Latest Offenders Hertfordshire

Description

A sex offender from Hertfordshire assaulted his victim while she slept on a sofa.

The incident occurred in October 2017, when Richard Newman sexually assaulted his female victim after she had fallen asleep.

The victim later called 999 and Newman was arrested, but denied the allegations made against him.

The 51-year-old from High Street, Reed - near Royston - appeared at Luton Crown Court on Friday (June 24).

There he was sentenced to three years and six months in prison, after being found guilty of sexual assault and sexual assault by penetration.

Detective Sergeant Amy Farmer, from Hertfordshire Police's Sexual Offences Investigation Team (SOIT), said: "Newman despicably took advantage of the victim as she slept.

"She was so traumatised by what had happened, that she was initially unable to speak during her 999 call to police as she could not stop crying.

Description

Macaulay Brown has been sentenced to 11 years and 6 months behind bars after being found guilty of a number of sexual offences.

The 26-year-old, from Therfield near Royston, was arrested on October 18 2018, following an incident at an address in Hitchin.

The victim told officers she was awoken by Brown touching her and then raping her while he believed she was still asleep.

Another victim then came forward alleging that Brown had sexually assaulted her under similar circumstances at a house in Cambridge in December 2017.

The victim had spent the evening at her home address in Bassingbourn with a number of friends, one of them being Brown.

The victim went to bed and woke up to find Brown sexually assaulting her.

Brown denied both offences but was found guilty of one count of rape and one count of sexual assault at Cambridge Crown Court on Wednesday, March 16.

He appeared for sentencing at Cambridge Crown Court this morning (April 25), where he was sentenced to 11 years and 6 months in prison.

Both Hertfordshire Constabulary and Cambridgeshire Constabulary have specially trained officers who, in the event of a sexual offence, will provide practical and emotional support throughout the investigation and court process.

Survivors of sexual violence can have confidence that the police and other partner agencies will support them throughout the investigation and criminal justice process.

DC Caroline Niwaz said: I hope Brown uses his time in prison to reflect on his actions, which have understandably had a lasting impact on his victims.

I would like to commend them for their bravery in coming forward and supporting a conviction.

I hope this prison sentence gives them some sense of closure and justice.

I would like to take this opportunity to encourage anyone who believes they may have been a victim of any form of sexual abuse to report it to police.

Please be assured that we will always treat you with the utmost sensitivity and respect.

Anyone in Hertfordshire who has experienced sexual abuse or sexual violence can contact the Herts Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) for practical and emotional support.

The centre can arrange face-to-face support, sexual health referrals, and provide forensic medical examinations for those who want them.

This service is open to everyone men, women and young people, no matter how long ago the abuse occurred.

To contact Herts SARC, call the 24/7 helpline on 0808 178 4448, email, or visit Herts SARC.

Description

A MET Police detective has been found guilty of trying to meet a 13-year-old girl for sex when he was "on duty working from home".

DC Francois Olwage, 52, travelled 75 miles to meet "Caitlin", who was actually an undercover officer after grooming the person online.

Police found two condoms, a bottle of lubricant and a packet of Tadalafil erectile dysfunction tablets in his bag when they arrested him in a McDonalds in Basingstoke, Hampshire.

A box of Ferrero Rocher chocolates was also found, thought to be a present for the "girl", and he was about to buy a McFlurry for her.

Paedo Olwage had been on-duty and working from home when he made the journey from his home in Stevenage, Herts, in October.

The Met Police counter-terrorism officer went to meet the "girl" after revealing sex acts he wanted to perform on her during two weeks of explicit messaging.

The undercover officer called the girl Smile Bear on online chat forum Lycos, before they moved onto Whatsapp and called her Caitlin.

Olwage, a serving police officer of 19 years, had booked a hotel room for the meeting.

Winchester crown court found him guilty of three child sex offences.

Met Detective Chief Superintendent Donna Smith said last year his arrest followed a comprehensive investigation by Hertfordshire Police.

Olwage told the jury he never believed Smile Bear was a 13-year-old girl and that he thought it was an adult playing out a fantasy.

The sex offender also denied any sexual interest in children.

He was today found guilty of attempted sexual communication with a child, attempting to cause/incite a girl aged 13 to engage in sexual activity, and attempting to meet a girl under the age of 16 following grooming.

He admitted improperly exercising his police powers and privileges to receive the "benefit of sexual gratification" when the trial started.

Judge Jane Miller QC ordered the jury to find him not guilty of arranging/facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.

He will be remanded in custody and sentenced this month.

