Offender Record · OFF-2026-015
Robert Black
Sex
Male
Race
White
Height
6'2"
Born
1947
Custody
Deceased
States
GB
Custody
Died 12 January 2016 from heart attack at HMP Maghaberry, Northern Ireland, aged 68.
This record documents arrests, charges and convictions reported by courts, law enforcement agencies and news organizations. Every statement is tied to a cited source with an archived copy. A charge is an accusation, not proof of guilt; a person charged is presumed innocent unless convicted. Solve the Case does not allege that this person committed any offense beyond what the cited records state, and this record is not a suggestion that the person is connected to any unsolved case. How records are built, corrected and removed.
Summary of the record
Robert Black was a Scottish serial killer convicted of the kidnapping, rape and murder of four girls aged 5 to 11 in the United Kingdom between 1981 and 1986. He was arrested on 14 July 1990 near Stow, Scotland, while attempting to abduct a 6-year-old girl. Black worked as a delivery driver for Poster Dispatch and Storage, using his employment to travel extensively across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland to identify and abduct victims. He was convicted in 1994 of murdering Susan Maxwell, Caroline Hogg and Sarah Harper, and in 2011 of murdering Jennifer Cardy. Black died on 12 January 2016 in HMP Maghaberry, Northern Ireland, aged 68.
Documented Arrests, Charges and Convictions
Dispositions are shown exactly as the cited records report them. Pending charges are updated when a court acts; a record with no remaining conviction or pending charge is removed from the site.
Offense date 1963, Greenock, Scotland
Lewd and libidinous behaviour with a young girl
Greenock Police, Scotland · Greenock Juvenile Court · Arrested 1963 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Admonishment (no custodial sentence)
Black, age 16, lured a 7-year-old girl to an air-raid shelter by offering to show her kittens. He strangled her unconscious and masturbated over her body. The girl was found later and survived. Black received only a caution for lewd and libidinous behaviour despite the severity of the assault.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Black, Robert; Robert Black (serial killer) (archived)
Three counts of indecent assault against a child
Oban Police, Scotland · Oban District Court · Arrested 1967 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: One year Polmont Borstal training
Black repeatedly molested the landlord's daughter while lodging at their home. The victim was approximately 7 years old. He pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent assault and was sentenced to Polmont Borstal near Grangemouth.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Black, Robert; Robert Black (serial killer) (archived)
Offense date Aug 12, 1981, Ballinderry, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Murder of Jennifer Cardy; kidnapping and sexual assault of Jennifer Cardy
Police Service of Northern Ireland · Armagh Crown Court, Northern Ireland · Arrested Jul 14, 1990 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment; tariff of 25 years for murder, 4 years for kidnapping
A 9-year-old girl was abducted on 12 August 1981 while cycling to a friend's house less than two miles from her home in Ballinderry. Black sexually assaulted and murdered her. Her body was found six days later in water at McKee's Dam, outside Hillsborough. This was technically Black's first chronological victim, though it was the last case prosecuted. Black was convicted on 27 October 2011, 30 years after the crime.
