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Scott Miller, Westlife Tribute Act Member, Jailed for 11 Years After Convictions for Rape and Abuse

Scott Miller, a 39-year-old member of Scotland’s official Westlife tribute band Westlive, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison after being found guilty of eight charges, including the rape of two women.

Miller, from Hamilton in Lanarkshire, was convicted following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow. The offences spanned October 2012 to November 2021, mainly in North Lanarkshire. He had denied the charges. As well as the jail term, Judge Andrew McIntyre ordered him to be supervised for a further three years on release.

Westlive had performed across the UK and Europe and recently supported Blue, Peter Andre and Scouting For Girls at a festival.

Jurors heard that Miller subjected the first victim to a campaign of verbal abuse, shouting and swearing at her, threatening and mocking her, accusing her of infidelity, controlling who she could contact and damaging her phones. The abuse became physical and included choking her until she lost consciousness. He raped her at a hotel in Edinburgh and again at a property in North Lanarkshire.

The second victim was also repeatedly abused. Miller raped her on a number of occasions while she was initially asleep. He threw a bar stool at her, striking her on the head, and was verbally abusive. Other violence included grabbing her and throwing her to the floor, hurling a bottle at her and pushing her so that she fell against a door.

Judge McIntyre described Miller’s attitude as “characterised as ongoing denial, minimisation and blame of others”. Addressing him, the judge said: “Over a period of nine years, you engaged in a course of serious violence and sexual abuse of women. It is plain that it had a profound effect on the women that you targeted. That was evident from their evidence and the victim impact statements that they have submitted. It is clear it caused physical and enduring psychological harm. You continue to blame the women who you abused. They are not to blame – you are.”

One of the victims later described being traumatised by “a smear campaign waged against my name” before the trial. She said: “I was called a liar. My character was dragged through the mud. Stories were told, opinions were formed and people, who had never lived a day in my shoes, were happy to believe the worst of me. I was painted as a psychopath – as someone who had made everything up. Imagine having to live through that abuse only to then have to fight to prove that it happened. I would not wish that on anyone.”

She added: “This was never about revenge. It was about accountability. It was about justice and finally having the truth recognised.”

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A man has been jailed for 11 years after raping a woman in Wirral.

Stephen David Beattie, 39, of no fixed abode, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday (Monday 2 November) after being found guilty of rape, engaging in controlling/coercive behaviour and witness intimidation.

Beattie committed the offences against a woman between 2020 and 2025.

In an extract from the Victim Personal Statement, the woman said:

“What happened to me has affected every part of my life and I still struggle with it every day. I find it very difficult to sleep. When I do fall asleep, I often have nightmares about Stephen. In those dreams he is chasing me and I can’t get away from him.

“Although I am dealing with the impact of everything that happened, I take some comfort in knowing that Stephen does not currently have the opportunity to control me, isolate me or take away my freedom again. Being free from that control has allowed me to begin rebuilding my life, but the effects of his actions remain with me every day.”

Detective Constable Patrick Shaw said:

“Beattie is a dangerous offender who committed serious offences against a woman over several years.

“It’s only right that he now faces a lengthy prison sentence and I sincerely hope this brings some comfort to the victim.

“If you or someone you know has been the victim of a sexual offence, please be assured that we have specially trained officers to guide you through the process.”

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Paul Black, of Wordsworth Crescent, met the girls after adding one of them on Snapchat – a social media app – in January 2026.

The 36-year-old then groomed one of them by asking if they wanted to make money through sexual intercourse.

Over a period of three months between March and July Black met the girl and then her friend where he raped and sexually assaulted them in his car.

On Tuesday 3 November Black appeared at Teesside Crown Court and was sentenced to 15 years with three on extended licence, an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, on the sex offenders register for life and a 10 year restraining order after pleading guilty to 28 offences including:

• Three counts of making indecent photographs of children
• Eight counts of rape
• Four counts of sexual assault
• Four counts of paying for sexual services of a child
• Five counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity
• Two counts of meeting a child following sexual grooming
• Engage in sexual communication with a child
• Assault by penetration

During the hearing, the court heard how Black drove from his home in Gateshead to meet the girls in various areas of Teesside for up to an hour each time.

