Latest Offenders

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Wanted: Convicted sex offender George Casson after prison recall

North Yorkshire Police are appealing for help to locate convicted sex offender George Casson, 30, from Harrogate, after a prison recall was issued on 3 July.

Casson breached his licence conditions by failing to attend Probation Service appointments. Officers said: “Extensive enquiries have been ongoing to locate Casson and we’re now appealing for your help to help find him.”

He is believed to be in the Harrogate area and has links to Lancashire and Weston-Super-Mare in Avon and Somerset.

Casson is white, 5ft 4in, of small build, with cropped brown hair and blue eyes. He has previously had a short brown beard or stubble but may now be clean-shaven.

Last December he was jailed for 19 months after pleading guilty to one charge of sexual communication with a child, committed over several weeks some years earlier.

Anyone who sees Casson should call 999. Information about his whereabouts can be given to police on 101 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via its website, quoting reference 12260124861.

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A Sheffield man has been jailed this month for rape after members of the public bravely secured evidence against him.

Ansar Younis, 41, of Hatherley Road, Sheffield, raped an unconscious woman in Sheffield city centre at 1.14am on 20 September 2025.

Witnesses called the ambulance service who then called South Yorkshire Police to the scene of the attack. The ambulance service took the woman to hospital to be treated for injuries, and complete an early evidence kit to provide forensic evidence.

Four girls who witnessed the assault challenged Younis and when he ignored them they filmed the attack in order to provide evidence against Younis.

Upon arrival of officers, one of the witnesses was able to identify Younis, leading to his arrest.

Younis was interviewed on the day of his arrest, but provided no comment to all questions.

He was charged with rape and remanded into custody. Younis pleaded not guilty to the offence but was found guilty following a trial at Sheffield Crown Court on 31 March 2026.

Earlier this month (2 July) Younis was sentenced to nine years imprisonment.

Detective Constable Sophie Windle, the officer in charge of the case, said:

“This was a horrific attack against a woman who did not and could not consent.

“Rather than talk about the man who carried out this sick act, I would like to recognise the bravery of the four girls who intervened to record the offence, providing evidence that was absolutely instrumental at trial.

“Sheffield District Commander Jamie Henderson thanked the girls following the incident, and I would like to add my thanks now that justice has been served. These girls were upstanders, not bystanders. As soon as they realised what was happening they stepped in and they have helped put a rapist behind bars.”

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Obinwa Obichukwu jailed for sexually assaulting woman at Euston station

Obinwa Obichukwu, 45, of Armstrong Close, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, has been jailed for two years after being found guilty of two counts of sexual assault.

On the evening of 20 August 2023, Obichukwu approached a lone woman walking towards Euston station in London. He asked what music she was listening to, put his arm around her shoulder and asked her to come back to his house. As she continued along Euston Road he grabbed her hand and repeatedly said he loved her.

At the station entrance he stopped her from entering and sexually assaulted her. He followed her down the escalator and assaulted her again near the ticket barriers. She pushed him away and escaped.

British Transport Police investigated using CCTV and the CPS charged him. He was found guilty in January 2026 and sentenced on 21 July 2026 at Inner London Crown Court. He was also made subject to a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will remain on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

BTP Detective Constable Daniel Burke said:

“Obinwa Obichukwu is a sexual predator who targeted a lone woman and attacked her at a busy London station. He claimed his assault was consensual and took his case to trial, but fortunately the jury saw straight through his lies and he’s now behind bars where he belongs. Tackling violence and intimidation against women and girls is a priority for us as a force and we’re tireless in our efforts to bring offenders like Obichukwu to justice. If you experience or witness these crimes on the railway, please report it to us by texting 61016. We will always take action.”

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Martin Bugden jailed for 12 years after brutal rape and harassment

Martin Bugden, 32, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison at Canterbury Crown Court for a violent rape and subsequent harassment of his victim.

On 21 January 2021 at his Ashford home, Bugden overpowered the woman despite her repeatedly saying “no” and raped her. He then dragged her by the hair across the floor and threatened to kill her if she contacted police.

