Latest Offenders Lancashire

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A convicted sex offender has been jailed again after dressing up as a schoolgirl and asking female pupils: "Do you like my tie?"

Mark Nicholson, 55, sat outside Blessed Trinity school in Burnley, Lancashire, dressed in a white tie, blazer and skirt.

A court heard that he tried to engage in conversation with three girls, aged between 10 and 15, by asking if they liked his tie last November.

Preston Crown Court was also told that in May this year, he met two runaways teenage boys who had been reported missing from their care home.

He took them back to his house where they smoked cigarettes and he gave them a cup of cider.

Kathryn Johnson, prosecuting, told the court: “The police received a call from the safeguarding lead at Blessed Trinity to say that three female children from the school, aged between 10 and 15, had seen a male sat outside on Queen Victoria Road dressed in a school uniform that matched theirs.

“He was wearing a white shirt, a tie, blazer, and a skirt, and had tried to engage in conversation with the girls, saying ‘Do you like my tie?’.

“He was arrested the following day at his home address and the school uniform was recovered by officers from his bedroom.

“The defendant was interviewed the same day and told police he didn’t speak to the girls but accepted that he had been wearing the uniform, saying that he wears it for comfort.

"On May 15, the police were contacted by an engage worker who reported that two children were missing from a residential care home in Blackburn.

“When the children returned, they said they had boarded a hospital shuttle bus and had gone from Blackburn to Burnley. They had met the defendant and asked if they could go back to his home, and he took them.

“While there they smoked cigarettes, and the defendant gave them a cup of cider. They stayed around an hour and then left and returned to Blackburn.”

Defending Nicholson, Anna Chestnutt said his behaviour "had no place" and he would "not be repeating it".

In respect of the offences in May, Ms Chestnutt said her client encountered the boys on a bus and it was them who spoke to him first.

She said: “Nothing sexual took place in the hour they spent at his home address.”

Nicholson has 22 convictions for 60 offences and was previously jailed for 18 months for child sex offences in 2019.

He was jailed for 16 months for two breaches of his sexual harm prevention order.

Judge Stephen Unsworth KC said: “This is a worrying picture that’s presented to the court and is extremely worrying for the parents and carers of these children.

“If there’s any repeat of this behaviour you can expect lengthier periods in prison – you must stay away from young people and must stop this behaviour.”

The judge banned Nicholson from wearing items of clothing relating to a girl’s school uniform and ordered him to sign the sex offenders register indefinitely.

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Benjamin Cain said he did not know the youngster had a crush on him - but struck up a relationship as she left the care home he worked at.
 
A care worker at a Fylde children's home struck up a relationship with a teenager before going on to rape her at her supported accommodation.

Benjamin Cain, 42, was working at a care home when he met the youngster. During a trial at Preston Crown Court, the girl said she became besotted with Cain and fell in love with him while she was in Local Authority care at the home.

Cain, who was more than twice the girl's age, claimed to have been oblivious to her 'schoolgirl crush.' But when it was time to move to her own flat, she said Cain hugged her and kissed her full on the lips, describing it as 'a snog'. "She was absolutely delighted", Judge Philip Parry, sentencing, said.

The following morning Cain promised to visit the youngster at her new home when he returned from his holiday two weeks later From that point Cain and the teen had a sexual relationship which lasted for around 14 months.

"You maintained the power dynamic between you", Judge Parry said. The girl described how Cain had a temper and would arrogantly tell her, "you're my girlfriend - I can have sex with you whenever I want."

On one occasion, she said something changed while they were having sex and she told Cain to stop. He carried on and became violent, pushing her against a wall and pushing her face into a pillow as she 'screamed the flat down'. As soon as the ordeal was over the young woman accused her boyfriend of rape, but she told the court he laughed in her face.

The girl ended the relationship but told the jury that in the month that followed she would see Cain hanging around close to her work. A year after the relationship ended he contacted her by text, saying he wanted to smooth things over.

Judge Parry said: "Her responses were absolutely spot on. She said you were only contacting her to ease your guilty conscience. You knew that a little less than a year earlier you had committed the offence of rape and you wanted her to not say anything. That backfired spectacularly."

The woman told her partner and later the manager of the children's home where she and Cain had met. Cain was arrested and denied any wrongdoing, but was dismissed from his position as a care worker.

