Latest Offenders

Description

A 41-year-old man has been sent to prison after he was found guilty of attempted rape.

On November 8, 2025, Bishan Shiekh approached a vulnerable woman inside a property in Northampton and attempted to rape her.

Thankfully she managed to get away and the offence was reported to Northamptonshire Police.

Shiekh was arrested and subsequently charged with one count of attempted rape, taking the case to a trial which started on April 28 this year at Northampton Crown Court and lasted for five days.

At the end, the jury found him guilty.

Shiekh returned to the same court earlier this month (July 10) where he was sentenced to seven years in prison with another two on extended licence. 

Detective Sergeant Liz Jeeves from Northamptonshire Police’s SOLAR Team said:

“This was a frightening and traumatic experience for the survivor of this incident, who showed great courage throughout the investigation and court process. Thanks to the dedication of the officer in the case, DC Adam Smart, the strength of the evidence presented, and the bravery of this woman, Bishan Shiekh has now been held accountable for his actions.

“Violence against women and girls remains a priority for Northamptonshire Police, and we are committed to relentlessly pursuing those who commit these offences. We take every report of sexual violence extremely seriously, thoroughly investigating allegations, supporting victims and doing everything we can to bring offenders to justice.

“We hope this sentence provides reassurance that reports of this nature will be acted upon and that anyone who has experienced sexual violence feels able to come forward and speak to us. You will be listened to, supported and your report will be investigated.”

Description

A sex offender has been jailed after targeting a child on the Isle of Sheppey.

An investigation was launched into Joseph Hatton after his victim disclosed they had been indecently touched in the past.

Arrest

Hatton was arrested on 27 September 2025 and a review of his mobile phone uncovered hundreds of indecent images of children.

The 40 year old was later charged with multiple offences including sexual activity with a child, making indecent images of a child and possessing extreme pornographic images.

Court

Hatton, of Plough Road, Eastchurch, denied the allegations but was convicted of all counts by a jury at Maidstone Crown Court.

At the same court on Wednesday 29 July 2026, he was sentenced to 6 years and 10 months’ imprisonment.

Hatton will also be subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and has been placed on the sex offenders’ register for life.

Investigating Officer Detective Constable Robert Hughes said:

‘Hatton’s vile crimes have had a significant impact on his young victim, and his denials to the jury have only added to their trauma. I would like to commend their courage in coming forward and supporting the case against him.

‘Hatton’s possession of indecent images show he remains a risk to children and it is quite right he is now behind bars. His conduct will be restricted by a court order when he is eventually released and any breaches will lead to his immediate arrest.’

Description

Child Rapist Exposed by Love Bite After Hiding Past from New Partner

A North East child rapist who failed to declare his convictions to a new partner was caught when police spotted a love bite on his neck.

Mark Hubbard, 32, of The Crescent, Middlesbrough, remains subject to a sexual risk order (SRO) because he continues to pose a danger to the public, Teesside Crown Court heard. He was jailed for 12 years in 2014 for raping a child under 16 and convicted again in 2016 of engaging in sexual activity with a child.

Prosecutor Albany Kidd said Hubbard, classified as a very high-risk sex offender, was required under the SRO to inform any new partner of his previous convictions and notify the authorities.  

“A police officer attended his home to carry out an unannounced review with him,” she told the court. “The officer noticed that the defendant had a love bite on his neck and he stated – ‘I have been seeing a lass for a couple of day and she doesn’t know about my past’.”

The woman, who believed he was called Mark Wilson, told police she was “disgusted” when she learned of his record.  

The court heard Hubbard had previously breached the SRO within days and received a 12-month jail term. He was released from that sentence on 18 June and was on licence when he committed the latest offence, resulting in his recall to custody.  

Hubbard pleaded guilty to the breach on 5 July. Tom Bennett, mitigating, said he had pleaded at the earliest opportunity and “acknowledges this is something that will result in another custodial sentence.”  

Judge Andrew Hatton sentenced him to two years’ custody. He said: “The police spoke to the woman and she indicated you had given a different surname and you had engaged in a sexual relationship with her with alerting her. She indicated that she felt disgusted at the thought of what you had done.”

