Latest Offenders Cambridge

Description

A registered sex offender who was found with child abuse images and a haul of illegal weapons has been jailed. Paul Page was being monitored by dedicated officers after he was previously convicted of child abuse in the USA.

The 49-year-old was arrested at his then home in Littleport on May 16 after intelligence suggested he was in possession of indecent images. Page admitted he had been downloading indecent images of children on to a USB stick.

Digital tests revealed a total of 254 images – 113 category C, 32 category B and 109 category A, which is the most severe. When Page was on bail, officers were alerted to a stash of rifles, pistols and crossbows.

The weapons were being kept in a shed at his former home in Littleport. Firearms officers seized 74 items, including 25 firearms.

Page, formerly of Littleport but now no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children, six counts of possessing a weapon in a private place and two counts of possessing a weapon for the discharge of a noxious liquid/gas/electrical incapacitation at Peterborough Crown Court on Wednesday (August 30). He was handed a prison sentence of one year and eight months.

A Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) was put in place for 10 years to monitor any future offending. He remains on the Sex Offenders Register for life following his conviction in the USA.

DC Andrew McKeane, who manages sex offenders in the community, said: "Page is a dangerous sexual predator and I am pleased he has faced justice. Offenders are closely monitored to ensure they are complying with orders – to protect the public and help prevent further crime."

A Cambridgeshire Police spokesperson said: "Anyone who is concerned someone may have been convicted of a sex offence, and could be posing a risk to a child, can apply for disclosure information through Sarah's Law. Anyone who looks out for the welfare of a child can make an enquiry. This can include parents, carers, guardians, extended family, friends and neighbours."

Description

A paedophile has been locked up again just months after he was released from prison. Justin Barrs, 25, was convicted of making indecent images of children five years ago and again in 2020.

But after being released back into the community on January 26, he has been jailed once again after he was found to have breached the conditions of his release. As part of the conditions, Barrs was made to present his mobile phone to Thorpe Wood Police Station, in Peterborough, the day after he moved to the county from Suffolk on April 4.

When officers examined his phone, they found Varrs had created three usernames for online chat sites and had deleted the social media site Snapchat from his phone. He admitted he had been part of an online group for 13 to 19-year-olds.

When he was discovered, he told the police: "I'm an idiot."

Barrs, of Essendyke, Bretton, was sent back to prison after being charged with three counts of failing to comply with notification requirements for the Sex Offenders Register and breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). On August 3, at Peterborough Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to three years and four months in jail.

DC Jon Edwards said: "Protecting children and vulnerable people from harm is one of our top priorities and I am very pleased Barrs' breaches of his release conditions were discovered so he could be brought back before the courts. I would urge parents and carers to talk to their children about the dangers of phones, social media and the importance of online safety."

Description

A predatory and highly manipulative Cambridge paedophile who filmed himself raping a young girl and sexually assaulting another has been jailed for 32 years

Kevin Brock, of Cam Causeway, lured dozens more girls into sending him sexual images and videos of themselves by promising them more followers on social media.

He was found to have trawled through hundreds of under-age girls profiles on the video sharing platform Tik Tok.

A court heard Brock, 28, abused two girls under the age of 13 in Cambridgeshire in 2021, raping the younger of them on three separate occasions.

Another slightly older girl was groomed over years and sexually assaulted three times. Some of this abuse was also filmed.

His crime emerged in December 2021 when messages were found on one of the girls devices by a family member, who called police.

When Brock was arrested, he told police in an interview that he had never touched the girls sexually. He admitted sending the messages to the older girl, but claimed they were not meant in a sexual nature.

When his home was searched, two phones were seized and analysis showed he had 1,401 indecent images and videos of children, including the rape and sexual abuse of the two young girls.

There were 809 category C images or videos, 350 deemed to be in category B and 242 at category A the most severe.

Brock answered no comment in a further interview with police following the discovery of this material.

Investigations by another police force in July last year revealed Brock had targeted another girl under 13 on Tik Tok and asked for sexual images of her in exchange for followers on the video sharing platform.

Brock urged the girl, who lived in Nottinghamshire, to add him on Snapchat before asking for sexual photos of her.

The request for photos progressed to videos of the girl engaging in sexual activity - and Brock threatened to ban her from Snapchat if she did not comply with his demands.

