Latest Offenders Norfolk

Description

A "scheming individual" with an "entrenched" sexual interest in children who he preyed upon has been jailed.

Thomas Bulmer, 31, was just a teenager himself when he started offending by inciting a boy under 13 - who cannot be named for legal reasons - to engage in sexual activity while in a field in Norfolk.

Following that offence in 2006 Bulmer went onto commit a total of 25 other offences - mostly against people living in the Thetford area - over the next 17 years.

Norwich Crown Court heard in 2016 police became aware of Bulmer posing online under false profiles, both of which had incited children to send indecent images of themselves.

Bulmer had also distributed indecent images of children and caused other children to watch indecent material comprising the defendant touching himself sexually.

Stephen Spence, prosecuting, said the enquiry initially came to Norfolk Constabulary's Safeguarding Children Online Team (SCOLT) due to the volume of children reporting concerns.

Mr Spence said Bulmer had an "entrenched and continuing sexual interest in children".

He said it "manifested itself in the solicitation, making and distribution of indecent images of children, carrying out sexual acts in the presence of children, either physical presence or over the internet, attempts at online grooming and contact offences".

The court heard Bulmer committed two offences of inciting a child to commit sexual activity, in getting a six or seven year old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons to touch him sexually.

He also got another boy, who was 13 at the time, to send the defendant images of his genitals in exchange for pictures of teen girls Bulmer would send.

Bulmer, who also engaged in sexual activity in the presence of a boy, 10, who had been in bed, appeared for sentence earlier this month having admitted 25 sexual offences, including two counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The defendant, from Harleston Road, Langmere, near Diss was handed a 17-year extended sentence - made up of 11 years custody and six years on licence - by Judge Andrew Shaw.

The court heard Bulmer, who was represented by Oliver Haswell, committed the first offence when he was only a child himself and had previously suffered abuse and a traumatic childhood.  

Mr Haswell said his guilty pleas had saved the victims from having to give evidence and he had shown some insight and remorse when assessed by the Probation Service.  

He said that since being remanded into custody, Bulmer had engaged positively and was now assisting other inmates with their literacy and mathematics and acting as a listener to those struggling within the Prison estate.

Speaking after the sentence, Sgt Naomi Harger from Suffolk Police said: "This was a horrific case regarding a manipulative and scheming individual. He preyed on children to satisfy his own perverse and deviant desires. 

"We are very satisfied with this sentence which I hope goes some way to reassure the public of the action we will take against those suspected of such offences."

She added: "We will do everything within our power to protect victims who are subjected to these potentially life changing acts of indecency purely for the gratification of others.”

The officer urged parents concerned about people their children might be in contact with to use Sarah's Law, or the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme (CSODS).

Description

A "dangerous sexual predator" spent two decades raping and manipulating girls and young women, a court has heard. Kevin Offland subjected six different females to sexual violence and abuse in a prolonged campaign of horrific offending.

A judge at Swansea Crown Court said she had no doubt Offland presented a danger to women and said an extended sentence was necessary to protect the public. The 45-year-old defendant refused to attend his sentencing hearing – something the judge said did not surprise her as he was "both a bully and a coward".

Speaking after the sentence police praised the courage of the victims in coming forward and giving evidence and said the case should serve as reminder to everyone that "justice can still be served years after any abuse was committed". Prosecutor Andrew Davies told the court it was the prosecution position that Offland was a "dangerous sexual predator" who had preyed on females for two decades. The court heard a series of statements from the defendant's victims in which they set out the devastating impact his offending has had on their lives.

One woman described how the defendant had exploited and manipulated her and subjected her to "the most heinous abuse" and described him as a "masochistic entity". Another said Offland had "completely ruined my childhood and ruined me as a person" and had left her with complex post-traumatic stress disorder while another described how she suffered with severe depression and was now unable to trust anyone.

Kevin Offland, formerly of Black Bridge, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, and now of Nichols Road, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, had previously been convicted at trial of 18 offences of rape, causing a child to engage in sexual activity, and sexual activity with a child when the case returned to court for sentencing. The offending took place between 1998 and 2021 at locations in Pembrokeshire and Shropshire. Nicola Powell, for Offland, said the defendant put his account to the jury at trial and maintains his innocence.