However following a week long trial he was convicted of rape and sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust. Handing down a sentence of five years and nine months in prison, Judge Parry told him: "You were trained in relation to how you should behave around vulnerable children including how to avoid situations where a vulnerable child could be exploited.

"You knew the rules and the reasons why you should not behave inappropriately with children in your care. You were trained in the way you should act." The judge accepted Cain has no previous convictions but said it was this previous good character which unlocked the defendant's access to vulnerable girls.

Description

A pervert who had a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl, knowing she was underage, and sent a naked image of her to a friend has been jailed.

Joshua Denson, who also uses the name Jay Carter, groomed his East Lancashire victim by buying her designer gifts and getting her addicted to cocaine. He then used his control over the victim to get her to sell cocaine and launder counterfeit money on his behalf.

We launched an investigation into the sordid activities of 28-year-old Denson in March 2020 after the victim’s mother raised concerns that her daughter was in a relationship with an older man.

The victim had returned home with a small amount of cocaine in her bag and when her mother examined her phone she found photographs of her daughter in bed with an older man. A text message exchange revealed the victim had been in a relationship with the man since she was 15.

An examination of Facebook Messenger exchanges revealed the victim had sold cocaine on Denson’s behalf and that she had made small purchases in local shops using counterfeit notes in order to get change in real money.

When the victim was spoken to by police for a second time she said the relationship had started when she was 15, her believing that Denson was 28, and that the relationship had become sexual before she had turned 16.

She also said that Denson would tell his friends she was 17 and his mum that she was 18.

Denson was arrested and from his iPhone, we recovered 105 indecent images of a child – the victim – with some being videos and others being photographs.

We also found evidence that Denson had sent one of the images to a contact in his phone.

There was also evidence that Denson tried to organise a threesome involving the victim and a second 15-year-old girl. In a message he wrote: “Yeah, I feel bad enough I’m having sex with one girl underage but (it doesn’t matter) I guess,”

While under investigation for this case, Denson fled the country to Malta the day after being arrested for assaulting another woman.

We brought Denson back to the UK under a Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TaCA) Warrant and put him before the courts.

Denson, formerly of Lancaster Gate, Nelson, but now of no fixed address pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child x 3, making indecent images of children x 3 and distributing an indecent image.

Earlier this week he was sentenced at Burnley Crown Court to five years and three months imprisonment, given a life-time Sexual Harm Prevention Order and order to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

In her impact statement to court, the victim said: “What I have been through has impacted on my relationships. I am currently in a relationship, it has been a lot for my partner to take on. I feel when I have bad days from everything I have been through, I then put this on to my boyfriend. I now feel like I have to be more wary in my relationship, I don't always feel that I can truly be myself and have a laugh and a joke with my boyfriend. I believe the reason I feel like this way is because when Jay was in my life I felt like I had to put on a front, Jay would always tell me to tell people I was older than I was, act older than I was. I started to do things at 15 years old like going out drinking in clubs, I feel like I grew up before I needed to and this was down to Jay's influence.

“Every couple of days I experience flash backs of negative experiences I had with Jay. One of the frequent flash backs I have is when one of Jay's friends got stabbed I was helping his friend, there was a lot of blood and it was traumatic, Jay sat there eating a sandwich doing nothing.”

She added: “Jay introduced me to cocaine from the age of 15 years old. This had a massive impact on me, I've gone through rehabilitation from taking drugs, at one point I heavily relied on taking cocaine, at its worst I was taking it a couple of times a day. I feel like I have to remove myself from any situations where drugs are mentioned and I feel like the temptation will always be there now I have experimented with drugs from a young age. I have never been the type of person to take drugs, before meeting Jay I had never taken cocaine and wouldn't even consider taking it. It was down to Jay's influence that I started to take cocaine. Jay got me involved in things that I would never consider doing, I was doing things completely out of character for me. I have never been in trouble with the police or done anything criminal until meeting Jay and I feel like he dragged me down to his level.

“If I could sum up how this crime has affected me, it’s made me feel very depressed. This has impacted my confidence and I constantly feel drained. When I look back now I feel like I've been groomed. Jay was buying me expensive gifts, introducing me to drugs, this now makes me question why was he ever interested in a 15-year-old girl? I feel like my teenage years have been robbed from me because of Jay.”

PC Beth Turner, of East CID, said: “Denson is a wicked and manipulative individual who preyed upon and groomed the victim for his own perverted and sordid sexual interests.

