Latest Offenders Hartlepool

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A convicted child sex offender is back behind bars after he downloaded images of abuse on a mobile phone he was barred from possessing.

Gavin Thornton was caught with the sickening child abuse images and videos when specialist police officers carried out an impromptu search of his home.

The 44-year-old was caught with more than 7,000 indecent images of children with more than 600 in the worst legal category.

Cole Cockburn, prosecuting, said the defendant was caught with images in September 2022 and again earlier this year when police searched his home.

He said: “In September 2022, police searched his home and discovered a number of electrical devices, including a laptop and a smartphone, which there then analysed.

“The images featured children as young as four subjected to various forms of sexual abuse.”

The court heard how the defendant was released on bail but continued to download child sexual abuse images.

He was convicted of similar offences in January this year and was given a suspended prison sentence.

Mr Cockburn said the defendant was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and notification requirement order as the result of the earlier conviction.

The court heard how Thornton had failed to register a new smart phone and a number of aliases he was using to contact people online.

Thornton, formerly of Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to breaching his SHPO, breaching the conditions of his notification requirement order, six charges of making indecent images of children and one of distributing an indecent image of a child.

Nigel Soppitt, mitigating, said his client had spent ten months in custody since his arrest which is the equivalent of a 20-month prison sentence.

He added: “In the short time from the order being imposed and his offending, he had engaged enthusiastically with the probation service and there were no problems at all in that respect.

“He is a man who plainly wants to avoid this compulsion he has.”

Judge Jonathan Carroll locked the convicted sex offender up for a total of two years and eight months for all offences after he activated his previous suspended sentence for the 'high risk' offender.

“You have already had two sets of previous offences, all of a similar type,” he said.

“When the police officer attended your home, you had two opportunities to make a clean breast of the situation, you were still committing offences.

“It is clear to me that you are at a level of risk which cannot be safely managed in the community.”

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A sex attacker is finally paying for a series of offences committed more than two decades ago, after his victim gained the courage to report his abuse.

Scott Sly raped and sexually assaulted the school-aged girl a number of times while living in the Sunderland area more than 20 years ago, Newcastle Crown Court was told.

Years after the crimes took place, the brave survivor came forward and reported the abuse to the police.

The now 32-year-old defendant denied the allegations when interviewed but was charged in January, last year.

Sly, of Dent Street, Hartlepool, maintained his denials when he appeared before the court for trial in March this year.

But he was found guilty by the jury of all ten offences, including rape, indecent assault, and sexual assault.

He was back before the court on Friday for sentence and received a ten-year term of imprisonment.

Sly will also be subject to notification as a sex offender for the rest of his life, while his victim will be protected by an indefinite restraining order, which prohibits the defendant from contacting or approaching her.

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A 38-year-old man struck up a relationship with a teenage girl and sent explicit messages to another in America.

Stephen Slimings was caught out when he uploaded vile images to Snapchat. Police raided his Hartlepool home and found hundreds of indecent images of children and a drawing depicting child abuse.

On Tuesday, Teesside Crown Court heard that officers traced the Snapchat account to Slimings' IP address, after he posted the illegal images. His computer revealed he had been having sexually explicit online chats with a 13-year-old who lives in the USA, and police traced the girl and told her parents. The device also showed he "was in a relationship with an underage girl".

Shaun Dodds, prosecuting, said he was also found to have downloaded 3 category A photos - the most serious type - showing children being abused. Police also found 51 category B and 536 category C illegal photos of children; in addition to the "sketching."

Mr Dodds told the court with regards to the contact with the American youngster, Slimings had saved screenshots of an online conversation her. "He was pretending to be someone else and there were photos of her performing sex acts," Mr Dodds said.

Slimings, of Mickey Barron Close, in Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to:

• Three counts of making indecent images of children between 2020 and 2022.
• Possession of a prohibited image of a child.
• Sexual activity with a child.
• Inciting the sexual exploitation of a child.

In a statement, the mother of the teenage girl, said her previously "outgoing" daughter became withdrawn and didn't want to leave her side. She added: "She wants to sleep in my bed. It's like she's regressed to a small child."

Stephen Constantine, mitigating, said his client claimed to be "in the midst of a mental breakdown" where he would do things that were out of character. He said: "A report by probation has found that he has some insight into the way his behaviour has impacted on others. He is described as being remorseful. The defendant will go to prison for the first time in his life."

