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An 82-year-old man has been jailed for 19 years after being convicted of raping and sexually abusing three young girls in West Berkshire in the 1960s and 1970s.

David Fisher, of Halifax Place, Thatcham, was sentenced at Reading Crown Court yesterday (21/9) after a jury found him guilty of 12 historic sexual offences against three victims who were children at the time, following a trial this summer.

The court heard that Fisher, who worked for the former Berkshire County Council and lived in Hampstead Norreys when the offences were committed, subjected the girls to repeated sexual abuse over a six-year period. The victims were aged just 10 and 11 when the abuse began.

The offences were reported decades later after one of the victims saw Fisher on a bus.

A Thames Valley Police investigation subsequently identified two further victims and uncovered a sustained pattern of offending between 1966 and 1972.

During the trial, jurors heard how Fisher would persuade the children to get into his car before driving them to secluded woodland areas across West Berkshire, where he sexually abused them. This included areas near Hampstead Norreys, Thatcham, Bucklebury, Yattendon, Frilsham, Stanford Dingley, Hermitage and Aldworth.

Fisher was found guilty of:

• Six counts of rape
• One count of attempted rape
• Four counts of indecency with a child
• One count of indecent assault

He was convicted of five counts of rape, that occurred on at least 50 occasions, in connection with victim one.

Fisher was convicted of three counts of indecently assaulting victim two.

In relation to victim three, he was convicted of one count of attempted rape on at least 10 occasions, one count of indecent assault on at least 10 occasions, one count of indecency with a child on at least 10 occasions and one count of rape.

Sentencing Fisher to 19 years’ imprisonment, Judge Rachel Drake praised the courage and resilience shown by the victims in coming forward.

Investigating Officer, Detective Constable Alex Lister, of the Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said:

“David Fisher committed appalling offences against three young girls over a number of years, abusing their trust and causing harm that has remained with them for decades.

“I would like to commend the victims for their courage in coming forward and bravery throughout the investigation and trial. They have ensured that Fisher has finally been held accountable for his actions.

“This case shows that no matter how much time has passed, we will listen to victims, investigate reports thoroughly and do everything we can to bring offenders to justice.”

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In the dock for sentencing at Reading Crown Court on Thursday, February 5, was Stephen Rye.

The 58-year-old, who was living at Rudland Close in Thatcham, had denied raping his wife – who has waived her lifelong right to anonymity with newburytoday.co.uk

But he was convicted following a trial last November.

Jurors were told that Rye had been working as a member of bar staff at Thatcham pub The White Hart around the time of the offence.

Edward Lucas, prosecuting, said Rye had been drinking but was not drunk when he violated her by committing a penetrative sex act, despite her repeated objection.

Mr Lucas said Rye would not take no for an answer and, when the woman put her hand over her bottom, he grabbed it and shoved it out of the way.

He then raped her.

In subsequent messages between Rye and his wife, which were read to the court, he appeared to admit his actions but denied it could be classed as rape.

In a victim impact statement read at Thursday’s sentencing hearing, the woman said her life changed forever that night.

Rye’s betrayal of marital trust by sexual force had led to a medical diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder (PSTD), anxiety and depression, the court heard.

She added:

“I still suffer flashbacks… [but] I finally got my justice.”

William Eaglestone, defending, said:

“His primary mitigation is [the victim’s] words – that this was out of character.

“That’s how she described it at the time.”

Mr Eaglestone handed in a number of character references from friends and former colleagues which, he said, “speak highly of his qualities as a friend”.

Judge Jane Rowley pointed to Rye’s previous conviction for sexually assaulting a child and told him:

“It is a relevant previous conviction and an aggravating factor.

“It is of concern to this court, when you have committed a [new] sexual offence.”

She said his wife had made it clear that she did not consent to the sex act, both verbally and physically, by putting her hand in the way.

Judge Rowley added:

“But you did it anyway.”

Whether or not Rye had believed he was entitled to violate his wife in that way, it constituted “an act of sexual selfishness”, said the judge.

