Latest Offenders

Description

A man who secretly took intimate photos and videos of two women and a child has been jailed.

Sean Eaves’ crimes first came to light in September 2023 when the 41-year-old sent a screenshot of an intimate video of himself with the first victim to her through Instagram messenger.  

He was arrested in 2024, and officers found the video as well as evidence linking him to the Instagram account on his mobile phone.  

The phone also had intimate photos of another woman, taken without her knowledge, stored on it.

Eaves was released on bail but a few months later, officers received an anonymous tip-off he had another mobile phone and indecent images of children.

A warrant was carried out at a home in Chatteris in January where officers found a memory card containing 18 indecent videos of a child, taken secretly by Eaves.

The second phone was found in his car and contained a further eight indecent videos and 72 photos, all of the same child. 

On Friday (6 March), at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court, acting as a crown court, Eaves, of Hawthorne Road, Finedon, near Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, was jailed for two years, having pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to three counts of voyeurism and one count each of disclosing private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress and taking an indecent image of a child.

He was also handed a seven-year restraining order for all the victims, a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and also required to register monthly at a police station for ten years. 

DC Amberlie Ford, who investigated, said:

“Eaves shamefully took photos of these women and the child without their knowledge, which violated their dignity and privacy, so I welcome the sentence passed down by the courts.

“I would also like to pay tribute to the victims, whose strength in coming forward and supporting us with a prosecution has led to this result.”

Description

A sexual predator has been jailed for 11 years after sexual abusing a child.

Daniel Walker, of Plumley, was handed the custodial sentence on Friday 6 March at Chester Crown Court.

The 42-year-old had previously been found guilty of three counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching, two counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by penetration, and three counts of inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The victim in this case disclosed she had been abused by Walker between the ages of seven and 12.

Walker was arrested in relation to the allegations and was dismissive in interview, even laughing and appearing amused at the officers’ questions.

Following a thorough investigation, Walker was charged with eight counts of sexual abuse against a child.

Detective Sergeant Chris Jackson said:

“The significant custodial sentence handed to Walker demonstrates the severity of his crimes and I am grateful that he is facing many years behind bars where he cannot do this to anyone else.

“He subjected a child to horrific abuse, something no child should have to endure. I would like to acknowledge the victim’s bravery in reporting these offences and I sincerely hope that the lengthy sentence handed to Walker will be of some reassurance to her.

“I also hope her courage in speaking to police will also help others who may wish to report similar offences to come forward; you will be listened to, and we are committed to investigating every report thoroughly and sensitively.”

Description

A man is set to be sentenced after he was found guilty of multiple counts of rape.

Aaron Furnival, of Hunter Street, Chester, was convicted of four counts of rape at Chester Crown Court on Monday 9 March.

The 31-year-old had previously pleaded guilty to one count of controlling and coercive behaviour.

He will be sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Friday 1 May.

The female victim in this case contacted police to report violent behaviour, emotional abuse and sexual abuse committed by Furnival.

The woman reported Furnival would take advantage of her while she was asleep, and she would awake to find him raping her.

He would also ignore the victim whenever they were having consensual sex and she withdrew her consent. She would ask him to stop and he would refuse.

Furnival was controlling and jealous. He transferred money from the victim’s bank account, threw water over her while she was asleep, and monitored her movements with constant phone calls and messages.

Furnival used foul and abusive language towards her, made threats to kill her and even wrote degrading words on her skin in marker pen.

Offices arrested Furnival on suspicion of the offences but during interview he denied the allegations against him.

Following an investigation, he was charged.

Detective Sergeant Andy Manson said:

“Firstly, we would like to recognise the bravery of the victim in this case for reporting what happened to her. We hope the conclusion of this trial will provide her with some sense of closure, knowing that the jury saw through his lies.

“Furnival’s cruel and abusive behaviour showed how he clearly had no regard for the welfare of his victim, instead doing whatever he wanted, no matter the consequences to her.

