Latest Offenders Cornwall

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A man has been jailed for six years for grooming and sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl.

Jonathan Simpson, 32, from the St Austell area, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentencing on 2 October after being found guilty by a jury of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl 13 to 15.

The court heard how the offence took place in early 2023 when the victim was 14 and vulnerable.

She described to officers how Simpson asked her if she wanted to go for a drink and she agreed.

They met at a bus stop in the St Austell area and then drank and stayed for several days at Simpson’s caravan.

During this time Simpson proceeded to sexually assault the victim despite being 28 and knowing she was 14.

DNA analysis found Simpson’s semen on the victim’s clothes.

Officer in the case, Detective Constable David Squire said:

“Jonathan Simpson took advantage of the victim’s vulnerability and proceeded to groom and exploit her for his own sexual gratification.

“Simpson was fully aware of the victim’s age yet carried on regardless.

“I would like to thank the victim for having the courage to disclose what happened to her, and for remaining engaged in the legal process, resulting in Simpson being convicted for the sexual offence.”

Description

A man was handed a five-year prison sentence after being convicted of grooming and repeatedly engaging in sexual activity with a teenage girl.

Philip Hares, 41, of Trevelyan Road in Cornwall, was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court on September 25.

The court heard the offences involved a girl aged between 14 and 15 in Lowestoft.

Hares had denied the offences but was convicted following a trial.

Jurors found him guilty of two counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a child aged 13 to 15 and meeting a child following sexual grooming.

Description

A lying rapist has been sentenced to years behind bars for attacking two female victims in Cornwall.

Bradley Fitzpatrick, 22, of Kinsman Estate in Bodmin, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence on Thursday 24 September after being found guilty at trial of three charges of rape, three sexual assaults, two charges of sexual assault by penetration and one charge of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent.

Fitzpatrick also pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children and possession of extreme pornography.

He was jailed for nine years with three additional years on extended licence and made subject of a 20 year sexual harm prevention order.

During the trial, the court heard how in December 2021 Fitzpatrick met the first victim then aged in her late teens at a garage in Bodmin and they walked together.

During the walk, Fitzpatrick sexually assaulted and raped the victim.

She then went home and told her boyfriend and the matter was reported to police.

Following his arrest, Fitzpatrick lied in two interviews claiming that he never met the victim that day.

He was presented with forensic evidence and then said in court that there had been sexual contact, but it was consensual.

On two occasions in 2022, Fitzpatrick and the second victim met – aged between 16 and 18 at the time - and was having consensual sex when the victim withdrew her consent.

On both occasions she made it she had withdrawn consent, yet Fitzpatrick proceeded to rape her.

He also sexually assaulted her on a third occasion.

When interviewed in relation to these offences, Fitzpatrick told detectives that sexual contact was only ever consensual.

Following his arrest in connection to a separate allegation, Fitzpatrick’s phone was seized and found to contain indecent images of children and bestiality.

Judge James Adkin described Fitzpatrick as “clearly dangerous to young girl”, adding that he “lied profusely and with ease”.

Officer in the case, Detective Constable Emily Rickard said:

“I welcome the sentence given to Bradley Fitzpatrick at Truro Crown Court today.

“Fitzpatrick is a dangerous individual with no regard whatsoever for his victims, and who has consistently attempted to lie his way out of trouble.

“He has demonstrated himself to have no understanding of boundaries in his pursuit for sexual gratification.

“I would like to thank the two victims in this case, none of whom know each other. 

“By reporting the ordeals they suffered at the hands of Fitzpatrick and remaining engaged throughout the legal process, they have ensured that a dangerous sexual predator has been taken off the streets.”

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Former Isle of Wight Police Officer Jailed for 10 Years Over Historic Child Sex Offences.

David Phillip Nutton, 60, of St Stephen in St Austell, has been sentenced to 10 years’ immediate imprisonment for historic child sex offences.

Nutton, a former Hampshire Constabulary police constable, appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court on Monday for sentencing. He had denied seven counts of indecent assault on a child under 14 but was found guilty by a jury following a trial that concluded on 20 May. He was remanded in custody after the verdicts.

The offences took place on the Isle of Wight between 16 December 1988 and 31 December 2001 and involved two victims, one of whom was as young as eight at the time.

Judge David Melville imposed seven custodial sentences, the longest being seven years, with most to run concurrently, resulting in a total of 10 years’ immediate imprisonment.

