Latest Offenders Durham

Description

A man who served a previous prison sentence for sexual activity with a child began communicating with what he believed to be a 14-year-old girl earlier this year.

Richard Clark received a four-year prison sentence at Cambridge Crown Court in March 2016 for offences involving a 13-year-old girl he “met” online, in 2014.

His latest hearing, at Durham Crown Court, was given details of the 2014 offending in which the defendant arranged to meet the girl, went to her school and formed a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship during which he kept asking her for sex.

Although she refused those requests, he did give her a body massage but went no further.

Clark denied a charge of sexual activity with a child but was convicted after trial and, apart from receiving the four-year prison term, he was made subject to an eight-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) plus indefinite notification requirements as a sex offender, as part of the 2016 sentence.

County Durham man fell for vigilante group's online 'sting':

Tabitha Buck, prosecuting, told the Durham hearing that in May this year, just two months after the expiry of the SHPO, Clark used an alias, North East 33, which he had not registered with the police, to go online and contact the profile of someone purporting to be a 14-year-old female.

Unknown to Clark, it was a decoy profile posted by an online paedophile-hunting vigilante group, all members of which were aged above 18.

Miss Buck said Clark began the messages by talking about his work as a truck driver, and the correspondent made it clear she was at school and aged 14.

He said he didn’t mind her age and asked if she liked “older guys”.

Clark complimented her on her profile appearance and told her he liked, “naughty chat”, before going on to say he would like to kiss her and asked if she, “played with herself.”

He suggested they switch their conversation to WhatsApp, so she could see him, and gave her his mobile phone number.

Miss Buck said once on WhatsApp, which was in his name, he told her he liked her and wished he could see more of her.

The conversation continued before Clark blocked the profile.

Details of the exchanges were passed to police by the vigilante group and Clark was arrested before being interviewed at Durham station on May 21, when he denied committing any offences.

The, now, 39-year-old defendant of Chillerton Way, Wingate, denied a charge of attempted sexual communication with a child, when he appeared before magistrates, on May 22, and maintained that plea at his first crown court appearance, in June, when a trial date was set.

But ahead of the trial, Clark changed his plea to guilty at a hearing at the court on October 17.

The sentence was adjourned to allow for the preparation of a background report on him by the Probation Service.

Dr Chris Wood, representing the defendant, told the sentencing hearing the latest offending was over a short period and there had been no attempt to conceal the messaging.

“He accepts he initially failed to admit his offending, but he reconsidered his position and indicated to his solicitors he intended to change his plea.

“That, at least, demonstrates remorsefulness and contrition, as is reflected in the probation report.

“The offence post-dates the original SHPO, during which he complied throughout, with no breaches.”

Dr Wood said the differences between the previous offence, which Clark denied to trial, and the present proceedings, are that he has now admitted his offending and, in this case, there was no actual victim.

He said the defendant retains the support of his family, for which he is the main bread winner, but has been in custody since he changed his plea to guilty on October 17.

Judge Nathan Adams said the defendant’s offending history is, “particularly significant” in this case.

The judge said although Clark complied with the SHPO following the 2016 case, once it expired he was offending similarly within months, believing he was communicating with a 14-year-old girl, unaware it was a decoy.

“Fortunately, it was a decoy, and it was brought straight to police attention.”

The judge said had it been a real 14-year-old, “the risk of harm would have been significant”.

He said the timing of the offence was, “an aggravating feature of the case.”

Imposing a 12-month prison sentence, Judge Adams said he could not suspend it, given the defendant’s previous offence.

“I have every sympathy with your family, but you have caused harm to them.

“It’s so serious only an immediate prison sentence can be justified.”

The judge put in place a new ten-year SHPO, with Clark also made subject to registration as a sex offender, again for ten years.

Description

A "committed paedophile" who tried tried to meet 'schoolgirl' and downloaded child abuse and sex-with-snake clips has been handed a sentence of over nine years.

Stockton's Paul Whitfield, 53, arranged to meet a "13 year old girl" in Lincoln - but the online profile he was chatting with actually belonged to a police decoy who called herself "Carrie." When police raided his home, they found videos on his phone showing young children being sexually abused.

Whitfield had also downloaded videos of adults involved in sexual activity with a snake and a horse.

