Latest Offenders Durham

Description

A school employee, said to have been, “struggling with a sex addiction”, believed he was engaging in online communication with young girls while he was overseeing children in a classroom.

Mark Andrew Woodhead was supposed to be dealing with youngsters with behavioural issues in his job role, but at the same time he was on social media platforms ‘chatting’ in sexualised terms to females who purported to be either 14 or under 14.

Durham Crown Court heard was told he even sent the two ‘girls’ he believed he was chatting to intimate images of himself while he was supposed to be supervising the youngsters in his charge.

He then tried to solicit images from the 'girls' he believed he was communicating with, in return.

In reality, however, the ‘girls’ were actually undercover officers seeking to catch paedophiles operating on social media platforms.

Robin Turton, prosecuting, said when the defendant was arrested over his online activities in May this year he claimed it was, “just a fantasy and nothing was going to come of it”.

The court heard that the day after his arrest he resigned from his position at the school.

Examination of his phone revealed indecent images of children, some taken by Woodhead, and some which he distributed to like-minded individuals.

When formally cautioned and interviewed he initially made no comment.

But when later questioned he told police he had been struggling with a sex addiction for 30 years which had “got out of hand”, despite claiming he was not attracted to children.

The 48-year-old defendant, of Devonshire Road, Belmont, Durham, admitted two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, plus other charges of taking, making and distributing indecent images of children.

Tony Davis, in mitigation, said Woodhead had engaged with an organisation known as “Stop it Now” to address his addiction, and supplied letters from that agency and the defendant’s wife to the court.

“Plainly, this defendant had struggled with a 30-year addiction to pornography.

“That is something that inevitably will not take a short time to overcome.

“It’s plainly a deep-rooted illness, which has manifested itself in the behaviour that is before the court.

“He bitterly now regrets his actions and entered his guilty pleas at the first opportunity, having made those admissions in his second police interview.

“But he’s a man who has obviously taken steps to address his behaviour.”

Mr Davis said the defendant had, of his own volition, also reached out to seek assistance from a therapist in Yorkshire, which he said began the day after his arrest.

“Immediately upon arrest he resigned from his position at the school.

“He understands, given his conviction and admissions to police, that he will never be able to work with children again and that will have a severely restricting effect on his life going forward.”

Mr Davis said the addiction suffered by the defendant covered, “a panoply of sexual behaviour, not merely in terms of underage girls, and for a period he was addicted to sites involving trans people.”

He urged Judge Jo Kidd that a sentence could be passed to enable the defendant to continue his rehabilitation in the community.

But Judge Kidd said the offences committed in April and May this year were an extension of Woodhead's actions from 2018 of making and distributing indecent images of children.

“It’s clear to me your sexual interest in children spans at least a period of five years and you gained serious sexual gratification surrounded by children while engaging in this communication and viewing child pornography while at work.

“You told the author of the pre-sentence report that you don’t have a sexual interest in children.

“Well, you clearly do.

“You tell me through your counsel that it’s an illness.

“I don’t accept that submission. You were significantly interested in viewing images of children.

“That was a deliberate act on your behalf as an individual working with children to gratify your sexual interest.

“It’s unfortunate you only reached out to that foundation after your arrest as you clearly took no measures prior to it to address your interest and urges in children beforehand.”

Imposing an immediate 30-month prison sentence, she also made Woodhead subject of registration as a sex offender and restrictions under the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, both indefinitely.

His name will also be entered on the barring list of those forbidden from ever working with children.

Description

Man sentenced to 14 years for series of Child Sex Offences

Alexander Slimings, 21 from Billingham, was sentenced to 14 years in prison and handed a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order at Teesside Crown Court today (Friday 27 October) after pleading guilty to a total of 34 Child Sex Offences.

The offences included multiple counts of Sexual Assault, Making and Taking Indecent Images of Children and Voyeurism. The offences occurred between October 2019 and March 2023, and took place in the Teesside and County Durham areas.

Slimings was arrested and charged in March 2023. He was remanded in custody, where he has remained since. The subsequent investigation into the offences he was initially arrested for, led to the identification of a number of other victims. Slimings was then charged for a series of further offences.

Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Jez Collins, the Senior Investigating Officer in the case, said:

Slimings offences and the details of the investigation were deeply distressing for the victims and their families, and I thank them for their support and remarkable resilience during what has been a very sensitive enquiry.

I would also like to thank the investigators and staff from our Child Abuse and Vulnerable Adults Team (CAVA), our Paedophile On-Line Investigation Team (POLIT) and others, as well as representatives from Durham Police and partner agencies for their professionalism and support. Working collaboratively helped ensure the victims and their families were kept informed and supported at all stages of the investigation.

I am satisfied that Slimings is now behind bars, where he can no longer prey on those most vulnerable in our society. Cleveland Police take all allegations of this nature seriously and we encourage victims of sexual abuse to come forward and report it. We have specialist officers who are trained to help you and investigate this type of crime.

Description

A sex offender who arranged to meet an underage child has been jailed.

Michael Taylor used social media apps such as Kik and Whatsapp to communicate with the child and even looked to book transport for the girl to travel from the West Midlands to his flat in Seaham.

Taylor was unaware that the child he was sexually communicating with was an Undercover Online Operative (UCOL) called ‘Dani’.

Officers swiftly arrested the 62-year-old and later charged him with attempt to engage in sexual communication with a child, breach of his sexual harm prevention order, breach of sexual offenders register requirements and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

A number of devices were also seized from Taylor’s address, including his mobile phone, which formed a huge part of the investigation.

Taylor, of Albert Street appeared at Durham Crown Court today (October 27) where he was sentenced to 45 months in prison.

Detective Sergeant Richard Blamires, from the Public Protection unit said: “Taylor’s offending was extremely concerning and although there was no victims in this case, it clearly shows his willingness to act on his heinous sexual desires.

“I hope today’s outcome provides the public with some comfort knowing Taylor is behind bars and demonstrates our commitment to dealing with sex offenders in our county.”

Description

An academic leading an "isolated life" in County Durham showed a “dysfunctional” interest in a vulnerable 13-year-old girl, a court heard.

Sitikantha Mohanty started to follow the girl, befriended her and offered to play hide and seek with her in a park.

He then went on to send her more than 1,000 messages, despite having established her age at an early stage.

Durham Crown Court heard that the business administration post-graduate student at the city’s university invited the girl for tea to his house and began asking her to send images of herself to him, having flattered her, calling her, “beautiful and charming”.

Lewis Kerr, prosecuting, said later examination of the defendant’s messages showed that he instigated the possibility of them meeting and he told her how attractive she was and said what a “well-balanced figure” she had.

Mohanty told the girl he would be dreaming of her and, even though he was more than three-times her age, he said he could be her, “adult boyfriend”.

The girl was said to have barely responded to his messaging other than to turn down his requests, telling him he was, “scary and creepy.”

In a further message he told her he had no clothes on and she should go to his home, “to see him in that way.”

The court heard a concerned neighbour who had seen Mohanty following the girl, reported it to police while the girl’s older sibling told their mother about the messages, which included an invite to the 13-year-old to join the defendant at a restaurant.

When interviewed the defendant denied having committed any offence, but he accepted having sent photos of himself to the girl, asking for one in return.

But he claimed he had no sexual intentions whatsoever.

Mr Kerr said full examination of the messages revealed he had deleted many, himself, from the victim’s phone.

Fifty-year-old Mohanty, formerly of South Street, Spennymoor, admitted a charge of arranging to meet a child following grooming days before he was due to stand trial, having previously denied the offence.

A victim statement from the girl’s mother outlined the effect his offending had on her daughter, stating it had “ruined her life” and she had lost all trust in men.

The court heard that the girl has suffered flashbacks and was frightened to go to sleep in case the defendant was there, while she was now on anti-depressants having suffered post-traumatic stress disorder.

Tony Davis, for the defendant, said he was a man of now 50 who was previously without convictions.

“He’s been residing in the UK on a post-student visa.