After sexually assaulting and raping the girls, he would give them each up to £60 to £100 in cash each time.

It came to police’s attention when one of the girls was found to be in possession of a large amount of money. She confided to an adult who then reported it to officers.

Despite providing a different name to the girls and using a pseudo one on Snapchat, he was identified by officers and arrested.

Following questioning in custody, he was subsequently charged.

Detective Constable Sean Hobbs, from Cleveland Police’s Protecting Vulnerable People team, said:

“Black is a predator who has used Snapchat to groom young girls solely for his own sexual gratification.

“He would entice the children to meet him by promising to give them large amounts of money. He then abused them sexually through demanding threats and violence causing fear.

“It has understandably been distressing for the girls to relive what Black had done to them, but they have shown such courage in opening up to an adult and then to officers.

“This has gone a long way to ensure Black has no choice but to admit to what he has done and secured a prison sentence.

“I hope it provides some reassurance that they were both listened to, supported and that Black has now been held accountable for his actions.”

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A man has been jailed for seven years for a series of violent and sexual offences.

Derek McNee, 42, committed the crimes against two women in the Glasgow and East Dunbartonshire areas between 2021 and 2025.

He pled guilty to the charges on Wednesday, 2 September and returned to the High Court in Glasgow today, Monday, 2 November for sentencing.

He was also made the subject of a non-harassment order against both women and will be placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

McNee was previously a Police Scotland officer, who resigned in 2016.

Detective Inspector Mairi MacDonald said:

"Derek McNee subjected these women to horrific abuse, and I would like to commend their courage in coming forward and speaking to us.

"They played an instrumental role in bringing this despicable individual to justice and I hope this outcome provides them with some closure and comfort.

"Police Scotland does not tolerate violence or sexual abuse in any form, and I hope this outcome gives other victims the confidence to come forward and make a report to us.

"We are here to listen and to help, and our specially trained officers will support you throughout the process, alongside our partner agencies."

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A 36-year-old man has been jailed for eight years for the rape of a woman in Southampton.

Daryl Joyner-Smith, of Munro Crescent, Southampton, appeared at Southampton Crown Court today (3 November) for sentencing having been found guilty of rape following a trial at the same court last month.

During the trial, the court heard on the evening of Saturday 23 February 2019, the victim, now in her 40s, had been socialising with friends in Southampton.

After spending the evening with the victim and a group of friends, Joyner-Smith accompanied her back to an address in Millbrook. The victim later went to bed and woke to find Joyner-Smith raping her. Despite repeatedly telling him to stop, her pleas went unanswered. The court heard how she stared at a spot on the wall, wishing for the ordeal to be over.

The offence was subsequently reported to police and an investigation was launched by detectives from our specialist Operation Amberstone team.

Following a trial at Southampton Crown Court, a jury found Joyner-Smith guilty of rape on 2 October.

Appearing at the same court today, he was jailed for eight years. In addition to his custodial sentence, Joyner-Smith was also handed a lifetime restraining order and will be on the sex offenders register for life.

Addressing Joyner-Smith in court, the victim said:

"What you did to me has affected my life in so many ways. Since the day you raped me, my life has never been the same.

“You have taken away some of the freedom and enjoyment I should be able to feel in my everyday life. I should be able to go out, spend time with my family and friends, enjoy normal things without that sick dread feeling in my stomach, without carrying this fear around with me.

“It is difficult to explain how draining it is to live with the effects of something that happened years ago, yet still feels as though it follows me into so many parts of my life.

“I have been paying the price since the night you raped me. My sleep, my memory, my confidence, my trust in people and my sense of safety have all been affected. I have had to live with the consequences of your actions while trying to carry on being a mother, going to work and managing everyday life.

“You have taken so much from me, and the damage you have caused cannot simply be undone by a guilty verdict and this sentencing. Although I have finally received justice, that does not mean the pain has disappeared. However, knowing that you have finally been held accountable gives me some hope that I can begin to rebuild my life.”

PSI David Bolton, from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary's specialist Operation Amberstone team, said:

"I would like to commend the courage shown by the victim throughout this investigation and the court process. Reporting rape takes immense bravery, and her determination has resulted in a dangerous offender being brought to justice.

