Latest Offenders

Description

A former Police Scotland officer has been convicted of numerous sexual offences at the High Court in Glasgow.

Campbell Petrie, 50, was found guilty of nine charges - including two of rape – as well as indecent assault, assault with intent to rape and assault to injury and danger of life, which took place between 2006 and 2023.

He was a serving officer at the time of these offences, and was arrested and charged, and suspended from duty, in December 2023.

Petrie retired from Police Scotland in December 2025.

He has been remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced next month.

Detective Superintendent Adam Brown, Public Protection Unit said:

"Violence against women and girls is an absolute priority for Police Scotland and we will relentlessly pursue the perpetrators of these crimes.

"Our thoughts are very much with the victims in this case and I commend their strength in reporting these crimes and bringing Campbell Petrie to justice.

"We understand how difficult it can be to report these kinds of offences, particularly when the perpetrator is a police officer. I want to reassure the public we will identify and investigate these officers whether they are serving or retired, or whether their crimes are committed on duty or, as in this instance, off duty.

"Petrie will now face the consequences of his actions and today's outcome should serve as an illustration of our determination in those investigations and I hope that this outcome may bring some closure to those affected by this case."

Description

A 28-year-old man has been sentenced to 10 years for serious sexual and violent abuse against three women.

Liam Scott committed the offences including rape, between 2015 and 2019 in the Scottish Borders.

He was sentenced on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Scott was also given a lifelong Non-Harassment Order.

Detective Inspector Frank Keegan said:

“Scott’s horrific sexual and violent attacks had a devastating and lasting impact on these women, leaving them to live with profound trauma because of his actions.

“I would like to acknowledge the immense strength shown by all the victims throughout the court process. I hope that this sentence provides them with some sense of justice and closure and allows them to move on with their lives.

"Sexual and violent abuse of any kind have no place in society and we remain committed to supporting victims and bringing those responsible to justice.

"I would encourage anyone who has experienced sexual abuse or violence to report it to police. Every report will be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated." 

Description

A sex offender who subjected a woman to a terrifying ordeal on a train in Manchester has been jailed within 72 hours thanks to a fast-paced British Transport Police investigation.

Babatunde Odutola, 36, of no fixed address, was sentenced at Manchester Magistrates Court on Monday 14 September to 44 weeks imprisonment in total after pleading guilty to one charge of Outraging Public Decency and for breaching a suspended sentence order.

The court heard how just three days previously, at around 7pm on Friday 11 September, Odutola approached a woman whilst on a train travelling through Cheshire towards Manchester Piccadilly railway station. He looked her up and down intimidatingly and acted aggressively when she chose not to engage with him.

Odutola then began exposing himself while sat in a wheelchair and masturbating, looking at her and telling her to ‘come over’.

The victim was escorted out of the carriage by a fellow passenger, distressed by the incident. CCTV shows he continued to masturbate as other passengers passed through the carriage, undeterred. Police were called and Odutola was arrested by British Transport Police officers once the train had arrived into Manchester Piccadilly station.

British Transport Police Detective Constable Leonidas Christoforou said:

“Odutola is clearly an incredibly dangerous individual and his disturbing behaviour must have been terrifying for the victim, who he singled out when she was travelling on her own.

“He’s shown little remorse for his actions and denied the allegations against him during his police interview. But a stack of incriminating evidence, including damning CCTV and several witness accounts, left him with little choice but to plead guilty when he appeared in court.

“This was not a one-off from Odutola, who was already a registered sex offender, and this type of alarming, predatory behaviour simply will not be tolerated on our railways.

“Holding vile offenders like him to account is a number one priority for us as a force and we’re tireless in our efforts to bring them to justice.

“If you experience or witness these crimes on the railway, please report it to us by texting 61016. We will always take action.”

Description

A man has been jailed for various sexual offences following a South Wales Police investigation.

Andrew Bennison, 44, from Church Village, Rhondda Cynon Taf, was sentenced to 13 years in prison following his conviction. He has also been given a restraining order and sexual harm prevention order for 15 years starting from today. He will also be placed on the sex offenders register for life.

The sentencing took place today (Thursday, September 17) at Cardiff Crown Court, following a week-long trial in August where Bennison was found guilty of four counts of causing a female to engage in a non-penetrative sexual activity, eight counts of sexual assault and two counts of assaulting a female by penetration with part of body.

This followed the victim coming forward to the police in April 2024. Officers then investigated the case and found that Bennison had been abusing the victim over a seven-year period.

Detective Constable Bethan Crisfield said:

“The bravery it takes to come forward and report offences like these cannot be underestimated.

