Latest Offenders Havant

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A man who exposed himself in front of two females and had indecent images of children has been jailed.

Pervert Tommy John Back, 22, of Rooksbury Croft, Havant, has been put behind bars after pleading guilty at Portsmouth Crown Court. Back followed a 15-year-old girl and approached her in Pleasant Road, Milton, Portsmouth, on February 29 at roughly 3.20pm.

He spoke to the teenager briefly before indecently exposing himself and leaving the scene. The victim was no physically hurt. On the same day, a 30-year-old woman was approached by Back while waiting for a bus in Goldsmith Avenue. Back exposed himself and left the scene, while not physically harming the woman.

A few days later, on March 5, another 15-year-old girl was stalked in the Prospect Way area of Havant. She was not physically hurt. Back was arrested and charged following a police investigation including public appeals.

He was charged with four offences of exposure; two offences of voyeurism; three offences of making an indecent image of a child; possession of an extreme pornographic image and using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm, or distress. Back was sentenced to 21 months in prison at Portsmouth Crown Court on August 22 after pleading guilty to exposure and other incidents at a previous hearing.

Detective constable Dave Glover, an officer on the case, said: We take all reports of indecent exposure very seriously and Backs behaviour was very concerning. Im pleased that the court has recognised the danger he posed to members of the public and have imposed a sentence that sends a strong message that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated. Id urge anyone who is the victim of similar offences to report it to us straight away. It may relate to somebody that is already known to us or help us to build a picture of what is happening so that we can take action to prevent future offending.

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A 'manipulative' man blackmailed two young women into having sex with him.

Joshua Bromage preyed on his victims, one as young as 17, on Instagram, threatening to expose intimate images of the women unless they sent him more images.

Bromage has been jailed for 14 years and will be a registered sex offender for the rest of his life after being sentenced at Winchester Crown Court on Thursday.

Judge Peter Henry said the 30-year-old had cynically manipulated his victims into complying with his demands.

Bromage, of Holybourne Road in Havant, previously pleaded guilty to four counts of rape.

The court heard how in April 2021, a 17-year-old girl in Southampton reported that she had been forced to have sex with Bromage and that she had been blackmailed over Instagram by an unknown person to send indecent images and videos.

This person was later identified as Bromage.

Bromage was arrested and an examination of his phone found category C indecent images of children, as well as images of the victim.

It also revealed a series of text conversations in which Bromage demanded explicit images of the victim, threatening to release intimate photos of her online if she didn’t comply.

In November 2023, while the initial police investigation was ongoing, a 22-year-old woman, from Southampton, came forward to police.

The 22-year-old reported that she had also been raped by Bromage and blackmailed by an unknown person, again later identified to be Bromage, via Instagram.

The woman told officers how she had been blackmailed into sending indecent images and videos of herself, with the perpetrator again threatening to release other indecent images of her if she did not meet his demands.

Bromage further manipulated the victim by telling her that he was receiving similar threats, and that the blackmailer was requesting images and videos of the two engaging in sexual acts.

Following a thorough and complex investigation, Bromage was charged with four counts of rape, which he pleaded guilty to.

Detective Constable Andrew Ferguson, who led the investigation, said: “Bromage’s actions were incredibly manipulative, calculated and controlling and the impact he has had on his two young victims is immeasurable.

“I hope that this sentence reassures other victims that they will be listened to when reporting incidents of this nature to the police.”

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A ‘disgusting’ Leigh Park paedophile has been jailed for 12 years for raping a girl and taking photos of his sordid attacks despite being on the radar of social services.

Alfred Weller carried out sex attacks on the helpless child under 13 over a period of years for his own warped sexual gratification, Portsmouth Crown Court heard. It was told the ‘canny’ 30-year-old took dozens of pictures of the humiliated victim during his depraved assaults. Weller, of Spinner Drive, was sentenced for the ‘sustained’ sexual assaults before a police investigation snared the predator resulting in his arrest in December 2022.

