A CHILD rapist hid his sordid past as he befriended Carlisle families with young children, claiming that he was motivated by his "Christian" desire to help.

Pensioner Robin Arnold, 71, who showered some of the children with gifts after he got to know them through their parents in the weeks before Christmas last year, was known as "Uncle Rob"

What the pensioner failed to tell the families – all of African origin and settling in the city – was that he was a convicted paedophile, recently released from a 15½ jail term in Albania for raping a schoolboy.

His victim was aged under 13.

The defendant, from Mountain View, High Heskett, was legally obliged to reveal his past to any parent or guardian before spending time with their family.

At Carlisle Crown Court, prosecutor Ben Stanley outlined the background. He said that Arnold was released from his jail sentence on March 2, 2020.

He remains under an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, which includes various obligations – including the need to disclose his criminal past to the parent or guardian of any child he spends time with. 

“Police became aware on June 2 that the defendant had befriended a number of African families in Carlisle,” said Mr Stanley. In the run up to Christmas, he offered to help the families acquire furniture and homeware.

“As a result of that, his number was circulated in the community,” said Mr Stanley.

“So, he established a connection with more people.” The barrister outlined how in this way Arnold got to know three African families, two mothers and a father, all of them with small children.

The court heard that Arnold delivered furniture to the home of one family on December 22 last year. “He would bring [the children] gifts and they referred to him as Uncle Rob,” said Mr Stanley.

The court also heard of visits to the homes of the other families. When confronted by the police, Arnold claimed that he had forgotten the condition in his court order to disclose his past offending.

Kim Whittlestone, defending, said Arnold continued to maintain that he was not guilty of the child rape for which he was jailed.

Of his illegal behaviour in Carlisle, Arnold maintained that his intentions were 'innocent' and there was no evidence that he had committed any sexual offences against the children.

“He said that he wanted, out of his Christian beliefs, to try to help these families,” said the barrister. “It appears that he did that in many ways.” Arnold claimed that the families approached him.

He said he told at least one individual about his convictions, but he accepted he had “buried his head in the sand.”

Judge Nicholas Barker noted the defendant's 'catalogue' of past sexual offending, which included convictions for indecent assault, dating back to 1987 and 1994, the latter being against a 14-year-old.

The judge said he had no doubt whatsoever that Arnold was aware of the terms of his sexual harm prevention order.

The judge set out two possible explanations for the non-disclosure: either Arnold was fearful that he would be rejected if he revealed his past; or he was acting on his 'sexual predatory instincts' towards the children.

Judge Barker accepted he had no basis to support the second conclusion. Of the conditions on Arnold's sexual harm prevention order, the judge said: “They are there to protect others.

“It so that the community has confidence that you will not commit further offences again. That’s its purpose. It prohibits you from doing things; from acting in the way you did...

“I find that you are not a frank or remorseful person. You continue to seek to hide behind half truths. You perhaps deceive yourself as much as you seek to deceive others.”

The judge jailed Arnold, who admitted four breaches of his sexual harm prevention order, for 20 months, pointing out that when he is released at the half way point the order will remain in place.

Should Arnold continue to flout it, warned the judge, he will face longer and longer sentences. “The choice is yours,” added Judge Barker.