Latest Offenders

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A man from Penrith was jailed on Friday (29 May) for attempting to sexually communicate with a child online.

David Winkley-Balmer, 30, of Mill Street, Penrith was sentenced to 12 months in prison at Carlisle Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to sexually communicate with a child and one count of attempting to cause a child watch sexual activity. This sentence was added onto a burglary offences to make the total prison sentence 2 years and 4 months.

He was also made subject of a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and has been placed on the sex offenders register.

Detective Constable Alice Wood, from Westmorland and Furness CID said: “Winkley-Balmer was fully aware the two ‘children’ he was speaking to were 14 years old when he engaged in conversations of a sexual nature.

“Fortunately, there were no actual children involved in this case, but it is clear Winkley-Balmer poses risk to young people.

“We are committed to ensuring children are safe from those seeking to commit them harm and we will do all we can to ensure those who commit offences are brought before the courts.

“I would urge people to familiarise themselves what their children are doing online – ask them questions and support them in using the internet safely.”

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A teenager has been sentenced to 10 years after raping a girl in Crewe.

Ryan Upton was handed the sentence during a hearing at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday 26 May.

The 19-year-old, of Moorland Road, Sandbach, had pleaded guilty to rape and assault by penetration.

Upton and the victim, a teenage girl, had been at an address in Crewe on the evening of 26 December 2024 when he had sexually assaulted her while she was asleep.

Upton had also raped the victim, who fled from the address following the assault. She was found by a passer-by who helped her to call police.

Upton was arrested but denied the offences in interview; however forensic tests were conducted which provided a positive DNA hit for Upton. 

He was charged with the offences and admitted them in court.

On top of his custodial sentence, Upton must sign the Sex Offender Register indefinitely and is subject to a restraining order to protect the victim in this case.

DC Sallis said:

“This lengthy custodial sentence reflects the severity of what Upton did – something which he ultimately had no choice but to admit due to the strength of the forensic evidence against him.

“We would like to commend the bravery of the victim in this case for reporting this offence and although she will never forget what happened, we hope the fact that Upton is behind bars will give her some closure.

“If you have been a victim of a sexual offence, please report it to us by calling 101 or visiting our website. Every report will be investigated thoroughly, with the needs and wishes of the victim as our main priority.”

Description

A man has been jailed for more than 13 years for violent offences against a woman, including rape and assault. 

Leighton Smith, of Lancaster Road in Shrewsbury, was sentenced at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday (Monday 1 June) for one count of rape, five counts of actual bodily harm and one count of witness intimidation. 

During an earlier trail the court heard how in 2024 the 36-year-old subjected his victim to a series of abuse, before police were made aware in 2025.

Following an investigation by Shropshire's Protecting People Unit, Smith was arrested and charged. Smith denied the charges, resulting in the case going to trial, where he was found guilty of the offences by a jury in May. 

Yesterday the judge handed him a 13-and-a-half-year sentence, as well as a 15-year restraining order against the victim. Smith will also be placed on the sex offenders register for life. 

Detective Constable Daniel Bushell said:

"This case represents a significant outcome against a highly dangerous and violent perpetrator. The seriousness of his offending and the lengths he went to intimidate the victim were fully tested before the court.

"The victim in this case showed exceptional courage, and her decision to support the investigation, not only brought accountability and justice for what happened to her, but has also prevented further harm to others. I am grateful for her courage. 

DC Bushell continued:

"This result was made possible through sustained, victimfocused policing. From the initial response at incidents, through safeguarding, relationshipbuilding to the detailed and relentless investigative work, officers remained committed despite the challenging nature of the case. This persistence, combined with the victims courage, meant the full extent of the offending was uncovered and placed before the jury.

"The sentences given to Smith reflects the gravity of the abuse and the danger he presents to women. This outcome is a clear demonstration that we will not walk away such offences, and even though getting justice may take time with determination and the bravery of victims, it can be achieved."