On Wednesday, Whitfield appeared at Teesside Crown Court, on video link from Stafford prison. The court heard that he pretended to be a teenager and he began talking to "13 year old Carrie" in February 2023, about "holding and kissing" her.

The two discussed telling her school that she had a dentist appointment, on February 15, when they agreed to meet - but undercover cop Carrie cancelled the meeting.

Police then raided Whitfield's house and took away two mobile phones - that he had failed to register as a convicted sex offender.

The phones showed Whitfield's arrangements to meet the girl, and he had also downloaded over 900 photos and videos of children being sexually abused. He had looked at videos showing sexual activity with "multiple animals."

Whitfield forwarded some of the videos to other people, including one category A video - featuring the most severe type of child abuse - to a group of 227 users.

Whitfield, formerly of Fairfield in Stockton, but now of Stafford prison, pleaded guilty to:

• arranging the commission of a child sex offence;
• making and distributing indecent images of children;
• possessing an extreme pornographic image betraying an act of intercourse with an animal
• breaching sex offender notification requirements.

Previous offences

In 2015, Whitfield was handed an extended 13-year sentence for the attempted abduction of a child, where he had watched a 10 year old girl for two hours, from his car. When she left the playground, he told her to get in his car to hide "because the police were looking for her." The girl ran off to her grandmother.

Hours earlier, he had approached a nine-year old in Stockton, telling her she was beautiful. The girl ran off. The court was told that Whitfield said the thought of having a child in his car gave him a “sexual thrill”.

In 2023, Whitfield was sent back to jail for 16 months, for breaching his sex offender notification requirements.

Mitigating for Whitfield's latest sex offences, Tom Bennett told the court that in the case of the arranged meeting in Lincoln, there was "no actual child victim."

Judge Timothy Stead told Whitfield that he is a "committed and determined paedophile" and handed him an extended prison sentence totalling nine-years-and-eight-months. He will serve four-years-eight-months in prison; and the remaining five-years on licence in the community.

Description

A rapist who also sexually abused a young girl has been locked up for 17 years after being convicted of a string of sex offences.

Keith Sterling’s degrading abuse took place several years ago while he was living in Darlington.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the sex offender had significantly damaged the lives of his victims and he still continues to deny his offences.

Rebecca Brown, prosecuting, said one of the rapes happened when the victim was sleeping.

In a victim personal statement, the woman said Sterling’s abuse had impacted on her mental health and would take the pain ‘to her grave’.

The child victim said Sterling’s abuse had left her struggling to come to terms what had happened to her and she still struggled to put into words the impact that his abuse had on her and remains mistrustful of male adults.

The 46-year-old, of Roker Place, Darlington, was found guilty of rape and sexual assault on a child following a trial at the same court.

Tony Davis, mitigating, said his client maintains his innocence and has made his stance clear in his pre-sentence report.

He added: “The reality of the contents of his pre-sentence report means that submissions on his behalf will be short.

“The defendant continues to deny, as he has done throughout the proceedings, any responsibility the offending.”

Recorder Aisha Wadoodi sentenced Sterling to a total of 17 years for all offences.

“The prosecution submitted that some of the offences were done in drink but there was a repeated pattern of sexual offending which was reflected by the jury’s verdicts,” she said.

Sterling was also made subject of life-long restraining orders, sexual harm prevention order and was told he would have to sign on the sex offenders’ register for life.

Description

A paedophile who raped a child in her sleep has been handed a 21-year prison sentence.

George Bellwood raped the child at least 25 times over a three-year period, on one occasion assaulting her while she slept.  

He also regularly forced her to carry out other sex acts on him, often recording the abuse on his mobile phone.

The 32-year-old’s offending came to light when the child bravely told a trusted adult what had happened, who then informed Durham Constabulary.

An investigation was launched, and Bellwood was arrested.

During the investigation, his phone and laptop were seized and thoroughly analysed by specialist police officers from the force’s Digital Investigation Team, who found more than 2,800 images of child abuse.

More than 1,000 were classed as Category A images – the most severe.

Bellwood was charged with a multitude of offences, including eight counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and two of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, all of which he initially denied, but later changed his plea to guilty.

He also admitted further charges of making indecent images of children, distributing indecent images of children, and possession of extreme pornography involving animals.

