Latest Offenders Essex

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A prolific sexual offender is now behind bars thanks to the diligence, hard-work, and professionalism of specialist sexual abuse investigators.

In May, 21 year-old Nathan Behrens admitted eight child sexual offences including attempted rape, sexual assault, possessing of indecent images of a child.

The offences took place between 2022 and 2025 and involved a child as young as four.

Specialist officers who investigate child sexual abuse carefully, sensitively, and meticulously built a case against him.

They spoke to and supported the victims to take their accounts

As part of the investigation they identified that Behrens had searched for child pornography on the internet.

At Chelmsford Crown Court on 15 May, Behrens, of Julien Court Road, Braintree, admitted:

• Attempted rape
• Three counts of sexual assault
• Assault by penetration
• Possession or making of indecent images of children
• Engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child
• Casing a child to watch an image of sexual activity

At the same court on Friday 14 August he was jailed for 16 years with a further eight years on extended licence.

Detective Constable Kai Ishaq said:

“Nathan Behrens poses a significant risk to children. His actions have caused a great deal of harm to those affected and that can have a long-lasting effect.

“I want to pay tribute to the victims and their families in this case for the courage they have shown and thank them for trusting us to secure justice for them.

“Due to the meticulous investigation and the evidence we were able to build up against Behrens he has been left with no option but to admit his crimes and will now spend the foreseeable future behind bars.”

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South Essex delivery driver jailed for online child sex offences

A delivery driver from Benfleet has been jailed after engaging in sexual online chats with people he believed were underage girls.

Keelan Cooper, 22, of Avondale Road, Benfleet, pleaded guilty at Basildon Crown Court to two charges of attempting to sexually communicate with a child and one count of attempting to cause or incite a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in penetrative sexual activity.

In August 2025, Cooper, using the name Tom, added a decoy calling herself Jessica on the Say Hi app and moved the conversation to WhatsApp. When she said she was “nearly 13,” he told her he had a foot fetish and asked: “I was wondering if you had any bare feet pics please?”

Two months later, in October, using the name Bob, he contacted a second decoy, Olivia, who said she was 14. He again requested bare feet pictures, praised the image she sent, then asked if she ever got “horny” and talked her through performing a sex act on herself. He also asked if she had seen a penis and suggested trading genital photos. The chat lasted two days and ran to 54 pages when printed.

Both “girls” were online vigilante paedophile hunters. After the second exchange they confronted Cooper at his home and called Essex Police.

Defence barrister Alfred Underwood sought a suspended sentence, citing Cooper’s degenerative hereditary mobility condition, lack of previous convictions, and the sudden death of his father from bowel cancer in February 2025, which left him in a “particularly low place.” Cooper had lost his previous job after arrest but later secured full-time work delivering car parts. He had withdrawn from social media, and the defence argued there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

Prosecutor Robert Colover outlined the facts. The probation service assessed Cooper as a medium risk of future sexual offending and of causing serious harm to female children. He denied any sexual attraction to children and offered no explanation for his actions.

Judge Shane Collery KC refused to suspend the sentence. “I have real concerns that it would send the wrong message out, that if you do this not just once but twice, the courts will be lenient,” he said. “In my judgement, it is not correct to suspend the sentence.”

He added: “We need to remember here that we are not dealing with an isolated incident. In my view, that does make a difference. There is a real public concern at such incidents and to see it on two separate occasions really raises that concern.”

Cooper was sentenced to 30 months in prison.

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Richard Barrett, 44, of Cunningham Close, Shoeburyness, jailed for child abuse images

A south Essex man who distributed videos of child sexual abuse has been jailed after repeatedly failing to attend court.

Richard Barrett laughed while police took his mugshot following his arrest. He later breached bail on four occasions in 2025, missing hearings at Basildon Crown Court on 12 May, 29 May, 16 June and 3 November.

On Wednesday 12 August 2026 he appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court (sitting as a satellite court for Basildon Crown Court) and was sentenced by Judge Richard Conley.

Barrett was convicted of seven offences relating to indecent images of children. These comprised three counts of making indecent images and three counts of distributing them, plus one count of possessing an extreme pornographic image showing a human performing oral sex on an animal.

