Latest Offenders Leicester

Description

A man who sexually abused three children two decades ago has been jailed for 11 years.

Stuart Newbold was sentenced for nine crimes against his victims between 1997 and 2000.

All three, who are now adults, were said to have "suffered immensely" by his actions, Leicester Crown Court heard.

They contacted the police in 2018 to report the abuse that took place in North West Leicestershire.

Newbold, of Mary Close, Ibstock, near Coalville, was told he will have to serve two-thirds of his 11 year jail term.

He was also placed on a sexual harm prevention order for 15 years and his details will be held on a sex offender register for life.

Sentencing, Judge Ebrahim Mooncey said: "Three victims were all abused by you when they were very young.

"Correspondingly, you were younger too: teens, possibly just into your 20's.

"You're 39 now. The sentencing has to reflect those factors.

"The victims have been severely affected adversely by what they experienced from you."

Judge Mooncey said the female victim was aged between nine and 10. The two boys were both under 14 when they were abused.

He said he accepted the defendant suffered from mild autism as well as "certain mental issues" and experienced a difficult upbringing.

He added: "Although you had developmental difficulties, I've no doubt you knew at the time that what you'd done to these three children was wrong.

"You had the assistance of an intermediary throughout the trial. We heard from a psychologist that you may not now recall these matters.

"There is no suggestion of any new offending and I can treat you as being effectively of good character."

Newbold denied the charges against him, but was convicted at a recent trial at Leicester Crown Court of the following offences:

Four counts of inciting a boy under 14 to commit an act of gross indecency

Three counts of indecent assault on a boy under 14 years

Two counts of indecent assault on a girl under 14 years

Andreas O'Shea, mitigating, said: "We're dealing with offences that happened 20-plus years ago and there's no indication of anything inappropriate since this and there's no evidence of anything else coming to light.

"He went on to live an exemplary life."

Mr O'Shea said a psychologist assessed the defendant as having "the emotional age of a 16-year-old."

He said the defendant's wife, also diagnosed with autism, was "an innocent party" who would suffer if he was incarcerated.

The barrister said he accepted the "unsavory nature" of the offences should be marked but 20 years of "unblemished conduct since" should also be taken into account.

The defendant's mother-in-law told the judge Newbold was "an absolute gentleman" who was protective, supportive and caring towards her daughter, despite the couple both having combined learning difficulties.

Afterwards, officer in the case, Detective Constable Andy Day, said: I hope the fact that Newbold is now serving a custodial sentence will provide a degree of closure to the three victims and allow them to move on their lives.

I hope todays sentencing will also encourage anyone who has been a victim of child sexual abuse to come forward and report matters to police.

"It is never too late to speak out.

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Cloud Chunga, 47, met the child after grooming her in a series of online messages including sending indecent images of himself.

A girl skipped school to have unprotected sex with a middle-aged man unaware that he was HIV positive, a court heard.

Cloud Chunga kept his medical status a secret and the 15-year-old only found out afterwards.

She was then put through the trauma and anxiety of undergoing tests to see if she had contracted the virus.

Chunga, a 47-year-old asylum seeker, of no fixed address in Leicester, pleaded guilty to sexual communication with a child under 16, sexual activity with a child, meeting her following grooming and taking indecent photographs of the girl, at the end of last year.

Richard Thatcher, prosecuting, said the girl met the defendant in passing, but some time later he contacted her online to embark on sexualised private conversations via a social media site.

The prosecutor said: "The defendant told her he could not wait to have sex with her and until she was 18 so he could marry her."

They arranged to meet and the girl skipped school to see him in Leicester, still wearing her uniform.

He then took her to a flat in the Beaumont Leys area where they had unprotected sexual intercourse.

Afterwards, Chunga gave her Belgian chocolate biscuits and some perfume.

He also took photographs of her topless and of her in bed with him, which the police later found on his mobile phone.

Officers went to the victim's home after being alerted about her unexplained absence from school and discovered what had happened.

Chunga was arrested in January and "disclosed that he was HIV positive," said Mr Thatcher.

The victim was traumatized and unfairly "blamed herself."

In an impact statement read out, the girl was described feeling angry, ashamed and embarrassed, with low self-confidence.

She endured several weeks of anxious waiting, before learning she had tested negative for HIV, but stated: "I can't believe someone would be so selfish, that someone would risk giving that to someone else."

Clare Dowse, mitigating, said: "He's been in the UK since 2001, initially to study, and later applied as a refugee to remain in the country and his status is still unresolved.

"He was without a permanent residence at the time of the offences.