Judge Catherine Richards said she was not surprised Offland had refused to attend the sentencing hearing as he was "both a bully and a coward". She told the defendant he had dominated, abused, and raped woman and girls who "had the misfortune to come across you" and she said she had no doubt he posed a danger to woman and was a "manipulative predator". The judge paid tribute to the courage of the woman who came forward and gave evidence at trial and acknowledged no sentence a court could pass could measure the misery Offland had inflicted on them.

The defendant was given a 30-year extended sentence comprising 26 years in custody followed by a four-year licence period. Offland must serve two-thirds of the custodial element of the sentence before he can apply to be let out but it will be for the Parole Board to determine if he is safe to be released.

Speaking after the sentencing Dyfed-Powys Police detective constable Claire Duggan, the officer who investigated the case, said: "This has been a complex case involving a number of victims and witnesses from two different force areas. Their courage and strength to firstly report the abuse, which was extremely sensitive, and also the way they have remained strong throughout the investigation and trial is to be commended. I would like to thank the jury on the guilty verdicts given and Judge Richards for the sentencing.

"This successful court result is an important reminder to everyone that justice can still be served years after any abuse was committed. I hope now that the victims and their families, who have been affected by the actions of Kevin Offland, can now try and move on with their lives."

Police investigator Ian Rutherford from West Mercia Police - the force that covers Shropshire - described it as a "harrowing and shocking" case and said the trauma Offland caused his victims would likely to be life-long. He paid tribute to the "unwavering determination and bravery" of the victims and their families, and said while he welcomed the sentence handed down by the court in Swansea no sentence could ever provide justice for the survivors.

Description

A convicted sex offender obsessed with "panties and underwear" was caught offending online by police after he was targeted by paedophile hunters.

Morgan Green, 48, thought he had been communicating with teenage girls but had in fact been messaging with two adult decoys from paedophile hunter groups.

Norwich Crown Court heard he had been in conversation with an adult decoy who immediately stated she was 13.

John Morgans, prosecuting, said Green initially stated she was "too young" but he went on to manipulate the conversation around to a sexual context.

Mr Morgans said Green, who has an "obsession with underwear" had been asking her for pictures of her "in her panties".

In online conversations with another 13-year-old, also an adult decoy, Green again requested pictures before encouraging her to commit a sexual act upon herself.

Police were contacted and Green, who has a previous conviction for attempted sexual communication with a child, was arrested.

Green, from New Street, Cromer appeared for sentence on Monday after admitting two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

He also admitted attempting to cause or incite a girl under 16 to engage in sexual activity on November 19 last year.

Judge Andrew Shaw said Green was a "dangerous" offender who posed a "significant risk of serious harm" to children.

He imposed an extended sentence of 10 years and four months, made up of four years and four months custody and six years on licence.

Judge Shaw added: "People like you don't just happen upon these sites, you go looking for them".

Cathy McCulloch, mitigating, said the defendant, a father of three, was a man who had a "bit of a self-destruct button" but was "just so grateful they weren't real children".

She said he wanted her to say he was "very upset" and "very sorry" but accepted what he had done was wrong.

Green was also made the subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) as well as being put on the sex offenders register for life.

Description

Aiden Rollin had been "extremely sexually preoccupied" and forced himself on young girls to "quell and satisfy" his desires.

Rollin, from Beccles Road, Bradwell, near Great Yarmouth, appeared at Norwich Crown Court for sentencing having been convicted of nine sexual offences against four young victims between September 2017 and March 2020.

The court heard in an attack against one of the victims, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, he "covered her mouth and nose" with his hand before raping her and then attempting to sexually assault her.

Before Rollin was jailed for nine years on Friday, the court heard statements from three of his victims, one of whom described Rollin as a "monster" and a "demon" and hoped he "rotted in jail".

The victim, who was 15 at the time, said he had "destroyed", manipulated and broke me".

She said what Rollin did to her made her feel as if "I wanted to tear every single bit of skin off and tear my eyes out.

"I wanted to rip my heart out so I couldn't feel the pain.

She said: "Now you're going down for it because you're a monster."

The victim said he "became my demon", was everything she feared but now hoped he "rotted in jail".

Another victim, who was raped in August 2019, said she felt "haunted for life" by what Rollin had done to her and just wanted the nightmares and flashbacks to end.

Before jailing Rollin, Judge Andrew Shaw said it was "difficult to express how sad it was to read the impact of your behaviour on such young women".