A neighbour heard the disturbance and called police at 11.45pm. Officers arrived within 10 minutes, found both inside the property and arrested Bugden. He denied the offences of rape and sexual assault in interview.

Released on bail with a no-contact condition, he continued to harass the victim with repeated texts and phone calls, leading to a further arrest. He was charged with nine sexual offences, including two counts of rape.

Formerly of Waghorn Street, Chatham, Bugden was sentenced last Thursday.

Investigating officer Det Con Josh Cooper said:

“This was a brutal attack that has robbed the victim of her sense of security and has left her with lasting mental anguish. I would like to commend her for her continued resolve throughout this investigative process. I am satisfied that my team was able to secure such a substantial sentence that reflects the severity of his offending. He will be placed behind bars for a considerable amount of time where he can no longer pose a threat to women in our community.”

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Harrison Bodnar sentenced after paedophile sting

Harrison Bodnar, 29, has been sentenced after being caught in a paedophile sting.

He pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. Between 25 February and 15 April last year, Bodnar sent sexual messages to someone he believed was an underage girl, including requests for explicit photos, court documents state. The account was in fact a decoy set up to catch offenders.

Bodnar, previously of Sidcup and now living in Kent, was sentenced at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on Monday 27 July. He received a two-year community order with rehabilitation activity requirements and 100 hours of unpaid work. A Sexual Harm Notification Order (SHPO) will monitor his internet use for five years, and he must sign the sex offenders’ register for the same period.

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A man who raped a 17-year-old girl in Berryhill Fields has pleaded guilty in court.

We have been working tirelessly to build the evidence against Jason William Heaton, 53, of Hulme, Stoke-on-Trent, who was arrested earlier this month following a report of a rape.

At about 7pm on 2 July, the victim was walking in Berryhill Fields, off Dividy Road, between Bentilee and Berryhill, when she was raped by Heaton.

The victim bravely reported what happened and Heaton was arrested and charged.

We were able to present the court with strong evidence today, which left Heaton no choice but to admit what he did.

At Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court yesterday (Monday 27 July), Heaton pleaded guilty to two counts of rape of a woman, attempted rape, cause a female 13 or over to engage in sexual activity and kidnap.

He will now be taken to prison ahead of his sentencing date due at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on 30 September.

Speaking following the conviction, Detective Constable Samantha Gales said:

“This was a particularly abhorrent attack on the survivor, who has shown immense bravery in coming forward and supporting our investigation.”

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A predatory paedophile who raped and sexually abused a girl has been sentenced to 16 years in jail and four years on extended licence.

Robert Douglas was a registered sex offender when he carried out the sexual abuse in the Preston area between December 2025 and February 2026.

The abuse included rape and other sexual offences. In addition to the sexual abuse of the girl, Douglas sent her sexually explicit messages and encouraged her to send them too. As part of their investigation officers found over 1,000 indecent images of children on Douglas’ phone.

Robert Douglas, 26, of Ash Drive, Warton, Preston was convicted of multiple sexual offences after pleading guilty to 17 charges, covering:

• Rape of a child
• Sexual abuse of a child
• Multiple Indecent Image offences (possession of category A, B and C images of young children)

He was sentenced on Monday 20th July at Preston Crown Court to a total of 16 years in custody and four years on extended licence.

He will need to serve two thirds of the 16 year custodial sentence before being eligible for parole. 

The victim’s Dad said:

“My daughter has always been the heart of our family. She was bright, confident, and full of life. Watching her grow into a bright, thoughtful, compassionate and socially vibrant young girl has been one of my greatest joys as her father.

“Since the abuse, everything has changed. The impact on her emotional wellbeing has been devastating. The effects are ongoing, far reaching, and deeply painful. We are doing everything we can to support her, but the road ahead is long, and the consequences of this trauma are present in every corner of our lives.”
Detective Constable Helen Morrison of Lancashire Police said:

“I want to commend the victim's extraordinary bravery. Her courage in coming forward and standing strong throughout this investigation was vital.