Judge Richard Shepherd told disgraced Weller: ‘You raped and abused a young girl. Not only did you rape her but you took photos of the abuse including the rape. It was over a prolonged period of time. The number of images of the young girl ran into the dozens.’

The court heard Weller had 44 Category A indecent images of his victim - the most extreme classification. He also had 51 Category B and 67 Category C of the child.

The police probe also revealed 215 Category A indecent images, 221 Category B and 324 Category C images of other children.

Prosecutor Barry McElduff said Weller was known to social services with his ‘background a concern’ that had been previously flagged. But the barrister said the defendant still ‘found a way to abuse’ the victim.

He was arrested in December over the sexual abuse, with the girl telling officers: ‘He’s been doing it for years.’

Police investigations led to recordings being discovered before they were able to piece together and ‘confidently conclude’ Weller was responsible for the abuse.

The judge branded Weller ‘canny’ and ‘disgusting’ for carrying out the ‘prolonged sexual abuse’ that took place where the child was supposed to be safe but ‘was anything but (safe)’.

Weller was convicted of rape, five counts of sexual assault, and six charges of having indecent images of a child.

Judge Shepherd took into account Weller’s own ‘difficulties and vulnerabilities’ with him ‘immature for his chronological age’ before jailing him for 12 years. He will serve two-thirds in jail before being released on licence.

Weller will have to comply with sex offender notification requirements and a sexual harm prevention order for the rest of his life.

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A man has been jailed for the non-recent sexual abuse of two girls including two counts of raping a girl under the age of 16 in Havant.

Robert Campbell, 62, abused the girls on a number of occasions between 2013 and 2015 when they were both under the age of 16.

The girls, both now adults, spoke out about what had happened to them in April 2021, at which point the police were called.

An investigation was launched and Campbell was arrested on April 30.

He was charged with two counts of raping a girl under the age of 16, two counts of assaulting a girl under the age of 16 by touching, and three counts of causing or inciting a girl under the age of 16 to engage in sexual activity.

He denied the offences, but was found guilty on all seven counts on January 23 this year, following a Portsmouth Crown Court trial which began on January 16.

Campbell, formerly of St Clares Avenue in Havant, appeared at the same court on Wednesday, May 10 where he was sentenced to 17 years in prison. He was also handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and ordered to comply with Sexual Offender Register notification requirements indefinitely.

DC Leanne Boyd, who led the investigation, said: “These two brave women should be commended for their courage in disclosing the most awful events of their childhood, and supporting this investigation to ensure Campbell could not hurt anyone again.

“Justice has been served on Campbell. The abuse he inflicted on the two survivors when they were so young is absolutely horrific.

“He will now spend a lengthy period of time in jail, and I hope this case gives other survivors the confidence that if they have been abused, they will be heard and believed and we will do all we can to protect them and give them justice.”

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

A spokesman for Hampshire Constabulary said: "We recognise that not everyone has the confidence to speak to police, but there are support services available that can help you if you are a victim of abuse."

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A man who stole the childhood of a girl, abusing her for over 10 years, before moving onto a younger victim has been jailed for his sickening actions.

Christian Wood, 43, received an extended sentence of 13 years at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday (24 February) to serve 10 years in prison and three years on licence - for the abuse he inflicted on two young girls for over a decade.

Wood was found guilty of sexual assault of a child under 13, three counts of sexual activity with a child, assault by penetration and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity by a jury on 3 February following a one-week trial.

The court heard how Wood groomed one of his victims over a period of years, touching her inappropriately, before engaging in sexual activity with her. As she got older, Wood moved on to another younger victim, subjecting her to online grooming and asking her for sexual favours.

Woods abuse was reported to the police after the victims both found the courage to speak to someone they trusted.

One of the victims personal impact statements, read in court, explains how Woods actions ruined her life. It said: I have lost my childhood. My memories have been overtaken by the sickening abuse I experienced, the abuse you put me through. I dont remember the good times. You damaged my mental health, my mood, and my motivation.