She sentenced Rye to five-and-a-half years imprisonment.

Two thirds of that will be spent in custody and the remainder on licence in the community.

In addition, Rye was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

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Following a Thames Valley Police investigation, a man has been sentenced to prison for sexual offences.

Omar Mehmoul, aged 36, of Gwynne Close, Windsor, appeared at Reading Crown Court yesterday (30/10) and was sentenced to 4 years’ imprisonment.

He was found guilty by a jury on 23 July 2025 at the same court of sexual assault of a female aged over 13 by penetration.

Mehmoul was acquitted of rape.

At around 3am on 21 April 2024, the victim left a nightclub in Windsor with friends. Whilst walking through an alleyway, she became separated from the group and went to a nearby car park. She reported that an unknown man approached her and sexually assaulted her. She managed to break free and the man, later identified as Mehmoul, fled the scene.

Mehmoul was arrested the same day and charged with the offences on the 17 July 2024.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable William Holbrook, said:

“I want to commend the victim for her bravery in reporting this crime and engaging with Thames Valley Police throughout what has been an emotionally challenging process.

“The actions of Mehmoul were deplorable. He knowingly committed an offence, demonstrating a deceitful intent.

“We are committed to supporting victims every step of the way and doing everything we can to secure justice.

“This case highlights our determination to hold offenders accountable and to protect women and girls from harm.

“By removing perpetrators from our communities, we help prevent further offences and reinforce our commitment to public safety.”

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Following a Thames Valley Police investigation, a man from Hungerford has been sentenced to prison for a sex offence.

Mark Jones, aged 34, of Radley Bottom, Hungerford, appeared at Reading Crown Court today (10/10), where he was sentenced to two years in prison.

Following a four-day trial earlier this year, a jury unanimously found Jones guilty of one count of sexual assault by penetration.

Jones has also been placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

In December 2022, Jones entered the victims’ room, hid beside her bed and sexually assaulted her whilst she lay asleep.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Daniel Pullen, said: “I want to commend the incredible bravery of the victim in coming forward to report this crime and for remaining engaged with the police throughout what has been a long and emotionally challenging process.

“Her strength in the face of such trauma is admirable.

“The actions of Jones were calculated and predatory. He knowingly committed this offence while the victim was asleep and unable to consent, demonstrating a deliberate and deceitful intent.

“We are committed to supporting victims every step of the way and doing everything we can to secure justice.

“This case highlights our determination to hold offenders accountable and to protect women and girls from harm.

“By removing perpetrators from our communities, we help prevent further offences and reinforce our commitment to public safety.”

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A paedophile on early release from prison has been sent back to jail for flouting his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

The serial offender was caught deleting his online chat history – something he was forbidden from doing under the terms of the order.

Back in the dock at Reading Crown Court on Wednesday, April 9, was James Jackson.

In 2023, the Newbury Weekly News revealed how James Jackson was already awaiting sentence for possessing images of children as young as three being raped when he began trawling internet chatrooms for youngsters to abuse in person.

But he ended up being the prey when a team of paedophile hunters turned up at the 66-year-old’s Lancaster Close home in Thatcham.

They revealed that the 12-year-olds he thought he was corrupting were actually online decoy profiles.

During the original sentencing hearing the court was told of his interaction with ‘Tia’.

When Tia told him she was only 12 years old, Jackson replied: “Perfect.”

When one decoy said she didn’t know about sex, Jackson replied that he would teach her and would bring a bottle of whisky to dull the pain of the sex acts he proposed.

Jackson was arrested and convicted of possessing indecent images, trying to meet a child for sex and of trying to persuade a child to engage in sexual activity.

He also has an historic conviction for child neglect.

In March 2023, Judge Kirsty Real jailed Jackson for 36 months, half of which he was to spend behind bars and the remainder on licence in the community.