After being arrested, Brock claimed his account must have been hacked and told officers he did not speak to under-age girls but further videos discovered by police on his phone revealed conversations with at least a dozen other under-age girls, who he had also encouraged to engage in sexual activity, and to supply him with photos and videos.

Brock denied all charges against him but later admitted a total of 27 offences, including:

• Three counts of raping a girl under 13
• Engaging in sexual communication with a child
• Two counts of sexually assaulting a girl under 13
• Sexually assaulting a girl under 13 by penetration
• 13 counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity
• Three counts of possessing indecent images of children
• Four counts of making indecent images of children

He was sentenced at Peterborough Crown Court today (August 7), where he was handed a total of 32 years in prison.

Sentencing Brock, Judge Rupert Lowe said the offences revealed him to be a persistent, predatory and highly manipulative paedophile with a deep rooted sexual interest in young girls.

He said the offending was sexual abuse in the most appalling way for both girls, adding that Brock recorded and retained the footage, no doubt intending to view it later for sexual gratification.

Det Con Charlie Mitton, from Cambridgeshire polices Child Abuse Investigation and Safeguarding Unit (CAISU), said: Our thoughts are with the two young girls Brock targeted in the most horrific of ways, and his other victims who were targeted online.

We are pleased he has now been brought to justice and we hope the sentence imposed gives his victims and their families some closure from this traumatic period in their lives.

Det Con Mitton said investigations showed Brock would trawl through hundreds of under-age girls profiles on Tik Tok, watch them on live streams and send them direct messages promising them hundreds of likes, causing their accounts to skyrocket in popularity.

She added: However, in exchange for these likes, which there was never any evidence he could provide, Brock would ask for sexual images or videos of them. This behaviour is highly manipulative, as vulnerable children are often attached to their social media influence.

Phones and social media mean children can be vulnerable to those who prey on their innocence and exploit their trust. We would urge parents to speak to their children about online safety and consider exactly who they are communicating with online.

We would also encourage anyone who believes they may have been subject to similar behaviour by Brock to get in touch. Protecting young people from harm is one of our top priorities and we have specially trained officers who are there to support victims and bring offenders to justice.

Description

A paedophile tried to hide a mobile phone containing indecent images of children in the sunroof of his car.

When officers arrived at Roy Seymour-Morris' house on March 27, he was at the gym, but as he pulled up officers noticed him put his hand towards the sunroof - where he put a phone.

The visit followed Seymour-Morris’ IP address being found to be used to upload illicit images of children.

The phone was seized and found to contain three Category A videos, the most severe, and three Category C indecent images.

Seymour-Morris, 62, was also in breach of one of the conditions of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) handed down after he was convicted of indecent image offences at Guildford Crown Court in April 2018. 

He had failed to let officers know of a new phone so they could instal monitoring software.

On August 3, at Peterborough Crown Court, Seymour-Morris, of Sandbank, Wisbech St Mary, was jailed for one year and eight months after pleading guilty to distributing an indecent photograph of a child, breaching an SHPO and two counts of making indecent photographs of a child.

DC Claire Cummings said: “Seymour-Morris knew what he was doing was illegal so I am glad he has faced justice.” 

Description

A convicted sex offender who was found with 25 category A images and used search terms including “children in swimwear” on his computer has been jailed for more than two years. 

Specialist officers trained in dealing with sexual offenders were carrying out a routine inspection at 56-year-old Lee Williams’ home in St Neots in April 2021 when they discovered the searches and images. 

They were unable to access Willams’ spare mobile phone and computer as he gave incorrect password details and claimed he hadn’t set the computer up yet. 

As a result, the devices were seized and sent to the forensics team, which discovered child abuse images, 25 of which were category A, the most serious. 

Williams pleaded guilty to three counts of breaching a sexual harm prevention order and three counts of making indecent images of children. 

He was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison at Cambridge Crown Court last week (June 22). 

Detective Constable Decca Riondino said: “Specially trained officers will continue to monitor and engage with registered sex offenders in the community and conducting device inspections is an important part of our work. 

“Williams was subject to a sexual harm prevention order and demonstrated a blatant disregard for it. 

“We work with partner agencies to protect the public and bring offenders and reoffenders to justice.” 

Anyone who is concerned someone may have been convicted of a sex offence, and could be posing a risk to a child, can apply for disclosure information through Sarah’s Law. 