“He’s educated to a very high standard, both in India and, of course, over three to four years in this country, at a prestigious university on an arduous post-graduate degree.

“He has, since he’s been in the UK, lived an isolated existence.

“His wife has now travelled to the UK, having previously remained in India in a caring role for her elderly parents and his own parents have recently deceased, which was a particularly difficult period for him.”

Mr Davis said it was a not a case of the defendant “targeting” the victim initially, but he accepted it became very “dysfunctional” on the defendant’s behalf.

“He’s been at a loss to explain it to us (his defence lawyers) throughout the court process.

“There was an inability to accept and comprehend what he had done was highly dysfunctional.

“His wife is equally as shocked as anybody else as to what he has done but is at pains to point out that her husband is largely a gregarious individual who would speak to anyone.”

Mr Davis said the fact that the defendant became “isolated” in the community and began communicating with children, “is a terrible mistake”, on his part.

“She tried to encourage him to stop and inform their parents.

“He did not, and that was a grave error on his behalf.”

But Mr Davis said that the defendant now apologises to the girl’s parents for the distress he has caused their daughter.

As a result of the offending, the defendant, who now works as an IT specialist for a Government agency, moved away from the area and is considered, “a low risk” of re-offending.

Judge Jo Kidd described his offending, however, as, “gradual, sophisticated grooming of a particularly vulnerable girl.”

She told Mohanty: “You were clearly persistent in what you were doing.

“You deleted messages from her phone to try to protect yourself from your behaviour being discovered.”

Judge Kid said the defendant’s offending has had, “a severe impact” on the victim, to the extent where she now needs counselling.

Imposing a 20-month prison sentence, Judge Kidd said she could not suspended it, in the circumstances.

Description

Hudson was caught trying to arrange to meet the girl - who was actually a decoy from an online paedophile hunting group - in June this year and arrested by police.

Officers from East Durham CID immediately launched an investigation, working a 15-hour shift to gather enough evidence to charge and remand Hudson with child sex offences.

Hudson, of Horden, was charged with attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

He admitted the offences and appeared at Durham Crown Court yesterday, Monday September 4, where he was jailed for 32 months. 

He was also issued with a sexual harm prevention order and placed on the sex offender register for life.  

Detective Inspector Darren Wild, from East Durham CID, said: "Hudson knew from the outset that he was talking to what he thought was a 13-year-old girl and immediately set about grooming her for his own sexual gratification. 

"He is clearly a danger to children, so I am pleased he has been sentenced to time behind bars. 

"I would like to pass on my appreciation to everyone involved in this investigation, in particular those officers who worked solidly from 8am to midnight to ensure Hudson was quickly charged, remanded and put before the courts, protecting further children from harm."

Description

A sex offender with a "cancer-like" sexual interest in children covertly filmed youngsters on beaches and at parks as he walked his dog, a court was told.

Kenneth Anthony Bushell was subject to what was then termed a Sexual Offences Prevention Order after being jailed at Newcastle Crown Court over the possession of indecent images of children in 2014 and 2015.

But the now 68-year-old defendant, formerly from Newcastle, was back at court for sentence on Friday (August 25), as a result of the recovery of devices from him on a monitoring visit by a risk offender manager, at his home near Barnard Castle, on January 3 this year.

Despite telling police they may find “four or five” indecent photos of children on the various devices, “all done a long time ago”, examination of their contents revealed hundreds of offending images, a number taken by him in parks and other public places, including in Darlington and Barnard Castle.

They included footage of him zooming in on genital areas or any exposed underwear, while there were also children undressed on beaches and even a toddler naked, wearing only floaters, in a swimming pool, taken by Bushell while on holiday.

Chris Baker, prosecuting, told Durham Crown Court the defendant used his skills from his work as a graphic designer, using photo-editing software to adulterate the images, to make them appear more sexualised, super-imposing phallic images next to the children or merely adding lurid comments.

Mr Baker said as well as the footage taken by Bushell there were also 990 other indecent images of children, 115 in the most serious category, plus 13 computer-generated images, featuring children engaging in penetrative sexual activity.

