Latest Offenders

Description

A sex offender who arranged to meet a schoolgirl he believed was 14 at a Southend Travelodge has been jailed for five years.

Marcel Romanowski, 28, travelled to the hotel in February 2025 after exchanging sexual photographs and graphic messages about taking her virginity. The girl, who was actually 13, fled the room after two minutes and staff called Essex Police.

Basildon Crown Court heard the pair had met on the adults-only dating app Badoo in January 2025 after she messaged him. In the days before the meeting, Romanowski searched online about the age of consent and what would happen if a 14-year-old became pregnant.

“You believed that she was 14 and you were making enthusiastic preparations to take her virginity,” Judge Samantha Cohen told him.

“Within a few messages, it was clear that the purpose for both you and her was to meet up for sex.”

Defence barrister Chris Martin said the case arose from “rather peculiar circumstances”, adding: “This was not Mr Romanowski scouring the internet… He was genuinely only using adult-only dating sites… In a nutshell, it was him that was singled out by the child and not the other way around.”

A trial earlier this year heard the girl had contacted multiple adult men on the app. After moving to WhatsApp, she told him she was 14 and under 18. “You were not deterred by her age,” the judge said. “You said that was okay and you immediately resumed your messaging with her.”

Their messages were “highly sexual” and they exchanged images. Romanowski forwarded one of the girl’s images to a friend — an offence of distributing an indecent image of a child for which he was not charged. “You demonstrated a callous disregard for her privacy and her dignity,” Judge Cohen said.

The judge noted he had messaged 159 adult women that week and was “completely obsessed with sex”. As he drove to Southend he watched pornography about virgins, but the girl was getting cold feet. CCTV from a fast-food restaurant showed her looking “obviously nervous and uncomfortable”.

Romanowski texted her to follow him outside so others would not see them together. “That is because you knew that what you were doing was both morally and legally wrong,” the judge said.

They were in the Travelodge room for only two minutes before she fled. She later accused him of sexual assault, but the jury failed to reach a verdict and prosecutors did not seek a retrial.

Romanowski, formerly of Cheney Road in Danbury, was convicted of sexual communication with a child, inciting a child to engage in a sexual act, meeting a child following sexual grooming and possession of cannabis.

He was sentenced to five years in prison, placed on the sex offenders register for life and made subject to a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order restricting his internet use and contact with children.

Judge Cohen told him:

“You, Mr Romanowski, were the adult in this situation and you could and of course should have stopped what was happening, immediately reported her to Badoo and never gone to meet her.”

Description

A 26-year-old man has been sentenced to six years in prison for serious sexual and violent offences.

Kerr Armstrong, was found guilty on Tuesday, 31 March, 2026 of offences including rape and assault. He was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on Wednesday, 13 May, 2026.

The offences took place between February, 2020 and December, 2021 in the East Lothian, Midlothian and Scottish Borders areas.

Constable Craig Turnbull said:

"Armstrong is a violent and depraved individual who now faces the consequences of his abhorrent actions.

"Our thoughts remain with his victim and I hope his sentencing provides her with some measure of comfort. His conviction is as a direct result of her strength in coming forward and assisting our investigation.

"Police Scotland will always thoroughly investigate, and we are here to listen and support victims. Anyone who is a victim of abuse or believes they know someone who may be a victim, please contact us or relevant support agencies."

Description

A man has been jailed for more than two decades after being found guilty of multiple historic rape and sexual assault offences against two victims.

Following a trial by jury at Swindon Crown Court, Nicholas Embling, 61, of Herschel Close, Oakhurst, Swindon, was convicted of multiple counts of child sexual abuse.  

Today (14/05), he was jailed for a total of 24 years.

Embling was reported to police in 2021, and an investigation was launched by Swindon CID.

Officers found that Embling had raped and sexually assaulted two female victims known to him on multiple occasions from 2002 onwards.

He was subsequently charged with more than a dozen offences, and following a trial by jury, was found guilty of all counts.

We are including sections of the victims’ personal statements with their permission.

Victim one said:

“I sit in this court today as someone who has survived a lifetime of trauma. Trauma is not something that simply disappears with time, it lasts a lifetime and reveals itself when you least expect it.

