Latest Offenders Chester

Description

A Winchester man who was caught with more than 70 indecent images of teenage boys on his phone has been spared jail because his low IQ meant he wasnt able to understand what was happening.

Scott Fletcher-Wells, 25, was instead handed a three-year community order by the judge, who cited his potential vulnerability in prison as a reason for sparing him a stint behind bars.

Hampshire Police were first alerted to Fletcher-Wells after an indecent picture of a teenage boy was uploaded to an Instagram account dubbed Little.Gays in June 2020.

After matching the phone number and IP address linked to the account with Fletcher-Wells, police visited his shared flat in Staple Gardens and found him locked in his bedroom, where officers seized an iPhone 6, Samsung phone and a USB adaptor.

A search of the Samsung phone revealed three indecent images of children under Category A, eleven under Category B and 60 under Category C. The court heard the images were mostly of teenage boys but did feature the odd image of a girl.

He refused to comment while being interviewed by police but did hand over the pin to the phone, where among the pornographic images they also found selfies of Fletcher-Wells and his family.

The court heard from the prosecution that he was previously known to police and was cautioned for two sexual offences, which included possessing indecent images of children, between the ages of 12 and 14.

He subsequently spent a lot of his teenage years in foster care, with his defence barrister, Chloe Jay, remarking that his case worker believed he was himself abused as a child - something Fletcher-Wells said he didnt have any memory of.

Speaking on behalf of Fletcher-Wells, she said: He was very keen to admit what he has done and entered a guilty plea at the earliest opportunity. He wants to work with probation and is very alive to the fact that his behaviour must change, and that there is a lot of work to be done.

Sentencing Fletcher-Wells on Wednesday, April 13, judge Susan Evans QC said she was conscious of his low IQ and the fact he attended a special educational needs school when he was younger.

A psychiatric report submitted to the court also indicated it is likely he be autistic, which she said could make him potentially extremely vulnerable in custody.

She added: Although you had images in your possession which fall under Category A, the number of images you had was very few, and the ages of the children involved were older than the court usually sees.

I am more concerned about the fact you were cautioned when you were 14 for a similar offence, which should have been the signal that this sort of behaviour is not acceptable.

What you need to understand is the children in these photographs are real, they are victims who are being harmed, exploited and emotionally damaged by the people making them. By downloading these pictures, you are the market which drives this sort of abuse.

Fletcher-Wells was handed a three-year community order and told he must attend a sexual harm prevention course of the courts choosing.

Hell also have to engage in 45 days of rehabilitation activity and pay a fine of 100 within 28 days.

A deprivation order was made for the destruction of the phone, with Fletcher-Wells, who was allowed to remain seated during the sentencing, told he was barred from using devices including a mobile phone or computer for a period of five years, with the exclusion of work-related activity. His name has been added to the sex offenders register.

Description

An "obsessed" paedophile who forced his victims to eat raw meat from pigs' heads has been released from prison. Colin Cooper was jailed for 18 years in July 2011 but is free after serving just over ten years. Today the father of one of his victims said: "When I had the phone call from the Probation Board I wanted to scream. My daughter is safe, but there are other children out there who are not. In my opinion he should never be released."

Cooper, who is now 72, - formerly known, as Alan Makinson - would force his victims to eat raw meat from pigs' heads when they tried to avoid his clutches. Manchester Crown Court heard his homes in Hattersley and Wythenshawe were a "magnet for children' - who is was 'utterly obsessed' with molesting in bizarre ways.

Youngsters with learning difficulties were lured into playing in his garden and plied with treats before being forced perform sex acts on with each other and him. He tried to buy their silence with trinkets and small amounts of cash. When they attempted to escape he would lock them in rooms, block their way with his pet Alsatians, and make them eat the meat he fed them as punishment.

Cooper, of Sylvester Close, Hattersley, was jailed for 18 years at Manchester Crown Court in 2011 after being found guilty of abusing eight youngsters between 1984 and 2002, at addresses in Wythenshawe and Tameside, at an earlier trial. He had been jailed for just three years in 1986 after admitting a string of child sex crimes, including rape. He changed his name, moved address, and continued to prey on vulnerable youngsters.

The father of the victim, who was one of the eight youngsters he abused between 1984 and 2002, said: "In a way she has suffered far more than him over the last ten years. She has had four years of therapy, and has had mental health issues which has led to dropping out of school, self harming, trying to take her own life and becoming homeless for a while. She had to give evidence at the trial by video."

"I did ask the Probation Board for Cooper's new name and address but they would not give it me. There words were 'he has rights and we have to protect him'. I am not the kind of person who would be a vigilante, I just want to protect my daughter. Her first words when she knew he was out were 'he will do it again'.

"My daughter is surviving, but it is a slow process. She is scared to go out at the moment, now that he has been released. He is a serial offender and should not be out."

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson confirmed today that Cooper had been released under licence.

At court in 2011, Alaric Bassano, prosecuting, told the sentencing hearing how his victims 'were plagued by flashbacks, had battled feelings of depression and guilt, struggled to trust others, and had their chances spoilt by disrupted education. One told police, 'my life has been miserable., while another said, he has wrecked my life.

