Latest Offenders Isle of Wight

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A DEPRAVED Newport man who admitted to a number of child sex abuse offences has been jailed.

Keaton Martin, of Clifford Street, appeared before a judge for sentencing at the Isle of Wight Crown Court.

Martin, 24, admitted engaging in sexual communication with a child, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.

The offences took place between June 15 and July 9, 2020.

Martin also admitted three counts of making indecent images of a child, on July 13, 2020 one Category A, seven Category B, and four Category C.

The judge, Recorder Malcolm Gibney, handed Martin three years in custody and placed him on the Sex Offenders' Register indefinitely.

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A PAEDOPHILE known as Baby Harry for his tendency to wear nappies, has been jailed.

Harry Simmonds, of Harvey Close, East Cowes, appeared before the Isle of Wight Crown Court today (Tuesday).

At a previous hearing at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court, the 22-year-old admitted two counts of breaching a sexual risk order imposed in December, 2020.

Back in September, Charles Nightingale, prosecuting, told the court Simmonds breached the order by contacting a girl aged under 18 between February 24 and March 1, 2021.

He pleaded guilty to that offence in September, having already started communications with a second girl, who was 16.

The court heard at first, he asked for her boyfriend's contact details, but went on to send her pictures of himself in a nappy, with a sign saying he was a paedophile.

The girl reported it to the police, and after his police interview Simmonds immediately messaged her again under a pseudonym.

One Snapchat message said he was going to rape her.

The court heard Simmonds had previously moved from the Island to Dorset, without informing his offender manager.

His case was sent up to the Isle of Wight Crown Court, with Mr Nightingale stating he was a current and ongoing risk to young people.

Appearing at the Isle of Wight Crown Court today, Simmonds behaviour was described as utterly weird and disturbing by Judge Advocate Robert Hill.

Oscar Vincent, defending, said it was clear from pre-sentence reports that Simmonds was a young man who suffered significant trauma during his formative years.

He said he had been subjected to emotional, physical and sexual abuse, had a dysfunctional upbringing and disrupted education.

Mr Vincent said it came as no surprise Simmonds was unable to manage an indepedent adult lifestyle.

He said Simmonds' actions stemmed from traumatic experiences, and behaviour like wearing nappies afforded a degree of comfort and security for him.

Simmonds, who has a number of previous convictions, and is awaiting sentencing for separate matter of sending obscene messages to a Dorset Echo news reporter, was jailed for 18 months, to spend half out on licence. He has already spent some time in custody, awaiting sentence.

He was also ordered to pay a surcharge of £156, and a notification requirement was attached to his current sexual risk order, which runs until 2025.

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A registered sex offender has been jailed after breaching the conditions of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

As part of the SHPO, Martin Phillip Simms, aged 42, of Park Mews in Sandown, is prohibited from deleting his internet history.

He is also required to produce digital devices to police for inspection on request, and inform police of any online usernames he has within three days of creating them.

On 2 September this year police, accompanied by probation workers, visited his home address unannounced.

During the visit, the internet history on his mobile phone was examined and officers could see had been using a teen chat room app on a different device.

Simms eventually admitted he had a second device which was handed to police for inspection. On checking this device, the teen chat app was not present and Simms admitted he had deleted it including all of its Internet history.

He also admitted that the username for the app was not one that he had registered to police, which he was required to do.

Police established that the device held two other apps with two further usernames which had not been registered with police. These were again social media apps for chatting with young people.

Simms was charged with three counts of breaching a sexual harm order, which he admitted when he appeared at Isle of Wight Magistrates’ Court on Friday 3 September.

Appearing at Newport Crown Court today (Friday 15 October), Simms was handed an 18 month jail sentence. Simms is already serving a 7 year sentence, on licence, which is due to expire in 2024 – he will serve the remainder of that sentence in prison before then beginning his 18 month jail sentence for the SHPO breaches.

PC Keith Haywood, from the Isle of Wight Offender Management Team, said: “We invest significant resources into the protection of the public and the management of sex offenders, and it’s a duty we take very seriously.

“Officers will often make unannounced visits to offenders where they are subject to an intrusive investigative interview process. This helps us understand their routines, interests and behaviours.

“On this occasion, Simms was visibly uncomfortable with our presence, and it was clear from the examination of his phone that he had no intention of sticking to the conditions of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

“These orders are put in place to protect the public, and ensure that individuals do not re-offend. Where they choose to disregard them, they are rightly punished and I am pleased that Simms is now behind bars.”

