RICHARD FERGUSON FROM ROBE SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES AND INDECENT FILMING IN SITTINGBOURNE

In July 2014, Richard Ferguson, a resident of Robe, was sentenced to a lengthy prison term after being convicted of multiple serious offenses related to child exploitation and indecency in Sittingbourne. The court heard that Ferguson, aged 25 at the time of sentencing, had a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior that spanned several years, involving grooming vulnerable minors and engaging in illegal filming activities.

Ferguson-Robe was initially arrested after police uncovered child sex abuse images stored on his laptop computer. Despite being on police bail, he continued to offend by secretly filming schoolgirls in public places such as streets and supermarkets within the town, using his mobile phone to capture images up their skirts. His actions demonstrated a blatant disregard for the law and the safety of young girls in the community.

The court was informed that Ferguson-Robe, who was 21 at the time he first contacted a 15-year-old girl via an internet chatroom, falsely claimed to be 17. The girl, who was from the West Midlands, became obsessed with him, and their relationship escalated to the point where she traveled from her home to Ferguson-Robe’s residence in Sittingbourne. After her visit, they engaged in sexual activity, which was a clear violation of the law given her age.

During the proceedings, it was revealed that Ferguson-Robe had admitted to causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, as well as making indecent photographs of a child and possessing such images. The evidence presented in Maidstone Crown Court included disturbing footage and photographs, some of which depicted schoolgirls in short skirts, captured without their consent. A bag containing girls’ underwear was also found at his home, further illustrating his disturbing interests.

Prosecutor Louise Oakley detailed the grooming process, explaining that the girl involved initially sought a boyfriend and started chatting with Ferguson-Robe online. Using a webcam, he asked her to perform sexual acts, which she agreed to, feeling flattered and appreciated. Over time, these encounters became more frequent, with Ferguson-Robe requesting her to remove clothing and perform various sexual acts on camera. The girl later told police that she had given in to his demands, despite her initial discomfort, and that their conversations had included phone sex, which resulted in her incurring a £650 phone bill.

In March 2011, the girl traveled to Ferguson-Robe’s home in Sittingbourne, where he instructed her to wear her school uniform. He took her to nearby parks, where he ogled other schoolgirls in short skirts, displaying a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior. Additionally, Ferguson-Robe arranged to meet a 14-year-old girl, which he did, although no sexual activity occurred during that encounter. The other girl later discovered their conversation on Facebook, raising further concerns about his intentions.

Ferguson-Robe’s arrest in October 2012 led to the discovery of indecent film clips of the older girl and images of other children stored on his devices. The girl’s father expressed his distress, stating that Ferguson-Robe had “turned her life upside down” and accused him of “brainwashing her to make her feel she is nothing without him.”

Further investigations revealed that Ferguson-Robe had started a relationship with a woman in September 2012. She noticed indecent images of children on his PlayStation and contacted the police, which contributed to his ongoing criminal proceedings. Authorities also found several clips of footage showing schoolgirls in short skirts on his mobile phone, along with a collection of girls’ underwear at his residence.

In light of his actions, Ferguson-Robe was handed an extended sentence of seven years and eight months. The judge determined that he posed a significant risk of reoffending in the future, warranting a longer custodial period. He will be required to serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before being considered for parole and will remain on licence for an additional five years after release. As part of the court’s orders, Ferguson-Robe’s name will be entered onto the sex offenders’ register for life, and a sexual offences prevention order was issued to restrict his future conduct.