ROBERT ILES FROM STUBBS CROSS SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES AT CANTERBURY CROWN COURT

In November 2014, a former teaching assistant from Ashford, identified as 23-year-old Robert David Iles, was sentenced to three years in prison for serious sexual offences committed against minors. At the time of his arrest in April 2013, Iles was employed as a teaching assistant at Great Chart Primary School, a position that brought him into close contact with children in the local community.

Robert Iles, who resides on Magpie Hall Road in the area of Stubbs Cross, was charged with multiple counts related to grooming and exploiting young boys through online platforms. The charges stemmed from his actions involving two 12-year-old boys and a 15-year-old boy, whom he manipulated via social media. According to court reports, Iles used social media to groom these minors, establishing a deceptive online persona by pretending to be a teenage girl. This grooming process involved engaging the boys in conversations that eventually led to sexual exploitation.

The court heard that Iles incited the young boys to perform sexual acts on webcam, deriving sexual gratification from their performances. The judge overseeing the case described his actions as predatory and deeply disturbing, emphasizing the breach of trust and the harm inflicted upon the victims.

In addition to his custodial sentence, Robert Iles was also ordered to adhere to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) for a period of ten years. This order is designed to restrict his activities and prevent any further offences related to sexual misconduct. The sentencing took place at Canterbury Crown Court on November 13, where the judge condemned Iles’s actions and highlighted the importance of protecting children from online predators.