Latest Offenders Cheshire

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A predatory rapist who targeted children as young as three was dragged back to court after a new victim came forward.

John Phillips, now 50, was previously locked up for 22 years at Liverpool Crown Court in 2018, after raping and sexually assaulting eight young victims.

But another man, who was repeatedly assaulted and raped by Phillips from the ages of three until around 14, did not feel able to come forward until after that case concluded.

Thanks to the man's bravery, Phillips was re-investigated by Cheshire Police and hit with a new 18 count indictment including nine charges of rape, some of which incorporated multiple incidents.

The paedophile was also charged with one count of attempted rape, six counts of indecent assault, and two of indecency with a child.

He pleaded guilty to all offences.

Judge Rachel Smith, sentencing, said under current legislation several of the indecent assault counts would have been classified as rape of a child - starting from when the victim was just four.

Phillips, who was living in Winsford at the time of his original arrest but who has links with Widnes and Runcorn, appeared via video-link from HMP Parkhurst.

The paedophile sat with his head bowed as the court heard he groomed his victims by showering them with gifts and money, but also used violence and threats to keep them quiet.

The abuse began when the child was three and dominated almost his entire childhood, leaving him isolated and withdrawn.

Judge Smith described how the first rape occurred when Phillips coaxed the boy, then aged nine, into his flat by saying he had bought a present.

However when the child arrived Phillips, who was drunk, told him he could only have it after they "had sex".

The abuse continued for several years and included a rape in an office where Phillips worked.

The court heard as the victim got older, Phillips began offering him money after he raped him, as part of a pattern of grooming.

The abuse eventually ended when Phillips moved on to younger children, who formed part of the 2018 case.

Iain Johnstone, defending, said his client had been abused by his own father when he was child and was "sickened" he had done the same thing.

Mr Johnstone, describing the contents of a letter written by his client, told the court: "Mr Phillips did not have a very good upbringing from a family point of view.

"He says he was subjected to abuse as he was growing up. He says he just wanted to be loved and tried to kill himself so many times, as he didn't feel good enough.

"He says 'I always said I would never turn out like my dad. To be here today charged with what I have been charged with sickens me. I am grateful [the victims] were strong enough to speak out.

"I am so very sorry, I wish it didn't happen, I wish I could turn back time'."

Judge Smith said that although the abuse happened at the same time as some of the victims involved in the 2018 case, she would have passed a harsher sentence had these offences been revealed.

Phillips' sentence was increased by seven years to a total of 29 years - of which Phillips must serve at least two thirds before he can be considered for release by a parole board.

Due to the severity of his crimes even if he serves the full 29 years in prison he will be subject to an extra four years on licence upon his release.

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This is the face of a paedophile who said he repeatedly raped a little girl because he "wanted attention".

Married dad-of-five Lance Buruka, 44, molested a young child before raping her at least seven times.

But when confronted over his sickening abuse, he denied any of the rapes and only admitted lesser offences.

This meant the little girl had to endure the ordeal of giving evidence at a trial.

Buruka, formerly of Heathgate, Skelmersdale, but now of Partridge Close, Birchwood, Warrington, was found guilty of seven counts of rape.

He was jailed for 18 years with an extended year on licence and designated an "offender of particular concern" because of the risk he poses.

The ECHO was unable to show readers his face because Cheshire Police refused to release his mugshot, despite official guidelines stating that it should be provided to the media.

However, these photos reveal the monster who used to run a company called Buruka Event Planning Limited, based in Skelmersdale.

Judge Neil Flewitt, QC, told Buruka: "You sexually attacked her and did so for your own sexual gratification. You told the author of your pre-sentence report that you were feeling lonely and wanted attention.

"She doesn't fully appreciate the scale of your offending. Her mother said that you have taken her innocence. She is likely to be profoundly damaged by what you have done to her."

He added: "You had an understanding of the harm caused and you were only concerned about your own satisfaction."

Buruka was found guilty of the rapes and three counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 at a trial at Liverpool Crown Court in August.

He had pleaded guilty to two separate sexual assaults, plus sexual offences that were alternative charges to the rapes.

Owen Edwards, prosecuting, agreed with Judge Flewitt that Buruka would be sentenced for at least seven rapes.

