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Winsford sex offender jailed for breaching court order

Luke Latham, of Old Spot Way, Winsford, has been jailed after breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) imposed to protect the public.

The 27-year-old was originally sentenced at Chester Crown Court on 6 May for two counts of sexual assault against a 14-year-old girl and one count of affray. The assaults, which took place in Winsford in 2024, involved non-consensual sexual touching. His Honour Judge Steven Everett imposed an 11-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years, with a nine-month alcohol treatment requirement. Latham was also required to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years and made subject to a 10-year SHPO.

The SHPO banned him from possessing any internet-capable device without notifying police within three days of acquiring it. It also prohibited him from living in, entering or remaining in any household where a child under 16 is present, and from having any unsupervised contact or communication with under-16s (except inadvertently or with parental/guardian consent and Social Services approval).

On 3 July, just two months later, Latham was found to have acquired three internet-enabled devices without informing police. He admitted the breach at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on 4 July. The case was committed to Chester Crown Court, where on 3 August His Honour Judge Simon Berkson sentenced him to 12 months’ imprisonment.

PC Howells of Cheshire Police’s sex offender management unit said:

“Latham had strict conditions under his existing SHPO not to own a mobile phone without notifying police. He purposefully obtained an unregistered device which he used to break his bail conditions, and contact someone he was prohibited from contacting. This highlights one of the ways in which Cheshire Police helps to protect communities and vulnerable people, also ensuring those who pose a risk are held accountable if they break the conditions imposed upon them.”

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A convicted sex offender has been sent back to jail for a further string of sexual offences.

Christopher Hall, of no fixed address, appeared at Chester Crown Court on 22nd July to be sentenced after pleading guilty to four counts of making indecent photographs, possession of extreme pornographic images involving animals, possession of indecent photographs, three counts of distributing indecent photographs and being an adult attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

The 58-year-old was sentenced to three years in prison.

As part of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order conditions, the 58-year-old has to agree to unannounced visits by police, and checks on his devices to ensure he is compliant with the order. 

On Friday 13th February 2026 officers attended his address and looked at his iPhone 14. Evidence of indecent images led to his electronic devices being seized for further investigation.

They found 32 category A videos, one category B image, 16 category B videos, 7 category C images and 14 extreme pornographic videos.

They also found that he had been using an app to speak to someone who clearly stated the were 14 years old and made continued sexualised comments and conversation with them.

PC Ell Estcourt said:

“This is Hall's second sexual offence of this nature. He knew he had to adhere to conditions in order to stay out of prison, yet he still went ahead and carried on with his predatory and disturbing behaviour.

“I hope this goes as a warning to those who are subject to such conditions, that we do check and we will take action in order to protect children and young people from harm.”

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Two men have been jailed after raping a woman in Winsford.

Diyar Mohammed Abdulsalm and Dilgash Adil, both of Ledward Street, Winsford, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Friday 24 July for sentence.

Abdulsalm, 28, was sentenced to 11 years after being found guilty of two counts of rape.

Adil, 32, was also sentenced to 11 years after being found guilty of one count of rape.

The pair, who are both Syrian nationals, must sign the sex offender register indefinitely.

At 4.55am on Sunday 21 December police were called to concerns for an 18-year-old woman in Winsford.

It was reported she had been on a night out in the town when she started speaking to two men - Abdulsalm and Adil - and had travelled to their home address with them. 

Contact was made with the woman, who was found near to The Drumber, Winsford.

She then disclosed to officers that she had been raped. Abdulsalm and Adil were subsequently arrested and later charged.

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Murray said:

“Abdulsalm and Adil targeted a young woman who could not consent due to intoxication. Officers quickly ensured the victim was safeguarded and arrested the pair in connection with the offences.

“Despite their denials, the jury found them guilty and they have now been jailed for their crimes. Although the victim will never be able to forget what happened, I hope these sentences provide her with some closure, knowing that these men are behind bars and justice has been served.”

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A man who thought he was going to meet a 14-year-old girl for sex has been jailed.

Terrence O’Neil from Gresty Road in Crewe appeared at Chester Crown Court on 20 July to be sentenced after pleading guilty to arranging the commission of a sexual offence of sexual activity with a child, being an adult attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and breaching a sexual harm prevention order at an earlier hearing.

The 42-year-old was sentenced to five years in prison.

O’Neil had been chatting online to who he thought was a 14-year-old girl between 14 April and 22 Apri this year. From the start he commented on her looks and was soon telling her what he’d like to do to her, before arranging to meet up with her for sex.

