Latest Offenders Birmingham

Description

A Birmingham school has issued a statement after an assistant headteacher who tried to seduce a 13-year-old girl was jailed.

Andrew Shelton, who used to work at Harborne Primary School, was locked up for nearly three years.

He was caught with indecent images of children.

None of the offences related to children at the school.

Harborne Primary issued a statement on its website in a bid to reassure parents.

It said Shelton was suspended last July and sacked in January.

The statement said: "Some of you may have seen media coverage about a former assistant head teacher at this school who earlier this week was jailed in relation to child sex offences.

"I understand this might cause concern but I would like to reassure all parents and carers that police have confirmed that none of the offences relate to his former role at the school, and he was suspended from the school in July 2017 and then dismissed in January 2018.

"The safety and wellbeing of our children is our absolute priority and if any parents have concerns they can contact Mandy Hughes, Head Teacher."

The 52-year-old regularly encouraged the youngster and other children to send him explicit images.

Officers were alerted to his contact with the teenager over Skype across March and April last year.

They then searched his home in Woodman Close, Halesowen .

Shelton was found to have 93 indecent images across his computer and mobile phone; along with evidence that he had messaged other youngsters and searched for indecent images of children.

The 52-year-old admitted eight charges, including attempted sexual communication with a child, trying to incite a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity and possessing indecent images of children.

He was jailed for two years and eight months at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Tuesday (18 September).

He no longer works as a teacher and none of the charges related to his role.

Det Sgt Rob Grace , from the forces Public Protection Unit, said: "Shelton was trying to coerce children over the internet and encourage them to send inappropriate images.

He was a role model for young people as a teacher but away from the classroom he preyed on them for his own gratification.

Safeguarding of children will always be a top priority for the force.

"Anyone who encourages child abuse by viewing or sharing paedophilic images or engages in explicit conversations involving children needs to prepare themselves for being caught and hauled before the courts."

Description

A depraved paedophile who used online blackmail to target a string of vulnerable victims, including a girl who was ordered to eat dog food, is due to be sentenced on Monday. Cambridge graduate Matthew Falder has admitted 137 offences relating to 46 complainants after being caught by an international inquiry led by the National Crime Agency. The 29-year-old was arrested in June last year after three traumatised victims, who were tricked into sending him humiliating images, attempted to end their own lives. A previous hearing at Birmingham Crown Court was told Falder coerced male and female victims into producing increasingly severe self-generated indecent images of themselves, the focus of these images being to humiliate and degrade. Opening the facts of the case against Falder, prosecutor Ruona Iguyovwe told the earlier hearing many of the images were then distributed on so-called hurtcore websites showing material depicting sexual and physical abuse. Falder, who treated victims both as sex objects and as objects of derision, posted on one forum 100 things we want to see at least once. In remarks in that post, he suggested a young girl being used as a dartboard, production of a video depicting a childs bones being slowly and deliberately broken, and the abuse of a paralysed child. It also emerged during the earlier hearing Falder initially duped victims into providing images by posing as a female artist who wanted to turn them into life drawings. The operation to catch Falder, who used specialist software to hide his online accounts, was aided by GCHQ, the United States Homeland Security department and law enforcement bodies in Israel, Slovenia, Australia and New Zealand. Falder, of Harborne Park Road, Birmingham, has been told he may face a life sentence for the offences, committed over an eight-year period. The former post-doctoral researcher in geophysics at the University of Birmingham is due to be sentenced by Judge Philip Parker QC at the citys Crown Court.

Description

A FORMER Dudley man wanted for historical sexual assaults has been found sleeping rough in a Cardiff park following a tip off. Matthew Perry, of no fixed address, had been charged with 11 counts of child sexual offences - including rape - after an investigation was launched following admissions to police from two young girls in 2014. But the unemployed 38-year-old failed to appear at his trial in September 2016 and a warrant was issued for his arrest. A nationwide search was launched jointly by West Midlands and Hertfordshire Police, after reported sightings of him sleeping rough in Borehamwood. A trial went ahead in his absence and he was found guilty on December 14 at Wolverhampton Crown Court. A tip off earlier this week finally led police to a Cardiff park and on Wednesday (December 20), he was jailed for 20 years followed by an extended licence period of five years. He will also remain on the Sex Offender Register for life. Detective Sergeant Kay Redfern, from the forces Public Protection Unit, said: "We are delighted that, with the assistance of the public and our colleagues in South Wales Police, we have removed a dangerous sex offender from our streets. We wish to thank everyone who contacted us with information that led to the capture of this man. "I hope this brings comfort to his victims who showed tremendous courage in coming forward and reporting their horrific experiences. "West Midlands Police has an excellent track record of bringing historical sex offenders to court and there is a raft of agencies we work with to assist survivors of sexual abuse on their journey to justice."

