Latest Offenders Gloucestershire

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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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A man who was in charge of childrens homes both as a Housemaster and Superintendent in the 60s and 70s has been jailed for sex offences. Peter Frank Hickman, 85 of Lawdley Road, Coleford, was dealt a six year prison sentence at Bristol Crown Court on Friday, February 11.

On July 26, 2021, he pleaded guilty to three offences at Croydon Crown Court, including indecent assault on a boy under the age of 14 on at least 30 occasions, between December 1965 and November 1972. He will be placed on the sex offenders register for life.

In 2018, officers from the Metropolitan Police's Operation Winterkey received a third party allegation of non-recent sexual assault. Operation Winterkey investigate allegations of non-recent child sexual abuse involving people of public prominence and institutions.

In May 2018, the officers spoke with the victim who confirmed his willingness to engage with the investigation. The offences were committed against the victim while he was resident in a childrens home located in Park Road, Beckenham and later located in College Road, Dulwich during the 1960s and 1970s.

Detective Constable Simon Rubery, the investigating officer, said: "Hickman took advantage of a child in his care while in a position of trust and committed atrocious crimes against him on many occasions. Tragically the victim died last year and he will never know that his abuser has been brought to justice. I would like to commend his bravery for helping to make this possible.

I can only hope that this sentence will give others the courage to come forward and report any abuse they have suffered, current or non-recent. Given the predatory nature of Hickmans offending, there is a possibility that he abused other children. We urge any further victims to contact police right away a specially trained team of detectives are ready to listen and support you.

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A predatory paedophile who pestered a 12-year-old girl to send him intimate images of herself has been jailed after her mother turned detective to force a Leicestershire Police investigation.

The force had initially refused to take action, but was eventually compelled to become involved due to mounting evidence of the 40-year-old offender's increasingly shocking and dangerous behaviour, a court heard.

Oliver Anthony, of Egdon Crescene, in Cheltenham, was sentenced to three years in prison at Gloucester Crown Court on Friday June 25.

The sentencing hearing was told that when the girls mother discovered communications between Anthony and her daughter, she took over the conversation in a bid to discover his identity.

Prosecutor Virginia Cornwall said: "The girl received a text message on June 25 last year, which read, Hi ya xx from Anthony who had just been given a Sim-only contract on his phone by his partner.

"The girl challenged him, asking, Whos this? and she got a reply back saying it was Ben Howell and he wanted to know her name.

"Anthony sent the girl a picture of his face and she replied 'I dont know you' and refused to send him a picture of herself. She declined his offer of getting to know each other.

"She told him he was a lot older than she was at the age of 12. Anthony stated he was 20 and requested that they should get to know each other and sent a text message, Wanna chat anyway?

"Anthony did not send another message for a couple of days but then sent her one saying Hey babe, text back xx and a further message, Send a picture and Ill send one back.

"And further messages, Please reply, I miss you and, Come on babe text me xx were received while the girls brother was using the phone."

Shae added: "The girls mother had also become increasingly concerned when her daughters phone kept going off and took possession of the device.

The same day, June 28, the mother reported the issue to Leicestershire Police while she decided to continue engaging with Anthony herself. The force carried out an initial investigation, but decided initially not to take any further action into the matter.

"However, an exchange of 155 messages then ensued and the mother sent him a picture of a young girl to which Anthony replied, Dam you are hot, how old are you? and she sent a message back saying she was 12.

Anthony then sent an image of his private parts and requested intimate pictures of the girl in return. He also told her to keep their relationship a secret as he didnt want her to get into trouble because the police might be able to trace her text messages.

He then told the woman that his name was Chris and that he was at his fathers house and was aged 18.

The girls mother then stopped responding, but then received a message on July 12 from Anthony who said, You not talking to me now then? Shall I delete your number?

The woman then continued trying to get information from Anthony who now claimed he was Chris Hale and said that he originally claimed he was 20 just in case she had been an older teenager," the prosecutor said.

He constantly tried to reassure the woman, who was still pretending to be her daughter that he was genuine and sent her a photograph of a passport with the name."

The mother then texted Anthony back a few times and on September 8, after she had received another text asking for intimate pictures she told him that he had been texting her rather than her daughter. The woman then contacted Leicestershire Police again with the additional information she had obtained.

Anthony was subsequently arrested after subscriber checks were carried out. He claimed that he had lost the phone while on holiday at Centre Parcs, the same day as the confrontation with the girls mother.

