Latest Offenders

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A paedophile has been jailed after sexually assaulting young girls in Burnley.

Sick Vincent Walker abused his young victims over a year long period leaving them traumatised and fearful.

The sexual predator was arrested after two of his victims told their parents what he had been doing to them.

After his arrest and charge in March this year further victims came forward to report similar abuse.

Walker, 72, of Rawson Street, Burnley, pleaded guilty to a total of 23 sexual offences, including engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 13-15, assault by touching, cause a child under 13 to watch / look at an image of sexual activity, engaging in sexual activity in presence of a child under 13 and breach of a sexual harm prevention order.

The five female victims were aged from just eight to 13 years old when Walker abused them.

At Preston Crown Court he was today (Friday, November 28th) jailed for 11 and a half years with a two-and-a half years extended licence.

Walker was classed as a dangerous offender and will also be on the sex offenders register indefinitely and has an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Det Con Amber Forshaw, of our child protection team, said:

“First and foremost I want to praise these girls for having the courage to some forward and talk about what Walker did to them, it cannot have been easy, and I am full of admiration for them. I hope that this sentence gives them and their families some sense that justice has been done and that they can now try and move on and rebuild their lives.

“Walker is clearly a dangerous sexual predator with a depraved sexual interest in young girls, and I am pleased that his conviction and sentence mean he will now be behind bars for a significant time and that people will be protected from him.

“If others have suffered similar abuse, I would urge them to come forward and talk to us, safe in the knowledge that we will investigate professionally and sensitively and will look to put offenders before the courts and to provide justice for victims.”

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Two 17-year-old boys have been jailed after admitting raping a teenager in a Leamington park.

A 15-year-old girl and a group of friends were in the town on 10 May when they met and started chatting with two boys.

The two boys - Jan Jahanzeb and Israr Niazal – later asked the girl to join them on a walk and went on to rape her at Newbold Comyn.  

Afterwards, the girl managed to flag down a member of the public who called the police.  

Thanks to a combination of CCTV footage work and using photos the girl had taken on her phone during the day, we were able to identify and arrest Jahanzeb and Niazal quickly. 

We charged the two boys with rape and they went before youth court in Coventry where they admitted the offence. 

Appearing at Warwick Crown Court for sentencing today (Monday), the judge lifted reporting restrictions that had previously prevented Jahanzeb and Niazal from being identified owing to their age. It was also confirmed at court that they were Afghan asylum seekers. 

Jahanzeb was sentenced to ten years and eight months while the judge gave Niazal nine years and ten months.

Both will start their sentences in a Young Offenders’ Institution and move to prison at a later date. The pair were also made to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and given an indefinite restraining order.  

Detective Chief Inspector Richard Hobbs said:

“This was a hugely traumatic incident, and I can’t speak highly enough of the victim for the bravery she has shown. 

“Our specially trained officers have supported her since the start of the investigation, but understandably, it has been, and continues to be, an incredibly challenging time for both her and her family. 

“Jahanzeb and Niazal went out of their way to befriend the victim with the intention of raping her. The length of their sentence reflects the severity of their crime and the need to protect the public from them. 

"I hope this outcome will provide reassurance to other victims of sexual offences and give them the confidence to report, knowing police will listen and support them.  

“We encourage anyone who has been the victim of rape or sexual offence to report it. We will always investigate thoroughly and sensitively, and do everything in our power to bring offenders to justice, getting the right result with a victim’s wishes in mind.” 

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A sex offender has been banned from staying in any hotel, guesthouse, or other paid accommodation for 10 years unless he gives police 48 hours’ notice.

Brett Whittaker’s sexual crimes in a North Yorkshire hotel left a staff member needing counselling, York Crown Court heard.

The employee was addressing Whittaker’s complaint about his room being too hot when the 44-year-old trapped him inside and sexually assaulted him in four ways.

In a personal statement, the employee said the attacks deeply affected him, requiring counselling and medical help, and forced him to leave his job. “I wish Brett Whittaker hadn’t trapped me in a room, assaulted me and caused me anxiety,” he stated. “It is a horrible memory to live with.”

Whittaker also behaved sexually toward a woman vaping at the hotel.

