Latest Offenders East Sussex

Description

An ex-doctor who sexually assaulted a patient after visiting her at home has been jailed for 18 months for the offence.

Simon Abraham, 34, of Penrith Way, Eastbourne, was working at Eastbourne District General Hospital when he contacted the female patient, who had been discharged after treatment.

Abraham had told the woman that he had a call from a colleague who was "concerned about her condition". The offender then said that he had been trained in specialist massage in India for two years and could visit her.

She agreed to his visit but during the massage he sexually assaulted her. He left when a visitor came to the house, but continued to phone her afterwards.

The patient then contacted the hospital who advised her that they would investigate, but she should also contact police. An investigation was launched and Abraham was arrested.

After a four day trial at Chichester Crown Court on May 26, Abraham was found guilty of sexual assault. He was sentenced on July 14 to 18 months in prison, with nine months custodial and nine months on licence.

The court also heard how he will be placed on the sex offenders' register for ten years and is subject to a five year restraining order to protect the victim from contact by him. DC Jo Gledhill said: "Abraham took advantage of the victim's pain, fraudulently accessing her patient details even though he wasn't officially treating her, and then visiting her when he finished work, claiming that he could massage her headache away.

"When he was arrested, he denied that it happened at all, but then asked for a further interview where he admitted going to her house, but did not sexually touch her. We will always take reports of this nature very seriously and specially trained officers will deal with your call. If you have been sexually assaulted, please contact us and we will investigate."

Description

A man from East Sussex who travelled to Nepal and the Philippines to sexually abuse children, and coached others online how to groom victims, has been jailed for 21 years imprisonment and seven years extended licence period.

A National Crime Agency investigation was launched in 2019 into a prolific user of a dark web child abuse site called ‘Boyvids4’, after it was identified they were likely based in the UK.

Using the pseudonym ‘Globetrotter’, the individual shared his own experiences of abusing children, and gave extremely detailed advice to a large number of users on where best to travel to find victims, as well as how to approach them.

He also gave technical guidance on encrypting devices and how to avoid detection by law enforcement.

Investigators were able to attribute the online pseudonym to David Mould, 68, who was living in Seaford and he was arrested in April 2020.

On the same day, NCA officers searched his house and workplace, seizing a large number of electronic and digital storage devices.

Mould had saved some of his chat logs from the site on a hard drive. These highlighted the standing which other paedophiles placed him in, with many thanking him for his advice.

One said: “you have been a great deal of help to me, you should write a paedo guide to help rookies like me not to make stupid mistakes and take advantage of opportunities.”

Another stated: “Well you have done just about everything except buy me a plane ticket, bring the boy to my room and unzip him… This gave me the information to come up with a real plan of attack.”

Mould had arranged to meet with that same user in Nepal and introduce him to some young boys who he had abused in the past. In later chats, the user confirms he travelled to the country, and describes how he took one of the boys back to his hotel room and engaged in sexual activity with him.

The user was identified by the NCA as an American man named Michael Taylor and this information was shared with US partners. As a result, Taylor was arrested in Nepal in March 2021 and is currently serving 14 years in prison there for child sex offences.

Investigators matched Mould’s travel history to the frequent trips to the Philippines and Nepal he discussed with other users, during which he abused children. He also had a collection of indecent images and videos of his victims.

They were also able to prove that Mould had made several payments to individuals in both countries. This included money sent to an adult in the Philippines who introduced him to children as young as 13 to abuse.

Mould travelled to Nepal four times between 2016-2019. Officers analysing his phone recovered chats with young Nepalese boys, in which he makes arrangements to meet them at his hotel when they finish school.

The NCA shared evidence from the investigation with international law enforcement. Three children have since been safeguarded in the Philippines.

In total, over 100,000 indecent images of children in categories A-C, together with four interactive paedophile manuals detailing techniques on how to abuse children and avoid detection, were recovered from one of Mould’s hard drives.

