Latest Offenders Bedford

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A 38-year-old 'dangerous predator' from Bedford attempted to meet someone he believed was a 12-year-old girl for sex.

After striking up a conversation on an instant messaging app Andrew Jeffery sent sexually explicit messages and images to the 'girl' and tried to persuade her to come to his house in Chillingham Green, Bedford.

Investigators became increasingly concerned after Jeffrey described how he could get her "high" on drinks and drugs and, two days later, police executed a warrant at his home address in Bedford, Bedfordshire.

While there on January 30, 2019, they seized a number of electronic devices and arrested him.

Jeffrey pleaded guilty to three counts of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence and one count of attempting sexual communication with a child.

Following his guilty plea he was jailed for two and a half years.

Emma Shipton, investigation officer from Bedfordshire Police’s Internet Child Abuse Investigation team, said: "Jeffrey is a dangerous predator and I’m pleased that he will now spend the next two-and-a-half years in prison.

"This case shows the importance of the work that our officers do in gathering vital evidence to arrest and charge these offenders in what can be a very difficult online space to enter.

"This time Jeffrey was speaking to our officers, but people who commit these types of offences online can often go on to abuse children in the offline world, which is why it is vital we investigate them thoroughly and put safeguarding measures in place."

She added: "It is important that we educate children on how they can protect themselves online. This includes not talking to anyone who they don’t know in real life, not sharing any personal information, and keeping privacy settings as high as possible.

"We’d advise parents to have a conversation with their children about online safety, and make sure that they feel comfortable in speaking about anything they see online which makes them feel uncomfortable."

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The victim of a Bedfordshire paedophile has told of his "relief" after speaking out about the Bedfordshire paedophile who sexually abused him from when he was just 10 years old.

The victim said that before he spoke to police he was "writing off" his life.

Michael Fensom, now 78, of Coronation Road in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, starting abusing the victim in 2000.

The abuse stopped about five years later in the victim's mid-teens when he was attending middle school.

Telling how Fensom had sexually abused and indecently assaulted him, using excuses to get him on his own at his home, and on trips out, the victim said: "I've had to live for years knowing about it, keeping it a secret, writing off my life.

"Since the start of this whole thing with the police, it’s not easier to live with, but it feels like there’s more support there than you could ever imagine."

He added: "I didn’t want to have that first conversation with a police officer, but when I did, it just felt good.

"For me to be able to come out and say it after a long time, that helps a lot, and with support, I think I’ll be alright."

In September this year Fensom pleaded guilty to nine counts of indecent assault on a male and four counts of sexual activity with a child.

He pleaded not guilty to a further three charges of indecent assault on a male and two counts of sexual activity with a child, and these charges will lay on file.

He has also been placed on the sex offenders register for life.

Fensom was sentenced at Luton Crown on Tuesday (January 26) to nine years and six months in prison, with an extended 12 months licence period.

Fensom was first arrested in February 2018 after the victim found the courage to speak to police after confiding with his partner about the historical abuse.

After the predator denied the allegations an investigation into the abuse was launched.

Detective Constable Charlie Sermons, from Bedfordshire Police’s Public Protection Unit, who investigated the case, said: "It took a lot of courage for this man to open up and admit what had happened to him as a child.

"Fensom was someone he trusted as a boy, and in return, he subjected him to repeated sexual abuse over several years. His victim, fearing he would never be believed, felt unable to tell anyone what was happening until many years later."

He added: "I want to thank the victim for finding the courage to open up and come forward, and I would also like to thank his partner for her support.

"I know that this sentence won’t bring back those lost years, but I hope seeing Fensom jailed will give him some closure.

"It is never too late to report sexual offences, no matter when they happened, and this case shows that you will be believed, and we will do all we can to see an offender brought to justice."

Detective Inspector Martin Eaton said: "We know only too well that a victim may carry this burden for many years before they are ready to open up about what has happened.

"If you are experiencing, or have ever been subjected to, sexual abuse, please report it, don’t carry this by yourself.

"Our specially trained officers, together with a network of partner agencies, are ready to listen, and can support and guide you through an investigation and beyond."

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A man has been jailed for 23 years for what police have described as horrific sexual abuse over six years that began when his victim was just 12 years old.

Kevin Langford, 54, of no fixed address, was handed his prison sentence today (5 July) after he was convicted of 29 different charges at an earlier court hearing in May.