“My childhood was difficult; I experienced abuse, manipulation and control by someone who should have protected me.

“I have trust issues and have learnt to rely on myself because independence and strength were things I had to develop in order to survive.

“Speaking openly in this court has had to be one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. Reliving painful memories is not easy and finding the courage to tell my truth has taken all I have.

“I want to thank everyone involved from [redacted] those many years ago, to [redacted], Mr Scutt and Natalie. Thank you for believing in me and giving me the inner strength to get through this journey.

“Attending court has been the hardest thing I’ve done but now I stand tall knowing I have nothing to be ashamed of.

“For this is not the end of the story, it is only the beginning.”

Victim two said:

“It has taken five years to reach this day, a day I once thought would never come. The day my voice is heard, and the truth of my experience has finally been recognised.

“Finally facing the individual who stole my childhood and caused profound harm to my life has required courage, which I did not know I possessed.

"The damage caused can never be fully undone. The years that were taken from me cannot be returned. Yet through this painful journey, I have discovered a strength within myself that I did not expect.

“Enduring abuse instead of love and safety I should have known has a lasting wound, one that may never truly heal.

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Natalie, the Court, Mr Scutt and the jury for listening to my words and believing my accounts. You may never fully comprehend how difficult it has been to speak out, but please know that I am forever thankful for your time and belief.”

Detective Inspector Natalie Stride said:

“Nicholas Embling perpetrated the most abhorrent offences over a prolonged period against two victims known to him and trusted by him. It cannot be underestimated the harm he has caused.

“He took advantage of their age and vulnerability, beginning his abuse of them at a young age and then escalating his behaviour over the years, leading to him committing some of the most harrowing crimes a person could commit against a child.

“When then faced with what he had done, Nicholas Embling denied all offences, forcing the victims to relive their traumatic experiences through a trial.

“I want to pay tribute to them for their patience, bravery and courage firstly by coming forwards to the police and finally facing Nicholas Embling in court and giving evidence against him.

“Their strength has resulted in this guilty verdict and Nicholas Embling receiving a significant custodial sentence. Although this may offer some comfort to the victims involved, nothing will ever change the harm in which they have gone through.

“I want to reassure any victims of non-recent abuse that you will be listened to and that there is support available to you, when you feel empowered and ready to speak about it.”

Description

A man has been jailed for 10 and a half years after being found guilty of three counts of rape and false imprisonment

Benjamin Wilson (03/08/1990) of Norwood Avenue, Chesterfield, was sentenced to over 10 years in prison after being found guilty of offences committed in Manchester city centre in June 2022.

Detectives carried out a sensitive, victim-led investigation after Wilson exploited an extremely vulnerable and intoxicated victim.

The victim plucked up the courage to go on a night out with friends in Manchester, however, she became separated from them and was later subjected to a serious sexual assault, linked to a suspected drink spiking.

During the evening, the victim and her friend believed their drinks had been tampered with. She later found herself alone, heavily intoxicated, and extremely vulnerable. She encountered Wilson near a takeaway, where he took advantage of the situation, guiding her into a taxi before repeatedly raping her at a flat in Manchester.

The following morning, Wilson dropped her near the hotel where she had been due to stay with her friend. She reported the incident shortly afterwards.

Due to the trauma she experienced and previous medical PTSD, officers worked closely with the victim’s parents and a trusted colleague to support the investigation and help identify, locate, arrest, and charge the offender.

From the outset, investigators faced significant challenges, including limited early forensic opportunities, issues securing CCTV footage and the need to prioritise the victim’s wellbeing.

Hundreds of hours of work went into analysing witness accounts, financial and phone data, intelligence checks, and overcoming cross-force barriers to make an arrest in Derbyshire.

Officers progressed the case carefully to avoid causing further trauma, using digital evidence, including phone data and social media, to establish key links and identify the suspect.

The case was ultimately built through meticulous investigation, persistence, and, crucially, the strength and courage of the victim’s testimony.

DC Phillip Sargeant of Longsight CID said:

“I am awestruck not only by the courage of the victim in coming forward, but also by her patience and resilience in waiting for justice.