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Isle of Wight Sex Offender Alan Wilson Faces Sentencing for Register Breach

An Isle of Wight sex offender who failed to notify police of his change of address for 18 months will be sentenced this summer.

Alan Wilson, 38, of Shanklin High Street, appeared before the Isle of Wight Magistrates’ Court on Friday 29 May for sentencing. He previously admitted breaching the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Register.

The court heard Wilson had been living at a different property for around 18 months without informing police. The breach was discovered on 30 November 2024.

Prosecutor Liz Miller said registered sex offenders must notify police of any new address within three days of moving.

Wilson pleaded guilty to the offence on 20 March. The notification requirements stem from his 2019 conviction for distributing indecent images of children.

Magistrates were also told Wilson faces separate proceedings at the Isle of Wight Crown Court after admitting three new counts of making indecent images of children dating back to 2023. He is due to appear at the Crown Court on 12 June following an adjournment for a mental health assessment.

Defending, Jim Osborne said the now-completed assessment indicated Wilson would benefit from a mental health treatment requirement, which he would not receive if sentenced to custody. He added that Wilson “takes full responsibility” for his actions and is “ashamed.”

The magistrates adjourned the case until after the Crown Court proceedings conclude. Wilson will return to the Isle of Wight Magistrates’ Court on 4 August for sentencing. He was granted unconditional bail.

Description

A former Seaford teacher has been jailed for non-recent sexual offences against 14 children.

Police launched an investigation into allegations made by former pupils at the preparatory and sixth form of Newlands School, as well as the senior school known as The Manor, in Seaford during the 1970s and 1980s.

Enquiries identified 14 male victims, who all disclosed sexual abuse at the hands of religious education teacher David Clarke.

Much of the offending took place in a dark room used for developing photographs, after being taken to the room by Clarke as part of a photography club he ran.

Clarke, 82, of Main Road in Brancaster Staithe, Norfolk, taught at Newlands Preparatory School between 1978 and 1989.

He has arrested and charged with 39 counts of indecent assault, five counts of indecent assault of a child and one count each of buggery of a boy under 16 and making an indecent photograph of a child.

Following a month-long trial at Brighton Crown Court, Clarke was found guilty of all but one count of attempted buggery on Monday, 13 April.

At Brighton Crown Court on Monday (1 June), Clarke was sentenced to 26 years in prison.

Investigator Nicky Beard said:

“David Clarke has now faced justice for his crimes, but the impact of his offending will last a lifetime.

“I would once again like to thank all 14 of these incredibly brave and resilient men for reporting to us, supporting this process and helping hold their accuser to account.

“We are committed to seeking justice for victims no matter how long ago offending may have taken place.

"We believe Clarke may have other victims. If you are affected, please do not suffer in silence – report it to us and we will support you and do everything we can to get you justice.”

Description

Following a Thames Valley Police investigation, a man has been sentenced for rape.  

Jonathan Goldsmith, aged 52, of Hatch Gate, Whitchurch Hill, Reading was sentenced on Friday 15 May, at a hearing at Reading Crown Court, to 28-years imprisonment, with four of those years on licence. 

He was found guilty of seven counts of rape and one count of blackmail following a three-week trial at the same court. 

In 2002, Goldsmith threatened a woman, who was in her late teens, with a knife and raped her in a parked car in London. 

Between 2005 - 2019, Goldsmith subjected a woman, who was in her late teens when they first met in Oxford, to multiple rapes, many of which involved physical violence and left her with injuries. His visited her home in Reading and continued this abuse, he captured images and videos of the abuse and blackmailed the victim with this material to prevent her from speaking about it.  

In 2014, Goldsmith met a woman, in her twenties, on a dating site, and in December he raped her, leaving her with injuries.  

 Goldsmith was arrested on 11 August 2002, 6 December 2014 and 14 April 2021.  

He was charged on 29 January 2026.  

Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Rachel Belsher said: “I am so grateful to the complainants in this case for the remarkable bravery and courage they have shown. 

“Jonathan Goldsmith is a serial rapist and has finally been held to account for his crimes. 

