Search results for Christchurch

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A furious judge threatened to personally escort a paedophile to the cells after custody officers claimed they could not handle disabled prisoners.

At Bournemouth Crown Court, Judge Robert Pawson sentenced Geoffrey Cheffings, a former prison officer from Christchurch, to five-and-a-half years in prison. However, he was outraged when officers refused to use a nearby public lift to transport the 76-year-old cancer sufferer, who relied on a walker.

“I will escort him down to the cells myself if I have to,” the judge declared.

He questioned prison custody officer supervisor Jordan Fairbrother, who explained the dock only had steps to the cells: “As far as I am aware we can’t take anyone with a disability, or is struggling to walk.”

Fairbrother noted that disabled offenders are typically handled at Salisbury Crown Court, which has a secure lift.

Unimpressed, Judge Pawson—highlighting prior delays in the case—responded: “I can’t move the case to Salisbury now. I will bring him to the doors of the cells downstairs.”

When Fairbrother said that wasn't possible, the judge suggested using a bus: “I will take him round the back of the court to where they get on, and take him to the doors of the bus.”

Informed no bus was available, Pawson ordered Fairbrother to call his superiors: “I don’t want you to get in trouble but you can tell them that this is what is going to happen, I will bring him to the doors of the cells or to a bus.”

Shortly after, four guards used the public lift to take Cheffings to the cells.

Cheffings, an army veteran who served 12 years in the tank regiment and rose to troop sergeant, appeared in court wearing an 'Army Veteran' jumper with a Union Jack. His last job was as a taxi driver.

Prosecutor Stuart Ellacott detailed how Cheffings paid a mother in Africa to perform a sex act on her two-year-old son, which she live-streamed to him. He also sent money to individuals in the Philippines and Pakistan for similar abuses of children.

Cheffings was arrested in August 2023 after a couple he met on a dogging website grew suspicious of his interest in children. They created a fake profile claiming two daughters aged nine and 14, leading Cheffings to discuss raping them in a Travelodge.

Already under National Crime Agency investigation for downloading indecent images via his Google account, Cheffings' phones revealed obscene child photos and images of animal abuse, including category A material.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of facilitating the sexual assault of a child under 13, four counts of possessing indecent images of children, and one count of possessing grossly offensive animal images.

Representing himself, Cheffings attributed his actions to “boredom” after retirement: “I don’t really know – boredom, sat at home after retiring. I think basically it was boredom.”

He acknowledged the harm to children: “Yes I do.”

Noting Cheffings' previously “unblemished character” but delayed case due to cancer treatment, Judge Pawson sentenced him to 64 months, stating the case exposed the “downside of the internet and real-life consequences of immediate contact around the world and the ability to transfer money.”

Cheffings must register as a sex offender for life, abide by a sexual harm prevention order, and serve two-thirds of his sentence before release on licence.

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A victim has showed considerable courage in reporting a rape that occurred at an address in Christchurch.

The incident occurred during the evening of Sunday 3 March 2024 at a property in the Highcliffe area. The victim – a woman aged in her 30s – had communicated with the defendant via a dating app weeks before meeting socially. They later went back to his address where he raped her.

The victim reported the incident the next day. An investigation was launched by detectives and the defendant was arrested and subsequently charged.

Emmanuel Mukum Maleh, aged 28, of Christchurch and employed locally as a care worker, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday 19 September 2025 after being found guilty by a jury at a previous trial at the same court.

He was jailed for five years.

Detective Staff Investigator Dean Smith, of BCP CID, said:

“The victim has shown tremendous bravery in reporting what happened to her and supporting our investigation. 

“It was thanks to her courage that we were able to hold Maleh accountable for his actions and bring him before the courts to face justice.

“We take all reports of sexual offences extremely seriously and would urge anyone who has been the victim of a sexual assault to please come forward and report it to us. We always ensure victims are supported by specially trained officers and will do everything in our power to identify those responsible and hold them to account.”

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A 29-year-old man from Christchurch, Dorset has been jailed for three years and nine months for the rape of a woman in Ringwood.

Joshua Blachford, of Everest Road, pleaded guilty to the offence and was sentenced at Southampton Crown Court on Tuesday 12 August.

The incident, for which he has now been imprisoned, took place at an address in the town between Saturday 17 February and Sunday 18 February.

In an emotive Victim Personal Statement read out to the court, the victim recounted how she will never be able to get back the person she once was.