The evidence was handed over to police and O’Neil was arrested and later charged despite denying the evidence laid out to him.

DC Hollie Ikin said:

“O’Neil ignored his conditions preventing him from contacting underage girls and actively sought them out on an online chat service with clear intentions.

“His disregard for the Sexual Harm Prevention Order was called out, and he is now going to be serving a considerable time in prison for his despicable actions.”

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A man has been found guilty sexually abusing a child in Wilmslow.

Andrew Grierson was found guilty of four counts of sexual assault on a girl under 13, and five counts of indecent assault on a girl under 14, following a 7-day trial at Chester Crown Court which concluded on Thursday 16 July.

The 64-year-old of McCormack Drive, Wigan, has since been remanded in custody and is set to be sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday 6 October.

The court heard how Grierson sexually abused the victim between 1996 and 2004.

Detective Inspector Claire Miles said:

“This has been a complex and lengthy investigation which ultimately uncovered Grierson’s despicable behaviour.

“It was apparent throughout the investigation that Grierson is a sexual predator who had preyed on a vulnerable child in order to fulfil his own sexual gratification.

“His actions have had a lasting impact on the victim, and I would like to praise her for the courage and bravery that she has shown throughout the trial.

“Having to relive her ordeal in court was not easy, but thanks to the strength of her evidence, Grierson has now been held accountable for his actions.

“As this case shows, we treat all reports of non-recent sexual offences seriously, with the wishes and needs of the victim as our main priority, and any allegations will be thoroughly investigated.”

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A man has been convicted of raping and attempting to rape a woman in Congleton.

Lee Reszka, of Longridge, Knutsford, was found guilty of rape and attempted rape on Friday 3 July following a five-day trial at Liverpool Crown Court.

The 35-year-old has been remanded into custody and will appear back at court on Monday 10 August for sentencing.

In November 2023, Reszka had attended the victim’s address on the pretence he was looking for a mutual acquaintance, knowing full well they were not present.

While at the address, the victim allowed Reska to use the toilet, however instead of leaving afterwards, he approached her and attempted to rape her.

The victim managed to get away from him, but he then orally raped her before leaving the address.

She then disclosed what had happened to friends and it was reported to police.

A piece of clothing worn by the victim was forensically tested and DNA found on it provided a match to Reszka. The victim also had injuries consistent with the offences.

DC Neilson-Bird said:

“Reszka made the conscious decision that day to attack the victim, knowing that she was alone. He used force to get what he wanted, ignoring her attempts to fight him off.

“Throughout the investigation Reszka maintained his lies and tried to mislead the police, changing his account as more evidence emerged. He continued to try and portray the victim as a liar who had fabricated the incident, putting her through the stress of a trial. But the jury has seen him for what he is and convicted him of his crimes.

“We would like to highlight the courage of the victim in this case for speaking about what happened to her, and we hope that Reszka’s conviction will help to bring her some closure.”

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A man has been sentenced after he secretly recorded four children in a changing cubicle at a leisure centre in Widnes.

Ian Tabron appeared at Warrington Magistrates' Court on Tuesday 23 June, where he was sentenced to four months in prison suspended for one year. He is also required to sign the Sex Offenders' Register for seven years.

The 40-year-old of Top Road, Frodsham, had earlier pleaded guilty to voyeurism.

The court heard how police were called to Halton Leisure Centre on Tuesday 19 May, following reports from staff that a man had tried to secretly recorded four children in a changing cubicle.

Officers attended and spoke to the children involved. They stated that after using the swimming pool, they went into a changing cubicle. While inside, they noticed a hand reaching under the door holding a phone, which appeared to be recording them.

The children notified their friends and the man started to walk away. He was confronted by staff but quickly made off from the scene.

Following CCTV enquiries, officers identified the man to be Tabron.

He was swiftly arrested and subsequently charged with voyeurism.

Detective Sergeant Chris Murphy said:

"I'd like to commend the children involved in this incident for recognising this incredibly concerning behaviour and raising these concerns with a member of staff.

"Their quick-thinking allowed our officers to swiftly arrest and apprehend a man who clearly poses a significant risk to children.

"Tabron knew what he was doing was unacceptable and predatory, but this didn't stop him from violating the privacy and safety of four innocent children.

"I can only hope he learns from this incident, knowing that our officers will stop at nothing to ensure those that pose a danger to children are arrested, charged, and put before the courts."

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A man from Chester has been jailed for more than ten years after he was found guilty of multiple counts of rape.