“The impact on her, her family and her support network has been profound. I hope today’s sentence provides some measure of closure and enables them to move on from this traumatic experience.

“We have worked hard to support her throughout, allowing her to guide the pace of the investigation and how she engaged with the process.

“I hope this case reassures others that they will be taken seriously and supported sensitively by Greater Manchester Police, no matter how long it takes.”

Description

A child sex offender groomed and arranged to meet who he believed was a 14-year-old child despite being subject to court orders in relation to similar offending.

Eddie Howard, 26, from Exeter, was snared by a paedophile hunter group earlier this year who then called Police who attended and arrested him.

Howard appeared at Exeter Crown Court for sentence on Wednesday 13 May after previously pleading guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, causing a child aged 13-15 to watch a sexual act and breach of a sexual harm prevention order.

He was sentenced to four years and two months in prison.

The court heard how between 9 December 2025 and 6 January 2026 Howard engaged in online communications with who he believed was a 14-year-old boy using a friendship app and then Whatsapp.

However, Howard was actually speaking to members of a well-known paedophile hunter group. 

Howard soon turned the conversation sexual and sent a string of inappropriate messages. 

Howard also sent a video of a male – believed to be Howard himself – performing a sex act.

On 7 January members of the hunter group arranged to meet Howard. They attended Exeter Quay and located Howard nearby.

Police were then called and officers attended and arrested Howard.

Howard has previous convictions for similar offending and was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and suspended sentence at the time.

During interview Howard admitted breaching his Sex Offenders’ Register notification requirements, but offered no further comment.

Officer in the case, DC Saduni Loku Heeraluge said:

“Eddie Howard is a determined and prolific sex offender whose previous convictions have done little to curb his behaviour.

“He went to Exeter Quay believing he was going to meet a child and although it wasn’t a real child in this case, it demonstrates that Howard remains a danger to young people.

“As soon as we were contacted by members of the group our officers attended and arrested Howard and we are pleased he has been brought to justice in such a swift manner.”

Description

A man from Cannock who breached a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) has been jailed for more than two years.

Neil Fillingham, 45, was jailed for two-years-and-eight-months at Stafford Crown Court on Thursday 30 April after he admitted 11 counts of breaching a SHPO and one count of failing to comply with notification requirements of the sex offenders register.

In January 2024, Fillingham was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, for causing/inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and engaging in sexual communication with a child. As part of this sentence, he was also served with a 10-year SHPO.

In January last year, we received a report that Fillingham was potentially speaking to children on Instagram and Kik.

After gathering the evidence, we arrested him at his home and seized his phone. Messages on the phone, which had previously been deleted, were recovered.

He was later arrested on another occasion after we found evidence of him using more electronic devices to communicate with people online. An iPhone and an iPad, which had been supplied by his employer, were seized. He did not notify officers that he had access to these devices, which breached the conditions of his SHPO.

Now, he’s serving time in prison.

Our dedicated management of violent and sexual offenders team in Staffordshire are working tirelessly every single day to ensure those who currently serving orders are abiding to their conditions closely.

Those who fail to follow the conditions set out, as evidenced in this case, will be met with robust action and brought before the courts.

Description

A sex offender who groomed a 12-year-old schoolgirl handed himself in to police six years later during a mental health crisis.

John Bailey, 38, of Annie Street in Orford, Warrington, lured the girl and her friends to his flat in February 2020 after buying them vapes, cigarettes and alcohol. He kissed her and touched her inappropriately.

The initial Cheshire Police investigation collapsed after the girl withdrew her complaint. It was reopened in March 2026 when Bailey phoned officers, admitted the offence and later made further disclosures in interview.

He told police he had tried to kiss the girl but she turned away, so he kissed her neck. He admitted twice attempting to touch her under her clothing; she pushed him away both times, but he overpowered her on the third attempt and touched her for two to three seconds. He denied any sexual interest in children.

Bailey, who has 21 previous convictions for 31 non-sexual offences, appeared via video link from HMP Altcourse at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday.

Prosecutor David Watson said the girl had met Bailey in a shop before he took the group back to his flat.

In mitigation, Jim Smith described the case as “unusual”, saying his “vulnerable” client had contacted police after the investigation had closed because of a “mental health or existential crisis”. Such honesty was rare, he added.

