Latest Offenders Lancashire

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A ‘DANGEROUS’ sex offender from Ingleton has been jailed for four years after he was trapped by a paedophile hunter group for the second time.

Robert Twaites was given a community order in 2018 that included a condition that he took part in a specialist sex offender programme.

Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday (Monday) that he had been caught by a paedophile hunter group sending sexually explicit messages to decoys posing as girls aged 13 and 14 and trying to meet up with them.

Despite completing the Horizon Programme, he was back online in January this year trying to meet up for sexual activity with what he believed was a girl aged 13, the court heard.

Prosecutor Philip Standfast told the court that Twaites engaged in conversations with the decoy saying he liked to go on dates and offering to buy her presents.

He suggested they could ‘meet in the woods’ but after he failed to turn up, members of the paedophile hunter group confronted him at his home and contacted the police.

When officers examined his phone, they found prohibited images of children.

Twaites, 33, of New Village, Ingleton, admitted charges relating to his attempts to cause or incite a child to engage sexual activity and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

Julian White, for Twaites, described his behaviour as self-destructive and said it was mind-boggling that he would continue to behave in the way he had.

“He went through the necessary rehabilitative process, but notwithstanding that, he continued to offend in an identical manner,” Mr White said.

He described Twaites as an isolated and lonely individual.

Judge Sophie McKone said that despite his denials, he had a sexual interest in children and posed a high risk of serious harm to them.

Although no real child was involved, if there had been he would have gone through with the intended abuse.

Judge McKone jailed Twaites for four years and added an extra two years’ licence because he was a dangerous offender.

He will only be released by the Parole Board after serving two-thirds of his jail term if they decide it is safe to do so.

Twaites will also have to register as a sex offender with the police for the rest of his life and he must comply with an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

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A man who breached a sexual harm prevention order by assisting families with young children at a fairground ride has been jailed for nine months.

Richard Mason, 35, pleaded guilty to the breach and to obstructing a police officer at a hearing on May 9.

Mason, of Church Terrace, Darwen, was not to have any contact with children under the age of 18 per the terms of his order, which was amended to include that restriction in 2019.

This was the sixth time Mason had breached the order, originally imposed following a conviction for sexual offences in 2005.

Prosecuting at Preston Crown Court, Beth Pilling said: “Police received an anonymous phone call on April 8 this year informing them the defendant was working at Witton Park in Blackburn.

“They attended at around 4.15pm and observed him working on one of the rides for around 13 minutes, seating families and locking the overhead equipment into place.

“On speaking to him, he informed the police he was going home. He collected his items from by the ticket stall and walked off.”

The police decided to take Mason to one side to speak to him, but he pushed an officer’s arm away and ran off. He was located an hour later on a nearby street.

He informed officers he was only there to go on the rides and that he had not been working there, just assisting a friend who was working.

Mitigating, Holly Nelson said Mason maintains he was not paid to be there and he attended the fairground to meet a friend working there who had asked for help.

“He should not have been doing it and he accepts that,” Ms Nelson added.

Sentencing, Recorder David Temkin said: “On April 8 this year police were anonymously called to say you were working at a funfair in Witton Park.

“You were observed for a little under a quarter of an hour assisting your friend. You certainly assisted and operated machinery.

“What you did brought you into contact with families, including children, in direct contradiction to your Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and you knew it.

“Police officers viewed some families had young children appearing to be under 13. One police officer saw you lifting a seven-year-old child into a carriage.

“You told the police officers you were only there to go on some rides. That was patently untrue.”

Passing sentence, Recorder Temkin said Mason presented a risk and a danger to the public and an appropriate punishment can only be achieved by immediate custody.

Mason was sentenced to nine months in prison, with no separate penalty for the obstruction of an officer.

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A “predatory” former religious education teacher sexually assaulted a teenage boy in the 1980s after keeping him back after school.

Donald Hunt was an RE teacher who worked at Rhyddings High School in Oswaldtwistle between 1983 and 1989.

Preston Crown Court heard that between 1987 and 1989 he sexually assaulted a 15 or 16-year-old boy on three occasions after keeping him back to “discuss his work”.

Amanda Johnson, prosecuting, said: “The defendant would keep him back after lessons to ‘discuss his work’ and on one occasion, when in close proximity to his victim, he rubbed himself up against him.

“On another occasion he was standing next to the child and undid the teenager’s flies and began to rub him over his boxer shorts.

“The victim said he recalled feeling scared.

“On the third occasion the defendant told the boy to get a chair and come and sit next to him.

"He unzipped his own flies and said to the victim ‘you know what to do’, before placing the boy’s hand on his groin area.