The Sun approached the Met Police for comment.

Description

Jordan Hubbock was released on licence while serving a sentence for raping three people, but cut off his electronic tag and went to ground in Essex for a month

A convicted rapist from Bushey, near Watford, considered "high risk" was at large in Essex for a month after he cut off his electronic tag following his release from prison.

Jordan Hubbock was put in jail after his conviction in 2014 for raping three people, one of whom was a child under the age of 16.

Hubbock, 26, committed the crimes between 2011 and 2013 and was released from prison on licence in 2021 and fitted with an electronic tag to track his movements, EssexLive reports.

He was also listed on the Sex Offenders' Register, requiring him to inform police of his address, telephone numbers, credit cards and social media accounts.

However, shortly after his release to the Basildon area in Essex, and later Barking, Hubbock cut off his tag.

Essex Police was informed that he was a "high risk" sexual offender and a manhunt was launched, which included appeals on social media.

Hubbock went to ground in February last year, and it was not until March 18 that he was found by police searching an address, where he had been hiding behind a sunbed.

Hubbock was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court on Wednesday (March 9) for breaching notification requirements.

Prosecuting, Mitchell Cohen said: "He had failed to notify police that he was using an application called Kik, and he had been using that in a different name by which he was generally known.

"The fourth breach relates to a credit card.

"It was a determined and long-lasting attempt to evade. It caused a great deal of harm when he was declared a high-risk offender."

Mr Cohen said police had located the broken electronic tag that had been dumped in a bin by Hubbock.

Mitigating, Chris Harper said Hubbock had taken full responsibility for his actions and admitted his guilt, but the use of a different name was not a "deliberate attempt" to evade and was actually his mother's maiden name.

He added: "He hasn't understood the requirements that he should have. That's no excuse, the obligation is on him but it does put this into context. He accepts his behaviour was wrong."

Mr Harper added Hubbock was undertaking a business economics degree from the Open University whilst in prison.

Judge Samantha Leigh told Hubbock: "It was a determined effort to evade detection. You were off the record for a month. You were eventually tracked by telephone data through your family."

Hubbock was jailed for 30 months, however, this will run alongside his recall to prison to serve the remainder of his original sentence, which is expected to last until at least January 2027.

Description

A 32-year-old man has been jailed for two-and-a-half years for rape whilst at a Bucks pub.

Matthew Clayden, aged 32, of Norfolk Road, Buntingford, Hertfordshire, pleaded guilty to rape and sexual assault at Amersham Crown Court on Monday (February 21).

Last year, on August 27, the victim went to a pub in Aylesbury for drinks with some friends.

When Clayden was alone with the victim, he kissed her, touched her breasts, and forced her to perform oral sex.

He has now been put on the sex offenders register for life.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Laura Wright, based at Aylesbury police station, said: This is a suitable conviction for a serious crime committed against a vulnerable young woman, who was having some drinks with friends.

The victim, in this case, has been extremely strong throughout this investigation and hopefully she and her family are happy that justice has been served against the offender.

Description

Prosecutors are seeking jail terms totalling 220 years for Ben David, 32, who is accused of targeting more than 30 children in a complex "web of deceit"

A paedophile teacher who changed his name to cheat background checks has been accused of targeting more than 30 children.

Ben David also allegedly changed the numbers on one of his two passports to worm his way into the lives of more than 30 seven and eight-year-old girls he is accused of abusing at one school alone.

Prosecutors are seeking jail terms totalling 220 years for the 32-year-old pervert over the complex web of deceit said to have led to photos of youngsters ending up on dark web child sex sites.

Convicted in the UK as Ben Lewis, he was given a suspended jail term in 2016, after admitting downloading indecent images of children.

He then changed his name by deed poll online a 15-minute process and moved to Zaragoza and then Madrid, Spain.

It is claimed he continued to reoffend after tricking the parents of three children into hiring him as their au pair.

Prosecutors also allege he filmed an act which targeted one of the unsuspecting youngsters in his care.

They say he acted with contempt for child dignity and the most elemental norms of respect for infancy.

The Hertfordshire-born deviant is also accused of taking indecent pictures of 31 schoolgirls.

He has been charged with making child abuse images, privacy offences, forgery and a crime of degrading treatment between 2016 and 2019.

His trial date has not yet been confirmed.

Description

A former Stevenage-based police officer has been jailed after pleading guilty to corruption and making of indecent images of children.

Ben Pitelen, 45, was suspended from Hertfordshire Constabulary in July 2020 when the offences came to light, and dismissed from the force at a special hearing last September.