"He'd been staying with people he knew, relying on the church and friends for support.

"The offences were an aberration."

Judge Robert Brown said: "The pre-sentence report says he struggles to understand how she is a victim, despite knowing she was a vulnerable child."

He added: "He had unprotected sex with a 15-year-old girl knowing he was HIV positive, without divulging that to her and he presents a high risk of harm to young girls."

"It matters not at all that she appears to have consented to sexual activity, the point is that she was underage, vulnerable and you took advantage of her."

Chunga was jailed for six years, with an additional four year licence period.

He will have to serve a minimum of two thirds of the custodial term, before being considered for release.

Chunga was placed on an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and will be on a sex offender register for life.

Afterwards, investigating officer, Detective Constable Darren Etteridge, said: "Despite knowing the victim was 15-years-old, Chunga continued to groom and engage in sexual activity with her, exploiting her vulnerability.

"The wealth of evidence against him left him with little choice but to plead guilty and while this has relieved the victim of having to give evidence at court, her experience with Chunga still remains with her.

"Her engagement with us has been critical in bringing the case to a successful conclusion and she continues to be a very brave young girl who I hope can put what happened behind her."

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A molester who bullied a teenager into having sex on a regular basis for years has been jailed.

The victim told a jury that Gary William Jelly had effectively "blackmailed" her into suffering the abuse.

Jelly, 52, who formerly used the surname Bollen - and has a previous conviction for manslaughter - befriended the girl more than 15-years-ago and groomed her with cigarettes and money.

When she later refused to cooperate, he put her in fear of violence, including once threatening to put her head though a window.

A jury convicted Jelly of a catalogue of sex offences following a two week trial in February and he appeared at Leicester Crown Court today (April 7), via a live video link from prison for sentencing.

Judge Keith Raynor said the offences included sexual activity in a garden shed, a garage and a caravan.

Jelly took "explicit" photographs of the complainant, some without her knowledge. The images were later used as leverage, in threatening text messages and calls, to enforce her compliance.

When she gave evidence, she said: "It was like I bowed down, pretty much he clicked his fingers.

"He had that much control over me."

Judge Raynor told Jelly: "The text messages show you as a pathetic middle-aged bully.

"You used your money to get what you wanted and threatened to expose her and show sexual pictures of her to others, including her family.

"You maintained your threats to have a hold over her and wanted her at your beck and call.

"She told you on multiple occasions 'I'm sick of this blackmail.'

"She needed money on occasions and you preyed on that financial vulnerability.

"On one occasion you threatened to go round and beat her up and on another said you would put her head through a window.

"When she didn't want to see you, you began stalking her."

"She suffered significant psychological trauma."

"Your conduct was to maximize fear and distress, with a high degree of planning and it was persistent action over a prolonged period."

The judge said he took into account the four year delay in the trial taking place, Jelly's chronic ill health, including a heart condition and the restrictions in prison regarding Covid-19.

Defence counsel, Rachel Darby, said Jelly's family, including his elderly parents would suffer because of his incarceration.

Jelly, formerly of Woodland Road, off Uppingham Road, Leicester, was convicted on majority 11 - 1 verdicts on four counts of sexual activity with a child under 16 and two offences of paying for the sexual services of the same girl, during a 12 month period.

Jelly denied the offences, claiming nothing sexual happened until the complainant was aged 19 and she consented. He gave her cigarettes and money just "to help her out."

He pleaded guilty to one count of putting the same victim in fear of violence, by "making numerous threats" when she was an adult, between 2013 and 2014.

Prosecutor Richard Thatcher said it was only after many years of feeling ashamed and staying silent, she found the courage to tell her family and finally report the matter.

Judge Raynor today jailed Jelly for a total of eight years and four months.

He was also placed on a 12 year sexual harm prevention order, banning any contact with the victim.

The judge publicly commended officer in the case, Detective Constable Alec Lester, for his "excellent" work including investigating an issue that arose during the trial.

The court heard that in 2017, the defendant received a seven year jail sentence, for an unrelated offence of manslaughter which involved the death of a "vulnerable" 34-year-old woman.

He was on early release licence from that sentence when he stood trial for the sex offences.

Judge Raynor said Jelly's conviction for the manslaughter - involving him pushing over the victim who died from rib injuries - was "relevant" because he had behaved in a similarly bullying manner towards the sex abuse victim.

He said Jelly told the manslaughter victim during a confrontation: "Don't mess with me."

