Latest Offenders Hampshire

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A man who tried to rape a woman and then sexually assaulted her on Christmas Eve has been jailed.

Mason Wearn, 23, of Birch Close, Bordon, was jailed for four years and six months at Portsmouth Crown Court following his succession of sex attacks on the terrified woman on December 24, 2021.

The predator admitted a charge of attempted rape before he was due to go on trial and was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault. The offences happened in Portsmouth. 

As well as his incarceration, sex offender Wearn will also have to register with police indefinitely and was handed a five-year restraining order against the woman. 

Description

A registered sex offender has been sent to prison for one year for breaching a court order three times.

Jake Wilson, 24, had been handed a Sexual Harm Prevention order in October 2023 after being convicted of sexual communication with a child.

He was told not to use a phone or online social media but he breached this order three times, in January, in February, and then on September 4 2024, each time by obtaining a mobile phone with access to the internet and setting up accounts on Facebook and Instagram.

Sentencing, Judge Paul Dugdale said: "You did exactly what you were told not to do. This court has now run out of road, we have been lenient and taken your difficulties into consideration but the court has a duty to protect children and we tried to do this with the original SPHO and now we will do it by sending you to prison."

The court heard Mr Wilson has learning difficulties and has attended appointments with a learning difficulty team. 

Wilson, of Aylwards Way, Nether Wallop, will serve a 12 month sentence due to the persistent breaches and he must go on the Sex Offenders Register for the next ten years.

Wilson who appeared in a red t-shirt, nodded and listened as Judge Dugdale passed sentence.

Description

A 25-year-old man from New Milton has been jailed for seven and a half years for the rape and sexual assault of a child under 13.

Jack William Fry, of Gore Road was sentenced at Southampton Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday, July 17). The offences, for which he had previously pleaded guilty and has now been imprisoned, took place in March 2024.

Upon his release from prison, Fry will also serve a 12-month extended period of supervision and will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Detective Constable David Sloan, of the Child Abuse Investigation Team, said: “I am so pleased for the young victim in this case that justice has now been served for them and their family, and that Fry has now been placed behind bars, where he belongs.

“I’d also like to place on record my praise for the young victim in this case and the courage and determination they have shown throughout.

“Additionally, I’d like thank everyone who has been involved in this case, helping to secure today’s outcome.

“Their support and hard work has ensured a conviction within two weeks of the report being made to us, and sentencing within four months.

“While I know this result won’t rid the victim and family of the memories of what Fry did, I truly hope it allows them to move forward, safe in the knowledge that he can no longer harm any other children.

“I also hope this sentence will reassure other victims that they will be listened to when reporting similar incidents to us.

“We encourage other victims to come forward and speak to us. We take allegations of this nature extremely seriously and work hard to bring offenders to justice.

“This should also be a very clear message to other offenders out there that we will always work tirelessly to ensure you are brought to justice.

“I would also like to thank everyone else who assisted in getting this conviction and sentencing.”

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Mohan Babu, 47, of Emsworth, was found guilty by jury of four counts of sexual assault in Portsmouth Crown Court today (January 31) following a three week trial. Court heard that the former GP at the Staunton Surgery in Civic Centre Road, Havant, ordered one of his patients to take her top off before groping her. The sexual assaults took place between September 2019 and July 2021.

The GP targeted the three women - the youngest of whom was 19 - at the surgery where he worked alongside his doctor wife, inappropriately touching them and making "creepy" comments. A receptionist he previously worked with said the doctor of 20 years had grabbed her and boasted that he was "a lion going to eat her", a court heard.

Babu was the most-complained about doctor at the surgery and had repeated warnings over his behaviour, jurors were told. Portsmouth Crown Court heard five other women including a receptionist at his former workplace complained about his 'over familiar' behaviour, however criminal proceedings were not brought about their complaints. All of the women he allegedly assaulted asked for a new GP. Prosecutor Miranda Moore KC told the court Babu targeted "vulnerable" women after he joined the surgery as a locum doctor in April 2018.

