Scarborough man jailed for multiple breaches of Slavery and Trafficking Risk Order

Robert Chinchen, 37, who has nearly 100 previous offences on his record, was already notorious for skipping bail following the commission of serious offences, York Crown Court heard.

But more recently, the Eastborough man came to the attention of Scarborough Police because they were concerned that he may be exploiting “vulnerable individuals” by using “violence and intimidation to gain access to their properties”.

Prosecutor Laura Peto said that the slavery-and-trafficking prevention order was imposed at Scarborough Magistrates’ Court on October 31 2025 “to protect vulnerable individuals” because it was believed that Chinchen was “exploiting them (by) using violence and intimidation to gain access to their properties” while he was homeless.

The five-year order, which expires in October 2030, banned Chinchen from entering certain properties in Scarborough including supported-accommodation properties.

The first breach occurred on June 30 when the housing manager at one property was alerted to a disturbance by a colleague.

Police were called to the property where Chinchen was found sitting on a wall outside the property.

When officers later reviewed CCTV, it showed Chinchen walking out of the flat which he was barred from entering.

Four days later, on July 7, Chinchen and two other men got into a car park in the grounds of a Scarborough property which he was also barred from entering.

Police were later called out to reports of a man who had removed his top and poured acetone, a flammable liquid, on himself while “threatening to set himself on fire”.

Officers arrived to find topless Chinchen on the railway tracks at Scarborough Train Station and arrested him again.

Chinchen, a drug user, was charged with three breaches of the order and ultimately admitted all matters.

He appeared for sentence via video link on Tuesday, September 15 after being remanded in custody.

Prosecuting barrister Laura Peto said that Chinchen had 98 previous offences on his record including 26 breaches of court orders, 30 “theft and dishonesty” offences, violence, breaching his bail and three previous breaches of the current Slavery and Trafficking Risk Order.

Defence barrister Nick Peacock said that Chinchen had “not put himself in the best position”, although he hadn’t touched any drugs since being recalled to prison.

He said that Chinchen had “fallen into all sorts of difficulties” due to his homelessness.

Recorder Paul Reid described the order breaches as “deliberate, planned and persistent”.

He said the “very serious” offences “demonstrated a serious risk of continuing criminal behaviour”.

He slammed Chinchen for his “appalling” criminal record and described his non-compliance with previous court orders as “lamentable”.

Chinchen was handed a jail sentence of two years and eight months but was told he would only serve half of that behind bars.