Latest Offenders Durham

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Steven Allan, of County Durham, suggested meeting what he thought was a schoolgirl at a bus station, fish shop and near a shop

Vigilantes snared a pervert who wanted to meet a 15-year-old girl for sexual activity.

Steven Allan thought he was talking to a schoolgirl on a dating app but it was actually a member of paedophile hunters Guardians of the North. The group had set up a fake profile on dating app Skout, posing as an 18-year-old called Chelsea.

Allan, pretending to be a 21-year-old called Lee, was told during an online chat that she was 15 but started using sexual language and asked to meet her the following day. Rachel Glover, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: "He asked to meet her at the bus station in Sunderland the next day and meet at the fish shop today. He also asked to meet at the green near B&M and she agreed to this. He continued to send sexual messages."

Another member of Guardians of the North, posing as a 27-year-old woman, then communicated with Allan and arranged to meet him. He was arrested when he attended and his mobile phone was seized and showed the chats he'd had with Chelsea.

When interviewed by police, he said he had used his brother's photograph and an image of genitals from the internet. He added: "I know it was wrong."

He added that he had not met a child before and that he had "been speaking to lots of girls" as he was lonely and apologised.

Allan, 40, of Station Road, Wingate, County Durham, pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child, attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sexual offence, all between July 25 and 27 2020.

Judge Edward Bindloss said he intended to pass a two year prison sentence but said had he done so Allan would have been released within days with no treatment, having served 11-and-a-half months on remand. He therefore imposed a three year community order with a sex offender treatment programme with rehabilitation. He was also made subject to sex offender registration and a sexual harm prevention order for five years.

Mark Styles, defending, said: "He seems to be functioning with a mild learning disability. He is keen to rehabilitate himself and participate in a programme to get treatment."

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A man convicted of downloading indecent images of children last year flouted a Sexual Harm Prevention Order by installing software to mask his internet history, a court heard.

Those breaches of the order have resulted in Edward James Tomlinson receiving his first full custodial sentence in his mid-seventies.

In March last year he received a ten-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, at Durham Crown Court after admitting three counts of making indecent images of children, plus possessing prohibited images of children and extreme pornography.

As part of the sentence he was made subject of restrictions relating to his use of the internet, under the terms of a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

But the 74-year-old defendant, of Luke Avenue, Cassop, near Durham, was back before the court today (Tuesday September 13) after recently admitting three counts of breaching the SHPO.

Anthony Pettengell, prosecuting, said following his conviction last year the defendant was subject of monitoring visits by the police public protection unit.

A device installed on his computer equipment revealed use of pc cleaner software to remove evidence of downloaded material.

Mr Pettengell said it led to Tomlinsons devices being seized and examined, revealing the use of the cleaner at least three times, while a privacy browser had also been installed, covering up any search history.

In interview he also revealed use of virtual private network, even though the examination of his devices had not uncovered its presence.

He told police it was to screen films and watch tv channels, while he accepted using the privacy browser as he did not like to receive spam adverts.

When asked, he could give no explanation for use of the cleaner, other than him clicking on something allowing it to run.

Mr Pettengell said the police analysis of his devices showed there had been no evidence of further indecent images having been downloaded in the 18 days between the last use of the pc cleaner and the police attending the defendant's home.

Shaun Dryden, in mitigation, said the defendant did everything required of him by way of the other elements of last years court order.

They included attending 56 of 59 probation appointments and observing an electronically-monitored 7pm to 7am home curfew, while Mr Dryden added that the suspended sentence expired earlier this week.

He told the court the defendant was aware monitoring software was in place on his computer and claimed he did not deliberately use software to hide his browsing history.

Mr Dryden added that the defendant no longer has any computer devices due to his concern what may happen.

But Judge James Adkin told Mr Dryden: The problem is he was told that breaching the SHPO would lead to prison.

He said the defendants explanations for the breaches, are not going to wash.

The perfectly reasonable inference of having all this software is that he has had access to indecent images.

Having three separate tools to hide your browsing history is a persistent breach of the order.

The judge told Tomlinson the clear inference was that, "he still maintains an interest in looking at indecent images of children.

He imposed an eight-month sentence for the breach and activated six months of the suspended sentence, to make a total sentence of 14 months.