The abuse spanned a six-year period when he was living in Wootton.

He had already pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual activity with a child and was found guilty of the other indictments, which included possessing and distributing indecent images of children, causing/inciting a child into prostitution/pornography and trafficking a person out of the UK for sexual exploitation.

The jury at Luton Crown Court heard how the abuse started when the victim was just 12 years old.

Langford regularly assaulted her and forced her into taking part in sexual activity with him.

As she got older, he made her pose for provocative photos, which he posted to an adult website claiming she was 18, and started taking her to hotels to engage in sexual activity with other men, including once trip overseas.

On one occasion one of the men even filmed her and Langford used this as a threat against her in case she told anyone.

In April 2017, the victim came forward and disclosed to police about the abuse that she has endured over the past six years.

As well as the 23-year jail sentence, Langford will be on licence for two years after he leaves prison.

Detective constable Jenny Bryce said: I am delighted that Langford has received such a substantial custodial sentence as he not only subjected his victim to years of sexual abuse, but he also exploited her in the most horrendous way by advertising her online to strangers.

I cant praise the bravery of the victim enough for coming forward and disclosing all of Langfords sickening actions. I hope this sentence can serve as some kind of closure for her so she can move on with her life.

Child sexual abuse is one of the most heinous crimes and it will never be tolerated in our county.

We are committed to tackling these sickening individuals and ensuring that they are made to pay for their actions.

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A paedophile has been jailed for eight and a half years after sexually abusing a little girl in Luton.

Ben Storey, 26, who until recently was residing at Marlborough Road, Banbury, was sentenced at Luton Crown Court today after being found guilty of four counts of sexual touching and two counts of assault by penetration in October.

Storey assaulted the young girl on a number of occasions over a period of time in 2016. He was arrested when the child told her mum about the abuse who then contacted the police.

DC Stephen Francis said: “Fortunately Storey’s victim disclosed her abuse to a trusted adult and as a result Storey has now been locked away and can no longer cause harm to others.

“I hope this sentence shows how seriously we take child sexual abuse. It will not be tolerated and we will do anything in our power to bring abhorrent offenders such as Storey to justice, while providing our support to victims and their families.

“We’re also continuing to work with our partners to educate both parents and children around the issue of child sexual abuse in order to help reduce the risk of it happening.”

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A 70-year-old serial sex offender will almost certainly die in prison after being jailed for 23 years for sexually abusing four young girls over a period spanning some three decades.

Pensioner Michael Grimes pleaded guilty to 17 counts of child abuse against four young girls.

The judge described his actions as ‘beyond normal human comprehension’ and said they were ‘vile, despicable, and perverted’.

Grimes, of Croft Green, Dunstable, was sentenced at Luton Crown Court on Friday.

As well as the sentence, he was also placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

He was caught after police received information that an IP address linked to his home was being used to download indecent images of young children.

Police then raided his home and they found devices containing more than 4,600 indecent images of children and babies, including almost 1,000 of the most severe category.

During their investigations, four women came forward to claim they had been sexually abused by Grimes.

The abuse spanned over a period of some 30 years.

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A man has been jailed for 11 years after admitting grooming an 11-year-old girl and making indecent images of children.

Alastair Hodge, 28, of Condor Boulevard, Shortstown, was sentenced at Luton Crown Court today (Thursday) after pleading guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and two separate charges of causing and inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

Hodge was arrested after the victim’s parent discovered messages of a sexual nature sent by him to the child, in which he groomed her and encouraged her to send him indecent images of herself.

Officers from Bedfordshire Police then executed a search warrant at Hodge’s home and seized a number of phones and computer devices. Digital forensics officers carried out examinations on the items and found multiple indecent images of several children.

Investigation Officer Amanda Dickson, from the Internet Child Abuse Investigation Team (ICAIT), said: “Hodge’s computer devices contained images from the most severe category of child sexual abuse and there is no doubt that he is a dangerous sexual predator, so I am pleased he has received such a lengthy sentence for these sickening crimes.

“He took advantage of a young girl, grooming her via messaging apps and intentionally inciting her to engage in sexual activity, as well as encouraging her to send indecent images of herself to him which he added to his sickening collection.