Judge Paul Watson told Slimings: "The communications with a 13-year-old girl - police found you were instructing her on how to perform sex acts on herself and send photos of it. You sent a highly sexualised photo of yourself. The images you had were of an appalling nature, showing real children being abused and subject to sexual indignity. It's a highly profitable and wicked trade in the suffering of young children."

Slimings was jailed for four-years-and-seven-months. He was made subject to sex offender notification requirements for life.

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Lee Dennison aged 48 from Hartlepool was sentenced to 8 years in prison last week for possessing indecent images of children and for breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

Detective Constable Carl Middleton from the Sex Offender Management Unit (SOMU) said: “Cleveland Police welcomes the sentence handed to Lee Dennison. He was in possession of child abuse images containing the horrific abuse of young children and babies.

“Crimes of this nature are unforgiveable, and the children shown in the images Dennison was accessing were subject to the most horrifying ordeals.

“Lee Dennison showed no remorse for his actions. This was proven on a random visit to Dennison’s address by SOMU which resulted in an officer witnessing Dennison trying to hide devices in his home. These devices should have been declared to the Force and were immediately seized. A further device was located hidden under his mattress.

“The sentence given to Dennison should set a clear example to others that the Force will not tolerate this level of crime being committed and if you continue to access abusive and horrific content relating to children online, we will catch you and bring you to justice.”

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A sex offender has been locked up for two years after specialist police officers found thousands of messages threatening to leak private photos of a woman. 

Andrew Wood, 33, from Hartlepool came under investigation after a routine unannounced visit by police. The attending officer was suspicious that he’d been deleting items from his phone.

The device was seized and forensically examined and it was discovered he’d sent many thousands of messages to a woman threatening to share private photos and videos with her friends and family and also informing her he had placed photos of her child online for other sex offenders to view.

Wood was immediately arrested, then charged and remanded in custody until his court appearance for sentencing today.

The specialist officers who monitor convicted sex offenders, including Wood, have welcomed the two-year sentence given to him, as his actions breached the terms of his SHPO (sexual harm prevention order).

Detective Constable Malissa Haines from the Sex Offender Management Unit said: “Wood caused his victim serious mental harm by bombarding her with over 16, 000 unwanted calls, messages and emails over an 18-month period.

“These communications came with threats to disclose intimate private images. “I would like to thank the lady for being strong enough to report these vile crimes and for bravely supporting our enquiries. “I hope Wood’s imprisonment and restraining order provide her with a degree of comfort.”

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A Hartlepool man has been put behind bars after he sent explicit videos of him committing sexual acts to someone he believed was a 14-year-old boy.

Jasonn Harrison, 54 of Kesteven Road, Hartlepool, has been sentenced to two years and seven months in prison and been put on an indefinite Sex Offenders Notice after he sent sexually explicit videos of himself and graphic sexual messages.

Whilst Harrison believed he was speaking to a teenager, he was instead speaking to officers from the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) and Cleveland Police.

Following his arrest in January 2022, Harrison appeared at Teesside Crown Court on Monday (October 23) for his sentencing.

This follows from August 11, where he plead guilty to arranging/facilitating the commission of a child sex offence, possession of extreme pornography and cause/incite a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity. 

Detective Inspector Leonard from NEROCU, : “When sex offenders operate online, they think they can hide their crimes, but this case shows the lengths officers will go to protect victims and bring offenders before the courts.

“This has been a long and thorough investigation by our team, and this result has meant a predator is now behind bars and potential victims have been prevented.

“Online offending is sadly on the rise, but our investigative skills and evidence gathering are constantly evolving.

“We would always encourage anyone with information about this type of offending, or anyone who thinks they have been a victim to come forward and talk to police – you will be supported.”

“Under Operation Sentinel, our regional approach to tacking serious and organised crime, we will continue to investigate these online offences to safeguard children and protect the public. For those engaging in this type of behaviour, our message is simple- you will be caught, and you can expect a knock at the door from us.”

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John Edwards, 64, of May Street, Hartlepool, was jailed for 18 years at Teesside Crown Court earlier this month after being convicted of two counts of gross indecency with a child and two of rape.

His brother Maurice Edwards, 74, of Tithe Barn Road, in Stockton, received 27 and a half years after he was found guilty of two counts of rape and indecent assault against the same victim.

Specialist detectives have praised the survivor who bravely came forward and was offered specialist support.

