ROBERT SINGLETON FROM STARCROSS SENTENCED TO 28 YEARS FOR CHILD ABUSE AND THREATENING VICTIMS IN DEVON

In a case that has shocked the community of Starcross and the wider South Devon area, Robert Singleton, aged 34, has been handed a lengthy prison sentence after being convicted of multiple serious crimes involving the abuse of young girls and subsequent threats to silence his victims. The sentencing follows a detailed investigation and a week-long trial at Exeter Crown Court, where Singleton was found guilty on numerous counts, including sexual assault, rape, and witness intimidation.

Singleton’s criminal activities date back to the 1990s, when he was still a schoolboy. During that period, he sexually assaulted three young girls, acts that have haunted the victims for years. The abuse did not stop there; over the years, Singleton continued his predatory behavior, abusing a fourth girl over an extended period. Police investigations later uncovered disturbing child abuse images stored on his mobile phone, adding to the severity of his crimes.

The case took a disturbing turn when the youngest victim, who was set to testify in February, contacted authorities with alarming news. She reported receiving threatening messages via Facebook from three different social media accounts that Singleton had created under false names. These messages warned her not to appear in court and gave explicit threats to set her home on fire. The messages were sent from a house Singleton shared with his partner in Starcross, and police traced the digital evidence directly back to him.

During the trial, the court heard that Singleton had used these fake social media accounts to intimidate and threaten the victims, attempting to silence them through fear. The messages included warnings not to testify and explicit threats to firebomb her residence, with one message even revealing her full address. Despite denying all allegations, Singleton’s actions and the evidence presented led to his conviction on multiple counts, including witness intimidation, rape, assault by penetration, sexual assault, indecent assaults, and making indecent images of children.

Judge Simon Carr, presiding at Truro Crown Court, sentenced Singleton to 22 years in prison, with an additional six years on license, reflecting the gravity of his crimes. The judge emphasized the seriousness of the offenses, stating, “You are going to receive a sentence of a very considerable length.”

The investigation revealed that Singleton’s abuse began in the 1990s, with the initial assaults committed while he was still a schoolboy. The subsequent allegations involved a girl he had groomed and raped, threatening her to maintain her silence by warning her she would be disowned by her family if she disclosed his actions. It was only after police began investigating the historic allegations from the 1990s that the victim confided in her mother.

Authorities also uncovered eight images of young girls on Singleton’s phone at the time of his arrest. The threatening messages, which were traced back to his residence, further implicated him in the intimidation campaign against his victims. Singleton initially denied all charges, claiming he was out fishing on his boat when the threats were made and suggesting that someone else might have used his phone to download the illicit images.

As the case concludes, the community of Starcross and the surrounding areas are left to reflect on the disturbing nature of Singleton’s crimes and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable individuals from predatory behavior. The court’s decision underscores the seriousness with which such offenses are regarded and the commitment of law enforcement to bringing offenders to justice.