Marc Brown, representing Rollin, said the defendant was "very young" when some of the offending occurred.

Mr Brown said Rollin was "still a young man" and an "immature man" who committed "the bulk of the offending" before he turned 18

Rollin was made the subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and also put on the sex offenders register for life.

Description

A pensioner was found with a mirror as he attempted to spy on two young sisters while they were in showers at a Cromer holiday park.

Trevor Cator, 67, was seen by one of the girls on all fours after trying to peer under cubicles at Cromer Caravan Park.

Norwich Magistrates’ Court was told that he had claimed to police that a mirror found in his possession had been to read text on his mobile phone.

Stuart Cowen, prosecuting, said: “If you use a mirror for that the text will be backwards. The crown says there was a more sinister use.”

The two sisters, aged nine and 11, had been on holiday at the campsite on August 8 when they went into female toilets to use shower cubicles.

Mr Cowen said: “One of the girls heard something outside so she put a towel on and opened the door and saw the defendant on all fours within one of the toilets.”

She alerted her parents who confronted Cator who had fled into the male toilets and locked himself in a cubicle, the court heard

He later claimed to police that he had been caught short and rushed into the toilets without checking whether they were male or female.

Cator, of Barkers Herne in Cromer, pleaded guilty to attempted voyeurism.

The court was told he had previously been convicted of spying on two young girls changing in a cubicle at a Hemsby holiday park in 2013.

David Foulkes, mitigating, said there was no evidence his latest offence was more than an attempt at voyeurism. 

“What he saw was a girl emerging from a shower cubicle wearing a towel. He did not see into the cubicle and no recording was taking place,” he added. 

Committing him to be sentenced at Norwich Crown Court on January 8, magistrates told Cator: "These girls should have been in a safe place. This offence is so serious you need a greater punishment than we can give." 

He was given conditional bail banning him from any UK campsite and any public showers.

Description

A “high risk” sex offender who abused young girls from the 1970s up until his arrest in 2021 has been jailed for 14 years.

Grenville Blower, 66, had denied abusing three pre-teen and teenage girls in the 1970s, 1990s and between 2017 and 2021.

Sentencing him to an extended 14-year sentence at Norwich Crown Court, Judge Katharine Moore said: “I regard you as a dangerous offender with a pattern of persistent and repeated behaviour.

“Plainly you are sexually attracted to pre-pubescent and young pubescent girls.”

Blower, of Lexham Road in Litcham, near Dereham, was convicted of 10 counts of indecent assault.

He abused the first victim on "multiple occasions" some when she was aged under 13 and he was 15 but others when he was aged over 18. 

Philip Farr, prosecuting, said it was "repeated and persistent" activity which happened on "several occasions".

His second victim was also assaulted multiple times in the 1990s when he touched her while she was just 14.

The third victim was aged between six and 11 when she was abused by the defendant when he was aged in his 60s

One of the victims read out a statement stating she has "cried myself to sleep thinking about what he has done to me".

She said any time she thinks about what happened it "makes me upset" adding that ever since it happened she has been "scared of old men" not knowing whether they wanted to do the same things to her.

Another victim said he had tried to "bury so, so deep" what he had done to her as she "didn't think anyone would believe me" but had been in "utter turmoil" as a result of what the "monster" did to her.

She said the "horrific events" she had been through as a result of this "devastating ordeal" would never leave her.

Another of the victims said she had "kept this to myself" for decades and wished she had the courage to have come forward sooner.

Judge Katharine Moore said a probation report had described Blower as “high risk” and “in denial” about his offending. 

She said the passage of time “makes it difficult now to assess your maturity” when he began offending in the 1970s aged 15 but from age 18 he was “highly culpable”.

Making him subject to a 20-year sexual harm prevention order, she said it was clear his “sexual interest in young girls remains undimmed”.  

Stephen Mather, for Blower, said he is a “simple man” who is "not in the best of health" and was experiencing prison for the first time.

He added that he knew he needed to be punished but insisted these matters were the "only offending" he had committed.

He will serve nine years in prison and five years on licence and will be subject to sexual offending notification requirements indefinitely.

Description

The mother of a teenager who was the victim of online sexual offences called police after her daughter was sent crotchless underwear through the post, a court has heard.

The mother asked her daughter, then 14, what was going on after the parcel containing the underwear arrived.