Mould pleaded guilty to 24 charges, including four counts of engaging in sexual activity with children as young as 13, and 10 relating to encouraging or inciting the exploitation of children.

He was sentenced today [23/06/2023] at Lewes Crown Court to 21 years imprisonment and seven years extended licence period. He was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life, placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life, a forfeiture order for the destruction of devices where indecent image of children were found and a restraining order against victims.

Hazel Stewart from the National Crime Agency said:

“David Mould is a prolific sexual predator, who dedicated his time and money to abusing children and encouraging others to do the same.

“It was clear that he was respected and admired by other like-minded individuals online, where he provided offenders with a safe environment in which their sexual inclinations were validated.

“Mould took gratification from knowing that the advice he gave led directly to others carrying out abuse.

“Offenders like him think that by travelling to remote parts of the world to conduct their abuse, and by using anonymisation techniques online, they won’t get caught.

“However, the NCA has the capabilities to identify and disrupt the most dangerous offenders. Borders are not a barrier; we work closely with international partners to ensure that Britons committing offences abroad are prosecuted in the UK and vulnerable children are safeguarded, wherever they are in the world.”

The judge commended NCA officers and law enforcement in the Philippines and Nepal.

Description

A twisted predator posed as a taxi driver to sexually attack two women after giving them lifts home. Graham Head, 66, had ambushed one victim by dragging her into a bush, while another had awoken in the back of his car to find him attempting to rape her.

It was later discovered that he kept latex gloves, condoms, Viagra tablets and a balaclava in his car. Head has now been found guilty of kidnap, attempted rape and assault by penetration and is facing a jail sentence.

The first incident was reported by a woman in her late teens on August 19 after she was dragged into the bushes in Hove Park, Sussex, by a man during the early hours of the morning. Prior to the assault, she had received a lift from him from Brighton to Hove Park.

He attempted to rape her but fled the scene when the victim’s mobile began to ring. She later described her attacker as a 40 to 50-year-old short man wearing a face mask.

CCTV showed the victim approaching a silver Mercedes estate, which was then tracked through the city centre and doorbell footage showed him driving slowly along the road near Hove Park.

In another incident four months later on November 18, a woman in her 20s woke up in a vehicle that she believed to be a taxi with a man sexually assaulting her. She had earlier got into what she thought was a taxi taking her from Brighton to Hove.

She managed to escape and called the police at 3.10am and was able to remember three digits of the car’s registration plate. Officers were able to locate the vehicle within minutes and stopped it in Preston Circus following a short pursuit.

Head was discovered wearing a face mask, with the victim’s mobile phone found discarded by the roadside along the route Head had taken during the pursuit. He was arrested on suspicion of kidnap, attempted rape and failing to stop a vehicle when asked to do so.

Following this, he was later connected to the August attack and charged with kidnap, attempted rape, assault by penetration and sexual assault. Since being convicted, the man, of Coast Road in Pevensey, has been remanded into custody to await sentencing.

Detective Constable Elliott Lander from the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team said: “Graham Head is a predatory offender who gained the trust of these victims by posing as a taxi driver, only to take advantage of vulnerable women in the most abhorrent ways.

“The items found in his car show the callous, pre-meditated nature of his crimes as he moved through Brighton and Hove looking for potential victims.

“Thanks to the quick-thinking and bravery of these two women, we were quickly able to connect Head to both incidents and bring him to justice. I would like to thank them both for their support during this investigation.

“Without them, this dangerous individual could still be at large. Instead, he has been brought to justice and the streets of Brighton and Hove are safer as a result.

“We believe Head may have further victims who have not yet come forward. If you believe you may have been a victim, or have any information which could help, please contact police online or via 101, quoting Operation Cooper. Always dial 999 in an emergency.”

Description

Trevor Poole of Howard Place, Brighton, is also known as Trevor Madison.

A 60-year-old man has been sentenced after being found guilty of an historical indecent assault on a boy which took place in the Corby area.

Trevor Poole, also known as Trevor Madison, of Howard Place, Brighton, sexually assaulted a boy in Corby.