“He targeted women who he knew to be vulnerable and whom he assumed would never be believed. He was wrong.  

“The complainants have had to persevere in a very long and very invasive investigation and then trial process. I would like to thank these incredible women for making sure that Jonathan Goldsmith cannot hurt any more women.  

“I would like this conviction to show that no matter your circumstances, Thames Valley Police is committed to investigating violence against women and girls. If you are a victim of violence then please be reassured that we have specially trained officers who will listen and support you. 

“I would like to thank CPS Paralegal Mandy Dutton-Webb and prosecution trial counsel Ms Kim Preston and Mr Adam Williams for their expertise and hard work in getting the outcome we have.” 

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Sex Offender Breaches SHPO Twice Before Voluntarily Surrendering to Police

David Standley, 32, of Westbourne Street, Stockton, breached his Sexual Harm Prevention Order on two occasions before handing himself in to officers, telling them custody was the safest place for him.

Standley appeared via video link from HMP Holme House at Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday for sentencing on two counts of breaching the SHPO and possession of cannabis. The court heard that his mental health had deteriorated sharply at the time of the breaches.

In September 2021, Standley – then of Redcar – was caught communicating with someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl. In reality, it was a 50-year-old decoy from the undercover group Angels of Innocence. He sent an explicit image of himself and suggested she travel by train so they could “have sex in the woods”. He pleaded guilty to attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and was jailed for three years and two months, plus the SHPO.

In March this year he breached the order by factory resetting his mobile phone and discarding it.

Sentencing, Judge Jonathan Carroll described the case as “exceptionally unusual”.

He told Standley:

“You were going through a personal crisis and for whatever reason committed two offences of breaching a sexual harm prevention order. You immediately reported what you had done to police as you felt the only safe place you could be was prison. You did that because you recognised a decline in your mental health and [could] have committed violent offences.”

The judge imposed a six-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years, to allow Standley to address his underlying issues. He must also complete 90 rehabilitation activity days and a 26-day programme.

Description

A sexual predator who targeted women while they shopped in Cheshire and Greater Manchester has been jailed.

William Kidd appeared at Manchester Crown Court on Friday 29 May where he was sentenced to four years, and is now subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which remains in place indefinitely.

The 27-year-old of Stanbank Street, Stockport, had earlier pleaded guilty to 11 counts of sexual assault on a female, two counts of voyeurism, eight counts of recording an image under clothing to observe another without consent, and possession of cannabis.

The case against Kidd involves five incidents that took place between May and September 2025.

Following an investigation by Cheshire Police, supported by Greater Manchester Police, detectives found that Kidd targeted women while they shopped, discreetly following them through store aisles.

He visited stores in Macclesfield, Handforth and Stanley Green in Cheshire, as well as Denton and Stockport in Greater Manchester.

On four occasions, CCTV footage showed Kidd spraying the victims with a substance from a bottle he was carrying as he stalked them. He aimed at the women’s hair or backs, and the victims were often unaware of what had happened.

Forensic analysis later confirmed the substance was Kidd’s semen.

On a fifth occasion, Kidd followed a woman through a store and secretly filmed her on his mobile phone while she shopped with her fiveyearold daughter.

Kidd was identified following a Cheshire Police CCTV appeal, and he was subsequently arrested in October 2025. He was found to be in possession of a quantity of cannabis at the time of his arrest.

A review of his mobile phone uncovered further footage, including a video of Kidd following a woman pushing a small child in a shopping trolley while he filmed up her skirt. The woman appears to be completely unaware of his presence.

Kidd was charged and later pleaded guilty to the offences put to him.

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Tiffany Berry-Perkin said:

“Firstly, I would like to commend the victims in this case for the strength and bravery they have shown throughout this investigation.

“It is thanks to their continued support that our team was able to gather an overwhelming body of evidence against Kidd, leaving him with no option but to plead guilty.

“Kidd deliberately targeted innocent women as they went about their everyday lives, entirely unaware of the depraved acts he was committing against them.