Norwich Crown Court heard her daughter revealed she had been communicating online with Ashton Drake, who was nine years older than her.

Ms Ascherson said police were called after it emerged Drake had sought naked images of the victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons.

Drake had also filmed himself performing sexual acts and had asked her to do the same, in messages sent over the space of a few days between December 24, 2019, and January 4, 2020.

The defendant, now 27, of Alexandra Road, Sheringham, appeared at court for sentencing on Friday (October 13) having previously admitted one count of causing a child to watch a sexual act. 

Description

A fish and chip shop owner was confronted by online paedophile hunters after sending explicit messages and pictures to what he believed to be 12 and 13-year-old girls.

David Maynard, 43, thought he was communicating with young girls but they were in fact members of a group known as Defending the Innocent.

Norwich Crown Court heard he communicated with three profiles on a chat app called Wink, one pretending to be a 12-year-old called Chloe and others he thought were girls called Madison and Elle, both aged 13.

Prosecuting Chris Youell said: “While the adults were pretending to be those three girls he was chatting sexually to them, sending them pictures of his penis and making references to owning a chip shop.”

Video of him being confronted by members of the group outside the Fryers Delight, on Nelson Road North in Great Yarmouth, was live-streamed on Facebook shortly before he was arrested by police in July 2022.

Maynard, of Beck Avenue, Ormesby, had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

A further three counts of attempting to cause a child to watch/look at an image of a sexual act will lie on file.

He ordered him to do 200 hours unpaid work, 20 rehabilitation days and to attend a programme to address his sexual offending. 

A 10 year sexual harm prevention order will also bar him from owning any device capable of hiding or deleting his online search history.

Description

A part-time judge who described a convicted sex offender as "Jack the lad" during sentencing has been criticised by a Court of Appeal judge.

Recorder John Hardy used the phrase when sentencing Aaron Hewson, 33, for three sexual assaults at Norwich Crown Court in April.

Lady Justice Macur, who oversaw an appeal hearing on Thursday, said she "deplored" Recorder Hardy's indication.

Hewson's sentence was increased after being considered unduly lenient.

The Rape Crisis charity said "language really matters" when talking about sexual assault.

Hewson, from Cromer, Norfolk, had been jailed of three years and 11 months in April after a trial.

Three appeal judges - Lady Justice Macur, Mrs Justice Cockerill and Mr Justice Murray - increased that term to seven years at the Court of Appeal after concluding that the original sentence was unduly lenient.

They upheld an appeal by Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson.

'Significant flaws'

Charles Burton, who represented Hewson, had argued that the sentence was not unduly lenient and should not be increased.

Appeal judges heard that Hewson had convictions for violence and, when a juvenile, had been convicted of sex offences.

He had also admitted possessing an "extreme" pornographic image.

Lady Justice Macur said appeal judges had concluded that there had been "significant flaws" in Recorder Hardy's approach to sentencing.

She said he had indicated when passing sentence that evidence suggested Hewson was a "Jack the lad character".

"We deplore the judge's description as indicating that the defendant was 'Jack the lad'," she said.

"This offending was predatory."

Jayne Butler, chief executive at Rape Crisis, said: "Words or phrases that normalise abusive behaviour or downplay its severity are not only damaging for victims and survivors but for society as a whole.

"They play into what we call 'rape culture', where sexual assault is minimised, accepted or laughed off.

"It's crucial that sexual assault, and all forms of sexual violence and abuse, are spoken about in a way that acknowledges its immense impact on victims and survivors."

Description

Former teacher Richard Cosburn has been sentenced to a minimum of 12 years for multiple sexual offences against children at Norwich Crown Court today (19 July 2023).

Cosburn, 56, from Mill Road in Great Yarmouth, admitted a total of 23 sex offences against four child victims including multiple rapes against children with the offences dating back to the early 2000s against victims aged 16 and under.

A statement from one of his victim’s, read in court by a police officer, said: “Sometimes I find myself closing my eyes to pretend this is all just a bad dream but the feelings of anxiety never go away …my willingness to try and forgive and forget has gone. I will never be able to forgive what he has done.”

Cosburn is believed to have previously worked at schools in Bromley, Bradwell, Gorleston and Great Yarmouth areas. His offending was not linked to his work.

