Latest Offenders Chester

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A judge slammed the 71-year-old's "caveman attitude to consent and boundaries".

A pensioner nicknamed 'Dirty Dave' by locals asked police officers “are you supposed to ask permission these days?” when they questioned him about sexually assaulting a woman.

A judge at Derby Crown Court told 71-year-old David Hannah that he had “a caveman attitude to consent and boundaries” as he sentenced him for two offences.

Appearing in court on two counts of sexual assault, even his own barrister said his client’s views were “like a dinosaur” in relation to what he did.

Handing the defendant a two-year prison term, suspended for two years, Recorder Adrian Reynolds said: “If you do this to another woman in the next two years you will be going to prison.

“Don’t think just because you are 71 you are too old to think you can behave in this way and in many ways, I think the most significant piece of evidence, in this case, is when you told the victim ‘if you tell anyone you will be dead’ because you knew perfectly well what you were doing was wrong. This woman was not consenting and you disregarded that."

Mark Achurch, prosecuting, said the two incidents took place in 2019, reports Derbyshire Live. However, the woman did not report them until the summer of 2021.

He said on the first occasion Hannah went to the victim's address and while in the kitchen said to her “you need k******g by a real man” and kissed and licked her face.

The prosecutor said: “He tried to undress her and then undressed himself. His trousers dropped to the floor, he took out his [private parts] and tried to put it in her hand. She brought it to an end by bringing her knee up to his groin. She said before he left he said to her if she told anybody she would be dead.”

Mr Achurch said the second assault happened outside when Hannah approached the woman from behind and grabbed her breast and private parts.

He said: “A witness later spoke of the way the defendant is known as 'Dirty Dave' and that perhaps speaks volumes.

"He was arrested and said to the police ‘are you supposed to ask permission these days?’ he did not simply understand what the ramifications were. He also said ‘if you don’t try it on with someone they will think you’re gay’.”

Hannah, of Gorman Close, Newbold, Chesterfield, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault against the woman, whose identity is protected by law. He has no previous convictions.

In a victim impact statement, the woman told how after it happened she did not want to take care of her appearance “so she would feel she was unattractive”.

Mr Achurch said: “She said to the police quite candidly that if she saw the defendant and had a knife in her hand she would consider using it.”

Will Bennett, his barrister, said: “His views are that of a dinosaur but that does not excuse his actions.”

As part of the suspended sentence order, Recorder Reynolds ordered the defendant to attend 45 rehabilitation sessions and placed him on the sex offender register for 10 years.

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A man from Manchester who sexually assaulted two children has been jailed for eight years and six months following a National Crime Agency investigation.

Specialist NCA investigators operating online identified Jeffrey Owens, 44, (pictured) as a user who had been discussing his sexual interest in children on different chat platforms.

He went into great detail in conversations with other users about how he had assaulted two children on a number of occasions.

Owens was arrested in May 2020, after which NCA investigators were able to evidence that he had assaulted, and engaged in sexual activity in front of the children at least 11 times, and had threatened them into keeping it a secret.

Both children have been safeguarded.

Officers analysing Owens’ phone later recovered several more chat logs where he spoke to various people about abusing children and shared indecent images.

Over 4,000 indecent images of children (IIOC) in categories A-C were also recovered, which Owens had stored across several devices.

Some of those images included ones he had taken himself using a hidden camera.

Earlier this year, Owens pleaded guilty to 26 offences, including the sexual assault of a child under 13, seven counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, causing a child to watch a sexual act, three counts of voyeurism, and four counts of indecency with a child.

He was sentenced today [20/03/2023] at Manchester Minshull Street Court to eight years and six months in prison, with a further four years on licence.

He was also handed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and will be on the sex offenders register for life.

Mark Barrow from the National Crime Agency said:

“Owens is a persistent offender who seemingly sought out as many opportunities as he could to satisfy his sexual interest in children.

“He consistently took advantage of children, sexually assaulting them and forcing them to watch him perform sexual acts on many occasions, then blackmailed them into keeping his horrific actions a secret.

“It’s clear this investigation has placed a dangerous sexual offender behind bars. Identifying such individuals and ensuring they can no longer pose a threat to children is an absolute priority for the NCA.

“We will continue to do all we can to tackle this threat but also hope to see a shift from industry to take responsibility for identifying and preventing sexual abuse happening on their platforms.”