He possessed 49 Category A videos and 56 Category A images (the most serious category, involving penetrative or sadistic abuse), nine Category B videos and 52 Category B images, and eight Category C videos and 75 Category C images. He distributed seven Category A videos, one Category B video and one Category C video.

Judge Conley imposed a prison sentence of three years and two months and ordered the destruction of the devices holding the material. Barrett is barred from working with children or vulnerable adults, must register as a sex offender, and is subject to a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order requiring him to register electronic devices with police and make them available for inspection without notice.

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Our Police Online Investigation Team (POLIT) and colleagues have ensured a Basildon man is jailed after he was caught trying to arrange to rape children.

Stuart Ross, 50, of Orlando Drive in Basildon, first spoke to a woman called Louise on social media on 15 November 2020.

Ross quickly turned the conversation to describing the sexual acts and abuse he wanted to act out on Louise and her two young daughters, aged four years old and four months old, and how soon he would be able to visit them.

Over the course of 11 days he exchanged dozens of messages with Louise and had phone calls confirming times and dates he would travel to her address in Yorkshire.

The two daughters were not real, and ‘Louise’ was an undercover police officer based in the Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Crime Unit.

Arrested, charged, pleading not guilty

On 26 November 2020 our POLIT officers – specialists in tackling online child sex offences – arrested Ross, taking him into custody and seizing his electronics.

Searches for travel times between his and the officer’s address, as well as dozens of searches for abusive material, were found on the devices.

He was charged with attempting to arrange or facilitate the commission of a child sex offence, and publishing an obscene article.

While he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge, after appearing at Basildon Crown Court for a three-day trial a jury found Ross guilty of attempting to arrange a child sex offence as well. He was remanded in custody and today, Thursday 13 August, was sentenced to nine years in prison, with a further two years on an extended licence, at the same court. He will have to serve at least two-thirds of his custodial sentence in prison.

He was also given a 15-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order which tightly controls what access he can have to internet-connected electronic devices, and will remain on the sex offenders’ register for life.

'Ross is a sexual predator'

POLIT Detective Constable Sally Keddy, the investigating officer in the case, said:

In interview he tried to claim his messages were just a fantasy. At court he pleaded not guilty. In reality, Ross is a sexual predator.

He is a danger to children and now he is spending time in prison for his offences, children are safer.

It is right that he now serves a long sentence for his abhorrent offending.

We are fully committed to ensuring those who pose a threat to vulnerable children are brought to justice, working closely with our colleagues nationwide as we did with the Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Crime Unit in this case.

We work across borders to stop these crimes and protect our communities. Those committing these offences should expect to be brought to justice.

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The mother of a 13-year-old girl who was attacked while roller-skating home in Basildon has praised the "speed and compassion" shown by Essex Police throughout the investigation.

She said her daughter was "listened to, believed and treated with care" from the moment the incident was reported, and credited the swift police response with helping her daughter's recovery and ensuring the offender was quickly brought to justice.

Her comments come after Mohammed Younas, 31, was jailed for a total of nine years and two months with an extended licence of three years at Basildon Crown Court on Wednesday 5 August.

Younas - a British-born national - admitted a range of serious offences, including kidnap, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, being concerned in the supply of cocaine, possession of criminal property and possession with intent to supply cocaine and cannabis.

His conviction followed a fast-moving investigation which saw officers identify him through DNA evidence and arrest him within three days of the attack.

The victim had been spending time in Basildon with a friend on 30 April.

After visiting a shopping centre and roller-skating together, the pair headed home.

Having left her friend at her address, the girl continued towards her own home alone.

As she reached Parkside, she was approached by Younas, who began following her.

He asked if she "wanted a push", which she declined.

Younas then grabbed the girl, covered her mouth and forced her along a path towards an area of bushes.

There, he placed her on the ground, warned her not to scream and claimed he had a knife and a gun.

The incident lasted only moments before he discarded the girl's phone and fled.

The victim courageously made her way home and immediately told her mother what had happened.

Officers were alerted and an investigation began.

Arrested on his doorstep

Detectives and specialist officers launched a series of enquiries, including forensic opportunities, house-to-house work and patrol activity as efforts intensified to identify the man responsible.