On his release Tomlinson will remain subject of registration as a sex offender and the terms of the SHPO until March 2031.

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A man with now two convictions for rape has been given an extended sentence after being branded, a high risk" of causing sexual harm to women.

Callum Smith, now 45, served a seven-year sentence for the rape of an 18-year-old woman committed on New Years Day, 2013.

He appeared at Durham Crown Court last month to stand trial accused of the rape of another teenage woman, said to have been committed on May 1, last year, in the victims own home.

Smith entered uninvited on another pretext, establishing she was home alone, but then committed the offence on a sofa, before leaving.

The court heard for several weeks after the attack he manipulated the woman to try to prevent her reporting the incident to police.

But she did eventually make the complaint resulting in her having to give evidence, under cross-examination, for last months trial.

A week after the start of the hearing the defendant, of Church Street, Seaham, was found guilty on a ten to two jury majority.

He appeared via video link from nearby Durham Prison for todays (Friday July 29) sentencing hearing.

Tony Dunne, prosecuting, read from the victims impact statement, in which she said she has given up her job since the attack and has struggled to find the will to leave her home on a daily basis, and she feels she is in a, living hell.

She suffers flashbacks making her feel uneasy and is on medication for anxiety and depression, while she is on a waiting list to receive counselling and wants to move from her home.

David Lamb, for Smith, argued that the defendant should not be classed as a dangerous offender as he has only one previous relevant conviction and time has elapsed since the last rape conviction.

But Judge James Adkin said for much of the time between the offences Smith was serving his previous prison sentence.

He said the defendant clearly targeted his victim, going there with rape in mind.

Judge Adkin said he does consider Smith poses a high risk of sexual harm to females and told him: You do seem to have deep-seated misogynistic attitudes to young women.

He imposed an extended determinate sentence with a 13-year custodial element, to be followed by a five-year licence period.

It means Smith must serve two-thirds of the 13 years before being eligible for consideration for release at the behest of the Parole Board.

But he told Smith: Unless theres a dramatic reduction in your risk profile you may end up serving the full 13 years.

Smith was made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and must register as a sex offender, both for life.

A restraining order forbids him from trying to contact or approach his victim, also for life.

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AN immature offender who made racially-aggravated threats about a support worker in accommodation where he was living, admitted speaking before he thinks, a court heard. The offensive remarks proved costly for Wayne Fenwick after he was convicted of racially aggravated harassment and witness intimidation following a recent trial before magistrates. Durham Crown Court heard it put the 22-year-old defendant in breach of a suspended prison sentence for the second time, having been told by a judge that all bets would be off, if he committed a further offence. On his return to the court for sentence, Fenwick was told by Judge Ray Singh he had reached the end of the line after all the chances he had been given to keep out of trouble. The judge imposed a total 16-month prison sentence on Fenwick. Kate Barnes, prosecuting, said his latest offences took place on April 20, the day after his release from police custody following other allegations against him. Miss Barnes said police were informed that he had threatened a staff member at the accommodation he was living at that time, while in drink. Officers were shown to the room, where Fenwick made a racially aggravated remark about the staff member, who was originally from West Africa. He threatened to stab the man, telling police he knew where he lived, and then made abusive remarks to the officers who had come to arrest him. Miss Barnes said when interviewed later, Fenwick made mostly no comment replies, but did tell officers: I dont think before I speak. The support worker about whom the threats were made told police he did not feel immediately at risk as he did not believe Fenwick did know where he lived. Miss Barnes said Fenwick, most recently of Hutton Terrace, Willington, has six convictions for 15 offences on his record. She said they include sex offences relating to an underage girl and two assaults on an emergency worker, for which he received a total 16-month sentence, suspended for two years, in May last year. Christopher Bevan, for Fenwick, told the court: He realises the chances of not receiving a custodial sentence today are immensely thin. He tells me, and my assessment of him will bear this out, that hes deeply immature and he accepts what he said and did was deeply unpleasant and offensive. He further adds that he didnt mean to cause any physical harm but at the time he thought he was acting big and hard. Mr Bevan said an updated probation offender managers report described him as, not dangerous in the sense of intending harm, but capable of risky behaviour. Jailing him, Judge Singh told Fenwick: Im afraid you have now come to the end of the line as to the court allowing you further opportunities to show you can behave yourself. You committed these further offences knowing what the ramifications would be. You appear to have no respect for authority or fellow human beings. The 16-month sentence imposed includes ten months from the suspended sentence, with six months added for the latest offences.