I have made several attempts to end my life because of the abuse and trauma I was subjected to.

You abused your power of trust and because of that I now have severe trust issues. This has impacted my ability to form different types of relationships, including family and friends. I am constantly on edge, searching for the negatives, risks and threats in all situations. Things I once used to enjoy have now become triggers and reminders of the disgusting abuse that you put me through.

The relationship that has been destroyed the most is the one with myself.

Investigating Officer PC David Beck said: At the heart of this investigation are two victims who have had their childhood stolen and lives affected forever.

Woods offending was sinister and manipulative, distancing his victims from family and loved ones one of the victims recalled how he alienated her from her father.

No child should experience what Woods two victims have suffered, no child should suffer abuse. Their bravery and courage throughout this investigation has been incredible. They have showed that they have a voice and theyre no longer afraid.

Wood showed no remorse for his actions, and even after inflicting abuse on the victims for years, still pleaded not guilty and subjected them to relive every experience at trial.

He is a vile human being who will now spend years in prison. I hope the sentencing of Wood provides the victims with some sort of closure and helps them rebuild their lives.

The victims impact statement continued: This is me gaining my power and voice back. I am going to learn how to deal with this. I am free. I am going to thrive, and you are going to rot.

Wood, formerly of Havant, Hampshire, was also handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

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A Havant man who sexually abused two girls has been sentenced to 13 years in prison.

Appearing at Portsmouth Crown Court on Thursday (24 November), 70-year-old Trevor McCurdy, of Almond Close, was sentenced having been found guilty by a jury of a number of child sex offences.

The charges relate to a number of incidents that took place across 2020 and 2021, as well as some dating back to the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The first report was made to police in March 2021, which resulted in the launch of an investigation by Hampshire Constabulary’s Eastern Child Abuse Investigation Team (CAIT). McCurdy was arrested and later charged with four counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching, two counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by penetration, three counts of indecent assault on a girl under 16.

McCurdy originally went on trial in May of this year, having pleaded guilty to two of the offences and not guilty to the rest of the charges against him. Two days into his trial he absconded from the court, and was found guilty by the jury in his absence a number of days later.

Officers began work to locate McCurdy, which included appeals to the public for information about his whereabouts, and he was located in Brighton in October, where he was arrested and remanded into custody.

He has now been sentenced to 13 years in prison and given a life time Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Following the sentence, Detective Constable Marie Todd, who led the investigation, said: “Trevor McCurdy abused the trust of his young victims in the worst possible way.

“The bravery and courage they have shown during the course of this investigation and trial is remarkable and without them McCurdy would not be behind bars today. While it will never take away the pain and trauma of what they have been through, I hope that this sentence goes some way towards helping them move forward with their lives. McCurdy showed no remorse for the pain and suffering that he caused to his young victims.

“I want to appeal to anyone who has been affected by this type of abuse to come forward and talk to us, and be reassured that you don’t have to suffer in silence.”

We would encourage anyone who has been a victim of child abuse, or has any information about this type of abuse, to contact police on 101.

Alternatively, contact Child Line on 0800 11 11, or if you are an adult who has been affected, you can call the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000.

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Havant paedophile Gregorio Valencia inflicted misery on the girl during his ‘progressive’ campaign of harrowing abuse over a year. The educated man of ‘good character’ started off by touching the child intimately.

Valencia, of Horsebridge Road, exploited opportunities to abuse the girl. Prosecutor Simon Foster outlined the acts he committed, which The News is not repeating in detail. He said the girl cried after Valencia left the room.

Valencia touched her, and also climbed on top of her, Mr Foster said, adding: ‘These were especially serious incidents. Had the alarm not been raised things may have proceeded.’

The victim, in a statement read out to court, said she felt ‘disgusted and sad’. ‘I felt really scared and strange. He was so nice to me afterwards it made me feel weird,’ she said.