Nutton joined Hampshire Constabulary in 1998. In 2004 he was jailed for 18 months for indecently assaulting a boy. He had also admitted using police systems, including the Police National Computer, to tip off a paedophile associate about whether he was under investigation. It is understood he was based in Ryde when the allegations came to light.

During sentencing, the judge told Nutton he had “debased your badge” and “brought shame on your force, created a scandal on the Isle of Wight.”

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Scott Lewis Jailed for Nine Years After Sexual Assault Conviction

A woman has told a court her life was left “in tatters” after being targeted for sexual abuse by Scott Lewis.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said the abuse had affected “every relationship” in her life and continued to have a profound impact on her mental health.

Lewis, 54, of East Road, Stithians, was convicted by a jury at Truro Crown Court earlier this year of multiple counts of sexual assault.

Sentencing him, Judge Simon Carr said Lewis had shown no remorse for the harm caused.

“You abused her in the most terrible way,” the judge told the defendant.

Judge Carr criticised the initial police response, saying the woman had been “catastrophically let down” after reporting the abuse but no action was taken at the time.

Highlighting the lasting damage, he added: “The effect on her has been truly devastating. Anybody reading her personal impact statement would see it has affected every aspect of her life and will continue to do so. You have shown no remorse for what you have done and the evil you have inflicted.”

In her victim impact statement, the woman said the abuse had “torn her life apart” and led to multiple suicide attempts, the first occurring shortly after it began. She described spiralling into alcohol and cannabis use, self-harm and a “path of self-destruction”.

She has since been diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and eating disorders. She continues to suffer flashbacks, nightmares and hallucinations linked to Lewis.

The trauma forced her to abandon her education after a severe panic attack during a teaching session. “The offending took my future potential away,” she said, adding she turned to alcohol and drugs “just to forget for a short time”.

She told the court she has “hundreds of scars” from self-harm and nerve damage. She once hoped to work with young people but no longer believes that is possible and has decided not to have children — decisions she described as direct consequences of the abuse.

Since the trial she has required ongoing mental health support, including home treatment, medication and hospital admission. Despite Lewis’s conviction, she said she continues to feel overwhelmed and at times guilty.

Lewis was sentenced to a total of nine years in prison.

Devon and Cornwall Police welcomed the outcome and praised the victim’s bravery.

“We welcome the result and sentence in relation to this case. Most of all we commend the bravery of the victim for reporting these offences to us,” the force said.

It acknowledged past failings but stated it has “fundamentally reformed the way cases are handled” through specialist training and a greater focus on suspect behaviour under the national Operation Soteria programme.

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A man who raped a teenager in St Austell has been jailed for four years and two months.

Jordan Roberts, 25, of Beacon Hill, Bodmin, was found guilty of the rape and sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl at Truro Crown Court and was sentenced to four years and two months in prison today, Friday 19 June.

Roberts was also given a 15-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and ordered to sign the National Sex Offender Register for life. A 10-year restraining order was also imposed.

Following a trial at Truro Crown Court, that concluded on Thursday 14 May, Roberts was found guilty of rape and sexual activity against the victim.

Detective Constable Lauren Manning said:

“I would like to pay tribute to the bravery of the victim who was only 14 at the time of the offences.

“She has remained engaged with the police throughout the entire process, which has taken several years, and has given evidence in court.

“Despite the length of time from reporting it, to the matter coming to court, it has been dealt with appropriately today.

“I truly hope this result encourages others to report sexual abuse to us so it can be investigated and they can be assured that they will be listened to and believed.

“And it is important to remember that survivors of sexual offences are protected by law and have life-long anonymity.”

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Former Isle of Wight Police Officer Convicted of Historic Child Sex Abuse

David Nutton, 60, of St Stephen, St Austell, Cornwall, a former Isle of Wight police officer, has been found guilty of seven counts of indecent assault on a boy under the age of 14.

The offences took place between 15 December 1988 and 31 December 2001. Nutton denied all charges at Portsmouth Crown Court but was convicted on every count by a jury.

He is due to be sentenced at the same court on 7 July 2026.

In 2004, while serving as a Ryde police constable, Nutton was jailed for 18 months for indecently assaulting a boy. He also admitted misusing the Police Criminal Intelligence System and National Computer to tip off a paedophile friend about whether he was under investigation for child sex abuse.

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A high-risk registered sex offender has been jailed for more than three years after breaching a court order aimed at stopping him from accessing indecent images of children online.

Richard Over, aged 43, was caught with a forbidden tablet hidden under his duvet, then told police: “I’m an idiot.”

