Latest Offenders Durham

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A SEX offender taken in by a woman to give him a chance on release from prison, tried to entice her daughter to snuggle in with him on the sofa on the first night, a court heard. Joshua Bate, who is now said to identify as a female, Lily, was jailed for seven years in 2015 for rape of a young woman after entering her flat and removing her clothing. Durham Crown Court heard that after release on licence, Bate sexually assaulted a school girl on a bus and was jailed for a further six months, in 2020, while also having to serve the full remainder of the original seven-year sentence. Chris Baker, prosecuting, said Bate was released from prison in the Midlands on New Years Eve and after joining a Facebook group, was invited to stay at the home of a woman in County Durham, who thought he/she should be given a chance. Having travelled by train northwards, Bate was met by her at Durham station and went to stay at her home, on January 3. The plan was for Bate to sleep on the sofa and not to go upstairs, where her daughters were in their bedrooms. Mr Baker said during the first night, the womans 12-year-old daughter went into her bedroom and showed her messages sent from a phone, registered as Lilys. In them the girl was invited to creep downstairs and to snuggle in under the covers with Bate, where they could lie, face to face. Bate also asked the girl: Do you mind if my hands wander and we kiss on the lips. Dont feel awkward. This is our secret She was also told to only come downstairs if her sisters were asleep. The girl replied that Bate was, being a paedo and blocked further messages. Mr Baker told the court that on seeing the messages the girls mother got out of bed and contacted the police as well as confronting Bate, who was arrested. When interviewed, Bate admitted having sent the messages and said they were sexually motivated. Bate regretted it and said it would have been, limited to kissing and cuddling, but accepted posing a risk to children and being unable to control himself/herself, in the presence of children. In her victim statement, the girls mother told the court she now regretted the snap decision to allow Bate to stay at her home, adding: He says he wishes to change sex and identity. Hes a sex offender no matter what changes he makes. I feel hes a danger to everybody, but particularly vulnerable people and younger girls. Bate, 25, now care/of HMP Durham, admitted inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity. Peter Sabiston, mitigating, said the defendant has not sought to minimise the offending and, there was clearly immediate remorse when confronted. It was a simple and short grooming incident, a short incitement. Mr Sabiston said Bate, accepted there would have been some sexual contact, but certainly not serious and penetrative activity. Judge Ray Singh said he considers Bate poses a significant risk of serious offending and, therefore, passed an extended 40-month prison sentence, to protect the public. It means Bate must serve two-thirds of the sentence before being eligible to apply for parole and may have to serve the entire 40-months. On release, Bate will be subject to five years extended licence period. Bate was made subject of a lifetime restraining order relating to the girl, plus indefinite registration as a sex offender, while also being subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, again indefinitely.

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A PREDATORY sex offender lured an underage girl into his home before raping her, a court was told. Robert Anthony Ryan, who was on bail for sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl at the time, met the rape victim at a bus stop before using a pretext of seeking her assistance to persuade her to go with him to his nearby home. Durham Crown Court heard that once inside the attack took place, despite the girls protests and telling him how old she was. Robin Patton, prosecuting, said following the attack, Ryan told the shaken girl not to say anything about it, and escorted her back to the bus stop, where she was physically sick. Despite informing a family member of the incident three years later, the victim did not report it to police for several years, and only after she had begun counselling due to the anxiety she still suffered long after the attack. Mr Patton said when arrested in 2020, Ryan said the girl willingly had sex with him, and maintained that lie through the court process until the day of his trial, shortly before Christmas. It was only then that the now 42-year-old defendant, of Lawson Street, Trimdon Colliery, admitted the rape. The court heard he has other sex offences on his record from 2009 and 2016. Sentence was adjourned until yesterday to allow for preparation of a background report on Ryan by the Probation Service. His sentencing hearing was told of the long-term effect the incident has had on the victim, who moved away from the North East when she reached 16, as a result. Her victim statement outlined the mistrust she now has in other people, generally, but with men, in particular, and the anxiety she has suffered since. The court heard the probation report classes Ryan as posing a significant risk to the public, generally, but specifically to young females. Robert Mochrie, for Ryan, said two of his past offences were committed close in time to each other and indicate, there was something going on in his life when these events occurred, but with nothing of this nature in recent years. But Judge James Adkin said he considers Ryan as being a dangerous offender, particularly to younger females. Theres a pattern of targeting children for sex and the author of the report points to him behaving in an unpredictable, uncontrolled, predatory way. Judge Adkin imposed a prison sentence of eight years and one month, of which Ryan must serve at least two-thirds before being eligible to be considered for release by the Parole Board, but he may have to serve the full term behind bars. On release he will then be subject to four years extended licence period. He was also made subject of lifetime conditions of both a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and notification requirements as a sex offender. A lifetime restraining order also prohibits contact with the rape victim.