"His behaviour is completely unacceptable, and I welcome the fact that he is now being held accountable behind bars, where he can no longer pose a danger to women in our communities.”

Detective Sergeant Steven Kaminski said:

“This case is an excellent example of neighbouring forces working together to identify and apprehend offenders who target women and girls.

“Kidd was fully aware that what he was doing was wrong. He knew his actions would cause his victims extreme distress, yet he chose to continue, deliberately travelling to multiple stores across two counties with the intention of violating and ultimately sexually assaulting innocent women.

“Putting an end to violence against women and girls remains a top priority for the force, and we will continue to remove sexual predators like Kidd from Cheshire and ensure they see justice.

“We treat all allegations of sexual offences extremely seriously, and any allegation will be thoroughly investigated, with the wishes and needs of the victim as our main priority.

“Victims should never feel ashamed of what has been done to them. Anyone who comes forward will be met with compassion, respect, and specialist support from our officers, alongside partner support agencies. All victims of sexual offences are entitled to anonymity, and we are committed to ensuring they receive the help and protection they deserve.”

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Migrant Hotel Resident Convicted of Sexually Assaulting Two Women in Falkirk

Muhammad Sheikhi, 23, a resident at the Cladhan Hotel in Falkirk, has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two women in the space of just over an hour.

The attacks took place in the early hours of a Sunday morning last November, shortly after the victims – both in their early 20s – left different nightclubs.

Sheikhi first targeted a woman at a railway bridge on Kerse Lane, where he hugged her, repeatedly kissed her on the face and mouth, and put his hands under her skirt. He then assaulted a second woman in Kerse Lane and at the nearby Bellsmeadow skatepark, pinning her against a tree before putting his hands under her clothing.

Sheikhi, who entered the UK by boat and was being housed at the Cladhan Hotel by the Home Office, was arrested in his room at the hotel, which has been the scene of repeated pro- and anti-immigration protests.

He denied the charges, telling police he had simply been “roaming around” because he had no one to socialise with in the hotel. He added: “Only animals would do that publicly.”

A third woman was seen on CCTV being approached by Sheikhi but walked away.

Following a four-day trial at Stirling Sheriff Court, a jury of 12 women and three men found him guilty of both sexual assaults. They deleted an allegation – which applied only to the skatepark incident – that the assault was carried out with intent to rape.

Through an Arabic interpreter, Sheikhi told police: “I am just a young man like everybody else who wants to have a good time.”

Prosecutor Jamie Hilland described Sheikhi’s behaviour as “predatory.” He told the jury: “On their evidence, the accused approached both women, he’s tried to give them his phone. He tried to get them to add him on Snapchat. In both cases he’s tried to corner the complainer and he then sexually assaulted both of them.”

Hilland highlighted the distress caused to the victims, noting that one called her father immediately afterwards: “(Her father) said she could hardly talk, she could hardly breathe. It was the point where he was struggling to understand her. She told him she had been sexually assaulted at the railway bridge by a man who put his hand under her skirt and tried to kiss her.”

Defence advocate Paul Keenan reserved mitigation until the sentencing hearing. In his closing speech he argued the evidence was “flawed throughout” and urged the jury to acquit.

Sheikhi has been placed on the sex offenders register and remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on 29 June.

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A 50-year-old man from Ipswich has been jailed for 12 years after being convicted of rape.

Keith McKenzie, of Bond Street, was found guilty of two counts of rape by a jury on 23 February 2026 following a five-day trial.

The court heard that McKenzie and the victim, a woman aged in her 20s, were neighbours at a block of flats at the time of the attack but were not otherwise known to each other.

In the early hours of the morning, the victim was awoken to knocking at her front door and called another neighbour, with whom she was friends, to assist.

The victim answered the door and McKenzie asked for a cigarette which her friend gave him, before going back to their own flat.

McKenzie then entered the premises, despite the victim’s objections, and raped her.

He later left the premises and threatened the victim against telling anyone.