He was recommended by his wife, Dr Aroline Rodrigues, 43, who is a GP at the surgery. The first complaint about Babu's behaviour came in August 2019 - 16 months after he joined - and then another came "quite quickly". "The history of repeated an inappropriate behaviour and repeated warnings about his behaviour sets the scene for these offences", Ms Moore KC said. Between May and August in 2019 Babu held face-to-face consultations with a 57 year old woman who was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer in June 2019.

In three appointments, the now-deceased woman said Babu behaved inappropriately. Ms Moore KC said: "She made [the first] appointment about the cancer. Dr Babu greeted her by saying 'do you want a hug?' She was very fragile and very emotional. Dr Babu told her she had a 0.01 per cent chance of having cancer." At her next appointment in June, after she had been diagnosed, Babu asked if he could check her breasts and told her: "You have a lovely figure and lovely breasts." Ms Moore KC said the woman visited Babu for a third time as she had to cancel a holiday due to her illness and needed a doctor's note. She said he instructed her to lie on the couch to listen to her heart", Ms Moore KC said. "He locked the door and didn't offer her a chaperone. He asked her to lift her top and she asked why and he said so he can check for lumps. He lingered while examining her breasts and pulled her nipples. She felt he spent far too long there and didn't feel comfortable. She was shocked, she froze, and she looked at the ceiling.

"He proceeded to move his hands under her lower body clothing, under her skirt. She asked him to stop. He pulled her closer to him and she could feel he had an erection. She saw his zip was undone and she could see his erection. The court heard at this point Babu said to the uncomfortable woman "I'm helping you, you need to touch it so I can help you." It was heard the woman asked the surgery to change her GP but didn't report it to a female palliative care nurse until over a year later, in September 2020, as she didn't want to spend her final days chasing a prosecution.

An investigation commenced and it emerged many other women complained about Babu and asked for a new GP to replace him. One patient, a 19 year old girl, visited Babu in February 2020 as she was struggling with anxiety. "He paid her compliments like 'you are a beautiful girl', Ms Moore KC said. "He listened to her chest from behind and counted the freckles on her back - 'one, two, three, four' - while lightly touching her skin as he did so. As she got up to leave, he took hold of her hands and he kissed her on the cheek."

From April to July 2021, a married mother visited Babu three times after a neck injury. In the first two appointments, Babu asked for hugs and told her she was "cute". She thought the GP was just being "nice". At the third appointment, he asked her to take her top off to check for moles. Ms Moore KC said: "He smoothed her breasts up and down about 20 times, she recalls, telling her it was 'lovely and smooth'. He then made the wholly inappropriate comment 'ohh I'm not having a bad day'. He hugged her for about a minute and asked for a kiss. She noticed his breathing was heavy."

The woman's son later came to the surgery 'to have it out' with Babu but he was not there. Five other women - four patients at Staunton Surgery and the receptionist at his previous surgery - also made complaints, however they did not form part of the criminal charges. The receptionist said he regularly grabbed her waist and once told her "he was a lion and was going to eat her". A patient claimed he was 'creepy' as he asked her to "remove the mask so he could see her pretty face", another was quizzed about her sex life, and another was hugged.

Babu stopped working at Staunton Surgery in July 2021, at which point he was under police investigation. He denied all seven counts made against him. Babu was found not guilty of three offences of sexual assault against a further two women. He has been placed on conditional bail and will appear at Portsmouth Crown Court on April 12 for sentencing.

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A former Hackney councillor has avoided jail after admitting possessing indecent images of children.

Recorder Jonathan Ashley-Norman told Tom Dewey: “You have taken considerable steps since your arrest to address your offending behaviour.”

Handing him down a 12-month suspended sentence, he said: Your actions have had a devastating impact on your life and your closest family.”

He gave him credit for an early guilty plea and the work he had done to overcome his problem in looking at indecent images of children.

He also ordered devices to be forfeited, told Dewey to pay £500 costs and put him on a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which will restrict his contact with children.

Thomas Dewey, who was elected as a Labour councillor for De Beauvoir ward, was arrested by detectives from the National Crime Agency who seized laptops and tablets at his home in Hertford Road in Hackney, just days before May’s local elections last year.

He had a “huge problem” with looking at indecent images of children from the internet for his own use, Wood Green Crown Court heard.

