EDWARD ROBERTS FROM SOUTH BUCKS EXPOSED AS CHILD SEX OFFENDER AND CHARITY TRUSTEE

In a disturbing revelation, Edward Roberts, a man with a dark past involving the abuse of a young girl, has been found to have held significant roles within local charitable organizations in South Bucks for over twenty years. Despite his criminal record, Roberts was permitted to serve as a trustee for multiple charities, raising serious questions about oversight and safeguarding measures.

Roberts, aged 78, was convicted in 2012 of indecently assaulting a 12-year-old girl, a crime he committed more than three decades earlier. His sentence at the time was two years in prison. The conviction stemmed from a seven-day trial at Aylesbury Crown Court, where it was established that Roberts had engaged in inappropriate and abusive behavior towards the young girl, starting when she was just 12 years old. The court heard that Roberts, who was then the founding chairman of the National Training and Enterprise Council, had exploited her vulnerability during times when her family was not around.

Judge Joanna Cutts QC, presiding over the case, delivered a stern judgment, emphasizing the calculated nature of Roberts' actions. She stated, “You used every moment of stolen time when your family were elsewhere. The abuse was regular and whenever you saw her you took your opportunity.” The judge also noted that the girl, who adored Roberts and did not initially perceive her experiences as abuse, was profoundly affected by his actions throughout her life. Despite Roberts’s claims of no previous convictions, the judge highlighted that the maximum sentence at the time was five years, which was later increased to ten, reflecting the severity of such offenses.

What makes this case particularly troubling is the fact that Roberts, who was awarded a CBE for services to industry in 1991, was stripped of this honor following his conviction. Additionally, he falsely continued to use titles such as Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA), despite these honors being revoked.

Further investigations have uncovered that Roberts served on the boards of three charitable organizations in South Bucks, including Grafton Flyford Relief in Need, the Sir John Grafton charity, and the Grafton and the Stonehall Education Foundation. These roles persisted for more than twenty years, spanning his time in prison and after his release, raising serious concerns about the vetting processes of these charities and the safety of the vulnerable children they aim to support.

Roberts’s involvement in these charities, especially given his criminal history, underscores the need for rigorous background checks and safeguarding protocols to prevent individuals with such histories from holding positions of trust within organizations dedicated to helping children and the community. The community and authorities alike are now questioning how Roberts was able to serve in these capacities for so long, and what measures are being taken to ensure the safety of those the charities serve.