Udon Thani: Robert Hastings sentenced to 15 years by UK court for child abuse

[webfact]

Former Udon Thani Sexpat Sentenced to 15 Years by UK Court

LONDON – British national Robert David Hastings, 62, who sexually abused a child in Thailand has been jailed for more than 15 years after a UK trial the BBC reported.

Hastings, was living in Udon Thani when he was arrested by police last November. He was deported to the UK in February.

Hastings, of Weston-super-Mare, committed the offenses against a girl aged between four and nine years old, in the 1990s.

He was jailed by a judge at Bristol Crown Court, for 13 counts of abuse.

The defendant, whose trial took place over three days last month, had pleaded not guilty to a total of 10 counts of indecent assault and three counts of indecency with a child.

The trial took place at the same court over three days from 14 July and he was earlier jailed for a total of 15-and-a-half years.

Full story: http://www.chiangraitimes.com/brition-robert-hastings-arrested-in-udon-thani-on-17-child-abuse-charges.html

-- CHIANGRAI TIMES 2015-08-17

[zaphod reborn]

The child was British and abused in the UK. Get the story right. He wouldn't have been extradited and tried in the UK, if it occurred in Thailand.

[Jessi]

Not long enough.

[technologybytes]

Not long enough.

He will spend a minimum of 7.5 years in prison in the UK for that sentence.

Considering he was charged with child abuse, it would appear that he was not actually convicted of anything sexual, though it's possible that the case was badly reported.

At 62 years of age that could be a tough sentence in the UK. depending on his health. He will have a very hard time in prison in the UK as he will be treated very badly by the other prisoners, he will probably be attacked and injured and spend every day of that sentence in fear of more attacks.

I'd say, considering the offence he was convicted of, it's probably a fair sentence. He will spend more then 7 years after his release under supervision, by the end of all that he will be 77 years old.

[kkup]

This is the 2nd best news story today, after Jason Day winning the PGA. Although his sentence should of come with a castration.

[SOTIRIOS]

....is that the correct term for such a despicable act....

[chrisinth]

Not long enough.

He will spend a minimum of 7.5 years in prison in the UK for that sentence.

Considering he was charged with child abuse, it would appear that he was not actually convicted of anything sexual, though it's possible that the case was badly reported.

At 62 years of age that could be a tough sentence in the UK. depending on his health. He will have a very hard time in prison in the UK as he will be treated very badly by the other prisoners, he will probably be attacked and injured and spend every day of that sentence in fear of more attacks.

I'd say, considering the offence he was convicted of, it's probably a fair sentence. He will spend more then 7 years after his release under supervision, by the end of all that he will be 77 years old.

I would like to hope its a really, really tough sentence for him in the UK.

[jacko45k]

The child was British and abused in the UK. Get the story right. He wouldn't have been extradited and tried in the UK, if it occurred in Thailand.

The provided link takes me to a Chiangrai newspaper report dated November 2014, is that what you are commenting on?

[cooked]

The child was British and abused in the UK. Get the story right. He wouldn't have been extradited and tried in the UK, if it occurred in Thailand.

He was arrested by the immigration police at the request of UK authorities. Presumably' having lost his job, he no longer had a work permit or no longer had a valid extension/visa. This results in automatic deportation, maybe at the cost of the British government as he had requested. He won't have enjoyed his days in Immigration cells.

[Khun Paul]

He will also probably spend an awful lot of that time in Solitary for his protection, so even 5 yrs in solitary is very hard. he has 15 with possibilities of parole POSSIBLY

[shaurene]

The child was British and abused in the UK. Get the story right. He wouldn't have been extradited and tried in the UK, if it occurred in Thailand.

You can bet your life the yrs he was here and in a school teachers job he would have committed sex offences here in Thailand

Pity he was not tried in Thailand for sex crimes against underage kids in Thailand it would have been 25yrs min and the pleasure of spending that holliday in a Thai prison. What a pity.

[b2bme]

Not long enough.

He will spend a minimum of 7.5 years in prison in the UK for that sentence.

Considering he was charged with child abuse, it would appear that he was not actually convicted of anything sexual, though it's possible that the case was badly reported.

At 62 years of age that could be a tough sentence in the UK. depending on his health. He will have a very hard time in prison in the UK as he will be treated very badly by the other prisoners, he will probably be attacked and injured and spend every day of that sentence in fear of more attacks.

I'd say, considering the offence he was convicted of, it's probably a fair sentence. He will spend more then 7 years after his release under supervision, by the end of all that he will be 77 years old.

Jeez it almost sounds like you have sympathy for this piece of scum. I'd give him minimum of 13 years for each count he was charged on. As for the hardships he may encounter well with a bit of luck he will think of the victim each time he has such an encounter.

[jsgatse]

This is the 2nd best news story today, after Jason Day winning the PGA. Although his sentence should of come with a castration.

Personally, I don't think they should castrate PGA winners....hahahaha

But, seriously, good to see this creep get what he deserves.

Edited August 17, 2015 by jsgatse

[Konini]

Considering he was charged with child abuse, it would appear that he was not actually convicted of anything sexual, though it's possible that the case was badly reported.

Badly reported it seems - local newspaper link here

[Upnotover]

Seems they all had a good laugh about it in Bangkok.....

