Scarborough Man Jailed After Breaching Landmark Modern Slavery Order

A prolific offender who brought misery and fear to a Scarborough estate will spend more than two years behind bars after repeatedly ignoring a strict slavery and trafficking ban.

A prolific offender who exploited vulnerable people in Scarborough will spend two years and eight months in prison after repeatedly breaching a landmark civil order.

Robert Viv Chinchen, 37, of no fixed address, received the jail term at York Crown Court on Tuesday after flouting a Slavery and Trafficking Risk Order. The strict banning order was designed to protect victims on the town's Barrowcliff estate, where his behaviour had caused widespread misery and fear.

Chinchen admitted two counts of breaching the order at a previous hearing at York Magistrates' Court. He ignored the restrictions by attending properties on Elders Street in late June and Queen Street in early July this year.

The use of the modern slavery legislation was a first for North Yorkshire. Scarborough's Neighbourhood Policing Team initially secured an interim order against Chinchen in July 2025, before a full five-year restriction was granted in October. The civil order effectively banned him from 44 properties across the Barrowcliff, Northstead, and Woodlands areas to prevent him from intimidating and controlling vulnerable individuals.

Under the terms of the order, Chinchen was prohibited from entering specific properties unless formally residing there with written permission. He was also banned from possessing unregistered mobile phones and from using violence, intimidation, or coercion to gain access to accommodation or control another person's behaviour.

Inspector Craig Regan, of the Scarborough Neighbourhood Policing Team, said:

"We welcome the prison sentence that has been handed to Robert Chinchen. It is the result of excellent police work and outstanding community partnership that we have built in Scarborough.

This outcome sends a warning to others who target, manipulate, intimidate, and exploit vulnerable people. We will work with our partners and use every available power to rid you from our communities."

The investigation gathered substantial evidence showing Chinchen's role in exploiting multiple victims. Partner agencies, including Horizons Drug and Alcohol Services and North Yorkshire Council, provided evidence on behalf of victims who were too afraid of repercussions to approach the police directly.

PC Sophie Milner, who led the investigation, said:

"This has been a challenging investigation, as victims of Chinchen's behaviour don't want to give evidence due to the fear of repercussions. Chinchen, whilst targeting and exploiting vulnerable members of our community, has had no regard for their emotional and psychological health.

This has also had a greater impact on the wider community and supporting partners. I would like to thank those partners and the victims themselves, for showing courage to provide evidence to help secure the order."

Anna Button, Community Safety Officer for North Yorkshire Council, said:

"Even though this was a Police-led investigation, all partners within our multi-agency team have come together to protect and safeguard victims of exploitation within our communities."

The successful conviction supports the multi-agency Barrowcliff 'Clear, Hold, Build' project, which has already seen a significant drop in overall crime on the estate.

Chief Constable Tim Forber said:

"Robert Chinchen is clearly an individual who thinks he can operate outside of the law, and we know that he has caused misery and fear on the Barrowcliff estate and the wider Scarborough community.

I have nothing but praise for Inspector Craig Regan and his excellent Scarborough Neighbourhood Policing Team in using the modern slavery legislation in such an innovative way.

This is a welcome boost to the already successful multi-agency Barrowcliff 'Clear, Hold, Build project'.

I know the team are more determined than ever to keep up this outstanding effort. They will continue to put maximum pressure on prolific and harmful criminals such as Chinchen, for the benefit of local residents now and for years to come."