ROBERT JEFFREY'S CRIMINAL REIGN OF TERROR IN DARLINGTON AND MARKET DRAYTON

In a series of disturbing incidents spanning several years, Robert Jeffrey, a known sex offender with a long history of violations, has been at the center of multiple legal proceedings in Darlington, Market Drayton, and surrounding areas. His latest conviction stems from his failure to inform authorities of his change in living circumstances after being evicted from his Darlington residence on Harcourt Street in August 2019, which left him homeless or forced to sleep in his car.

Jeffrey, aged 52 at the time, had moved to Darlington in December 2018. Despite regular police visits to his former address, officers were unable to locate him until they contacted his landlord, who confirmed that Jeffrey had been evicted due to unpaid rent. This eviction marked a significant turning point, as Jeffrey did not notify police of his new address, a requirement under his sex offender registration conditions. When arrested, he provided police with a no fixed abode, further complicating his case.

Prosecutor Vicki Lamballe outlined Jeffrey’s extensive and troubling criminal history, which includes multiple convictions for sexual offenses and violations of the sex offenders’ register notification requirements. Her account detailed that Jeffrey’s first relevant offense occurred in 2005, when he was imprisoned for creating indecent images of children. Later that same year, he served a four-week sentence for failing to notify authorities of his whereabouts. His criminal record further includes a 2006 community order for attempting to meet a 14-year-old girl he had groomed online, and in 2007, he was subjected to a 10-year sexual offences order banning internet use after admitting to making indecent images of children.

Jeffrey’s pattern of non-compliance persisted, culminating in a 2013 jail sentence of two years and nine months for six violations of the Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which included attempting to groom teenage girls via Facebook. Despite these measures, Jeffrey continued to breach his reporting obligations. In October 2013, he was again jailed for nearly three years for failing to comply with the order and for attempting to contact the daughters of former school friends through social media, specifically Facebook.

His latest breach involved failing to update police with his new address after eviction, which led to his arrest. During his court appearance, Jeffrey pleaded guilty to breaching the reporting conditions of his sex offender registration. Defense lawyer Aisha Wadoodi argued that Jeffrey, described as highly educated, struggled to access support due to his criminal history and lacked substance abuse issues. She explained that his failure to notify authorities was a consequence of financial difficulties, including rent arrears, and that searches of his phone and laptop revealed no additional incriminating material.

Judge Anthony Brown sentenced Jeffrey to eight months in prison for failing to register his address, emphasizing the importance of compliance with the Sexual Offences Act. The judge stated, “In order for the regime of the Sexual Offences Act to be effective, the notification requirements have to be complied with because that assesses the risk, be monitored, and managed. When people fail to comply with that order, it undermines the entire system. When you are released, you must adhere to your obligations.”

In a related case from July 2015, Jeffrey, then aged 47, was convicted of breaching a court order after being forced out of his accommodation in Shropshire. He had been sleeping in a car park near a bed and breakfast in Shrewsbury after being told to leave. Over five days in May, Jeffrey failed to report his whereabouts to police as required under a Sexual Offences Prevention Order imposed by Gloucester Crown Court. Judge Robin Onions sentenced him to eight months in custody, citing the difficulty Jeffrey faced in securing stable housing due to societal reactions to his criminal record.

Jeffrey’s history also includes a 2007 order banning internet use, and in October 2013, he was jailed again for nearly three years for multiple violations, including attempting to groom teenage girls through Facebook by contacting their mothers and attempting to establish online contact with their daughters. His online activities included creating fake profiles, such as one under the name “Matt Turner,” to contact girls aged 15 and 16, offering gifts and engaging in manipulative behavior.

Authorities continue to monitor Jeffrey’s case as a stark reminder of the ongoing risks posed by individuals with a history of sexual offenses who fail to comply with legal obligations. His repeated breaches highlight the importance of strict enforcement and the challenges faced in managing offenders within the community.