“Justice has been served with the sentencing of Douglas, a dangerous paedophile who preyed upon a vulnerable victim. His significant custodial sentence reflects the horrific nature of his actions.

“I want all victims of sexual offences to know that, should they choose to come forward, they will be treated with the utmost sensitivity, professionalism, and respect.

“We hope this result brings the victim some peace and closure as she moves forward with her recovery.”

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Szuhel Lee, 53, of Roberts Street, Salford, has been jailed for 27 months after being caught attempting to arrange the sexual abuse of a child with an undercover officer – less than a year after his release from a 10-year US prison sentence for a similar offence.

Lee was first jailed in Florida in 2013 after travelling to Orlando with the purpose of engaging in sexual activity with a child under 16. He was released in 2022. In August 2025 he began messaging an undercover officer from Operation Xcalibur on a porn website, later moving the conversation to Telegram.  

On 5 September he asked about sexually abusing the officer’s purported granddaughter and requested to speak to the “girl.” One message he sent read: “Do you s*** his d***?”  

He was arrested in October 2025. Police recovered hundreds of indecent images of children from his devices, including 121 Category A images and videos of children aged four to six, 135 Category B images and videos of children aged 0–12 months, and 1,109 Category C images of children aged six to eight. Seven extreme pornographic images depicting bestiality were also found.  

Lee pleaded guilty at Manchester Crown Court to attempted sexual communication with a child, making Category A, B and C indecent images of children, and possession of an extreme pornographic image.  

Prosecutor Eleanor Brambell told the court the conversation began on 12 August 2025 and that Lee “said he wanted to speak to the ‘granddaughter’” before asking her to describe sexual abuse.  

Defending, Clare Ashcroft said Lee had received no offence-related courses in the US prison and “has never been given the opportunity to engage with the probation service and to address what is a sexual interest in children.” She described him as an isolated individual with little family contact who “felt very alone and didn’t know what to do.”  

Recorder Alexandra Simmonds sentenced Lee, stating: “The similarity between the previous case and this one demonstrates a continued sexual interest in children on your part, and a perseverance to continue that behaviour not withstanding the length of sentence.”  

He was placed on the Sex Offenders Register and made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life.

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Four men who came forward and reported non-recent sexual abuse against them when they were just children, have watched their perpetrator get sentenced to a total of eighteen years and four months behind bars, and ordered to remain on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Graham Stephenson, 55-years-old, of Nestor Grove in Hull appeared at Grimsby Crown Court on Monday, 27 July 2026 to be sentenced after he pleaded guilty to two counts of inciting a boy to engage in sexual activity, rape, sexual activity with a child and making indecent photographs of a child. In addition to his custodial sentence, he also received an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Officers received a report from a man in February 2023 disclosing non recent sexual abuse against him when he was a young child.

The case was immediately flagged with our Protecting Vulnerable People Unit; an investigation was launched and officers started obtaining video recorded interviews from the man who had come forward.

Initial enquiries established that Stephenson used money and other forms of manipulation to sexually abuse the vulnerable young boy, with the abuse continuing for around six years, starting when the victim was around 10 years old.

As the investigation progressed, further enquiries identified a second potential victim, who, when approached by officers, disclosed that he had been sexually abused by Stephenson from the age of six, with the offending continuing for approximately nine years.

Stephenson was subsequently arrested in July 2023, and during his interview in custody he denied all offences and any knowledge of what the victims had reported.

Following the arrest, and after both men had told their close ones that they had come forward to the police to explain what Stephenson had subjected them to, a third man, also known to them, then came forward with similar reports of sexual abuse he had been subjected to by Stephenson.

During the investigation, officers also identified a fourth man who had been subjected to sexual behaviour by Stephenson in 2004.

As part of the investigation, Stephenson’s home address was searched by officers, and around 45 devices were seized. Following examination, over 500 illegal images were located on his computer devices, including images of a sexual nature. The evidence further underlined Stephenson’s involvement in the non-recent abuse of the four boys.

