In 2019, the Offender Database reported that Richard Hill, then 65, of Blorenge Road, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, was sentenced to 12 months in prison at Worcester Crown Court. Richard Hill, a former teacher, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child following a vile campaign of targeting a vulnerable teenage girl with autism. The horrific offences took place in Herefordshire during the summer of 2013, when Hill was 60 years old and still employed within the education sector.
The court heard that Richard Hill utilised his position of authority to build a deceptive rapport with the girl and her family. In the first disturbing incident, he drove the victim to a car park at 6:30 pm and subjected her to violent and unwanted sexual contact, leaving the teenager “scared and confused.” Prosecution counsel Giles Nelson detailed how Hill would then behave normally in front of the girl’s mother, a sickening display of manipulation that made it difficult for the vulnerable victim to process the abuse she had suffered.
In September 2013, Richard Hill again drove the victim to a secluded area in the Herefordshire countryside, where he forced her onto his lap and engaged in further predatory sexual behaviour. Despite his guilty plea, Judge Jim Tindal noted with concern that Hill attempted to “weasel his way out” of his responsibility during meetings with the probation service. The judge emphasised that Hill had specifically targeted a child who was “particularly vulnerable” due to both his grooming tactics and her disability, which completely dissipated any claims of remorse.
As a result of his convictions for these vile sexual crimes, Richard Hill was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for ten years. He was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for a minimum of five years, which legally restricts his future contact with children and vulnerable people. He is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by West Mercia Police and Gwent Police, remaining under supervision for the duration of his order. Any breach of his conditions in Abergavenny, Herefordshire, or elsewhere will result in his immediate return to custody.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.