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Daniel Molan, 51, exposed himself to teenage girls and masturbated in view of them but was given a suspended sentence and allowed to walk free from court (pictured outside Bolton Crown Court)

At Bolton Crown Court, he faced up to three years in jail under sentencing guidelines after he admitted three offences of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and two of outraging public decency, but was given 22 months jail suspended for a year.

His lawyer Paul Treble told the hearing: 'He has been open and honest with probation and psychological report. He has told me he deeply regrets what he did and is ashamed of it. As a result, probation have said that he is someone they were willing to work with.

'He is in full time employment and was described by his employer as having a good work ethic. Whilst I'm not negating the seriousness of the offence, the harm is relatively modest.'

The court heard Molan targeted his first victim aged 14 at 8am on a day in February 2022 as she was walking to her bus stop in Leigh.

Amanda Johnson, prosecuting, said: 'Whilst waiting for her bus, she noticed the defendant nearby. He was standing and looking at her rather than looking up the road for the bus. At the time although she noted the strangeness of his conduct, she thought little more about it.

'The defendant then exposed his penis to her. He stood staring at her with his penis exposed, trying to get her attention. Fortunately the bus arrived, and she quickly boarded. She did not report the matter at the time as she thought it was a one-off incident but she fell victim to the defendant a second time a week later.

'Again, she was at the same bus stop at around the same time. Again the defendant was there, wearing the same clothing. He again exposed his penis to her however on this occasion he began to masturbate in full view of her. The bus arrived and she got on. This time, on her arrival at school she informed a teacher of both incidents.

'In April, 2022, after the Easter holidays she was again at the bus stop... This time the defendant did not expose himself, but he was wearing the same clothing. She was afraid and decided to walk past him, filming him on her phone as she did so.

'The video was then provided to the police. She described how he had made her feel really uncomfortable and she was worried about where else the defendant may have behaved like this. She worried about younger children having seen him engaging in this conduct.'

Describing a later incident, Ms Johnson added: 'Two girls aged 14 were on the bus, going to school, having boarded at Leigh Bus Station. They were sitting on the back few rows.

'The defendant also boarded and made his way to the rear. He left two empty seats between himself and the girls. The girls were with their friend whose attention was first drawn to the defendant. He nudged her with his leg and she got up and moved away from him.

'One of the girls could feel that the defendant was staring at her. She turned to look at him and thought that he looked weird. It looked as though he was feeling pleasure. She turned back around and put her headphones in.

'One of the others also felt like she was being watched. She looked at the defendant who had a bag on his knee and he was staring at her legs. She then saw that he was masturbating and saw his exposed penis.

'She then called her mother to tell her what was happening. Her mother advised that she report it and one of the girls then went to tell the bus driver who stopped the bus and went to challenge the defendant. He removed him from the vehicle and then contacted the police.

'One of the girls described being "a bit freaked out" by what had happened, but said she was OK. One of the others was rather more affected and described feeling she judges all the men she meets. She worries on the bus when a man gets on behind her, that he will sit next to her.

'Police conducted enquiries and discovered a similar incident in March 2022 involving three schoolchildren at Leigh Bus Station with a similar description of the offender had been given and a PC viewed CCTV footage. The defendant was arrested and interviewed on 13 June 2022. He made no comment.'

The court heard Romanian-born Molan was of previous good character.

Sentencing the judge Mr Recorder Andrew McLoughlin told him: 'You have targeted school girls, one in particular was a victim on two separate occasions at the same bus stop near her school. Although she admits that she has the mental strength to not be too affected by the incident, others, unfortunately, have been impacted more.

'The reasons for why you undertook these offences are still unclear, especially considering your age and lack of previous convictions. It's clear that you need significant assistance with your criminal behaviour. I believe that you will benefit from this intervention from probation and am therefore convinced that I can suspend your sentence.'

Molan was also ordered to complete 40 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 120 hours of unpaid work. He will have to abide by the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years and sign the Sex Offender Register.

It comes as three women, who were flashed at by killer policeman Wayne Couzens days before he murdered Sarah Everard, warned that indecent exposure offences are not being treated seriously enough.

Earlier this month Metropolitan Police Chief Sir Mark Rowley called for a change to the law on flashing.

He argues that a football fan who streaks on a pitch should not be treated the same way as a sexual predator.

On average, women and girls are being subjected to more than 40 indecent exposure and voyeurism attacks every day.

However, data from the Ministry of Justice showed the number of people convicted of indecent exposure has collapsed in recent years, almost halving from 810 in 2016 to 435 in 2020.