“He then put the victim through the stress of a trial after he refused to accept what he had done. Thankfully, he was found guilty of these crimes, and he will no doubt be facing a considerable length of time behind bars.”

Description

A rapist who sexually assaulted two teenage girls after befriending and grooming them has been jailed.

Peter Whetstone abused the two victims during the spring and summer of 2020 after meeting them at a skate park in Mansfield.

He repeatedly messaged them, persuaded them to send him intimate images and videos and went on to sexually assault both girls.

Whetstone, who was aged 23 at the time of the offences, then raped one of the girls on 5 September 2020 at his home in Mansfield.

Police were made aware following a social media post and began an investigation while the victims were interviewed and supported by specialist officers.

Both victims had vulnerabilities and were targeted by Whetstone.

They later described in victim statements how Whetstone was part of an older group and was a ‘talented skater’ who tried to impress them.

They also spoke of how the abuse continues to impact upon their lives half a decade later and how they felt their teenage years had been stolen from them.

Following his arrest, Whetstone gave a ‘no comment’ interview to officers.

The 29-year-old, of Mansfield, eventually pleaded guilty almost five years later to inciting sexual activity, sexual communications with a child, two counts of meeting a child following grooming and four counts of sexual activity with a child.

He continued to deny rape and two counts of sexual assault but was found guilty following a trial in September 2025.

At Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday (10 March) he was jailed for a total of 10 years.

He was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order until further notice and will remain on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

Detective Constable Kerry Stringfellow, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:

“Whetstone’s behaviour was predatory and manipulative with evidence he had targeted these victims because of their vulnerabilities.

“He knew perfectly well that what he was doing was illegal and would have a profound impact on his victims and their families.

“As he begins a jail sentence I would like to pay tribute to the two victims at the centre of this case for the bravery they have shown during the legal process and Whetstone’s repeated denials.

“I would also like to send a very clear warning to other adults thinking of committing similar offences against children – you will be caught and go to prison.”

Description

A man has been jailed for nine-and-a-half-years after being found guilty of the rape of a vulnerable girl in Stockport.

Mohsen Farjam (02/05/1982), of no fixed abode, was jailed for five offences at Manchester Crown Court on 5 March – two counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault, and one of sexual assault by penetration.

Due to the nature of the case – which occurred in July 2018 – considerable time and effort has been put in by officers to achieve the end result.

This includes extensive work by detectives and continued support and engagement with the victim.The case required comprehensive reviews as officers worked closely with both her and necessary partners.

The girl, who has a neurodevelopmental condition and was 15-years-old at the time, was on her own in Stockport, when she was approached by Farjam, who had seen that the victim was upset and in need of help.

Farjam then convinced the girl to get food nearby and charge her devices, telling her that he was currently homeless and pretended to offer her sympathy and support. He was in fact grooming and exploiting her.

After leaving, Farjam plied the girl with vodka at a tent in which he was living in on the outskirt of centre, at which point he began to inappropriately touch her – even stating to her that she looked nervous.

Farjam then sexually assaulted and raped the girl.

The girl was able to leave the tent following the attack and bravely told a relative, who then informed the police. Farjam was arrested just hours later.

Farjam completely denied the allegations put to him and showed no remorse. 

He told police that he saw the victim in a vulnerable state and had taken her back to the tent for a massage. He additionally claimed to be seeking help for the homeless community.

Officers have worked through tens of thousands of pages of relevant material as part of their investigation which saw Farjam finally sentenced on Thursday 5 March. 

In addition to his sentencing, he has been placed on the sex offender's register for life.

Detective Sergeant Rob Griffiths, from GMP’s Stockport Complex safeguarding team, said:

“I firstly want to commend the victim in this case, who endured this horrific crime aged just 15-years-old. They have been incredibly brave throughout the court process and are getting continual support by professionals – I hope that they can continue to heal following this awful ordeal.

“Farjam exploited vulnerabilities for his own sickening gratification, and it is utterly grim that he tried to disguise his intentions by pretending to want to help a child in need. Instead, he got her drunk and exploited her as part of his vile actions.