A search history-concealing internet browser and dark web software were found installed on the device. 

Over, of Marazion in Cornwall, was originally convicted of making indecent images of children in 2017 and again in 2024 - for which he received suspended prison sentences.

He was also made the subject of a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) in December 2023.

Officers from Devon & Cornwall Police’s Management of Sexual Offenders and Violent Offenders (MOSOVO) team arrested Over following a visit to his home in April 2026.

He admitted five breaches of his SHPO between 17 December 2025 and 5 April 2026  and was sentenced to three years and two months in prison at Truro Crown Court.

The court heard Over had been convicted of breaching his SHPO on seven occasions since September 2023.

He had also breached his registered sex offender notification requirements seven times in the same period, the judge was told.

Over had been barred from buying or using any device capable of accessing the internet without first notifying police.

The SHPO also stipulated any such device should be able to retain and display its online history.

Over was also prohibited from deleting his internet search history and required to make any devices available for officers to inspect.

The order also banned Over from using any software which enables anonymous online activity and from password-protecting any devices or files without permission. 

An unannounced visit by officers to Over’s home on Sunday 5 April 2026 uncovered a PIN-locked tablet hidden under his duvet.

When officers unlocked the device, a private internet browser and gateway application to access the dark web were found installed on it.  

He told officers he ‘didn’t use’ the private browser and the dark web application was ‘for checking about the war’.

Police Constable Ross Waite said:

“This offender made a sustained and deliberate effort to bypass strict court orders designed to protect children and limit his access to the internet.

“Despite being fully aware of the restrictions placed upon him, he chose to conceal a device, install software to hide his online activity, and attempt to access the darkest corners of the internet.

“Sexual Harm Prevention Orders are in place to manage risk and safeguard the public, particularly the most vulnerable.

“Breaching them is not a technicality – it is a serious offence that demonstrates a clear disregard for the law and for the safety of others.

“We will continue to robustly monitor and pursue those who attempt to evade these restrictions and take swift action to bring them before the courts.”

Over was sentenced on Friday 8 May.

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A Penzance man has been jailed for over four years for inciting a child into sexual activity online.

Christopher Stevens, of Chywoone Hill in Newlyn, appeared at Truro Crown Court on Friday 8 May where he was sentenced to four years and six months’ imprisonment.

The 65-year-old pleaded guilty on 13th April to causing/or inciting a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The court heard how Stevens had been in contact with the child over a dating app before moving over to a messaging app where explicit content was shared. It was only when the child’s father looked through her phone that contact ceased and the police were immediately alerted.

On sentencing, Stevens was made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for a period of 10 years, placing strict restrictions on his internet use and contact with children upon release. He was also placed onto the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely. 

Investigating officer Detective Constable Emily Distin said:

“This case highlights the serious risks posed to children in online environments and the determined efforts of law enforcement to identify and prosecute those who seek to exploit young people.

“This emphasises the importance of parents, carers and guardians remaining vigilant to children’s online activity and encouraging open conversations about internet safety.

“Anyone with concerns about child exploitation or inappropriate online behaviour is urged to report it to police or via the appropriate safeguarding channels below.”

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A Hayle man who subjected two children to repeated sexual acts and rapes over many years has been jailed for 25 years.

Mark Vincent, 56, groomed two young girls convincing them that his abuse was ‘normal’ but they should keep quiet about it.

Vincent, of Guildford Road, was sentenced at Truro Crown Court for 23 non-recent sexual offences in Cornwall over a 25-year period.

On Friday 23 May, he was jailed for 25 years, with one year on licence, and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Following a trial in April, he was convicted of three counts of rape, two counts of attempted rape, eight counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 16, nine counts of sexual assault and one count of causing a child under the age of 13 years to watch/look at an image of sexual activity.

The court heard that Vincent groomed the first girl before going on to rape and sexually abuse her for nearly 10 years.

He manipulated and controlled his victim into thinking his crimes were normal and they were in a loving partnership - but she shouldn’t tell anyone else.

Many years later he began his grooming process with the second girl by making her watch adult films. He once again insisted it was all normal but should be kept secret. Vincent sexually abused and raped her for three years.

The abuse came to light when the first victim saw Vincent in a public place in company with the second girl. Her urgent concern for the girl prompted her to call police.

Vincent was arrested and the second girl was identified. Both victims told police that he had sexually abused them from a very young age. Vincent denied any wrongdoing.

