Latest Offenders Durham

Description

A convicted sex offender has been jailed after staying at the home of a young mother without telling her about his previous convictions.

David Spencer was made subject of sex offender registration for life when he was jailed at Newcastle Crown Court for seven years for sexual offences with girls, in February 2013.

Following his release from custody, the 36-year-old was required to notify police where he was living, what social media accounts he was using, and register his banking details.

Teesside Crown Court heard how concerns were raised after he failed to return to his accommodation for several nights and he was eventually located stating at the 18-year-old’s home.

Annelise Haugstad, prosecuting, said: “In August 2022 he was living in supported housing and on a number of occasions he was reported as missing.

“The police were made aware he was missing for several nights and it was discovered that he was staying at the home address of an 18-year-old and her young son.

“He failed to register that address or that he had stayed there seven nights in a row. The woman had not been made aware of his previous offences.”

The court heard how Spencer also used his step-father’s name on a snapchat account, again without notifying the authorities.

Miss Haugstad said the defendant was also in possession of two unregistered mobile phones and a bank card.

In a victim impact statement, the woman said she was shocked to learn about his previous convictions after she was introduced to him by a friend from a mother and toddlers’ group.

She added: “I didn’t know anything about his past but if I had, I wouldn’t have had anything to do with him.”

Spencer, formerly of Fencehouses, near Houghton-le-Spring, but whose most recent address was given as care/of a charity-run men’s hostel, in Plawsworth, near Chester-le-Street, admitted eight charges of failing to comply with the terms of his notification requirements between July 18 and October 12 last year.

Victoria Lamballe, mitigating, said her client had made good use of his time on remand to take part in a number of courses.

Judge Paul Watson KC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, sentenced Spencer to 12 months in custody but told him he would be soon released as he had spent seven months on remand.

Description

A sex offender who poses a “significant” future risk, even at the age of 71, has been jailed for abusing both a child and a woman in her 30s on the same day.

The judge passing sentence on John Ridley told him he appears to have “no sexual boundaries” and seems to hold the belief he can do what he wants, “without facing any consequences”.

Ridley, of South View Terrace, Chilton Moor, near Houghton-le-Spring, admitted sexual assault of a female and of a girl, when he appeared before magistrates earlier this year.

He failed to appear for his scheduled sentencing hearing at Durham Crown Court, last month, but later surrendered himself, blaming a car break down.

The sentencing hearing was rearranged for yesterday (Thursday May 18), when the court was told the defendant served a 15-year sentence, imposed at Newcastle Crown Court, for rape and indecent assault on children, in 2008.

Ian West, prosecuting, said, on his release, despite being on the sex offenders’ register for life, he did not inform those he lived among of his past conviction.

The court heard the latest offences were committed when he indecently assaulted a girl lying in her bed, while telling her to remain quiet, and later carried out a similar offence on a woman in her own home, despite, in both cases, being urged to “stop”.

Police were called and he was arrested the following day, admitting the assault on the woman, but, initially, not the offence involving the child.

Mr West said there were, “disturbing aspects” to the offences, as he had told acquaintances that he “fancied” the woman involved in the offence and that he wanted to get her partner, “off the scene”.

The woman was to tell police she knew nothing of the defendant’s past offending history.

In her victim statement she said she has since been diagnosed as suffering with anxiety and depression, having experienced flashbacks and nightmares following the offence, after which she cut herself off from friends and family.

She said she also now finds it unnerving being around men, even those she has known for a long time.

Katie Spence, in mitigation, urged the court not to punish her client again for his past offending, for which he served, “a significant” sentence.

She told the court that following his release from that past long sentence he has, “led a fairly lonely life”, and moved to a new area with limited friendships which she described as, entirely, “innocent”.

“But on (that day) he said he didn’t know what happened, but knows it was entirely his fault, and he knows the only way to prevent him offending is if he just stops.

“He fully accepts the need to address his behaviour.”

Miss Spence said the defendant hoped, through her, to seek a suspended prison sentence, despite the aggravating factor of his previous offending.

But Judge James Adkin told Miss Spence taking such a course would be, “unduly lenient”.