Lloyd Jenkins, defending, said he accepted that Anthonys offending was abhorrent. He added: He is realistic as he accepts he is likely to receive a custodial sentence. Some 13 years ago he was diagnosed as having schizophrenia.

Anthony is not proud of what he has done and the facts are not challenged. He claims he was an alcoholic at the time and was bored during the pandemic lockdown.

Anthony pleaded guilty to attempting to incite a girl aged 12 to engage in sexual activity between the June 26 and July 10, 2020 involving the penetration of her vagina and for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification attempted to communicate with the 12-year-old girl in a sexual manner between the same dates.

Judge Ian Lawrie QC said to Anthony: "This offence is so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified and the least possible sentence I can impose having regard to the seriousness of the offence is three years."

The judge sentenced Anthony to be subjected to the terms of the Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life and sign the sex offenders register for the same time period.

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Thomas Hancock sexually assaulted one girl and told the other he dreamed of having sex with her at school.

"A lot of people call him a monster. I have no words to describe what he is."

These are the words of a schoolgirl who fell prey to a teacher who admitted sexually assaulting a pupil at his school and propositioning another.

Thomas Hancock nurtured friendly relationships with the complainants, aged 17 and 16, Bristol Crown Court heard.

But the trusted teacher revealed he had feelings for both before he groped one and sent the other lewd footage of himself.

Hancock, 29, of Beyon Close in Cam, Gloucestershire, pleaded guilty to sexual assault and sexual assault (on multiple occasions), in a position of trust, on the 17-year-old.

He pleaded guilty to causing or inciting a child to look at sexual activity, and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, in a position of trust, on the 16-year-old.

Judge Michael Cullum jailed him for 16 months.

He told Hancock: "Both young women have been deeply affected and have altered the course of their lives.

"Teachers are supposed to do that in a positive way, not a negative way."

The judge handed Hancock a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order designed to stop him re-offending.

Stephen Dent, prosecuting via video link, said that at the time Hancock had taught at the school for six years.

He had retained contact with the 17-year-old and became flirtatious with her, the court heard.

Mr Dent said: "He grabbed her bottom without consent and she was shocked.

"He said to her they needed to talk, but not in school."

Mr Dent said they arranged to meet and did so.

He told the court: "She went to his car. He said he had feelings for her but nothing could happen.

"She was confused and upset."

The court heard on another meeting the teacher grabbed her and kissed her - and though she knew it was wrong she felt trapped.

Mr Dent said: "She felt the defendant had control over her.

"He became obsessed with her.

"He asked her to wear skirts and clothes he liked."

Hancock kissed the girl and grabbed her bottom several times, Mr Dent said, telling her he would "like to bend her over a table".

On one occasion he put her hand inside his trousers and touch him between his legs on his pants.

When she told Hancock contact had to stop it did so, the court heard, but she made no formal complaint until she became aware of a second victim.

That second complainant, aged 16, told police she exchanged messages with Hancock which became flirtatious and extremely sexual.

She took a photo of if Snapchat message, the court heard.

She described how Hancock sent her a photo of his private parts and videos of him committing a sex act on himself.

He would also contact her in the early hours, tell her his fiance was asleep, and would talk of dreams about her and how he wanted to have sex with her at school.

In one loaded question he asked her: "How would you convince me to give you the grades you need?"

The older girl stated that her ability to concentrate on school work suffered as a result, and though she managed to get into university her work there "fell apart".

She said: "Before Mr Hancock I was never like this."

The younger girl said Hancock knew she was vulnerable and she suffered panic attacks as a result of his actions.

She said: "A lot of people call him a monster.

"I have no words to describe what he is.

"I blame myself for letting him message me.

"I feel heartbroken for his fiance, his family and my family.

"It left me with even less confidence than before."

Matthew Comer, defending said his client had lost his career, relationship and home as a result of his actions and had suffered with his mental health.

Mr Comer said: "He fully appreciates the enormity of what he has done.

"He fully appreciates the seriousness of the situation he has put himself in.

"He fully appreciates he grossly breached the trust people ought to have in their teacher."

DC Nina Wilson said: “Thomas Hancock was a teacher who abused his position and the trust the children in his care had in him.

“The victims have displayed enormous courage in reporting this matter to the police and their strength in speaking out about what they have been through has meant that other potential victims will not have to suffer the same ordeal.

"Hancock’s depraved behaviour has caused a significant amount of emotional harm to them both and we’re continuing to offer support to them.

