Latest Offenders Gloucester

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A police team dedicated to protecting children have helped put a paedophile behind bars after he groomed a 12-year-old girl online.

Stewart Barnett was 42 when he posed as a 19-year-old and sent messages to the child on different social media sites and over text.

He has now been jailed for six years and six months following an investigation by Gloucestershire Constabulary's Child Sexual Exploitation Team.

Barnett had been messaging the victim for a number of months last year and asked her to carry out sexual acts on herself.

He asked her to video these and send them to him, and he also sent the child images and videos of himself masturbating.

Police were informed and Barnett, now aged 43 and from Longlevens, Gloucester was arrested and charged.

He admitted two counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity – penetration, and one count of causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity - no penetration.

At a hearing on 25 May Barnett also admitted making indecent images of a child (the victim), namely 20 images and four videos in category A, 28 images and 29 videos in category B and 190 images and 9 videos in category C.

He was sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court on Monday 26 June to six years and six months in custody. Barnett was also given a restraining order for 10 years, a sexual harm prevention order for 15 years and he was placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

Investigating officer TDC Caroline George said: "Barnett preyed upon this child and sent her vile messages, which included trying to make her feel guilty when she didn’t want to send him certain videos.

"He displayed clear grooming behaviour by telling the victim that he loved her and wanted to meet her, while knowing he was speaking to, and exploiting, a child.

"I'd like to commend the girl’s courage for speaking about what was happening and working with us throughout the investigation."

Detective Inspector Simon Goodenough added: "We have a dedicated team which investigate these type of abhorrent offences and we’ll do everything we can in order to prosecute those who cause harm to children.

"The victim in this case has been extremely brave for speaking about Barnett’s horrid actions and I would too like to thank her and her family for working with us."

Following the hearing, the victim's mother said: "We feel relieved that justice has been served and that now we hope we can rebuild our lives moving forward.

"We would like to extend our grateful thanks for the amazing support we received from TDC Caroline George throughout every stage of this investigation.

"We would also like to thank our child exploitation social worker and Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre for their hard work and the support which they have given our daughter."

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A man from Cheltenham has been sentenced to 16 year in prison after being found guilty of sexually abusing two young boys.

Craig Sykes, a 46-year-old resident of Cromwell Road, Oakley, was accused of several serious crimes against children, including sexual assault of a child under 13, causing a child to engage in sexual activity, oral rape of a child, indecent assault of a 13-year-old child, and child cruelty by willfully assaulting a boy between 1995 and 2005.

Despite denying the allegations, he was convicted by a jury on six counts last month. Following a trial that lasted five days, two other charges were dropped.

Detective Constable James Coll said: “This has been an emotional case and this sentence shows that we will not stand for the despicable crimes against children that Sykes committed.

"I would like to commend the victims for the courage and strength they have shown throughout this case. Their bravery in coming forward and seeing this through has helped put Sykes behind bars for a long time.

"We would encourage anyone that has been subject to sexual violence and rape to come forward, no matter how long ago it had happened, as Gloucestershire Constabulary will continually work tirelessly to ensure that victims of sexual offences are heard.

"Under UK law, victims of rape and sexual assault are granted full anonymity. We ask that no comments are made which would identify the victims in this case."

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A ‘PERSISTENT and prolific offender’ has been jailed for 28 months for his latest crime spree – which included sexually assaulting a woman neighbour, indecent exposure, shoplifting, and screaming racist abuse at a black police officer.

Lewis Trenchard, formerly of Buckshaft Road, Cinderford, but now of Worcester Street, Gloucester, already had 70 offences on his record before committing his most recent spate of crimes in Sedbury and Cheltenham, Gloucester Crown Court was told.

The 23-year-old pleaded guilty to charges of sexual assault, assault by beating, criminal damage, exposure, theft and using threatening and offensive behaviour with intent to harass or alarm.

Prosecutor Rhianna Fricker said on April 10 2021, Trenchard answered the door to police at an address in Buttington Road, Sedbury.