Passing sentence, he told Ridley: “You are 71 and have been sent here for sexual misconduct with two people.

“A feature of your offending is your sense of sexual entitlement.

“You don’t appear to have sexual boundaries and you appear to do what you want to do and not face any consequences.

“The probation report states that you do pose a significant risk to the public of serious harm, and I agree with that.”

Judge Adkin made Ridley subject of a total 36-month extended determinate sentence, of which he must serve at least two-thirds before becoming eligible for release by the Parole Board.

But at the end of the 36-month custodial period Ridley will remain subject to the scrutiny of licence conditions for a further two years.

The judge also made Ridley subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, registration as a sex offender, and restraining orders relating to his two latest victims, all for life.

Description

A former police officer has been branded a sexual deviant as he was given a 29-year sentence for his latest offences on children.

Philip Magson targeted two young children when he befriended their mother and abused them both at their home and on a trip to Kirkleatham Gardens.

The sick pervert also prowled the streets of Thornaby where he made a disgusting sexual remark to a child when she fell over while roller skating before returning to the same area eight months later and sexually assaulting another young girl.

Teesside Crown Court heard how Magson had been convicted in the early 80s for sexually assaulting young girls while he was an off-duty Cleveland Police officer.

The 61-year-old carried out his latest offending several years ago leaving some of his victims suffering high levels of anxiety, said Jonathan Walker, prosecuting.

In powerful victim impact statements, the parents of the victims outlined the pain and suffering that the defendant had inflicted on the children.

Magson, formerly from the Teesside area but now of no fixed abode, was found guilty of six sexual offences when he was on trial earlier this year.

Chris Baker, mitigating, said there was limited mitigation he could offer due to the guilty convictions from the jury.

He said: “He appreciates that he has had his trial and lost.”

Judge Howard Crowson sentenced Magson to 21 years in prison with an extended eight years on licence when he is released.

“You are a man with a deviant sexual interest in children,” he said. “You are a dangerous offender, persistent and cunning.”

Magson was also made subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and ordered to sign on the sex offenders’ register for life.

Speaking after the sentencing hearing, Detective Constable Carl Middleton, from Cleveland Police’s Public Protection Unit, said: “The actions of Magson are unforgivable and the sentence handed to him today highlights the severity of the crimes he has committed.

“Magson targeted children and the damage he has caused to the victims and their families is inexcusable.

“I would like to take this opportunity to praise the victims and their families for their courage throughout the ordeal they have suffered and the court process. No child should have to provide evidence at court after becoming victim to such a cruel crime.

“Magson deserves to spend a significant time in prison as a result of what he has done.”

Description

A County Durham dad has been put behind bars for carrying out the late night rape of a woman in Gateshead.

Jamie Plews carried out the serious offence against a woman and left her with confidence issues and battling night-terrors. Following the rape, a court heard Plews went on to attempt suicide after taking an overdose of tablets and was arrested after concerned members of the public saw him in the area of a viaduct.

Plews, of Crook, County Durham, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court to be sentenced for rape. He had pleaded guilty to the offence.

The court heard that the victim was raped by Plews late at night. Prosecutor, Daniel Penman, said that the woman "pushed" Plews away and told him to stop, but he "ignored her request" and continued. Mr Penman said the terrified woman had a "panic attack" as Plews left the scene.

Days later, concerned members of the public contacted police after Plews was seen at a viaduct. When police arrived, he told them he was there to "chill" rather than commit suicide but admitted carrying out a rape. He was then arrested and placed in a van where he became ill and informed officers he'd taken an overdose of paracetamol.

In a victim statement, the woman said she had "lost all confidence" and frequently suffers from night-terrors and panic attacks following the rape.

Sue Hirst, defending, said Plews, 29, had no previous convictions and is "genuinely devastated by what he's done and the hurt he's caused". She said Plews is a "devoted father" who said his intention was to take his own life when he travelled to the viaduct after taking a "significant quantity of tablets".

Ms Hirst added Plews made a "terrible mistake that he deeply regrets" and was someone who was a "hard working individual" with a strong work ethic.