Description

Ziaullah Badshah, 25, of Brighton Road, Rhyl, was found guilty of two counts of rape, two counts of conspiracy to traffic, two counts of conspiracy to require a person to perform compulsory labour, supplying cannabis to another.

A total of five defendants have today been convicted at Caernarfon Crown Court following a major child sexual exploitation investigation led by North Wales Police.

• Mustafa Iqbal
• Mohamed Usman Arshad
• Ziaullah Badshah

The convictions relate to the exploitation and abuse of three teenage girls in Rhyl and the surrounding area between April 2022 and March 2024.

The victims’ ages ranged between 14 and 16 at the time of the offences, which occurred in cars, residential addresses, and at business premises in the Denbighshire area.

During a three-month trial, the court heard evidence of rape, sexual assault, child sexual exploitation, modern day slavery offences, drug supply, and attempts to obstruct justice.

All offences were reviewed by North Wales Police detectives as part of linked investigations named Operation Embank and Operation Zirconium, which targeted those involved in child sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

Each of the defendants had denied the charges brought against them at court and maintained their innocence throughout proceedings.

Following a unanimous jury verdict in court, the five defendants were found guilty of more than 40 separate offences.

Mustafa Iqbal, Mohamed Usman Arshad, Ziaullah Badsha and Jaswinder Singh have all been remanded in custody and will now be sentenced at Caernarfon Crown Court on Friday, 25 September.

Sarah Gray was bailed to also appear for sentencing at Caernarfon Crown Court on Friday, 25 September.

Senior Investigating Officer, DCI Richard Sidney said:

“Today, my thoughts are first and foremost with the three young women at the heart of this case.

“They were children, aged just 14 to 16, when they were subjected to exploitation and abuse by adults who took advantage of their vulnerabilities and sought to manipulate and control them for their own gain.

“No child should have to experience what these young women endured. The impact of child sexual exploitation can be profound and long-lasting, and the harm caused by these offences cannot be understated.

“Today's verdicts represent an important step towards accountability and justice. While no court outcome can undo the trauma these young women have experienced, I hope this result offers some measure of recognition of the harm done to them.

“Throughout this investigation and the three-month trial, the young women engaged with the criminal justice process despite the significant challenges that can come with revisiting traumatic experiences. By sharing their evidence, they helped ensure those responsible could be held accountable for their actions.

“I would like to thank them for the trust they placed in the investigation team and acknowledge the difficult journey they have been through. I also want them to know that what happened to them was not their fault. Today's convictions are a reflection of the offenders' actions and decisions, not the actions of the children they exploited.

“Mustafa Iqbal, Mohamed Usman Arshad, Ziaullah Badsha, Jaswinder Singh, and Sarah Gray, denied almost every allegation against them from the outset.

“Rather than accepting responsibility for the appalling harm they caused, they forced these young women to endure the additional trauma of a lengthy trial, requiring them to relive their experiences in a courtroom.

“I hope today’s outcome sends a clear message that those who seek to groom and exploit vulnerable children will be relentlessly pursued.

“We remain committed to identifying offenders, supporting victims and working with our partners to protect young people from those who seek to abuse and exploit them.

“I would also like to recognise the professionalism and dedication of the investigative team, specialist staff, prosecutors and partner agencies who have worked tirelessly to support the victims and present this case before the court.”

Description

Mohamed Usman Arshad, 36, of Clifton Grove, Rhyl, was found guilty of three counts of rape, two counts of conspiracy to traffic, two counts of conspiracy to require a person to perform compulsory labour, and supplying cannabis to another.

• Mustafa Iqbal
• Mohamed Usman Arshad
• Ziaullah Badshah

A total of five defendants have today been convicted at Caernarfon Crown Court following a major child sexual exploitation investigation led by North Wales Police.

The convictions relate to the exploitation and abuse of three teenage girls in Rhyl and the surrounding area between April 2022 and March 2024.

The victims’ ages ranged between 14 and 16 at the time of the offences, which occurred in cars, residential addresses, and at business premises in the Denbighshire area.

During a three-month trial, the court heard evidence of rape, sexual assault, child sexual exploitation, modern day slavery offences, drug supply, and attempts to obstruct justice.