Cooper was arrested in March 2009 after a man, in his thirties, told police how he had abused 25 years earlier, and the police investigation unearthed the other victims, who had been suffering in silence. After his sentencing Detective Constable Grace Hulse, of the South Manchester Child Abuse Investigation Team, said: "It is only down to the bravery of his victims that we are able to put this man where he belongs behind bars. I believe today's sentence demonstrates that we take allegations of sexual abuse extremely seriously and will investigate thoroughly, no matter how long ago the offences occurred."

Description

A transgender father of two awaiting gender reassignment surgery has been jailed in a male prison for three years after being exposed as a paedophile.

Britnee Aitken, 47, will have her treatment delayed after two girls said she molested them ten years ago when she identified as a truck recovery driver called Marcus.

One of the victims, then six, said she targeted them under the guise of offering to play board games.

They said she poked her genitals through a letter box when they knocked at the front door.

At Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, Aitken appeared in the dock wearing a low cut woman's blouse and sporting makeup and long red hair.

She was referred to as 'she' and 'her' during the hearing that saw her convicted of three charges of sexual assault and one of exposure.

She was also ordered to sign the Sex Offender Register for life. She denied any wrongdoing. The Ministry of Justice told MailOnline she will go to a men's prison.

The sexual offences occurred after Aitken, from Rochdale, went public about a bizarre legal battle over a 30 fine imposed by police in 2008 for playing her Riverdance CD too loudly inside her car.

Identifying at the time as Marcus she had refused to pay the fine, and in the months after she was pestered by demand letters and received six visits from bailiffs to her home and the debt eventually rose to 270 because of administration costs.

She said the bailiffs demanded entry at 7.30am and shouted threats through the letterbox while she was inside with her then girlfriend and their two sons.

In 2008 a judge quashed the fine on appeal. The court heard the offences against the girls occurred between July and September 2012 when they visited his home.

Mr Ben Berkson prosecuting said: 'The defendant was then known as Marcus Aitken and the girls were five or six years old at the time.'

In a statement one of the victims said: 'I suffer flashbacks due to the abuse and I get angry when I contemplate and think about what this person did to me.

'What happened has affected my ability to form and maintain relationships with friends and family and the abuse has caused me to struggle with anxiety and anger management. I am concerned about these things will impact my life going forward.'

itken who was charged in 2020 had no previous convictions but had accepted a caution in 2012 for having an illicit 'upskirt' video of another little girl aged seven.

In mitigation defence counsel Adam Roxborough said: 'These offences occurred over a short period ten years ago and there is no suggestion of any repeat offending since.

'During that time Miss Aitken has maintained a good work ethic as a recovery truck driver and led a decent life.

'She has fragile mental health and given her sexuality, she has suffered abuse on a regular basis. It is for her a daily issue.

'That, she hopes, would come to an end to an extent when she is able to have gender reassignment surgery and her plans for that were moving ahead for this year. Of course any custodial sentence would put that progress back considerably.

'She has to be punished but the question is whether that punishment should effectively cause such damage to her notwithstanding the damage she has caused to others.

'She still does not recognised her guilt but a sentence of imprisonment could be suspended. It must be a difficult life for her to lead at the moment..'

Sentencing Judge John Edwards told Aitken: 'I bear in mind the difficulties you may encounter in a custodial environment but this offending was sustained, predatory and very distressing for these girls.

'It has had a significant emotional impact on one of them, she being vulnerable and impressionable courtesy of her age.

'You presented as an almost avuncular figure, happy on the surface to indulge those children with games, when your true motives were more sinister.

'You crossed a very clear boundary in order to indulge your attractions. Your caution plainly displays an interest in young children.'

Aitken was also ordered to abide by a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order which will bar her from 'loitering' near schools or children's play areas.

Description

A man who groomed a teenage girl by plying her with alcohol has been jailed. Jordan Robinson, 21, met the girl at the park before he began inviting her and her friends back to a flat in Manchester.

He plied them with alcohol, namely vodka, Minshull Street Crown Court heard. The girl, 13, then began visiting the flat alone where Robinson continued giving her alcohol with the intent to commit a sexual offence.

Following a trial, he was found guilty of being an adult meeting a child following grooming, and was acquitted of an offence of rape and supplying cannabis. On Thursday (March 17) he was jailed for two years.

The court heard that the girl was having problems at home when she met Robinson, then 19, in the park. He befriended her and the group she was with and invited them back to a flat in Manchester, which he had essentially moved into in Autumn 2019.

The flat operated as a free house for the children in that it gave them a space to congregate away from parental eyes and to drink alcohol, prosecutor Jon Close said. The victim drank vodka that was provided by the defendant and was attending the address 2-3 times per week initially with her other friends, but then, at his invitation, she began to visit alone again 2-3 times per week.

Robinson continued providing her with alcohol to the extent that she needed a period of hours to sober up before she went home due to her being in a heavy state of intoxication. By virtue of the jurys verdict, Robinson intended to commit a sexual offence.

During the trial, jurors heard evidence of a friend finding the girl intoxicated or having consumed cannabis, in Robinsons company and in a state of undress. In a victim personal statement, the girl said that her life had been ruined and everything had been taken from her'. She said she was shaken up and said that her childhood had been taken away from her.

Robinson was said to have no previous convictions. Mitigating, Mark Fireman said that although his client was 19, he was a young 19 and had problems of his own. He perhaps wasnt behaving in a manner a 19-year-old would behave, he said.

