Latest Offenders Lincolnshire

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Kyle Coupland-Short, of The Link, was sentenced to nine years in prison and was also placed on the sex offender’s register for life.

He earlier pleaded guilty in September to five counts of controlling and coercive behaviour towards four women over of six years between 2016 and 2022.

Coupland-Short also pleaded guilty to causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent at a hearing at Lincoln Crown Court in September.

Lead investigating officer, DC Katie Moore, has commended the bravery of the victims who came forward to report Coupland-Short’s behaviour and helped bring Coupland-Short to justice, saying it “takes immense courage and strength to stand up against someone”:

She said: “Being a victim of coercive and controlling behaviour has a huge impact on the victim, physically, mentally, and emotionally. We take all reports of this nature seriously.

“The sentence given to him highlights the seriousness of coercive and controlling behaviour, and this type of behaviour will not be tolerated in Lincolnshire.

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Nicky Ward, who was also deemed a danger to the public in 2005 after committing a violent robbery, had been staying at the probation-run accommodation, Holbeck House on Springwell View in Holbeck, but was kicked out because of his behaviour in January last year.

The 42-year-old must sign the sex offender register for life and inform police of a change of address within three days. But he failed to do so and was at large after the police’s attempts to contact him proved fruitless.

Leeds Crown Court heard that Ward had contacted another resident at Holbeck House in April of last year to ask about borrowing money. The number was passed to police but he would not respond or answer his phone.

He was eventually arrested on August 30 this year, and said he was living in Sheffield. He admitted breaching the terms of the sex offender register.

Mitigating, Lily Wildman said that during his prison terms and thereafter he had done a “lot of good work” with probation and that his “engagement has been excellent”.

Judge Simon Phillips KC gave Ward a six-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, with 20 rehabilitation days.

Ward had been jailed for six years for rape in 2001, and in October 2005 – having been released after serving half of his sentence – he was jailed indeterminately after he tried to hold up an off-licence in Skegness at knifepoint. He was then jailed for 16 weeks in 2017 for absconding from an open prison in Lincolnshire.

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James Moorcroft, 35, of Wigtoft, near Boston, was convicted of two counts of rape when he appeared at Lincoln Crown Court in August.

Lincolnshire Police said Moorcroft did not enter a plea and was found guilty by a jury.

A force spokesperson said Moorcroft’s victim “was a person he met online”.

"Due to the tenacity and will of those involved with the investigation, Moorcroft was identified and arrested within hours of the offence,” they explained.

“He has now been brought to justice and was sentenced last week, Friday, September 22, after a two-year investigation.”

The officer in charge added: “This was a lengthy investigation that has resulted in a positive outcome for the victim.

“Although this crime will stay with the victim forever, hopefully this will provide an element of closure for her.

“Credit must go to the victim for her courage and bravery shown during the investigation.

“I would also like to thank the supporting agencies involved - SARC at Spring Lodge were incredible in supporting the victim.”

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A man has been jailed for six years for historical child sexual offences dating back to 1998.

Richard John Tilley, 52, of no fixed address, was convicted of three counts of indecent assault following a trial at Lincoln Crown Court.

All offences involved the same victim, Lincolnshire Police said.

Tilley was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life and was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order.

Investigating officer Det Con Caroline Pendell said: "I would like to thank the victim for having the courage to come forward and having the confidence in the police and criminal justice system to bring the offender to justice.

"The victim in this case has remarkable strength and courage."

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An "evil" 65-year-old man has been jailed after he was found guilty of a string of historic sexual offences including rape, indecent assault, and indecency with a child.

Alex Daly, of High Street, Scotter, was sentenced to 22 years' imprisonment on Monday (September 18) at Grimsby Crown Court following a six-day trial, where he was found guilty of four counts of rape, seven counts of indecent assault and two counts of indecency with a child.

The offences happened over a period of around eight years during the 1990s and early 2000s, and were reported to Humberside Police in 2020.

Following the trial, investigating officer Paul Wells said: “Daly committed a string of heinous offences over a series of years, and I am reassured that he is now off our streets.

“I want to praise the victim for their bravery in coming forward and helping to put this evil man behind bars.

“I hope that today’s sentencing sends a clear message to anyone thinking about committing offences of this nature; if you do, we will do everything we can to find you and we will bring you to justice.

“We take all reports of this nature incredibly seriously, and I want to encourage anyone that is a victim of a sexual offence, no matter how long ago, to please talk to us.

“We will listen and you will be supported throughout the investigation and any consequent judicial proceedings.”

Daly was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be on the Sexual Offender Register for life as well as serving an additional year on licence.

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Craig Gary Woolley, 40 and Bede Crescent, in Boston appeared before Derby Crown Court on Friday, September 1 where he was sentenced to 28 months in jail.

The offences took play at a number of locations – including in Chesterfield – between February 2020 and May 2021.

He was jailed for four offences including breach of a sexual harm prevention order and failure to comply with the sex offenders register’s notification requirements.

It was found that, on October 19th 2020, Woolley had unsupervised contact with young girls that he was prohibited from doing so under the terms of a sexual harm prevention order made in 2014. He breached this order again on April 25th of 2021 when he had unsupervised contact with a girl under the age of 18 at Crystal Peaks retail park in Sheffield.

He then breached his notification requirements when, on May 2, 2021, he resided with a child at Waterside Leisure Park in Skegness and failed to notify police within three days.