He was made subject to a 10-year SHPO and will remain on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

At Wednesday’s hearing, Gabrielle McAvock, prosecuting, said that, when he was released, police installed an app which monitors words, images and behaviours that would constitute a breach of the SHPO – for example, sexualised chat on an internet forum or watching pornography.

She told the court that the app flagged up an electronic alert prompting police to demand access to his electronic devices.

They discovered Jackson had cunningly deleted the chats, despite conditions forbidding him to do so.

However, he admitted he had breached his SHPO by using his devices to chat on a daily basis with a talking artificial intelligence app that mimicked a child.

Nick Saunders, defending, said his client should receive credit for his early guilty plea.

He pointed out that, similar to his client’s early offending with the decoys, there was no real child involved.

Recorder Alexander McGregor ruled that, as well as being recalled to prison, Jackson should serve an additional eight weeks in custody.

He remains subject to the SHPO and will remain on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

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Following an investigation by Thames Valley Police, a man has been jailed for sexual offences in Berkshire.

John-Paul Walker, aged 44, of g has been sentenced to nine years in prison, with an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order put in place.

Following an eight day trial at Reading Crown Court, a unanimous jury found Walker guilty of one count of sexual assault by penetration and one count of attempted rape.

The offences happened in Berkshire in 2018, when the victim, a girl, was in her teens.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Kelly Ware said: “Thames Valley Police will always investigate sexual offences, no matter when they took place.

“These offences occurred in 2018 and were reported to us in 2022. Walker was arrested the same year and following an investigation was charged in 2023.

“I’m pleased that the jury believed the weight of evidence against Walker and found him guilty of the offences, which he has now been jailed for nine years.

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Two men have been jailed for a total of 13 years in connection with several sexual offences on a teenage boy.

Adam Hastings, 28, and Reece Upton,29, appeared in Reading Crown Court where they were sentenced on Friday, January 31.

Hastings and Upton pleaded guilty on 19 November, 2024, on the second day of their trial at the same court.

This is after evading police for 11 days during a complex investigation.

Adam Hastings was jailed for nine years for five counts of sexual activity with a child and two counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order

In the same hearing, Reece Upton, aged 29, of no fixed abode, was jailed for four years for one count of sexual activity with a child.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Cerys Sumpter said: This was a complex investigation where Adam Hastings and Reece Upton actively evaded police and were not located for 11 days.

They were wanted in connection with a number of sexual offences reported by the victim, a boy aged in his teens, which occurred between April and June last year.

I am satisfied that Hastings and Upton have been given custodial sentences reflecting their crime; however, no punishment can ever compare to the pain and anguish the victim had to endure.

I hope the conviction will bring them some closure on their ordeal.

This case also demonstrates that Thames Valley Police take such matters with the utmost seriousness, tirelessly pursuing offenders and doing everything in their power to ensure justice is served.

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A GREENOCK pervert who sent sexually explicit messages and pictures to so-called paedophile hunters who were posing as young girls online has been spared jail.

A sheriff told George Ahara that he had ‘only just’ decided to impose an alternative to custody for the ‘very concerning’ offences, to which the 52-year-old pleaded guilty earlier this year.

Ahara, who now lives in Newbury, Berkshire, pleaded guilty to three indictment charges and confessed to the crimes after he was snared by online child protection groups.

He admitted sending sexual communications and attempting to communicate indecently with adult decoys whom he believed to be children under the age of 13.

The offences were committed on two occasions in June 2022 at Ahara's then home on Westmorland Road.

Ahara also pleaded guilty to a similar charge concerning what he understood to be a child who had not yet reached the age of 16.

Greenock Sheriff Court heard previously that Ahara had been in contact with a user he knew as ‘Rosie’ online over a week in June 2022.

The profile was actually being run by an adult who was a member of an online child protection group.

Despite having been told in the course of the chat that 'Rosie' was 12 years old, Ahara continued to send sexually explicit messages.

The woman behind the account then went to Ahara’s former address in Larkfield with other members of the group and live-streamed the confrontation on social media.

