At Durham Crown Court, Robert Joseph Lee, a 42-year-old man from Newcastle, faced charges related to his interactions with an underage girl. The case came to light after the girl's mother discovered concerning messages on her daughter's phone and reported them to the police. Lee, who has no previous convictions, initially denied two counts of sexual assault and one count of engaging in sexual communication with a child.
During police questioning, Lee admitted to kissing the girl, including on the lips, but claimed it was 'not sexual'. He also acknowledged sending messages where he expressed looking forward to 'kisses and cuddles' and wished she could fill the empty space in his bed, describing them as potentially 'inappropriate' but insisting there was no sexual intent. Lee referred to the interactions as 'a silly little thing' and stated he would not have pursued it further knowing her age.
The trial was set to begin in October, by which time the girl had provided a pre-recorded interview, and her mother was prepared to testify. However, on the day of the trial, Lee changed his pleas to guilty. The prosecution, led by Richard Herrmann, highlighted the exploitative nature of Lee's actions. In an impact statement read to the court, the girl's mother expressed feelings of 'disappointment, anger and sickness', noting that her daughter had become 'anxious and scared' as a result. She also voiced anger over the case proceeding to trial, which caused significant distress before Lee's admissions.
Sentence was adjourned for psychiatric and Probation Service reports. Defence counsel Chris Knox, in mitigation, explained that the reports showed Lee functioning at a very low level, with a relatively low IQ, leading to an apparent lack of appreciation for the seriousness of his actions. Knox described Lee as affable with a good work record and argued he was suitable for Probation Service intervention, urging a suspended sentence. He noted that 'the penny only really dropped' for Lee when the trial commenced.
Judge James Adkin rejected the plea for suspension, describing the case as 'dreadful' and 'sinister and very worrying offending'. He stated, 'The clear inference was that you groomed her with a view to a sexual relationship,' adding that the mother's discovery of the text messages revealed Lee's intentions. The judge imposed a 19-month prison sentence on Lee, of Thorntree Court, Forest Hall, Newcastle. Additionally, Lee was made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, required to register as a sex offender, and issued a restraining order relating to the girl, all for ten years.
This case, reported by The Northern Echo, underscores the court's firm stance on grooming and sexual communication with minors, even in instances where the offender claims a lack of intent due to cognitive limitations.