SourcesQueen v Robert Black [2013] NICA 35; Child Killer Robert Black Found Guilty Of Murdering Jennifer Cardy
Offense date Jul 30, 1982, Cornhill-on-Tweed, English Borders
Murder of Susan Maxwell; kidnapping and rape of Susan Maxwell
Northumbria Police, England / Crown Prosecution Service · Newcastle Crown Court · Arrested Jul 14, 1990 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment (recommendation of minimum 35 years)
An 11-year-old girl from Cornhill-on-Tweed was abducted on 30 July 1982 (some sources say after 30 July) as she walked home from playing tennis in Coldstream. Her body was found on 12 August beside the A518 road near Uttoxeter in the Midlands, more than 250 miles from her home. She had been sexually assaulted and strangled. This was Black's second confirmed victim.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Black, Robert; Robert Black (serial killer) (archived); Robert Black Prosecution Featured in Channel 5 Documentary
Offense date Jul 08, 1983, Portobello, Edinburgh, Scotland
Murder of Caroline Hogg; kidnapping and rape of Caroline Hogg
Lothian and Borders Police, Scotland / Crown Prosecution Service · Newcastle Crown Court · Arrested Jul 14, 1990 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment (recommendation of minimum 35 years)
A 5-year-old girl was abducted from Portobello, Edinburgh on 8 July 1983. Her body was found on 18 July in a lay-by at Twycross in Leicestershire near the M1 motorway, more than 300 miles from where she was abducted. She had been sexually assaulted and strangled. The bodies of Susan Maxwell and Caroline Hogg were found within 24 miles of each other.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Black, Robert; Robert Black (serial killer) (archived); Robert Black Prosecution Featured in Channel 5 Documentary
Offense date Mar 26, 1986, Morley, Leeds, England
Murder of Sarah Harper; kidnapping and rape of Sarah Harper
West Yorkshire Police, England / Crown Prosecution Service · Newcastle Crown Court · Arrested Jul 14, 1990 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment (recommendation of minimum 35 years)
A 10-year-old girl from Morley, Leeds was abducted on 26 March 1986 while walking home from a shop. Her body was found on 19 April 1986 floating in the River Trent at junction 24 of the M1. She had been sexually assaulted with violent exploration of her vagina and anus, and strangled. Black had placed her in the river while she was still alive.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Black, Robert; Robert Black (serial killer) (archived); Robert Black Prosecution Featured in Channel 5 Documentary
Offense date Apr 23, 1988, Nottingham, England
Attempted kidnapping of a female teenager
Crown Prosecution Service, England · Newcastle Crown Court · Arrested Jul 14, 1990 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment (included in overall life sentences)
Black attempted to abduct a 15-year-old girl named Teresa Thornhill by faking engine trouble to lure her to his van. The girl, who was approximately 4'11" tall, fought back forcefully, punching and kicking Black and squeezing his testicles until he released her. Her boyfriend heard her screams and ran toward the scene, forcing Black to flee.
SourcesDetective who netted Scottish child serial killer Robert Black
Offense date Jul 14, 1990, Stow, Scottish Borders, Scotland
Kidnapping and sexual assault of a female child
High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh · High Court of Justiciary · Arrested Jul 14, 1990 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Convicted and remanded in custody pending trial for murder charges
Black snatched a 6-year-old girl off the A7 trunk road near Stow and bundled her into his blue Ford Transit van. He sexually assaulted her, bound her wrists and ankles with adhesive tape, gagged her with Elastoplast, and stuffed her into a sleeping bag. A witness, off-duty policeman David Herkes, noted the van's registration and alerted police, who intercepted the vehicle shortly after. The girl survived.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Black, Robert; Robert Black (serial killer) (archived)
Pattern and Background
Victim counts and the pattern of the offenses as stated by courts, agencies and the cited reporting. Suspected counts are what officials have said publicly, not a finding of this site.
4
Victims convicted
0
Victims confessed
13
Victims suspected
Active years
1981–1990
Victim profile
Children, Young women, Strangers
Stated motive
Sexual, Thrill
Range from home
interstate
Education
some high school
Marital history
Never married
Children
0
Died
2016-01-12 · natural
Places Lived, Worked and Frequented
Each place and date range comes from a cited record. Dates marked approximate are as reported. Know a place that is missing? Use Edit record under the photo; a moderator reviews it before it appears.
