Latest Offenders

Description

A Birmingham man who subjected a woman to a brutal assault in Walsall has been convicted of rape.

Simon Tang was convicted at Birmingham Crown Court following the attack on a sex worker near a car park in Birmingham Street, Walsall, on 5 May.

Bravely the woman came to us and told us of the ordeal she had been subjected to. She has been supported throughout her recovery and during the investigation by our specially trained teams.

During the assault she was hit repeatedly with a baseball bat which Tang had got from the boot of his car, leaving her with extensive bruising to her legs and head.

Specialist public protection officers worked with her to put together a case which saw her 56-year-old attacker convicted of two counts of rape, possessing an offensive weapon and actual bodily harm.

Tang, of Weoley Castle Road, Birmingham, will be sentenced on January 30.

DS Morgan Colley, from the investigation team, said:  “I would like to commend the bravery of the woman in this case as without her support we would not have been able to secure a positive outcome at court.

"This man posed a real danger to women and thanks to her, he has now been convicted of his crimes and remanded in custody ahead of sentence."

Description

Andrew Cullis, of Lynden Way in Swanley, was found to be in possession of a USB containing explicit images of children during a routine sex offender management check in February 2025.

The 43 year old was sentenced to two years and four months’ imprisonment at Maidstone Crown Court on 17 October.

Description

A SEX offender has been jailed after failing to inform police of a YouTube account he claimed was ‘auto-generated’ by the video sharing platform.

Michael Holliday, 52, was put behind bars for 24 weeks after Workington Magistrates’ Court heard police discovered a YouTube username on his phone which had not been disclosed.

Prosecutor Pamela Fee said Holliday is a registered sex offender who is subject to notification requirements. He is managed by officers from the Management of Sexual or Violent Offenders team who ensure that such offenders are complying with orders.

Ms Fee said Holliday is required to undertake polygraph tests after being convicted of sexual communication with a child on the social media and video sharing platform, TikTok.

In 2022, he was given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and made subject to Sex Offender notification requirements for seven years. He must notify police of any online usernames within three days, the court was told.

Ms Fee said Holliday had been assessed as ‘high risk’ for reoffending after previously breaching the SHPO.

The court heard that Holliday attended the polygraph appointment in Cockermouth on September 3 and during a pre-interview discussion, he admitted deleting the internet history from his phone, stating it was ‘normal pornography’.

Ms Fee said this was ‘a huge concern’. The defendant also said he had lost that phone on the beach in the days prior.

Officers attended Cockermouth Police Station and Holliday was arrested. His phone was seized and a search was carried out on the device. There was a username on YouTube that had been used on August 31. Holliday had not notified police of the username.

Ms Fee said there had been two previous breaches of the SHPO and within five and a half weeks, the defendant had committed further breaches. Holliday was ‘fully aware’ of the requirements, the prosecutor said.

Mike Woolaghan, defending, said Holliday’s use of YouTube was known to police and had been authorised by them.

“When it was set up, a username was set up,” Mr Woolaghan said. “What has happened, I think when YouTube was purchased by Elon Musk, there was a migration of data.

“It auto-generated a username. It wasn’t creating a new account. It was being auto-generated on the system.

“That is a username he was obliged to provide to the police. There is no suggestion there are two accounts being run side by side and one is being hidden.”

Mr Woolaghan said the defendant had some issues that were ‘unaddressed’ and he had experienced childhood trauma that he continues to struggle with.

“He would benefit from some ongoing support to address those underlying trauma issues,” the solicitor said. “Avoidance strategy is not the most appropriate strategy.”

Holliday pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to failing to comply with notification requirements.

Jailing the defendant for 24 weeks, presiding magistrate Mark Gear said only a custodial sentence could be justified.

Holliday, of Moss Bay Road, Workington, must also pay £85 costs and a £154 victim surcharge.

Description

On Thursday 13 November 2025 at Manchester Crown Court, William Howarth (28/07/2002), of Miles Platting, was sentenced to nine years and eight months in prison with a further six years on licence, at Manchester Crown Court.

