UK Rape Suspect Found

Jerry Chan | Apr 27, 2013 11:00 am | 9 comments | 4935 reads

Our sister publication BeijingKids posted a blog earlier this week about Neil Robinson, who was wanted back in his home country of the UK for the possession of child pornography and the alleged rape of a child.
Yesterday evening, it was confirmed by police in the local press that Robinson, 46, had turned himself into the British Embassy and was under detention by Beijing police.
According to the China Daily:
Surrey police are now liaising with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Chinese authorities regarding Robinson's return to the UK, James Baker, lead media relations officer of Surrey Police in the UK.

Robinson's presence in China was first reported by a former student on Reddit and subsequently linked to on Sinocism, which was quickly picked up by local media and some international press. While it was initially unclear whether Robinson had left Beijing or not, speculation was mounting that he was still somewhere in China. This uncertainty was laid to rest yesterday afternoon when news of the arrest was announced to parents at a few local international schools.

Robinson is currently being held for "overstaying his visa" and will likely be deported to the UK where he will face criminal charges for his alleged crimes, which took place between 2000-2002.

In the meantime Chinese media and netizens are sounding calls for increased background checks on foreign teachers, but it remains to be seen how this will affect hiring procedures for foreigners or whether an even wider backlash against foreign workers in general may follow.

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lioralourie's picture lioralourie Submitted by Guest on Thu, 05/09/2013 - 12:14

In my Child Development undergraduate program, we were required to get State Child Abuse clearance papers before doing an internship. It's standard in the U.S. when working with children in any capacity to get Child Abuse Clearance.

Liora Pearlman
Moderator, Beiing Mamas and Beijing Organic Consumers' Association (BOCA) yahoo groups
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britomart's picture britomart Submitted by Guest on Thu, 05/02/2013 - 13:41

There's a scheduled check/crackdown coming in June, prior to the promulgation of new visa regulations in July... I'm sure, though, someone will point back to this incident as the cause, despite the "crackdown" having been in the works for a few months now.

Doubt wisely; in strange way / To stand inquiring right is not to stray; / To sleep, or run wrong, is. (Donne, Satire III)

Bambi508's picture Bambi508 Submitted by Guest on Tue, 04/30/2013 - 14:21

Excellent. Another 100 days of ballache checks on us seedy foreigners wouldn't surprise me. There's always one that has to spoil it for the rest. Did this guy commit these crimes in China or the UK? I totally agree with background checks on people working with young children too, that's standard where I'm from.

cowboy123's picture cowboy123 Submitted by Guest on Tue, 04/30/2013 - 11:09

I would hardly call a simple criminal background check for teachers of minors Nazi-esque. It's needed and I've rarely heard of legit BGCs asked for.

Him77 wrote:
""In the meantime Chinese media and netizens are sounding calls for increased background checks on foreign teachers""

Here we go again. Sounds like the Jew hunting of the Nazis. Soon all foreign employees get electronic foot shackles.

stuartsimn's picture stuartsimn Submitted by Guest on Tue, 04/30/2013 - 06:42

I used to go to BWYA.
Providing this chance, I'd like to follow up and reflect on this issue in response to YNET.com and other mainstream media. I'm posting it here because there seems to be nowhere to reach those media through email.
Here we go:

你好，

我想向贵报记者孔德婧就前几天发表的文章，http://news.ynet.com/1183/2013/04/27/346@437280.htm ， 提供一些线索。

我曾经是世青国际学校的学生，上了四年转学走了。
可是据我了解，有性侵前科的外教尼尔•罗宾森并没有像学校在报道里说的那样于2010年5月就离职了。他实际上在2010年后半年还当上了学校初中部的主任以及班主任。他离校的时间应该是2011年末至2012年年中。

我本人没上过他教的课，不过我对这种事情的发生并不感到惊讶。世青中学聘请的外教有好些都是非常不负责任的，甚至有些根本没有教学经验。
之前有一个教经济学的外教教了半个学期，被好几个班级的学生一齐投诉走了，后来有人看见他在给一个酒吧看场。
甚至之前教过我的一个初中部主任每次上课铃响了20分钟才来给我们敷衍地教几下子，后来那个人去当电影龙套演员了。

世 青在刚办的时候外教都不错，中国籍教师也很好。后来可能是管理层有问题吧，中外好教师都走了很多，然后学校开始乱招外教，一个比一个烂。最不可理喻的是， 每当学生和家长联合投诉时，学校的态度也是能敷衍就敷衍过去，从来不给我们一个好的交代。学费倒是每年都5千5千地涨，我转学那会儿一年要交12还是13 万，有些学费支出学校也从来不明细。

我非常希望借这个机会向贵报反应世青作为一个私立国际学校的压榨性问题。当时希望反应这些问题时学生家长都会碰壁。找教育局或相关机构也没能得到个答复。我想如果私立国际学校能享受一些制度层面的特权、或者能利用制度上的漏洞的话，它无疑就是一个没廉耻的营利性机构。

望贵报能采纳

本人说的句句如实，也已高中毕业并且目前在留学中，具体身份证明就不方便提供了。

谢谢，

刘

admin's picture admin Submitted by Guest on Sat, 04/27/2013 - 17:02

the question is: the guy left his last known job in Beijing in May of last year, and turned himself in in Beijing yesterday.

That's almost a year.

Where has he been hiding this whole time? In Beijing? And no one spotted him?

Has he been living in a cave?

Books by current and former Beijinger staffers

http://astore.amazon.com/truerunmedia-20

baixue's picture baixue Submitted by Guest on Sat, 04/27/2013 - 14:40

It's natural that a story gets more press when a non-national is involved, which makes me wonder how many unreported sexual abuse cases have happened with non-foreign teachers. Background checks would be a good idea for everyone who works with children--Chinese or foreign.

Him77's picture Him77 Submitted by Guest on Sat, 04/27/2013 - 14:19

""In the meantime Chinese media and netizens are sounding calls for increased background checks on foreign teachers""

Here we go again. Sounds like the Jew hunting of the Nazis. Soon all foreign employees get electronic foot shackles.

pguindon's picture pguindon Submitted by Guest on Sat, 04/27/2013 - 13:50

I'm always glad when scum is taken off the streets。 Unfortunately as was the case last year, it makes a great excuse to blame foreigners as a community, rather than an assortment of thousands of individuals, who are mostly good. The resulting racism, intimidation and xenophobia will be deflected onto the 99.999% of us who are law-abiding, innocuous foreigners trying to make a life here. Visa laws have already been tightened and tweaked. Maybe they'll construct another great wall this time!

keep it 文明.

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