Latest Offenders Cornwall

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.

Description

A young woman has told of the devastating effect on her life of being sexually abused by a predator as a vulnerable 14-year-old.

James Betts, 23, targeted the victim and had sex with her when he was 18 and she was just 14. He also filmed part of the ordeal and showed it boastfully to his friends.

Betts, formerly of Bude but whose address was recently given as Pool, had been on trial this week and was eventually convicted by a majority jury of two counts of penetrative sex with a girl under 16, taking an indecent photo of a child and showing an indecent photo of a child.

Betts returned to Truro Crown Court on Friday (October 22) when a victim impact statement was read to the court.

The victim in the case described how she suffers extreme anxiety and has in the past self-harmed and tried to take her own life.

She said: The trauma never ends. Hes lived his life as I plod through each day as a young girl who cant live my best life.

Representing Betts, Piers Norsworthy said: He is a different man to the one who committed these offences. He hit rock bottom, was homeless and taking illegal drugs. Since then he has built himself back up and combatted his addiction and gained employment.

Mr Norsworthy added that the sex act video was never found and was not widely distributed.

Sentencing Betts, Judge Simon Carr said: The victim was just 14 when you met her and the offences occurred. She was obviously vulnerable and in the care system. She had to find new friends and was introduced to you and others.

She was keen to be accepted and you knew she was 14 because she told you. Yet you pursued her knowing you were four years older and sex was illegal.

You bought her gifts and tobacco and took her to the cinema. Texts show you flirting with her.

Knowing her age and vulnerability you pursued her for sexual purposes and had full intercourse with her. You also had her perform oral sex and filmed the act on your phone.

You did it to relive the moment and boast and showed the footage to people known to her.

Judge Carr also noted how indecent images of children were found on Betts phone.

He was jailed for four and a half years and must sign the sex offenders register for life.

Description

A paedophile groomed and sexually abused a teenage girl after giving her a burner phone to keep the relationship secret from her family.

Andrew Opie, now 31, was 28 when he had sex with the then 14-year-old girl.

Opie, of Pool but previously of Falmouth, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence having pleaded guilty to two sexual activity with a child charges. Proceedings in the case had been significantly delayed after Opie repeatedly told the court he might have Covid, causing adjournments.

Prosecuting the case, Heather Hope described how in late 2018 the victim met Opie through a mutual friend. She believed they were in a relationship together and to ensure the relationship was not discovered Opie gave her a phone specifically for communication between them.

She had never had sex before but following a short period of grooming Opie had sex with her and did so again on another occasion.

Due to concerns over Opies involvement with young girls, police served a number of abduction notices, one of which was handed to the victims family after Opie and the victim were spotted in a park together.

They had also noticed her underwear hadnt been in for a wash and that she had received a Valentines Day card from Opie and it was then they spoke with her and she revealed what had happened.

Opie at first denied the relationship with the girl and then tried to blame someone else.

Representing Opie, Deni Matthews said: Although delayed he did enter a guilty plea and now accepts responsibility. The penny has finally dropped. He has a job in prison and wants to take the Horizons course to address his offending.

Sentencing Opie, Judge Simon Carr said: At aged 28 you formed a relationship with a 14-year-old girl. You met through friends and it is clear you groomed her saying she was special and you wanted a relationship.

You knew from the beginning what you were doing was wrong and provided her with a burner phone. The relationship became sexual relatively quickly.

Her family became concerned and what allowed her to break free was that her parents were told youd been served with an eighth abduction order, such was the concern about you and young girls.

Judge Carr said Opie presents a likely lifelong threat to children.

He was given an extended sentence of 10 years - six years custodial and four years extended licence. He was put on the sex offenders register for life and made subject of a sexual harm prevention order.