“The boy pulled away and went home and told his father, but his father refused to believe him.”

Ms Johnson said the offending ended when the teenager told a friend and made him wait outside the classroom the next time he was kept back, and when the defendant went to initiate further contact the victim called out to his friend.

Ms Johnson told the court: “The boy’s friend ran into the classroom and the defendant panicked and stormed out with the boys following him into the car park.

"The defendant could not get away quick enough.”

It was heard the incidents were reported to the headteacher at the time, but they were not acted upon.

Ms Johnson went on: “The victim was told ‘Mr Hunt has a family, are you trying to break the family up?’.

“He also got into trouble for ‘making the whole thing up’ and ‘trying to ruin the teacher’s career’.”

The offences eventually came to light when the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, attended a police station in 2019, as the incidents had been niggling at him for years and had affected his personal life, his relationships, and had resulted in him abusing drugs and alcohol.

He said he had even attempted suicide on a few occasions.

Hunt attended the police station for a voluntary interview and said he could not remember the victim.

He said he experienced difficulty with his memory due to a car accident in 2007, although no medical evidence was provided to the courts to support this.

Mitigating, Mark Shanks said: “The man before you today is a different man to who committed the offences in the late 80s.

“He is a religious man who gives to the community, his friends and his church. He was shocked and disappointed when he heard about the effect his offending had had on his victim.

“He is petrified of going to prison again and so he should be.”

Married father-of-three, Hunt, now 69, was jailed for nine months in 2006 for indecently assaulting a boy in a storeroom at the same school in 1984.

He was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order at the time, which he later breached in 2012 when work he was doing meant he had contact with schoolchildren.

He was handed a community order for this breach.

Hunt, of Fairfield Street, Accrington, initially pleaded not guilty to three counts of indecent assault with a view of taking the case to trial, but pleaded guilty on the first day of the hearing in May.

Judge Heather Lloyd, sentencing, said: “In the 80s you were a respected RE teacher and with that came the responsibility of not only the education of your students but the safety and wellbeing of your students.

“You used your position to behave in a criminal and predatory way to two boys in your care.

“In 2006 you were sentenced for indecent assault on a student at the same school.

“You said the student lied about what had happened. You told probation you pleaded guilty to that but you were found guilty after trial.

“You must have known when you went to prison for that there was another victim, but you kept quiet, and sure enough, your past has crept up on you.

“When this victim reported what had happened to him he was told he was telling lies. You got away with what you did to him for many years.

“You told him to stay behind for detention and you indecently assaulted him.

“You said you couldn’t remember this pupil but you were able to give a full account of your own life history.

“Even now you do not admit guilt, you simply dispute your guilt.”

Hunt was jailed for 11 months, handed a 10 year sexual harm prevention order and must sign the sex offender’s register for 10 years.

Upon release he will be under post sentence supervision for 12 months.

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A pervert who thought he was talking to a 14-year-old boy via Facebook Messenger arranged to meet him at Blackburn train station so he could have sex with him and ‘make him a man’.

Peter Cumberland, of Bonsall Street, Blackburn, created a profile on Facebook in July 2021 and struck up a conversation with who he thought was a 14-year-old boy, when in reality it was a decoy.

Prosecuting at Preston Crown Court, Lisa Worsley said: “The ’14-year-old boy’ was an adult decoy from a group called ‘Travelling from Nottingham’ or ‘TFN’, who engages in conversation with suspected paedophiles and uses language that a 14-year-old would use as well as making reference to his parents.

“On July 22 2021, the decoy received a message from Cumberland asking for his school shoes, his trainers and his d***.

“The decoy said he was 14 and was still in school, to which Cumberland replied, ‘show me your trainers’ and asked for some photos.

“The decoy commented that he thought what he was saying was strange and asked Cumberland ‘do I know you?’.

“The defendant replied ‘no why?’, with the decoy saying ‘no reason, you could be anyone, and I’m not sending pictures to someone I haven’t seen’.”

Ms Worsley said the defendant then asked if he could buy the decoy’s trainers and asked if he would meet him at Blackburn train station and gave him his home address, of Bonsall Street.

The decoy then told him he couldn’t as his mother wouldn’t let him out, and asked how would he know Cumberland wasn’t a killer.

Ms Worsley said: “The defendant said he wasn’t a killer but was gay, and would prove it by kissing his feet and then making him gay. He said he would like to play with his penis and asked if the decoy was a virgin.”

The court then heard how Cumberland told the decoy he would like to have sex with him, and then asked if he wanted a photo of his private parts, before sending him one of him sitting on the toilet.

