ROBERT WEBBER FROM BISHOP'S CLEEVE CAUGHT IN ONLINE GROOMING SCHEME

In December 2019, a serious case of online grooming was uncovered involving Robert Webber, a 59-year-old resident of Pagets Road in Bishop’s Cleeve. The incident came to light when an undercover operative, posing as a young girl, engaged in online conversations with Webber, who was unaware that he was speaking with law enforcement.

During the exchanges, Webber initiated contact and engaged in flirtatious and suggestive dialogue. The undercover officer, claiming to be a 14-year-old girl, was told by Webber that he was 22 years old. In reality, Webber was 57 at the time of the communication, which took place on January 9 of the previous year. Prosecutor Jack Duffy detailed to the court that Webber expressed that the girl’s messages had made him sexually aroused, indicating a clear intent to pursue inappropriate contact.

Following the online interactions, authorities acted swiftly. In July, police executed a search warrant at Webber’s home address in Bishop’s Cleeve. The search uncovered digital evidence of further sexual misconduct, including searches related to schoolgirl rape, which raised serious concerns about his intentions and activities. When questioned during police interviews, Webber was unable to provide a coherent explanation for his presence in a teens’ chatroom, further implicating his involvement in illicit online behavior.

Webber’s defense attorney, David Scutt, addressed the court, explaining that nearly two years had passed since the offense. He noted that Webber was arrested in July 2018 and described the period since as a long and difficult process. Scutt highlighted that Webber’s descent into this behavior was influenced by personal tragedy—the death of his wife in 2014. Following her passing, Webber became unemployed and increasingly isolated, turning to the internet as a source of solace. His lawyer emphasized that the arrest served as a wake-up call and expressed hope that a community-based sentence could help Webber confront his issues and seek rehabilitation.

Judge Michael Cullum, presiding over the case, addressed Webber directly, stating, “This offending occurred after the death of your wife. You initially flirted with an operative who was not a real child. You were clearly immersed into the pornography culture.” Despite the gravity of the situation, the judge acknowledged the potential for rehabilitation, considering all sentencing options. He concluded that there was a genuine possibility for Webber to reform, but emphasized the importance of addressing his behavior and underlying issues to prevent future offenses.