"Joyner-Smith took advantage of a vulnerable woman for his own gratification, causing harm that can last a lifetime. Today's sentence reflects the seriousness of his offending and ensures he is being held accountable for his actions.

"Our message to victims of rape and sexual offences is clear: you will be listened to, you will be supported, and we will do everything we can to investigate reports thoroughly and pursue those responsible.

"I hope this outcome provides the victim with some measure of closure and helps her move forward knowing that the man who committed this offence has been brought to justice."

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Mohammed Riaz, 47, of no fixed abode, has been jailed for 22 years at Bradford Crown Court for offences including rape, stalking, exposure and assault.

The complainant, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, faced two trials before Riaz was convicted of all the offences against her. A jury found him guilty of some charges in February 2026; the remaining convictions followed a retrial in September. He continues to deny any wrongdoing and had no previous convictions.

Judge Richard Gioserano sentenced him on Monday and ordered that he serve two-thirds of the term before release on licence. He must register as a sex offender for life, and an indefinite restraining order bans him from contacting the complainant.

In addition to the rapes, the court heard that Riaz subjected the complainant to physical violence, threats to kill, and uninvited visits to her home. She only fully disclosed the abuse to police after his arrest and remand.

In her impact statement she said she was proud of the UK justice system: “I never imagined I would have the strength to stand in court and tell my truth, but the justice system gave me that opportunity.” She described the outcome as giving her relief, pride and empowerment.

Judge Gioserano told Riaz: “There is no remorse in you. It's clear from the pre-sentence report that you still deny doing anything wrong to her.” He noted that the victim’s courage meant the defendant now had to answer for his actions, and that the overall offending required a sentence of more than 20 years.

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A 66-year-old man has been jailed after being found guilty of non-recent child sex offences.

Peter Eason, of Owlthorpe Drive in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on Thursday, 29 October, where he was sentenced to six years and six months’ imprisonment.

Eason had denied the charges against him but was found guilty by a jury of the following five offences after a nine-day trial:

• Three counts of sexual activity with a child
• Two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity

The court heard the offences began in the Woodbridge area more than a decade ago and involved one victim, a child.

The offending continued for several years and was reported to police in February 2024.

A Victim Personal Statement was read out in court on behalf of the victim. It said: “I was a child, still growing up and developing my understanding of the world, relationships and trust. These should have been years of safety, discovery and ordinary childhood experiences. Instead, they became years in which my boundaries were violated, and my childhood was taken from me… I cannot simply leave these experiences in the past because the abuse itself has ended. I continue to live with the consequences every day, and I expect that they will affect me for the rest of my life.”

The victim’s father notes the impact Eason’s actions had on his daughter: “As parents, now knowing how you were abusing our daughter, we reflect on her younger teenage years, when she was still a child. We painfully remember our concerns about her wellbeing during those years, how she became distant from us, and we worried about her apparent low self-esteem… Somehow our daughter found the incredible inner strength and integrity to admit to us, to the Police and to this Court what you had done to her, in order to hold you accountable for your despicable behaviour... Our priority now as parents will be to support our daughter, as we move forward to help her put this terrible experience behind her, and to rebuild her life.”

In addition to his sentence, Eason was ordered to sign the sex offender’s register and was handed a 10-year restraining order in respect of the victim.

Detective Constable Shelly Drake, who was the officer in charge of the case, said:

“Eason knew the victim from an early age and exploited her innocence for his own gratification. He was an opportunistic sexual predator who took advantage of situations to sexually abuse his victim, which has had a lasting impact on both her and her family.

“I would like to praise the victim for her bravery and strength in disclosing what happened to her and reporting it to police.

“It is never too late to report sexual abuse and I urge anyone who has been abused to report it to police. We will support you and do all we have to bring those responsible to justice.”

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We are continuing to encourage victims of non-recent sexual abuse to come forward after a woman was jailed more than 25 years after she began committing her crimes.

Gemma Baker started sexually abusing a young girl in 1999, when the victim was six years old. The abuse continued until 2003.

In 2021 the victim, who is now an adult, contacted police to report what happened and an investigation by our Child Abuse Investigation Unit (CAIU) was undertaken.

The victim told officers that Baker had been careful to carry out the abuse when they were alone together in the hope that no-one would find out what happened. In interview, 42-year-old Baker denied the allegations but offered no explanation as to why the victim would say such a thing.

