Latest Offenders

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Aberdeenshire Rapist Paul Patrick Jailed for Life

Paul Patrick, 61, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of eight years and six months before parole consideration after being convicted of 19 sex offences committed over 17 years.

The High Court in Edinburgh imposed the sentence on Wednesday, May 27, along with an Order of Lifelong Restriction for crimes against two women and four girls.

The offences, which included two rapes, five sexual assaults, lewd behaviour, indecent communications and breaching bail, took place between 2006 and 2023 in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Sutherland and at Pawz N Klawz Pet Supplies in Aboyne.

Detective Inspector Kerry McCombie, of the North East Division’s Public Protection Unit, said:

"Patrick believed he was above the law, carrying out a sustained pattern of abuse over many years, but he will now faces the consequences of his despicable actions.

"I want to recognise the strength shown by the victims in coming forward and supporting the investigation. I hope this outcome provides them with some sense of justice and reassurance.

"Police Scotland remains committed to supporting victims of sexual abuse and brining perpetrators to justice, no matter how much time has passed.

"I would encourage anyone who has experienced or experiencing abuse to report it. You will be listened to and supported."

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A “calculated” sex offender who prowled night Tubes targeting women has been jailed for more than four years following a British Transport Police (BTP) investigation.

Salman Yousaf, 46, and of HMP Pentonville, pleaded guilty to nine charges in total – eight counts of Sexual Assault and one of Outraging Public Decency.

At Inner London Crown Court on 20 May a judge sentenced him to four-and-a-half years imprisonment, with a further four years to be served on licence when he’s released.

He was also placed on the sex offenders register for life and handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Yousaf was already serving a seven-year jail term when, in 2024, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) informed BTP detectives of his offending modus operandi.

This information was compared against ongoing investigations into sexual offending on the London Underground network in which the offence matched the MPS case and a suspect had not been identified.

Extensive enquiries resulted in Yousaf being linked to a total of nine offences committed between 2017 and 2021.

All occurred on board Tube trains at night.

The first took place at around 5am on 11 March 2017 when he masturbated in front a woman on a Central Line service near Stratford.   

Then on eight separate occasions, all on Central Line and Jubilee Line services, Yousaf singled out women and sexually assaulted them.

He made a conscious effort to target women who had fallen asleep on night Tubes.  

Detectives arrested Yousaf in prison on 16 April 2024, and he offered no comment to all questions put to him.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) authorised nine charges against him in total. Then, as his trial approached, he changed his plea from not guilty and admitted to all the offences. 

BTP Detective Constable Iryna Cuthbert said:

“Salman Yousaf is a calculated predator who deliberately exploited the night-time rail network to target lone women, using their isolation to commit a series of premeditated crimes.

“Even when confronted, he showed a complete lack of remorse – the same absence of remorse he demonstrated at his sentencing.

“Thanks to the information provided by our colleagues at the MPS, we were able to link him to a catalogue of vile sexual offending and ultimately extend his stay behind bars beyond 2030.

“Yousaf’s crimes will have a lasting impact on the women he targeted. I want to acknowledge their bravery in coming forward and reporting what happened, and I hope his sentence brings them some measure of justice.”

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A man from Congleton has been jailed for offences including possession of extreme pornography and attempting to engage in sexual communications with children.

Mark Gould, of Park Road, Congleton, was sentenced to four years imprisonment on Thursday 14 May 2026.

63-year-old Gould had previously pleaded guilty to 17 counts of attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child and 10 counts of attempting to incite a child aged between 13 and 15 to engage in sexual activity.

He had also pleaded guilty to four counts of distributing an indecent image of a child, three counts of making an indecent image of a child and one count of possessing extreme pornography.

It was heard in court that, in 2025, officers from Cheshire Constabulary’s Online Child Abuse Investigation Team (OCAIT) received a report that Gould was engaging in sexual communication with children over social media.

Officers conducted a visit to Gould’s address in Congleton on 27 June and he was arrested. Gould’s property was subsequently searched, and officers recovered two mobile phones.

While in custody Gould denied the offences, but digital media officers found message chats across two social media platforms where Gould was speaking with children under the age of 16 and encouraging them to share sexualised images. He also sent numerous explicit images of himself.

Over 20 illicit images were found across his devices, along with three extreme pornographic images.

Gould pleaded guilty to a total of 35 charges on his first court appearance on 2 April 2026.