Sentencing Plews, Recorder David Gordon said he had "expressed genuine remorse" and jailed him for three years and nine months. He will be on the sex offender's register indefinitely and an indefinite restraining order was also imposed.

Description

A convicted paedophile, who shared hundreds of illegal images of children being sexually abused, has said he should be able to use online dating sites as he doesn't agree with the internet restrictions placed on him.

Jake Cresswell was branded as "devious and manipulative" by a judge who jailed him again in 2021. The 25-year-old was found to represent a "high risk of harm towards children" after he was found to have had online discussions with other paedophiles - where he discussed his warped fantasies of meeting, abusing and supposedly being “seduced by” children.

Some of the discussions involved several “role-playing scenarios”, including child rape.

But after Cresswell was released from prison last year, he was caught breaking the strict conditions on his phone and internet usage. Teesside Crown Court has heard that Cresswell's offender manager visited him in August 2022, and found that he has been using an alias on an app called Discord.

Cresswell called himself "LotusBear" and had also used an email account with an alias to open his Discord account. But the court heard that Cresswell feels he should be able to use online dating - his barrister said he relies on it to meet people.

"Given his offender status, he struggles to meet people in public," Lewis Kerr, mitigating, said. "He is more inclined to use online dating apps."

He added that his client used alias, when he is prohibited from doing so, "to stop him being identified as a sex offender in what is a public arena." The court heard that Cresswell "doesn't agree" with his online restrictions.

Police also contacted his employer - Peppino's Pizza on Skelton High Street - after receiving intelligence that Cresswell was using a "concealed device." His employer provided police with the phone number they had for Cresswell - who had told police that he didn't have a mobile phone.

His licence conditions state that he has to declare all devices to his offender manager. A forensic examination of the phone found that he had deleted 386 items from his internet history - which is a breach of his internet rules.

When police searched Cresswell's home, on The Hills in Skelton, they found his secret mobile phone on the roof, and some cannabis in his bedroom. Lewis Kerr told the court that Cresswell's job delivery pizza, "is not particularly likely to bring him into contact with young people."

"He hasn't committed any contact offences - this is not an escalation in his offending," Mr Kerr added. Cresswell admitted four breaches of his sexual harm prevention order; and the possession of cannabis.

He was recalled to prison after his latest breach, to complete his last sentence, which ends on October 16. Creswell was jailed for two-years in March 2018 for sending horrific child abuse images to fellow paedophiles online.

The pictures depicted girls, mainly aged four to seven but as young as three months old in one case, with a collection of almost five hours’ worth of videos. He said children characters in anime started his interest when he was 15 to 16.

Cresswell claimed he was “initially repulsed” by the material, “but the more he looked at it, the less guilty he felt”. In 2019 he breached his order after confessing to deleting the Grindr, Tinder and Bumble dating apps.

By March 2020, his offender manager found messages which "indicated" that he had been in an online relationship. Illegal porn and 258 items from his internet history had been deleted from his phone.

On Tuesday, Judge Howard Crowson told him that the internet conditions, "are there to manage the risks you pose to children." The judge told him that his current spell in prison is being extended, as he imposed a three-year jail term, which will run concurrently to the sentence he was recalled to serve.

Description

A predatory sex pest grabbed a woman's bottom and gyrated against her, before exposing himself to another at a post office.

Shaun O'Connor, known as "Chop-Off," targeted the women customers at the Darlington post office on the morning of September 7, last year.

He grabbed the first woman's buttocks, put both arms around her, gyrated against her and made a sexual remark to her. When he was asked to leave he approached another woman customer who he exposed himself to and then grabbed her top, the court heard.

After his arrest, the 40-year-old performed a sex act in front of a police officer from his cell in Darlington police station.

On Wednesday, O'Connor told a judge at Teesside Crown Court that he was representing himself and began dancing and shouting throughout proceedings.

Prosecutor Tabitha Buck told the court that a month earlier, on August 18, O'Connor went into a Darlington hotel, despite being barred. When a member of staff asked him to leave he grabbed her by the throat and tried to kiss her, before slapping the bottom of another woman as he walked out.