The investigation continued at pace and, by 3 May, DNA recovered from the victim's shoe had been analysed and matched to Younas, identifying him as the prime suspect.

Officers attended his address in Bearsted Drive, Pitsea, and arrested him on his doorstep.

Searches of his home uncovered evidence of drug dealing, including a burner-style mobile phone, cocaine and cannabis plants.

Around 132g of cannabis, valued at approximately £780, and 66g of cocaine, valued at between £2,800 and £3,400, were recovered.

During interview, Younas initially sought to deny any wrongdoing.

In a prepared statement, he falsely claimed the victim had hit his car and pushed him, denying any assault had taken place.

However, his account was comprehensively undermined by the consistency of the victim's account and the DNA evidence linking him directly to the offence.

Faced with the overwhelming evidence gathered by investigators, Younas ultimately admitted the offences.

Around 132g of cannabis, valued at approximately £780, and 66g of cocaine, valued at between £2,800 and £3,400, were found at Younas' home.

"This will affect me for the rest of my life"

In an impact statement, the victim said:

“I think that this will affect me for the rest of my life. I don’t know how I’m supposed to trust anyone.

“I worry about how this may affect future relationships for me because anyone could do what that man done to me.

“I try to forget every day. I try not to think about it. But no matter how hard I try, it is always in my mind.”

"My daughter was listened to, believed, and treated with care and compassion"

The victim's mother said:

"I am incredibly grateful for the speed and professionalism of the police response to this incident.

“At the time, everything felt overwhelming, but I was reassured by how quickly officers acted and by the significant police presence in the area.

“From the very beginning, my daughter was listened to, believed, and treated with care and compassion.

“The swift actions taken by officers helped her recovery, giving her confidence that what had happened to her was being taken seriously.

"The suspect was identified and arrested quickly, and I am thankful that he will now be brought to justice. Throughout the investigation, the support provided by the police has been amazing, and we are so grateful.

“The judge showed great care and understanding throughout the case, and I really appreciated the way the proceedings were handled.

“I would like to thank PC Lily Dyer.

“She has been amazing throughout this investigation and has shown such kindness and support to my daughter.

“The relationship she built with her gave her the confidence to move forward, and I honestly don't think my daughter would have returned to school when she did without Lily's support.

“I am also pleased that the court has imposed both a restraining order and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

“Knowing that measures are now in place to monitor and restrict this man provides reassurance that steps have been taken to protect others from harm in the future. I truly believe we have prevented someone from going on to harm other children.”

"The courage shown by this young girl cannot be overstated"

PC Dyer, of our Child Abuse Investigation Team, said:

“This was a deeply distressing incident for a young girl and her family, who found themselves dealing with something no-one should ever have to experience.

"From the moment this offence was reported, officers across a number of teams worked relentlessly to identify the person responsible, while ensuring the victim and her family received the support and safeguarding they needed.

"The courage shown by this young girl cannot be overstated.

“Despite the ordeal she had been through, she immediately told her mum what had happened, which allowed us to begin our investigation without delay.

"Cases of this nature are thankfully rare, but when they do occur, we treat them with the utmost seriousness.

“Every available investigative opportunity was pursued, from forensic examinations through to extensive enquiries on the ground, resulting in Younas being identified, arrested and brought before the courts within days.

"Even when faced with overwhelming evidence, Younas initially sought to deny his actions and blame the victim.

“However, the strength of the evidence gathered left him with no option but to admit what he had done.

"I hope today's sentence provides some measure of comfort to the victim and her family. I would also like to thank them for the trust they placed in us throughout the investigation.”

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Women sexually abused as children have thanked one of our officers after their abuser was sent to prison for 22 years.

Thanks to work of specialist detectives, Scott Layfield was convicted in May of 26 charges including rape and sexual assault.

The charges relate to offences against six girls between 2011 and 2021, mainly in the Rayleigh area.

"I’m glad he’s been seen for who he truly is."

One of the women said:

“Scott Layfield has made my childhood memories a blank space, something that most adults enjoy looking back on.

“The subject of this court case as well as so much more, has changed the way I subconsciously handle everyday situations.

“Thank you to Essex Police, especially PC Nick Schneider who has made these last eight years of waiting feel a little less daunting!