MANSLAUGHTER CONVICTION

Jelly, then aged 47, and his daughter, Natalie Bollen, then aged 29, were said to have both assaulted a woman, Kelly Machin, following a neighbours' row over a burst child's football in August 2016.

The father and daughter, who were both jailed for seven years, confronted Ms Machin at her home in Waldwick Close, Leicester Forest East.

Ms Machin died alone on her living room sofa, from internal bleeding caused by fractured ribs, several days later.

The incident occurred after Ms Machin became so "fed up" with footballs coming over the fence into her garden, from Bollen's nearby home, that she burst it with a knife before throwing it back.

Bollen became outraged and went round with her father.

The sentencing judge on that occasion observed that three punches from Bollen and a forceful push onto a coffee table by Jelly had unintentionally led to the woman's death.

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Isaac Cluley, 23, filmed himself committing the depraved act with the Shetland pony, which was discovered on his mobile phone. A young man who had sex with a horse was tearfully accused by the owner of having "raped" her family's pet pony. The woman emotionally made her accusation before Isaac Cluley was sentenced for his "unusual" offending. The 23-year-old pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to one count of sexual penetration of a living animal last August. He also admitted possessing extreme pornography, relating to mobile phone footage of the pony and two obscene and perverted images downloaded from the internet. Leicester Crown Court was told Cluley was prosecuted in 2016 for an earlier offence of having sex with a different horse - when he was given a community order. Andrew Fitch-Holland, prosecuting, said a friend of the defendant's chanced upon the video when borrowing his phone last summer. Cluley was drunk at the time and the concerned friend wanted to phone his mother - and was shocked to see the footage with the pony. The police then became involved. Cluley, described as having learning difficulties, was in "considerable distress" following his arrest and officers were concerned for his wellbeing. The defendant told them: "I want help with my mental health, it's why I've been drinking more lately." The horse's owner attended court to read a personal impact statement. She said she purchased the Shetland ten years ago for her five year-old-son, and the two had grown up together. Before being informed of the incident by the police, she said she suspected her horses had been "frightened in some way" in their field because of a noticeable change in their behaviour - particularly the small 10 hands high Shetland mare. The pony was unusually fearful and nervous and suddenly began acting threateningly towards her teenage son, as if to kick him. Sobbing with emotion, she spoke of the distress caused to her family and the expense of having to install a £286 CCTV field camera to watch her animals grazing, in the Leicester area. A veterinary forensic examination of the pony cost her £60. The Shetland is now kept locked in a stable overnight, when it was used to being outdoors, as the offence is thought to have happened in the early hours. She told the judge: "The fact someone was walking around and prepared to rape an animal on more than one occasion (because of the previous conviction) concerns me greatly." The 44-year-old owner added: "I feel anxious because I don't know how many times it's happened." After the hearing she said: "The pony was such a sweetie, so trusting, but is now wary and defensive. "When she becomes scared and fearful - even by something normal like having a rug put on - it reminds me of what happened. "If it was down to me he would be in custody now. "I can only hope whatever his rehabilitation involves, that it works. "I can't forgive what he did to a harmless animal, I've not heard anything to explain why he's done it and he's shown no remorse." WHAT WAS THE SENTENCE? Cluley, unemployed, of Milligan Road, Aylestone, Leicester, was given a six month jail sentence, suspended for two years, with a 30 day rehabilitation activity requirement. He will have to attend up to 40 days of a sex offender programme and pay the pony's owner £350 in compensation. Cluley was also placed on a two month electronically monitored home curfew, between 8pm and 8am. He will be on a sex offender register for five years and was placed on a sexual harm prevention order, for the same duration - stipulating various conditions, including not entering a field, paddock or any animal enclosure where there is livestock, when he is on his own. He is barred from working with animals in any capacity and cannot own or care for any animal without the permission of his offender manager. WHAT THE JUDGE SAID Recorder William Edis QC said: "For the second time in your life you're before the court for having sexual intercourse with a horse and that - if I say no more - is an alarming picture. "One thing I have to do as the judge is to try and work out why you've committed this unusual offence twice. "Is it because you have overpowering sexual interest in horses? "Is it a cry or help or attention seeking? "One thing that has to happen is you have to decide to stop doing this - or be made to stop. "Even though you amply deserve a prison sentence, I'm not sure that's going to address the problem, I have to find the best way to protect society and animals from you. "You have been extensively examined by various professionals. "No-one has told me why you did this." Recorder Edis said he hoped Cluley had "heard the pain" expressed by the pony owner. He said: "Her son grew up with that animal and his relationship with that animal may never be the same again. "She's anxious about more abuse happening to another animal. "These are not victimless crimes, these are real victims with real pain and you caused it for reasons I can only guess at. "You have learning difficulties and a mix of anxiety and depression and an inability to cope. "There's a package that's been put together to stop you doing this and if I send you to prison that opportunity would be lost." MITIGATION Gary Short, mitigating, said that rehabilitation courses were not available in prison, due to the pandemic, and the defendant was due to move into sheltered accommodation in a few weeks - which would provide him with additional support. He said Cluley, who attended court with his mother, suffered from significant intellectual impairment, had a lack of impulse control and failed to understand the consequences of his actions - and needed specialist help and supervision. Mr Short said Cluley's previous community order sentence did not "get anywhere near" addressing the root cause of his offending, but a suitable rehabilitation package was now available, if he was spared immediate custody. The barrister added that Cluley was mixing with of a group of people who "used him like a puppet," getting him drunk and encouraging him to do certain things. Mr Short added: "It's clear he was also suffering from the impact of the loss of his father."