Bellwood, of Darlington, was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing at Durham Crown Court today (November 22) where he was handed a 21-year prison sentence, with four years on extended licence.

He will also spend the rest of his life on the Sex Offenders’ Register.

In a victim impact statement, one of the girl’s family members described the impact Bellwood’s offending had on her.

“He has made her go through something that not even an adult should have to deal with,” they said. 

“She has had her childhood taken away from her, which she will never get back and will never fully recover from.”

Description

This 'dangerous' sex offender stalked an off-duty cop as she walked home alone at night.

Mohammed Rahman followed the woman for around 10 minutes as she walked home from an evening out in Darlington with her friends in April this year. The woman - an off-duty police officer – became aware that someone was following her as she began walking home from the town centre at around midnight.

In an effort to lose him, she quickened her pace and repeatedly crossed the road, only to find the man continued to follow her. As he got closer, the quick-thinking woman grabbed her phone and began recording him just as he ran past her and disappeared down a side street.

The woman called police, who found Rahman hiding in a nearby garden, and took him into custody. The 20-year-old was later charged with breaching a Sexual Risk Order, which was imposed in June last year following an exposure incident in which he carried out a sex act on himself in front of a care home.

The order lasts 10 years and prohibits Rahman from doing several things, including exposing himself or committing sex acts in public, entering the boundary of a private house or garden without prior permission, and harassing or intimidating women.

'The incident has really shaken me up'

In a victim impact statement, the woman said: “The incident has really shaken me up; I burst into tears when the police called me and told me they had arrested someone. I was worried he had seen me go into my house and knew where I lived.

“I should be able to walk home from town to my house without anyone following me, and I should feel safe.

“I worry that I won’t even be able to go out in the darker winter days now as I will be worrying someone is following me.”

Rahman, of no fixed abode, admitted the breach and was jailed for two years and eight months at Teesside Crown Court on Friday, November 8.

'Highly dangerous individual'

Detective Inspector David Bailey, from Darlington CID, said: “Rahman is a highly dangerous individual who has shown extremely predatory behaviour, and he is now rightly in prison for his blatant disregard for the conditions imposed upon him.

“I’d like to commend the woman involved in this case who showed real bravery during what was a terrifying ordeal. Her quick-thinking decision to record Rahman allowed officers to identify him and quickly get him off the streets and into custody.

“I sincerely hope that this sentencing brings her some comfort and can allow her to move on with her life.”

Description

An “entrenched paedophile” exchanged images of young children being sexually abused with an equally depraved individual in the US, a court heard.

Lee Mole, of Blackhall Colliery, County Durham, encouraged his online American “friend” to sexually assault a young girl and asked him to then post images of the abuse on the internet.

Durham Crown Court heard that the nature of the Kick Messenger exchanges came to the attention of US Homeland Security, which led to the arrest of the abuser, in Oregon.

He disclosed having been in contact with a user of the site in the UK, going under the name ‘BigLadBrown181280’, with the email address of the defendant.

Annelise Haugstad, prosecuting, said offending images in category A and B of severity, featuring a girl aged between eight and ten being abused, were sent by the defendant to the man in Oregon.

Miss Haugstad said the nature of the discussions between the pair centred around how they enjoyed sex with very young girls and Mole incited the man in Oregon to abuse a two-year-old child, images of which were sent to the defendant, at his request.

The court heard that at the time of the exchanges with the man in the US, Mole was subject to inquiries by Durham Police over possession of indent images of children, for which he was to plead guilty before receiving a suspended 15-month prison sentence, in October, last year.

Miss Haugstad told the court he also has a similar conviction dating from 2015.

When questioned about the images exchanged with the man in the US, Mole initially denied knowledge of them, but then admitted it was something he had been involved in for six months.

Miss Haugstad said when asked about his sexual interest in children he conceded it was something which aroused him.

The 53-year-old defendant of Hardwick Street, Blackhall Colliery, admitted three counts of making, and one of distributing indecent images of children.

Vic Laffey, in mitigation, said Mole was “well aware” of the situation he was facing.

“He has, at least, been honest with the Probation Service in respect of the problems he has and my advice to him is that the only thing that may save him is that he has been on a two-year order and for one year he has made progress.

“He’s described as working positively with the Probation Service.

“The good work he has done will be effectively lost if he is to receive an immediate custodial sentence.”