Detective Constable Mel Phelps, from Cleveland Police’s Child Abuse and Vulnerable Adult Unit (CAVA), said: “This was a horrific case involving two brothers carrying out extensive abuse – one against a child and the other as the survivor reached adulthood.

“Their actions have had a massively detrimental effect on the survivor, sadly causing lasting effects.

“I can’t praise the survivor enough for their bravery though – throughout the investigation and during the trial itself.

"The trauma of having to go over these devastating events must have been unbearable but we all shared a determination to achieve justice and to see both Edwards brothers dealt with.

“I hope the lengthy sentences handed to these men demonstrate police and the judicial system’s view of such horrendous offending, and that the survivor can continue to move forwards with their life."

The brothers were charged in 2020 and stood trial for two weeks last month.

John Edwards was also given one year extended licence for when he is eventually released from prison.

Both will also be subject to lifelong restraining orders preventing them from contacting their victim and will be placed on the sex offenders’ register.

CAVA Acting Detective Chief Inspector Mathew Waterfield paid tribute to the victim, adding: “I also wish the survivor the very best for the future; their courage and unwavering determination to seek justice after their unimaginable and harrowing experience is absolutely awe-inspiring.

“I would also take this opportunity to remind anyone who has experienced any kind of abuse, however long ago, that they can report in complete confidence to Cleveland Police.”

People can report incidents through the Cleveland Police website or by phoning 101 any time.

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A sex offender who once tried to meet a young girl for sexual activity has been hauled back before the courts for breaching an order.

David Walls, 43, was handed a 28-month prison sentence at Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to three counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Prosecutor Jenny Haigh told the court that Walls is a registered sex offender and on March 15, 2017, he was convicted after grooming a girl and attempting to meet her. She said the pair chatted over the internet and he offered her cigarettes and suggested meeting up for sexual activity.

However, Ms Haigh said the girl did not attend the meeting as she knew "it was wrong". Following the conviction, the defendant was made to comply with notification requirements but breached these in July.

The court heard police obtained a warrant and attended his home address however, it was clear he had not been living at the home. Officers then attended his brother's property and apprehended Walls after he tried to flee.

Ms Haigh said his phone was then searched. She added: "It was quite clear the defendant had been using the laptop and iPad at his brother's home. It was clear he had been staying there."

The prosecutor said the search revealed that he had been using Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook under alias names. She said the defendant has six convictions for 16 offences and has previously breached the order.

In mitigation, however, the court heard Walls admitted the offences and "with hindsight knows he needs to change his behaviour".

Walls of Rugby Street, Hartlepool was handed a 28-month prison sentence.

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A 'lying' child rapist will spend 28 years in prison for his horrific crimes.

Predator Richard Williams was put behind bars at Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday. The Hartlepool man also received an indefinite restraining order and a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) and will be subject to stringent conditions and monitoring upon his release.

In 2018, a third party reported that Williams had sexually assaulted and raped the victim. Enquiries began and the victim received specialist support while officers from CAVA (Child Abuse and Vulnerable Adults Investigation Unit) worked with other agencies to piece together what had happened over the years.

Williams, of Topcliffe Street, Hartlepool, was charged earlier this year and in May a jury at Teesside Crown Court found him guilty of raping a girl under 16, four counts of rape of a female over 16, indecent assault on a girl under 16 and indecent assault on a woman over 16.

Safeguarding Detective Chief Inspector Matt Murphy King added: “Williams lied and lied again, denying his actions even when there was the strongest of evidence against him. He did all he could to throw our enquiries off course but my officers shared a determination to achieve charges and bring him before the courts to face the consequences of his abhorrent actions.

“Williams’ constant lying also meant the victim had to endure the stress of a trial, but she took it all in her stride and showed great courage and strength throughout. I’d reassure our communities that we will always investigate thoroughly any allegations of abuse, no matter how long ago it took place.”

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A rapist has been jailed for an attack he carried out a number of years ago.

Mark Thompson, 21, was convicted of rape by a unanimous jury at Teesside Crown Court last month. The trial heard that Thompson made "admissions" of guilt in messages he sent to the victim after the attack.

But Thompson insisted the victim must have hacked his account, and sent the messages.

On Friday, the court heard that the probation service had expressed concerns about Thompson, who suffers from a stutter and has suspected learning difficulties, in prison.

Rod Hunt, defending, told the court: "The probation officer was stark - she feels he will have difficulties.