Ms Fricker said: “He appeared to be very drunk and disorderly. He was taken into custody.”

He started shouting racial slurs at the officers.

The offences began on January 18 2021 when Trenchard was living in Cheltenham.

A woman resident of another flat in the building was at home when Trenchard, who was drunk, started going in and out of her home at a time when Covid restrictions banned people mixing indoors.

During the incident he held her against the sofa and thrust his hips into her. His groin made contact with her hips.

After he was removed from the flat, police received a calls from about Trenchard running into traffic.

Trenchard got onto the bonnet of a car but another man tackled and removed him.

Ms Fricker said the indecent exposure offence followed shortly afterwards and again involved the woman Trenchard had earlier assaulted

“She was sitting near her home with friends and saw the road altercation. Trenchard then joined her and exposed his penis a number of times, making her feel very uncomfortable. He then kicked out at the window of her flat and smashed it. He laughed at the damage he had done and then approached the same woman and touched her breasts with his hand.

Later that day he was found in a nearby shop he was found to have goods concealed in his clothing.

Ms Fricker said Trenchard’s past convictions, beginning in 2015, included 39 thefts, four offences of criminal damage, two of battery, an assault causing actual bodily harm, burglary, two of robbery and one of being drunk and disorderly.

Thomas Griffiths, defending, conceded “This is a particularly unpleasant set of offences and an unhappy record of previous convictions.”

Mr Griffiths said Trenchard had been abusing alcohol and drugs from an early age as a result of events in his troubled childhood.

Trenchard had been in custody on remand awaiting sentence since May last year so had already served the equivalent of a 20 month jail term, said Mr Griffiths.

He asked the judge to consider passing a sentence which would allow Trenchard to leave prison immediately and take up an offer of a fresh start at Bridgend.

Trenchard was anxious to be at liberty as soon as possible to support his mother, who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, he added. Trenchard would never forgive himself if he could not be there for his mother in her final days, he said.

“He does not wish to drink alcohol again - he knows now that he cannot have just one drink because it spirals to ten and then to new offending.”

Judge Lowe sentenced Trenchard to a total of 28 months, telling him that although it would not mean his immediate release he would be out of prison in the near future.

Trenchard’s personal problems and background did not excuse his trail of offending but did put it in context, said the judge.

“I am very sorry your mother is ill and I very much hope you will be released in time to go and see her.”

As well as the jail term the judge made a two year restraining order barring Trenchard from contacing the sex assault victim in any way

He also ordered Trenchard to pay £264.64 compensation for the damage to the flat.

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David Fletcher, of Conygar Road, Tetbury, admitted five charges of sexual communication with a child and three of making indecent images when he appeared at Cheltenham Magistrates Court yesterday, Thursday.

Prosecutor Sue Gethin said Gloucestershire policereceived information that Fletcher had been chatting with a 12-year-old girl in a sexual manner on social media.

It is clear that the girl explained to Fletcher numerous times that she was aged 12," said the prosecutor.

"Fletcher correctly revealed that he was aged 61 at the time.

"The conversation continued between them in a sexual manner over a two month period, during which he sent her pictures of his genitalia and videos of him masturbating. He also sent her normal pictures of himself in the area in which he lives.

Fletcher admitted that between January 7, 2021 and March 13, 2021 in Tetbury, he intentionally attempted to communicate with a 12-year-old girl in a sexual manner which included sending videos of himself masturbating and encouraged her to engage in sexual activity.

He also admitted that on November 12, 2020, he sent a picture of male genitalia to a 13-year-old girl and on April 17, 2021 he chatted to a 13-year-old girl about sexual acts and sent a picture of male genitalia.

On April 21, 2021, he communicated with 10-year-old and the conversation included his desire to experience sexual activity with a 10-year-old and an 11-year-old child at the same time.

Additionally, on the same date, he communicated with a 15-year-old in a sexual manner and sent a picture of a male genitalia.