Mr Laffey said the defendant suffers with various ailments and is in poor health.

Judge Jo Kidd said the context of Mole’s latest offending was that it took place while under investigation or on bail, pending a review of devices seized in January 2023, on which police were to find numerous indecent images of children.

“You engaged in chat with a man in the US using the Kick Messenger platform.”

Judge Kidd said the defendant incited that man to sexually assault a two-year-old child and sought to obtain images of the abuse.

She said to persuade him to send the images the defendant mentioned having abused young children himself, which she said, “may have been fantasy, but you were clearly inciting him.”

The judge said the defendant was part of a group of people interested in sharing images of the abuse of young children.

“It’s difficult to think of a more disgusting and serious example of these offences against the background of your previous offences.”

She said he had previously been given the opportunity to try to deal with his depraved interest to reduce the likelihood of him repeating it in future.

Description

A "risk-taking" voyeur covertly filmed two women in the bath or showering on separate occasions, in one case after entering the victim’s home as a trespasser.

But when Paul Shields tried to repeat the act, the second woman being filmed, with whom he had an “infatuation”, realised a camera phone was being pointed at her from above the bathroom door.

Durham Crown Court was told she shouted at the intruder and the defendant fled, retreating by the way he entered her home, via a landing window and across roofing.

The woman, who had previously been subject of inappropriate remarks by Shields and the recipient of unwanted presents, one of them a vibrator, informed police and the defendant was arrested later that day.

When interviewed, he said he had seen the woman’s bathroom light going on, at 6.20am that day, February 24, and “on impulse” climbed onto her garage roof and into her home, setting his phone to record.

But when she shouted, he said he, “came to his senses” and left.

He told police he had not viewed any footage he might have captured of the woman in the shower and deleted it from his phone, adding that he was “appalled” at what he had done.

Philip Morley, prosecuting, said subsequent police inquiries revealed this had not been an isolated incident.

It emerged that four months earlier he had also sneaked into the same woman's home and did something similar, but on that occasion without being spotted.

Police discovered it by seizing his mobile phone and finding a video of the same woman in the shower.

She confirmed she was completely unaware any footage had been taken on that occasion, in October last year, which was also at about 6.25am.

Mr Morley said in her statement to police, the shocked victim said she was “sickened” after the discovery of the previous footage, of which she had been unaware.

She said she was worried what his motives were as to what he may have done with that footage.

The victim said she was also concerned how many times he had trespassed into her home to carry out, “such a disgusting and intrusive act”.

Mr Morley said examination of the defendant’s computer hard drive revealed there had been a second victim.

A folder was found with another woman’s first name on, followed by five stars.

It was found to contain 20 videos of another woman in the bath or shower.

That victim was identified, and, when informed, she was horrified to be told of the police discovery.

When interviewed about the package of footage from the computer folder the defendant gave police a prepared statement confessing to having, “an interest in voyeurism”, but he initially claimed the footage was taken with the victim’s consent.

Mr Morley said given the woman’s shocked reaction, “that was clearly not the case at all”.

In her victim statement she said she felt "devastated" any man could have done this and feared it would have a huge impact on her mental health, but she added that despite the “great shock”, she would, “fight it”.

The 55-year-old defendant, of Blencathra Way, Chester-le-Street, admitted one count of trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence and 21 of voyeurism, offences committed in Bowburn and Darlington.

Robin Turton, for Shields, said he has nothing similar on his record, and the only other matters were unrelated and of some age.

Mr Turton said the defendant has struggled for most of his life with his mental health and since committing the offences, assessments have pinpointed potential disorders, including ADHD, which may have played a part in his offending.

The defendant has also sought assistance from a charity dealing with sex offenders to address his offending, work he is keen to continue, outlining the remorse he feels.

Despite his issues, Mr Turton said the defendant has held down a good job, which would be at risk if he was to be jailed.

He added: “This is a man for whom there’s a realistic prospect of rehabilitation with the appropriate support network, so he can put this behind him.

“I would argue that notwithstanding these shameful offences, he is someone who can be sentenced in a constructive way rather than with a custodial sentence.”

But Recorder Andrew Dallas said the defendant had admitted 21 separate cases of voyeuristic activity, which he described as, “extraordinary and worrying behaviour”, which both his unwary victims found, “extremely upsetting and shocking”.