Attempts had also been made to conceal the images, with the originals deleted.

When further questioned, Bushell admitted making the images for his own sexual gratification and then attempting to conceal them from his risk manager.

Bushell, of The Steadings, Whorlton, admitted a charge of voyeurism, three counts of making indecent images of children, one of making prohibited images of children, relating to the CGI pictures, all putting him in breach of the Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which has since been replaced by a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Robert Mochrie, in mitigation, said it had to be pointed out that none of the children filmed by the defendant, or their parents, would have been aware of his activities.

Mr Mochrie said: “He openly accepts having a sexual interest in children which he describes as something of a cancer within him.”

But Mr Mochrie said the defendant has tried to rid himself of it, paying to undergo a programme to address his behaviour, of his own volition, even prior to being caught.

He said the convictions of 2014 and 2015 cost Bushell his marriage and his job, with his only companionship from his dog prior to his remand in custody.

“He’s led an extremely lonely life and finds himself on his computer, behaving in this way.

“But, at the very least he has an insight and recognises he has a problem.”

Mr Mochrie suggested that with probation intervention the defendant could get back “on the right track” without facing an immediate custodial sentence.

But, passing a prison sentence of three years and four months (40 months), Recorder Tom Moran told Bushell: “You’re 68 with a long-standing sexual interest in children that does not seem to have diminished with age.

“Investigation of your devices revealed your offending was far more serious and far more extensive than what you were previously dealt with for.”

Recorder Moran described Bushell’s “astonishingly depraved and deviant behaviour” as, “extremely troubling”.

He made Bushell subject of a new Sexual Harm Prevention Order to run indefinitely, while he must also register as a sex offender for life.

Description

A man locked a girl into his bed and breakfast room when he thought she was about to leave, then raped the terrified teenager, a court heard.

Lee Metcalf, now 38, who met his victim through social media, groomed her online before persuading her to meet in person.

He invited her back to his room at a B&B where he was staying and the pair watched Netflix before she told him it was time for her to leave.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that Metcalf was unprepared to let her go and threw his 16-year-old victim’s shoes out the window.

Read more: Penshaw man Lee Metcalf raped girl, 16, in B&B room

He then made threats to her, before carrying out the rape attack.

It was only when he fell asleep that the teenager managed to escape and contact police.

Metcalf, of Tynedale Crescent, Penshaw, on Weasrside, was arrested and subsequently charged with one charge of rape and another count of false imprisonment.

He denied his guilt, claiming the sex was consensual, and the case went to trial at the court earlier this year when a jury found him guilty of both counts, on March 31

Metcalf was remanded in custody until sentencing today before Judge Amanda Rippon who imposed a nine-year sentence of imprisonment, to be followed by four years’ extended licence period.

He will have to serve two-thirds of the custodial element before being eligible for release on the extended licence.

Metcalf was also made subject of a restraining order, relating to his victim, and restrictions under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, both, “until further order”.

He will also be subject to registration as a sex offender for life.

Read more: Crook sex offender found guilty of 18 offences in May trial

Speaking in the wake of the conviction and sentencing of Metcalf, Detective Constable Nick Moses of Northumbria Police’s Safeguarding Department, who led the investigation, said the defendant subjected his victim to a “terrifying ordeal”.

“Metcalf preyed on a teenager who was two decades his junior.

“I absolutely welcome this sentence and hope it provides his brave victim with some comfort in knowing he’s now behind bars.

“I want to praise the survivor for her bravery and composure during the investigation and trial.

“Because of her courage in coming forward, a dangerous man is locked up and will be unable to hurt anyone else.”

Det Con Moses added: “I hope this conviction serves as a stark warning to those with an unlawfully blurred view of consent that someone consenting to meet up with you or agreeing to go back to your room or home absolutely does not equate to sexual consent.

“No one should ever have to endure this type of assault and support is available from our officers and the many fantastic charities and partners we work closely with.

Description

A former Durham cricket coach has admitted sexually assaulting a teenage player after being convicted of similar offences on four previous occasions.