Aaron Furnival, of Hunter Street, Chester, was convicted of four counts of rape at Chester Crown Court on Monday 9 March.

The 31-year-old had previously pleaded guilty to one count of controlling and coercive behaviour.

Furnival returned to Chester Crown Court on Monday 15 June, where he was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

During his trial, the court was told how the female victim in this case contacted police to report violent behaviour, emotional abuse and sexual abuse committed by Furnival.

The woman reported Furnival would take advantage of her while she was asleep, and she would awake to find him raping her.

He would also ignore the victim whenever they were having consensual sex and she withdrew her consent. She would ask him to stop and he would refuse.

Furnival was controlling and jealous. He transferred money from the victim’s bank account, threw water over her while she was asleep, and monitored her movements with constant phone calls and messages.

Furnival used foul and abusive language towards her, made threats to kill her and even wrote degrading words on her skin in marker pen.

Offices arrested Furnival on suspicion of the offences but during interview he denied the allegations against him.

Following an investigation, he was charged.

Following the sentencing Detective Sergeant Andy Manson said:

“Firstly, we would like to recognise the bravery of the victim in this case for reporting what happened to her. We hope that the conclusion of this case and the hope that the sentence handed to Furnival, will provide her with some sense of closure, knowing that the jury saw through his lies.

 “Furnival’s cruel and abusive behaviour showed how he clearly had no regard for the welfare of his victim, instead doing whatever he wanted, no matter the consequences to her.

“He then put the victim through the stress of a trial after he refused to accept what he had done. Thankfully, he was found guilty of these crimes and is now facing a considerable length of time behind bars.”

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A man from Winsford has been found guilty of rape, assault and two counts of controlling and coercive behaviour.

Damon Furmedge was found guilty of the charges following an eight-day trial at Chester Crown Court which concluded on Friday 29 May.

The 36-year-old, previously from Weaver Street, Winsford, has been remanded in custody and will appear at Chester Crown Court on17 July to be sentenced.

The case began in November 2024 when police received an anonymous call about Furmedge’s behaviour towards the victim.

The victim was spoken to on her own but was reluctant to give any information and said she was scared.

After gaining the women’s trust, she went on disclose how she had been raped, strangled and abused by Furmedge.

The woman told officers that the first time she was assaulted Furmedge threw her fully clothed into a bath-full of water and held her under the water by her neck. He did this twice and left her terrified she was going to die.

What followed was a catalogue of threats, violence and controlling behaviour which left her so scared that she considered taking her own life to escape.

She told officers that Furmedge had installed cameras and microphones at her home, he had also monitored her movements by tracking her phone and threatened to harm her.

DC Hannah Lamborn from Northwich CID said:

“The level of intimidation and violence was terrifying for the victim who wanted to report Furmedge but was scared of the repercussions.

“The anonymous call that night gave her the courage to speak out about her ordeal. I think that’s a vital example of how concerned friends and family can call out this horrific behaviour and help their loved-one break free. 

“I would personally like to thank the victim for her courage in supporting the Police investigation so that justice could be served.

“Our officers are here to help you, with the assistance of specialist agencies, to break the cycle of abuse and get the perpetrator away from you and convict them of their abhorrent crimes.”

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A paedophile who sexually abused two children has been sentenced to life in prison.

Robert Mattravers, 47, of Russell Road, Runcorn appeared at Mold Crown Court on Tuesday, 2 June where he was sentenced for multiple sex offences.

They included four counts of rape of a child, two counts of sexual assault of a child, five counts of sexual activity with a child, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and causing a child to watch sexual activity.

He was also charged with making indecent images of children, including two Category A, two category B, four Category C and taking five indecent images of a child of Category C.

He admitted all offences that took place in Connah’s Quay.

Mattravers was arrested after one of his victims disclosed the offences to a member of staff at school.

An investigation was launched and a subsequent examination of his phone found indecent images of children.

He was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 11 years and 8 months, after which he will be eligible to apply for parole.

Mattravers was also ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely and barred from working with children and vulnerable adults for life.

A lifetime restraining order was also put in place to protect both victims and their parents.

Speaking after sentencing, DC Victoria Griffiths of the Protecting Vulnerable People Unit (PVPU) said:

“Robert Mattravers is a danger to children, and I am pleased that today’s sentence reflects the seriousness and depravity of the offences he committed.

“He will remain on licence for the rest of his life and if he is ever freed, he can be recalled to prison at any time.

“I commend the bravery and dignity of the victims and their families for having the courage to assist with the investigation, and for their resilience throughout.

