MICHAEL ROWBOTHAM SENTENCED IN PETERBOROUGH AND ST NEOTS FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT ON 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Peterborough and St Neots, Michael Rowbotham, now residing in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, was convicted and sentenced for a disturbing sexual assault involving a young girl. The incident, which took place in July of the previous year, has highlighted serious concerns about the safety of minors and the presence of predatory behavior in the area.

According to court records, the events unfolded in Peterborough, where Rowbotham, aged 19 at the time, was known to frequent the Orton Malborne neighborhood. It was revealed during the trial that he had a pattern of inviting truanting schoolgirls to his flat, which he allowed to become a sort of refuge for them. These young girls, some as young as 12, would often skip school and spend time at his residence, engaging in smoking and drinking, as described by the prosecution.

The court heard that Rowbotham’s flat served as a “haven” for these girls, who saw it as a safe space away from their academic responsibilities. However, the situation took a sinister turn when he sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl, an act that was committed while they were under a duvet. The assault was only interrupted and brought to light due to the quick thinking of the victim’s friend, who heard noises and intervened. The friend then used her mobile phone to record the incident, capturing clear footage of Rowbotham with the young girl.

Prosecutor John Lloyd-Jones described the environment at Rowbotham’s flat, stating, “His flat was being visited by a number of females whose ages varied from 12 to 17. There were a number of young, truanting schoolgirls at the very least smoking, drinking, that type of thing.” The court was told that Rowbotham’s behavior was indicative of a predatory attitude towards young females.

Judge Nicholas Coleman sentenced Rowbotham to six years in prison for the sexual assault. In his remarks, the judge expressed concern over Rowbotham’s apparent predatory tendencies, stating, “I form the view that you have a predatory attitude towards females. What you did on this day is clear evidence of this attitude.” The court also noted that the Probation Service considered Rowbotham to be a “high risk” of harm to young girls, though he was not deemed suitable for an indeterminate sentence.

During sentencing, Judge Coleman emphasized the gravity of the victim’s age, saying, “This was a 12-year-old girl, who you knew was 12 and was a girl. You felt really you should only have a friendly relationship with her. It’s clear your lust decided otherwise. You should have rejected that desire.”

Initially, Rowbotham faced charges of rape; however, he was acquitted by a jury, which reached a majority verdict of 10 to 2 after a trial in January. Despite this, he pleaded guilty to the sexual assault, which the court accepted as having occurred in July of the previous year. He claimed the assault was consensual, but Judge Coleman rejected this assertion.

In mitigation, the court heard that Rowbotham “bitterly regretted his behaviour” and was planning to move to Manchester to be with his father upon his release. As part of his sentence, he was also issued a sexual offences prevention order, which prohibits him from having unsupervised contact with any girl under 16 unless a parent or guardian is present. Additionally, he will be required to participate in a sexual offenders’ rehabilitation program.

Following the case, Detective Inspector Jon McAdden commented, “It was a very serious incident for the victim and he’s got the sentence he well deserved for a case like this.” The case has once again raised concerns about safeguarding minors and the importance of vigilance in communities like Peterborough and St Neots.