PENKRIDGE MAN ROB CHETTER ESCAPES JAIL AFTER SEXUAL ENCOUNTER WITH TEEN IN BRISTOL VAN

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, Rob Chetter, a 43-year-old man from Penkridge, has avoided imprisonment after engaging in a sexual act with a teenage girl during a journey from Bristol to the north of England. The incident, which took place in May 2023, involved Chetter responding to an online advertisement placed by the young girl, who was seeking a lift. The court heard that Chetter agreed to her terms, which included engaging in sexual activity with her in exchange for providing the transportation.

The act occurred in a layby, where Chetter stopped his white van and carried out the sexual act in the front of the vehicle. During this sordid episode, the girl’s friends, aged 16 and 15, were sitting in the back of the van, playing music and unaware of the illicit activity taking place just a few feet away. The court was told that Chetter had deliberately blacked out the van’s windows to conceal his actions from the other teenagers.

The incident came to light after three young girls were reported missing and subsequently found. During police questioning, details of the sexual encounter emerged, revealing that Chetter had agreed to give the girls a lift in exchange for sex with one of them. The court heard that the driver’s actions constituted paying for sexual services from a minor, which is a serious criminal offense.

Rob Chetter, who is known to have a limited criminal record, admitted to paying for the sexual services of a girl under 18. He was charged and subsequently sentenced to 14 months in prison, but the sentence was suspended for two years. Judge William Hart, presiding over Bristol Crown Court, described the case as a tawdry affair, emphasizing the vulnerability of the young girl involved. The judge pointed out that the transaction was the criminal act that transformed what might have been a simple misconduct into a serious offense under Section 47 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

During sentencing, Judge Hart also noted that Chetter’s criminal record was minimal, which influenced the decision to suspend the sentence. Additionally, Chetter was ordered to complete up to 65 days of rehabilitation activities and to remain on the sex offenders register for a period of ten years. He was also ordered to pay costs amounting to £350. As Chetter left the court, he declined to make any comments regarding the case, leaving the community to reflect on the disturbing nature of the crime and its implications.