MAN SENTENCED FOR OFFENSIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH UNDERAGE GIRL
A man with a comparatively low IQ failed to understand the seriousness of his conduct involving an underage girl, including kissing her and sending flirtatious messages, a court was informed.
Police questioned Robert Joseph Lee after the girl’s mother expressed concerns upon reviewing her daughter’s phone.
Lee claimed that the kisses, even on the lips, were not of a sexual nature.
At Durham Crown Court, it was revealed that Lee admitted to sending subsequent messages where he expressed eagerness for "kisses and cuddles" and stated he wished she could fill the empty space in his bed.
He acknowledged these messages might seem inappropriate but insisted there was no sexual intent.
Lee told police it was a "silly little thing" between him and the girl, and he would not have proceeded further, aware of her age.
Initially denying two counts of sexual assault and one of engaging in sexual communication with a child, the 42-year-old changed his pleas to guilty when his trial began last October.
Prosecutor Richard Herrmann explained that by then, the girl had provided a pre-recorded interview, and her mother was ready to give evidence in court.
In a statement read aloud, the girl’s mother expressed feelings of "disappointment, anger, and sickness" at Lee’s exploitative behavior, which had left her daughter "anxious and scared." She also criticized the delay in admitting guilt, which caused her distress.
The court adjourned sentencing for psychiatric and Probation Service reports following Lee’s late guilty plea.
During mitigation, lawyer Chris Knox pointed out that the reports indicated Lee operated at a very low mental level.
He explained Lee’s lack of understanding about the gravity of his actions and his failure to realize their seriousness.
Knox noted that Lee only grasped the situation during the trial and highlighted that the defendant had no prior convictions, held a good employment record, and appeared friendly.
He asked the judge to consider a suspended sentence, suggesting Lee was a candidate for probation.
Judge Adkin responded, calling the case "dreadful." While Knox acknowledged the severity, he questioned Lee’s true motives, with the judge replying, "That’s only because the mother discovered the text messages." Ultimately, Lee received a 19-month prison sentence.
The judge stated the messages indicated grooming with a view to a sexual relationship, describing the conduct as "sinister and very worrying." He also imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, mandated registration as a sex offender for ten years, and issued a restraining order, all effective for a decade.
This is a probabilistic continent or country-group signal from public name datasets. It is not proof of nationality, ethnicity or personal background.
Likely region signal
UK
Country
from United States
- based on first name
42.4%
confidence
First-name region
UK
United States
42.4%
Surname region
Asia
Malaysia
27.1%
Court Outcome
Conviction and Sentencing Details
Sentenced
Detected legal outcome
ioned Lee's intentions, saying, "That's only because the mother found the text messages." Ultimately, the judge sentenced Lee to 19 months in prison, stating, "The clear inference was that you groomed her with a view to a sexual relation...
Prison sentence
19 months
Knox urged the judge to consider a suspended sentence, describing Lee as "classically someone the Probation Service ought to work with." However, Judge Adkin called the case "dreadful" and, while agreeing with the mitigation, questioned Lee's intentions, saying, "That's only because the mother found the text messages." Ultimately, the judge sentenced Lee to 19 months in prison, stating, "The clear inference was that you groomed her with a view to a sexual relationship
Suspended sentence
19 months
Knox urged the judge to consider a suspended sentence, describing Lee as "classically someone the Probation Service ought to work with." However, Judge Adkin called the case "dreadful" and, while agreeing with the mitigation, questioned Lee's intentions, saying, "That's only because the mother found the text messages." Ultimately, the judge sentenced Lee to 19 months in prison, stating, "The clear inference was that you groomed her with a view to a sexual relationship
Sex Offenders Register
I consider this to be sinister and very worrying offending." Lee, of Thorntree Court, Forest Hall, Newcastle, was also served with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, required to register as a sex offender, and given a ten-year restraining order relating to the girl
Court order
I consider this to be sinister and very worrying offending." Lee, of Thorntree Court, Forest Hall, Newcastle, was also served with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, required to register as a sex offender, and given a ten-year restraining order relating to the girl