The girl said she suffers ‘nightmares’ from her ordeal and blamed herself. ‘I dream a lot about what he did to me, touching me and climbing on top of me. It’s like it happened all over again. Then I wake up in silence and think about it all over again. It was terrifying.’ She added: ‘I feel guilty and like it is all my fault.’

Valencia gave no comment to police when arrested. He admitted seven offences of sexual activity with a girl and was immediately put on the sex offenders register. But when police came to check on him he was not at the address he had given - instead living in his car to save money.

Having an established address is not a pressing concern for Valencia now, though, after he was locked up for two and a half years. Judge Keith Cutler CBE told Valencia his actions caused ‘distress and anxiety’. ‘She should not feel guilty at all. There is no blame on her or anyone else,’ he continued.

‘There’s only one person who did wrong by her and that was you. And you are going to pay the price. They were progressive acts that fortunately went no further.’

Valencia, who admitted a charge of breaching his sex offender notification requirements, was handed a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years. He must sign the sex offenders register forever.

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A football coach who sexually abused boys after grooming them through online gaming and relentless messages has been jailed for 15 years and 10 months.

Alfie Morel, 24, from Hampshire, was found guilty of eight offences in January, including attempted rape.

A school of one of the victims and the FA both raised concerns about Morel not following safeguarding rules and travelling with boys in his car alone.

A victim's mother told the BBC it was "your worst nightmare as a parent".

Another parent said: "He was highly thought of. Everyone liked him, everyone trusted him, we thought he was great with the kids. We were totally groomed by him."

The crimes - carried out over eight months in 2020 and 2021 - came to light when one of the victims, who was 12 at the time, told his mother Morel had sent him sexual messages.

The boy revealed the coach had committed a sex act in front of him, sexually assaulted him and bribed him to perform sex acts on him in exchange for money or Fifa football video games points.

The court also heard Morel would share images with his victims on Instagram, before moving the conversations to Snapchat, allowing him to "delete compromising messages".

Prosecutors said he had targeted boys who were "vulnerable and insecure" and had divulged personal information about his own mental health to gain leverage. He carried out abuse in the victims' homes and in his car.

At one point during the sentencing hearing at Portsmouth Crown Court, the judge told Morel to "stop smirking".

'Shocking case'

One parent read out a victim impact statement and said her son had remained "tormented" since the abuse.

"Guilt, anger and sadness has taken over my life. I am totally broken. I have lost faith in systems and the ways children are protected," she told the court.

Passing sentence, Judge Richard Shepherd said Morel had "ingratiated" himself to the boys who were "football mad".

"You lied, manipulated, coerced, bribed and cajoled for your own sexual pleasure. All the victims looked up to you, you were in a position of trust." he added.

An FA spokesperson said it "welcomes the conviction and sentencing of Mr Morel and we wholly condemn the horrific abuse that this individual inflicted.

"The young victims have shown remarkable courage in speaking up and in giving evidence so that criminal justice could be delivered. Our thoughts are with these children and their families at this time," they added.

Hampshire County Council declined to reveal what action was taken after the school flagged its concern, but said the matter was passed to its children's services department.

"We do not provide information about referrals as this must necessarily remain confidential," a spokesperson added.

"Schools are responsible for undertaking safeguarding checks for staff they employ, as are any third-party organisations providing services to schools.

"However, it is important to understand that individuals who breach their position of trust do so deceptively and will do whatever they can to conceal their actions."

Det Sgt Barry Martin, of Hampshire Constabulary, said: "Even for us who work in policing, and specifically in the investigation of the abuse of children, this is still quite a shocking case."

He said that without the "character" of the victims to come forward and give evidence against Morel he might have offended further.

Morel was also found guilty of three counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, causing or inciting a child into sexual activity, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and two counts of sexual communication with a child.

He admitted another count of sexual communication with a child during his trial. He was acquitted of a charge of rape.

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A HAVANT photographer has been found guilty of sexually assaulting an aspiring actress, making her feel sick and uncomfortable.