Fletcher also admitted making indecent images of a child between December 31, 2019 and April 17, 2021, namely 310 images at category A, 177 at category B and 46 at category C.

The case was sent to Gloucester Crown Court where committed Fletcher will be sentenced on January 27.

Fletcher was placed on the sex offenders register and released on unconditional bail.

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A man who sexually abused a four-year-old girl while working as a childminding assistant has been jailed for 10 years.

The girl used dolls to illustrate to the jury how Stephen Walker, from Walton Cardiff, near Tewkesbury, abused her when taking her to the toilet.

The 56-year-old was found unanimously guilty of assaulting a child aged under thirteen.

The nursery has ceased trading as a result of the allegations.

Judge Ian Lawrie KC praised the young victim for the way she gave her "compelling evidence" via video link to Gloucester Crown Court on Friday.

He said she had been "clear and precise" and had spoken without hesitation as she told the jury what Walker had done to her on "lots of days" last year.

In his police interview Walker denied the allegations and said he did not take girls to the toilet "to prevent allegations such as this", but said the victim would often seek cuddles from him.

Prosecutor Tabby Macfarlane said the child had "complained to her mother that her 'middle hurt' - middle being the four-year-old's term for her genitals".

She told both her mother and her grandmother that Walker had hurt her while taking her to the toilet.

Charlotte Surley, defending, suggested that Walker did not touch the girl in the way that was alleged. She said he believed that what she had told people was a "misunderstanding".

'Compelling evidence'

The young victim was interviewed by officers at a special child-friendly location with support workers in attendance.

Mr Lawrie told Walker he had been convicted on the "compelling evidence of a four-year-old girl".

Walker is also barred from having any contact with children under the age of 18 for an indefinite period and will have to sign the sex offender's register for life.

Det Con David Escolme from Gloucestershire Police praised the victim and their family for showing "amazing strength and courage" during the trial.

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A "manipulative" paedophile has been jailed for eight years after having sex with a teenage girl and then trying to abduct her.

Richard Gilbert, of Quenney's Close, Gloucester, was found guilty of six counts of sexual activity with a child from September 2021 to Spring 2022.

The 30-year-old had previously admitted abducting the girl.

Sentencing judge Neil Millard said Gilbert was a "dangerous predator" and and "abusive child sex offender".

Prosecutor James Haskell told the court the teenager's mother became suspicious of her daughter's friendship with Gilbert when she came home with gifts from him in August 2021.

The mother reported her fears to police and Gilbert was arrested.

At the time, he denied any sexual contact with the girl and was released under investigation with strict conditions not to contact her or her family.

"However Gilbert ignored those conditions, he continued his relationship with the girl," Mr Haskell said.

He said the mother contacted the police again.

"The girl was then interviewed by police and she admitted having sex with Gilbert on three separate occasions."

He said Gilbert was arrested for a second time and was again released with strict conditions not to contact the girl or her family.

The court was told Gilbert went on to abduct the girl after making plans to "run away together" and kept her in a room at lodgings in Cheltenham.

When police found her, she told them she was his girlfriend.

Giving evidence the girl said the relationship started when he kissed her at a social event.

"Gilbert would get jealous if he saw me with male friends from school," she said.

"On one occasion I was in the park with my friends when Gilbert texted me to say he could see me. This scared me as I couldn't see him.

"If I didn't tell him things he'd threaten me. He would log into my social media accounts and block my friends.

"This made me feel uncomfortable."

Jason Coulter, defending, said the plan to run away with the girl was "utter lunacy", and that Gilbert had "genuine, but wholly inappropriate, feelings of affection" towards her.

Sentencing judge, Recorder Neil Millard, told Gilbert he was a "dangerous predator" and would not be considered for parole until he had served at least two thirds of his sentence.

He was also given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and told to sign the sex offender's register indefinitely, and banned from ever working with children.

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A CONVICTED rapist who failed to return to prison after day release was found in Kendal.

