Latest Offenders

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A man found guilty of the sexual abuse of young girls has been sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment, after the brave survivors revealed his repeated assaults.

Martin Prior, aged 36, targeted the children in the mid to late 2000s, but it wasn’t until 2020 that his offending came to light, when the survivors disclosed his abuse to police officers as part of a separate investigation.

As a result, Northamptonshire Police’s Child Protection team began an investigation into Prior, identifying at least three victims.

Prior, of Crestline Court, Northampton, went on to be charged with one count of rape of a girl under 13, six counts of sexually assaulting a girl under 13 by touching, one count of sexual assault of a female, and one count of causing/inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity – no penetration.

Following a trial at Northampton Crown Court, on May 8 Prior was found not guilty of the rape and sexual assault of a female charges but found guilty of the remaining seven offences.

On Friday, June 27, he returned to the same court where he was sentenced to a total of nine years in prison. Prior will have to serve two-thirds of his sentence before being eligible for parole.

Prior was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, designed to prevent future offending, and was placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

Speaking afterwards, investigating officer Detective Constable Laura Beeby said: “Martin Prior is a sexual predator, who as an adult deliberately targeted children for his own sexual gratification.

“All of these children were vulnerable due to their age, and the repeated abuse Prior subjected them to has caused them significant and lasting harm and distress.

“Their courage in finally revealing Prior’s abhorrent offending cannot be overstated, and it is thanks to their bravery that he has been proven to be an abuser and a liar.

“The only shame and guilt in a case like this lies with the offender, and I hope this outcome can provide some small comfort to the survivors as they continue to heal.”

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New police technology which makes it easier to see bruising in darker skin has snared two rapists.

“A game-changing” device - known as Project Archway - which allow officers to better assess victims’ injuries by making it easier to photograph and visualise bruising was used in the case against him.

Samuel Keys convicted thanks to Archway, 26, from Corby, Northamptonshire, admitted five counts of rape against a woman and faces a lengthy jail term in September.

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New police technology which makes it easier to see bruising in darker skin has snared two rapists.

Ashley Bramble, 36, sexually assaulted a 13-year-old schoolgirl after picking her up at Hackney Carnival.

The victim and a friend missed their last train home but Bramble offered to let the pair stay at his property in Portland Rise, Finsbury Park.

The sex predator carried out a string of attacks on one of the girls overnight.

She revealed details at school and Metropolitan Police detectives were able to track down Bramble in north London last September.

A game-changing device - known as Project Archway - which allow officers to better assess victims injuries by making it easier to photograph and visualise bruising was used in the case against him.

At Wood Green Crown Court, Bramble was jailed for 15 years having been convicted of two counts of rape, sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault.

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A baby-faced pervert has avoided jail after being caught with hundreds of child abuse images. 'Reclusive' John Jenkins became engrossed in a disturbing online world, sparking his twisted desires.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard the 24-year-old soon began viewing and downloading hundreds of images of children as his depravity ‘spiralled’.

The defendant, of Spoutfield Road, Cliffe Vale, went on to plead guilty to three charges of making indecent images of a child and possessing 386 prohibited image of a child in September last year. And in his sentencing remarks, the judge said Stoke-on-Trent and the rest of the UK is experiencing an 'epidemic of child porn'.

Prosecutor Anthony Longworth detailed how Jenkins had stored a variety of Category A, B and C images on his computer. Now the pervert has been handed a two-year suspended sentence.

Catherine O’Reilly, mitigating, reminded the court that ‘there were no suggestions he has made attempts to reach out to anyone under the age of 16’, adding: This is a young man who falls foul of some serious offences. But he is taking serious work to avoid further offending.

“As soon as he was arrested, he did seek help. He sought the guidance of counselling agencies recommended to him by the probation service and engaged in one-to-one sessions.

"He has no previous convictions. It’s clear he has shown genuine remorse and shame for his actions. He has also closed down his online accounts to reduce the risk of potential harm.”

Jenkins was handed a 34-week prison sentence - suspended for two years - along with 60 hours of unpaid labour. He was also handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, requiring him to keep police up to date with his personal information and any online accounts.