“Reading her harrowing victim impact statement, you can see the impact Denson’s abhorrent behaviour had and continued to have on her. I would like to praise the victim and her family for the bravery they have shown, standing up against this controlling and nasty individual.

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

Description

Steven Collins (26/06/1999), of Pink Street in Burnley, targeted four females, all under the age of 16, on public transport and at a supermarket in Ashton-under-Lyne.

He inappropriately touched, threatened and stalked the females, causing untold distress. Two of them managed to take photographs of Collins on their mobile phones, which led the police direct to him.

Appearing at Manchester Crown Court on Wednesday 19 October 2022, Collins was sentenced for three sexual assaults – offences he had pleaded guilty to at an earlier hearing.

He received seven years, six months imprisonment as well as a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for 10 years and he is on the Sex Offender’s Register for life.

Detective Constable Victoria Eronini, of the Child Protection Investigation Unit based in Ashton, said: “This is a good sentencing result for all involved. What this man put these young females through is absolutely horrendous.

“I would like to commend the bravery and strength of the victims coming forward to report the sexual assaults. We know this can’t have been easy and we are grateful for all of their assistance throughout the investigation.

“Without their help, a very dangerous man would still be preying on young females on the streets of Greater Manchester.”

Description

 A SUSPENDED jail sentence has been handed to a train passenger who exposed himself to two 17-year-old students.

Carlisle’s Rickergate court heard a disturbing account of the journey during which 33-year-old Liam Cairns behaved appallingly while drunk as he travelled on the Carlisle-bound Northern Rail train from Newcastle.

It happened on February 18.

Cairns pleaded guilty to exposure, being drunk and disorderly, and four counts of assault, including two against police officers.

The court heard that two students – a male and a female – first became aware of Cairns shortly after the train left Newcastle because he was sitting in the seat immediately behind them.

The defendant was being verbally abusive towards a group of men who were sitting opposite him, shouting and swearing at them. They eventually moved away to another seat.

A short time later, Cairns moved to the seat opposite the two students, who heard him say that he would kill 'him', though it was unclear whom this was reference to. Cairns then touched the male student’s stomach.

The female student immediately protested about this and Cairns responded by 'lightly' slapping her face with the back of his hand. Shouting and slurring his speech, Cairns then exposed himself.

He was arrested when the train arrived at Carlisle’s Citadel Railway Station, and this was when he assaulted two police officers. Cairns told police he had no recollection of the events due to being drunk.

But he did apologise for his behaviour.

He blamed his drinking that day on the anniversary of a child’s death. The court heard that Cairns, of Bairstow Street, Blackpool, had 40 offences on his criminal record, including a previous exposure.

Magistrates imposed a 12-week jail term, suspended for a year.

They said the sentence was justified because the offending was drink-fuelled, there was a similar past offence on Cairns’ record, and his teenage victims had been “physically trapped” when the defendant exposed himself.

The sentence includes up to 25 days of rehabilitation and 150 hours of unpaid work. Magistrates also ruled that Cairns will be on the Sex Offender Register for the next seven years.

He must pay £200 compensation to the female student and to one of the two police officers he assaulted. 

Description

A “depraved” sexual predator from Chorley who abused two young children under the age of ten has been jailed.

Damon Townsend, 35, raped his first victim when she was under the age of 10.

That victim said she is now scared to be around boys and men.

Townsend sexually assaulted his second victim when she was also under the age of 10 and told her to keep what he had done a secret.

While those offences were being investigated information came to light that Townsend might have pornographic images on his phone.

Townsend’s phone was seized and an examination discovered the device contained a number of indecent images of children and other prohibited images.

He was subsequently charged with a number of sexual offences and remanded into custody.

Townsend, now of no fixed address but formerly of Cornflower Close, Chorley, pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images of children, however denied any offences relating to the victims of his sexual abuse.

Following a trial at Preston Crown Court, Townsend was found guilty of raping a child under 13 and indecently assaulting a child under 13.

He was deemed to be a dangerous offender and given an immediate custodial sentence of 16 years with a further four years extended licence.

Townsend will have to go before the Parole Board who will assess whether he remains a risk to the public. It will only be after that assessment that Townsend could be released.

He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and was made subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

DC Louise Dutton, of South CID, said: “Townsend is a manipulative individual with an abhorrent and warped sexual interest in children.

“Not only did he target his victims because of their vulnerability, he also forced them to relive their harrowing ordeals by taking the case to trial.

