Latest Offenders Cumbria

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A teenager has been locked up after trying to have sex with a dog. It was one of a number of sex offences - including possessing indecent images of children and inciting young teenage girls to commit sexual acts - which 18-year-old Joshua Clarke admitted. Carlisle Crown Court heard how he incited two American-based girls, aged 13 and 14, to engage in lewd illegal acts over the internet. Prosecutor Gerard Rogerson said police became aware of images uploaded to the internet which were traced to Clarke's email address. "Officers attended his home address and there they arrested Mr Clarke. They seized a number of electronic devices," said Mr Rogerson. Forensic analysis of the devices revealed "graphic sexualised exchanges" with the two girls. Scores of illegal still and moving images of children had also been created over a three-year period. Some were classed in category A, the most serious, and featured youngsters aged just three. Clarke also admitted he had "repeatedly tried to have sexual intercourse with his dog". Mr Rogerson said: "It appeared he had not been successful in that the dog had managed to successfully defend itself." Mark Shepherd, defending, offered what he described as "significant personal mitigation" during a detailed address to Judge James Adkin. Since the teen's arrest, his supportive family had tried to understand what had gone "so wrong" for him. "Joshua Clarke went from being somebody who was this happy, bright, bubbly boy to suddenly becoming sullen, withdrawn and socially isolated," said Mr Shepherd. As a result of bullying, he "withdrew himself and sought solace in the online community". Clarke had since requested professional help, and Mr Shepherd suggested it would be "perfectly safe" for the teen to be managed in the community. Clarke, of Macadam Way, Penrith, was sentenced having admitted two charges of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity; two of causing a child to watch a sexual act; possessing an extreme pornographic image; distributing indecent images of children; and attempting to have intercourse with a dog. He also admitted making indecent still and moving images of youngsters. He was sent to a young offenders' institution for two years by Judge Adkin, who concluded: "This offending is so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified." Clarke must sign the sex offenders' register and abide by the terms of a sexual harm prevention order - both for 10 years - and will be reported to the safeguarding authorities.

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A MAN has been given a four-and-a-half year jail term for engaging in sexual activity with a child. Daniel Lee Coleman, 30, was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court today. Coleman had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual activity with a child aged under 16. He committed the offences in late 2013 and early 2014. Judge Peter Hughes QC handed down the prison sentence to Coleman, of Rydal Street, Carlisle. He is now also subject to the terms of a sexual harm prevention order and has been placed on the sex offenders' register, for an indefinite period. Coleman's case will also be reported to the independent safeguarding authorities.

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A man who kidnapped four girls in the 1980s and 1990s was caught by 30-year-old DNA evidence, a court has heard. David Bryant, 65, of Ulverston, had previously denied four charges of kidnap and four of indecent assault, but later changed his pleas. The children, aged between two and five, were taken in Hampshire in 1982 and 1983, and in Newcastle in 1995. Bryant will be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on 16 March. Mark Giuliani, prosecuting, said: "A familiar feature of this offending is how the defendant targeted young girls out playing near their homes. "Children have been effectively robbed of part of their childhood." Bryant's first victim was a five-year-old girl who was playing outside her home in the street in Hampshire in 1982. The court heard how her mother had gone into the house to get children's drinks when the girl was taken. She was found nearby a short time later. Bryant had committed a sex act, leaving DNA on the child, which was used by detectives decades later, the court heard. The following year, a three-year-old was kidnapped as she played with other children in Southampton. Bryant had offered to show her some puppies, took her to woods and sexually abused her. Speaking as an adult, she said: "When I hear an ice cream van playing its music I am left with chills all over my body. "I am left remembering what happened to me at a very young age." 'Partially clothed' His third victim was taken from outside her home in Newcastle in the 1990s and found wandering, partially clothed, by a taxi driver in Darlington, 36 miles away. Later that year a four-year-old, from Newcastle's west end, was abducted as she walked 30 yards to a friend's house. Bryant admitted he took her to a caravan in Cumbria, abused her then bathed her to get rid of DNA evidence. He abandoned her on her own in Darlington the next day where she knocked on woman's door and said: "I cannot find my daddy." Mr Giuliani said Hampshire Police began a cold case review of the sex attacks and through DNA advances tracked down Bryant, having eliminated three of his male relatives from their inquiries. Bryant, of Rock Cottages, Baycliff, Ulverston, has three previous sex offence convictions on women committed between 1975 and 1984, Mr Giuliani said.