“I am glad that he is now finally behind bars for his crimes."

Description

A man has been given a 14-year sentence for committing a rape in Lancaster.  

Andrew Morris (pictured) attacked a man aged in his 30s in March last year and had twice previously sexually assaulted him.

Morris’ victim was described as vulnerable, with him suffering from anxiety and depression, and being easily manipulated.

They were known to one another, with the victim reporting to a care support worker that on the weekend of 8th/9th March 2025, Morris had raped him at a property in Lancaster.

Morris had been living in Lancaster since February 2017, having served a prison sentence for raping a man in Nottingham.

Officers arrested Morris on 12th March on suspicion of rape, and he was charged following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service.

Morris, 63, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to a charge of raping a man aged over 16 and two offences of sexual assault on a male.

Appearing at Preston Crown Court last Friday (6th March), Morris was given a 14-year sentence – comprising of eight years in prison and a six-year extended licence period.

In his Victim Personal statement, the man said:

“I was extremely upset after the rape happened, it was not something that I wanted to happen. I have no sexual attraction to males.

“I thought that he was being friendly but that was all lies.

“I am very careful now and do not make friends with anyone. Therefore, I feel more isolated than before.

“He knew I have a learning disability, and he took advantage of me.”

He continued:

“When I think about what happened, I cannot sleep and stay awake a lot at night.

“I have told some of my family, but I feel ashamed and embarrassed by what has happened to me.”

Det Con Kirsten Bell, of our West Vulnerable Adult Team, said:

“Andrew Morris took advantage of a vulnerable man for his own sexual gratification. The rape had a profound effect on his victim.

“The victim showed a great deal of bravery by telling a support worker what happened and reporting it to the police.

“Lancashire Police take reports of sexual offences extremely seriously, we will thoroughly investigate them in order to bring offenders to justice.”

Description

A paedophile drug dealer has been banned for life from any unsupervised contact with children unless their parents know he is a sex offender and grant permission.

Terry Park, 31, from Basildon, was jailed for 12 years in December after a jury at Southend Crown Court convicted him of five child sexual offences: one count of rape and four of assault by penetration.

The cannabis dealer had plied a teenage girl with his stash and repeatedly assaulted her.

The court heard he received a caution in 2013, at age 18, for possessing indecent images of children of both genders, found on his Blackberry by his then-girlfriend, who reported him to Essex Police.

Judge Samantha Cohen said it was clear Park—who claimed at trial he was being framed—"harboured a sexual attraction to children for many years."

Police searching his phone for the recent offences found images of the victim in bed, which he said were planted, plus over 100 images of children and babies, which he insisted were innocent photos of friends' children.

Judge Cohen postponed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for further investigation.

Park appeared via video link at Basildon Crown Court on Monday for the resumed hearing, where prosecutor Dharmendra Toor said: “The phone review showed many images of female and male children.”

After reading a witness statement from the case officer—not read aloud—Judge Cohen said:

“That does, I have to say, make a good case for the proposed order restricting contact with any child under 18.”

She imposed a lifelong SHPO banning Park from supervised or unsupervised contact with any child under 18 unless their parent or guardian knows of his convictions and SHPO and consents, and a local sex offender monitoring officer also consents.

Other terms include a lifelong ban on owning any internet-capable device unless he makes it available for police inspection on request and allows monitoring software installation.

He is also banned from communicating with any other convicted sex offender unless approved by police.

“They all seem to me to be necessary to monitor Mr Park’s activities and are proportionate to the risk that he presents,” said Judge Cohen.

Description

An online sexual predator who distributed sickening images of children to 374 members of seedy internet groups fell foul of the police when he started exchanging intimate messages with a decoy 13-year-old girl.

Andrew Whitelam boasted in other online chats that young girls "turn me on so much" and he had a large collection of indecent images of children, Hull Crown Court heard.