Solicitor Harriet Wistrich, director of the Centre for Women's Justice, said police were not taking the offence seriously enough: 'This sort of offending can be an indicator of more serious, prolific and sometimes escalating sexual offending.'

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A man who sexually assaulted a child and repeatedly threatened his partner at knifepoint has been given an extended prison sentence after a judge deemed him to be 'dangerous'.

Daniel Waterworth, 31, inappropriately touched the girl - who is of primary school age - in December last year. At the time of the sexual assault, he was on bail in relation to a string of separate offences against his girlfriend.

The most serious of those came on April 1 2022, when he held a Stanley knife to her neck and threatened to kill her if she screamed. As the woman tried to fight Waterworth off, he sliced her hand open, prosecution barrister Isabelle Haddad told

He then pinned her down underneath a table and held his hand over her mouth, before gagging her with a dressing gown cord. The woman later told police that the cord had some liquid on it and this made her throw up. Waterworth only stopped the attack when a child walked in the room, the court heard.

That incident followed a similar attack less than two weeks earlier, the court heard. On March 19, Waterworth had accused the woman of cheating on him after she sent him a photograph of chocolates she was eating at work.

When they were both at their home later that evening, he got a knife from under a pillow and threatened to kill her if she screamed. He then locked the front door but the woman managed to escape to the front garden.

Waterworth caught up and punched her 'between eight and ten' times in the head. She eventually managed to seek refuge at a neighbour's house.

When Waterworth was arrested, police found a small snap bag of cocaine on him. Waterworth, of Hereford Road, Bolton, later pleaded guilty to two counts of threatening a person with a knife, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, battery, possession of cocaine, and sexual assault of a child under 13.

Defence barrister Nick Ross told the court that Waterworth is "disgusted at his own conduct". He said that Waterworth has 'no recollection' of the attack and that he has alcohol and substance issues. A psychiatric has also found that Waterworth suffers from psychosis.

The judge, Recorder Michael Maher jailed Waterworth for five years. He also imposed an extended licence period of two years, under the 'dangerous offender' provisions.

Addressing Waterworth, Recorder Maher said: "Your abuse of alcohol and drugs aggravates your poor mental health and aggressive behaviour." Recorder Maher imposed a restraining order, prohibiting Waterworth from contacting his ex-girlfriend and ordered him to sign the sex offender's register for life.

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A sex offender who abused two young girls 'for his own sexual gratification' - one almost 50 years ago - has finally been brought to justice and jailed.

Frederick Bowman, now aged 73, faced a courtroom decades on thanks to the bravery of his victims, now women, in coming forward to report the abuse they suffered at his hands to police.

He was locked up last week for six years for indecently assaulting them as girls in Manchester, the Crown Prosecution Service has revealed.

Bowman, formerly of Ansell Close in Gorton, Manchester, pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault against a girl aged under 13 between 1974 and 1976, the CPS said.

Prosecutors also confirmed he admitted two counts of indecent assault on a second girl also aged under 13 between 1996 and 2001. Bowman admitted the charges in July last year and was jailed by a judge sitting at Manchester Crown Court on March 3.

The CPS said the second victim came forward first and reported the abuse to police in February 2021. The first victim then came forward in March, 2021. They cannot be identified for legal reasons.

Tim Greenald, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West said: "Frederick Bowman abused the two young girls for his own sexual gratification. Thanks to their bravery, we were able to bring Bowman to justice for his actions.

"I hope that despite the undoubtedly long-lasting effects of his abuse, these young women can get some sense of closure in the knowledge he has finally had to face the consequences of his actions before a court of law."

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A vile pervert watched a 10-year-old girl from behind a wall before exposing himself and laughing, leaving her haunted and traumatised. Richard Graham, 33, who is convicted of repeatedly exposing himself had targeted the girl the day before as she played outside with friends in Bury.

Noticing him ‘doing weird stuff’ with his genitals whilst standing a short distance away, one of the children shouted: “small willy” causing Graham to run off.

The following day, as the girl was knocking on at a friend’s house, she saw him hiding behind a wall. Fearing he was ‘cornering her’, she left to go home, only for Graham to stand in full view and expose himself again.

As she started to run, their eyes met and he raised his eyebrows whilst smirking at her, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.

Graham, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to two offences of exposure and two offences of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and was today (March 3) jailed for over three years.

