Latest Offenders Cornwall

Description

A Cornwall man offered a teenage girl a place to stay after a night out before going on to sexually assault her as she slept. David Waters’ terrified victim was so scared she was going to be raped she pretended to be asleep.

Waters, 28, of Illogan near Redruth, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence having pleaded guilty to sexual assault. Prosecuting the case, Rachel Drake described how on the night in question Waters and the victim had been out socialising together.

The victim had no way of getting home so Waters offered her a lift with his uncle who agreed to take her as far as Waters’ house. Ms Drake said: “An arrangement was made she’d sleep in his bed and he’d sleep somewhere else but he got into bed with her. She drifted off to sleep but was awoken at 5am to the sensation of him touching her.”

Ms Drake described how Waters touched the victim’s stomach, breast and privates and forcibly tried to remove her shorts and underwear. She could feel his privates against her and Waters went on to pleasure himself while touching her.

Ms Drake added: “She feigned being asleep because she was frightened she may have been raped. Once he [finished] she remembers him picking up his iPad and scrolling on it.”

The next day there were messages between the two. Waters asked the victim out, she declined and challenged him about what happened to which he replied he had no recollection. Following an examination Waters’ semen was found on her clothes.

In a moving victim impact statement, the victim spoke of how the ordeal has left her struggling with self-harm, depression and suicidal thoughts. She takes medication but still suffers panic attacks.

Representing Waters, Robin Smith said: “Here we have an absolutely terrified first time defendant. From his first interview he was utterly aghast about his behaviour and his regret and sympathy is genuine. He has vastly reduced his alcohol intake and social activity and given up work as a labourer.”

Sentencing Waters, Recorder Andrew Oldland, QC, said: “Your victim was aged just 19 and on that night you were out for a drink together. You offered her a place to stay and went to your home address. She got into bed fully clothed. You were supposed to sleep in a separate bed but at 5am she woke to find you sexually assaulting her.

“She was scared and feigned sleep throughout whereas you would have remembered full well what was going on.” Recorder Oldland described the devastating effect on the victim, but noted Waters’ lack of previous convictions, his work ethic and his remorse, as well as the time since the offence. Waters was given a 10-month sentence, suspended for two years.

He must complete a sex offenders’ programme and sign the register. He also has to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and pay £750 in court costs.

Description

A man has been found guilty of raping a woman, beating her and forcing her into prostitution for his own gain. Nathan Husband denied all five charges for which he stood trial this week at Truro Crown Court.

Today (Friday, July 1) a jury threw out his claim that he was not, in his words, "a sadistic rapist who prostitutes someone for a drug habit I don't have", and found him guilty of all counts. He will be sentenced in August and has been told to prepare for jail time.

Earlier in the trial this week, prosecution counsel Rachel Drake told the jury how Husband, 32, had coerced the female victim into selling herself into prostitution for his own gain, raped her and repeatedly attacked and controlled her. The jury were told that he used the proceedings from the prostitution to feed his drug habits.

Ms Drake said: Nathan Husband controlled her in a number of ways. Mr Husband told her where to sit and if she moved without permission hed assault her. The defendant made her sit in a cupboard for over an hour and a half while he was doing a drugs transaction and then smoking drugs.

As well as this, an account from the victim mentioned several incidents where Husband had physically assaulted her to the point where she thought she might die. Husband conceded there had been an incident where some "pushing" and "shoving" occurred, but categorically denied forced prostitution, rape, and the assaults themselves - claiming the victim had struck him first.

While evidence was summarised by judge Anna Richardson, Husband could be seen in the dock, smirking, tutting and shaking his head at the specifics of the case. The jury deliberated for just short of two hours. They unanimously found Husband guilty on all counts.

The defendant remains on remand until August 30, when he will be sentenced by judge Richardson. If Husband is handed an immediate prison sentence, as is expected, it will not be the first time the serial menace and woman beater has spent behind bars.

Description

A magician faces many years behind bars after being convicted of raping and sexually abusing a young girl when he was a teenager. Jacob Blow, 31, is in poor health and currently undergoing dialysis treatment but was convicted by a jury of a total of four charges after a trial that lasted weeks.