Weeks earlier, on July 27, O'Connor punched a man, outside the Greyhound Pub on Parkgate. The man fell into a stationary car on the road, and O'Connor then dragged him back onto the pavement.

The man who Ms Buck said had done nothing to provoke O'Connor, was unconscious and had a laceration to the back of his head. In court O'Connor shouted: "I saved him, I saved him, Your Honour."

O'Connor, of Pateley Moor Crescent in Darlington, pleaded guilty to a string of offences, including two sexual assaults, two counts of exposure, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He told the court that he had been sexually attacked as a teenager before apologising for his behaviour.

Judge Howard Crowson jailed O'Connor for two-years. He was placed on the sex offenders' register for 10 years. "Thank you" O'Connor replied, "I appreciate that I have been safe in prison."

Description

A sex offender, who was previously snared by paedophile hunters, has been hauled before a court just months after being released from prison.

Matthew Hodgkiss, was jailed in July 2021 after asking who be believed was a 14-year-old girl for sexual pictures. He was ordered to sign the sex offenders register and abide by a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.

However, Teesside Magistrates' Court heard this week that the 45-year-old, who was released from prison in August, last year, was found to have breached the prevention order and failed to comply with the sex offenders register when police visited his home address.

Tyler Plunkett, prosecuting, said: "On January 11 police attended the defendant's address to carry out their regular reviews." He said looking at his mobile phone officers found a new Instagram account, which had a username he had failed to register.

Mr Plunkett said police also found that he had applied to both Facebook and Instagram for accounts, then deleted them. He said the defendant said he had wanted them to communicate with other people.

Mr Plunkett said: "When asked why he had deleted them, he said it was because he didn't want the police to know he was using them."

Nick Ayres, mitigating, said: "The defendant was very candid in his interview to answering questions to the police, probably to his detriment. It was a deliberate breach."

Hodgkiss was initially snared by Guardians of the North when he started engaging in sexual conversation with a decoy, posing as a 14-year-old girl in June 2020. The court heard at the time he had asked her to carry out an indecent act and send him images of her genitals.

They began to contact each other over WhatsApp and Hodgkiss encouraged her to carry out an indecent act and send him photographs of her breasts and "lower down". The decoy tracked Hodgkiss to an address in Stockton, police attended and arrested him.

He was ordered to serve 26 months behind bars. Hodgkiss, of Hartington Road, Stockton pleaded guilty to both the breach of the sexual harm prevention order and failing to comply with the sex offenders register.

Hodgkiss was granted unconditional bail and the case was adjourned for sentencing at Teesside Crown Court on March 21.

Description

A 29-year-old Eaglescliffe man who pleaded guilty to five charges relating to sexual communications with four children has received a four-year prison sentence and he will also be subject to a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) for 10 years.

Jonathan Wall appeared at Teesside Crown Court on Friday (17th February) where he received his sentence.

Detective Sergeant Derric Wade from Cleveland Polices Child Abuse Investigation Unit said: We will continue to do all we can to protect vulnerable children from abuse whether that be in person or, as in this case, online.

Walls offending understandably had a terrible impact on the victims and on their families who then had to hear the full details in court.

On that note, Id like to pay tribute not only to the victims but also to their parents and extended family who were key to supporting the victims when they came forward to speak to specially trained officers, and for their general support throughout the investigation and court process.

I hope the fact that Wall will spend time in prison and that he will also be subject to strict conditions and restrictions for a considerable period will bring them some relief as they continue to come to terms with what happened.

Description

A child rapist has been branded a significant risk to the public as he begins a 12-year prison sentence.

Anthony Rennard, 28, raped a teenage girl in 2020. Prosecutor Richard Bennett told Teesside Crown Court that the girl "froze" and initially felt unable to report the crime, but did so six months later.

Rennard, now of HMP Holme House, Stockton, but formerly of Brougham Street in Darlington, denied rape but was convicted after a trial late last year.

The court heard that the girl still struggles to sleep, has nightmares and cannot go near the area where she was attacked. In a statement she said: "I feel low. It's affected my education, I don't want to get out of bed.

"I feel like this has changed my life forever."