To protect hotel staff and the public, Judge Simon Hickey imposed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order prohibiting unnotified stays in such accommodations.

Jailing Whittaker for 18 months, the judge said: “You have a propensity to assault not just young females but also young males.” Regarding the employee assault, he added: “He was trapped in a room by you (who was) much bigger, much stronger and in drink.”

Defence barrister Giles Grant noted Whittaker’s labourer work often takes him across the country.

Whittaker was placed on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years, requiring him to notify police of his address and other conditions.

The employee testified after Whittaker, of no fixed address, denied four sexual assault charges. A York jury convicted him unanimously in under two hours on “overwhelming evidence,” including his DNA from kissing the victim.

The jury knew of Whittaker’s two prior sexual assault convictions but not his conviction for trying to cause a child to watch a sexual act.

Post-verdict, Mr. Grant said the four assaults were part of one continuous event involving alcohol. Whittaker has an ongoing alcohol issue but has abstained since his release; he was remanded for two months after arrest earlier this year.

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A convicted rapist has been jailed for contacting children. Alfie Given, 21, of Ruabon in Wrexham, "ingratiated" himself with one family and offered to babysit their child.

He also offered to hang out the washing for another family, including a young girl's underwear, Mold Crown Court heard.

Both mothers became "uneasy," leading to his arrest. Given was convicted as a teenager in 2019 at Manchester Youth Court for raping a boy under 13 and was subject to a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) extended until 2027.

The recent offenses emerged in June 2023 when police found 200 messages, some sexual, between Given and a 13-year-old boy, prosecutor Ryan Rothwell said. Given admitted making an indecent Category C image of a child, breaching the SHPO by contacting children, possessing an undisclosed iPad with Snapchat installed, and failing notification requirements as a sex offender.

Released under investigation in November last year, he moved to Wrexham and befriended the two families, offering to babysit and take one child to the park. One mother accidentally opened his iPad, but he "snatched" it from her.

Defending, Elen Owen said Given had been targeted by older criminals who "cuckooed" his home. He has been remanded in custody for seven months.

Judge His Honour Rhys Rowlands said this "can't really explain let alone excuse your contact with children in breach of the SHPO," which was designed to prevent a repetition of his "unnatural and worrying" behavior. Given had been "calculating" in his breaches.

He was jailed for 21 months for breaching the SHPO by contacting children in one family, with concurrent 18-month and 10-month terms for contacting the other family's child and possessing the iPad with Snapchat.

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A man from Swansea has been jailed after he was found guilty of the rape of an underage girl.

48-year-old Lukman Oyofo, from the city centre, pleaded not guilty to the offence, with the incident having taken place at his flat on December 6 2024. However, he did admit under interview that he had had sexual intercourse with the victim, insisting that this was consensual.

Oyofo was also found guilty of assaulting a female aged 13 and over by penetration. He pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault on a female for offences which took place on November 24 and November 30 2024.

He has been sentenced to ten years in prison.

Detective Constable Rabaiotti said: 

“Lukman Oyofo was under no illusion that the acts he carried out upon a child were illegal, yet he did so anyway.

“The victim was unable to give her consent due to being underage. Oyofo exploited a power imbalance and thrived off it, doing so on multiple occasions.

“We commend the bravery of the victim who, by sharing what Oyofo would done, helped to secure this conviction and sentence.”

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Aqib Mahmood, a 28-year-old shop worker from Accrington, was jailed for two years and eight months after attempting to incite underage girls to perform sexual acts in exchange for vapes and cannabis.

On October 31, 2023, Mahmood was working at his father's Warrington shop when a 14-year-old girl and her friend entered. He asked their ages and suggested they return if interested. Weeks later, they tried buying a vape, which he refused. When one girl asked what she could do to get it, Mahmood replied she could "suck him off."

Two days later, she returned alone; he again offered the vape if she "sucked his penis." She refused but agreed to a hug, during which he squeezed her buttocks.

The girls told their parents, leading to Mahmood's arrest and bail. While on bail, he approached a 15-year-old girl, saying if she wanted cannabis, she would "have to do something for it." He touched his crotch and added: "I want you to make me hard." She refused.