Cosburn, who pleaded guilty to the offences at an earlier hearing, was originally arrested by the Metropolitan police in Bromley in October 2020. This followed reports he had groomed and abused a young girl in the Great Yarmouth.

Following further investigation, he was re-arrested and charged on 13 December 2022.

Cosburn’s home was searched and various electronic devices, mobile phones, USB, camera, camcorder, laptop, and memory disks were seized.

Norfolk Police took over the investigation and when digital examination of his devices was completed, police found a considerable number of indecent images and videos relating to Cosburn’s offending both in the UK and overseas. 

DI Andy Hill said: “Cosburn is a prolific sexual predator who has abused the trust of children. His actions have caused untold damage in a crime that often resonates throughout a person’s life and can impact on a vast array of areas from relationships to mental health. I would like to commend the victims of Cosburn who have been exceptionally brave in providing evidence leading to this outcome.”

Description

Jonathan Clarke, 32, was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court today (Friday 9 December 2022) after pleading guilty to 54 offences spanning more than a decade.

The offences include the making of indecent images, sexual communications with a child, inciting children to engage in sexual acts, voyeurism, and blackmail, which were all committed online. 

Clarke asked the court to take a further 127 similar offences into consideration. He was sentenced to 19 years imprisonment, with an extended licence period upon release of eight years. Clarke was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

The court heard that Clarke was arrested on 6 January this year following a police investigation into social media messages where victims were encouraged to send nude images of themselves.

It came to light after concerns were raised to the safeguarding lead at Thorpe St Andrew High School about someone purporting to be a child online.

Detectives from the specialist Safeguarding Children Online Team (SCOLT) carried out enquiries into the communications and managed to obtain an IP address linked to Clarkes home.

It led to officers to arrest Clarke and carry out a search of his former home address in Highview Close, Blofield, where officers seized a total of 14 electronic devices including eight laptops.

Clarke was taken into custody at Wymondham Police Investigation Centre and interviewed twice about the allegations, making no comment when questions were put to him. He also refused to share passwords for his social media accounts.

Initial investigations found around 200 indecent images and videos on Clarkes mobile phone ranging from Category A to C. Following advice from the Crown Prosecution Service, Clarke was initially charged with seven offences and appeared at Norwich Magistrates Court on 8 January where he was further remanded into custody while the police investigation continued.

The court heard the bulk of offending related to the sexual exploitation of children on social media platforms, including Snapchat, Instagram, Omegle, Kik, and Tik Tok.  Using these accounts, Clarke created a false profile presenting himself as two teenage boys to chat with victims and engage them in sexual activity. Clarke would incite victims to commit acts of sexual activity, and on occasions would threaten to harm the victims family if they didnt do as he asked.

Officers examined 14 electronic devices belonging to Clarke and found a total of 5,017 indecent images and videos of children. The investigation uncovered 159 victims aged under 16 who were targeted by Clarke between 2010 and 2022.

At the time of his arrest, Clarke worked at Thorpe St Andrew High School as a lettings assistant and cover supervisor. He also worked for Soccer Stars, a private company which operated after school clubs. It was through Soccer Stars contracts that Clarke taught PE lessons at Lingwood Primary School and delivered after school football sessions at a number of schools, including Brundall Primary School and Lionwood Infant and Nursery School. Clarke also coached teams at Blofield United Youth Football Club.

When the allegations first came to light, Clarke was immediately suspended from all roles and was later dismissed. Some of his offending was connected to his employment, coaching and school work through Soccer Stars although victims were identified across the country.

Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Dave McCormack said: I welcome the significant sentence passed at court today. It sends a clear message of how seriously the courts and the police treat such offenders.

The initial report about inappropriate chats on social media allowed us to fully investigate Clarke and uncover who he really is and the horrendous offences hes committed. Clarke was predatory and manipulative in his offending and its pleasing hes behind bars where he can no longer pose a danger to children.

This result wouldnt have been possible without the support of victims, their parents and the schools and football club who have provided unwavering support to make sure we get the right result for victims.

Our priority is always to safeguard and protect children and its important not to lose sight of the long-lasting impact his offending will have on his victims.

This is why its so important if you have concerns regarding someone online, please make sure you report it to us. We have specially trained officers who will investigate and ensure safeguarding is provided to victims involved.

Statements from some of Clarkes victims were read out to the court, describing how his offending had affected their lives, including one victim who described how they were shocked and disgusted when they learnt the boy theyd been chatting to online was a man.