Colin Hogben was serving his sentence at HMP Leyhill in South Gloucestershire, near Bristol.

The 73-year-old was allowed out on day release on June 23 but did not return.

It prompted Avon and Somerset police to launch a manhunt for the prisoner, telling the public not to approach him and to call 999 with any information.

According to court records, Hogben was found in Kendal - more than 200 miles from the open prison.

He was detained by police on June 25.

Police said he had a bus pass and access to money.

Warning people at the time of his disappearance, a police spokesperson said: "He was convicted of rape in 1994.

"If you know where he is now, call 999 immediately and give the reference 5222149339.

"Dont approach him. If you have any other information which could help to find him, ring 101 with the same reference."

Picked up by police, Hogben was hauled before Barrow's magistrates' court.

He admitted remaining unlawfully at large past the period of his temporary release.

Hogben is due to be sentenced for the offence at Carlisle Crown Court on July 29.

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Prosecutor Neil Treharne told the court on Friday (May 20) that on December 8, 2021 police executed a warrant at Denny Lakenvelders home in Wordsworth Avenue, Cheltenham. It followed officers receiving information from the National Crime Agency that a device at the property had downloaded illegal images.

The Agency stated that on that numerous occasions during October last year Lakenvelder had downloaded indecent images of children from the Kik social media site," said Mr Treharne. When police arrived at the address they seized a mobile phone and sent this off for analysis.

"The results revealed that it contained 56 images of the most serious kind, known as category A, featuring children as young as one year old up to pre-pubescent boys and girls. There were 107 additional indecent images in categories B and C.

In his police interview Lakenvelder admitted he had downloaded images of very young children. He said he did not download any moving images.

Nicholas Clough, defending, said: Lakenvelder has already sought professional help for his sexual offending since his arrest. The images are at the lower end of the scale and he is only charged with possession.

"He did not distribute the images. I believe that as he made a full admission of his guilt on more than one occasion I feel that any custodial sentence could be suspended."

Lakenvelder admitted three offences of making indecent images of children - 56 category A images, 67 category B images and 40 category C images.

Judge Advocate Alastair McGrigor told Lakenvelder: You have indulged in possessing indecent images of children. This offence crosses the custody threshold.

However, I accept you admitted your guilt to the police and you have since shown regret for your behaviour. This demonstrates to me that there is possibility for rehabilitation, for which I can suspend the sentence.

The judge sentenced Lakenvelder to a prison term of six months, suspended for two years and ordered him to attend 20 programme sessions and 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days and undertake 180 hours of unpaid work. The judge also imposed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order on Lakenvelder to limit his use of the internet and placed Lakenvelder on the sex offenders register for seven years.

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A child sex offender has been sent back to jail after breaching a court order by deleting his internet browsing history and hiding electronic devices from the police.

Jason Cartledge, 47 and of Calf Lane in Chipping Campden, had been jailed for ten months in 2017 for inciting a 15-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity.

He had persuaded the girl to send him intimate pictures of herself via social media and had threatened to harm himself if she did not.

He had added to the pressure on the girl by threatening to circulate compromising pictures of her if she did not keep complying with his demands.

The sentence imposed on Cartledge in 2017, included an indefinite sexual harm prevention order requiring him to make his internet-enabled devices available for inspection by police.

At Gloucester Crown Court on Wednesday, April 27, prosecutor Alan Williams said that on an unannounced police visit on August 24, 2021, Cartledge handed over his phone, a work phone and a gaming console.

It was then found that he had an iPad and a laptop which he had not presented to police.

An examination of the devices found the iPhone had 724 deleted messages, mostly from Whatsap, while the iPad had 90 deleted messages on TikTok.

Cartledge admitted to breaching the court order on several occasions and said he did not want or need a lawyer to speak for him in court.

He added: Im very sorry for what Ive done. I have turned a corner in my life and I am now a lorry driver. If I go to prison I will fall to lose everything.