[Aussieroaming]

When I saw his face I wanted to smash him, I have kids. FTC..

[al007]

The man has been dealt with and put away, very very evil

BUT too much anger also Let go

[wprime]

Nice, that'll teach him not to abuse children for the next 15 years.

[xerostar]

The report in the Chiangrai TImes said that Hastings arrived in Thailand 9 years ago.

The offenses were evidently committed in the 1990's.

The Brits sure took their time in finding him !

I wonder if he had been kiddy fiddling in Thailand too? Hopefully not.

The report said he had a Thai wife so maybe he was a reformed character. (working as a teacher though?)

This case should illustrate what can happen to people who do bad things -- the law often catches up many years later.

Hastings may get some protection in prison but at least he can be thankful that he doesn't have to do time in The Bangkok Hilton.

I found these articles:

Life’s Hard When You’re a Convicted Pedophile: http://www.vice.com/read/lifes-hard-when-youre-a-convicted-paedophile

And this:

Hey Dad! star and convicted paedophile Robert Hughes showered in urine and faeces when he first arrived in prison

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3183338/Hey-Dad-star-convicted-paedophile-Robert-Hughes-showered-urine-faeces-arrived-prison.html

Apparently criminals of all types are allowed to abuse convicted paedophiles with impunity even though some of them have committed far more heinous crimes.

Not that child molestation isn't heinous but I guess murderers and rapists feel they have the higher moral ground.

And it appears that a number of these paedophiles are convicted on the basis of hearsay and invented evidence given by disgruntled wives/partners.

There are reports of how ex-partners have rehearsed the child in what to say to police and in court.

The acts of revenge by estranged wives knows no bounds and unfortunately they often go unpunished.

Thai police will very likely act upon the word of a disgruntled Thai wife of a foreigner where they see a chance of monetary reward.

When a foreigner is trapped in this scenario he is faced with an impossible task to prove his innocence.

[Broken Record]

Luckily for him he'll be in a UK Prison, just picking up on a previous poster, his 15 year sentence will not qualify him for a 50% sentence reduction,, you need 4 years and under for that, he'll do 2/3rds, so basically he got 10 years if he is released as a model prisoner.
As to beatings inside, it's not going to happen, he'll be in Seg, they have a seperate exercise area and are away from the general prison population, they are not on the same levels as gen pop guys, even while being assessed after sentence in a local Prison.

He easily could end up in HMP Whatton, which is a specialist prison for sex offenders, there he will be amongst a prison population of mostly sex offenders who have determinate sentences, around 70% have committed offences against children.

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-32085076

There are many people in Thailand who live in worse conditions.

Edited August 17, 2015 by Broken Record

[mihalis]

For these pigs, only death sentence is good enough.............. May he rot in jail...

[zaphod reborn]

The child was British and abused in the UK. Get the story right. He wouldn't have been extradited and tried in the UK, if it occurred in Thailand.

The provided link takes me to a Chiangrai newspaper report dated November 2014, is that what you are commenting on?

Not the link, the Chiangrai Times has the story correct. Thaivisa incorrectly reported the following:

"LONDON – British national Robert David Hastings, 62, who sexually abused a child in Thailand has been jailed for more than 15 years after a UK trial the BBC reported."

The criminal activity for which he was convicted occurred in the UK, many years before he moved to Thailand. The abuse happened in the 1990's and Hastings didn't move to Thailand until 2005.

[Altalake]

There can be no worse crime than molesting kids. Like many RC priests have done for decades.

Technologybytes - you have it totally wrong - he should be flung into a deep & dark dungeon and the key must be thrown away.

[Roar Bjorgvik]

Let him serve the jail term in Thailand.

[brewsterbudgen]

There can be no worse crime than molesting kids. Like many RC priests have done for decades.

Technologybytes - you have it totally wrong - he should be flung into a deep & dark dungeon and the key must be thrown away.

Surely murder is worse?

[Benmart]

I am thankful that there is a criminal justice system to deal with such matters. Those that advocate castration, longer punishments, death and assorted tortures are thankfully not part of this system.

I used to think that I was police, judge, jury and executioner.Those days are far behind me.

I am not in charge and it's One Day at a Time.

[Cardiff1963]

Hope he serves the full 15 then dies painfully of a**e cancer on release.

[Jimlove]

People that think he got a fair sentence probably dont have children or dont think if it was their children this monster abused ...

I hope the monsters inmates kill him quick and save taxpayers from feeding this scum ...

[Brer Fox]

Not long enough.

He will spend a minimum of 7.5 years in prison in the UK for that sentence.

Considering he was charged with child abuse, it would appear that he was not actually convicted of anything sexual, though it's possible that the case was badly reported.

At 62 years of age that could be a tough sentence in the UK. depending on his health. He will have a very hard time in prison in the UK as he will be treated very badly by the other prisoners, he will probably be attacked and injured and spend every day of that sentence in fear of more attacks.

I'd say, considering the offence he was convicted of, it's probably a fair sentence. He will spend more then 7 years after his release under supervision, by the end of all that he will be 77 years old.

They should put him in the same cell as Rolf (Groper) Harris. Then they can get off by sharing their grubby experiences.

[avidflyer]

I wonder who writes these reports? It causes me to be suspicious of other TV reports.