Description

A predatory taxi driver who raped a passenger he picked up outside a Birmingham city centre nightclub has been jailed for nine years.

Jhamil Hussan dragged the victim into a park and attacked her after dropping her near her home.

The depraved 39-year-old had earlier collected her from outside the Nightingale Club, based in Kent Street, at 2.30am on April 17.

The Crown Prosecution Service said the pair made small talk during the journey but he groped her at one point.

He then parked his car a short distance from the victims home and she got out and began to walk away.

But Hussan walked up behind her, grabbed her, took her to a nearby park and raped her.

The victim told her parents of her ordeal when she returned home and the police were called.

Hussan was later spotted parked back outside the club.

He was later arrested but claimed he was innocent and alleged the victim had forced herself on him.

But he was convicted of two counts of rape at Birmingham Crown Court after his cover story was exposed as a pack of lies.

He was jailed on Friday, July 7.

The sentence was welcomed by James Gormley, senior crown prosecutor with the West Midlands CPSs rape and serious sexual offences unit.

He said: Jhamil Hussan is a dangerous sexual predator who targeted and raped a vulnerable woman.

When he was arrested, he claimed the victim had forced herself onto him and he had tried to stop her.

This was a blatant lie.

I would like to thank the victim for her courage and support in helping us to bring this man to justice.

Description

A shamed Birmingham soldier who planned to meet an underage girl for sex has been jailed for two years after he was caught by a self-styled paedophile hater.

Craftsman Sam Dallow, 25, thought he was sending explicit messages to a girl of 14.

But, after a meeting was arranged, he was confronted in a railway station car park by campaigner Shane Brannigan.

The footage was broadcast online and details of the messages were handed to police.

Dallow, of 6th Battalion The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, was jailed for two years and placed on the sex offenders register for ten years at Winchester Crown Court on Thursday.

He had previously admitted attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming.

Sentencing Dallow, the judge said although he had only been communicating with a persona, his conduct had been persistent and demonstrated a reckless, predatory behaviour towards children.

He was snared by Mr Brannigan, who runs a Facebook page called Shaneannigans Nonce Haters Association, and his team at an arranged meet-up location at Andover railway station in Hampshire on April 11.

Video of the encounter showed Dallow being confronted in a car and claiming he was waiting for a friend called Emma.

He gave his name as Sam and confirmed he was from Birmingham.

Dallow was then shown an image and admitted sending it was a mistake, before more exchanges were read to him and a police officer arrived at the scene.

After the sentencing hearing, childrens charity the NSPCC branded him disgusting and called on social media firms to work harder to make accounts safer for children.

A spokesman said: Although the target of his disgusting advances was fictitious, Dallows grooming behaviour is a stark reminder of the risks children and young people face online.

Parents and carers have a key role to play and must talk to their children about online safety.

The NSPCCs Net Aware website offers tips on how to start these conversations and offers a simple guide to the most popular social networks, apps and games.

Meanwhile social media platforms can do more to protect children by making sure they provide safer accounts which offer default privacy settings and mechanisms to guard against grooming.

The Army said previously it would consider what action to take against Dallow after sentencing.

Description

A young girl was sexually assaulted and suffered almost 30 separate injuries after she was left with a pervert for a long weekend.

The child was brutally attacked and was covered in bruises when she was returned to her horrified mother.

The victim had wounds to her arms and legs, as well as her back, buttocks, face and head, Birmingham Crown Court heard.

There was also a bite injury which matched thug Stefan Tooles bite and finger pressure marks on the girls knees associated with a sexual assault.

Toole and his girlfriend, Shauna McEvoy-Byrne, had been allowed to look after the victim for a weekend in March 2015 but hoped to cover up her injuries by keeping her for longer, the court heard.

Toole, 22, of Deelands Road, Rubery , was jailed for four-and-a-half years having admitted child cruelty, assault and sexual assault.

McEvoy-Byrne, 20, of the same address, was convicted of child cruelty at trial.

She was handed a 26-week suspended sentence.

In a phone call, McEvoy-Byrne told the mum the girl had bruised her arm when she fell against a radiator.

But, when the handover took place, the mum said her daughter was in a dishevelled state and had a mark on her head.

Jennifer Josephs, prosecuting, said: She saw that her childs body was covered in bruises.

She was absolutely horrified and called the police.

Doctors found the girl had 29 sites of injury, the court heard.

Passing sentence, Judge Philip Parker said Toole received a police warning in 2008 after sexually assaulting a girl under 13.

It was deeply disturbing that he had committed a similar offence while in charge of a young girl, the judge said.

The judge said the injuries to the victim were consistent with being treated harshly and rough handling.

And he told McEvoy-Byrne: You were aware of those injuries and you hoped to cover them up by delaying the handover.