At Burnley Crown Court, Mahmood pleaded guilty—shortly before victims' evidence—to two counts of inciting a 13-15-year-old girl to penetrative sexual activity, one count of inciting non-penetrative activity, and one count of sexual assault. He had initially pleaded not guilty in May.

Mitigator Emma Kehoe said Mahmood had struggled physically and mentally, turning to cannabis and alcohol: He "fell into a spiral and behaved in the way he did." She added: "He regrets and is entirely remorseful for what he did. He still cannot understand why he did what he did."

Judge Daniel Prowse found Mahmood attracted to teenage girls and a risk to children, but noted his remorse was "not unusual" for such offenders. He imposed a 20-year sexual harm prevention order and lifetime sex offender registration.

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A 27-year-old man from the midlands has been jailed after being found guilty of multiple sexual and violent offences.

Daniel Lander, of Charlemont Avenue, West Bromwich, appeared for sentencing at Mold Crown Court earlier today (Monday, 8 December).

Previously, he had been found guilty of two counts of rape, inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, assault, and criminal damage.

Shortly after 8.30am on Saturday, 29 March, officers attended a reported disturbance at the Ty Mawr Caravan Park in Abergele.

Upon their arrival at a caravan on the site, Lander was quickly arrested on suspicion of assaulting a woman who was also located inside.

She had sustained significant injuries as a result of the assault, which included a fractured eye socket, and bruises to her back, ribs and arms.

Lander's sexual crimes were subsequently disclosed by the victim in a police interview, during which she reported rape offences that had occurred between October 2024 and March 2025.

Following his conviction, Lander was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with a further two years to be served on licence.

Detective Constable Catherine Farrington said:

"Today's sentencing reflects the severity of the horrific offences committed by Lander.

"This man inflicted brutal violence on a woman, leaving her physically injured and emotionally distressed.

"I want to commend the victim in this case. Her courage, and the detailed accounts of the abuse she has suffered, have been vital in securing this conviction.

“We hope this outcome provides some measure of reassurance as she continues her recovery.

"Tackling violence against women and girls remains a foremost priority for North Wales Police. We are committed to identifying perpetrators, pursuing justice, and ensuring that victims receive the protection and support they need.

“We will continue to work tirelessly to hold offenders to account and to keep our communities safe."

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A nurse who raped a vulnerable colleague after threatening her with dismissal unless she performed a sex act has been jailed for nearly eight years.

Naijil Paul, 47, also sexually assaulted two other young women while working as a care home manager in North Lanarkshire. He was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow to seven years and nine months' imprisonment, having been extradited from India for the trial.

Paul admitted the crimes at an October hearing, but a pre-sentencing report revealed "quite a degree of victim blaming"—including his claim that he thought he was doing one victim a favour.

The court heard that in April 2018, the 26-year-old rape victim had returned from sick leave and confided in a senior colleague about her debts. A week later, Paul entered her office alone, closed the door, and warned she risked losing her job due to absences. Citing her financial woes and potential eviction with her children, he ordered: "Do what I want," demanding a sex act to secure her position—or else her children would be homeless.

After raping her, he warned: "Don't tell anyone as no one will believe you and your job won't be safe." She burst into tears, fled, took further sick leave, and only disclosed the attack during a police probe into Paul's offences.

Attacks on other colleagues

Paul tried to kiss a 19-year-old care assistant, placing his hands on her hips and saying: "I know you want this." Two weeks later, he moved her hand to his intimate area; on another occasion, he grabbed her waistband, demanding to see her underwear colour.

He also quizzed a 21-year-old care assistant about her boyfriend, placing a hand on her shoulder and waist before saying: "I know you want it. I can tell by your body language." When she shoved him away after a kiss attempt, he molested her that day. She feared complaining would cost her job.

Fled to India

Paul skipped his 2019 trial, fleeing to Kochi, India, citing his father's illness. Arrested in February 2025 and extradited from Delhi, he admitted rape and two sexual assaults; his sentence was reduced from eight years for the guilty plea.

However, Lord Renucci expressed concern over Paul's victim-blaming report comments, stating they "very much underestimate his level of risk" despite a medium reoffending assessment. The judge told Paul: "You had been in a position of power before carrying out offences which were planned and deliberate. In addition to the serious and predatory nature of your offending... the version of events given by you bears little resemblance to what you have admitted to"—even describing the rape as a "consensual sexual encounter."