She added: “I am glad this dangerous sexual predator has now been given a substantial custodial sentence. The associated court orders will also mean Townsend will be monitored by the authorities once he is eventually released from the custodial element of his sentence.

“I want to place on record my admiration at the bravery displayed by both victims during the criminal justice process and beyond.

“I know these offences have understandably had a significant and ongoing impact on them and I hope they can take some comfort in knowing that their abuser will be behind bars for some time.

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

Description

A dangerous sex offender who had indecent images of children on multiple electronic devices has been jailed for five years.

In December officers from the East MOSOVO (Management of Sexual or Violent Offenders) Team carried out a compliance visit at the home of Martin Blake after concerns were raised that he was not complying with the requirements of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Blake, 58, who had previously been convicted for child prostitution and numerous fraud offences, was already required to adhere to the notification requirements and a court order restricting his access and usage of the internet.

During the visit carious electronic devices were seized, including an iPhone, USB sticks and a PC.

After an extensive investigation, a mixture of Category A, B ad C indecent images were found on the PC, iPhone and five USB sticks. It was also found that Blake had committed a significant number of other breaches, including using numerous unregistered names and bank accounts, as well as failing to provide further devices identified in the investigation.

Blake, of Redwood Drive, Longridge, pleaded guilty to possession of indecent images of children, as well as breaching his Sex Offender Notification Requirements and his SHPO.

At Preston Crown Court earlier this week he was given the custodial sentence, a revised 10-year SHPO and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Description

A vile pervert has been caged after his victim bravely set up a camera to catch him in the act of abusing her.

Michael Halliday, of Chorley, started his sickening campaign of abuse before his victim had reached the age of 12. The 67-year-old groped and kissed her on numerous occasions, Preston Crown Court heard.

Despite living in fear of Halliday, the victim bravely set up a secret camera to catch him in the act of abusing her. She then informed school, who reported the matter to police.

An investigation was then launched an investigation into Halliday. He was subsequently convicted of two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 and two counts of sexual activity with a child under 16.

He has now been jailed for 30 months.

At Preston Crown Court earlier this month, Halliday, of Springwood Drive, Chorley, was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life. He was also made subject of indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order conditions for when he is released from custody.

DS Samantha Bartley, of the South Exploitation Team, said: First and foremost I want to praise the victim for the incredible bravery she has shown throughout this process. I know Hallidays offending has had a profound impact on her and I hope the fact he has been convicted for what he did to her will be of some comfort.

Halliday is an opportunistic sexual predator who targeted his victim for his perverted sexual interests.

I hope this case clearly demonstrates that the Preston Child Exploitation Team takes all reports of sexual assaults, grooming and similar offences against children extremely seriously and will act upon any information we receive.

Description

Derek Clayton of Unsworth Way, Oldham, was handed a two-year suspended sentence at Minshull Street Crown Court on Monday, September 12, for 12 offences that breached a restraining order imposed on him in 2002.

The court heard that over a period of two weeks from May 14 to May 29, the 76-year-old had three boys under the age of 18 in his flat, including one that was just 12, and permitted them to smoke cannabis and cigarettes.

The police were alerted, and Clayton was arrested by GMPs Oldham Complex Safeguarding Team and charged with 12 breaches of his restraining order on July 15.

Addressing Clayton at the sentencing, Judge Mark Savill said: You are 76 years of age and to be sentenced by me for 12 offences that breached a restraining order imposed on you in 2002.

Over a lengthy period of time from the 70s, 80s, 90s and culminating in 2002, you were convicted of a number of sexual offences against young males.

"In 2002 you were made the subject of a restraining order indefinitely to which you have fell foul of and are to be sentenced for today.

In mitigation, defence barrister Robert Stewart called for Judge Savill to consider Claytons age, mobility, and ill health when imposing a sentence.

Judge Savill acknowledged the points in mitigation and noted that Clayton had not committed any sexual offences for at least 20 years.

Clayton was handed a suspended sentence of two years, an indefinite restraining order and ordered him to complete a 30-day rehabilitation requirement and 31 days of the Horizon programme.

Description

A Greater Manchester Police officer has avoided jail, despite downloading thousands of sick child abuse images over a 10-year period. The disturbing photographs and videos were uncovered by Thomas Woods’ pregnant wife after she looked through his phone, suspecting that he was having an affair.