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A PAEDOPHILE who preyed on a teenage girl with autism was jailed for six years by an Isle of Wight Crown Court judge.

Ashley Holness, of Carlton Road, Ryde, was told by Judge Susan Evans he had groomed his victim and his behaviour had been so appalling, it was likely the victim will suffer 'serious emotional damage'.

The head chef admitted seven counts of intentional sexual touching of a child, two of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and one of taking indecent photographs of a child, all against a girl aged under 16, between August 12 and December 23 last year.

An application to have Holness's sentenced reduced for pleading guilty at a later hearing, was rejected by the judge on the grounds he "knew full well what he had done" when he appeared before Island magistrates.

During his depraved acts against the young teen, Holness, 36, warned her to be quiet, and groomed her by rewarding her with cash, said John Farmer, prosecuting, at the Isle of Wight Crown Court on Tuesday.

Holness also made her undress so he could take photographs of her naked, the judge was told.

When arrested, police discovered the photographs on his mobile phone.

For Holness, Thomas Horder said: "There is very little I can say in mitigation that can take away from the serious nature of the offences.

"He makes no attempt to play down or cast out any aspect of the allegations made."

Referring to a letter his client wrote to the court, Mr Horder said Holness had showed remorse.

"It captures how sorry he is. He knows the impact his behaviour has had on the girl," said Mr Horder.

"At the time, he was dealing with his wife's illness, a bitter dispute with a neighbour, drinking alcohol, in a way he had never done before, and taking cannabis."

Character references for Holness were handed to the judge.

On top of his jail term, Holness was placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for life and made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Judge Evans said: "The victim was someone made all the more vulnerable because she has autism.

"I accept you developed depression and anxiety in the weeks leading up to your offending, but none of that provides any excuse for the shocking manner in which you behaved."

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A RAPIST who lived on the Isle of Wight and who attacked a woman in Blackburn, Lancashire, has been deemed a dangerous offender.

Philip Shaw, of Parsonage Court, Sandown, subjected his victim to a terrifying sexual ordeal in October 2019, Preston Crown Court heard.

The 35 year old struck up a conversation with the woman, a sex worker, and a business deal was agreed for £40. He did not hand over the money.

When Shaw and the woman walked towards a more secluded area, he forced her over a nearby vehicle and attempted to rape her.

As a result of the attack, his victim suffered sleepless nights, stress, anxiety and has been left in fear of going out alone, the court was told.

Prosecutor Alaric Bassano said: “The defendant, who knew perfectly well she was not consenting and who could see and hear her distress, was quite unmoved, insensitive to her wishes and appeared to care only about his gratification.

“He menacingly threatened her, saying he would kick the f*** out of her.

“The woman, who was crying, pleaded with the defendant to stop.”

Shaw was only stopped when a car drove past, causing him to pull away from the victim who then fled and called the police.

Preston Crown Court heard how Shaw had previously been jailed for seven years, for raping a woman in Runcorn, Cheshire, ten years earlier.

CCTV footage recovered during a police investigation showed how the Blackburn attack lasted around two minutes.

Shaw told police that before he came across his victim, he had spent his last £10 on oral sex from another woman.

He went on to claim that he had told the woman he had no money, but that she wanted to have sex with him anyway.

He maintained a not-guilty plea until the trial, eventually pleading guilty on the second day in court.

He was jailed for 12 years and three months, of which 8 years and three months will be spent in custody, with the remainder on licence.

Recorder Geoffrey Payne said: “It is clear that you knew full well she was not consenting.

"This was a terrible ordeal for her.

"She says she feels guilty for putting herself in this position and although that is clearly misplaced, those are very real feelings on her part.

"You were arrested and you did not tell the police the truth."

Deeming him a dangerous offender, Recorder Payne added: “I am required to consider the issue of dangerousness - that is whether there is the risk of significant risk of you committing further specified offences and whether there is a risk of you causing serious harm.

“I am satisfied that you do posses such a risk. In particular you present a high risk of serious harm to sex workers and those women in who you have a sexual interest.”

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A man jailed for the sexual abuse of nine children has had his sentence extended on appeal.

Jonathan Richard Maertens, 35, of Freshwater, recorded himself abusing the girls, aged between four and 17.

