Pervert sexually assaulted men in hotel, hostel and victim’s home

Jason Robson committed all three shocking attacks in the space of just over a month and even strangled one of the men he targeted.

Chester Crown Court heard that the first occurred at the Patten Arms Hotel in Warrington town centre, where the 51-year-old defendant and his victim were both guests.

When the latter entered the premises, he was spotted by Robson who followed him down a corridor and into his room.

The alcoholic told the man that ‘he was gay and found him attractive’ and made lewd comments before grabbing his feet, kissing them and sucking his big toe.

Afterwards, he followed the victim to the toilet and tried to touch him sexually and pull his trousers down.

He was left ‘shaken and frightened’ as a result, and instead spent the night at his mum’s house before reporting to the incident to police.

Robson was arrested and questioned, but was released after denying the allegations.

Just over a week later, he struck again while staying at James Lee House.

After police and paramedics had been called to his room in the Salvation Army accommodation, a fellow resident visited to check on his wellbeing.

Robson called the vulnerable man a ‘good looking lad’ before sexually assaulting him.

The victim, who was ‘left feeling depressed and suicidal’, then informed members of staff and the police were called.

A third attack occurred around three weeks later when he was living at a house in multiple occupation in the town.

Both parties had been drinking before ‘psychotic’ Robson began strangling a flatmate with both of his hands in the kitchen.

Later, the victim was showering when his assailant entered the bathroom and performed a sex act.

On the day he was due to be sentenced for these crimes in June, the ‘predator’ was arrested having brandished a bread knife in the early hours at Barking Station in London after a row broke out over money he claimed had been stolen from him.

Robson dropped the weapon after police attended the scene, with officers drawing their tasers in order to detain him.

Defence barrister James Coutts told the court that his ‘ashamed’ client, who appeared via video link with bandaging covering part of his face, had been ‘slashed’ in the cheek while on remand in custody at HMP Altcourse in an alleged attempt on his life.

Mr Coutts added: “The defendant knows that the most likely sentence in this case is one of immediate custody, and it will be his first custodial sentence of length.

“This is a man living a rather sad, lonely and isolated life with no real family and limited friendship groups.

“That, combined with alcohol dependency and health difficulties, has clearly left the defendant in a very difficult situation – one with which he has struggled to cope.

“He has attempted and made efforts to try to break the cycle and relocated away from London in an attempt to set up a new life.

“At times he appears to have been successful, but it all came crashing down on him when he resorted back to alcohol use.”

Robson, now of Barking, was previously locked up for 22 weeks in April last year having admitted two charges of assaulting an emergency services worker after spitting at police officers near to his then home on Lovely Lane in Whitecross and claiming he had Covid-19.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault, assault, possession of a bladed article in a public place and breaching court bail in relation to his latest offending during earlier hearings.

Judge Patrick Thompson imprisoned him for three years on Friday, August 13.

Sentencing, he said: “Your behaviour, I’m afraid, was that of a sexual predator.

“You targeted these men in places where you were staying – you were persistent and made sexual comments.

“The fact that your advances were unwanted had no effect.

“One of your victims was a vulnerable person, and your actions had a significant effect on his mental health.”

Robson, who will serve half of his sentence before being released on licence, was also handed a 10-year notification requirement and told to pay a victim surcharge.

Forfeiture and destruction of the knife was ordered by the judge.