Anyone who looks out for the welfare of a child can make an enquiry. This can include parents, carers, guardians, extended family, friends and neighbours. 

Description

A Cambridgeshire sex offender with "complete disregard for the law" superimposed the head of a child he knew onto an indecent image. Christopher Downes had been on the Sex Offenders Register for just two months when a photo editing software account linked to him was used to alter the image.

It was flagged to police by the National Crime Agency (NCA). Downes, 31, was arrested at his home on Oak Crescent, Dry Drayton on March 12 and his phone and tablet were seized.

These were analysed and found to contain 41 indecent images of children, including 12 category A – the most severe. Seven indecent videos of children were also found, three of which were category A.

When interviewed by police Downes answered no comment to all questions. On March 21 he pleaded guilty to three charges of making indecent images of children at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court. He was sentenced to a year and six months in prison at Cambridge Crown Court on Friday (March 28).

DC Andrew McKeane, who investigated, said: “Downes had only been on the Sex Offenders Register since January, and to offend so soon after shows his complete disregard for the law and entrenched views on the matter. A child is victimised when an indecent image is taken and every time it is viewed or shared.

"Protecting young people from harm is one of our top priorities and we have specially trained officers who are there to support victims and bring offenders to justice. I am grateful for the work of our partner agencies, who are imperative in safeguarding the most vulnerable in our society. We will not stop pursuing people who are willing to place children at risk of harm and will work tirelessly to put them before the courts."

Anyone who is concerned someone may have been convicted of a sex offence, and could be posing a risk to a child, can apply for disclosure information through Sarah’s Law. Anyone who looks out for the welfare of a child can make an enquiry. This can include parents, carers, guardians, extended family, friends and neighbours.

Description

A 91-YEAR-OLD man has been sentenced to ten years in jail for his sexual offences against a young girl almost two decades ago.

Eric Grant, 91 of Hall Barn Road, Isleham, appeared at Basildon Crown Court on Thursday, February 23, where he was jailed for his offences which took place between 2004 and 2005.

The victim was just 11 years-old at the time she was abused. The abuse took place in Essex and in Cambridgeshire.

The victim reported the abuse to Essex Police in March 2021.

Prior to speaking to police, she called Grant to confront him about what he did.

She recorded this call, where Grant implied that the acts were consensual. The victim then bravely used this as evidence when reporting to the police.

The investigation was picked up by Essex Police’s Quest Team, who dedicate themselves to investigating all non-recent child sexual abuse.

Grant was interviewed in July 2021 and refused to tell officers anything. Despite this, he was charged a few months later.

Following a trial at Basildon Crown Court, which began on December 12, 2022, Grant was found guilty and placed on the Sex Offenders Register whilst being remanded into custody ahead of his sentencing. He appeared at Basildon Crown Court again on Thursday where he was sentenced to ten years in prison.

He was also given a restraining order, preventing him from making any contact with the victim.

At the sentencing, the victim bravely spoke out in court, describing how Grant’s crimes have had a lasting effect on her including how it’s made her extremely protective of her own child.

His Honour Judge Hurst described Grant’s “cowardly defence” and criticised him for putting the victim through the difficult court process despite his recorded admissions.

Investigating Officer, Detective Sergeant Ed Massey said: “I want to commend the bravery of the victim in this case, who I know feels like a massive weight has now been lifted from her.

“I feel the sentence – and the fact that Grant is likely to spend the rest of his life in prison – reflects the devastating effects of his sexual abuse of a child, and the fact that he made the victim go through the difficult process of a crown court trial.

“I would also like to extend my thanks to the Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) from CARA (Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse) who supported the victim throughout the whole process, including several days of jury deliberations, and being by her side today as she read her Victim Personal Statement.”

Detective Sergeant Shirley Cole, from the Quest team, added: “The Quest team is made up of dedicated, specialist officers who work day-in, day-out to get justice for victims.  Our work shows that just because sexual abuse took place decades ago, it doesn’t mean that you have any less of a right to have someone who abused you held to account.  I would urge anyone who was abused as a child to come forward and report to us what happened to them.”

Support is there for anyone affected by rape and sexual abuse, and no victim or survivor is alone. Synergy Essex provides specialist support for victims and survivors of rape and sexual abuse of all ages and all genders across Essex, Thurrock and Southend.