When challenged, Ahara said: “I was thinking she was an adult.”

A prosecutor told the court: “He acknowledged that he should have stopped talking when he realised the girls were so young.

“Police attended and were informed of the circumstances.”

Ahara was later arrested and charged, making no reply to the allegation, and a search warrant was granted for his home.

A black mobile phone was seized from the property, with the device's number corresponding with that which was shared with 'Rosie' in the online chat.

Then, on June 6 and 7, 2022, Ahara contacted an online dating profile belonging to ‘Darcy’, which was being run by an adult member of another online child protection group.

The messages sent were ‘immediately explicit’, with 'Darcy' then stating that she was 12 years old.

Ahara continued sending sexual messages and encouraged 'Darcy' to send a selfie, to which she replied with a photoshopped image of a female aged around 12.

The court heard that Ahara later sent a sexually explicit image ‘without warning or prompting’.

On June 18, 2022, the woman running the 'Darcy' account was on Facebook when she saw that another group had attended Ahara’s home.

She subsequently contacted police and provided screenshots of her conversation with him.

Ahara also admitted being in contact with a third profile belonging to someone he believed to be a 14-year-old girl.

The account had been created by a member of a child protection group who went by the name of 'Freya'.

During the conversation, 'Freya' stated her age, to which Ahara replied: “Oh my god, I’m so sorry. I thought you were a woman.”

The court heard that he continued to be sexually explicit, despite her age having been disclosed to him.

After his arrest, Ahara provided a ‘no comment’ police interview in the presence of his solicitor.

Sheriff James Varney, who previously described Ahara’s behaviour as ‘appalling’ and ‘shameful’, told the first offender last week: “The nature of the communications was very concerning to listen to.

“The bottom line was that you ought never to have communicated with people you thought to be underage.”

Ahara will be supervised by criminal justice social workers for three years, and must complete 200 hours of unpaid work within 12 months as a direct alternative to custody.

He was put on the sex offenders register for three years.

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A sex offender who committed 'abhorrent' crimes against a child has been sentenced to seven years in prison.

Scott Grineau, aged 38, of Pegasus Close in Thatcham, was found guilty by a unanimous jury verdict of five counts of sexual activity with a child and two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity following a trial at Oxford Crown Court, which concluded on Friday (March 15).

He was acquitted of a further count of sexual activity with a child.

Grineau was jailed for a total of seven years with 12 years on licence.

He will also be on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

The offending took place in Witney over one night in September 2021 and the offences were reported to the force on September 15 that year.

Grineau was arrested on September 16 2021 and was charged via a postal requisition on December 23 2022.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Samantha Hunter of the Child Abuse Investigation Unit said: Scott Grineau has now been held to account for some abhorrent offences against a child.

I would like to place on record my praise for the victim in this case for having the courage to support the investigation to ensure that Grineau is sent to prison where he belongs.

We will always investigate offences of this nature and seek to bring offenders to justice.

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Steven Hicks, 60, was one of the healthcare professionals who had been providing care to a woman after she was released from hospital following a fall.

On 5 January 2022, wearing medical clothing and disguised with a surgical mask and thick-rimmed glasses, he made an unscheduled evening visit to the woman’s home in Earley, where he sexually assaulted her. 

Hicks denied the assault, but a jury found him guilty after the Crown Prosecution Service presented forensic and phone evidence linking him to the offence. 

Hicks’ DNA was found to match that found on the woman’s body and clothing, and phone location data disputed his claim he was at home that night, indicating he was more likely to have been near the woman’s address. 

This evidence was supported by a detailed account from the victim about what happened to her, and footage from her video doorbell confirming someone had come to her home that evening.

Hicks had accessed the woman’s clinical records several times while she was receiving out-of-hospital care, often when he was on annual leave and had no reason to check them. The woman had cancelled any further evening care on 4 January; however, Hicks visited her the next evening having checked her records again that day.