All offences were reviewed by North Wales Police detectives as part of linked investigations named Operation Embank and Operation Zirconium, which targeted those involved in child sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

Each of the defendants had denied the charges brought against them at court and maintained their innocence throughout proceedings.

Following a unanimous jury verdict in court, the five defendants were found guilty of more than 40 separate offences.

Mustafa Iqbal, Mohamed Usman Arshad, Ziaullah Badsha and Jaswinder Singh have all been remanded in custody and will now be sentenced at Caernarfon Crown Court on Friday, 25 September.

Sarah Gray was bailed to also appear for sentencing at Caernarfon Crown Court on Friday, 25 September.

Senior Investigating Officer, DCI Richard Sidney said:

“Today, my thoughts are first and foremost with the three young women at the heart of this case.

“They were children, aged just 14 to 16, when they were subjected to exploitation and abuse by adults who took advantage of their vulnerabilities and sought to manipulate and control them for their own gain.

“No child should have to experience what these young women endured. The impact of child sexual exploitation can be profound and long-lasting, and the harm caused by these offences cannot be understated.

“Today's verdicts represent an important step towards accountability and justice. While no court outcome can undo the trauma these young women have experienced, I hope this result offers some measure of recognition of the harm done to them.

“Throughout this investigation and the three-month trial, the young women engaged with the criminal justice process despite the significant challenges that can come with revisiting traumatic experiences. By sharing their evidence, they helped ensure those responsible could be held accountable for their actions.

“I would like to thank them for the trust they placed in the investigation team and acknowledge the difficult journey they have been through. I also want them to know that what happened to them was not their fault. Today's convictions are a reflection of the offenders' actions and decisions, not the actions of the children they exploited.

“Mustafa Iqbal, Mohamed Usman Arshad, Ziaullah Badsha, Jaswinder Singh, and Sarah Gray, denied almost every allegation against them from the outset.

“Rather than accepting responsibility for the appalling harm they caused, they forced these young women to endure the additional trauma of a lengthy trial, requiring them to relive their experiences in a courtroom.

“I hope today’s outcome sends a clear message that those who seek to groom and exploit vulnerable children will be relentlessly pursued.

“We remain committed to identifying offenders, supporting victims and working with our partners to protect young people from those who seek to abuse and exploit them.

“I would also like to recognise the professionalism and dedication of the investigative team, specialist staff, prosecutors and partner agencies who have worked tirelessly to support the victims and present this case before the court.”

Description

Mustafa Iqbal, 43, of Trellewelyn Road, Rhyl, was found guilty of four counts of rape, three counts of conspiracy to require a person to perform compulsory labour, three counts of sexual assault, three counts of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, two counts of conspiracy to traffic, conspiracy to supply cannabis to another, conspiracy to supply cocaine to another, supplying cannabis to another, arranging or facilitating the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, and breaching a slavery/trafficking risk order.

A total of five defendants have today been convicted at Caernarfon Crown Court following a major child sexual exploitation investigation led by North Wales Police.

• Mustafa Iqbal
• Mohamed Usman Arshad
• Ziaullah Badshah

The convictions relate to the exploitation and abuse of three teenage girls in Rhyl and the surrounding area between April 2022 and March 2024.

The victims’ ages ranged between 14 and 16 at the time of the offences, which occurred in cars, residential addresses, and at business premises in the Denbighshire area.

During a three-month trial, the court heard evidence of rape, sexual assault, child sexual exploitation, modern day slavery offences, drug supply, and attempts to obstruct justice.

All offences were reviewed by North Wales Police detectives as part of linked investigations named Operation Embank and Operation Zirconium, which targeted those involved in child sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

Each of the defendants had denied the charges brought against them at court and maintained their innocence throughout proceedings.

Following a unanimous jury verdict in court, the five defendants were found guilty of more than 40 separate offences.

Mustafa Iqbal, Mohamed Usman Arshad, Ziaullah Badsha and Jaswinder Singh have all been remanded in custody and will now be sentenced at Caernarfon Crown Court on Friday, 25 September.

Sarah Gray was bailed to also appear for sentencing at Caernarfon Crown Court on Friday, 25 September.

