In 2020, the Offender Database reported that Robert Hindes, then 21, of Regency Park, Newtownards, County Down, was sentenced to 18 months. On Wednesday, 26 February 2020, Hindes appeared at Downpatrick Crown Court for the “vicious” sexual abuse of a 14-year-old girl.
The investigation established that in March 2018, Hindes and the victim were at a house party where both were “heavily intoxicated.” Hindes led the girl to an alleyway where he instigated sexual intercourse. The prosecution reported that the victim, who had consumed vodka and other alcohol, was unable to consent and was left “visibly upset” and crying. Hindes was recorded on a mobile phone confessing to the act, though he initially claimed the child had instigated the encounter.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
Judge Geoffrey Miller QC emphasised that the incident has had a “traumatic and ongoing impact” on the teenage girl. The court reported that while Hindes initially refused to comment on his recorded confession, he eventually admitted to engaging in sexual activity involving penetration with a child under 16. The judge emphasised that taking the girl to a secluded alleyway while she was vulnerable due to alcohol was a “serious” aggravating feature of the “abhorrent” case.
The prosecution emphasised that Hindes had no reasonable grounds for believing the girl was 16 or over. The judge noted that the contents of the probation report, along with Hindes’ “lack of maturity,” necessitated a longer period of supervision upon his release. For his crimes in Newtownards, the court determined that an immediate custodial sentence followed by “stringent” licence conditions was required to address his “vile” behaviour.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in County Down, Robert Hindes was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: 18 months (six months in prison and 12 months on supervised licence).
- SOPO: A five-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order was imposed.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated for 10 years.
- Conviction: Admitted sexual activity involving penetration with a child under 16.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Hindes is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by the PSNI. His history of “vicious” sexual activity with a child and the “vile” exploitation of her intoxication means his status remains under “critical” scrutiny by authorities in Ards.
As a registered sex offender, Hindes must comply with notification requirements regarding his residence in Newtownards, County Down. Authorities state that his five-year SOPO is a “critical” tool to monitor his movements and prevent further “abhorrent” contact with minors. Any breach of his registration conditions, his SOPO, or his licence terms following his release from prison will result in his immediate return to Downpatrick Crown Court.
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