He said: "It's very difficult for a child of that age to say how many times it happened."

The girl's mum told the court that when she learned Buruka had raped her daughter "my whole world fell apart".

In a victim statement, the mother said the child didn't yet seem to understand what had happened to her.

However, she said Buruka had "taken away her innocence" and during the trial she had "cried her eyes out".

The Rwandan and Congolese national has previous convictions, which include an assault against a former partner in 2011.

He also received a suspended jail sentence for a driving offence, committed when he was arrested for these sexual offences.

Katie Laverty, defending, said three character references had been provided for her client by various members of his family.

She said: "Mr Buruka is finally starting to realise the enormity of his actions and the dreadful impact this will have not only on his victim going forwards, but also on his wife and their children."

Ms Laverty said in respect of the offences there was "little else" that could be said in mitigation, but her client had few convictions, this was his first experience of custody, and he apologised for his behaviour.

Judge Flewitt said there was no effective mitigation and by deciding to deny many of the allegations, he made his victim face cross-examination.

He told Buruka: "Your character references are of little value in a case of this gravity. They were probably written by people unaware of your offending."

The judge added that the report found he had "a lack of insight" into his actions and until he took full ownership and addressed his issues, "the risk of further sexual offences remains".

Judge Flewitt said Buruka was an "offender of particular concern" and jailed him for 18 years, with an extended year on licence.

This means he will spend at least half of the sentence - nine years - behind bars, before he is eligible to apply for parole.

He will then only be released before the end of the 18 years if he is no longer considered to be a risk.

Judge Flewitt said Buruka must sign on the Sex Offenders Register and comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life.

Both a 2005 protocol, created in consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, Association of Chief Police Officers, the Attorney General's Office and the media, and a 2017 College of Policing policy, agree a guilty defendant's custody photo may be released - the latter stating "unless there is a court order or legitimate policing purpose preventing their identification".

There was no court order and Cheshire Police has not cited any policing purpose for its refusal.

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A "TRULY disgusting" paedophile from Ellesmere Port who incited three children to engage in sexual activity has been jailed for a total of 23 years.

David McMurtry, 49, of William Johnson Gardens, was found guilty after a trial of 10 charges of child sex offences against three young girls, the youngest of whom being just seven or eight years old at the time of the offences.

McMurtry was also found guilty of possessing 26 indecent images of children. He had earlier pleaded guilty to one charge of possessing 161 prohibited images of children.

Sentencing at Chester Crown Court on Thursday, February 27, Recorder of Chester Judge Steven Everett said the evidence against McMurtry had been "overwhelming" and the jury had "rightly" found him guilty of all charges.

Prosecuting, Nicholas Williams said the offences began more than 10 years ago and occurred over a number of years. In each case, McMurtry had incited the young girls to engage in sexual activity.

Judge Everett agreed those three charges would be the most serious and, after taking into account the principle of totality, would impose consecutive sentences for those three counts.

The three victims none of whom can be identified had each come to court to read out their victim impact statements.

Each of them told of the "devastating impact" McMurtry had had on them, and how they would have nightmares and night terrors in the years following the sex attacks.

Between the three of them, they had suffered depression, anxiety, panic attacks and insomnia and felt like their social lives had been compromised. All spoke how their childhood had been taken away from them because of McMurtry's actions.

One said: "I hate him and I am upset for what he did to me."

The same victim also told how, after she had given her statement to police before the trial, there was an occasion when McMurty sat next to her at Ellesmere Port Market, making her feel very uncomfortable.

Another victim told how McMurty had seen her in the street about a year ago and he was laughing at her.

"I can't put into words how much I hate him; he disgusts me," she told the court.

Judge Everett said to the victims: "There is only one person to blame [for what has happened] and that is him. It's not you. There is nothing that any of the three of you did wrong."

The court heard while McMurtry had no previous convictions, he had taken advantage of three girls who were "extremely vulnerable".

Defending, Simon Mills said the length of the expected prison sentence, and the imposition of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, meant the likelihood of McMurtry committing offences of this nature again was "as close to nil as possible".

He added McMurtry would find prison more difficult than if he was a young, fit and healthy man, and upon his eventual release would find himself in isolated, lonely circumstances.