Another victim said: Whats happened is terrible I feel like I have to be so careful with everything I do because I never want to be part of something like this again. Its affected not only my confidence but also my trust in people.

Description

A man who has been jailed.

Glenn Barker, 53, of Beeleigh Way, Caister-on-Sea, appeared at Norwich Crown Court to be sentenced having admitted sexual assault of a child under 13 on August 14, 2020.

Barker appeared at court on Friday (June 17) having also admitted two offences of indecent assault against another girl, aged between seven and nine, between June 2000 and June 2003.

Claire Matthews, prosecuting, said the victim in the offence committed in August 2020 was a young child who had been left "scared".

The court heard Barker had bribed his victims, neither of whom can be identified for legal reasons, with sweets and urged them to keep secret what had happened.

A statement from the mother of the victim assaulted in 2020 described how their lives were "turned upside down" as soon as the offence came to light.

She said the victim has changed since the assault and no longer liked to get changed in front of people, not even her father.

Barker, who also admitted possessing extreme pornographic images, was jailed for eight years by Recorder John Hardy.

He said: "You've pleaded guilty to offences which right-minded people would consider repulsive".

He said that people who behaved as he had done, sexually assaulting young children, and who are caught and prosecuted should expect to receive immediate sentences of imprisonment.

Danielle O'Donovan, mitigating, said this was a man who had pleaded guilty to "terrible acts" but insisted these were separate and individual acts which were "clearly against his own nature".

She told the court he was a "weak individual" who had taken "ugly steps" in his life and was "surprised and shocked" by his own behaviour.

But Miss O'Donovan said offences of this sort were very rarely admitted and described it as courageous for him to have admitted them.

She said he was capable of being a decent human being.

Barker was prevented from contacting both victims directly or indirectly indefinitely.

He was also ordered sign on the sex offenders register indefinitely and made the subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Description

A soldier has been jailed after being convicted of the rape and sexual assault of a child under 13.

Shane Percival, 27, a lance corporal with the Royal Anglian Regiment, appeared at Norwich Crown Court having been found guilty of rape and sexual assault .

It followed a trial in March this year after which Percival, of Lynford Drive, Eaton, was found guilty of the offences.

They happened between December 2011 and August 2013, when Percival was aged between 16 and the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was aged between nine and 10.

Before Percival, who was stationed at Woolwich Barracks and in Cyprus, was sentenced the victim read out a statement in court.

She said: "I was 15 when I told my teacher what Shane did to me.

"My whole world fell apart.

"I had kept this hidden since I was a little girl.

"I did this because it would break my family's hearts and it did."

The victim described how her mental health suffered as a result and how she turned to self-harm and made attempts to take her own life.

The victim said: "Luckily my attempts were unsuccessful."

She added: "I didn't want to live but I'm now stronger than ever."

Duncan O'Donnell, prosecuting, read a statement on behalf of the victim's mother who said she was "so proud of her" for how she has come through the ordeal.

Mr O'Donnell said the victim impact statements describe the effects of what had happened to her and insisted there was "substantial psychological harm".

Jailing Percival for five years and two months, Judge Alice Robinson said the victim "undoubtedly suffered psychological harm as a result of these offences".

Michael Clare, mitigating, provided to the court a number of character references on behalf of the defendant.

Mr Clare said Percival who was 16 when the offences were committed, was "clearly was at some point a damaged boy".

Percival was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for six years.

He was also put on the sex offenders register indefinitely and banned from contacting the victim directly or indirectly for six years.

A British Army spokesman said: "The army takes such convictions very seriously and where there is a sentence of imprisonment, there is a strong likelihood that the individual will be discharged."

Description

A man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for inflicting "monstrous" sexual abuse on three girls.

Tony Wickstead, 46, was found guilty after a trial at Norwich Crown Court of a string of offences against the children, who were all under the age of 13.

One of the children has suffered physical harm as a result of the offending and might yet still require medical treatment for injuries she suffered.

In total, Wickstead, of Scott Road, Norwich, was found guilty of nine counts of serious sexual abuse against the victims, between 2016 and 2018.

The court heard how he had conducted a "a campaign of rape" against one of his victims, and was convicted of six offences of rape against one child.

Wickstead was also convicted of causing or inciting the child to engage in sexual activity.