“We hope that this sentence will go some way in helping the victim rebuild her life and heal from the awful events that took place. I thank her for her strength and dignity throughout this investigation.

“An extensive amount of work went into this investigation, and this sentence sends a hugely positive message to victims of sexual abuse that they will be believed, their attackers will be identified, and they will be brought to justice.”

Description

This man began grooming and sexually exploiting a girl when he was 47, and she was just 14. Now he's behind bars.

Mark Rowley committed the offences in Brighton and around Sussex between 2022 and 2024.

The 14-year-old victim was subjected to repeated rapes by Rowley, where he would beat her if she refused to comply. He also verbally abused her, leaving her in fear of doing something that would make him angry.

Rowley made the victim believe that they were in a relationship, and he would also frequently request she took and sent him explicit photos.

In a report to police on 22 February this year, details of the abuse surfaced and an investigation was promptly launched.

Rowley was arrested on 27 February in connection with a number of sexual offences against the victim.

Mark Rowley, now 52, of Anna Sewell Way, Chichester, was charged the following morning with rape, engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl age 13 to 15, and meeting a girl under 16 years of age following grooming. He was then remanded in custody.

The case proceeded to trial on 17 August at Brighton Crown Court. On 21 August, the jury found Rowley guilty of all charges, and he was remanded back into custody ahead of his sentencing.

On Monday, 14 September at Brighton Crown Court, Rowley was sent to prison for 15 years.

The officer leading the investigation, Detective Constable Dan Bentley, said:

"In this case, Mark Rowley saw an opportunity to exploit, manipulate, and use the victim for his own sexual gratification.

"Rowley's actions have had a significant and lasting impact on the victim, who has shown immense courage throughout what has undoubtedly been an extremely difficult and distressing process.

"The victim has been supported by specialist officers throughout the investigation, and we commend her bravery in coming forward and supporting the investigation at every step.

"Now Rowley has been sentenced, we hope this outcome reinforces the message that reports of sexual offending will be listened to, will be supported, and will be taken seriously."

Description

Mark Jones, 63, of Nantyffyllon, Maesteg, jailed for 22 months after eight SHPO breaches

A convicted child sex offender from Maesteg has been jailed after breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order eight times.

Mark Jones, 63, of Nantyffyllon, received a suspended sentence in 2020 for possessing indecent images of children aged between six and 10. He was also made subject to an SHPO requiring him to keep his search history, notify police of every internet-capable device he owned, and not use private networks such as VPNs.

Cardiff Crown Court, sitting remotely at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, heard that Jones breached the order eight times between April and June this year.

Prosecutor Hartej Saund-Matharu said that on 22 April police found Jones “agitated, doing up his jeans and his belt”. An officer established that 24 minutes earlier Jones had made a forbidden search on one of his devices.

Device history showed he had accessed numerous porn sites using VPNs and private browsers. On his phone, porn sites and live video chats were open and the VPN was still running while the officer was in the room.

Jones was also found with a phone police did not know about. He said a “friend” had given it to him and admitted using it without telling anyone. Search history showed he had accessed a Gmail account and tried to recover a Facebook account.

He was arrested and released on bail, then breached the SHPO a further three times.

Defending, Adam Sharp said there was no evidence that indecent images had been accessed on any seized device. He said Jones has “struggled with his mental health and is taking antidepressants” and “has suffered panic attacks during his time in custody.”

On Jones’s background, Mr Sharp said:

“His father died when he was young and his mother was diagnosed with dementia. He was her carer until she died in 2018.

“He has no relationship and no living family. He lives an isolated existence, compounded by his 2020 conviction.”

Mr Sharp asked Recorder Paul Lewis KC to suspend the sentence, noting Jones had already spent 90 days in custody and that this was his first series of breaches since the 2020 conviction.

Recorder Lewis refused, saying he would be doing a disservice to the public if he suspended the sentence. He told Jones he did not accept his denial that the breaches were sexually motivated.

Jones was sentenced to 22 months in custody and ordered to pay an £187 statutory surcharge within six months of release.

Recorder Lewis said:

“If I could have extended the Sexual Harm Prevention Order I would have done so, but for whatever reason I do not have the power within the remits of the law.”

Description

A man has been jailed after breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order by staying at an address where a child was present and not notifying police.

Yonathan Du Plessis, of Mallard Avenue, Edleston, Nantwich, was sentenced to 10 months in prison on Tuesday 1 September.

The 33-year-old had admitted breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order which was imposed in 2023.

On 27 May 2026, Du Plessis was arrested for breaching the order after having an unregistered mobile phone, something he was prohibited from doing.

After this arrest occurred, police then received information that he previously had contact with a child and had stayed in the same address as a child on multiple occasions.