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A sex offender paid the price for breaching a court order when he failed to inform police he owned an iPad computer, a court heard.

Samuel Kettell was made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) when he received a 16-month suspended prison sentence for downloading and distributing indecent images of children, at Durham Crown Court on March 29.

Under the terms of the ten-year order he had to notify police of any device capable of accessing the internet and make it available for inspection of its internet history.

When police went to his home address on a monitoring visit on June 7 he handed the officers an iPhone but denied having any other device.

Caroline McGurk, prosecuting, told the court that a search of his home led to the recovery of the iPad, which he had not declared having on previous police monitoring visits, on April 5 and May 18.

Kettell claimed he thought it was lost and had spent weeks searching for it, to no avail.

Miss McGurk said it had been used to access the internet, but any material obtained had been deleted, which was also a breach of the SHPO.

Kettell claimed he had used it to access music on YouTube and an adult pornography site.

A probation report prepared for the court stated that Kettells perceived risk of further similar offending is considered high, but manageable within the community.

Kate Barnes, for Kettell said the terms of the community element of the order imposed when her client was sentenced in late March had not, had time to bite.

She said Kettell has had problems over his engagement with mental health services, but she urged Judge Ray Singh to allow him time to improve his response to the orders passed as part of the suspended sentence, in March.

The 22-year-old defendant, of Hale Rise, Peterlee, admitted breaching the SHPO.

Judge Singh said at the time he came before the court earlier this year it was thought there was work which the Probation Service could do to help the defendant address his offending.

It was thought you were a person who could abide by a court order and comply.

You took that conscious decision to ignore the terms of the SHPO that was considered necessary to prevent the risk of harm, particularly to young children.

You failed to disclose there was an iPad you had and, you had been deleting the internet history.

If the use of that ipad was for itunes and legitimate pornography you would have been cautioned, but there can only be one reason you put the use of that computer to, and that would be for illegitimate use.

Judge Singh said Kettell had paid mere lip service to the court order and he activated eight months of the suspended sentence, adding four months for the breach, making a total 12-month prison sentence.

He also made a deprivation order for the offending iPad.

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A pervert has been jailed after turning up to meet what he believed was going to be a 15-year-old prostitute for sex.

Joseph Smith responded to an online advertisement which stated there was an 18-year-old woman selling sexual services in his area. When the 37-year-old called the number provided, he was told that the girl selling sex was in fact only 15-years-old. But he still decided to go and meet the teen in an area of Durham. However, what Smith didn't know, was that the advertisement was false, and had been set up by undercover police.

Smith, of Bracken Field Road, Durham, appeared at Durham Crown Court on Thursday, via link from HMP Durham, to be sentenced for attempting to arrange or facilitate a child sexual offence. He pleaded guilty to the charge at a previous hearing.

Alec Burns, prosecuting, said as part of an undercover police operation aiming to catch paedophiles, an advert on a selling website was set up that purported to be an 18-year-old woman selling sexual services whereby contact was to be made via a phone number. He said: "On April 25 the defendant called the number twice. He then sent a text message asking what time she started work."

Mr Burns said that contact was then made over the phone and that Smith called himself "Craig". During the conversation, Smith was told that the girl selling sex, was in fact only 15-years-old. Mr Burns said: "The defendant asked if any girls were over 16 and he was told no." But Smith was undeterred, and arranged to meet the 15-year-old decoy shortly before 11pm in an area of Framwellgate Moor. As soon as he arrived, he was greeted by police officers and arrested.

Mr Burns said that when arrested, Smith was found with 980, which he said was to pay for his Manchester United season ticket. He also told officers that he "wouldn't have done it" and "didn't care about kids". During interview he gave no reply.

The court heard that Smith had 16 previous convictions, including for offences of voyeurism which dated back to 2005. The court was told that one offence related to him looking under the cubicles at a swimming baths, and another involved him looking into windows and watching women undress.