Alongside his custodial prison sentence, Gould was also ordered to sign on to the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely and was handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Detective Constable Stacey Thompson, of the Online Child Abuse Investigation Team, said:

"Mark Gould believed that hiding behind a mobile phone screen meant he could fly under the radar and that his crimes would go undetected.

“He was very much mistaken, as our officers uncovered 22 explicit images of children, as well as several files containing extreme pornography.

“Even upon his release Gould will be continually monitored by our specialist officers under the terms of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order to ensure he does not reoffend and target any more children online.”

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Convicted Paedophile Breached SHPO by Using Library Computers to Share Child Abuse Images

A convicted paedophile used computers at his local library to share images of children being sexually abused, Swansea Crown Court heard.

Euwyn Draper, who has previously been jailed for possessing indecent images, maintained secret social media accounts he failed to disclose to police. He used them to engage in sexually explicit conversations with another man online, discussing sexual activity with children aged five and upwards and exchanging explicit photographs.

The 22-year-old, of Hill Street, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, was made subject to a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) in April 2024 after being convicted of possessing and distributing indecent images of children. The order prohibits him from using social media accounts in any name other than his own and requires him to disclose any relationships or friendships if asked.

On 5 May this year, during a meeting with his offender manager at Haverfordwest police station, Draper claimed he only used the library internet to watch YouTube and listen to Spotify, denying any social media use. When pressed, he became flustered and admitted chatting to a man online and having an undisclosed X (formerly Twitter) account.

The following day, police accompanied him to the library. He logged into a computer using his library ID and accessed his Google account, allowing officers to examine his X activity. Checks also revealed he had secretly reinstalled an Instagram account he had previously deleted in front of police, plus a Snapchat account (banned under the SHPO due to its auto-delete function) and a BlueSky account in a false name.

Draper answered “no comment” to all questions in his police interview.

He pleaded guilty to four counts of breaching the SHPO. He has three previous convictions for 14 offences, including a suspended sentence and SHPO in April 2024, followed by a 16-month jail term in September 2024 for further indecent images.

Defence barrister Alex Scott told the court his client is an “immature young man” who leads an isolated life in rented accommodation and acts “impulsively” on social media. He said Draper co-operated with police by accompanying them to the library and understands he must tackle the underlying issues behind his offending.

Recorder Greg Bull KC said the courts had “bent over backwards” to help Draper in the past but those efforts had failed. He told the defendant: “I’m not going to lecture you because I would be wasting my breath. You knew you had to comply with the order.”

With full credit for his guilty plea, Draper was sentenced to 20 months’ imprisonment. He will serve up to half in custody before release on licence.

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A man from Birmingham who sexually groomed girls online across the UK and then met them for sex has been jailed for almost 16 years.

Luke Edmonds, aged 25, was jailed at Birmingham Crown Court. He was sentenced to 15 years and seven months after being convicted following a trial of sexual activity with a child, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, possession of indecent images of a child and sexual communication with a child.

He was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life and a restraining order was placed on each girl he targeted indefinitely.

Back in October 2025 we received information saying Edmonds, from Quarry House Close, Rubery, was uploading indecent images of children online.

We carried out a warrant at his home on 14 October. We seized a mobile phone and when it was examined he was found to have sickening images of him engaging in sexual activity with children.

We arrested him and during interview he claimed the children in the footage to be 16 years old.

Our Online Child Sexual Exploitation Team (OCSET) analysed the data within Edmonds’ phone and it was at this this stage the full scale of his offending came to light. A total of 700 indecent images and videos of children were recovered from his phone.

These all related to four separate girls aged between 13 and 15 situated around the UK who he had been grooming via Snapchat. He had met up with girls in Bristol, South Wales, Chester and Scotland.

A review of his Snapchat account found almost 400 separate message threads where he was clearly targeting young girls. His profile was that of a 15 year-old old boy which he had used to gain the trust of the children who he abused. Edmonds even produced a photocopy of a fake passport saying he was 18 when he met up with one of the girls.

DC Adrian Jackson, from OCSET, said:

“The messages between Edmonds and the children he abused showed he had a clear pattern of offending and would gain their trust through expressing his love for them before bombarding them with sickening demands day and night.

“Edmonds was a prolific offender who had a fascination with underage girls. Fortunately, we were able to put a stop to his offending. He now faces many years behind bars where he can reflect on his crimes and the harm he has caused to those he groomed and abused.