Baker, of Speers Road in New Parks, was subsequently charged with 10 counts of indecency with a child.

On Thursday (29 October) she was found guilty of all offences following a trial at Leicester Crown Court and on Friday was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment. She was also placed on the sex offender register for life and made subject to a restraining order prohibiting contact with the victim.

Detective Constable Ash McPhillips was the officer in the case. She said:

“I know the victim that she feels a sense of relief that the woman who subjected her to horrific abuse at such a young age is now behind bars more than 25 years on.

“I must commend her bravery in reliving what happened in front of a jury. Her strength and courage in doing so played a vital role in ensuring Baker was convicted.

“I hope this case serves as a reminder to anyone else who has also been a victim that it’s never too late to come forward and seek justice for what happened.”

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Following a Thames Valley Police investigation, a rapist has been jailed after being convicted of repeated sexual offences, coercive control and a number of other serious offences against multiple victims in Didcot.

Mike Loveridge, aged 18, of Newbury Road, Didcot, was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday (29/10) to eight years in prison with a four-year extension period, making a total sentence of 12 years.

The sentence follows a four-day trial at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court, sitting as a Youth Court, where on 24 September he was found guilty of three counts of rape and one count each of controlling and coercive behaviour, causing a female aged 13 or over to engage in sexual activity without consent, exposure, and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

Loveridge was also sentenced for additional offences committed against other victims between April and May 2026, including one count each of harassment, harassment by breaching a restraining order, sending grossly offensive, indecent or menacing communications, and intimidating a witness.

The court also imposed five restraining orders to protect victims and granted an indefinite animal disqualification order, preventing Loveridge from keeping or being involved in the care of horses.

The court heard that between January and June this year, Loveridge subjected one of the victims to serious sexual violence and controlling behaviour.

His controlling and coercive behaviour included isolating the victim, making threats, subjecting her to violence and intimidation, and creating an atmosphere of fear. On one occasion, Loveridge contacted a funeral director in the victim’s presence to arrange her funeral.

Loveridge was arrested on 8 June and charged the following day.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Angelique Lihou said:

“Mike Loveridge’s offending was serious, persistent and caused significant harm to a number of victims. Thanks to their courage in coming forward and supporting the investigation, he has now been held fully accountable for his actions.

“This outcome is the result of a thorough investigation and demonstrates our determination to pursue offenders and put them before the courts, regardless of their age.

“The sentence imposed reflects the gravity of these offences and the risk Loveridge poses to others. I would encourage anyone who has been the victim of crime to come forward and report it. We will listen, investigate thoroughly and do everything we can to bring offenders to justice.”

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Aaron Robinson, 33, of no fixed address, has pleaded guilty to rape and faces a lengthy prison sentence after targeting a woman in a Hull hotel room and ignoring her clear refusals.

The victim was on a birthday night out with friends in Hull and stayed overnight at a city centre hotel. Robinson, who had been using cocaine and was also staying at the hotel, got into her bed and began touching her.

She told him “Get the f*** off” and made it plain she was not consenting. He replied “Come on, come on,” tried to kiss her, and got on top of her. She said “Get off.” He told her to “shush” and had sex with her.

Prosecutor Stephen Robinson told Hull Crown Court: “She didn’t want to have sex with him. She could not be any clearer that she did not want to have sex. Despite this, he got on top of her.”

Two friends later found her crying; she said she had found blood. She did not want to go to the police that night but told a female friend the next morning. She reported the incident to police on 2 June 2023; Robinson was arrested two days later. He claimed in interview that he had not forced himself on her, though recording issues affected the interview. The prosecutor said she would have been a compelling witness and there was no suggestion she had fabricated her account.

Robinson originally denied the charge and a trial began. He changed his plea to guilty after the prosecution case had opened. A second rape charge he denied will lie on file.

The case was adjourned for pre-sentence reports. He remains remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced at Grimsby Crown Court on 11 December.

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A man has been convicted of raping a woman in her twenties at her home in Taunton, following a trial at Bristol Crown Court.

On Friday 30 October the jury returned a majority verdict finding Ayman Al-Shammari, 28, described in court as a Kuwaiti national living in Taunton, guilty of one count of rape.

