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A serial sex offender who targeted a vulnerable boy for a "campaign of rapes" that had a "corrosive and exploitative" effect upon the victim has been jailed for 12 years.

Perverted loner Kevin Smith groomed the boy with "highly sexualised" messages that had a "tragically sad" effect upon him during the "disgraceful and despicable" abuse.

The boy had been left "devastated and distressed" by what happened and was "feeling sick and horrible" about his long-running ordeal, Hull Crown Court heard.

Smith, 35, of Stornoway Square, Hull, admitted seven offences of rape of a child under 13 and two of making indecent images of children, between March 2019 and March 2020.

Charlotte Baines, prosecuting, said that Smith targeted the boy during a series of sexual incidents and sent sexualised messages to him. The abuse had left the victim very upset. The boy told Smith to leave him alone but the incidents continued after Smith used "grooming behaviour" including buying the boy sweets and treats. The police were later called in.

Smith was found with 13 indecent images of children on a computer drive and two on a phone.

David Godfrey, mitigating, said that Smith had not challenged any of the boy's claims. "There are multiple offences here," said Mr Godfrey. "There are messages here that are damning. He has not made this boy come to court and go through the difficulty of having to be cross-examined."

Smith had given out the "overriding message" that he felt "shame, regret and remorse" for his actions. "There is no reason for what he has done," said Mr Godfrey. "It's a disgraceful and despicable thing."

During his life, Smith had not really had any friends or relationships. He spent most of his time in his bedroom on computers and lacked social skills.

Recorder Peter Makepeace KC said: "This is a campaign of rapes." There had been "highly sexualised" messages from Smith to the boy and Smith encouraged and caused him to watch sexual acts. "You bribed him with offers of gifts," said Recorder Makepeace.

The abuse had a "pernicious, corrosive and exploitative" effect on the boy, who became "corrupted" because of Smith's behaviour. "That sort of pressure by you can be extremely damaging," said Recorder Makepeace.

The boy had been left "devastated and distressed" and this was "tragically sad". The victim was left "feeling sick and horrible" because of Smith's actions, which were "exploiting his vulnerabilities and naivety" and demonstrated how deep the damage caused was.

"There was the clearest possible grooming behaviour," said Recorder Makepeace. "You have spared him from having to give evidence."

Smith will have to register as a sex offender for life.

After the hearing, Detective Sergeant Kevin Fenwick-Denton, who led the investigation for Humberside Police, said: “I’d like to commend the bravery and the courage of the victim and their family throughout the entirety of the investigation and court proceedings.

“I hope the outcome will provide them with some comfort in knowing that, by having the courage and strength to come forward, they have undoubtedly prevented others from sufferings at the hands of this sexual deviant.

“I would like to provide reassurance to anyone who may have suffered sexual abuse to come forward. We will listen to you and support you.

“I would strongly appeal for anybody who believes they are being manipulated into doing something they don’t want to do, to speak with an adult or friend and report it to us.

“I would encourage anyone to speak to us, partner agencies or the independent anonymous charity Crimestoppers, when they’re ready, whether they decide to pursue it through the justice system or not. You will be believed and we will thoroughly investigate your report.

“We are committed to making our streets safer by preventing these types of crimes, investigating reported offences and pursuing perpetrators and bringing them to justice."

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A court was told how Adnan Ali used the cadet training scheme as a 'grooming playground'.

A former Greater Manchester Police constable has been found guilty of five sexual assaults on young men and women.

Adnan Ali, who ran a large cadet unit for the force, used the training scheme as a 'grooming playground' and 'exploited the freedom he was given', a court was told previously. The 36-year-old father-of-one went on trial at Liverpool Crown Court, where he denied twenty charges including sexually assaulting two teenage girls and a 17-year-old boy, and misconduct in public office involving sexualised conversations.

However, today (April 24), he was found guilty of five counts of sexual assault and 15 counts of misconduct in a public office. The charges relate to incidents, between 2015 and 2018, involving young men and women enrolled on the scheme.

