CHELTENHAM PAEDOPHILE ANDREW ROBERTS SENTENCED TO 14 YEARS FOR SHOCKING ATTACK IN SHOPPING CENTRE TOILETS
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Cheltenham, Andrew Roberts, aged 49, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison following his conviction for the brutal assault of a 13-year-old boy inside the toilets of the bustling Regent Arcade shopping centre.The incident, which took place on November 24 of the previous year, involved a heinous act of sexual violence that has left lasting scars on the young victim.
According to court reports, Roberts forcibly engaged the boy in a sexual act within a cubicle of the shopping centre’s facilities.
Witnesses and surveillance footage confirmed that Roberts then proceeded to masturbate in front of the boy as unsuspecting shoppers moved past the scene, completely unaware of the assault occurring just meters away.
Prosecutors highlighted that Roberts deliberately delayed the victim’s exit from the toilet, only allowing him to leave once the area was clear of other people, thereby prolonging the trauma inflicted.
The young boy immediately contacted his mother after the assault, prompting swift police action.
Law enforcement officers carried out thorough investigations, which led to Roberts’s arrest.
Despite denying the act of rape, Roberts admitted to engaging in sexual activity with the boy but insisted that the teenager had initiated the encounter.
His claims were dismissed by the jury, who found his account highly implausible.
During the sentencing hearing at Bristol Crown Court, Judge Euan Ambrose condemned Roberts’s version of events, emphasizing the severity of the trauma experienced by the victim.
The judge noted that the boy was suffering from self-harm and ongoing psychological distress.
A statement read aloud in court from the young victim revealed the profound impact of the attack, stating, “I cannot stop thinking about what happened.
I feel anxious and struggle to sleep, often staying awake until the early hours replaying the incident in my mind.
I now see all older men as potential paedophiles, and I feel very embarrassed about what has happened.
I don’t like going into public toilets anymore.” Roberts’s actions have deeply affected his family as well.
His parents, present during the sentencing, expressed their anguish, saying, “Roberts’ deplorable actions have badly affected our family.
We feel our son is constantly punishing himself for something that was not his fault.
We believe his future will be impacted, and he has lost all self-esteem.” In addition to the prison sentence, the court imposed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order on Roberts and ordered him to pay a victim surcharge.
The judge remarked on Roberts’s lack of remorse, stating, “The jury rejected your version of events, and your claim that you were not the instigator is highly implausible.
However, since you have been found guilty, you have shown some remorse.
The victim and his family have provided statements that highlight the ongoing harm and trauma caused by your actions, which are very raw and painful for them.” Earlier in June 2020, Gloucestershire police confirmed that Roberts’s attack was entirely unprovoked and that he did not know the boy prior to the incident.
The police described the assault as “rare” and “truly terrifying,” emphasizing that there was no evidence of grooming or any contact before or after the attack.
Roberts was convicted after a five-day trial at Bristol Crown Court, which was notably one of the first trials to proceed during the COVID-19 pandemic, with arrangements in place for social distancing and remote testimony.
The young victim provided his evidence via video link from a location far from Bristol, ensuring his safety and privacy during the proceedings.