The jury heard that Al-Shammari, pictured above, had known the woman for a few weeks, having met her on a night out, and they had slept together once.

On Friday 14 November 2025, he tried to persuade her to come out for the evening and when she wouldn’t, convinced her to let him come to her home.

After a few drinks he asked to stay the night and she agreed to let him sleep on the sofa, telling him they were just friends.

The court was told Al-Shammari went to the woman’s room and they did start to have consensual sex, but the woman later told police she was feeling “more and more uncomfortable”. She said she asked him to stop but he did not.

The woman managed to unlock her phone and record what was happening. The jury heard the recording in which the woman says “no” and “I don’t like it”. She is described as sounding in pain, upset and crying.

In his police interview, Al-Shammari denied rape, telling officers the woman had wanted sex but that the positions they tried hurt her so he stopped.

He was remanded into custody pending a sentencing hearing on 27 November.

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A ‘manipulative and predatory’ ex-teacher based at a school in Hull has today (Friday, 30 October) been given a 12-month suspended sentence, must remain on the sex offenders register for 10 years following a five-day trial.

Jamie Duguid, 26, of Whitley Bay, Northumbria was charged with engaging in sexual communications with a child and sexual assault following a lengthy investigation.

Appearing at court in November last year, he pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual communications with a child, however pleaded not guilty to sexual assault. Following a five-day trial at Grimsby Crown Court he was found not guilty of sexual assault by the jury.

An investigation was launched in 2023 after we received a report raising concerns that a man was abusing his position of trust as a teacher at a secondary school in Hull.

Duguid had sent a number of sexualised messages to a now ex-pupil after adding them on social media, he had also purchased several gifts online and sent them to a postal locker which the student never collected.

Following the initial report, Duguid was arrested and brought into custody to be questioned. As a part of his first interview, detectives asked Duguid about his interaction with the pupil for which he answered “no comment” to each question. He was then released under investigation whilst detectives continued with their enquiries.

As a part of the enquiries, officers were able to track a number of online purchases from Duguids banking and emails to items including underwear and jewellery he sent to the pupil.

In a second interview with detectives, Duguid was questioned about the purchases and why he had blocked the pupil on Facebook and messenger but had been in contact with the pupil on Snapchat. Detectives also questioned why he had attempted to conceal his identity on the social media platform and around his search history. Duguid answered “no comment” to all questions.

Legal proceedings concluded with a sentencing hearing at Grimsby Crown Court on Friday, 30 October where Duguid was given a 12-month suspended prison sentence, as part of his sentence he also he must complete 250 hours of unpaid work, will remain on the sex offenders register for 10 years and is subject to a sexual harm prevention order for five years.

Detective Constable Rebecca Davison leading the investigation said:

“As a teacher, Duguid was trusted, however he abused his position praying on the pupil’s vulnerabilities and manipulated them after they had confided in him and sought support.

“I would like to commend them for their courage not only in coming forward and reporting Duguid but throughout the entirety of the investigation and court proceedings.

“If you have been a victim of a sexual offence, I would always encourage you to report it, when you’re ready.

“This has been a lengthy investigation working alongside partnering agencies, for which I would like to thank for their cooperation and assistance throughout.”

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Police are urging other potential victims of a man who groomed and sexually abused a teenage girl to come forward after he was jailed for 11 years.

Shoaib Mohammed was sentenced at Leicester Crown Court today (Thursday 29 October) for a string of offences against the girl when she was 15.

Now aged 20, the victim, whose identity is protected by law, was just 14 when she was first contacted by Mohammed, now 35, on Snapchat in April 2021.

Over the following seven months, Mohammed groomed the teenager before persuading her to travel to Sheffield, where he sexually abused her over three days.

Mohammed, of Kentmere Drive, Doncaster, pleaded guilty to nine child sexual offences shortly before his trial was due to begin last month.

He was sentenced to a total of 11 years and will also be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 15 years.

Following the conclusion of the case, detectives from the Child Exploitation Team are appealing for anyone else who has concerns about Mohammed’s behaviour or contact they have had with him to come forward.

He was known to operate under the Snapchat handle ‘shabzique91’.