His wife - who was not named in court but is also a serving police officer - asked a friend for advice after discovering the images, prosecution barrister Mark Pritchard told Minshull Street Crown Court. She later told the same woman, referred to in court as Ms Spencer, that the images were being used as part of an investigation, to 'lure' predators in, following a conversation with Woods.

Ms Spencer suspected that she was being lied to and reported Woods, 34, to the police. GMP's Sexual Offences Unit denied that any such investigation was taking place and Woods was subsequently arrested.

At the time of the offence, Woods was an active police constable in GMP's Salford district. He has been suspended from the force since his arrest and misconduct proceedings will commence "in due course", GMP confirmed.

The court heard that across Woods’ two phones and his laptop, there were 2,567 indecent images - 678 of which were in the most serious category. The images featured children aged between three and 16-years-old and had been downloaded between 2010 and 2021 - with some pre-dating Woods joining GMP.

Mr Pritchard said that one of the most serious videos showed a four-year-old girl being raped and told the court that "discernible pain and suffering by children" was an aggravating feature in the case. There was also a 'prohibited' CGI image of children and an 'extreme pornographic' video, featuring a woman and a dog, found on his devices.

Woods, of Brookdale, New Longton, Preston, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images, possessing a prohibited image of a child, and possessing extreme pornography. The judge, Recorder Anthony O'Donohoe told defence barrister Richard Brigden that he had decided to follow the recommendations in the pre-sentence report As a result, Mr Brigden offered no additional mitigation in Woods' defence.

Woods, who sobbed in the dock throughout the hearing, was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment, suspended for two years. Recorder O'Donohoe said: "For part of the time, you were a serving police officer. You should have known better and the public have the right to expect higher standards of behaviour from police officers."

Under the terms of his suspended sentence, Woods will have to complete 180 hours of unpaid work and attend 30 rehabiliation activity requirement days. He is subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years and will have to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years. Recorder O'Donohoe added: "You will inevitably lose your employment as a police officer and, in fact, you will leave the police service in disgrace."

Following the hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Dave Jones, of GMP’s Professional Standards Branch said: "Possessing indecent images is disgusting behaviour from a police officer, who members of the public trust to fight crime and keep people safe. Greater Manchester Police's officers and staff are expected to demonstrate the highest standards of behaviour and those who fall below these standards are investigated and, when relevant, prosecuted. Following the conclusion of criminal proceedings, misconduct proceedings will commence in due course.”

Description

A serial rapist who groomed a schoolgirl before going onto sexually abuse her in Burnley has been given a further 12 years in custody.

Shaun Collins, formerly known as Shaun Greenwood, is already serving a life sentence after being convicted of three separate rape offences against three different victims in 2006.

After reading about Collins conviction, a fourth victim wrote a letter to a now retired Lancashire Police Detective Sergeant in 2006 outlining how her life had been affected by the defendants sexual offending, but at that time she was not ready to make a formal complaint.

In 2020 the victim, now in her 50s, was recontacted by the police where it was established that Collins, who used to perform as a busker in Burnley, had raped her on more than one occasion when she was under the age of 16.

Such was the impact on the victim, she had to seek counselling years after the attack due to ongoing nightmares.

Collins, 58, of no fixed address, was charged with rape but denied any wrongdoing.

He was found guilty of rape following a trial at Burnley Crown Court, and appeared at the court today (August 17) to be sentenced for 11 counts of rape and one count of indecent assault.

Collins was told that he would have to serve two thirds of the 12-year sentence before he is eligible to go before the Parole Board, where he will have to demonstrate that he no longer poses a risk to the public or will remain in jail.

DC Kyle Hazelaar, of the East MOSOVO (Management of Sexual or Violent Offender) Team, said: Collins is a dangerous individual who carried out a sickening campaign of sexual violence against women over many years. I am pleased he has had his time in custody increased.

Not only did he carry out these appalling crimes for his own perverted sexual motives, he also made the victim re-live her ordeal by having to give evidence. She has shown incredible bravery in the case and I want to place on record my admiration for the incredible bravery she has shown throughout this process.

Collins carried out his abuse over several decades and I am convinced there could be more victims who have not yet come forward. I would encourage anyone who has been the victim of a sexual offence to make contact with the police knowing they will be listened to and believed. No matter how historic the case may be, we will investigate it and do everything in our power to put the perpetrator before the courts.

