ROBERT REED, 73, WALKED FREE FROM COURT IN NOTTINGHAM AFTER SEXUALLY ASSAULTING A SIX-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In July 2014, Robert Reed, a 73-year-old resident of Sandrock Road, Harworth, was involved in a legal case concerning the sexual assault of a six-year-old girl and was subsequently released from court without imprisonment.

Reed pleaded guilty to the charge of sexually assaulting a child under the age of 13 during a hearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday, 22nd July. Prosecutor Ian Way explained that the incident occurred on 26th August 2013 while the victim was visiting a pub with her family. At the time, she was outside playing on her newly acquired bicycle.

According to Mr. Way, Reed, who was outside the pub smoking an e-cigarette, approached the girl and asked to see her bicycle. He then led her to the opposite side of the road, where she was sitting on the curb. It was at this point that Reed sat beside her and proceeded to sexually assault her. The prosecution noted that when the girl begged him to stop, Reed restrained her arms and continued his assault until startled by her father calling from inside the pub, prompting him to pull away.

The victim’s mother was visibly distressed in the courtroom as her statement was read aloud. She described how her daughter, once a lively and well-liked young girl, had become reclusive and was suffering from severe nightmares since the incident. The girl confided in her family about what had happened on 19th September 2013, leading them to contact the police, which resulted in Reed’s arrest.

Defence lawyer Martin Elwick stated that Reed had been diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2008 and claimed that he had no memory of the event. He argued, “There is nothing in the defendant’s history to suggest he is a sexual predator or a paedophile.”

Judge Mr. Justice Stokes QC sentenced Reed to 12 months in prison, with the sentence suspended for two years. Additionally, Reed was placed under a curfew for four months and subject to a sexual offences prevention order that prohibits any unsupervised contact with females under 16 for ten years.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Stokes emphasized, “Your behaviour is inexcusable. The fact you are elderly does not matter, and has no impact whatsoever on my sentence.” He acknowledged Reed’s vascular dementia, stating, “You have memory problems and difficulty retaining information. This will, inevitably, get worse,” and added, “You are suffering from a mental disorder. If that was not the case, I would have put you in prison immediately.”

The judge concluded by condemning Reed’s actions, telling him, “What you did is unforgivable. You have devastated this innocent little girl and her entire family, and there is no reason why they should lay eyes on you ever again.”