Prosecuting, Robin Kitching said at around 5pm on August 8 last year, three children, aged 10, 10 and 13, were playing on a tree swing. One of them noticed Graham standing nearby watching them and pointed him out to the others.

“He then took his penis out of his trousers and started, in the child’s words, ‘doing weird stuff and playing with it and swinging it around’,” Mr Kitching said.

“He did not remove his trousers or speak to the children. One of the children, a boy, shouted ‘small willy’ at him, causing the defendant to put his penis back in his trousers and run off.”

The matter wasn’t reported, though one of the children, a girl, later said she was ‘freaked out’ and the boy said he first ‘thought it was funny but then became scared’.

On August 8, at around 5.30pm, the same girl was walking to a friend’s house and knocked on the door but got no reply. As she turned to leave she saw Graham hiding behind a low brick wall.

She recognised him and became scared, and went to the back of the house but found that her friend wasn’t home. Fearing she was being ‘cornered’, she walked back up the path to find that Graham had moved from behind the wall to where had been before.

“As she walked past him he got his penis out and exposed it to her, making movements in what was described by an officer as masturbating,” the prosecutor continued.

“She started running but their eyes met, he raised his eyebrows at her and was smirking. She said he was ‘laughing and stuff’. She made it clear she was scared and described his eyes and being ‘really, really scary’.”

The police were informed and quickly compiled a CCTV compilation of his movements which showed him riding home from work on his bicycle, and making a ‘detour’ to where the children were playing.

In a statement, the girl’s mother said her daughter had lost trust in men, that she becomes anxious upon seeing a man on a bike and is currently undergoing therapy.

“The defendant's actions haunted her, she felt traumatised about it,” she said. “She was exposed to something no child should have to see. It frightened her so much, and she wants to make sure he does not hurt any other children.”

Graham was said to have seven previous convictions for multiple offences of exposure in which he targeted prepubescent girls.

Defending, Aubrey Sampson said the only real mitigation was his client’s guilty plea as it prevented the children from giving evidence at a trial.

“The defendant cannot put forward a reason as to why the offences were committed previously and recently,” he said.

“What he does know is that if he continues to offend in this way, the terms of imprisonment will be getting longer and longer.”

Sentencing, Judge Mark Savill said: “She described you as ‘smiling’. You found it funny and were laughing - she wasn’t.

“You and your behaviour had the most terrible effect on this vulnerable, 10-year-old child.

“She and no other child should have to put up with such vile behaviour.

“There just does not seem to be any valid reason or excuse or mental disorder that offers mitigation of your behaviour.

“I am firmly of the view that you conducted yourself in this way because it excites you sexually. You know it’s wrong but that does not stop you.”

The judge said he was unable to pass an extended sentence due to Sentencing Council guidelines, but said he was firmly of the view that Graham was a ‘dangerous offender’.

Graham, who shook his head during the judge’s sentencing remarks, was jailed for three years and two months. He was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register and made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention order, both for indefinite periods.

Speaking after the hearing, Police Constable David Green of GMPs Bury North Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “I would first like to thank the young victims for their resilience and bravery in reporting this incident to the police and giving us the opportunity to put this sexual predator in jail.

“Sexual offences have long-lasting impacts on victims and Greater Manchester Police are committed to preventing this harm. We work with a number of specialist partner agencies, so you will never be on your own.

“I hope this result sends a stark warning to offenders that these behaviours will not be tolerated by Greater Manchester Police and that authorities here are committed to ensuring these individuals are convicted to the full extent of the law – by sending convicted sex offenders to prison and monitoring them for life.”

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A dangerous sex offender who sexually assaulted and robbed a woman as she walked home from a night out has been jailed for 10 years.

Aaron Burns, 31, followed his victim as she walked through Lancaster city centre at around 2am on November 14, 2019. When she got to her home the victim felt somebody put a hand over her face and a hand around her waist.

Burns then said: Youre coming with me or Ill murder you. Burns pulled her onto a canal towpath, before asking what money she had and going through her handbag.

He then sexually assaulted her in a harrowing ordeal. The victim pushed Burns away and shouted for him to leave her alone. But he then grabbed her mobile phone and threw it into the canal, telling her she wasnt using it.

Burns then ran off and the victim sought help. Burns, of no fixed address, was arrested and linked to the offence from CCTV footage recovered by Lancashire Constabulary's investigation team.

He denied any wrongdoing but was found guilty of sexual assault, kidnap and robbery following a trial at Preston Crown Court. He was sentenced at the same court earlier this month.

