Latest Offenders Bristol

Description

A youngster left troubled after being molested by a Thornbury man found courage, with maturity, to report his abuser.

And as a result that abuser is now in prison.

The boy was aged 10 or 11 when Jeremy Farrow sexually abused him, Bristol Crown Court heard.

After Farrow told him not to say anything the child said nothing, but after some years he emailed his mum describing what Farrow had subjected him to.

Police were called in and Farrow was arrested.

Farrow, 53, of Castle Court, pleaded guilty to: causing a child aged under-13 to engage in sexual activity; engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child aged under-16 and breach of a Sexual Offence Prevention Order. (SOPO)

The Recorder of Bristol His Honour Judge Peter Blair QC jailed him for seven-and-a-half years.

The judge told him: "You told him to keep quiet and that's what he did until it all became too much.

"You have caused severe, psychological harm to that young man."

Farrow was barred from working with children and was told to comply with sex offender notification, indefinitely.

James Tucker, prosecuting via video link, said the boy changed from being "bright and diligent" to a cannabis smoker whose academic work declined.

There came a time when he emailed his mum, describing how Farrow abused him.

The court heard Farrow committed a sex act in front of the boy, and got the boy to carry out a sex act on him.

As a result the complainant found relationships difficult and acted improperly at school, the court heard.

But as years passed he came to realise the abuse and its toll on him and no longer kept it bottled.

Tabitha Macfarlane, defending, said her client had his own issues to deal with, including a catastrophic brain injury.

She told the court Farrow, who has breached his SOPO on several occasions, wanted to make a fresh start in jail and hoped to take courses including a sex offender programme.

Description

A Downend man convicted of sexually assaulting one woman and stalking another was jailed. A jury found Aaron Gent guilty of two sex offences but he admitted other charges.

In total the 30-year-old, of Maggs Close, was convicted of stalking, causing criminal damage, harassment and two sexual assaults. Judge William Hart jailed him for 20 months.

The judge told him: "The offending indicates wholly inappropriate behaviour by you to both these women. Women should not be expected to tolerate it. Those who offend in this way should expect custodial sentences."

Description

Former Ministry of Defence worker moaned on a sick dark web chat room that lockdown stopped him looking at schoolchildren on his way to work.

Phillip Nutt complained on ‘PedoPub’ that working from home stopped his walks past schools and hindered his access to kids.

The 53-year-old used his IT skills to find, download and hide child abuse images picked up on the dark web, including rape and torture videos of babies.

In one chat with another ‘PedoPub’ user, Nutt described how he gained children's trust and concealed the disturbing content he accessed.

He said: “I have everything secured and no one can see unless I leave it unlocked by accident.

“I have a false camera storage as well so if someone asks to see my photos it shows normal people photos. The good ones are hidden.”

In another chatroom conversation, Nutt discussed his frustration with the lack of access to children during lockdown.

He wrote: “I usually walk past a school on the way to work and I can’t even do that!”

Nutt added: “I am of the view that you have to be so careful and disguise your true self….Any little ones around me I treat as friends and gain their confidence.”

When police raided his home in Horfield, Bristol, officers found nearly 300 indecent images and videos on his phone and computers.

Cops also discovered cloud-based accounts overseas that hosted 18,641 files across 445 folders, where Nutt allowed videos to be accessed by other paedophiles.

One folder labelled ‘Incest’ contained hundreds of indecent videos of children, some in the most serious category, police said.

Some of the videos lasted up to two hours and showed the torture and rape of babies and young children, the National Crime Agency said.

Digital forensic analysis found Nutt regularly went onto the dark web and had a secure image storage facility on his phone disguised as a calculator.

He was careful to hide his tracks and described having ‘a scare’ when pictures accidentally transferred onto his main hard drive, the NCA said.

NCA officers arrested Nutt at a holiday home in Cornwall last year.

At Bristol Crown Court yesterday (Thurs), Nutt was jailed for 16 months after pleading guilty to possessing, making and distributing indecent images at an earlier hearing.