In her statement, she said: “Before I was raped, I was confident. Outgoing. Full of energy and ambition. That version of me feels like a stranger now – someone who was stolen in the space of a single, horrific event.

“My relationship with my own body has changed. I used to be body positive. I liked the way I looked. Now I hide in baggy clothes, desperate not to be seen, not to be noticed, especially by men. Being looked at feels threatening. I no longer feel like a woman – I feel like a target.

“This rape has changed the way I see everything. The world. Myself. My future. And although I’m trying, healing isn’t about “getting back to normal” for me because normal no longer exists.”

She ended her statement by saying, “I’ve had to accept that the person I was will never return. And that’s a grief I carry on top of everything else.”

As well as the time he will now spend behind bars, Blachford has been made subject of a notification of requirement to register with police upon his release from prison.

He must also abide by the conditions of a restraining order, which prevents him from having any contact with the victim.

Detective Constable Emma Kelly, of the Western Amberstone team, said:

“I am so pleased for the victim in this case that justice has now been served for her, and that Blachford has been placed behind bars, where he belongs.

“While I know this result won’t rid the victim of the memories of what Blachford did, I truly hope it allows her to move forward with her life, safe in the knowledge that he can no longer harm anyone else.

“I must place on record my thanks to the victim in this case for her support throughout our investigation. Without her bravery and determination, we would not have been able to achieve this outcome at court.”

On what this sentence might do for other victims, DC Kelly, said:

“I hope it will reassure other victims that they will be listened to when reporting similar incidents to us, and that detectives on our dedicated Amberstone teams will work tirelessly to secure justice.

“At this point, I would like to encourage other victims to come forward and speak to us. We take allegations of this nature extremely seriously.

“This sentencing should also be a very clear message to other offenders out there that we will always thoroughly investigate any report made to us, in our determined effort to bring you before the courts.”

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A CHRISTCHURCH man who raped and sexually assaulted a child has been jailed for five years.

Darren Marsh (22) of The Strete, committed the offences against the youngster, aged under 13, in New Milton last April.

He was sentenced at Southampton Crown Court on Friday after previously pleading guilty to rape and two counts of sexual assault.

On his release he will serve a 12-month extended period on licence and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order. He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life and banned from contacting the victim.

Speaking after the case, detective constable Dawn Capper, of the child abuse investigation team, said: I am so pleased for the young victim that justice has now been served for them and their family, and that Marsh has now been placed behind bars, where he belongs.

While I know this result wont rid them of the memories of what Marsh did, I truly hope it allows them to move forward with their life, safe in the knowledge that he can no longer harm any other children.

She added: I also hope this sentence will reassure other victims that they will be listened to when reporting similar incidents.

We encourage other victims to come forward and speak to us. We take allegations of this nature extremely seriously and work hard to bring offenders to justice.

This should also be a very clear message to other offenders out there that we will always work tirelessly to ensure you are brought to justice.

I would also like to thank everyone else who assisted in getting this conviction.

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A MAN who held a fake gun to a woman’s head and raped her during a massage appointment in Christchurch has been jailed for 18 years.

Neil Glover (47) attacked the victim – a woman in her 50s who cannot be named for legal reasons – while she gave him a massage, Bournemouth Crown Court heard.

The defendant, of no fixed abode, contacted the woman and had a massage from her on 10th February last year, during which he forcibly touched her inappropriately. She stopped Glover and he immediately apologised.

After Glover made further apologies he was given another massage appointment two days later. But when the victim had her back to him, Glover pulled out what she believed to be a gun and held it to her head. He forced her to perform a sex act on him and raped her, the court was told.

The victim reported the matter to police the following day and Glover was arrested at an address in Bournemouth. During a search of the premises officers found five imitation firearms, including a replica pistol which matched the description given by the victim.

When interviewed by officers Glover claimed the sexual activity had been consensual but made no comment to questions around the use of the firearm.

He subsequently denied four charges: two of rape, having a firearm with intent to commit an offence and assault by penetration. The jury found him guilty after a trial.

Glover will be subject to an extended licence period of a further seven years and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He was also placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely.

DC Tom Bancroft, of Bournemouth CID, said: “She [the victim] suffered a horrific ordeal at the hands of this defendant that he then compounded by continuing to deny his offending and taking the matter to trial.

“I would like to praise the victim for the strength she has shown throughout – from coming forward initially, through to supporting the investigation and giving evidence for the trial.