May 2010

Chip shop owner jailed for seducing 15-year-old girl

A chip shop owner who seduced a vulnerable girl in local authority care and persuaded her to work as a prostitute has been jailed.

Samuel Roberts – who has previous convictions for rape, kidnap and false imprisonment – was arrested when police caught him in a hotel bed with the 15-year-old.

He was originally accused of twice raping the girl in a car, when she was 14, and raping her at the Days Inn hotel, Leicester Forest East, after her 15th birthday.

His Leicester Crown Court trial was halted yesterday, and the jury discharged, after the prosecution dropped the rape allegations.

They accepted Roberts’ guilty pleas to one offence of sexual activity with a child (in the hotel) on July 12 last year, and inciting her to work as a prostitute, on the same day.

It was accepted that Roberts, 48, of Overdale Avenue, Glenfield, originally thought the girl was at least 19, but then had sex with her again, after learning her true age.

He then arranged for her to have sex with his friend, Mustak Yusuf, 42.

Yusuf, who denied knowingly having sexual activity with a child, and paying for the sexual services of a child under 18, had both charges dropped.

The judge entered not guilty verdicts in Yusuf ‘s case, but Roberts’ original allegations were ordered to lie on file.

Yusuf, of Pluto Close, Highfields, claimed he genuinely believed the girl was over 18.

The victim told police she agreed to sex with Yusuf, but refused to accept £150 from him, as arranged by Roberts. Roberts, who has a partner and four children, was sentenced to a minimum of two-and-a-half years in jail before he is eligible for parole.

But he will only be released, on a life licence, when no longer considered dangerous.

Judge Mark Rogers said the victim suffered a “dreadful” upbringing and was without normal social or sexual boundaries – but still entitled to protection from the courts.

She was living in a children’s home and was “susceptible to being befriended, exploited and manipulated”.

Judge Rogers said there was a substantial age difference with Roberts having “power and control” over her.

He told Roberts: “You have serious previous convictions, some of which demonstrate your cynical disregard for women.

“You preyed upon the victim’s lack of self worth and vulnerability.

“It may be you have a stable, balanced and normal home relationship with your partner and children, but it must run in parallel with another aspect of your character, which is much more sinister and worrying.”

Roberts lost his successful fish and chip shop business, Mr Cod, in Hamilton, after his arrest and remand into custody. Steve Newcombe, in mitigation, said Roberts had a consensual relationship with the girl for several weeks.

He 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.”

On release, Roberts will have to enlist on a sex offender register.

He was banned from working with children and made the subject of a sexual offences prevention order, restricting his future contact with children.

In 1980 he was sentenced to four years for rape.

In 1995 he was jailed for five years for kidnap and false imprisonment, involving taking a woman to a house with others, pouring petrol over her in a bath and threatening to set her on fire unless she continued to act as a prostitute.

“He saw her as a sexually liberated young woman, but heshould have backed off as soon as he knew there were question marks over her age.” Steve Newcombe, in mitigation