Crown Prosecution Service lawyer Shilpa Shah said: “This was a shocking crime carried out by someone in a trusted profession. Steven Hicks knew the victim was vulnerable and that no other carers were due to visit her that evening, and he used his position to gain access to her home to assault her, in her own bedroom. 

“Hicks denied the charges against him, but we were able to present evidence to the court clearly linking him to the assault. His DNA matched that found on the victim and her clothing, and his phone data placed him near her home at the time of the offence. He will now spend time in prison for his crime.”

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Following an investigation by Thames Valley Police, a man has been jailed after he was found guilty of two sexual assaults in Wokingham.

Dean Dowlutta, aged 40, of Crowthorne, was found guilty of the offences in a trial lasting four days at Reading Crown Court, which concluded on 3 November 2023.

Returning to the same court for sentencing last Friday (12/1), Dowlutta was jailed for a total of three and a half years.

The offences occurred on 1 September 2021 and 13 October 2021 in Wokingham.

On 1 September 2021, Dowlutta was at a gym studio in the town when he digitally sexually assaulted his victim with his finger.

The second offence occurred on 13 October 2021 when Dowlutta sexually assaulted the victim over her clothing by inappropriate touching.

Dowlutta was arrested on 16 October 2021 and was charged with the offences on 14 October 2022.

Investigating officer PC Hartnell said: “I am pleased that Dowlutta has been sentenced to prison for these offences.

“I would like to pay tribute to Dowlutta’s victim, who put her trust in our investigation to bring him to justice.

“She showed tremendous courage to report the offences and patience while we investigated and held Dowlutta to account.

“We will always investigate offences of this nature with utmost integrity and support victims throughout.

“Dowlutta will now serve a significant custodial sentence as a result of his actions, and I hope that the victim in this case will be able to put this ordeal behind her and move on with her life.”

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A MAN told a woman she had to be quiet as he launched a nightmare sex attack on her.

Jaimie Reeves refused to let the woman leave and kept trying to rape her despite her obvious resistance.

The attack left the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, with crippling" mental health problems and changed her life forever.

Reeves, 27, had been with the woman at a house in Dorset when the incident occurred.

The pair were both sat in the lounge in the evening, when Reeves moved to the sofa she was sat on and began to grope her.

They then went into the garden for a cigarette, at which point the defendant told the woman he wanted to have sex with her.

Once back inside, he tried to pull her shorts and underwear down and told her: Youre going to let me have it.

The woman refused his advances, telling him no and making multiple attempts to leave.

Reeves then launched a despicable sex attack on the woman, becoming rough and telling her she had to be quiet.

Prosecuting Andrew Houston said the assault took place over some considerable time, lasting for perhaps more than an hour.

The woman was only able to escape during the early hours of the morning when the defendant went into the bathroom to be sick.

She went home and told her mum, before reporting it to police.

In a victim statement, she said: Each morning when I wake up, I have to remind myself that he wont be able to hurt me anymore like he did that day.

I do believe this is something that will change my life forever.

Reeves, of Oxford Road in Sandhurst, appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court for sentencing on Tuesday, October 24, in relation to the incident which occurred in July 2020.

He was found guilty by a jury on counts of attempted vaginal rape, attempted oral rape, assault by penetration and sexual assault.

Defending, Nick Robinson noted his client was of previous good character and had no previous convictions.

Mr Robinson added: In my submission it wasnt planned, it was spontaneous.

These offences were not sustained or prolonged.

He added that the defendant's family were suffering emotionally, and pleaded for the court to approach the case with some mercy and compassion.

Addressing Reeves, Recorder Richard Onslow said: What went on inside was nothing short of a nightmare for [the victim].

"She kept telling you no and that she wasnt interested. You kept trying to rape her, when there was obvious resistance.

She felt extremely vulnerable.

The effects upon her have clearly been severe crippling anxiety, terrified of walking in the street, panic attacks, and struggling with mental health.

Reeves was handed a nine-year prison sentence.