Recorder Dallas told the defendant he displayed, “extraordinary risk taking”, on more than one occasion, “to satisfy your sexual interest in voyeurism”.

The Recorder said it was “concerning” the level of risk the defendant was prepared to take in such circumstances and after being arrested it soon emerged it was not, “a one-off.”

He told Shields: “I take  the view it’s too serious for anything other than an immediate custodial sentence.”

Imposing a three-year sentence, he made Shields subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and restraining orders relating to both women, indefinitely.

Shields will also be subject to notification as a sex offender, also for life.

Forfeiture and destruction was also ordered for the seized phone and the computer hard drive on which the offending material was recovered by police.

Description

A man who repeatedly abused a young girl, treating her, in her words, as, “a sex toy”, was today (Tuesday, October 15) sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment.

Allan Spacey committed the offences on a victim who a judge said he knew was, “young, naïve and vulnerable”, at the time.

But Durham Crown Court heard that despite being convicted of the offending, following a trial in August, the 68-year-old defendant of The Crescent, High Etherley, near Bishop Auckland, remains in denial.

The court was told the victim felt alone in the world and self-harmed as well as attempting to take her own life twice, in the wake of the abuse.

But she eventually disclosed what had happened to her at Spacey’s hands and it led to the defendant being charged with six counts of sexual assault, one accounting for multiple offences.

Emma Dowling, prosecuting, said after the police became involved, Spacey sent the girl numerous messages.

He went on trial at the court on August 19 and, following a week-long hearing, was found guilty on all six counts by the jury, including some of sexual assault on a girl under 13.

Today’s sentencing hearing was read an impact statement by the victim who said she still struggles to believe what Spacey did to her and what he took from her, having put her, “through hell.”

Labelling her abuser as, "weak and pathetic", she said: “I want to protect other young girls and show them what Alan Spacey is.”

She said she was, “young and naïve” at the time and that Spacey knew how vulnerable she was.

“How can you blame a child for her own sexual assault,” she stated, and she said she fears the effects of Spacey's abuse will live with her for the rest of her life.

But she said his “sick perversions” have made her strong, and, following his conviction, she now feels, “on her way to better days.”

The court heard Spacey has 12 convictions for 38 past offences, but those are relatively old and unrelated to the present matter.

Robert Mochrie, in mitigation, said there was little he could say on his client’s behalf, as, “unhappily he still denies this was the correct verdict.”

But he said the defendant accepts, in the light of that verdict, that the judge must perform her public duty and pass an appropriate sentence.

“He is, of course, 68 and any sentence will take him into old age.

“As there are multiple offences, I ask you take into account totality.”

Mr Mochrie added: “As he will be an elderly gentleman when released you might be able to temper sentence slightly to take account of that.”

Judge Sarah Mallett quoted the victim in describing the defendant having treated her, “like a sex toy,” and having put her, “through hell”.

The judge told Spacey: “You knew how young, naïve and vulnerable she was.

“At the time she was self-harming and tried to commit suicide twice.

“Despite everything she has endured, however, she has matured and is an impressive young woman.”

The judge said the defendant has had, “a strong work ethic”, through his life and she bore in mind his age, but she noted, “there was an absence of guilty pleas in this case.”

Imposing the 15-year sentence, Judge Mallett said Spacey would have to serve at least two-thirds before he can be considered for release by the Parole Board.

Upon completion of the sentence, he will also have to serve an additional year the subject of licence supervision.

Other aspects of the sentence mean he will be barred from ever working with children and will not be allowed unsupervised contact with anyone under 18, by way of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Spacey will also be subject to notification requirements by way of registration as a sex offender, again indefinitely.

A lifetime restraining order prevents him for ever contacting or approaching his victim.

Description

The full extent of a paedophile’s sickening child and animal abuse interest emerged after he was jailed for offences including voyeurism, earlier this year, a court heard.

Cameron Greaves, now 21, received a total prison sentence of 18 months at Durham Crown Court, in May, after he admitted two counts of voyeurism plus possession of indecent imagers of children and extreme pornography.

The lead offences at that hearing were considered to be those of voyeurism, the covert filming of two boys doing private acts against their knowledge by Greaves, with the other offences relating to 16 indecent images of children and an unspecified number of extreme pornographic images.