Mr Mills said of McMurtry's health: "He is sufficiently overweight for his life expectancy to be reduced. He has had major surgery in the past."

Judge Everett, sentencing, told McMurtry his behaviour had been "truly disgusting".

He added: "Your victims had to go through the truly awful process of coming forward and giving evidence in court.

"They were courageous enough to give evidence against you. The one thing they should take from this is they were believed and everybody knows what you did to them when they were three young girls.

"You knew, or believed, that nobody could touch you, because of their sheer vulnerability.

"You showed you have no remorse or understanding of the damage you caused, sitting next to one of them at the market, laughing at another. It just showed you thought you were untouchable.

"The jury rightly saw through that and rightly convicted you of these terrible offences.

"I need to send out a message to you and to others that if they are ever tempted to do something like this, they will go to prison for the same length of time as you.

"I sentence to punish you and to protect the public from the likes of you and to send the message out to the public.

"You heard the victim statements and the devastating effect it has had. One can only hope they will be able to get some closure and get something of a decent life in the future."

McMurtry was jailed for a total of 23 years and placed on the sex offenders register for life.

Judge Everett told him: "In my judgment that is the least possible sentence. You will serve at least half that sentence, possibly more."

McMurtry was made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order prohibiting from making any sort of contact with the victims or unsupervised contact with any female under the age of 16 except with parental/guardian permission from someone aware of McMurtry's convictions.

The order, among other requirements, prevents McMurtry from owning a device capable of storing images, data encryption software or having access to the internet, except in circumstances which allow police to monitor his usage.

The devices he used to obtain the indecent and/or prohibited images were to be forfeited and destroyed.

McMurtry showed no emotion as he was led to the cells.

Afterwards, Judge Everett told the victims and their families: "Any sentence that I pass here today is not long enough as far as you are concerned. I hope it gives you some sense of closure.

"There is only one person to blame here and that is the person who has gone through the door [to prison]."

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A WEAVERHAM man who repeatedly sexually abused a nine-year-old girl in her own home has been jailed for 12 years.

Philip Railton, 38, of Clitheroe Road, committed his crimes of oral rape and sexual touching in Northwich between November 2014 and August 2015.

It was only two years after the offences took place that the victim described in court as vulnerable wrote a letter to a police officer, which was found in her rucksack.

His Honour Judge Simon Berkson said: This led to the investigation into you being the child abuser you have been found to be.

Throughout the trial you tried to cast her in a bad light. The jury saw through that and found that you lied.

The victims letter said she did not feel safe around Railton, after he had touched her, kissed her, and forced her to perform sexual acts on him.

Her mum found the letter while packing her school bag one morning, handing it over to a social worker before a police officer visited the home.

The police contacted Railton that evening, but did not tell him whom the allegation concerned. Later that night, he called the victims mum from a withheld number something he put down to coincidence.

She said he sounded nervous and confused, and that there was no further contact between them following the brief phone conversation.

From there, an investigation was launched and the victim recounted the abuse in an interview with police officers.

Railton denied the charges, but after a five-day trial a jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict on all six counts.

Judge Berkson said: This is a very sad case because of the way you were able to connect to the victim.

On six separate occasions you abused your victim.

The abuse took place in her own home where she should have felt safe. She was under the impression that something bad would happen to her if she told anyone.

Railton will serve half of his 12-year custodial sentence before he is considered for release.

He was also handed a years extended licence, and a restraining order against the family. He will be subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Cheshire Polices dedicated rape unit oversaw the investigation into Railton.

DC Mo Deakin, from the unit, said: First and foremost I want to acknowledge the remarkable bravery and courage of the young victim in this case.

"To be subjected to such a horrific experience at such a young age is bad enough, but to then have to re-live it in court is truly awful.

This case has been challenging for all those involved, but especially for the victim and her family.

"I have worked alongside them for the past two years and they have been an immense source of support for each other through a very difficult and trying time.

Philip Railton committed horrendous offences against a young child. He maintained his innocence throughout but thankfully the jury has seen through his lies and convicted him of six sexual offences.