GB
Kinlochleven, Scotland, United Kingdom
approx. Oct 1947 – 1958 · Fostered with Jack and Margaret Tulip
Falkirk, Scotland, United Kingdom
approx. 1958 – 1959 · Redding Children's Home near Falkirk
Musselburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
approx. 1959 – 1963 · Red House Care Home, high-discipline all-male establishment; attended Musselburgh Grammar School
Greenock, Scotland, United Kingdom
approx. 1962 – 1963 · Delivery boy for butcher's shop
Kinlochleven, Scotland, United Kingdom
approx. 1963 – 1967 · Lodging with a couple who had a young daughter
Polmont, Scotland, United Kingdom
approx. 1967 – 1968 · Polmont Borstal; served one year
Greater London, England, United Kingdom
approx. 1968 – 1972 · Bedsit near King's Cross station initially; moved to various lodgings
Greater London, England, United Kingdom
approx. 1968 – 1972 · Swimming pool attendant; would go underneath pools to look at girls
Stamford Hill, England, United Kingdom
1972 – 1990 · Lodged in attic of Edward and Kathy Rayson's home
Greater London, England, United Kingdom
approx. 1976 – 1986 · Van driver for Poster Dispatch and Storage Ltd; delivery driver operating across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland, England, United Kingdom
approx. 1990 – 1994 · High security facility · Awaiting trial for murder charges
United Kingdom
approx. 1994 – 2011 · Various high-security prisons · Serving life sentences for murder and kidnapping convictions
Maghaberry, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
approx. 2011 – 2016 · High-security prison; serving life sentences
Known Vehicles
Vehicles and approximate dates of ownership or use, as reported in the cited records. A photo next to a vehicle is the vehicle itself as published.
1976 blue Ford Transit van – Used as delivery vehicle for Poster Dispatch and Storage Ltd; also described in some sources as white
approx. 1976 – 1990
Ford Transit van used during his employment and for abductions; found to contain binding materials, children's clothing, and other items
Photographs by Year
Photo from en.wikipedia.org
Photo from www.trinitychambers.co.uk
Robert Black Prosecution Featured in Channel 5 Documentary, 'The Child Snatcher: Manhunt'
Photo from www.irishtimes.com
Undated handout photo issued by the PSNI of child serial killer Robert Black, who has died in prison in Northern Ireland aged 68. File photograph: PSNI/PA Wire
Fianna Fáil Minister of State Robert Troy ordered to pay €500 in damages after tenant left without working oven
Timeline
Apr 21, 1947
Robert Black born in Grangemouth, Stirlingshire, Scotland to unmarried mother Jessie Hunter Black.
Oct 1947
Black placed in foster care with Jack and Margaret Tulip in Kinlochleven, West Highlands at approximately 6 months old.
1952
Foster father Jack Tulip died; Margaret Tulip remained as primary caregiver.
1958
Foster mother Margaret Tulip died; Black moved to Redding Children's Home near Falkirk.
1959
Black admitted to Redding Children's Home after being removed; later moved to Red House Care Home in Musselburgh.
1962
Black obtains job as delivery boy and rents room in boys' home in Greenock; admits to molesting 30-40 girls during delivery rounds.
1963
Black, age 16, lures a 7-year-old girl to an air-raid shelter in Greenock, strangles her unconscious and masturbates over her body; arrested and convicted of lewd and libidinous behaviour, receives admonishment.
1964
Black moves to Kinlochleven; repeatedly molests landlord's 7-year-old daughter while babysitting and lodging with the family.
1967
Black convicted of three counts of indecent assault against a child and sentenced to one year of Borstal training at Polmont near Grangemouth.
1968
Black released from Polmont Borstal and moves to London; obtains employment as swimming pool attendant.
1972
Black meets Edward and Kathy Rayson in a pub and moves into their attic in Stamford Hill, London, where he remains until his arrest in 1990.
1976
Black begins employment as van driver for Poster Dispatch and Storage Ltd in London, delivering posters across England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Aug 12, 1981
9-year-old Jennifer Cardy abducted, sexually assaulted and murdered in Ballinderry, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Jul 30, 1982
11-year-old Susan Maxwell abducted from Cornhill-on-Tweed on the English-Scottish border; body found 12 August 1982 near Uttoxeter, Midlands.
Jul 08, 1983
5-year-old Caroline Hogg abducted from Portobello, Edinburgh; body found 18 July 1983 near Twycross, Leicestershire.