Nicholas Askins, mitigating, said that Rennard started drinking when he was of primary school age and that a psychiatrist had found that he has cognitive difficulties. The court heard that while on remand, Rennard has taken courses in reading and writing in prison.

Judge Timothy Stead told Rennard that he poses a significant risk to the public and jailed him for 12 years. Rennard must sign the sex offenders' register indefinitely and was made subject to a restraining order, prohibiting him from contacting his victim or mentioning her on social media, for an indefinite period.

Rennard has previous convictions for burglary, firearms offences and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. In 2016, in Glasgow, he attacked a friend over a £30 debt.

He slashed the man's face with a Stanley knife and dragged him out of a house, kicked and punched him, before stamping on his head. Rennard served a five-year-seven-month-sentence for the attack.

Description

A teenager convicted of raping one girl and committing other sexual offences on another is starting a six-year custodial sentence.

Aiden Gallon was found guilty of six offences relating to one or other of the two victims, following a two-day trial at Peterlee Youth Court, in September.

He denied the offences, one count of rape, two of sexual assault and three of engaging in sexual activity with a girl, all committed at a time he was 16.

But, having been found guilty by the youth panel, the case was sent to be sentenced at Durham Crown Court, as the defendant, who was only 17 when court proceedings began, had by then turned 18 and become an adult in the eyes of the law.

He appeared at the crown court in October when Judge Jo Kidd adjourned the sentencing hearing to allow time for preparation of a psychological report on Gallon, specifically to assess his perceived “dangerousness”.

Jonathan Walker, prosecuting, said impact statements made by the two defendants referred to one having “been obliged” to move address since Gallon’s offending, while the other described having resorted to taking tablets after the offending.

The court was told the defendant has a previous offence of arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered on his record, for which he was made subject of a youth referral order.

David Carmichael, for Gallon, said his client had “issues” with anger management during his school days.

Recorder Kidd said given the conviction she would make him subject to indefinite restraining orders relating to both girls.

It forbids him from approaching or contacting either girl, directly or indirectly, effectively for life.

He was also made subject to interim notification as a sex offender.

On his return to the court to be sentenced this week, Judge Kidd imposed the six-year young offenders' institution sentence.

She said the restraining orders would remain in place, while the notification requirements as a sex offender would also continue, “indefinitely”.

A £34 statutory court surcharge was also imposed.

Following the hearing, Judge Kidd confirmed that a previous “gagging” restriction order relating to Gallon, of Lancaster Hill, Peterlee, would be lifted, allowing him to be identified in reports of the case.

Description

A County Durham man has been jailed for committing a historic sexual offence against a child.

Paul Cranston was given a hefty prison sentence for carrying out sexual activity against a child, said to have been committed at some point between December 2008 and December 2016.

The 54-year-old, of Stanley, County Durham, appeared at Durham Crown Court on Friday, February 3, to be sentenced for one count of sexual activity with a child. He had been found guilty of the offence after a trial on December 8.

Sentencing Cranston, Judge James Adkin, the Recorder of Durham, handed him a 10-year prison sentence and made him subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order. Cranston will also be on the sex offenders' register for an indefinite period.

Description

A 46-year-old man has been sentenced to eight and-a-half years in prison for a series of child sex offences. ‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌ ‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌

Wayne Philip Phillipson appeared at Mold Crown Court today charged with 18 offences in relation to Operation Blue Breeze, a UK-wide CSE investigation. ‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌ ‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌

Phillipson of Kent Road, Consett, used Snapchat and an app called Wink to befriend 12 to 14-year-old children across the country and incited them to send him indecent images. ‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌ ‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌

He was homeless and would travel across the country attempting to meet children, whom he had contacted online, in person before ultimately being arrested in Wrexham city centre on 9 June, 2022. ‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌ ‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌

Upon arrest, his mobile phone was found to contain in excess of 100 indecent images and North Wales Police were able to evidence contact with 29 children across the UK. ‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌ ‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌

In today’s court proceedings, Phillipson was also sentenced for another child sex offence which took place in the Durham area. ‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌ ‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌

Detective Constable Dan Pleass said: “Wayne Phillipson is a dangerous predator who used social media to target vulnerable children and gain their trust in order to exploit them to fulfil his own sexual desires. ‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌ ‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌

“This case highlights just how important it is for children and their parents to know exactly who they are speaking to online. For more information on keeping yourself and your children safe online I urge you to visit https://hwb.gov.wales/zones/keeping-safe-online/ ‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌ ‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌

“Firstly, I would like to praise the victims and their families for having the courage and determination to come forward to give their accounts, which ultimately have resulted in a dangerous sexual predator being removed from our community. ‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌ ‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌

“I also want to pay tribute to those victims who didn’t feel ready to speak to police on record about what had happened but still provided vital evidence to help us with our enquiries. ‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌ ‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌

“Finally, on behalf of North Wales Police, I am extremely grateful for the support offered by multiple UK police forces during the course of this investigation who have shown that the police will leave no stone unturned when investigating those who seek to do harm to the most vulnerable members of our society. ‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌ ‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌

“I would also ask anyone who has been contacted by Wayne Phillipson or his alias ‘Josh Lawton’ to contact police on 101 and discuss your concerns, which will be treated in full confidence. When you are ready to talk, we will be ready to listen.” ‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌ ‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌

Description

A sex offender breached the terms of a court order with his “clandestine” collection of electronic devices on which he searched for indecent images of children.

David Alan Carr was back before Durham Crown Court for sentence today (Wednesday February 8) for four breaches of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) imposed in the same building, in October 2018.

On that occasion, a judge imposed a suspended sentence order on Carr over his large collection of indecent and prohibited images of children, found on devices retrieved by police from his home in Murton, in 2016.

The sentencing judge in 2018 said he hoped that by suspending the sentence the Probation Service could work with Carr to help him overcome his, “entrenched behaviour”.

But the court heard today that on a monitoring visit to his home, in Woods Terrace, on October 19 last year, police discovered various devices capable of allowing internet access which he had failed to inform them he owned.

Andrew Finlay, prosecuting, said, officers seized 17 hard drives and lap-top computers and it was discovered Carr had used a covert internet browser and online cloud storage.

Examination of three of the hard drives uncovered the presence of 60 indecent images of children, 29 in the most serious category, 553 prohibited images of children and 78 classed as, “extreme pornography”, portraying scenes of bestiality.

Mr Finlay said 443 of the illicit images were accessible and all were said to have been originally downloaded between 2007 and 2010, pre-dating the images over which he was convicted in 2018.

When police returned to his home on November 10 and arrested him, he was asked if he had a mobile phone, and he handed over a device which was found to have an internet “history” dating from October 2021.

It emerged he had asked a relative for help with a SIM card and the phone had been in use since August 2022, despite Carr’s previous claims to police that he did not have a phone.

He made no reply to police questions when interviewed, but, appearing later before magistrates, the 44-year-old defendant admitted four breaches of the 2018 SHPO and possession of indecent and prohibited images of children, plus possessing extreme pornographic images.

His advocate, Martin Scarborough, told today’s sentencing hearing that it had to be accepted these were “persistent” breaches of the order over a few weeks in October last year and that the offending images pre-dated those found in his earlier single conviction.

Mr Scarborough described Carr as, “a socially-isolated individual” and the recent breaches followed his return to drinking more heavily after discovering a close family member’s illness was more serious than previously believed.

But Mr Scarborough said the defendant made immediate admissions on the first opportunity at court and added that it was still thought he could work with the Probation Service to overcome his predilection, while he could also be given an alcohol abstinence order to curb his drinking.

But Judge Kidd said despite the age of the images discovered last October, Carr was still able to retrieve them, which was an “aggravating feature” of the case.

She said: “It’s equally clear that in 2022, and from 2019, he continued to search for images of children and I must pass sentence over a significant quantity of them.

“He was given the opportunity to engage with the Probation Service when he was given the suspended sentence order in October 2018.

Description

A former judo coach twice previously jailed for sex offences against boys is back behind bars following a further similar conviction.

In all cases Wayne Burnham, a divorcee, was accused of giving his victims cider and allowing them to smoke, sometimes cannabis, at his home, at the time, in Langley Park, County Durham, before carrying out the offences, all committed in the early 2000s.