Description

Detectives hunting on the run rapist Daniel Hassan were able to pinpoint his exact whereabouts when he placed his fast food order. Northumbria Police detectives tracked down a wanted rapist after he ordered a 19 kebab from Just Eat. Sexual predator, Daniel Hassan, met his victim on an online dating site and arranged to meet for a date. The pair met up but Hassan became violent when a comment from the victim sparked an unexpected reaction. Hassan, 43, repeatedly punched and kicked his victim to the head and body before raping her. Despite her cries for help, he attacked her again causing more injuries to her face and chest and a laceration to her head. Hassan left the address as the victim reported him to police and an investigation was launched by the Northumbria Police Safeguarding unit. The victim could only identify the man as 'Danny' and that he was originally from Manchester but that proved enough for the specialist investigators to track him down. Despite deleting his dating profile, officers were still able to recover a photo of the suspect and using state-of-the-art technology, the image was a match for Hassan and was believed to be located in the village of Hauxley, County Durham. There was not a precise location of his whereabouts at that time but it was the moment Hassan ordered a takeaway through Just Eat, that officers were able to pinpoint his exact location and arrest him on suspicion of rape and assault. During the interview he denied committing any offences and refused to answer any further questions but he was subsequently charged with two counts of assault and one count of rape. Hassan was remanded in custody and a trial was set for January 17, at Newcastle Crown Court. However with continued enquiries carried out by the team, Hassan was presented with irrefutable evidence and pleaded guilty on the first day of his trial. Leading the investigation was Detective Constable Dayna McNally who has praised the victim for her bravery and hopes the outcome gives a strong reassuring message that we will find those committing violent sexual crimes and put them before the courts. DC McNally said: "I can't imagine how much of a traumatic experience this has been for the victim and she absolutely did the right thing reporting it to police. "Even with the limited information we knew about Hassan, we have been able to track him down and provide strong evidence of his crimes to the point he has been unable to deny it any more. "All the victim wanted was to find someone to connect with but this was the vile man she was faced with. "But now, women are safe from Hassan as he remains in custody awaiting sentence and will no longer be a risk to those looking for companionship." Hassan of Hessewelle Crescent, Haswell, County Durham has been remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced on March 11.

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An online sexual predator who tried to groom a fake 14-year-old girl and sent her a disgusting explicit video of himself was trapped by a paedophile hunters group.

Brazen and perverted Lee Mouland was "undeterred" when the decoy girl told him that she was aged just 14.

He told her that she was "hot" and he wanted to "kiss and cuddle" her even though they had not even met, Hull Crown Court heard.

He encouraged her to commit sex acts and told her: "You might enjoy it. You will grow to love it, trust me."

Mouland, 32, admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to cause a child to watch a sex video and attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity, in Goole.

Amber Hobson, prosecuting, said that a paedophile hunter group set up a decoy account using the name of a teenage girl.

Mouland contacted the fake girl between November 26 and December 6, 2020 and contact progressed to WhatsApp at his request because he was speaking about pictures.

Telephone details were provided. The fake girl told Mouland that she was 14 but he was "undeterred" by this.

"The conversation very quickly progressed to this defendant saying that he would like to kiss and cuddle the child," said Miss Hobson.

Mouland told the decoy girl that she was "hot" and that he wanted to travel to Scotland to see her.

He sent a video to her of him committing a sex act and he encouraged her to do so too.

He told her: "You should try it. You might enjoy it. You will grow to love it, trust me.

"Try it tonight. You will be amazed how nice it feels."

Mouland was later arrested.

"This defendant, in messages, clearly displayed grooming behaviour," said Miss Hobson.

"There is a significant disparity in age here."

Richard Butters, mitigating, said that Mouland had previous convictions but nothing of this sort.

He cooperated with police from the moment that he was arrested.