Blow, from Threemilestone near Truro, has been on trial at Truro Crown Court charged with four counts of rape, attempted rape, assault by penetration and sexual assault. Cornwall Live reported last week how following a lengthy period of jury deliberation he was found guilty of two rapes and sexual assault. Blow was found not guilty of two further rapes.

Due to legal strikes and Blows dialysis treatment, the jury had to wait a week to reconvene and continue deliberations on the two outstanding counts, before this afternoon (Thursday June 30), convicting the defendant of the remaining charges of assault by penetration and attempted rape.

Blow, who was in some discomfort at the verdicts were read out, had his sentencing set for a date in August. Debating whether or not to bail Blow until then or immediately remand him into custody, Judge Anna Richardson said that although Blow has known since the first guilty verdicts a week ago that he faces jail, he still turned up as instructed today. She added that there are no grounds to believe he wont turn up for sentencing or that he will offend again given how long it is since his offending and that it relates to a single victim.

The first rape involved Blow kissing the complainant, pulling down her under garments, touching her sexually and then raping her.

Prosecutor Bathsheba Cassel said: She went on to tell the police the rapes were frequent and she would be raped once or twice a week.

The jury was told that the complainant first contacted police more than a decade ago, but the victim found herself unable to pursue the allegation and broke down on the way to the police station.

Blow was said to have initially tried to deny any wrongdoing before breaking down and admitting to his dad and police what he had done. However, he then denied the allegations saying he lied when initially speaking to the police because he thought if he agreed with what was being claimed that would be it and he could carry on doing magic.

Ms Cassel said: The impact on the complainant has been great. In 2019, she felt able to find strength and re-engage with the police and complete a video interview.

Ms Cassel said the attempted rape related to the defendant unsuccessfully trying to have anal sex with the girl.

Description

He hid away 97 images he persuaded the girl to send him

A paedophile groomed a 14-year-old girl before getting her to send revealing photos of herself and perform sex acts whilst on the phone to him. Mark Quinn, 32, initially showered the victim with compliments before leaving her so scared she went along with what he said.

Quinn, of no fixed abode, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence having pleaded guilty to sexual communications with a child, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and making indecent images of a child. All the offences took place in Liskeard in early 2020.

Prosecuting the case, Brian Fitzherbert described how Quinn met the girl and even offered to help intervene with difficulties in her family.

He gradually introduced a sexual element to the conversation, talking about kissing and describing her as beautiful, hot and sexy. The victim then spoke of how Quinn made the conversation dirty.

The frequencies of calls and messages escalated to the point when Quinn was contacting her every five minutes. Quinn told her to delete messages on instruction and got her to pose for him in a bra, before storing the 97 pictures away in a hidden folder.

Mr Fitzherbert said: She became increasingly scared and felt she had to do everything he said. Mr Fitzherbert went on to speak of how Quinn persuaded the girl to masturbate over the phone, as he did the same on the other end of the line.

The offending was eventually detected when the girl had her phone confiscated for an unrelated misdemeanour.

In mitigation, Barry Hilliard said: He doesnt know how and why he got into this but was not in a good place mentally and was drinking too much. Hes been dumb with anxiety waiting for his fate.

He comes from a broken home his father was an alcoholic and left when Mr Quinn was 11.

Sentencing Quinn, Judge Simon Carr said: You started an internet relationship with her and initially, and troublingly purported to put yourself forward as someone could assist with family matters.

Having set-up this position you carefully groomed her and the conversations became sexual in nature. You knew she was 14 and particularly vulnerable.

You got her to pose repeatedly and provocatively in her bra and 97 pictures were saved for you to continuously view for your own sexual gratification.

Judge Carr referenced how Quinn got the girl to masturbate before jailing him for three years. He was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and relevant sex offender notification requirements.

A statement from the victims family said: When Mark came along he was in a position of trust.

We soon realised something wasn't right when our daughter started acting out of character, when we checked her phone we were in total shock. We feel betrayed, hurt and lost and picking up the pieces was a long and hard process.