Senior Investigating Officer, DCI Richard Sidney said:

“Today, my thoughts are first and foremost with the three young women at the heart of this case.

“They were children, aged just 14 to 16, when they were subjected to exploitation and abuse by adults who took advantage of their vulnerabilities and sought to manipulate and control them for their own gain.

“No child should have to experience what these young women endured. The impact of child sexual exploitation can be profound and long-lasting, and the harm caused by these offences cannot be understated.

“Today's verdicts represent an important step towards accountability and justice. While no court outcome can undo the trauma these young women have experienced, I hope this result offers some measure of recognition of the harm done to them.

“Throughout this investigation and the three-month trial, the young women engaged with the criminal justice process despite the significant challenges that can come with revisiting traumatic experiences. By sharing their evidence, they helped ensure those responsible could be held accountable for their actions.

“I would like to thank them for the trust they placed in the investigation team and acknowledge the difficult journey they have been through. I also want them to know that what happened to them was not their fault. Today's convictions are a reflection of the offenders' actions and decisions, not the actions of the children they exploited.

“Mustafa Iqbal, Mohamed Usman Arshad, Ziaullah Badsha, Jaswinder Singh, and Sarah Gray, denied almost every allegation against them from the outset.

“Rather than accepting responsibility for the appalling harm they caused, they forced these young women to endure the additional trauma of a lengthy trial, requiring them to relive their experiences in a courtroom.

“I hope today’s outcome sends a clear message that those who seek to groom and exploit vulnerable children will be relentlessly pursued.

“We remain committed to identifying offenders, supporting victims and working with our partners to protect young people from those who seek to abuse and exploit them.

“I would also like to recognise the professionalism and dedication of the investigative team, specialist staff, prosecutors and partner agencies who have worked tirelessly to support the victims and present this case before the court.”

Description

Anderson Ishiekwene jailed for attempting to meet child for sex after online grooming

An international student has been jailed for three years after being caught by online paedophile hunters while trying to meet a girl he believed was 14 for sex.

Anderson Ishiekwene, 25, a Nigerian national, was arrested in Washington eight days after starting a sexual conversation with a decoy profile. Newcastle Crown Court heard he exchanged more than 300 pages of messages with the account run by a paedophile hunter group, repeatedly asking the “girl” to delete his messages.

Ishiekwene admitted attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child and was found guilty of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming.

He arrived in the UK from Nigeria on a student visa in August 2025 and settled in Sunderland. On 2 January he messaged the Facebook profile of a supposed 14-year-old girl. The conversation moved to WhatsApp.

Prosecutor Cole Cockburn told the court Ishiekwene was repeatedly informed the girl was 14. Over subsequent days he asked about her school and uniform, posed intimate questions about her body, requested pictures and sent an image of his naked groin. When she refused to send photos he called it “unfair” and claimed it was “a normal thing for people to do in a relationship.”

They arranged to meet at the Galleries in Washington on 10 January. Ishiekwene said he wanted to kiss and sexually touch her like “lovers.” On arrival he was confronted by members of the hunter group and arrested by police.

He denied the meeting was for sexual purposes but was convicted after a three-day trial. Judge Robert Spragg said the planned activity on 10 January was a “precursor” to full sex on a later occasion. The probation service concluded there was “little doubt” Ishiekwene was “attracted to children.”

Upon release he is likely to face automatic deportation. Ishiekwene was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register and comply with an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Description

Marley Murray (23/06/2007), of Cotefield Road, Manchester, has been sentenced following a series of violent and sexual offences committed against a 16-year-old girl over a period of several months in 2025.

Thanks to the immense bravery and support from the survivor, Murray has been sentenced at Manchester Crown Court to six years in prison after he was convicted of rape, threats to kill and three counts of common assault. He was also handed a 10-year restraining order and has been placed on the sex offenders' register.

She first reported in March 2025, where the survivor recalls during an argument, Murray grabbed her by the throat, restricting her breathing, and struck her head repeatedly.

In June 2025, Murray subjected her to prolonged violence in her home. Murray verbally abused her and damaged her personal items. Murray raped the victim, ignoring her repeated refusals. 

