ANTHONY ROBERTS FROM PENYGROES SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS FOR GROOMING YOUNG GIRLS WITH DRUGS AND ALCOHOL IN GWYNEDD

In a case that has shocked the community of Penygroes and the wider Gwynedd region, Anthony Roberts, aged 51, has been sentenced to a substantial prison term of 15 years after being found guilty of serious sexual offences involving young girls. The conviction follows a detailed trial at Caernarfon Crown Court, where Roberts was accused of grooming and abusing two teenage girls over a period spanning from 2000 to 2006.

Roberts, who resides on Market Place in Penygroes, had initially denied all allegations, including 12 charges that encompassed sexual offences against the two victims and the supply of drugs. Despite his denials, the jury returned a guilty verdict last month, confirming his involvement in these grave crimes. The court heard that Roberts employed manipulative tactics, using alcohol and drugs to exploit vulnerable young girls, a pattern of behavior described by Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke as being particularly serious and deserving of a lengthy custodial sentence.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Lloyd-Clarke emphasized the manipulative nature of Roberts’ conduct, stating, “You displayed manipulative and grooming behaviour. It was clear you used alcohol and drugs to manipulate one vulnerable girl, inciting her to have sex with you by supplying her with drugs.”

One of the victims, now in her late 20s, provided a heartbreaking victim impact statement that was read aloud in court. She recounted how her ordeal began when she was just 14 years old, after Roberts started supplying her with drugs and alcohol. She estimated that she had been sexually abused at least 20 times by Roberts. One particularly disturbing incident took place after they watched the Disney film “Finding Nemo” at a property Roberts was working on for a friend. The woman described how the trauma continues to affect her, revealing ongoing struggles with trust and her ability to form relationships. She expressed relief that Roberts had finally been convicted but admitted that the process of court proceedings had forced her to relive her trauma. Her words reflected the deep emotional scars left by Roberts’ actions, including her overprotectiveness of her own daughter.

The second victim, also giving a statement read in court, shared her own pain and struggles. She said, “I have no confidence, and going through the ordeal has taken me back to that time. It still affects my ability to form close friendships, I just want to be normal. I hope I can finally move on.”

Roberts’ criminal record is extensive, with 27 offences primarily related to drugs. His sentence will see him serve approximately half of the 15-year term in prison, with the remainder on licence, under strict conditions. The court also imposed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order to restrict his future contact and activities, aiming to protect others from potential harm.

During the sentencing, some of Roberts’ family members, present in the public gallery, were visibly upset and cried out as the sentence was read. Roberts himself showed no visible emotion, remaining stoic throughout the proceedings, a stark contrast to the emotional reactions of those affected by his crimes.