All I will say is I know we had our rocky patch but we come through it and our bonds are now as strong as ever. My daughter is a rock and current wife is an absolute angel who will do anything to protect this family.

Hopefully justice has been served and we can all start a new chapter. The whole family would like to send our sincere gratitude to the officers and case workers who were involved. You have been absolutely fantastic and we will always remember the hard work you have put in gaining evidence. It will never go unnoticed and will never be forgotten.

Police get a lot of flak but when it comes to our children they work very hard to see that some sort of justice is served. The ripple effect it had was immense and I'll never wish it on anyone. Please, please if your child acts out of character always follow your gut instinct. My daughter is thankful it's all over and we can now move on and close this very hard chapter that tested this family to the limits. Thankfully we got there before it got even more serious.

Description

A jury has dismissed a paedophiles claims that he didnt intend to have sex with a 14-year-old girl after driving 170 miles to meet her. Karl Wasley, 56, drove from his home in Cornwall to Bristol Temple Meads railway station to meet Scarlett - who he had been tricked into thinking was a young girl, following a period of grooming online.

Wasley arrived at Bristol to be confronted by paedophile hunters behind the fake profile. The 56-year-old from Threemilestone, near Truro, has been jailed after a trial at Truro Crown Court.

He pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child but not guilty to attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming. The prosecution said he was intending to carry out a sexual offence when he met Scarlett and a jury agreed, finding Wasley guilty of the contested charge. Wasley was then sentenced on the spot to 20 months, of which he must serve half before being released on licence.

Opening the case earlier in the week, Emily Cook told the jury that it involved an adult decoy setting up a social media profile pretending to be a 14-year-old girl called Scarlett. She said: Mr Wasley contacted and groomed Scarlett and then arranged to meet her. The prosecution says he was intending to carry out a sexual offence when he met Scarlett.

Ms Cook said: The person behind the profile was an adult decoy and on this occasion they set up a profile on an app called Tagged. Tagged is meant to be for over 18s but the profile had a picture of a girl who clearly looked like a young child. The adult had used a face app to appear younger.

The decoy waited to see who would message the profile and on January 9, 2022 Karl Wasley messaged. The decoy said she was 14 but Mr Wasley said he didnt mind. He started paying her compliments and asked if she had a boyfriend. He said he wishes he was young enough to ask her out. The decoy made her age clear and referred to school.

Ms Cook explained how the profile was twice thrown off Tagged by moderators, but both times new ones appeared and Wasley would soon be in contact again. Wasley also lied about his age to the girl and gave a fake name, claiming he was 49 when he was 56.

The conversations moved to WhatsApp and ranged, according to Ms Cook, from general conversation to Wasley referring to her as his girl and saying he wanted to kiss and cuddle her and for her to wiggle on his lap. Wasley spoke about going for a drive and it probably being hot in the car so shed have to take off layers.

Wasley admitted he believed he was talking to a 14-year-old, doing so for his own sexual gratification and being a paedophile, but denied going to Bristol to commit a sexual offence. Wasley arranged to meet the girl at Bristol Temple Meads train station and drove there only to be confronted by a group of males from a paedophile hunter group. Wasley drove off in a panic and caused damage to a taxi, only to arrive home and find officers waiting for him.

Sentencing shortly after the verdict, which followed a short period of jury deliberation at Truro Crown Court, judge Anna Richardson heard how Wasley had two previous convictions for 25 offences relating to having indecent images of children, in 2006 and 2016 respectively. Despite completing a programme to address his sexual attraction to children in 2020, he offended once again earlier this year.

Judge Richardson said, concluding: "Notwithstanding the seriousness of the offences, I have to remind myself that these are attempts. And they are not attempts where there was a real child involved who would be therefore damaged. Rather there was no child in this case.

"Its to your disadvantage you pursued a hopeless defence in this trial to count one of the indictment." As well as his prison sentence Wasley will be signed on to the sex offenders register.

Description

Thomas Hammersley continued to download sick material despite a previous conviction for doing the same thing

A convicted paedophile has tried and failed to have his identity withheld in the media to protect his family. Thomas Hammersley, who is 28 years old and of Park Lane in Camborne, made the unsuccessful application at Truro Crown Court as he appeared to be sentenced for three making indecent images charges.