I am pleased that there has been a successful conclusion to this case and a dangerous sexual offender is now behind bars, where he will remain for a very long time.

I hope that this gives other victims in a similar situation the courage to come forward and report what has happened to them.

Cheshires Dedicated Rape Unit has a team of specialist officers committed to dealing with this type of crime, and providing advice and support to victims.

To report any sexual offence call Cheshire Constabulary on 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111

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A WINSFORD man has been jailed for four years after admitting having sex with a child and making indecent images of children.

Liam Martin, 25, of Kingsway, Winsford, pleaded guilty at Chester Crown Court to five counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child under 16 in 2011 and making indecent images of children.

In a separate incident Martins phone was checked by police officers as part of his release conditions for a previous conviction for a child sex offence and the check uncovered a total of 271 category C images of children.

DC Dave Walton said: Martin tried to make the girl feel like they were in a relationship but in reality he was using her for his own sexual gratification.

Her bravery in coming forward means that Martin is now behind bars.

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THE parents of a seven-year-old girl who was sexually abused by a family friend have said their lives had been ‘shattered’ by his actions.

Nathan Dunne, 28, was jailed for four years at Chester Crown Court after he admitted touching her sexually before forcing her to touch his penis.

The court heard how Dunne, of Powell Drive in Middlewich, had turned up drunk at a gathering at a house in Winsford in May last year.

After his partner left, he entered the girl’s room and went to sleep on the floor. A short time later he climbed into her bed, where he took off her pyjamas, blocked her from leaving the room, and touched her sexually four times.

Despite her telling him to stop and that she was in pain, he continued and eventually took off his own shorts and twice placed her hand on his penis.

She called out for her parents but they could not hear. Before returning to sleep on the floor, he told her to keep what had happened a secret.

After Dunne had left the house the following morning, the girl became tearful as she told her mum that he had made her ‘touch his willy’. A report was made to the police.

In a victim impact statement read out in court during the sentencing hearing on Monday, the girl’s father told of the effect the incident had had on his family.

He said: “Since the incident, we have become very protective and won’t let her out of our sight. We second-guess every decision we make and punish ourselves for previous decisions.

“We feel that everyone is a threat and we need to keep her very close. We will struggle to come to terms with the fact that this has happened to our daughter for the rest of our lives.

“Our world has been completely shattered. It’s a horrific memory that will never leave us.

“No child should have to go through what she has had to suffer.”

Dunne had initially said he couldn’t remember the events and denied the charges, although traces of his DNA were found in the girl’s underwear. He pleaded guilty two months before a scheduled trial was due to start.

Sentencing him to two concurrent four-year sentences, His Honour Judge Simon Berkson said: “What you did on that night was commit terrible crimes towards the girl.

“These offences were committed when drunk in the bed of the girl, in her room, in her home where she should have been – and felt – safe.

“You continued to abuse her when she told you to stop and was shouting for her parents.

“This offending was out of character but very serious. It is unavoidable but to sentence you to immediate imprisonment.”

Dunne was also made subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

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A man who created a ‘step-by-step paedophile manual’ tried to blame ‘family and work’ pressures for his paedophile behaviour as he was jailed for just 16 months.

Nicholas Simon Smith’s 171-page document was called How to Practise Child Love – A Paedo’s Guide which he wrote was a ‘guide in how to engage in safe and harmless love with a child’.

Investigators discovered more than 10,000 indecent images at his home in Bollington, Cheshire, along with video clips showing child abuse.

The father-of-one’s house was raided in February 2017 and police retrieved his computer and USB sticks.

Judge David Hale, who viewed some of the document, described it as ‘absolutely repulsive’ at Chester Crown Court.

Among the 10,837 images, 133 were classified as ‘category A’ – involving the worst kinds of child abuse images.

Prosecutor Jayne Morris said the images had been collected over a period of more than 10 years.

Smith, 41, started in his mid to late 20s but then the offending became more frequent and compulsive over the years.

He told police that he started looking for material of girls aged 10 or 11 because of ‘family and work pressures’.

He admitted seven counts of possession of indecent images of children, possession of the manual, possession of indecent computer generated images depicting children and possession of extreme pornography.