Derek Evans, NCA senior investigating officer, said Nutt used sophisticated methods to hide his crimes.

He added: “The conviction of Nutt serves as a warning to all - that we will work with partners across the globe to safeguard children and bring offenders before the court.

“This investigation identified the horrendous rape of babies and very young children, which was being distributed by Nutt, who attempted to conceal his methods through sophisticated means and his knowledge of IT systems.

“For as long as the demand for this material remains in depraved people like Nutt, it will continue to be supplied.

“This investigation has broken part of that cycle and the NCA have succeeded in disrupting someone who posed a significant threat to children.”

Description

A man who attacked a vulnerable woman after she confided in him about being sexually abused as a child has had his sentence increased.

Michael Smith, 26, from Bitton in South Gloucestershire, raped the victim following a party in August 2017.

Earlier in the evening she had told him she was very anxious about having sexual intercourse because of her experiences as a child, but he removed her clothing while she was asleep and attacked her.

When the victim threatened to report him, Smith made a false allegation to the police that she was harassing him, despite apologising for the incident in previous text messages to her.

Smith, who was employed by Bristol Ambulance Service, admitted to colleagues he had raped the woman and they also reported the incident to the police.

Police found four extreme pornographic images on his phone – one of which Smith had disseminated to his friends via WhatsApp.

Smith eventually pleaded guilty to one count of rape and four counts of possession of extreme pornography at Bristol

Sentencing judge Julian Lambert took into consideration Smith’s age, his good character and his pleas of guilty, as well as the current problems in the prison system caused by the pandemic.

But Attorney General Suella Braverman argued at the High Court that Smith had been treated too leniently considering the impact of the offence on the victim.

During the appeal the court heard the victim was left feeling worthless and dirty, and even three years on from the attack could not contemplate having a relationship with a man.

Ms Braverman said the starting point should have been eight years, before both mitigation and the mandatory reduction in sentence due to guilty pleas were taken into account.

She also argued his four-month sentence for the extreme images should not run concurrently to Smith’s sentence for rape, as the offences were unrelated to the attack.

Increasing Smith’s sentence for rape to five years and three months, Lady Justice Macur said: “This sentence should not have been reduced below the bottom of the range before the discount was applied.”

She added that the extreme images were a “separate category of offending” that call for consecutive sentencing, but reduced the sentence to three months to run concurrently on each count.

It brings Smith’s total sentence to one of five years and six months.

Smith appeared at the hearing via video link, but could be seen with his head in his hands at the end of the ruling.

The Attorney General said after the hearing: “Smith’s repulsive actions, and the extent to which he lied to cover up his guilt, were truly shocking and caused severe harm to the victim.

“I am pleased I was able to personally present this case and I welcome his sentence being increased.”

Description

A Bristol man thought he was persistently pestering girls aged 12 for sex.

But in reality Adam Pugh, of Seneca Street in St George, was making lewd suggestions to adults, either paedophile hunters or undercover police.

Pugh - who has developmental delay akin to mild learning difficulties - was also found to have downloaded and shared indecent images of children.

Bristol Crown Court heard that, since his offending emerged, he has given himself a self-imposed ban from the internet.

The 37-year-old pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child, two charges of arranging or facilitating a child sex offence and attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act.

Judge Euan Ambrose handed him an eight-year extended sentence comprising of four years' custody and four years' extended licence.

He told Pugh: "I am quite satisfied you are dangerous.

"This was persistent offending, undeterred by your arrest.

"You had no way of knowing those you were speaking to were not real children.

"You pose a significant risk of serious harm to children."

Pugh was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and was given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order designed to stop his reoffending.

James Haskell, prosecuting, said in June 2019 Pugh chatted online to a girl who told him she was 12, and his conversation became increasingly sexualised.

The 'child' was in fact a member of paedophile hunter group Innocent Voices.

Later in the same month Pugh chatted online to another 'child' aged 12 who was also an adult hunter, discussed sex with her, talked about meeting up and sent her a photo of his private parts.

The hunter group then confronted Pugh, police arrested him and he was released pending further investigation.