Michael Strange, 63, appeared via videolink from prison for a 10-minute hearing at Sunderland Magistrates’ Court and admitted a single indecent assault charge on a 14-year-old in the Tyne and Wear area in the late 1990s.

Stephanie Cook, prosecuting, outlined that the offence was that Strange touched the boy while he was acting as a cricket coach.

Magistrates sent the case to Newcastle Crown Court on September 7 because their sentencing powers were not sufficient for the seriousness of the offence.

It was understood that Strange’s prison sentence for his previous offending was coming to an end soon, but that he would still be behind bars when this latest case was dealt with at crown court.

No details can be published which identify the victim in this case.

Investigators have now been in contact with the cricket authorities about Strange’s offending.

A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “We can confirm we have spoken with the English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and shared appropriate information.

“In doing so, we protected the right that all complainants and victims of sexual offences have to life-long anonymity, meaning they should not be named or identified in any way.”

Another victim, who was also abused by Strange when he was 14, has called on the ECB to hold an inquiry.

He said previously: “At the time, Strange was a trustworthy coach, a proven coach, someone who young cricketers did look up to, very knowledgeable.

Description

A predator took advantage of a young girl’s “vulnerability”, growing in his bravado as he committed a series of increasingly serious sexual offences against her, a court was told.

Allen March was said to have been aware that the girl had been the victim of online grooming and was at a low in her life.

Durham Crown Court heard that the first inkling she received of his unwanted attention was when he sent her a message commenting on her body and breasts, which his victim now believes was the defendant seeing, “what he could get away with”.

March moved on to touching offences before he raped the girl for the first time prior to her 13th birthday.

Joe Cully, prosecuting, said the defendant's abuse of the girl continued for several years, before his victim finally gained the courage to speak up about his activities, having feared for a long time that she would not be believed.

The 58-year-old defendant, of Orchard Street, Crook, was charged with 18 sexual offences, including five of rape.

Despite his denials and claims that his victim was lying, he was convicted of all 18 offences following a week-long trial at the court in May.

The former taxi driver appeared back before the court via video link from nearby Durham Prison for today’s sentencing hearing.

Mr Cully said that important evidence emerged during the trial of March having sent a photograph of his private parts to another child and to a 17-year-old female passenger in his taxi.

The abuse victim’s impact statement was read to the court in which she said she was a “really vulnerable kid” when she first encountered March.

She said she suffered from low-esteem and had self-harmed as a result of his actions, which had badly affected her education.

In addition, she said she has suffered nightmares and flashbacks, and is nervous in the presence of men, refusing to answer the door to male delivery drivers or go alone in taxis or on public transport.

Chris Baker, for March, said he had no previous convictions, but added: “He has had his trial and knows there is no mitigation that can be put forward.”

Mr Baker said the defendant has his own health issues and “physical ailments” which he will have to endure during his, “very lengthy imprisonment.”

Judge James Adkin told March that he began grooming the girl from a young age and his complimentary message about her physique would appear to have been, “testing the water”.

The judge said some of the evidence heard about the sexual abuse of the victim, during the trial, was, “harrowing to listen to.”

Judge Adkin told March: “It’s said you’re previously of good character, but the more serious the offending, the less weight that holds.”

Sentencing him as, “an offender of particular concern”, he imposed the 23-year prison sentence with a one-year licence extension.

The result is that March will have to serve at least two-thirds of the 23 years, almost 16 years, before he will be eligible for release on licence.

He was made subject of a restraining order, relating to the victim, and registration as a sex offender, both for life, while he will also have to abide by the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 30 years.

Description

The full scale of a couples depravity only came to light when they were caught by a paedophile hunting group after they groomed a teenager for sex.

A search of Amy Scott and Gavin Marsdens home revealed they had a vile collection of child abuse videos and photographs many of which were recorded by the pair.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the sick Darlington couple had sexually abused a number of children over several years before they were finally brought to justice.

Christine Egerton, prosecuting, said that their reign of abuse came to an end when Scott started sending a 14-year-old girl sexually explicit messages and videos without realising she was talking to a decoy posing as a child.