Mar 26, 1986
10-year-old Sarah Harper abducted from Morley, Leeds; body found 19 April 1986 in River Trent near Nottingham.
Apr 23, 1988
Black attempts to abduct 15-year-old Teresa Thornhill in Nottingham by faking engine trouble; she escapes after forcefully resisting.
Jul 14, 1990
Black arrested near Stow, Scotland while attempting to abduct 6-year-old Mandy Wilson; witness David Herkes notes van registration and alerts police; girl found bound and gagged in van.
Aug 10, 1990
Black appears at High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh for abduction of Mandy Wilson; remanded in custody.
May 1991
Police submit report to Crown Prosecution Service regarding murder charges.
Apr 1992
Black served with ten summonses for murder and related offenses.
Apr 13, 1994
Trial of Robert Black begins at Newcastle Crown Court (Moot Hall) for murders of Susan Maxwell, Caroline Hogg and Sarah Harper.
May 19, 1994
Jury returns guilty verdict after deliberations; Black convicted on all counts of murder, kidnapping and attempted kidnapping; sentenced to life imprisonment with minimum 35-year tariff.
Jul 1994
Meeting held in Newcastle to consider Black's possible involvement in other unsolved murders; up to 13 additional cases examined.
Apr 20, 2005
Black arrested on suspicion of murdering 13-year-old Genette Tate who disappeared in 1978; police interrogate him regarding this case.
Dec 16, 2009
Black charged with murder of 9-year-old Jennifer Cardy in County Down, Northern Ireland.
Oct 27, 2011
Black convicted of kidnapping and murder of 9-year-old Jennifer Cardy at Armagh Crown Court; sentenced to life imprisonment with 25-year tariff for murder.
Jun 27, 2013
Black's appeal against Jennifer Cardy conviction dismissed.
Jan 12, 2016
Robert Black dies from cardiac arrest at HMP Maghaberry, Northern Ireland, aged 68; inquest later determines death caused by heart attack.
Sources
Solve the Case is never the original source. Each item below is the public record a statement on this page rests on, with an archived copy where one exists.
News report · Wikipedia ·
Robert Black (serial killer)“Robert Black (21 April 1947 – 12 January 2016) was a Scottish serial killer and paedophile who was convicted of the kidnap, rape and murder of four girls aged between 5 and 11 in a series of crimes committed between 1981 and 1986 in the United Kingdom.”
Other · Grokipedia ·
Robert Black (serial killer)“In 1976, Robert Black was employed as a van driver by Poster Dispatch and Storage Ltd, a London-based company specializing in the distribution of posters and magazines.”
News report · Trinity Chambers ·
Robert Black Prosecution Featured in Channel 5 Documentary“Toby Hedworth K.C. was part of the original prosecution team that led to the conviction of Robert Black in 1994 at Newcastle Crown Court for the murders of Susan Maxwell, Caroline Hogg and Sarah Harper.”
News report · Edinburgh Evening News ·
Detective who netted Scottish child serial killer Robert Black“In 1994 Robert Black, originally from Grangemouth, was convicted of the murders of Susan, Caroline and Sarah and of attempting to abduct 15-year-old Teresa Thornhill in Nottingham in April 1988.”
News report · Irish Times ·
Paedophile and child serial killer Robert Black dies in jail“Paedophile and serial child killer Robert Black has died in Maghaberry Prison in Co Antrim, the North's prison service has confirmed.”
Court record · Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland ·
Queen v Robert Black [2013] NICA 35“The appellant was convicted of the kidnapping and murder of Jennifer Cardy, a nine year old girl, on 27 October 2011.”
News report · IBTimes UK ·
Child Killer Robert Black Found Guilty Of Murdering Jennifer Cardy“Robert Black has been found guilty of the murder of Jennifer Cardy in August 1981”
Other · Radford University, Department of Psychology ·
Radford University serial killer biography: Black, Robert“Black was found guilty on all counts. Sentenced him to life for each of the charges.”
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