Prosecuting the case, Ryan Murray told the court how police raided Hammersleys house in July 2020 following a tip off from the National Crime Agency that his IP address and email were suspected of uploading material to a file sharing platform using terms indicative of child abuse images.

A number of devices belonging to registered sex offender Hammersley were seized and all found to contain varying numbers of images.

In total Hammersley had 107 Category A images and one movie, 48 Category B images and 81 Category C images, many of which were inaccessible. The material had been accessed over the course of two years and the victims were said to be aged between six and 12.

Hammersley at first denied the offending before going onto make admissions, blaming his offending on drugs.

Back in 2015 Hammersley was convicted of identical offences and given a suspended sentence and made subject of a sexual harm prevention order.

Representing himself, Hammersley said: When I was doing the crimes I was under the influence of drugs. After I came back round Id realise what Id done and delete it. Then the next time I got drunk Id do it again.

Addressing the application for anonymity, Judge Simon Carr said that while he sympathised with Hammersleys family, the application went against the principal of open justice.

Sentencing, Judge Carr said: As a result of information from the NCA your premises was raided and a number of devices found. All the devices had indecent images of children including Category A images and at least one movie.

In 2015 you were convicted of identical offences and given a chance to address your offending, something you failed to do.

These images were downloaded over a significant period of time and the children depicted were very young.

You seek to minimise responsibility and blame it on drugs. This is an excuse without foundation. You do it because you have a sexual interest in children.

Hammersley was jailed for two years.

Description

A SICK paedophile who raped and sexually assaulted a young girl and had indecent photos of children has been sent to prison.

Adam Such, aged 21, of Prislow Fields, Falmouth,was sentenced to 11 years and two months in prison at Truro Crown Court on Friday, April 1 for sexual assault of a child under 13, rape of a child under 13, and possession of indecent images.

Such pleaded guilty to three charges of possession of an indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child between April 29, 2021 and 28, May 28-2021 at Exeter.

He was also charged with the rape of a girl under 13 in May, 2021 and being over 18 and engaging in penetrative sexual activity with girl under 13 on the same date.

He was also charged with the sexual exploitation of a child under 13 in any part of the world by involvement in pornography on May 9, 2021.

Such had pleaded not guilty at magistrates court but later changed his plea to guilty and was sentenced at Truro Crown Court last week.

A victim impact statement read out in court said Such's actions had had a "devastating" effect on the family.

Such was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order, until further notice. He must also sign the sex offender register and pay a victim surcharge.

Description

A convicted child rapist slept in the same house as child family members despite being prevented from doing so. Jason Stacey, 51, was sentenced to 14 years in prison back in 2009 after being convicted of three rapes of a male under 16, eight gross indecency with a male child charges and gross indecency with a female child, before eventually being released.

Stacey, of Stray Park Court in Camborne, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence having pleaded guilty to five breaches of a sexual offences prevention order.

Prosecuting the case, Sam Castlehouse told the court how Staceys conviction prohibited him from having contact with children and residing at the same house as young people. He was also required to notify police if he stayed in a house with young people for more than 12 hours.

Mr Castlehouse said: On February 23 the defendant was arrested for an unrelated matter and during the investigation it became apparent the defendant may have had access to children. A bag of female childs underwear was found in his bedroom.

The court heard how following the death of Staceys twin brother, the defendant was responsible for organising the funeral which bought him in contact with family members he hadnt spoken to for many, many years.

What followed was Stacey staying at a family members address, a house occupied by children, following the funeral. He also joined family members on holiday and stayed in a caravan with children. Staceys family also visited him and stayed at his house.

Stacey accepted knowing of the terms of his order and breaching it but said he didnt deem the breaches serious as it involved family members. The family members were not aware of Staceys convictions and there was an occasion when he tickled one of them, making her feel uncomfortable.

Representing Stacey, Piers Norsworthy said there was no suggested he committed offences against children, and that Stacey engineered situations to ensure he was never alone in a room with children.