Judge Anil Murray told Bailey: “It seems to me that this case is less about using alcohol to dull the senses than about grooming. You invited a 12-year-old girl back to your flat, offering vapes and alcohol – that is grooming behaviour.”

He added: “You are clearly remorseful as you handed yourself in to the police and made admissions. Remorse is a significant mitigating factor here.”

However, the judge concluded: “Clearly, a sentence of imprisonment has to be imposed. On balance, I cannot suspend the sentence.”

Bailey was jailed for 20 months. He must sign the sex offenders’ register for 10 years and comply with a sexual harm prevention order for five years.

Description

A Leamington man has been jailed for more than a decade after raping and sexually assaulting a woman.

During a five-day trial at Warwick Crown Court, the court heard how Alexander Jesus had sexually assaulted the woman on multiple occasions at her home in March 2024.

After attending the Sexual Abuse Referral Centre (SARC), she reported what had happened to police and a thorough investigation saw the 23-year-old charged with rape, sexual assault and assault by penetration.  

He claimed the victim had made everything up, but the jury found him unanimously guilty on all counts and on Thursday (7 May), he was sentenced at Coventry Crown Court.

He was jailed for ten years and given an extended four-year licence period after the judge identified him as a violent sexual offender. He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Donna Parry said:

“I would like to commend the survivor in this case for her bravery in coming forward and for her commitment to the investigation.

"Her strength and courage are remarkable and while I know no sentence will undo the damage he’s done, I hope it goes some way to helping her rebuild her life.

“I don’t underestimate how difficult it can be to report rape and sexual assault, but we will do everything we can to secure justice for you.”

Description

Detectives have praised the bravery, determination and resolve shown by the teenage victim of a sustained sexual attack as the man responsible was today jailed for his crimes.

The victim shared a powerful victim personal statement with the court. An excerpt from the statement reads:

“This will affect my future because the incident has affected my self-worth and my belief in myself. I have recurring thoughts that I am useless. This is because I believe the suspect saw me as some cheap tat on the road that he could do whatever he wanted with. This is something I overthink about a lot.”

Omarie Adams, aged 34, of Second Avenue, Armley, was found guilty on 18 March of four counts of rape, one count of assault by penetration and one count of sexual assault. The offences were all committed against a 13-year-old girl on 11 September 2025.  

He was sentenced today to an extended sentence of 20 years. He was also added to the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely and made the subject of a restraining order.

Adams, who was a stranger to the victim, took her from the street in broad daylight and drove her to multiple locations around Leeds where he sexually abused her for a period of two hours. He claimed in the three-day trial that he had not noticed the victim was wearing her school jumper.  

Adams was identified after police conducted enquiries into the telephone number he provided to the victim after the ordeal. The victim also provided an incredibly detailed and accurate description of the suspect.

Detective Constable Ellie Middlemass, who was the officer in case, said:

“Adams subjected a vulnerable young girl to hours of atrocious abuse, and this has understandably had a significant impact on her life.  

“Following a detailed investigation, helped enormously by the detail and consistency provided by the victim, Adams was charged and has now been convicted of a number of very serious offences.

“I would like to recognise the immense bravery, determination and resolve shown by the victim throughout the investigation. I hope the knowledge that Adams will now spend a substantial amount of time behind bars will provide some comfort as she works hard to move on with her life.

“I also hope the successful outcome in this case might encourage any victims of similar offences to please come forward and report them to us. We treat all sexual offences, recent or not, extremely seriously. We have specialist officers who can support you through the process and will do everything we can to get justice for you.”

Giving the final words to the victim, she said:  

“I have supported this investigation because I want the suspect to be locked away so that he faces justice and knows he cannot get away with what he has done and won’t go on to do this to someone else.”

She closed by saying:

“Omarie Adams has taken away my dignity. This is not something I will ever get back. I hope he rots in prison.” 

Description

A man has been jailed for serious sexual assaults on two former partners.

James Nolan, formerly of Belper, preyed on the women while they slept.

He raped and sexually assaulted the first woman at an address in Derby.

The woman was in and out of sleep, in the early hours of the morning, when she realised Nolan was raping her.

