Latest Offenders Kent

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A Biggin Hill paedophile who planned to sexually abuse a 10-year-old girl after contacting a woman posing as her mother has been jailed.

Maurice Clayton, of Oaklands Lane, was arrested in the car park of a supermarket last year, having travelled 30 miles to meet a woman he believed would allow him access to her daughter.

Clayton, aged 60, initially contacted a user on a pornographic website during September 2020, believing her to be the mother of a 10-year-old girl.

He continued to have conversations with the woman on a separate social media site, where he made repeated comments about his intentions to commit serious sexual offences against the child.

He also shared several indecent images.

On October 27, Clayton travelled from his home to a car park in Knight Road, Strood.

He planned to meet the mother of the child at the car park and then move onto an address to commit the abuse.

Unbeknown to him, the mother and child did not exist.

Instead, Clayton was met at the car park by Kent Police officers and arrested.

He was charged and later appeared at Maidstone Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to attempting to arrange the commission of a child sex offence.

Clayton also admitted two counts of distributing indecent images of a child and a further count of possessing indecent images.

On Wednesday June 16, Clayton was sentenced to two years imprisonment. He was also made subject of a sexual harm prevention order.

Detective Constable Darran Bassett, of the Paedophile Online Investigation Team, said: There can be no doubt that Clayton poses a real danger to children.

He has displayed a clear desire and determination to sexually abuse a child in the most abhorrent ways and the graphic detail he included in his online messages was hugely concerning.

Protecting children from sexual abuse and harm is a priority for Kent Police and as this case shows we will continue to do everything in our power to identify and take robust action against people like Clayton.

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A Snodland man who used mobile phone apps in attempts to groom a child for sex has been jailed.

Reece Cano, 29, repeatedly sought indecent images of a child he believed was only 12 years old and then arranged to meet her in order to carry out abuse, a court heard.

Between September 19 and October 11, Cano accessed dating and instant messaging apps to contact another user who posted as a juvenile.

Despite her sending several replies stating she was only 12, he used the online exchanges to try to entice her into sexual activity and to send him illegal images.

Cano’s messages contained a series of explicit demands and included suggestions of meeting in a hotel.

During October, he made preparations to meet the child at "a quiet location" in the Snodland area, where he planned to abuse her.

But unbeknown to him, the 'child' was actually a police officer and he was arrested after a search warrant was executed at his home on October 11.

The search led to the discovery of a mobile phone in an airing cupboard, which provided evidence of the online conversations.

Cano was charged with two counts of attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and with arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.

He was further charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order (which had been imposed in 2019 following previous and unrelated convictions for sex offences), and failure to comply with notification requirements.

Cano pleaded guilty to all charges when he appeared before Maidstone Crown Court.

He was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment, with an extended licence period of a further four years.

Cano was categorised by the court as "dangerous" and will be required to serve at least two thirds of the sentence before he can be considered for parole.

He was also made subject of a sexual harm prevention order and added to the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Kent Police Investigator Natalie Armstrong, of the West Kent Offender Management Unit said: "Reece Cano made persistent and repeated efforts to contact a child for the purposes of his own gratification.

"He has displayed a clear desire and determination to sexually abuse a child and the graphic detail he included in his messages was hugely concerning.

"This case should act as a reminder to parents of children who have mobile phones and tablets to speak to them and help them understand the precautions they should take when using the internet, or the many instant messaging services that are available.

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A serial rapist found guilty of multiple attacks on two young victims has been jailed for 24 years.

Stephen Dowle, from Folkestone, was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court this week for 11 counts of rape against two females over the course of a decade. April 6

Both victims suffered nightmares and panic attacks as the 42-year-old, of Trinity Crescent, continued to lie about his campaign of rape.

Judge Simon James told Dowle he showed no remorse or insight following the attacks on his victims, a woman now in her 20s and a girl who had been aged seven at the time.

Dowles barrister Diana Pignot told the court he continued to deny rape despite being found guilty following a trial last year.

Stephen Dowle told me that the jury made a big mistake, he still denies any sexual offence and that, of course, brings a difficulty in mitigation, she said.

It is clear that Stephen Dowle is not open to any form of rehabilitation treatment. He feels he should not be in custody because he believes he has not done anything wrong.

She has also drawn a wanted poster, and said Its okay, he is in prison and cant get me now'.

But Judge Simon James, after hearing the severe psychological impact he had caused, told Dowle his victims were to be commended for reporting their ordeal.