Charles Crinion, for Toole, said there was no evidence of any sadism and went on: The injuries were caused when he lost control of himself.

Sharon Bailey, for McEvoy-Byrne, said: He was somewhat dominating towards her.

She accepts she should have seen the obvious but didnt.

She closed her eyes to the obvious.

She did not want to accept that Toole could behave in such a way.

Description

A 101-year-old man thought to be the oldest person convicted by a British jury has been jailed for child sex offences.

Ralph Clarke is expected to spend the rest of his life in prison after being sentenced to 13 years.

The former lorry driver abused three children in the 1970s and 1980s.

One of his victims was as young as four.

Clarke, from Erdington in Birmingham, was convicted of 21 offences of indecency with a child and indecent assault committed against two young girls.

During the trial at Birmingham Crown Court, he admitted nine charges relating to a young boy after describing the offences as "something that happened" in his past.

After his conviction he showed no emotion as Justice Richard Bond told him it would be "amazing" if he lived long enough to be released.

Description

A delivery driver has been jailed for four years after sexually assaulting a woman as he dropped off a parcel at her Chelmsley Wood home.

Wasim Bhar, 24, exposed himself and groped the disabled householder after she opened the door to him.

The terrified victim told a court she had been unable to fight off the Hermes delivery driver, who denied the attack when arrested by police.

But Bhar, of Lawford Grove, Highgate, was convicted after a jury at Warwick Crown Court was told he had left traces of DNA at the scene.

The court also heard he had hid criminal convictions of theft to get the self-employed job with Hermes.

As well as being jailed, Bhar was ordered to register as a sex offender for life.

Prosecutor Scott Coughtrie said: This case is about a man who, while conducting his role as a parcel delivery driver, came across, or even targeted, a disabled and therefore vulnerable woman in her own home.

He sexually attacked her. Firmly grasping her by her arm, he sexually assaulted her for his own gratification.

Bhar was a self-employed delivery driver for Hermes when he arrived at the womans home with a parcel in January.

The victim told the court: He gave me the parcel, and I threw it behind me in the hallway, and said thank you.

He said, Ive seen you before. I fancy you, love.

I said, You dont even know me, and I dont know you. I stood there feeling shocked.

She said Bhar asked whether she was alone and she said someone else was in another room. He backed off, but then he came back at me..., she said.

He grabbed my arm and held it up, and then he pulled my t-shirt up... I started pushing him out of the door, but he kept coming back, asking me to do things with him.

I was scared for my life.

Police were called and enquiries with Hermes led to Bhar, whose Facebook posts including him posing with British boxing champ Amir Khan.

But after being arrested he claimed nothing unusual had taken place that day and that the woman was delusional.

After DNA tests linked him to the scene he accepted there had been sexual contact, but claimed it had been consensual.

Judge Richard Griffith-Jones said: You attacked a woman who was disabled. She manages very well, but she needs that important commodity for someone who is disabled, confidence; and she puts great store by the haven and refuge of her home.

You had access to her by reason of your employment as a delivery driver, something you should not have been doing. They would never have employed you if they had known what a thoroughly dishonest person you were.

The grave features of this case are that you attacked a disabled woman for your own sexual gratification, you went into her home to do so, what you did was an abuse of trust, and you have shown not an ounce of regret.

The judge added: The defendant has no convictions for sexual offences, but the jury may be concerned to learn that an employee of Hermes has a number of convictions for theft and other dishonesty.

An impact statement from the victim was read out before sentencing. She said: My home was all I had, and was my safe place. Since this thing happened to me its not my safe place anymore, because of this man.

Jasvir Mann, defending, said: Whether the defendant understands it or not, a victim is entitled to feel they have sanctuary in their own home. He does not admit the offence, but acknowledges the jury found him guilty and that he is going to be punished accordingly.

Description

A Birmingham rapist, who told two girls that his sick assaults were their secret so he could continue to sexually abuse them, has been jailed for 16 years.

Paedophile Dwayne Kesto, of Parkfield Avenue, Harborne, assaulted the girls over a number of years.

The 40-year-olds reign of terror continued until one of them confided in a teacher.

As soon as he had been exposed, Kesto went on the run for three years, but he was eventually snared by police in March.

Kesto was convicted of the non-recent offences at Wolverhampton Crown Court after an eight-day trial and was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court to the lengthy prison term.

Det Sgt Jayne Killoch, of West Midlands Police Public Protection Unit, said: Kesto told the girls it was their secret, so that he could continue his predatory behaviour.

Kesto evaded arrest for three years, but we caught up with him in March and he was remanded into custody while a meticulous investigation was carried out.

He will be deported to Jamaica upon his release from prison.

Det Sgt Killoch added: Both girls gave evidence in court, acting with dignity and courage throughout the trial and I commend their bravery.

I hope that seeing their abuser brought to justice goes some way to help them overcome the nightmare they must surely have suffered.