The case did not proceed to court at the time however, the criminal investigation was reopened in 2022 after one of the victims contacted police and requested a review.

A thorough review of the evidence was undertaken and resulted in the Crown Prosecution Service authorising charges.

Vincent consistently denied all the offences, claiming that one relationship was consensual and started when the girl was 16 and that the other girl was simply lying.

The jury were presented with evidence of an audio tape recording where Vincent admitted to a witness that he had sexually assaulted the first child, but insisted that: “I’ve changed - God, it sickens me.”

Vincent claimed in court that he had only made the admission to appease the witness.

His accounts were dismissed by the jury who took less than two hours to find him guilty of all 23 charges.

Detective Constable Andrew Colley, officer in the case, said:

“This case highlights the importance of reporting such offences to the police, no matter how much time has passed.

“Vincent is a very dangerous paedophile who has spent much of his adult life manipulating his way into the lives of very young girls. He was able to groom them into believing that they were in love with him to protect himself and to continue to carry out his offending throughout the years.

“I want to thank the victims and witnesses for their bravery and patience in coming forward and supporting this case which I know will have been extremely difficult for them. It is through their enormous courage that Vincent has been brought to justice.

“I encourage anyone who has experienced similar abuse to report it when they feel ready. Your information could bring an offender to justice - not just for you, but for others.”

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A man has been jailed for six years for sexually assaulting a woman as she slept.

Mark McIlwaine, 49, of Elizabeth Court, Higher Bugle, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence on Friday 10 April having previously been found guilty of sexual assault by penetration and causing a female to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity.

The court heard how McIlwaine assaulted his victim in her sleep, and initially when challenged pretended nothing had happened.

McIlwaine denied any such offending in interview.

Officer in the case Detective Constable Emily Rickard said:

“We welcome the sentence given to Mark McIlwaine who showed no consideration for the victim in this case as he sought about fulfilling his own sexual desires.

“McIlwaine has showed no remorse for what he has put the victim through.

“I would like to thank the victim for having the bravery to report what had happened to her, and for remaining engaged throughout court proceedings.

"The reporting of these incidents to police will further protect women and girls in the future."

Description

A man has been jailed for three years for a terrifying sex attack on a teenage girl in a Launceston alleyway.

Bulgarian national Yordan Stanchev, 26, of no fixed abode, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence on Thursday 2 April having pleaded guilty to sexual assault.

Stanchev – who will likely be deported after his sentence – must also sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life. A restraining order was in place to protect the victim, aged 17.

The court heard how the offence took place at around 9.15pm on Sunday 25 January in an alleyway near to Launceston College.

On the evening in question the victim – who did not know Stanchev - was walking in the area when she noticed him following her.

As he sprinted towards her, she screamed and tried to run away. However, Stanchev caught up with her, pushed her against a metal fence and sexually assaulted her.

Despite being terrified, the victim bravely fought her attacker and injured his face.

As a result of the victim fighting back and Stanchev possibly being disturbed by a dog walker, he fled the scene and the victim was able to run to a place of safety.

Police were then called by a relative of the victim and officers immediately deployed to the vicinity where an area search was conducted.

The victim was able to describe Stanchev and it was established that he had made a call to Police not long before the attack, saying that he’d been attacked outside of Lidl.

Officers aware of the earlier allegation arranged to meet Stanchev and he was located with an injury to his face matching the one that the victim described inflicting on him as she attempted to escape.

Stanchev was immediately arrested and his phone was determined to have been in the area of the offence at the time.

The victim was able to positively identify Stanchev as her attacker and he was promptly arrested, charged and remanded.

At the sentencing hearing, Judge Simon Carr described the offence as “every woman’s worst nightmare”, adding that Stanchev followed the victim until she arrived in a remote area before launching “a sustained and terrifying attack”.

Judge Carr went onto state that the victim showed exceptional bravery in fighting off Stanchev who intended to commit an even more serious offence.

Stanchev, Judge Carr continued, possessed misogynist views and targeted the victim at random as revenge for him believing his wife was having an affair.

Police Staff Investigator Jo Wilson said:

“This was an utterly terrifying attack for the victim, but thankfully stranger attacks of this nature remain rare here in Devon and Cornwall.

“I would like to thank the victim for her bravery and her prompt call to the Police which helped the officers to quickly locate and arrest the suspect a short time later.

“It was due to her actions, and possibly also the presence of a dog walker, that Stanchev did not go on to commit further sexual offences.

“We all should be able to walk freely outside whenever we wish without fear of violence or attack.