But the court heard that, once released, Pugh was at it again - this time chatting to another 'child' aged 12 who turned out to be an undercover police officer.

This time he sent the supposed youngster a video of himself engaging in a sex act.

He also talked about meeting her after lockdown to have sex.

During the course of a police investigation it was discovered Pugh had downloaded and distributed child abuse images, which he admitted and asked the court to take into consideration.

Susan Cavender, defending, said: "He has given up all internet access.

"He now has a Nokia with no internet.

"He asks me to assure you of his genuine remorse.

"He has mild to moderate learning difficulties.

"He has made appalling mistakes."

The court heard Pugh, who has limited experience of travel from Bristol, never intended to meet the 'youngsters' and talk of such amounted to fantasy.

Description

A man convicted of raping one woman and sexually assaulting another in Bristol city centre has been jailed.

A judge concluded that Ian Ochieng, a paranoid schizophrenic, targeted two women three days apart in June 2019.

He took his first victim to a secluded spot and forced himself on her in an assault lasting some 30 minutes.

And he approached his second, equally vulnerable victim and touched her inappropriately, Bristol Crown Court heard.

Ochieng, 27, of Saltmarsh Drive in Lawrence Weston, denied wrongdoing.

But a jury convicted him of rape and sexual assault by penetration.

Judge William Hart handed him a 16-year extended sentence, comprising of 12 years' custody and four years' extended licence.

Ochieng has to serve two-thirds of the custodial term before the parole board considers his fitness for release.

The judge told him: "I regard you as a dangerous, predatory individual and a threat to women."

Ochieng was barred from working with vulnerable adults and children and ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely.

A jury heard the first victim left her friends and was in Horsefair when Ochieng took her behind Poundland and raped her.

In interview she said: "All I remember is that it really hurt and then I ended up running off and I was trying to put my clothes back on, but I couldn’t because it was raining."

As she walked home in a state of partial undress she encountered four friends who came to her aid, the court heard.

They called an ambulance and she ultimately gave an account of being sexually assaulted.

An examination at the Bridge noted injuries and DNA matched the profile of Ochieng.

Three days later Ochieng approached a second woman who either passed out or fell asleep outside a Bristol nightclub.

The jury heard he put his hand in her underwear and groped her.

Sarah Regan, prosecuting, read an impact statement from the first complainant, who outlined the serious anxiety and relationship difficulties she suffered as a result of her ordeal and asked: "I'd like to know what right this person thought he had to take me off the street and rape me?"

The second complainant pondered: "I ask myself if he was attracted by drunken women; I did not lead him on at all."

Miss Regan said other woman had reported sexual assaults by Ochieng - but he was either acquitted of wrongdoing or matters were not pursued.

Jennifer Tallentire, defending, said her client is a paranoid schizophrenic, who had undergone mental health treatment, and whose sexual inhibition is less prevalent when he is well.

She told the court in June 2019 his mental health deteriorated, however.

Miss Tallentire said that during that time he was suffering from "paranoid feelings" which included fears someone was going to shoot him and a belief he had a GPS device in his stomach.

She conceded that her client was smoking cannabis when he assaulted the second complainant.

Acting Detective Inspector Mark Newbury said: “In 22 years of policing I think this is one of the most important convictions I have been involved in.

“Ian Ochieng is every woman’s worst nightmare. He’s an extremely dangerous individual and the public are without doubt much safer with him behind bars.

“He actively searched the streets of Bristol looking for women to target before subjecting them to quite horrific ordeals.

“Both victims demonstrated immense bravery and courage in giving evidence at court and I’d like to thank them for helping us to ensure Ochieng no longer poses a threat to others.

“I’d also like to praise the work of my team in securing this conviction. Their determination and commitment to obtain justice for both victims was truly outstanding and they are a credit to the police force and the communities they work so hard to protect.”

Description

An Akela at a scout group was rumbled for sexual assault - after a child in the group put their hand down their mum's trousers.

When the mum asked her child not to do it they asked: "Why, that's what Akela does to me?"