“Online child sex abuse is not victimless – it causes severe harm to the children involved and is likely to have a lasting impact on them. We absolutely will not tolerate this and we are committed to tackling those responsible and bringing them to justice so that they cannot inflict their abuse on anyone else.”

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A paedophile has been handed a two-year jail sentence for grooming a girl he believed was 12.

Craig Hall, of High Road in Sandy, was jailed at Luton Crown Court yesterday after being found guilty of three counts of attempting to incite a child under the age of 13 to engage in a sexual act.

The pervert struck up an online conversation with someone he believed to be 12 years old, and sent her sexually explicit messages as well as trying to persuade her to carry out a sexual act on him in exchange for money.

But Hall was shocked to find he was being duped and was in fact talking to a 17-year-old teenager – who reported him to Bedfordshire Police.

Investigating officer Nicky Owen, from the Internet Child Abuse Investigation Team at the force, said: “Hall believed she was only 12 years old, and thinking she was of such a young age spurred him on even more in his attempts to engage in sexual activity.

“Behaviour such as this is completely unacceptable and it’s only right and proper that we thoroughly investigate sexual predators such as Hall, in order to ensure that they are made to pay the price for their actions.”

The convicted paedophile has also been placed on the Sex Offender Register for 10 years and has received a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

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A man who sexually abused and shared indecent images of children has been sentenced to 18 years in prison.

43-year-old Duncan Hogben, of Cranfield, was convicted of 11 counts relating to the sexual abuse of children and charges associated with taking, distributing and making indecent photographs of children.

After being convicted on 29 June, Hogben was sentenced at Luton Crown Court to a total of 18 years behind bars.

Hogbens dark secret transcended the cyber world into reality, involving the direct abuse of children. His online offending contributed to the worldwide cycle of child abuse, which is the scourge of our society.

I would like to pay tribute to the brave testimony of the victims and witnesses in this case, as without their support we would not have achieved the result we have today. I am pleased that the courts recognised the severity of his sickening activities and passed a long sentence though in my eyes no jail term will be long enough for Hogben to accept what hes done and truly pay for the lives he has ruined.

Detective Constable Paul Fitzharris from the Cyber Hubs Internet Child Abuse Investigation Team (ICAIT)

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A FORMER engineering student who raped a prostitute in a graveyard has been jailed for eight years.

Emmanuel Mutandi had denied raping his victim, and maintains that the two had consensual sex.

However, the 22-year-old was convicted of the "violent rape" in the early hours of Saturday, August 2 2014 at the conclusion of a three-day trial at Bournemouth Crown Court.

Mutandi had originally agreed to pay his victim 40 for full sexual intercourse, but after the pair walked from Southcote Road to St Clements Church in Boscombe, said he only had a 20 note.

The woman - who had returned to prostitution after three years in a desperate bid for money - performed a sex act on him.

However, as she attempted to leave afterwards, he grabbed her and told her he wanted full sex, viciously battering her after the rape.

She suffered injuries including bruising and damage to her teeth in the assault, which Zimbabwean Mutandi admitted at an earlier hearing before a judge.

The not guilty plea forced the woman to relive her ordeal during the trial, and she told jurors she had begged the defendant to kill her quickly.

Fern Russell, mitigating for Mutandi, said: "This was a business transaction that went wrong and Mr Mutandi reacted in a way which plainly caused damage to [the victim].

"He is not a man who has engaged in this kind of behaviour before."

Mutandi, of Walnut Walk, Kempston in Bedfordshire, has been living in the UK since he was nine.

He is currently training to become a pastor in custody, and was studying at Bournemouth University before being charged with rape.

Sentencing the defendant, Judge John Harrow said: "You are intelligent and from a good family, and you have brought shame and disgrace on yourself and, no doubt, you have upset all of your family."

He added: "You went to a cash machine and accompanied [the victim] to a churchyard.

"It was a secluded and dark area. The you made clear to her you were not prepared to pay the agreed price for full sexual intercourse. What happened then is that she submitted. She felt threatened, she felt afraid, she felt she had to agree to sex because she had no option."

Speaking after the sentence, Hayley Porter-Straw, senior crown prosecutor for the CPS Rape and Serious and Sexual Offences Unit, said: We would like to thank the victim who had the immense courage to report the crime to the police and who supported the prosecution.

Our thoughts are with the victim and hope that she will be able to move on from this terrible ordeal.