Last month, the 36-year-old admitted a charge of making five category A indecent images of children, a further charge of making 41 category B indecent images, as well as making 203 category C indecent images of children, on 29 April 2022 in Hackney.

Images are graded with category A considered the worst.

Dewey, now of Hampshire, also admitted a charge of possessing 78 extreme pornographic images of children on 29 April 2022 and having 1,523 prohibited images of children in his possession on or before 20 January 2022.

The court heard images date from between 14 January 2008 to 27 April 2022, two days before his arrest at home in Hackney where he was “the sole occupant.”

The NCA seized two laptops, two tablets and a hard drive and Dewey was arrested and cautioned at 7.03am.

They had identified four “CyberTipline” reports which has user ID to a google drive and Dewey had uploaded indecent images of children to his personal account

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A 63 year old man has been sent to prison for 24 years after being found guilty of eight non-recent child sex offences that took place in Shanklin.

We received a report in August 2021 that a girl under the age of 10 had been sexually abused between June 2005 and March 2006. Following a thorough investigation Keith Heselton of Mulberry Mead in Whitchurch was charged with nine offences.

On 3 April Heselton was found guilty at Newport Crown Court of eight offences following a trial:

• Two offences of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child under 13.
• One offence of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching.
• Two offences of raping a girl under 13.
• One offence of assaulting a girl under 13 by penetration.
• Two offences of causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity - no penetration.

On Monday 12 June Heselton was sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court to 24 years in prison, with a minimum term of 16 years, an additional five year license order, and a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Police Staff Investigator Louisa Parkin said: “The victim in this case, now a grown woman, has lived with the memory of this awful abuse for decades, I’m pleased we can give her the outcome the case deserved and finally some closure. I’d like to commend her bravery for coming forward and sticking with the investigation.

“We take all allegations of sexual abuse extremely seriously. We have specially trained teams that can investigate these kinds of offences and provide support to victims. If you have experienced these kinds of offences we can make a commitment to you that you will be heard and listened to, and your report will be believed. We are determined to put victims first and relentlessly pursue offenders, especially when investigating these kinds of cases”

If you have been affected by child sexual abuse you can contact police on 101 and speak to a police officer in confidence.

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A SEX offender managed to get a job at a theme park because he lied to his bosses about his previous convictions, a court has heard. 

Kyle Ayres, of Longbridge Road, Bramley, was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) in December 2020. 

But in March 2022 he got a job as a rides and attractions host at Chessington World of Adventures after he failed to inform bosses about his previous convictions.

Ayres only worked at the theme park on three occasions, March 5, 11 and 17, but during that time he was working on rides.

None of the offences took place during his employment at the park.

In May 2022 he was given a community order after he was found in possession of five devices capable of storing images. He did not make them available for police inspection on request – breaching the order.

The 20-year-old previously admitted to breaching the SHPO, making indecent images of children, failing to comply with notification requirements whilst being on the sex offenders register, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to incite a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

At Winchester Crown Court on Friday, June 2, Ayres was jailed for six years, with an extended period of three years, and is subject to notification requirements for life.

The court heard that Ayres’s employment only came to light during a meeting with a probation worker.

Judge Angela Morris said: “During that conversation, you said you were working with an organisation with young adults and children.

“You said you put children in carts, close the door and push buttons. You admitted that you worked at a theme park but not which one.”

It was discovered that Ayres was working at Chessington and that on his application he said had no unspent convictions.

The court also heard that in March, this year, Ayres was talking to what he thought was a 12-year-old girl online, asking her for naked images and sex. However, he was talking to an undercover police officer.

The court heard that Ayres has Klinefelter syndrome - a common genetic condition where a male is born with an extra X chromosome – and autism.

Judge Morris said that she believed Ayres “presented a very high risk of committing further specified offences” and in doing so would bring harm to the public.

A spokesperson for Chessington World of Adventures said: “On being alerted by the police, our team acted swiftly and immediately suspended the trainee.

"As part of the standard training process, they would have been with a colleague and supervised. We have numerous security measures across the resort and safeguarding policies and procedures in place including DBS checks.

"The safety of our guests is our number one priority.

“For any roles that may have any unsupervised activity or ‘contact’ roles with children or vulnerable adults, additional background checks are conducted before employment can commence, subject to local laws.