Prosecuting, Madeleine Wolfe described Dowle as carrying out a campaign of rape and having made (his eldest victims) childhood unthinkable.

The woman told the court in a statement she still suffers nightmares, panic attacks and cannot shop alone, despite Dowle being in custody.

His youngest victims carer said the girl also suffered night-terrors and severe anxiety and struggled to trust adults.

She will not talk about him and during her playing concentrates on the bad people and wants them in jail," they added.

She has also drawn a wanted poster, and said Its okay, he is in prison and cant get me now'.

The judge described Dowle as a sexual deviant and said he would serve two third of his 24-year prison sentence before being considered for parole. A further four will be spent on licence.

Dowle was convicted of seven counts of raping underaged girls, assaulting a girl under 16 and four counts of raping a female over 16.

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A former Guildford GP who sexually assaulted 15 patients, including a 12-year-old girl, has failed to get his conviction overturned.

Alan Tutin groped women and girls over a 23-year period between 1981 and 2004, with most of those offences having been committed at the Merrow Park Practice, where he had been a GP since 1980.

The 71-year-old was convicted of 15 counts of sexual assault in December 2018 following a trial and jailed for 10 years and six months at the Old Bailey in May 2019.

An appeal against his conviction was dismissed at the Court of Appeal after a hearing on Tuesday (March 17).

Defendants are entitled to appeal convictions and sentences handed down at Crown Courts.

Tutins trial previously heard how he groped his victims in an immature, Benny Hill fashion using reasoning of breast or vaginal examinations, which were said to be either unnecessary or carried out in an inappropriate way for sexual gratification.

The sex offender, of Crittenden Road in Tonbridge, Kent, had originally been charged with 28 counts of sexual assault, but was acquitted of eight.

The jury was also unable to agree verdicts on the remaining five charges, with a subsequent trial in May 2019 at Blackfriars Crown Court finding him not guilty of three of them.

Allegations were first made against Tutin in 2000 when he was put on trial at the Old Bailey, charged with indecently assaulting three women and two children.

He was acquitted of assaulting one of the children and the other charges were dropped. A year later he was acquitted by a General Medical Council (GMC) tribunal of eight counts of sexually assaulting patients.

In 2009, he was struck off after a separate GMC panel found him guilty of sexually assaulting five women, including molesting one of his colleagues at his home, telling another woman to strip for an eye test, and groping a patients breasts while examining her internally.

The investigation, that resulted in Tutins conviction, began in March 2014, with the GP being arrested in July of the same year.

A number of complainants came forward after being contacted by police, and Tutin was eventually charged with 28 counts of sexual assault involving 25 complainants.

At his sentencing hearing, one of Tutins victims said: My initial response was a sense of being abused, violated and feeling dirty, and wanting a shower.

"I was only young so was upset and confused by what he did. I trusted him as a doctor and was brought up to respect authority and do as I was told, which is what I did."

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A lying rapist who attacked a drunk defenceless woman in a train toilet even called out to his oblivious wife mid-assault.

Predator Timothy Davies pounced after tricking his partner into thinking he was comforting the unwell victim on the Southeastern service to Ramsgate from Canterbury.

The former care-home boss led the slumped woman into a cubicle, where she drifted in and out of consciousness.

He attacked her as she became nauseated, even calling out to wife Cheryl, as she tried to open the locked door.

"I told my wife she was being sick because I didn't want her knowing I was having sex with another woman," the 45-year-old told the jury.

After his arrest Davies schemed to persuade the authorities his victim initiated intercourse.

He then dragged her through the courts after accusing her of lies since the 2018 attack, culminating in this week's trial at Canterbury Crown Court.

But a jury today unanimously convicted Davies of rape.

The ex-manager of Margate's Durham House, run by Ethelbert Children's Service, stared straight ahead clenching his jaw, as his friends and family gasped in the public gallery when the verdict was announced.

He appeared progressively more upset throughout today's hearing.

Jailing Davies for six years Recorder Stuart Trimmer QC, said: "Her life was turned upside down because of these five minutes inside the toilet cubicle.

"Not only did you do it you called out to your wife outside, while she was being sick.

"While those words were being uttered you were having sex with the drunken woman.

When Davies took to the stand on Thursday he claimed he was "embarrassed for cheating" on his wife and had "no idea" why his victim wanted him locked up.

