‘DEVIOUS PERVERT RUN OUT OF SCOTLAND’ AFTER BEING RUMBLED BY HORRIFIED GRAN
He used property as ‘weekend retreat’
‘DEVIOUS’ pensioner Robert Hicks failed to tell police he was spending long weekends away from Stoke-ontrent on ‘retreat’ in Scotland.
The 66-year-old pervert – who has a lengthy criminal history with 100 offences including making indecent photographs of children – took out a tenancy on a property in Scotland for 14 months without informing the authorities. This was in direct breach of two court orders imposed to keep people safe.
But Hicks was rumbled when his new neighbour – a woman with young grandchildren – challenged him about his convictions. Now Hicks has been jailed for 16 months.
Stoke-on-trent Crown Court heard he was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order in 2015.
Prosecutor Caroline Harris said: “The defendant went to live in Scotland for 14 months. On occasions he must have returned to the local area because he went to the police station to sign the annual notification.
“He signed a tenancy agreement on August 23, 2019. On August 6, 2020 he attended Longton Police Station and signed the annual notification. He gave a Stoke-on-trent address.
“On October 26 last year his risk assessor was told he was living in Scotland. This came to light because a neighbour in Scotland challenged the defendant about his convictions.”
Miss Harris said Hicks had discussed with the authorities about a possible move to Scotland in 2019.
She said: “The police said checks had been made. The probation service contacted the police to say they could not support any move to Scotland and the defendant would be told at the next meeting.
“On September 4, 2019 the defendant had a meeting with the probation officer and he said it was his intention to remain in the Hanley area.”
Hicks, of Stafford Street, Hanley, was arrested on October 28, 2020. He told officers he had used the house in Scotland as a weekend retreat for at least 20 long weekends. Hicks pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the notification requirements of the sex offenders’ register and breaching an SHPO.
Hamish Noble, mitigating, conceded the offences crossed the custody threshold. He said: “He maintained the address in Hanley. That was his main address and he used the one in Scotland.”
He said Hicks wanted to attend a Bible college in Dumfries and he discussed his history with the college principal, but the offer to study was withdrawn due to safeguarding reasons. Judge Paul Glenn said Hicks’s previous convictions were a significant aggravating factor.
He said: “You had been specifically told when you broached the subject of moving to Scotland with your probation officer and risk assessor that you should not buy any property and you took this tenancy out without appropriate checks being made.
“You were told on September 4, 2019 your case would not be transferred to Scotland. You made no mention at that hearing of having already taken out the tenancy.
“For the next 12 months or so you used that property as a weekend retreat and you spent a significant period of time there.
“When a neighbour found out about your past in October 2020 she was horrified. She had young grandchildren. She told you to leave and you did so soon after. There is some suggestion you were outed by the local community.
“You are a devious man. You are well aware of the terms of court orders and you are well aware of the requirements placed on you in terms of notification. These sort of orders were made because of the risk you present to children. One of the purposes is to keep track of you.
“Only immediate custody is appropriate. There is no realistic prospect of you being rehabilitated.”
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FILM fans who have been missing trips to the cinema during lockdown will be pleased to hear that a popular outdoor drive-in event is returning next month.
The Great British Drive-in will be back at Sandon Hall from April 14.
Last summer, the event near Stone was staged over five months – having initially only been planned for 10 weeks – ending at Christmas after welcoming more than 70,000 visitors and screening more than 400 films.
The program returns with favourites such as The Greatest Showman, Pulp Fiction, Dirty Dancing and titles not previously screened, including the Harry Potter series, as well as 2020 releases such as The Witches, Storm Boy, Missbehaviour, Wonder Woman 1984, The Host, Sputnik.
Organiser Craig Wilkinson, who is from up the road in Burston, said: “With a 100-square metre LED Screen ensuring world class production in the beautiful setting of the grounds of Sandon Hall, this is a fantastic opportunity to watch some of our favourite films on the big screen.
“Social distancing measures have once again been carefully considered and implemented to ensure this is a safe experience for all. In 2020 the venue reported zero cases of covid and are keen to continue with this exemplary safety record.
“The fantastic team at Digbeth Dining Club are also back bringing a delicious selection of street food.”
■ Tickets can be booked at www. Thegbdrivein.com.