Latest Offenders Hull

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A defenceless cat suffered brutal injuries after ex-Royal Marine Paul Thorpe, 62, heartlessly "dangled" the pet over a fence and into the jaws of a dog from a breed known for its potential to cause "serious injury or even death".

Moments earlier, Thorpe had casually asked the dog's owner how his two dogs were with cats, possibly driven by "morbid curiosity" about what would happen.

The cat's hind leg was bitten down to the bone, and its tail was bitten off, Hull Crown Court heard. On November 5, 2025, Thorpe, from Ashthorpe, Orchard Park estate, north Hull, pleaded guilty to failing to prevent unnecessary suffering to the cat.

Prosecutor Mark Luxford said Thorpe, then a neighbour in Star Hill Road, Driffield, picked up the black cat while its owner was absent and "quizzed" another neighbour about his dogs. He then "dangled" the cat over the fence, placing it "in effect, on the head of one of the dogs". The dog attacked, and Thorpe "seemed to gain some enjoyment" without intervening, showing a "lack of any apparent guilt". The owner tried to stop it but was bitten on the hand.

It was "sadistic" behaviour causing "a high level of pain and suffering" and "grave injury", Mr Luxford added. "The defendant failed to intervene once the dog started attacking the cat."

In police interview, Thorpe admitted acting recklessly, apologised, and offered to pay vet bills. He had three prior convictions, including an eight-year jail term in December 2009 for the "very serious" rape of a child.

Mitigating, Holly Thompson said Thorpe hadn't minimised the incident: "This was a short-lived incident, one that caused an immense degree of harm. It was a momentary or brief lapse in judgement. This was entirely unacceptable conduct. The defendant has accepted that it was. He made admissions and apologised in full."

His actions were "odd and without any real motive", with "no precursor" or negative neighbour relations. "He is an entirely nice guy and is friendly and helpful. He is entirely apologetic at his conduct and he did not, at the time, realise the severity of it. He was unable to come to terms with it and he buried his head in the sand. He has come to terms with it now. He acted largely out of character." Thorpe served in the Royal Marines until medically discharged in 1990, having seen "atrocities".

Recorder David Kelly said Thorpe deliberately placed the cat in harm's way, with "suggestions of some sadism" and "little remorse if any". He imposed an eight-month suspended prison sentence, 15 days' rehabilitation, and £300 compensation each to the cat's owner and the bitten man.

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Philip Duffield, a 25-year-old from Grosvenor Road, Solihull, has been jailed for 12 years as a 'sexual predator' for raping two young women in a Holiday Inn hotel and assaulting a third after spiking her drink.

He was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on Wednesday, January 7, and must serve two-thirds (eight years) before release consideration, plus a three-year extended licence as a 'dangerous offender,' per Judge Heidi Kubik KC.

She told him: "You remain unrepentant with a total lack of insight into the impact of your actions on the women concerned and a total lack of insight into your own wrong-doing."

Duffield claimed consensual contact with his three 2024 victims, but a jury convicted him of two rapes and one assault by penetration.

In April, he met an 18-year-old and 20-year-old at a Wetherspoon's in Shrewsbury, then raped them at the hotel while they were semi-conscious and 'extremely intoxicated.' One reported him, leading to arrest and bail.

In December, he attacked another woman in Birmingham after Glamorous nightclub, spiking her drink at his home.

Duffield had no prior crimes, was a university graduate in a 'good job earning a significant amount of money,' and his barrister called him 'sexually immature.'

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A former soldier from Hull has been jailed for seven years after being found guilty of raping a woman in Nuneaton.

In March 2023, Daniel Black spent the evening with the victim and went to her home where he raped and sexually assaulted her. The victim reported what had happened to us and Black, of Arkwright Park, Hull, was immediately arrested.

The 37-year-old, who was medically discharged from the Armed Forces during the investigation, denied the offences, but after further police investigation, was charged with rape and assaulting a female over 13 by penetration.

The case went to trial in September, and a jury found Black guilty of both counts.