I hid the iPad because I had been watching pornography and was embarrassed about it. I purchased the laptop to repair my games console.

I only deleted messages relating to a friend who was threatening to take her own life. I accept I should have spoken to my offender manager before I deleted these messages.

Judge Michael Cullum noted that Cartledge had breached the order previously, in September 2018, when he was given a suspended prison sentence for having internet conversations with young females.

He added: You stated to the police on arrest 'is there nothing I can have as my own' - the answer is no, because you contact children, sexually. That is your history because that is the way you have behaved in the past.

You give an innocent explanation, which I dont accept. I suspect you may have been re-offending.

The judge sentenced Cartledge to an immediate 12-month prison sentence and explained that he was unable to suspend it because of his history of poor compliance with court orders.

The judge warned Cartledge that the indefinite sexual harm prevention order remains in place.

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A Gloucester man who posed as a teenager to look for 'sexual fantasy' on social media was trapped by paedophile hunters, a court heard. Ian Guest, 45, of Painswick Road, Robinswood, has been handed a community order and placed on the sex offenders' register.

At Gloucester Crown Court on Friday (April 22), prosecutor Neil Treharne said that Guest's 'child victim' was in fact an adult posing as a teenager and was a volunteer with the Stand Together as One organisation, which sets up decoy accounts to snare paedophiles. The profile of 'Olivia' was accessed by Guest between February 6 and 11 last year and he was told at the outset that she was aged 14, the court was told. Guest told her he was 16.

"The first couple of messages were innocent enough, but it soon became clear to the 'girl' that he was not 16 and he was challenged about this and admitted that he was 42," said the prosecutor. "When he was asked why he lied about his age he said was just messing about.

"He then started to drop out of the conversations until he took on a new pseudonym as 'John', a 14-year-old, and claimed he was a friend of Guest. The 'girl' felt he was trying to manipulate the situation further."

Judge Ian Lawrie QC interjected: "This shows a degree of calculation in his actions." Mr Treharne said that the conversation as 'John' started going down the route of asking the girl for topless photographs of herself. "But the decoy called his bluff and the conversation soon tapered off," Mr Treharne added.

The organisation contacted Gloucestershire Police and Guest was arrested on February 26 last year. His phone was seized and analysed and was found to still have the text messages to the decoy on his device.

The court was told that in his police interview Guest admitted that he had lied to the decoy about his age and trying to get the girl to take pictures of her breasts. The court also heard that having been interviewed by police, Guest tried to open a similar Facebook account and because of this, he was going to be subjected to a sexual harm prevention order.

Barry White, defending, said: "Guest has been candid about what he has been doing and admitted his guilt. He has no previous convictions.

"He is a man who has limitations. However, he is in full-time employment and works in a warehouse, a job he has done for almost three decades and he operates within his difficulties. He has no issues with drink or drugs."

Judge Lawrie observed: "I question his maturity, despite him being aged 45. It is bizarre behaviour from this man and meeting up with a girl in this scenario is unlikely to become reality in this situation."

Mr White added: "This is not the standard type of case. He denies any sexual intent. He expects to be publicly humiliated over this which will prevent him from doing it again."

Guest pleaded guilty to attempting to incite a girl aged between 13 and 15 to engage in sexual activity, without penetration, between February 6 and 11, 2021. Judge Lawrie told Guest: "You are a man with a good character and I am impressed that you have held your job for a very long time. You have an understanding partner and mother.

"However, you indulged into another life, probably due to a lack of appreciation of the real world, where you exercised a degree of immaturity and indulged in an exercise of fantasy. Because of your issues, I believe you have learned a valuable lesson as you know this is wrong and you will not be repeating it."

The judge sentenced Guest to a 24-month community order which includes attending 40 rehabilitation activity requirement days. He was placed on the sex offenders' register for five years and made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the same time period. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of 95.

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A successful childrens author who appeared before Wexford District Court three years ago for allegedly breaching a sex offenders order has been remanded in custody in the UK.