Pascal Molliere, 55, exploited the woman during an hour-long photoshoot at a warehouse in Fulham, west London, in July 2010.

Jurors at Southwark Crown Court heard Molliere kissed and repeatedly groped the victim, after being polite and professional for the initial 15 minutes of the shoot and locking the door.

The woman, 22, had moved to London to pursue an acting career.

She had borrowed money from her mother to pay for portfolio images to publicise herself, the court heard.

Prosecutor Tyrone Silcott said Molliere started out taking headshots but then photographed her from underneath with her legs open and touched her genitals.

The woman burst into tears after leaving the studio and told her boyfriend what happened, jurors heard.

Her boyfriend branded Molliere an abhorrent human and told him he would contact the police if the photographer did not delete all the photographs and refund the money.

The prosecutor said: For her part, she felt uncomfortable and upset.

After the photoshoot had finished, the defendant kissed her with a full kiss on the mouth.

The kiss made her feel sick.

Mr Silcott told jurors that ahead of the shoot, Molliere asked the woman whether she wanted to do fashion or sexy shots.

The woman agreed to bring lingerie because she was interested in modelling and felt it might be nice to take some photographs for her and her then partner, he added.

She said she was inspired to report Molliere to the police in 2019 after the #MeToo movement gained momentum.

Molliere denied all counts against him, claiming the incident absolutely did not happen and the woman left his studio seeming elated.

He said when he received a call from her boyfriend days later, he believed the couple had fallen out over the sexual nature of the pictures.

A jury convicted him of three counts of sexual assault after deliberating for two days.

The photographer, from Havant, will be sentenced on April 12.

Pauline Curtis, from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said: In his capacity as a professional photographer Pascal Molliere exploited a young woman who had simply wanted a portfolio of images to help her begin an acting career.

She did not consent to any sexual activity.

The victim trusted Molliere as a professional photographer, however, that trust was abused while she was in her most vulnerable state.

The prosecution case included strong testimony from the brave victim who came to court and gave evidence against her abuser during the trial.

Sexual offences are some of the most complex cases that we prosecute.

I hope these convictions provide the victim with some closure and encourage other victims of such crimes to come forward and report their attackers.

The CPS is committed to bringing sexual predators to justice regardless of the time that has passed.

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The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was assaulted by Havant man Daniel Cake, 42, after he went into the bedroom where she was asleep in the middle of the night before sexually assaulting her.

Portsmouth Crown Court heard how intoxicated opportunist Cake, of Blendworth Crescent, was then kicked off the bed by the girl as her boyfriend woke up.

The court heard a hullabaloo then erupted in the house where there had been a party the previous evening resulting in Cake being punched in the face by a man before he was thrown out.

Police were called resulting in Cake, who was in a healthy relationship at the time, being arrested.

Despite feeling disappointed by the sentence after Cake walked away from court with his freedom, the teenager is determined to do good following her ordeal.

She said: I want everyone to know what he is really like and for me to help other girls who have had things happen to them.

The girls mum said she was proud of how her daughter had handled the nightmare situation but said she was shocked at the lenient sentence. I cannot believe he walked, she said. He just has to be a good boy now for a while and thats it. I wanted him to be sent to prison.

I cant believe he was not jailed. We feel let down by the justice system. What kind of a message does that send out?

My daughter doesnt want to be a victim over this and is helping others who have been through similar things. She has gone on to have success in what she is doing.

Speaking of the impact the incident had on the family, the mum said: It was horrific to have that call from my daughter telling me what happened. I never thought such a thing would happen to us.

It is disgusting what he did. She was sound asleep and defenceless. He said he didnt remember doing it but how can anyone not remember doing such a thing?

It was the biggest shock of her life. Hopefully what she went through will help others talk about experiences that have happened to them.

Judge Timothy Mousley QC described the act as appalling and shocking.

After his arrest, Cake told police he had consumed up to 12 beers, smoked cannabis and possibly taken cocaine.