The horrific display of abuse continued into July 2025, when Murray was once again violent with the victim at his address in Wythenshawe. He made threats to kill the victim whilst holding a knife, and physically assaulted her, causing visible injuries. 

Following this assault, the survivor managed to contact police covertly and escape the address.

In a statement shared with the court, the victim said:

"Marley was capable of ruining everything, he would ring me constantly accusing me of seeing other people.

"Every time I would go to sleep, I would have flash backs of everything the moment I close my eyes.

"I still have these flashbacks now of what he did to me, specifically I still have flash backs of the rape.

"I was used to Marley hitting me, it got to a point where it didn’t bother me because I was used to that, but being raped has impacted me differently.

"I always think the worst in a situation because of the trauma he’s put me through.

"I now am trying to rebuild my life."

Detective Superintendent Richard Hunt from Rochdale Police says:

"It is crucial to acknowledge the bravery and resilience demonstrated by the survivor in this case.

"Murray's utter disregard for his actions and continued attempts to contact, hurt, and abuse the victim highlights the importance of this sentencing.

"Her courage in coming forward and supporting the investigation has been instrumental in securing justice and ensuring the safety of others.

"Operation Soteria underscores the importance of victim-focused approaches and collaborative efforts between police, the Crown Prosecution Service, and support services to enhance the criminal justice response to such heinous crimes.

"The survivor's bravery not only highlights the personal strength required to confront such trauma but also serves as a beacon of hope and empowerment for other victims.

"It is through initiatives like Operation Soteria that we strive to create a more supportive and responsive environment for survivors, ensuring their voices are heard and their experiences validated.

"I urge anyone who might have experienced anything similar to please come forward and report. You will always be listened to and supported."

Description

Convicted sex offender jailed for hiding phones and using Snapchat

Ryan Watkins, a convicted sex offender, has been sentenced to 27 months in prison after repeatedly breaching his sexual harm prevention order by using undeclared mobile phones and apps including Snapchat.

Watkins, 34, of High Street, Blaina, was convicted in June 2017 of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity. He received 20 months’ imprisonment and a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.

On 28 May, police carried out an unannounced visit to his home. Watkins handed over a Samsung Galaxy phone and claimed he had no other devices. Officers noticed a Google Play Store tab open on the WhatsApp page (the app was not installed). He admitted deleting it, in breach of the order. The phone was seized.

When asked how best to contact him, Watkins revealed a second Samsung Galaxy that had not been registered with police and had Snapchat installed. That phone was also seized.

Police returned on 9 June. Watkins said he had no internet-enabled devices. Officers searched the property and he admitted having a phone hidden behind a wardrobe. It contained Snapchat on an account police had not been told about, and Watkins had posted a story just 11 hours earlier. He was arrested.

Watkins pleaded guilty to five breaches of the sexual harm prevention order. Prosecutor Sarah Grace noted there was no evidence he had used the devices to contact children or vulnerable people.

He had four previous convictions for nine offences, including failing to comply with sex offender notification requirements, and was already subject to a suspended sentence imposed in April the previous year for an earlier breach of the same order.

Defending, Gareth Williams said:

“The defendant is realistic. Ultimately he had to register it with the police and he didn’t.” No illegal material was found on the devices. Williams described the breaches as “unsophisticated”, adding: “If you didn’t want them to find something, you could find somewhere better than behind the cupboard. And you wouldn’t take them to it.”

Judge Shomon Khan remarked:

“It doesn’t make any sense. If he’s using it for legitimate purposes, just register it.” Sentencing Watkins, he said: “You have to accept this order is in place. The whole purpose of the order was to monitor the way in which you used internet-enabled devices and the way you operate online. You repeatedly breached that order.”

The 27-month total includes the activation of six months of the suspended sentence.

Description

Booth jailed for 38 months over indecent images and SHPO breaches

A man known as Booth has been sentenced to 38 months’ immediate imprisonment after being convicted of possessing indecent images of children and breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

The indecent images offence involved 93 printed pictures, mainly of females aged around ten, which had been hidden inside the pages of magazines at his home. The SHPO breaches came to light when police discovered a mobile phone wrapped in aluminium foil. The device contained software capable of hiding his identity and concealing his internet use.