“However I hope that today’s result will encourage other victims to come forward and report sexual offences to the police.”

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A MAN Who sexually abused a 13-year-old girl over a four month period has been jailed for two years and eight months today.

Henry Scott, 24, of Bagpath, Tetbury, pleaded guilty at Gloucester Crown Court to three charges of having penetrative sex with the girl, engaging in sexual communications with a child and possessing indecent images of the girl in all three categories of seriousness.

The court heard a statement from the girl, now 17, describing how Scott's abuse has left her suffering panic attacks, poor sleep and problems with concentrating on GCSE studies at school. She said she felt like a 'bomb had gone off' in her life.

The court was told that when arrested Scott denied any sexual activity with the girl. The offences occurred between February 2018 and May 2018.

In a statement, the girl said: This is something that has caused a ripple effect throughout my entire family.

This past year has been so difficult that I have not been able to focus on anything because I knew this case was pending.

I used to be happy, confident but I became so withdrawn that I doubted my own ability that I would be unable to succeed at anything in life.

I am standing up for myself so this cannot happen to another child. This kind of crime ruins lives and I feel that my teenage years have been tainted by what he has done.

I am lucky to have a supportive family and I hope we all get through this together in time.

Katherine Blackwell, defending, said: Scott should have known better. He had been warned about socialising with people under the age of 16.

Scott has been diagnosed with having autism spectrum disorder which causes problems with social interaction and communication.

He has also been diagnosed with pathological demand disorder which means he is unable to understand boundaries. He is unaware what is, and what isnt acceptable."

Judge Ian Lawrie QC told Scott: You were aged 21/22 when these offences were committed. These nine offences were regular and consistent while the victim was aged between 13 and 14.

"One of my concerns is that you were cautioned seven months prior to these offences for meeting up with a 13-year-old girl on a number of occasions and being warned not to do so in April 2016.

I accept that you have been diagnosed with a number of medical problems which means you have borderline cognitive function which leads you to being child-like and immature.

The judge sentenced Scott to two years and eight months imprisonment and subjected him to a sexual harm prevention order for seven years as well as a order to sign the sex offenders register for the same period.

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A Cheltenham man who racially and sexually threatened his female probation officer with a tirade of graphic hateful messages and phone calls has been jailed for two years and four months.

Gloucester Crown Court heard yesterday (Feb 2) that when the probation officer turned on her work phone on August 10 last year she had numerous messages and two voicemails from Sonny Rogers, 21, of Grosvenor Street, Cheltenham.

Prosecutor Lucie Stoker said the voicemails were 'particularly graphic' and added They were directed at the probation officer and contained threats of sexual violence towards her.

The messages were very graphic and threatened the woman with female genital mutilation. Rogers told her to 'get ready for nine inches of a prime 20-year-old manhood.'

Other messages included threats of terrorism acts towards her and other extreme acts of sexual violence towards her. This included stating that he was going to cut her womb and ovaries out and saying that he would smash her face in so it would be black and blue.

He suggested that the woman was subjected to sexual abuse when she was a child and he stated that he wanted to have sex with her as if she was a little girl.

Rogers also used the 'N word' towards the woman on numerous occasions and threatened to throw battery acid over her."

The court heard a recording of a seven minute call made by Rogers who vented his thoughts to the woman, without pausing.

Judge Ian Lawrie QC commented: While the content wasnt clear, the tone and the delivery certainly was.

The language is extreme and because of the nature of the threats it nudges the severity of this offending upwards.

The court was told that Rogers had previously been in prison for accessing child and extreme pornography and had been released on licence that required him to keep in contact with his probation supervisor.

The probation officer said she had been working in the sector for 14 years and had never been subjected to such abuse before. She is now uncomfortable in making home visits on her own, she said.

Joe Maloney defending, said: Rogers has a Jekyll and Hyde quality about him. He is a pleasant and personable man who has written to the court and the probation officer to apologise for his actions. "

Judge Lawrie interjected: His behaviour is so appalling that a mere apology does not cut any ice.

Mr Maloney added: Rogers accepts that he will receive a custodial sentence. However he is aggrieved that he was not properly assisted by probation in that they did not engage with him to address his sexual problems.

Rogers pleaded guilty to harassment by putting a woman in fear of violence between August 8 and 10, 2020 and sending the woman by means of electronic communications messages that were grossly offensive, obscene and menacing on August 11, 2020.

Judge Lawrie told Rogers: In sentencing terms you present the court with a dilemma as these offences cause me great concern. They demonstrate irrational behaviour, offensive behaviour in respect of a woman trying to help you.