"There is no suggestion that he had any intention to meet," said Mr Butters.

"It was words only. He has loathing of his own behaviour. He even said to police that he knew her age.

"He was trying to make her lower her guard so that she would carry on speaking to him. He has expressed his remorse.

"How he got himself into this beggars belief. It's entirely out of character."

Father-of-two Mouland was "completely isolated" at the time after the death of his father and he was in a very bad relationship which was making him extremely unhappy.

"Around this time, he was going through the most dreadful time in his personal life," said Mr Butters.

"He was smoking far too much cannabis. He was going through a bad patch generally."

Mouland had confessed: "I'm pretty disgusted with myself."

His present girlfriend was heavily pregnant and was due to give birth next week.

"He is scared to death of an immediate custodial sentence," added Mr Butters.

Judge John Thackray QC told Mouland: "There was no victim because the child didn't exist but you didn't know that.

"As far as you were concerned, you were communicating and sending a video of yourself to a 14-year-old girl.

"The offences are obviously very serious. You were obviously very much older, in your 30s.

"You admit you were using grooming techniques. The most serious offence is you sending the video.

"The offences are so serious that only an immediate custodial sentence can be justified."

Mouland, of Chester-le-Street, County Durham, was jailed for eight months.

He was given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and must register as a sex offender for 10 years.

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A SEX offender, who twice denied to police that he owned a mobile phone, had been accessing internet sites online, using aliases, in breach of a court order.

Steven Watson was made subject of prohibitions relating to his use of the internet as part of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), imposed for offences committed in 2011.

The order was replaced by the newly introduced Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), superseding SOPOs, in March 2015.

But Watson was back in court after being found to have breached the order and his notification requirements as a sex offender.

It followed an unannounced visit by police to Watson's home in August 2020, when he claimed to have lost his mobile phone, after being asked to produce it for examination.

Durham Crown Court was told that more than seven weeks later he again told police he did not have a mobile phone, but claimed he planned to acquire one shortly afterwards.

Police phoned him by landline in October 2020, to inform him his annual registration as a sex offender was imminent.

But days later an anonymous caller told police Watson had met a woman in Upon his subsequent arrest he showed police a mobile phone which he claimed to have been in possession of, for only a matter of days,

That phone was examined and evidence of him making searches for pornography emerged.

Watson admitted he had been looking at teenage pornography, but claimed it was available on legally-permitted sites.

Prosecuting counsel Katie Spence said it transpired that Watson had used various aliases, in breach of the SHPO, in making online searches.

Watson finally confessed that he had owned a phone for much longer than he had previously told police.

He claimed that in accessing dating sites he sometimes forgot password information and so created new details.

The 39-year-old defendant, who has been living at a charity-run men's hostel in Plawsworth, near Chester-le-Street, admitted doing acts in breach of the SHPO and failing to comply with the notification requirements as a sex offender.

Judge Ray Singh, who described them as, "persistent breaches", imposed concurrent prison sentences of 32 months.

Watson will remain subject of the orders on release.

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Ian Jordan pounced on one victim at a house in Glasgow's Jordanhill after claiming he could help with a medical condition. Years earlier, Jordan molested a patient at his then practice in Ayr.

A shamed optician who sexually assaulted two patients walked free from court yesterday.

Ian Jordan pounced on one victim at a house in Glasgow's Jordanhill after claiming he could help with a medical condition.

Years earlier, Jordan molested a patient at his then practice in Ayr.

The 64-year-old had denied the crimes during a trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

But, he was found guilty of charges of sexual and indecent assault last September.

Sheriff Lindsay Wood put Jordan under supervision for 24 months and tagged him for six months keeping him indoors between 9.30pm and 6am.

Jordan, now of county Durham, was also ordered to pay each victim £5,000 in compensation and was placed on the sex offenders register for five years.

The sheriff told him: "The offences you know are bad enough and caused considerable stress to both women.

"Matters are made worse in that they were committed on your patients when presenting as an optician and you breached the trust of the women.

"It was quite shocking what you did and it seems to me that you are still in denial and have not expressed any remorse in your background report."

In 2018, the optician was struck off having controversially claimed to be able to help people with autism and brain injuries using tinted lenses.

He had seen thousands of patients from across the UK and abroad.

But, the General Optical Council slammed Jordan for a "disregard for the scope of his practice and the potential risks" to others.