He was diagnosed with ADHD, and is somebody with particular difficulties. He chose to spend lots of his time with people younger than himself. Mr Fireman added that his client started drinking alcohol and was perhaps not used to it.

Sentencing, Recorder Michael Hayton QC said: You chose to associate with them, on the conviction of the jury, for the purpose that it was for some sexual gratification of some sort in the future. Whatever rights and wrongs, your behaviour had an enormous impact on a young girl.

It is very clear she will be scarred by your actions for many years to come, perhaps throughout her life. What you were doing with these young girls was attempting to engage in sexual gratification in the future.

Having heard your evidence, it is quite clear you are capable of manipulating the facts and circumstances. You suggested you were offering friendship and care to those who came to the flat in their early teens, who were plied with drink by you. I feel I am not able to do anything other than impose a sentence of immediate imprisonment.

Robinson, of Haddon Green, was jailed for two years, made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years, and must sign onto the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

Description

A man has today been jailed for more than 20 years for the sadistic and vile rape of a vulnerable woman in her own home.

Brian Brough, 35 of no fixed abode, sexually assaulted the 60 year-old woman in Little Hulton in March last year after knocking on her door, and asking to use her toilet, claiming to be a neighbours relative.

Once in the house, Brough then asked his victim if she wanted to pay for sex with him and, when she said no, punched her in the face, dragged her into the bedroom and raped her.

Detective Constable Leanne Jackson of GMP's Salford district, said: "This was a horrific and sustained physical and sexual assault on a vulnerable woman and no one should ever be made to feel unsafe or at risk in their own home.

Police investigated and Brough was arrested two days later and was subsequently charged with multiple counts of rape.

He did not accept responsibility but was brought to court and eventually found guilty of rape.

On Wednesday he was sentenced to 22 years in prison at Minshull Street Crown Court.

DC Jackson said: "Throughout interview and the trial Brough would not accept any responsibility for his sadistic and vile actions, forcing his victim to go through the horrendous ordeal in court.

He did not even have the decency to attend his trial and face up to his actions and instead refused to come out of his prison cell with the trial having to be heard in his absence.

His lack of remorse perfectly sums up who he is as a human being and thankfully we've now been able to remove him from the streets for 22 years and stop him causing any further harm to anymore women.

DC Jackson paid tribute to the victims courage as well as the quick actions of her neighbours in getting her to hospital.

Description

Now goes by Kane Hutchison

Mason Maxwell was required to inform officers of any foreign travel due to a previous conviction relating to a child abuse offence

A man has been jailed after being found guilty of failing to comply with foreign travel notification requirements. Mason Maxwell, 32, of HMP Forest Bank, was found guilty yesterday at Manchester Crown Court.

The court heard how the requirements had been imposed on Maxwell following a previous conviction of two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity in March 2015. Maxwell was charged with four counts of failing to comply with the notification requirements - which inform officers of any foreign travel - between September and December last year.

He was arrested on Clowes Street in Salford on January 6 in relation to the breaches. He was also sentenced for breach of a suspended sentence order which was investigated by West Yorkshire Police. Maxwell was jailed for one year and four months.

In a statement, Greater Manchester Police said: Mason Maxwell (16/07/1989), of HMP Forest Bank, was yesterday (Wednesday 16 March) jailed at Manchester Crown Square Crown Court after being found guilty of failing to comply with notification requirements. Maxwell was sentenced to one year and four months imprisonment.

On Thursday 6 January 2022 Maxwell was arrested at Clowes Street, Salford and subsequently charged with four counts of failing to comply with notification requirements relating to failure to comply with foreign travel notifications.

The offences relate to incidents on 3 September 2021, 24 September 2021, 4 November 2021 and 1 December 2021 where Maxwell failed to register his intended foreign travel seven days ahead of departing the UK. Maxwell is required to notify intended foreign travel as part of conditions following his conviction of two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity on in March 2015.

"He was also sentenced for breach of a suspended sentence order which was investigated by West Yorkshire Police.

Description

An ex-firefighter has avoided jail after downloading over a MILLION indecent images of children he even admitted to police he had been doing it since 1998.

Bill Platt, 59, was found to be in possession of an enormous amount of the vile pictures and videos of children, aged from babies up to 16-years-old.

Police had gleaned information that Platt, of Worsley, was downloading indecent images of children, and conducted a search at his house on June 24 2019. He was arrested and handed over the PIN codes to his various devices, Manchester Crown Court heard.

He was asked about his computer and he said: Im downloading indecent images of children, and said it had been going on since 1998 and said he was relieved, prosecutor Roger Brown said.

They confiscated 24 devices. There are so many images its been impossible to say which ones have images on.

There were examinations of the devices, the total number of category A images was 15,690, the total number of category B images was 15,753 and the total number of category C images was 837,729.

Category A images are said to be the worst type of indecent images, of which there were 1,024 videos. It was said that the police reviewed over 25 million images from the devices.

A total of 11 million images were identified, and another million were not checked. In total there were 12 million images, which was the biggest number Mr Brown said he had ever come across.

In his police interview, Platt spoke about the ages of the children in the images depicted to be aged from babies to children aged 16. One video was 21 minutes long.