"He was not fully developed when he carried out the offence and I suspect, he's not fully developed now. He's been sitting outside the court weeping. It's not just his stutter, there's suspected learning difficulties."

Prosecutor Ian West told the court that the rape had had a "catastrophic effect" on the victim. In a statement, the victim said that the stress over what had happened had affected their weight, and now has "the physical strength of a 62-year-old."

The statement said: "My anxiety worsened. I started pulling my hair out. My trust in men has gone. The verdict means that I am now believed and I can finally move on. I do believe he deserves prison."

Recorder Aisha Wadoodi told Thompson: "The message you sent after the rape - they were admissions of guilt. I have to balance your age at the time, your communication difficulties - I am aware that prison will be difficult for you - with the serious psychological harm you caused your victim.

"I am satisfied that there was a catastrophic affect."

The judge jailed Thompson, of Seaton Lane in Hartlepool, for three-years-and-11-months.

He will serve half of the sentence before he is eligible for release; and was made subject to sex offender notification requirements for the rest of his life.

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A pervert who trawled the internet for child sex victims was trapped after a vigilante group used decoys pretending to be as young as 12.

Lee Wright-King, 34, from Hartlepool, walked into a trap on the town's railway station where he was confronted by men from the group STOP and police.

In his pocket he was carrying a sex toy and lubricant.

Wright-King had been in daily contact for weeks with two ‘girls’ aged 12 and 14 who were women working with the group operating to catch paedophiles menacing children.

He used an alias to groom the decoys, offering to meet the elder one in Wales before settling for a meeting with the ‘12 year old’ in Middlesbrough and then Hartlepool on September 20.

In answer to his questions, she said that she had never had a boyfriend and she did not know how to kiss.

Wright-King said he would take her into the woods for sex, said prosecutor Emma Atkinson.

He asked her to wear a summer dress and he said that he could not wait to meet her, Teesside Crown Court was told.

Christine Egerton, defending, said in mitigation that he had only one previous conviction for a relatively minor offence of shoplifting.

She added: “It is fortunate that there was no actual child to be involved here.

“He has expressed genuine remorse and he is well-disposed to carrying our work to address his offending

“He tells me that he is determined not to be involved in any sort of this behaviour again.”

Judge Jonathan Carroll told Wright-King, who appeared over a videolink from Durham Prison: “You put these decoy girls under a degree of pressure not to reveal your existence because you knew full well what would happen."

Wright-King of Straker Street, was jailed for 27 months, given a 15-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order banning contact with children and was ordered to register as a sex offender for an identical period.

He pleaded guilty to two offences of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and one of attempting to meet a child for sex.

The judge ordered the destruction of the sex toy and lubricant.

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A convicted sex offender has been jailed after he contacted a number of under-16 girls from a secret digital tablet.

Anthony Metcalfe adopted an alias in conversations with the girls on Snapchat from his home in an outhouse behind a relative’s address in Hartlepool.

The 34-year-old, who was a registered sex offender for life since he was convicted in 2015 of three sexual assaults on children, messaged the youngsters with comments, including ‘nice bum’ and ‘beautiful’.

His ban on contact with children was from a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) which was also imposed in 2015 and he was later jailed for 16 months for breaching it five times, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Rachel Masters, prosecuting, said Metcalfe’s illicit tablet was discovered by police during a visit from his police offending manager on May 10. 

 She said the defendant had a list of names he classed as Snapchat friends and checks identified six were under 16 – two were aged 15, three were aged 13 and one was aged just 12.

“Direct messages had been sent to them such as ‘nice bum’ and ‘beautiful’ and this contact places him in breach of his sexual harm prevention order,” she added.

The court heard how the defendant had 25 convictions for 47 offences, including failing to tell a mother he was visiting at her home that he was a convicted sex offender.

Metcalfe, of Willow Walk, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to six breaches of SHPO and two breaches of his notification requirements. 

 Stephen Constantine, in mitigation, said his client could have an underlying mental health condition which he had hidden for a number of years.

He added: “The only real mitigation in this case is his guilty pleas to each count – given at the earliest opportunity.

“It is clear from the pre-sentence report that there may well be an underlying mental health issue.”

Judge Howard Crowson sentenced Metcalfe to two years and eight months for the breaches.

He said: “Given your history, I have a real anxiety about the risk that you pose. These are serious and persistent breaches, contact with six different children, some really young and at risk of very serious harm.” 

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A pervert from Hartlepool who was caught spying on a female with a hidden camera has been jailed.