Whitelam, 39, of Sutton Park, Hull, admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause a child to watch or look at sexual activity between April 20 and May 4, 2023. He also admitted distributing and making indecent images of children, possessing extreme pornography and possessing prohibited images of children.

Stephen Welch, prosecuting, said that Whitelam exchanged messages online with a decoy 13-year-old girl and he repeatedly sent highly sexualised images and a video of sexual behaviour. He asked for images of the girl and he made it clear that he wanted sexual contact with her.

The police arrested him at his home on July 14, 2023 and seized a mobile phone and other equipment. He had 114 images and 209 videos of children in the most serious Category A as well as 54 images and 86 videos in Category B and 356 images and 42 videos in Category C.

There were 21 prohibited images and one movie of children as well as 11 extreme pornography images of bestiality and 16 videos. A total of 143 images of children, including 49 in Category A, had been distributed to 374 other people in various groups.

Four conversations with girls aged 14, 13 and 11, were discovered, although there were no charges involving these. One chatroom was called "School girls ready to love."

Whitelam said of young girls: "They turn me on so much." Grooming behaviour was used by him. He had no previous convictions.

Catherine Silverton, mitigating, said that Whitelam had completed a course aimed at changing his behaviour and he had paid for a further seven months of treatment. He had "done remarkably well" through the work he had completed and he had made "very considerable progress".

Whitelam had made a clear decision to learn from his past lifestyle. A prison sentence would put him back among drug users and would be "very counter-productive" to his rehabilitation, a course official had said.

The offences were serious:

"He is deeply remorseful," said Miss Silverton. "He is, frankly, horrified by what he has done. He can't fathom how he could, in his words, have sunk to such depths.

"He is in no doubt about the seriousness of his conduct. He is in no doubt that he only has himself to blame. He is disgusted. He is deeply ashamed of his behaviour.

"There has been no repetition in the time since." Whitelam had a drug addiction at the time of the offences but he was now clear of this. He worked as a joiner.

Judge Alexander Menary told Whitelam:

"The offences are so serious, the number and nature of them, that I am simply unable to impose a community order."

Whitelam, who had been on bail, was jailed for two years and five months. He was given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and he must register as a sex offender for 10 years.

Description

In January 2022, Stephen Greg Scollard drove a 15-year-old girl to an isolated location in Seaham and asked her to have sex with him.

Despite her refusal, the 42-year-old lifted her out of the passenger seat and violently raped her.

A police investigation was launched and Scollard, of Wingate, was charged with sexual assault and rape.

Whilst awaiting his day in court, Scollard was also investigated by Cleveland Police and found guilty of the rape of another 15-year-old girl in Hartlepool.

He was remanded in custody while the Durham Constabulary investigation continued.

Although he initially denied the Seaham offence when interviewed, Scollard pleaded guilty at Teesside Crown Court in December 2025 due to the weight of evidence against him.

Last month he was sentenced to 19 years in prison with an extension period of 4 years due to the nature of the offences.

A detective involved in the investigation said:

“Scollard has an obvious interest in girls who he can manipulate, control and intimidate.

“It took incredible bravery for his victim to come forward and report to us what had happened, but her courage has ensured that Scollard will spend a long period behind bars where he is unable to continue his actions.

“Throughout the investigation, he has attempted to deceive police at every opportunity. This has been a long and complex journey, and I thank the victim and their family for their support throughout.

“I hope that she is able to take some form of closure from this outcome and is able to now move forward with rebuilding her life.”

Description

An electrician has been jailed after cyberflashing three women.

Liam Brodie, 34, received an inquiry about electrical work from a woman in September 2024 and agreed to visit her to provide a quote.

However, he became reluctant when he learned it would be the woman’s husband who would be meeting him.

The woman then noticed he had changed his profile picture from his company logo to his genitals.

She challenged Brodie, who claimed he had been hacked. The profile picture then changed to different photos of him naked.

In November 2024, a different woman contacted Brodie and, while arranging a quote for a job, he sent several images and videos of his genitals to her. She blocked him and reported the incident.