In a statement, the victim said: First, I would like to commend Detective Constables Treena Peel and Kyle Hazelaar of Lancashire Police. They have supported me throughout this process from the early stages of the investigation right through to the conclusion of the trial. They have been a huge source of support and I could not have wished for more. Secondly, I would like to implore any victim of sexual violence or abuse, whether recent or historic, to come forward to report the crimes against you to seek justice. I never imagined I would have my case heard and believed after more than three decades.

Collins has previously been ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Description

A "wicked and cruel" man who tied up and raped a woman after attacking her with an axe has been jailed.

Mark Yeates, 51, hit the woman on the head with the weapon at a property in Accrington, Lancashire, on 28 February.

Yeates, of Nuttall Street, Accrington, posed "a real risk of further offending towards women", Lancashire Police said.

He was sentenced to 12 years in prison at Preston Crown Court after pleading guilty to three counts of rape and one of assault.

A police spokesman said officers were alerted to a serious sexual assault at a property at about 10:25 GMT on 28 February.

'Dangerousness'

He said Yeates was quickly identified as the prime suspect and arrested later the same day, but answered no comment to all questions put to him during interview.

Yeates was given a further eight years on extended licence and ordered to sign the sex offender's register for life.

Speaking after sentencing, Det Con Jo Billington said he was "a wicked and cruel individual, who, as recognised by the judge, poses a real risk of further offending towards women".

She said she was pleased with the sentence he received, which reflected "his dangerousness".

She added that the woman who he attacked deserved praise for her "bravery" during the case.

"I hope the courage she has shown... will encourage other victims of sexual offences to come forward," she said.

Description

A woman raped by a "brutish and violent" thug while pregnant went on to suffer a miscarriage soon after.

The woman was repeatedly raped by Faran Abbas during a nine month long campaign of abuse which left her feeling scared, broken and unable to recognise herself in the mirror. Preston Crown Court today heard that Abbas attempted to use his religious background to justify his behaviour but that was rubbished by a judge who told him: "There is no excuse, nor could there ever be."

The victim had only known Abbas, 28, for a few months but after an initial good impression, he soon began to "treat her life as his own, her body as his own". In a powerful victim impact statement read to the court, the woman revealed the extent of the impact caused by Abbas' evil action. He, meanwhile, has since remarried a "new, young wife".

In a trial at Preston Crown Court, Abbas, of Church Street, Accrington, was found guilty of five counts of rape and two counts of controlling and coercive behaviour. Each of those rape charges accounted for more than one incident and the jury took just one hour to make a decision.

That trial heard that the woman kept a heartbreaking diary in which she wrote: "He took and took from me until I no longer existed." She said Abbas repeatedly raped her during the eight month ordeal and that members of his family turned a blind eye, while her own family saw her go from a "bright, bubbly, confident young lady to a woman they hardly recognised".

Abbas returned to the court to be sentenced today as David Traynor, prosecuting, summarised the victim's impact statement. He said she had been left suffering from nightmares and insomnias, had lost friends and her career and was constantly scared of being attacked and kidnapped.

It continued: "I feel I'm a stranger in my on reflection. I don't recognise myself in the mirror. I do want to believe the broken person staring back is me. I have lost everything [...] because of what he did to me."

Defending, David Ellis accepted the was no credit available after what he described as an exceedingly fair trial. Arguing against a life sentence, he offered the small mitigation that this wasn't a "campaign" in the legal sense that it wasn't multiple victims. Mr Ellis described Abbas as "a creation of his upbringing and his own heritage" and that he had five character references from people who supported him, including one from his "new, young wife".

Sentencing, Judge Simon Medland QC said: "You behaved in a brutish and violent way. You treated her as someone whose opinions were not worth listening to, who could be treated with the utmost contempt and indeed on many occasions with cruelty.

"You sought, in my view, to subvert the peaceful and respectable religion of Islam to use that as an excuse for your conduct. Islam is no excuse for your conduct. There is no excuse, nor could there ever be. The impact on your victim is very significant indeed."

"Over a period of nine months, I am quite sure you behaved in a violent and brutal way to a woman who did not deserve any such treatment. Treating her life as your own and her body as your own."

Ruling out a whole life term, Judge Medland handed Abbas an 18 year sentence. He also ruled that Abbas should be classified as a dangerous offender. That means that he will only be released if a parole board approves it and that he can only apply for parole two thirds of the way through the sentence.