“I would like to express my gratitude to those vulnerable young people affected by the actions of Edmands. They have all been so brave throughout the investigation.”

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Northwich Man Jailed for 10 Years for Rapes

Nigel Davies, 55, of Manchester Road, Northwich, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after being convicted of two counts of rape against the same woman.

Davies appeared at Chester Crown Court on Thursday, May 21. He was found guilty two months earlier, with the second offence committed in 2023.

Prosecutor Catherine Elvin told the court the victim “forgot what it was like to enjoy life” after the abuse. She added: “She does not think she will trust a man again.”

Davies has previous convictions for harassment, breaching a non-molestation order and breaching a restraining order.

Defence barrister Jason Smith said Davies continues to maintain his innocence. He told the court: “It will be a substantial prison sentence for Mr Davies, a man of 55 years of age, who has spent a lot of his lifetime working in a responsible position. It will be proportionate with regard to the impact on him and the interest of justice and all I can ask is it is consistent with the facts and consistent with the guidelines.”

Recorder Anthony O’Donohoe imposed the 10-year sentence. Davies will serve two-thirds in prison and the remainder on licence.

The judge quoted a paragraph from the pre-sentence report: “[It says] he demonstrated distorted thinking […] where he had his own desires above others’ desires.”

Davies was also made subject to an indefinite restraining order preventing any direct or indirect contact with the victim. He will be required to sign the sex offenders register for the rest of his life upon release.

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A man from Swindon has been sentenced for making and distributing what officers say are the most sadistic and degrading child abuse images they have ever encountered.

Matthew Ely, 39, of Howse Garden, Rodbourne, was sentenced to 28 months in prison, suspended for 30 months at Swindon Crown Court on May 21 after pleading guilty in April.

He was charged with three counts of making indecent photo/pseudo-photos of a child, one count of possessing a prohibited image of a child, and two counts of distributing an indecent photo/pseudo-photo of a child.

The charges involve more than a thousand images between November 2021 and February 2025 and were located on Ely's mobile phone, including both still photographs and videos.

Ely will also have to participate in a Rehabilitation Activity for a maximum of 35 days, carry out 175 hours of unpaid work and pay £156 in costs.

He is also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years and will be on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 Years.

Beccy Scott, an investigator with the Child Internet Exploitation Team, said:  

“This was an extremely challenging case, with the images involving very young children being particularly distressing.

"In my four years in this team, they were the most sadistic and degrading I have encountered.

"I want to take this opportunity to reassure the community that none of the illegal images located, we believe, were physically taken by Ely himself.

“The forensic evidence clearly shows that Ely was actively engaging with others to trade child sexual abuse material. He is a dangerous individual, and his sentence reflects both the seriousness of his offending and the risk he poses.

“Online child abuse material is not a victimless crime. Real children all over the world are being harmed, and by people like Matthew Ely engaging in this behaviour it only serves to create a market for this content. Anyone who engages in this content will face the full force of the law.”

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Police Officer Convicted of Raping Two Women and Abusing a Third

Cameron Ross, a 39-year-old former Police Scotland officer, has been found guilty of raping two women and subjecting a third to a prolonged campaign of abuse.

The offences took place in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis in 2012 and 2014, and in Inverness between 2019 and 2022. Ross was suspended from the force in January 2024 after the allegations emerged. He denied all charges but was convicted by a jury at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Judge Alison Stirling denied bail and remanded him in custody. He has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register and will be sentenced on 2 July.

The court heard that Ross raped the first woman after meeting her at a party on Lewis between August and October 2012, pinning her down on a bed. The victim told the jury the attack left her traumatised.

A second woman testified that Ross sat on her, restrained her and raped her in June 2014.

He then subjected a third woman to repeated abuse in Inverness between October 2019 and June 2022, threatening to kill her, pushing and pulling her, throwing her to the ground and brandishing a knife.

Ross was also convicted of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner on 5 June 2022 in Inverness, where he shouted, swore and acted aggressively, and of attempting to pervert the course of justice by trying to speak to a woman who was giving a witness statement to police the same day.

Police Scotland said a gross misconduct investigation by its Professional Standards Department will now take place.

Chief Superintendent Helen Harrison said Ross’s actions “went against everything Police Scotland stands for”.