It follows an investigation by our Sex Offender Crime Investigation Team (SOCIT) after Howarth was found to be in possession of an unregistered mobile phone in a visit from his offender manager in 2023, due to him being an already registered sex offender managed by GMP through a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).  

Howarth was subject to routine checks where he had to register his mobile device and hand it over to his offender manager from our Sex Offender Management Unit (SOMU) during home visits. 

Howarth was found to be in breach of his SHPO, and his mobile device was immediately seized and through forensic analysis, a number of messages were found to have been sent to several young girls under the age 16. 

An investigation was immediately launched, and with the help of police forces across the country, we managed to trace the children Howarth had been in communication with and they bravely agreed to give their accounts. 

One of the child victims told police how Howarth would call her “fat” and a “whore”. Whilst he told another girl how he liked her petite body and how big he would look next to her.

Another victim was living in terror after Howarth told her that nobody would believe what she had to say because she was young. In a message to her, he said “it sounds wrong but honestly don’t want to leave you. I’d rather risk it with you then leave u”, following him then disclosing to her his real age.  

Howarth would send messages to these child victims about what he would like to do to them sexually, and would frequently request indecent images of themselves, directing what poses he wanted them to do for him. In return, he would send them videos of himself masturbating. 

The child victims also explained how they felt pressured into sending him pictures of themselves to Howarth, and some were even subjected to threats from him. 

One child victim described to police how she blocked Howarth on a social media site, but that she would receive friend requests from different accounts he would use to continue to message her. When he did manage to message her, he would threaten to distribute images of her online. 

Howarth displayed controlling behaviour over the children he had been in contact with, not allowing them to refuse his requests. When the children attempted to make a stand and refuse to send further images, Howarth would threaten them by stating if they didn’t do as he asked, he would post their images online for people to see. 

In a hearing at Manchester Crown Court on 10 November 2025, Howarth pleaded guilty to the following 35 offences: 

Description

A paedophile fled to the Philippines after sexually assaulting a girl on a farm, a court has heard.

Depraved builder Wayne Hassall, 59, travelled to the Far East following the horrific attack on the victim in 2021 at his farm in Utkinton, Cheshire.

He spent years overseas before being arrested at Manchester Airport in August this year.

At sentencing, Judge Recorder Michelle Brown said she was satisfied Hassall "left the country to avoid prosecution for this offence."

The assault occurred when the girl was about to feed horses; Hassall suddenly kissed her, professed love, and sexually assaulted her, per Manchester Evening News.

She confided in her mother, leading to an investigation. Hassall flew to the Philippines, where he married.

An arrest warrant was issued in 2022. He returned to the UK in August and was detained.

Hassall, of Cherry Tree Farm, Quarry Bank, Utkinton, denied the charge but was convicted by jury and jailed for 28 months on November 10.

The victim said:

"I was angry at myself for letting it happen and I became angry at the world.

"I never used to be an angry person but it was all taken out of my control. I had chances to stop it happening and I did not - I will never forgive myself for that.

"I am numb and emotionally cold and I have felt that I don't deserve to be happy. I feel as if I have let everyone down. This has ruined me as a person.

"My innocence was taken away and because of that, I ask the question 'why me? Was it something I did? Why did he get to live in the Philippines?"

Her mother added:

"I hated what he did to her. He took away a huge chunk of her childhood when he abused her. He is a vile paedophile and a dangerous man."

Prosecutor Paulinus Barnes said Hassall discussed giving the girl money and tried to apologise.

Mitigating, Richard Thomas said:

"He has continued to deny that he behaved in any way he was alleged to.

"After the allegation was made in 2021, he was released under investigation by police without bail conditions and he went to the Philippines in March 2022 and got married.

"He came back for a couple of months in July 2022 then returned again in September of that year. At that time he was aware that the case was still being investigated, but police told him he could live his life.

"He went back and he in effect got stuck there. His wife became quite seriously ill and as there is no NHS in the Philippines he had to take out a loan to pay for treatment and had to give up his passport.