The two sex attack victims meantime bravely testified against Jordan.

A 42-year-old woman recalled how Jordan had unexpectedly visited following an earlier conversation about her neurological disorder.

She told prosecutor Mark Allan how he walked in as she was trying to get dressed.

They then sat on the sofa to initially discuss different lenses.

But, the woman went on: "He did not seem interested in that - the conversation was rude and lewd.

"He was asking about my sex life. He started touching me, put his hand under my t-shirt onto my back.

"He was moving it up and down my back to the side where he touched my breast.

"He said 'you enjoyed that'."

The victim told how Jordan then asked her to lie on the living room floor.

She added: "He said he could sync his body with mine by laying on top of me. It would help with my neurological symptoms.

"He then stood me up told me to balance on one leg for him to check my balance, trying to spin me around and make me dizzy while wearing these lenses."

The woman later spoke to a relative about what happened before police were alerted.

In August 2010, Jordan subjected a woman to what she called a "bizarre" incident at his shop in Ayr.

The 37-year-old said Jordan had not been her usual optician.

She recalled him touching her, asking inappropriate questions and quizzing her on a body piercing.

The woman added: "He said: 'If a man saw you walking down the street, he would think you were nice. If he saw this, he would change his mind'."

Jordan was said to have probed her on her schooling and being bullied.

After she began crying, he started getting "excited, clapping his hands, jumping up and down on the chair".

The woman was left "confused" and it was years later before she went to police.

Kelly Dooley, defending, told the sentencing: "This is still a very serious charge.

"He has no previous convictions and there has been no offending since between the offences or since he was convicted."

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A man who grabbed two women's bottoms - one in Asda - has been ordered to sign the sex offenders' register.

Kouros Hassanzadeh told a woman that he 'really wanted to have sex with her' during the first assault in the Thornaby supermarket.

Two days later, the 28-year-old then grabbed a runner's bum in an alleyway.

He pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a woman in Asda on Allensway on May 2.

As reported, the woman was browsing in one of the aisles when she noticed a man “looking at her”.

After moving to another aisle she saw him again.

Hassanzadeh then “grabbed her bottom with some grip”, the court heard, before grabbing it a second time. He then followed her and touched her bottom again.

The victim reported the incident to a shop assistant who alerted the supermarket’s security guard and Hassanzadeh was led out of the store.

The second sexual assault happened on May 4.

The victim was jogging on Allensway before turning right down a cut.

Halfway down the path her bottom was “grabbed” and Hassanzadeh stepped in front of her telling her, “With an a*** that looks that nice you have to grab it”.

He added: “I’m not going to hurt you, I just want one kiss and I’ll leave you alone.”

Hassanzadeh had no previous convictions and has mental health issues.

The 28-year-old, of Lancaster Way, Thornaby, pleaded guilty to the two sex assaults.

He was given an 18-month community order with an accredited Horizon programme.

This is an intervention delivered to men who have a sexual conviction and are considered to be at a medium, high or very high risk of re-offending.

He must carry out 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and was ordered to pay costs and charges of £180.

He will also be on the sex offenders' register for the next five years.

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A PAEDOPHILE operating online has been jailed after being caught by an undercover police officer working for Darlington Police.

Daniel Bateman unwittingly struck up a conversation with the undercover officer, who was posing as another online paedophile on the social messaging app, KIK.

Bateman then sent the decoy an indecent image of a child, before suggesting the pair meet up to have sex with children.

The 30-year-old of Birch Road, Darlington, was arrested and charged with distributing an indecent image and arranging or facilitating a child sex offence.

He admitted distributing an indecent image but denied the second charge.

A jury sitting at Teesside Crown Court, however, found Bateman guilty and he was jailed for three years last Monday (January 24).

He was also made subject to a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will remain on the Sex Offenders Register for an indefinite period.

Detective Constable Pat Finn, of Durham Constabulary, led the investigation. He said: Bateman is a dangerous and deceitful individual, who sought to realise his own depraved fantasies by seeking to meet up with other like-minded paedophiles to sexually abuse children.

He has shown no remorse throughout the trial, and he is now behind bars where he belongs, and is no longer in a position where he continues to pose a serious sexual risk to children.

Anyone who is suffering sexual abuse, please know that you are not alone and there are people who can help you.