Defending, Mark Connor said that the manual had been downloaded by Smith along ‘with a lot of other stuff’ and there was never any suggestion that there had been any contact offences.

He said: ‘His arrest has had a devastating effect on his family, he has lost a lot.’

He added that he had shown ‘shame and remorse’ about his actions.

His client had sought out treatment for his addiction to such material and was receiving weekly sessions of therapy.

Jailing Smith, Judge Hale said that the possession of the manual, the number of images and the length of time of the offending left him with no other option than immediate custody.

Smith was also made the subject of a 10 year sexual harm prevention order.

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A FATHER of one from Ellesmere Port who sexually molested a young girl has been jailed for five years.

As Stuart Lloyd, who had denied the allegations, was led to the cells he turned to relatives of the victim in the crowded public gallery behind him and threatened: “In a couple of years I’ll get you.”

He had been convicted by a jury after a trial of two offences of sexually assaulting the 10-year-old child but was cleared of raping a 12-year-old girl a couple of years earlier.

Judge Andrew Menary QC pointed out that his comment was a “potential contempt of court” but he said he was taking no action about it and commended those in the public gallery for their restrained behaviour during the proceedings.

Jailing the 33-year-old, he said that when Lloyd later thought about what he had done “you no doubt realised you had gone too far because you attempted to buy her silence by giving her some money”.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that the sexual assaults came to light after the victim told her grandmother what Lloyd had done to her and the police were notified.

The girl told how he had kissed her all over her face and put his tongue in her mouth, which the judge described as “gross behaviour by an adult with a ten-year-old child”.

Lloyd went on to touch all over her body, including her naked genitalia.

“She was thoroughly bewildered by what had happened but knew instantly that it was wrong,” said Judge Menary.

Lloyd, of Cannon Street, Ellesmere Port, was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and the judge imposed a Sexual Harm Behaviour Order - banning unsupervised contact with girls under 16 - for five years.

Anthony O’Donohoe, defending, said that Lloyd has a diagnosis of being on the autistic spectrum and probably also has ADHD. He presents as “rather immature” and these factors will make his time in prison more difficult than for more sophisticated individuals.

He has no similar previous convictions and he will be affected by loss of contact with his baby daughter and his small family unit, he added.

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A PROLIFIC paedophile who was snared by vigilantes who posed as children has been jailed for over nine years.

Mark Baber, 43, was duped by paedophile hunters after attempting to engage in sexual activity with what he thought were children via online chat rooms before he was brought to justice, Portsmouth Crown Court heard.

The conviction comes after it was widely reported earlier this month that evidence gained from paedophile hunters was used to charge suspects in England and Wales on at least 150 occasions last year.

Babers predatory attempts in December last year were exposed after he sent crude messages and sexually graphic pictures as he looked to secure encounters with children using his dark high speed grooming tactics.

The defendant was then tracked to his Fareham home address where he was nowhere to be found before he was finally hunted down and discovered at his work. Police arrested him the following day.

(Baber) was talking to three women posing as children in chat rooms where he made a number of sexual suggestions and sent crude photos of himself before the team found him, prosecutor Timothy Compton said.

Baber also downloaded over 20 disturbing images of children aged between two and 14 years of age.

When police turned up at his address they found he had deleted his internet history - something he was prohibited from doing under the terms of an order from his previous term of imprisonment for similar offences.

The court also heard how Baber befriended a lady with his ulterior motives laid bare when he started texting her daughter. On one occasion, the predator sent the girl a message saying he would get her a sex toy with a bean bag cushion.

He also capitalised on an opportunity to spend time alone with the child when the mum fell asleep further putting him in breach of his conditions with him not allowed to be by himself with a child.

The mums horror was compounded when she searched Baber on the internet and found out he was a paedophile.

The court heard how the child offender had 26 previous convictions and was sentenced to 48 months prison in 2013 for similar offences after downloading a string of vile child images and attempted to incite children into sexual activity.

In defence, Daniel Reilly, said Baber was released in October 2017 before finding himself homeless and abandoned by his family who wanted nothing more to do with him which had resulted in him losing out on a significant amount of family inheritance.

(Baber) knew he did wrong and wanted to stop, Mr Reilly said.