He was also found guilty of two other offences of rape against two other children who were both under 13 at the time.

The court heard one of the victims - none of whom can be identified for legal reasons - "thought she was going to die" during the abuse she suffered, which involved her being handcuffed and dragged by her hair.

He also put his hands around her throat and "strangled her until he was done".

In imposing a life sentence on Wickstead, Judge Maureen Bacon ordered him to serve a total of 19 years and 92 days until he was eligible for parole.

Judge Bacon said the cruelty Wickstead inflicted upon his victims was "monstrous" and "inhuman" not only in the acts themselves but also the violence that accompanied them.

She said: "It's plain you used these children's bodies as mere devices for you to obtain depraved sexual gratification that you sought out."

Wickstead, who also admitted possession of an offensive weapon, a stun gun, when his home was searched in 2018, was considered a dangerous offender who posed a high risk of serious harm to young children.

Marc Brown, prosecuting, said the offences were extremely serious with one of the victims suffering severe physical harm as well as degradation.

Jonathan Goodman, representing Wickstead, said the defendant still maintains his innocence and so could not put forward much mitigation.

Mr Goodman added that Wickstead had "difficulties" in his early life.

Wickstead was put on the sex offenders register for life.

Description

A Norfolk runner who admitted indecent images offences took close-up pictures of girls wearing tight shorts at running and gymnastics events.

David Murrell, 46, a former member of a Norwich-based running club was found to have downloaded hundreds of indecent images of children.

Norwich Crown Court heard as well as downloading images from the internet Murrell also took pictures of children himself at running and gymnastics events.

Chris Youell, prosecuting, said pictures taken by the defendant of real girls at running events in June and August 2019, included girls wearing "skin tight running shorts and sports bra".

Murrell also took pictures of girls at gymnastics events in December 2019 with the images showing "close ups of genital areas".

The court heard pictures of the children were found in a "concealed" folder on his phone that were in part of a secret app which needed a PIN number to get into it.

Mr Youell said Murrell was caught by police after a category B indecent image of a child uploaded by the defendant led to officers executing a search warrant at his home in July 2020.

Devices, including a mobile phone and hard drive were recovered and searched, and found to contain indecent images of children.

He was found to have downloaded and taken indecent images of children over a three-year period between 2017 and 2020.

Some of the images were category A, the most serious, but there were also category B and C images found.

These included 501 category C images, 424 of which were downloaded from the internet and 77 of them taken by the defendant, of which some were duplicates.

Also recovered by police were chats the defendant had with others online, including one where he talked about "sexually abusing children".

Mr Youell said: "There clearly was in the background of his life something where he was fantasising about young children and young girls.

"He was talking about it on the internet and taking pictures and downloading images."

Murrell, of Camperdown in Great Yarmouth, appeared at court on Thursday (April 28) after having admitted three counts of making indecent images of a child and one count of distributing an indecent image of a child.

He also previously pleaded guilty to six counts of taking indecent photos of a child.

The mother of one of the children who had pictures taken of her read out a victim impact statement in which she described the knock at the door from police.

She said it was something she would "never forget" and felt "as if her world had stopped".

The woman said: "It's something I don't think I will truly ever get over."

She also described to the court the "confusion", and "sheer terror" as well as "disbelief and disgust" she had felt.

The woman added she lies awake at night "worrying about what might have happened if he hadn't been caught".

The father of another victim in the case described the "dismay" about what had happened and he felt and hoped Murrell would get the help he needed.

Damien Moore, mitigating, said nothing he could say could "repair the damage Mr Murrell has caused".

Mr Moore said Murrell wanted to apologise to the parents of the children involved and the children themselves.

He said the defendant was "a completely broken man" who has "lost everything" and was going to have to live the rest of his life with the "shame and embarrassment" of the offences he had committed.

Mr Moore said Murrell was "at rock bottom" after having taken a "self-destructive path" and was in need of help and rehabilitation.

He said the defendant "knows he has to be punished and is ready to be punished" but urged the court to consider a non-custodial sentence.

Judge Katharine Moore adjourned sentencing until Wednesday, May 4 but warned Murrell "the custody threshold had been crossed by a country mile".

Judge Moore remanded him in custody until next week due to concerns about his welfare.

It's understood Murrell was a member of the Norfolk Gazelles running club but that he was no longer permitted to be a member when the allegations emerged.