She added:

“We understand how difficult it can be to report these kinds of offences, particularly when the perpetrator is a police officer. We want the public to be reassured that all reports are thoroughly investigated, no matter when the offending took place or who is involved.

“All officers are bound by our standards of professional behaviour, which apply on and off duty.

“Any instance where an officer fails to uphold our standards will be investigated and appropriate action taken.”

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A rapist has been jailed for 13 years after his victim overcame her fear and reported him to the police.

Marcus Bennett, aged 44, came to officers’ attention on 29 September last year after his victim reported receiving a series of threatening messages from him.

When discussing the messages with officers, the victim disclosed she had been raped by the suspect three months earlier after he tricked his way into her home.

She also reported two additional instances when he had raped her as she slept.

Bennett denied the allegations against him throughout his initial police interview.

In response to a question about whether a person could or could not consent to sex if they are asleep, Bennett said he didn’t know – before later saying that they could not.

He also said he was “vexed” if sex was denied, and claimed to have not seen the victim at the time of the alleged offences.

Later photo evidence proved his was not true.

Bennett continued his denials throughout a two-week trial at Nottingham Crown Court, after which he was found guilty of two counts of rape.

Jury members heard how the victim had reported the first offence to her mother – also sending her pictures of bruises – but had been too frightened of Bennett to report it.

He was cleared of a third count of rape, and an additional charge under Malicious Communications Act 1988 was left to lie on file.

Bennett, of Radcliffe Road, Nottingham, was sentenced on Tuesday 19 May to 13 years in prison.

He was also added to the sex offenders’ register and handed a restraining banning him from any further contact with the victim.

Detective Constable Abigail Dorricott, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:

“Like many victims of serious sexual offences, the victim in this case was concerned that she would not be believed if she came forward and told the police.

“As this case demonstrates, we take all reports of this nature extremely seriously and will leave no stone unturned in getting to the truth.

“When presented with the very compelling account of the victim and the other very strong evidence against Bennett, the jury in this case were clear in their verdict.

“I am delighted for the victim that justice has now been done and pleased that Bennett can pose no further threat to her or other women.”

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Brave Victim Speaks Out After Child Rapist Jailed for 30 Years

A child rapist has been jailed for 30 years for “truly abhorrent” levels of abuse against a girl that began when she was 11 years old.

Sean White, 55, formerly of Harrow Way, Waterlooville, was sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court on May 22. He was convicted after an eight-day trial in March 2025 of five counts of rape of a child over 13, one count of indecent assault of a child, and one count of rape of a child under 13 — offences equating to 21 rapes in total. The abuse took place between 2003 and 2010. Police praised the victim’s bravery after she reported the crimes in April 2024.

White was also given a five-year extended licence, made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), and issued with a restraining order in relation to the victim.

In a powerful personal statement read in court, the woman, now in her 30s, said:

“During a time where I should have been making happy memories, learning how to become a functioning member of society and experiencing the love and support of a family, I instead experienced a time full of fear, endless abuse and complete isolation.

“Due to the way I shut down, I wanted keep those traumatic events locked up in the furthest, darkest corner in my mind and do everything in my power to never think about them. In doing so, I dismissed any notion of receiving justice.

“I convinced myself that even if I did come forward, no-one would believe me and he would get away with it. I no longer want to accept that is the case. I have come to accept that it's time to have my voice heard and I owe it to my younger self to get both justice and long-awaited closure I deserve.

“I could never fully explain, nor expect anyone to completely understand, the impact of those events, but what I can say is that man changed my life in the most tragic way possible, and standing in the court room coming forward, although difficult, is absolutely necessary.

“I no longer want to just 'survive'. I want to live, and having Sean appropriately sentenced is one step closer to achieving that. I want him to know that he no longer has power over me, I do not fear him and he will not control my life.”

Detective Sergeant Drew Wright, of the Child Abuse Investigation Team, said:

“This investigation into White’s repeated sexual abuse of a young girl over several years has been long and complex.

“White subjected his victim to a truly abhorrent level of abuse, and I am glad that he is now behind bars. This result has only been possible thanks to the courage of the woman involved throughout the investigation and criminal justice process.

“I would like to express my sincere thanks for the bravery and tenacity she has shown, and while I know that nothing will ever take away everything she has been through, I really hope that this sentence goes some way to helping her move forward with her life.

“We would encourage anyone who has been a victim of abuse of any kind, no matter when it happened, to please report it. You will be able to speak to specialist detectives in confidence, who will listen to you and support you.”