It transpired Stephen Boulton, a respected member of the Scouting Association for decades, had been advised about inappropriate touching.

But, after that, on two occasions he put his hand down the trousers of two children and touched their bare backsides.

Boulton, 72, of Brislington, pleaded guilty to two charges of sexual assault of a child aged under-13.

Judge Euan Ambrose jailed him for 28 months.

He told Boulton: "You had previously been warned about your behaviour regarding a different child. Your actions had a significant impact on each child. Only immediate imprisonment constitutes appropriate punishment."

Boulton was handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order designed to stop his re-offending.

He was ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years and was barred from working with children and vulnerable adults.

Anjali Gohil, prosecuting via video link, told Bristol Crown Court the first complainant disclosed what Boulton had done and their parents contacted police.

Boulton was arrested, interviewed and initially denied wrongdoing.

Police then discovered Boulton received "words of advice" from the Scouts' safeguarding team after a previous incident, but did not face charges.

And it emerged another youngster disclosed Boulton put his hand down their trousers, touched their bottom and said: "You like that, don't you?"

When Boulton was interviewed again he made a prepared statement in which he denied any sexual intent.

The father of the first complainant made a statement in which he said the abuse had impacted on the child and their family, and Boulton had breached their trust.

But he ended his statement by saying: "We are incredibly proud of our wonderful, brave [child]."

The mother of the second complainant stated: "I feel disturbed, upset and sickened.

"It feels horrible someone has abused [my child].

"I actually want to attack the man; I wouldn't do this."

The mum said she regretted that did not have the strength to go to police before they came to her.

The complainant wrote a note in which they said: "I hope to get justice so I can forget about it.

"I don't want more children to go through what I have."

Emma Martin, defending, said her client acknowledged the hurt of his wrongful actions and was remorseful.

She said: "If he could turn the clock back and undo the hurt he would do in an instant."

She added that Boulton was involved in the Scouting Association for very many decades and very many people spoke highly of him.

A Scouting Association spokesman said: "The safety of all our members is our number one priority. It is at the heart of our decision-making.

"We carry out stringent vetting of all adults who work with young people and work together with statutory agencies to share relevant information to ensure the safeguarding of young people.

"Bolton was suspended from Scouting as soon as we were aware of the allegations made against him and we cooperated fully with the police during their investigations.

"We are aware of a concern raised about Bolton’s behaviour prior to this case.

"We reported these concerns to the relevant authorities when they occurred.

"Following the advice of the statutory authorities we investigated these concerns and required Boulton undergo further safeguarding training.

"Bolton’s betrayed the trust put in him by young people and parents and there is no place for him in the Scout Movement.

"It is right that Boulton has been sentenced for his crimes.

"Boulton was permanently excluded from Scouting and will never volunteer with us again. We will learn from this experience and redouble our efforts to keep young people safe.”

Description

A man who raped a teenage girl after following her off a bus has been jailed for nine years.

Michael Murray, 29, attacked the girl in Stapleton Road in the Easton area of Bristol on 9 January.

He pleaded guilty to rape and a separate charge of common assault when he appeared via video-link at Bristol Crown Court on 7 April.

Murray, of no fixed address, will serve nine years in jail and six years on an extended licence.

Avon and Somerset Police said his victim gave a detailed description of her attacker so they were able to track him down on CCTV footage in the area at the time of the assault.

Murray was handed a concurrent four-month prison sentence for the common assault on a second victim, who he hit with a cigarette lighter after she rebuffed his advances.

He was also given an indefinite restraining orders in relation to both victims and he will remain on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Det Sgt Stuart Toms said Murray posed "a significant risk to women and in particular, to teenage girls and it's reassuring to know he will now be locked up for a lengthy period of time".

"Sexual assaults by strangers are rare in Avon and Somerset but when they do happen we do everything we can to identify offenders and bring them to justice," he said.

Description

Bristol man jailed for taking photos of himself sexually abusing boys

Martin Berry is starting a hefty jail term after admitting a plethora of child sexual assaults and child exploitation charges

A Bristol Man took indecent photos of boys and pictured himself sexually abusing them.