He added that Stacey was isolated, having no friends, so took the opportunity to socialise with family. Mr Norsworthy said since release Stacey had worked and to some degree rebuilt his life.

Sentencing Stacey, Judge Anna Richardson explained how the offences took place six months after Stacey was released from prison for a previous breach. She said: You repeatedly stayed with [child family members] and had access to young children.

The circumstances were that your brothers funeral took place in February 2019 and you had responsibility for some of his affairs. You made contact with family you had not had contact with since 2002 and I accept you found yourself isolated and after the funeral took advantage of the opportunity to rekindle family relationships.

This resulted in you going on holiday with them and them visiting you. You sometimes stayed on the sofa at their address.

Your family were unaware of your offending history and it appears you took underwear from their premises or they left it behind. On one occasion during your contact you had physical contact with one [family member] and left her feeling uncomfortable by lying on her and tickling her legs.

You persistently lied to police and repeatedly and deliberately breached the order.

Stacey was jailed for 16 months.

Description

Richard James was found guilty of four incidents of rape, as well as indecency with a child and indecent assault

A 57-year-old man from Cornwall who raped a young girl when he was a teenager has been sent to jail.

Richard James, of Radnor Road in Scorrier, was found guilty of indecency with a child, indecent assault and four incidents of rape between April 1979 and April 1981.

He appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence today.

A victim personal statement was read out in court, explaining how the assaults changed the victim's life.

The court heard how the woman - who cannot be named for legal reasons - became shy and started to have nightmares.

"It felt like I had all this anger inside me that I needed to get out," her statement read.

James' victim went on to explain that she has had sexual issues with her partners ever since and that, when she eventually came forward on Christmas Day 2019, she felt really embarrassed and ashamed of herself.

"I believe this has really ripped my family apart," she added.

Prosecuting the case, Mary McCarthy also added that James once threatened to kill his victim if she did not comply.

Representing James, Piers Noseworthy said that the father-of-two has not offended since.

"He's a very different person now," he said. "All offending occurred when he himself was a child."

"He's had an exemplary conduct since."

The court was told how James has been suffering with serious medical problems for the last 10 years and has mobility issues.

Sentencing, Recorder Simon Levene said he took into account James' age and maturity at the time of the offence, evidence of good character since, as well as his health issues when considering what sentence would be appropriate.

"Although your age between the first and last date of the indictment spans between 14 years and almost 18 years, I shouldn't treat you like someone with the maturity of an 18-year-old," he said. "But the younger you were, the younger your victim was.

"I accept that there was a degree of immaturity on your part.

"I certainly think you were old enough and mature enough to know that what you were doing was wrong. After all, your victim was suffering and you threatened to kill her if she told anybody - not every time, I accept. It shows you knew you would be in trouble if it ever came out.

"To her credit, she has gone on to have a successful career. She has managed to function in society but it's quite clear from what she said in the victim impact statement that was read out today she has suffered lifelong from what you did to her.

"If you had been an adult at the time that you committed these offences the sentence would have been one of eight years of imprisonment. I reduce that to five years because of the age that you were at the time that you committed these offences. I then consider the aggravating factors and I move the sentence up to one of six years of imprisonment.

"Finally, I take into account the mitigation that I have. You have kept out of trouble for 40 years, but for me, the most important point, is that you are very poorly."

Recorder Levene proceeded to sentence James to four-and-a-half years of imprisonment.

James will have to continually update his personal details including his address with the police.

A restraining order was also made. James cannot contact directly and indirectly three named individuals until further notice.

Description

A paedophile who touched two young girls continues to deny what he did despite being convicted and sent to prison.

Martyn Foster, 41, left both victims suffering psychologically as a result of his grotesque acts.

Foster, formerly of Liskeard but most recently of Saltash, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence having been convicted at a trial of two sexual assaults of a girl under 13.

At the sentencing hearing, the court heard from both the victims mothers as Foster sat smartly dressed in the dock refusing to look up.

One of the mothers described how her daughter suffers from bed wetting since the sexual assault took place and has had to be prescribed medication.

One of the victims no longer wants to do dance and swimming lessons and now showers with her underwear on.