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A man who pretended to be a 15-year-old boy online in order to groom a teenage girl has been jailed.

Daniel Kennedy appeared at Chester Crown Court on Friday 22 May where he was sentenced to 13 months in prison, handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and made to sign the sex offenders register.

The 36-year-old of Crewe Road, Winterley, had earlier pleaded guilty of one count of engaging in sexual communication with a child.

The court heard how Kennedy initially contacted his victim in October 2024 via social media while posing a 15-year-old boy.

Following a number of conversations between the pair, he began to send the victim several indecent images and also encouraged the 15-year-old teenager to share images of herself.

The activity came to light in December 2024 when the victim’s mum spotted her daughter looking at the images on her mobile phone and reported the matter to police.

Following enquiries Kennedy was arrested in relation to the allegations and formally charged.

Detective Constable Simon Knowles said:

“Kennedy is a calculating, predatory offender, he purposefully posed as a teenage boy in order to groom his victim for his own sexual gratification.

“He was well aware that he victim was only a child, yet he sent her a number of indecent images.

“I would like to thank the victim and her family for the bravery and courage that they have shown, and I hope the sentence handed to Kennedy will provide them with some closure.

“This case is another reminder of the dangers posed to children online. We will continue to work with our partners and other forces to identify and apprehend offenders, while also educating families on steps they can take to keep their children safe online.”

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A Folkestone man who raped two women and subjected both victims to a campaign of physical and sexual torture has been jailed for 20 years.

Harry Arnold, 38, formerly of The Street, Newington, was convicted of multiple sexual offences following a trial at Canterbury Crown Court.

Investigation
A report was made to Kent Police in February 2020 after a victim disclosed Arnold’s previous offending. Officers immediately commenced enquiries and Arnold was arrested two days later.

A second victim later came forward, who had also been forced by Arnold to endure repeated physical and sexual abuse.

Both women, who were unknown to each other, had become the subject of humiliation and degradation as the offender indulged extreme sexual fantasies without their consent.

A thorough investigation was completed by specialist detectives from the force, which involved gathering, examining and analysing complex evidence, including extensive digital forensic data.

Fifteen electronic devices were reviewed, alongside extensive medical records, and multiple interviews were carried out to obtain witness statements before a case file was presented to the Crown Prosecution Service in February 2023.

Charges

Charges were later secured against Arnold and, after pleading not guilty, he was convicted at Canterbury Crown Court of controlling and coercive behaviour in February 2025.

The jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict for rape offences, leading to a second trial in March 2026.

Retrial

At the conclusion of the second trial, also at Canterbury Crown Court, Arnold was found guilty of a further eight offences including multiple counts of rape against both victims.

He was sentenced on Wednesday 13 May 2026 to 20 years in prison. He will serve an additional three years on licence when he becomes eligible for parole and will be subject to notification requirements of the sex offender register for life.

He was also issued with a restraining order and will be barred from working with children and vulnerable people indefinitely.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Lizzie Burridge, said:

‘The conclusion of this case has rightly resulted in a significant custodial sentence for a depraved sexual aggressor. It is a strong testament to the courage and resilience of Arnold’s victims, who endured unimaginable abuse and then faced the additional trauma of not one, but two trials, in order to see their attacker brought to justice.

‘It also reflects the tenacity and professionalism of Kent Police officers who worked on the investigation, over several years, meticulously building a complex case, resulting in justice for the victims and the removal of a dangerous offender from the community.

‘We remain committed to pursuing sex offenders and will always strive to ensure those responsible for such appalling offences are made to face the consequences of their crimes.’

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This is not a victimless crime. Using artificial intelligence (AI) to make indecent images of children is abhorrent and increasing the risk of harm to children in both the digital and real worlds.

It is right that offenders who target children are brought before the courts to be sentenced for their crimes.

We are committed to safeguarding children; their welfare is our priority and teams across the force are dedicated to stopping those who have, or who intend, to cause them harm.

This is why Essex Police has launched a campaign with BT and EE – Fake or Real? Know the Deal – to protect families in the age of deepfake.

Jai Rivers, an officer in our Management of Sexual Offenders and Violent Offenders team (MOSOVO), spoke after Adam Evans was jailed for making indecent images of children via an AI-enabled app.