The conversation continued the following day and they arranged to meet at Blackburn station on July 25.

Ms Worsley added: “Cumberland said he would ‘make him a man’ and sent him photos of his house to reassure him he was telling the truth about where he lived.”

The decoy and a colleague arrived at Blackburn station and saw the defendant, approached him and asked him about his online activity.

They ushered him to an alleyway away from public view and called the police, before handing over documents to officers which detailed the conversations had online.

Cumberland was arrested and his mobile phone analysed, with officers able to download the conversations had with the decoy.

The 31-year-old, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to attempting to cause a child to look at a sexual image, attempting to engage a child in sexual activity, arranging the commission of a child sex offence and attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child.

Defending, Clare Thomas said her client was vulnerable, had lived a life of social isolation, had a learning disability, and had difficulty with speech and language and would find a prison sentence “traumatic”.

Sentencing, Recorder Daniel Prowse said: “I am satisfied you would have engaged in sexual activity with him if it had actually been a 14-year-old boy, but I can’t suspend this sentence as it’s so serious that it can only be dealt with by way of a custodial sentence.”

Cumberland was jailed for 28 months, will have to sign the sex offender’s register for 10 years and was handed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.

DC Sarah Fyans, of East CID, said: “Peter Cumberland’s behaviour in 2021 was clearly very concerning and something we take extremely seriously.

“He clearly has a troubling sexual interest in children and attended Blackburn Train Station fully expecting to meet a 14-year-old boy.

“I welcome the custodial sentence handed down by the courts to a man with no previous history of offending. I hope he uses his time in prison to reflect on his actions and get the help he clearly needs.”

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Dylan Tattersall, 28, attempted to sexually assault the victim twice while threatening her with a metal bar in the early hours of June 19, 2022.

The victim managed to secretly take photographs of Tattersall on her phone in order to raise the alarm.

Tattersall, of Gloucester Avenue, Accrington, was arrested later the same day.

He was charged with two rapes and a number of breaches of a non-molestation order following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service.

During a trial in December 2022, a jury found Tattersall guilty of breaching the non-molestation order but were unable to reach a verdict in relation to the charges of rape.

Tattersall later pleaded guilty to two alternative counts of attempted rapes, with the victim ready to give evidence for a second time.

He was sentenced on Tuesday (July 4) for those offences and breaches of the non-molestation order he had previously pleaded guilty to.

Tattersall was subsequently jailed for 11 years and eight months.

Sitting at Preston Crown Court, Judge Heather Lloyd deemed Tattersall to be a dangerous offender and sentenced him to a three-year extended licence period.

Tattersall was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and a restraining order was put in place.

Det Sgt Lee Harris, of East CID, said: “'I would like to commend the victim of this case for her bravery in reporting this serious incident to the police and for her continued resilience, which saw her having to give her full evidence in a previous trial and who was prepared to endure it again if needs be.

“Both the victim and I welcome the sentence and other sanctions that have been placed upon Tattersall today, which reflects the seriousness of the case and sends a clear message that offenders like Tattersall will be brought to justice.

“I hope the outcome of this case encourages other victims of sexual violence to come forward, knowing they will be listened to and believed.”

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A drunk undressed himself and sexually assaulted a woman after he’d been drinking with her and her sister.

Anthony Brocklesby told the woman, “all she needed was the right man” and when her sister fell asleep in the front room he grabbed her and pinned her down on the settee.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Brocklesby began groping the woman, and Francis McEntee, prosecuting, said she described a struggle, before the defendant grabbed her by the neck.

Mr McEntee said: “He slipped his hands into her knickers before moving them up her body, underneath her top and into her bra.

“She managed to get him off her and went to bed, but the defendant came into the bedroom wearing no top, with his pants round his ankles.

“He tried to grope her again and touched her breasts.

“Her sister, who had woken up, then came into the room and asked what was going on to which he replied, ‘what does it look like’?”

Brocklesby also broke a glass top on the cooker in the kitchen of the house.

Mr McEntee said he was confronted by what he did the following morning but said he couldn’t remember anything, and the matter was reported to the police.

Three days later on April 29, he made threats to the woman and her sister telling them, “you shouldn’t have made the report”, he also said, “if you don’t retract you won’t see your family again and you will pay”.

Paul Cummings, in mitigation, said it was “wholly out of character” for his client and all of this was borne out of alcohol dependency.

Brocklesby, 31, of Mitre Street, Burnley, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault by touching, witness intimidation and criminal damage.

He was jailed for 12 months, given a five year restraining order and placed on the sex offender’s register for 10 years.