Detective Constable Rebecca Davison from our Protecting Vulnerable People Unit said:

“Rape and sexual abuse against boys and men is extremely underreported, and I would like to start by acknowledging and commending the four men for coming forward and reporting what had happened to them as such young children.

“We wouldn’t be here today without the bravery and strength shown by the men throughout the entirety of what has been a very lengthy and complex investigation, but despite everything they had been through they were all still willing to give evidence which has ultimately led us to get some kind of justice for them.

“Stephenson denied all allegations when interviewed and initially pleaded not guilty, only later changing his plea to guilty. The investigation showed a clear pattern of manipulation over many years, where he deliberately used influence and control to facilitate the abuse of these boys.

“We take reports of rape, and other sexual offences, both recent and non-recent, extremely seriously and will continue to seek justice for those who have suffered at the hands of such sordid individuals like Stephenson.

“No matter your age or gender, or whether the offences took place yesterday or 30 years ago, we would encourage you to tell someone you trust and report it to the police.“

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A man who abducted a teenage girl at knifepoint before raping her in a basement has been given an Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR).

Aaron Strachan, now 21, approached the 15-year-old girl as she waited at a bus stop in Edinburgh city centre in the early hours of 25 May 2025. 

Due to feeling uneasy, the victim walked away towards Princes Street, where other members of the public were present.  

Strachan, who was wearing a balaclava, was then captured on CCTV following her from a distance.  

He then ran towards the girl as she sat at a second bus stop, threatening to harm her while brandishing a knife.  

Strachan seized her by the shoulders and forcibly led her to the basement of a building on York Place. 

He blocked the door with wooden pallets to prevent the victim from leaving before raping her. 

Strachan, who did not know the victim, was identified after his DNA was found at the scene.  

He was seen by police on Dalry Road on 1 June 2025 and ran off from officers but was located hiding in shrubbery a short time later.  

On 4 December 2025, Strachan appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh where he pleaded guilty to rape. 

He also admitted repeatedly stabbing a man on the hand with a knife, causing severe injury – an offence which took place just hours before the rape. 

Strachan further pleaded guilty to a second assault after striking another man on the head with a claw hammer on 28 May 2025, to the danger of his life. 

On 13 January 2026, after sentencing was adjourned, the accused escaped from custody while leaving the court building. He was caught by police a short time later.  

On 27 July 2026, at the High Court in Edinburgh, Strachan was given the indefinite sentence and ordered to serve a minimum of five years before he can be considered for parole. 

His name has been added to the sex offenders register indefinitely. 

Faye Cook, Procurator Fiscal for High Court Sexual Offences, said:  

“Aaron Strachan’s actions in abducting his victim before raping her were calculated, predatory, and caused profound harm. 

“Although this type of stranger offending is rare, this conviction reflects the gravity of his crimes and the commitment of prosecutors and police to bring him to justice. 

“Sexual violence and the use of weapons to intimidate and harm have no place in our society. 

“We will continue to take action against perpetrators while supporting victims throughout the prosecution process.”

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A Swindon sex offender who was purporting to be a 15-year-old girl online has been jailed for a number of child sex offences.

Paul Webb, 28, formerly of Avonmead, Hayden Wick, appeared in Swindon Crown Court last Wednesday (22/07) after pleading guilty to four counts of attempting to cause/incite a boy aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity, and two counts of attempting to cause a child aged 13 to 15 to look at an image of sexual activity.

He was jailed for four years. He must also sign on to the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely and is subject to a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

The sentence comes following an investigation by our Paedophile Online Investigation Team (formerly known as our Child Internet Exploitation Team), which found that Webb was pretending to be a teenage girl online and repeatedly attempting to engage teenage boys in sexual conversation.

He was subsequently charged and remanded into custody.

DC Sadie McCoy from POLIT said:

“Webb is undoubtedly a dangerous individual whose behaviour poses a real risk to children.