Officer in the case, DC Daljinder Gill, said:

“Mohammed was an adult who developed a relationship with a child through social media. She told him about her 15th birthday shortly after they started talking, meaning he was in no doubt about her age. Despite knowing she was a child, he continued to engage her in sexual communications before going on to sexually abuse her.

“The bravery and strength the victim has shown throughout the investigation and court proceedings has been remarkable. From making her initial disclosure to police at just 15 years old, to standing in court today as a woman and reading aloud the impact his offending has had on her, she has shown immense courage throughout. I hope today’s outcome gives her some sense that she has been heard and that Mohammed has been held accountable for what he did to her.

“Following the sentence, we want to hear from anyone else who may have experienced similar behaviour from Mohammed or who has concerns about contact they have had with him.

“We know grooming can be difficult to recognise, particularly when contact begins online, and a young person believes they are in a friendship or relationship. They may not recognise the behaviour for what it is until much later.

“If anything about this case feels familiar to you, please come and speak to us. You will be listened to, taken seriously and supported.”

Police investigation into Mohammed’s offending

The investigation first began in late 2021, when the girl was reporting missing to police by her parents.

Officers carried out extensive enquiries to find her and establish who she had been in contact with. Examination of her phone data showed she had been in contact with Mohammed and led officers to believe the pair were together.

Police attended Mohammed’s then home address in Sheffield a couple of days after the girl was reported missing, but he was not there.

After being told police were looking for him, Mohammed dropped the victim off at Sheffield train station and told her to go home and delete all of the messages they had exchanged.

When the victim returned to her home in Leicestershire she told her family and police what had happened.

A detective was immediately deployed to Sheffield to review local CCTV after the victim disclosed she had been taken to a number of hotels in the area between 8 and 10 November While there, sexual activity had taken place at two of the hotels, as well as in the defendant’s car.

The footage uncovered by police showed Mohammed had checked in to the hotels alone before bringing the victim in through reception and going straight to the room.

During the investigation, detectives also discovered the exchange of sexually explicit images and videos between the two.

Detectives also found Mohammed had carried out internet searches for terms including ‘grooming’, ‘Jimmy Savile’ and ‘Op Yewtree’.

After gathering the evidence, police submitted a file to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and Mohammed was charged with five counts of sexual activity with a child, three counts of possession of indecent images of a child and one count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Detectives continued to work closely with the CPS as the case progressed, reviewing the evidence and preparing the case for court. Mohammed ultimately pleaded guilty to all nine offences.

DC Gill added:

“Investigations of this nature require careful and detailed work. Throughout this case I worked closely with colleagues from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), in particular District Crown Prosecutor Nicola Potts, to ensure the strongest possible case was put before the court.”

Nicola Potts, from the CPS, said:

“The evidence that this man groomed and abused the victim in this case was conclusive. However, his continued denials have taken years of work to bring him to justice as we built a case that stopped his lies in their tracks.

“Shoaib Mohammed preyed on a young, vulnerable victim while posing as a caring friend and romantic partner. The way he manipulated her and abused her at such a vulnerable young age has caused her far-reaching damage. I hope that seeing him jailed today will help that young woman in her recovery and will show that he alone is responsible for what happened to her.”

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A former local councillor and cadet leader has been found guilty of rape and abusing his position to lure children into sexual activity after messaging them on social media.

Rylan Ray, 26, took advantage of his role as a detachment commander in the Army Cadet Force (ACF) to contact young people on Whatsapp to discuss duties and commitments without suspicion.

The former Peterborough city councillor would then encourage them to engage in Snapchat conversations which would become sexual.

Ray used a fake persona of a teenage girl called Chelsie to extract intimate images from teenagers. He was traced to the fake account when a phone call made from one boy to Chelsie was answered by him and another fake account was linked back to his flat via the IP address.

Photos of Chelsie, including the Snapchat icon, were found on his phone, together with intimate images from six victims that were only ever sent to the fake accounts.

He also told one 16-year-old, who he knew from the cadets and would meet up with on nights out, that as he was a Peterborough licensing officer, he could get him into clubs without ID.

The offences against 11 different victims only came to light in 2025 after two 16th birthday parties at Ray’s home, where he shared with another cadet leader. The parties were attended mostly by cadets or people linked to the cadets and resulted in parents complaining about the drinking and behaviour to the ACF.