On Friday (12 December), he appeared at Birmingham Crown Court where he was sentenced to seven years in prison for the rape and four years for the assault. The sentences will be served concurrently.

He will remain on the sex offender register indefinitely and was given an indefinite restraining order to prevent him contacting the victim.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Heather Keogh said:

“I’m pleased that the court recognised the seriousness of these offences. Although no sentence can compare to the impact this has had on the victim, I’d like to commend them for the bravery they’ve shown throughout the investigation.

“As a force, we take all reports like this extremely seriously and will always carry out thorough investigations to try and bring offenders to justice. I hope that Black’s sentence sends a clear message to others who harm, or seek to harm, women, girls, or vulnerable people that they will be dealt with robustly.”

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A ‘child rapist’ who subjected three young children to a series of horrific rapes and sexual assaults over a number of years has been sentenced to 21 years behind bars with an additional eight years on licence, will be on the Sex Offenders Register for Life and also subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order following his appearance at Hull Crown Court on Monday, 20 October 2025.

Alex Fullard, 31-years-old, of HMP Hull, was initially charged and remanded in December 2023 for four sexual offences and subsequently pleaded guilty to all offences. Whilst awaiting sentencing for the offences, further information came to light during extensive enquiries carried out by detectives from our Rape and Serious Sexual Offences team (RASSO).

The trial date was set for July this year, however, on the first day of trial he pleaded guilty and has been sentenced for the following 15 offences:

• Five counts of rape of a child under 13
• Three counts of rape
• Three counts of attempted rape of a child under 13
• Two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 by touching
• Sexual assault of a child under 13
• Causing and inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity

Fullard first came to officers’ attention in 2021 when two women came forward to report a series of rapes and sexual assaults Fullard had subjected them to when they were children, claiming the abuse had then continued into adulthood.

Investigations of this nature can be extremely traumatic and intrusive, and following their initial report the two women didn’t feel ready to continue being involved.

The women were given wider support by specialist partner agencies and were advised they could always come forward again when they were ready to do so.

In December 2023, a third victim came forward disclosing that they had been sexually abused by Fullard, leading to him being swiftly arrested at his home address and charged.

Fullard was remanded into custody and during interview made an incriminating admission allowing detectives to reopen the investigation and reach out to the two women who initially reported Fullard’s sexual crimes back in 2021.

With Fullard refusing to admit all new allegations put to him, a trial date was set for July 2025 but on the first day, due to the overwhelming evidence stacked against him, he eventually decided to plead guilty.

Leading the investigation was Detective Constable Jack Somers from our Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) Unit, who said:

“This has been an extremely extensive, and intrusive investigation, and I admire the courageousness of the three victims and their families for taking that first step in coming forward to report the horrific crimes they were forced to live through at such a young age.

“Crimes of this nature are impermissible regardless of the age of the victims, but for Fullard to take advantage of innocent young children by raping them, sexually assaulting them and also abusing their trust in him is outright sickening.

“Whilst I know the sentence imposed upon Fullard will by no means take away the trauma inflicted on the three victims and their families, I hope that it provides some closure to the victims and gives them an opportunity to move forward.

“We would strongly appeal for any child who is or has been sexually abused and manipulated into doing something they don’t want to do, or anyone who suspects crimes of this nature are taking place, to please speak to a trusted adult or friend, and when you are ready, report it to us.

“We take all reports of this nature extremely seriously and will do everything we can to bring individuals like Fullard to justice.”

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A drunken 61-year-old man, Marin Cristea, of Melbourne Street, west Hull, targeted two young children in a park, kissing them in "unpleasant and upsetting" encounters that left them shocked and anxious. He later kissed a woman in an "unsettling" street confrontation, Hull Crown Court heard.

Cristea admitted sexually assaulting a child under 13 twice on August 17 last year and assaulting a woman on February 22 this year. He had prior convictions, including a 2023 assault where he grabbed a child's wrist in Pearson Park after seeking a fist bump.