"In the UK this means the requirement of a valid DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) certificate. Enhanced checks including a barred list check will be requested for certain roles. No employee is allowed to work alone with children without a valid DBS certificate.”

Description

A registered sex offender has been jailed for more than two years after he breached a sexual harm prevention order.

Kevin Chaffey, 49, of Meryon Road in Alresford, was previously convicted in April 2022 for the improper importation of indecent or obscene articles, making and possessing indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children, and possessing extreme pornographic images.

He was handed a 24-month suspended prison sentence and a ten-year sexual harm prevention order, which prohibited him from having mobile devices without registering them with the police first.

In September 2022 officers found an unregistered mobile phone at Chaffey's home address.

On Friday 21 October 2022 at Winchester Crown Court, Chaffey was sentenced after pleading guilty to breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

He was sentenced to 28 months in prison.

PC Gemma Southcott, from the Internet Child Abuse Team, said: "Chaffey is a danger to children and the wider public, and this is further evidenced by his complete disregard for the SHPO imposed by the courts.

"These types of order are imposed specifically for the purpose of restricting the activities of sex offenders and protecting our communities.

“There are of course individuals such as Chaffey who deliberately ignore what is required of them, and are rightly sent to prison for this.

“We take the management of sex offenders incredibly seriously, and invest significant resources into doing so in order to keep the public safe.

"I hope this case provides reassurance to people of our commitment to monitoring dangerous individuals in the community, and insuring they are dealt with robustly when they don't comply with what is required of them."

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A 'MONSTER who sexually abused a young girl has been jailed 13 years.

George Smith, 65, was handed the term with a four-year extended licence after he was found guilty of four sex offences.

Smith, of Salmons Road, Odiham, took advantage of the victim, a girl under the age of 13, last year.

The family of Smiths victim were at Winchester Crown Court to watch the abuser being sent to prison on Friday (May 27).

Sentencing, Judge Andrew Barnett said that Smith's behaviour was not only shocking but quite unforgivable, adding that he carried out deviant and perverted behaviour towards that little girl.

Smith pleaded not guilty to the offences but was convicted by a jury of rape of a child under 13, two counts of sexual assault on a child under 13 and causing/inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

In a victim impact statement, the mother said: Georges evil intentions and actions towards [the victim] are impossible to explain to anyone."

She said that her daughters innocence has been taken away from her, the mother continued: Her braveness in speaking out against George means that that monster will no longer be able to hurt anymore girls.

In mitigation, Adrienne Knight said that Smiths wife will be affected by his prison sentence as he is the sole earner.

She continued: His health means he may never come out, certainly his health has deteriorated in recent years.

It is going to make going to prison more onerous, I think, it is going to be more difficult for him because of his health.

Ms Knight said that Smith was a landscaper gardener who was hard working and employed a number of people over the years.

She added: When he comes out of prison that business will be gone, he will in effect be left with very little.

Smith was found not guilty of possessing a prohibited image and an indecent image of a child his work computer, but in sentencing, Judge Barnett said: On that computer were a number of images some touching upon the concerning subject of young girls, it seems to me that is a pointer as to what was going on in your warped mind.

The judge told Smith that he believed he posed a danger to the public which resulted in the extended licence.

Smith was handed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order.

Description

A SEX offender has been jailed for more than 13 years for crimes in the New Forest including the rape of a child under 13.

Steven Oxborrow (33), of Wilverley Road in Wootton, near New Milton, had been a "liked and trusted" local childrens martial arts instructor and entertainer.

But on multiple occasions over seven years, between January 2005 and June 2012, he abused three youngsters in the Wootton and New Milton area.

As reported in the A&T, he was convicted by a Southampton Crown Court jury in April of one count of rape of a child under 13 and five counts of sexual activity with a child under 13.

He was also found guilty of three counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, two counts of making indecent photographs of a child, and one count of possession of an indecent image of a child.

Yesterday (Thursday) he was sentenced by a judge at the same court to 13-and-a-half years behind bars, plus a further year on licence.

He was also made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, with all three victims being granted restraining orders against Oxborrow for life, ensuring that he cannot contact them.

