Latest news with #RobertKnight
Edinburgh Live
05-06-2025
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh man said 'I'll hide ashes of dead child' after partner discovered dark secret
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A paedophile threatened to hide the ashes of his partner's dead child when she left him after finding out he was a child sex offender. Robert Knight made the despicable threat to dispose of the urn containing the remains of the child 'in a bush' after the woman had packed her bags and fled the family home. The victim moved away with her young son after 38-year-old Knight had been outed on social media as a pervert by a paedo hunter group in 2023. Knight also sent the woman death threats, texted an image of him holding a handgun and threatened to pour petrol through the door of a relative. Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told the pervert bombarded the terrified victim with texts, emails and social media messages on Snapchat and WhatsApp in an attempt to speak to her. The court was told Knight made 107 phone calls and sent 29 emails threatening her family members and demanding she give him money over a 48 hour period in August 2023. Knight also sent letters, turned up at the woman's new Edinburgh home and even left messages after hacking into her BBC iPlayer and Netflix accounts in a bid to contact her. Prosecutor Eilidh Grant read out a prepared written narrative on Tuesday, July 3, stating Knight had made numerous threats to harm the woman and her family including the vile threat to hide the ashes of her dead child. Ms Grant said: 'On February 23, 2023, the accused sent text messages which read 'Your family will pay. I (sic) make sure you have to move far away from your family for them causing this. 'If you don't call in five I gonna put [child's name] in a bush hidden in case you called the police you won't get him back. Hope your happy.' 'The reference to [the child] is a reference to [the woman's] son who had passed away several years prior and who's ashes she kept in her home with the accused. 'As a result of this comment she sought to end all contact with the accused. The following day she contacted police to report these various threats made by the accused.' Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox The court also heard Knight had deliberately driven his car at a male friend of the woman and knocked him over before shouting 'I'll come back and I'll you' at the terrified victim. Knight was arrested and appeared in court in September 2023 and after being released on bail he posted a picture of a black handgun to the family group chat before panicking and deleting the image. The thug, from South Queensferry, then sent a picture of him holding the gun to a relative and stated he 'had plans' for his ex-partner. He added: 'If I don't get to see my son, then she won't either. I'll plead guilty, I've nothing to lose.' Police were alerted to the threats and armed officers raided Knight's home where they found 'a black imitation handgun' during a search of the property on October 10, 2023. Knight appeared from custody at the capital's sheriff court for sentencing on Tuesday after previously pleading guilty to the offences. Sheriff Fergus Thomson jailed Knight for a total of three years and seven months and issued him with a 10 year non-harassment order that bans him from any contact with the victim. Knight was caught sending a series of disgusting sexual comments and images of his penis to who he believed was a 12-year-old girl in August last year. He was in fact in contact with an adult decoy from a paedo hunter group and was jailed for 340 days and placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely after pleading guilty in January this year.
Associated Press
06-02-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Robert Knight: Driving Digital Innovation With Deep Roots at Covia
Covia is proud to recognize the critical impact our team members make, both through their work and their dedication to their communities. Today, we spotlight Robert Knight, Director of Enterprise Applications and IT Architecture, whose leadership in technology implementation and optimization has helped position Covia for future growth and innovation. From Code to Covia: A Journey Back Home With 35 years of IT experience, Robert brings a wealth of knowledge to his role at Covia. His journey began as a COBOL programmer at a hardwood lumber company, where he gained comprehensive IT experience in a small department. His career path led him through diverse industries, managing IT operations for a men's fashion company before moving to Atlanta, Georgia, to join an automotive parts company. Robert spent 12 years in the Peach State, but a desire to move back to be closer to family meant it was time to head back to Northeast Ohio. 'Our family made the decision to move back to Cleveland, leaving Atlanta to return to our former home,' Robert explained. Shortly after moving back to Ohio, he found an opportunity at Covia. His decision to join Covia in July of 2023 was more than just a good fit, it closed the circle on a childhood connection. 'I don't know if it's fate or destiny, but I grew up in Chardon,' Robert said. 'My dad drove a truck for a local company that hauled sand from Covia's BESTSAND plant when I was a kid. When I went out to do a plant tour after I started, I saw the familiar trucks still hauling out of there. It brought back such fond memories.' Streamlining Systems for Success In his current role, Robert oversees the teams responsible for implementing and supporting Covia's business-critical applications. At the heart of these systems is the company's Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, which touches every aspect of operations from maintenance to sales and accounting. One of Robert's key achievements has been leading the rationalization of Covia's application landscape. 'When I came here, there were several different systems with overlapping uses,' he explained. 'It was my job to reduce our total cost of ownership and complexity of our application landscape while making it easier to support and less expensive to operate.' The successful cloud reimplementation of the ERP stands out as a particular point of pride. While Robert joined on day one of the go-live, he emphasizes how his team's work led to minimal business disruption. Other projects like the rationalization of shipping systems helped standardize processes for loading out and shipping. Robert and his team have helped streamline various aspects of Covia's business and position the ERP system for growth, allowing it to scale with Covia's future needs. 'We're developing our plans and cadence to keep everything current,' Robert shared. 'There are additional phases that we're planning for 2025 to make enhancements and modifications that touch every aspect of our business.' Looking to Build a Smarter Future Robert's vision extends beyond day-to-day operations to include emerging technologies. By exploring new technologies and tools, Robert's team's plan is to help departments and individuals work smarter, not harder. Robert highlights the integration of IoT (Internet of Things) sensors as one example of how new technology can enhance operational efficiency. These sensors can gauge vibration and other factors that can predict issues and alert team members to improve operational safety and avoid downtime. Artificial Intelligence is another notable focus for Robert and his team. Software vendors are introducing AI technology to create new opportunities for businesses in just about every industry. Robert is embracing AI and evaluating its potential to make Covia more agile. 'We're able to shift gears and make changes as they come,' Robert shared. 'By staying current, we can make software enhancements more rapidly to support the business as both technology and our business evolve.' The Power of Giving Back Outside of work, Robert finds joy in family, sports, and maintaining an active lifestyle. Since 2017, he and his wife have been actively involved in supporting The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. They attended their first ShamRockin' for a Cure event in Atlanta, and the experience inspired them to get involved. 'We met a bunch of great people, and it just breaks your heart when you listen to their stories of people being born with cystic fibrosis and breathing issues,' Robert said. 'My wife and I feel very blessed that all our children and grandchildren are healthy, and we wanted to give back.' While Robert and his wife now live in Cleveland, they still stay close with all the families they met and participate where they can. The Knights were also able to share their passion with Covia, and we are proud to support their work and help build a bright future for those impacted by cystic fibrosis. Robert's combination of technical expertise, industry experience, passion for social impact, and personal connection to Covia's roots makes him a valuable leader in driving the company's digital transformation and supporting people across the country.