Paul will be supervised for two years post-release, placed on the sex offenders register for life, and barred from contacting victims.

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A registered sex offender branded a "dangerous predator" has been jailed for 11 years after sexually assaulting a woman and attempting to rape her 12-year-old daughter.

Steven Murphy, 45, contacted the mother on Facebook and visited her Preston home in April, where she was celebrating her daughter's talent show appearance. He offered to drive other guests home before returning alone, assaulting the woman. When she fell asleep due to medication changes, he entered the girl's bedroom, climbed into her bed, and assaulted her while trying to rape her. She repeatedly told him to leave before he fled.

Of Tiller Road, Cottam, Murphy denied one count of sexual assault on the mother and two counts plus attempted rape on the daughter but was convicted at Preston Crown Court. The judge imposed an 11-year custodial term plus an eight-year extended licence, classifying him as a dangerous offenderreserved for cases posing serious public harm risk. Offenders serve two-thirds of custody before possible parole; if released early or at term's end, they remain supervised until the licence expires.

Det Sgt Sue Wilson, of Preston CID, said:

"First and foremost I would like to commend the two victims for their courage in coming forward and reporting what happened to them and for their bravery throughout the judicial process. I hope this sentence will mean that they can try to move forward with their lives knowing this dangerous predator is behind bars.

"I also hope that it may give other victims of sexual abuse the confidence to come forward and speak to police in the knowledge we will investigate professionally and with sensitivity and will look to prosecute offenders where we can."

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A Birmingham rapist who groomed a 15-year-old girl on Snapchat was caught after she bravely called police pretending to order a pizza—a code she'd seen in a TikTok video about sexual assault.

On July 28, after 41-year-old Abdul Kahar raped and sexually assaulted her in his car, he abandoned the quick-thinking victim roadside in Druids Heath. She dialed 999 and asked for a pizza.

The West Midlands Police call-handler recognized the distress signal, using yes-or-no questions to confirm: "Are you in danger?" "Yeah," she replied. The girl provided her exact location and Kahar's car details, enabling officers to trace him to his Anthony Road home in Alum Rock.

Kahar had posed as a 17-year-old boy named "Jay" on Snapchat since June, luring her with alcohol before the July assault.

On December 1 at Birmingham Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to two counts of raping a girl under 16, four counts of sexual assault on a girl over 13, non-fatal strangulation, and breaching a sexual harm prevention order. Sentencing is set for February 9.

Detective Constable Lauren Campbell of West Midlands Police said:

"Kahar posed as a 17-year-old boy on Snapchat and groomed a vulnerable 15-year-old girl online for a period of time before she agreed to meet up with him. He then raped and sexually assaulted her in his car. I want to praise the brave actions of the girl and also praise the call handler for having the foresight to understand this was a call for help from someone who was vulnerable and in danger."

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A man who repeatedly sexually abused a child between the years of 2005 and 2009 has now been sentenced to 18 years following a trial at Lincoln Crown Court.

Ronald Leslie Short (pictured below), aged 82, of St Leonards Avenue, Woodhall Spa, appeared at Lincoln Crown Court on Friday 8 August 2025, where he was found guilty by jury of eight counts of sexual abuse against a child. The offences include attempt rape, sexual assault of a child, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and sexual assault by penetration.

Short appeared again at Lincoln Crown Court today (Friday 5 December) where he received his sentence. 

The investigating officer, Detective Constable Kyle Barlow, based within the Protecting Vulnerable Persons Unit, wanted to praise the strength, patience and bravery of the victim, throughout this long and complex investigation.

He said: 

“Although no outcome can take away the harm caused, we hope the knowledge that Ronald Short has been jailed will at least provide some comfort and aid the victim’s process of recovery.

“I would like to send a clear message to any perpetrators of sexual abuse: we will not tolerate this abhorrent behaviour and will bring you to justice.

“This sentence today shows the seriousness of this offending, and we will do everything we can to put perpetrators behind bars.” 