He could not recall the incident whatsoever, prosecutor Charles Digby said.

The girl, in a statement read out to court, said she felt dirty after the incident, which involved her having to undergo a police medical examination.

She also revealed how her life had been turned upside down with her now paranoid in certain situations. Before I was very sociable and would go out on my own but now I have to have someone with me all the time, she said.

The teenager said she now worries when a man comes near me with the incident having a massive impact on her life.

She added: What did I ever do to him?

Jason Halsey, defending, called the incident shocking, humiliating and embarrassing before adding: It is inexplicable. He is a man of good character with no previous at 42 years.

There is no previous sexually deviant behaviour.

The barrister said Cake could easily be thrown in prison but he told the court the defendant was remorseful.

Cake was also described as a great father.

Judge Mousley added: People that know you say it was out of character. Why you committed the crime is a mystery.

Cake admitted a single count of sexual assault on a female aged 16 or over.

Despite the charge having a maximum sentence of 10 years jail, the judge concluded there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

Cake was then given a sentence of 16 months jail suspended for two years.

He was also told to complete 35 rehabilitation days and was handed a 10-year restraining order and sexual harm prevention order. He must also sign the Sex Offenders Register for the same period.

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A man has been jailed for life with a minimum of 25 years for the murder of 16-year-old Louise Smith from Leigh Park.

Louise, who had been described as ‘smiley and generous’ by those close to her, was reported missing to police on Friday 8 May this year, before her body was discovered in an area of woodland at Havant Thicket 13 days later.

Following an extensive search of the area and an investigation by Hampshire Constabulary, 30-year-old Shane Lee Mays was arrested and later charged with Louise’s murder.

Despite admitting playing a part in Louise’s death and entering a guilty plea to manslaughter, Mays denied murder and the case proceeded to trial at Winchester Crown Court on Monday 16 November.

After deliberating for approximately two hours following the conclusion of the trial yesterday (Tuesday 8 December), the jury unanimously convicted Mays, of Somborne Drive in Leigh Park, of murder.

Sentencing Mays, Mrs Justice Juliet May said: "Every crime of murder not only ends one life, but grievously harms others.

"As [Louise's] mother says, it is every mother's worst nightmare. 

"Shane Mays was in a position of trust. Theirs was like a father-daughter relationship, like he said at trial. That being so, in killing Louise he committed the most gross abuse of trust."

Mrs Justice May commended the work of the Hampshire Constabulary investigation team involved in this case.

Following the sentencing, Detective Inspector Adam Edwards, Senior Investigating Officer for the case, said: “This was a shocking attack on a vulnerable young girl which tragically resulted in her death.

“Mays has shown no remorse throughout this case, and has lied to police in a bid to deflect any blame for Louise’s murder away from himself.

“I am pleased that the jury were able to see through these lies, and he will now spend a considerable length of time in prison for what he has done.

“Our thoughts remain with all of Louise’s family and friends."

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After being tracked across Hampshire by number plate recognition and arrested, Paintin denied engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

Paintin instructed lawyers to defend him on the basis he was ‘holding a bird that had got free in his car’ after braking hard on the motorway - but could not even bring himself to repeat his ludicrous lies in front of a jury.

Jurors just took 26 minutes to convict him having heard he had a conviction in 2008 for following a school bus performing a sex act in his car, and another in 2011 for offering a 16-year-old girl ‘a tenner’ if she would perform a lewd act.

Jailing him for two and a half years on Wednesday, judge Roger Hetherington said: ‘This isn’t just exhibitionism it’s more like an assault in a way.’

He added: ‘It was quite a disgraceful thing to have done.’

Jurors were shocked as it was revealed the defendant goes by eight aliases and has 47 convictions for 29 offences.

Bravely giving evidence at the trial, the young boy rejected Paintin’s claim he was holding a bird - pointing out he knew what a bird looked like.

In a police video the victim, who suffers from nightmares since the incident, said: ‘He wiggled it at me side to side. Then I looked up and he was trying to do it again when I was looking at him and then he left.’