Enquiries were made with various children who attended the parties, who then disclosed sexual messaging with Ray, who was also part of the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) at Stanground Academy and Nene Park Academy schools - both in Peterborough.

Police were made aware in May 2025 and an investigation began, where some children disclosed that as well as the sexual messages, they had been sexually assaulted.

Ray, of Westgate, Peterborough, was arrested the same month and in police interview provided a prepared statement where he accepted that he “may have” become involved in conversations that were unwise in his position as cadet leader but were not, on his part, sexually motivated.

He said he was “truly shocked and disgusted” at being accused of these offences which had “ruined his career”.  He then answered no comment to all questions.

In later interviews, he accepted that he received topless images of one child and that some of the messages were sexual, but claimed he never actively encouraged this. However, he also accepted sending a photo of his genitalia to the same young boy, and also sending him pornography.

Ray was charged with a total of 25 offences and media coverage of these charges resulted in a further victim coming forward, who confided that Ray had raped him after they had met on a night out in Peterborough in 2019.

Before his trial began, Ray pleaded guilty to two counts of causing or inciting a boy aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity, and causing a child aged 13 to 15 to look at an image of sexual activity.

During the trial he admitted a further two offences of making indecent images of children.

He stood trial to face the other charges at Ipswich Crown Court from 5 October, and after 24 days, jurors found him guilty of 23 further offences. The charges for which he will now be sentenced for include:

• Rape a man aged 16 or over
• Engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a boy aged 13 to 15
• Five counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child
• Five counts of causing a child aged 13 to 15 to watch/look at an image of sexual activity
• Three counts of sexual assault
• Three counts of causing or inciting a boy aged 13 to 15 to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity
• One count of causing or inciting a boy aged 13 to 15 to engage in penetrative sexual activity
• Three counts of making indecent photos of a child
  One count of possess an extreme pornographic image portraying rape

He will be sentenced at the same court on 8 January.

Detective Constable Gordon Logan, who investigated, said:

“The roles Ray held allowed him trusted access to young people, and he seized these opportunities to abuse them sexually.

“We would like to praise the bravery of the children involved in confiding in others what had happened to them. Doing so takes a lot of courage but it was so important that they did, because we then began investigating.

“Many of the victims involved felt they had no choice but to engage in the chats with Ray. In an increasingly digital world, mobile phones and social media mean children can be vulnerable to those who prey on their innocence and exploit their trust.

“We encourage all members of the public to be aware of adults who pay an unusual amount of attention to a child – no matter their profession. Sharing any concerns, no matter how small, can make all the difference.”

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Blackpool man David Cummings guilty of 26 rape and child sex offences

David Cummings, 40, of Clifford Road, Blackpool, has been found guilty of 26 counts of rape and child sex offences at Preston Crown Court. The verdicts, returned on Tuesday, include 20 offences involving victims under 16.

Lancashire Police said Detective Sergeant Jamie Robinson led a four-year investigation that proved pivotal in securing the convictions.

In a police statement, DS Robinson said:

“This was a disgusting case of a man who used his influence and control to commit the most heinous crimes against vulnerable children over a number of years. His behaviour stole their childhood and left them with real scars for life.

“However, what he did not anticipate was their strength and courage, even in the face of difficult and challenging times. They remained consistent and stood by doing what was right – both for them and to protect others.

“I am incredibly proud of their strength and determination in getting justice even when having to face the awful things Mr Cummings had done to them. Mr Cummings showed no remorse and appeared smug in proceedings, until the jury called out guilty 26 times.”

The 26 guilty verdicts comprise:

• 5 counts of rape of a girl under 13
• 7 counts of rape of a girl aged 13–15
• 1 count of attempted rape of a girl aged 13–15
• 2 counts of causing or inciting a girl aged 13–15 to engage in sexual activity (no penetration)
• 1 count of sexual activity with a girl aged 13–15 involving penetration
• 4 counts of sexual activity with a girl aged 13–15 (no penetration)
• 5 counts of rape of a woman aged 16 or over
• 1 count of sexual assault of a female

Cummings is due to be sentenced at Preston Crown Court on Friday 11 December 2026 and faces a possible life sentence.