Description

The 51-year-old, formerly of Netherhall, Leicester, was this week found guilty by a jury of three counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Leicestershire Police has today released a photograph of the paedophile.

The abuse came to light when the child was having a conversation with her mother, who reported it to the police.

McLeavey denied the offences, but the jury convicted him unanimously.

He was jailed for eight years at Leicester Crown Court yesterday (Tuesday June 8).

The judge placed McLeavey on the sex offenders register for life, and made him the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.

A 10-year restraining order also prohibits him from having any contact with the prosecution witnesses who gave evidence, including the victim.

After the case, Detective Sergeant Lisa Wood said: "McLeavey thought he could get away with this horrendous offending on a vulnerable young girl.

"But thanks to the bravery of the victim and the report being made to police, we were able to carry out a full investigation leading to McLeavey being brought to court, convicted and receiving a significant sentence.

"For the victim and her family this will never go away, but I hope that this conviction does help in some small way as they continue to move forward in their lives."

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A teenager who sexually groomed two young girls has been locked up after appearing in court to admit his crimes.

Brandon Vernon sent "highly sexualised" messages to his young victims even though he knew they were both under the age of consent, police said.

He was placed under investigation late last year when the mother of one of the girls contacted police to raise her concerns about him.

Both girls were spoken to by police, and the nature and extent of Vernon's offending emerged.

Vernon, 18, pleaded guilty at Leicester Crown Court in February to the following offences against his first victim: two counts of sexual activity with a child, one of sexual communication with a child and one of distributing an indecent image of a child.

In relation to the second child, he pleaded guilty to one count of sexual communication with a child and two of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Vernon appeared at the same court today and was sentenced to three years' detention in a young offenders institution.

At the conclusion of proceedings, Leicestershire Police said its detectives believed there might be more victims who are yet to be traced.

Releasing a detailed account of the case, the force said it opened an investigation into Vernon, of Fountains Avenue, Eyres Monsell, Leicester, in late-December last year when a parent rang the force because she believed Vernon was sexually grooming her daughter.

In a statement, the force said the teenage girl was interviewed, telling officers that she and Vernon had been messaging each other and the messages would often have a sexual reference.

"The girl was also concerned that she had been sent by Vernon an indecent image of another child," it added.

At that stage, Vernon was arrested on suspicion of committing those offences and was later released on bail while officers conducted further inquiries, including an examination of his electronic devices.

In January this year, police received a call from another parent concerned that her daughter had engaged in sexual activity with Vernon in early December 2019.

The second child was also interviewed by detectives, the force said.

The statement continued: "The teenage girl detailed that she met Vernon through a friend in November, the previous month, and they began messaging each other, which often would have a sexual reference.

"Vernon initially told the victim that he was the same age as her. She later found out that he was 18 years old.

"As part of the victim’s disclosure and subsequent inquiries, Vernon was arrested for these offences."

Detective Sergeant Jim Muzzell, from the force’s child sexual exploitation team, oversaw the investigation.

Det Con Muzzell said: “Despite the victims telling him their ages, Vernon still pursued a relationship with the children and sent highly sexualised messages to them, with one of the relationships leading to sexual activity.

As a consequence of his actions, he has left two young girls trying to cope with their experience.

“There is a possibility that there may be other girls who have been in contact with Vernon and could be further victims.

"If there is anyone who may have been in contact with him and believe they may also have been a victim of a similar crime we would ask them to contact police, quoting Operation Cabbie.

“We have a number of specialist officers available to speak to you and guide you through that process.”