Prosecutor Jazmine Lee said Cristea approached a 12-year-old girl and 10-year-old boy playing in the park, speaking unintelligibly in non-English. He kissed the girl's hand and cheek, and the boy's hand and mouth. The boy's mother intervened, and Cristea left. The girl felt "freaked out," spotted him staring the next day, and police arrested the apparently drunk man after a chase. She later described lasting anxiety about going out alone, feeling shocked and scared.

On the day of the woman's assault, at 8am en route to Pilates, Cristea—drunk and unsteady—thrust his head into her car window, then kissed her hand and cheek despite her recoiling and trying to flee. He blocked her path, leaving her panicked and trapped until she escaped and called 999. She now feels on edge around men.

Mitigator Stephen Robinson noted the offences occurred while drunk, involved only kissing with no sensitive touching, and "went no further." Cristea apologized, blamed excessive drinking in downtime despite factory work, accepted custody, and hoped to return to Romania and his adult daughter, realizing "there is very little for him here."

Judge Alexander Menary said: "These offences have had an obvious impact on the victims. It was unsettling for them and interfered with their daily routines thereafter."

Cristea was jailed for one year, given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, and must register as a sex offender for 10 years.

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A serial sex offender has been branded a danger to the public after sexually abusing a vulnerable young girl—the "third time" he has committed "a series of sexual offences." Alan Green, previously jailed in 2000 and 2015, has now been imprisoned again for offenses against the girl, Hull Crown Court heard.

Green, 46, of Mersey Street, off Holderness Road, east Hull, but recently in custody on remand, admitted sexually assaulting a child under 13, causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, assault by penetration, and making indecent images of children.

Prosecutor David Godfrey said the girl encountered Green after he began hanging around a Hull area and approached her. He talked to her, and her mother recognized him from Hull Live coverage of his prior offenses. During incidents, Green "did disgusting things to her," and indecent images were found on his phone. He gave her cigarettes. She later said: "I feel stressed, depressed and helpless and I want him to get locked up for ever, for the rest of his life. I keep having flashbacks and my head keeps going crazy. I am scared in case he gets out."

In 2000, Green was jailed for seven years and five months for aggravated burglary, indecent assault, and theft. In 2015, he received four-and-a-half years for sexual assault and a sexual harm prevention order.

Defense lawyer Michele Stuart-Lofthouse called it "very concerning behaviour" but noted Green's early guilty plea. "He understands fully what he has done," she said. "He has shown remorse. He fully understands that he was the adult in this situation. He hasn't had any assistance in the past with any rehabilitation." Green had faced personal problems.

Judge Alexander Menary said a concerned neighbor raised alarms after seeing Green with the girl and alerted her mother. "You perpetrated increasingly serious sexual abuse on a young child," he told Green. "You started to touch her up. This is the third time that you have committed a series of sexual offences."

Deemed a dangerous offender, Green was jailed for 10-and-a-half years with a five-year extended license upon release. He received a lifetime sexual harm prevention order and must register as a sex offender for life.

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A ‘vile’ man who attempted to engage in sexual communication with who he believed to be a teenage girl online has been sentenced following an appearance at Hull Crown Court on Monday 29 September 2025.

David Glover, 65, of Preston Road in Hull, pleaded guilty to attempting sexual communication with a child, breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, possession of extreme pornographic images in relation to an animal, and three counts of making indecent images of a child. He was sentenced to two years and six months in prison and handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

An investigation was launched in September 2024, when Glover used messaging apps to initiate contact with a social media profile, he believed belonged to a 13-year-old girl.

On Tuesday, 10 September 2024 Glover sent a series of sexually explicit messages and attempted to encourage the recipient to engage in sexual communications.

Unbeknownst to him, the profile was a decoy account operated by an undercover officer, set up to identify and intercept individuals attempting to exploit children online.

With the support of specialist teams, further enquiries were carried out, including analysis of digital data. Information gathered directly linked to Glover’s home address.

Officers subsequently attended Glover’s home address, where he was arrested on suspicion of sexual communication with a child and taken into custody for interview. A search of the property led to the seizure of several mobile phones, including one device found hidden under a carpet. This discovery resulted in a further arrest on suspicion of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. One of the conditions of the order required Glover to register all internet-enabled devices with police, and the concealed devices had not been disclosed. Subsequent digital analysis uncovered files relating to indecent photographs and extreme pornographic material.