Under the terms of his order, Du Plessis must notify police of any address or place that he stays at for a period of 12 hours or longer where a child under 18 resides/stays, within three days of his first stay.

PC Alex Barker, of the Sex Offender Management Unit (SOMU), Cheshire Police, said:

Du Plessis clearly had no regard for the conditions upon him and was subsequently arrested and charged for breaching his order.

This is why those with Sexual Harm Prevention Orders are robustly managed by SOMU, to ensure that anyone who does breach their order must face the consequences.

Description

Worthing man Mark Holden has been jailed for 12 years for multiple rapes and abusive offences against a woman spanning several years.

In August 2021, Sussex Police received a report from a woman in her 20s that Holden had raped her repeatedly over a five-year period, whilst using financial control and intimidation to control her behaviour.

She said Holden forced her to complete sex acts in return for money or food. 

The 28-year-old of New Road, Durrington, also forced the victim into having sex with one of his male friends.

After Holden’s offending was reported to Sussex Police, the victim was safeguarded and given support by specialist officers.

When Holden was arrested officers found digital devices in his property which contained 55 prohibited images of children.

On May 22 at Hove Crown Court, he was convicted of five charges of rape, and further charges of controlling or coercive behaviour, sexual assault and assault by penetration. Holden admitted possession of 55 prohibited images of children. Two further rape charges remain on file.

At the same court on Friday, 11 September, Holden was sentenced to 12 years in prison. He was also given an indefinite length restraining order and Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Detective Constable Owen Watkins said:

“Mark Holden subjected the victim in this investigation to years of abuse.

“I know how much resolve it takes for victims to support investigations such as these through to conclusion.

“Thanks to her strength, a man who once tried to control so much of her life has been brought to justice and is now safely behind bars where he cannot harm any more women.

“If you are a victim of sexual offending or abuse, please report it to Sussex Police online or via 101. Always dial 999 in an emergency. We will support you and do all we can to get you the justice you deserve.”

Description

A Chesterfield man has been jailed for sexual offences against a child and rape and coercive control against a woman.

Danny Hailes was found guilty of sexual activity with a child, sexual communication with a child, threatening to disclose private sexual photographs with intent to cause distress, and stalking involving fear of violence, against a girl in her early teens.

The 22-year-old was also found guilty of controlling and coercive behaviour, and rape against a woman in her twenties.

Hailes offences first came to light when the school of the teenage girl raised concerns about him.

He was then arrested and was still under investigation for the offences against the first victim, when he went on to offend against the second victim.

Hailes was arrested again when the woman reported that he had been controlling her and had gone on to rape her.

Hailes was subsequently charged with the offences against both victims but denied all of them.

He was sent for trial in June this year and a jury found him guilty of the above charges against the two victims after a 13-day-trial.

Hailes, of Heather Vale Road, Hasland, had additionally been charged with controlling and coercive behaviour, rape, and stalking against a third woman but was found not guilty of these during the trial.

On 14 September, a judge sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment.

Hailes was also handed a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and lifetime restraining orders in respect of his victims.

He will be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register and the Child’s Barred List, which means he can be prevented from working with children.

Officer in the case for Victim 1, Detective Constable Matt Charlesworth said:

“I would like to commend the victims in this case for their bravery in coming forwards and giving evidence in court regarding the horrific crimes they have been subjected to at the hands of such a dangerous, manipulative and controlling individual.

“I also wish to publicly extend my thanks to other witnesses who put their own anxieties and fears to one side, by providing evidence and making an invaluable contribution to securing his conviction.

“Whilst I am sure no sentence can offer suitable redress for the level of trauma Hailes has caused, I do hope that this outcome goes at least some way towards allowing all those affected by his actions the opportunity for some form of closure”.

Officer in the case for Victim 2, Detective Staff Investigator David Wright said:

“Danny Hailes said in open court that he was a player. The jury decided on the evidence that he was in fact a predator.

“At no point has he took responsibility for his actions, nor shown any remorse.

“He has made both victims relive their ordeals in court as an attempt to maintain control over them till the last.

“During the investigation, he refused to provide the PIN for his phones and was asked again in front of the jury by the prosecuting barrister for his PIN, but he refused.

“He clearly had something to hide, and the CPS applied for a deprivation order for his phones due to the nature of the offending.

“Above everything else, I must thank the victims for the courage they have shown in reporting Hailes’ crimes and seeing the case through till trial.”

Description

A registered sex offender who used photographs of people known to him and superimposed their faces onto pornographic images has been returned to prison.

Peter Smith, 75, was convicted in 2013 for possessing and making an indecent image of a child, as well as possessing an extreme pornographic image.