He argued she "initiated sex" moments after falling unwell, but prosecutor Christopher Hewertson blasted his web of deceit.

"That, on your behalf is a flagrant lie, isn't it?" asked Mr Hewertson.

"Do you know why she was saying you had sex with her without her consent?"

"I don't know why she said there wasn't consent, no," Davies responded.

Mr Hewertson continued: "She was incapacitated in that toilet cubicle wasn't she?

"Her life was turned upside down because of these five minutes inside the toilet cubicle"...

"She was completely out of it, she was completely vulnerable."

"No she wasn't," Davies replied.

CCTV played in court showed Davies leaving the row of seats where he was sat with his wife, and escorting the drunk woman to the toilet.

When the pair enter the cubicle, his wife could be seen pacing up and down the carriage, seemingly looking for her husband.

She even stood outside and tried the handle as the attack unfolded, Davies claimed he couldn't let her in as the victim was being ill.

Giving evidence from behind a screen, Davies' victim said she was drunk and helpless.

Gordon Ross, defending Davies, asked her: "He didn't rape you did he?

"You had consensual sex in that toilet didn't you?

"You were aware of what was happening weren't you?"

"No I wasn't," the woman replied.

Asked about her frame of mind at the time of the attack, she said: "I just felt really sick and dis-orientated and dizzy.

"I didn't ask ask him to, I remember saying to him 'I know you know what you did (at the train station) and ran away'.

"But I can't remember anything else."

She alerted police and Davies, of previous good character, was arrested in front of his wife at their home in Lorina Road, Ramsgate, the next day.

The trial heard Davies resigned from his job overseeing vulnerable children shortly after the allegation surfaced and since worked as an Asda delivery driver.

His victim, however, said her life was thrown into turmoil after the attack, which she was made to feel was her "own fault."

Suffering panic attacks, uncontrollable crying and stress-related fits, she told the court giving evidence in the same room as her attacker was the "toughest experience in my life."

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A man who downloaded indecent images of children using free Wifi from shops has been jailed.

Repeat sex offender Derek O'Rourke, 57, was caught after he connected his phone to various internet hotspots in Maidstone town centre, in Kent.

He was arrested when officers attended his home in Fairmeadow, Maidstone on March 13, 2018.

A search of the property led to the discovery of the phone, which when forensically examined was found to contain 29 images and videos depicting abuse, of which 15 were classed in the most serious category.

He had tried to deny the phone was his during a police interview but an investigation revealed the device contained a SIM card that was registered under his name.

He was charged with four counts of possessing an indecent photograph or pseudo image of a child.

This led to him being recalled to prison after he breached licence conditions he was given after being found guilty of similar offences in the past.

O’Rourke pleaded guilty to all the charges when he appeared at Maidstone Crown Court and was sentenced to one year and eight months imprisonment on Thursday.

He will also continue to be the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Detective Constable Wes Marston said: “O’Rourke is a repeat offender who has previously been given every opportunity to engage in rehabilitation and was subject to strict court conditions to deter his ability to access illegal images of children.

“Despite this he has been unable to prevent himself from reoffending.

“He continues to demonstrate a determination to access illegal images with no understanding of the gravity of his actions and without remorse.

“O’Rourke also appears incapable of accepting the material he continues to access will have resulted from real children suffering appalling abuse and now he must again face the consequences of his actions.”

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Recently released from prison, thought to be in Folkestone area.

A judge gave a manipulative paedophile a piece of his mind for trying to lure children away with promises of high profile football games.

Judge Mark Weekes dealt Rivers a barbed sentencing speech as the paedophile bowed his head, and sobbed while his body shook in the dock.

Rivers, 49, was found guilty of six breaches of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order, banning him from trying to be alone with under-18s.

Sentencing Rivers to four years in jail, the judge labelled him a predatory paedophile whose behaviour was sinister.

He said: You used your interest, alleged or real in football, to repeatedly breach the order made.

You remain a high risk - I dont doubt that you are not a manipulative man, Judge Weekes added.

He scalded Rivers for attempting to coax the children away, adding it is in the parents' credit they stood firm.

Sentencing Rivers to four years in jail, the judge labelled him a predatory paedophile whose behaviour was sinister.

"You used your interest, alleged or real in football, to repeatedly breach the order made..." Judge Weekes

Rivers, 49, was jailed for sexually assaulting a minor in 2010 and slapped with a sexual offences prevention order, to help deter re-offending.