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A convicted rapist described by a judge as a 'prolific sex offender' died from heart disease in jail after a cancelled hospital cardiac appointment wasn't re-booked, an inquest heard.

Mel Orme - who was jailed for life in 1997 - was 57 and found dead in his cell at HMP Wymott near Leyland by prison officers conducting their morning rounds.

Orme, from Eccles, Salford, was returned to prison in 2020 for attacking a string of women at the Trafford Centre shopping centre after being freed early from jail. A court heard he prowled the mall looking for new victims just five months after parole officers deemed him fit to be released.

Orme already had a string of sex offences on his record when he was transferred to the prison last November. He underwent an initial health screening, telling prison staff he had been experiencing dizzy spells, and a hospital appointment was made for him after an ECG indicated some abnormalities in his heart function, the inquest in Preston heard, reports Lancs Live.

However, the appointment was then cancelled by the hospital, and there was nothing in Orme's records to suggest it was ever re-booked.

On the morning of December 12 last year Orme was found dead in his cell when prison officers conducted their morning rounds.

An inquest at Preston Coroner's Court heard that Orme, who was born in Manchester, had a history of diabetes and hypertension. A post mortem CT scan concluded the cause of his death was coronary artery disease with aortic valve disease and left ventricular hypertrophy listed as contributory factors.

Orme already had a string of sex offences on his record when he was transferred to the prison last November. He underwent an initial health screening, telling prison staff he had been experiencing dizzy spells, and a hospital appointment was made for him after an ECG indicated some abnormalities in his heart function, the inquest in Preston heard, reports Lancs Live.

However, the appointment was then cancelled by the hospital, and there was nothing in Orme's records to suggest it was ever re-booked.

On the morning of December 12 last year Orme was found dead in his cell when prison officers conducted their morning rounds.

An inquest at Preston Coroner's Court heard that Orme, who was born in Manchester, had a history of diabetes and hypertension. A post mortem CT scan concluded the cause of his death was coronary artery disease with aortic valve disease and left ventricular hypertrophy listed as contributory factors.

Following Orme's death a series of recommendations were made to Wymott Prison. These are in the process of being implemented with the prison's head of healthcare revealing new systems had been put in place to ensure the kitchen staff are aware of diabetic prisoners and others on specific diets.

Returning a conclusion of natural causes, Assistant Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg said: "Mel Orme had a known heart condition and suffered from diabetes. He was found dead in his cell at HMP Wymott at around 8am on December 12, 2022. He died as a result of naturally-occurring heart disease."

In 2020 Orme, then aged 55, was jailed for 32 months at Minshull Street Crown Court after pleading guilty to sexual assault.

He was released from jail five months earlier despite being locked up for life for the attempted rape of a girl aged 16.

The court in 2020 heard how, in October 2019, Orme prowled the Trafford Centre looking for new victims. He followed one woman to the car park where he groped her bottom before grinning at her and walking away.

Hours later he followed another woman around the complex and attempted to grab her. A third woman out enjoying the afternoon with her daughter and friends had sat down on a bench when she spotted Orme watching her from behind a plant pot.

As she walked away he grabbed her by the arm and bottom, before pushing himself against her. She quickly moved away but has said the incident has caused her to have heart palpitations and she has not returned to the Trafford Centre since.

Orme, who remained emotionless during the sentencing hearing in 2020, was unrepresented at the hearing. He declined to give an explanation to the court when asked to by the sentencing judge. He had 30 convictions dating back to 1979 when he was convicted of indecent assault on a female under 16.

He also had convictions for attempted rape, rape and indecent assault and his last conviction was in 1998 for two offences of attempted rape, to which he was handed life imprisonment. He was described by the judge as a 'prolific sex offender'.

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A dangerous sexual predator who drugged and raped a teenager in Accrington has been given a further prison sentence.

44 (pictured), 44, was jailed for 11 years in 2020 after being found guilty of raping a woman whilst threatening her with a knife.
 
Having seen media coverage of that case, the Accrington victim contacted our officers to say that Shafiq had drugged and raped her when she was 17.
 
Shafiq initially denied the offence, falsely claiming that he had been in a relationship with his victim and he had ended it when she became possessive of him.
 
He encouraged a family member from prison to repeat that lie to police.
 
Shafiq, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to rape and perverting the course of justice. He was jailed for eight years at Preston Crown Court today (June 29) with a further eight on extended licence after a Judge deemed him to be a dangerous offender.
 
He was previously ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

DS David Tait, who led the investigation, said:

“Shafiq is a sexual predator who presents a very real danger to women by his perverted and warped views towards them.

“I am pleased by the sentence handed down to him by the court, which reflects the seriousness of his offending.

