Latest Offenders Durham

Description

Andrew Hardy, 54, was jailed for grooming two girls and sexually assaulting them.

A paedophile who sexually assaulted two children and caused "ongoing terror" to one and made another look at indecent images has been caged.

Andrew Hardy groomed the two girls and sexually assaulted them. The 54-year-old made one child look at indecent images and terrified another by telling her the world was "filled with ginger-haired paedophiles".

Hardy, of Finchale Avenue, Brasside, Durham, appeared at Durham Crown Court on Friday to be sentenced for the sexual offences after being found guilty following a trial.

Rachel Masters, prosecuting, said Hardy carried out "grooming behaviour" which involved a "significant degree of planning" and breach of trust. She said he "deliberately isolated" the victims in order to "facilitate the offences". She added: "One girl was made to watch indecent images of children." The court heard that Hardy also had a conviction for possession of 133,000 indecent images and had been given a prison sentence.

Paul Cross, defending, said Hardy suffers from incurable ulcerative colitis and said he would be serving his prison sentence in "a state of discomfort and pain". He added that Hardy's prison sentence would also have an impact upon his family.

Sentencing Hardy, Judge Jo Kidd, said: "You used the opportunity to gratify your own personal, sexual interest in children. You groomed a girl against the backdrop of terrifying her by talking about inappropriate subject matter. To make her dependant on you and scare her in a way to prevent her from disclosing what was happening, you caused her ongoing terror, saying that the world was filled with ginger-haired paedophiles. You were the paedophile."

Speaking of the second victim, Judge Kidd added: "You persistently groomed her, which involved showing her indecent images of children. You encouraged her to go on websites herself to look at images of that nature. It was a highly cynical decision on your part. She can now never forget seeing those images as a child."

Hardy was jailed for five years and was made subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order. An indefinite sexual harm prevention order was imposed and Hardy will be on the sex offender's register for an indefinite period. An indefinite restraining order was also imposed.

Description

A former senior Anglican clergyman in the North-East is facing a potential third prison sentence in six years after his latest conviction for indecent assault.

The retired Archdeacon of Auckland, George Granville Gibson, received sentences of 12-months and ten months, following convictions after trials at Durham Crown Court and Teesside Crown Court, in 2016 and 2019, respectively.

After a subsequent report and review into the Church’s handling of complaints against Gibson, dating from the 1970s and 80s, the Bishop of Durham, the Right Reverent Paul Butler, expressed, “deep shame and regret”, at his, “terrible crimes.” 

 The incidents involved young men, some classed as, “vulnerable”, who Gibson came across in his role in parishes across the Durham diocese, including St Clare’s at Newton Aycliffe, in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

The now 86-year-old former churchman, of Worsley Park, Darlington, was back before Durham Crown Court this week, to face trial for three further counts of indecent assault dating from the late 1970s.

In this case the complainant was a man, then in his late teens, who was recruited from a local drama group to perform in a Christmas pantomime at the church.

He described how Gibson would be present for rehearsals in the church hall and, while often in a group situation, he would massage the complainant’s shoulders and move his hand further down his back.

It culminated in Gibson allegedly pulling the complainant towards his midriff and rubbing against him.

The victim said there were other similar incidents, in either the church kitchen or office, and at the home of another cast member at an after-show party.

He told the court he did not consent to any of the unwanted touching and was “shocked” but did not consider reporting it at the time as he felt he would never be believed.

The victim told the court it all came back to him when he read of Gibson’s 2016 conviction in a newspaper, and later, after he read of the allegations being brought that resulted in the second trial, in 2019.

He finally broke his silence and told his wife in 2018, after which he reported it to police.

When arrested Gibson said he could not recall the victim and denied the allegations, claiming he had no sexual interest in men at the time.

He said there came a period, in about the mid-1980s, when he was, “all mixed up” as to his sexuality, but he denied having behaved, as, “a predatory sex offender”. 

 Gibson, who maintained his denials when cross-examined, pointed out that he had been acquitted of some other allegations at his two past trials, and continued to protest his innocence to all the offences he has been convicted of in recent years.