Please, come forward and speak to us no matter who the perpetrator is, or when the abuse took place, our specially trained officers are here to help you and ensure you get the justice you deserve.

Either call us on 101 or dial 999 if you are in immediate danger.

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A PERVERTED pensioner, who sexually abused girls over three decades, is starting a 21-year prison sentence, and will not be released until he is into his 80s. Brian ONeil, 66, who often filmed his activities, was branded a danger to underage girls and was made subject of an extended determinate sentence at Durham Crown Court. It means he must serve at least 14 years in prison before being eligible for parole, but he may have to spend the entire 21 years behind bars. On release he will also be subject to five-years extended licence supervision and will remain on the sex offenders register, indefinitely. He was sentenced at the court yesterday, when the hearing heard of the traumatic effect his offending has had on his victims, in one case self-harming and making a number of suicide attempts. ONeil, formerly of Wharton Street, Coundon, admitted rape, plus 20 other mainly sexual offences, and voyeurism, at hearings in November and December, last year. But he denied ten further counts, of which he was convicted following unanimous jury verdicts after a three-day trial in late April. Passing sentence, Judge Ray Singh told ONeil, who appeared via video link from Durham Prison: There can be no criticism and no doubt you are a dangerous offender. There is a significant risk to members of the public of the commission of further specified offences. In your pre-sentence report you did accept the majority of your offending. Your offending pattern, transcended over three decades, reflects a long-standing sexual interest in young children that needs to be addressed in future. Speaking after the hearing, Detective Constable Donna Hicks, of Durham Police, who led the investigation, said: ONeil carried out these horrendous crimes for more than three decades and had a massive detrimental impact on his victims, who have suffered significantly. Putting his own sexual gratification first, he has destroyed the lives of not just his victims but also their families and continued to show a total lack of remorse throughout the investigation and trial. All the victims have shown enormous courage in coming forward and I hope this sentence means they can finally gain some closure and start to rebuild their lives.

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A MAN has been jailed for attempting to engage in sexual activity with a child after being snared online by an undercover police officer.

Jordan James Caygill, of Newton Aycliffe, used a social media app to ask who he thought was a 14-year-old girl to meet up for sex.

After police officers turned up at his home in Merlin Court and arrested the 28-year-old they found hard drives and laptops containing violent sexual abuse videos involving "very young children."

Durham Crown Court heard on Wednesday that Caygill, who previously worked as a bartender in a sports club in Darlington, had a large collection of "utterly repellent" material that he had collected over a number of years.

Richard Bennett, prosecuting, said the defendant had more than 18 hours of extreme pornography on his computer involving very young children who were in "visible distress."

He engaged in "highly sexualised" conversation with the undercover officer posing as a teenager, offering to "take her virginity" and asking for sexual photos of her.

He also sent videos of himself masturbating to the officer as well as photos of his genitals.

Caygill, who called himself "BigJ" and "Darloj92" on the app, pleaded guilty to nine charges in total, including three counts of making indecent images of children and one of distributing indecent images of children.

He also admitted possessing extreme pornographic images, attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act and two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

Ian West, for Caygill, said his client was of previous good character and that the harm caused was 'minimal' as the defendant wasn't communicating with a child, but an undercover police officer.

HH Judge James Adkin told Caygill: "The investigation into your activity began by virtue of an interaction between yourself and an undercover officer purporting to be a 14-year-old child.

"Images were sent by yourself and you thought you were communicating with a 14-year-old girl. You requested pictures and offered to take her virginity. More specifically, the attempt to engage a child in sexual activity was incitement to engage in sexual intercourse.

"They [the images] are utterly repellent. The timescale is significant, from March 2016 to December 2019. It appears to me that this is a carefully curated collection of violent sexual abuse images.

"The attempts form part of a pattern of interactions with fictional children indicating the defendant had no compunction about engaging in highly sexualised behaviour with teenage girls."

Caygill was jailed for 34 months in total and made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He must also sign the sexual offenders register for life and he is forbidden from ever working with children.