"For some time he was homeless in the Philippines and he tried every avenue to return that he could. It was not until August that he got a passport and the funds from his family.

"There was no extradition, he came back of his own accord and was arrested at the airport and has been in custody ever since."

The judge told Hassall the victim has been "significantly affected by what you did" and added: "She blames herself, but the fault lies entirely with you."

Hassall received a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and must sign the Sex Offenders' Register.

Description

In July, 2022, police received a report from Social Services that the victim had been sexually abused by Steven Smith in June of that year.

The victim and his family, who were known to Smith, were supported by specialist officers while an investigation was launched.

At the time of the report, Smith was already subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) relating to a conviction for child sex offences in 2017. The order prohibited Smith from having contact with male children under 18.

Smith, 28, of Lower Street in Pulborough, was arrested and charged with rape of a male child under 13, attempted rape of a boy under 13, sexual assault by touching of a boy under 13, and breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

At Lewes Crown Court on 21 August, 2024, Smith pleaded not guilty to all charges, but later admitted the breach of the SHPO.

He was convicted of the remaining offences following a trial, and at Lewes Crown Court on Monday, 3 November, he was sentenced to 12 years and nine months in prison.
Smith was also made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will remain a registered sex offender for life.

Detective Inspector Harry Doyle said:

“The child involved has shown immense bravery in coming forward to report this horrific abuse. Their courage, and the support shown by their family, have been vital throughout this process, which I know has been extremely challenging.

“Smith’s actions were appalling and represent a profound breach of trust. Such crimes cause lasting harm and have no place in our society.

“He will now spend a significant period behind bars, where he can no longer pose any threat to children or the wider public.

“We take all reports of abuse extremely seriously. If you believe you may be a victim, or know someone who might be, please come forward. We will listen, and we will support you.”

Description

A judge has jailed a man who manipulated, groomed, and threatened to kill a decoy teenage girl when she refused to send him indecent images of herself.

Hiwr Ali Bayeze is now beginning a 42-month sentence for multiple child sex offences after what he believed was a 14-year-old girl turned out to be an adult decoy who reported him to the police.

Bayeze, 37, will also have to register as a sex offender for life after Mr Recorder Simon Jackson KC ruled that he had not shown remorse and presented “a significant risk of harm in the future to children”.

Bradford Crown Court heard how Bayeze, of Little Horton Lane, Bradford, contacted a social media account purporting to be that of a 14-year-old girl but which had been set up by a group that aims to proactively identify people that seek out children for sexual gratification.

The fictitious account would remain dormant until someone contacted it, and Bayeze did so on February 9 last year.

Between February 9 and 22 there was “extensive” contact running to more than 1,000 pages of messaging.

The decoy claimed to be 14, and this was repeated to Bayeze.

He asked if she was a virgin, told her he imagined having sex with her, that he would be caught by the police if her did something with her, and despite knowing her age he continued to ask her to engage in sexual activity.

They arranged to meet up, and the court heard that there was “a lot of content” relating to that rendezvous.

Bayeze repeatedly asked the decoy to take photographs of herself, called her “sexy”, said he wanted to kiss her, and that he loved her.

He also threatened the decoy that if she didn’t send a photograph “I’ll kill you if you say no.”

Bayeze pleaded guilty to four offences: attempted sexual communication with a child, attempt to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity, attempt to arrange the commission of a child sex offence, and attempt to meet a child following grooming.

In mitigation, the court heard how Bayeze, who came to the UK from Iraq following the death of his father, had suffered from various health issues since childhood that required daily pain medication.

Recorder Jackson told Bayeze:

“When the date was set for you to meet the child … you wished to engage in sexual activity with her.

“You plainly anticipated having intercourse with her.

“You set out the things that you would wish her to do, and you to do, in the course of your extended period of contact with her.

“This against the background that she told you repeatedly that she was only 14 and that she was sexually inexperienced.

“You persisted in your demands for her to send sexual images of herself … and you issued a threat to the person you were communicating with who told you to stop your persistent requests for images [by saying] ‘I’ll kill you if you say no’.”