He had also taken some non-sexual images of children getting onto a bus, which the prosecutor said was a worrying change of tactic. Officers also found 976 .22 bullets in a box in Platts house. He had previously had a gun licence, but gave this up and had left the ammunition in the house.

Platt was said to be a man of previous good character. Mitigating, Nicholas Hammond said that his client had retired as a firefighter before setting up a business as a photographer.

The defendant had the good sense to plead guilty at the first opportunity before the lower court, he said.

The majority of his working life he had contributed well to society. He worked to the benefit of the public and had an exemplary record. He contributed well and assisted the public, often putting his own life in jeopardy.

Since his arrest he has addressed his behaviour to some extent by availing himself of Safer Lives. He has gone to seek help to address his behaviour. This has been hanging over him for a three year period.

He added that Platt previously held a gun licence, but didnt renew it and the ammunition was left in his house.

Sentencing, Recorder Alex Leach QC said there was an enormous number of images that were found.

This was a substantial collection of sickening images depicting the rape and sexual abuse of children, he said.

I am told you have been tackling the root of your offending, that your partner stands by you and the probation service feel they can assist you and that you are a good candidate for rehabilitation.

I have received a letter from Safer Lives and the probation service who say you do pose a realistic prospect of rehabilitation. A short custodial sentence would not accomplish these aims.

Platt, of Gambleside Close, was handed 20 months imprisonment which was suspended for two years, 25 days of rehabilitation activity requirements and 200 hours of unpaid work. He earlier pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of indecent images.

He was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years which includes terms that will ban his from using the internet without informing the police and ban him from downloading any software which hides his internet history. He must also sign the notification requirements on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

Description

A monster raped a girl multiple times over nine months and recorded it on his phone to 'degrade and humiliate' her. Danny Harper, 31, sexually abused the girl and told her it was their little secret in order to stop her from reporting it.

Harper, of Wythenshawe, pleaded guilty to three offences of rape, two offences of sexual assault and one offence of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. Yesterday (March 15) he was jailed for 12 years and 10 months.

The court heard that Harper began abusing the girl in early 2020. He went on to take pictures of her genitals, prosecutor Brian Berlyne said.

She noticed him taking photos of her. She suffered pain as a result of the abuse. He told her it was their little secret. She felt unable to talk to anyone about the abuse.

Harpers offending only came to light following his conversations with a fake profile of a 10-year-old girl that was being run by a paedophile hunter group. He added her as a friend on Facebook and messaged her telling her that she was cute on September 3 last year. He asked about her age and she told him she was 10. He then asked what colour underwear she was wearing.

On September 18 he told the profile he could show her naughty things and teach her about sex. Harper then asked her to send a picture of her genitals and of her in her underwear.

Separately, his young victim courageously told her mum of Harpers abuse. She was medically examined and found to have injuries. Harper was arrested and his phone was seized and examined, of which officers found 45 indecent images of the girl, 15 of which showed him sexually abusing her, it was said.

In a police interview he said that he was a monster and that he never wore protection. He also said he messaged the profile because he was lonely. In a victim impact statement, the girls grandmother said that she was a happy, little soul and a very thoughtful child, but said when she told the police what happened she was physically sick.

She thought she was in trouble and we had to explain to her that she was not. She told me that man has ruined my life. This hit me hard. [Harper] has ruined all of our lives. He is a clever man who knew full well the consequences of his actions.

Harper was said to have one set of previous convictions which were unrelated.

There was genuine remorse and a desire not to subject her to any further suffering. He described himself as a monster in his interview, barrister Rachel White said, defending. He has learning difficulties, he was diagnosed with the autism spectrum disorder and he was diagnosed with ADHD. This began as opportunistic and the defendant became persistent in his conduct.

He wants to begin a new life and not offend again.

Sentencing, Judge John Potter said: Of these six counts to which you have pleaded guilty in these proceedings, represents the sustained and most dreadful sexual abuse of a child. Not using a condom and ejaculation are significant aggravating features of this offending, as is the clear grotesque evidence that you filmed those acts of abuse on your mobile phone. When after your arrest, your phone and seized and examined and it contained evidence of you degrading and humiliating her by filming the sexual abuse that took place.

This is depraved offending.

Harper was jailed for 12 years and 8 months, made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order indefinitely and must sign onto the Sex Offender Register indefinitely.

Description

Benjamin Behan, 25, has been jailed after being caught out by paedophile hunters

A pervert chef admitted to his family he had 'done it again' after being caught out by paedophile hunters.

Benjamin Behan, 25, had been ordered to undergo the Horizon scheme, which aims to rehabilitate sex offenders and change their warped outlook, after being found with vile images of children.

But Behan, from Wythenshawe said it was a 'load of cr**'. He claimed that sessions being moved online during the pandemic made them more difficult for him to follow.

"He didn't engage with it as best he could have done," Behan's barrister Mark Shanks told Manchester Crown Court.

"Because of his autism he deals much better face to face, he found it much more difficult to absorb it."

Despite attempts to help him reform, Behan has now been locked up after he once again displayed a sexual interest in children. He was exposed by paedophile hunters, with a decoy account being set up in the name of a 14-year-old girl.

Behan told her he was a head chef at a pub, and the pair had some 'innocuous' chat about coronavirus before he turned the conversation sexual. He suggested that they could go to a hotel room, and asked whether she wanted to be naked in bed with him, prosecutor Amanda Johnson said.