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A WEDDING photographer has been jailed for four years for raping a young boy in the early 2000s. The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was raped and sexually assaulted on two separate occasion when he was either aged between ten and 11 by Christopher Todd. This morning, the 31-year-old heard the devastating impact his actions had on the life of his victim. In a powerful personal statement, the man said his relationship with his parents and friends had been significantly impacted as a result of the sexual abuse he suffered at his hands. He said: I would like to talk about the years of emotional abuse this man has caused me, the years of shame and guilt that I have struggled to endure. The countless times I have asked myself why didnt you stop that happening and why did you let that happen the nightmares I have suffered replaying the events in my mind over and over, fantasising about doing something different about the attacks. Todd, of Grangeside, Darlington, continues to deny any responsibility for his actions, the court heard from his counsel Christine Egerton. During the week-long trial at Teesside Crown Court, the jury heard how the young boy was attacked while he was playing on a PlayStation in the Darlington home of the defendant, who was a teenager at the time. The court heard how a shock meeting between the pair in Darlington's B&M in April 2019 brought back horrendous memories for the victim and he attacked Todd in the car park. Judge James Brown said: I find that he still lives with the impact of your behaviour all those years ago and I find the impact to be profound.

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A SHOCKED mother discovered her 12-year-old daughter had exchanged sexualised messages and swapped indecent images with an older teenage boy, a court heard. Durham Crown Court was told she became concerned at her daughters secretive behaviour, being unwilling to allow her to scrutinise her phone early last year. When she finally insisted on checking its contents, she came across an unrecognised phone number and was told it was a mutual friend. It emerged her daughter had been exchanging messages via a chat room and text with a male, Shaun Williams, then aged 17, in which he inquired about intimate matters and asking her to send him sexual photographs, as well as mentioning that they should meet. Jane Waugh, prosecuting, said the girls mother immediately stopped her daughter communicating with Williams and inquired as to the nature of the photographs. The girl said he sent her pictures of his naked genitals and asked her to reciprocate. It was reported to police, who arrested Williams and seized his phone for analysis. Miss Waugh said the flavour of the messages became apparent, with Williams referring to the girl as, Babes, asking her about performing sexual acts. The exchanged pictures included one sent by the girl of herself in her underwear. Williams, now 18, of Westbourne Street, Stockton, admitted causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity. The case was adjourned for preparation of a psychiatric report on the defendant. Chris Baker, mitigating, said the author was unable to confirm if Williams was on the autistic spectrum, but pointed to, other personality issues, as well as an adjustment disorder. But Mr Baker said he had jeopardised his future by his behaviour, having already affected his education. Judge Ray Singh said, in essence there was a form of grooming of a 12-year-old girl, which only ended when her mother discovered the nature of the messages. The judge said although Williams has some mental health issues, in my view these do not provide meaningful mitigation. He imposed a two-year sentence in a young offenders institution and ordered that Williams should be subject to restrictions under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, as well as registration as a sex offender, both for ten years.

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A MAN instigated online grooming exercises with what he thought were underage girls, a court was told.

In reality, John Taylor, then 59, fell for decoy social media profiles posted by different paedophile-hunting groups and the girls, Natalie, 14, and Ellie, 13, did not exist.

Durham Crown Court was told the unemployed lorry driver sent them hundreds of messages, initially appearing kind and friendly, asking them about school and relationships with their parents, warning one to be careful when communicating with young lads, as they would try to, get her into bed.

He became more romantic, sending heart, cuddly animal and bouquet emojis, telling them he considered them to be his girlfriend.

But in each case the messaging became more sexualised, asking for photographs, and he tried to arrange to meet one, suggesting a car park rendezvous, but urging her to, keep it quiet.

Paul Newcombe, prosecuting, said both vigilante groups, Action for Kids North-West and Guardians of the North, informed police and Taylor was arrested.

In interview he gave no comment answers to relevant questions.

Taylor was charged with three counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, two involving one of the profiles as it included three phone calls.

Now aged 62, the defendant, of Dean Street, Shildon, admitted all three counts.

He was said to have nine previous offences on his record, but none since 2006.

A probation report said Taylor requires specific programme work to address the risk he poses of reoffending.

Judge James Adkin said due to the sexualised nature of some messages, it, crosses the custody threshold.

Amrit Jandoo, for Taylor, said it was accepted it could result in a prison sentence, but urged Judge Adkin to go along with the recommendation of the probation report.

Agreeing, Judge Adkin said he would suspend a nine-month prison sentence, for two years, but Taylor must attend 40 probation-led rehabilitation activity days to address his behaviour.

