Worcestershire businessman could be stripped of CBE over sex convictions

Jan 22 2012 by Anuji Varma, Sunday Mercury

A MIDLAND businessman could be stripped of his CBE after he was jailed for a string of sexual offences.

Edward Roberts, 72, of Grafton Flyford, Worcestershire, was jailed for two years after being convicted of two counts of indecency with a child and two counts of indecent assault at Aylesbury Crown Court.

He committed the offences against a girl in South Buckinghamshire more than 30 years ago, starting when she was aged just 12.

Roberts, who was awarded the CBE for services to industry in 1991, had been described as one of the region’s top industrialists.

He is former CBI West Midlands regional chairman and went on to work for Pertemps in 2002.

He was also previously chairman and chief executive of Redditch-based Peterson Spring UK Ltd, a global supplier to the automotive market.

But on Thursday, Judge Joanna Cutts QC told him: “You used every moment of stolen time when your family were elsewhere. The abuse was regular and whenever you saw her, you took your opportunity.

“She made clear in her evidence she adored you and the attention you gave her, and didn’t believe she was being abused, but abuse it was.