Their relationship had ended a week before the rape occurred.

The second woman, a subsequent partner of Nolan’s, woke one morning to find him sexually assaulting her at another address in Derby. The woman ended their relationship immediately after the incident.

The incidents happened two years apart and both women made independent reports to police a short while after they occurred.

In respect of the first victim Nolan, 30, was summonsed to appear at court to answer charges of rape and sexual assault.

He offended against the second victim while waiting to appear at court on those charges.

Nolan was arrested in relation to the second assault and was subsequently charged with sexual assault by penetration and remanded into police custody.

The following day Nolan attended a court hearing and denied the offence; he was then bailed by the court ahead of a trial being set.

Nolan appeared at court again in November 2025 and admitted the rape against the first woman and the sexual assault counts against both women.

A judge sentenced Nolan to serve 10.5 years in prison during a hearing at Derby Crown Court on 20 April this year.

Nolan, of Gateway Plaza, Barnsley, was also handed indefinite restraining orders in respect of both women and is required to register with police indefinitely.

Detective Constable Michelle Arnold, officer in the case for the first incident said:

“The two women in this case showed real bravery by coming forward and reporting Nolan’s crimes to us.

“I know there was a lot of worry and uncertainty for both victims throughout. From making an initial report and concerns about being believed, to Nolan initially refusing to admit his crimes which made the ordeal of a trial a very real prospect.

“I’d like to thank both women for having the courage to speak with us and trusting us to seek justice on their behalf.”

Detective Constable Jeannette Gardner, who led the investigation into the second incident, added:

“Despite it taking several years for the case to conclude in court the women remained steadfast with their support for the police investigation and wider legal proceedings.

“Their persistence has led to this outcome at court, with Nolan being taken off the streets and unable to cause any further harm.

“James Nolan is predatory individual who exploited women who trusted him, and who he claimed to care about offending against them when they were at their most vulnerable.”

Description

A man who raped and sexually assaulted two children has been jailed for more than a decade.

Callum Waterhouse, aged 27 of Llwyn-Yr-Eos, in Nelson, Wales, has been jailed for 16 years after a jury unanimously found him guilty of nine offences following an eight-day trial at Bristol Crown Court which concluded in March.

Among the offences Waterhouse was found guilty of, these included some ‘multiple offence’ charges, which means several incidents have been compiled into one charge.

He was convicted of:

• Two counts of multiple rapes of a girl under 13 years old
• Two counts of multiple assaults of a child by penetration
• Sexual assault of a child under 13
• Rape of a girl
• Three counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 15 when the offender was over 18.

Waterhouse, then 18, moved from Wales to Bristol in 2016 where he groomed a child and raped and sexually assaulted her on a number of occasions.

When he moved back to the Torfaen area of Wales later that year, at the age of 19, he groomed a teenage girl and raped and had sexual activity with her on a number of occasions.

The investigation first came to our attention in 2018 when Waterhouse’s first victim told the second victim what had happened, resulting in a report to our colleagues at Gwent Police who reported the matter to ourselves.

In a statement, Waterhouse’s first victim said:

“Callum Waterhouse didn’t just take my childhood, he took my teenage years and the pain and trauma will live with me, but it won’t get the best of me.

“It took 10 years to get to court, but I am finally being heard now.”

She added:

“I hate that this happened to me, I hate that he’s had such an affect, impact and change on my life.

“No jail time will ever give me what I should’ve had back. I blame Callum Waterhouse for the character you’ve forced me to be, for the failure in relationships and the lack of confidence and for making men my biggest nightmare.”

Waterhouse’s second victim said:

“I felt lost and unsure about how to navigate and transition into adulthood. It has caused me eight years of constant grief and worry, feeling like I haven’t been able to move on with my life.”

The Crown Prosecution Service agreed charges in relation to both victims and, following an update to the first victim in July 2023, she made further disclosures about Waterhouse and he was charged with further offences in October 2023.

The case, which was due to go to trial in November 2024, was then postponed until the end of February this year.

On Thursday 5 March this year, Waterhouse was found guilty and he was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court last Thursday (7 May) to 16 years in prison.