On Thursday 5 December 2024 Clover was charged with attempt sexual communication with a child and breach of sexual harm prevention order and remanded into custody until his sentencing.

Officer in the case, Detective Constable Gilligan, said:

“Glover is a vile individual who sought to exploit who he believed to be a vulnerable child, he engaged in calculated online conversations with what he believed to be a vulnerable child.

‘’During his arrest, Glover claimed he believed the people he had spoken to online weren’t real, and that it was a fantasy. When questioned in interview, he did not provide any account of his intentions.

‘’Although the chat communication with the decoy account was not recovered during the digital examination, the investigation was still able to establish Glover’s involvement. During interview, he acknowledged this was due to having deleted data from his devices.”

“Thankfully no child was harmed as Glover was talking to a decoy social media account, and I am pleased he is now behind bars and facing the consequences of his disturbing behaviour.

“I’d like to commend the dedication and professionalism of our undercover officers, whose efforts play a vital role in protecting children and bringing offenders to justice.

“We take reports of sexual offences extremely seriously and we will continue to do everything we can to bring offenders before the courts.’’

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A man who abused a woman who was seventeen at the time over a period of eight months has been sentenced to fifteen years behind bars and will be on the sex offenders register for life, after he was found guilty at Grimsby Crown Court on Wednesday, 2 July 2025. 

Dylan Lowther, 21-years-old of Hull was sentenced yesterday (Tuesday, 16 September 2025), after he was convicted of 11 offences following a five-day trial at Grimsby Crown Court on Wednesday, 2 July 2025.

Lowther was found guilty by a unanimous jury of four counts of assault by penetration, three counts of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, one count of sexual assault, two counts of rape and one count of controlling or coercive behaviour.

The investigation was launched in 2024 when Lowther was brought to the attention of officers after a woman attended a police station in Hull reporting a history of abuse.

Shortly after the launch of the investigation, Lowther was arrested and later interviewed by detectives. Whilst being interviewed, Lowther denied all allegations of abuse put to him and claimed that the reports were false and malicious. Lowther was remanded in custody after being charged with the 11 offences.

Leading the investigation Detective Constable Nadine Wilson said

“Today I would like to thank the woman who came forward, it is solely through her bravery and courage that we were able to launch this investigation and bring this offender to justice.

“This ordeal will undoubtedly stay with the woman for the rest of her life, no amount of justice will erase the harm and trauma Lowther has inflicted, but I hope knowing he will be behind bars for a very long time will bring some kind of relief.

“We take all reports of sexual and domestic abuse seriously and continue to seek justice for those who have suffered at the hands of predators.

“Our specialist trained officers work closely with partnering and support agencies across the region, to support victims and survivors and to bring justice to perpetrators of sexual crimes of any nature.

“When ready, we urge victims to come forward and tell someone, report these crimes to the police and we will do everything we can to hold those accountable.”

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A Kuwaiti migrant has been jailed after forcefully kissing a suicidal woman in the street when she refused to accompany him back to his asylum hotel, a court has heard.

Zayed Alanzi, 26, approached the woman in Hull and would not take no for an answer as he harassed her in the early hours of April 28.

The woman later told magistrates he was a complete stranger who left her feeling violated. He allegedly grabbed her by the cheeks, squeezed her face, kissed her on the mouth and forced his tongue inside, before she managed to wrestle him off. The incident reportedly took place near the Royal Hotel in Hull, where Alanzi was staying at the time.

Referring to a vulnerable teenager for whom she said she had acted as a decoy, the victim added: It was either that or he would do it to the other one. He asked me to go up a road. I said No. Im going that way, and thats when the police turned up.

During his trial, Alanzi who is married denied the offence and claimed through an Arabic interpreter that he had only tried to help the woman to her feet. He also claimed she had consented to the kiss.

However, magistrates rejected his defence and sentenced him to 12 months in prison. He was also placed on the sex offenders register and ordered to pay 187 in costs.