He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

DC Donna Kay from Hampshire Constabularys Amberstone Unit, said: Firstly, I would like to commend the bravery and courage of the three victims in reporting the abuse in the first instance, with each one showing maturity beyond their years and playing a vital role in securing justice.

They were just children when Steven Oxborrow decided to take away their innocence with the victims fearful at the time of abuse of getting themselves, and a man that they liked and trusted, into trouble.

Oxborrow demonstrated that he was a very dangerous human being in grooming his victims and their parents into a false sense of security as a supposed respected person within the community who would not cause anyone any harm.

As we now know, this cant be further from the truth. We hope that todays sentencing can provide the victims with a sense of closure and comfort that he can no longer harm them."

Oxborrow's offending was uncovered when one of the victims came forward when they were 12 years old, after a concerned parent found inappropriate messages between the pair on a family computer.

Officers uncovered a further victim of Oxborrow and later found indecent images of children on his computer.

The trial jury also heard how a third victim reported being sexually abused by him when taking part in martial art classes.

DC Kay added: We want to show you that no matter the circumstances, Hampshire Constabulary are committed to supporting survivors of rape and sexual assault and we will do everything we can to identify offenders and put them in front of a court.

If youve been a victim, please report rape or sexual assault as soon as possible. Even if youre not 100 per cent sure, wed sooner hear from you so that we can make sure youre safe.

Operation Amberstone was set up in 2016 by Hampshire Constabulary as a dedicated team investigating serious sexual assaults and rape, including specially trained officers assigned to support victims.

A Hampshire police spokesperson said: "If youre not ready to talk to the police just yet, thats okay.

"You can speak to a number of organisations in confidence and what you tell them won't be shared with the police unless you ask for it to be."

For more information please visit www.hampshire.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/rsa/rape-and-sexual-assault/support-for-victims-of-rape-and-sexual-assault/

The outcome prompted a statement by the NSPCC, which said: The abuse experienced by Oxborrows victims will have had a profound impact upon their lives, and we hope they are now receiving the support they need to find some peace following the ordeals they were put through.

It is never too late to report child abuse. If you've experienced abuse, recently or in the past, or you're worried about someone who has, you can contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or [email protected].

"The NSPCC Helpline is staffed by trained professionals who can provide expert advice and support. Children can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or via Childline.org.uk.

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A Hampshire teacher has been banned from the profession for life after he was convicted of a number of child sex offences. He was convicted at Salisbury Crown Court in January 2021.

Nicholas Maunders, 29, taught maths at Frogmore Community College in Yateley. He was employed at the school from September 2017 until his resignation in November 2019.

In Mach 2019, a pupil disclosed to the school that another student had been exchanging messages with a member of staff. The school informed Hampshire Constabulary and the Local Authority Designated Officer.

A day later Maunders was arrested in connection with the disclosure which had been made. He was suspended while the school and police carried out investigations.

On January 8, 2021, the former teacher was convicted at Salisbury Crown Court. Maunders was convicted of three counts of sexual activity with a child and two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

In a written response from Maunders, he said: "I admit that I have been found guilty by the court but I am still maintaining my innocence of all of the charges." A professional conduct panel of the Teaching Regulation Agency to determine his future in the profession was held on April 7.

It was found, following the "serious findings of an inappropriate sexual relationship with a child" that Maunders should be banned from the profession for life. Despite having a "good history" as a teacher, the panel found no evidence that his actions were not deliberate and the former teacher has not expressed any remorse for his actions.

Alan Meyrick, writing on behalf of the Secretary State, said in the report: "In my judgement, the lack of full insight or remorse means that there is some risk of the repetition of this behaviour and this puts at risk the future wellbeing of pupils [...] In my view, it is necessary to impose a prohibition order in order to maintain public confidence in the profession."

Maunders is banned from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England. The former teacher has a right to appeal to the Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court within 28 days of the order being issued.

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A MAN who has been described as a "dangerous predator" has been jailed for more than two years for sexually assaulting a boy.

Martyn Quinn, 65 and of Beechwood, Fordingbridge, was sentenced at Southampton Crown Court on March 10, having previously pleaded guilty to one count of assault of a boy under 13 years old by touching.