“I want to praise the bravery of the victim. She has had to live with the impact of what the Shafiq did to her for many years and I am pleased we have now been able to achieve some form of justice for her.

“I hope the outcome of this case will encourage other victims to come forward, knowing they will be believed, listened to and that we will do everything in our power to put them before the courts.”

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A man who breached the conditions of a previous sentence by hiding an internet-enabled phone from the police has been given further jail time.

Gary Sheridan, 36, was sentenced to 14 months in prison for breaching the terms of his notification requirements and for breaching the terms of a sexual harm prevention order.

In 2017, Sheridan was sentenced to more than six years in prison for having sex with a 13-year-old girl, when he was 27.

As well, he was sentenced to 42 weeks in prison in 2020 when he pleaded guilty to a sexual harm prevention order by having contact with two boys under the age of 16, as well as four charges of failing to comply with the requirements of the sex offender register.

With regard to these proceedings, Sheridan, of Church Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to breaching the terms of his notification requirements and breaching terms of his sexual harm prevention order.

Prosecuting at Burnley Crown Court, Stephen Parker said in January 2023 officers visited Sheridan at his home and there were no issues as he handed over a phone which could not access the internet.

At the next visit on March 28, he informed them he had lost the phone previously given to the police, who then on May 4, were contacted by a witness to say she had been communicating with Sheridan through Facebook and Snapchat since February.

For a while she was unaware of Sheridan’s surname, as the Facebook profile was in the name of ‘Gary Gary’ and the Snapchat account did not display his full name either.

When she learned his real name, she searched it online and found out about his previous convictions, leading to her contacting the police.

A further search was conducted at Sheridan’s flat and a police dog found a phone hidden away in a communal area of the property.

Mr Parker said Sheridan had panicked when he was informed the police were looking for him and he had admitted “it was a stupid thing to do.”

Mitigating, James Heyworth said: “This is the second time Sheridan has disobeyed the court’s order and he understands there is a public interest in making it clear that breaching court orders are inevitably going to face sentences of immediate custody.

“He had not committed these offences through any inappropriate contact with children. He was trying to engage in a relationship with an adult female and he was worried she might find out (about his past).

“He understands he has nobody to blame but himself.”

Sentencing, Recorder David Temkin said: “You were convicted of serious sexual offending in March 2017. It was against a 13-year-old girl. I note you struck up a relationship in that case with her through Facebook.

“You were made subject of an order which prevents you from possessing any device with access to the internet unless you made the device available on request. You breached those orders in a serious way.

“On March 28 this year you misled the officer and told them you had no phone which was internet enabled.

“On May 5 you were visited by police and you tried to mislead them again by producing a non-internet enabled phone and telling them you did not have another device. Hidden behind an air vent was a phone you had kept from the police.

“It was said you have learnt from your mistakes. You clearly have not. These offences were committed fairly soon after your release from those offences. You have something of a history with disobedience towards court orders.”

Recorder Temkin sentenced Sheridan to 10 months for the breach of notification requirements and four months for the breach of the sexual harm prevention order, to run consecutively, giving a total sentence of 14 months.

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Michael Knight breached a court order by lying about a mobile phone he claimed not to have, a jury at Preston Crown Court heard.

The 51-year-old also used a fake name while communicating online.

Knight had failed to notify police he was using the alias Jack Keller, which was also a breach of his notification requirements.

The breaches came to light after Knight was spotted with the phone which he had failed to notify police about.

When officers went to investigate the breach, Knight said: “I knew this would happen. It’s not a phone, it’s a battery.”

Knight had already disposed of the phone before officers arrived.

Knight, now of no fixed address but formerly from Blackburn, denied one count of breaching his notification requirements and two counts of breaching his sexual harm prevention order.

He was found guilty of all counts following a trial earlier this week.

Knight was given a sentence totalling three years.

DC Tom Dawson, of our East MOSOVO Team, said: “Despite Knight using another name to hide his true identity and disposing of a mobile smartphone he had used, such was the evidence that he was found guilty by jury of all three charges.

“I hope this sends a clear message to any registered sex offender that shows disregard for their notification requirements and a sexual harm prevention order that Lancashire Police will do everything in their power to ensure they are adhered to.”

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A dangerous paedophile who identifies as a woman and has shown the utmost contempt for the legal system, his lawyers and probation, by refusing to leave his cell to attend his sentence hearing, has been jailed again.

Stuart Bulling, who was convicted in 2019 of up-skirting and making indecent images of children, refused to appear in court on Friday for his most recent hearing, in which he was to be sentenced for five counts of making indecent images of children and nine breaches of his sexual harm prevention order, which he pleaded guilty to in March.