Ive read all the messages you sent the woman and listened to that lengthy call. They are rampant, offensive and insulting. Your actions have installed an enormous amount of fear for the woman.

You went beyond the boundaries of decency because of your emotional graphic terms towards her.

I have no option that only an immediate custodial term will reflect the gravity of your irrational and alarming offending.

I take the view your actions were persistent, extreme in nature and I think in your current condition, you are dangerous."

Judge Lawrie sentenced Rogers to a jail term of two years and four months and imposed an indefinite restraining order not to contact the woman. He also ordered him to pay a victim surcharge of 190.

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THE driver of the bin lorry which crushed and killed a Worcester pensioner in the Shambles was jailed for raping a child in a disturbing case heard a year ago.

Nathan Beauchamp, then aged 41, was jailed for 12 years in January last year in a case which shocked readers in Worcester. The paedophile was found guilty of raping the boy three times between January 21, 2018 and January 20, 2019.

He was also found guilty of having sexual activity with a second boy aged nine and 10 between the same dates.

However, he was acquitted of a further charge of raping a child under 13 in a hot tub. Beauchamp, of Elsdon, Kempsey, near Worcester, was the driver of the lorry which killed Sylvia Russell, aged 69, in September 2014. He was cleared of causing her death by careless or inconsiderate driving in 2016.

Beauchamp had denied all the sexual offences, which allegedly took place in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, but a jury found him guilty of four of them after a four-day trial at Gloucester Crown Court.

Prosecutor Anna Midgley told the jury that Beauchamp occasionally took care of the boys after school and his role "developed from being a child minder to being a mentor.

The boys liked being looked after by Beauchamp as he had a hot tub in the back garden.

But over time it is alleged that he took the elder boy into the bedroom and raped him.

The 12-year-old later told the police that it occasionally happened in the bathroom and once in the hot tub.

And on another occasion in the hot tub he is alleged to have sexually assaulted a younger boy aged between nine and ten.

The court heard that the authorities became involved when the older boy got upset at school in June this year and told a teacher that he had been raped by Beauchamp.

The teacher immediately informed the relevant bodies and Beauchamp was arrested. The prosecutor added that the abuse has had a psychological effect on the older boy and there are signs he is becoming sexually deviant.

Sophie Murray, defending, said that prior to offences Beauchamp had a happy family life.

Judge Michael Cullum said to Beauchamp: You have been convicted of some of the most serious offences it is possible to commit - the rape of a young child.

The lad was clearly fond of you and your wife by the way he enjoyed coming to your house and being around your family.

You were entrusted with a degree of responsibility of parenting by being something of a father figure to him, until you abused him.

You are openly bi-sexual and looked at pornographic sites and concentrated on looking for young males. However, you did not look for images of children.

You created the scenario to act out your fantasies when no one else was around and rape him. As weve heard you did this repeatedly.

You repeatedly took the older boy into the bedroom for punishment and subjected him to anal sex.

You took the opportunity to build on the trust between you to groom this boy, even though you may not have gone looking for it.

There is no real evidence of physical harm to the older boy, but a 12-year-old who has been raped and having to go through the humiliating process of telling his school, his mother, grandmother, the police, a jury and a judge, he is bound to suffer psychological harm.

Luckily he was brave enough to tell all those people and there is a question of your abuse having altered his sexual compass.

This is why the sentence is very harsh.

Judge Cullum jailed Beauchamp for 12 years and made him subject to an extended sentence by ordering an additional year on parole licence after his release.

The judge ordered that he sign the sex offenders register for life and imposed a sexual harm prevention order, also for life.

Beauchamp was found not guilty of causing the death of Mrs Russell at Hereford Crown Court after a five day trial.

He was living in Churchill Grove, Tewkesbury, at the time and was driving a Smiths Waste Management refuse truck.

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A 68-year-old man convicted of abusing two boys at a primary school in South Gloucestershire, where he worked as a caretaker, has today been jailed for 18 months.

The sentencing of Brian Kelly, from Kingswood, follows a trial at Bristol Crown Court at which he was found guilty last month of four non-recent offences of sexually assaulting a child.

Kelly committed the abuse on the boys on the school site where he worked as a caretaker and also looked after the schools sports clubs. The victims were aged between eight and ten at the time.