As part of his sentence, he was made subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), which prohibited him from using image or video editing software and from possessing any device capable of storing digital images unless it was made available for examination by police officers.

On several occasions Smith was recalled to prison due to breaching the orders imposed on him.

Following his latest release from prison in July 2026, officers from Kent Police carried out an unannounced visit to his home address in Station Road, Rainham.

During a search of the property, officers found a USB stick concealed beneath a pillow. When a mobile phone and tablet were examined, officers identified several applications capable of editing images. Further analysis uncovered a number of indecent images of children and extreme pornographic images.

Officers also established that Smith had been digitally altering photographs by taking the faces of people known to him and superimposing them onto pornographic images.

Arrested

He was arrested and subsequently charged with making indecent images of children, possessing extreme pornography, creating non consensual intimate images, breaching the SOPO and failing to comply with notification requirements under the sex offenders register.

Smith pleaded guilty to the offences at an early hearing, and at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday 11 September 2026, he was jailed for 3 years.

Investigating officer Police Constable Ben Tanner said:

‘Smith's actions showed a blatant disregard for the restrictions imposed on him to protect the public and prevent further offending.

‘The discovery of indecent images of children, extreme pornography and non consensual altered images demonstrates the importance of the proactive work carried out by officers who monitor registered sex offenders in Kent.

‘We will continue to take action against anybody who breaches the conditions placed upon them and poses a risk to others.’

Description

A 62-year-old man from the Pickering area has been jailed for 11 years and six months for repeatedly sexually assaulting a woman.

Malcolm Peirson Dale from Rosedale was sentenced at York Crown Court on 16 September where he was also placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Dale pleaded not guilty to seven sexual offences including three counts of sexual assault, three of assault by penetration and one of causing a female to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity.

However following a trial by jury, he was found guilty of all seven offences on 24 July this year.

The offences took place in 2022.

Following sentencing, investigating officer, DC Liberty Ashton, of Scarborough CID said:

“Dale showed no remorse for his offending, denying it throughout and subjecting the victim to a trial. However the jury saw through his lies and he is now facing the consequences.

“I hope the outcome of this case provides the victim with some semblance of closure and that she can now start to move on with her life.

“If you are a victim of sexual abuse, please do not hesitate to come forward and get the support you need. If you do not feel able to report it to the police you can contact our Sexual Assault Referral Centre who provide free, confidential healthcare and compassionate support to anyone in York and North Yorkshire that has experienced sexual assault or rape no matter when it happened.”

Description

A man has been found guilty of multiple child sexual offences against three victims following a trial at Norwich Crown Court.

Robert Wilson, 42, c/o HMP Norwich, appeared before the court today (16 September 2026) where he was convicted of 28 offences, including multiple rapes, sexual assaults by penetration, sexual assaults, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and child cruelty and battery.

Wilson denied the offences, but following a trial lasting 11 days, a jury convicted him after hearing evidence from the victims and witnesses.

The offences were committed over a prolonged period spanning more than two decades and involved three victims who were all children when the abuse began.

The court heard how Wilson subjected one victim to years of sexual abuse, beginning when she was a young child. He repeatedly sought opportunities to isolate her before carrying out sexual assaults and exposing himself to her. As she grew older, the abuse escalated and continued into her teenage years.

The victim also described repeated physical assaults and increasingly controlling and intimidating behaviour.

A second victim told the court she was abused by Wilson from childhood. His offending included sexual assaults and rape over a number of years, often taking advantage of situations where she was alone with him.

The court heard that Wilson used manipulation, coercion and violence to maintain control, despite the victim's attempts to resist and tell him to stop.

A third victim described years of abuse beginning in childhood. Wilson repeatedly sexually assaulted and attempted to rape her over a significant period of time, using threats and intimidation to prevent her from disclosing what was happening.

All three victims described fearing for their safety. The court heard how Wilson abused his position as an adult to gain access to the children, exploit their trust and exert control over them while they were vulnerable and unable to challenge his behaviour.

Detective Constable Ellie Brown said:

"This outcome is a testament to the courage and resilience shown by the victims, who came forward to report years of abuse and gave evidence throughout the investigation and court proceedings.

"Wilson abused his position as an adult to manipulate, control and exploit children for his own gratification, leaving the victims fearful and causing lasting harm.

"Throughout our investigation, officers worked closely with the victims to support them through what has been an extremely difficult process. We assisted them throughout the criminal justice process and helped them give their evidence in court using special measures.

"Their bravery has ensured a dangerous offender has been held accountable for his actions.