During the three week trial, the court heard how Ali, of Leighton Road, Old Trafford, sexually assaulted two teenage girls and a 17-year-old boy. The misconduct charges involved allegations of sexualised conversations with six other teenage boys and asking for and sending indecent images to some of them.

Ali, known as Adz, became police leader of Trafford cadets in 2013 after suffering post traumatic stress disorder after a serious knife injury while on duty. He was based in Stretford and the cadet unit rapidly grew to about 130 cadets, the largest group in Greater Manchester. While he was head of the unit they won local and national awards which enhanced his reputation.

Prosecuting counsel, Anne Whyte, KC, has claimed that he 'threw out the rule book' and engaged in conduct and communications with cadets and apprentices which breached the boundaries he was supposed to enforce. Ali was arrested in October 2018 after the force received a complaint that he had been 'behaving inappropriately' towards a 16-year-old boy.

His devices were seized and analysed and officers found thousands of messages and identified more victims. Charges were authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service in July 2021.

In April 2022, Ali was dismissed from GMP and barred from policing at a gross misconduct hearing. The force will now make representations to that Deputy Mayor that he should have to forfeit his pension.

Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane said: "Whilst Ali is responsible for committing these crimes, no one should be subjected to crime or misconduct during their contact with police officers and staff, like these young people were – for that, and in acknowledgement that Ali could have been better supervised and managed, we are sorry.

“My thanks go to the victims and witnesses who bravely supported the prosecution which secured today’s verdict. Though trials are a fundamental part of the criminal justice system, the impact they can have on those involved and with whom cases resonate is not underestimated. We will ensure they are supported for as long as they need.

"Alongside the criminal and misconduct investigations, this case initiated a full review of GMP’s Volunteer Police Cadet Scheme. With national oversight, improvements have been and are continuing to be implemented to ensure cadet leaders are the role models they are expected to be and that they do not pose a risk to anyone."

Head of GMP’s Professional Standards Branch, Chief Superintendent Mike Allen, said: "Today’s verdict will do nothing to ease the public’s concerns about police misconduct. However, Ali represents the very worst and the minority in policing - he is among a very small percentage who discredit the police service and undermine trust and confidence in it.

"These individuals are being rooted and booted out by exemplary colleagues reporting their behaviour, investigating allegations, building cases against them, and playing a crucial role in proceedings to ensure they face the full force of the criminal justice system and have the many privileges of working in policing taken from them.

"Ali represents the very worst and the minority in policing"
“Following national direction to all forces, the Force Vetting Unit is currently re-vetting all GMP officers and staff to ensure those who are wearing the force uniform and that those who have applied to do so are fit to serve the public.

"However, efforts don’t stop there. Whilst the assessment teams review complaints and allegations, the investigation teams and misconduct proceedings unit work together to secure the best criminal and misconduct outcomes, as a covert unit work under cover in amongst the workforce to stop corrupt officers and staff in their tracks.

"Though ensuring all employees behave with the highest standards of professional behaviour won’t be completed overnight, the people of Greater Manchester, the thousands of exemplary GMP officers and staff, and the force’s trusting stakeholders have my guarantee that, with my oversight of Professional Standards, the branch will do everything in its power to ensure the Code of Ethics is upheld to protect public trust and confidence in our ability to deliver outstanding service."

Ali will be sentenced at a later date.

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Stewart Burgess, previously convicted of abusing two teenage boys in 2008, was described by police as a 'prolific offender' before being jailed again on Friday.

A 'prolific' Scots paedophile who preyed on children he was supposed to protect for 'years' has been jailed for a second time after another of his victims bravely spoke out about his abuse.

Sick Stewart Burgess, now 72, targeted boys in the 1980s while working as a senior house parent at Redheugh Adolescent Unit in Kilbirnie, Ayrshire, which was run by the Salvation Army for vulnerable youngsters.

In 2008 he was found guilty of abusing two teenage boys in his care and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. New proceedings were raised after another former pupil came forward to report offending by Burgess at the unit.