“The sentencing, no matter how long he gets, will never make my childhood reality disappear but I’m glad he’s been seen for who he truly is.”.

“All I want now is to be able to live my life without fear"

Another of the women said:

“The crimes that were committed to me are something I will have to live with for the rest of my life and have caused me a great deal of pain and emotional trauma.

“No sentence will fully feel like justice, but it is a step in the right direction.

“I would like to thank Essex Police and PC Nick Schneider for the hard work and support they have put in to helping me, and the other victims, on a daily basis through the years they have worked with us.

“All I want now is to be able to live my life without fear that he’ll be able to hurt me or anyone else again.”

"A huge thank you to Nick and Mike"

Another said:

“I would like to thank Essex police, especially PC Nick Schneider for taking this case seriously and helping to bring Scott Layfield to justice.

“Although this doesn’t change what has happened, I can now move on with my life without worrying about where he might be and preventing others from going through this.”

Another woman said:

“A huge thank you to Nick and Mike Budd and everyone at Essex Police for their years of dedication and hard work in bringing this evil man to justice. Thank you for believing us and helping us get the justice we deserved.

“Thank you to everyone at SERICC, including Paula and Anji, for supporting me through my darkest days and being there when I needed someone to talk to.

“To any other victims, whether in this case or any other: you’re not alone. Please reach out when you’re ready—there are people who will believe you, support you, and help you.”

"He didn’t account for Essex Police"

Layfield, 52, of Paddock Close, Leigh-on-Sea, was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court on Thursday 30 July to immediate custody for 22 years, with a six-year extended licence, and an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

PC Schneider, who led the case, said:

“I want to pay tribute to the courage and perseverance of the women involved in this case and I want to thank them for trusting us with their story.

“Scott Layfield subjected them to things no-one should ever have to experience and yet they have shown great dignity throughout the investigation and the court case.

“Layfield told one of the girls no-one would believe her but he didn’t account for Essex Police. The women in this case have stood up against Layfield and their testimony has ensured he’s now behind bars.

“If someone has the courage to come forward and report the abuse they’ve faced, we listen to them, support them, and investigate.

“I believe there may be other people abused by Layfield and if there are, please come forward and tell us what happened.”

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A man has been given a 10-year sentence following an investigation into his violent and sexual offending.

Joseph Pennycook, now 22, threatened to kill a teenage girl and sexually abused her.

He had denied the allegations but was convicted, following a trial at Southend Crown Court, of sexual assault by penetration, two charges of intentional strangulation, making threats to kill, coercive and controlling behaviour and harassment.

Essex Police launched an investigation in January 2025 after the survivor contacted us to report his offending. Pennycook, of Danbury Close, Leigh, was arrested. He denied all the allegations put to him but was subsequently charged.

At the same court on Tuesday 23 June he was jailed for eight years, with a further two years on extended licence.

He is subject to a restraining order in relation to the survivor and witnesses. He has also been placed on the sexual offenders register for life.

'working hard to start my life again'

After the sentencing the survivor in this case said:

I don’t know what to say to try and find the right words to show the impact of what has happened to me.

I was always watching over my shoulder. There is no excuse for what he has done, and it will always impact me.

I am working hard to rebuild my confidence; I found it hard to get work and my mental and physical health has been severely impacted.

I’m happy that I stood up and spoke up for myself.
He lied, but he is now behind bars and I’m working hard to start my life again.

Officer in the case Detective Constable Aaron Aujia said:

I want to pay tribute to the survivor in this case.

She showed remarkable bravery to speak up after suffering these heinous crimes. Pennycook is a dangerous individual and is rightly serving a lengthy custodial sentence.

Violence against women and girls has no place in Essex, and tackling these offences remains one of our highest priorities. We are committed to relentlessly pursuing offenders, supporting victims and survivors, and working with partners to prevent harm before it happens.

We know the devastating impact these crimes have on individuals, families and communities, which is why we continue to invest in specialist investigations, safeguarding and prevention activity.

Our message is clear: if you commit offences against women and girls, we will do everything in our power to identify you, build the strongest possible case, and bring you before the courts.

At the same time, we will continue to listen to victims, put their needs at the heart of our response, and work to make Essex a safer place for everyone.

