Robert Flynn

An American paedophile has been sentenced to nearly a decade in prison for sexual offences committed over 50 years ago in the UK. Robert Flynn, 77, from Ohio, was extradited from the United States to face justice for abusing a teenager in Rossendale, Lancashire, during the 1970s.

Flynn was working in the UK at the time when he carried out the abuse over a number of years. He returned to the US in 1976, evading prosecution until his victim reported the crimes to the police in 2021. This prompted an international extradition process, leading to Flynn's return to the UK to stand trial.

At Preston Crown Court on Thursday, 11 September 2025, Flynn admitted four counts of indecent assault on a boy under 16. He was sentenced to nine years and eight months' imprisonment. The court heard how the abuse had profoundly impacted the victim's life, with the now 60s man stating in a victim impact statement that Flynn's actions had affected his entire adult life. However, he credited the support of friends for helping him survive and rebuild, expressing readiness to move forward after reporting the abuse.

Investigating officer Mike Cross, from Lancashire Police, praised the victim's courage in coming forward. In a statement, Cross said: "First and foremost I would like to thank the victim in this case for having the courage to come forward and speak about what happened to him. Flynn’s abuse has had such a significant impact on the course of his adult life, and I hope the fact that Flynn has admitted his guilt and now been jailed for his crimes gives the victim some sense that justice has been done and that he can continue to move forward with his life." Cross added that the case demonstrated the police's commitment to investigating historical abuse sensitively, encouraging other victims to report similar experiences.

The sentencing underscores the long arm of the law in pursuing justice for sexual offences, even decades after they occurred. Sources: ITV News Granada, 12 September 2025.