She said Scott sent the girl a video of herself performing a sex act before encouraging her to do it to herself.

Scott then arranged for the pair to meet the teenager at Durham Railway Station in April last year but they were confronted by members of the paedophile hunting group who had already called the police.

Following their arrest, police searched their home and recovered several digital devices and a forensic examination revealed the full extent of their depraved behaviour.

Miss Egerton said a significant number of child abuse images were recovered as well as a series of messages between the pair encouraging each other to sexually assault children.

Marsden, 31, and 32-year-old Scott, both of Cobden Street, Darlington, pleaded guilty to a catalogue of sex abuse charges, including distribution of indecent images of children, possession of indecent images of children and attempting to engage in sexual behaviour with a child.

Caroline McGurk, representing Marsden, said her client lived in a "fantasy land" and accepted that he had previous convictions for child sex offences.

He has acknowledged that he continues to have sexual thoughts towards children, she said.

In his pre-sentence report, he denied it in one breath and then expressed remorse with the next. We have to accept that he is a dangerous offender.

And Robert Mochrie, representing Scott, said his client was of low intelligence and had been influenced by her partner to commit the offences.

Judge Chris Smith branded Marsden as the driving force behind the couples sickening child sex abuse campaign.

He said: An examination of digital devices seized after your arrest uncovered a shocking catalogue of child abuse committed by the pair of you over a long period of time."

He said that a WhatsApp conversation between the pair revealed Marsden requesting that Scott should photograph herself performing a sickening sex act with a very young child.

He added: Other indecent moving and still images recovered after your arrest reveal how you were involved at first hand in the sexual abuse of children and in the making and possessing of child pornography.

Marsden was given a 22-year sentence 16 years in custody followed by an additional six years on extended licence.

Scott was given a 15-year sentence 11 years in custody and a further four years on extended licence.

Description

A sick pervert was found with a horrific stash of more than 10,000 of the most serious indecent images of children - where some of the victims were just babies.

First-time sex offender George Jeffries has been locked up for 15 months after he was found with more than 35,000 indecent images of children and five videos - which showed a sex act being performed with a dog.

Teesside Crown Court heard how some of the videos were an hour long and include vulnerable children and even babies.

Jeffries, 50, was found by police at his Stockton home after his IP address was flagged as having downloaded indecent images of children. When officers arrived, Jeffries had been asleep on the sofa, with his laptop open and downloading files with titles which suggested child abuse.

Uzma Khan, prosecuting, said: "The officer stopped the download and shut down the laptop. There was no one else in the address. The defendant appeared to live alone."

The images and videos downloaded dated back to 2019 when officers attended his home in November 2021. "There were a number of videos that were over an hour in length," Ms Khan added.

Recorder Jamie Hill said the images were described as "the worse possible type in category A". Jeffries has 13 previous convictions for 36 offences dating back to 1987 but he's been out of trouble with the court for 23 years.

Dr Chris Wood, mitigating, said: "Clearly the report suggests he is a man who thinks well in terms of currency and finances. He doesn't have a lifestyle with issues with drugs and alcohol that can cause an inability to comply."

"It's unusual for a man who is 50 not to have anything [on his record] of this nature before... to go from nothing to this is a considerable leap."

The court heard how Jeffries had been in prison since May when he failed to attended the crown court. "He has had a taste of what prison life is like," added Dr Wood.

Jeffries admitted three counts of making indecent images of children after he was found with:

• 20,220 category C images,
• 5,303 category B images,
• 10,308 category A images - the most serious.

He also admitted possessing an extreme pornographic image - namely five videos which portrayed a sex act on a dog "which was grossly offensive, disgusting or otherwise of an obscene".

"People who indulge in the sort of behaviour you did over the period of two years are providing a market there for those who commit child abuse physically and seek to profit from it," said Recorder Hill.

He outlined that some of the children in the images were very young, including babies.

Jeffries, of Skinner Street, Stockton, was jailed for 15 months. He has also been made subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and will be on the Sex Offender's Register for a decade.

