ROBERT JAMIESON FROM HULL JAILED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN EAST YORKSHIRE
In December 2019, Robert Jamieson, a well-known children's entertainer from Hull, was sentenced to a lengthy prison term after being found guilty of multiple serious sexual offences involving a young girl.Jamieson, aged 49 and residing in Beech Grove, west Hull, was convicted of ten separate child sex offences, including indecency and sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13.
His conviction followed a trial at Sheffield Crown Court, where a jury found him guilty despite his persistent denial of any wrongdoing.
Jamieson, who was popularly known as 'Bobby Bubbles' and had built a reputation as a children's clown across Hull and East Yorkshire, was branded a 'dangerous offender' by Judge Roger Thomas QC.
The judge sentenced him to 14 years in prison, with an additional extended licence period of one year, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the threat he posed to the community.
The court heard that the young girl, who was under 13 at the time of the abuse, believed she was in love with Jamieson.
Her innocence and emotional vulnerability were exploited as he repeatedly groomed and sexually abused her.
The girl initially refused to cooperate with police investigations, a stance that changed only after she became a mother herself and had a daughter of her own.
Her decision to come forward was driven by her desire to protect her child from experiencing similar harm.
Prosecutor Gurdial Singh addressed the jury, explaining that the girl’s ability to relate her own experiences to her daughter played a crucial role in her decision to report the abuse.
Singh emphasized, 'It’s the fact that she could then relate to her daughter and bring that back to what happened to her and made her think about what had occurred – that’s what caused her to come forward.
She thought, ‘I don’t want this to happen to my daughter.’' The court was told that Jamieson had initially befriended and groomed the girl before subjecting her to sexual abuse.
During police interviews, Jamieson denied all allegations, dismissing them as lies.
His interactions with children extended beyond his performances, as he frequently attended parties and visited schools across the region, often in a role that was meant to entertain and reassure children.
At one point, Jamieson was publicly known as 'Hull’s own Batman' after he vowed to combat the 'killer clown' craze that swept through the UK in 2016.
He publicly expressed his concern about children being frightened by clowns, stating, 'It is not nice to see children being scared and chased by these clowns and I will step in if I have to.' He also remarked, 'Kids have great imaginations and they need positive role models.
Clowns should be fun, but I want to be there as reassurance for them when they do feel scared.
I will be there to look out for them.' Additionally, Jamieson claimed, 'True clowns don’t wear masks,' emphasizing his intent to portray a friendly, approachable image.
Despite his public persona as a jovial entertainer, the court found that Jamieson’s actions behind closed doors were of a different nature.
His convictions included four counts of indecency with a child and two counts of sexual intercourse with a girl under 13.
The judge’s ruling underscored the danger Jamieson posed, leading to his lengthy imprisonment and extended supervision period, aimed at protecting the community from further harm.