Martin Berry regularly had the children at he and his partner's home for games and sleepovers, Bristol Crown Court heard.

Unbeknown to parents who trusted him, he was a convicted paedophile who sexually exploited the youngsters for his own perverted ends.

Berry, 58, now said to be of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to multiple sexual assault and attempted sexual assault as well as causing the sexual exploitation of a child.

Today (February 12, 2020) he also pleaded guilty to a further charge of causing the sexual exploitation of a child, two charges of voyeurism and possessing indecent images of a child.

The recorder Mr Adam Vaitilingam QC handed him a 12-year prison sentence with four years' extended licence.

He told Berry: "You are a sophisticated sex offender with previous convictions and a caution for sex offences.

"You identified families with young children.

"You manipulated parents into trusting you.

"You manipulated children into trusting you too.

"This was a gross breach of trust which the parents and children placed in you."

Berry was handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order designed to stop him re-offending and his electronic devices were forfeited.

Fiona Elder, prosecuting, said Berry sexually abused three boys aged between five and 11.

As well as touching their private parts Berry was found to have photos on his phone in which he captured his indecent acts or photographed the boys in semi-clad or naked poses.

One lad was asleep when Berry abused him, the court heard.

When police forensically examined his phone they found videos and stills of unknown youngsters aged between five and 12 being sexually abused, which he accessed via the dark web.

Tabitha Macfarlane, defending, said as a child her client was sent to a "boarding school for maladjusted boys" where he took comfort from sexual behaviour with other pupils.

He then joined the Army aged 16.

She said Berry had stated: "I'm utterly horrified as to what I've done"

"I sincerely apologize to all the boys and their families.

"I'm willing to enter therapy if offered."

Miss Macfarlane described her client's health as "chronically bad", having suffered an amputated leg following severe osteoarthritis.

Description

A Henbury man convicted of molesting two teenage girls has been jailed. Roger Loney, 45, of Satchfield Close, denied abusing the youngsters but was convicted after a trial.

A jury found him guilty of sexually assaulting one girl and three sexual assaults on a second. Judge James Patrick jailed him for three years. The judge barred him from working with children and vulnerable adults and ordered him to sign the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

Sam Jones, prosecuting, told Bristol Crown Court Loney was found guilty of inappropriately touching both victims. Both gave impact statements saying how the abuse left them scared and traumatised.

One said: "The trauma left me feeling like an alien, like I forgot to be a normal individual...I felt very fragile and concerned. I've stopped any form of getting to know men.

"It didn't leave a bit of my life untouched. I hope the defendant can learn from this and not make the same mistake."

Derek Perry, defending, said his client - a man of previous good character - remains in denial about the offences. Mr Perry said Jamaican national Loney had felt "trapped, isolated and lonely" after coming to the UK.

The court heard his father died in October last year, and a mix of Covid and the court case prevented Loney from attending his funeral. Loney has not seen his elderly mum in Jamaica for some two years, Mr Perry said.

Police officer in the case, DC Mike Coleman, said: "The victims in this case have shown a great deal of bravery during this investigation and trial. I hope that the sentence given to Loney today will bring them some closure.

"Offending such as this is taken very seriously by the police and we will always seek to bring justice for the victims."

Description

A victim of child sexual abuse bravely told a court how his life has been decimated as a result.

He said being molested at the hands of Christopher Lawrence caused him trust issues, ruined relationships and prompted him to seek solace in obsessive behaviour.

He told Bristol Crown Court: "I've realised how much the abuse affected me and how much it changed my life."

Lawrence, 72, of Orchard Square in Redfield, Bristol, pleaded guilty to nine historical charges of indecent assault on a male.

The Recorder of Bristol His Honour Judge Peter Blair QC jailed him for 10 years at a sentencing hearing today (Wednesday, January 12).

The judge told Lawrence: "I have taken account of the victim personal statement which [was] bravely read out, explaining the impact he has faced throughout his life as a result of sexual offences on him when he was aged five to 12.