He added: “You were extremely manipulative. You were threatening. You told her that you were crying, and this period of grooming extended for a period of time.

“You were persistent in your behaviour, and I am satisfied that you present a significant risk of harm in the future to children.”

Description

A child predator has been sentenced to prison after attempting to meet a teenage boy for sex.

Stephen Sussams, 62, travelled from his home with the intention of sexually abusing a teenage boy he had targeted through social media.

The grooming began on 4 July 2025, when Sussams initiated contact through a messaging platform. He gained the child’s trust by discussing everyday topics before escalating to sexually explicit conversations.

Over the course of two weeks, Sussams sent numerous graphic messages through platforms including Snapchat. He repeatedly requested indecent images of the child and described the sexual acts he intended to carry out if they were to meet in person.

Arrested

On 23 July 2025 Sussams was arrested as he waited for the child to arrive. Upon his arrest he refused to give attending officers the password to his phone.

He was charged the same day with multiple offences, including arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.

Sentenced

On Wednesday 12 November 2025, Sussams, of Biggins Wood Road, Folkestone, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison at Canterbury Crown Court. Upon release, he will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be placed on the sex offender register.

Detective Constable Jess Meadway said:

‘This was a thorough and swift investigation, which enabled us to apprehend a dangerous offender quickly. Sussams’ actions were deplorable, and his arrest sends a clear message that Kent Police will pursue offenders relentlessly.

‘We remain committed to ensuring that those who commit such crimes are held fully accountable for their actions.’

Description

A voyeur from West Yorkshire who hid a camera in a bathroom to record females has been jailed for over two years.

Leon Gresswell, 39, of Ovenden, Calderdale, had his "planned, devious, and perverted" behavior exposed at Bradford Crown Court.

He must register as a sex offender for 10 years and adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same period.

Prosecutor Camille Morland explained that Gresswell's phone, dropped in nearby woods, was found by a neighbor who discovered "of concern" images while identifying the owner. Police were notified, and Gresswell admitted recording the images for sexual gratification.

Victims' statements described feeling disgusted, dirty, and paranoid, saying his actions "made their skin crawl."

Mitigating, Michael Collins noted voyeurs often struggle emotionally with admissions, and Gresswell's late acceptance reflected "the seriousness with which he views this offence and the shame and embarrassment that comes from it." He added: "He has behaved in an appalling way and he accepts that."

Sentencing for four voyeurism counts, Recorder Simon Jackson KC called it "an entrenched pattern of deviant behaviour" showing no remorse or insight. He added: "It was planned. It was devious. It was perverted. It was more than what you in fact saw. It was what you hoped to see."

Gresswell received 18 months concurrent on three counts, plus eight months consecutive for the fourth, totaling 26 months in prison.

Description

A 22-year-old rapist who isolated his victim from friends and family to control her movements 24/7 has been jailed for five years.

Marc Cheeney inflicted constant emotional abuse over four months, regularly belittling and degrading her, culminating in him raping her at an address in Halstead and leaving her to take a taxi home, Chelmsford Crown Court heard.

The sentence means Cheeney will miss the birth of his new partner's child later this month.

Prosecutor Richard Potts read the victim's impact statement, which described how Cheeney ruined occasions like her school prom and left her in constant fear.

It read: “I spent every night crying and crying and questioning what I did wrong to make me deserve this.

“Every time I saw him I prepared myself for him to belittle me.

"Things such as my prom were ruined due to him – I just wanted to enjoy being a young girl.”

She added: “When I reported him to the police, I only became more afraid – I was scared he would come after me.

“I worry he will do this again and again to other people.

“I am proud of myself for reporting him but nothing will ever completely heal me from the mental pain I suffer.

“Knowing he has received punishment has given light to my life knowing I can be at peace.”

Cheeney, of Toppesfield Road, Great Yeldham, admitted controlling and coercive behaviour but denied rape, only to be convicted by a jury.

