Robert McLurey

Robert McLurey, a 45-year-old man formerly from Scunthorpe, was sentenced to life imprisonment at Grimsby Crown Court following a ten-day trial in December 2025. He was found guilty of nine counts of rape and one count of attempted rape perpetrated against a boy and a girl during their childhood. The offences involved violent sexual assaults, marking McLurey as a serial rapist who subjected vulnerable children to repeated abuse.

The case came to light through the courageous reports from the victims, now adults, who detailed the horrendous crimes they endured. Sergeant Sarah Kelleher-Young, formerly of the Protecting Vulnerable People Unit, commended their bravery in coming forward. She stated: "I would like to commend the bravery shown by both the man and woman for coming forward and reporting the horrendous and violent crimes they lived through as children at the hands of McLurey, and for the support from both of them whilst we were building a case against him." Their testimony was pivotal in securing the conviction after a thorough investigation.

In addition to the life sentence, McLurey was ordered to serve a minimum term of nine years and four months before being eligible for parole. He was also subjected to a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely. The sentencing, reported by Grimsby News on 17 February 2026, underscored the severity of the crimes and the judicial system's commitment to protecting the public from such predators. Sergeant Kelleher-Young further noted: "Their courage and patience throughout the entirety of the judicial process cannot be underestimated; it is because they stood up to him and reclaimed control, that we were able to get to this point where a serial rapist like McLurey is off our streets and behind bars for a long time." The case highlights the importance of victim support in prosecuting child sex offences within the UK.