Description

A County Durham paedophile who produced and distributed child sexual abuse images over Facebook has been caged.

Andrew Longthorne began chatting to strangers on social media - one of whom was a convicted sex offender - and sent them horrific child abuse images and videos between 2016 and 2018. The 34-year-old discussed sexual fantasies with those he chatted to online and sent over category A, B and C material - some of which he had created himself.

On Monday, Longthorne, of Spennymoor, appeared at Durham Crown Court via video link from HMP Durham to be sentenced for charges relating to the production of indecent images and distribution of indecent images. He had pleaded guilty to the offences.

Anne Richardson, prosecuting, said Durham Police received a number of referrals relating to the uploading of indecent images to Facebook in 2018. An IP address was recovered which linked Longthorne to the distribution and inquiries were made.

The court was told that Longthorne used social media profiles in other names to send photographs to strangers, including to one who was a convicted sex offender. On one occasion he masqueraded as a young girl to enter into chats.

As well as indecent images, Ms Richardson said Longthorne sent pictures of himself during the chats and was finally arrested in 2018. He initially denied the offences and claimed not to have a sexual interest in children but later pleaded guilty on his first appearance at the crown court.

Victoria Lamballe, defending, said Longthorne's best mitigation were his guilty pleas and that he had not re-offended since 2018. She said: "He has shown disgust and shame at his own actions and there is obvious remorse. He is willing to comply with any orders and is determined to reduce the risk he's thought to pose in the future."

Sentencing Longthorne, Judge Ata Dallas jailed him for 31 months and made him subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order. He will also be on the sex offender's register for life.

Description

A respected academic has been jailed for arranging to meet what he believed to be a 14-year-old boy for a sexual encounter weeks after taking up a post at Durham University.

Dushmanta Kara, who left behind a wife and child when he came to the UK to take up the position in Durham, made contact with a profile ‘TwinkFreeNow’ on the online gay dating site Grindr, on April 25, the day it was posted.

Durham Crown Court heard the profile, with a picture of a boy with short dark hair, was, in reality, a decoy generated by an undercover police officer.

The court was told that although purporting to be aged 18, the minimum age for Grindr users, the decoy soon revealed to Kara that he was 14, as there is no age verification required to use the site.

Paul Newcombe, prosecuting, told the court the defendant’s profile indicated he was just four kilometres away from the location of the police operative posing as the boy.

Kara sent a picture to the decoy of his naked upper body and they discussed sexual activity they would like to perform on each other.

The ‘boy’ told Kara that he was “new to it” but told him he was free that night and alone at home, so they arranged to meet.

Mr Newcombe said they exchanged photographs of each other and they were able to track each other's locations as they made their way to the rendezvous site, in Gilesgate, Durham.

But on arrival at the meeting point, Kara was arrested.

He told police he had been using Grindr since his arrival in the UK in February and accepted being involved in the exchange of messages in which he said they had discussed, “kissing, cuddling and oral sex”.

But Kara claimed he believed the boy to be aged 18, although he accepted the profile picture posted by the decoy looked younger than that.

By the time of his first crown court appearance, on May 26, however, the 31-year-old defendant, of Steavenson Street, Bowburn, admitted charges of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence and attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming.

He appeared at court for sentencing today (Thursday, July 13) assisted by a Hindi interpreter.

Mark Styles, in mitigation, told the court that having spoken to the defendant about his situation: “The reality is this has had the most enormous impact on him.”

Referring to character references presented to the court by fellow academics, Mr Styles said: “He’s clearly highly thought of by his peers.

“He has a dependent wife and young child and the impact on them is profound.

“He has lost his good name and lost his post at Durham University, having been dismissed in early June, which has left him on limited resources.

“He was very isolated, lonely and vulnerable in the UK, having arrived in February, knowing no one.

“He was naïve in the extreme to get involved in this criminal offending.

“The possibility of a 14-year-old with a household available for sexual activity seems barely credible, but he was drawn in by the decoy.

“He’s anxious to return to his home country and to start afresh.

“He’s been in regular contact with his wife.”