During investigation it transpired he had also sent unwanted photos and videos, along with strings of messages, to a former partner.

Brodie, of Barkhams Lane, Littleport, pleaded guilty to three counts of sending a photograph or film of genitals to cause alarm, distress, or humiliation.

He was sentenced at Huntingdon Law Court today (9 March) to two years in prison.

PC Coralie Skillings said:

“Digital indecent exposure, or cyberflashing, is sometimes dismissed as 'funny’, but it's a form of sexual violence.

“Brodie maybe thought because he changed his profile picture rather than sending the image directly, he would get away with it. However, his intention for the women to see the photo was there and that is an offence.”

Description

A man has been jailed for 14 years after being found guilty of controlling and coercive behaviour and attempted rape in Wirral.

Damien Lang, 41 years, of Heyes Drive in Leasowe but originally from Milton Keynes, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday 6 March and was sentenced to 14 years in prison and eight years on extended licence. He was also issued with an an indefinite restraining order not to contact the victim.

Lang was charged in February last year and in January this year he was found guilty of controlling and coercive behaviour and attempted rape.

In a victim impact statement read out in court, she said:

“The abuse I suffered has left me traumatised in ways I still struggle to put into words.

“He was someone I trusted, someone who manipulated me into love by pretending to be someone he wasn’t.

“He controlled me, hurt me, threatened me and made me live in fear. Even now, long after it’s over I don’t feel safe and what he did changed my life forever.

“What’s worse is that he normalised everything bad he did to me and made me believe that it was part of a relationship – that it was somehow my fault and I was overreacting.

“Over time I stopped trusting me own instincts and I began to doubt myself and accept pain as normal – that kind of emotional manipulation stayed with me long after the relationship ended.

“This has affected every area of my life. I no longer trust people, especially men. I avoid relationships and feel disconnected with the world around me. The emotional damage is deep and ongoing.”

Detective Inspector Holly Chance said:

“Lang put his victim through the trauma of having to relive the experience by way of a trial, but thankfully a jury saw through his lies and he is now paying for his crimes.

“While no sentence will repair the damage he inflicted on his victim, I hope this conviction has secured some justice for her. I would like to praise the courage, strength and dignity shown by the victim throughout the case and would like to ask for anyone else suffering from similar to come forward.

“This result shows that violence against women and girls will simply not be tolerated and we will work tirelessly to bring perpetrators to justice.”

Det Insp Chance added:

“I would like to emphasise that there is plenty of help available to anyone who may be suffering domestic abuse of any kind and together with partner agencies, we will do all that we can to support you.

“Domestic abuse can happen to anyone and we have specially trained officers who will listen to you and support you with sensitivity and compassion.

"Likewise, I would ask everyone to look out for your family members, friends or neighbours that may be suffering, as by contacting us you could be helping someone who is too afraid to help themselves. Everything you tell us is taken extremely seriously and will be investigated thoroughly.”

Description

A man nicknamed “Killer” and his two younger brothers have been convicted 18 years after they sexually abused four children and a woman in Sheffield, following a National Crime Agency investigation.

The men were found guilty of a series of sexual offences – including rapes – many of which were committed by eldest brother Amar Ilyas, 41, of Sheffield. Known as “Killer” to the victims, Amar Ilyas bit one victim and used a gun and threats of gang rape to coerce others he abused. He was convicted in September 2025, but this can only be reported now, after the trial of his brothers concluded today, Monday 9 March.

Kamran Ilyas, 38, and Kamar Ilyas, 39, both of Sheffield were found guilty of a total of five sexual offences against one of the girls that their brother had raped.

The men’s convictions are the result of enquiries by Operation Stovewood - a team of specially-trained officers dedicated to investigating non-familial child sexual abuse in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013.

In 2018, Operation Stovewood officers contacted a woman from Rotherham who they identified was possibly a victim of child sexual abuse. The woman – now in her 30s – subsequently related how she been groomed and raped by Kamar, and then sexually abused by Amar and Kamran Ilyas, between 2004 and 2008, at locations across Sheffield.