The order banned the social media specialist from being alone, or seeking to be alone, with people under-18.

But Rivers would later flout the ruling - by trying to befriend a family then attempting to lure the children and be re-arrested in 2018.

Rivers was found guilty of six breaches of the Sexual Harm Prevention Order at Canterbury Crown Court on Wednesday, and cleared of two other alleged offences.

The court heard today the family remain disturbed over his advances, which included trying to coax a child from his parents with promises of watching Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

The mother revealed she feels suspicious of everyone following the ordeal, according to her victim impact statement.

This trial has been very traumatic for all of us, explained Mr Hunsley.

Now when I see a car similar to his I feel my stomach turn. Im worried what will happen when Alec is released back into the community.

I feel sorry for others in the area who are not aware of his convictions.

"Im worried what will happen when Alec is released back into the community..." victim statement

Details of his improper behaviour surfaced last year during a routine police inspection, where Rivers admitted playing football with a child.

The confession prompted officers to trace the childs family, who described Rivers intensifying behaviour.

Giving court evidence, the mother told how Rivers occasionally struck up banal conversation with her outside the family home in 2015.

Gradually, Rivers, of Firs Lane in Folkestone, approached more frequently, kneeling down and turning to the children, inviting exchanges about football.

By 2017, his loitering became so claustrophobic the mother dreaded going home, instead staggering the time shed arrive from school with her little ones.

"When I returned home collecting the children from school he would come and talk to us on the drive way, she told the jury.

"It was getting to me. It was getting to the point where I was dreading to go home.

"Mr Rivers was interested in football and the conversation would go on from there. He started using the children's football but would later arrive with his own one," she said.

"How often would he ask to play football with your children?" asked prosecutor Mark Hunsley.

"Almost daily," she replied. She continued: "He asked my son to come to a football match which I said no to - Mr Rivers became quite aggressive.

"He said I shouldn't wrap my children up in cotton wool and should let them go away from us.

"It was getting to me. It was getting to the point where I was dreading to go home.

Rivers has learned his lesson and was remorseful, according to a statement read by Mr Fitzgerald.

In mitigation he said: Im sorry I put the parents through this, I should not have had interaction with them.

Im generally sorry for the family.

He was found guilty of persistently inviting a child to play football, inviting them to a London football match, inviting a child to look at his shed, and inviting a child inside his flat.

He was acquitted for allegedly inviting a child to the park and offering to babysit the children.

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A paedophile who repeatedly abused a child while involved in a charity project more than 20 years ago has been jailed.

Stephen Madge, from Sevenoaks, was convicted of six counts of indecent assault at Maidstone Crown Court after targeting a teenage boy during the 1990s.

Allegations of abuse were first made to Kent Police in November 2014, when it was reported that Madge, 62, had been responsible for multiple offences during his charity work.

He was said to have developed an obsession with the victim, who he came into contact with in 1993 and repeatedly abused him throughout the year.

Officers arrested him at his home in Bradbourne Vale Road, Sevenoaks, in May 2015 and despite denials of any wrongdoing Madge was charged with six counts of indecent assault.

He pleaded not guilty and the case went to trial, where a jury unanimously found Madge guilty on all counts.

He was today sentenced to six years imprisonment, with an extended licence period of a further year.

Madge was also made subject of a sexual harm prevention order and added to the sex offenders register, both for indefinite terms.

"Sex offenders like Madge wreak incalculable damage on their victims, many who will suffer in silence for years, or throughout their whole lives" - Lisa Roots.

Detective Constable Lisa Roots of the Vulnerable Investigation Team said: "Sex offenders like Madge wreak incalculable damage on their victims, many who will suffer in silence for years, or throughout their whole lives.

"Thankfully in this case the victim has shown extraordinary courage to come forward.

"Madges lies have forced him to testify in court and endure further anguish, but I hope he can now take some comfort that justice has been served.

"This case is another example of why we continue to urge anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse to come forward.

"We will always fully investigate all accusations of non-recent offences, no matter how long ago they were."

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A paedophile has been jailed after arranging to meet up with a teenage girl at a service station.

But Daniel Salisbury's victim was actually a police officer and when the 31-year-old turned up at Cobham Services on November 16 officers from the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit pounced.

The 31-year, of Rotary Gardens, Gillingham, was found guilty of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence at Guildford Crown Court on Wednesday.

He was also found to be in breach of a sexual harm prevention order and was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment to run concurrently.