Behan asked the 'girl' how long it would take her to get undressed, during online conversations over a two day period. Members of the paedophile hunter group went to confront Behan at his home, and his stepfather answered the door.

"Yes, I've done it again," Behan admitted to his stepfather.

In interview with the police, Behan accepted having sexual chats but said the idea of meeting up in a hotel room was 'pure fantasy'. Mr Shanks said prison has had a 'significant effect' on Behan, who has been locked up on remand.

"He has not been to prison before, he is absolutely certain he will not be going back to prison," the barrister said.

Behan, of Inglesham Close, Wythenshawe, pleaded guilty to attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act.

"Your behaviour, I'm afraid, has demonstrated that you will not comply. You described the Horizon programme as a 'load of cr**', so custody must follow," sentencing Judge Anthony Cross QC said, before jailing Behan for 16 months.

Description

A paedophile who groomed a vulnerable teenage girl from Warrington over several months has been jailed for 12 years.

Michael Smith was convicted of causing and inciting a teenage girl to engage in sexual activity following a five-day trial at Liverpool Crown Court.

The 49-year-old, of Cheetham Fold Road, Hyde, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday 28th February where the judge sentenced him to 12-years in prison after describing him as a danger to the public.

During the hearing, the court heard how Smith had groomed the teenager over a number of months before arranging to collect her from an address in Warrington on Tuesday 2 February 2021.

He then drove the girl back to his flat in Hyde where he sexually assaulted her.

The victim was located at around 5.30am the following day after she contacted police.

Following the sentencing Detective Constable Stephen Martin, who led the investigation, said: Smith knew the victim was underage and he knew that she was vulnerable.

In spite of this, he purposefully chose to take advantage of her, grooming the girl over a number of months and convincing her that she was in love with him.

After gaining her trust, he then collected her from her home in Warrington and took her to his flat Hyde where he sexually assaulted her.

Thankfully, as a result of the evidence provided by the victim and the evidence gathered during our investigation, Smith is now facing a significant prison sentence and is no longer a danger to the general public.

On top of his custodial sentence, Smith was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.

Description

A dangerous, violent rapist who 'degraded' his victim and forced her to have sex with others in a horrific campaign of abuse has been jailed for 18 years.

Philip Daly's sickening abuse against his victim included forcing her to have sex with himself and another man while she was blindfolded and bound. He also beat her following horrific bouts of rage and cut her communication from her family and friends, and stole her money.

His victim says her life 'is a constant black cloud' and that she would never get over what Daly did to her.

"He cannot be helped. He is not remorseful for his actions," she said.

"I will never really get over this ordeal and in time, somebody else is likely to be hurt by him."

Sickening abuse

Minshull Street Crown Court heard how Daly, 42, carried out the sickening physical, mental and sexual abuse over a number of years. He isolated her from her family and friends, smashing her phone and ripping up her passport, and stopped her from spending money by taking her cards away.

He also beat her a number of times, throwing her against a chest of drawers and attacking her with a walking stick when she refused to send him money. He even helped to set up a cash for crash and made her make a personal injury claim so he could take the money from her.

As details of his abuse was laid bare, the court also heard of harrowing instances in which he raped her alongside friends, which she felt she could not refuse for fear of further beatings. On one occasion, the court was told that Daly had bound her hands and blindfolded her before forcing her to have intercourse with himself and another man.

The woman was left fearing for her life and she was transformed from a 'bright and bubbly' woman to one who lost weight and began suffering from seizures and nightmares, the court heard.

'He degraded her'

Prosecuting, Ms Vanessa Thomson said: "He belittled her, he controlled her movements and he took her financial independence from her. More significantly, there were regular bouts of violence towards her, to the point where she would seek immediate help from those closest to her.

"Daly not only abused her with his fists and his feet but he would degrade and humiliate her sexually by forcing her to engage in sexual activity with his friends. The force used was mental rather than physical on these occasions. But she knew that to not do as she was told would result in a further beating."

He also stopped her from going to the police, the court heard, and made her lie about where she had received the bruises from.

In a powerful victim impact statement, read out in court, the woman said she 'lives in fear' of Daly and that he had destroyed a part of her life.

"I always feel like I need to look over my shoulder," she said.

"He cannot be helped. He is not remorseful for his actions. I will never really get over this ordeal and in time, somebody else is likely to be hurt by him.

"My life is a constant black cloud and I am not sure how I continue to go forward without these thoughts in my mind. I regularly have nightmares about the traumatic events that he put me through, upon waking up from these nightmares I'm in a state of panic and a sense of having to be on high alert in case he's there".

Daly was found guilty of all 16 offences at trial in October 2021, namely eight counts of actual bodily harm, one count of controlling and coercive behaviour, two counts of rape and five counts of cause/incite to engage in penetrative sexual activity.

Sentencing, Judge Nicholas Clarke QC cited that a psychiatric report during his time in custody showed that Daly had no understanding to the extent he had harmed the victim.

He said: At trial you claimed you were not guilty, and a report shows you appear not to understand what has happened, or to the extent that you have harmed the victim. You took total control over her life which enabled you to commit the serious offences for which you have been convicted.

This was a campaign over many years of violence, control and rape, against an extremely vulnerable woman. I hope in due course she can start to move on from this, but it will take many years before she can even start to make anything like a recovery from these awful events.