Prosecutor Mr Wilson told the court that Booth had a significant history of similar offending. This included convictions for indecent images of children in 2004, indecent images and an SHPO breach in 2006, a further SHPO breach and indecent images in 2015, and the 2018 offences that led to his most recent SHPO. Each had resulted in a custodial sentence.

Defending, Ryan Rothwell referred to the pre-sentence report, saying: “I am afraid it doesn’t make for the brightest reading. Nor does his record, or these offences.” He acknowledged the seriousness of the behaviour and accepted that immediate custody was likely. Booth had been recalled to serve the licence period of his eight-year 2018 sentence and, after completing it, had spent three months on remand for the current matters, which would count towards any new sentence. Mr Rothwell invited the court to impose concurrent terms, citing totality.

Sentencing, Mr Recorder Paul Lewis said he was “wholly satisfied” that Booth had installed the software in order to “conceal from the authorities your determined and continued hunt for illicit and indecent imagery.”

In addition to the 38-month custodial term, Booth must pay a £228 victim surcharge within six months of release. The judge indicated he is likely to serve up to half the sentence in custody before release on licence.

Description

A rapist who spent two decades using secret cameras to spy on women and children has been jailed for more than 20 years.

Former Gravesend resident Alan Davies hid the devices where he knew his victims were likely to get undressed, with Kent Police identifying 39 different people he had watched including 21 children.

Some of the recordings were also found to have been shared with others online.

Davies’ offending came to light in December 2024 when a victim reported she had been repeatedly raped and abused by him when she was young.

Officers seized his electronic devices as part of their enquiries and found hundreds of secretly recorded videos dating back to 2004, as well as a clip of him installing one of the hidden cameras.

This led to other victims being contacted, with three confirming they had also been sexually assaulted by Davies in the past.

He was additionally found to have had a total of around 900 child abuse images in his possession, and had engaged in an obscene online conversation in which he discussed child sex offences.

Sentenced

Davies, 45, pleaded guilty to 73 separate crimes prior to being sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday 31 July 2026. He was handed a 21 year sentence and must serve at least two thirds before being eligible for parole. Upon release he must serve an additional 7 years on licence.  

Investigating officer Detective Constable Katie Poulter said:

‘Alan Davies is a dangerous sex offender whose crimes have had a long-lasting impact on the lives of the victims he abused. I would like to thank them for the courage and dignity they have shown in helping to bring him to justice.

‘The images and videos we discovered on Davies’ devices demonstrate a shocking intrusion into the privacy of 39 adults and children who had no idea he was recording them for his own sexual gratification. That he did so for 20 years and shared some of the images online proves that he did not care or regret what he was doing.

‘His offending has now caught up with him and he will quite rightly spend many years in prison where he will able to cause no further harm to innocent people.’

Description

Women sexually abused as children have thanked one of our officers after their abuser was sent to prison for 22 years.

Thanks to work of specialist detectives, Scott Layfield was convicted in May of 26 charges including rape and sexual assault.

The charges relate to offences against six girls between 2011 and 2021, mainly in the Rayleigh area.

"I’m glad he’s been seen for who he truly is."

One of the women said:

“Scott Layfield has made my childhood memories a blank space, something that most adults enjoy looking back on.

“The subject of this court case as well as so much more, has changed the way I subconsciously handle everyday situations.

“Thank you to Essex Police, especially PC Nick Schneider who has made these last eight years of waiting feel a little less daunting!

“The sentencing, no matter how long he gets, will never make my childhood reality disappear but I’m glad he’s been seen for who he truly is.”.

“All I want now is to be able to live my life without fear"

Another of the women said:

“The crimes that were committed to me are something I will have to live with for the rest of my life and have caused me a great deal of pain and emotional trauma.

“No sentence will fully feel like justice, but it is a step in the right direction.

“I would like to thank Essex Police and PC Nick Schneider for the hard work and support they have put in to helping me, and the other victims, on a daily basis through the years they have worked with us.

“All I want now is to be able to live my life without fear that he’ll be able to hurt me or anyone else again.”

"A huge thank you to Nick and Mike"

Another said:

“I would like to thank Essex police, especially PC Nick Schneider for taking this case seriously and helping to bring Scott Layfield to justice.