That order had been imposed after he was found in possession of indecent images of children in 2014.

Salisbury was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely and was subject to a further sexual harm prevention order to run in line with his registration period.

SEROCU's detective Inspector Emily Evans said: This investigation forms part of our continued priority to protect children from sexual exploitation from those who seek to do them harm.

"The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offences Daniel Salisbury had attempted to commit.

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A pervert who abducted a teenage girl and had sex with her at a bed and breakfast has been jailed for just over five years.

A judge said Jessie Hilden had targeted a vulnerable child and groomed her for his sexual gratification.

Despite admitting his guilt, the 30-year-old “displayed a disturbing lack of insight” into the realities of his behaviour and implications.

“There is no sign of any genuine remorse,” said Judge David Griffith-Jones QC. “A sentence of some length is demanded. Nothing less will do.”

Hilden, of Caravan Site, Windmill Lane West, West Malling, admitted abducting a child, two offences of sexual activity with a child and perverting the course of justice.

Maidstone Crown Court heard on Tuesday the victim was aged 14 when Hilden preyed on her.

She had gone into foster care because there was a high risk of child sex exploitation.

Prosecutor Bridget Todd said the girl was close to her 15th birthday when she failed to return to her care home and was reported missing.

Efforts were made to find her. She was believed to be at a hotel in Maidstone with Hilden.

It was revealed that he had taken her to the bed and breakfast, bought her alcohol and had intercourse with her without using protection. It included an unnatural act which caused her pain.

When police spotted Hilden later in Knightrider Street in Maidstone, he said he claimed he had not see the girl and did not know her.

"He took advantage of me. I was young and stupid..." - victim

But CCTV footage from the B&B confirmed they were there together. When arrested in May, Hilden denied having an inappropriate relationship with the teenager.

He was released on bail with a condition not to contact her but there were telephone calls between them in which he urged her to delete everything from her phone and go to the “gavvers” (police) and lie.

Miss Todd said Hilden had 19 previous convictions for 30 offences, mainly for dishonesty.

The victim said in a statement that she “felt disgusted” about what happened. “It makes me feel dirty,” she continued.

"He took advantage of me. I was young and stupid.

“I had issues at home and that made me vulnerable. He gave me money and things, which was exciting. Now I know he was lying.

“I struggle to sleep. I get bad dreams – nightmares and flashbacks about what he did to me. It has knocked my confidence. It messed up my GCSEs, messed up everything.”

She added: “I hate him for what he has done.”

Passing sentence, Judge Griffith-Jones said: “She was a troubled young girl and vulnerable. You began to curry her friendship. You groomed her, promising her things.

“You said you would take her on holidays and eventually marry her. You sought to alienate her from her family.”

It was clear Hilden, who had a troubled upbringing and turned to drugs and alcohol, preyed on the girl’s immaturity and vulnerability from the outset.

“She had been taken in and beguiled by you,” he continued. “You lied to her. You took advantage of her in order to use her for you own sexual gratification.

“The psychological damage your actions will have inflicted on her can only be imagined. Her victim statement describes her emotional turmoil and upset.”

The judge said there was considerable aggravation in the disparity in ages.

“I hope you will address your deviant thinking and behaviour,” he added.

He was jailed for a total of five years and two months – four years and eight months for the sex offences, 15 months concurrent for child abduction and six months consecutive for perverting the course of justice.

His name will appear on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely. He will be barred from working with children and a sexual harm prevention order was made.

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The 56-year-old raped his victim despite her repeatedly pleading for him to stop, the court heard

A former Kent Police sergeant has been stripped of his title after he was found guilty of rape and stalking offences.

Clive Garton, 56, from Sittingbourne, had been with the force as a sergeant for 23 years.

But in June he was given a sentence of 16 years behind bars after being found guilty of the offences back in June.

He was also found guilty of perverting the course of justice.

Lewes Crown Court heard in May that the serving police officer approached his victim as she sat on the stairs and raped her.

She had repeatedly asked him to stop through the ordeal.

When questioned by officers the victim spoke of how she had endured years of stalking and controlling behaviour from Garton.

He also tracked her mobile phone so he could find out where she was at all times.

During the trial the jury was told that Garton had attempted to track the victims mobile phone while he was on bail for the offences against her.

Garton claimed the victim had consented to sex with him, but admitted placing the listening devices in her home.

In interview he told officers he could dial into the devices and listen to the victim.

