June 2020

Stoke-on-Trent paedophile called girl, 14, a ‘little stunner’ and ‘sexy’ as he groomed her on Snapchat

Convicted paedophile Robert Oliver groomed a 14-year-old girl on Snapchat and then threatened her after her family discovered his sordid past.

The 26-year-old initially struck up a friendship with the victim on the social media platform, offering her advice with her personal problems.

But Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard he later began calling her ‘sexy’ and ‘a little stunner’. He then asked to meet up with her and take her to his home. She told him her mum would not allow it.

When the girl mentioned his name to her family, they began to do some digging and were horrified at what they uncovered.

They found an article about his conviction in 2017 for sexual activity with a child, meeting a child after sexual grooming and making indecent images of children.

Now Oliver, of High Lane, Burslem, has been sentenced to 20 months in prison after admitting breaching a sexual harm prevention order imposed for those offences

Neil Ahuja, prosecuting, said the order forbade him from having any contact with someone under 16. But Oliver sent a friendship request on Snapchat to the 14-year-old, using the name ‘its_bert18’, and started four months of contact with her online.

“He had an emoji cartoon as an image of himself,” Mr Ahuja told the court. “The defendant began communicating with her on a regular basis – she would say daily.

“The defendant asked her age. She warned him she was 14. He replied, ‘Oh God, I best go’. When asked why, he said ‘Because I’m 26’.”

But they continued to stay in touch and she viewed him as a friend she could trust.

Then his flattery turned into something more sinister. He started to make comments about her and said he ‘wanted to touch her bottom’.

Mr Ahuja added: “He said if she needed support, she could go to his home. He would pick her up in his car or pay for a taxi. When told her mother would not like it, he said she could say she was staying overnight with friends.”

The girl became more uncomfortable. When she found out about his past, her father confronted Oliver via Snapchat.

It led to the defendant making threats, saying he knew where she lived.

Oliver was tracked down by police to a friend’s house in Tunstall, where they found him hiding under a mattress. Officers also seized his mobile phone and tablet from under the bed

Although he gave a ‘no comment’ interview after his arrest, he went on to plead guilty to breaching the order.

In a victim impact statement, the girl said: “When he threatened me with coming to my home, I did not sleep that night. I was terrified.”

She revealed she was glad to have spoken out so she could prevent any other girls going through the same experience.

Sentencing him, Judge Paul Glenn said: “It was classic grooming activity.”

April 2017

Burslem paedophile had unprotected sex with schoolgirl, 14, after grooming her on Facebook

Robert Oliver had unprotected sex with a child – after meeting her on Facebook.

The 23-year-old told the 14-year-old girl he was also a teenager when they started chatting on Facebook.

He encouraged the schoolgirl to send him intimate photographs of herself and he sent pictures of his privates to her.

Oliver then pressed his victim into meeting up before taking her to a house to have sex.

The police were informed after her friend told a teacher what had happened.

The defendant then sent the girl’s mum indecent pictures the victim had sent to him.

Officers seized his phone and found 100 indecent images of children.

Now Oliver, of Gordon Street, Burslem, has been jailed for 32 months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Prosecutor Paul Spratt said the defendant was aged 21 when he met his victim on Facebook. They continued the contact on WhatsApp and they agreed to meet on February 12, 2015.

Mr Spratt said: “He accepts he lied to her. He was aged 21 at the time. He told her he was much younger and still a teenager. She agreed to send him intimate pictures of herself. They agreed to meet and she went to an address. They had sexual intercourse.

“She told a school friend who told a teacher and the police were informed.”

When contacted by the girl’s mum, the defendant sent her two intimate pictures the girl had sent him.

Police examined the defendant’s mobile phone and found one indecent image at category A – the most serious; 28 at category B and 71 at category C.

Oliver pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child; meeting a child following sexual grooming; distributing indecent images of a child; and three offences of making indecent images of children.

Judge Paul Glenn made Oliver the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which will run indefinitely. He will also be on the sex offenders’ register for life and will be barred from a range of activities involving children and vulnerable adults.

Judge Glenn said: “You met up with the girl following some Facebook contact. You exchanged messages. You told her you were 14ish. You knew her age.

“You encouraged her to send you intimate photographs and you sent her photographs of your privates. You pressed her until she agreed to meet you. She went back to your house and you proceeded to have intercourse.

“She told you she was a virgin. You said you wanted to take her virginity. You told her to bring clean underwear in case she bled.

“You were contacted by her mother. You sent her mother two indecent images the girl had sent to you. That was an act of clear spite.”