Kamar Ilyas began phoning the woman in 2004, when she was 12 and he was between 17 and 18 years old. Kamar Ilyas then encouraged the child to meet him at locations around Sheffield, where he sexually abused and raped her.

Kamar Ilyas introduced the girl to his brother, Amar Ilyas, who subsequently raped the girl on a weekly basis for three years, in parks, houses and his car. Amar Ilyas gave the girl perfume and jewellery but the woman recalled being frightened of him and that he might harm her family. She said that on one occasion Amar Ilyas gave her a cigarette laced with crack cocaine before raping her. Another time Amar Ilyas showed the girl a handgun he kept in his car, before taking her into a wooded area and raping her.

During the period she was being repeatedly raped by Amar Ilyas, the girl was also sexually abused by Kamran Ilyas – who was around 17 years old at the time – at a flat and a playground in Sheffield.

While investigating the three men’s offences against this woman, Operation Stovewood officers identified a further four women who had been sexually abused by Amar Ilyas.

A woman who officers approached as a possible witness told them that Amar Ilyas had tried to rape her when she was around 13 years old. The woman, now in her 30s, said she was staying over at a friend’s house one night when she woke up to find “Killer” raping. When the girl tried to push Amar Ilyas off her, he told her to be quiet and continued his assault, only stopping only when another man entered the room.

A third woman who officers also approached as a possible witness told them that she met Amar Ilyas when she was around 13 years old and he was around 18 years old. Amar Ilyas visited the girl when she was alone at her home in Sheffield. Initially the meetings were friendly, passing without incident, but Amar Ilyas encouraged the girl to drink and take drugs.

Then during one visit, Amar Ilyas raped the girl. On a subsequent visit, he raped her a second time in her bedroom, after which he then further indecently assaulted her.

The fourth woman was around 18 or 19 years old when Amar Ilyas raped her after seeing her out alone in Sheffield.

Amar Ilyas was with a group of men when he stopped the woman as she walked near a park one evening in 2004. The woman, not wanting to speak with Amar Ilyas, told him that she needed to catch a bus but he told her he would drive her instead. Amar Ilyas then took the woman down an alleyway, out of sight of the other men. He asked the woman to perform a sex act and when she refused he threatened her that she would be forced to carry out sex acts on his friends. The woman felt she had no choice, as Amar Ilyas then raped her.

A fifth victim identified by Operation Stovewood was raped by Amar Ilyas after being introduced to him by Kamran Ilyas. She was 16 at the time and Amar Ilyas was around 20 years old.

Kamran Ilyas met the girl at a shopping centre and drove her to a park where Amar Ilyas was waiting in a car. Kamar Ilyas told the girl to get into the car, to be driven home by his brother. When the girl got into Amar Ilyas’s car, he bit her face then raped her. At one point during the horrific attack, Amar Ilyas grabbed a spanner from the car floor and threatened to hit the girl with it if she did not stop crying.

All three men were arrested in June 2020 by Operation Stovewood officers, and subsequently charged in March 2023.

Amar Ilyas was released on unconditional court bail during which time he travelled abroad to Pakistan. He failed to appear for his trial and was instead tried in his absence.

On 24 September, following two-week trial, Amar Ilyas was convicted of all 20 sexual offences against him and a charge of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear.

National Crime Agency Senior Investigating Officer Alan Hastings said:

“Amar, Kamar and Kamran Ilyas remorselessly terrorised vulnerable girls from Rotherham and Sheffield.

“Amar Ilyas’ victims were terrified of him and he mercilessly played on their fear to get them alone, sexually abuse them and ensure their silence afterwards.

“Our investigation found Amar Ilyas targeted his victims opportunistically or groomed them extensively. In one case Amar Ilyas subjected a child to three years of relentless torment and rape. Her suffering was compounded by the sexual abuse his brothers also committed against her.