Pitelen - who was based with the Roads Policing Unit at Stevenage - appeared at Aylesbury Crown Court last Friday and was sentenced to 25 months in prison.

The police corruption matter relates to inappropriate sexual communication with a third party.

He joined the constabulary in 2000 and worked solely in uniform roles. He was a response constable from 2000 to 2004 when he moved to roads policing and remained until these matters came to light.

Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Matt Nicholls said: These are very serious offences involving an officer who has betrayed the trust placed in him in an appalling way.

"I hope the public is reassured by our continued efforts to tackle corruption in the service and bring offenders to justice.

Description

A FORMER Wakefield teacher has been jailed after being convicted of sexual activity with a child.

Jonathan Adamson, 33, of Lockley Crescent, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, was sentenced on Monday, December 6, to seven years imprisonment.

He was also put on the sex offenders register indefinitely and made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

He was convicted following a trial at Leeds Crown Court of four counts of sexual activity with a child and pleaded guilty at the start of the trial to one further count of sexual activity with a child.

The offences occurred a number of years ago and were against one teenage girl.

Adamson worked as a teacher at the time of the offences.

DI Suzanne Gall, of Wakefield Child Safeguarding Unit, said: Adamson has groomed his victim and sexually assaulted her on a number of occasions.

His actions were predatory and took advantage of a vulnerable victim.

"I welcome the custodial sentence he has been given and hope it provides the victim with some closure after she was forced to relive the offences he committed against her at trial when he refused to accept his guilt.

These offences were reported a couple of years after they occurred and I hope it demonstrates that the police and CPS can, and will, still investigate and prosecute such offences where possible.

Description

A paedophile from Welwyn has been jailed for six years after pleading guilty to historic child sex offences.

David Suter, 74, of Glebe Road, appeared before St Albans Crown Court on Monday after pleading guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child.

The court heard the abuse took place in the Welwyn area between 2004 and 2008, with Suter offering money to the victim in exchange for her carrying out sexual acts.

“The victim – who is now aged in her 30s – was vulnerable due to her difficult upbringing, and the abuse she suffered at Suter’s hands caused her mental wellbeing to suffer,” said Det Con Liz McGrath, from Hertfordshire Historic Child Abuse Investigation Unit.

“It wasn’t until 2019 that she felt able to disclose to police the details of what had happened to her. Suter was subsequently arrested and in January 2021, he was charged.

“The victim has shown incredible bravery and determination throughout the investigation and judicial process, which has been distressing for her. I hope she can find some peace and begin to move forward with her life now she has seen Suter have to answer to what he did.”

Suter must now abide by the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 20 years, and he will be on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

Description

The chairman of a gardening community group in Bedfordshire has been jailed for the sexual assault of a young girl.

John Trinder, now 74, was chairman of the group when he sexually assaulted the young girl.

Trinder, of Chandler’s Cross in Rickmansworth, was sentenced at Luton Crown Court on Thursday (22 July), after being found guilty by a majority verdict of one count of sexual assault.

The victim disclosed the assault years later to a member of her family who then informed the police.

Trinder was found guilty of one count of sexual assault by touching, and was sentenced to 44 months imprisonment. He was also placed on the sex offenders register for life.

PC Benjamin Robertson from Bedfordshire Police’s Protecting Vulnerable Persons Unit, who investigated: “I would like to commend the victim’s courage and determination to disclose this abhorrent crime to us.

“It’s hasn’t been an easy process for her to go through and I am glad Trinder has been sent to prison for what he did to her. He sexually abused her at young age for his own sexual gratification and will now have time to reflect on his actions.

“Hopefully this prison sentence will bring some closure and allow this brave young person to move forward in life.

“We would also like to encourage anyone who has experienced abuse to speak out, no matter how long ago the abuse took place. You will be believed and we will investigate.

“Our force is committed to protect the victims and bring the offenders to justice.”

Description

A man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after he was found guilty of a number of sexual offences, including rape.

Mark Marvell, 39, of Meadow Way in Stevenage, was sentenced to 12 years behind bars at St Albans Crown Court on Monday, December 21.

Marvell had already been found guilty of five counts of rape, and multiple counts of the possession of indecent images of children earlier this year.

He will spend the next 12 years behind bars, with a further four and a half years on licence.

Description

A serving "predatory" police officer has been jailed after being found guilty of child sex offences.

Sgt Michael Grigg, 34, of Hertfordshire Police, was sentenced to six and a half years at Harrow Crown Court.