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Southend businessman Michael Binder, 44, of Bournes Green Chase in Shoebury, has been jailed for five years for sexually abusing three girls he met through his family’s school uniform shop.

Binder was convicted of five sexual offences against the victims, whom he encountered at Pauls Discount store (also known as Pauls School Wear and Uniform Shop) in Southchurch Road, Southend. He was running the business, previously owned by his parents, when the offending began in his late 20s. He had also worked as a DJ.

At Basildon Crown Court on Tuesday (June 2), Recorder Clark told Binder he had committed “a series of appalling offending against children” and that “a jury saw through your lies.” Prosecutor Richard Scott described Binder’s actions as “grooming behaviour.”

Binder pleaded guilty to three child sex abuse charges in 2025 and to a fourth before his trial in 2026. A reporting restriction prevented those pleas from being reported until after the jury convicted him of the fifth count — the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl in the shop’s stock room.

The girl told jurors Binder pulled up her Facebook profile, commented that her shorts made her look like she was “asking for it,” then led her upstairs to play a memorisation game involving school uniforms. When she complained of back pain, he claimed he used to be a masseuse, pulled her towards him and pressed his groin against her. Her mother testified the girl came home “distraught” and that she confronted Binder the next day. He denied the assault under oath but was convicted by a 10-2 majority.

Only after the verdict were jurors told Binder had already pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl and making sexual videos with a 16-year-old. (While a 16-year-old can consent to sex, it is illegal to create sexual images of them.)

Defence barrister Michael McAlinden said Binder had “led, effectively, a positive, blameless, productive family life” for around a decade after the offences. He is married with two young children aged four and seven, McAlinden told the court, adding that “his wife has got to deal with everything that’s happened over the last four years.”

Binder wrote a letter of apology to the court, stating: “I regret these actions every day.” However, Recorder Clark said a probation report found his remorse “limited,” with “a pattern of minimisation and partial denial.”

As he was led to the cells, Binder nodded at his family and mouthed: “I’m alright, I’m alright.”

He will serve up to 40 per cent of his five-year sentence before release on licence. On release he will be subject to lifelong sex offender notification requirements and a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

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This is not a victimless crime. Using artificial intelligence (AI) to make indecent images of children is abhorrent and increasing the risk of harm to children in both the digital and real worlds.

It is right that offenders who target children are brought before the courts to be sentenced for their crimes.

We are committed to safeguarding children; their welfare is our priority and teams across the force are dedicated to stopping those who have, or who intend, to cause them harm.

This is why Essex Police has launched a campaign with BT and EE – Fake or Real? Know the Deal – to protect families in the age of deepfake.

Jai Rivers, an officer in our Management of Sexual Offenders and Violent Offenders team (MOSOVO), spoke after Adam Evans was jailed for making indecent images of children via an AI-enabled app.

Registered sex offender Evans, from Harlow, is subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order after being convicted of attempting to arrange/facilitate the commission of a child sexual offence and attempting to cause/incite a child to engage in sexual activity in October 2019.

As part of this order, he is subject to regular monitoring by the MOSOVO team. In September 2025 they were alerted via risk management software on his device that indecent images had been accessed via an AI application.

A total of 13 pseudo indecent images of children had been accessed, and these were described by officers as being ‘so realistic’ that they could reasonably be perceived as depicting real children.

The 51-year-old was swiftly arrested by officers from Harlow local policing team. Following a through search a device, not registered as he was legally obliged to do, was also discovered and seized.

He refused to answer any questions in interview, but when he appeared at a Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday 6 October 2025, he pleaded guilty to nine counts of making indecent photograph/pseudo photograph of a child.

He was remanded in custody and on Friday 15 May at the same court Evans, of Jerounds, was sentenced to seven years. He was jailed for four years and a further three years on extended licence.

MOSOVO officer Rivers added:

"Using AI to make indecent images of children is a criminal offence and Evans has rightly been sentenced for his offending.

"This depraved act of using AI is treated just as seriously as using actual photographs.

"Offenders who are thinking of engaging with this type of activity will be caught and face the full consequences of their actions.

"And alongside ensuring perpetrators are brought to justice, it is vital everyone understands what to do if they come across an intimate deepfake image.

"Our partnership with BT and EE offers practical advice on AI and provides you with a simple tool to report and remove fake explicit images."