Judge Graeme Smith told Jenkins: “Tragically, this court has to deal with cases like this every day of the week. There is an epidemic of child porn in this city and across the country. While you haven’t created any of this material, your consumption of it creates a demand and perpetuates its production.

“As you descended further into this online world, you became more and more divorced from reality. You freely admit that you went down a rabbit hole.

“Fortunately, you didn’t have as many pictures of children as others who have stood before this court. Many were animated and generated images. Although these are still illegal, they thankfully don’t depict real children.”

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Tony Drewitt (18/06/1948) of Hazon Way, Epsom, Surrey was jailed for 12 months at Manchester Crown Square Court.

On Tuesday 28 January 2025, Drewitt pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child.

The victim was 13 years old when they met, and Drewitt was aged 69. Drewitt groomed his victim and engaged in sexual activity with her over a one-year period whilst she was aged 14.

Some of the offending occurred in Oldham.

Drewitt was also made to sign the sex offenders register for five years and has an indefinite restraining order against the victim.

Detective Sergeant Andy Barrett, of our Oldham Complex Safeguarding Hub, said:

“Firstly, I would like to thank the victim and their family for being brave enough to come forward and report this abuse to the police.

“Drewitt engaged in a prolonged period of grooming a young girl, who should have been free to enjoy her childhood. Instead, she was abused by a man who denied her of her youth.

“I hope today’s sentencing can provide the victim and their family some comfort knowing that Drewitt is behind bars and can no longer harm them.

“We encourage anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault, or knows someone who has, to come forward and speak to the police. We will listen to you and we will investigate.”

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Following a Warwickshire Police investigation, a 35-year-old man has been sentenced for child sex offences.

Justin McGarry of Emscote Road, Warwick appeared at Warwick Crown Court yesterday (Monday 30 June).

In 2020, we received a report of sexual offences against a child in the Leamington area over a five year period.

An investigation commenced and McGarry was arrested and subsequently charged.

Last week, he was found guilty of eight counts of sexual abuse of a child under 13 years of age. He has now been sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment and will be on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.

Following the outcome, Det Sergeant Stephen Barr said: “Justin McGarry caused suffering to the victim and their family which is lifelong, and it is because of their courage to come forward that we have been able to see him brought to justice.

“We are grateful to everyone who worked to support us from the point of receiving the initial report through to the day of sentencing.

“I hope this conviction demonstrates that Warwickshire Police are determined to bring offenders to justice, serving and protecting our communities with compassion and a victim focus. To anyone who has suffered sexual abuse, please do not suffer in silence and do not be afraid to tell someone.”

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Police have welcomed the conviction of a sex offender who stripped naked and then touched a 'screaming' little girl in a Stoke-on-Trent street.

Daniel Clift was completely nude when he spotted the six-year-old child getting out of a car in Fenton on New Year's Eve.

As the youngster tried to get back in the vehicle, 36-year-old Clift touched her on her head and shoulder and grinned and laughed as he did it. Police arrived and found him still naked talking to people outside a pub.

He was arrested and later told probation he was under the influence of monkey dust at the time. Clift was jailed for three years at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Speaking after the case, PC Daniel Crank, from Stoke-on-Trent South local policing team, said: “We do not underestimate the affect that Clift’s offending had on the victim and I am pleased he has been convicted of his crimes. We are committed to keeping communities safe in Stoke-on-Trent and wider Staffordshire.”

Prosecutor Antony Longworth said the incident happened at 9.40pm on December 31 as a mum was taking her child to a shop. The girl got out of the car as the mum was getting her purse from the passenger seat footwell.

Mr Longworth said: "She saw the defendant naked walking on the street. She shouted to her daughter to get back in the car. The child was standing by the front window of the car.

"She was making her way into the car and had one hand on the door handle when the defendant placed his right hand on the child's head and moved his hand down the side of her shoulder. He was seen to be grinning, smiling and laughing as he did it.

"It was a deliberate act. The mum called 999. The child was upset and screaming, 'When can we go home? Why did he touch me? Is it safe for me to get out of the car?'.

"Police went to the scene. They found the defendant naked. He was arrested. He was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. His eyes were very wide and his pupils dilated."

Clift,who has 69 previous convictions for 135 offences - pleaded guilty to exposure, breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and common assault. The court heard the defendant, of no fixed address, has numerous previous convictions for exposure.