“Despite the horrendous abuse all five women have suffered, they have shown great courage and absolute determination to see the perpetrators face justice, which our investigation has ensured for them all.”Kamran and Kamar Ilyas have been remanded in custody to appear at Sheffield Crown Court on 22 June, when they will be sentenced.

Sheffield Crown Court has issued a warrant for Amar Ilyas’s arrest. Officers from Operation Stovewood and the NCA’s Joint International Crime Centre are carrying out proactive enquiries to locate and arrest Amar Ilyas.

Martin McRobb, Specialist Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, said:

“The brothers Kamar Ilyas and Kamran Ilyas groomed a young and vulnerable girl with alcohol and drugs. They took her to a variety of locations in the Sheffield area in order to feed their vile sexual appetite by raping and sexually abusing her. As a result, they caused the victim serious and lifelong harm.

"These defendants have now been held accountable for their horrific and appalling crimes. I want to once again recognise this woman for her immense courage in coming forward and for remaining supportive of a complex investigation and lengthy legal process. Her determination and strength in seeing this case through has been crucial in bringing these offenders to justice.

“The CPS will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to pursue perpetrators of child sexual abuse and secure justice for victims, no matter how many years have passed."

The NCA's Operation Stovewood remains the single biggest investigation of its kind, looking at allegations of abuse in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013. To date 52 people – including the Ilyas brothers – have been convicted and received custodial sentences totalling more than 1,500 years.

Description

A man who sexually abused four children over several years in a series of non-recent sexual offences, as well as sexually assaulting a woman, has been sentenced for 11 years and will be on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Following a two-week trial at Hull Crown Court which concluded last week (Thursday, 4 March 2026), Darren Richardson, 58-years-old of Thompson Avenue in Beverley was found guilty of 11 sexual offences including two counts of gross indecency with a boy under the age of 14, two counts of gross indecency with a boy under the age of 16, two counts of indecent assault on a boy under the age of 14, two counts of assault on a girl under the age of 13 by touching, indecent assault on a boy under the age of 14, assaulting a boy under the age of 13 by touching, and sexual assault of a woman.

Richardson was first brought to officers’ attention in October 2020 when a man came forward to report that he had been sexually abused by Richardson during the 1990s when he was around just four-years-old. He also explained how he was coming forward now because he had seen Richardson with a young child and did not want the same to happen again.

An investigation was launched by our Protecting Vulnerable People Unit, and it was quickly established that the man making the report, along with two other men whom he knew, had also been subject to non-recent sexual abuse at the hands of Richardson over a prolonged period of time.

Following this initial report, detectives conducted numerous enquiries including speaking to witnesses, and obtaining detailed victim accounts to establish the full circumstances around the reports.

These enquiries led to a 12-year-old girl disclosing sexual abuse, and a woman disclosing a sexual assault, naming Richardson as the one responsible.

Richardson was initially arrested on suspicion of five counts of sexual assault against five people and interviewed in January 2021.

Whilst in custody and being questioned, Richardson denied all allegations put to him and refused to admit any sexual interest in children, however, due to the evidence stacked against him, he was subsequently charged with 11 sexual offences and released under investigation.

After pleading not guilty to all offences, a two-week trial was set for Monday, 23 February 2026, concluding on Thursday, 5 March 2026 at Hull Crown Court where he was remanded and sentenced on Friday, 6 March 2026.

Investigating Officer Helen Shackleton, said:

“First and foremost, I would like to commend the men and women who came forward and reported Richardson’s crimes against them when they were so young, some aged between three- and six-years-old when the abuse began.

“It is because of their courage and strength that we were able to build a significant case against Richardson, holding him accountable for his crimes years after they took place.

“Richardson is a child abuser who befriended neighbours or manipulated his adult friends under false pretences in order to gain access to their children and take advantage of them.

“He would gain the adults trust, offering to help and care for their children, and on one occasion even took one of the boys on a trip during the six-week holidays, sexually abusing him in service station toilets.