During the trial at the High Court in Paisley last month, a jury heard the victim – now in his 50s - remains traumatised by abuse, which took place between 1984 and 1985.

Burgess, from Cumnock, was convicted of abusing this victim in similar ways he had to others. He was sentenced to three and half years in jail at the High Court in Glasgow on Friday April 21.

His name was added to the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Detective Inspector Gavin Chisholm of the Ayrshire Public Protection Unit said: “Stewart Burgess is a prolific offender whose abuse of children spanned many years. He abused his position of trust and we welcome today’s sentencing.

“I would like to recognise the bravery of the victim shown in reporting this and assisting us throughout the enquiry and court process which has been pivotal in securing this conviction.

“Investigating abuse of children and young people remains one of Police Scotland’s top priorities. Please be assured that no matter when a crime is committed, we will listen and we will investigate.”

Scotland’s Procurator Fiscal for High Court Sexual Offending, Fraser Gibson, said: “Stewart Burgess selfishly and callously abused young boys in his care. The victim in this case bravely came forward to report what happened to him as a child.

“His evidence of crimes which had not been dealt with previously allowed us to prosecute this offender again. I sincerely hope the victim finds some small comfort in holding Burgess accountable for his actions.

“COPFS prosecutors are committed to pursue justice for victims of child sexual abuse, no matter how long ago the offences occurred.

“I urge any victims of similar crime to have confidence that time is no barrier. Please come forward, report it and seek support.”

Redheugh is one of the institutions being investigated by the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, chaired by Lady Smith. The unit closed in 1994.

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A sex offender has denied breaching a court order over allegations he struck up a friendship with a woman.

Paul Richards is currently subject to a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) which dates back to 2012. Now it's alleged he breached the order by entering into a friendship with a woman - something he is prohibited from doing.

The 57-year-old has denied the offence during a short hearing at Teesside Magistrates' Court. He spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, address and to enter a plea of not guilty.

Richards, of Lovaine Street, Middlesbrough, was represented by Brett Wildridge during the appearance on Friday, April 14.

He was given conditional bail and will next appear at Teesside Crown Court on May 12.

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Joel Motsepes creepy behaviour in plain sight was in breach of a court order imposed in 2021 to protect women in Scarborough following similar behaviour.

Motsepe, 29, a devout Christian and convicted sex offender, was banned from following or approaching lone females in public following his previous conviction for similar offences in September 2021, York Crown Court heard.

But on November 6 last year, a police community support officer was called out to reports of a man approaching women at JD Sports in Westborough.

The male was said to be hanging around inside the store and approaching female staff and customers, causing them to feel uncomfortable, said prosecutor Austin Newman.

By the time the officer arrived at the shop, Motsepe had disappeared, added Mr Newman.

She went looking for him and saw a man matching his description in the nearby Poundland shop.

She went to speak to him and heard him say to somebody, Am I a bad person? said Mr Newman. As she approachedhe tried to walk away.

The officer caught up with him and asked about the incident at JD Sports but he did not appear to be listening and the officer suspected he was drunk or otherwise under the influence.

As she was speaking to him, he suddenly walked away from her and approached a single female who had two young children with her, added Mr Newman.

Motsepe walked up close to the woman and said to her: Am I making you feel uncomfortable?

She replied that he was (making her feel uncomfortable), said Mr Newman.

Police later trawled CCTV footage from JD Sports which showed Motsepe approaching a lone woman in a queue inside the shop and putting his arm around her in an embrace.

Her startled reaction suggests that the defendants attentions were not welcome, said Mr Newman.

The following day, the same officer was on duty in Westborough when she spotted Motsepe urinating in an alleyway. When she warned him that he would be reported, Motsepe replied: Go on and report me.

She then told him to move on and he left the alleyway and walked out into Westborough, but then immediately approached a lone female standing at a bus stop, added Mr Newman.

The defendant approached her and raised his clenched fist as if preparing to fist bump the female (who) didnt respond. The (named officer) shouted at him, telling him to move on.