The defence solicitor then told the court of the paedophiles remorse. Im totally ashamed of what I did. I want to make sure this is never repeated, Baber said.

Baber, of Riverside Avenue, Warrington, admitted attempting to incite children into sexual activity, deleting his internet history, distributing images of children and for breaching his sexual offences order.

After sentencing Baber to nine years and three months in prison, judge Robert Hill said: You did your best to incite sex with children. The only difference was that you were being set up.

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Deported from the US, currently residing in the UK

A Muscatine man has pleaded guilty to sexual abuse in the third degree.

Oliver John Verne, 45, waived his right to a delay and proceeded immediately to sentencing.

The court imposed a prison sentence for a term not to exceed 10 years.

In addition he will be on supervised release as if on parole for the remainder of his life when he completes the prison sentence.

Verne will also be required to register as a sex offender.

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A man who raped a 12-year-old girl at a house party has been jailed.

Connor Freeman, 19, of Victoria Road, Dukinfield , was at a party where he met the young girl.

They ended up in a bedroom together where Freeman went on to rape her.

The girl initially confided in a friend who told her mother and it was reported to police.

Greater Manchester Police launched an investigation and Freeman was arrested.

Freeman pleaded guilty to rape of a girl under 13-years-old at an earlier hearing.

He was sentenced to 40 months in prison and placed on a Sexual Harm Prevention Order indefinitely, following a hearing at Minshull Street Crown Court.

DC Rochelle Evans, of the Phoenix Team in Tameside, said: Child sexual exploitation takes place in many forms.

In this case the victim was raped by Freeman, who paid no heed to the fact that she was only 12-years-old at the time.

I want to commend the girl for her bravery in reporting what happened to her and helping to stop Freeman from preying on any more girls.

Please visit www.itsnotokay.co.uk for information for children, young people, parents, carers and professionals on how to spot the signs of child sex exploitation and what to do about it.

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A paedophile has been jailed for a minimum of 10 years after abducting a young girl in Ellesmere Port, and subjecting her to a horrific sex attack.

A paedophile who kidnapped and raped an 11-year-old girl after grabbing her off the street in Ellesmere Port as she walked home was branded the living embodiment of every parent's worst nightmare,'' as he was jailed.

Paul Ripley, 53, abducted the terrified youngster in on a winter's night last year, Chester Crown Court heard.

The girl was near her house walking from a friend's home around 7pm last November 7 when Ripley pulled up in his car, bundled her into the passenger seat and drove off.

A witness heard a girl scream and a car drive off at speed and as her frantic parents searched the streets and called police, Ripley drove the girl hundreds of miles north, before pulling into a field.

There he raped her twice then wrapped duct tape over her mouth and eyes before abandoning her in a village near Darlington, County Durham, in the early hours of the morning.

She flagged a passing taxi down, telling the driver: I don't know where I am. I've been raped...''

But police were quickly able to trace Ripley's silver Hyundai car as it drove back south to Cheshire, arresting Ripley on the M6 in Lancashire, within hours of the attack.

The defendant's DNA was recovered from the girl and Ripley admitted two counts of rape, kidnap and dangerous driving at an earlier hearing.

Today he was given an extended sentence on licence, meaning he will serve between 10 and 16 years in jail before parole depending on an assessment of his dangerousness and be on licence under supervision for 24 years in all.

Ripley, originally from the Darlington area but living in Ellesmere Port at the time, showed no emotion as he was sentenced.

Judge Nicholas Woodward told him: This must have been a harrowing ordeal where you specifically targeted a vulnerable child for your own sexual gratification.

Children's freedom in modern society is affected by the concern caused by people like you.

You are a very dangerous man, that is to say you present a significant risk to members of the public.

In short, you are the living embodiment of every parent's worst nightmare.''

Police say Ripley, who had 27 previous convictions but none for anything so serious before and none for the last 13 years, has not been forensically linked to any unsolved sex attacks.

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A BIRCHWOOD man with a history of sex offending has been jailed after grabbing a woman and groping her.

Sean Steven Taylor, aged 23, of Layton Close, attacked the 51-year-old woman during the afternoon of July 19, in Birchwood.

Cheshire Police says Taylor grabbed her from behind, forcing his hands up her top and assaulting her.