There were also allegations that Foster threatened his victims' families, making them fear for their safety.

Representing Foster, Ed Bailey said: He is now 41 and hitherto led a blameless and hard-working life.

Perhaps the biggest punishment is that he wont see his own daughter and son for a considerable time. His health is not good and he has had a kidney removed.

The court also heard how Foster continues to maintain his innocence.

Sentencing Foster, Judge Simon Carr said that one of the girls had the courage to speak out immediately, something rare in such cases.

He added that the victims and their families could take a lifetime to recover from what happened and that Foster continues to deny what he has been convicted of.

Foster was jailed for six years. He was made subject of a sexual harm prevention order and must sign the sex offenders register for life.

Description

A sex offender with a flagrant disregard for court orders has found himself behind bars again.

Shaun Paul Roberts, 32, is no stranger to Cornwalls courts.

In May 2020 CornwallLive reported how Roberts was given a suspended sentence after being found by police slashing his face with a razor blade after harassing his terrified former partner.

Weeks later he was back at Truro Crown Court again and jailed for going straight to the woman he was banned from contacting and breaching a restraining order - on the day he was given it.

Roberts told her: "If I want to be with you, Ill f***ing be with you, I dont care about the restraining order."

Now, 18 months or so later, Roberts, now of Trenoweth Crescent in Penzance, was back in the dock, this time at Truro Magistrates Court.

Roberts was sentenced after pleading guilty to between February 8 and 24 once again breaching a restraining order.

He also admitted failing to notify a change of address which he was required to do as a registered sex offender, and possession of cannabis.

Magistrates said the offence was so serious because the defendant has a flagrant disregard for court orders and because the offence was aggravated by the defendant's record of previous offending.

Roberts was jailed for 12 months and the cannabis ordered to be destroyed.

Description

A HGV technician faces years behind bars after being found guilty of raping and sexually abusing two young boys.

Danny Tippett, 29, abused the victims at various locations including his flat, a leisure centre changing room and the back of his van.

Tippett, from the Camborne area, has been on trial at Truro Crown Court charged with five counts of rape of a child, eight sexual assaults of a child, inciting a child engage in sexual activity, two sexual activity with a child charges, twice causing a child to engage in sexual activity and making indecent photographs of children.

Following a lengthy period of deliberation the jury returned to find him guilty of all charges in front of an emotionally charged courtroom.

Tippett will be sentenced on Friday, March 11. Despite his tearful pleas that he wanted to say goodbye to his children, Tippett was remanded in custody.

Prosecuting the case, Jason Beal said the case revolved around sexual abuse of two young boys. In brief the abuse involved Tippett touching the boys sexually, making them touch him and raping them.

Tippett denied any sexual touching took place, claiming the complainants have "ganged up on him" by making the allegations. He said he enjoyed the company of the young boys as he was childish but claimed no crimes took place.

The offences came to light when one of the boys told his girlfriend.

The girl then told her mum who got in touch with the complainants mum.

Mr Beal said the abuse took place at various locations, including Tippett's van, one time at the changing rooms at a leisure centre and in his home.

Tippett told the boys theyd get in trouble if it came out and was also found to have indecent images on his phone.

In interview both complainants appeared upset but managed to describe what they say happened to them.

One complainant described having to physically stop Tippett raping him.

Throughout the trial the court heard how Tippett showered the complainants with gifts and affection.

Description

A judge has fired a warning to paedophiles whose crimes have gone undetected for years saying they should never not be worried about a knock on the door.

Judge Robert Linford delivered the no-nonsense statement when sentencing perverted Frederick Williams, 84, for offences committed four decades ago.

Williams, of St Clement near Truro, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence having been convicted of 15 indecent assaults, indecency with a child and attempted rape.

Williams’ abuse was carried out on two victims and consisted of sexual touching and penetration, oral sex, forced touching of his penis, putting his penis in one of their mouths and on one occasion, attempted rape.

During the sentencing hearing prosecution barrister Nigel Wraith victim impact statements from both victims.

The first victim described how she is still haunted by the abuse and that it has a profound effect on her life. She, at one point, drove to a cliff to end her life and can’t look at herself in the mirror.