Ian West, defending, asked for full credit for his guilty pleas, which were given at the first opportunity. He added that Smith has learning difficulties and ADHD, saying: "He is a man who has his own problems and limitations. He needs to have a moral compass."

Sentencing Smith, Recorder Jamie Hill QC said it was an "unusual and exceptional case", before jailing him for two years. Smith was made subject of a 10 year sexual harm prevention order and will also be on the sex offender's register for two years.

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Ethan Johnson also sent messages asking to meet for sex to an underage girl from Newcastle.

A Stockton man who was part of an online paedophile ring which shared horrific images and videos of children being sexually abused, was supported in court by his parents, before leaving with a suspended sentence.

Ethan Johnson, 20, was found to have a "mega account" with the online sharing group. His username was "project infinity" and he stored videos of naked children on a cloud account.

Teesside Crown Court has heard that the online group saw members make specific requests for footage of babies being sexually abused. Moderators threatened members with expulsion from the group, if they did not share illegal content. 

On Monday, prosecutor Richard Bennett said that police had acted after online surveillance had tracked down members of the group. Officers arrived at Johnson's home on June 26, 2020, and seized "a large number of devices."

Johnson was found to be in possession of 223 videos of children being abused - all of which were category A - the most serious level of abuse. He was also found with 107 category B images and 29 Category C images.

Mr Bennet told the court that police analysis of Johnson's mobile phone found that he had been messaging a 14-year old girl from Newcastle, on Snapchat, back in 2019. When the girl messaged that she did not send nude photos, Johnson offered to give her "some sexual healing."

After challenging him about his messages, and complaining that they were all about sex and meeting her, the girl cut him off. But police then found that Johnson had later texted the girl in 2020: "If we do end up having sex we will have to keep it quiet as I could end up getting arrested and on the sex offenders register."

Officers traced the girl and she said she had sent pictures of herself engaged in sex acts to Johnson.

Johnson, of Imperial Crescent in Stockton, pleaded guilty to two counts of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity. The court heard that he has no previous convictions.

Victoria Lamballe, defending, said that her client's parents were sitting in the public gallery and that, "This is a young man who comes from a very supportive family. He is utterly ashamed at the position he has put himself in and for the position he's put his parents in."

Ms Lamballe said that Johnson's offending started when he was 18 and his relationship had failed. He had tried to find a new girlfriend, but failed, and had started trying to meet girls online.

Ms Lamballe told the court that Johnson accepts that he was looking for girls younger than him, but not underage girls: "He had genuine hopes for a relationship with this girl, who was 15 for the majority of the contact." The court heard that Johnson has now found work as an auto technician and is in a new relationship - and that his girlfriend's parents are aware of the charges against him.

Judge Paul Watson told Johnson: "This is not a victimless crime. There are real children often from financially and emotionally deprived backgrounds - they are subjected to unimaginable pain and abuse - so that you, and people like you, can access these images.

"The police also uncovered a conversation between you and a 14-year-old girl that was of a grossly sexual nature. But I've read some powerful testimonies about you and of course, the very moving letter from your parents - describing the other side to you, pointing out the sensitive side to your nature."

The judge handed Johnson a 13-month prison term, suspended for 18-months. He was ordered to attend 25 rehabilitation days and made subject to a five-year sexual harm prevention order, with police notification requirements for the next 10 years.

The judge added: "Probation will work around your full time job. If you start downloading images of children, or chatting to underage girls, you will start that 13 months prison sentence. Is that clear?".

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A woman has spoken of the devastation of being sexually assaulted in her own home when her attacker forced his way in. The victim was forced to the floor and Jamie Liddle carried out a serious sexual attack on her while her children were sleeping upstairs in their home. Teesside Crown Court heard how the defendant locked the door and threw the key across the room as soon as he managed to get into the house and he grabbed her mobile phone when she attempted to record his attack. Following the sexual assault, the 30-year-old attempted to go upstairs in the property but the victim managed to get him out of the house, find her keys and lock her attacker outside. Paul Abrahams, prosecuting, said the defendant realised the enormity of what he had done when he bumped into someone he knew as he left the scene and said I have f***ed up. I am going to jail. He added: She didnt know how long it (the sexual assault) lasted but it was about five minutes. She said she was quiet because she didnt want to wake the kids up and he just kept going. In a victim impact statement, the woman said she had been left devastated by the sexual assault on her in her own home. She added: He has made me feel like I cant go on; he has made me feel like I dont want to be here. Liddle, of Eastbourne Road, Darlington, pleaded guilty to assault by penetration following the events in the early hours of September 19 last year. Ian West, in mitigation, urged the judge to issue a suspended sentence for his client after he expressed remorse for his actions and was of previous good character. He knows that he has messed up due to a drunken few minutes of stupidity which he immediately regretted, he said. He cant explain why he did what he did in those mad few minutes whilst in drink. Judge Timothy Stead told the defendant he would be failing in his public duty if he didnt immediately lock him up. The offence was committed in circumstances where you made a forced entry into her home and some violence had been used, he said. Liddle was jailed for three years and four months for the attack.