He was also handed a restraining order for an indefinite period, and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

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THE former headteacher of three West Berkshire primary schools has been caught with indecent images of children.

Gerry Heaton was a pillar of the education establishment, serving as an adviser to West Berkshire Council schools' Therapeutic Thinking Support Team (TTST) for vulnerable or troubled youngsters until his arrest.

But the 57-year-old was hiding a dreadful secret – since 2012, he had been hoarding indecent images of children at his home, many of them in the most extreme classification, Category A.

Mr Heaton was headteacher at Hungerford Primary School from January 2014 until taking early retirement in August 2017.

Previously, he was headteacher at Inkpen Primary School for more than eight years, from April 2008.

And before that, from January 2001, Mr Heaton had been deputy headteacher and acting headteacher at Lambourn Primary School.

He was serving as a specialist teacher at Theale Primary School in the months before his arrest and had served as school governor at Kintbury St Mary's Primary School.

Mr Heaton, a former pupil at John O'Gaunt School in Hungerford, was considered an inspirational educator to generations of youngsters.

He was also keen on amateur dramatics and was an enthusiastic member of the Kintbury Players.

But his reputation is now in tatters.

Mr Heaton, of Bradley Close, Kintbury, has admitted possessing hundreds of indecent images of children.

Specifically, he was caught with 124 images classified as Category C; 131 in Category B and 66 in Category A.

All the offences were committed in Kintbury between January 21, 2012 and September 9, 2021.

Mr Heaton, who was charged under his formal first name, Gerard, made the admissions during a brief appearance at Reading Magistrates' Court.

Magistrates ruled that the matters were so serious that they should be sentenced by a judge sitting at Reading Crown Court on a date to be fixed.

Mr Heaton was meanwhile released on unconditional bail.

He is no longer an adviser to the TTST, which aims to help young people who experience social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) difficulties.

All the above primary schools are state maintained, apart from Lambourn Primary School, which is managed by the Excalibur Academies Trust.

A spokesman for West Berkshire Council said: "We are aware of the ongoing criminal proceedings, and until they have concluded it would be inappropriate for us to comment."

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A SCHOOL caretaker said 'he should be hung' after he admitted to arranging sexual acts with a child.

David Wolfe, of Elm Drive, Winkfield, was locked up after also admitting to sending a picture of his genitalia to a 13-year-old girl.

The 63-year-old was arrested after he tried to meet up with the child - who was really an undercover police officer - having brought condoms with him to a park in Windsor in the summer of 2020.

He comes before the court today as a broken man. He says he has destroyed everything, defence barrister Mark Kinsey told Reading Crown Court.

He was living a fantasy world online and he said the best thing that happened was the police coming and taking away his devices.

In his view, he should be hung. He says he is disgusted with himself and he is extremely ashamed of what happened.

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A Sandhurst man uploaded indecent images of a child onto the Internet and even engaged in sexual activity with a minor. Police became alerted to Christopher Seston's sordid act when email addresses he was connected to uploaded images.

Police officers in Wiltshire, where the 49-year-old used to live, became aware of the uploads last year. Seston was arrested and his devices seized.

It was then the true extent of his offending was uncovered. Evidence suggested Seston had not only uploaded indecent images of children online, but he had also abused a child.

Seston was arrested in February last year. He has now pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child and four counts of taking indecent images of a child.

Seston appeared before Salisbury Crown Court where he was jailed for four years. He has also been made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Detective Constable Jason Walsh, from Wiltshire Polices Child Internet Exploitation Team, said: This was a disturbing case where our initial enquiries into the uploading of indecent images of children led to us uncovering the fact that Seston had also been sexual abusing a child. I would like to pay tribute to the young victim in this case who has had the courage to bravely speak out about what happened to her and whose evidence has led to Seston being convicted and sentenced for his offending.

We would like to encourage anyone who has been the victim of sexual offences to feel that they can speak to someone. You will be believed and we can ensure the relevant support is put in place, particularly when children or young people are involved.