A 60-year-old man has been sentenced after being found guilty of an historical indecent assault on a boy which took place in the Corby area.

Trevor Poole, also known as Trevor Madison, of Howard Place, Brighton, sexually assaulted a boy in Corby.

Poole was arrested and denied the offence however following a three-day trial at Northampton Crown Court in November of last year, was found guilty by a jury.

Last month (January 20) at the same court, he was sentenced to three years and four months in prison.

Lead investigator – Detective Constable Helen Campbell, said: “This has been a very lengthy process for the survivor in this case and I hope that the conclusion provides him with some much-needed closure and the knowledge that Trevor Poole has been recognised as the sex offender he is.

“I want to thank him for his support, persistence and courage, qualities he has shown throughout this investigation, and I hope he can move forward with his life with less weight on his shoulders.

“Though nothing will never make up for the effect the assault had on him, I hope he is proud of the courage and determination he has shown.

“Northamptonshire Police takes reports of this nature extremely seriously and we will do all we can to bring the offender to justice.

“We will believe you, we will support and we will do all we can to get you the justice you deserve. I hope this case demonstrates that fact and that it doesn’t matter how much time has passed.”

Description

A man has been jailed for abusing a young girl.

Paul Latham was found guilty of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged between 13 and 15 in Brighton at Hove Crown Court.

The court heard how Latham, then aged 47, knew the girl was underage, but engaged in sexual activity with her at addresses in Hove and Woodingdean.

In November last year, the jury found him guilty of two counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with the victim.

Latham, now 65, was found not guilty of rape.

He was sentenced to nine years in prison by Judge Jeremy Gold KC.

Unemployed Latham, of Wicklands Avenue, Saltdean, will serve a minimum of six years before he can be considered for parole, and will remain on the sex offenders' register for life.

The judge also imposed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order which restricts Latham’s access to children.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, described how she had felt degraded because of the abuse, and continues to have anxiety.

She felt that Latham had taken advantage of her as a child, but is now rebuilding her life and is happy that justice has been served.

Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Andy Lawrence said the victim received support from specially-trained officers after she made her report in 2018.

With support from Detective Constable Lisa Hampson from the sexual offences investigation team, they were able to bring the charges against Latham to secure the conviction.

DS Lawrence said: “Predatory sex offender Paul Latham has now faced justice for preying on a young teenage girl.

“The victim in this case showed extraordinary bravery and tenacity. She has remained determined through a very difficult period.

“We have worked tirelessly to secure this conviction. Victims of sexual offences will always be supported and we take their report seriously.

“We  hope that the outcome of this case will give victims of sexual offences the confidence to come forward and report information to us.

“No matter how long ago the offence was we will try to seek justice.”

Description

A paedophile football coach has been jailed for ten years after he abused eight boys, as young as 11, between 1966 and 2000.

Gerald Highgate, 83, who was a serial sex offender who carried out his abuse for more than three decades, appeared at Guilford Crown Court in Surrey today.

Victims said he had destroyed their childhoods and used their love of football against them.

Judge Micahel Hunter told the sex predator: ‘You groomed boys, possibly as young as 11, over a very long period from 1966 to 2000, a period of 34 years.

‘Had you admitted these offences and spared your victims from the trauma of coming to court and giving evidence in this trial, you would have substantially reduced your sentence.’

Highgate, who coached at the Surrey club’s Chipstead FC and Bletchingley Rifle Club, where he carried out 30 offences against eight boys.

He was convicted after a six-week trial.

Catherine Donnelly for the Crown told the jury: ‘Highgate appears to have been adept at grooming both adults and children and appears to have conducted himself in this way over a significant period of time.

‘On occasion he would use money and treats as a way of placating the children or rewarding them for allowing him to abuse them.’

Police believe there could be many more victims of Highgate who are yet to come forward.

One of Highgate’s victims read out his impact statement to the court, stating he had felt anger, shame and disgust ever since the abuse began.