Description

Such were the concerns over Brian Rowe that he was made subject of a sexual risk order before he was even prosecuted for any crime A steam engine enthusiast groomed two sisters at a rally before going on to abuse them. Brian Rowe, 54, kissed the girls and touched private parts. Rowe, of Ruthernbridge near Bodmin, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence having pleaded guilty to breach of a sexual risk order, sexual assault of a girl under 13 and sexual activity with a child. Prosecuting the case, Emily Pitts described how in December 2015 Rowe was made subject of a sexual risk order given concerns over his behaviour despite there not being enough evidence to criminally prosecute him. One of the prohibitions was that he wasnt to have contact with a child under 16 unless the childs parents knew of the order. Ms Pitts went on to state how steam engine enthusiast Rowe attended a rally in August 2019 where he spent time with the family who had no idea about the order. Over the course of the rally Rowe kissed one of the girls on the lips and a few days later got her on her own when he proceeded to put his tongue in her mouth and touch her privates. He was only stopped when the sister came to the van. Regarding the other victim, Rowe touched the girls breast and around her vagina. The offences came to light when the sisters between them wrote out a note. Representing Rowe, Emily Cook said: He has worked hard all his life in farming and factory work. He is deeply shamed and doesnt know why he behaved the way he did. He wants help and to change his behaviour. Ms Cook continued that Rowe would be better rehabilitated in the community. Sentencing Rowe, Judge Robert Linford said the offences were extremely serious, but a short prison sentence would give the prison service a short time to address the behaviour. He added that the community would be best served with him receiving treatment to address his offending. Rowe was given a three year community order and made subject of a sexual harm prevention order. He must also complete the relevant rehabilitation treatment programme. Judge Linford warned Rowe any breached would result in a 27 month prison sentence.

Description

A paedophile who sent a fake account naked pictures of himself has been jailed.

Darryl Jenkins aged 39 from Mevagissey appeared at Truro Crown Court today (July 20).

Jenkins pleaded guilty to attempting sexual communication with a child and attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

Prosecuting, Daniel Pawson-Pounds, said the defendant believed he was communicating with a real child.

However, he was actually speaking to a fake account named set up by an online child protection group called the Guardian Angels.

He explained Jenkins first met the 'girl' on the dating website Mingle2.

She informed the defendant that she was 14-years-old and he told her he was 37.

Jenkins then asked to continue their conversation on WhatsApp and asked for her telephone number.

Mr Pawson-Pounds said: "For the first few days of a 13-day period, there was what can be described as classic grooming activity, building up the confidence of the person he believed to be the child, asking about her daily events and the like."

However, he said: "At a certain stage in three or four days from the start of those chats, the communications became increasingly sexualised and he told her he would like to date her and repeatedly asked for a selfie photograph and said he liked cute little teens."

Mr Pawson-Pounds said he then sent photographs of himself naked, although his penis was covered with bedding.

He then asked the 'girl' to send him photographs of herself in her pyjamas and sent a photograph of his erect penis to her.

He made repeated requests for her to engage with him on video chat, which she rebuffed.

Mr Pawson-Pounds said Jenkins then told her he was aroused and wanted her to give him a 'helping hand'.

When she asked what he meant, he gave graphic details about what he wanted her to do to him.

He sent her videos of woman performing oral sex on men, Mr Pawson-Pounds said Jenkins did this 'in a way of teaching her'.

Jenkins also tried to incite the 'girl' to masturbate and tell him about what she was doing.

The court heard how he repeatedly asked her to keep their conversations secret and on one occasion instructed her to delete the messages and images he sent her.

He also invited her to come to his house and sleep with him and said she could tell her mum she was staying at a friend's house.

Mr Pawson-Pounds said Jenkins grew suspicious that she may be a decoy, but despite her refusal to engage in video chats or send any videos, it didn't "dampen his enthusiasm".

Instead he invited her to have a shower with him and said he wanted her to be his girlfriend.

The court heard how the defendant was arrested at his home in Mevagissey after the paedophile hunters appeared at his door.

Defending, Jon Holmes, said the case had been waiting 20 months to come to court.

He said: "His (Jenkin's) life has not been, and some may say it shouldn't be, but it hasn't been easy in that time because of what's happened as a result of the paedophile hunters and what's happened in his community."

Mr Holmes said Jenkins has been 'locked down' during lockdown and dare not go outside.

He said: "It's been punishment for him already, in no way does he want me to put anything forward that mitigates his behaviour."