“Although this doesn’t change what has happened, I can now move on with my life without worrying about where he might be and preventing others from going through this.”

Another woman said:

“A huge thank you to Nick and Mike Budd and everyone at Essex Police for their years of dedication and hard work in bringing this evil man to justice. Thank you for believing us and helping us get the justice we deserved.

“Thank you to everyone at SERICC, including Paula and Anji, for supporting me through my darkest days and being there when I needed someone to talk to.

“To any other victims, whether in this case or any other: you’re not alone. Please reach out when you’re ready—there are people who will believe you, support you, and help you.”

"He didn’t account for Essex Police"

Layfield, 52, of Paddock Close, Leigh-on-Sea, was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court on Thursday 30 July to immediate custody for 22 years, with a six-year extended licence, and an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

PC Schneider, who led the case, said:

“I want to pay tribute to the courage and perseverance of the women involved in this case and I want to thank them for trusting us with their story.

“Scott Layfield subjected them to things no-one should ever have to experience and yet they have shown great dignity throughout the investigation and the court case.

“Layfield told one of the girls no-one would believe her but he didn’t account for Essex Police. The women in this case have stood up against Layfield and their testimony has ensured he’s now behind bars.

“If someone has the courage to come forward and report the abuse they’ve faced, we listen to them, support them, and investigate.

“I believe there may be other people abused by Layfield and if there are, please come forward and tell us what happened.”

Description

We are sharing the below article on behalf of the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU). 

A man who pleaded guilty to 25 child sexual abuse offences, including the rape of a girl in the UK and arranging the livestreaming of abuse of a girl in the Philippines, has been sentenced to 22 years in prison, with a further eight years to be served on licence. 

Paul Hopkins, 50, from Romsey in Hampshire, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court today (30 July). He was arrested in March 2025 following an investigation by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU). 

Officers found Hopkins was attempting to make plans online to meet a young girl to sexually abuse. This led to the discovery that he was livestreaming the abuse of a nine-year-old girl in the Philippines, facilitated by her mother. Through work with international partners, supported by the NCA, the victim was safeguarded and the mother was arrested. 

Investigators went on to find evidence on Hopkins’ devices of further offences, including the non-recent rape, attempted rape and sexual assault of a young girl in the UK.  

The Crown Prosecution Service authorised 25 charges of sexual offences involving children, and the overwhelming evidence led to Hopkins pleading guilty to all counts. 

DI Dave Wells from the Online Investigations Team at SWROCU said: “Paul Hopkins is the most dangerous sex offender my team has investigated, not only due to the severity and number of crimes he has been convicted of, but fact he offered advice to other offenders on how to avoid detection when accessing material and livestreaming abuse. 

“His sentence not only reflects the huge harm he has caused, but the level of risk he posed to children here and in other parts of the world. 

“My team, and teams across the country, are working with national and international law enforcement partners to target such offenders. I hope anyone using the internet to access child sexual abuse material or livestream such abuse under the illusion they are anonymous or hard to trace, is now looking over their shoulder knowing they could be next.” 

Daniel Newell, Regional Manager for the Philippines at the National Crime Agency said:

“Today’s sentencing shows that no matter where you are in the world, if you pay for children to be sexually abused, you will be identified and brought to justice. 

“Through our International Liaison Network, officers from the NCA have worked closely with the Philippines National Police (PNP) Woman and Children Protection Unit and International Justice Mission (IJM) to identify, locate and safeguard the victim in this case, and I would like to thank them for their continued support in countering the proliferation of live-streamed child abuse. 

“We know the Philippines is a key hub for this type of abuse, with the UK representing one of the top three consumers, so our work with the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Center (PICACC) is crucial to combat this threat. 

“We will continue to work collaboratively with global partners to tackle this crime by sharing intelligence and working together on joint operations, and we are committed to protecting any child across the globe who we become aware may be at risk”. 

Sentencing Hopkins, HH Judge Fuller described Hopkins as “a predatory and dangerous man”, and that “analysis carried out by officers showed the abuse as extensive.” 