Motsepe, of Royal Avenue, Scarborough, was later identified by a police offender manager who recognised him from body-worn camera footage provided by the community-support officer, who did not have the power of arrest.

He was arrested and charged with three counts of breaching a sexual-harm prevention order which banned him approaching lone females and women with children in public. He appeared for sentence via video link on Friday, April 21, after being remanded in custody.

Mr Newman said Motsepe had 23 previous convictions for 35 offences including sexually assaulting a train conductor, theft, violence, travelling on the railways without paying and being drunk and disorderly.

In September 2021, he received a 12-month jail sentence, a five-year sexual-harm prevention order and placed on the sex-offenders register for 10 years for two counts of sexual assault.

In one of those incidents, in August 2021, Motsepe sexually assaulted a holidaymaker in a mobility scooter as she waited for her partner to come out of a shop.

The random attack occurred in Westborough after Mostepe had been prowling the town centre.

The victim was with her two young children when Motsepe wandered over and tried to pat one of the dogs, before leaning over her while she was in the scooter and rubbing his arm along an intimate part of her body.

As she put her arms out to try to stop him, Motsepe backed away but then walked up to her teenage daughter, asked her to pick her dog up, kissed the dog and then put his arm around the young girl.

He targeted another woman in the Brunswick Shopping Centre shortly afterwards. The victim - who was with her two young daughters, one in a pram - was waiting for her partner to return from the public toilets when Motsepe walked up to her, grabbed her by the hand and kissed her, telling her: You are so beautiful.

Motsepe then left, telling her: God bless. Have a good day.

Defence barrister Victoria Smithswain said Motsepes offending was fuelled by alcohol abuse.

He is a Christian, she added.

He says he has been struggling in recent years to practise his faith because of his alcohol (use).

Jailing Motsepe for 16 months, judge Simon Hickey told him he was making women feel uncomfortable.

He ordered that the sexual-harm prevention order should continue with the extra prohibition that Motsepe should have no avoidable contact with women he didnt know.

Motsepe will remain on the sex-offenders register until August 2031.

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Southall pleaded guilty to two counts of kidnap and two of blackmail at an earlier hearing at Northampton Crown Court, and was sentenced at the same court on Friday, April 14, to a total of four and a half years.

At the same hearing Southall was also sentenced to 33 months for a 2020 robbery offence, and three months for a 2019 theft, both committed in Birmingham, as well as two offences which took place in Leicestershire - one count of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs for which he received a 42-month sentence, and six months for one count of making indecent images of children. He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for seven years.

All Southall’s sentences will be served consecutively, making a total of 11 years in prison.

Detective Sergeant Cory Wise, of Northamptonshire Police, said: “I am pleased with the sentences handed out in this case as they demonstrate the seriousness with which we, and the courts, take crimes such as this.

“The victims in these incidents went through terrifying experiences at the hands of Sullivan and Southall, with their parents being put through equal distress wondering whether their children were going to be harmed or not.

“I hope both Sullivan and Southall spend their time behind bars reflecting on their actions and that they come out determined to make better life choices.

“Thankfully, incidents of kidnap and blackmail are rare in Northamptonshire but I hope this case reassures people that when they do happen, we deal with them quickly and robustly.”

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Alan Beecroft first began abusing his victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, while she was aged under 10 years old.

Detective Constable Helen Timms, from Sheffield’s Protecting Vulnerable People (PVP) team, said: “The victim in this case has demonstrated exceptional courage in sharing with police details of the horrific abuse she suffered as a young child.

“Sexual abuse can have a significant and lasting impact on its victims, indeed the victim in this case was so traumatised by her abuse that she felt she couldn’t tell anyone what was happening.

“It was only in 2021, when Beecroft was jailed for sexual offences committed against other children, that the victim felt able to disclose his awful crimes. She has shown incredible strength throughout our investigation and the legal process and I am pleased that we have been able to secure justice for her.”

Beecroft, already serving a jail term at Marsh Gate prison, Doncaster, for other offences, was convicted of 11 counts of indecent assault at Sheffield Crown Court.