He told the court: ‘Ultimately, I hate you for abusing me. I loved football and you took that from me.

‘I have lived with what you did for all these years. I only hope I can get the justice I deserve, and I can move on.’

Other victims said they had struggled with relationships throughout their lives after suffering at the hands of Highgate.

Another man said: ‘The stigma of being abused has affected me in so many ways and I have only really come to terms with it in later life.’

Guildford Crown Court heard how parents looked up to him as a respected figure in the community.

Judge Hunter described Highgate’s offending as a serious breach of trust.

He said: ‘The boys were in your care, you were looking after those boys as members of the junior team of which you were the leader, mentor and coach.

‘Many of those boys looked up to you. Certainly, many of the parents admired, respected and looked up to you.

‘In some cases, they were seriously mistaken.’

Highgate pushed his hearing aid through the toughened glass panels of the dock at Guildford Crown Court before being told he was sentenced to a total of ten years in prison for 30 offences against eight boys.

Description

Gary Nash, who sexually assaulted a young girl for around a ten-year period, has now faced justice with a 16-year sentence following an investigation by safeguarding detectives.

Nash, 39, of Tower Road, St Leonards, was sentenced at Hove Crown Court on Thursday (September 8), having previously admitted two offences of sexual assault and one offence of attempting to engage in a penetrative sexual activity with a girl under 13.

He was given a 16-year sentence eight years of which will be served in custody, with the remaining eight years on extended licence. He was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be a registered sex offender for life.

Detective Sergeant Oliver Bali of the East Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit said: "Nash took advantage of his access to the victim to exploit her for his own sexual gratification without anyone else knowing, until earlier this year when she finally found the courage to speak out.

"We started enquiries at once, and swiftly arrested Nash, who admitted all the offences. He would undoubtedly have continued to offend against her, had she not very bravely reported him.

Description

A man who subjected a girl then aged between 10 and 11 to a series of sexual assaults for more than a year in West Sussex sixteen years ago, has now faced justice with a seven year prison sentence.

Gavin Wright, 50, now of Norfolk Way, Uckfield, was sentenced at Chichester Crown Court on 2 August having been convicted of six sexual assaults and for possessing and distributing indecent images of children.

Detective Constable Ellen Jones of the West Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit said: "Wright came to know the young and vulnerable girl whilst living in East Grinstead, gradually gained her confidence and then systematically abused her for his own sexual gratification.

"When we arrested Wright we found in his possession vile indecent images of children being abused.

"While we were investigating his sexual assaults, our colleagues in the force's Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT) were investigating his more recent though completely unrelated online activities. They had found that another sex offender was messaging him and sending these images who he then sent on to others.

"So he received four-and-a-half years for the sexual assaults and an additional two-and-a-half years for the online offending.

"He will also be a registered sex offender for life, and was given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) to last until further notice, severely restricting his access to children and digital devices.

"In addition he was given a court Restraining Order prohibiting him from any contact with his victim."

The victim who finally found the resolution and courage to tell the police, told the court: "My reason for reporting the incident was to expose him for what he is to the world manipulative and dangerous - and ensure that what I went through is never allowed to be repeated and affect the life of any other young person. No person deserves to have any of this happen to them. He deserves to face the consequences of his actions now and in the future."

Description

Michael James Green, 80, previously of Neville Avenue in Hove, denied 12 counts of buggery and indecent assaults when he appeared at Chichester Crown Court but was convicted on July 7 after a nine-day trial.

The offences against four boys took place between 1973 and 1993 and came to light when the victims saw publicity about his previous offending and contacted police. At the time of the abuse, all of the boys were aged between 13 and 16 years of age.

Green, who was also a friend and mentor of Sarah Payne's killer Roy Whiting, met two of the boys when he worked as an insurance salesman in Brighton.

One of the boys thought of Green as a family friend but was abused in his own home.

Green gained access to the second boy through coaching an ice hockey team in Brighton, who he took him to Devil’s Dyke where he abused him. He also abused him at Green’s home address.

He forced both boys to perform sex acts and raped one of them.