He was arrested that same morning.

McKenzie appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on Thursday 28 May where he was sentenced to 12 years in prison. The sentence will run consecutively to a sentence imposed last year for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

He was also made subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register.

In a Victim Personal Statement, read aloud in court, the victim detailed how the assault has impacted her life. She said: “Emotionally, I feel violated, ashamed, and overwhelmed… I have struggled with guilt, even though deep down I know none of this is my fault... I wake up each day carrying the weight of something I never asked for and never deserved.”

DC Victoria McNamara, from the Safeguarding and Investigations Unit, who was the officer in charge of the case, said:

“This was a profoundly distressing incident for the victim, who has shown immense courage in coming forward and supporting the investigation.

“What should have been the safest place for her and her child was violated and the impact of that cannot be overstated. Since the incident, the victim has lived in constant fear, struggling with anxiety, sleep disturbance, and a loss of trust. She has spoken about the lasting effect this has had not only on her own wellbeing but also on her ability to feel secure and confident as a parent. No one should have to live with that burden.

“Victims of this nature of offence often carry the effects long after the incident itself. Trauma does not simply end when an investigation begins.

“Our priority has been to treat this victim with dignity, compassion and professionalism, while conducting a thorough and robust investigation and I hope by knowing that McKenzie is behind bars, she is able to move forward with her life.

“Offences of this kind will be taken extremely seriously. If you come forward, you will be listened to and supported.”

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A man from Beddau has been jailed after a jury found him guilty of rape.

Kyle Plummer, 32, raped his victim at a property in Beddau in 2023. Plummer pleaded not guilty to one count of rape but was found guilty after a three-day trial at Cardiff Crown Court in April.

He has been handed an extended sentence of six years and six months in prison and given a 10-year restraining order.

Detective Constable Davies said:

“I would like to thank the victim in this case for coming forward and for being courageous throughout the process of this investigation. Because of her, we have been able to convict a man who is clearly a threat to women. I can only hope that this helps her to move on from this in a more positive way and gain some form of closure.

“If you are the victim of a sexual offence, we urge you to report it to the police as soon as possible. You will be supported, and officers will treat all reports with sensitivity and professionalism.”

Description

Following a Thames Valley Police investigation, a child sex offender who committed offences in Milton Keynes has been jailed.

Peter Cox, aged 66, of Brambling Way, Oxford, was sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment at Amersham Crown Court on Wednesday 20 May.

He received a special custodial sentence for offenders of particular concern, meaning he will serve his full custodial term in prison without automatic early release, followed by a mandatory two-year extended licence period.

He pleaded guilty to six counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14, two counts of gross indecency with a girl under the age of 14, and two counts of gross indecency with a girl under the age of 16.

The offending took place between 1998 and 2002 in Milton Keynes. The victim was a child at the time of the offences.

Cox was first arrested on 5 September 2018 and, following a complex and protracted investigation, was charged on 1 November 2025.

Specialist Investigator Jo Simmons, of the Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said:

“This was an especially distressing case, not only because of the nature of the offences, but due to the victim’s vulnerability and very young age at the time.

“I would like to commend the victim for the immense courage and resilience she has shown throughout what has been a long and difficult investigation. Coming forward and supporting a case like this is never easy, and her strength has been truly remarkable.

“I hope this outcome provides some sense of justice and demonstrates that we will always take allegations of this nature seriously, no matter how much time has passed.”

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Momodau Bojang, 56, of Bramble Road in Southsea appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court on Friday 22 May, where he was sentenced for raping and strangling a woman in her 40s in October 2025.

Bojang pleaded not guilty to the offences, and previously appeared at the same court on Monday 16 March for trial.

At court, the jury heard how police had been called in the early hours of Tuesday 28 October, by a woman reporting that Bojang was not letting her leave his address on Bramble Road.

Officers attended and located the woman, before arresting Bojang and taking him into custody.

When speaking with the woman later the same day, she disclosed to officers that over the course of multiple days, whilst staying at Bojang’s address, he had raped and restrained her.