Bob Elias, defending at Preston Crown Court, said 54-year-old Bulling, “expressed his contempt for the court, his lawyers, and me”, to which Recorder Michelle Brown said by absenting himself from court she was satisfied it was, “an attempt to disrupt proceedings”.

Paul Brookwell, prosecuting, said police visited Bulling’s home address in May last year and asked to see his devices.

Mr Brookwell said: “He was spoken to by officers and said he didn’t have any other devices other than a mobile phone.

“But police then found three SD cards, which Bulling said held ‘a lot of bad stuff’, and eventually various other devices linked to the internet which had not been registered or presented to the police when asked.

“They were examined, and VPNs and cleaning software were found on them, which had been used to access the dark web, which indicates an effort to hide his activity from others.

“Officers also found 125 category A indecent images of children (category A being the worst), 93 category B images, 42,587 category C images, seven extreme pornographic images and one prohibited image.

“Some of the children in the images were as young as three.

“There were just over 34,000 files that weren’t examined by the police due to the sheer volume that had been uncovered already.”

Mr Brookwell said police also found various videos recorded by Bulling himself, of him walking round Blackburn town centre, filming children, and while not illegal, were disturbing.

Bulling was interviewed and provided no comment, but later pleaded guilty to all the offences.

Defending, Mr Elias said: “He says he hates probation and blames his past offending on social services and probation.

“He identifies as a woman in his normal life and there were images taken by him in Blackburn Market of children.

“He says he collects these images like cigarette cards or football cards and will swap them with people.

“This is a worrying and disturbing case.”

Bulling, formerly of Bacup Road, Rawtenstall, has 11 convictions for 57 offences, all of a similar nature, including some for indecent assault and another for sexual assault on a child under the age of 13.

Michelle Brown, sentencing, said: “You were released from your 2019 sentence in September 2021 and only one month later did police receive information that you were communicating with another sex offender.

“When they arrived at your home in May last year they found three SD cards which you said contained some ‘really bad stuff’, putting you in breach of your order.

“What the police found was vile and disturbing. The fear, pain and distress these children went through is unimaginable.

“People like you create, and add to this evil market for your own pleasure and sexual gratification.

“It’s a worry, in filming children like you did, without their knowledge, that you were setting up your next victims.

“I have considered your mitigation of which there is very little, and not just because you refused to attend today but because there is little that can be said on your behalf.

“It’s clear that you are significantly high risk and I am satisfied that you present a high risk of re-offending.”

Bulling was handed an extended sentence made up of three years eight months in prison and three years on extended license, totalling six years eight months.

He was also made subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and must sign the sex offender’s register for life.

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A man who was convicted of raping a woman on Boxing Day 2020 has been sentenced to five years in prison.

Craig Banks, 43, of Bower Street, Blackburn, had been drinking and taking drugs with a man and a woman at a Christmas party when the offence took place.

Preston Crown Court heard how late on Boxing Day, the man and woman went upstairs to bed together, heavily intoxicated from the drinking and drug-taking, and had consensual sex.

While they were still in bed, Banks made the decision to go upstairs and lay beside the victim in the bed before having intercourse with her.

The victim was in no fit state to decide whether or not to consent to the intercourse, which Banks now accepts, and woke to find him beside her with only fragments of recollection to help her understand what had taken place.

DNA samples taken confirmed that sexual intercourse had taken place, but the victim did not recall this because of the consumption of alcohol and drugs.

A victim personal statement summarised in court reflected on the effect this incident had on her mental health and how it led to family issues.

She said she now has a general lack of trust in people and is uncomfortable around new people, particularly men.

In mitigation, it was said Banks was “deeply, deeply remorseful” that he has been involved in this situation and he was “mortified” by what has happened.

Sentencing, Judge Richard Gioserano said: “I am prepared to accept that you would never have committed this offence if you were not so heavily intoxicated.

“Your capacity to judge whether she was consenting or not was very heavily impaired. But it will come as no consolation to her and does not lessen the harm you caused.

“There has been a shift in your thinking and you have now admitted that you accept she was so heavily under the influence she could not have been consenting of any sexual intercourse. I am prepared to accept that change in your thinking is genuine and your remorse is genuine.”

Judge Gioserano sentenced Banks to five years in prison.

He will be subject to sex offender notification requirements for an indefinite period.

Description

A paedophile was ensnared when he sent a picture of his car's registration plates over Snapchat after recording a girl flashing him on webcam.