The court heard how Quinn sexually assaulted the boy at premises in New Milton, on January 2.

Quinn was sentenced to two years and three months in prison.

He was also made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and will also be placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.

Detective Constable David Jackson, who led the investigation, said: Quinns actions have had a lasting impact on the boy and I would like to praise him for his bravery throughout the investigation which has led to this dangerous predator being put behind bars.

I hope it reassures the public that we will do all in our power to bring sex offenders to justice and encourage other survivors of sexual abuse to speak with us.

No matter how long ago it happened, or how old you are, we will take you seriously and support you throughout the process.

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A disgraced former boxer has been found guilty of sexually assaulting other amateur athletes throughout the 80s.

David Davidson, 57, carried out attacks on young fighters nearly 40 years ago and was finally brought to justice 24 years after one of his victims first went to police to report the abuse.

Davidson, who now lives in England and runs his own company, and carried out his attacks between 1981 and 1984.

One of his attacks occurred after a boxing fundraiser to raise money for the Doyle family who were victims of a fatal house fire amidst the height of Glasgow’s notorious Ice Cream Wars, the Daily Record reports.

The former fighter denied all wrongdoing at the High Court in Paisley.

A jury heard he attacked his first victim between 1981 and 1983, when Davidson was aged between 17 and 19, at a property in Glasgow’s Ruchill.

He went on to abuse a second victim on a number of occasions in 1984, when the victim was 18, in the Kildrum area of Cumbernauld and different areas of Glasgow.

He said that the man had told police a different version of events in 1997 when he first reported the accused.

Defence advocate Mark Moir asked the jury to acquit Davidson, saying his client claimed the sexual interactions had been consensual.

Moir argued it was “young men of 18, 19, 20 exploring their sexuality – deciding they don’t want to go that way or want to go this way”.

But the jury rejected the claims and convicted Davidson of both indecent assault charges.

Sentencing was adjourned until next month for background reports and for Davidson “to put his affairs in order” due to the prospect of receiving a custodial sentence.

It emerged Davidson was also convicted of a sexual offence in a separate case in 1985.

During the Ice Cream Wars, James Doyle, 53, his sons James, 23, Andrew, 18, Tony, 14, and their sister Christina Halleron, 25, and her 18-month-old son Mark died after a fire ripped through their home in Glasgow’s Ruchazie at about 2am on April 16, 1984.

Thomas “TC” Campbell and Joe Steele were convicted of murder over the blaze but were later cleared.

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A "cynical and highly manipulative" former Hampshire teacher has been jailed after committing a number of sexual offences against two teenage boys.

Julius Edwards, formerly of Queens Road, Farnborough, "exploited" the vulnerability of his victims, one of whom described him as a "puppet master".

Edwards, 49, "sought out teenage boys online, looking for the vulnerable", encouraging them to exchange explicit sexual messages and images with him.

He then persuaded the victims, aged 13 and 14 at the time, to meet him in person and engage in sexual acts, leaving them "devastated by the trauma".

Edwards was a science teacher, but these victims were not his students. He taught at the Dove House School in Basingstoke at the time of his arrest.

The "predatory paedophile" committed the sexual offences against the boys between March and April in 2020, and was convicted of 18 offences in April this year.

These included:

- three counts of sexual activity with a boy under 16;

- nine counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a boy under 16;

- one count of sexual assault by penetration;

- three counts of attempting to engage in penetrative sexual activity with a boy under 16; and

- two counts of failure to comply with a notice to provide a key.

Edwards pleaded guilty to one count of attempted sexual communication with a child at an earlier hearing, bringing the total number of offences to 19.

A sentencing hearing at Kingston Crown Court on Friday (June 4) heard how Edwards presented himself as "a caring adult", but then groomed and sexually abused the victims.

Judge Peter Lodder said Edwards "exploited" the second victim's vulnerabilities. He encouraged him to talk about sex, exchange intimate images, and persuaded the boy to meet him.

Addressing Edwards, Judge Lodder added: "On 8th or 9th April, you picked him up in your car, took him to a wooded area north of Guildford, and there pressed him into intimacy."