He was told he must service a minimum of nine and a half years before he would be eligible to apply for parole.

In her statement, the victim said directly to Waterhouse:

“Today, I walk away from this, leaving all the evil and darkness with you. I give you my pain, my flashbacks and my fears, they will now be yours and I will now build a beautiful life for myself.

“I will finally know what happiness and freedom feels like, I refuse to live my life as your victim, I will work to rebuild myself. I refuse to let you have a hold on me any longer and you will now live with all the questions and I hope you live with guilty for the rest of your life.”

Description

Two brothers who spent years fabricating lies to prevent justice in a child sex offence case have been jailed - thanks to the persistence of a Leicestershire detective.

John and James Siddell were sentenced at Leicester Crown Court today (Tuesday 12 May) to a total of more than 17 years after police uncovered their calculated and prolonged deception.

For more than four years, the brothers went to extreme lengths to repeatedly mislead authorities about the severity of John’s health conditions – in order to prevent John from facing prosecution for a string of sex offences against three young boys.

Their deceit was uncovered thanks to the efforts of the officer in the case, DC Matt Gibson, whose suspicions arose following an encounter with the brothers in April 2024.

Working alongside the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), police carried out a deeper investigation – gathering a mountain of evidence, including CCTV footage, which consistently showed John walking, talking, and socialising, despite appearing completely incapacitated during court-ordered appointments.

In September last year, both men admitted their dishonesty and pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice.

James Siddell, 44, of Chestnut Street, Ashington, Northumberland, was sentenced to 2 years and 9 months.

John Siddell, 41, also of Chestnut Street, Ashington, Northumberland, was sentenced to a total of 15 years – 3 years and 2 months for perverting the course of justice and 11 years and 10 months for 15 child sex offences.

He is also subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 20 years. 

DC Gibson said:

"This case shows the lengths some offenders will go to avoid justice. The brothers’ deception was calculated and sustained over several years, but through persistence and detailed investigation, we were able to expose the truth.

“Working closely with the CPS we were able to make sure the full scale of their offending was presented clearly before the court.”

Police investigation into child sex offences

In June 2021, police received reports of multiple child sexual offences committed by John Siddell against three boys in Leicestershire, between May 2018 and June 2021. At the time the offences were reported the boys were aged 8, 10, and 13.

John was interviewed in July and November 2021 but refused to answer any questions.

During this period, his brother James provided a statement to police claiming John could not have committed the offences due to severe mobility issues.

It was during this time the brothers moved from Leicestershire to Ashington in Northumberland.

In June 2022, following a detailed and lengthy investigation conducted by DC Gibson, John was charged with 17 offences against the boys – thanks to the joint working with Nicola Potts, District Crown Prosecutor for the CPS.

While police and prosecution prepared for trial, the brothers spent the next year manipulating medical professionals and the criminal justice system – falsely claiming John suffered from numerous physical and psychological conditions, including pretending he had suffered a stroke.

During this time, in February 2023 – just a matter of days before John was due in court, James requested a letter from John’s GP to excuse John from the hearing, claiming he was not well enough to travel to Leicester.

John also missed a court-ordered assessment in March 2023 after claiming to have suffered a mini-stroke.

These missed appointments prompted the court to order psychiatric assessments to determine John’s fitness to stand trial.

Assessments took place in April and June 2023, during which John sat silently in a wheelchair with his head tilted and eyes closed.

He did not interact with either of the psychiatrists carrying out the assessments. James told them John had deteriorated and was now completely mute and immobile.

As a result, in June 2023, the court ruled John unfit to plead or stand trial.

As is standard practice when a defendant is deemed unfit, a trial of facts was held at Leicester Crown Court in March 2024, where John was found to have committed all 17 child sex offences.

With suspicions regarding John’s health already beginning to emerge, prosecutor Nicola Potts ordered for a further psychiatric assessment be completed before an outcome was decided.

That assessment was scheduled for Monday 29 April 2024 in Blyth, Northumberland.

It was agreed DC Gibson would attend the meeting and it was here that the brothers’ lies began to unravel.

Uncovering the truth

While travelling to the assessment in April 2024, the brothers were spotted outside the premises by DC Gibson.

