SAMUEL ROBERTS FROM GLENFIELD JAILED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES IN LEICESTER FOREST EAST

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, Samuel Roberts, a 48-year-old man from Overdale Avenue in Glenfield, has been sentenced to prison for serious sexual offenses committed in Leicester Forest East. Roberts, who owns a fish and chip shop called Mr Cod in Hamilton, was found guilty of engaging in sexual activity with a minor and attempting to exploit her for prostitution.

Roberts's criminal history is extensive, including previous convictions for rape, kidnapping, and false imprisonment. His latest arrest occurred when police officers discovered him in a hotel bed with a 15-year-old girl, a victim who was in local authority care and vulnerable to exploitation. The incident took place at the Days Inn hotel in Leicester Forest East, where Roberts had engaged in sexual acts with the girl.

The case initially involved allegations that Roberts had twice raped the girl when she was only 14, including an incident in a car, and later raped her again at the hotel after her 15th birthday. However, during the trial at Leicester Crown Court, the prosecution decided to drop the rape charges, leading to the trial being halted and the jury being discharged. Instead, Roberts pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child at the hotel on July 12 of the previous year and to inciting her to work as a prostitute.

It was established that Roberts initially believed the girl was at least 19 years old, which influenced his decision to engage in sexual activity with her. However, once he learned her true age, he continued the relationship and even arranged for her to have sex with his acquaintance, Mustak Yusuf, aged 42. Yusuf, who denied knowingly engaging in sexual activity with a minor or paying for sex with a child under 18, had his charges dropped, and the court entered not guilty verdicts in his case. Yusuf claimed he genuinely believed the girl was over 18.

The victim, who was living in a children’s home at the time, told police that she initially agreed to have sex with Yusuf but refused to accept the £150 payment arranged by Roberts. Roberts, who has a partner and four children, was sentenced to a minimum of two and a half years in prison. His release will be conditional, subject to parole, and he will only be freed on a life license once authorities determine he is no longer a danger to the public.

Judge Mark Rogers addressed the court, highlighting the victim’s difficult upbringing and her lack of normal social and sexual boundaries. He emphasized that despite her circumstances, she was entitled to protection under the law. The judge pointed out the significant age gap and the power imbalance between Roberts and the girl, noting Roberts’s history of previous convictions that demonstrated a cynical attitude towards women. He stated, “You preyed upon the victim’s lack of self-worth and vulnerability. It may be you have a stable, balanced, and normal home life with your partner and children, but this must be seen alongside another, more sinister aspect of your character.”

Following his arrest, Roberts lost his business, Mr Cod, which was a successful fish and chip shop in Hamilton. In mitigation, his legal representative, Steve Newcombe, argued that Roberts had a consensual relationship with the girl for several weeks and acknowledged that he took advantage of the situation. Newcombe added, “The defendant accepts he took advantage of the situation, but they were fond of one another. He saw her as a sexually liberated young woman, but he should have backed off as soon as he knew there were question marks over her age.”

As part of his sentence, Roberts will be required to register as a sex offender, and he is prohibited from working with children. Additionally, he is subject to a sexual offences prevention order that restricts future contact with minors. His criminal record also includes a 1980 conviction for rape, for which he served four years, and a 1995 sentence of five years for kidnapping and false imprisonment, involving a woman whom he took to a house, poured petrol over her in a bath, and threatened to set her on fire unless she continued to act as a prostitute. These past convictions underscore the seriousness of his criminal behavior and the ongoing risk he poses to society.