He is expected to serve less than half of his sentence.

It is understood that deportation proceedings may now be initiated against him following his conviction.

The case was first reported by The Sun, which said the woman told the court she had made it clear several times that she wanted to be left alone. The tabloid also reported that the assault left her deeply shaken.

Alanzi had been living at the hotel while his asylum application was being processed.

His conviction comes amid growing concern over the use of hotels to house asylum seekers, especially in city centres.

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A serial sexual predator has been jailed for 28 years after he was finally brought to justice because of fresh police investigations that were launched in the wake of the "Jimmy Savile scandal inquiry".

Gavin Lancell managed to evade being held to account for his depraved actions many years earlier but the police eventually reviewed his case and investigated further after one of his victims contacted a high-profile police operation that had been set up following allegations made against Savile, a former BBC disc jockey and the presenter of TV series Jim'll Fix It.

Lancell's luck at last ran out when the sexual allegations against him were finally taken forward and were heard during a trial at Hull Crown Court.

Lancell, 53, formerly of Bransholme, Hull, denied 20 sexual offences, including rape, having sex with a girl under 13, indecent assault and indecency with a child, between 1992 and 1996, but he was convicted by a jury of all the offences.

David Godfrey, prosecuting, said that Lancell, previously known as Gavin Eckles, had a "clear sexual fascination" for two young girls and he committed sexual offences against them. One of them spoke out in 1996 but she was "not listened to" and both girls came forward in 1999 and spoke to police.

"Their accounts were recorded on video," said Mr Godfrey. "Both girls made clear allegations of sexual abuse in 1999 but, at this time, like in 1996, the allegations being made by the girls were not taken further and the defendant was not prosecuted." One of the girls made attempts in 2012 to contact the police to hold Lancell to account.

A female detective constable told the court that an Op Hydrant programme was set "on the back of the Jimmy Savile scandal inquiry" to look into allegations of historical sexual abuse. It was initially set up to review allegations against 'institutions, politicians and celebrities".

One of the victims was aware of this initiative and she again contacted the police. The case was transferred to Humberside Police for investigation. She and the other victim were again spoken to by police in 2021 and provided further video evidence.

Lancell had been interviewed by the police in 1999 and he made denials but the details had not been transcribed or stored. He was arrested and interviewed in October 2021.

"Allegations of this sort have a habit of bubbling up to the surface," said Mr Godfrey. "They never go away and, indeed, that's what happened in 2021."

Lancell told police: "I am strongly denying it. I am still in shock." He claimed that he felt "disgusted" because he had "done nothing wrong". He replied "No" when individual allegations were put to him.

"My story hasn't changed because it never happened," he claimed. "I did nothing then and I have still done nothing." He continued his denials during the trial.

Lancell, of Bramham Grove, York, will have to register as a sex offender for life. He had been on bail during the trial but this was revoked and he was remanded in custody after he was convicted by the jury.

He was sentenced in his absence after declining to come up from the cells into the courtroom.

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A convicted sex offender who had already been jailed for two years after intimately touching a girl and taking explicit pictures of her has been told: "You remain a dangerous sexual offender."

Thomas Edeson had been locked up in 2021 because of his worrying sexual interest in young girls but he later breached a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and fell foul of the police again. He had previously kept images for his own sexual gratification. But he was eventually trapped after three years when internet crime investigators tracked him down after disturbing information came to light, Hull Crown Court heard.

Thomas Edeson, 26, of Franklin Street, Hull, admitted new offences of disclosing private photographs between January 1 and February 2 last year and breaching his sexual harm prevention order between June 1, 2023 and February 2 last year.

Michael Masson, prosecuting, said that Edeson had been jailed for two years and given the ten-year sexual harm prevention order in August 2021 for offences of sexually touching a young girl and two offences of making indecent images of her between May and August, 2018. He had been cleared at a trial earlier this year of more serious sexual offences.

Edeson posted sexualised images on the internet and when he was challenged about this, he said: "I don't need anybody's permission to post photos." He was in breach of the terms of the sexual harm prevention order by doing this.