Adam Watkins, mitigating, said Clift lost his parents when he was aged five and six and he grew up in the care system. He has significant mental health issues and has been diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic.

Judge Richard McConaghy said: "This is the 70th time you have found yourself in front of a criminal court. This is the fourth time that you have been convicted of an offence of exposure.

"I take the view that this is a very serious breach of the SHPO. Not only did you have contact with a child. You did so by approaching the child while you were naked and you committed a criminal offence of assaulting her."

The judge placed Clift on the sex offenders' register for 10 years and made him the subject of a new SHPO for the same period.

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A registered sex offender has been jailed for breaching an order after he was found in possession of extreme pornography.

Michael Sutherland, aged 31, of no-fixed address, was handed a two-year prison sentence at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Tuesday (24 June) after admitting breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) three times between December 2020 and January 2022.

The order prohibited Sutherland from deleting his internet usage and using any software which does not record internet history.

There were  a total of three images and two moving images of extreme pornography found on his device.  

Sutherland had previously been convicted in December 2017 for sexual grooming and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and was jailed for 20 months. As part of this conviction, he was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for ten years and made the subject of a SHPO for the same period.

Officers from our sex offender management unit seized his phone in December 2022 and it was sent for forensic examination. Following this, alongside the pornography, we spotted that Sutherland had deleted hundreds of messages from Facebook and instant messenger. He had also accessed Snapchat. Officers also found an encryption app on the device. 

Following Sutherland’s sentencing, PC Kate Callaghan of our sex offenders management unit, said: “Sutherland knew his activities were in clear breach of his order and acknowledged this in interview. 

“I am pleased he admitted his offending in court and was handed a custodial sentence. 

“Officers continue to work tirelessly to monitor and assess those convicted of sexual crimes to ensure we do all we can to prevent re-offending and protect the public from harm.”

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Jonathan Wright, 35, was issued with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order after he was jailed for three years in 2019 for sexual activity with a male.

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A PAEDOPHILE who moved the underwear of a child to take photos while they were sleeping has been jailed.

Daniel Burridge, 38, of Newbury Road, Enham Alamein, pleaded guilty on March 27 to several offences, including a child under the age of 13 by touching, and creating indecent images of children in Category B and Category C.

During his sentencing hearing in Winchester Crown Court on Friday, June 27, the court heard the Burridge's offending was discovered by his friend who briefly borrowed his phone and found indecent images of children.

The court heard that Burridge had moved a child's underwear while they were asleep in order to take a photo of their genitals.

Burridge was in possession of three phones, all of which had indecent images of children on them.

In sentencing, Judge James Newton-Price KC noted that the appropriate punishment was immediate imprisonment.

Burridge was sentenced to 22 months behind bars and must comply with all instructions given to him.

A Sexual Harm Prevention Order was also imposed.

An order for the forfeiture and destruction of Burridge's three mobile phones was also made.

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A RAPIST who systematically groomed and abused eight vulnerable young girls over the course of 16 years has been jailed.  

Gary MacPherson, 58, committed the crimes over the course of 16 years between 2005 and 2022 in Paisley, Glasgow and Orlando.

The majority of his eight victims were children when the abuse began and continued into adulthood.

MacPherson was sentenced to 13 years in prison at the High Court in Paisley on Monday, 30 June, 2025.

He had previously been found guilty at the High Court in Paisley on Monday, 12 May, 2025.

Paedo, Gary MacPherson was jailed in Glasgow for 13 years for abuse of children (Image: Police Scotland)

Gary MacPherson was found guilty of 22 charges. The 58-year-old of Saltcoats committed the offences at various locations, including at his former home in Paisley.

The prosecution led evidence from the victims, which detailed a pattern of offending behaviour by the accused as he tried to gain their trust.

The court heard how MacPherson kitted his home out with things that children enjoy, including a pool, a hot tub, a cinema room, a trampoline and various pets.

He lured in one of the victims after sending her messages about his dog Bonnie on social media.

He told several of the victims not to disclose the abuse as they would get him into trouble.

The offending also included taking pictures of the girls without their consent and stalking behaviour.

The youngest child was six-years-old when the abuse began.

On 30 June 2025 at the High Court in Paisley, MacPherson was given a 17-year extended sentence with 13 years in custody.