He observed John sitting upright and alert in his wheelchair as James pushed him along the street.

Minutes later, inside the building, John appeared slumped with his head to one side and eyes closed – completely unresponsive throughout the assessment.

Despite this façade, the doctor noted in his report that John was “mute of malice,” meaning he was deliberately choosing not to speak.

Witnessing the stark contrast in John’s behaviour only minutes apart, DC Gibson started to investigate further.

Over the next 18 months, he worked tirelessly to gather evidence exposing the brothers’ lies.

Photos, CCTV footage, and witness statements revealed many of John’s alleged ailments were fabricated or exaggerated.

A clear pattern began to emerge that showed John would present as mute and immobile during court-ordered or medical appointments and would often seek medical intervention in the days before a court hearing in a bid to derail proceedings.

During the period the brothers’ claimed John was unfit to travel to Leicester for court, he had regularly attended the local social club – including attending an Elvis Presley tribute night.

Photos uncovered on his phone from around the same time also showed him out, socialising with others on a number of occasions.

Even after being declared unfit to stand trial in June 2023, photos showed John had been out drinking and socialising throughout August, September, and October.

The further DC Gibson investigated, the clearer the scale of the brothers’ lies became.

CCTV footage from June 2024 – just two months after his assessment in Blyth where he appeared completely incapacitated – captured John at this local social club, walking unaided and interacting with others.

That same month, he attended another medical assessment where James claimed John was mute and unable to speak.

In July 2024, the day before a psychiatric assessment, James called an ambulance claiming John had suffered a seizure and a possible stroke.

CCTV from the family’s home shows John being taken out to the ambulance, displaying as he had during his assessments.

Yet, a few hours earlier, another camera has captured John walking outside to collect the post – around the time James claimed he’d had his first seizure.

Despite the ruse continuing, a few weeks later, CCTV captured John at the social club on three consecutive nights, moving independently from his wheelchair and interacting with others.

At the end of July, DC Gibson, accompanied by other officers from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, attended the brothers’ home address, and arrested both men on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.

Even then, the pretence continued.

Police body worn video showed John lying down with his eyes closed before being helped into his wheelchair and resuming his mute persona. Yet, during transport, he was seen adjusting his clothing and later – while in custody – was unable to maintain the act.

DC Gibson added:

“On the day I went to arrest John and James it was clear John was pretending to be mute and unresponsive. He was lying on the sofa in the living room with his eyes closed but I could see they were flickering. When he was helped into the police van by officers, he was seen pulling his t-shirt down after it had ridden up slightly. The whole situation felt rather staged.

“As the day went on, John was unable to remain in character and was observed at times carrying his own weight or trying to look around without being seen.

“Both men were interviewed. John refused to answer any questions - even when I questioned him about what I had witnessed in Blyth over a year before.

“James was interviewed by two other officers, and he continued with the fabricated story. He claimed John had ‘good days and bad days’ and his condition ‘comes and goes’.

“James also insisted ‘If John was putting it on, I would be the first to put my hands up’.”

Both men were released under investigation while DC Gibson and the CPS ensured the evidence they had uncovered was watertight.

In July of this year, both men were subsequently charged with perverting the course of justice.

The pair appeared at their first court hearing via video link, with John again feigning unresponsiveness - despite being seen at the social club playing bingo and watching football the day before.

After failing to appear in court on 14 August, a warrant was issued for their arrest. That same day, James had called an ambulance for John, and both were found at hospital before being remanded in custody to await trial.

In September last year, they both pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice. John also pleaded guilty to to 15 of the child sex offences he was charged with in June 2022.

DC Gibson concluded:

"It has taken more than four years for the victims and their family to have justice and some sense of closure.

“The lengths John Siddell went to in an attempt to avoid prison is truly shocking – and the fact his brother was also part of this elaborate plan makes it even more disturbing.

“I’m pleased justice has finally prevailed. The close working relationship between myself and Nicola from the CPS for the last four years has ensured that every lie was exposed and both men must now face the consequences of their actions.”

John Siddell was sentenced for the following 15 child sex offences:

• Five counts of sexual assault
• Five counts of sexual assault of a child under 13
• Four counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity
• One count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity

Description

A registered sex offender who was arrested just hours after admitting nine breaches of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) has today been sentenced.

