ROBERT DAWES OF GLENRIDDING AND ULLSWATER SENTENCED TO 9 YEARS FOR SEX CRIMES AGAINST CUMBRAIAN SCHOOLGIRLS

In a case that has shocked the local community of Glenridding and the wider Ullswater area, Robert Dawes, a man once regarded as a respected figure within his village, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for a series of serious sexual offenses committed against three young schoolgirls from Cumbria.

These disturbing crimes, which spanned from the summer of 1980 through January 1984, have left a lasting impact on the victims and the community. Dawes, aged 63 at the time of sentencing, was convicted at Carlisle Crown Court on a total of 13 charges, including one count of attempted rape. The court proceedings revealed a complex picture of a man who was both a benefactor and a perpetrator.

Throughout his trial, Dawes admitted to five indecent assaults on one of the girls, acknowledging his misconduct before the court. However, the jury found him guilty of eight additional charges, while acquitting him of seven others, including the charge of rape against one of the victims. The court noted that these offenses occurred over a period of nearly four years, but Dawes has not committed any similar acts since that time.

Judge John Phillips, presiding over the case, delivered a sentencing that reflected both the severity of the crimes and the defendant’s character. In his remarks, the judge acknowledged Dawes’s contributions to the community, stating, “You have helped greatly in the local community. Some might say that all this indicates that you are a pillar of the community.” However, he also pointed out the darker side of Dawes’s actions, suggesting that “others might say that it actually reveals your hypocrisy.”

During the proceedings, Dawes’s defense attorney, Marion Mullen, emphasized the long period of positive community involvement in Dawes’s life, highlighting that he had lived a commendable life for over two decades. She expressed remorse on his behalf, stating, “This man has lost very late in life his very good character. He knows that he has behaved extremely badly.” Mullen also noted that Dawes was experiencing a difficult period when the offenses occurred and that witnesses during the trial confirmed that his behavior was out of character.

As part of his sentence, Dawes was prohibited from working with children or having any unsupervised contact with individuals under the age of 18. Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders register for life and will not be eligible for parole until he has served at least half of his sentence. The court’s decision reflects the gravity of the crimes committed and the need to protect the community from potential future offenses.

Judge Phillips concluded by stating that he had taken into account Dawes’s guilty pleas and the fact that the attempted rape was not violent, which influenced the length of the sentence. The case serves as a stark reminder of the hidden dangers that can lurk behind seemingly respectable facades within small communities like Glenridding and Ullswater.