Mitigating, Daniel O’Malley said Cheeney's actions stemmed from poor anger management and jealousy, adding: “By his own admission, his conduct towards the complainant was simply disgusting.”

Judge Jamie Sawyer told Cheeney: “You attempted to stop her wearing a skirt to school.

“You used the Life 360 tracking application to monitor her movements.

“She left the house in a taxi and was observed by the taxi driver to be very upset.

“It is very sad to see how you thought a relationship should develop and how you behaved to a young woman.”

He added: “You are from a loving, supportive family, which begs that question – where did you get attitudes like this from?

“They don’t just spring up from nowhere.”

Cheeney also received a 10-year restraining order and must provide indefinite notifications about his whereabouts upon release. He will serve two-thirds of his sentence before licence.

Description

A man has been placed on the sex offenders register after he groped four women at a birthday party.

Scott Wilson-Moody, 25, pleaded guilty to four charges of sexual assault at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and not guilty to one more charge.

Description

Blackburn man jailed for raping woman after following her home from Darwen night out

On 13th May 2023 he met his victim during a night out in Darwen. During the night out, Hartley asked the victim if he should come to her, and she declined saying she just wanted to go to sleep. However, in the early hours of 14th May he made his way into the victim’s house along with one of her friends.

When the victim’s friend went to leave, Hartley pretended to be asleep.

It was while the victim was alone that Hartley raped and sexually assaulted her.

Hartley then used her mobile phone to call a taxi.

Hartley, formerly of Minnie Terrace, Blackburn, but now of no fixed address, was arrested two days later. He was subsequently charged with two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.

Hartley was found guilty of all offences following a trial at Preston Crown Court in September of this year.

He returned to the same court on Monday where he was jailed for five years. He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

In an impact statement to the court, the victim said:

“I never expected to be raped on that night in May 2023. I was enjoying a child free weekend with friends and was out with group of lads who I thought I could trust and feel safe with. I felt able to have a drink and a good time and wanted to be looked after, little did I know that the night would end so very badly and change my life forever.

“I was unsure about contacting the police at all in the first instance. I feared that I would not be believed and that the police would not take me seriously. Perhaps they would think it was my own fault for being out with a gang of lads but I was distressed and after several hours of worry and upset I had to do the right thing and tell them what had happened. I was surprised by the response from the police, they listened, took me seriously and offered me support.

“I did not cope well with being in my own home after I was raped. It should have been a safe and happy place for me and my children and it was until that night. I delayed the children coming back and even took them on a last minute holiday to avoid having to be at the house with them. I moved to a new house in the end and that is not something I should have had to do because of the actions of one person but I felt that I had no choice. I threw the sofa out onto the front garden as I could not bear to have it in the house knowing what had happened on it.

“I did not see my children at all for a week after that night. I was not in any fit state to care for them and I did not want them in the house. I spent a week trying to get back to being the old me and convincing myself that I would be able to put a brave face on. It was not easy.

“I do not think that people realise how much I have struggled. That is partially my fault for not being able to open up but it has been nothing short of terrible. I have had countless sleepless nights and have worried endlessly about what I did wrong to deserve what had happened to me. I have spent hours going through the night in my head, asking myself if I gave him any indication at all that it was ok to behave in the way that he did. I have wondered what I could have done differently and then spent hours worrying that Hartley knew where I lived and people would come after me for going to the police and seeing it through to the trial at court.

“I was suddenly unable to do the normal things that a young person of my age would do. I immediately became cautious of everyone around me and avoided nights out for a long time. I worry about having too much to drink and question how safe I am, even with people that I have known and trusted for years. I do not know how to fix this and hope that in time I will find a way through it.”

DC Claire Scott, from our East Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) Investigation Team, said:

“Hartley took advantage of a vulnerable woman for his own sexual gratification. His offending has had a profound impact on her daily life as she describes so honestly in her victim impact statement.

“I want to praise the victim in this case for her bravery, and for having trust in the police to put her offender before the courts.”

Description

A paedophile who raped and sexually abused a boy has today (Wednesday 12 November) been sentenced to 25 years.