The second victim spoke of how the abuse “broke her” and that she went off the rails, leading to problems for her and her children. She did however say she was pleased to finally be believed, and see Williams get his comeuppance.

Representing Williams, Hollie Gilbery highlighted Williams’ age, health and lack of previous convictions.

Sentencing Williams, Judge Linford described the abuse as “repeated and systematic” and “a series of truly awful sexual offending that had an utterly devastating effect on the victims”.

He added: “People you behave in the way you did all those years ago are never safe from prosecution.

“People who sexually abuse young people should have sleepless nights wondering when the knock on the door will come.”

Williams was jailed for 13.5 years with a further year to be served on licence. He must also sign the sex offenders’ register.

Description

A “pathetic” paedophile whose abuse wrecked the lives of two victims has finally been brought to justice, but not before asking his victims' for forgiveness.

Adrian Ninnis, 56, destroyed the lives of his victims to the extent that one took themselves to a cliff and was about to jump before a chaplain turned up just in time.

Ninnis, of Polweath Road in Penzance, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence having pleaded guilty to seven indecent assault charges, crimes which took place in west Cornwall in the 1980s and 1990s.

Prosecuting the case, Emily Cook described how the children abused were aged between 5 and 10 at the time.

Regarding the first victim, Ninnis rubbed his penis against his bottom and put his penis in his mouth before ejaculating into his hand.The second victim had her vagina digitally penetrated by Ninnis, as well as numerous other instances of sexual touching. He bought her cigarettes in an effort to groom her. Both victims had victim impact statements read to the court.

The first victim described never having confidence in life and always feeling isolated and useless, as well as suffering depression. He went on to add that only the light of the chaplain on the cliffs that day stopped him taking his own life.

However, since Ninnis entered guilty pleas he said he has stopped drinking (to mask the pain) and has become a better person.

The second victim said she was “permanently scared” and started using drink and drugs aged 12 to block the abuse. She regularly thought she was better off dead and suffered anxiety and depression as a result. She added that she “felt dirty and like damaged goods”.

Representing Ninnis, Piers Norsworthy said: “He wants to say sorry for the hurt he has caused over the years and apologise for being in a state of denial.

“He hopes one day the victims will be able to forgive him. He presents as a pathetic figure and is genuinely remorseful. He had a very disturbing early life and was sexually abused by one of his mother’s partners. This had an inevitable impact on his emotional and social development.”

Mr Norsworthy added that guilty pleas in such cases are exceedingly rare.

Sentencing Ninnis, Judge Robert Linford said: “The victim impact statements show how both complainants have been affected by the abuse and how it continues to affect their lives.

“When the abuse ended you got on with your life and seemingly forgot what you had done. The victims in this case have not been able to forget and get on with their lives and the shadow of this sexual abuse has continued to hang over them.”

Judge Linford then noted Ninnis’ mitigation and that the guilty pleas had prevented the victims having to relive the abuse in court.

Ninnis was jailed for 12 years, 10 custodial and two on extended licence. He was also made subject of a restraining order and sexual harm prevention order and must sign the sex offenders’ register for life.

Description

A paedophile who posed as a young boy and was caught by an undercover police officer doing the same has avoided jail.

Richard Williams, 44, shared vile pictures with young girls online, met with them for lewd acts live on camera and possessed images of children as young as four, Truro Crown Court was told at his sentencing hearing today (Friday, October 29).

Williams pleaded guilty to eight paedophile offences over a period of seven years.

The offences included:

• Attempting to communicate with a person aged under 16 for his own sexual gratificatioin, namely an undercover police officer pretending to be a 13-year-old boy.
• Possessing hundreds and thousands of indecent images of children, in categories C (809), B (1,362) and A (1,096) respectively.
• Possessing 43 prohibited images of children.
• Distributing an indecent picture of a child, namely an image in category C.
• Engaging in a sexual activity, namely masturbation, in a place where you could be observed by a child under 16 knowing or believing that the child was. or intending that the child should be aware you were engaging in that activity.
• Intentionally causing or inciting a girl aged under 16, not reasonably believing she was aged 16 or over, to engage in sexual activity of a non-penetrative nature, namely masturbation.