Green went on to be a sports coach at a boarding school in West Sussex, where he abused the other two boys, grooming and assaulting them.

He was sentenced to 17 and a half years imprisonment by the court earlier today.

Detective Constable Nikki Thiim of the Sussex Police Complex Abuse Unit, who investigated the latest allegations, said: “We have huge admiration for the courage the four latest victims have shown throughout the investigation and this trial.

“Their resilience to help see justice fully done, and the giving of their evidence at the trial has been remarkable.

“Green always denied these allegations, which forced them to relive their experiences in court, which has been extremely difficult and upsetting for them.

“It is clear that for many years, Green has actively involved himself in families, befriending them, encouraging them to let him involve their sons in sport, giving him access to young and often vulnerable boys, who he has systematically abused.”

Green was already serving time in prison, having been sentenced to nine years in September 2018 after being convicted of 17 indecent assaults between 1980 and 1994 against seven boys aged between 12 and 16, in addition to another nine-year sentence imposed in 2014 for four counts of sexual offences against four young boys.

Description

A MAN has been jailed for more than three years for offences of sexual activity and voyeurism against two young girls. Christian Charles Turner, 30, of Little London Road, Horam, was sentenced at Hove Crown Court to a total of three years and four months, having previously pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity against a girl aged 13. He also pleaded guilty to six counts of voyeurism involving another girl, then aged 11 and 12. He also admitted making a series of nearly 4,000 indecent images of children, all taken from the internet and none believed to be of local children, found on his two mobile phones when officers arrested him last year. Turner will be a registered sex offender for life and the court also gave him a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which will severely restrict his access to children and digital devices. Detective Constable Sean Stapley of the East Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit, said: "Our investigation started when we were contacted by a family last autumn with concerns that their daughter had raised about Turner's behaviour. "It became clear that he had systematically ingratiated himself with the two families, gaining their confidence to a point at which he was able to commit the offences. "Thanks to their willingness to be ready to give evidence, justice has now been done and a predatory child sex offender has been exposed and punished and steps have been put in place to manage him on release."

Description

A ROMAN Catholic priest has been jailed for sexual offences against a teenage boy he met in church.

Father Anthony White has been convicted of two counts of indecent assault and one of buggery against the boy.

The offences happened in the early 1990s at an address where White was living in Horsham while he was an assistant priest at St John's Church.

The 64-year-old was sentenced to ten years and six months in prison for the sexual assault.

White, now of Cross-In-Hand, Heathfield, was also given five years for each offence of indecent assault, to run concurrently.

He will serve two thirds of his sentence in prison. 

 Detective Constable Yvonne Daddow said: "White got to know the boy when he and his family attended the church.

“He gradually gained their confidence and the boy started to visit the priest's address in Horsham on the pretext of doing some jobs around the house.

“However on the first occasion White plied the boy with drink and then raped him. On further occasions he also committed sexual assaults on the teenager.

"The victim kept these terrible experience to himself for nearly 30 years and they have had a very serious impact on his mental health and wellbeing all that time.

“Only when watching a TV documentary about unrelated cases of misconduct by priests did he feel able to come forward and disclose what had happened to him.”

He has been supported by specially trained officers and officers have had full co-operation from church authorities throughout the investigation, police said.

“I would like to thank the witnesses for their time in coming forward to support the police in this investigation,” Detective Constable Daddow added.

"We will always investigate such cases and provide support to victims, seeking justice wherever possible no matter how long ago the events are said to have happened."

The prosecution followed an investigation by detectives from the West Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit after a report was received by police for the first time in 2020. 