Last month he was sentenced to a further six years and nine months in prison. This will run concurrently to his existing prison term of four years.

DC Timms added: “I hope this case further highlights to the public how committed we are to securing justice for victims of sexual abuse, irrespective of when that abuse took place.”

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A convicted sex offender who had repeatedly been deported kept defiantly returning to this country and changed his name in a crafty bid to fool the border authorities.

The Lithuanian criminal was so determined to return that he hatched a "well planned" scheme to trick his way into the UK but it backfired badly when investigations were made, Hull Crown Court heard. Konstantinas Siniakovas, 36, of Perry Street, Hull, admitted entering the UK at Leeds Bradford airport on February 24 in breach of a deportation order and avoiding enforcement action by deception between June 25 last year and February 27.

Michael Forrest, prosecuting, said that Siniakovas, a Lithuanian national, was first given a deportation order from this country in April 2019 because of his foreign convictions. He was deported in May 2019 but was arrested by British police in May 2020.

Siniakovas was again deported in October 2020 after serving a prison sentence for a sexual offence, dishonesty and driving offences. The deportation order was still in force but, in July last year, he gave a false first name but the same surname when stopped by police for a driving matter.

He gave a date of birth and an address in College Grove, Hull, and the matter was referred to the Home Office criminal and financial team for further investigation. It was discovered that, on June 8 last year, he had entered the country under the other name. He had made an application on June 25 under the European settlement scheme using the false name.

He gave further details under that name and submitted a Lithuanian identity card as supposed proof of identity as well as bills, including one from Eon for electricity, and a completed questionnaire asking whether he had any criminal convictions or was known by any other name.

"The defendant responded 'No' to all these questions," said Mr Forrest. After checks with the Lithuanian embassy, Siniakovas was found to have changed his name on December 16, 2020. On February 27 this year, officers identified the driver of the car as Siniakovas.

"This was following checks with the Border Force agency and the defendant was arrested," said Mr Forrest. Siniakovas had convictions for 32 previous offences, including sexual assault in October 2020 in this country.

Cathy Kioko-Gilligan, mitigating, said: "The defendant accepts that he was aware of the order but instructs me that he misunderstood the deportation rules. He fully accepts his offending.

"He wants to express his remorse for his offending. The reason he keeps returning to the United Kingdom is to support his family, who are in Lithuania. He has a son ... he accepts that this is no excuse for his offending.

"The defendant asks that the court passes the shortest sentence possible. He welcomes deportation and wishes to return to Lithuania as soon as possible."

Judge Sophie McKone told Siniakovas: "You were first deported from this country in 2019 but returned in 2020. When you returned in 2020, you committed a sexual offence and you were again deported, having served a prison sentence, but you again came back into this country when you knew full well that you should not.

"This was well planned by you because, in order to do so, you changed your name and then provided documents in that name. There is no proper excuse for you to keep returning to this country when you know you should not."

Siniakovas was jailed for 20 months. Judge McKone told him: "You will serve half the sentence and then you will be deported."

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A sex offender who stalked a medical student he believed was his wife is to be confined to a hospital and assessed for a mental disorder.

Jon Coltart terrified the University of Aberdeen student by sending her sinister messages about Satan and claiming they were married and in a sexual relationship.

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A PAEDOPHILE has been jailed after repeatedly asking who he thought was a 12-year-old girl for oral sex and offering cash for explicit photographs.

Steven Farmer appeared at Swansea Crown Court on Wednesday, April 19 charged with attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to cause or incite a child under the age of 13 to engage in penetrative sexual activity, and attempting to cause a child under the age of 13 to look at an image of sexual activity. 

He was jailed for a total of three years.

The court heard that he initiated a conversation with a girl on the Kik social media site on June 10 last year.

The ‘girl’ replied telling Farmer she was a 12-year-old living in Wales, but it was in fact an undercover police officer behind the account.

He told the ‘girl’ he was 18, when actually he was 25 at the time.