Charlie White was caught confessing to wanting "late night fun" with a 12-year-old child during an online sting. Once he was rumbled, the 20-year-old admitted to having a stash of indecent images on his phone - including a video showing him begging a teenager to lift up her top.

Liverpool Crown Court heard on Thursday, that he first contacted a Snapchat profile which, unbeknown to him, was being operated by undercover police on January 10 this year. White - operating on an account with the name "User127" - told the decoy, which was positing as a 12-year-old girl, that he was "looking for a friendly person to chat to".

David Watson, prosecuting, described how he said he was "looking for a friendly person to chat to". The following day, the defendant messaged saying he was "looking for a younger girl" and that "maybe they could have fun".

White, of Domville in Whiston, then sent a picture of his penis alongside the message "I hope we can have fun". When he was told the girl's supposed age, he replied: "I'm fine with it if you want to.

"It's up to you. It could be fun."

Giving a fake name of Josh, White asked for lewd pictures of the youngster and told her she was "cute" before requesting that she take a selfie in the bathroom. On January 13, he stated that he worked in a nightclub in St Helens while she gave her location as being in Exeter.

Contact continued the next day, when the pervert sent a photograph exposing himself with the caption: "Hope you like it. Maybe you can send too, I'd love to see your body."

White confessed to wanting to meet up with the schoolgirl and sent a picture showing his face, saying: "If it's ok with you, it's completely fine with me. You're stunning."

He said he wanted "late night fun" and went on to make a further request for indecent images after asking "how school was going". Despite being told he was making her "feel uncomfortable", White sent another photo of his genitals followed by six videos of him performing a sex act - telling her she should "give it a go".

Officers were able to identify him as the offender after he sent a picture of his car showing the registration plate. An Apple iPhone was seized upon his arrest at his home on March 8 and was found to contact a number of indecent pictures and videos.

Under interview, White stated that he had been trying to "relieve stress". While he denied having a sexual interest in children, he did say "he thought he needed help" and confessed that further materials would be found on the device.

When police examined the phone further, they discovered a recording of a video call captured on January 14. This showed White chatting with an unidentified girl, estimated to be aged between 12 and 14.

During the 24-second clip, he is seen to type in a chat box asking for a "flash" - at which point the youngster lifts up her top. The sex offender then messaged asking for more but the girl refused to show him her body any further.

White replied "worth a try" before she turned off the camera. He has no previous convictions.

Peter White, defending, told the court: "I accept there is little mitigation other than Mr White's prompt guilty plea and cooperation with the police. It does appear he was in difficult circumstances, but he accepts that is no justification for his behaviour.

"He is still a young man himself. He is still quite immature.

"He is an intelligent young man, a fairly polite and educated young person. This issue has shown its ugly head.

"He wants to accept any help so that it doesn't rear its ugly head again. He tells me he wishes to seek employment when his case is over.

"He wants to make something of his life and be a positive member of society. Hitherto, Mr White has been of previous good character."

White - who was supported by his mum, sister and partner in the public gallery - admitted inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, taking indecent images, attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to cause a child to watch sexual activity, attempting sexual communications with a child, two counts of possession of indecent images and three counts of making indecent images. He was jailed for two years.

Sentencing, Recorder Richard Pratt KC said: "The level of coercion demonstrates, in my view, a serious sexual problem. It is to your credit that, not only did you plead guilty, but you indicated there may be further images on your phones.

"I have had regard to your age, your immaturity and the fact that you have no previous convictions at all. Your persistent denials do not bode well."

White was also handed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order. He will be required to sign the sex offenders' register for the same period.

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This paedophile had condoms in his suitcase after arranging to meet a 14-year-old Derbyshire boy at a hotel for sex. Derby Crown Court heard how Connor Nevison groomed the teenager online suggesting they shower and sleep naked together before travelling 136 miles to meet him.

But when the 23-year-old arrived in the car park of the Derbyshire hotel, he realised that underage Kyle was really the creation of a self-styled paedophile hunter group. The defendant has previous child sex offences including one for attempted sexual assault in a school toilet when he, himself, was around the same age as his intended victim.

Jailing Nevison for 16 months, Judge Shaun Smith KC said: “You were aware the boy was 14 and you arranged to meet him and when you went there to meet him you had condoms in your suitcase. This is a grooming offence and your criminality is in the lead-up to the offence and not what you had when you were arrested.”

Sarah Allen, prosecuting, said the offending all took place during the summer of last year. She said a paedophile hunter from Nottingham set up Kyle’s decoy account on social media and very quickly the defendant sent him a message saying “hey, how are you doing?”.

The prosecutor said the decoy messaged back asking if he knew him and Nevison replied that he was 22 years of age and wanted to be friends with him on Facebook.