Having deemed Burns to be dangerous, the Judge told him that he must serve at least two thirds of his sentence before he is eligible for parole. Burns was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

DI Dylan Hrynkow, of Lancaster CID, said: This was an appalling offence committed against a young woman as she walked home from a night out with friends. This crime has understandably had a profound impact on her made all the worse by the fact Burns forced her to relive the ordeal by running a trial.

"He did this in the full knowledge that he was responsible for this despicable crime. I would like to commend the bravery of the victim. Burns is a dangerous offender who poses a risk to the public by his appalling offending and I am glad he has been given a significant custodial sentence. The notification requirements mean he will be monitored by the authorities for the remainder of his life.

Chief Supt Karen Edwards, our Divisional Commander for the West of the county, said: The persistence and determination of the diligent investigation team has led to a dangerous offender being taken off the streets of Lancaster. We are committed to protecting women and girls from all form of violence and where we identify this type of abhorrent behaviour we will do everything we can to put the perpetrators before the courts.

I hope the outcome of this case will encourage other victims of sexual offences to come forward, knowing they will be believed, listened to and we will do everything in our power to put the perpetrator before the courts.

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Man sentenced to a minimum term of 35 years in prison for murder, rape, and sexual assault of a woman in Ashton-Under-Lyne.

On Thursday 25 August 2022, officers were called to a concern for welfare of a woman at a property in Ashton-Under-Lyne.

Officers attended the scene, and a 26-year-old woman was found dead at the scene.

A 52-year-old man was arrested and remanded into custody.

The victim was later confirmed to be 26-year-old Elizabeth McCann.

Elizabeth’s family are continuing to be support by specialist GMP officers and support services at this incredibly difficult time.

Simon Goold (16/11/1970) of Manchester Road in Ashton-Under-Lyne was later charged with murder, rape, and assault by penetration and was further remanded to await trial.

Today (Wednesday 22 February 2023), Goold was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court to a minimum of 35 years in prison for murder, rape and sexual assault.

Duncan Thorpe of GMP’s Major Incident Support Unit said: “Firstly, my thoughts are with Lizzie’s family and loved ones at this very difficult time.

“Lizzie was preyed upon by Simon Goold. He befriended her and plied her with drinks. He then took her back to his flat where he raped and sexually assaulted her, before strangling her with a ligature, she sadly died as a result of her injuries.

“Goold’s disregard for Lizzie and her welfare is unfathomable. He claimed that this was a game gone wrong and the catalogue of injuries that Lizzie sustained were horrific and definitely not consented.

“Goold is an extremely dangerous individual who fully deserves the sentence imposed on him today.”

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A REGISTERED sex offender who was found to be living with a two-year-old child has been put behind bars.

Jason Bell, of Firs Chase, West Mersea, was being monitored by the police due to a sexual harm prevention order imposed upon him.

Essex Police said Bell posed a “serious risk to young girls” and the order was in place to protect vulnerable people.

Colchester Magistrates’ Court heard the sex offender was banned from owning internet enabled devices unless monitored by Essex Police and had to notify officers of changes to his address.

But the 33-year-old tried to evade detection by residing at a new property which officers were unaware of.

In November, Essex Police received a call informing constables of Bell’s whereabouts and that there was a two-year-old child at the address.

An officer was deployed to the scene and arrested Bell after spotting him returning to the property.

Appearing before the magistrates, Bell was sentenced to one years imprisonment.

Investigating Officer Harry Callaghan said the defendant “genuinely believed” he wouldn’t go to prison.

“I acted quickly on the intelligence received and was able to attend the address," he said.

“Bell had unfortunately run away from the address after seeing the police but after a short wait around the corner, I was able to witness him return to the address I knew he shouldn’t have been at.

“Bell thought that he could continue to breach the order which we’d placed upon him to keep vulnerable people safe. He genuinely believed that he wouldn’t go to prison.

“I made sure that the courts were fully briefed about the risk he presented and am pleased that he received a custodial sentence.”

Mr Callaghan, is part of the team which manages sexual offenders and violent offenders.

He continued: “Essex Police is constantly looking at the measures we can use to keep everyone, especially young women and girls safe.

“Anyone on the Sex Offenders Register and who poses a risk will be monitored by my team.”

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A "sexual predator" who raped a vulnerable"" young girl after isolating her from her friend in a city centre and luring her back to his home has been jailed.