Patrick Dorian Cowland, also known as Patrick Joseph Cormack, 72, was wanted in the UK for alleged historic sexual assaults on two boys in Cheltenham, Gloucester.

Cowland appeared before Gloucester Crown Court on Thursday ten months after an international warrant was issued for his arrest.

He was remanded to HMP Hewell in Redditch, Worcester

Cowland, whose last known address was Ballagh, Enniscorthy, County Wexford, Ireland, is a published author of childrens books and other literary works and has also worked as an accountant.

The court was told at an earlier hearing that he had working as a photographer when he met and befriended one of his two alleged victims in Oxford in the 1970s.

The eight charges against Cowland allege indecent assault and gross indecency offences against two boys - one between 1973 and 1975 in Cheltenham and the other between 1979 and 1982 and other locations in England and Wales.

At his hearing this week Cowland told the judge, Recorder Neil Millard, that when he was arrested he had no relevant documentation with him and no money.

He stated that his previous lawyer in Gloucestershire was unable to undertake legal aid work and therefore he was now legally unrepresented as he could not pay privately.

Recorder Millard told Cowland: You need to be legally represented because of the charges you face. I understand that your lawyer, who you previous paid for from your own funds, is unable to take on legal aid work.

Ill adjourn the case for seven days for you to find legal representation. I understand that the prosecutor today, Mr David Maunder, has offered to contact a local lawyer on your behalf.

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A man who sexually abused a boy, and filmed himself doing so, had another dark secret. It transpired when William Chamberlain was a teenager he raped a little girl.

Chamberlain, 24, of Frampton Cotterell, pleaded guilty to three rapes of a child aged under-13. He also admitted sexual assault of a boy aged under-13 and making an indecent video of a child

Judge William Hart jailed him for seven-and-a-half years. The judge told Chamberlain: "You pleaded guilty to all matters. The damage to your victims is likely to be long-lived and permanent. That is something for which you are responsible."

Chamberlain was handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order designed to stop him from reoffending. He was also ordered to notify his whereabouts to police indefinitely, given a restraining order to have no contact with the two complainants and was barred from working with children and vulnerable adults. His phone with the indecent footage on was destroyed.

Nikki Coombe, prosecuting, told Bristol Crown Court Chamberlain was aged in his mid-teens when he repeatedly raped a girl half his age, telling her: "You haven't told anyone, have you, its our secret". The child told her family and, ultimately, the matter was reported to police.

Chamberlain was arrested, told officers "I messed up" and declined to comment in interview. Police also established that, years later, Chamberlain sexually abused a ten-year-old boy after officers found a video of the abuse on Chamberlain's phone. Once again Chamberlain declined to comment when interviewed.

The court heard the Sentencing Guidelines Council starting point for Chamberlain sexually abusing the boy was lower then it was for Chamberlain filming the abuse. Barry White, defending, said: "The most important thing I can say to (the victims) is he is truly sorry. The pre-sentence report makes it plain he does take full responsibility for his disgusting behaviours."

Mr White said that, as a teenager, his client was limited in intelligent functioning. He said references from his family described Chamberlain as a "gentle, kind and helpful young man".

Detective Inspector Louise Catlin said: Chamberlain subjected his victims to sickening levels of abuse and was left with very little option but to plead guilty given the volume of evidence against him. He fully merited the prison sentence he received today and it has come about thanks to the dedication and hard work of officers, including DS Mike Banks and DC Francesca Hepburn.

The victims in the case have shown incredible fortitude throughout this legal process and we are grateful for the support of them and their families. No sentence the judge could hand out would make up for what they have been through, but hopefully the knowledge Chamberlain has been jailed for the monstrous crimes he committed provides them with some comfort.

It cannot be underestimated how emotionally difficult it is for sexual abuse victims to come forward and to report what has happened to them. To open up and trust anyone with details about the most distressing and horrific moment or moments of your life is a very significant psychological step to take. We fully understand that and we hope cases such as this one give confidence to victims that they will be believed, their case will be taken seriously and we will leave no stone unturned as we seek to get justice for them.