Description

A MAN who raped a young girl over a five-year period has been jailed. Keith Alan Fairbrother assaulted the girl in the early 2000s, when he was in his 40s. The assaults took place over a five-year period when the girl was in her early teens. Fairbrother had come to know the victims family over time and used this friendship to exploit her. The 59-year-old was convicted of four offences of rape and three offences of sexual assault by penetration. At Chichester Crown Court, Fairbrother, of Glovers Lane, Bexhill, was sentenced to 18 years in prison after a two-week trial. Detective Constable Ella Bigsby, of the East Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit, said: "He had come to know the victim's family and gained her confidence over a period of time, enabling him to exploit her for his own sexual gratification. "His victim showed great courage in contacting us, supporting the investigation and giving evidence in court, resulting in his conviction and the removal from the streets of an opportunist but predatory sex offender." In a statement, the victim said: "In coming forward to the police, I finally did what adults around me should have done all those years ago, and became the person I needed when younger. Thank you to everyone who was involved in the case, with a special thank you to DC Ella Bigsby for being my strength, barrister Jennifer Gray for being my voice, and the jury." Detective Constable Bigsby added: "This is another example of the way in which justice can be achieved for victims of sexual offences, no matter when the offending took place."

Description

A 63-year-old man has been jailed having been found guilty of sexually abusing a young girl over several years. Brian Matthews, of London Road, Bexhill, has been handed a 19-year sentence for his offences.

Matthews began sexually assaulting his victim when she was only nine years old. The abuse continued into her late teens.

As well as the sexual abuse, which included multiple counts of rape, Matthews subjected the girl to both "emotional and psychological abuse" as he attempted to normalise his behaviour and control the actions of the victim. His abusive actions continued for many years.

Police eventually received reports of the crimes and began investigating. The victim was provided with specialist support from officers whilst Matthews was arrested and charged with the following offences:

- Four counts of assault on a girl under 13 by touching

- Four counts of assault on a female over 13 with penetration

- Rape of a girl aged 13 to 15

- Two counts of rape of a female aged 16 or over

- Two counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child

- Cruelty to a person under 16

- Engaging in coercive and controlling behaviour

Having been charged, Matthews denied all the charges brought against him. He was found guilty by a jury on all of the above charges with the exception of one charge of rape of a female aged 16 or over, whilst the judge discharged the jury from reaching a verdict on the charge of engaging in coercive and controlling behaviour.

On April 28 at Lewes Crown Court, Matthews was handed his sentence of 19 years in jail including one year on extended licence. He has been placed on the sex offenders' register for life.

Matthews was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) forbidding any contact with the victim or any child under 18 without consent of a parent/guardian and social services, or if inadvertent and not reasonably avoidable. He is prohibited from possessing any device which may be capable of storing or accessing digital images unless access is provided for inspection by a police officer or police employee.

Detective Liz Brunt said: Brian Matthews depraved, horrific abuse robbed his young victim of her childhood and she will have to live with the effects for the rest of her life. I would like to thank her for the incredible bravery she has shown not only in reporting these crimes initially, but in supporting our investigation and helping to put a dangerous predator behind bars.

Without her courage and determination, this simply would not have been possible. Hopefully this sentence will offer some measure of comfort to her and stop Matthews from causing further harm to young people.

For information on reporting sexual offences and the support that is available, see the Sussex Police website.

Description

Former Isle of Wight man Robert Howart Duncan, who sexually abused 2 children, has been sentenced to 12 years behind bars. Duncan, of Chapel Walk in Bexhill-on-Sea in East Sussex but previously of Gurnard, near Cowes, first appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court on 13th April last year facing a total of 4 historic charges; assault of a child under 13 by penetration, attempted rape of a child under 13 and 2 counts of non-penetrative sexual activity with a child. The 61-year-old pleaded not guilty to all of the charges against him and the case went to trial at the Isle of Wight Crown Court. The court heard how Duncan, who previously worked for 2 local undertakers, had sexually abused the 2 underage girls with 1 of them suffering at the hands of the paedophile for a 6-year period. The youngest victim was just 8-years-old, with the offences taking place between 1999 and 2015. On 21st March, a jury found him guilty on 3 counts but not guilty of the attempted rape. The case was sent to Portsmouth Crown Court for sentencing. Appearing in the dock last Friday, Robert Duncan was sentenced to a total of 12 years behind bars and 1 year on licence. The judge also ordered him to sign on as a registered sex offender indefinitely and also made him subject to a sexual harm prevention order for an indefinite period. It was decided that Duncan must serve a minimum of 8 years behind bars before he can apply for parole meaning he will be behind bars until at least 2030.