Hopkins was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Description

A mother and her boyfriend who murdered two-year-old Isabelle Rose Welsh following a campaign of violence have today been sentenced to life imprisonment.

Harrison Simpson will serve a life sentence with a minimum 27 years and 231 days, whilst Alexandra Walker will serve a minimum 21 years and 48 days.

Emergency services were called to an address on Hartington Close in Thornaby on 13 September 2025 following concerns for the welfare of a young child.

Isabelle was taken to hospital shortly afterwards where she very sadly passed away from a catastrophic head injury. In the weeks before her death, Isabelle sustained multiple fractures to 21 bones and her body was covered in bruises.

Isabelle’s mother, Alexandra Walker, 26, and Alexandra’s boyfriend Harrison Simpson, 22, were both arrested in connection with her death due to the severity of her injuries.

They were subsequently charged with a number of offences which the pair denied when they appeared in court.

Following a trial lasting five weeks, the jury found Simpson guilty of murder, sexual assault by penetration and child cruelty while Walker was found guilty of murder and child cruelty on Tuesday 28 July at Teesside Crown Court.

As they were sentenced at Teesside Crown Court on Thursday 30 July, the Judge commended Detective Chief Inspector Steve Chatterton and his team, along with Family Liaison Officers.

In a statement, Isabelle’s family previously said:

“Isabelle should have had her whole life ahead of her, but she was taken from us in the most heartbreaking way. She was so loved and our lives will never be the same without her.

“Whilst today’s result cannot undo the pain caused or bring Isabelle back, it does mean justice has been served. We will remember Isabelle forever and ask for privacy as we continue to grieve as a family.”

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Chatterton, said:

“Isabelle was an innocent child who should have been safe and happy at home. The pain and suffering she experienced at the hands of Walker and Simpson was sickening.

“This has been, without a doubt, one of the worst cases my team and I have dealt with. The severity and scale of Isabelle’s injuries were shocking and the fact that Walker repeatedly lied to try and cover their tracks further added to the pain of Isabelle’s family. Our thoughts remain firmly with Isabelle’s loved ones.

“Despite the extremely distressing nature of this case, my team showed unwavering determination to secure justice for Isabelle. They remained professional and compassionate throughout the investigation and subsequent legal proceedings and I’d like to thank them for their outstanding commitment in ensuring Walker and Simpson were held accountable for their despicable actions. I’m also grateful for the expertise and support from the Crown Prosecution Service in helping to secure this result.”

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A man who was arrested within hours of raping a woman in Sheffield has been jailed for the offence.

Ilias Hassan, 23, of Bristle Street, Northampton, raped a woman at a student accommodation in Sheffield city centre in the early hours of 8 May 2023.

The victim bravely reported the incident to police and officers arrested Hassan later the same day.

At his police interview on 13 May (2023), Hassan provided a prepared statement in which he did not admit to the offence, but provided no comment to all questions put to him.

Officers gathered lots of evidence including CCTV footage showing Hassan with the victim, witness statements, and messages sent by Hassan on social media.

In Hassan’s prepared statement he said, “my recall of events is very clear”, but officers retrieved a voice note he sent following the rape in which he said: “I actually can’t remember anything like. I don’t remember nothing.”

Hassan pleaded not guilty to rape but was found guilty of the offence following a trial at Sheffield Crown Court on 13 February 2026.

On Wednesday 29 July at the same court, he was sentenced to five years and three months imprisonment. He was also given a 10-year restraining order and required to register with the police indefinitely in accordance with the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

DC Alice Watson-Flowers said:

“Firstly, I want to commend the bravery of the victim in this case.

“She not only found the courage to come forward and report this horrific crime to us, but she was also put through the ordeal of a trial because of Hassan’s cowardly refusal to admit his guilt.

“While I appreciate a jail term will never detract from the trauma of such an offence, I hope it can provide some sense of justice.

“We are completely committed to tackling all forms of sexual abuse in South Yorkshire and I want to make it absolutely clear that we fully investigate every single report made to us.

“If you have been raped, sexually assaulted, or sexually harassed, you can report to us in confidence online or by calling 101.

“If you don’t feel able to report to police, try and talk to someone you trust. You can also seek specialist and confidential support via the 24/7 Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Line.”