Miss Allen said: “He asked Kyle how long he had known he was gay and that if he was sexually immature he would teach him what he knew about dating. He offered to meet up and over the next couple of weeks continued to chat to him online.

“He said they could go back to a hotel room and made sexual comments about him saying they could sleep nude together and shower together. The two made arrangements to meet up in Long Eaton, where Kyle said he was from, on August 10, 2022 and on August 5 the defendant booked a hotel room.

“On August 10, the defendant drove from his home in Morecambe to Long Eaton and went to the car park of the hotel and waited for Kyle to turn up. But instead, some members of the hunter group turned up and asked him what he was doing before calling the police who arrived and arrested him.”

Nevison, of Lancaster Road, Morecambe, Lancashire, pleaded guilty to attempting to sexually communicate with a child and attempting to meet a child following grooming. His previous convictions include an attempted sexual assault from 2015 and a conviction for voyeurism from 2018.

As well as the jail terms, Judge Smith handed him a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and placed him on the sex offender register for 10 years. Patrick Williamson, mitigating, said his client was suffering from mental health problems at the time of the offending last summer.

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A "predator" who sexually assaulted a hospital patient previously flashed a group of children before choking one girl until she passed out. Russell Jones was jailed yesterday after he drunkenly "loitered" in the grounds of Whiston Hospital "attempting to befriend female patients" before attacking a "vulnerable" wheelchair user.

The ECHO has revealed the 45-year-old's criminal record includes a horrifying attack in 2015, which began when he exposed himself to several teenagers in Warrington. He then approached one of the youngsters and "placed his lips on her neck", grabbed her breasts and "tickled her stomach and ribs".

When she responded by punching him in the face, Jones shockingly placed both of his hands around her neck, lifted her off the ground and strangled her until she was unconscious.

The assault only stopped when her friends intervened, punching him until he released her from his grip. He was jailed for two years as a result, while he also has another conviction for sexual assault from 2014.

Liverpool Crown Court heard on Thursday afternoon that the latest incident occurred in October last year amid a "breakdown in his relationship". Robert Wyn Jones, prosecuting, described how he "began loitering in the grounds of Whiston Hospital attempting to befriend female patients".

His victim, who was an inpatient at the time and using a wheelchair, was with her boyfriend and a friend by the entrance when Jones - formerly of Ratcliffe Place in Rainhill - approached them clutching a bottle of vodka. She was then taken back to her room, but subsequently "encountered the defendant on a number of occasions" throughout the day.

When her partner left in a taxi, the convicted sex offender "watched and waited" for him to leave before approaching her and attempting to push her back to her ward before a hospital volunteer intervened - at which point he "claimed to know her". She was later having a cigarette with the same friend when Jones began hassling them again and made an "inappropriate remark" to the latter, saying he "wouldn't mind having half an hour with her".

The "sexual predator" interrupted the prosecutor at this point to say "all of this is wrong". But Mr Wyn Jones continued and outlined how he then crouched down by the complainant, began stroking and touching her leg and "moving his hand upwards".

Jones was arrested at around midnight while still on the hospital site. He has a total of 40 previous convictions for 69 offences.

The victim bravely read out a statement to the court in which she outlined the impact of the incident upon her, including suffering a panic attack as she "believed he was following her" and experiencing nightmares. She added: "It happened in hospital, a place where I thought I was safe.

"I'm paranoid about people when they walk past me and what they might do to me as well. I don't want to be anywhere alone. I constantly think about this. What he did to me was terribly wrong.

"I want him to know I'm not scared of him and he can't treat me this way. I no longer have confidence when I go out and don't feel like myself anymore - I no longer trust anyone due to this incident."

Jones meanwhile responded callously by saying "I've got no interest in hearing her". Frank Dillon, defending, told the court that his client's mum has lung cancer and is "on borrowed time".

He added: "The defendant denied it and he continues to do so. He is, of course anxious, to be released as soon as possible and earn an honest living as he was doing for much of the time before his remand."

Jones added of his mum: "The woman brought me up single-handedly. My mother is my world and I'm not with her at this time."

Jones was found guilty of one count of sexual assault by a jury following a trial. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool, he was imprisoned for three-and-a-half years and handed a restraining order banning him from contacting his victim indefinitely.

Sentencing, Judge Garrett Byrne said: "Clearly, this sexual assault had a real adverse impact on her life. I find you to be highly dangerous.

"You present a significant risk to members of the public, particularly women. I have no doubt you see yourself as some kind of rough diamond, but you are in fact a sexual predator who demonstrates a complete inability to understand how your behaviour affects other people."