ROBERT WEBSTER FROM BEWDLEY JAILED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT NEAR BRIERLEY HILL AND MAMBLE

In April 1999, Robert Webster, a man with a notable background in competitive shooting, was sentenced to 18 months in prison following a conviction related to a sexual assault involving a 14-year-old girl. Webster, who hails from Bewdley in Worcestershire, was a former national clay-pigeon shooting champion and had achieved recognition as the West Midlands and Staffordshire champion during the 1991-92 season, even representing the national team.

The incident took place in the village of Mamble, situated near Bewdley, where Webster lured the young girl into his van under the pretense of giving her a lift. According to court proceedings, Webster drove the girl to a secluded lay-by in the quiet countryside, where he proceeded to molest her in the back of his vehicle. The judge, Andrew Geddes, expressed his clear belief that Webster engaged in full sexual intercourse with the girl, a conclusion based on the evidence presented during the trial.

During the court case, the victim testified that Webster had offered her money in exchange for sex, which she accepted. However, the jury acquitted Webster of the charge of rape, instead convicting him of indecent assault. Webster had denied both allegations throughout the proceedings. The court heard that Webster, who was married and a father of two, had previously targeted the girl after giving her lifts on multiple occasions. After the assault, he reportedly gave her £60 and then took her, along with another schoolgirl, to a local café for tea.

Further details revealed that Webster engaged in inappropriate conversations with the girl, discussing sex and making suggestive remarks that were described as “less than subtle innuendo.” On the morning of the assault, the girl had called Webster requesting a ride to the Merry Hill shopping centre in Brierley Hill. Instead of taking her there, Webster picked her up along with a friend and drove them to Mamble. While the other girl left the van for about 30 minutes, Webster assaulted the victim.

Webster’s defense attorney, Mr. Anthony Bell, argued that the conviction had severely impacted Webster’s livelihood as a self-employed filtration engineer. He also mentioned that Webster’s children had been subjected to bullying at school and that the girl involved had publicly defaced property with graffiti bearing Webster’s name. Despite Webster’s claims of innocence, the jury found that the act was “a consensual act” involving a girl with prior sexual experience.

As part of his sentence, Webster was ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years, marking a significant consequence of the court’s decision. The case highlights the serious legal repercussions faced by Webster, whose reputation and personal life have been profoundly affected by the conviction.