Synergy Essex is a partnership of rape and sexual abuse centres in Essex: CARA (Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse), SERICC Rape and Sexual Abuse Specialist Service and Southend-on-Sea Rape Crisis (SOS Rape Crisis). Synergy Essex is independent from the police and provides support for victims and survivors throughout their journey.

Victims and survivors can self-refer, or be referred by a parent, partner, friend or professional and can access specialist emotional support, counselling and advocacy.  For victims and survivors who report to the police, Synergy Essex provides an Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) service, providing support throughout the criminal justice process.

For more information visit the Synergy Essex website.

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Cambridge paedophile Peter Jarvis told police he was 'disgusting' after admitting he was a paedophile. The 48-year-old sexually assaulted a teenage girl three times in June and July 2022.

He was arrested and initially denied the offence when interview. However he eventually admitted the offences before pleading guilty to three counts of sexual assault on a girl.

Jarvis, of Sawston, Cambridge, was sentenced to four years in prison at a hearing at Huntingdon Law Courts on Tuesday (February 21). He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely and handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) to run until further notice, which means he will be closely monitored by officers.

DC Terry Bandoo, of Cambridgeshire Police, said: Jarvis abuse has had a huge impact on the victim. I am pleased he is now behind bars and once he is released he will be very closely monitored by specialist officers.

"Anyone who is concerned someone may have been convicted of a sex offence, and could be posing a risk to a child, can apply for disclosure information through Sarahs Law.

"Anyone who looks out for the welfare of a child can make an enquiry. This can include parents, carers, guardians, extended family, friends and neighbours."

Description

A Cambridgeshire paedophile who sexually abused children for more than a decade has been jailed. Robert Codling, 58, of Princes Road, Wisbech, targeted girls, a court was told.

His victims were abused at an address in the town over a 12-year period. During this time, Codling would openly perform sexual acts on himself in front of the children, and would touch them sexually, calling it “playfighting”.

After more than a decade of abuse, one victim confided in someone close to her, who then reported it to the police. Codling denied the allegations.

However, on Thursday, February 9 at Cambridge Crown Court he was found guilty of six counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching, engaging in sexual activity in presence of a child, and exposure. He was sentenced to eight years and two months in prison.

DC Melanie Bull said: “No sentence will ever erase what happened to the victims, but I hope they will be able to find some closure from this traumatic period in their young lives. Tackling child abuse is a priority for us and we are working hard every day to bring offenders like Codling to justice.”

People who are concerned someone may have been convicted of a sex offence, and could be posing a risk to someone, can apply for disclosure information through Sarah’s Law. As well as this, anyone who looks out for the welfare of a child can make an enquiry, this can include parents, carers, guardians, extended family, friends and neighbours.

Description

A convicted sex offender from Peterborough has been jailed after he failed to tell police about his new address. Ishmael Khan, 40, was convicted of an indecent assault on a girl under 16 in 2006.

He was placed on a registration notification for an indefinite period following the initial conviction. This meant that he had to keep the police informed of personal details, including his main address and any addresses he stayed at for more than 7 days in a year.

In January 2021, Khan had told police he was living at a guest house in Eastfield Road, Peterborough. However, an officer carried out a routine check on August 23 and was told by a staff member that Khan had moved out a few weeks previously without saying where he was going.

His failure to notify police of his new address within three days meant he had breached the requirement of his registration notification. He also failed to complete an annual notification at a police station, which was due by January 27, 2022.

He was arrested in London in April. Khan, of no fixed address, was sentenced to 18 months in prison at Cambridge Crown Court on December 14. He had pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to comply with his Sex Offenders' Register notification requirements.

PC Lorraine Smart, from the Management of Sex Offenders and Violent Offenders team, said: “Khan showed a blatant disregard for the court order and we will always look to make sure sex offenders are adhering to their notification requirements. The prison sentence reflects how seriously the courts take this type of offence.”

Description

Michael Hewitt, 19, had failed to start a relationship with the girl so he set up a fake social media account in March 2020 and contacted the victim – immediately asking for sex.

The victim, who was 15 at the time, did not respond. However, Hewitt persisted and the victim began to reply. Over time, he tricked her into starting an online relationship with the fictional soldier who claimed to be serving in Afghanistan. 

After messaging for several weeks, and after constant requests, the victim sent him intimate photos and videos.

Hewitt then began mentioning himself in messages sent by his alias to the victim.

