In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that 59-year-old Robert Webber avoided an immediate prison sentence after admitting to the attempted grooming of a child for sexual purposes. Following proceedings at Gloucester Crown Court, Gloucestershire, the defendant—of Pagets Road, Bishop’s Cleeve—was convicted of communicating with an undercover operative who he believed to be a 14-year-old girl. It was reported that Webber, then aged 57, lied about his own age, claiming to be 22, while making sexually explicit comments and engaging in “chatting up” the operative online.
The investigation established that Webber was caught during a proactive sting operation in January 2018. Gloucestershire Constabulary reported that a subsequent search warrant executed at his Bishop’s Cleeve home in July 2018 uncovered disturbing internet evidence. The prosecution reported that forensic analysis of his devices revealed a deep immersion in pornography culture, including specific searches for “schoolgirl rape,” which Webber could not explain during his police interview.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Webber’s criminal activity began following the death of his wife in 2014, a period his defence described as a “downward spiral” into loneliness and unemployment. Gloucester Crown Court heard that the defendant sought “solace” on the internet, which led him into teen chatrooms and the consumption of illegal content. The investigation established that Webber told the undercover operative she had made him “sexually aroused,” demonstrating a clear intent to move from conversation to sexual exploitation.
Judge Michael Cullum presided over the sentencing in late 2019, acknowledging that the “girl” Webber targeted was not a real child but noting the severity of his intent. For his actions in Bishop’s Cleeve and the digital space, Webber was handed a community-based sentence focused on rehabilitation. The judge noted that while the offending was serious, the two-year delay since the arrest and the defendant’s personal circumstances suggested a “real possibility” of addressing his issues through mandatory treatment rather than immediate custody.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of Robert Webber as of March 31, 2026, was as follows:
- Custodial Sentence: Suspended/Community-based (Sentenced 2019; completed).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active until 2029 (10-year period).
- SHPO Status: Sexual Harm Prevention Order active until 2029.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court, following a Gloucestershire Constabulary investigation.
- Criminal Record: Communicating with a child for sexual purposes (Attempted grooming).
- Origin: Pagets Road, Bishop’s Cleeve, Gloucestershire.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Webber is managed as a registered sex offender within the Gloucestershire area. Due to the nature of his conduct, which involved the explicit grooming of a child and a documented interest in “schoolgirl rape” material, his management is a priority for the Gloucestershire Police Public Protection Unit. Authorities state that his history of seeking out teen chatrooms while in a state of “loneliness” requires continued digital forensic monitoring to ensure he does not relapse into predatory online behaviour.
As a registered sex offender until 2029, Webber’s details are permanently logged on the national police database. Authorities state that his behaviour demonstrated a predatory willingness to exploit his anonymity to target minors. Any failure to comply with his notification requirements, any unauthorized internet access, or any presence near schools or youth facilities in Bishop’s Cleeve or Cheltenham will result in immediate arrest to ensure the ongoing safety of the community and the protection of the public from a confirmed groomer.
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