Following a five-day trial, the jury found Bojang guilty of both rape and intentional strangulation, and he was sentenced to eight years and 10 months imprisonment, which also reflected a breach of a previous suspended sentence.

He was also ordered to sign on to the Sex Offenders Register for life. 

Detective Constable Ellie Light from Hampshire an Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Operation Amberstone team said:

“I am very pleased to see Bojang face the justice he deserves for this awful crime.

“His behaviour demonstrates that he is clearly a dangerous and violent individual who believes he can treat other people deplorably with no consequence for his actions.

“I would like to thank the victim for her courage in speaking up about what happened to her and for her support throughout the investigation and court proceedings. She has been integral in helping us put Bojang behind bars.

“I would like to encourage anyone who has been the victim of a sexual offence to come forward and speak to us.

“We take allegations of this nature extremely seriously. You will be supported and we will thoroughly investigate any report made to us.”

Description

A violent sex offender who launched a “sickening” attack on a young man on a train has been jailed following a British Transport Police (BTP) investigation.

Zakaria Mohammed, aged 32, of The Coppice, West Drayton, pleaded guilty to Actual Bodily Harm, Sexual Assault, False Imprisonment and breaching the conditions of a previous Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

He was jailed for one year and eight months at Reading Crown Court on 19 May and placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

He was also made the subject of a 10-year SHPO and must pay a victim surcharge of £187.

The court heard how, shortly before 8.30am on Saturday 24 March, Mohammed sat directly opposite the 21-year-old victim at a table in an otherwise empty carriage.

The pair made small talk until Mohammed, who had clearly been drinking and was carrying a half empty bottle of wine, sexually assaulted the man.

He eventually moved to sit next to the victim, who attempted to the leave his seat when the train reached Reading station.

When he asked Mohamed to move so he could leave he refused, leaving the victim with no other option than to crawl under the table to escape.

However, as he was doing so, Mohammed repeatedly hit him over the head with his wine bottle.

On leaving the train the victim reported what had happened and realised he was bleeding heavily from cuts to his head.

Mohammed was arrested by BTP officers as he approached the barriers to leave the station and was found to be in breach of a previous SHPO forbidding him from travelling on public transport without paying for a ticket.

BTP Detective Constable Lauren Pace said:

“This was a truly sickening assault on a young man who was understandably terrified.

“Mohammed is a dangerous individual who saw nothing wrong with forcing himself upon the victim.

“Quite rightly he has been jailed as a result of our investigation and issued with a SHPO which will hopefully prevent him from attacking anyone else.

“We urge anyone who experiences or witnesses sexual offending on the railway to report it to us by texting 61016.”

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A 36-year-old man from Wiltshire has been jailed having pleaded guilty to numerous child sex offences and possession of cocaine.

Christopher Saunders-Pope of Randalls Croft Road in Wilton was sentenced to three years and four months by HH Judge Townsend at Swindon Crown Court today (28 May) following an investigation by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU).

Saunders-Pope was arrested by SWROCU officers in March 2024 after he had been communicating online with who he thought was a teenage boy. He travelled within the county intending to meet the child to sexually abuse. Instead, he was met by officers from the Unit and arrested.

In April this year he pleaded guilty to the following offences:

• Attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child 
• Arranging / facilitating commission of offence of sexual activity with a child 
• Making indecent photograph / pseudo photograph of a child (three counts)  
• Distributing an indecent photograph / pseudo photograph of a child 
• Possessing extreme pornographic image 
• Possessing a class A drug (cocaine) 

Detective Inspector David Wells from SWROCU said:

“When we arrested Saunders-Pope, he had travelled that day having made plans to abuse a young boy. Instead, he was taken into custody and prevented from causing the harm he intended. 

“Law enforcement agencies are constantly across the internet working to identify anyone looking to abuse or exploit children. Saunders-Pope's arrest was part of this ongoing work.”

HH Judge Townsend also handed Saunders-Pope a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.