Paedophile Robert Wain Found Guilty of 35 Child Sex Offences
Robert Wain, 59, of Victoria Street, Gillingham, was convicted at Woolwich Crown Court on Wednesday, 18 May, of 35 horrific sexual offences against children.
Catalogue of Crimes Unveiled
- 17 counts of indecent assault on a boy under 16
- 3 counts of buggery
- 6 counts of rape
- Attempted indecent assault on a boy under 16
- 4 counts of sexual assault of a child under 13
- Attempted sexual assault of a child under 13
- 3 counts of sexual activity with a child
Wain will be sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court on 25 May.
Groomed Vulnerable Boys in 1990s
The court heard how Wain preyed on young, vulnerable boys during the 1990s when he lived in Woolwich, SE18. Some victims were just ten years old when the abuse began.
He lured them to his flat, grooming them with gifts and money before sexually abusing them. Five boys were victimised in this period, but none dared report the crimes – until 2020, when one finally came forward.
Abuse Spanned Decades, Including Friend’s Children
Investigations uncovered two additional victims from a more recent decade. Wain exploited his friend’s children in the same manipulative ways, avoiding detection thanks to his cunning personality.
The offences remained hidden until January 2020, when the first victim bravely reported the abuse, sparking a police probe that revealed further victims.
Detective Praises Victims’ Courage
DC Andy Khan, lead investigator, said: “Robert Wain is a manipulative sexual predator who targeted, groomed and abused vulnerable boys over many years.
“I want to commend the seven brave victims for coming forward after decades of suffering.
“Five of them have carried these horrific memories for over 20 years and all showed immense courage by giving evidence in court.
“This case proves that non-recent abuse allegations will be taken seriously and investigated thoroughly by the Met Police.
“If anyone else has suffered historic abuse, I urge you to come forward. We have specially trained officers ready to listen, help, and bring offenders to justice.”
