Paedophile who came to Carlisle was part of Albanian abuse scandal

Pensioner Robin Arnold, who professes to be a committed Christian, was one of three Britons implicated in the horrific sexual exploitation of Roma children living in a 'Christian missionary' orphanage.

The 71-year-old, who had previous convictions for child sex offences, denied being a part of the paedophile ring but after a trial in 2010 he was found guilty and given a 15 ½ year jail sentence.

Arnold was this week back behind bars after he admitted befriending three migrant families from Africa who settled in Carlisle. Without disclosing his past crimes, he befriended the families.

All hve have young children.

Arnold got to know the three families in the run up to Christmas last year, becoming so friendly with some of the children that they routinely referred to him as "Uncle Rob," Carlisle Crown Court was told. Arnold was again jailed after admitting four breaches of his sexual harm prevention order. 

In 2008, an investigation by The Guardian revealed the shocking details of the sex abuse scandal in an Albanian orphanage, with the abuse masterminded by the organisation's 57-year-old British director David Brown.

An evangelical charity worker, Brown used the orphanage as cover for the systematic sexual abuse of the children who lived there. He was jailed for to 20 years.

Arnold, then 56, who originally from Cromer in Norfolk, was one of Brown’s two 'helpers'. The orphanage ostensibly 'cared' for 40 abandoned children and babies. It was raided by Albanian police in May 2006.

Ten children subsequently reported that they were sexually abused by Brown and the two Britons. Arnold was convicted of raping a boy aged under 13.

The Guardian reported that Arnold, while accepting he had indecently assaulted boys in the past, claimed he was innocent of abusing orphans. "I am here because God is using me to pull these other bastards down," he claimed.

The defence lawyer for Arnold and the other Briton involved, social therapy nurse Dino Christodoulou, 45, from Blackburn, questioned the validity of testimony given by the children, claiming they were "manipulated" by prosecutors.

Brown described Christodoulou and Arnold, whom he blamed for the abuse, as "wolves in sheep's clothing" and he described his trial as "my day on the cross". The three defendants were convicted of abusing ten children between the ages of four and 14 at the His Children orphanage in Tirana.

In court this week, Arnold, recently living at Mountain View, High Hesket, admitted flouting his sexual harm prevention order, which requires him to tell any parent or guardian whose children he may have contact with of his criminal past.

Barrister Ben Stanley, prosecuting, said that Arnold was released from his jail sentence on March 2, 2020. He remains under an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, the strict terms of which include various obligations – including the need to disclose his criminal past to parents or guardians. 

“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. In this way, the court heard, Arnold got to know three African families, two mothers and a father, all of them with small children.

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.

There were also visits to the homes of the other families. When police confronted him, Arnold claimed he had forgotten that he was meant to disclose his past offending – a claim dismissed by Judge Nicholas Barker.

Kim Whittlestone, defending, said Arnold continued to maintain he was innocent of the child rape. Of his illegal behaviour in Carlisle, Arnold maintained that his intentions were 'innocent' and there was no evidence he committed any child sex offences.

“He said that he wanted, out of his Christian beliefs, to try to help these families,” said the barrister. “It appears he did that in many ways.” Arnold claimed he told at least one individual about his convictions but accepted he “buried his head in the sand.”

Judge Barker noted the defendant's 'catalogue' of past sexual offending, which includes 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 that 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 halfway 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. Arnold took copious notes throughout the hearing, speaking only to confirm his details and to thank court staff when they explained what was happening.

A spokesman for Cumbria Police said: “We work hard to monitor and manage people who are subject to such orders as part of our work to protect the public.

"As in this case, we will find out if people breach the terms of these preventative orders - and we will do all we can to ensure they are held accountable for their offending.”

Cumbria Police offers comprehensive help and advice on the issue of sexual abuse, available on this link. 

There is also help available from the charity Childline, which operates a helpline on 0800 1111. Another helpful source of information is Bardardo's.