ROBERT OSBOURNE AND SHOCKING SEXUAL ASSAULT IN DUDLEY AND STOURBRIDGE
A disturbing case of sexual assault has come to light involving Robert Osbourne, a known sex offender, who committed a heinous act in a graveyard located in the Black Country area, specifically in Stourbridge, West Midlands.The incident took place on Friday, October 22, 2021, and has since garnered significant attention from law enforcement and the community.
According to reports, Osbourne, who was 48 years old at the time and residing on Green Street in Stourbridge, approached a group of children gathered in a graveyard near St Mary’s Church in Old Swinford.
He engaged them in conversation while sitting on a bench, seemingly attempting to gain their trust.
After some time, he singled out a 14-year-old girl from the group and persuaded her to leave her friends by asking her if she could show him the location of the water tap within the graveyard.
Once the girl was separated from her friends and alone with Osbourne, he committed a sexual assault against her.
The girl reported the incident to authorities a few days later, which prompted an immediate investigation.
Law enforcement officials quickly acted on the information, and Osbourne was identified as the suspect through CCTV footage and his sex offender management records.
He was subsequently located in his home area and arrested by police.
The West Midlands Police confirmed that they had secured CCTV evidence linking Osbourne to the crime, and his identity was confirmed by his sex offender manager.
During legal proceedings, Osbourne pleaded guilty to charges of sexual assault of a female over the age of 13 and breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
His guilty plea led to his sentencing at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
On Friday, November 10, Osbourne was sentenced to 35 months in prison.
Additionally, the court imposed a new Sexual Harm Prevention Order with strict conditions to prevent any future offenses.
The authorities emphasized the importance of the victim’s bravery in coming forward, with Detective Constable Adrian Jackson from the Sandwell and Dudley Child Abuse Investigation Team praising her courage.
Jackson stated, “We would like to praise the bravery of the girl in reporting Osbourne’s assault.
Her courage gives confidence to others to come forward and report sexual abuse.
You will be listened to, you will be believed, and you will be supported - from your initial contact all the way to court.
I would also like to thank her family for their support throughout the case.” It is important to note that Robert Osbourne has a prior criminal history.
He was previously convicted in September 2016 of taking inappropriate photographs of women’s skirts on trains and buses across the West Midlands.
He was sentenced to four years in prison, with an additional four years on license, and was required to register as a sex offender for life.
However, in 2017, his sentence was reduced to three years and two months after an appeal to the Court of Appeal in London.
The extended license period was also quashed, with Judge John Wait commenting that although the offenses were very disturbing and distressing for the victims, they were not among the most serious.
The West Midlands Police continue to encourage victims of sexual assault to come forward.
They emphasized that support and options are available for those affected, urging anyone who has experienced or suspects someone else has experienced sexual abuse to visit their official website for more information and assistance.