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A vile paedophile who abused three child victims before leading police on a high speed chase has been put behind bars for over 10 years.

Kenneth Harrison's abuse came to light after one of the children who he assaulted bravely spoke out and filed a report.

Officers attended Harrison's Darlington home to arrest him but instead he was spotted speeding off in a car from police. This sparked an 18 minute chase which saw Harrison drive through red lights and reach speeds up to 90mph without any lights on.

Harrison appeared at Teesside Crown Court via video link from HMP Durham, to be sentenced for offences of sexual assault of a child and one count of dangerous driving, he pleaded guilty to the charges in a previous hearing. Chronicle Live reports that the court heard Harrison's offending impacted three separate lives and he 'burst into tears' as the prison sentence was given.

At a hearing last week, prosecutor Robin Turton said Harrison carried out sexual offences against three children, and left one feeling 'targeted'. The court heard that Harrison also sexually assaulted a child while abroad and 'very drunk'.

Mr Turton said that after the crimes were reported to the police, they went to arrest him on March 11 this year. Harrison was seen driving a vehicle in Darlington, but 'drove away at speed' upon seeing the officers.

He said: "He drove at excess speed during the pursuit which lasted 18 minutes, he drove in excess of 90mph in a 40mph zone and went through red lights. He was eventually arrested when he alighted at his address and later denied any sexual offending."

Chris Baker, defending, said Harrison had 'expressed deep regret with what happened' and said there was 'remorse'. He added that he entered guilty pleas as he did not want the victims to be put through the trial process.

Mr Baker said: "It is his first custodial sentence and has described difficulties with mental health during his incarceration. He has depression and suicidal thoughts, he wants to undertake all the help that is provided by the prison.

"He knows he's done something utterly appalling."

Sentencing Harrison, Judge Chris Smith said: "Your actions have created three separate victims which will impact three separate lives. You have expressed remorse, which I'm satisfied means it's appropriate to give you full credit for your guilty pleas."

Harrison was given a prison sentence of 10 years and eight months and will be on the sex offender's register for life. Because of the time he will spend in custody, he was banned from driving for eight years and four months and must sit an extended re-test.

With his head in his hands, Harrison burst into tears after the lengthy sentence was passed.

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A SERIAL sex offender is back behind bars after trying to hide an internet-enabled mobile from police within weeks of his release from prison. Stewart Tivendale was sentenced to an extended period of five years and issued with an indefinite SHPO for his 'distorted proclivities' when he appeared in court in January 2020. And after he was released from custody on January 21 this year, officers from Cleveland Police visited his home on Westbourne Street, Stockton, to check whether he was complying with the conditions of his sexual harm prevention order (SHPO). The 26-year-old was initially jailed for three years in 2018 after he admitted collecting and sharing pictures and videos of abuse and incited boys and girls online to send photographs and carry out disgusting acts. Emma Atkinson, prosecuting, said officers became suspicious of Tivendales behaviour after he took a long time to answer the door when they arrived to carry out an inspection of his home. Miss Atkinson said the defendant had tried to hide the mobile phone but officers spotted a box for a mobile phone charger and carried out a thorough search of his property they discovered the Samsung mobile phone and discovered that he had been accessing the internet. Tivendale, of Westbourne Street, Stockton, pleaded guilty to two breaches of his sexual harm prevention order after he was found in possession of a mobile phone capable of accessing the internet and saving images. Emma Williams, in mitigation, said her client accepted he had breached his SHPO court order and didnt expect to be able to get away with it. Judge James Brown sentenced the 26-year-old to 20 months in custody for his two latest breaches of the court order. This is a very serious breach of your sexual harm prevention order and it must be viewed in context of your previous offending, which I regard as significant, he said. Following your release, you were again found with an internet-enabled device, you clearly tried to hide it from the police and tried to access various social media sites which you had used in the past to offend. Its clear to me what you had in mind and that was to commit further offences of a similar nature.