"It was a deliberate breach," said Mr Masson. "The images were circulated widely and publicly." Edeson had deleted messages but this was in breach of the terms of the sexual harm prevention order concerning the retention of his internet history for police checking.

Judge Alexander Menary said: "It was a deliberate breach. It was something he knew he ought not to do." Edeson had said at the time: "I do what I want." Judge Menary told Edeson: "You remain a dangerous sexual offender."

Dale Brook, mitigating, said that Edeson admitted both of the new offences. During police interview, he admitted deleting messages and posting sexualised images. "That was wholly and utterly unacceptable behaviour," said Mr Brook.

Edeson had previously apologised for this. It had been a surprise that the sexual harm prevention order terms were wider than thought and included deleting messages rather than just relating to the use of internet browsers and the deletion of search histories.

"It's at the wider margins of what would be expected to be covered by that," said Mr Brook. An aggravating feature was Edeson's previous convictions.

Edeson had earlier spent 10 months and two days in custody on remand before bring given bail and put on a curfew. "He has done the equivalent of a two-year sentence," said Mr Brook. "He will have to engage with probation and be monitored by probation."

Edeson was given a nine-month suspended prison sentence. He will continue to be subject to the sexual harm prevention order and he will have to continue to register as a sex offender.

The previous hearing in August 2021 was told that the National Crime Agency received a tip-off in April of that year that a Google Photos user had uploaded four images taken by him of a young girl. The most serious picture showed sexual touching of her but the others were less graphic and involved moving her clothes to expose her.

Police investigated and found large amounts of electronic devices at his home as well as a large amount of unwashed children's underwear.

Messages had been sent to a woman and they involved sexual conversations about the girl.

There was the "strong inference" that it would be something to do with sex, the court heard that day.

Edeson admitted in a message in June 2021 that he had dreamed the previous night about having sex with the girl. There seemed to be plans in the pipeline to recruit the girl for further sexual activity, the court was told that day.

Edeson had, at the time, been having a sexual interest in pre-pubescent girls for some years. The girl was left confused, scared and worried by what happened.

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A "sadistic" sex offender who was found guilty of a number of child sex offences, including rape, has been locked up.

Connor Laud, 27, of Hull, was convicted by a jury of the rape of a child under 13 and two counts of inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity following a trial at Grimsby Crown Court last month.

At a sentencing hearing on Thursday, June 19, Laud was jailed for 16 years and was placed on the sex offenders register for life with a lifetime sexual harm prevention order.

He came to the attention of officers after Humberside Police received a report that a child had disclosed the nature of the sexual abuse they had been subjected to.

Arrested and interviewed by detectives, Laud denied all allegations of abuse put to him, claiming the child must have become confused. He also denied having a sexual interest in children.

However a jury returned guilty verdicts following a four-day trial in May.

Leading the investigation, Detective Constable Gayle Allwood said: “I’d like to praise the child, and their family for their bravery, I cannot begin to comprehend how they have felt throughout the entirety of this investigation.

“Laud is a perverted and sadistic man and, whilst this sentence does not take away the pain and trauma induced, it is because of the family's sheer courage that he is going to be behind bars for a very long time.

“When ready, we urge victims to come forward and tell someone, report these crimes to the police and we will do everything we can to hold those accountable.”

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A serial sex offender has been jailed for 18 years.

Paul Willby, 64, of Axminster Close, Bransholme, Hull, admitted a string of sexual offences, including raping a child and others of possessing prohibited images of a child and possessing extreme images of bestiality.

Julia Baggs, prosecuting, said that Willby was arrested and computer equipment was seized from him. Indecent images of children were found. They included 98 in the most serious Category A, 16 in Category B and 292 in Category C.

A laptop was also searched and other images found included 17 in Category A, 11 in Category B and 201 in Category C. There were also two prohibited images and 33 of bestiality. During police interview, Willby made no comment to all questions, Hull Crown Court heard.

Connor Stuart, mitigating, said that there had been no further offences while he had been on bail until May 9 before being remanded in custody. He had no previous convictions.