He denied the latest three allegations of indecent assault, and, after three-hours’ deliberation was convicted of two of the offences on unanimous jury verdicts.

Addressing Gibson’s counsel, Robert Mochrie, Judge James Adkin said: “To an extent there’s an inevitability about the sentence.

“The only thing to make me hesitate is to the state of the defendant’s (medical) treatment, at the moment, and how that may be affected by the verdicts.”

Mr Mochrie said the defendant, “a man in his mid-80s in poor health”, begins a specific bout of three-rounds of chemotherapy treatment next week, but said he does understand he faces another immediate custodial sentence.

But Mr Mochrie said he would make submissions as to whether it should be immediate, given the prison terms Gibson served after the 2016 and 2019 convictions.

Judge Adkin said the defendant could have admitted the full extent of his offending after his trial in 2019.

“He didn’t and he could have done,” added Judge Adkin.

Bailing Gibson to return for sentence on November 24, the judge said he would hear submissions from prosecution and defence counsel before deciding if the latest sentence is to be an immediate one. 

Description

A serving soldier’s career is over after he took part in sexual communication online with what he thought was a 14-year-old girl.

Steven Lancaster’s downfall was making contact with what, in reality, was a non-existent girl, ‘Megan’, via the Kik app, in October 2020.

Durham Crown Court was told the profile of ‘Megan’ was posted on the site Young Girls and Older Men by a member of the online child protection group Innocent Voices.

Christopher Bevan, prosecuting, said it was made clear to Lancaster, who was 34 at the time, that ‘Megan’ was purporting to be aged 14. 

 Mr Bevan said over a period of more than a month, it was, “prolonged and consistent communication”, where the subject matter was, “of a nature inappropriate for a person who he believed to be a 14-year-old girl.”

The defendant sent her pictures of naked women and of a couple having “graphic” sexual relations.

Innocent Voices reported his conduct to police and when he was arrested officers seized his phone, on which they found indecent videos of children in the ten to 14-year bracket, two each in the most serious categories, A and B, and one in C, along with an indecent image of a child, also in the C bracket.

Mr Bevan said the videos were of between 30 seconds and one minute 59 seconds in duration.

Lancaster was interviewed and fully admitted the offending, but he denied having any sexual interest in children or that he gained any sexual gratification from the images.

The defendant, now 36 and of previous good character, admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, plus three counts of making (possessing) indecent images of children.

Amrit Jandoo, representing the defendant, pointed out that it was, “an attempt” as the child he believed he was communicating with did not exist.

Mr Jandoo conceded the images found on Lancaster’s phone were “abhorrent”

He said the background was the deep depression Lancaster suffered due to injuries suffered as a serving soldier.

“Despite him serving his country well, as seen by the references before the court, his career is at an end because of the offending behaviour.

“It’s very disappointing for him.

“His motivation is to recognise these are serious offences and probation can work with him.” 

 Judge James Adkin told Mr Jandoo: “He thought he was communicating with a 14-year-old girl.”

Mr Jandoo replied: “A Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) may assist with him behaving in that way.”

Judge Adkin said given that the risk thought to be posed to the public by Lancaster was “moderate”, and given the, “strong character references I have read, plus his medical problems and depression”, he could suspend the eight-month prison sentence for two years.

But the defendant, of Warner Avenue, St Helen Auckland, must complete 50-hours’ unpaid work, attend 30 probation-led rehabilitation activity days and a sex offenders’ group work programme.

He was also made subject of notification as a sex offender and a SHPO, both for ten years. 

Description

Pervert John Husband will never be able to return to work as an occupational therapist following his criminal conviction.

An occupational therapist who escaped jail despite being found in possession of 1.7m indecent images of children has been struck off.

John Husband, then 55, of Snow's Green Road, Shotley Bridge, County Durham, who had no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images, possession prohibited images of a child and possessing extreme pornography in November last year.

When he was arrested in June 2020 at his then-Newcastle address, police officers found horrifying images on 43 different devices - and of the 12 that were forensically examined, police found eight images of the most serious type, category A, 11 category B and 32,090 category C.