'He is a dangerous and very manipulative man'

Mr William Staunton, defending, submitted a letter from Daly to the judge, in which he claimed Daly was trying to express his remorse and that he had attended anger management courses.

He added: This is a man who has never been to prison before and understands that a custodial sentence is inevitable. He expresses his remorse to her and realises he has caused the victim pain, hurt and suffering. He fully regrets his actions and accepts it was all his doing and responsibility. This is a man who is capable of change he is in a fit and clear state of mind, given what appear to already be positive steps to prove himself."

Daly, of Trafford, was handed an 18 year custodial sentence, however, for which he must serve 12 before being eligible for parole. He will also spend a further five on license.

Detective Constable Charlotte Morgan, of GMPs Complex Safeguarding Hub, said,: "Daly's sustained and deplorable campaign of domestic abuse, left the victim feeling like her life would never be the same again with nowhere to turn to. He is clearly a dangerous and very manipulative man and I am pleased that he is facing justice for what he has done. I would very much like to thank the victim for her bravery and cooperation throughout this investigation.

"I'd like to take this opportunity to appeal to anyone who is suffering abuse to please get in touch with the police or another support service. You may feel like you can't escape but we can help you to make a fresh start, there are lots of wonderful local services who can help with living arrangements, finances and counselling so please dont suffer any longer."

Description

I have panic attacks in public as I feel like I am being followed by my abuser. I feel like he wont let me move on"

A rapist who groomed a 15-year-old girl, took her to the cinema and attacked her in a hotel has been jailed for over nine years.

Jordan Lanzon, 26, befriended the girl on social media after making numerous accounts to contact her.

He claimed he was 17 when he was actually 23.

The pair met in November 2019 in Manchester city centre where they went to the cinema.

The following month they met again and Lanzon told the teen that he had booked them a hotel room to escape the cold.

It was there that he raped her, a court previously heard.

They continued to communicate, with Lanzon repeatedly booking hotel rooms for them and inviting her to join him.

She reported feeling scared and forced into having sex with him on multiple occasions.

He also asked her to perform sexual acts over video calls and via texts, it was said.

Following a trial in January this year, Lanzon, of Whalley Range, was found guilty of offences of rape, and had earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child, and causing/inciting a child to engage in sexual activity as well as an unrelated assault.

Today (March 4) he was jailed for nine-and-a-half years at Minshull Street Crown Court.

In an emotional victim personal statement, the girl said: I was so scared when I started to talk about what happened to me. I self harmed to release my emotions and I struggled to sleep.

I sleep with my light on and my door open. Im worried he will come and get me.

I have panic attacks in public as I feel like I am being followed by my abuser.

Since I have spoken out, he has attempted to contact me on social media. I feel like he wont let me move on.

My family has supported me throughout the trial, but I feel guilty when they feel sad or worried about me.

I should be enjoying my life, college and my friends. I want the court to know just how much life has changed for me and my family.

I dont feel safe as a direct result of the harm this man has caused me.

In a further statement she said she has nightmares, has struggled eating and sleeping and cant imagine leaving her parents' side as thats the only place she feels safe.

I have gone from a happy, normal girl to speaking to the police and going to court, she said.

Her mother said in a statement: I have never suffered from depression or anxiety, but since this my anxiety has been high, there have been sleepless nights and I have felt distressed.

I have had to watch my daughter go through the court process and have been there to support her, but it has been difficult. I hate seeing her upset.

She has changed since this happened.

The court heard Lanzon had exploited and groomed the girl, and she was vulnerable as he had taken her to a hotel room to isolate her where she was unable to call for help.

The incident was reported to police in April 2020 and Lanzon was arrested. During his police interview he denied knowing the victim.

However, further evidence from his mobile phone confirmed the pair's relationship and he later admitted to being in contact with her.

Separate offence

The court heard of a separate incident in which Lanzon had gone round to a couples home in June 2018, wherein he asked them for a cigarette.

They refused and he barged his way into their home before attacking the couple with a knife which he produced from the waistband of his jogging bottoms.

The male victim was left with a one inch cut to his eyelid with required suturing.

Lanzon was said to have four previous convictions for four offences.

He maintains his position which he had through the trial, that this was a consensual sexual relationship - albeit with a child under the age of consent, Rachel Shenton, defending, said.

He was taking prescription drugs and cannabis - he was leading a lifestyle that didnt give him any credit for his own problems.

Lanzon, of Stanley Road, Whalley Range, was jailed for nine and a half years.

"He left the victim feeling intimated and scared on multiple occasions"

Detective Constable Hannah Rudd said: "Lanzon is a sexual predator that used a vulnerable young woman to satisfy his own sexual desires.

"He left the victim feeling intimated and scared on multiple occasions and forced her into performing sexual acts over the phone and in person.

"Sadly, we can't take away the impact that Lanzon's actions will have on the victim and her family's life. However, I want to thank the victim and her family for their unwavering cooperation and I hope that today's sentence acts as some form of justice and help bring some form of closure.

"This kind of offending and abuse is horrendous and I hope today's sentence also sends a stark warning to those who feel that they can commit these offences - from in person or behind a computer screen - that we will do all in our power to seek prosecution.