He added: "He's a man who has a family, you'll note he has two small children.

"His ex partner is aware of the situation, he only sees them on a supervised basis."

He said that will continue despite what's happened.

Mr Holmes said: "He appreciates he's very fortunate and others may not have done that."

Judge Simon Carr, said to Jenkins: "You've pleaded guilty I accept at the first possible opportunity to attempted sexual communication with a child and attempting to incite a child to commit sexual acts.

"You made contact with her online, from the very beginning she indicated and did so on repeated occasions that she was 14-years-old.

"You not only accepted that but referred to it in the exchanges I've seen.

"You have your true age at the time of 37, an age gap of 23 years.

"Initially there was some classic grooming where you showed interest in her life, what she was doing and the problems she faced.

"But over a very short period of time that became sexualised.

"Although the period of time in which you were in communication with the person you thought was 14-years-old was relatively short, the level of communication was high.

"You were asking her to send naked pictures and sexualised pictures of herself to you.

"You're sending naked pictures of yourself to her , you sent her adult pornography being a particularly aggravating feature, you said to teach her how to perform sexual acts when you met.

"You were telling her not to tell anyone what was happening and to delete the images that had been sent.

"You repeatedly incited her to masturbate herself.

"It only stopped because those responsible for setting up the false site attended your address and the police were called.

"There was no indication it would have stopped but for that intervention."

Judge Carr said Jenkins was previously a man of "good character" and he admitted the offences from the beginning which he will receive credit for.

He also said that a mental health treatment report indicated that Jenkins suffers from severe depression, anxiety and psychological distress.

However, he noted that the report was based on a "self-reporting exercise" and despite him believing it to be true, it does not mitigate the offences.

Judge Carr sentenced Jenkins to two and a half years in prison, and said the offences were so serious a suspended sentence would not be appropriate.

He was also placed on the sex offenders register for life and a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) was made to restrict Jenkins access to children and the internet.

Description

Michael Roberts - previously known as Brooke-Feather - was back in court for offences committed when he was a teenager A paedophile who has admitted that hell have a lifelong attraction to children has been sentenced for touching a young girl when he was a teenager. Michael Roberts, formerly known as Michael Brooke-Feather, 38, was jailed in 2017 for a sickening collection of child abuse images that included babies being raped, hung upside down and burnt with a blow torch. Roberts, of Mevagissey, has since been released from prison but was back in the dock at Truro Crown Court to be sentenced after being found guilty after a trial of the indecent assault of a girl under 14. After hearing all the evidence the jury ruled that when he was aged between 15 and 17 in the 1990s Roberts touched the girl on numerous occasions by running his hand up and down her leg. During the sentencing hearing, Judge Simon Carr commented how Roberts admits having a sexual interest in children since he was a teenager, to which his barrister Emily Cook replied: Its not going to go away, its how it's best managed. Ms Cook told the court that the best way to manage Roberts is by punishing him in the community and making him take rehabilitation courses that he hadnt previously been eligible for. The offence was said to have blighted the victims life for many years with her only finding the courage to report it many years later. Roberts, Ms Cook added, now has an address, work and the support of his parents. Sentencing Roberts, Judge Carr said: The abuse happened on at least three occasions. You put your hand on her leg and moved it up and down. She was terrified and it took her a long time to process the abuse that happened to her. No doubt this had a devastating psychological impact and that will be lifelong. You were 15 to 17 but this isnt teen curiosity getting out of hand, it was the first step in your offending against children. You are now 38 and the reality is you will never change and will pose a threat to children until your death. Its how it is managed. In 2012 you were convicted of sexual assault against a child. An aggravating feature was that you filmed yourself doing it so you could replay it again and again for sexual gratification. You were sent to prison and given a sexual harm prevention order. You twice breached it and received sentences. In 2017 you were found with indecent images of children including images of the most serious level and sent back to prison. After some serious consideration of the guidelines and how Roberts would have been sentenced at the time of the offences, Judge Carr gave Roberts a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years. He must complete the horizons programme to address his perversions and a rehabilitation activity requirement. Roberts was also made subject of a 12-month GPS tracking system allowing the authorities to know where he is, every minute of every day.