Judge James Adkin told the defendant that when told the ‘boy’ was 14, “that didn’t seem to be a problem" to him.

“Penetrative sex was contemplated by you when you arranged to meet the police decoy in Gilesgate, where you were arrested.”

Referring to the latest sentencing guidelines for the offences admitted by Kara, with a starting point of five years and a range from four to ten years, Judge Adkin said: “There has been a hardening of attitudes to this sort of offending.”

But he said there should only be a small deduction for the fact the boy did not actually exist, in circumstances such as this case.

He said mitigating features were the defendant’s previous good character, his prompt admissions at crown court and the respect he has in the academic community.

Description

A pensioner found guilty of child sexual offences has been put behind bars.

Henry Devine was initially arrested in February 2021 on suspicion of sexual touching of a child. While enquiries were carried out into the allegations, Cleveland Police seized a number of electronic devices belonging to the 72-year-old and discovered over 1,600 indecent images of children.

Hundreds of the images were identified in the 'most serious category' of child abuse. The Norton paedophile appeared at Teesside Crown Court on Friday where he was sentenced after being found guilty of sexual assault and possessing indecent images of children.

A three-day trial had taken place in mid-May at Teesside Magistrates' Court where Devine faced six charges, three of sexual assault and another three of possessing indecent images of children and was found guilty. He was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment when he appeared at Teesside Magistrates' Court.

Officer in the case CAVA (Child Abuse and Vulnerable Adult) Detective Constable Gemma Allan said: “The young victim was understandably left extremely distressed by Devine’s actions and we ensured safeguarding was put in place as soon as we received the report. The victim was very brave though and was able to give officers an account which meant we could get our enquiries underway quickly and effectively.

“I hope today’s result will bring reassurance that Devine will now be in prison and subject to strictly monitored restrictions on his release.” Safeguarding CAVA Detective Chief Inspector Matt Murphy-King added: “Devine’s actions were deplorable and our priority, as with all our investigations, was the wellbeing and safeguarding of the victim while we worked with the CPS to bring this defendant before the courts.

“CAVA’s experienced and specially trained officers will always carry out a thorough, professional and sensitive investigation against anyone who would harm and abuse vulnerable people. Abuse of any nature, recent or non-recent, can be reported at any time of day or night to Cleveland Police online on the website or via the 101 number.”

Description

A convicted sex offender is back behind bars after he started using social media accounts and dating sites despite being banned from accessing them.

Neil McLean was made subject of a ten-year sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) after he was convicted after trying to groom a 12-year-old girl before being snared by her quick-thinking grandmother.

The 41-year-old pervert was caught after the youngster’s grandmother turned amateur detective and took over the online conversation as it became increasingly sexualised and secured more than 100-pages of illicit chat.

As part of his three years and four-month sentence, McLean was also banned from using dating sites and social media platforms to protect vulnerable young children from his predatory behaviour in 2016.

Rachel Masters, prosecuting, said the defendant was arrested when a risk management inspection found he had accessed a number of specialist dating websites as well as Facebook over a two-week period.

Police carried out a forensic investigation of his mobile phone and discovered the defendant had used it in breach of his SHPO.

Dealing with his previous offence, she said: “A 12-year-old girl received a Facebook friend request, he made reference to what she was wearing and she replied by telling him to ‘f*** off’ before the conversation was taken over by her grandmother and there was 100 pages of sexualised messages between them.”

Following his arrest on that occasion police found pictures of child abuse on his phone, and children’s and adult female underwear in his flat.

Miss Masters said the defendant was also caught in a vigilante sting in 2018 when he made contact with a decoy 14-year-old girl and he arranged to meet up with her.

McLean, of Grange Road, Darlington, pleaded guilty to three breaches of his sexual harm prevention order between May 22 and June 6 this year.

James Fenny, mitigating, said his client had been feeling lonely and isolated at the time of the offences.

Judge Howard Crowson sentenced McLean to 16 months in custody for the persistent offending over the two-week period.

He said: “On this occasion there was no evidence you made contact with children but with Facebook being used there was a risk of harm to children.”