Paedophile jailed after abusing two boys in caravan in East Lancashire

A man has been jailed for sexually abusing two boys in a caravan in East Lancashire.

33-year-old Robert Court, committed sexual offences against two boys inside a caravan in Earby. On a separate occasion, Court took one of his victims home and abused him.

Court was in his early 20s at the time, and his victims were between the ages of 12 and 14. He went by the name Gyles at the time.

The first victim bravely came forward and reported what Court had done in March 2021. Officers then made contact with the second victim, who outlined the offences Court had committed against him.

Court, now of no fixed address but formerly of Newton Street in Darwen, was arrested and initially denied knowing either victim. In a subsequent police interview, he admitted knowing both victims but denied any wrongdoing.

Following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, Court was charged with a number of offences including rape; causing / inciting a boy under 13 to engage in sexual activity; sexual assault; engaging in sexual activity with child.

After a trial at Preston Crown Court earlier this year, he was found guilty of seven counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child and two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

Court appeared back in the dock this week where he was jailed for six years. He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

In an impact statement to the court, the first victim wrote: “I finally gathered the strength to report this to the police in 2021. I reported it then because I finally realised that this was abuse, and not what I had been led to believe all along that it was experimental. It wasn’t experimental, I was a child, it was child abuse.

“I didn’t report it at the time, because I was a child, I couldn’t process what had happened to me, I didn’t know the words to verbalise it, and I didn’t want to give people another reason to bully me. I didn’t want people thinking I had been a victim, and I felt ashamed. I tried to mask it as much as I could, even minimising what I told my parents because I couldn’t bring myself to say the words.”

He continued: “From the last incident in his bedroom, the effects on me were slow burning. I felt emotions hard to show and struggle to trust people. I felt a burden on people so would always do things to try to make people happy and I think Court played on that. When the penny finally dropped in adulthood about what had happened, it felt like I was being abused again.”

The second victim wrote in his statement: “Following the abuse I felt shame and embarrassment.

“It played on my mind every single hour of every day and contributed hugely to the significant mental health problems that I have suffered my whole life.”

DS Keziah Harrison, from the East Child Protection Team, said: “Court is a manipulative individual who targeted two vulnerable and impressionable boys for his warped sexual interests.

“His offending has had a significant impact on his victims which continues to impact on their daily lives. In a final act of control over his victims, Court forced them to re-live their ordeals while giving evidence during the trial. He did this despite knowing exactly what he had done to them.

“I want to place on record my admiration for the victims and the bravery they have shown throughout the judicial process, and for trusting us to diligently investigate this case and bring their abuser to justice.”

If you or somebody you know has been the victim of a sexual offence, report it online via   or call 101. If a crime is in progress always call 999.