“She sent a photograph to him, and he said she looked way too young and it would have to stay between them,” prosecutor Brian Simpson said.

Farmer asked whether she had a boyfriend and if she had performed sexual acts on him, as well as asking if she would perform oral sex on him.

He asked the ‘girl’ multiple times for naked photographs, offering her “£10 a picture”, and offered to meet up – including at her house if her parents were not home.

He also sent the ‘girl’ pornography, as well as a picture of an erect penis which he said was his.

Police raided his Tregaron home on July 28, seizing his mobile phone.

“He has made a sizable error, something that he bitterly regrets,” said David Singh, defending.

“His behaviour was wholly inappropriate. He has no intention of repeating his behaviour.”

Farmer, now 26, of Rowton in Telford, had no previous convictions.

Sentencing Farmer, Judge Geraint Walters said: “Your own child is a good deal younger than this girl. How her own father can act like that I have a hard time getting my head around.

“You have jeopardised your family life. You have jeopardised your time with your own children. You have already paid somewhat of a price, effectively being chased out of your own village.”

Farmer was jailed for three years for attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in penetrative sexual activity, and received six month sentences for each of the other offences, running concurrently.

He must also register as a sex offender for life, and was made the subject of a life-long sexual harm prevention order.

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A convicted sex offender who posed as a single mum looking for an au pair online has been sent back to prison.

Peter Smith was jailed in 2012 after trying to trying to abduct two women three months apart while armed with a knife, and sexually assaulting one of them.

The creep was put on the sex offender register, meaning he had to notify police of his details so he could be monitored.

But when officers visited his home in Braybrooke Road, Desborough, to check on him on March 15 this year they uncovered more disturbing activity.

Smith, 43, had created an alias on website aupair.com pretending to be a single mother called Alex who was looking for an au pair, before moving chats onto WhatsApp where he continued to pose as a woman.

He had also created a Facebook profile under the alias of Liam Smith and didn’t notify the authorities of the username.

This month he admitted two charges of failing to comply with notification requirements and was jailed for 12 months by magistrates.

Smith was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge to fund victim services of £187.

A Northamptonshire Police spokeswoman said: “Registered sex offenders are very closely monitored by our management of sexual or violent offenders team (MOSOVO).

“This means regular unannounced visits to the offender’s home to ensure they are abiding by all of their conditions. If they are not, we do not give second chances and all offences will be dealt with robustly.

“Our team work really hard every day to ensure sex offenders are rigorously managed and if any breaches are identified we are very swift in dealing with them.

“I hope this case is a lesson to other sex offenders that our processes will always find you out. And that you will be sent to prison as a result.”

Convicted sex offenders must register with police when they are convicted or released from prison, for a period specified when they are sentenced.

They must register details including their name and aliases, address, bank details, passport and whether they are live with a child, as well as renewing details annually.

Failing to comply is punishable by up to five years in prison.

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A man who had unknowingly been speaking to police when he was arranging to meet a child to rape has been jailed.

Joseph Hopkinson, aged 39, travelled by train from Leicester to Cheltenham in August 2022 intending to rape a 10-year-old.

He had in fact been communicating with specialist police officers who arrested him as he arrived at Cheltenham railway station on 17 August.

Hopkinson has been sentenced to seven years and two months for the offence.

He has has remained behind bars since his arrest.

The 39-year-old was also found to have cannabis on him and in his home when it was searched by Leicestershire Police.

Switched to guilty plea

The 39-year-old, of St James Road in Leicester, denied the offences and was due to stand trial at Exeter Crown Court on 13 February.

However, he changed his pleas to guilty on what was meant to be the first day of his trial.

At Gloucester Crown Court on Tuesday he was jailed for seven years and two months for arranging/facilitating the commission of a child sex offence, namely the rape of a child under 13.

He was also sentenced to nine months for two drugs offences, to run concurrently.

'Significant harm'

Detective Inspector Simon Goodenough, from the child sexual exploitation and indecent images of children teams said: "Hopkinson has a clear sexual interest in children and was intent on causing them significant harm.