Description

A sex pest has been jailed for the terrifying stalking of his neighbour which culminated in him masturbating in front of her whilst wearing a pair of goggles.

Clifford Morgan, 33, frequently stared at his petrified neighbour, sometimes doing so wearing Star Wars or Halloween masks.

Morgan, of Penzance, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence having pleaded guilty to stalking.

Prosecuting the case, Tom Bradnock, described how Morgan and the victim in the case had been living next door, on and off, for 10 years.

By 2019 the victim was living with her partner and four children and at that stage hadnt had any problems with Morgan, just finding him a little odd.

The two properties were separated by a chain link fence between their gardens but by May 2019 there began a concerning sequence of events.

Mr Bradnock said: Mr Morgan began to stare at her either openly, through an open back door or on occasions from behind towels hanging on the washing line.

This culminated in an incident when the victim was in her garden at 9:15pm and saw the defendant staring at her. She went inside to get away but returned to the garden to fetch her dog.

Mr Morgan was holding his door open and then stepped forward staring at her and mouthed the words either f*ck me, lick me or rape me. She cant be 100% sure which but was scared and insulted so went inside and read the police.

The victim then went inside and called the police. The matter was investigated but not taken further due to a lack of evidence.

The victim and her partner then erected a six foot fence between the properties so they couldnt see Morgan and things quietened down for several months.

However, in January 2020 the victim on various occasions saw Morgan in his garden either staring or walking around holding tools such as knives, pliers or hammers.

Mr Bradnock added: On January 30 the victim was walking to the shop with her youngest son. This took her past Mr Morgans front window and as she approached his net curtains moved back. He put his face to the window and seemed to be screaming and frothing at the mouth, deranged.

On the following day she and her partner left their house and the defendant was stood on his front doorstep staring.

She dropped her partner to work and returned and got out the car with her two-year-old son.

She noticed Mr Morgan in his doorway, wearing goggles. When he saw she noticed him he exposed his erect penis and masturbated whilst staring straight at her.

That evening the victim again noticed Morgan staring at her through a gap in the fence, this time wearing a Star Wars or Halloween mask.

When police attended Morgans property they found a baseball bat, a hammer, knives, a number of masks, goggles and a balaclava.

A victim impact statement summarised to the court described how the victim felt violated, anxious and that Morgans behaviour made her skin crawl. She has since had to move house.

In mitigation, the court was told that Morgan, who has previous for sexual offending, is a paranoid schizophrenic who poses no threat when medicated. His offending was attributed to his decline in mental health.

Sentencing, Judge Robert Linford said: The victim in this case was terrified in her own home and scared to leave in case she encountered you.

Your behaviour caused her extreme anxiety. She was terrified to the extent that she had to leave.

This was an extremely serious pattern of offending over a period of time.

You suffer from paranoid schizophrenia and when you take medication are able to operate in a reasonable way in the community. The most appropriate way to deal with you is by a hospital order.

Morgan will now be transferred from prison to hospital to be treated.

A 25-year restraining order protecting the victim and her partner was also put in place.

Description

The 68-year-old from Pendarves Street in Tuckingmill, Camborne, was sentenced to nine years in prison at Truro Crown Court on Friday, November 6.

It was after he was guilty of multiple counts of indecent assault and gross indecency with a child, in a number of historic offences.

Description

An ingrained paedophile paid a Filipino woman 40 to film her young daughter in the shower and also directed two teens having sex over the internet.

Daniel Benton, 34, also sexually touched a young girl, including once at a funeral and had a sick catalogue of indecent images.

Benton, from Coronation Place in Helston, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence for two sexual assaults of a child, two counts of causing a child to watch a sexual act, three counts of causing a child to engage in a sexual act, three charges of making indecent images of a child and possession of extreme pornography.

In total Benton was found to have accessed 65 Category A indecent images, 71 Category B indecent images and 515 Category C images.

Perhaps even more chillingly Benton admitted to paying a Filipino mum 40 to film her child aged around 10 in the shower and send it to him over the internet.