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An Essex woman has waived her legal right to anonymity to talk about the impact of being raped and harassed by her former partner.

Ebony Boatwright wants to “shift the shame” and hopes that by sharing what happened to her she can show others that there is a way out.

30-year-old Ebony spoke this week after her former partner Harrison Ackland, of Morris Avenue, Billericay, was jailed for 18 years for raping, assaulting and harassing her.

She said:

“That experience was the hardest thing I have been through in my entire life.

“If I’m honest at times I did not think I would survive. The abuse was so significant and impacted every part of my life.

“I shrank myself to try and be as invisible as possible, but in the end you realise you can’t change them by changing yourself.”

In October 2024, despite being subject to a restraining order preventing him from contacting her, Ackland was in Ebony’s home.

He got angry after she returned from an evening out, grabbed her by her hair, screamed in her face, and slapped her.

When she got upset, he shouted that “if she just listened then things like this wouldn’t happen” and Ebony said this was a pattern of behaviour.

He raped her repeatedly.

There is strength in sharing

Ebony said:

“There was what I would describe as a trauma bond between us and if he had not been found guilty and jailed I feel like his incessant contact and behaviour would have worn me down.

“Taking that big step to report his crimes and seeing him remanded after being charged was so important to me.

“It felt like a big weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

“He denied the offences and I had to go through a trial, but I’m so grateful to the jury and want to express my thanks to them for listening and returning a verdict which has helped me move forward with my life.”
Ebony said she feels she has been lifted up by the support she received.

“The officers in this case and my ISVA were absolutely amazing and I do not think I would have been able to get through it without them.

“I feel positive that the mood around these types of offences and violence against women is changing. We must shift the shame.

“There is a strength in sharing, we are stronger together, bonded by our shared experience.”

Jailed

In January, 28-year-old Ackland was found guilty of six counts of rape, assault occasioning abh, harassment, intentional strangulation, intentional suffocation, engaging in controlling/coercive behaviour following a trial at Basildon Crown Court. He previously admitted breach of a restraining order.

At the same court on Monday 11 May Ackland was given a 24-year sentence, made up of18 years immediate custody with a further six years on extended licence.

He is also subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be on the sex offenders register for life.

Remarkable strength

“Ackland’s offending was sustained and violent and this sentence reflects the gravity of his crimes. I hope it goes some way to help Ebony as she rebuilds her life. She has shown remarkable strength and resilience throughout this process.

“She is also committed to helping others by sharing her experience and talking about what happened to her. That is truly remarkable.

“As a force we are dedicated to tackling violence against women and ensuring those who commit these type of offences are arrested and brought before the courts."

DS Martin added:

“The tenacious and tireless work of the officer in this case should also be commended. Her work has ensured that Ackland’s sentence is very strong and protects not only Ebony, but all women, from him.”

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Update

A man has been jailed for almost a decade after raping a woman multiple times.

Nicholas Peel, 55, formerly of Marlborough but now living in Rochford, Essex, was found guilty of raping the victim four times and attempting to rape her a further time following a trial at Salisbury Crown Court in March.

In a hearing today (13/04) at Winchester Crown Court, he was jailed for nine years. He will also have to sign on to the Sex Offender's Register indefinitely.

Between 2015 and 2020, Peel targeted the victim a woman in her 50s who was known to him several times.

Investigating officer DC Jo Newbery, based in Central CID, said:

Id like to praise the victim in this case for having the courage and conviction to see this case through, which has resulted in Nicholas Peel being jailed for his abhorrent actions.

Peel repeatedly targeted her and raped her over a number of years, and then denied the offences, forcing her to relive the experiences through a trial.

Her incredible bravery in giving evidence and statements ensured that Peel was found guilty by jury for his crimes, and he now faces spending several years behind bars.

I hope that this sentence inspires others who have suffered sexual violence to come forward and report incidents to the police where we will endeavour to support you.

2026-03-17

Former Thames Valley Police constable Nicholas Peel, 55, who served 27 years and was based in Newbury, has been found guilty of four counts of rape and one count of attempted rape against a woman aged 16 or over.

Peel was convicted at Salisbury Crown Court on Friday, March 6. He had faced seven rape charges following a plea hearing on March 2 and was acquitted on two.