Under the order, Jeremy Humphreys has to abide by a number of conditions but failed to notify police of his digital devices and refused to provide passwords.

The 61-year-old admitted nine breaches in February but officers received information that he was in possession of a laptop when he attended court.

On the morning of 19th February, officers attended the hotel he was staying at and arrested him for further breaches of his SHPO, and for failing to comply with his Sex Offender Notification Requirements. 

Officers also seized a tablet, which did not have any monitoring systems installed on it, and discovered two usernames that he had not registered with the police.

Humphreys appeared at Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday 13th May after pleading guilty to the further breaches and he was sentenced to four years for 12 breaches in total.

The SHPOs were put in place after Humphreys was previously convicted of child sex offences.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Barnes said:

“Humphreys showed a flagrant disregard for the law by continuously breaching his SHPO – even going as far as showing up to court with an unregistered device.

“I’m pleased he has today been given a custodial sentence. I hope this serves as a warning to others that we can and will take action against breaches.

“Our Paedophile Online Investigation Team and Digital Forensic Unit worked tirelessly to secure these convictions. We will continue to monitor offenders closely so any breaches are detected and dealt with swiftly and robustly.”

Description

A man who sexually assaulted two women on a crowded train in Fife has been jailed, following a British Transport Police investigation.

Jamie Muir, 33, and of James Street in Dunfermline, was sentenced at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on Wednesday 29 April to nine month's imprisonment and was placed on the Sex Offenders Register.

He had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of Sexual Assault.

The court heard how on Sunday 16 November 2025, Muir boarded a train from Inverkeithing to Edinburgh that was extremely busy due to a rugby match between Scotland and Argentina later in the day at Murrayfield.

Muir stood behind two women, and only minutes after the train left Inverkeithing he began to sexually assault both women, using the crowd to disguise his actions.

One of the women turned to Muir and challenged his actions, with Muir in turn apologising and claiming not to know where he was.

Other passengers on the train intervened, encouraging Muir to leave the train at the next stop. He then left the train at North Queensferry.

Once the train arrived at Edinburgh Waverley, the two women reported the incident to officers at the station and an urgent investigation was launched.

Images of Muir were shared with other police forces in a drive to identify him, and he was subsequently identified and arrested.

Upon being arrested, Muir attempted to excuse his actions by saying he had felt unwell.

DC Crawford Gillies said:

"Muir's actions were opportunistic and sickening, so I'm very pleased with the sentence handed down to him that should provide him ample time to consider his actions.

"There is absolutely no place for this type of behaviour anywhere on the railway network, and we take every report of this kind of behaviour seriously.

"If you ever need us while you're travelling on the railway, you can discreetly text us on 61016. Our officers can meet the train at the next station, and we’ll stop at nothing to bring sexual offenders to justice.”

Description

A registered sex offender has been jailed after he breached a strict court order.

Police visited Vincent Flemons, 53, after the team in charge of managing sex offenders discovered he was breaching orders in place around him.

Flemons was given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) in July 2025 following previous convictions for offences involving children.

The SHPO stated he must not install, download, or use any instant messaging service which does not save internet history without obtaining prior written consent.

Thanks to monitoring software on Flemons’ phone, officers received a notification in February that he had downloaded a social media app which does not record chat history, and without receiving prior consent.

The SHPO further stated that any device Flemons used must retain all internet history, and that he must notify police of any change of home address within three days.

A further search of Flemons’ device revealed that he had also deleted several apps, including Instagram and Twitter, from his phone, and been staying at a property in Waterbeach without alerting police, both further breaching the conditions of his SHPO.

On Thursday (7 May), at Huntingdon Law Courts, Flemons, of no known address, was jailed for one year for two counts of breaching a SHPO and one count of failing to comply with Sex Offenders Register notifications, which he admitted.

DC Sonia Kauser, who investigated, said:

“Flemons was well aware of the conditions of his SHPO, but decided to breach them anyway.

“I’m pleased that he has now faced justice, and I hope this case shows how committed we are to managing sexual offenders and ensuring they comply with court orders.”