Vernon was also issued with an indefinite restraining order which prohibits him from contacting both victims, and a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, which will impose conditions on his behaviour and movements once he is released from custody.

He was placed on the sex offender register for life.

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'She was too afraid of his controlling behaviour to refuse,' police said of one victim

Andrew Newton lured the 18-year-old woman from Latvia to Leicestershire with the promise of work (Image: Leicestershire Police)

A man lured a Latvian teenager to Leicestershire with the promise of a job - but then forced her into prostitution, a court heard today.

Andrew Newton, of Shilton Road, Barwell, arranged for the 18-year-old to travel to the UK in 2010 and forced her to have sex with a succession of men at an address in the Hinckley area.

After she raised the alarm and turned to police for help, detectives established Newton had exploited a second Latvian national, also 18 at the time, in the same way.

The 53-year-old appeared at Leicester Crown Court last week to admit four counts of inciting and controlling prostitution for gain.

He appeared at the same court today and was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison.

The first victim to come to police attention in 2016. She revealed to officers she was only 18-years-old when she first met Newton in 2010 after she answered a job advertisement offering work in the UK.

Releasing details of the case, Leicestershire Police said: "Newton met the teenager in Latvia and made arrangements for her to travel to England a month later.

"He met her at East Midlands Airport and took her to a flat in Hinckley where he forced her to remove her clothes and took photos of her before making her sign a contract.

"Over a period of months, Newton arranged for men to come to the flat where the victim was expected to have sex with them.

"Feeling threatened by Newton, she was too afraid of his controlling behaviour to refuse.

"He gave her very little money which left her feeling trapped and dependent upon him."

The woman found the courage to contact police in 2016 and told officers what was happening to her.

The force added: "From inquiries carried out, officers identified a further victim who had also come to the UK from Latvia.

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A 'manipulative and determined' paedophile who sexually abused girls in the 1990s has been brought to justice after his victims came forward years later to tell police what he had done.

Anthony Bamford, of Sheridan Street, off Leicester's Saffron Lane, appeared at Leicester Crown Court today and pleaded guilty to seven counts of rape, relating to two victims, and one charge of indecently assaulting a third victim.

The 63-year-old, known as Tony, was jailed for 23 years.

He will also will on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life.

The detective who led the investigation believes there may be other victims who have not made contact with the police.

The first allegation against Bamford was made to Leicestershire Police in 2017, and inquiries identified three victims, the force said.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Jamie Carr, of the force's child abuse investigation unit, said: Each of the women were just children when they were abused by Bamford, who was manipulative in his approach and determined not to be caught.

However, despite it being some years since he committed his horrific crimes, his victims have shown great courage in providing detailed information to police in order to bring him to justice.

I am glad that Bamford has pleaded guilty today so no further distress is caused by having to relive their experiences in court.

But I also believe there may be other victims of Bamford who have not contacted police about the abuse they suffered.

"I would encourage anyone who believes they were a victim to come forward, where they will be supported by specially-trained officers.

Bamford will also be subject to a sexual harm prevention order, which can be used to impove legally enforceable restrictions on his movements and behaviour, particularly if and when he is released from prison.

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A former boxing coach treated an underage girl as his sexual plaything , a court was told.

Robert Moseleys victim was a young teenager when the regular assaults happened.

During one period Moseley sexually assaulted the girl several times a week.

But when she got up the courage to go to the police he denied what she said and she was forced to give evidence during a trial at Leicester Crown Court .

The trial ended earlier this month with Moseley being found guilty of two counts of sexual assault. Those two charges relate to hundreds of separate incidents.

What the judge said

Moseley (55), of Bowhill Grove, Thurnby Lodge , Leicester, was back at Leicester Crown Court for sentencing on Friday, where Judge Timothy Spencer jailed him.

The judge said the sex assaults had happened roughly five times a week over 18 months.

He said: This was an assault upon a vulnerable victim and happened with a worrying frequency it was all the time. You thought you could use her as some sort of sexual plaything.

Its not surprising this has had a huge impact upon her.

You derived sexual gratification from this.

This was a young woman going through puberty. It is a truly awful thing that you visited upon her.

Ive detected no remorse in you. You have more than a degree of arrogance about you.

There has been a suicide attempt

Earlier in the hearing, Moseleys barrister, Helen Johnson, told the judge her client had tried to kill himself as a result of the allegations, which he continues to deny.

She said: Theres nothing I can say about the offences as his position remains as it was.

He was arrested on April 16, 2017, and has had to live with this hanging over him.