“Richardson would fake niceties, giving them money, as well as showering them with gifts including clothes, games, and phones, all in a ploy to get them on side in order to appease his own devious sexual perversions.

“He then went on to refuse to admit what he had done, forcing the men, women, and their families through a two-week trial reliving the childhood trauma they experienced all over again in a sadistic ploy to maintain an element of control over them, even years after the offences took place.

“The result we saw in court last week is testament to the bravery of those who came forward, and the dedication of detectives who stacked up the evidence against him ultimately leading him to now spend over a decade behind bars.”

Description

A paedophile who asked a 14-year-old girl to perform a sexual act on him swore at a judge, telling her "f*** your country," before storming out of his sentencing hearing and refusing to return. He appeared via video link from prison.

Abdirahman Osman, 44, approached a group of young girls in Roath Park, Cardiff, on July 13 last year. He asked their ages, tried to hug one, called them "sweeties," and said he wanted to be one of their boyfriends.

The girls told him to leave, but later that day, he called one over to his nearby home, asking for her help. When she approached, he requested oral sex, leaving her "shocked and scared," the court heard.

She returned to her friends, who called police. Osman was arrested and told an officer: "I didn't touch anyone, they were talking to me and I asked one of them for a b*****b and that was it."

Osman, of Pen y Wain Road, Roath, was convicted at Cardiff Crown Court of attempting to engage/incite a child in sexual activity. He has prior convictions for battery and robbery.

As Judge Lucy Crowther addressed him, Osman said: "I want to go back to my own country (Kenya). F*** your country." He then left the video room and returned to his cell.

In her victim statement, the girl said: "Since this incident I feel wary of people and scared of people who look like him. I don't like going out on my own anymore. My social interactions have changed, I don't like going out on my own and don't feel safe.

"I don't go to the Roath Park area as I find it distressing. I now stay local to home as I feel safer this way. My mum has been concerned and worried for me and she's supported me. Following the incident I am shocked and distressed a man can say things like this and leave me feeling worried and upset."

Judge Crowther sentenced Osman to two years' imprisonment and a 10-year sex offender notification requirement.

Description

A former Merseyside police officer who admitted possessing "highly disturbing" extreme pornography has received a suspended sentence.

Ryan Connolly, 41, of Huyton, was cleared last week of misconduct in a public office after selfies he took on duty at a teenager's death scene and images of vulnerable detainees at hospitals were found on his phone in 2020.

At Manchester Crown Court, he was sentenced for three counts of possessing extreme pornography, involving videos in his WhatsApp sent folder: two showing sexual acts with animals and one likely to cause serious injury.

Connolly pleaded guilty on the first day of trial in November 2021.

Recorder of Manchester Judge Nicholas Dean KC described one video, showing a man appearing to cause injury to himself, as "repugnant and worryingly so, in the sense it involves scenes of a masochistic or sadistic nature." He added: "It is highly disturbing and an image that even described, let alone seen, leaves an indelible impression."

Defense counsel Charlotte Rimmer noted character references for Connolly, now a self-employed health and safety auditor who has had another child since proceedings began.

The judge said a nearly five-year delay since the 2021 guilty plea made immediate imprisonment "inappropriate," though it would otherwise have been likely.

Connolly received a 12-month sentence suspended for two years, 80 hours of unpaid work, and 10 years on the sex offender notification register.

'Deplorable'

Last week, the jury was discharged after the judge ruled the prosecution's evidence could not prove misconduct.

Jurors heard Connolly, then a constable, took selfies—including one lying on grass—while guarding a cordon after 16-year-old Daniel Gee-Jamieson's 2018 killing in Belle Vale, Liverpool.

Over 50 photos, including images of vulnerable hospital detainees, force systems, and colleagues, were found in his WhatsApp sent folder upon his February 2020 arrest.

Merseyside Police dismissed Connolly in 2021, calling his behavior "deplorable." A misconduct hearing revealed other phone images were racist, homophobic, and mocked disabled people, with messages showing he socialized with a known criminal.