Answering police questions, the boy said he told his mum: ‘That man who just left is a bad man because he showed me (himself).’

The boy told officers he had waved - in a style he picked from the TV children’s character Justin, who plays Mr Tumble - before Paintin embarked on his vile act.

Praising her son for going through the court process bravely, his mother said: ‘I’m immensely proud of him. I feel angry that he had to go through this and I feel angry that a guilty plea was not made.’

The boy’s dad added: ‘Abuse is endemic and children need emotional support and they need for a system to work for them - to believe them, to listen to them - and we are grateful in this case that has happened.’

Both praised DC Mark Reynolds for investigating and urged child abuse victims to come forward.

In court, prosecutor Martyn Booth said Paintin had a ‘troubling and concerning attraction towards children’.

Addressing the judge before the jury trial started, prosecutor Martyn Booth said: ‘The crown's case is that he was exposing and playing with (himself).

‘The defence case is that he was holding a bird that had got free in his car and that must've been what the boy had seen.’

Sam Barker, defending, had urged the judge to sentence him another day as Paintin had ‘200 birds and he has not set in place any care for those’.

He added: ‘In the circumstances he would either wish to free them or sell them so that they don’t suffer unnecessary suffering’.

Judge Hetherington gave the defendant bail to sort out the birds at around 1pm ordering him to be back by 2pm for sentencing. Paintin fled court with his key in hand - but returned in time to be jailed.

Paintin must sign the sex offenders’ register for 10 years and a sexual harm prevention order bans him from being with children.

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A SON sexually abused by his own mother as a child has spoken out after she was spared jail, saying: "She's dead to me."

Andrew Stevens told The News his life has been ruined after his mother Linda Denham-Larholt, now 67, exploited him as a young boy.

He was barely a teenager when she forced him to touch her breasts while pretending to comfort him in her bed, a court heard.

She preyed on him while his late step-father John was away in Saudi Arabia.

Andrew, now 44, who has waived his anonymity to speak out, told The News: "I want to think of her as being dead."

"I don't care what happens to her. I'm not going to give her that any more."

"I've got to let go and just move on and be an orphan, it's better that way. It has seriously screwed me up."

"I hate her for what she's done."

At the Portsmouth Crown Court trial, prosecutor Rufus Taylor said the pair had an "odd relationship".

The court heard when Andrew asked his mother why he had no memory of his childhood and if he should see a counsellor, she said: "They'd probably just say that you were sexually abused."

Andrew had previously told police in Hampshire about the abuse.

But he was dealt a hammer blow when police said "a jury would never believe a mother would do such a thing to her son," Andrew said.

The court heard she was visited by police in 1999 and denied the allegations but was not interviewed.

Hampshire police has since said the force has no record of this but officers are now aware of how to deal with allegations.

It was only in 2015 he went back to the force, which launched an investigation.

Sussex Police later took over.

Yesterday a judge handed Denham-Larholt, of Bartons Road, Havant, a six-month jail term suspended for two years with a one-month curfew and electronic tag.

Recorder Michael Vere-Hodge QC ordered her to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years after she was convicted of indecency with a child at a trial last month.

The judge said he imposed a sentence "on the basis of an isolated incident of incitement to commit an act of gross indecency".

Addressing the defendant, he said: "On one occasion you encouraged, or your son was already in your bed for comforting, and you incited him to feel your breasts."

He added: "It doesn't need me to emphasise that this is highly unusual for a mother to commit such an offence on her own son."

"And, of course, it brings naturally considerable public distaste and condemnation."

He added the crime was "bad enough" but not of the "worst kind" of indecency.

Denham-Larholt, who denied all the charges, was cleared of indecent assault against her son when he was a child and another charge when he was an adult.

Jordan Franks, mitigating, said she suffers from COPD and asthma and there was 'trauma' in the family.

Probation said Denham-Larholt, who has depression and anxiety, is at low risk of re-offending.