Mr Moseleys life ended as he had known it. He has suffered from some mental health issues and there has been a suicide attempt.

During his sentencing speech, Judge Spencer told Moseley he had extended the torment for his accuser as well: You say this has hung over you for two years it has hung over her for two years.

You fought the trial in front of a jury and put her through having to relive all of this.

He jailed Moseley for two-and-a-half years and imposed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.

I imagined outing him at his funeral

Moseleys victim, speaking after the sentencing, told LeicestershireLive the pain she had been through was made much worse by Moseleys denial.

She said: Back when it was happening I couldnt tell anyone because I was just a kid and I didnt think anyone would believe me hed deny it all and everyone would call me a liar."

She said back then her mental health was already bad and she had no friends and no social life.

It was terrible because I could see no way out of it.

When it was happening, the only end to it I could imagine was waiting till he died and outing him at his funeral.

The woman said she finally went to the police after beginning to fear Moseley would do the same thing to another victim.

She said: Later on my mental health started getting really bad and I was panicking about what he might do to other kids.

I came forward about this because I couldnt let him do it to someone else I had to limit his access to kids.

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A PAEDOPHILE raped a vulnerable 12-year-old boy in Rugby after grooming him over a period of months.

Adam Craig Pike, 30, of Jersey Way, Barwell, Leicestershire, was sentenced to nine years in prison at Coventry Crown Court on Thursday (March 28), after being found guilty of raping a child under 13 and causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The court heard how Pike befriended his victim in Rugby in 2015 when the boy was just 12.

Pike developed the relationship over a number of months before he started to abuse the boy, promising him gifts in return for performing sexual acts.

The offences occurred some time between 2015 and 2016.

Pike was arrested in July 2016 after the victim’s mother reported the offences to police in Coventry.

Det Con Scott Loughran from Rugby CID said: “Pike specifically targeted a vulnerable boy and exploited him for his own sexual gratification.

“He is clearly a danger to children having gained his victim’s trust, promising him gifts, in order to satisfy his disturbing impulses. This is a type of behaviour typically associate with people who exploit children.

“The victim and his family have shown immense courage in supporting this investigation and trial. I hope this sentencing gives them some form of closure as they attempt to move on with their lives.

“Warwickshire Police is committed to investigating all reports of sexual abuse against children and I hope this outcome gives others the confidence to come forward.”

Pike was also ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register and made subject of a sexual harm prevention order.

He was found not guilty of two counts of rape and one count of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

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Both men were found guilty by a jury of two counts each of raping the 13-year-old A pair of depraved paedophiles have been found guilty of raping a boy aged 13. Sick duo John Cox and Jamie Cross twice raped the teenager in 2005 before being arrested years later. The victim went through years of torment and eventually found evidence to convict the pair, one of whom admitted to the sexual activity in a Facebook message, LeicestershireLive reports . Both men were found guilty by a jury of two counts each of raping the 13-year-old. In a personal impact statement, the victim admitted: "I felt angry at what they'd done to me and my body." He described the abuse as affecting his education and sending him off the rails for several years, and said he suffered recurring nightmares with the defendants' "faces coming out of the walls and shouting at me." When messaging them on Facebook, years later, he said he felt "fear and disgust." Although both defendants denied the rapes, Cross had referred to sexual activity having taken place when the victim later engaged him in text conversations - which was evidence used in court. Sentencing the pair to substantial terms in jail, Judge Robert Brown said: "You were both in your mid-20's at the time and the complainant was 13. "The circumstances in which you abused him were a gross breach of trust by you." Judge Brown told Cox, 38, and Cross, 37, both of Simons Close, Wigston Harcourt, near Leicester: "You took advantage of him and you raped him twice." Cox raped the boy during two incidents - including when Cross also took turns and twice raped the victim. Judge Brown said: "I can't and don't attempt to begin to describe the pain and suffering he's gone through ... the pain is real, it's lasting and will never leave him." The judge said the victim was accused of lying during the trial and added: "For him it was like going through it all again. "You're both still in denial and still maintain you didn't abuse him. "The jury by their verdicts have found you guilty - and guilty you are in the way described. "It was a clear abuse of trust, you planned these encounters and took advantage of this young boy." The court heard both defendants had previous convictions relating to child pornography and were given suspended sentences in 2017. Judge Brown told the defendants: "There's no remorse, there's no previous good character, there's no mitigation apart from what I've already referred to in your character references." He said both defendants would receive "sex offenders' treatment" whilst in custody. During the trial, Richard Thatcher, prosecuting, said the boy had got to know them when they were running a first aid service, providing medical care at public events. Mr Thatcher said that when the victim became an adult: "He entrapped Cross in a conversation on Facebook. "He wanted to get them to admit what they'd done." Giving evidence in the trial caused the victim's fear and pain to resurface that he described afterwards "felt like a tornado." The complainant said the court process had proved successful and added: "I hope if anything similar happened to anyone else, I suggest they come forward." James Varley, mitigating for Cross said: "For the most part he's lived a hard working and respectable life." He said: "It was one incident. "There was a break and then a resumption; not an ongoing course of conduct as the two offences were within the same episode." He said the offences happened 14 years ago and added: "He knows he's going to spend a period of time in custody. Paul Fleming, for Cox, said that references spoke well of the defendant regarding many positive aspects of his life. He added: "The references speak of how he has been well regarded by others who know him." Cox and Cross were each jailed for 12 years. They were placed on life-time sexual harm prevention orders and will have to record all future addresses on the police sexual offenders' register. Both were "automatically barred" from ever working with children, the judge said. The defendants were also on trial accused of less serious sexual assaults upon the same victim, during the same period, but both Cox and Cross were acquitted by the jury on those counts.