Taylor then threw the victim to the floor and ran off.

Police officers identified the pervert from CCTV footage at the scene.

He was arrested and charged with sexual assault of a female aged over 18.

Taylor pleaded guilty at Chester Crown Court on Friday, and was jailed for 28 months.

He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register.

DC Richard Kirby said "Sexual offences are horrific crimes which cause great distress to the victims and their families.

The use of CCTV in this case was essential to swiftly identifying the offender and bringing him to justice."

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Ex-BBC broadcaster Stuart Hall has been sentenced to an extra two years and six months in prison for two counts of indecently assaulting a girl.

Hall, 84, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, will start the sentence after completing a 30-month term for similar offences.

He admitted indecently assaulting the girl when she was 13 and was found guilty of one count in a majority jury verdict at Preston Crown Court.

He was cleared of 15 rape charges and four indecent assaults.

The charge Hall admitted involved an incident at a dinner party where he crept into his victim's bedroom and assaulted her.

'Vile bravado'

Sentencing him, Mr Justice Turner, said there had been "an element of grooming" to his offences.

Mr Justice Turner said there had been a "breach of trust" in relation to the assault on the girl when she was 13.

He said that Hall had acted with "a sense of arrogance and immunity... vile bravado and horrible betrayal".

He added that the 84-year-old had shown "a lack of candour or remorse" and criticised him for not admitting to these offences when he was convicted of other offences in 2013.

Hall did not react to the sentence as he listened to the proceedings through headphones, while his victim, who was also in court, wiped away tears with a handkerchief as details of the offences were mentioned.

The former broadcaster, who was accused of abusing two girls between 1976 and 1981, is already serving a 30-month jail term after he pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting 13 other girls, one as young as nine.

His original 15-month sentence, for abuse that occurred between 1967 and 1985, was later doubled at the Court of Appeal.

Speaking after the hearing, the Chief Crown Prosecutor for the North West, Nazir Afzal, said Hall's convictions "were only made possible by the courage of his victims".

"I would like to thank them for coming forward and ensuring that he was brought to justice," he said.

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A DANGEROUS sexual predator strangled and punched a 21-year-old woman after following her from work in Widnes.

Patrick Sullivan, of Cleveleys Avenue in Widnes, had been drinking at the bar where his victim worked before the assault on Cross Street just after midnight on January 26.

The father of four had admitted ABH but had denied any sexual motive. He was subsequently found guilty of intent to commit a sexual offence at trial.

Judge Andrew Hatton said when sentencing Sullivan: This a young womans worst nightmare. She was alone late at night in a quiet, secluded location and became concerned that she was being followed.

She crossed the road twice deliberately to see if she really was being followed and you matched her every move. She was then jumped on from behind, strangled by your arm and wrestled to the ground.

Further violence followed, including punches to her face. Your interest was not in her money or phone as she offered you both in an attempt to stop the assault. Nor was your interest in her upper body or breasts.

Your hands went straight to her jeans. You intended to commit either rape or a very serious sexual offence.

The court heard how heavy snow fall that evening meant a colleague, who was supposed to give the victim a lift home, was not prepared to risk driving.

Judge Hatton continued: Within moments of parting from her work colleague, the victim turned onto a quiet residential road of terraced houses where she was strangled from behind and then subjected to an assault occasioning actual bodily harm."

During the incident Sullivan was disturbed and fled, pursued by a man and the police were called.

Judge Hatton added: What was described as old fashioned detective work led to your arrest. Had it not been for footprints in the snow you would never have been detained.

Sullivan, aged 52, was jailed for four years at Liverpool Crown Court on August 21. He will serve at least two thirds of his sentence before remaining on license for six years when released.

Judge Hatton concluded: You argued that you were just messing about, a defence which was quite rightly in my opinion, nonsensed by the jury.

I accept that you had been drinking but I do not accept you were intoxicated to the extent that you describe.

You dealt a gratuitous kick to the back of the young women as you left and you did so as an act of frustration that your plans to sexually assault her had been thwarted.

I consider the extended license to be necessary for the protection of members of the public from an extremely dangerous sexual predator.

Sullivan will also be placed on the sex offenders' register for life.