The former officer, known as PC Peel, worked across West Berkshire from November 1997 until retiring in December 2024. He was struck off last year after being found guilty of gross misconduct for abusing access to police systems.

He faced two separate misconduct investigations. Between December 2022 and April 2023, Peel used his police radio both on and off duty to access multiple channels belonging to other forces.

He is due to be sentenced on Monday, April 13 at Salisbury Crown Court.

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Officers in our Child Abuse Investigation Team have praised the ‘incredible bravery’ of a woman who was subject to 17 years of sexual abuse by Ricky Cutts.

The woman, who is entitled to lifelong anonymity, first spoke to police in June 2025 and disclosed the sexual abuse Cutts had carried out since 2009, when she was still a child.

Officers in our Child Abuse Investigation Team (CAIT) worked with the woman carefully and considerately through her interviews, where she set out a consistent pattern of sexual and physical abuse over more than a decade.

Ensuring safeguards were in place for the victim, CAIT arrested 37-year-old Cutts, of Marine Parade East in Clacton, and charged him with eight counts of rape and four counts of sexual assault on 18 June 2025.

He was remanded in custody and initially pleaded not guilty, but upon realising the strength of the case against him he admitted he was responsible in November last year.

At a Chelmsford Crown Court hearing on Tuesday 10 March 2026 he was sentenced to 17 years in prison, with a further five years on extended licence, as well as a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order, being added to the Sex Offenders Register for life and being barred from ever working with children again.

Speaking after the hearing, Detective Katie Knight of CAIT said:

“I want the woman at the heart of this case to know how incredibly brave she was to speak to us.

“Disclosing this kind of abuse may be the most difficult thing a person ever does. To have faced it for almost two decades would have made this unimaginably hard, but she still spoke to us.

“It’s a privilege to be trusted by victims of crime in this way, and I’d encourage anyone, child or adult, who feels they may have been the victim of abuse to speak to us.

“It may be difficult but you will be listened to and you will be supported.”

DC Knight added:

“Cutts’ crimes were heinous, violent and always brought with the threat of further assault if his victim tried to get help.

“His abuse was vile. He preyed on and controlled this woman with a shocking campaign of sexual violence, and a long custodial sentence was the only option left before His Honour Judge Daniel Sawyer to keep the public safe.”

The woman in this case said:

“I learnt not to be afraid anymore. When I spoke up, I was believed.

“If there is anyone who is a victim of this abuse, you are stronger than you think you are, and you don’t have to suffer anymore.”

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A man has been jailed after being identified as being in control of a Snapchat account which sent deeply concerning threats to two girls in Essex.

Leo Gravely, 20, made the threats to two teenage girls under the handle of ‘alfie_bach’.

The threats were violent and sexual in nature.

Gravely first contacted the victims when he was aged 18 in 2022 by sending friend requests which were accepted.

He then cited information which was specific to them and made sexually violent threats if they did not send explicit imagery to him.

Both victims feared the person behind the Snapchat account would act upon the threats.

Gravely’s actions continued for several months and were then reported to police.

Detectives were then able to quickly link Gravely, of St Michael’s Road, Canvey Island, to the ‘alfie_bach’ Snapchat account and arrested him at his home.

His phone was seized and indecent imagery of one of the girls, some of which falls into the most serious categories in law, was found on it during its examination.

Gravely was released on bail whilst the case against him was built, and he was ultimately charged with two counts of blackmail and two counts of having indecent images.

He denied the charges and was found guilty on 29 September after an 11-day trial at Basildon Crown Court.

Jailing him for a total of seven years today, Friday 20 March, Recorder Clark labelled Gravely “a dangerous young man” with a “desire to torture and cause pain” who showed “no shred of remorse”.

Indefinite restraining orders were also put in place to protect both victims and Gravely was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for ten years and will also be placed on the sex offenders’ register for a decade.

Victims' bravery

Detective Constable Emma Taylor, who carried out our investigation, said:

“The bravery of the two victims in this case is astounding. To be faced with such violent and explicit threats and have the courage to face Gravely is incredibly humbling.

“Leo Gravely behaved despicably when he made these threats and we were determined to identify who was behind the account and bring them to justice.