"I would encourage anyone affected by this case to contact police, or our partners, to report any abuse or exploitation so that the relevant authorities can act on it."

Councillor Garry Bridges, Executive Member for Children's Services for Manchester City Council, said: "This was a sickening crime and our hearts go out to the young woman, a child at the time of the offence, who was attacked. We have supported her throughout this process and will continue to do so.

"This conviction is an illustration of how Greater Manchester Police and the Council are working closely together to identify and tackle child sexual exploitation and bring perpetrators to justice."

Description

A LAW student from Bury travelled to Birmingham with the aim of meeting a 13-year-old boy he had been grooming only to discover police were already at the address.

Minshull Street Crown Court heard Ashley Brooks had already been given a warning by the police about his conduct but tried to meet the teenager in January this year.

Judge Mark Savill, learning of his conduct, said it was the most extraordinary of events I have encountered.

The court heard the 25-year-old had been communicating with his victim since July 2020 after meeting on a Playstation network. He lied about his age initially and then threatened to harm himself if the teen blocked him.

But last October he was visited by police after officers in Northern Ireland had become concerned about his contact with another teen.

Officers visited his home on Holly Street, Tottington, and he was released on bail.

But last January, on the day officers visited the home of the teen in Birmingham he had been in contact with, he went to meet him and had a hotel room booked.

When he phoned the 13-year-old police answered and he asked officers if he could say goodbye.

Brooks went on to visit the home after officers had left to apologise before handing himself in at Bury Police Station a short time later.

He appeared in court to be sentenced after pleading guilty to child grooming.

Neil Usher, prosecuting, said: His father speaks of his shock at his son being involved in such things. It has impacted on his school. It has had a lasting impact on their son, who shouldnt have to deal with these things at his age.

The court heard Brooks had been in contact with three teenage boys, one of whom did not wish to assist the police and another who could not be traced.

James Preece, defending, said his client had been studying for a law degree online but understood this was no longer an option.]

He added that Brooks had encountered loneliness and mental health issues and said he had felt he was in a relationship with the boy.

Passing sentence, Judge Savill, said: Anybody who engages in grooming behaviour over this period of time, in the way that you did can expect an immediate sentence of imprisonment.

He jailed Brooks for two years and placed him on the sex offenders register and on a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.

Speaking after the case, Det Con James Donnelly, from Bury Police's complex safeguarding team, welcomed the outcome.

He said: "Brooks was clearly a predator online and was targeting young teenage boys online and attempting to meet up with them.

"Thankfully one of the victim's mums raised concerns and reported them meaning we were able to catch him and unravel his crimes.

"This is a step towards making the online world that little bit safer for children online now Brooks is behind bars.

"I would urge parents and carers to be cautious about who their children and young people are speaking to online and if there are any concerns, report them.

Description

Daniel O'Brien, 38, had almost 40,000 indecent images of children

A Wigan dad has been jailed for downloading almost 40,000 indecent images of children after he was caught out by a paedophile sting operation.

Daniel O'Brien, 38, appeared at Bolton Crown Court on Friday morning, February 25, to face sentence for his crimes after pleading guilty to possessing and distributing indecent images of children.

Timothy Ashmole, prosecuting, told the court that O'Brien had been caught out for his crimes after starting a conversation with an undercover National Crime Agency officer on Wickr, a secure instant messaging service owned by Amazon Web Services, in March 2020.

The officer was posing as a young single mother called Holly, claiming to have two daughters aged six and eight.

O'Brien, who went by the username Monkeystew24, quickly turned the conversation sexual, telling "Holly" that when his young daughter, aged two at the time, was old enough he wanted her to "play" with his genitals.

He then told the undercover officer, whom he understood to be a single mother, that he would like to perform sexual acts on her daughters, saying he would enjoy sexual activity with both her and her daughters.

The pair's contact then moved to KiK instant messenger on April 11 2020, where O'Brien set out sexual desires towards "Holly"'s two children, asking for photographs of them for his own sexual pleasure.

However, when interviewed, O'Brien told police this was all part of a roleplay, as he believed "Holly" may be an adult man also engaging in fantasy, and he had no intent to actually commit sexual offenses with a child.

Mr Ashmole went on to say O'Brien had sent 21 sexual images of children to "Holly", starting with pictures showing young children in lingerie, before moving on to more sexually explicit images that showed sexual offenses being committed against youngsters.

Officers were able to link the username to a BT account at a home in Standish, that O'Brien shared with his wife and two children.

When police raided the house, O'Brien retrieved a phone from a pillowcase and handed it to officers, telling them: "I think you might want to see this, there's things on there you'll want to see."

A total of 18 digital devices were retrieved from the house, including phones, laptops, and hard drives.

Four of them contained sexually explicit pictures of children and images showing bestiality, although O'Brien noted that none of these images were stored on devices that were used by his wife or children.

Officers found around 40,000 indecent pictures and videos of children, including almost 1,900 category A images showing the most severe sexual abuse against children.

O'Brien admitted a sexual interest in teenage girls aged 14-15 had developed years earlier, around 2010, and he had been accessing indecent images for a large portion of time.

Paul Treble, defending, told the court O'Brien had lost his relationship, access to his children, and his job as an adult social carer as a result of legal proceedings.

