Latest Offenders Lancashire

Description

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.

Description

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.”

Description

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.

Description

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.

Description

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."

Description

A man has been jailed for four-and-a-half years for sexually assaulting two girls and several breaches of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Blackpool police became aware in October 2022 that Thomas Thompson, 55, was working in a resort on a casual basis as a security officer and steward.

As a registered sex offender, Thompson was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and had to notify officers about his employment.

A delve into Thompson's life found that he had lied to the police on numerous occasions, having stated he was not working and had not revealed he was involved in an intimate relationship when in fact he was.

During the investigation, officers spoke to teenage girls who Thompson had invited to his home having initially come across as a good samaritan to help them.

He left Blackpool and went on the run to West Yorkshire as police investigated, however he was arrested in October 2022 and remanded in custody.

Thompson, of Ashton Road, Blackpool, pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court to two counts of sexual assault against girls under the age of 18 and five breaches of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Det Con Jason Wainwright of Blackpool Police said: “Thompson had only been in the community since 2019. Over a period of time he lied to the police and breached the order which was in place.

“I would like to commend the bravery of the young girls in this investigation. It is important that vulnerable victims are aware of the support which the police and court system provide.

“This includes regular contact from the officer in the case throughout the investigation to when sentence is passed.”

Description

Stephen Powell, 42, from Eskdale, Skelmersdale, who changed his plea from not guilty to guilty, has been sentenced to a total of 40 months’ imprisonment for offences relating to assault and engaging in sexual communication with a child. He had intentionally attempted to communicate with a person under 16 for his own sexual gratification and was sentenced at Preston Crown Court last Wednesday (April 19).

On Saturday, September 10, Mr Powell intentionally attempted to communicate with Izzy, a person under 16. The court was told that Mr Powell "did not reasonably believe her to be 16 or over" and that communication was of a sexual nature.

He has also been placed on the Sex Offender Registration for an indefinite period, given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for an indefinite period, had a Restraining Order placed on him for five years. Two Samsung Phones and one iPhone have also been removed from his being.

The defendant was ordered to pay a Statutory Surcharge of £190.

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A 65-year-old man has been jailed for historic sexual abuse on a girl under the age of 14.

Neil Kinney, of Fielding Street, Rishton, appeared at Preston Crown Court last week charged with four counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14.

The court heard how the offences were all carried out on the same victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, between January 1978 and January 1979, in Clitheroe.

Kinney, who would have been 20 or 21 at the time, was jailed for 22 months.

He was also made subject of a 10 year sexual harm prevention order, told he must sign the sex offender’s register for the next 10 years and was also made subject to an indefinite restraining order in relation to his victim.

Description

A PERVERT investigated by Cumbria Police was found with sickening child abuse videos of infants as young as four, a court heard.

Sam Partington was hauled before a court after he hacked into a woman's social media accounts of stole private photos of her.

When police searched the 30-year-old's devices they found hundreds of indecent images and videos of children being sexually abused.

Preston Crown Court was told Partington hacked into a woman's Facebook and Snapchat accounts and stole photos and then changed login details to prevent the victim from accessing her own accounts.

The court heard he stored hundreds of indecent images on three devices, including an iPhone.

He hid files inside what appeared to be a calculator app.

Passing sentence, Recorder Daniel Prowse said: "Each one of the children shown in those images and videos is a real child being sexually abused.

"Some involved the most serious and damaging types of sexual abuse.

"Some of the children depicted were particularly vulnerable due to their age.

"The harm, both physical and psychological, that is caused to children who are the subject of this sort of abuse can be lifelong in nature."

The judge accepted evidence that the Covid lockdown and Partington losing his job contributed to the offending because the defendant was spending long periods alone in his bedroom.

He said Partington had a 'good job' and was seeking support for his mental health.

The court heard the defendant had denied having a sexual interest in children but Recorder Prowse said 'the evidence in this case demonstrates comprehensively to the contrary'.

"I do remind myself, however, that it is not uncommon for people with such a sexual interest to come to terms with the enormity of that realisation," the judge added.

Partington, Cecil Street in Lytham, was jailed for 29 months for a number of offences, including hacking offences under the Computer Misuse Act, s170 Data Protection Act and making indecent images of children.

Cumbria Police said the investigation forms part of Operation Alliance, the force's ongoing response to serious and organised crime.

Detective Constable Jon Hill from Cumbria Constabulary's Cyber and Digital Crime Unit said Partington 'used technology as a weapon to exert control'.

Description

A convicted paedophile used a fake identity to trick his way into the home of a vulnerable woman and her young children.

David Carsley created the fake identity, including a made up date of birth, in a bid to hide his sick past which includes two convictions for child sex offences. After first committing indecent assault and gross indecency in the 1980s, he was jailed for three years in 1995 for two counts each of the same offences against children aged under 14.

As part of that conviction, he made subject of lifelong notification requirements which meant he could not spend more than 12 hours at the home of an under 18 without informing the police. However, on several occasions Carsley stayed at the home of a woman who had no idea of his past and her children.

Carsley had given the name David Kay when meeting the woman, who was described in court as "vulnerable". Preston Crown Court was told this was a deliberate act to hide his past.

Police became involved when the received information he had been staying at an address in Chorley which was different to his home on Bolton Street. Officers initially struggled to speak with the woman who eventually explained she knew him as David Kay. A phone call was made to him and although he would no co-operate, police traced his location from that call and arrested him.