Following an investigation, during which almost 2,500 pieces of footage and 12,000 indecent images detailing his direct offending were found on hard drives, he pleaded guilty to 34 separate indictments:

• 10 multiple incident counts of rape of a child under 13

• Three counts including two multiple incident counts of assault of a child under 13 by penetration

• Five counts of sexual assault of a child under 13

• Three counts including one multiple incident count of rape of a child

• Two multiple incident counts of assault by penetration of a child

• Three counts of sexual assault of a child

• Three counts of taking indecent photographs of a child

• One count of making indecent photographs of a child

• Three counts including two multiple incident counts of administering a substance with intent

• One count of possessing a paedophile manual

Maertens was subsequently jailed for life with a minimum of 16 years at Isle of Wight Crown Court on November 23, last year.

However, the court's decision was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) Scheme.

At a hearing today (Friday 19 March 2021), the court found Maertens' sentence was unduly lenient and extended the minimum term to be served to 25 years.

Following the hearing, Detective Sergeant Damon Kennard said: "We welcome the Court of Appeal decision today to extend the sentence of Jonathan Maertens.

"I hope this provides further justice to the girls and their families, who continue to receive support from services as they seek to move on with their lives.

"We take all reports of sexual assault extremely seriously and will do everything we can to bring those responsible to justice.

"It is vital for us that people have the confidence to report incidents to us.

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A NEWPORT man who used his position working in a library to access a child's contact details and incite her to engage in sexual activity has been jailed.

The predator pretended to be a 16-year-old boy on Snapchat to start online conversations with the girl.

Glyn Viney, of Barton Road, appeared before the Isle of Wight Crown Court yesterday (Thursday).

At a previous hearing on March 1, he admitted three counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and two counts of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

He also admitted engaging in sexual communication with a child and making indecent images of a child.

The offences took place between December 1, 2018, and August 24, 2019.

Prosecutor, Daniel Sawyer, told the court Viney's primary victim was a 15-year-old girl he first noticed at the library where he worked.

Viney found her contact details through library records and contacted her via email, posing as a 16-year-old boy called Gary Barlow.

Mr Sawyer said conversations between the pair quickly turned sexual, and Viney asked her for sexual images, and for her to carry out sexual acts on herself.

The victim reported matters to her foster carer, who contacted police.

Viney was arrested on August 30, 2019, and his phone was taken ­— a device which contained a Snapchat account and screen recorder app, Mobizen.

Mr Sawyer said messages consisted of demands for videos, and it was clear there was a difference of power between Viney and his victim.

The court heard how there was also reference to sexual gratification in the context of the victim being in pain.

Mr Sawyer said the victim had disclosed her vulnerabilities to Viney.

He said, for the counts of attempting to incite a child, they pertained to similar conversations with other individuals on his phone.

Mr Sawyer said the other victims could not be traced, and the Crown could not prove they were the young girls they purported to be.

He said that from their profiles, one appeared to be in Year 7 and another, 13 years old.

In police interview, Viney accepted he had at least two Snapchat accounts and pretended to be 16 years old.

He said he was having a mental breakdown at the time, which presiding judge, recorder Anna Midgley, said was indicative of his shame.

David Richards, defending, said Viney was someone who had a productive and decent life which he had thrown away.

Mr Richards said Viney had no intention of doing anything like it ever again, and did not understand where it came from or why.

He said he was overwhelmed by issues in his life ­— the pressures of work, the fact that his mother was unwell, and his inability to get satisfaction from relationships with people his own age.

Mr Richards said Viney did not maintain the pretence throughout, and eventually owned up to being a married man.

He said he knew he was going to prison, and did not see himself as a victim.

Viney, who has no previous convictions, was jailed for three years and four months.

He was placed on the Sex Offenders' Register indefinitely, and made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years.

He was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £181.

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He came to police attention after using an online account discuss child abuse.

An Isle of Wight man has been jailed for sexually abusing a child and being found in possession of thousands of indecent images.

Michael Anthony Henderson, 32, of Ventnor, was found with a number of indecent images on his devices after a police investigation.

Appearing at Isle of Wight Crown Court for sentencing on Friday (January 15), Mr Henderson was jailed for ten years.

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He came to police attention when they identified accounts he was using to discuss child abuse on online forums.

The Internet Child Abuse Team for Hampshire Constabulary then carried out an investigation which led to the seizure of laptops, phones and a kindle.