'We represent a force the public should have confidence in'

After a special case hearing at the Kent Police HQ in Sutton Road, Maidstone, today (November 12) Ch Cons Alan Pugshley took away Garton's title.

The panel heard how an allegation was made back in October 2016 that Garton had raped a woman and attempted to deter her from involving the police.

They also heard how he had previously harassed his victim and placed listening devices in her home.

After the hearing Supt Nick Gossett said: "The vast majority of Kent Police officers act with utmost integrity and represent a force that the public should have confidence in.

"In this rare instance an officer has been found guilty of committing serious offences and the force did not hesitate in instantly making an arrest and building a case against him.

"When wrongdoing is reported against officers, there is no leeway given. Our Professional Standards Department will conduct a full investigation and present their findings in an open and transparent process to ensure that the public can rightfully have faith in their police service."

Description

A pervert who made sex abuse of a young girl seem like a secret game has been jailed for three years and four months.

Jack Gillett, 27, was aged 16 or 17 when he molested the victim, Maidstone Crown Court heard. She kept it a secret for many years and only reported it to the police last year.

Gillett, of Northview, Swanley, admitted one offence of oral rape of a girl under the age of 13 and four of sexual activity with a child.

Prosecutor Timothy Forster said the offences happened on four separate occasions.

He made the touching sound like a game and told her to keep it a secret, he said. At her age, she didnt understand and went along with his suggestions.

Mr Forster said when the victim said she did not like a particular act, Gillett told her she did not have to do it. The final assault happened in a closet.

When the girl finally revealed what had happened, Gillett was confronted and admitted everything, said Mr Forster. He denied attempting to stop her reporting the abuse.

A victim impact statement by the girl revealed the severe psychological harm suffered, including suicide attempts, depression and the need for counselling.

"They are abhorrent offences - that goes without saying," - Orla Daly, defending

Orla Daly, defending, said Gillett had been diagnosed with autism.

They are abhorrent offences - that goes without saying, Miss Daly told the court. The offences were committed against a child, but they are committed by a child.

He has done his best to minimise the impact on the complainant. He faces sentence for something that happened a decade ago.

Miss Daly added: It would be a lenient course not to impose an immediate custodial sentence but it is an approach recommended by the probation service and justifiable given the gap since the offending occurred, his age at the time and his autism.

He is devastated and extremely upset about his behaviour.

Judge Julian Smith said Gilletts culpability was reduced because of his age at the time of the offences. Custody would present a great challenge to him.

I accept your remorse expressed is genuine, he said. I must also have regard to the impact of your behaviour on the victim, who has suffered greatly as a result of this.

The judge said he could not accede to the submission that the sentence could be suspended, but added it could be reduced by the maximum available to me.

Gilletts name will appear indefinitely on the sex offenders register and he will be barred from working with children and vulnerable adults.

NSPCC spokesman Hayley Pierre said: This survivor of child sexual abuse has suffered immeasurably at Gillets hands and it has clearly taken a great deal of courage to come forward and recount her ordeal.

Thanks to her, justice has been served. And its important to stress that victims of this awful crime will always be listened to, no matter how long ago the abuse was carried out.

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Danny Tiplady has been jailed for sharing the sexual images of children with people all over the world

A Maidstone man has been jailed for sharing extreme videos of sexual abuse, violence and torture.

Daniel Tiplady, 31, of Kent Avenue, admitted possessing more than 150 extreme images and sharing them with people all over the world through chat groups.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Tiplady's behaviour was uncovered when he shared explicit images of a woman on Facebook.

Police were called and later found 15 indecent images of videos of children and 145 videos of extreme pornography.

Further storage devices found at his home contained more indecent images of children, along with numerous videos showing extreme violence.

Many of these images were shared by Tiplady over a mobile messaging application which had recipients all over the world sharing the content.

Tiplady pleaded guilty to six counts of making an indecent photograph of a child, three counts of possessing extreme pornographic images and one count of disclosing private sexual photographs with intent to cause distress.

At Maidstone Crown Court yesterday (July 9), he was sentenced to 20 months behind bars.

Police Constable Edward Stenzil, the investigating officer for this case, told Kent Live: "Tipladys electronic devices were filled with depraved videos and images of the most extreme kinds of violence, which included real life torture and sexual abuse.

"He actively distributed these images and shared them with people around the world.

"He has proven that he has a disturbed mind which presents a very real danger to the wider public and the sentence he has received is entirely justified."