On 12 May, Hewitt sent an email to the victim from another fake account, claiming to be the father of his alias. The message claimed the “soldier” had died in Afghanistan and that his dying wish was for the victim to start a relationship with Hewitt.

The victim’s mother became concerned about the relationship after not seeing any British military deaths reported in the news and contacted police.

Officers visited Hewitt to speak to him about his friendship with the soldier. He denied knowledge of the man and the investigation continued.

He was later arrested by East Cambridgeshire officers, his electronic devices seized and the IP address at his home linked to messages supposedly sent by the fake soldier and the soldier’s father.

Hewitt, of Swaffham Prior, Cambridge, denied two counts of causing or inciting a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity, but was found guilty by a jury at Cambridge Crown Court.

On Friday (2 December) at Peterborough Crown Court he was jailed for 18 months. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years and given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years.

PC Guy Spencer said: “Hewitt went to great lengths to complete this deception and take advantage of the victim.

“She fully believed Hewitt’s alias was real and the online relationship was genuine. To deceive someone and then abuse that trust is awful. 

“I hope that Hewitt spends his 18 months in custody considering the impact his actions have had on the victim and her family.

“Finally, I would like to thank the victim for her courage in giving evidence and her patience for what has been a long investigation.”

Description

A teacher who took dozens of secret photographs of pupils and kept almost 53,000 indecent images and videos of children has been jailed.

Jeffrey Wilson used a camera pen to take images of pupils and staff at Thomas Clarkson Academy in Wisbech, before taking more photographs of students at Hills Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge.

Police officers carried out a warrant at Wilsons home in Bluebell Way, March after an IP address was linked to viewing indecent images of children online.

Several electronic devices including mobile phones, laptops, USB sticks and tablets were seized.

Of these devices, 45 upskirting images were taken over a six-month period from April to September 2019, when Wilson worked at the two schools.

Wilson had also used a hidden camera in a clock to secretly film a woman undressing at his home.

A further search of Wilsons property was also conducted, where officers found the pen used to secretly take photographs at the schools.

Analysis of the electronic devices seized from Wilsons home also revealed nearly 53,000 indecent images or videos of children.

Of these, 90 were category A the most severe.

Wilson, 31, admitted three counts of making indecent images of children, three of voyeurism and two of recording an image under clothing to observe another without consent.

On August 30 at Peterborough Crown Court, Wilson was jailed for a year and was made subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.

DC Keith Evans said Wilson abused his position of trust at the schools, both with staff and colleagues.

This was a truly disturbing case, said DC Evans.

Wilson was in a position of trust, which he abused by violating both colleagues and students for his own gratification.

His behaviour towards the woman he secretly filmed at his home was also disgusting. Im pleased his offending has been discovered and he has now faced justice.

DC Evans added: These images were taken without the knowledge of the victims and it is impossible to identify them.

Wilsons actions will inevitably cause a great deal of distress to pupils, their parents and staff at the schools.

Description

A Cambridge paedophile asked who he thought was a 13-year-old girl for naked photos the day before he was meant to appear in court for a number of breaches of a court order and Sex Offender requirements. However, his crimes were uncovered when the young girl turned out to be an adult.

Thomas Turney, 41, was caught at his Cambridge home in March this year, hours before he was due to be sentenced in court. Turney, who was conversing with an online child activist group on a dating app, in another conversation asked another adult pretending to be a 13-year-old girl if she wanted sex with him and also asked for a picture.

On the same app, he asked someone posing as a 14-year-old if they wanted to be a whore as well as repeatedly asking another posing as 13-year-old if she wanted a boyfriend and said 13 is not too young. This put him in breach of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) which forbade him to communicate with any child he had not met in person or should reasonably be aware to be under 18.

The following day, Turney was supposed to be sentenced at Cambridge Crown Court after admitting three breaches of an SHPO and two breaches of his Sex Offender Register notification requirements but that was adjourned. In September 2021, detectives had visited him at home and warned him after they found he had been using a dating site he had not notified police about.

Detectives visited him again in October and requested to inspect his mobile phone which was a condition of his SHPO. Turney handed over the phone and his internet history showed vast usage of a dating site where his profile picture was not him and he used the username tony674665.

He was found to be in breach of his SHPO by using a different name as well as his notification requirements by not telling police within three days of activating this profile name. Further inspection of Turneys phone internet history found he had been using another dating app he had failed to tell police about, further putting him in breach of his SHPO.