“Gravely continue to protest his innocence right through his trial but the jury just didn’t believe him and today, his violent and threatening behaviour has caught up with him.

“But today isn’t about him – today is about our victims, I hope, finding some closure in this chapter, knowing that he will spend his next years in prison.

“And even when he is released, he will be closely monitored for a period of time and will be banned from contacting them indefinitely.”

Description

A 53-year-old man from Sible Hedingham has been jailed for breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

In January, Trevor Day, of Southey Green, deleted his internet and chat history, failed to register an HP laptop, withheld seven USB devices from police inspection and downloaded the banned apps Snapchat, Telegram and Discord – all in breach of a 2020 court order.

He also contacted two teenagers, a girl and a boy, and discussed sexual acts, the boy’s sexual experience and masturbation with them.

Day admitted two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and four counts of breaching the SHPO.

At Chelmsford Crown Court, Circuit Judge Richard Wilkin sentenced him to three years in prison, imposed a further SHPO, barred him from working with children or vulnerable adults and placed him on the sex offenders register for 10 years. He was also ordered to pay £228 to the victims of crime fund.

Description

The unwavering dedication to investigating the crimes of a prolific sexual offender by Essex Police detectives has safeguarded women and children.

Ryan Alden was jailed for 14 years at Basildon Crown Court following a meticulous and complex investigation into his offending.

The case started with information that Alden, of Stonehill Road, Leigh, had accessed indecent images of children.

Filmed women and children with concealed camera

A search warrant was executed in December 2021 and electronic devices were seized. A review of these identified 1000s of indecent images and videos of children and evidence of online offending with children over social media.

Further investigations revealed the 36-year-old had filmed women and children without their consent and had trousers with buttons which had been fitted with a concealed camera.

Officers from our Police Online Investigation Team (POLIT) had to view thousands of videos and images of children stored on his devices.

Alden was interviewed and while saying no comment to many questions, he did admit to owning the devices and using multiple identities over a prolonged period of time to communicate with children.

The team worked tirelessly to secure the evidence and build a strong case.

32 charges

The Crown Prosecution Service authorised 32 charges:

• Sexual activity with a child
• 10 counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in a sexual activity
• Seven counts of sexual communication with a child
• Causing a child to watch a sexual act
• Three counts of making indecent photographs of children (Cat A: 5,036 videos and 1,678 images. Cat B: 1,947 videos and 1,846. Cat C: 1,637 videos and 16,195 images)
• Three counts of taking indecent photographs of children (Cat A: 104 images. Cat B 107 images. Cat C 363 images)
• Distributing indecent photographs of children
• Possessing a prohibited image of a child (2 videos and 10 images)
• Possessing an extreme pornographic image (113 videos and 69 images)
• Three counts of voyeurism One count of upskirting

When he appeared at Basildon Crown Court in June last year Alden pleaded guilty to all counts and was released on conditional bail.

At the same court on Monday 16 March he was sentenced to 20 years, 14 years in prison and a further six years on licence. He will be on the sex offenders register for life and subject to notifications.

He also received a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

'nowhere to hide in Essex'

Investigating officer Detective Constable Rob Guiney said:

This sentence reflects the gravity of Alden’s offending.

He is a danger to children and women both in the digital world and in the community.

He has abused and manipulated vulnerable children over several years.

I want to pay tribute to the brave survivors of his crimes who have spoken to us and helped us protect others from this dangerous predator.

We are committed to keeping everyone safe, whether online or in your community, and I hope this case sends a clear message to perpetrators that there is nowhere to hide in Essex.

I would encourage anyone who feels they have been a victim of this sort of offending to come forward and tell us. You will be supported throughout, and we will thoroughly investigate.

"commitment to justice and the safety of the community we serve'

Detective Inspector Emma Portfleet commended the actions of the team who investigated this case saying:

The unwavering dedication in investigating a prolific sexual offender over several years is an example of the impact a dedicated team of officers can have.

There is a real emotional toll when dealing with such heinous crimes, but the team were resolute.

Their meticulous attention to detail, safeguarding, and compassionate support for everyone involved were instrumental in building a strong case.

Det Con Guiney’s dedication exemplifies the team’s commitment to justice and the safety of the community we serve.