A mathematics tutor has been sentenced to five years in prison for sexually assaulting two students. Brian Roberts, aged 62 and a resident of Meadow Drive in Swinton, Rotherham, was charged in Doncaster crown court for indecently assaulting two girls at a South Yorkshire comprehensive school. The acts were committed in the early 1980s and early 1990s. Judge Linda Sutcliffe asserted the importance of delivering a message to those who abuse their position of power towards young girls, that such behaviour will not be tolerated in a civilised society. Roberts’ conduct towards the girls was deemed calculated, determined, and persistent. It culminated in such serious acts that a significant custodial sentence was deemed necessary. Although Roberts’ career had been marked by distinction, and he had been a gifted teacher looked upon with affection by his pupils, the judge pointed out that this in itself made his actions towards his victims even worse, as the girls were under his sway. The nature of the crime had resulted in a custodial sentence.
During his trial earlier this year at Sheffield crown court, the jury learned that Roberts frequently walked down the corridors of the school jangling a set of keys as a signal for his first victim to leave class and meet him. He would then take her to a stairwell or a storage room where he would indecently assault her almost daily. The girl reported that Roberts had never directly threatened her but had made it evident that compliance with his demands was expected, which left her feeling baffled and ashamed. Nearly a decade after the first girl was victimised, Roberts targeted another young female student, whom he also indecently assaulted on several occasions.
Roberts had denied six specimen counts of indecent assault in total. There were four counts against one girl from 1982 to 1986 and two counts relating to his second victim between 1991 and 1993. The judge stated that it was no coincidence that both girls were well-developed, blonde, and pretty when assaulted.
In mitigation, the court heard that Roberts was a formidable support system for his family, frequently visiting his elderly and frail mother and mother-in-law daily. However, he was placed on the sex offenders’ register for the rest of his life upon release. One of Roberts’ victims declared that the devastation and upset caused by the assaults were immeasurable compared to his five-year sentence.