Girmay Andes, 28, of Droylsden, approached the girl, who was under 16, in Piccadilly in Manchester in July, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.

He took her back to his home and attacked her.

Andes, who admitted rape, was jailed at Manchester Crown Court for eight years.

He also pleaded guilty to two separate counts of sexual assault of a woman and was ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for life.

GMP said Andes managed to separate the girl from her friend and persuaded her to go back to his home - where the offence took place.

The victim contacted people she knew, who informed police.

Andes took the girl out of his home before officers arrived but they tracked her down a short distance away and she told them what she had been through.

Andes was arrested a short time later.

Det Con Mike Allen praised the victim for "finding the strength" to report the rape and go through the court process to ensure "this sexual predator has been removed from the streets of Manchester and jailed".

He told other victims: "You will be believed and you will be supported throughout every stage of the process, to bring offenders to justice and prevent them from harming anyone else."

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A man has been jailed after he was seen attempting to rape another man in a busy local park before battering him in a 'prolonged' attack.

Connor Farren-Bell, 25, met the victim while he was sitting alone on a bench in Alkrington Woods ‘watching the world go by’. After drinking a bottle of vodka together, Farren-Bell was later seen standing in front of the man, with his trousers down and ‘thrusting’ whilst the man appeared unresponsive, Manchester Crown Court heard.

As two witnesses walked past, one coughed to alert them to their presence, causing Farren-Bell to stop. They then heard Farren-Bell shouting: “If you were a woman”.

The man was then attacked by him, ‘raining’ punches on his head, face and body. He was later found huddled by the entrance to the park, bleeding and confused.

Farren-Bell then returned to the park and walked past the victim, who shouted: “That’s him.” When the witnesses told him what they had seen he said: “Oh no, he hasn’t done that to me” and vomited.

On the day of his trial, Farren-Bell pleaded guilty to attempted rape and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Last Friday, (January 20) he was jailed for seven years and eight months, with an extended period of four years on licence.

Opening the case, prosecutor Daniel Calder said that on July 17 last year, the man had gone for a walk and was sat on a bench by a lake when he was approached by Farren-Bell. The pair began chatting before Farren-Bell asked if he wanted to go for a pint, at which the man said he had no money, so instead the pair went to a local shop and bought a bottle of vodka.

After sharing the whole bottle, the man began feeling ‘funny’ and was described by eyewitnesses as looking ‘insensible’ and ‘incapacitated’. As the two people, out on an evening walk, went past Farren-Bell and the man, they saw Farren-Bell stood up directly in front of the man engaging in a sex act.

Mr Calder said: “The witnesses coughed loud to alert him and noticed the victim had slumped to the left side of the defendant. They then heard him shouting aggressively, saying: “If you were a woman”.

“The couple walked on and could hear the defendant shouting as they made their way round.”

He said this later manifested into the violent assault. The victim, who’s last memory of the incident was drinking from the bottle, said his next memory was walking away from the bench before he was punched by Farren-Bell, knocking him to the floor.

During the attack Farren-Bell, who had ridden his bike to the park, used the bicycle to ‘pin’ the man to the floor. He was later found by the entrance to the park in a confused state.

After a couple of days he was taken to hospital where he was found with extensive bruising and cuts to his body. Farren-Bell was arrested after his phone was found at the scene, and initially denied the attack in his police interview. He has since pleaded guilty.

In a victim personal statement read to the court, the man said he has experienced anxiety and suicidal thoughts. He said he felt ‘ashamed and embarrassed’ and has since had his sexuality questioned. He added he has a hard time trusting people and lost a year of his life because of the court proceedings.

Farren-Bell was said to have previous convictions, including two offences of battery on his record.

Mitigating, David Bruce said it was a ‘tragic case’. He said no force was used to engage in the sex act and that his client had not deliberately used drink or drugs.

“This isn’t a situation where there was violence used in order to facilitate the sexual abuse,” Mr Bruce said.

“It’s clear he has accepted a degree of responsibility, though he had very little recollection. He has expressed remorse.”

Sentencing, Judge Timothy Smith said: “The witnesses, and his family, said he was incapacitated and rendered insensible. There is no indication you were responsible for that, but you were responsible for taking advantage of him in that situation.

“This was sustained, prolonged and you were out of control. He was fortunate to not have received more serious injuries.”

He said Farren-Bell was described as having a ‘high risk’ of serious harm in a presentence report, and that the trigger of the attack was not clear.