Just a few months into his term of imprisonment, Greaves appeared again for sentence before the court, this time via video link from HMP Northumberland, where he is serving the jail term imposed in May.

Charlie Thompson, prosecuting, told the latest hearing that Greaves now falls to be sentenced after new charges were brought once the full contents of devices seized from him by police, in April, emerged.

The defendant, from Crook, admitted three new charges of making incident photographs of children and four of possessing extreme pornography when the case went before magistrates, in June.

It was sent to the crown court for sentence.

Mr Thompson said the new charges related to a far greater number of images, about 1,500 featuring indecent child material, 98 classed as extreme pornography and 54 prohibited images of children, in cartoon or CGI format, some stills but many of them videos.

Much of the offending material, particularly the images and videos featuring animals, were said to be of a sadistic nature featuring gross acts of cruelty and torture, while the child abuse images featured very young children, some in discernible distress.

Mr Thompson said Greaves had traded in the images, requesting, “the harder the better” from one like-minded individual with whom he communicated online.

Greaves had sought to buy some of the animal abuse material which originated from a now jailed British zoologist in Australia.

Cole Cockburn, for Greaves, said the images were gathered during the period covering the original conviction, offences dating back to a time when the defendant was aged 19, and of previous good character.

Mr Cockburn said the offending stemmed from the defendant’s addiction to pornography.

He said the harsh conditions his client has endured serving his prison sentence have exemplified the defendant’s, “on-going shame and deep regret.”

Mr Cockburn said: “He desires to leave prison as a man who can put this all behind him.

“He was well-liked before he went to prison and has made it clear when he does leave prison, he will do so with a deep-rooted desire not to return.”

Judge Nathan Adams told Greaves: “This is effectively the second part of a sentencing exercise started by Judge Kidd, in May.

“It appears for the previous two years you have been accumulating an extremely high-level of illegal material, including images featuring the abuse of children as young as one or two, just horrific conduct.”

He said the extreme images feature more than 70 videos of animals being, “tortured, mutilated and killed.”

Judge Adams said the officer overseeing the investigation described it as some of the most disturbing material he has had to view as part of his professional duties.

He said people like the defendant prepared to seek out and pay for material featuring such “horrific conduct” only encourage the making of more images of child abuse and sadism to animals.

Imposing a 28-month total sentence, it adds a further ten months onto the prison term passed on Greaves in May.

He also ordered deprivation of all the images and videos, plus the devices seized by police during their inquiry.

Greaves is already subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and registration as a sex offender, both for ten years, arising from his sentence in May.

But he was told the ten-year notification requirement period will now start afresh.

Detective Constable Liam Padget, of Durham Police’s Online Child Abuse Investigation Team, said the force’s digital investigation unit launched an operation in June 2023 after it identified Greaves as having control of a Google account onto which indecent images of children were uploaded.

Greaves’ devices were seized immediately and upon examination, it was found he was in possession of a large quantity of extreme pornography, plus more than 1,500 images and videos featuring child abuse.

As a result, he was further arrested for these offences and brought into custody.

He was interviewed and later charged with possession of extreme pornographic images, possession of indecent images of a child, making indecent images of a child and voyeurism.

Det Con Padget said: "Following an in-depth investigation we can see Cameron Greaves has very deep-rooted sexual perversions, which included possessing disgusting child abuse images and images involving animals, even going to the lengths of recording others without their knowledge.”

He added: “Hopefully the sentence passed will deter others from sharing in children's misery".

Description

A sex offender who abused a young boy and left him feeling like he had "no hope or future" has died behind bars.

Former soldier Malcolm Burwood subjected his young and "frightened" child victim to horrific sex attacks and left him so "haunted" he tried to take his own life. A court heard the youngster had been threatened to keep quiet about the abuse he suffered at the hands of Burwood, from Houghton-le-Spring.

But half a century later, in March 2019, Burwood was jailed for 12 years after being convicted of four sex offences. He was also made to sign the sex offenders register for life.

During the sentencing, Burwood's victim told Newcastle Crown Court: "I clearly remember being a very frightened child. This has haunted me, it has blighted my life." He added: "I have felt there is no hope or future. It is like a storm inside of me."

The court heard Burwood, who was 79 at the time he was jailed, had a "catalogue" of medical problems, including obstructive airways disease, renal failure and hearing loss. He also had a wife who was seriously ill in hospital.