“I’m pleased the court has recognised the severity of his offending and has put him behind bars.

“He will also be subject to a SHPO, which places a number of conditions and requirements on him for when he is released from prison.

“Our team works to prevent offenders like Webb from exploiting and abusing children and I hope this case sends a strong message to our communities that we are committed to targeting offenders like Webb who have the potential to cause serious and significant harm."

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A serial sex offender who exposed himself on trains twice in three days has been jailed, following a British Transport Police (BTP) investigation.

Oliver Shoesmith, 44, and of no fixed address, was sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment at Northampton Crown Court on Monday 13 July having pleaded guilty to two counts of Exposure. He was also handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

The court heard how on Tuesday 20 August 2024 Shoesmith boarded a train at Guildford railway station bound for Farnham. He walked down the train before spotting a lone woman, opting to sit across the aisle from her despite there being many other empty seats.

The woman, who was reading her book, didn't initially notice as Shoesmith unzipped his jacket and trousers before exposing himself. As soon as she noticed, the woman stood up and moved down the train away from him.  

Shoesmith also got up, moving further down the train until he spotted another woman. He sat diagonally opposite from the woman, who was sat across from her husband, before exposing himself again and masturbating.  

Only two days later, on Thursday 22 August, Shoesmith boarded a train at Brighton railway station bound for Bedford and again sat across the aisle from a woman.

She noticed Shoesmith masturbating and exposing himself while looking directly at her and screamed. A member of railway staff came to the victim’s aid and Shoesmith moved down the carriage before getting off the train at Burgess Hill.

Shoesmith, who has previously been jailed in 2018 for three years for Exposure and Sexual Assault and again for two years and four months in 2024 for breaching his SHPO and Exposure, was linked to these two offences while he was in prison.

Shoesmith was arrested at HMP Five Wells on Thursday 6 November 2025 and taken to custody for questioning. In interview he admitted to both incidents and later pleaded guilty before being sentenced to a further 10 months' imprisonment.

BTP Detective Constable Ewen Roberts said:

"Shoesmith has repeatedly targeted lone women on the railway in deliberate and horrific acts. His behaviour, repeated time and again, is completely unacceptable and I'm pleased he’s back behind bars.

"There is absolutely no place for sexual offending on the rail network, and we're committed to securing justice for anyone who is targeted by the likes of Shoesmith.

"I'd urge anyone who experiences or witnesses a sexual offence on a train or at a station to report it to us by texting 61016. We take every report seriously, and will stop at nothing to put offenders before the courts.

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A former senior youth worker has been sentenced to five and a half years behind bars after he was found guilty of six counts of sexual offences against multiple children between 2012 and 2022 following a complex investigation by detectives from our Child Sexual Exploitation team (CSE).

Jacob Agnew, 30-years-old, of East Hull, who identifies himself as white British, was found guilty of four counts of sexual activity with a child, sexual assault, and causing a child to engage in sexual activity, following a 13-day trial at Hull Crown Court which concluded last month (Tuesday, 30 June 2026).

In addition, at an earlier court hearing, Agnew pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual activity with a child, and fraud.

After appearing at Hull Crown Court for sentencing today (Friday, 24 July 2026), he has also been handed a five-year restraining order against all victims involved and will be on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Agnew will also be ordered to remain on the barred and disclosure list indefinitely, meaning he will never be able to work in a youth setting ever again.

During the trial, the court heard how Agnew’s offending was committed over a period spanning a decade, between 2012 and 2022, involving seven girls aged between 14 and 17-years-old.

Detective Inspector Tim Hudson from our Child Sexual Exploitation Team, said:

“I would first like to start by commending the immense courage shown by those who came forward and thank them for their support throughout the complexities of this investigation and the court proceedings. Their bravery in speaking to us, and in giving evidence in court, cannot be underestimated.

“Agnew was a senior youth worker who used his position of trust and responsibility to target vulnerable young girls. When concerns were raised, he used his manipulative charm to claim the children were attracted to him, that they were fabricating stories, and that he was the victim.