Recorder Richard Smith, QC, said the first offence occurred in 2013.

He explained Williams, of Tresooth Place, Penryn, sent and received a number of pictures of children with whom he was in contact over various platforms and he distributed a Category C - the lowest of three - movie over Skype.

The court heard how between 2015 and 2016 Williams was in communication with a 14-year-old girl. He was pretending to be a 15-year-old boy.

Recorder Smith said: "You persuaded that 14-year-old girl to watch you masturbate and you sent her a number of pictures of your erect penis. Later and still concerning the same victim you sent a series of grooming messages encouraging her to masturbate.

"By 2019 you came into contact with an undercover officer who had joined a group of individuals of sexually like-minded people so he could no doubt monitor their activity."

He said Williams came to the officer's attention when he joined that group and posted explicit pictures of himself.

He explained Williams, of Tresooth Place, Penryn, sent and received a number of pictures of children with whom he was in contact over various platforms and he distributed a Category C - the lowest of three - movie over Skype.

The court heard how between 2015 and 2016 Williams was in communication with a 14-year-old girl. He was pretending to be a 15-year-old boy.

Recorder Smith said: "You persuaded that 14-year-old girl to watch you masturbate and you sent her a number of pictures of your erect penis. Later and still concerning the same victim you sent a series of grooming messages encouraging her to masturbate.

"By 2019 you came into contact with an undercover officer who had joined a group of individuals of sexually like-minded people so he could no doubt monitor their activity."

He said Williams came to the officer's attention when he joined that group and posted explicit pictures of himself.

Recorder Smith said it was that interaction that led to Williams' discovery, as the undercover officer was posing as a teenage boy. Following his arrest, Williams' devices were seized by police.

Recorder Smith said: "It unfolded on investigation that over a number of years you had been sending thousands of messages of sexual content over a variety of different platforms to young people."

Recorder Smith added Williams was in possession of "thousands not hundreds" of indecent pictures of children ranging from ages four to 16. Those pictures also ranged in category from C to A, in order of seriousness.

Recorder Smith said following his arrest Williams admitted to the offences and expressed he wanted help with the situation "he found himself in".

Earlier in the hearing, Robin Smith, representing Williams, explained to the court that it's often the case that alleged paedophiles with devices seized wait to hear what charges they face before admitting any wrongdoing. However, this wasn't Williams' approach, as he admitted his offences at an early date.

Recorder Smith said since his discovery Williams had "done a great deal" to address his own "serious failings". He accepts Williams is genuinely ashamed and remorseful for what he's done. His offending coincided with difficult times of his life, but this wasn't an excuse for what he's done.

He said: "You were clearly driven over a long period of time over a sexual desire that you could not resist."

He said there's been no suggestion of any repeat offending in the two years since he was discovered.

Recorder Smith said: "You've taken efforts to better inform yourself over that which has driven you in the past to offend. You've simply not waited to be helped, you've sought to help yourself."

He added that Williams has no previous convictions.

Recorder Smith said Williams' partner is standing by him, not through loyalty but understanding their part in supporting him in the future.

Recorder Smith said: "I've carefully considered whether an immediate custodial sentence is necessary in this case and I've balanced that against the opportunity that stands today for society to be served by you being assisted by this very helpful and specific programme.

"I've come to the conclusion that justice in this case is best met having regard to all your particular circumstances, passage of time and what you've done since, this is an opportunity that should not be lost.

"I take the view that the most appropriate way to pass a sentence is to make you the subject of a community order."

Williams was handed a three-year community order with 20 days of specific rehab activity to address his previous offending and 15 hours of unpaid work.

Recorder Smith said: "This is an opportunity that's being presented to you, it's not an act of leniency, it's an act of justice to make sure society gives itself the best opportunity to rid itself of the man you previously were. If you fail you will have only failed yourself and in those circumstances it would be inevitable that you will serve a custodial sentence."

Williams is the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years and will be placed on the sex offenders register for the next five years. He will also be required to pay a victim surcharge.