His name has been added to the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Non-harassment orders, banning MacPherson from contacting or attempting to contact seven of the victims, were also granted for an indefinite period.

The messages sent to lure one of his victims.

Fiona Kirkby, Procurator Fiscal for High Court Sexual Offences, said: “Gary MacPherson inflicted unimageable trauma as he systematically moved from victim to victim.

“The evidence led by our specialist prosecutor demonstrated a clear pattern of grooming behaviour that allowed him to gain access to these children.

“It is thanks to them reporting their experiences that MacPherson will now face the consequences of his depraved actions while also protecting others from harm.

“This prosecution sends a clear message to those who commit this type of offending - you cannot hide from justice, and we will do everything within our power to ensure you are held accountable.

“I would urge anyone affected by sexual abuse to report it, regardless of how long ago it took place. You will be listened to and supported as we seek to protect communities in Scotland by prosecuting those responsible.”

Detective Inspector Euan McMillan said: “MacPherson is an abusive individual who subjected his victims to a prolonged period of abuse showing an utter disregard for the impact this would have on them.

"We acknowledge how difficult it can be for victims of sexual abuse to come forward and I hope this outcome provides them with some sense of closure.

“I would also like to thank my team of officers whose perseverance and dedication has ensured MacPherson has been brought to justice.

“We continue to be committed to bringing all perpetrators of sexual abuse to justice. Time is no barrier to our enquiries. I would urge anyone who wishes to report a sexual crime, regardless of when it happened, to contact us so we can conduct a thorough and professional investigation.”

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A Southport man has been jailed for 15 years and must sign the Sex Offender Register for life after raping a child and committing a series of sex offences against four other children.

Callum Crofts, 22, of King Street, Southport, was found guilty of the rape of a child under 16 last February after a two-week trial in November 2024. He then pleaded guilty in March 2025 to 11 more offences against children.

Crofts was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court, on Monday 30 June,  to a total of 15 years in prison for the following sexual offences, which took place from February 2023 to March 2024 against five victims:

• Rape of a child under 16
• Seven counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child
• Three counts of engaging in sexual communications with a child
• One count of cause/incite a child to engage in sexual activity
• One count of send a photograph of genitals to cause alarm/distress or humiliation
• Three counts of Make indecent photographs of a child (Cat A,B,C)

Detective Constable Lindsey Harris said:

“Crofts showed no regard for the long-lasting emotional impact his vile actions will undoubtedly have on all his victims, acting only to satisfy his own depravity.

“I hope this sentencing shows that violence against women and girls will not be tolerated and we will work tirelessly to bring offenders to justice. 

“Crofts was found guilty by a unanimous verdict of this heinous crime. He will now spend a significant time in prison.

“Anyone that has been a victim of a sexual offence, is concerned for the safety of someone they know or suspects someone to be engaging in this criminal activity, should come forward and speak to us.

“We have a team of dedicated staff who will expertly and compassionately deal with your reports and we will do everything we can to bring offenders to justice.

“While no sentence will repair the trauma which was inflicted on his victims, I hope this sentencing will not only provide them with justice, but also encourage other victims to come forward and have the confidence in us as a police force to take reports seriously and ultimately ensure offenders are put before the courts.”

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Convicted sex offender Stephen Proctor has dodged prison for breaking a court rule - four years after being jailed for a similar offence.

The 58-year-old was caged for 30 months in 2021 after setting up fake social media profiles on Facebook. It followed his conviction for sexual activity with a child after kissing a 15-year-old girl on the lips in 2021.

Now Proctor - who has eight convictions for 34 offences - has been sentenced yet again.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard how Proctor, of Leek Road, Stoke, failed to tell police that he had obtained a new passport ahead of a trip to Turkey.

Prosecutor Gurdit Singh said: “The defendant notified police he was planning to go to Turkey. He planned to use a passport which he had not notified police he had received and was arrested. In an interview later that day, he told police he wasn’t aware he needed to.”

But Rashid Mohammed, mitigating, argued that Proctor’s failure to comply was a genuine oversight.

