Robert Long 29

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A CONVICTED rapist flouted the rules of his being on the Sex Offender Register by not disclosing his usernames for three online accounts.

Wigton man Robert Long, 29, who admitted all three offences, became a registered sex offender after he was convicted in 2017 of raping a 16-year-old girl.

The judge who jailed the defendant for eight years commented that the then 21-year-old defendant had shown no compassion for his victim, who was left “shaking, bruised and bleeding" after the vicious attack.

He first made contact with the girl via Facebook.

As a result of that conviction, Long’s online activities are closely monitored by the police because his name is on the national Sex Offender Register. This obliges him to tell the police about any online accounts he opens within three days.

At Carlisle’s Rickergate court, the defendant, of Springfields, Wigton, accepted failing to do this for three identified accounts.

He should have told his police offender manager of his account user names within three days, as required under the terms of his registration.

The accounts involved were with Twitch, Instagram, and Apple Gaming.

Lauren Heasley, defending, said the breaches of the defendant’s sex offender registration requirements were not “malicious.” She told magistrates: “Two of the account names related to older accounts.”

These were not closed when Long was jailed and not accessed.

The failure to register the third account with the police – the one for Apple Gaming – was the result of an oversight, said Miss Heasley. She added: “He is trying to rebuild his life, which is difficult given the offences on his record.

“He is a farm worker, doing gruelling hours, from 5.30am to 6.30pm, with 14 days on and two days off.” The defendant also has a settled address and lives with his mother and her partner, added the lawyer.

Deputy District Judge Simon Blakebrough adjourned sentencing until March 26, saying that there should be a pre-sentence report to assess risk, given the nature of the serious offences on Long’s record.

He told the defendant to cooperate with the Probation Service.

Throughout his police interview following the original rape offence, Long denied any wrongdoing, claiming the sex was consensual. He took the case to a trial, which concluded with the jury finding him guilty.

Long did however admit other offences in 2017, these being meeting a child following sexually grooming, engaging in sexual activities with a child and having sex with a child.

Police described him as is “a dangerous and predatory man,” who used social media to meet girls to commit sexual offences.