"The impact has been severe, prolonged harm."

Kannan Siva, prosecuting, told the court Lawrence repeatedly sexually abused the victim by touching his private parts.

Though the victim confided, aged 15, to his family that Lawrence abused him, at that time he did not wish to make a complaint to police.

But the court heard in 2019 he did report the abuse - but Lawrence made no comment.

'I gave the image of a happy child'

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court: "It had a huge impact on my life.

"As a child I was determined to be very strong.

"I didn't want to tell anyone.

"I gave the image of a happy child but I was not happy inside."

He described how the abuse prompted him to seek comfort in obsessive behaviour, which went on to ruin both relationships and his finances.

Description

"Why was he released twice? It baffles me as to how that could be allowed to happen"

A man has been jailed after being caught trying to target underage children online.

Simon Wilkinson exhibited a persistent, perverted aim to chat sexually with under-age girls and have intimacy with them, Bristol Crown Court heard.

However, he was inadvertently speaking to 'paedophile hunters' posing as children.

But after initially being arrested he was released under investigation twice and re-offended twice before finally being brought to book with a third arrest.

Wilkinson, 40, of High Street in Staple Hill, pleaded guilty to three charges of attempting sexual communication with a child and three charges of attempting a child to engage in sexual activity.

He also admitted possessing and making indecent images of children.

Judge Julian Lambert jailed him for 16 months.

He told the court: "Why was he released twice? It baffles me as to how that could be allowed to happen.

"It is terribly worrying for the public."

Wilkinson was handed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, banning him from unchecked internet use or contact with children.

He was ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely.

Richard Posner, prosecuting, said Wilkinson was initially snared when he made lewd suggestions to "Clare aged 14", who turned out to be a paedophile hunter from the group Safeguarding The Innocent.

When Wilkinson's telephone was analysed it was found he had deleted three child abuse photos in the Category C lowest level of concern.

Mr Posner said: "He was released under investigation.

"He returned to a similar pattern of offences of a similar nature."

The court heard Wilkinson then chatted sexually online with "Megan, 15" - who turned out to be the same paedophile hunter who caught him the first time.

Mr Posner said: "Police were informed again.

"He was arrested again and in interview, he again made no comment.

"He was released again pending further investigation."

After being released Wilkinson resumed lewd chats with "Megan, 15" and was reported again and arrested a final, third time.

A telephone in his possession then had 23 deleted child abuse images, 11 of which were in the Category A highest level of concern.

Mr Posner told the judge the police's primary focus had been on any other victims being exploited, in a protracted investigation which included interrogation of devices.

Clare Fear, defending, said her "lonely" client had done some thinking on remand and aimed to do all he could to "put himself right".

Description

A St George man has been jailed for a sexual assault in the city centre after his DNA was found on the victim.

Yousef Al-Alawi, 21, of Roseberry Park appeared at Bristol Crown Court on April 10. He pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault by touching.

He also admitted another count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent.

Al-Alawi was jailed for 12 months.

The incident happened on a set of steps which run between Bristol Cathedral and the Marriott Hotel during the early hours of July 15, 2018.

The court heard his DNA was found on his victim.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Joscella Thomason said: This was an extremely distressing ordeal for the victim and Id like praise the bravery she showed following the incident and thank her for supporting our subsequent investigation.

Al-Alawi had no choice but to admit he was responsible for the attack due to the weight of evidence against him.

I welcome the custodial sentence given to him and I hope it shows the public how seriously we treat sexual assaults of all kinds.

Anyone who doesn't want to report a rape or sexual assault to the police can call The Bridge - a Sexual Assault Referral Centre available 24/7, 365 days a year, on 0117 342 6999

The Bridge provides medical care and emotional and practical support to anyone affected by rape and sexual assault.

Description

A former Morecambe High School English teacher jailed for viewing child abuse images was released from prison ' and then caught after viewing more online pictures.

Brian Rafferty was jailed in 2015 after being caught with 2,000 indecent photos and extreme pornography.