One of the children confirmed that he had been staying over at the address. The court heard that Carsley would also help with bedtime and getting them ready for school.

Defending, Ellen Shaw asked for credit for a guilty plea and said that Carsley, 55, had concealed his identity because he felt "ostracised" because of his past and that explaining it was a "difficult conversation to have". She also argued that a suspended sentence with rehabilitation work could have a more positive effect.

Sentencing, Judge Simon Medland KC said he could not agree with that argument and jailed Carsley for 18 months. He said: "For a period of around one month, you were living in one form or another with a vulnerable woman who was not in a position to protect her children from your sexual interest in children, which you undoubtedly have. This was quite deliberate as you went in with a false name and false date of birth and you didn't tell the mother what you should have done."

Description

A paedophile, who raped one woman and also engaged in sexual activity with a child, has been jailed following an investigation by Lancashire Police.

Preston Crown Court was told that in May, 2020, Billy Whitehouse took a 14-year-old girl into an abandoned shed in Burnley where they kissed. He then had sex with her, knowing she was underage.

Whitehouse, who is now 18 but was 16 years old at the time of the offence, was charged with rape. But part way through the trial he pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual activity with a child. That plea was deemed acceptable by the prosecution.

In December, 2021, Whitehouse threatened to stab the second victim, before punching her in the face and rendering her unconscious. Once the victim regained consciousness, he took her into a house and raped her. On other occasions Whitehouse fractured the victim’s hand, sexually assaulted her, urinated on her and threatened to release private sexual images of her which he had taken without her knowledge.

Following the trial Whitehouse, of Green Street, Padiham, was found guilty of rape, assault by penetration, assault occasioning actually bodily harm, and threatening to disclose private sexual images.

He appeared back at the crown court today (March 14) where he was sentenced to eight years custody. He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

In an impact statement to the court, the second victim said: “I struggle getting to sleep, and when I do sleep, I have severe nightmares. This impacts me at work because when I get there I am already so tired. I have been prescribed anti-depressants because of what Billy put me through. The effects on me are long lasting and extend far beyond the incidents themselves. I’m still dealing with the aftermath every single day.”

She added: “I hope I can start to move forward now without interruption from Billy, slowly rebuild my life and replace aspects of it which he stole from me.

“I had many aspirations for my life and still do, but this is something which people can’t see. It's pain which I will have to carry with me for the rest of my life.

“It has changed how I view myself and how I view others, and I have come out the other side a different person and a different version of myself. “The impact this has had on me does not have an end date and is something I will live with forever, so you could say it is me who has been handed the life sentence.”

DC Matthew Bourne, from East CID, said: “Whitehouse is an individual who presents a clear danger towards women and girls by his appalling attitude towards them, and a warped sense of entitlement. For such a young man he has committed some extremely serious and appalling crimes, which will have a long-lasting impact on both victims.

“I welcome the sentence handed down to him and the orders handed down by the judge mean Whitehouse will continue to be monitored by the authorities once he is released from prison.

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

Description

A RAPIST who attacked a teenage schoolgirl has been jailed.

James Eastwood, who was 16 at the time, raped the teenager after meeting her in an alleyway near a supermarket in Bamber Bridge in June 2019.

While on bail he then went on to sexually assault two other teenage girls in May last year.

Eastwood, now 20, formerly of Brindle Road, Bamber Bridge, was jailed for eight years with an extended licence of eight years. He was also given a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order, a lifetime restraining order and will be on the sex offenders’ register for life. He was classed as a dangerous offender.

He was also sentenced for possession of indecent images of children found on his phone.

The judge, who praised the quality of the police investigation, had to sentence Eastwood as if he were a juvenile given the delay in the case reaching court because of the Covid pandemic.

Det Con Laura Thornley, of the south rape team, said: “Eastwood is a dangerous sexual predator and I welcome the sentence. I would like to praise the victims in this case for having the courage to go through the court process and to see their attacker imprisoned.

“I hope that this sentence gives others the confidence to come forward and report rape and sexual abuse offences to us confident in the knowledge that we will investigate with sensitivity, tenacity and professionalism and that we will do all we can to get justice for victims and put offenders behind bars.”

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A judge commended a victim for her bravery and conduct as he sent her rapist to prison for five years.

Judge Simon Medland said “no sentence he imposed could make up for what happened” to the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, when she was raped by Asad Mirza while she slept on his sofa.

Mirza, 36, of Limbrick, Blackburn, was found guilty of rape at a trial in January and was sentenced at Preston Crown Court on Wednesday (March 8).

The sentencing hearing heard only brief details of the incident, which took place in November 2019, but Judge Medland said Mirza had a “flawed attitude towards appropriate sexual relationships” and thought he was “entitled to have sex” with his victim.

It was heard the defendant and his victim had spent some time together before the offence took place and were happy in each other’s company.

However, on the night in question she had been asleep when Mirza decided to have sex with her without her consent.

Judge Medland said: “You were not entitled to do what you did as if it was your right.

“She gave comprehensive and clear evidence to the jury and the impact on her has been substantial.

“You were reckless as to whether she consented or not. She was asleep and the abuse of trust is palpable in this case.”

Mirza was jailed for five years, handed a restraining order until further order in respect of his victim, and will need to sign the sex offender’s register for life.

Addressing the victim, who had bravely attended court for the sentence hearing, Judge Medland added: “No sentence I impose can make up for what happened to you. I commend you on your conduct.

“I can only hope that this will at last have brought some closure to you and you are able to put this away in the back of your mind and get on with the rest of your life.”