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Tony Martin Jon Small, 40, was jailed for three years A paedophile who believed he was sending sexual messages and pictures of himself to an 11-year-old girl has been caged. Tony Martin Jon Small thought he was sending highly sexual messages to a child on a social media app, but he was in fact speaking to a decoy which had been set up by a vigilante group that snares perverts. The 40-year-old was in breach of a sexual harm prevention order at the time of the offence after being convicted of sexual offences in Portsmouth in 2018. On Wednesday, Small appeared at Durham Crown Court to be sentenced for attempting to incite a female child to engage in sexual activity and one charge of breaching a sexual harm prevention order. Both offences were committed between March 24 and 27. He pleaded guilty to both charges at a previous hearing. Robin Patton, prosecuting, said Small began chatting to what he believed was an 11-year-old girl on a social media app called Wink. But the girl was in fact a decoy set up by an adult from a group called Fighting for Innocents. He said Small's messages were "highly sexualised, grooming messages" and "asked about her clothing and what she was wearing". "He told the girl that she looked very sexy and chose to send pictures of himself without a shirt on", Mr Patton said. Small said he "promised to teach the girl about sex" and "described sexual acts he wanted to perform". Small then sent an explicit picture of himself to the decoy as well as a video. Mr Patton said Small was caught after he turned up to a meeting in Peterlee to what he believed would be an adult woman wanting sex - but instead, on March 28, he was arrested. Kate Barnes, defending, said he pleaded guilty at an early opportunity and said no actual activity took place due to there being a "non-existent child". She said Small was a "heavy social media user" and was using the app to speak to friends and initially had no intention of speaking to children. She said while in custody he has also started a construction course. Sentencing Small, of Devace House, Easington Village, Judge James Adkin, the Recorder of Durham, said he had been sending sexual chats to the decoy over a period of three days. He jailed Small for three years and put him on the sex offender's register for life. His sexual harm prevention order remains in place.

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Kristoffer Cook was messaging the 15-year-old on the social media app despite being subjected to a sexual harm prevention order A sex offender has been jailed after police found out he'd been sending sexual messages to a teenage girl on Snapchat. Pervert Kristoffer Cook was messaging the child on the social media app despite being subjected to a sexual harm prevention order after serving a prison sentence for attempting to incite a child into sexual activity. The 29-year-old had lied to police telling them he did not own any device which could access the internet, but eventually came clean. Cook, of Fulwell Road, Peterlee, appeared at Durham Crown Court on Tuesday, via link from HMP Durham, to be sentenced for breaching a sexual harm prevention order, failing to comply with notification requirements, and sexual communication with a child. He pleaded guilty to the charges at a previous hearing. Michael Cahill, prosecuting, said in January this year, Cook - a convicted sex offender - was assigned a police manager who would carry out regular meetings with him. On January 13, the police officer discussed his sexual harm prevention order with him and Cook said he did not own any device which could access the internet. But that was a lie, the court heard. Mr Cahill said: "On February 28, police received information that the defendant had a Snapchat address. That day, police attended the defendant's parents' address where he was living and asked if he had access to the internet. He produced two basic mobile phones which did not have the internet. The police then cautioned and arrested him. The defendant then became upset and produced an LG mobile phone from the sofa and said he used it to access Snapchat and that he'd let himself down." The LG phone was later analysed and it was discovered that Cook had been messaging an underage girl on the app. Mr Cahill said Cook asked the girl's age and "asked if she had a bra on and if he could see her bra". Cook later told the girl "I want you". Cook later admitted purchasing the mobile phone and not telling the police about it and the court heard he had two previous convictions for five offences. In May 2018, he received a suspended sentence for attempting to incite a child into sexual activity. Then, in July 2020, he was jailed for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. The sexual harm prevention order that he is subjected to lasts until 2028, the court heard. Mark Styles, defending, said Cook has a learning disability and had a childhood that a probation report described as "grim". He said: "It's clear the defendant really has deficient social skills and had found himself terribly isolated in the community. He has never been in a meaningful relationship and is a vulnerable individual. He is apologetic and feels he has let himself down, he needs some help." He added: "There was potential for more to occur, but it didn't. It was rather limited what took place in the conversation." Judge James Adkin, the Recorder of Durham, said it was a "very serious breach". He said: "It's clear you wanted more sexual communication with a child and your previous convictions do you no favours. It's not the first time you have done these sort of things." Cook was jailed for 20 months.