'I cry more now than ever before', the first victim said

Edwards "boasted" that he had "done these things with other lads", including the first victim.

Sexual messages and pictures were exchanged between Edwards and the first victim, before he picked him up and drove him to a remote location for sexual activity.

A statement from the first victim read aloud in court said: "I was a really happy child until he took that from me. I have felt a sadness ever since. I cry more now than ever before.

"Since it happened, every time I go outside I feel nervous and anxious. I can't trust anyone. I can't trust teachers at my school because I know he [Edwards] is a teacher."

The statement added: "He made me talk about my sex life as a 13-year-old to so many different people and my parents. This has been ultra embarrassing and upsetting."

The court heard how Edwards "bragged" about a third boy, called 'Liam', who was in fact an undercover police officer pretending to be an underage child, aged 13.

Edwards approached 'Liam' using the name 'don't be shy' online, and continued "in exactly the same way" as with the other two victims and "repeatedly" asked to meet.

On June 15, 2020, after his arrest, Edwards was asked to provide PIN codes to allow police to access his mobile devices, however he refused to do so.

He additionally submitted an application to change his name by deed poll while in prison awaiting trial, in an attempt to "try to conceal his true identity", the judge said.

He then made an application to change his passport with that new name. However, the Passport Office was "suspicious" and it came to the attention of the officer involved in the case.

Addressing Edwards, Judge Lodder added: "Clearly this was an attempt to avoid the consequences of restrictions that would be imposed as a result of your offending.

"It is activity which is entirely consistent with the picture you present of a cynical and highly manipulative offender."

Edwards' defence counsel said he has commenced counselling and psychiatric engagement within prison, adding: "He has been using his education to assist those prisoners who are unable to read or write".

Judge Lodder sentenced Edwards to 14 years in prison, with an extended license term of four years, and granted a restraining order in relation to the two victims.

He was also given a Sexual Harm Protection Order (SHPO) and ordered to pay a victim surcharge.

Detective Constable Mike Stanley, who investigated the case, said: "I hope that the sentence handed out today demonstrates our commitment to carrying out a full and thorough investigation to ensure that offenders are brought to justice.

"The tireless work of the team involved in this investigation, including the Guildford Safeguarding Investigation Unit and the Digital Forensics Team, has ensured that Edwards is behind bars where he belongs."

Description

A SEX offender from King's Somborne caught with repulsive images of extremely young children has been jailed.

Timothy Waterman had more than 1,000 indecent images, mostly young boys, some said to be in the age range of just two to four years old.

Appearing at Southampton Crown Court, the 36-year-old, once given a suspended sentence for inappropriately touching a young boy he was babysitting, was jailed for more than a year.

The court heard Waterman was caught with the images after police visited his address in King's Somborne in September last year.

Prosecutor Roderick Blain said police made the visit after receiving information that an address linked to Waterman had been used to download indecent images.

During the visit police seized a USB stick, a tablet and a laptop from Waterman.

Across the three devices they found a total of 1,300 indecent images, including 462 category A images the most serious kind.

Mr Blain said around half of the category A images were moving images, which he described as an aggravating feature of Watermans offending.

He added that the pictures were mostly of young boys, some of which were categorised as being in the two to four age range.

Mr Blain said that Waterman had also breached a previous sexual harm prevention order by not disclosing the tablet to police during an earlier visit in May.

He said that the order was made in 2015 when Waterman was convicted of sexually assaulting a young boy whom he was babysitting.

In mitigation, Chris Gaiger said Waterman was seeking help for his addiction through the Lucy Faithful Foundation which aims to prevent the sexual abuse of children.

Mr Gaiger added that Waterman was petrified of the prospect of going to prison.

In sentencing, judge Peter Henry said Waterman was not the victim.

He said: I read in the your pre-sentence report that you have your own problems, but I am afraid you are not the victim here, it is the children.

If one has the misfortune of reading the schedule of reading what these unfortunate children have had done to them it is quite repulsive.

I would be failing in my duty if I gave a community order for offences of this gravity.

Judge Henry sentenced Waterman, of Humbers View, King's Somborne, to 16 months in prison.

He also ordered Watermans sexual harm prevention order and notification requirements to be extended to 10 years from the point of his sentencing.