Willby was given a sexual harm prevention order for life and he will have to register as a sex offender for life.

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An online pervert who repeatedly sent explicit messages and images to who he thought were young girls has finally been jailed after he was trapped in undercover police operations designed to "wheedle out" potentially dangerous people like him.

Serial offender Michael Warchol thought that he was exchanging messages with real girls but, unknown to him, they were decoys that had been set up by investigators, Hull Crown Court heard.

Warchol, 27, formerly of Orchard Park, Hull, but recently in custody on remand, admitted two sets of offences involving attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to incite a child to watch or look at images of sexual activity and breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

Maya Hanson, prosecuting, said that Warchol was given a five-year sexual harm prevention order at Hull Crown Court on December 21, 2023 for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

Police received information from the regional organised crime unit that Warchol had been having conversations with a decoy 12-year-old girl between December 4 and 19 last year. It began on the social media platform Kik and moved to Snapchat.

Warchol immediately sent an intimate picture of himself and the fake girl told him that she was 12 years old. Despite this, the conversation continued and Warchol sent another intimate picture of himself as well as an explicit video and a selfie-type image.

He asked the girl for images of herself and asked her about sexual activity. "He requested that they video call so that he could show her," said Miss Hanson.

Details of Warchol were obtained and facial recognition software matched an image that had been sent to the girl with him. He was arrested at his home on January 14. Police found 25 mobile phones, not all of them working, and a seemingly broken laptop.

On February 12, a further referral to the police was made by the East region special operations team regarding Warchol's communication with a decoy 14-year-old girl. He asked for a picture of the girl and, when one was sent to him, he sent an intimate image of himself.

He communicated with the fake girl between December 2 and 19. She told him that she was a child and that she had a day off school but the conversation continued. He sent a series of explicit images and asked intimate questions. He requested pictures of her and he told her: "U know what I really want of u." Warchol was arrested on March 11 but he made no comment to all questions. His previous convictions included possessing an offensive weapon in 2019.

David Godfrey, mitigating, said that the offences were serious but Warchol had pleaded guilty. Drug and alcohol use had affected his impulse control. Warchol was emotionally insecure for his age and he had never had a social group.

"He knows that, when he gets out of prison, he is going to have to stay off his computer and fight these urges and understand why he keeps engaging in this behaviour," said Mr Godfrey. Warchol realised that it was the police's job to "wheedle out people like this" by using decoys. It was possible that he might be deported to Poland.

Warchol was jailed for two-and-a-half years. He was given a sexual harm prevention order for life and he must register as a sex offender for life.

Description

An ‘extremely dangerous’ and ‘controlling’ man has been sentenced to a total of 15 years behind bars with an extension of five years on license, and will be on the sex offenders register for life, after he was found guilty at Hull Crown Court on Friday, 23 May.

Deven Huteson, 26-years-old, of Greylees Avenue, Hull pleaded guilty to two counts of assault by beating, three counts of criminal damage and malicious communications.

 Having refused to admit further offences, Huteson was found guilty of two counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault by penetration, assault causing actual bodily harm, assault by beating, and coercive and controlling behaviour, following a five-day trial.

Leading the investigation, Detective Constable Melissa Bell said: “Huteson is an extremely dangerous offender, who over a four-week period, subjected a woman to extreme levels of violent abuse and controlling behaviours and continues to show no remorse for his crimes.

“I am reassured that he is now off our streets and in prison for a substantial number of years, unable to inflict such incomprehensible emotional and physical harm to anyone else.

“I’d like to praise the woman for her sheer bravery for coming forward and reporting the horrific crimes she was subjected to; I cannot begin to comprehend how she has felt throughout the entirety of this investigation and court proceedings, especially after Huteson denied offences, making her relive the trauma she endured throughout the trial.

“I hope the result today will also encourage others to come forward if they have experienced something similar, and I’d like to offer my reassurance that we take all allegations like this seriously, and will do our upmost for our victims, as well as safeguard our wider communities against people like Huteson.”