Jason Lane, 44, of Old Coach Road, Droitwich, had previously been found guilty of 16 offences against his victim in June at Redditch Crown Court.

Lane was found guilty of the following ahead of today’s hearing at Worcester Crown Court where the judge described him as a “very dangerous individual”: 

• Three counts of rape of a boy under 13
• Two counts of rape of boy aged 13 to 15
• Four counts of assaulting a boy under 13 by touching
• Three counts of cause/incite a boy under 13 to engage in sexual activity
• Cause/ incite a boy under 13 to engage in sexual activity by penetration
• Two counts of attempt to cause/incite a boy aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity without penetration
• Causing a child under 13 to watch/look at an image of sexual activity

His total sentence was 25 years – 21 years with four on licence, and he was given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

DC Allie Thompson, of our Protecting Vulnerable People team, said:

“We are pleased to get this lengthy sentence for Lane whose predatory sexual behaviour has caused much harm to his victim and their family.

“I would like to commend the victim and their family for their bravery in coming forward and assisting with the process which has secured a conviction and ultimately taken a very dangerous individual off the streets.

“We hope the sentence will some way assist the victim in moving on with their lives with the correct support and assistance moving forward.

“I would also like to thank the officers who have worked tirelessly throughout this investigation in order to obtain this substantial sentence their hard work over several years has assisted in securing this conviction.

“We hope that today’s sentencing shows that we will always pursue sexual predators like Lane and bring them before the courts to face justice and that it will encourage other victims of sexual offences to come forward.

“We will always listen to take your concerns seriously and protect you from the dangerous offenders like Lane.”

Description

A sex offender who served a year in prison for possessing a quarter-million indecent images has breached his sexual harm prevention order by deleting his WhatsApp history.

Jonathon Turkentine, 68, was jailed in 2022 but denied any sexual interest in children. His barrister told Ipswich Crown Court he viewed the images and movies for "artistic reasons" while researching the "perfect female form."

As part of his sentence, Turkentine received a ten-year sexual harm prevention order prohibiting him from deleting internet or message history.

Court papers show he breached it by deleting WhatsApp photos and enabling an auto-delete setting for messages.

Turkentine, of Mersea Road, Colchester, appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court last week and admitted one count of breaching the order.

Magistrates fined him £141, plus £110 in costs to the Crown Prosecution Service and a £56 victim surcharge, totaling £307.

He must pay by December 3.

Description

A former soap opera extra, Rizwan Khan—known as "Riz"—has been jailed for raping two women in separate incidents years apart.

He was also sentenced for sexually assaulting one of the rape victims and for causing unnecessary suffering to a child by slapping them.

Teesside Crown Court heard that Khan told one victim, "I need what I need. I want what I want. You, as a woman, should abide by what a man wants," before raping her despite her repeated refusals. He punched and slapped her, and both victims testified to his violence. The second victim awoke to him assaulting her.

Khan denied the charges but was convicted by a jury in August of two rapes, one sexual assault, and child cruelty; he was cleared of four other rape counts.

At sentencing on Tuesday, Khan stood emotionless as prosecutor Robin Turton read victim statements. One said she suffers anxiety and nightmares: "What he did goes round and round in my head. When I see his face in the newspaper, I feel sick."

Defense barrister Andrew Stranex said Khan maintains his innocence: "It would be quite bizarre if he said he did it, after standing trial." He added, "He is concerned about his parents and their healthcare. Any account saying there's social care available, doesn't take into account the level of his care for them."

Judge Paul Reid noted, "Your pre-sentence report says you demonstrate entitlement and hostility towards females."

Khan, of Union Street in Middlesbrough, was sentenced to 11 years and nine months in prison. He must sign the sex offenders' register for life, is subject to a sexual harm prevention order, and restraining orders prohibit contact with the victims.

During trial, Khan said he worked in a Stokesley call center before pursuing acting at 34, going to the gym daily as jobs came in. He appeared in Hollyoaks and ITV's Vera.