“We will leave no stone unturned when investigating those who seek to do harm to vulnerable members of our society. Any victim of sexual abuse is encouraged to come forward with the confidence that they will be heard and supported.”

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A man has been jailed after admitting sexual offences against young girls dating back to 1989.

Ian Sutcliffe, of Dart Walk, Winsford, was sentenced to 18 years on Friday 29 May at Chester Crown Court.

The 58-year-old had previously admitted unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 and gross indecency with a girl under 14 relating to one female victim in 1998.

He had also pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault on a girl under 16 in relation to a second female victim between 1989 and 1994.

In April 2024, one of the victims reported the offences, which had taken place in Winsford, to police.

She recalled that Sutcliffe had sexually assaulted and raped her when she was a child. A further woman reported that she had been sexually assaulted by Sutcliffe at around the same time when she was also a child.

Following his arrest, Sutcliffe denied the offences during interview, but once charged, pleaded guilty at court.

On top of his 18-year sentence, Sutcliffe is subject to restraining orders to protect the victims and must sign the Sex Offender Register indefinitely.

Detective Constable Jessica Small said:

“Firstly, I would like to recognise the courage shown by the victims in this case who have had to carry the weight of what happened to them on their shoulders for all these years.

“Sutcliffe has been handed a substantial custodial sentence for his wicked actions, and this is thanks to the bravery of the two victims in coming forward and speaking to police.

“I hope this case shows that it is never too late to report an offence and we will always investigate every report thoroughly.

“You can report a sexual offence to Cheshire Police by calling 101 or reporting it online via our website.”

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A teenager has been sentenced to 10 years after raping a girl in Crewe.

Ryan Upton was handed the sentence during a hearing at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday 26 May.

The 19-year-old, of Moorland Road, Sandbach, had pleaded guilty to rape and assault by penetration.

Upton and the victim, a teenage girl, had been at an address in Crewe on the evening of 26 December 2024 when he had sexually assaulted her while she was asleep.

Upton had also raped the victim, who fled from the address following the assault. She was found by a passer-by who helped her to call police.

Upton was arrested but denied the offences in interview; however forensic tests were conducted which provided a positive DNA hit for Upton. 

He was charged with the offences and admitted them in court.

On top of his custodial sentence, Upton must sign the Sex Offender Register indefinitely and is subject to a restraining order to protect the victim in this case.

DC Sallis said:

“This lengthy custodial sentence reflects the severity of what Upton did – something which he ultimately had no choice but to admit due to the strength of the forensic evidence against him.

“We would like to commend the bravery of the victim in this case for reporting this offence and although she will never forget what happened, we hope the fact that Upton is behind bars will give her some closure.

“If you have been a victim of a sexual offence, please report it to us by calling 101 or visiting our website. Every report will be investigated thoroughly, with the needs and wishes of the victim as our main priority.”

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A sexual predator who targeted women while they shopped in Cheshire and Greater Manchester has been jailed.

William Kidd appeared at Manchester Crown Court on Friday 29 May where he was sentenced to four years, and is now subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which remains in place indefinitely.

The 27-year-old of Stanbank Street, Stockport, had earlier pleaded guilty to 11 counts of sexual assault on a female, two counts of voyeurism, eight counts of recording an image under clothing to observe another without consent, and possession of cannabis.

The case against Kidd involves five incidents that took place between May and September 2025.

Following an investigation by Cheshire Police, supported by Greater Manchester Police, detectives found that Kidd targeted women while they shopped, discreetly following them through store aisles.

He visited stores in Macclesfield, Handforth and Stanley Green in Cheshire, as well as Denton and Stockport in Greater Manchester.

On four occasions, CCTV footage showed Kidd spraying the victims with a substance from a bottle he was carrying as he stalked them. He aimed at the women’s hair or backs, and the victims were often unaware of what had happened.

Forensic analysis later confirmed the substance was Kidd’s semen.

On a fifth occasion, Kidd followed a woman through a store and secretly filmed her on his mobile phone while she shopped with her fiveyearold daughter.

Kidd was identified following a Cheshire Police CCTV appeal, and he was subsequently arrested in October 2025. He was found to be in possession of a quantity of cannabis at the time of his arrest.

A review of his mobile phone uncovered further footage, including a video of Kidd following a woman pushing a small child in a shopping trolley while he filmed up her skirt. The woman appears to be completely unaware of his presence.

Kidd was charged and later pleaded guilty to the offences put to him.