“In 2022, his employer suspended him whilst investigating a similar complaint from a child. During this suspension, he fraudulently supplied a character reference to gain a position of trust at a school. When his ongoing suspension and this false representation were highlighted, the job offer was rescinded before he could start. This shows his determination to secure a further position of trust which in the past has afforded him the opportunity to offend.

“This has been a complex investigation which has uncovered predatory offending spanning more than a decade, impacting several young girls who have carried the impact of this abuse for years. No sentence will take away their trauma, but I am pleased to say he is now behind bars where he belongs.

“Our Child Sexual Exploitation team have specially trained detectives who will listen, investigate, and continue to ensure offenders like Agnew are brought before the courts.

“It doesn't matter if the offences took place yesterday or 10 years ago — when you are ready to talk to us, we will listen, we will support you, and we will take action.

“If you don’t want to talk to us, or if you would like additional support, there are lots of people who can help. You are in control, and it’s up to you who you talk to and what support you need.”

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A convicted sex offender has been sent back to jail for a further string of sexual offences.

Christopher Hall, of no fixed address, appeared at Chester Crown Court on 22nd July to be sentenced after pleading guilty to four counts of making indecent photographs, possession of extreme pornographic images involving animals, possession of indecent photographs, three counts of distributing indecent photographs and being an adult attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

The 58-year-old was sentenced to three years in prison.

As part of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order conditions, the 58-year-old has to agree to unannounced visits by police, and checks on his devices to ensure he is compliant with the order. 

On Friday 13th February 2026 officers attended his address and looked at his iPhone 14. Evidence of indecent images led to his electronic devices being seized for further investigation.

They found 32 category A videos, one category B image, 16 category B videos, 7 category C images and 14 extreme pornographic videos.

They also found that he had been using an app to speak to someone who clearly stated the were 14 years old and made continued sexualised comments and conversation with them.

PC Ell Estcourt said:

“This is Hall's second sexual offence of this nature. He knew he had to adhere to conditions in order to stay out of prison, yet he still went ahead and carried on with his predatory and disturbing behaviour.

“I hope this goes as a warning to those who are subject to such conditions, that we do check and we will take action in order to protect children and young people from harm.”

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Following a Thames Valley Police investigation, a man has been sentenced for sexual offences in South Oxfordshire. 

Karl Miles (pictured below), aged 39, of Ipsden Court, Cholsey, Wallingford, pleaded guilty to one count each of an offender 18 or over engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 13-15 years old on multiple occasions by digital penetration, an offender 18 or over engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 13-15 years old and engaging in sexual communication with a child at Oxford Crown Court on 22 June 2026. 

At the same court, Miles was sentenced to five years and four months' imprisonment yesterday (23/7). 

Between 1 March 2021 and 25 December 2021, Miles groomed and sexually assaulted the victim, girl in her teens at the time of the offences.  

Miles was arrested on 7 June 2022 and re-arrested on 4 May 2023.  

Subsequently, Miles was charged on 16 June 2024. 

Investigating officer Detective Constable Davina Gotch of the Criminal Investigation Department said:

"Firstly, I cannot commend the bravery of the victim enough, for coming forward and speaking out about what happened to them.  

“The abuse, and subsequent trial, has had a huge impact on the victim, but the resilience and strength of character she has shown is a real credit to her. 

"Sadly, the victim has since been diagnosed with severe complex PTSD as a result of the abuse she suffered from Miles. 

"Miles lied to police during his initial interview and continued to maintain his innocence throughout the investigation however when confronted with the evidence at court, he changed his plea to guilty.  

"The fight against child sexual abuse will never stop and I hope this conviction highlights not only our commitment in tackling these crimes but also our commitment in protecting all children and tracking down anyone who seeks to harm them. 

“As a force we remain committed to investigating these cases thoroughly, bringing sexual predators to justice, and support victims and witnesses of these abhorrent crimes. 

"I would always urge any victims of such heinous crimes to come forward and report these to police."