GEORGE ROBERTS KEIGHLEY NIGHTCLUB OWNER JAILED FOR SYSTEMATIC CHILD ABUSE
In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Keighley, George Roberts, a 67-year-old former nightclub owner, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for the systematic and degrading sexual abuse of three young children over three and a half decades ago.The crimes, which took place approximately 35 years in the past, have only recently come to light, leading to a lengthy and detailed trial at Bradford Crown Court.
Roberts, who resides on Woodhouse Drive in the Woodhouse area of Keighley, was found guilty of a total of 15 counts of indecency with a child.
The jury also convicted him of one count of attempted indecent assault, incitement to commit buggery, and four counts of indecent assault on a child.
However, he was acquitted of two additional allegations of indecency with a child, following a direction from Judge Robert Bartfield.
Throughout the proceedings, Roberts appeared in court using a walking frame and was noted to be on a cocktail of painkillers, indicating ongoing health issues.
His legal representative, barrister Rebecca Young, stated that Roberts had come to court prepared to face imprisonment.
She emphasized that there was another side to the man, who had previously been a prominent figure in Keighley, owning pubs, a nightclub, and leading a taxi company.
According to Young, Roberts had been recognized for acts of bravery, including receiving a citizen’s award for defending a police officer from attack.
She also highlighted that Roberts had led an otherwise exemplary life in the 35 years since the abuse occurred.
The judge, in delivering his sentence, condemned Roberts for his repeated and systematic sexual abuse of the children over several years.
He stated, “Over a number of years you systematically and repeatedly abused them sexually for your own pleasure until they were old enough to stop you.” The court heard that Roberts had used manipulative tactics, including bribing a terrified young girl with sweets and making a boy physically sick during the abuse.
The judge also noted that Roberts had stolen the victims’ peace of mind and showed no remorse for his actions.
Judge Bartfield acknowledged Roberts’ poor health and mobility issues but emphasized the severity of his crimes.
He remarked that Roberts had shown no remorse for the degradation inflicted upon the three young victims.
During the trial, the now middle-aged victims recounted their traumatic experiences, revealing that they endured a decade of sexual and physical abuse.
They described being strung upside down from a beam and molested in a secret den constructed from straw bales.
One victim recounted how Roberts made him and a young girl pick a card to determine who would be abused next.
Others described disturbing incidents, including Roberts showering naked with a ten-year-old girl, repeatedly asking her to go to bed with him, and confining one of his female victims in a chest freezer.
Roberts’ actions have left a lasting scar on his victims, and his sentencing serves as a stark reminder of the importance of justice for those who suffer at the hands of predators, regardless of the passage of time.