"He spent months communicating with the police operative about abhorrent things he was wanting to do to young children, and it was evident that he was planning to carry out his vile thoughts and ideas."

He added that police teams work "tirelessly" to pursue sexual predators who are intent on causing harm.

Officers from the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU) worked with Gloucestershire Constabulary's Indecent Images and Child Sexual Exploitation teams on the investigation.

Detective Inspector David Wells, from SWROCU's online investigations team, said: "There is no doubt Hopkinson posed a serious threat to children and the sentence handed to him reflects that."

Hopkinson has also been placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for life and given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

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A Northumbria University student has been sentenced to two years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman.

Daniel Theobald appeared in Teesside Crown Court last month after attacking a 19-year-old student on October 16th last year.

Theobald, 23, grabbed the woman on a footbridge near Camden Street, Shieldfield, in the early hours, knocking her to the floor before groping her breasts and body, Chronicle Live reports.

The woman then ran to her accommodation and notified security, who contacted the police.

The court heard how Theobald was walking home to Heaton after a night out with friends in Newcastle. His victim was also walking back to her student accommodation with a friend, before they parted ways at John Dobson Street and she began walking alone. It was then that Theobald attacked the student, despite unintentionally following her out of town.

Rachel Masters, prosecuting, said: “The defendant continued to follow her and the complainant was on her phone. She saw the defendant was behind her and was concerned she was being followed. The defendant was closing the gap between them.

“The defendant then grabbed her and put his hand around her waist, causing her to slip to the ground.”

The attack on the woman left her with psychological issues. In her victim statement, she said the attack made her depression and anxiety worse and was left with memories that left her feeling “paranoid and sick”. She also said she contemplated dropping out of university.

Theobald, of Burlington Gardens, Heaton, has no prior convictions. Rachel Hedworth, defending, said that Theobald had shown “utter, genuine remorse”, despite this attack being “horrendous” and “every girl’s nightmare”.

She said: “He was brought up in an incredibly loving, stable environment with close parents and siblings. Prior to this act, he has behaved in an exemplary way. He started to feel anxious and depressed at around 15 or 16 years old.”

Despite these feelings of depression at school, Theobald achieved A and A* grades as well as gaining a first class degree in history from Bristol University, where he also volunteered in a museum and was captain of a rugby team. He was said to have an “extremely hard work ethic”.

The court heard that Theobold worked in a marketing agency before moving back to Newcastle. The breakdown of a relationship and the death of his grandmother led to him drinking alcohol frequently. Ms. Hedworth said Theobald, who has autistic spectrum disorder, had “no proper recollection for what he did. It completely sickens him what took place.”

Judge Howard Crownson called the attack “moderately violent” and of causing “severe psychological harm” to the victim. He sentenced Theobald to two years in prison and placed him on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.

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A "predatory" paedophile is to be released after serving just half of a 15 year jail sentence. David Walker was just a teenager when he started to abuse young children and in 2015 was jailed for a string of historic attacks spanning two decades.

The mother of one of his victim's said today she was "disgusted" at the decision to release him. Walker entered the bedroom of his first victim, a boy, while he was asleep before restraining and raping him. The Manchester Evening News understands that Walker will be released within the next few months.

The mother said: "My child was so badly affected she moved away from Greater Manchester - in a way I kind of lost her and my grandchildren. Walker's crimes also badly hit my mental health. I think it is digusting that he is being allowed out after serving just half of his sentence. My daughter was traumatised when she got the letter from a victim liaison officer to say he was coming out.

"I attended Walker's sentencing and the judge commented he would have got more than 15 years but they took into account his ill health."

Walker's attacks were repeated over the course of several weeks and he also attacked another boy during this period. In another attack years later during the 1990s, Walker, of Foxfield Road, Manchester, indecently assaulted a young girl.

A hearing at Manchester Crown Court heard that he went on to abuse and rape a girl in her bed. One of the children was aged as young as three years old when the abuse happened.