He said: “The real question of this case is whether we need to send Mr Proctor to prison. There wasn’t a total disregard to inform authorities of his actions - he had notified police of where he was going. But he had overlooked the need to tell police about his new passport. He is currently on referral for help with ongoing mental health issues, including a suspected personality disorder. He is trying to keep himself busy with volunteer work and is trying to secure employment at a takeaway which is dependent on the outcome of this case.”

Proctor was handed an 18-month community order. It includes 20 days of rehabilitation and 200 hours unpaid work. He must also pay £1,000 costs.

Judge Richard McConaghy said: “You failed to notify police of your new passport in September. You did tell them you were going abroad. I acknowledge that your old passport was set to expire in January 2025, and you feared the passport would no longer be valid for travel. I also understand that you assumed it would be fine as it was using the same passport number. But it was your responsibility to notify police. I consider this a serious breach as you have been convicted of failing to notify police on a previous occasion, resulting in your imprisonment in 2021.”

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Man jailed after being found guilty of sex offences.

John Cooper, 80, of Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, has been sentenced to two and a half years’ imprisonment at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court today (Monday 30 June).

He was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14 and two counts of indecent assault on a woman over 16 years of age at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on 9 April 2025.

He has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register.

The allegations against Cooper were reported to us in 2021 and our rape and serious sexual offences team launched an investigation.

The offences happened in the 80s and 90s.

Detective Inspector Chris Wynn-Jones, of our rape and serious sexual offences team, said: “I would like to commend the bravery of the victims for coming forward and for giving evidence at Cooper’s trial. They have shown true courage and determination.

“I hope it brings some reassurance that he is now behind bars but also highlights that, no matter the length of time passed, we will always do what we can to investigate and bring these offenders to justice. I also hope this will encourage others who may have suffered similar experiences to come forward and report them to us.”

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A teacher has been jailed for nine years for the sexual abuse of 11 boys over a 21-year period at private schools in Scotland

William Bain, 72, attacked the pupils, aged between 11 and 14, at schools in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dumbarton and at a flat in the grounds of one school.

The former physics teacher, from Crieff in Perthshire, admitted the attacks from 1978 to 1999, after his victims came forward following a previous conviction for similar offences.

Bain was previously jailed in 2016 for abusing five boys at a school in Dunbartonshire.

He was freed in 2020, but he was rearrested in 2022 after evidence was given at the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.

One of Bain's victims was aged just 12 when he began abusing the boy during detention sessions at a private school in Edinburgh in the late 1970s.

Another pupil was sexually abused while Bain helped him with his homework, later ordering the boy not to tell anyone about what had happened.

By the mid-1980s, Bain had relocated to Aberdeen, where he sexually assaulted an "isolated and homesick" boy who had moved to the school from England.

Bain, a housemaster at the school, invited the boy to his classroom where he abused him until the school bell rang.

Bain's next victims were at the boarding school in Dunbartonshire - the same school that led to his imprisonment in 2016.

One teenage boy was abused on three occasions in the physics teacher's laboratory "in view of other pupils".

Bain played off the abuse as "mere wrestling".

Another boy had been the victim of bullying and had described the school as a "brutal environment".

He was also attacked the lab as well as in a dark room at a photography club the teacher ran, during rugby training sessions and on hill walking trips.

Other incidents occurred in the physics lab, dark room and in Bain's private flat in the grounds of the school, which "a number of pupils" were given access to.

One teenager was attacked there while a film was being shown and a further attack occurred while this boy was using a computer at the flat.

Another victim described feeling "uncomfortable" as the teacher stood watching him and others pupils as they showered.

'Terrible legacy'

Bain's lawyer, Brian McConnachie KC, said he had accepted his offending had been "out of control" about the time of the millennium.

Sentencing, Lord Young said he had read a number of victim impact statements describing the "terrible legacy" left by Bain's abuse.

The judge said the then boys were left feeling "alone and lost" and thought they would not be believed had they spoke out at the time.

Lord Young said: "These children were entrusted by their parents to the schools. They ought to have been nurtured and educated in a safe environment.

"Instead, it seems that throughout your career as a teacher, you abused this position to pursue your own sexual deviances."

His sentence was cut from 10 years due to the guilty pleas.

Det Sgt Alan Macdougall described Bain as a "prolific sexual predator".

DS Macdougall said: "Bain used his position of power to inflict pain and harm on his young victims.

"The scale of his offending is horrendous. "