I hope that their story helps other young girls find the courage to report abuse, even if it happened many years ago.

We have specially trained officers who can help survivors of sexual assault through every step of the process, from initial reporting to the court procedure.

We work with a raft of other agencies who also provide support and comfort.

Description

A Birmingham grammar school teacher has received a suspended jail sentence after admitting making and possessing indecent images of children.

Oliver Downes, 40 and from Erdington, had also pleaded guilty in court to the production of a Class B drug, cannabis, following his arrest by police.

He had taught for more than 13 years at the prestigious Bishop Vesey Grammar School in Sutton Coldfield, a role which included him coaching rugby to pupils.

The teacher was suspended after the police investigation and he resigned from his post last July.

In a statement after the court case, a Bishop Vesey spokesman said: “The school has co-operated fully with the police. The offences relate to the former teacher’s behaviour outside of school and there is no evidence to suggest any child from the school was involved in any way.

“The member of staff was suspended and resigned on 18 July with immediate effect.”

Downes had appeared at Birmingham Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to nine counts of making indecent images of children and nine counts of possessing indecent images of children. He had also admitted production of a Class B drug, cannabis.

He received a 12 month jail sentence for making indecent images, suspended for two years, along with concurrent suspended sentences of nine months for possession of indecent images and two months for the drugs charge.

He was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work in the community. He was also ordered to attend a sex offenders’ work programme for 50 hours and was placed on a two-year supervision order.

Bishop Vesey is one of the oldest schools in the West Midlands, founded in the 16th Century. Today it caters for more than 900 pupils and has almost 100 full and part-time members of staff.

Downes, an avid football fan, had joined the school in 2001, having graduated from university in 1998.

He had previously been a student at King Edward VI School in Aston.

On his Facebook site, Downes describes himself as single and as ‘‘chilled, different, fun, intense, work that out.’’

Description

A nursery worker who raped a toddler and groomed 22 other girls over the internet has been jailed for life. Paul Wilson, 21, admitted 47 charges including rape and grooming and must serve at least 15 years of a life term. Wilson, of Nechells, Birmingham, abused the toddler at Little Stars Nursery in the city, and filmed the rape on his mobile phone. Prosecutors said concerns raised by other nursery staff did not stop the abuse. Wilson began working at the nursery in October 2009. Six members of staff raised concerns about his behaviour before his arrest, on 5 January this year, but he had continued to work there despite receiving a written warning. The judge said it was "a matter of some incredulity" that he had not been disciplined further for "deliberate blatant" flouting of nursery rules. The Birmingham Safeguarding Trust board has started a serious case review into the matter and will not comment further at this stage. Sentencing, the judge described his offences as "chilling, vile and depraved". 'Girls threatened' Mrs Justice Macur said he had caused unknown harm to the toddler and more than 20 young girls who were abused online. "You are highly deviant, highly manipulative. You are intelligent and the more dangerous for being so," she said. The court heard Wilson, of Newbold Croft, was arrested after being reported by one of the girls he groomed. He contacted 22 girls on the internet then made them perform sex acts via a webcam. The victims were aged between 12 and 15, the court was told at an earlier hearing. He would record images and use them to blackmail his victims into carrying out sexual acts for him. After sentencing, Wendy Bounds of the Crown Prosecution Service, said Wilson had "preyed" on young girls he met in internet chat rooms. "He hid his real identity and led the girls to think he was a friend and asked them to turn their webcams on and by this means he was able to see them in intimate situations," she said. Pictures sent on If his approach failed, he would use other aliases on social networking sites to gain their trust, or threaten them in order to get them to perform sexual acts which he would watch, she said. "Unfortunately, the teenage girls did not realise that they were in effect allowing a stranger into their bedroom with a camera." Pictures of one of the girls were then sent on to another male, she said. "He then took this one step further by targeting and raping a vulnerable child at a nursery where he was working. "Unfortunately, concerns raised by other staff about his behaviours and the appropriateness of his relationship with the child did not prevent this happening." It was left to one girl to come forward and report the abuse to police, she said. Ofsted issued a statement earlier in the case proceedings saying it had referred allegations to the local authority, Birmingham City Council. An Ofsted spokesman said: "When Ofsted received allegations from a member of staff about possible safeguarding concerns at Little Stars Nursery, we immediately referred the allegations to the local authority, the lead agency locally with responsibility for safeguarding, and with them conducted a joint visit to the nursery. "Following the visit, we required the nursery to ensure, amongst other things, that safeguarding policies were in place and procedures were properly followed. "We are sorry that investigation did not bring to light what was happening sooner and for any additional distress this may have caused those affected by Mr Wilson's actions." Wilson pleaded guilty in June to two charges of rape, 16 of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, 25 of making indecent images and three of distributing images of children.