ROBERT SOUTAR'S SHOCKING ABUSE IN LEICESTER AND TRIMINGHAM REVEALED
| Red Rose Database
Leicester Trimingham Sexual Abuser
In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Leicester and Trimingham, Robert Soutar, a former primary school teacher, has been found guilty of multiple counts of sexual abuse against young girls during his tenure at Dovelands Primary School. The lengthy and detailed proceedings have uncovered a pattern of predatory behavior that spanned over two decades, leaving a trail of trauma and broken trust.
Between 1975 and 1981, Soutar engaged in repeated acts of sexual misconduct against a young girl, who was between the ages of seven and eleven at the time. These heinous acts took place within the confines of the school premises, including the stockroom, the playground, and during extracurricular activities such as gym club. The abuse also extended into his private vehicle, where he exploited his position of authority to commit these crimes. The victim, now an adult, sat in the public gallery at Leicester Crown Court to witness the sentencing of her abuser.
It was revealed that Soutar, who was then employed at Dovelands Primary School from 1971, had previously been convicted in 2001 for 15 indecent assaults on seven other young girls, for which he received a three-year prison sentence. The earlier offenses occurred from 1976 until 2000, when his misconduct was finally uncovered, leading to his dismissal from the school and subsequent investigation. The earlier assaults included touching girls on their legs while they sat at their desks, kissing and indecently touching one girl after a walk in the woods, and rough handling that resulted in bruising during gym sessions.
The latest charges stemmed from a new complaint lodged by the most recent victim, who had initially reported her abuse during the original investigation but was not prosecuted at that time. Her case was reopened after her complaint was formally re-submitted, leading to the current charges. Soutar pleaded guilty to six counts of indecent assault related to her, and the court heard detailed testimony from the victim, who described how Soutar had touched her all over her body, including her chest, back, and bottom, often under the guise of school activities.
During the trial, the victim recounted her confusion and lack of understanding at the time, emphasizing that school should have been a safe environment. She expressed her feelings of betrayal, stating, “School is a place where children should feel safe and protected. He exploited his position to abuse me.” In her victim impact statement, she conveyed her sense of bravery in coming forward and her ongoing struggle with the memories of her ordeal. She emphasized that she is no longer a vulnerable girl and that her actions in speaking out are a testament to her strength.
Judge Nicolas Dean QC described the case as a “complex” sentencing exercise, noting that at the time of the offenses, the maximum penalty was five years, though more severe penalties are now in place for such crimes. The judge highlighted the serious breach of trust involved in Soutar’s actions, especially given the vulnerability of children at junior schools who are entitled to feel safe. The judge stated, “They are innocents who know nothing of sexual behavior amongst adults. They have no knowledge that some adults are paedophiles. They’re also entitled, when at school, to feel safe.”
In sentencing, Soutar was given nine months in prison, with an additional one-year license period. The judge also informed him that he might be eligible for early release after serving half of his sentence or could serve the full 21 months. Additionally, Soutar is required to register his future addresses on the sex offender register for a period of ten years. The court acknowledged his age and the positive references he received, which were taken into account during sentencing.
After passing sentence, Judge Dean addressed the victim directly, acknowledging the long wait for justice. “I know it’s been a long time coming and you’ve lived with this for many years. I know you’ll never forget what happened when you were very young, but I hope it brings you some closure,” he said. The judge also commended her courage, noting that she was spared the ordeal of giving evidence in court due to the guilty plea.
Earlier, in September 2002, Soutar had already been sentenced to four and a half years in prison for similar offenses committed at Dovelands Primary School. The court heard how he exploited a young girl’s admiration for him, using her feelings to carry out a series of sexual assaults. The victim, now a 41-year-old married mother of two, revealed that she kept her secret for nearly 30 years, feeling bitter and angry about the long period during which Soutar was allowed to continue his abuse without detection.