Burnham received a three-year prison sentence in November 2003, after admitting indecently assaulting two boys aged under 16, at Durham Crown Court.

Further allegations arose in 2015, also stemming from the early 2000s, when another victim came forward.

It led to a trial at Durham Crown Court in March 2017 at which Burnham, by then living in Erith, in Kent, was convicted of the rape and indecent assault of a boy.

He received a 12-year prison sentence and was made subject of registration as a sex offender and the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), both for life.

Having only recently been released from that sentence on licence supervision, he was back before magistrates in County Durham on January 10, this year, when he admitted a charge of indecent assault on a boy under 14.

The case was sent for sentence today (Tuesday January 7), at Durham Crown Court, where the now 56-year-old defendant received a further two-year prison sentence.

Robin Turton, prosecuting, said the offence dates from the summer of 2002, when the victim recalls being given cider and being allowed to smoke, at Burnham’s home.

On one occasion he was given so much cider that he passed out, due to heavy intoxication, and awoke to discover the defendant with his hands in his underwear fondling him.

Mr Turton said the boy recalled Burnham making light of it, trying to laugh it off by making a remark about the boy’s genitalia.

In an impact statement, read to the court by Mr Turton, the victim said he only began to realise the effect the incident had on him when he reached adulthood.

He has suffered depression and anxiety for which he has turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism.

The victim said as a boy he looked up to Burnham for allowing him to drink alcohol and smoke, both of which he had not previously done, and which he considered, “cool”, at the time.

But it led to a longer-term addiction to alcohol, from his early teenage years onwards, which he believes has affected his employment prospects, as he has been unable to hold down a job on a long-term basis.

The court was told of Burnham’s past convictions, some post-dating the offence he was answering for at today’s hearing.

Christopher Carter, in mitigation for Burnham, told the court: “This happened more than 20 years ago when the defendant was struggling with alcohol abuse and was coming out of a relationship, and coming to terms with his own sexuality.

“He served a sentence at the time for similar offences and it’s regrettable this case has come to court so late.

“But, it is understandable. He acknowledges the long-term suffering of the victim in this case.

“He was only recently released from prison for the sentence imposed in 2017 and was immediately given this date to appear before the court.”

Jailing him, Judge James Adkin told Burnham: “The aggravating feature of the case is it demonstrates this incident was not an isolated one, but part of a pattern of sexual offending where children were targeted by you for sexual gratification.”

The judge added that had he taken the case to a trial the latest sentence would have been three years.

On his eventual release, Burnham will remain subject to both the lifetime notification and SHPO requirements put in place after his 2017 conviction.

Description

Thomas Lock, 32, carried out the disgusting act with the aid of a cuddly toy in front of a child

A County Durham pervert who carried out a sex act involving a "cuddly toy" in front of a child has been put behind bars.

Thomas Lock carried out the disgusting act with the aid of a cuddly toy in front of a child. The 32-year-old told the child he was carrying out a "naughty game" and denied everything when arrested.

Lock was sentenced at Durham Crown Court on Thursday for engaging in a sexual act in the presence of a child. He continues to deny the offence but was found guilty by a jury after a trial.

Nick Adlington, prosecuting, said Lock - who appeared at the court via link from HMP Durham - carried out the sex act and involved a "cuddly toy" whilst in the presence of a child.

Mark Styles, defending, said Lock had no previous convictions and still does not accept the verdict of the jury. He said: "This is a difficult time for the defendant as he's never lost his liberty before. It came at a time in the wake of the death of his father, which had been anticipated. It was very difficult for him."

Mr Styles added: "He's got a good work record and was only unemployed for a limited period of time whilst awaiting trial in this matter. He's attempting to use his time in custody wisely and understands the significant impact this has had."

Sentencing Lock, Judge Jo Kidd said: "You were convicted by a jury and maintain you are not guilty. This was a deeply troubling incident, potentially foreshadowing further sexual offences, and was used in a manipulative way by using a toy to normalise your sexual activity. You called it a naughty game."

Lock, of High Etherley, near Bishop Auckland, was jailed for 30 months and will be on the sex offender's register indefinitely. An indefinite sexual harm prevention order was also imposed.