JOHN ROBERTS AND WILLIAM LANE: SHOCKING CHILD ABUSE IN PECKHAM AND SOUTH LONDON

In August 1996, a disturbing case of child abuse emerged involving a man with a long history of offending, who exploited false identities to gain access to vulnerable children in Peckham and across South London. The individual, known at the time as John Roberts, was a convicted paedophile with a staggering 40-year record of child abuse offenses. Despite his criminal past, Roberts managed to deceive authorities and employment agencies by adopting a false name, William Lane, and using a forged passport to conceal his true identity.

Roberts, aged 63 at the time, was on the run from prison where he was serving an eight-year sentence for abduction and indecent assault. His attempt to evade detection did not end there. He manipulated the system by applying for a job as a groundsman at a football pitch for children, a position he secured through Lambeth Council in South London after fooling an employment agency. His duties involved general groundskeeping, including cleaning and maintenance, but his true intentions extended far beyond his official responsibilities.

It was only after his arrest in December that authorities uncovered the full extent of his predatory behavior. Police revealed that Roberts had been establishing boys’ football teams, ostensibly for community engagement, but these activities were part of his pattern of grooming and exploitation. During the court proceedings, it was disclosed that Roberts had used money to lure two young boys, aged seven and 13, to his residence. There, he subjected them to indecent acts, showed them pornographic magazines, and displayed photographs of naked boys, further illustrating his ongoing predatory tendencies.

The court heard harrowing testimony from the victims, who provided their evidence via video link due to the trauma they endured. Roberts’ actions included taking the boys to hamburger restaurants and forcing them to participate in inappropriate acts. Despite denying any physical contact with the boys during his arrest, evidence confirmed his involvement in their abuse.

Roberts’ criminal history was extensive, with previous convictions dating back to the 1950s, and included offenses in Birmingham, Kent, and London. His long-standing pattern of offending underscored the danger he posed to children. The case drew attention to the failures of the system, with Lambeth Council admitting that Roberts’ employment was not scrutinized thoroughly. A council spokesperson stated that his duties involved no direct supervision of children and that he was always under constant oversight, never working alone. However, critics argued that more rigorous checks could have prevented his access to vulnerable youngsters.

Judge Alan Hitching, who delayed sentencing to review reports, warned Roberts that he was considering a life sentence. The judge described Roberts’ “passion” for abusing children as persistent and unrelenting, indicating the severity of the case. The conviction included charges of assaulting the two boys, though Roberts was cleared of an additional indecency charge. The judge’s comments reflected the gravity of the crimes and the ongoing threat posed by Roberts, who had a history of similar offenses spanning decades.

Child protection expert Michael Hames criticized the system’s failure to detect Roberts’ false identity, stating, “The most cursory checks would have shown that this man was using a false name and that would have given cause for concern.”

In the aftermath of the case, child protection officer Caroline Smith emphasized that Roberts was “exactly the sort of man” for whom new checks and restrictions, as designed by Home Secretary Michael Howard, were intended. The case served as a stark reminder of the importance of thorough vetting processes and vigilant oversight to protect children from predators like Roberts, whose actions in Peckham and across South London had devastating consequences.