Paul Robson, the convicted sex offender who absconded from an open prison in Lincolnshire, was caught in Skegness on Thursday following a tip-off by the public, and police believe he did not commit any further offences in his time out of jail.
Robson, 56, absconded from HMP North Sea Camp near Boston in the early morning of Sunday, February 13 and was on the run for five days, prompting a nationwide manhunt.
He had been serving a life sentence for attempted rape and indecent assault in Oxford in 2000, when he broke into a 23-year-old woman’s house via a cat flap, tied her up and sexually assaulted her at knife point.
Residents nearby have said they aren’t sure why Robson was allowed in an open prison. | Photo: John Aron for The Lincolnite
Upon his absconding from prison, Lincolnshire Police said he “may be anywhere in the country” and confirmed that he posts “a real risk of causing significant harm”, which caused apprehension in the local community.
The man described as a “menace to females” was eventually located and arrested by six officers at Grand Parade in Skegness at 9.27am on Thursday morning, almost 100 hours after he was reported missing from North Sea Camp.
Paul Robson, 56, absconded from North Sea Camp near Boston on February 13. | Photo: Lincolnshire Police
Officers were made aware of Robson’s whereabouts by a concerned member of the public, who phoned the police to say that they saw him in Skegness. In a matter of moments, numerous officers were on the scene responding to the call.
A brief foot chase began before officers caught up with Robson and detained him on Grand Parade as he attempted to scurry away. He is now in police custody.
Upon his arrest, it was noted that Robson had shortened his beard from what he originally looked like in police’s first wanted appeal, perhaps so as to evade detection.
Kate Anderson is a Chief Superintendent at Lincolnshire Police. | Photo: Lincolnshire Police
Chief Superintendent Kate Anderson at Lincolnshire Police told The Lincolnite that officers have no reason to believe that Robson had any accomplices on the outside, and they firmly believe he did not commit any further offences during his time on the run.
Chief Supt Anderson also added that the recapturing of Paul Robson would not have been possible without the immense support of both the public and the press.
She said: “First and foremost we have to say thank you to the public and the media, everyone was really helpful sharing updates and getting the information out there to go alongside our officers’ investigation work.
“Secondly we want to offer reassurance. Lincolnshire is an incredibly safe county and our job is to keep the public safe, so the best way to do that was to identify this man.
“There’s always personal pressure and a level of responsibility and public trust in cases like this, so actually the widespread press coverage actually might have encouraged the public to come forward. More police resources were needed but it was necessary to capture him.”
The next step will now be parallel investigations by the police and the Ministry of Justice to decide what is the best plan of action to deal with Robson, as many call for him to be placed in a higher security prison.
Mr Warman told The Lincolnite on Wednesday: “It’s clearly an incredibly serious situation given his criminal record, and it’s obvious the system should have prevented it, which is why Dominic Raab’s review of the parole process can’t come soon enough.”
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A family-run jewellers with more than 50 years’ experience is relocating from Newark to open in Lincoln’s Cornhill Quarter next week.
Smiths The Jewellers was based on Balderton Gate in Newark for 18 years, but it will now move into the unit previously occupied by Oxfam at 26-27 Sincil Street.
The new shop will open at 10am on Saturday, June 4 and the business has collaborated with Chambers Florists, also of the Cornhill Quarter, to do a jubilee themed window display.
Smiths The Jewellers is a traditional family-run business selling a wide range of jewellery, both new and pre-owned, as well as buying unwanted and broken jewellery. The shop will also offer services such as repairs, alterations and valuations.
The four employees will move over to the new shop and two new jobs have also been created.
Business owner Sonya Smith is the third generation of a family of jewellers and she told The Lincolnite: “We had some amazing customers in Newark, and also who travelled from Lincoln. We are excited to be opening in Lincoln.
“The Cornhill Quarter is vibrant and such a nice place to be and will allow us to expand. We are a great family business with a lot of loyal followers.”
The trial of a Skegness woman who denies causing the death of Nottingham Trent University student Hope Starsmore by dangerous driving has been put back until next year.
Rebecca Porter, 33, of Cottesmore Close, Skegness, was due to go on trial at Lincoln Crown Court on June 27. Her trial was expected to last four days.
However a pre-trial hearing at Lincoln Crown Court was today (Friday) told more time is needed to gather evidence from expert witnesses.
Judge Catarina Sjolin Knight told Ms Porter her trial would now be listed at Lincoln Crown Court on April 17 next year.
Granting Ms Porter unconditional bail Judge Sjolin Knight explained to her: “Unfortunately there is very little realistic prospect of this trial being ready for June 27.
“I know that is difficult for you. I am sure it is also difficult for the family of the lady who was killed.”
At a previous hearing in October last year Porter pleaded not guilty to causing the death of Ms Starsmore on October 7, 2020 by dangerous driving on the A158 at Burgh le Marsh, near Skegness.
Ms Starsmore was rushed to hospital after a collision in Skegness Road, Burgh le Marsh, at around 8.15am on Wednesday, October 7.
Despite multiple operations, doctors were unable to save her and she died eight days after the crash.
Ms Starsmore had just started a course in medical science at Nottingham Trent University and wanted to become a paramedic.
Due to coronavirus, she had decided to live at home in Skegness and study. She also opted to commute to Nottingham once a week.
She was airlifted to Hull Royal Infirmary after the crash and placed in a medically-induced coma.
Her brother and her partner had been travelling with her on their way to Nottingham Trent University and received minor injuries.
Despite having moved to the Lincolnshire seaside, Hope had grown up in Corby, Northamptonshire.
Porter will next appear at Lincoln Crown Court on June 27 for a further pre-trial hearing.
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