Investigating officer Det Con Louise Macpherson said: Brian Kelly abused his position at the school to abuse two pupils in an outbuilding within the school premises. These offences amount to a grotesque breach of trust and he would ask the victims not to disclose the offences hed committed on them, sometimes giving them presents to help buy their silence.

Id like to praise the bravery of the victims in this case, as well as the affected school and local authority, for their unflinching support and assistance with our inquiry.

I hope this case acts as a reassuring reminder to other victims that sexual abuse of any kind will always be thoroughly investigated. You will be believed and supported.

If you have any information youd like to provide to the inquiry team, contact North East Investigations via 101 and quote reference 5371015.

Victims of rape or sexual assault, recent or non-recent, can also self-refer to The Bridge, a Sexual Assault Referral Centre available 24/7 365 days a year. Visit thebridgecanhelp.org.uk or call 0117 342 6999.

The Bridge provides medical care and emotional and practical support to anyone affected by rape and sexual assault. You can call for help and decide about talking to the police later.

You can also visit thisisnotanexcuse.org for details of charities and organisations who are experts in supporting victims.

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A primary school head teacher who used a spy pen to film pupils in the toilets at his school has been jailed for two years and eight months.

Ashley Yates, 45, of Filton, used the device to record images in the toilets of The Tynings Primary School in Staple Hill, South Gloucestershire.

He admitted six counts of voyeurism and three of making indecent images of children at Bristol Crown Court.

The offences relate to seven girls, two boys and six adults.

'Sexual monster

They came to light after a child found a pen inside a disabled toilet at the school and handed it in to a caretaker.

The court heard that in total the married father filmed 22 adults and nine children and had confessed to his wife that he was a "sexual monster".

The judge accepted that Yates' main sexual interest was in adults urinating, but said he must have realised that children were also going to be caught on his camera.

Judge Michael Longman described Yates' behaviour as "devious" and as a "significant" breach of trust.

During the investigation, additional adult victims were identified by police.

'Lasting impact'

Det Insp Louise Boyce, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: "Yates totally abused his position of trust to feed his own personal desires.

"He set up the recording device in a toilet knowing that both children and adults would be using the facilities."

She added she had "no doubt" that Yates' crimes will have "a lasting impact on his victims and their parents".

A letter to parents on the school's website said: "These victims came to light after items were seized by police during the course of the investigation.

"If any further victims are identified during the course of the investigation they will be notified immediately."

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A BRAVE 12-year-old who became Britain's youngest mum after a horrifying rape ordeal told The People: "I love my baby to bits - what happened to me is not his fault."

The schoolgirl was just 11 when she was brutally attacked by family friend Russell Tovey, 31, in her own home.

At first the young victim - we'll call her Stacey to protect her identity - was even too frightened to tell her own mum she had been raped.

But speaking for the first time about her torment, she vowed: "This won't stop me having the normal feelings of a mum.

"I hate Tovey for what he did to me and I feel like ripping him apart.

"My baby will have to know what happened one day - but he will NEVER call him Dad."

Cuddling baby Max, blonde Stacey revealed how she:

HAD no idea she was pregnant until only two weeks before she gave birth'

INVENTED a rape story to cover up for Tovey who had threatened revenge if she shopped him' and

GAVE up her baby for adoption - but begged to take him back after only one night apart.

Father-of-two Tovey, 31 - who is now behind bars and facing life in jail for the savage crime - was a close friend of Stacey's family.

He regularly took the youngster and her brothers for bike rides, swimming lessons and theme park outings.

But one night last summer he raped Stacey while her divorced mum was out at work then brutally terrified the 11-year-old into silence.

Stacey said: "He told me that if I said anything he would drive me into the middle of nowhere and dump me there. He said no one would ever find me.

"He was so trusted by the family that I didn't think Mum would believe me if I told her what he'd done. I just kept it to myself.

"I didn't like sleeping in my house any more if Mum was at work so I'd go and stay with my dad. I felt safer."

But Stacey's weight soon rocketed -and the truth began to dawn.

She said: "I started to wonder if I was pregnant but didn't want to believe it.

"I felt awful all the time and looked fat and horrible. But I had never felt the baby moving inside me, so I just tried to forget about it."

A GP eventually confirmed that Stacey was expecting.

But the stunned youngster recalled Tovey's threats - and made up a story about being raped when two men dragged her into a graveyard.

Two weeks later she had baby Max at her local hospital. Stacey recalled: "I talked it over with Mum and we decided it would be for the best if the baby was adopted.

"Bringing it up myself was always going to be a reminder of what had happened.