During the hearing one of his traumatised victims described how what had happened to him at the hands of pervert Walker had torn his life apart, making him unable to trust people and driving him into a life of drink, drugs and gangs.

Walker was sentenced to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of seven sexual offences - including rape and indecent assault. At the time of his sentencing police praised his victims for their courage in helping them put him behind bars.

Detective Constable Susan Hazell said: David Walker has left these poor victims with traumatising memories which will unfortunately last a lifetime. He is a predatory paedophile, attacking when the opportunity arose, when these poor children were unfortunate enough to have been in the same house as him as they slept.

One of the men has admitted that this abuse has dramatically changed his life for the worst, leaving him with mental health issues which have led him down a self-destructive path

DC Hazell said:That is the effect this type of abuse has on these victims, it can destroy lives and leaves a devastating legacy which many find hard to free themselves from.

This conviction only came about after they were brave enough to come forward to police and share their ordeals.I want the public to know that if they were victims of similar abuse in the past, no matter how long ago it was, that they can rely on the police to listen, understand and investigate to the fullest extent.

They will be believed, they will be supported and they can trust that we will do everything in our power to bring the perpetrators of this abuse to justice.

In a statement the Ministry of Justice said: Our Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act introduced tougher sentences for serious sexual offenders and ended their automatic halfway release.

As with all sex offenders, David Walker will be closely monitored by the police and Probation Service, face some of the strictest licence conditions and can be returned to prison for any breaches.

As Walker was sentenced before changes introduced in the new law he was eligible to be released after serving just half of his sentence.

The MOJ added in a further statement: "Sentencing decisions are made by the independent judiciary. Since 2010 average sentence lengths have risen almost every year and convictions increased by 17% between 2020 and 2021.

"The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act (PCSC) 2022 introduced tougher sentences for the worst offenders and ended the automatic halfway release for serious crimes. The PCSC Act will also further strengthen the management of sex offenders and those who pose a risk to women and girls; including by enabling positive obligations to be imposed, for example, requiring an individual to engage in a behaviour change programme.

"All registered sex offenders are managed by MAPPA (Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements) which ensures they are managed robustly by the Probation Service and the Police. MAPPA monitoring allows for greater information sharing between agencies and more robust monitoring of offenders.

"Sex offenders released from prison are managed on strict licences which can include conditions to protect the victims families from unwanted contact such as exclusion zones, to reside at an Approved Premises, to abide by a curfew and GPS tagging.

"They will also be subject to supervision which means attending meetings with a probation practitioner. They are also required to tell their probation officer if they change their name."

Record details

A convicted sex offender has escaped prison despite carrying out yet another attack.

29-year-old Jason Collins was found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman in Marlborough following a trial held at Swindon Magistrates’ Court in January.

At a sentencing hearing in March, prosecutor Keith Ballinger said that the defendant squeezed the victim’s bottom following a verbal altercation in September 2021.

The woman – who knew Collins through family – responded by shouting: “Don’t touch my f**king bum” and police were called to the scene.

In a victim personal statement, she said that she had left her hometown as a result of the incident and now suffers from depression and anxiety, which has put a strain on her relationship.

She spoke about the assault having an impact on her eating – stating that she doesn’t eat for days or weeks at a time due to feeling disgusted with her body.

The court heard how, in January 2021, he was convicted of sexual assault and received a suspended prison sentence. Already a registered sex offender at the time of that attack, he was also prosecuted for a breach of the sex offender notification requirements.

Mr Jones, defending, said that Collins “still maintains that he did not engage in this activity at all”.

He added that this allegation is very different from his previous offending, but accepted that Collins has “a significant history of sexual offences”.

Mr Jones added that his client – who suffered a “very traumatic childhood” – has made “significant progress” over recent years. He said he had stopped drinking, is learning to drive and looking for work.

Magistrates accepted that his behaviour has improved since the date of the incident and imposed a 36-month community order. He must pay £200 costs and a £95 surcharge.

Collins, of Avro Close, Upavon, must register as a sex offender for five years. This will run concurrently with any existing registration. A 12-month restraining order was also imposed.