“I would like to reassure the public that Police take every report of sexual assault very seriously and we will do all we can to keep our communities safe.

“This is evidenced in the fact that Stanchev was arrested and taken into custody within hours of the offence being committed.

“As well as the victim in the case, we’d like to thank the dog walker, and other witnesses who supported the investigation.”

Description

A registered sex offender who made a determined effort to hide his internet activity from Police has been jailed for 21 months.

Peter Ash, 52, of Kenwyn Hill Caravan Park, Truro, was also found to have an image of a dog being sexual abused on an electronic device.

Ash appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence on Friday 13 February after pleading guilty to three breaches of a Sexual Harm Prevention order, possession of extreme pornography and a breach of his notification requirements as a sex offender.

As part of the sentence defendant must also sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for seven years.

The court heard how in 2022 Ash was convicted of possessing child sexual abuse images and given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order as part of his sentence.

In September 2025, Devon & Cornwall Police received intelligence that a user of an online platform had communications discussing child abuse

Ash was identified and arrested at his home in Truro.

Upon arrest it was discovered that Ash had attempted to conceal a mobile device within his home address and therefore committed several breaches of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The breaches were a result of Ash failing to notify Police of a new electronic device, installing encrypted applications and using a virtual private network (VPN) to mask his IP address and attempting to prevent Police from tracing his internet history

An examination of a device found an image of a person carrying out a sex act on a dog, this forming the possession of extreme pornography charge.

Police Constable Dean Martin from the Paedophile Online Investigation Team, said:

“I welcome the sentence given to Peter Ash at Truro Crown Court.

“The conditions of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order are strictly imposed to manage risk and protect the most vulnerable members of our community in Devon and Cornwall.

“We take any violation of court-ordered conditions extremely seriously and this investigation highlights our commitment to proactive monitoring and our refusal to tolerate any behaviour that undermines public safety or the welfare of those - human or otherwise - who cannot protect themselves.

“Peter Ash made determined efforts to mask his internet history, showing no regard to the order previously given to him to curb his offending and protect others.”

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Nathan Trewern has been sentenced at Truro Crown Court for making indecent images of children, distributing indecent images of children, and possessing extreme pornographic images of people having sex with animals.

A depraved offender caught with indecent images of children and extreme pornographic material depicting bestiality has avoided prison.

Nathan Trewern, 30, appeared at Truro Crown Court this month and was sentenced on January 9 for offenses spanning April 2015 to May 2024. He created 190 category A indecent images of children (the most serious), 159 category B images, and 51 category C images. He also distributed 231 indecent images and possessed seven extreme pornographic images "which portrayed, in an explicit and realistic way, a person performing an act of intercourse with a live animal, namely a dog and a horse," per court documents, as reported by Cornwall Live.

Trewern, of Treloweth Road in Pool (between Redruth and Camborne), admitted three counts of making indecent images, one count of distribution, and one count of possessing extreme porn. He received a two-year suspended prison sentence, 200 hours of unpaid work, and 40 days of rehabilitation including a sex offenders' program.

He faces a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, registration on the sex offenders' list for 10 years, and £120 in court costs.

Description

A 79-year-old taxi driver has been jailed for sexually abusing a child in his car after offering her a free lift when she couldn't pay the £30 fare.

Terence Round pleaded guilty to engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl under 16 and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. He was sentenced to four years in prison at Truro Crown Court and will remain on the sex offender register for life.

The incident occurred three years ago. Prosecutor Heather Hope said Round had previously texted the victim asking her age, given her lifts, and told her it was a shame she wasn't 16. On the day of the offense, the teen offered "anything he wanted" for a free ride. Round drove her to an isolated spot in Cornwall and locked the doors.

The victim felt "terrified," "froze," and as though she would cry, Ms. Hope said. After the assault, Round drove her to her destination and told her not to tell anyone.

Defense lawyer Emily Cook described it as "clearly very serious offending" but noted "rather odd and unusual circumstances" led to it. She said Round initially thought "anything he wants" meant cleaning his car, adding he is "not a risk - he has never offended before," hasn't offended again, and "no longer works as a taxi driver - his career has ended."

Sentencing Round, Judge James Adkin said: "You were a taxi driver, you gave her a lift and took her to an isolated spot." He noted the victim "said she was terrified, she felt she was about to cry." After, "you told her to get dressed and act like nothing happened," and reminded her not to tell anyone. The judge cited Round's personal circumstances and lack of previous convictions as mitigating factors.