He also said his client had been engaging with organisations including Stop It Now and Safer Lives, groups that work with people to prevent them from partaking in child sexual offences.

His Honour Judge Tom Gilbart, presiding, sentenced O'Brien to two years imprisonment for the possession and distribution of indecent images of children.

Addressing O'Brien, Judge Gilbart said: "The number of images you distributed was small but you were responsible for the further dissemination of this material.

"The number of images you downloaded was significant and the offending was spread over a substantial period of time.

"You developed an attraction towards teenage girls and began to discuss sexual fantasies towards children in chatrooms.

"Appropriate punishment can only be achieved through an immediate custodial sentence."

O'Brien was jailed for two years.

He will also be placed on the sex offenders register for ten years, barred from working with children and vulnerable adults, and will have a sexual prevention order placed against him for ten years.

Description

"This man preyed on their vulnerabilities as young girls and exploited them for his own sickening pleasure"

A taxi driver plied two girls with alcohol and drugs then raped them in a terrifying campaign of abuse.

Mohammed Saleem, 42, groomed the two girls who were aged 14 and 15 when he targeted them in the 1990s.

Both victims were extremely vulnerable and "abused in the worst ways possible".

Taxi driver Saleem, of Rochdale, met them both at a house of an older associate, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.

He gave them lifts in his taxi and plied them with booze and cannabis before raping them, prosecutor Mark Kellet told the court.

Despite being married and having children, he went onto continue sexually, physically and mentally abuse one of the girls for more than 17 years.

He even installed spyware on their computers to track their internet activity.

Saleem was today jailed for 33 years after being found guilty of 31 offences.

The victim was vulnerable due to the use of alcohol and drugs to facilitate the offences, Mr Kellet said.

There were 16 offences of rape over an 18-year period.

There was systematic abuse of the victim, who was targeted and exploited as an extremely vulnerable young child."

In a victim personal statement read to the court, the first woman said: I often reflect on how my childhood was full of abuse instead of love and protection.

I feel ashamed by what happened.

Coming to the stand in the court was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do.

The other woman said: Its impossible to put into words how I have been personally affected by the last 32 years.

'I became an empty shell'

My whole life was destroyed - I lost my identity when I was just a child.

I became an empty shell.

I really struggle to make choices for myself as I was always made to believe I was incapable of making my own decisions.

No doubt as a result of what I have suffered, I have been left unable to trust, which has left me very lonely and isolated.

I still dont know how to move forward.

Following a six week trial, Saleem was found guilty by a jury of 31 offences including:-

Six counts of indecent assault against a 14-year-old female

Rape of a 14-year-old female

Three counts of rape of a 14/15-year-old female

Indecent assault against a 15-year-old female

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm

Nine counts of rape of a female

Assault by penetration

Three counts of rape of a female under 16 years

Two counts of voyeurism

Sexual assault

Securing unauthorised access to computer material

Two counts of making indecent images of a child

Saleem was said to have no previous convictions.

In mitigation, his barrister David Langwallner said: There is an element of acceptance of a degree of responsibility.

Looking at the issue of dangerousness in the context of intimate relationships, there is no doubt he was a danger to young girls 20 years ago, but there has not been any displays of that danger recently.

Mr Saleem is going to face an awful shock quite soon.

Sentencing, Judge Tina Landale said: She was almost half your age when you spotted her and targeted her for a sexual relationship in which you exploited and manipulated her.

You took away her freedom.

It was your distorted belief that Islam entitled you to rape her on many occasions.

You saw her as your possession.

There was a significant degree of planning, you targeted her with false compliments, alcohol and drugs to wheedle your way into her life and exploit her.

'You have no remorse'

Your other victim, you manipulated her with drugs and alcohol using the advantage of a premises to enable the rape to take place.

You have no remorse, and your report identifies that you find you have done nothing wrong.

Finding him to be a dangerous offender, Judge Landale added: You are capable of deceiving those closest to you.

You have no empathy at all or insight into the damage you have caused.

You believe you are entitled to sex whenever you want.

Saleem, of Cannon Street, was jailed for 30 years with an extended licence period of three years, of which he will serve two thirds (20 years) in prison before being considered for release by the parole board.

He was also made subject of the Sex Offenders Register for life and Sexual harm Prevention Order indefinitely.

Detective Constable Sarah Hayfield of GMP's Rochdale district, said: "The victims in this case were abused in the worst ways possible.

"This man preyed on their vulnerabilities as young girls and exploited them for his own sickening pleasure.

"He then went onto control and abuse one of the victims for 17 years.

"This was a horrific ordeal that has no doubt left a damaging and haunting impact on those lives affected.

"I want to extend my thanks and gratitude to these two brave women and their families for their support and strength throughout this investigation.

"Their resilience has been instrumental in ensuring we could secure this custodial sentence and, although I have no doubt this will stay with them for the rest of their lives, I hope today will help bring some form of closure.

"I also extend my thanks to our partners at Rochdale Borough Council, particularly their adult care recovery and re-enablement team, who have both supported the investigation and been instrumental in providing the victims with the care and support they need whilst we investigated Saleem.

"I hope this sentencing sends a clear message that child sexual exploitation and domestic abuse is abhorrent and will never be acceptable and through our joint working with the council on child sexual abuse we will ensure anyone who engages in this type of vile behaviour will be brought to justice, as we have seen today."