"We know that sexual abuse can have a profound and lifelong impact. I hope this conviction sends a clear message that no matter how much time has passed, we will listen, we will investigate and we will do everything we can to bring offenders before the courts.

"If you have been a victim of abuse, or have concerns about someone you know, please come forward and speak to us."

Description

Man has been jailed for serious sexual offences against a woman in Southport.

Klintis Duarta, 28, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today (Wednesday 16 September) after admitting attempted rape and sexual assault. He was jailed for six years and eight months and will serve a further four years on licence. 

Duarta, who is originally from Mozambique and visiting the country from Portugal, followed a woman into a block of flats on Sunday 21 June 2025 and committed the offences in the communal hallway.

He was arrested at Liverpool John Lennon Airport the following day after attempting to leave the country.

In a Victim Personal Statement, the woman said:

“I have previously suffered with nightmares anyway however since the incident I often have nightmares about the incident whereby I find I wake up feeling panicked with a sense of anxiety that last for hours. Since the incident I now take extra caution and care when entering any building.

"I ensure that I have checked the area first before opening the door and making sure that this has closed behind me and no one else has come through. I am aware that these things happen however you don't usually believe that it would be on your doorstep let alone happen to yourself.”

Detective Superintendent Siobhan Russell said:

“This was a relentless and sustained assault on a woman who was simply going about her day and visiting a friend. To be targeted in this manner by a complete stranger is utterly appalling.

“I want the public to be reassured that these incidents are rare. I also hope this sentencing shows how seriously the courts take these offences and how Merseyside Police is completely committed to protecting anyone who has been subjected to such violence and sexual abuse.

“The victim has showed immense courage throughout. She managed to fight off Duarta during the incident and then went on to support the prosecution. As she detailed in her VPS, this has clearly had a huge impact on her life and I sincerely hope she can recover from what happened.

“Following the incident, we were absolutely determined to find the person responsible and carried out a thorough investigation that thankfully led to him being detained at the airport the following day.

“We take these reports extremely seriously and if you have experienced any form of sexual abuse, I urge you to please come forward and report this to police.”

Description

A Gravesend rapist has been jailed after admitting to multiple child sex offences.

An investigation was launched into Wayne Hodges after a young victim reported he had targeted them.

Upon his arrest in May 2025, officers reviewed his mobile phone and recovered indecent images of children.

Court

Appearing at Maidstone Crown Court in March 2026, Hodges, of Wilberforce Way, Gravesend pleaded guilty to numerous offences against the child including rape, sexual assault and making indecent images.

On Friday 11 September, he was jailed for 17 years 3 months. When he becomes eligible for parole, Hodges will be subject to a further 8 years on licence.

The 55 year old was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and has been placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Nick Pebody said:

‘Hodges appalling crimes have rightly resulted in a long sentence that we hope will give some sense of closure to the victim in this case.

‘I would like to commend his victim on their courage in disclosing their ordeal and supporting our investigation. We are pleased that the evidence presented to the court left him no other choice than to plead guilty.

‘The additional restrictions placed on him by the judge will ensure that when he is eventually released, we can monitor his conduct very closely indeed.’

Description

A man and woman from Neath Port Talbot have been jailed after the woman was found guilty of facilitating the sexual exploitation of a child by the man.

40-year-old Victoria Lewis, from Neath, arranged for an indecent photograph to be taken of the child in mid-2023. During the same period, she also arranged the travel of the child with a view to her being exploited, as well as intentionally arranging an act which would involve the commission of an offence under any of sections 9 to 13 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

40-year-old Shaun Lewis, from Sandfields, made numerous sexual requests and demands of the victim, both directly and through Victoria Lewis.

Victoria Lewis pleaded not guilty to charges of arranging the sexual exploitation of a child aged 13-17, arranging the commission of an offence of sexual activity with a child, and arranging the travel of another person with a view to exploitation in December 2024. However, she was found guilty of all three charges following trial in April this year.

Victoria Lewis has been sentenced to four years in prison.

Shaun Lewis pleaded guilty to two counts of arranging or facilitating the sexual exploitation of a child, one count of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence, and one count of arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation.

He has been sentenced to 12 years in prison, comprising seven years plus a five-year extended licence.

Both have notification requirements for life.

Detective Constable Amanda Jenkins said:

“This has been a particularly depraved case which has involved Victoria Lewis arranging for a child to meet with a man that she knew would sexually exploit her.

“What Victoria Lewis has done is sickening, and to think about what the child has gone through because of Victoria Lewis is horrifying.

“We cannot praise the victim enough for the bravery she has shown to tell police what happened to her and secure justice against a despicable woman – and that is before even mentioning Shaun Lewis’s part in the offending.”