CHRISTOPHER TADMAN-ROBINS SENTENCED IN SHIPTON-UNDER-WYCHWOOD FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF YOUNG GIRL

In a case that has shocked the community of Shipton-under-Wychwood and the wider West Oxfordshire area, Christopher Tadman-Robins, a 66-year-old man with a long history of public service and religious involvement, has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison for the sexual abuse of a young girl over a decade ago.

Mr. Tadman-Robins, who resides on Upper End in Shipton-under-Wychwood, was convicted at Luton Crown Court last month on five counts of indecent assault. A jury found him not guilty of a sixth charge. The allegations against him came to light after the victim, now an adult, reported the abuse. She testified that Tadman-Robins had kissed her passionately and touched her inappropriately during the period when she was between 10 and 12 years old.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Philip Bartle QC emphasized the severity of the crimes and the lasting impact on the victim. He stated, “Your victim was aged from 10 to 12 and you were in your 50s. The impact on her of these offences has been devastating. She has suffered untold stress and has self-harmed. Your actions took away her innocence which is something from which she will never recover.”

Despite Tadman-Robins’ previous contributions to society—having been ordained in 1989, serving as a magistrate at the former Witney court, teaching music, and even acting as a musical director for the Northern Ballet—the judge made it clear that these positive aspects did not warrant leniency. The court was told that his good character and societal contributions did not exempt him from an immediate custodial sentence.

In her victim impact statement, the woman described suffering from low self-esteem, panic attacks, and the need for ongoing therapy and medication. She also recounted the emotional toll of having to testify at his trial, describing it as “devastating.”

Legal representatives for Tadman-Robins requested that the court consider suspending the sentence, citing the absence of any other allegations of misconduct. However, the judge dismissed this plea, underscoring the gravity of the offenses and the need for accountability.

Following the conviction, the Bishop of Dorchester, the Rt Rev Colin Fletcher, issued a statement expressing regret and sorrow on behalf of the Church of England. He acknowledged the profound and lasting suffering experienced by survivors of sexual abuse and indicated that Tadman-Robins would be referred for barring and prohibited from holding any office within the Church in the future. The bishop concluded by stating that all those involved in the case are in his thoughts and prayers, emphasizing the church’s stance on such misconduct.