A jury found him guilty on two counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child.

Police said he committed the offences while working as a cadet leader and his actions "amounted to a gross abuse of his position".

He has been placed on the sex offenders register for life and is subject to a sexual harm prevention order.

Grigg, formerly of Hatfield, was arrested as part of an Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) managed investigation conducted by Hertfordshire Constabulary's Safeguarding Command, police said.

Det Supt Michael Trotman said: "Grigg's predatory actions amounted to a gross abuse of his position of trust in the most calculated and appalling way.

"We pay tribute to the courage of the victim, who bravely came forward and had to go through the ordeal of giving evidence at court.

"Grigg's lack of remorse throughout the course of the investigation and subsequent trial has been startling."

He said the force had reviewed its process in line with IOPC recommendations around the management of police cadet records and are fully compliant with the updated national guidelines.

Grigg has been suspended from his role and will face a misconduct hearing.

Description

A paedophile from Letchworth has been jailed for more than two years after pleading guilty to multiple sex offences.

Brian Melabiankis, formerly of Marmet Avenue in the town, was sentenced to 29 months in prison at St Albans Crown Court on Monday.

The court heard how the 25-year-old had committed a number of child sex abuse offences, including making and distributing indecent images of children, between October and December of 2017.

At court, he pleaded guilty to a total of 19 different charges seven counts of distribution of indecent images, nine counts of making indecent images, two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and one count of engaging in sexual communication with a child.

Melabiankis name was also added to the sex offenders register for 10 years.

Description

Roger Vye, 55, of Odesy, Hertfordshire was sentenced on Friday (June 19) at Woolwich Crown Court after confessing to crimes which included the sexual assault of a child under 13, and making indecent photographs of children.

Vye was arrested on October 22, 2019 in London after arranging to sexually abuse a young child, before a search carried out at his home found a large presence of indecent images of children.

The images confirmed that Vye had a long standing interest in the sexual abuse of children, and Vye had distributed images to other offenders online.

There was also evidence recovered that linked Vye to the historic sexual abuse of a child who had been subjected to a period of abuse in Kent in 2009 and 2010.

At an earlier hearing on Wednesday, January 8 at Inner London Crown Court, Vye pleaded guilty to:

• The attempted rape of a child under the age of 13
• Two counts of assault of child under 13 by penetration
• Sexual assault of a child under 13
• Arranging or facilitating the commission of child sex offence
• Distributing indecent photographs of child/children
• Making indecent photographs of children
• Possessing extreme pornographic images
• Possessing prohibited images of children

In addition to 16 years' imprisonment, there is a further five years on extended licence. Vye will also be issued with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) which includes preventing him with associating with any child under the age of 18, and he will be subject to Sex Offender Registration for life.

Detective Constable Jonathan Booty, of the Met’s Online Child Abuse and Exploitation team, said:  "Firstly I would like to thank the victim for speaking with us, and their bravery and fortitude shown throughout. Roger Vye is a dangerous and repugnant individual who will now face a significant period away from the general public. 

“Vye used social media to enable him to obtain thrills, discussing with other people around the world the horrific abuse of children. He was also partaking in the abuse and was clearly an active offender. The Met will continue to relentlessly pursue online offenders. 

"Vye may have more victims, and I would urge any other potential victims to come forward and contact police as soon as possible.’’

Description

A man has been jailed after engaging in sexualised online chats with a 13-year-old boy.

St Albans Crown Court heard how Jacob Taylor (Miles Esterson), of Mimms Lane, Shenley, started having innocuous chats with the boy before it became increasingly sexualised between October and November last year.

Taylor had suggested the pair meet up to engage in sexual activity.

Taylor, 37 arranged to meet what he believed was the young boy behind McDonalds at The Galleria in Hatfield on November 9, 2019 - but on arrival found police officers waiting for him.

He pleaded guilty to meeting a child following sexual communication and attempted sexual communication with a child.

Appearing at court yesterday (Thursday February 27) he was sentenced to two years in prison.

Detective Constable Georgina Fenge, from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Child Online Safeguarding Team, said: “Taylor is a dangerous individual who clearly has no inhibitions about engaging in illegal conversations with children.

"Even after learning the teenager’s age, he continued to send inappropriate messages and was keen to meet up in order to engage in sexual activity with a minor. It is a relief to know he is now in a place where he can no longer offend.

“Hertfordshire Constabulary takes this type of crime extremely seriously and we are doing, and will continue to do, everything in our power to protect the vulnerable in our society by rooting out those who prey on children.”