Former Army officer Peter Cartwright installed the camera to record the victim a number of times without her knowledge for his own sick kicks.

He was arrested after the stunned victim discovered it leaving her feeling sickened, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Nigel Soppitt said she found it after she spotted a red light and shouted out: Why is there a camera [here]?

Cartwright, 44, tried to suggest he had been trying to recreate the same thrill from his former surveillance activities in the Army.

But the judge strongly rejected that.

Cartwright initially claimed it was the first time he had hidden the camera to spy on the female.

But he later confessed he had done it several times.

The victim said she felt physically sick upon finding it adding: It was the nastiest shock Ive ever had in my life.

The court heard it has had a major effect on her and her family with the victim even feeling suicidal and said she still has nightmares about it.

Her partner said she had changed from being a bubbly outgoing person previously.

Cartwright, of Oxford Road, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to a single count of voyeurism at Teesside Magistrates Court last month.

His lawyer Rod Hunt urged Judge Howard Crowson to draw back from immediate prison citing Cartwrights lack of previous convictions and 22 years military service.

Mr Hunt said: Your Honour is not dealing with a man who is a habitual attender of these premises.

"He was obviously a very good soldier indeed. Sometimes thats eclipsed by an act such as this.

But Judge Crowson told Cartwright: Im afraid I do take the view that this type of offence is so serious and the harm caused is so grave that the only way I can appropriately punish you is by immediate custody.

The judge said he did not believe Cartwright had shown real remorse adding: Your claim that this was done to recreate the thrill of your time as an Army surveillance officer is unbelievable and I reject it.

Cartwright was jailed for eight months and will be on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

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Mark Sorby, 45, was found guilty of 16 sexual offences against four females when they were children after a trial at Teesside Crown Court last month.

The abuse involved him touching the victims in a sexual nature, some of which involved force, over a period of about nine years.

Sorby got away with it for years after telling his victims not to tell anyone.

When one did report it, she was not believed.

But he was convicted when each of his victims gave evidence against him at court and the jury saw through his lies.

All of the survivors of Sorbys abuse have suffered psychological harm.

One attended Mondays sentencing and read out an impact statement while Sorby listened over a videolink from prison.

She said: I have nightmares about what Mark did to me and have previously tried to kill myself.

"This traumatic ordeal has affected my full life. No one deserves to be sexually assaulted and no one deserves not to be believed.

Another survivor wrote: You made me feel completely worthless. I cry myself to sleep at night.

"You robbed me of the best years of my life.

Prosecutor Shaun Dodds said during one sex assault that Sorby dragged and pinned the victim down.

Afterwards he told her: Nobody will believe you if you tell.

Jailing Sorby, of Ettrick Walk, Hartlepool, Judge Howard Crowson said: You are quite obviously a predatory paedophile.

"You are entirely to blame. The offences were carefully carried out so you would not bring suspicion on yourself.

"You clearly have caused a great deal of harm.

Judge Crowson also sentenced Sorby, who he described as an offender of particular concern, to two and a half years extended supervision when he is eventually released.

Stephen Constantine, said in mitigation, that Sorby was a man of previous good character.

He added: Whilst there are aspects of physical force involved, there are no threats of physical violence.

Sorby was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order to bar him having contact with girls under the age of 16.

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Lewis Fisher, 28, who is from Hartlepool, initially denied the offence to police after they were quickly alerted.

But forensic tests on swabs taken from the girl eventually provided DNA evidence to prosecute him, Teesside Crown Court was told.

Shaun Dodds, prosecuting, read a victim impact statement on her behalf in which she said: I cant trust anyone, I dont feel safe. I feel traumatised and it will be for ever.

She also felt as though her claims were initially disbelieved and that she was being punished for something that was not my fault.

Michele Turner, defending, told the court: He does now have an understanding of the impact of what he has done

There are understandably features which quite rightly left the court concerned about.

He accepts that his family have to serve any sentence with him.

Judge Chris Smith said Fishers victim had a degree of vulnerability because of previous problems and was taken advantage of by him.

Passing sentence, Judge Smith told him: When you were arrested you denied doing the offence but the scientific evidence supported her and you had the good sense to plead guilty.

The impact upon her has been very substantial partly because she went through a period of being disbelieved.

Fisher, who is a carer and is from Kesteven Road, was jailed for five years.

He will also be monitored for life by a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and be a registered sex offender for life after he pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child.