The judge told him: "Prison is going to be harder for you to endure than a young and fit man but the central argument is, had you gone to the police at the time of this offending, you would have served your prison sentence when you were young and fit."

A Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) report published this month confirmed that Burwood died of prostate cancer on April 7, 2024. At an inquest on May 30, the coroner concluded Burwood died of natural causes.

Description

A County Durham paedophile who plied young boys with alcohol and showed them pornography before assaulting them has been jailed.

Alan Rutter, 78, of Easington, committed the offences over several years in the 1990s, with some of his victims as young as eight years old. During a trial at Newcastle Crown Court, the pensioner was found guilty of 11 charges including child abduction, sexual activity with a child, and indecent assault and buggery - now classed as rape.

He was sentenced to 19 years in prison, and will also be on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

Description

A County Durham rapist who carried out the "hideous" sexual abuse of a child while drunk has been caged for 12 years.

James Smith left his victim "uncomfortable" in their own skin and battling feelings of "disgust" after raping and sexually abusing them. The 43-year-old carried out the abuse when he was drunk and maintains his innocence, despite being found guilty by a jury.

On Monday, Smith, of Spennymoor, appeared at Durham Crown Court via link from HMP Durham to be sentenced for rape, sexual assault of a child, and sexual activity in the presence of a child. He was convicted after a three-day trial on August 2. Prosecutor, Shaun Dodds told the court that Smith carried out the offences "under the influence of alcohol".

In a statement, Smith's victim, who was a child at the time of the offences, said that they only began to "process" what happened to them when they got older. They said they felt "disgust in the pit of my stomach" and "uncomfortable in my own skin". The victim also made attempts to take their own life, the court heard.

Thomas Sherrington, defending, told the court Smith "still maintains his innocence". He said: "The offences were completely out of character. He has no previous convictions for sexual matters."

Mr Sherrington added: "It appears [the offences] were unplanned. There is little personal mitigation as he continues to deny the offences...he does suffer from depression and anxiety."

Sentencing Smith, Judge Adams said: "You had chronic alcohol problems at the time, which you were in complete denial about."

Judge Adams said that Smith's alcohol abuse was an aggravating factor in the offences as he "knew what you were doing" and that he acted in a "hideous manner". He added: "I accept you may have no memory of the offences given the state you were in."

Smith was jailed for 12 years and made subject of a lifetime restraining order. He will also be on the sex offender register for life, and a 20 year sexual harm prevention order was also imposed.

Description

A paedophile "traded" sickening child abuse images to other perverts online and deleted a messenger app minutes before his arrest.

Nissan worker Scott Francis shared category A, B and C videos and pictures to other paedophiles online and was caught after a National Crime Agency investigation. The 47-year-old had been distributing material which depicted children as young as four-years-old being abused.

On Thursday, Francis, of Bowes Avenue, Easington Lane, Houghton-le-Spring, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court to be sentenced for three counts of distributing indecent images of children. He had pleaded guilty to the offences.

The court heard that on November 16 2021, Northumbria Police received a referral from the National Crime Agency which suggested indecent images of children had been uploaded to the internet via the Kik messenger app. The account which had uploaded the images was linked to Francis.

Antonia Adie, prosecuting, said: "Police went to the defendant's home in January 2022 and his iPhone was seized and he was arrested. He was interviewed and made admissions. He said he used the account to look at pornography and that sometimes indecent images were put into chats he was in.

"He said he'd received images and traded them in order to access pornography he was interested in." Ms Adie said that the Kik app he had been using had been uninstalled minutes before he was arrested and that it was an attempt to "conceal his offending".

In total, Francis shared four category A images, two category B images and two category C images. Videos were also included, the court heard.

Helen Towers, defending, said Francis has a son and that he was "deeply ashamed" of his actions. She said: "He has no previous convictions and worked for 12 years at Nissan." She added he had shown "remorse" and that prison would have a "significant impact on those reliant on him".

Judge Prince jailed Francis for two years. He will also be on the sex offender register for 10 years and a 10 year sexual harm prevention order was also imposed.

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A man arrested on suspicion of engaging in sexualised online chat with an underage girl committed numerous similar offences when released under investigation.