The court heard that the investigation found a large number of indecent images on Henderson's devices, many of which had been accessed on the internet. Among the images were a number that showed Henderson engaging in the sexual abuse of a child.

Hampshire Constabulary confirmed they identified the victim and provided support to them and their family.

Henderson was charged with four counts of sexual assault on a child, five of taking indecent images of a child, three of distribution of indecent images, four of possession of indecent images, one of possession of prohibited images of children and one of possession of extreme pornography.

He pleaded guilty to the three counts of distribution of indecent images, four of possession of indecent images, one of possession of prohibited images of children and one of possession of extreme pornography.

After a trial, the 32-year-old was convicted of the four counts of sexual assault on a child and five of taking indecent images of a child.

Investigating officer DS Claire Lyons said: "The images found on Henderson’s devices are unquestionably amongst the worst I have seen while working within the Internet Child Abuse Team, and this sentence takes a dangerous offender off the streets.

"The sexual abuse of children causes unfathomable damage, and I hope that this sentence provides some justice for the victim and their family, who will continue to receive support from partner services.

"We take all reports of sexual assault extremely seriously, and will do everything in our power to bring those responsible to justice.

"It is so important to us that people have the confidence to report these incidents to us, whether they have happened to you or somebody you know.

"It is also important to us that survivors and their families are provided with the support they need, and we work in partnership with other organisations to ensure this happens."

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A prominent Isle of Wight businessman has admitted a string of child sexual abuse offences.

Peter Tomlinson, of Baring Road, Cowes, has pleaded guilty to 12 counts at the Isle of Wight Crown Court today (Friday).

The charges include making 47 category A photos, 148 category B photos and 353 Category C photos.

He has also admitted paying a mother in the Phillipines, over the internet, to commit sexual acts on her children, aged 10 and 12, and paying her for indecent photos of the children.

He has been remanded in custody until sentencing in March - and has been warned he faces a jail term.

The 63-year-old was remanded in custody at an initial hearing at Portsmouth Magistrates' Court on November 18.

The former president of the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce was charged as part of a National Crime Agency investigation into child sexual abuse across the world.

Tomlinson paid to watch live-streams of children being sexually abused abroad, in countries including the Philippines.

Today (Friday), Tomlinson has admitted five counts of paying for the sexual services of a girl under 13, two counts of causing or inciting the sexual exploitation of a child under 13, two counts of intentionally encouraging/assisting the commission of an either way offence and three counts of making indecent photographs/pseudo photographs of a child.

Recorder Jane Rowley said: "A significant term of imprisonment may be justified."

The matter will now be adjourned for sentencing on March 5.

Defending, Elisabeth Bussey-Jones has asked for pre-sentence reports.

He is required to add his name to the sex offender's register.

A member of the Catholic church, he was the owner and director of Betapak and children's soft play business JR Zone. JR Zone has since changed hands and is under new ownership.

He was also chief executive of IW business Education Destination, which arranges bespoke school visits to the Isle of Wight.

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A SERIAL sex offender has been jailed for four years at the Isle of Wight Crown Court today (Friday).

Phillips Brookes was recently seen on video smirking as a team of paedophile hunters challenged him about his behaviour with what he thought was an 11-year-old girl, and it was broadcast live on Facebook and shared widely.

The footage showed how the paedophile hunters became increasingly agitated as the man, confronted in a sting operation on the Island, fired back sarcastic comments when they questioned him over sexual communications with a child.

He later claimed he had wanted to be caught.

At the end of the film, a police officer arrives to arrest him.

Phillip Brookes, of Clarence Road, East Cowes, was already a serial sex offender, having once uploaded a video of himself abusing a 12-year-old girl to the internet for money, Winchester Crown Court heard in July.

In that instance, he was jailed for a year.

Soon after his release, Brookes had started to send sickening messages to a 'girl' who told him she was 11 years old. Brookes told the child to perform sexual acts, among a series of depraved topics.

The 41-year-old arranged to meet the child in East Cowes, but instead found himself confronted outside a supermarket by several adults from the Northwest Hebephile Hunters, who had travelled overnight from the north of England to catch him out.

During a two-day trial at Winchester Crown Court, Brookes was cross-examined by prosecuting lawyer Gemma White, who asked him about his eight previous offences against children since 2012 and the fact that he had been made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

After just one hour of deliberation, Brookes was convicted by the jury of four counts of attempting to cause a girl to engage in sexual activity and one count of attempted communication with a child.