He was teaching English at Morecambe High at the time but was immediately suspended when the allegations came to light.

Raffertys contract was later terminated when he was jailed for 16 months at Preston Crown Court. None of the offences related to children at the school he taught at.

Authorities checked the grandfathers computer equipment following his release from prison, and his online search terms related to child abuse material.

Though he had deleted his viewing history, police found nine such images.

Rafferty, 58, originally of Market Street in Carnforth but now of St Georges Square in Bristol, pleaded guilty to three charges of making indecent images of children.

He also admitted breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order by deleting his Internet history.

Judge Martin Picton jailed Rafferty for 14 months at Bristol Crown Court.

Rafferty, who is barred from working with children and vulnerable adults, was ordered to sign as a sex offender for 10 years.

The court heard police found two images on Raffertys laptop computer which were deemed to be in the lowest level of concern, in category C.

In his tablet device there was an image deemed to be in Category A and six images in Category B.

In 2015 we reported how Rafferty admitted seven offences relating to indecent images of children and animals.

Police found hundreds of images during a raid.

Rafferty was jailed for 16 months at Preston Crown Court.

Having taught for more than 20 years he was suspended from the school and then sacked.

Description

Neal Harris abused his position of trust with two of his players.

Football coach Neal Harris jailed for four years for having sexual activity with two under-age girls.

A children's football coach has been jailed for sexually abusing two young girls in his care.

Neal Harris was a trainee primary school teacher when he coached youngsters at a football club based in South Gloucestershire.

Bristol Crown Court heard he groped one 14-year old before having sex with a 15-year-old one month before she turned 16.

Harris, 25, of Rectory Close in Yate, pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child, in a position of trust, regarding both girls.

Judge James Patrick jailed him for four years.

He told Harris: "You were their coach.

"You were training to be a primary school teacher.

"You used your position to groom these two girls, both very significantly younger than you."

Harris was barred from working with children and vulnerable adults and was told to register as a sex offender for life.

James Tucker, prosecuting, said Harris was 21 when he abused a girl aged 14 by kissing and touching her sexually above her clothes.

Mr Tucker said: "She fell in love with him."

At one stage Harris messaged the child with a picture of himself in his stained pants, telling her: "Look what you do to me."

That made her feel uncomfortable, the court heard, but she initially felt unable to tell anyone.

Harris told her they should wait to have sex when she was 18, but cuddled her on a bed and kissed her stomach, Mr Tucker said.

Eventually Harris moved on to another girl he coached and, after exchanging messages on social media, they became intimate and had sex a month before her 16th birthday.

Mr Tucker told the court: "She was worried because it was her first time.

"She told him she wanted to.

"She describes him using condoms and they spoke about her having an implant.

"He bought her a ring and Christmas gifts."

The court heard they went on to have sex at his home and in his car.

When Harris was arrested he denied any wrongdoing with the first girl and denied sex with the second girl before she was 16.

Virginia Cornwall, defending, said her client was a reserved man lacking self-worth and self-confidence.

She said: "The abuse was as a football coach.

"He was training to be a primary school teacher. He will never be as such."

Miss Cornwall said he felt "valued and wanted" with the first girl but knew what he was doing was wrong.

 
She said he was flattered by attention from the second girl and they had consensual intercourse.

Investigating officer DS Geoff Smith said: “Neal Harris abused his position of trust in the worst way possible and took advantage of two teenage girls who he was in contact with through his football coaching.

“He groomed the victims who believed they were in a relationship with them and he used social media as one method of communicating with them. He told them they had to keep the “relationship” a secret.

“He met them in parks, woods, car-parks and in public places including behind a supermarket, which is where the sexual abuse would take place.

“The victims now understand they were groomed and the offending committed against them will have an impact on them for the rest of their lives.”

The Bridge provides medical care and emotional and practical support to anyone affected by rape and sexual assault. You can call The Bridge for help and decide about talking to the police later.

You can also visit thisisnotanexcuse.org for details of charities and organisations who are experts in supporting victims.