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Tiffany Berry-Perkin said:

“Firstly, I would like to commend the victims in this case for the strength and bravery they have shown throughout this investigation.

“It is thanks to their continued support that our team was able to gather an overwhelming body of evidence against Kidd, leaving him with no option but to plead guilty.

“Kidd deliberately targeted innocent women as they went about their everyday lives, entirely unaware of the depraved acts he was committing against them.

"His behaviour is completely unacceptable, and I welcome the fact that he is now being held accountable behind bars, where he can no longer pose a danger to women in our communities.”

Detective Sergeant Steven Kaminski said:

“This case is an excellent example of neighbouring forces working together to identify and apprehend offenders who target women and girls.

“Kidd was fully aware that what he was doing was wrong. He knew his actions would cause his victims extreme distress, yet he chose to continue, deliberately travelling to multiple stores across two counties with the intention of violating and ultimately sexually assaulting innocent women.

“Putting an end to violence against women and girls remains a top priority for the force, and we will continue to remove sexual predators like Kidd from Cheshire and ensure they see justice.

“We treat all allegations of sexual offences extremely seriously, and any allegation will be thoroughly investigated, with the wishes and needs of the victim as our main priority.

“Victims should never feel ashamed of what has been done to them. Anyone who comes forward will be met with compassion, respect, and specialist support from our officers, alongside partner support agencies. All victims of sexual offences are entitled to anonymity, and we are committed to ensuring they receive the help and protection they deserve.”

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A man from Congleton has been jailed for offences including possession of extreme pornography and attempting to engage in sexual communications with children.

Mark Gould, of Park Road, Congleton, was sentenced to four years imprisonment on Thursday 14 May 2026.

63-year-old Gould had previously pleaded guilty to 17 counts of attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child and 10 counts of attempting to incite a child aged between 13 and 15 to engage in sexual activity.

He had also pleaded guilty to four counts of distributing an indecent image of a child, three counts of making an indecent image of a child and one count of possessing extreme pornography.

It was heard in court that, in 2025, officers from Cheshire Constabulary’s Online Child Abuse Investigation Team (OCAIT) received a report that Gould was engaging in sexual communication with children over social media.

Officers conducted a visit to Gould’s address in Congleton on 27 June and he was arrested. Gould’s property was subsequently searched, and officers recovered two mobile phones.

While in custody Gould denied the offences, but digital media officers found message chats across two social media platforms where Gould was speaking with children under the age of 16 and encouraging them to share sexualised images. He also sent numerous explicit images of himself.

Over 20 illicit images were found across his devices, along with three extreme pornographic images.

Gould pleaded guilty to a total of 35 charges on his first court appearance on 2 April 2026.

Alongside his custodial prison sentence, Gould was also ordered to sign on to the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely and was handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Detective Constable Stacey Thompson, of the Online Child Abuse Investigation Team, said:

"Mark Gould believed that hiding behind a mobile phone screen meant he could fly under the radar and that his crimes would go undetected.

“He was very much mistaken, as our officers uncovered 22 explicit images of children, as well as several files containing extreme pornography.

“Even upon his release Gould will be continually monitored by our specialist officers under the terms of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order to ensure he does not reoffend and target any more children online.”

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Northwich Man Jailed for 10 Years for Rapes

Nigel Davies, 55, of Manchester Road, Northwich, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after being convicted of two counts of rape against the same woman.

Davies appeared at Chester Crown Court on Thursday, May 21. He was found guilty two months earlier, with the second offence committed in 2023.

Prosecutor Catherine Elvin told the court the victim “forgot what it was like to enjoy life” after the abuse. She added: “She does not think she will trust a man again.”

Davies has previous convictions for harassment, breaching a non-molestation order and breaching a restraining order.

Defence barrister Jason Smith said Davies continues to maintain his innocence. He told the court: “It will be a substantial prison sentence for Mr Davies, a man of 55 years of age, who has spent a lot of his lifetime working in a responsible position. It will be proportionate with regard to the impact on him and the interest of justice and all I can ask is it is consistent with the facts and consistent with the guidelines.”

Recorder Anthony O’Donohoe imposed the 10-year sentence. Davies will serve two-thirds in prison and the remainder on licence.

The judge quoted a paragraph from the pre-sentence report: “[It says] he demonstrated distorted thinking […] where he had his own desires above others’ desires.”

Davies was also made subject to an indefinite restraining order preventing any direct or indirect contact with the victim. He will be required to sign the sex offenders register for the rest of his life upon release.