTIMS' RELATIVE DEMANDS JUSTICE
In a case that has shocked the community of Oxford, Robert Ind, a 65-year-old retired builder residing on Normandy Crescent, was sentenced this week at Oxford Crown Court to three and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to a series of serious child abuse charges.Ind’s crimes spanned from April 2005 to January 2012, during which he was found responsible for seven counts of child sexual abuse.
These included five counts of sexual assault involving two young girls and two counts of inciting one girl under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity.
The severity of the case and the betrayal of trust placed in Ind by the victims’ family members have sparked widespread outrage.
Due to the sensitive nature of the case and to protect the identities of the victims, the family’s relative, who spoke exclusively to the Oxford Mail, chose to remain anonymous.
He revealed that Ind had abused two of his female relatives, one of whom was only seven years old at the time of the abuse.
The family had trusted Ind and his wife, often looking after the young girls, only to discover that they had been subjected to horrific acts by someone they believed to be a trusted adult.
The relative expressed profound anguish over the betrayal, stating that the secret of the abuse had deeply scarred the victims.
One of the girls, now 15, has become withdrawn and her relationship with her family has been significantly affected.
The relative shared his heartbreak, saying, “We had a really, really close relationship until about two years ago when she began to withdraw herself from me.
It’s affected her confidence.” He also voiced his intense anger and frustration, saying, “I could castrate him, I’m absolutely fuming.
I’m in tears right now just thinking about it, it’s very upsetting.
You always think it’s something which isn’t going to happen to you, to your family, it’s horrible.” Reacting to the court’s decision, the family member expressed his disbelief at the length of the sentence, stating, “I thought it would be five or six years.
Three-and-a-half years is not long enough for what he’s done.
He has broken my family.
She [one of the victims] is going to have to deal with this for the rest of her life.” During the hearing, Ind appeared in the dock dressed in a bright orange jacket, looking down and shaking his head as Judge Patrick Eccles delivered the sentence.
The judge emphasized the gravity of Ind’s actions, remarking, “The last thing you would have expected is to end up in prison at your age.
But it is entirely your own fault for behaving in such an appalling way towards these two young girls.” In addition to his prison term, Ind was subjected to an indefinite sex offenders prevention order, which prohibits him from having unsupervised contact with children.
This measure aims to prevent any further harm and protect potential future victims.
Following the sentencing, Marilyn Hawes, founder of the charity Enough Abuse UK, condemned the punishment as “just ridiculous,” criticizing the sentence as a “slap in the face” for the victims’ families.
She emphasized the lifelong impact of abuse, stating, “Abusers give their victims and their families a life sentence.
Their lives have been turned upside down.” Detective Constable Jeff Wheble, who led the investigation, praised the bravery of the victims for coming forward and sharing their experiences.
A spokesperson from the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed that there are no plans to appeal the sentence, indicating that justice has been served in this troubling case.