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A sexual predator jailed for sexually abusing 19 children during his teaching career, including at a Swindon school, has been condemned by police.

Creighton Muirhead was sent behind bars for 11 years on Wednesday after being convicted of 23 counts of indecent assault.

They relate to his time teaching at The Weald school near Dorking, Surrey, and whilst he was headmaster of Ruskin Junior School between 1995 and 2008.

During his career, he would call female pupils to his desk under the pretence of marking their books, and put his hand up their skirts.

He made school a place of fear, dread and distrust, according to one of his victims.

Now, after he was jailed at Guildford Crown Court, the police have reacted, paying tribute to the victims and pledging that victims of sexual abuse that come forward will be believed.

Senior Investigating Officer in the case, brought Surrey Police, Detective Inspector Paddy Mayers, said: I must first of all pay tribute to the victims who gave their evidence in court which has helped ensure that Muirhead is now behind bars. Muirhead targeted numerous victims on many occasions over decades and committed these offences while working at different schools in different counties. They have put their trust in him as their teacher and he has abused this trust in the worst possible way.

With the number of victims and offences involved, this was a long and complex investigation and I would like to thank the team, particularly the investigating officer Detective Constable Tom Gilbert, for their hard work and determination which has resulted in Muirhead being brought to justice for his heinous crimes.

I would like to remind those who offend or consider offending against children that those children grow up and are likely to come forward and that we will pursue all allegations, no matter how long ago the offences took place. We will also ensure that anyone who does come forward will not only be taken seriously but will also be provided with specialist support.

The court heard during the hearing that at least one of the victims had made a report to Wiltshire Police about the abuse, but no charges were brought.

There was also involvement with childrens services and a report to the board of governors, but Muirhead was allowed to keep teaching.

Meanwhile, Detective Sergeant Ross Linaker, also from Surrey Police, said: Creighton Muirhead was a sexual predator who used his position as a teacher to gain access to children and then sexually abuse them for his own gratification.

The scale of his offending, which went unchallenged for years and occurred at two schools decades apart, cannot be underestimated. I hope that Muirheads conviction sends a clear message that we will always do everything we can to ensure allegations of sexual abuse are investigated thoroughly and that we will leave no stone unturned to get to the truth.

Detective Constable Tom Gilbert, who investigated the case, added: I would like to thank all of the victims of these crimes for their courage in coming forwards and giving evidence. There is no hiding place for people who commit crimes of this nature.

Muirhead was jailed for 11 years, will be on the sex offenders register indefinitely, and will not be allowed to work with children for the rest of his life.

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Brady Hickman, 33, staked out his victims home and watched through a window as she fell asleep before striking.

A predatory sex offender who raped an elderly woman after breaking into her home in the middle of the night has been jailed.

Brady Hickman, 33, staked out his victims address and watched through a window as she fell asleep before striking.

He sneaked inside the pensioners home and stripped naked in the hallway before entering her bedroom.

Gloucester Crown Court was told the disabled woman, in her 70s, awoke in the early hours of November 11 last year to see Hickman standing in her doorway.

Brady Hickman, 32, has been jailed after raping an elderly woman in her home (Gloucestershire Police/PA)

James Tucker, prosecuting, said: She went to bed at about 1.15am and took off her glasses.

Little did she know she was being watched by Mr Hickman a predatory sex offender and burglar.

He had been seen from the evening before lurking in the shadows. It is quite clear he knew how vulnerable she was.

He waited until she was dozing and gained access through a window left open to let some air in.

He crept in and quickly removed all his clothing. She was awoken by him opening the bedroom door and seeing a naked man in the bedroom doorway.

She couldnt make out the details as she didnt have her glasses on and he told her, Dont make a noise.

