A 57-year-old Portsmouth Paedophile, Robert Mellish, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for repeatedly sexually assaulting a child in Paulsgrove.
Robert Mellish, residing on Hillsley Road in Portsmouth, was sentenced to 16 years in jail at Portsmouth Crown Court on Wednesday, 2 October. He was issued an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and mandated to register as a sex offender for life.
Mellish was sentenced following his previous appearance at the same court on Monday 24 June, where a jury found him guilty of the following offences, which took place in Paulsgrove between 2021 and June of this year:
- Two counts of rape of a boy under 13, on no less than three occasions
- Four counts of causing a child under 13 to watch / look at an image of sexual activity
- One count of assault a boy under 13 by touching
- Three counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child under 13
DC Emily Sargent of the Eastern Child Investigation Team said, “Whilst I know this result cannot remove the memories of what Mellish has done for the young victim or their family, I am pleased that justice has been served for them and that Mellish is now behind bars where he belongs.
“The support of the young victim and their family has been invaluable in this case and I’d like to commend them for bravery and steadfastness throughout.
DS Lucy Gransden of Eastern Child Investigation Team said “I would also like to thank everyone who has been involved in this case for their hard work, which has helped secure this conviction.
“I hope this sentence will reassure other victims that we take every report of this nature extremely seriously and we will listen to you if you come forward and speak to us.”
Anyone who has any concerns about child abuse should contact us on 101, or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
We recognise that not everyone has the confidence to speak to police, but there is support services available that can help you if you are a victim of abuse.
Anyone who has experienced abuse in childhood, or is concerned about a child, can contact the NSPCC helpline, confidentially, on 0808 800 5000. Alternatively, you can email help@nspcc.org.uk. Children can contact Childline on 0800 1111.
As a survivor of sexual abuse, you’re entitled to support, whether you report the crime or not. You can access different types of support depending on how you’re feeling and what you decide to do next.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.