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A man who claimed he had sex with a woman while he was asleep has been jailed for five years for rape.

Karl Gammon had met the victim and her friend at a bar in Loughborough in March 2016 before attacking her.

The 24-year-old, of Albert Street in Loughborough, told a trial he suffered from "sexsomnia", a form of non-insane automatism that meant he had sex with her without his knowledge or memory.

He was found guilty on 8 August after a trial at Leicester Crown Court.

Gammon, who was sentenced on Friday, has also been placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Leicestershire Police said DNA evidence proved he had had sex with the woman.

Det Sgt Tom Brenton, who led Leicestershire Police's investigation into the case, said the victim was still "living with the trauma" of the attack more than two years later.

"Gammon's victim has shown tremendous courage throughout the judicial process," he said.

"Not only did Gammon prey on his victim when she was vulnerable, he claimed not to have knowledge of the rape when questioned by officers and as such she was forced to relive her ordeal in court."

Description

A violent teenage rapist who "hunted" his victim in a park and hit her over the head with a paving slab on his 17th birthday has been jailed for life.

Charlie Pearce researched rape online before carrying out his attack "of animalistic savagery", in July last year, in Leicester's Victoria Park.

He denied intending to kill the woman, who is in her 20s, but admitted two counts of rape, causing grievous bodily harm with intent and stealing her handbag.

However, jurors found the "exceptionally dangerous" defendant guilty of attempted murder after he left the victim "hanging by a thread".

Pearce, of Clarendon Park, Leicester, was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 11 years at the Old Bailey in London.

He was handed seven-and-a-half years' custody for the rapes to run concurrently alongside his life sentence, with no separate penalty for the remaining charges.

Sentencing the teenager, Mr Justice Haddon-Cave said the defendant had carried out an attack of a sexual or sadistic nature and that he "intended to silence the victim forever".

"The defendant set out that evening to mark his 17th birthday to find a woman to attack and violently rape," he said.

"He can be seen on CCTV circling the park and hunting (the victim) down as she walked through the park. The attack itself was of animistic savagery. The offending was exceptionally serious."

Pearce dragged the victim into undergrowth before hitting her over the head, the court heard.

Police had been alerted after the start of his attack was witnessed by others in the park.

However, the court was told officers were unable to find anything because of a lack of a precise location being reported.

A passing cyclist spotted a pool of blood and a hair clip on the ground about an hour later and went into bushes and comforted the victim until paramedics arrived.

The follow day, police issued a CCTV image of Pearce running towards the victim holding the slab. His family recognised him and informed officers.

The victim awoke from a coma in the following weeks with no recollection of what had happened.

"I do not remember screaming when I was assaulted, though I am aware that screams were reported to the police by various people that night," she said in an emotional statement.

"My screams did not stop my attacker from causing me further harm and nor did they help me be found so I could receive medical care I needed.

"Knowing that my screams did not change anything for me that night continues to trouble me."

Phillip Bradley QC, defending, said Pearce accepted he was "entirely responsible" for the violence.

