WESLEY ROBERTS FROM OLD COLWYN SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES INVOLVING MINORS IN NORTH WALES

In May 2014, a disturbing case unfolded involving Wesley Roberts, a resident of Bryn Heli in Old Colwyn, who was convicted of multiple serious sexual offences against young girls. The case drew significant attention due to the nature of his crimes and his prior criminal record.

Roberts, who was 20 years old at the time of the offences, was found guilty of raping a 12-year-old girl and engaging in sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl. The court heard that he had a long history of criminal convictions, totaling 57, although none were related to sexual offences. Despite this, he was considered a high risk to children, especially given the severity of his recent actions.

The incident involving the 14-year-old girl occurred in the summer of 2012. According to court records, Roberts had initially befriended her on Facebook, where he asked her out and gradually built a relationship. Over time, their interactions became increasingly sexual, culminating in multiple instances of intercourse—estimated at five or six times. The court noted that Roberts did not use any form of protection during these encounters, and they also engaged in other sexual acts. At the time, Roberts was on bail, awaiting trial for similar allegations involving another underage girl, which added a layer of gravity to his actions.

While still on bail, Roberts established contact with a 12-year-old girl through Facebook. He repeatedly asked her to meet in person, and their conversations grew more sexual in nature. Their first meeting took place in a secluded park, where Roberts committed a heinous act of sexual assault. The court was told that Roberts pulled her trousers down, and she was attempting to pull them back up, hoping he would not notice. The young girl was described as being unsure how to refuse, feeling pressured and overwhelmed by the situation. She was with Roberts in a remote area after he had sent her a picture of his erect penis and invited her to send him a picture of herself.

During the attack, Roberts forcibly raped her. The girl later recounted that she was unable to say no because she was with an adult man, and she was frightened. The court heard that Roberts had pulled her trousers down, and she was trying to pull them up slowly, hoping to avoid detection. The assault was further facilitated by Roberts sending her explicit images and encouraging her to reciprocate. The girl’s mother became concerned when her daughter did not return home, and she later discovered a letter from her daughter describing what had happened. The police were contacted, but Roberts refused to answer questions during the investigation.

Roberts’s criminal record was described as very poor, with 57 previous convictions, though none related to sexual offences. Despite his minimization of his actions, the court considered the case extremely serious. Judge Nicholas Parry emphasized that Roberts posed a significant risk of harm to children and decided that an extended sentence was warranted. However, he ultimately sentenced Roberts to a fixed-term imprisonment, considering it sufficient to protect the public.

In addition to his prison sentence, Roberts was subjected to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order. This order prohibits him from approaching his victims, engaging in un-supervised contact with girls under 16, or communicating with minors over the internet or through electronic means. The court’s decision reflected the gravity of the offences and the need to prevent future harm.

Prosecutor Oliver King highlighted that the first girl involved had initially consented but was uncomfortable with the pace of their relationship and the escalation of sexual activity. Although she presented herself as older on Facebook, it was evident to those around her that she was a young teenager. Roberts admitted to having sexual activity with the 14-year-old girl but did not use protection, despite her being on the contraceptive pill. When her mother learned of the incident, she contacted the police immediately. Roberts refused to answer questions during the police interview.

It was during his bail period that Roberts contacted the 12-year-old girl, who was too young to give legal consent. He pressured her into meeting him, and she fabricated an excuse about going to play. They met in a park, where Roberts joked with her, got her to sit on his knee, and then forcibly engaged in intercourse. The girl later described feeling rushed into the act. Her mother found her shortly afterward, and she confided in her about what had happened. The police were called, but Roberts again refused to cooperate with investigators.

Roberts’s defense lawyer, Simon Mintz, indicated that he would not seek to mitigate the sentence, which the judge decided should remain within the single-digit years. Roberts pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child and was sentenced to two and a half years in prison. For the rape and assault by penetration of the 12-year-old girl, he received a consecutive six-year sentence, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes and the need for a strong judicial response.