He was using a profile called Dragon_Master (Tina Turney) and used the profile picture of a blonde woman wearing a revealing dress. Detectives also found he had been using Facebook under the name Lucy Stevens with the same profile picture used for the Dragon_Master account.

Again, this put him in breach of both his SHPO and notification requirements. On Friday, August 19 at Cambridge Crown Court, Turney, of Langdale Close, Cambridge, was jailed for three years, having admitted seven breaches of his SHPO, two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and two counts of failing to comply with Sex Offender Register notification requirements.

He was also given a 10-year SHPO. DC Andrew McKeane said: Thomas Turney clearly knew the requirements of both his SHPO as well as his notification requirements but showed blatant disregard for them by using different names on dating apps and social media, not telling police about some of the apps and names he was using and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

He is a risk to children and I am grateful that we were alerted to this illegal behaviour which in turn brought about a swift guilty plea. Cambridgeshire Constabulary take a zero-tolerance approach and our main aim within the Management of Sexual or Violent Offender (MOSOVO) team is to protect vulnerable children whether in the real world or online.

In this instance, the use of Turneys SHPO allowed swift evidence gathering as well as identifying further offending. His fresh 10-year order going forward will allow for this to continue once he is released from prison and the unit will utilise these powers on every available occasion.

Description

The victim of a rape which took place in Cambridge has spoken out about "how much is still to be done on educating the world on what consent actually is" after her rapist was handed a seven year prison sentence. Following the incident Nya Kuatois was arrested on August 23, 2020.

The victim told officers she was awoken by the 31-year-old Kuatois raping her while she slept. Kuatois, of Glenalmond Avenue, Cambridge, denied the offence but was found guilty of rape at Cambridge Crown Court on August 26 this year.

He was sentenced on Wednesday, September 28, at the same court and placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely. The survivor later issued a statement.

It read: "Going through this has highlighted to me how much is still to be done on educating the world on what consent actually is. I am not an object, I am a mum, a girlfriend, a young woman who was enjoying a night out with friends.

"I hope that one day there will be a silver lining to this, and he will think twice before acting again, not for fear of criminal proceedings, but out of respect for women and their bodies, their feelings, and their lives."

DC Sarah Lloyd said: "I hope Kuatois uses his time in prison to reflect on his actions, which have understandably had a lasting impact on his victim. I would like to commend her for her bravery in coming forward and supporting a conviction.

"I would like to take this opportunity to encourage anyone who believes they may have been a victim of any form of sexual abuse to report it to police. Please be assured that we will always treat you with the utmost sensitivity and respect.

"Reporting a sexual assault or rape can be extremely difficult. We take all reports seriously and have trained staff who support victims through the process."

Cambridgeshire Constabularly have reassured survivors of sexual violence they can have confidence the police and other partner agencies will support them throughout the investigation and criminal justice process. If you or someone you love has been the victim of a serious sexual offence, there are support options available on the force's rape and sexual assault page.

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A former teaching assistant has been jailed for the sexual assault of a child under 13

Essex Police officers from the child abuse investigation teams (CAIT) arrested 25-year-old Michael Pena-Briggs shortly after an offence was reported to the force in March 2019.

Following a complex investigation he was charged in October 2019 with sexual assault of a child under 13.

Pena-Briggs, of The Grove in Cambridge, faced his first trial for the offence at Chelmsford Crown Court in May 2021 but was met with a hung jury.

The retrial began last month where he was found guilty.

It took less than 2 hours for the jury to reach the verdict.

At the same court on Monday he was jailed for four years. He will also be on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Investigating officer for the case, Detective Sergeant Stuart Pryke, said: Offences of this kind will always be shocking and disturbing, particularly when that person is in a position of trust.

This will undoubtedly be difficult news for the local community but please be assured that our teams and partners have safeguarded and supported all those involved in the investigation.

The victim and their family have shown incredible strength and courage throughout this lengthy and complex case.

Everything we do and all the hard work is for them, to make sure that they get the justice they deserve."

The victims family have said: This has been a long journey but the police and the CPS have been unrelenting in their pursuit of justice.

We are especially grateful to DS Pryke of Essex Police for his commitment and dedication, and to CARA, the Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse, for their ongoing support.

We hope that by achieving this significant result, other victims and their families will have the confidence to come forward and work with the police so that more offenders can be apprehended and more children protected.