Now, the Health and Care Professions Tribunal Service has confirmed he has been struck off the medical register following a hearing of the HCPTS's Conduct and Competence Committee last week. Husband admitted the charges ahead of trial, and was given a 22-month jail sentence suspended for two years with a six month curfew and a sexual harm prevention order and sex offender registration for 10 years.

The tribunal considered the seriousness of his offending and the length of sentence in its deliberations. Following the hearing held between September 26 and 29, Husband was struck off. He had previously worked in acute mental health services in the city.

In its findings, the tribunal stated: "[Husband's] submissions do not adequately reflect an acknowledgment of the actual or potential effect of his behaviour on others. [He] qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 1993, and as part of his training and subsequent practice had undergone safeguarding training that would have alerted him to the consequences of this type of behaviour/ conduct. In addition, the Panel noted that the [he] had worked in acute mental health services."

The panel said they agreed with Judge Stephen Earl, who at Newcastle Crown Court last year said: " I am not certain that there is any more remorse than the fact that you have been captured."

Husband had not attended the hearing - he indicated via email in August that he would not be present nor would he require legal representation. The hearing was also due to consider whether Husband had a health condition impairing his fitness to practice - but did not do so after finding that his convictions in themselves were worthy of striking off.

The tribunal findings also highlighted how that, "by the nature of the work they do", occupational therapists came into contact with vulnerable individuals - and that Husband's behaviour "very serious particularly in view of the nature of the images involved, the number of the images involved and the fact that the behaviour continued for many years".

The tribunal also found: "There is a risk that the Registrant will repeat behaviour of the sort he indulged in. That risk would necessarily translate into a risk of harm to patients were the registrant to be able to return to practise as an Occupational Therapist."

Description

A paedophile who was found with a hoard of sickening abuse images had shared some to other perverts online and videoed two children on his phone.

Jack Mellis, 22, was found in possession of 46 hours worth of category A indecent videos when police examined his mobile phone. Officers had seized his phone after they became aware he had been sharing child abuse images online. But worryingly, during analysis of his iPhone, an expert discovered two videos of young children which he had surreptitiously filmed himself.

Mellis, of Ushaw Moor, County Durham, appeared at Durham Crown Court on Wednesday to be sentenced for making indecent images, distribution of indecent images, and voyeurism. He had pleaded guilty to the charges at a previous hearing.

Deborah Smithies, prosecuting, said on December 28, last year, police received information that Mellis had uploaded two category B indecent images - which depicted a 10-year-old girl - to Reddit. She said: "Police went to the defendant's home address on June 9 this year and spoke to the defendant, who said he may have inadvertently downloaded indecent images. His iPhone was seized and examined by an expert."

The court heard that following examination of his iPhone, a total of 113 category A images and nine videos were found, along with 128 category B images and three videos, and 457 category C images and nine videos. But as well as those indecent images, a concerning video was also discovered of a child that Mellis had secretly filmed himself by hiding his phone.

Ms Smithies said that analysis of his iPhone continued and on July 1, another video was discovered of a child that Mellis had secretly filmed - the court heard the video lasted 15 seconds. When Mellis was interviewed by police, he made "full admissions" and told officers he had "hundreds of images" and admitted he "obtained sexual gratification from viewing them". He said he would view images on a website and save some into a folder and "accepted sharing images with others".

Lewis Kerr, defending, said there was a "strong, realistic prospect of rehabilitation" and said since his arrest he had begun engaging with a foundation and had been in employment. He said that Mellis and members of his family had also spent over 100 days living in a Washington Travelodge since the offences. Mr Kerr added: "He is able to reflect on his offending and has shown victim awareness. He sincerely recognises the harm he has caused."

Sentencing Mellis, Judge Jo Kidd said he was found in possession of "46 hours worth of category A videos" and jailed him for 18 months and made him subject of a 10-year sexual harm prevention order. He will also be on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

Description

A man who remains in denial about the serious sexual abuse of a young girl despite his recent conviction has received an 18-year custodial sentence.