Description

An amphetamine addicted predator has been sentenced to 23 years in prison having been found guilty of drugging and raping three men. The third offence occurred in East Sussex in April 2021.

In his third offence, Nico Baxter, 39, approached a homeless man sleeping on a bench before inviting him back to his flat under the pretext of drinking coffee. They both "spoke about being gay" before taking amphetamines, which Baxter injected into him, the court heard.

They engaged in foreplay, but the man said there was to be no penetration due to Baxter's HIV status - Baxter proceeded to rape the man. In a statement, he said Baxter had ruined his life in one day.

The first two offences took place in Manchester and Stockport respectively, where Baxter had lived before relocating to Sussex, and also involved drug use. In the first instance Baxter, of East Sussex, encountered a man in the streets of Manchester on December 16, 2019.

The pair went back to his house, where he contacted his drug dealer to get crack cocaine, which they took together. Baxter then left, before returning with another woman before more drugs were taken, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.

The victim then went to bed, before he woke up with Baxter on top of him. "He could feel a pain, his boxer shorts were pulled off, he couldnt move and he was powerless to resist and froze lying there whilst he was being raped - the defendant left the room and went downstairs whilst the victim lay in bed afraid," prosecutor Amanda Johnson said.

Baxter later went back upstairs and raped the man again, while he lay 'immobile, frozen and powerless'. Hours later, the victim, who had struggled with drug use and was mourning the loss of a loved one, went downstairs.

Baxter told him: "Let me look after you." The victim took an overdose and was in hospital for a few days before he was able to report the incident to police, the court heard.

Giving evidence at trial, he said he has since wanted to move house and said the incident 'undermined his pride and dignity as a man'. The next incident happened in April 2020, when Baxter met an alcoholic man who was waiting for a friend in Stockport town centre when he saw Baxter and asked if he had seen his friend.

"The defendant said his friend was at his house, which was a blatant lie designed to lure the victim back to his flat," the prosecutor said. "He gave him a small white tablet and the man asked where his friend was, at which the defendant pretended to call him.

"He asked if he was gay, and he said he was not and had a girlfriend. He was drinking cider, before the defendant approached him with a syringe and squirted the contents into his mouth."

He fell unconscious before waking up on a mattress with no recollection of how he got there. He then realised Baxter was raping him - it happened again after he awoke, with the man saying he felt "powerless".

The victim left, before calling police in a "terrible state", describing feeling "belittled and disgusted" by what had happened. In a statement, he said he felt "duped" by Baxter, and said he was vulnerable and had low self-worth and dignity and feels uncomfortable and scared around other men.

The court heard Baxter has 37 previous convictions for 84 offences, none of which were sexual in nature. Mitigating, barrister Beverley Cherrill said there was intervention needed to "reduce the risk of taking drugs with others".

Sentencing, Judge Bernadette Baxter said: "You have no remorse for what you have done and maintained that it was consensual and you have shown no insight into what you have done to them. These offences demonstrate that you are a predatory sex offender with an addiction to amphetamine.

"This addiction exacerbates any sexual preoccupations - you were always on the lookout for a sexual opportunity and were able to identify vulnerable individuals who were unable to fight you off. You pre-planned and had little or no internal control over your sexual impulses.

"At the time of the commission of these offences, although he was HIV positive, it was undetectable," she said. "One can completely understand why the victims had concerns."

Baxter was found guilty of seven offences of rape by a jury following a trial in February. He was jailed for 23 years with an extended licence period of two years; and ordered to sign the sex offender register indefinitely - he will serve two thirds of his custodial sentence before being considered for release.

"I find you to be a dangerous offender under the sentencing provisions, and that you present a significant risk of serious harm to members of the public," said the judge.