He will also spend an additional two years on licence after the full term and will be subject to notification requirements for the rest of his life.

Description

A paedophile who was jailed after drugging a teenage boy and raping him has died in prison after applying for early release on compassionate grounds.

Terrence Eastwood was jailed for 19 years in 2017 following a trial at Preston Crown Court, where a jury heard how he gave the boy cocaine and tramadol before raping him on a caravan holiday.

The abuse continued over a number of years, with Eastwood keeping his victim quiet by buying him clothes and gifts. His victim later bravely spoke to a counsellor, who reported Eastwood to the police, reports LancsLive.

Eastwood was found guilty of rape and sexual assault and spent two years at Preston Prison Eastwood before being transferred to HMP Wymott near Leyland in 2019. The prison, next to HMP Garth, houses sex offenders.

He was diagnosed with lung cancer after reporting shortness of breath to the prison GP in May 2021. The 67-year-old then applied for early release on compassionate grounds, but died on October 2 before the application could progress.

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman carried out an independent investigation to determine if the care provided to Eastwood was in line with that he would have received in the community - as takes place with all deaths in prison. No non-clinical issues were found, but the ombudsman did make recommendations relating to referring prisoners with suspected cancer to specialist services, shielding and record keeping.

In her report ombudsman Lisa Burrell said: "The prison GP saw Mr Eastwood on 1 July. He noted that while in hospital, Mr Eastwood had a chest X-ray.

"The results showed a partial collapse of his left lung and possible evidence of a malignant growth in his lung. The prison GP made a two week wait referral to the oncology team at Royal Preston Hospital.

"On 20 July, Mr Eastwood attended Royal Preston Hospital for his two-week wait referral. He was admitted to hospital as an inpatient and underwent a series of tests.

"The results showed that Mr Eastwood had developed lung cancer. Hospital staff considered that the cancer may have spread to other areas in his body and that palliative care was the only treatment option open to him. Mr Eastwood was discharged from hospital and went back to the prison on 29 July.

"Mr Eastwood was added to the prisons palliative care register and referred to St Catherines Hospice for support with his prescribed medications and care. His care plans were updated, and healthcare staff continued to review him regularly.

"The prison started a compassionate release application on his behalf. Mr Eastwood died before the application was completed.

"On 6 September, the prison GP saw Mr Eastwood. They discussed his wishes in respect of resuscitation. Mr Eastwood said that he did not want to be resuscitated in the event his heart or breathing stopped. He signed a do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DNACPR) order on his behalf.

"On 1 October, Healthcare Assistant (HCA), saw Mr Eastwood. Mr Eastwood told him that he had been suffering from shortness of breath and that he had blood in his phlegm when he coughed. He also said that he was struggling to keep fluids down when he drank. The HCA referred Mr Eastwood for an urgent GP review.

"A prison GP saw Mr Eastwood later the same day. He took his observations and noted that his oxygen saturation level and temperature were low.

"Mr Eastwood was taken to Royal Preston Hospital by emergency ambulance and was admitted as an inpatient. Mr Eastwoods condition continued to deteriorate in hospital and at 10am on 2 October 2021, it was confirmed that Mr Eastwood had died."

In September 2021, just after Terrence Eastwood was diagnosed with cancer, his son Darren was given a suspended sentence after it was discovered he had continued to claim his dad's benefits while he was in prison. Darren, who was 42 at the time, splashed out on holidays, takeaways and shopping trips using 20,000 set aside for care needs by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council.

Description

A "dangerous sex offender" who raped and attempted to rape a woman has been jailed for 13 years and six months.

Christopher Hide, 30, targeted the woman between April 2015 and April 2017.

Lancashire Police said Hide, of Blackburn, had "committed several sickening attacks on his victim".

He was jailed at the Sessions House in Preston where he was also given an extended licence period of four years as well as a restraining order.

Detectives said Hide was arrested after the woman came forward and spoke to police in April 2020.

He pleaded guilty shortly before his trial in February to two counts of rape and a further charge of attempted rape.

'Courage and strength'

Det Con Alex Prendergast, of Lancashire Police, said: "Christopher Hide is a dangerous sex offender who committed several sickening attacks on his victim.

"I must praise the victim for her strength in supporting our prosecution.

"She showed great courage and strength in coming forward and reporting the crimes to police.

"I hope this case will give other victims of sexual offending the confidence to come forward, knowing that we will listen to them and act on the information they provide."