Bryan Tulip was sentenced as, “an offender of particular concern”, after being found guilty of two counts of rape, one covering several repeat offences, plus sexual assault of the girl, following a trial at Durham Crown Court last month.

The 45-year-old defendant, of Hillside Gardens, Stanley, had denied all counts at a plea hearing at the court in March.

Appearing by video link from nearby Durham Prison, the sentencing hearing was told Tulip still denies the offences for which he was convicted.

Since the conviction, on August 8, the victim has prepared an impact statement to be read to the court.

Ian West, prosecuting, delivered the statement, in which the victim, now an adult woman, spoke of the effect of Tulip’s actions on her, how it affected her education and childhood in general, and how she has suffered anxiety since.

She also said she is always guarded in the presence of any man, even in shops, and she outlined how difficult it was to tell police and relive what happened to her in her childhood days at Tulip’s hands.

The victim said now the case is over she is to seek counselling.

She added: “I can’t forgive him for what he did and for putting me through a trial.

“In my opinion he should go to prison for a very long time and not be allowed near to children again.”

 Tony Davis, for the defendant, said he was restricted in what he could say in mitigation as Tulip still denies culpability.

Mr Davis said otherwise, his client has been hard-working and a dedicated son and carer for his parents and various children he has helped to looked after.

But Judge Adkin said: “Having a good character, apart from abusing a young child, is meaningless. 

 He said he would pass a special sentence for an offender, “of particular concern,” as his victim was aged under 13.

The sentence involves a custodial element of 18 years, with a further 12 months’ extended licence period upon his eventual release.

Judge Adkin put in place a restraining order, prohibiting Tulip ever trying to contact or approach his victim.

He will also be subject to lifetime restrictions under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and registration as a sex offender, also indefinitely. 

Description

A man engaged in increasingly sexualised online conversation with what he believed to be an underage girl, a court heard.

But Lucien Cooper was, in reality, chatting to an undercover police officer posing as a 13-year-old girl.

Durham Crown Court heard that contact was first made through the Kik messaging app, on February 9, last year, but after a few days it moved onto Skype, with Cooper soon made aware the female with whom he was chatting was claiming to be 13.

Jonathan Harley, prosecuting, said the tone of the conversation began very politely, but over a 20-day period from February 9 last year it became gradually more suggestive and Cooper said he would “love to see a picture” of his correspondent.

He told her he would teach her to kiss and to touch herself, while he said he had a leash on which he could walk her round, as it would be, “fun to treat her like a dog.”

The chat came to an end on March 1 after he asked if she watched pornography, but he said he would then leave her alone as he was preparing for a job interview.

Police went to his home and arrested him on March 9, seizing his mobile phone, which was found hidden under a mattress.

Examination of the phone uncovered indecent and prohibited images of children.

Mr Harley said Cooper, who has no previous convictions, made full admissions over his online activities when interviewed by police.

The 33-year-old defendant, of Mill Race, West Auckland, admitted attempting to incite a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

He also admitted three counts of making (downloading) indecent images of children and one of possessing prohibited images of children.

Stephen Hamill, mitigating, said the defendant made admissions at the earliest opportunity and unlike most similar cases was “forthcoming” with the police inquiry.

“This is a defendant who put his hands up before his devices were examined.”

Mr Hamill said Cooper has also seen his doctor and undertaken counselling sessions independently, which he feels has benefited him, in trying to address his behaviour.

Judge James Adkin said Cooper encouraged what he thought was a 13-year-old girl to perform sex acts on herself, “grooming her”, all for his own sexual gratification.

“As far as you were concerned this was a 13-year-old girl,” said Judge Adkin, adding that the guidelines now indicate there should only be a minimal deduction in sentence for “attempted” activity where defendants believe the intended victim does exist.

Cooper was also found to have what the judge described as, “utterly repellent” images of children being sexually abused by adults on his phone.

Imposing a 25-month prison sentence, Judge Adkin also made Cooper subject of registration as a sex offender and the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, both for ten years. 

Description

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."

Description

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.

Description

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.

Description

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.

Description

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.

Description

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.