Finding him to be a dangerous offender under the sentencing provisions, Farren-Bell, of no fixed abode, was jailed for seven years and eight months with an extended licence period of four years. He must serve at least two thirds of his sentence before he is considered for release by the parole board.

He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

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An NHS worker who travelled to Southampton to have sex with a teenage boy fainted when he was met by police, a court heard.

Robin Hains was arrested during a police sting in Shirley.

The 47-year-old had travelled along the south coast, from Bognor Regis, in the hope of abusing a 13-year-old.

According to police, he used an online messaging platform to brag about his plans to another man in March last year.

Appearing at Southampton Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence and making indecent images of children.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Colin Haynes, of SEROCU, said: “Hains travelled a significant distance expecting to carry out sexual abuse against a child.

“Upon meeting police officers instead of the child, he had travelled expecting to see for sexual activity to take place, Hains fainted, demonstrating how shocked he was to have been ‘found out’ for his offending.

“Through his professional life, he would have been aware of what constitutes an offence of this nature and will now have time in prison to reflect upon this.

“SEROCU officers continue to work tirelessly to protect children and to bring those who commit offences against them before the courts to be held accountable for their actions.”

Hains, who worked at the urology department of University Hospitals Sussex, was jailed for three years and two months.

The defendant, of St Mary’s Close, Lavant, Chichester, must register as a sex offender for ten years and has been made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for the same time.

Anyone concerned about their thoughts or behaviour towards children or those of someone else can seek help and support via the Stop it Now! helpline on 0808 1000 900.

Further support is available from the Lucy Faithfull Foundation.

Victims of sexual offences or anyone who has information about them should contact police by calling the non-emergency number 101 or 999 in an emergency.

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A convicted paedophile arranged to meet a 13-year-old ‘boy’ in a park after telling him he was looking for a ‘regular f*** buddy’.

David Cox, 57, began chatting with the ‘child’ online and immediately asked his age, where he was from and his sexual preferences. When the ‘boy’ said he was 13, from Manchester and didn’t like girls, Cox suggested they meet at Queens Park, off Rochdale Road, before adding that he was ‘looking for a regular f*** buddy’.

Over the next few days he sent vile sexual messages asking if the boy was “horny” and said he would teach him how to commit sexual acts. In July this year, Cox went to the park but was met by a vigilante group, and it became clear he had actually been speaking to an adult decoy.

The police were called and his bag was searched. It was found to contain lube and a torch, Manchester Crown Court heard.

Cox, of Monsall, had previously been stung in 2017, when he arranged to meet a 12-year-old boy in a children’s park, but again was met by a paedophile hunter group. Today (December 22), after pleading guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to meet a boy following grooming, he has been jailed.

Prosecuting, Charlotte Rimmer said Cox began chatting with the ‘boy’, who was actually a member of the group, Saving Our Children.

After contacting the boy on July 22 this year, he queried his sexual preferences and told him he was 45. He then suggested meeting up.

He gave the boy his number and suggested messaging him on WhatsApp, before telling him he was ‘very handsome’, and asking if he smoked or drank.

“At around midnight, the defendant asked whether he felt horny, whether he was erect and said he would show him how to get [an erection],” Ms Rimmer said.

Cox then told the boy he would show him how to carry out sexual acts before telling him to ‘keep it a secret’.

“He also said he got caught out before with a younger guy. When asked what happened, he said he got away with it and said the other person was 12 and was about to [perform a sex act upon him] when he left,” the prosecutor said.

“The conversation continued and the defendant suggested they could be boyfriends. He also asked if his mum had put a tracker in his phone.”

On July 25, Cox agreed to meet the boy at Queens Park, in Harpurhey, but when he arrived he tried to run away after seeing members of the group waiting for him. It was then he was caught.

The court heard he had 19 previous convictions, one of which included similar offences of attempting to meet a boy following grooming.

“The defendant engaged in conversation on Grindr - this was with another decoy. He said he wanted to have sex and said he brought alcohol, poppers and lubricant,” Mr Rimmer said.

It was said he was HIV positive at the time.

Defending, Adrian Palmer said his client was expecting to get more time in prison for the offences. He said he was on medication which has seen the HIV become ‘undetectable’, meaning it cannot be passed on, and added that Cox had recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

In sentencing, Recorder Neil Usher said his only mitigation was his early guilty plea.

“You thought you were communicating with a 13-year-old boy, and you attended the meeting with lubricant,” he said.