Registered sex offender Evans, from Harlow, is subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order after being convicted of attempting to arrange/facilitate the commission of a child sexual offence and attempting to cause/incite a child to engage in sexual activity in October 2019.

As part of this order, he is subject to regular monitoring by the MOSOVO team. In September 2025 they were alerted via risk management software on his device that indecent images had been accessed via an AI application.

A total of 13 pseudo indecent images of children had been accessed, and these were described by officers as being ‘so realistic’ that they could reasonably be perceived as depicting real children.

The 51-year-old was swiftly arrested by officers from Harlow local policing team. Following a through search a device, not registered as he was legally obliged to do, was also discovered and seized.

He refused to answer any questions in interview, but when he appeared at a Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday 6 October 2025, he pleaded guilty to nine counts of making indecent photograph/pseudo photograph of a child.

He was remanded in custody and on Friday 15 May at the same court Evans, of Jerounds, was sentenced to seven years. He was jailed for four years and a further three years on extended licence.

MOSOVO officer Rivers added:

"Using AI to make indecent images of children is a criminal offence and Evans has rightly been sentenced for his offending.

"This depraved act of using AI is treated just as seriously as using actual photographs.

"Offenders who are thinking of engaging with this type of activity will be caught and face the full consequences of their actions.

"And alongside ensuring perpetrators are brought to justice, it is vital everyone understands what to do if they come across an intimate deepfake image.

"Our partnership with BT and EE offers practical advice on AI and provides you with a simple tool to report and remove fake explicit images."

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A 57-year-old man from Sudbury has been jailed for indecent exposure and two counts of sexual assault.

Steven Caine, of Hardy Court in Sudbury, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on Monday 11 May, where he was sentenced to a total of 18 months’ imprisonment.

He had denied the charges but was found guilty by a jury, following a three-day trial.

The court heard that on 27 September 2025 Caine approached two teenage girls, who were unknown to him, in a residential area of Great Cornard.

He initially asked them for directions before making inappropriate comments, pulling his jogging bottoms down and exposing himself to them. He then kissed one of the girls, before touching the second girl’s breasts over clothing.

Following enquiries, Caine was arrested on 3 October at his home address and charged the following day.

The offences put him in breach of a suspended prison sentence imposed last year for threatening behaviour.

In addition to his sentence, Caine was also made subject of a sexual harm prevention order for ten years. 

DC Chloe Braybrook, who was the officer in charge of this case, said:

“Caine’s actions were not only concerning but predatory.

“I would like to commend the girls for their bravery in reporting the incident to police and would ask anyone who has encountered similar experiences to speak to the police.

“If you have been a victim of sexual offending in any form, please do report this to us. We take these incidents extremely seriously and will listen and support you.”

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A man has been jailed after being found guilty of multiple sexual offences against two girls, following investigations into crimes committed decades apart.

Stuart Wright, 72, of Broad Lane, Moulton, Spalding, was found guilty of sexual offences at a hearing at Lincoln Crown Court on Monday, 27 April.  

On Thursday, 21 May, the 72-year-old, who had denied the allegations made by the two girls, was sentenced to 11 years in prison and issued with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The court heard that the offending spanned more than 20 years. The first victim reported assaults that happened between 2017 and 2020. It was when the second victim became aware of the first survivor coming forward to police, that she took the brave step to come forward herself, reporting offences dating back nearly 30 years, between 1997 and 2000. The victims were both children when the offences took place and were unknown to one another.

Detectives carried out a thorough investigation, gathering evidence relating to both survivors' accounts, despite a significant passage of time since some the offences were committed.

Throughout the investigation and court process, both women were supported by Specialist Sexual Violence Advisers, who played a crucial role in supporting them throughout the investigative process, post-charge, and throughout the trial.

Detective Sergeant Katherine Brennan, who led the investigation throughout the court process, said:

"Some of these offences took place many years ago, and the sentencing proves that it is never too late to get justice.

"Crimes against children are some of the most emotive crimes that detectives will investigate, and I want to thank the various detectives and police staff who have worked on this case since the initial report to Police for their contribution in bringing this offender to justice.  

"The survivors showed immense strength and courage in coming forward and speaking to police about what they endured, and this bravery cannot be overstated. I hope that the sentence handed down by the court today provides them with a sense of justice.

"I would also like to recognise the invaluable work of the Specialist Sexual Violence advisers, who have provided ongoing, dedicated support and helped ensure the victims felt listened to and supported throughout this lengthy investigation."