Judge Susan Evans sentenced Brookes today.

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A retired IT worker who had more than 7,000 indecent images of children and 3,000 images of bestiality has been sentenced to 8 months in jail suspended for 2 years and hit with a 3,000 fine after a National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation.

John Stoddart, 65, of Madeira Road in Ventnor, appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court on 13th July where admitted 10 charges mainly relating to making and possessing indecent images of children.

As part of his sentencing at the Isle of Wight Crown Court by Judge R Hetherington today (Friday) he was also put on the sex offenders register for 10 years, given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order limiting his use of the internet, ordered to attend a 35-day rehabilitation programme and told his electronic devices will be destroyed.

Stoddart made in excess of 500 indecent images of children; 149 fell into the most severe category (A) for child abuse.

NCA officers arrested him in June 2018 after proving he had made child sex abuse files available on an online sharing platform. Files containing the words Pedoland, Preteen and Lolita were located and attributed to Stoddarts IP address and user profile.

Forensic analysis of his digital devices found 7,256 indecent images and 754 videos from as early as 2004. An additional 3,000 images related to bestiality.

During interview he initially denied all allegations and said he was not sexually attracted to children. He said he sometimes clicked on online files to give them a go, and that hed once inadvertently seen a video of a baby being abused by clicking into a pop-up on his screen.

Within the downloaded material, officers found Stoddart was a fan of online games and visual stories featuring erotic encounters with adults, children and animals.

He admitted to having a fascination with incest because it was taboo and said he had been collecting extreme pornography since living in Germany in the 1970s.

Martin Matthews, NCA operations manager, said:

Over decades Stoddart had made and amassed a vast collection of imagery that was both obscene and involved the sexual exploitation of children.

He took pleasure in experiencing a virtual world online that involved violence and sexual abuse. Stopping this before it ever became a reality was paramount to our officers.

Protecting children remains a top priority for the NCA and we wont stop in our pursuit of those individuals who pose a threat.

An NSPCC spokesperson has said:

The scale of Stoddarts horrific collection is extremely disturbing. These kind of images capture abuse which could stay with the victims for the rest of their lives and Stoddart has helped provide a demand for them.

The NSPCC continues to call on the Government and tech giants to crack down on this disgusting trade and ensure no child is forced to endure abuse for the gratification of sexual predators.

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A former Isle of Wight paramedic has been struck off the medical register after being convicted of making indecent photographs of children and possessing an extreme pornographic image.

The Health & Care Professions Tribunal Service (HCPTS) this week took the decision to strike Timothy J Ross, known as Tim, off the medical register as they deemed his fitness to practise is impaired by his conviction on the grounds of public protection.

Tim served with the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service from 1997 before becoming a flying paramedic with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance for 4 years. He then went on to work for South Central Ambulance Service. The paramedic also spent time in Queensland, Australia.

Tim was well known for his work with the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service as he was an avid fundraiser. He also had connections with a local sailing training company and a local lifeboat station. He also worked at Solent Middle School, Cowes.

In August last year, at Bournemouth Crown Court, the paramedic was convicted of 3 counts of making an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child and 1 count of possessing extreme pornographic images – act of intercourse/oral sex with a dead/alive animal. He was sentenced in September to a 2-year community order with 25 days rehabilitation activity and was made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for a period of 5 years and required to sign as a sex offender for 5 years.

The tribunal hearing, which was held virtually via video conference on Tuesday this week, heard how Police had received information that the paramedic was showing a keen interest in young boys. As a result, his home address was visited and computer equipment seized. Mr Ross gave a no comment interview to Police after indecent images were found on his devices but stated he did not know where the images – of boys aged 6 to 10 – had come from and that he had not seen them before.

On 14th February 2019, the day after his interview, a referral was made to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) by Hampshire Constabulary to alert them to the situation. On 25th April, the HCPC was told by Mr Ross that he was to retire on 7th May with no intention of working as a paramedic again. It was on 14th June 2019 that he was charged with the offences and later appeared in court, on 8th August, where he pleaded guilty.

The HCPTS Panel concluded that Tim Ross’ fitness to practise as a paramedic was at the time, and remains, impaired on public protection grounds. The Panel found that this case is characterised by a gross abuse of trust involving the exploitation of children and took the decision to strike Timothy J Ross off the medical register.