“I am satisfied that you took that with you because you were intending to engage in sexual acts with the child.”

Cox, of Keyhaven Walk, was jailed for 28 months with an extended period of three years on licence after the judge found him to be a dangerous offender under the sentencing provisions. That means he must serve a full seven months in prison, then two thirds of the 28 month sentence before he is considered for release by the parole board.

He was also made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and must sign onto the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.

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Police have asked for help tracking down a convicted sex offender who wore a Greggs branded jumper in his mugshot.

Shaun Aver, 36, is wanted on recall to prison after repeatedly breaching his sex offender notification requirements after being convicted of sexual activity with a boy.

Aver, of Greater Manchester, has links to Preston, Blackpool, Blackburn and Fleetwood. He is of no fixed address and is required to register at the police station every seven days as part of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

He failed to do so and a warrant has now been issued for his arrest. Police have now issued an appeal on Facebook, urging anyone who knows of his whereabouts to contact them.

'Police are appealing for the public's help to trace a wanted man from the Bury area,' a Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said today.

'Shaun Aver is wanted on recall to prison. He is known to have links to the city centre, north Manchester, Preston and Cumbria areas.' 

Aver had previously been classed by police as a 'risk to women and children' when he went on the run earlier in the year.

He is described as being 5ft 6in tall, of medium build and having short, brown hair.

However, the force's appeal to find Aver has prompted mocking remarks from social media users who are seemingly amused by his mugshot - which shows him wearing a sweater littered with logos of the bakery giant Greggs.  

'The fashion police may have him. That jumper is a crime in itself,' wrote Vanessa Knight.

One said: 'Wanted for baking and entering and possession of an offensive jumper.' 

Tom Goulden joked: 'Wanted for baking and entering & possession of an offensive jumper.' 

'He's behind the counter at Bury Greggs! You'll catch him if you park up outside and wait. We'll call it a Steak Bake out,' Aaron Lee replied. 

'Just proves, beyond a reasonable doubt, some people will wear anything,' Lynne Rohmann added.

Emily Robinson joked: 'Imagine getting lifted wearing that jumper.'  

Maria Carty said: 'If he's not wearing the matching leggings I'll be disappointed.'

'Best publicity Greggs and Primark have had,' echoed Vanessa JS.

'He's never going to live that mugshot down. If he's not arrested for his crimes against fashion he'll want to be arrested to hide his humiliation.' 

Greater Manchester Police reposted the Facebook plea, adding: 'Other bakery chains are available.'

Greggs joined with Primark to release a collection of pastry-themed clothing, including jumpers, shoes and tracksuits.

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A SEXUAL predator who groped and kissed children walking through Colchester’s city centre has been locked up.

Stefan Pritchard’s disturbing attacks saw four girls, aged between 11 and 14, targeted on different dates between July 2021 and June this year.

A 14-year-old girl whose bottom was groped from underneath her skirt by Pritchard, 32, said she now suffers panic attacks due to flashbacks.

Judge David Turner KC told Chelmsford Crown Court he feared the sexually-charged incidents were a “manifestation of his inner loneliness and turmoil”. 

 Pritchard, of Fingringhoe Road, Colchester, admitted four counts of sexual assault on a child, two counts of assaulting an emergency worker and one count of sexual assault of a child aged under 13.

He has been jailed for two years and nine months.

Emma Kutner, prosecuting, said Pritchard’s offending started when he reached up the 14-year-old’s skirt in Queen Street and grabbed her bottom in July 2021.

He then stroked the hair of an 11-year-old and told her she was beautiful as she walked with her mother in September last year. 

The following month he hugged a 14-year-old girl from behind and kissed her on the neck, cheek and lips before touching her breast.

Ms Kutner said: “Her friend said she was in shock and was crying. She said she felt anxious and didn’t want to go out.”

Another girl, 13, had her breasts and thighs stroked in North Hill by Pritchard in November 2021.

The sex attacker’s final offence, in June of this year, saw him ask a girl wearing school uniform if she wanted to spend some alone time together, before grabbing the back of her neck and pulling her closer. 

 The court heard Pritchard lives with a mild disorder impacting his intellectual development, but Judge Turner said: “It is not of an order which could possibly excuse this sort of behaviour.”

He added: “These were unprovoked, gratuitous public gropings and sexual assaults of young women.”

Donal Lawler, mitigating, said: “Given everything he was born into he stood little chance; he is an immensely damaged individual.”

Pritchard was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years.