Taylor must observe a six-month 7pm to 7am home curfew, while he will also be subject to restrictions under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and registration as a sex offender, both for ten years.

Judge Adkin told him if he complies with the orders that would be the end of the matter, after two years, but any breaches would see him back before the court, facing an immediate prison sentence.

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A judge ruled that Stephen Midgley, 27, is a 'dangerous offender' and gave him an extended 10 year sentence A "dangerous" paedophile was caught with hundreds of child abuse images - some showing 'distressed' tots as young as two. A judge ruled that repeat offender Stephen Midgley, 27, poses a high risk of re-offending, with a "fixation on pre-pubescent girls", and gave him an extended 10 year prison sentence. Teesside Crown Court heard the collection of images showed sexual abuse of kids, some mere toddlers, with many of the horrific details too graphic to publish. Prosecutor Harry Hadfield said two mobile phones belonging to the defendant had been found to contain child abuse images, including two-and-a-half hours of video in the most serious category. It was also discovered he was using an email address to send "depraved" images to another pervert. Images on the second seized mobile phone included pictures of boys and girls being abused, ranging from ages two to 11. Midgley appeared to be sentenced for 12 offences in total - three counts of making indecent images of children, three counts of distributing indecent images of children, one of failing to comply with a notification requirement, two breaches of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) and three of possessing indecent photographs. He pleaded guilty to the offences. Midgley was previously locked up for three years and four months in 2015 after being caught downloading and sending pictures and videos of child abuse for the second time in 18 months. Stephen Constantine, mitigating, said a psychological report had found his client had an IQ of just 71, "had it been one less he would have been somebody who came within a category of learning disabled", he said. He said: "This defendant's main mitigation is his guilty plea in respect of each count." He added: "Having been caught he has assisted. "On each occasion he has told police there are images on the phone. "He hasn't sought to hide anything, beside hiding the initial phones." He asked the court not to class him as a dangerous offender and say this is the "last chance saloon". But pointing to the psychological report and Midgley's previous offences, judge Stephen Ashurst said he was a "dangerous offender" and would be getting an extended prison term. He said: "The images are of a particularly depraved nature. "They include the rape and abuse of very young children indeed by adult offenders." Midgley, of Leybourn Terrace, Stockton, was ordered to serve six years in custody, plus fours years on licence for distributing indecent images. He was also given a two year concurrent sentence for the other offences. A new SHPO was made indefinitely.

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A 69-year-old man who forced his hand down a teenager's trousers and forced her to perform a sex act on him has been jailed, more than a decade after the attack.

Henry Spark was on his way to work as a delivery driver in April 2008 when he spotted a lone female walking in the dark at around 3am.

He pulled over to offer her a lift and within minutes of her entering the car was grabbing her hand and pulling it towards his groin.

After driving for a few minutes Spark pulled over and forced the then 17-year-old to perform a sex act on him.

The teenager reported the incident to police the following day but DNA taken from the victim's clothes did not match any on record.

However when Spark was convicted of another sex offence in 2018, his DNA matched this historic unsolved case.

After initially denying ever having a girl in his car, he accepted that he did pick the teenager up but argued that she consented to the sexual activity.

He was convicted of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, assault by penetration and sexual assault at Durham Crown Court after a two-day trial.

In a statement read out to the court the victim said: "I want to articulate as best as I can how I have felt over the last ten years. Since it happened I know I am not the same person.

"I had a naive and childish belief in people. I thought trustworthy people were outwardly visible, I was not sceptical of everybody as I am now.

"I feel emotionally down, and want to stop thinking about how genuinely terrified I was for my life. I want to go to sleep without reliving that night.

"I have done my very best to spend time alone in public so I can prove to myself that being outside the house is not scary enough to warrant palm sweats and heart palpitations. I have to tell myself that eventually I will get used to being outside how I used to be but I have had no improvements.

"I hope one day I can look back at what happened and not feel so raw about it and move on with my day to day life."

Richard Bennett, prosecuting, said Spark was convicted for possessing and making indecent images of children in January last year when he was given an eight month custodial sentence, suspended for two years. He also has a historic conviction of exposing himself in 1973.

HHJ Jonathan Carroll said: "I am satisfied that by the time she [the victim] got into the car you were determined to have a sexual encounter with or without her consent."

Spark, of Victor Street, Chester-Le-Street, was jailed for three years for all counts.