I believe I am suffering from PTSD and it is affecting me in many aspects of my life. I am having flashbacks. It will take me a long time to get over what happened

Hickman's victim

She said she wouldnt and asked him not to hurt her.

Mr Tucker said Hickman then raped the woman and, during the attack, told her he had been in prison.

That was an unnecessary, threatening thing to say in the circumstances, he said.

She encouraged him to leave and stated he could go home now, and she lay on the bed waiting for him to go.

The woman alerted police after she heard the front door close and, out of fear, locked herself in the bathroom until officers arrived.

In a victim impact statement, the woman said she felt totally violated and stripped of her dignity and has moved home.

You had been waiting around in the area and lurking in the shadows. In my judgement, you had an intention to rape

Judge Michael Cullum

I have been suffering from panic attacks since it all happened, causing me to have a constant headache and dizzy spells, she said.

I believe I am suffering from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and it is affecting me in many aspects of my life. I am having flashbacks. It will take me a long time to get over what happened.

Hickman, of Philip Street, Gloucester, had previously pleaded guilty to rape and two charges of assault by penetration.

The court was told he has previous convictions for burglary, assault and robbery and, when he was 18, he sexually assaulted a teenage girl.

Sarah Jenkins, defending, said Hickman had demonstrated evidence of remorse.

She added: He accepted to the probation officer that, from the start, he entered with the intention to rape and that he had a bad thought.'

Judge Michael Cullum said Hickman is dangerous.

On November 11, you changed the course of her life irretrievably. Life was already difficult for her, he said.

You had been waiting around in the area and lurking in the shadows. In my judgement, you had an intention to rape and that is quite clear from your first act of stripping naked.

She must have feared for her life. She was entitled to feel safe in her own home. I doubt she will ever again.

The harm you caused to her is incalculable.

Hickman will spend up to 10 years in prison. He can apply for parole after serving two-thirds of that sentence. The remainder of his 15-year sentence will be on licence.

He was also placed on the sex offenders register for life and made subject of a restraining order banning him from contacting the victim directly or indirectly.

Detective Sergeant Faye Satchwell-Bennett, of Gloucestershire Police, said: The victim has shown amazing strength and courage, and has asked us to say thank you to our officers and the community for the support she has received and for helping her to feel safe again.

Hickman committed a horrifying sexual attack on a vulnerable victim and is clearly a threat to women.

I am pleased to see justice has been served at court today and that he will not have access to the general public for a very long time.

Description

A "depraved" rapist who controlled and violently assaulted several women has been jailed for 20 years.

Darren Sysum, 30, conducted a six-year "campaign of rape" against several "vulnerable" women whom he played off against each other.

Judge Lawrie QC has also sentenced him to a five-year period on licence following his release.

He said Sysum had a "complete disregard for consent" and showed "no palpable sense of remorse".

Sentencing him at Gloucester Crown Court on Friday and Monday, Judge Lawrie commended the bravery of his victims for helping secure the conviction with his earliest charge dating back to 2015.

'Haunted' by rape

Sysum, formerly of Matson Avenue, Gloucester, caused his victims "psychological and emotional pain" and posed a "significant risk of violent reoffending", the judge ruled.

The court heard he had also threatened the vulnerable women, violently assaulted them and controlled them between January 2018 until he was arrested in 2021.

Sysum would choose what they could wear, how long they could leave home for and repeatedly checked their phones.

Prosecutor David Maunder described an assault where one of the victims was knocked unconscious and an imprint was left on her face from where she had been struck by Sysum.

He also filmed intimate sexual videos with her, and distributed them on social media without her consent.

Sysum has since been diagnosed with dissocial personality disorder - where a person consistently shows no regard for right and wrong and ignores the rights and feelings of others.

Victim impact statements from four of the women were read out in court earlier.

One victim compared their relationship to a "prison sentence".

She added: "I tried numerous times to get away from him.

"He treats women as disposable items after he charms himself into their lives.

"The rape will haunt me for the rest of my life. I often felt he was going to kill me."