BRIDGEND SEX OFFENDER ROBIN BURNETT GROOMS TEEN GIRLS AT TRAFFORD CENTRE AND WAKEFIELD HOTEL

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Bridgend and beyond, Robin Alexander Burnett, aged 49, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for a series of heinous crimes involving the grooming and sexual exploitation of two young teenage girls. The court heard that Burnett, who resided on Adare Street in Ogmore Vale, Bridgend, Wales, engaged in a pattern of manipulative and predatory behavior that targeted vulnerable minors.

Burnett admitted to eight counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 16, a serious offense that underscores the gravity of his actions. In addition to his prison sentence, he was ordered to serve an extra 131 days on top of an existing six-year sentence for unrelated dishonesty offenses. Furthermore, the court mandated that Burnett be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and imposed a lifelong ban on working with children, reflecting the severity of his breach of trust.

The court proceedings revealed chilling details of Burnett’s predatory conduct. It was established that he took the two girls, aged 13 and 15, shopping at the Trafford Centre in Manchester, where he bought them underwear and mobile phones—gifts often used as tools to manipulate and entrap young victims. The girls were subjected to repeated visits to a hotel, where Burnett engaged in sexual activities with them.

Prosecutor Tahir Khan explained that Burnett initially met the older girl when she was living in Sheffield. After she moved to Halifax, Burnett continued to visit her, maintaining contact that eventually led to the exploitation. Over time, the older girl became less willing to go along with Burnett’s advances, but she introduced him to her 13-year-old friend. On two separate occasions, the younger girl consented to having sex with Burnett.

Evidence presented in court detailed how Burnett took both girls to a hotel in Wakefield multiple times. During these visits, he falsely presented the older girl as his daughter and the younger as her friend, further manipulating their perceptions. It was also revealed that Burnett engaged in sexual acts with the girls in his car and in hotel rooms, often in the presence of both victims. The court heard that he was caught in the act of having sex with the 15-year-old girl at a Wakefield hotel in October, when police officers burst into the room after the 13-year-old girl called the authorities.

Judge Roger Scott described the impact on the victims as “unhappy reading,” emphasizing the emotional and psychological toll inflicted by Burnett’s actions. The court was also told that Burnett was arrested at the Wakefield hotel while engaged in sexual activity with the 15-year-old girl.

During the hearing, Burnett’s defense lawyer, Tim Stead, stated that his client had no prior convictions for sexual offenses. However, Judge Scott was unequivocal in his sentencing remarks, describing Burnett as a “predator” who had systematically groomed young children for his own gratification. The judge highlighted that Burnett’s actions involved bribery with gifts and manipulative tactics, and that he was ultimately caught in the act of having sex with a 15-year-old girl.

Judge Scott emphasized that Burnett was in a position of trust and that his grooming behavior knew no bounds, marking him as a significant danger to children in the future. The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by individuals who exploit their trust to prey on vulnerable minors, and it underscores the importance of vigilance and protective measures in safeguarding young people from such predators.