On 7th December 2019, Tim was barred from the Children’s List and the Adult’s List by the Disclosure and Barring Service.

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A ROOKLEY man in possession of almost 35,000 child abuse images has been spared jail at the Isle of Wight Crown Court.

David Bradshaw, 63, of Dolcroft Road, appeared on Friday charged with three counts of making indecent images of children and one count of possession of cannabis.

Bradshaw had previously pleaded guilty to possessing the images, at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court on February 14.

It was detailed how Bradshaw was arrested after he took his laptop into a computer repair shop to be fixed, and staff discovered a hidden folder containing the images.

Speaking at the earlier hearing, prosecutor Ann Smout said: "When they opened the folder, they saw thousands of thumbnail images they suspected showed children being abused.

"They immediately called the police and handed the laptop over.

"Police discovered the laptop contained 34,638 images and videos of children, ranging from category A the most serious kind to category C.

"He said images of 12 to 14 year old girls had helped him deal with the break-up of a previous relationship."

Barry Arnett, defending, said: "After these charges were leaked to the public, Mr Bradshaw was repeatedly threatened and forced to move from a previous address."

"There will be quite severe implications for Mr Bradshaw. He is a man who has already lost quite a lot."

Judge Roger Hetherington gave Bradshaw a 12 month custodial sentence, suspended for 24 months.

He was also placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for ten years, placed under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years.

He must undertake 25 rehabilitation days.

He was also ordered to pay court costs of 425 and a victim surcharge of 90.

An NSPCC spokesperson said: The sheer extent of Bradshaws collection is truly appalling.

"Many of the images in it will be crime scenes showing abused children who will need a vast amount of support to recover from their ordeal.

This case highlights the urgent need to address the online trade in such images.

"Law enforcement cannot solve this problem alone. Big tech must also be made to use their expertise and resources to quickly remove this terrible content from their platforms and identify who put it there in the first place.

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A man who sexually abused three young boys over a period of six years has been jailed for 10 years.

Claudio Sergio Da Silva, aged 51 years, of Monks Walk in East Cowes, began abusing his first victim in 2010.

Da Silva then went on to sexually assault two other boys who were under the age of 16 at the time. The assaults continued until 2016.

His reign of abuse was brought to an end when the brave boys came forward and reported it.

Following an investigation, Da Silva was charged with six counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and one count of sexual assault.

Da Silva denied the offences, but was convicted by a jury at Isle of Wight Crown Court on Friday 7 February.

He appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court today (Tuesday 11 February) where His Honour Judge Melville QC jailed him for 10 years, for what he described as "systematic abuse", and handed him an unlimited Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

PSI Claire Linton, from Isle of Wight CID, said: “I cannot emphasise enough the strength and bravery of these young boys. It is down to them that this dangerous sex offender has been taken off the streets.

“I would encourage anyone who has been victim of this type of offence to come forward and speak to us.

“We understand this can be a really difficult thing to do, but I hope the verdicts of the jury and the sentencing are reassurance that we take these allegations seriously and you will be listened to.”

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A SEX offender has been jailed, after breaching the terms of a court order.

Simon Fellowes-Welch, 55, of Sutton Close, Ryde, who has a long history of child sex offences, breached the terms of a sexual harm prevention order.

The order, made in November 2017, specified that he could not delete any internet browsing history or download file-sharing software, both of which he did, Isle of Wight Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Graham Gilbert told the court how Fellowes-Welch had a history of breaching court orders and had spent time in prison before for child sex offences, including for indecent images of children.

In February, Fellowes-Welch's laptop was inspected by police and there was no internet history present and a file-sharing programme was found.

For Fellowes-Welch, Oscar Vincent told the court that before the breach, there was 15 months of compliance with the order.

Mr Vincent said that the breach was an innocent mistake, made by trying to improve a slow, out-of-date laptop.

He had run a system clean up programme in order to clear some memory on the laptop, in the hope that it would improve its performance, but in doing so inadvertently deleted his internet browsing history.

He had downloaded the file-sharing software in order to download the clean up programme, Mr Vincent said.

Mr Vincent said that as soon as he had realised his mistake, he told his offender manager, who arranged the police inspection of the laptop.

Fellowes-Welch was sentenced to one year in prison.