"And I didn't want to relive it every time I changed a nappy."

But Stacey changed her mind hours after Max was taken away from her.

She begged social services chiefs to return him - and has never regretted the decision.

Showing a courage and maturity way beyong her years, she said: "It has been really hard but all my friends at school have been great.

"Everyone is so interested in the baby and how we're doing - and no one has made fun of me at all.

"In a way, having Max has helped me get over what happened because he makes me laugh and smile."

She added: "I know I've got to be more responsible than other girls.

"Sometimes after I've done my homework I have to push my baby around the village to get him to sleep.

"It's not a game, not like playing with dolls - especially when he cries."

Stacey's 36-year-old mum - who we are calling Jane - said she had first suspected problems after her daughter missed one of her periods.

She recalled: "They had been as regular as clockwork and when they stopped I mentioned it to the GP.

"He said don't worry, she was young and her body would sort itself out.

"Then last Christmas we started to notice Stacey was putting on weight.

"I suggested she should stop eating so much and her gran even offered to pay her #1 for every pound she lost.

"Kids at school began teasing her, calling her Porker and joking she was pregnant. I even said myself that if she wasn't so young I'd have thought she was expecting."

Jane went on: "One day Stacey's gran said she was sure Stacey was pregnant.

"She'd felt her tummy - but it wasn't soft and wobbly with fat, it was hard.

"It didn't make sense because apart from a few little crushes Stacey had never shown any interest in lads.

"And I run a tight ship - she was always in bed at 9pm on the dot."

Jane went back to the GP, who suggested a pregnancy test.

The worried mum told Stacey she needed a urine sample, claiming it would help the doctor find out why she was putting on weight.

To Jane's amazement, the DIY pregnancy test was positive.

She said: "I was gobsmacked but I didn't tell Stacey because I wanted to get it confirmed by a doctor. I bundled her into the car and took her to the local surgery.

"The doctor ushered us in and I said, 'I think my daughter is pregnant'. Stacey became hysterical, crying and screaming, but the doctor calmed her down and led her away to do a test.

"Within minutes they were back and again the result was positive.

"Stacey was crying and wailing, saying she couldn't be pregnant because she hadn't done anything."

The next day Stacey told her mum the graveyard rape story.

Jane recalled: "I was sickened but of course I believed every word she said.

"Stacey didn't want me to go to the police but I said we had to - these men had to be caught."

Stacey was interviewed and told that DNA tests on her baby after it was born might identify her attacker.

Hospital scans revealed she was already 35 weeks pregnant. Jane added: "She was still a child herself, too young to be a mum.

"Watching my daughter go through that at such a young age was horrible but she hardly made any fuss. She had a little boy - but neither of us was prepared for how gorgeous he was.

"My heart went out to him. He'd had a rotten start in life but we were going to make sure he was loved."

Stacey spent two days with Max in hospital before a foster mum took him away.

Jane said: "The house felt so empty the night we came home and we cried and cried. In only a couple of days we had fallen in love with him.

"The next morning I took one look at Stacey and knew we had made the wrong decision. We phoned social services and said we wanted him back.

"I hadn't seen Stacey smile so much in months."

The family then waited for the results of the DNA swab taken from Max.

Meanwhile, Tovey had been involved in a car accident which left him fighting for his life in hospital.

Jane said: "I visited him a few times and told him what was going on.

"He never batted an eyelid when I said I was concerned the DNA test was taking a long time.

"I even took the baby in. y held his hand and coo-cooed over him."

A week after Tovey was sent home, detectives knocked at Jane's door to tell her he was the rapist.

The stunned mum said: "I was devastated that a man I had trusted with my kids could do this. Stacey kept saying it wasn't him. But later she opened up to a close friend.

"She said he had raped her twice while I was at work and that he had frightened her into keeping quiet."

This week Tovey, from Cinderford, Glos, was given a tough new "indeterminate" sentence after admitting two counts of rape at Gloucester Crown Court. He can only be freed if a parole panel deem he is no longer a danger to the public. Judge Jamie Tabor QC branded the crime "undiluted wickedness".

Jane said: "The only good thing to come out of this is the baby.

"I'm responsible for a lot of his day-to-day care because I feel it's important that Stacey is still allowed her childhood.

"As she gets older, she will have to take on more and more responsibility.

"But she knows that whatever happens, I will always be here for her."

And Stacey added: "I know it's going to be hard work - I'm still at school and I want to do well.

"But I also want to give my baby all the love and attention he needs."

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