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Kyle Welsh, from Stockton, was investigated by police after they received a third-party report in 2020 that he had sexually assaulted a child from around 2009 to 2013.

The girl was aged roughly six or seven when the abuse began.

Cleveland Police said specialist officers provided safeguarding and support during the investigation, and remarked on the girl's courage to come forward.

Welsh appeared at court in March and pleaded guilty to sexual assault of a child and sexual activity with a child. He was remanded in HMP Durham and appeared for sentencing at Teesside Crown Court on Wednesday 18 May.

Welsh, of Consett Close, Stockton, received a prison sentence of five years and 10 months and will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) as well as a restraining order on his release.

Speaking on Tuesday 24 May, officer in the case Detective Sergeant Cheryl Hall, said: "This was an upsetting case involving offending against a child who was only six or seven years old when it began.

"The victim lived with what happened to her for many years until she felt able to confide in someone, which took an enormous amount of courage.

"I hope she can take some comfort now that Welsh is behind bars and that he will also be subject to strict conditions.

"I hope she can begin to rebuild her life and I wish her well for the future."

Detective Chief Inspector Deb Fenny added: "I cant emphasise enough that police are here for victims of sexual abuse - no matter how long ago it may have taken place.

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A WARRANT has been issued for the arrest of a man convicted and given a custodial sentence in his absence this week for sexually assaulting an underage girl. Craig Elliott, 32, was found guilty of two counts of sexual assaulting a girl under 13 by touching on the third day of his trial at Durham Crown Court. The trial began on Monday afternoon as the court as given no good reason for the absence of the defendant, among suggestions that he may be in Ireland. Both offences are said to have taken place in early October last year and Elliott, formerly of West Crescent, Easington Colliery, but living while on remand at an address in East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, in Scotland, denied them both at a plea hearing at the court, on November 2. The case was adjourned for trial this week, although there have been further mentions, a ground rules hearing and the pre-recording of cross-examination of the victim, in the meantime. Following the jurys guilty verdicts, Judge James Adkin imposed a 40-month prison sentence on Elliott and said the defendant should be subject of registration as a sex offender, indefinitely. The Crown will also seek the imposition of further restrictions by way of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, as well as a restraining order, for the protection of his victim, as and when the defendant is arrested and brought before the court. In the meantime, Judge Adkin issued a bench warrant not backed by bail for the arrest of Elliott.

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A County Durham pervert has been jailed for having sexual activity with a child and sexually assaulting a woman.

Paul Bell denied the offences but was found guilty following a three-day trial at Durham Crown Court last week. The 41-year-old appeared back in front of a judge at the court on Thursday to be sentenced for sexual assault, sexual activity with a child, and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

The court heard Bell, who appeared at the court via link from HMP Durham, carried out the offences while drunk.

Shaun Dodds, prosecuting, read from victim statements of both victims, who described what impact Bell's offending had had on them. One said it had affected her mental health and left her feeling nervous whenever around anyone who has been drinking. She added she did not think she would ever be able to forget her experience.

The younger victim said she had feared not being believed and had been left unable to sleep. She added her education had suffered as a result.

Ian West, defending, said Bell was of previous good character but added that he was "limited" with what he could say on his behalf due to him being found guilty after a trial.

Judge James Adkin told Bell, of Yewtree Avenue, Shildon, he had left his victims suffering with trauma and anxiety. He said: "One victim suffered significant trauma after what you did when you were drunk."

He added that Bell could "not control your attraction to a child" and sentenced him to 46 months in prison. Bell will also be on the sex offender's register for life and a restraining order was also imposed. A life time sexual harm prevention order was also made.