ROBERT OWEN FROM DENBIGH JAILED FOR DECADES OF CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN NORTH WALES

In a case that has spanned over three decades, Robert Owen, a 61-year-old man from Denbigh, has been sentenced to eight years in prison after being convicted of multiple serious sexual offences against children. The offences, which occurred over a period of approximately 30 years, include a series of disturbing acts that have left a lasting impact on the victims involved.

Owen faced a total of 19 charges, all of which he denied during the trial at Mold Crown Court. Despite his denials, the court found sufficient evidence to convict him on all counts. The earliest allegations date back to the 1960s, with the first two offences involving a young girl who was only five years old at the time. This girl, now in her 50s, was victimized when Owen was just 15 years old. The court heard that Owen's actions inflicted profound trauma, and the judge, Mr. Justice John Rogers QC, remarked that Owen had compounded the victims' suffering by forcing them to relive their painful experiences during court proceedings.

One of the victims, who had confided in her parents at the time, recounted how her parents confronted Owen, but no further legal action was taken then. The judge highlighted this incident as an early warning sign of Owen’s perverted sexual interests in young girls, which he seemingly ignored. The court also learned that during the 1980s, Owen sexually assaulted another young girl aged about six, and subsequently targeted a seven-year-old girl. Both women, now in their 30s, provided compelling testimony against Owen, describing the persistent abuse they endured over many years.

Owen, who was married at the time, dismissed the allegations as lies, except for one incident in which he admitted to a police caution in the early 1990s for a sex offence involving one of the victims. The court was informed that Owen worked as a long-distance lorry driver, often away from home for extended periods, which may have facilitated his ability to commit these offences without immediate detection.

In sentencing, Judge Rogers emphasized that he had to consider the maximum penalties applicable at the time each offence was committed. He also noted that Owen would be required to serve two-thirds of his sentence, rather than the usual half, due to the nature and timing of the crimes. As part of his sentence, Owen was ordered to register as a sex offender with police for the remainder of his life.

The charges against Owen included two counts of indecency with a child dating back to the 1960s, five counts of indecent assault from the early 1980s, and twelve counts of indecent assault and indecency with a child between 1986 and 1991. The court heard that the child victims at the time did not fully understand what was happening to them, but one of the victims recently confronted Owen about the abuse. His response was that there was nothing he could do about it now. Following the investigation, police identified two additional victims, further highlighting the extent of Owen’s long-standing abusive behavior.