A woman who was sexually assaulted in her home in November 2021 has publicly expressed her dismay after the man convicted of the offence was given a suspended prison sentence at Oxford Crown Court.
Case and sentence
The victim, Hailey Dobbin, waived her anonymity shortly after Robert Pollard, of Lancut Road, Witney, was found guilty of one count of sexual assault and sentenced to two years and nine months in prison, suspended for two years. The attack took place on 21 November 2021.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Defendant | Robert Pollard |
| Victim | Hailey Dobbin |
| Offence date | 21 November 2021 |
| Court | Oxford Crown Court |
| Sentence | 2 years 9 months, suspended for 2 years |
Victim's account and reaction
Ms Dobbin told the Oxford Mail that Pollard had entered her house while she was intoxicated and assaulted her. She said he placed a chain on the door, forcing her to use “extreme force” to break free and escape. According to court reporting, Pollard had been dating the victim's sister and had been at a birthday party at The Three Horseshoes, Long Hanborough, in the hours before the incident.
“He was found guilty of sexually assaulting me, yet he walked free from court,”
Ms Dobbin said she was “shocked” by the decision not to send Pollard to immediate custody. She described the toll of the criminal process: years of delays, repeated hearings and the requirement to relive the trauma in court. She said the outcome had undermined her confidence in the system and illustrated why some survivors decide not to report offences.
Broader implications
The case highlights persistent concerns about how the criminal justice system deals with sexual offences in the county: the length of time from offence to trial, the emotional cost to victims and perceptions of sentencing. Local campaigners and support services often point to such sentences when discussing barriers to reporting and the need for specialist victim support.
Key elements of the case that may be of interest to the public include:
- the setting of the offence (private residence) and the relationship between defendant and victim's family;
- the period between alleged offence and trial, and the impact of delays on victims;
- the use of suspended sentences in sexual offence convictions and public perceptions of justice.
Those affected by sexual violence in Oxfordshire can contact local support services and national helplines for confidential advice. The Crown Prosecution Service and Thames Valley Police publish guidance on reporting and prosecution of sexual offences for anyone seeking further information about the legal process.
This report is based on court reporting and the victim's account following the conclusion of proceedings at Oxford Crown Court.