In each case, however, defendant John Paul Williamson was unaware the “girl” with whom he believed he was exchanging messages, was, in reality, a police decoy.

Durham Crown Court heard that he swapped messages with what he thought to be a 12-year-old girl, on a profile going under the name ‘Holly’, on a chat app in late March, 2022.

Paul Newcombe, prosecuting, said Williamson introduced himself as a 26-year-old man, his age at the time, and from the outset was told Holly was only 12.

Mr Newcombe said following a couple of introductory remarks in which he asked her to send him images of herself, the defendant soon moved the conversation on to sexual matters.

He sent sexualised pictures of himself and asked her if she liked older men.

Mr Newcombe said the defendant told her not to be shy and sent her explicit photos of himself asking if she liked them and would she like to see more.

Although Holly gave only innocent answers, Williamson persisted and sent her five further requests for pictures.

He was arrested and interviewed in April 2022, but gave no comment and was released, only to commit further similar offences.

Mr Newcombe said the defendant became involved in similar chat room exchanges involving three other “girls”, supposedly all aged 13, in which he suggested they should engage in sexual activity, repeatedly asking them to send him photos.

When he was re-arrested, in January 2023, he denied using the chat room app and blamed the offences on a named cousin, who, it emerged did not exist, so it was all an invention as a cover story for himself.

Mr Newcombe said police also discovered indecent images of children on devices in Williamson’s possession, including 71 in the most serious category, both stills and moving.

These featured children as young as five being abused by adults, while there were also two images classed as extreme pornography, showing scenes of bestiality.

Williamson, now 28, of Pine Avenue, Durham, admitted four counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, three of possessing indecent images of a child and two of possession of extreme pornography.

He also asked for 20 further charges of attempted sexual communication with a child to be taken into consideration.

Mr Newcombe said in each of those cases they were police officers posing as underage girls on chat apps.

He said the aggravating features of the case was the attempt to solicit images of the children he believed he was communicating with, his “persistence”, particularly post his first arrest.

“So, despite police having spoken to him about similar behaviour, he just carried on doing exactly the same.”

Robin Patton, for Williamson, said whatever sentence the defendant serves, his life, post-release, will no longer be the same due to the scrutiny he will be placed under, with his online behaviour monitored by the sex offenders’ management unit and the Probation Service.

“He’s now 28, of previous good character and with a job until he was remanded into custody, where he has spent the last six months.

“During all of this offending he never, actually, met a child.

“He’s a sad and inadequate figure according to the Probation Service.

“When released he will still be the same due to a deep-seated sense of inadequacy.

“But he will be monitored upon his release.”

Judge Geoffrey Marson told the defendant he committed, “a catalogue of persistent and serious offending", even though no real child was harmed by him.

“But, at the time, you believed these girls existed and were aged 12 or 13.

“It’s perfectly clear you have a sexual interest in children, which, at the moment, you are unable to control.

“You also have a propensity to possess extreme pornographic images and others of children.”

The judge said the attempts to sexually communicate with what he believed to be children were, “among the worst I have ever come across.”

He added: “To make matters worse, you were arrested in April 2022 and then offended again from November 2022, committing a further catalogue of similar offending.”

Imposing a total three-year prison sentence, Judge Marson told Williamson he will spend up to half in custody before being released on licence.

The judge also made the defendant subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and registration as a sex offender, both, “without limit of time.”

He also made a forfeiture and destruction order for the devices seized from the defendant during the investigation.

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A sex offender who groomed a young boy and sent him photos and videos of naked men has been jailed.

Martyn Fryatt groomed the child over the course of a year, sending him sexually explicit messages and images and videos of naked men and young boys. The 71-year-old repeatedly told the boy to delete the photos so that his parents wouldn’t find them.

Fryatt, a former Christian missionary, was arrested after the boy’s mum discovered the images and messages on her son’s phone and called the police. The phone was analysed by specialist officers who uncovered numerous sexually inappropriate WhatsApp messages that had been sent by Fryatt, along with images and videos of men and young boys exposing themselves.

Fryatt, of Burnopfield, was charged with several offences, including making indecent images of a child, possessing a prohibited image of a child, and engaging in sexual communication with a child. He admitted the charges and appeared at Durham Crown Court on August 20 where he was jailed for a year and two months.

He was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the sex offender register, both for ten years.