Sign up to the Hull Live newsletter for daily updates and breaking news Sign up here! Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Children's entertainer "Bobby Bubbles" is behind bars after being convicted of having sex with a child who thought "she was in love" with him.

Robert Jamieson, 49, repeatedly abused his female victim who was under 13 at the time.

The professional clown, who is a well known face at kids parties across Hull and East Yorkshire, was branded "dangerous" by a judge after being convicted of ten historic child sex offences.

Jamieson, of Beech Grove, west Hull, denied any wrongdoing but was convicted by a jury of ten sex offences against the same girl after a trial at Sheffield Crown Court.

Judge Roger Thomas QC sentenced Jamieson under the dangerous offender provisions, with a custodial term of 14 years and an extended licence period of one year.

(Image: South Yorkshire Police)

Despite her young age at the time of the offences, the girl "thought she was in love" with Jamieson and refused to co-operate with an initial police investigation, the court heard.

She then reported the abuse after becoming a mother and having a daughter of her own.

Opening the case to a jury of seven men and five women, prosecutor Gurdial Singh said: "It's the fact that she could then relate to her daughter and bring that back to what happened to her and made her think about what had occurred - that's what caused her to come forward.

"She thought 'I don't want this to happen to my daughter'."

Jamieson had "befriended" and groomed the girl before sexually abusing her.

When Jamieson was arrested and interviewed, he "denied all the allegations from first to last" and called them "lies".

The paedophile came into daily contact with children, attending parties and visiting schools across the region.

He once spoke out over the "killer clown" craze that swept the nation in 2016.

Jamieson said at the time: "True clowns don’t wear masks."

The entertainer described his performances at the time as "gentle, jolly and physical comedy".

He said: “I have been doing this for years and years and it is still as popular as ever. Kids love it and they have such fun."

Jamieson was convicted of ten offences in total, including four of indecency with a child and two of sexual intercourse with a girl under 13.

Watch: UK crime sentencing guidelines

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

Follow Hull Live

Our daily newsletter - To get the latest headlines direct to your email inbox every day, click here.

Download our app - You can download our free app for iPhone and iPad from Apple's App Store, or get the Android version from Google Play.

Follow Hull Live on Facebook - Like our Facebook page to get the latest news in your feed and join in the lively discussions in the comments. Click here to give it a like!

Follow us on Twitter - For breaking news and the latest stories, click here to follow Hull Live on Twitter.

Follow us on Instagram - On the Hull Live Instagram page we share gorgeous pictures of our stunning city - and if you tag us in your posts, we could repost your picture on our page! We also put the latest news in our Instagram Stories. Click here to follow Hull Live on Instagram.