A sex offender, Alan Roberts, prohibited from all libraries in Oxfordshire, exclaimed that British justice ‘stinks’ after being sent to custody for exhibiting anger in court.
Subsequently, Judge Michael Gledhill KC expressed significant worry with the assertion in a probation pre-sentence assessment that former music teacher Alan Roberts desired to ‘volunteer in any capacity that facilitates access to young males.’
The judge stated, “The authorities and charities operating in this domain must be unequivocally informed that Alan Jack Roberts should not be involved in any capacity—directly or indirectly—and must not be permitted proximity to young boys.”
He stated that there exists a significant risk in permitting this individual to engage in voluntary activities with children.
Nonetheless, 73-year-old Alan Roberts was absent from the courtroom to hear the judge’s remarks, having been remanded to the holding cells at the commencement of the hearing due to his persistent interruptions of both the prosecutor and the judge.
Alan Roberts shouted that he could not hear with the judge was saying, that he had ‘no idea what is going on here today’, then in reply to a comment from the judge said: “Thanks very much if that’s your attitude.”
Alan Roberts, who was later said to be suffering from extreme stress, suggested that he had told ‘them’ he should not be in court as he would struggle to keep his calm.
He said from behind the heavy glass of the dock: “If this is British justice it stinks; stinks.”
After being accompanied from the dock by a custody officer, Alan Roberts’ muffled shouting could still be heard – including him repeating the word ‘bull***t’.
Prosecuting, Michael Speak told Oxford Crown Court on Monday (April 24) that Alan Roberts was originally before the courts in the early 1980s when he was convicted and jailed for indecent assault.
Alan Roberts found himself back at the crown court in 2016 to be sentenced for using library computers to search for indecent images of children two years earlier.
In 2019, he was sentenced for breaching the sexual harm prevention order imposed in 2016 and designed to limit his unrestricted access to the internet.
On Monday, Mr Speak said digital devices seized when he was arrested for the 2019 matters were not analysed until 2021, when it was found he had a ‘small number’ of child sex abuse images in categories B and C.
The court heard he had software on his computer that enabled it ‘to be wiped’ and that staff at two Oxford libraries contacted police after seeing Alan Roberts using library computers. The desktop computers do not save users’ internet history.
Both represented a breach of the 2016 sexual harm prevention order, Mr Speak said.
Alan Roberts, whose address was given at his first hearing in the magistrates’ court as HMP Bullingdon, spent a day short of a year in prison on remand awaiting trial until he was bailed last summer.
Alan Roberts pleaded guilty to possession of indecent images and breaching his sexual harm prevention order.
Mitigating, Gordana Austin said Alan Roberts had been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome (Editor’s note: which DOES NOT make people want to have sex with children). Among his physical health complaints were sleep apnoea and problems with his blood pressure. He had been ‘extremely stressed’ about the court hearing.
A music teacher until his indecent assault conviction in the 1980s, he subsequently worked as a bus and coach driver, computer literacy trainer and piano tuner, Ms Austin said.
Judge Gledhill imposed a two year community order as an alternative to a prison sentence, saying it was ‘not in the public interest today to send him back to prison’.
Referring to the 12 months Alan Roberts did on remand – the equivalent of a two year prison term – the judge said: “He has served his prison sentence or a great part of what would be appropriate in this case.”
He describedAlan Roberts, who it was said is banned from every public library in the county, as a ‘menace to libraries’ as a result of his unauthorised use of the facilities’ computers.
As part of his community order, Alan Roberts must do up to 60 rehabilitation activity requirement sessions with the probation service.
UPDATE 20.10.24
THE victims of a paedophile who preyed on young children over a 42-year period have been praised for their “immense strength” after he was jailed for 20 years this week.
Alan Roberts, of Picton Road in Hakin, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday for 23 child sex abuse offences dating from between 1976 and 2018.
The 74-year-old pleaded guilty to 17 charges of indecent assault on a girl under 14, four of gross indecency with a child under 14, and two of sexual assault of a girl under 13 by touching.
He was jailed for a total of 20 years, with an additional two years on licence, was ordered to register as a sex offender for life, and each of his victims were granted an indefinite restraining order against him.
Following the sentencing, Dyfed-Powys Police’s investigating officer DC Paul Kelly said: “Alan Roberts was today sentenced to 20 years in prison for 23 counts of historic sexual offences against children, committed between 1976 and 2018.
“His offending was over a period of 42 years which is a shocking, prolonged period of abuse.
“I would like to thank the six extremely brave victims in this case, who have all shown immense strength and character to firstly, report the abuse and secondly, have remained strong throughout the investigation.
“This case is an important reminder to everyone that justice can still be served years after any abuse.
“I hope that all the victims and the families who have been affected by the actions of Alan Roberts can now try and move on with their lives and that this possibly gives them some kind of closure.”
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Roberts was aged between 26 and 30 when he abused his first victim – who was aged between six and 12.
The victim came forward after other allegations against Roberts came to light.
“She kept it locked away and she was afraid no-one would believe her when she was a child,” prosecutor Craig Jones said.
During this period, Roberts also abused two other girls – who were aged between seven and 11 and seven.
A fourth victim was abused by Roberts in the early 2000s, when she was aged six and the defendant was in his fifties. Mr Jones said the victim reported she “would just freeze” when the abuse was happening.
Roberts was further accused of touching and rubbing his penis against a 12-year-old girl between 2009 and 2010, and the most recent victim was aged just five or six when Roberts abused her, whilst the defendant was in his late sixties.
Mr Jones said she initially didn’t tell anyone about the abuse because “she was scared what might happen”, and her mum, via a statement read to the court, said that Roberts had convinced the girl she “was going to be in trouble” if she told anyone.
“It’s impossible to mitigate these offences individually and I’m not going to seek to try,” said Stuart John, in mitigation.
“He understands he has ruined a great many lives over a very long period. That is something he cannot undo.”
Judge Catherine Richards said: “Your sexual offending against pre-pubescent girls went on over three to four decades.
“The blame for your repeated offending sits squarely on you.”
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 111 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.