'Awful material is not unique'

An NSPCC spokesperson said: "Sadly the type of child abuse images possessed by Tiplady and the methods used to share this awful material to a wider audience are not unique.

"That's why it's imperative that social media companies and the government continue to work together to rid the internet of these vile crimes against children."

Description

A school teacher who downloaded hundreds of "horrible" child sex abuse images has been spared jail after a judge decided there was "a realistic prospect of rehabilitation".

Thomas Caudell, who also downloaded an "extreme" image of a woman having sex with an animal, was said to have an "addiction" that caused a spectacular fall from grace.

The 46-year-old former technology teacher at a Tunbridge Wells school admitted three offences of making indecent photos of a child, one of possessing images and one of possessing extreme pornography.

He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for two years and ordered to complete 180 hours unpaid work.

Maidstone Crown court heard police discovered Caudell, of Little Footway, Langton Green, had 59 images in the highest category of seriousness, 45 in the next highest and 686 in the least serious category.

David Burgess, defending, said Caudell had family photos and school work projects he wanted to retrieve from his seized computer equipment.

He has arrived at the age of 46 with an unblemished character hardworking, family man loved and respected by one and all, as seen from character references and now has a criminal record and, worse still, as a sex offender, said Mr Burgess.

His fall from grace is from a very high order indeed. It has had a very profound effect on him and his wife, who sits in court, and other members of his family.

Caudell, who now works as a machine operator, had sought help from the Lucy Faithfull Foundation child protection charity and completed courses.

It goes a long way to say he sought to address the addiction for that is what it has become and ensure that with the help available this fall never happens again, said Mr Burgess.

That is very much to his credit. The effect on him has been very severe indeed. There was a time when he contemplated taking his own life. He has pulled back from that brink.

Passing sentence, Judge Philip Statman said: At the heart of this offending conduct are children, each of whom becomes a victim of the criminality you have performed.

Anyone who has to read, as I do all too often, a description of the images concerned in cases such as this is appalled by the description given.

In your case, young children - girls, pre-pubescent in a situation where they are performing under the direction of adults, and where the acts of which they are party to are gross and disgusting.

You sat in the comfort of your home and you downloaded these images for your own sexual gratification.

"Your conduct took place over a substantial period of time.

No doubt, as you sat there in your home you never thought the time would come when there would be a knock on the door and you would be arrested for these crimes.

But the judge said he had to take one step back and take a cool and measured look at what Caudell had done.

Nonetheless, you will appreciate these offences well and truly pass the custody threshold, he continued.

References showed he had always been decent and honourable. His wife of 20 years had written to the court on his behalf.

If I may say so, no one could ask for a better wife than the one you have, said the judge.

Your conduct has resulted in life-changing circumstances for the whole of your family.

"No doubt, as you sat there in your home you never thought the time would come when there would be a knock on the door and you would be arrested" - judge Philip Statman"

There would be those who would sink under the weight of what you have done. Not so your wife who has encouraged you to attend the Lucy Faithfull Foundation to complete a 10-session course with them.

"You have been able to come to terms with the fact you have a very real psycho-sexual problem and need to address the issues arising there from.

You are perfectly capable of restoring your life and, hopefully, return to a situation in the community where you can continue to contribute as a decent member of society.

I also hope you wont ever again go back to downloading these horrible images of children.

Judge Statman added: Sentences of imprisonment are appropriate, but I draw back from sending you to prison immediately. There is in my judgement a realistic prospect that exists for your rehabilitation.

I am persuaded there is strong personalised and individualised mitigation. I am clear this is a case where I should take an exceptional course by suspending the sentence.

Caudells name will appear on the sex offenders register for five years and a sexual harm prevention order was made for the same period to give the community extra protection from you.

He will be barred from working with children and vulnerable adults.

Description

A young man from Dover who avoided jail for possessing indecent images has admitted to breaching a sexual offences order.

Kyle Brown, of Farthingloe Cottages in Folkestone Road, received a 16 month jail sentence, suspended for 12 months, for distributing and possessing indecent images.

The 24-year-old appeared at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court today (May 30) and pleaded guilty to breaching a sexual offences prevention order placed on him at Canterbury Crown Court on January 31.

The offence involved Brown failing to let police look at two mobile phones capable of connecting to the internet on April 10.

Brown was released on unconditional bail and will appear at Canterbury Crown Court at a later date for sentencing.