Investigations by Leicester City and Leicestershire County Councils in 2001 exposed significant failures in safeguarding, highlighting a lack of understanding about abuser behaviors and an inability to connect individual incidents into a pattern. Soutar’s conduct was characterized by multiple charges, including indecent assault, indecency with a child, and other serious sexual offenses, all of which contributed to his lengthy criminal record and the ongoing concern about safeguarding failures in the educational system.
Between 1975 and 1981, Soutar engaged in repeated acts of sexual misconduct against a young girl, who was between the ages of seven and eleven at the time. These heinous acts took place within the confines of the school premises, including the stockroom, the playground, and during extracurricular activities such as gym club. The abuse also extended into his private vehicle, where he exploited his position of authority to commit these crimes. The victim, now an adult, sat in the public gallery at Leicester Crown Court to witness the sentencing of her abuser.
It was revealed that Soutar, who was then employed at Dovelands Primary School from 1971, had previously been convicted in 2001 for 15 indecent assaults on seven other young girls, for which he received a three-year prison sentence. The earlier offenses occurred from 1976 until 2000, when his misconduct was finally uncovered, leading to his dismissal from the school and subsequent investigation. The earlier assaults included touching girls on their legs while they sat at their desks, kissing and indecently touching one girl after a walk in the woods, and rough handling that resulted in bruising during gym sessions.
The latest charges stemmed from a new complaint lodged by the most recent victim, who had initially reported her abuse during the original investigation but was not prosecuted at that time. Her case was reopened after her complaint was formally re-submitted, leading to the current charges. Soutar pleaded guilty to six counts of indecent assault related to her, and the court heard detailed testimony from the victim, who described how Soutar had touched her all over her body, including her chest, back, and bottom, often under the guise of school activities.
During the trial, the victim recounted her confusion and lack of understanding at the time, emphasizing that school should have been a safe environment. She expressed her feelings of betrayal, stating, “School is a place where children should feel safe and protected. He exploited his position to abuse me.” In her victim impact statement, she conveyed her sense of bravery in coming forward and her ongoing struggle with the memories of her ordeal. She emphasized that she is no longer a vulnerable girl and that her actions in speaking out are a testament to her strength.
Judge Nicolas Dean QC described the case as a “complex” sentencing exercise, noting that at the time of the offenses, the maximum penalty was five years, though more severe penalties are now in place for such crimes. The judge highlighted the serious breach of trust involved in Soutar’s actions, especially given the vulnerability of children at junior schools who are entitled to feel safe. The judge stated, “They are innocents who know nothing of sexual behavior amongst adults. They have no knowledge that some adults are paedophiles. They’re also entitled, when at school, to feel safe.”
In sentencing, Soutar was given nine months in prison, with an additional one-year license period. The judge also informed him that he might be eligible for early release after serving half of his sentence or could serve the full 21 months. Additionally, Soutar is required to register his future addresses on the sex offender register for a period of ten years. The court acknowledged his age and the positive references he received, which were taken into account during sentencing.
After passing sentence, Judge Dean addressed the victim directly, acknowledging the long wait for justice. “I know it’s been a long time coming and you’ve lived with this for many years. I know you’ll never forget what happened when you were very young, but I hope it brings you some closure,” he said. The judge also commended her courage, noting that she was spared the ordeal of giving evidence in court due to the guilty plea.
Earlier, in September 2002, Soutar had already been sentenced to four and a half years in prison for similar offenses committed at Dovelands Primary School. The court heard how he exploited a young girl’s admiration for him, using her feelings to carry out a series of sexual assaults. The victim, now a 41-year-old married mother of two, revealed that she kept her secret for nearly 30 years, feeling bitter and angry about the long period during which Soutar was allowed to continue his abuse without detection.
Investigations by Leicester City and Leicestershire County Councils in 2001 exposed significant failures in safeguarding, highlighting a lack of understanding about abuser behaviors and an inability to connect individual incidents into a pattern. Soutar’s conduct was characterized by multiple charges, including indecent assault, indecency with a child, and other serious sexual offenses, all of which contributed to his lengthy criminal record and the ongoing concern about safeguarding failures in the educational system.