Warped Benton also was found to have directed two teenagers having sex.

Regarding the offences against the girl aged younger than 10, Benton touched her on the bottom and breast and showed her pornography. He also got her to put his hand in his pocket where there was a hole, her hand touching his erect penis.

Disgusting Benton sent pictures of the underage girl to another paedophile over the internet, something Judge Robert Linford would later touch on in his sentencing remarks commenting that learning this must have been an indigestible bombshell for her family.

Representing Benton, Rupert Taylor told the court how Bentons wife still stands by him in the belief he is capable of change.

Mr Taylor referenced the other side of Bentons character, a hardworking man but someone who was in a state of turmoil.

Benton was said to be candid in interview and continued to work hard right up until his trial. He also paid for treatment to address his perversions out of his own pocket.

Sentencing Benton, Judge Linford referred to the victim of the contact offending, saying: You effectively took away her childhood and her innocence.

Regarding the other matters, Judge Linford described how the indecent image collection showed girls as young as two or three being penetrated.

He added: You paid a Filipino woman to allow you to view her daughter in the shower washing her naked body. You paid 40 for this truly shocking behaviour.

Judge Linford called Benton an ingrained paedophile and jailed him for seven years and eight months.

Description

A Royal Navy lieutenant who over a number of years assembled a sickening child abuse collection of children as young as two being abused has been told by a judge that hes part of the monster.

James Smith, 35, was caught with thousands of horrific pictures on his device, his crimes coming to light after Devon and Cornwall Police received a tip off from their colleagues in Western Australia.

Smartly dressed Smith, from Perranwell Station near Truro , appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence after previously admitting three charges of making indecent images of children, offences that spanned categories A, B and C.

Prosecuting the case, Sally Daulton said: The offences were detected by police working on an international investigation in Western Australia. The defendant engaged in chat on a channel hosted by two individuals arrested on suspicion of child sex offences.

It became apparent the defendant was engaged in conversations under the name Little Kiddy Slut and Devon and Cornwall Police officers attended his home on July 17 2018. When they arrived the defendant told them yes I know what youre here for and Im quite relieved actually.

Smith's iPhone was seized and he told officers theyd find indecent images on a laptop in his officers mess.

In total police found 36 Category A images and four videos, 48 Category B images and 3,125 Category C images, a collection formed over the best part of a decade.

His laptop showed history of access to websites containing indecent images of children and internet searches indicative of such an interest.

Smith answered no comment in his first police interview but in a second grilling his solicitor read a prepared statement in which he admitted to having the material and an interest in predominantly Class C images.

Smith added that he was relieved when police attended so hed receive the help he needed and that he posed no threat of contact offending.

Representing Smith, Nicholas Wragg described how his client had been candid from the beginning and that a lot of the images were downloaded in a compressed file and that he would then go through and delete anything showing actual sexual contact.

He suggested that Smith had no interest in physical contact with children, a suggestion Judge Simon Carr described as absurd.

Mr Wragg said: Hes been through a difficult time and his family (Smith has two children) have also suffered.

He is a lieutenant in the Royal Navy and his career is now in serious jeopardy. He is a high performer, extremely diligent and has addressed his behaviour with one to one sessions he has funded privately.

He has an incredibly supportive family and is an honourable and disciplined man. There is no doubt he would abide by any order.

Sentencing Smith, Judge Carr said: Its clear you have an entrenched sexual interest in children and I doubt it will disappear in your life.

I accept you have sought treatment and showed remorse but you need to be under no illusions that as we sit here tens of hundreds of children are being raped for the entertainment of people like you.

Children as young as two are being raped and will probably be raped throughout their childhood. This wouldnt happen if it wasnt for the interest of people like you. A significant number of children are raped for internet material and you are part of this monster.

On the other hand you have had a successful career in the Royal Navy and the fact you have tried to address your problem allows me to suspend what would otherwise by an immediate custodial sentence.

Smith was given an eight month suspended sentence and must complete a 30 day rehabilitation activity requirement. He was also made subject of a five year sexual harm prevention order.