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Dale Wycherley locked his victims in a Barlestone flat as assaulted them A teenager who groomed and sexually abused two young girls in Barlestone has been jailed for four years. Dale Wycherley, of HMP Nottingham, encouraged his teenage victims to send indecent photographs and exchange inappropriate messages on Facebook. He arranged to meet the girls, aged 13 and 15, in Barlestone and persuaded them to buy alcohol before sexually assaulting them in a village flat. The 15-year-old girl said she had been left scared of men and had made several suicide attempts since the abuse in a victim impact statement read to Leicester Crown Court. Wycherley, 19, was sentenced to four years in jail on Friday and was ordered to spend an extended three years on licence when released. He was given a lifetime sexual harm prevention order and will be placed on the sex offenders register for life. In June last year, Wycherley arranged to meet the two girls through social media before assaulting them. The girls reported the incident to the police and Wycherley was arrested. As part of their investigations, officers seized his iPad and mobile phone and discovered indecent images of four other victims. In a victim impact statement read by prosecuting barrister Philip Gibbs, the 15-year-old girl said: I have self-harmed, maybe once a day and I have made suicide attempts because of the shame of what happened. Im scared he will hurt other girls who will go through what I am going through. I feel scared and nervous around men in general. It has taken me six months to be able to trust the support staff I live with. I find it really hard to be around men. Detective Constable Amanda Thwaites, who has worked on the case, said: The victims in the case have shown tremendous courage in coming forward and speaking about their ordeal. I know it has not been easy for them to go over what happened, but ultimately, without their support we would not have been able to bring Wycherley to justice. We are committed to tackling child sex exploitation and take all reports seriously and investigate them thoroughly. "It can be very difficult for people to come forward and report abuse, whether it happened a long time ago or more recently. We have a specialist team who deal with these cases and we work closely with social workers and other partner agencies to provide the best possible support and help to victims. I would urge anyone who thinks they could be a victim to come forward. Anyone that does contact us will have their report treated with the upmost sensitivity and specialist officers will be on hand to support and assist victims. Leicestershire County Council staff are part of the specialist team tackling child sexual exploitation and have offered support to the victims and family members. Ivan Ould, cabinet member for children and families, said: It takes immense bravery for victims to speak out and Id like to praise the young people in this case. Were committed to tackling CSE and our social workers work hand-in-hand with police officers to help victims feel confident about disclosing abuse and exploitation. Im pleased this support is helping to secure convictions. At an earlier hearing Wycherley pleaded guilty to:

• making Category C indecent images of a child between October 2014 and July 2015
• meeting a child following sexual grooming in June 2016
• sexual assault in June 2016 inciting a child to engage in sexual activity between January and June 2016
• making Category A, B and C indecent photographs of a child between January and June 2016
• inciting a child to engage in sexual activity in March 2016
• making indecent photographs of a child in March 2016
• inciting a child to engage in sexual activity in May 2016

Description

A paedophile was given a taste of life inside jail by a judge in an effort to get him to stay out of trouble. Lee Smith, 50, had first been caught with indecent child images in 2016 and given a suspended sentence, along with a sexual harm prevention order banning him from doing various online activities and and controlling his use of electronic devices.

However, in February last year he was caught with more indecent images on his phone, which he had attempted to delete, along with internet searches for 'cute schoolgirls' and 'Asian girls'. He pleaded guilty to breaching his order and appeared at Leicester Crown Court for sentencing on Friday, (January 20)

Michelle Harding, representing Smith, of Rutland Avenue, Aylestone, Leicester said he was "clearly in denial" about his offending and that "a lot of work needs to be done with Mr Smith over a length of time" to stop him offending again. She said any jail sentence would prevent him getting that help. 

Smith wept in the dock while Ms Harding described how Smith's father had recently suffered a broken bone in his neck and Smith was applying to be his carer. The court heard Smith had, with the consent of social services, recently been living with a woman who had two children.

But Judge Timothy Spencer agreed to a new, tougher sexual harm prevention order banning him from contact with any under-16s and from going within 50 metres of a school between now and July 2026. Those changes to his order were opposed by Ms Harding on the grounds of Smith's human rights but Judge Spencer told her: "It's deeply worrying what was found on his phone - he's not in the position of an ordinary citizen."

Noting the state of Smith as he cried in the dock, Judge Spencer told him: "I've been watching you and I think a realisation has come to you how serious a position you've put yourself in." Having agreed to the tougher restrictions, the judge sent Smith - who had been out on bail - to spend more than two hours in the cells while he considered the sentence.

After Smith was brought back to court, Judge Spencer gave Smith an eight-month sentence, suspended for two years. The judge told him: "On October 17, 2016, you were before this court for serious offences related to indecent images of children.

"You were fortunate you were given a suspended sentence and you should have taken that as a very clear warning. You've been in the cell a few hours and if I see you again you will go to the cells for months if not years."