A FORMER children’s home manager who indecently assaulted boys in his care has been given an eight-year jail term.

Michael Robinson, of Hermit Hill Lane, Wortley, denied carrying out five indecent assaults and one count of taking an indecent photograph of a child between 1981 and 1983 but was found guilty following a trial at Nottingham Crown Court.

The offences were committed against the boys, who were residents at Hazelwood Children’s Home, in Forest Fields, Nottingham.

The court was told Robinson, now 65, would gain the boys’ trust before he invited them to his on-site home where the abuse took place.

Rebecca Herbert, prosecuting, said Robinson resigned from his post in January 1984 before the historic case was opened by Nottinghamshire Police’s Operation Equinox team, the force’s ongoing inquiry into non-recent sexual abuse, following the victims’ complaints.

Some incidents took place after he told a boy that ‘a soap massage would be good for his body’, according to Ms Herbert, and when the victim appeared uncomfortable, he was told that he ‘would be put in another home where it would happen anyway’.

Rob McKinnell, senior investigating officer, said: “Michael Robinson was in a position of trust as the manager of a care home and had a huge influence on the boys who had to stay there because they had come from their own troubled homes.

“He had favourites amongst the boys, who he would allow to watch TV at his house, would take to the pub and allow them to stay up late.

“We would now call this grooming and Robinson would expect the boys to reciprocate his favours by allowing him to indecently assault them.

“No one thought they would be listened to or believed.

“They relied on those around them to look after them, but Robinson instead of caring for them properly, took advantage of his power and trust and used it to abuse children for his own gratification.

“These boys have had to live with this for many years, often impacting their own mental health and personal experiences.

“The trial’s outcome cannot change what happened to these boys, but I hope this verdict can help them to move forward.

“I’m encouraged that we continue to see other people reporting matters from their own childhoods both in and out of the care system.

“They need to know that we will listen and we will seek to bring offenders like Robinson to justice.”