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A man from Birmingham has been jailed for raping a boy on multiple occasions and possessing hundreds of indecent photographs and videos of children.

Mohammed Ali, aged 23, was arrested after the person he abused disclosed the sexual abuse which had been going on for a number of years to us.

When we arrested Ali, from Onisbury Road, Handsworth, we discovered 443 indecent images and videos on his phone, 250 of these being category A.

At Birmingham Crown Court on 27 November, Ali pleaded guilty to eight charges of rape, four of those being the rape of a boy under 13. He also pleaded guilty to three charges of distributing indecent images of a child.

He was handed an 18 year jail term, 12 years to be served in custody and six on license.

Detective Constable Georgia Taylor, from our Child Abuse Investigation, said:

“Ali took advantage of a vulnerable young boy raping him on a number of occasions over a number of years.

“The boy bravely came forward to report the sexual abuse to us and we must praise him for the courage he has shown in what has been a very sensitive investigation.”

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A woman who waited over eight years for her rapist to be jailed said the criminal justice system left her "unheard and ignored."

The victim, a mother of two who cannot be named, reported the rape in 2017. Her attacker, Allan Peyton, 45, was sentenced today to five years at Worcester Crown Court for rape and assault by penetration.

She described her "continuous battle for justice" as leaving her "hopeless and abandoned."

The court heard Peyton entered her home in the early hours of May 7, 2017, and raped her while intoxicated. She reported it to West Mercia Police the next day.

Delays stemmed from a poor police investigation, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) initially declining to charge due to insufficient evidence before reversing the decision, and shortages of courts and staff. Peyton was convicted in July, but sentencing was postponed three times since summer.

The CPS stated: "We recognise the profound impact delays can have on victims and this is why we are taking action by working closely with police colleagues to help build the strongest case from the outset.

"Whilst in recent years this has led to a reduction in the time taken between the CPS receiving a file and making a charging decision, we know there is still more to do and that is why last week we launched our new strategy for Violence Against Women and Girls."

Ch Supt Edd Williams of West Mercia Police said: "We expect a high standard for investigations and support to survivors and if someone feels we have fallen below this we encourage them to talk to us through our complaints process so we can learn and improve.

"We hope today's sentencing can finally bring some form of closure."

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A 56-year-old man from Bradford, Aleksejs Baskakovs, has been jailed for 16 years for rape and other offences after a jury convicted him following a trial.

One victim said he behaved “like a monster” and that she at one stage wanted to kill herself.

Sentencing him at Bradford Crown Court, His Honour Judge Ahmed Nadim told Baskakovs: “The evidence demonstrates that you are guilty of a deeply troubling pattern of behaviour,” adding that the offending involved "deliberate cruelty.”

The court heard that Baskakovs’ violence included punching and kicking one woman and strangling another.

Baskakovs, who appeared via video link from HMP Leeds and spoke with a Russian interpreter, must register as a sex offender for life.

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A homeless man from Maidstone has been jailed after he was convicted of raping a woman in a communal area next to a block of flats.

Thomas Underdown assaulted the victim after they had agreed to meet at an outbuilding that he slept in, close to St Peter’s Street.

The ordeal started at around 12.20am on 5 January 2024, when after they kissed the victim made it clear she did not consent to any further intimacy.

In response, Underdown repeatedly prevented the victim from getting up from a mattress he used and went on to abuse her.

The offences were reported to Kent Police on 9 January and Underdown was arrested on the following day.

Unanimous verdict

He was charged with rape and after pleading not guilty a trial was held at Southwark Crown Court, which led to him being convicted by unanimous verdict.  

On 5 December 2025, Underdown, 33, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment.

He will have to serve a minimum of two thirds of the sentence before he can apply for parole and was also made the subject of an indefinite restraining order.  

Detective Constable Stuart Cook said:

‘This was a deeply traumatic ordeal for the victim, who showed immense courage in coming forward and supporting our investigation. She made it clear to Underdown that she did not consent, and her wishes were ignored in the most appalling way. Consent is never negotiable — no means no.

‘I hope this conviction brings the victim some sense of justice and reassurance that her voice has been heard. We have dedicated teams committed to supporting victims and ensuring those who do commit such appalling offences are held fully accountable.’