The fourth charge relates to an incident on February 17, 2020 when he stayed, for more than 12 hours, at an address in Chesterfield at which children were also residing – he again failed to notify police.

For the four offences he received a sentence totalling five years and eight months but, as these are to be served concurrently, the imprisonment period is one of two years and two months.

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A 76-year-old man has been jailed for 15 years after being convicted of historical child sexual offences dating back to 1986.

Bryan Lockwood, of Albert Street, Grantham, was sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court after being found guilty in July of 19 serious sexual offences.

Lockwood was also ordered to sign up to the sex offenders register for life.

Following the hearing, Lincolnshire Police praised the courage of Lockwood's victims for speaking out.

Det Con Dave Ziller said: "This is a very positive conclusion to a long investigation and one that hopefully allows the victims and families the chance to have some closure after many years."

However, he added that this case was "also a reminder there is no stereotypical offender or victim".

"Every person, agency and organisation must continue to do all they can to keep children and young people safe from harm," Det Con Ziller said.

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A "predatory" 51-year-old man who would "take advantage of young girls" in an abuse of his position has been sentenced to eight years in prison.

Craig Spencer, of Owston Ferry, was recently sentenced for six counts of historic sexual activity with a girl, which dates back to 2005 and 2006 when he owned a tattoo parlour on Robert Street, Scunthorpe.

He will serve a minimum of four years in prison and has been ordered to sign on the sexual offenders register for the rest of his life.

Detective Constable Lindsey Blake of Humberside Police said: “This was an appalling abuse of his position and responsibilities. Spencer is clearly a predatory offender who would take advantage of young girls.

“His victim has been extremely brave in coming forward to provide the details which has secured this prosecution and has put a dangerous sexual offender behind bars.

“I would like to praise her for her bravery and fortitude in coming forward and I would always encourage any victim of an historical sexual crime to come forward, we will listen, and we will do everything in our power to bring offenders to justice."

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A pervert with an unhealthy interest in sexual images of children as young as four has been jailed after failing to learn his lesson from a previous conviction and continuing with his "addiction" to viewing the shocking pictures.

Andrew Joinson had been given a chance to turn his back on that type of offending through rehabilitation but he was caught with stashes of 441 indecent images, some of them in the worst category, Grimsby Crown Court heard.

Joinson, 48, of Merton Road, Bottesford, Scunthorpe, admitted three offences of possessing indecent images of children on September 28, 2021.

Jeremy Evans, prosecuting, said that the National Crime Agency contacted Humberside Police with information about illegal images of children that were linked to Joinson's address.

He was arrested and his electronic devices were seized. It was found that he had been searching for and uploading images to a Dropbox. Police found 103 images of children in the most serious Category A as well as 46 images in Category B and 292 in Category C.

They included children aged as young as four years old in all three categories. The vast majority of the children were aged between five and seven.

Joinson had a previous similar conviction in 2016 involving distributing and making indecent images of children and he had been given a 26-week suspended prison sentence and put on the sex offenders' register.

Bianca Brasoveanu, mitigating, said that Joinson was open with the police and made frank admissions. "The highest number of images were in the lowest category and there are no distribution charges for him," said Miss Brasoveanu.

Joinson, who is married with a son, had been assessed by the probation service as being at a low risk of reoffending. "This type of offending is a form of addiction, with all the associated risks, the first of which is relapsing," said Miss Brasoveanu. "This is exactly what happened to him."

Joinson was jailed for 10 months.

Judge Mark Bury told him: "You have been to court before for offences like this. You were not sent to custody on that occasion. You were given an opportunity of rehabilitation including a sexual offenders' programme requirement.

"Well, that didn't do any good. You are still offending. You are looking at images of children.

"It's wholly unrealistic to expect that you should be dealt with in any other way than an immediate custodial sentence when you have done exactly the same thing and carried on your addiction to indecent images of children.

"You plainly have a sexual interest in children, otherwise you would not be looking at these things."

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A man who was caught by a paedophile hunting group after he attempted to meet a 14-year-old girl in Grantham was today (Wednesday) jailed for 16 months.

Steven Slater, 59, was apprehended after he attended Grantham railway station on July 24 last year and in fact met a 46-year-old woman who was acting as a decoy to target sex offenders.

The paedophile hunting group made a citizen’s arrest of Slater, who was living in Grantham at that time, and contacted Lincolnshire Police.

Lincoln Crown Court heard Slater had been in contact with the decoy on social media for two months.

The decoy had made it clear during their very first contact that Slater was talking to someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl, the court was told.

Phil Howes, prosecuting, said Slater caused the decoy to watch a sexual video on the very first day of their contact and later asked her to take a photograph of her breasts.

Mr Howes told the court: "There was evidence the defendant had tried to cover his tracks by removing many of his messages.

"He did not realise those live conversations had been recorded."

In total 23 video recordings were made over 14 different days, the court was told.

Mr Howes said there was also talk on July 8 of the girl travelling to Grantham railway station and meeting the defendant, who would take her fishing.

This progressed to the decoy telling Slater that she had bought a £45 open ticket.

"The defendant tells her he was looking forward to meeting her," Mr Howes added.

"The arranged meet on 24 July took an unexpected turn after the group contacted the police to say they had carried out a citizen’s arrest in Queen Street, Grantham."

During his first interview, Slater said he thought the girl was 17.

The court heard that since his arrest, Slater had moved to an address in Gains Close, Canvey Island, Essex, and his marriage had ended.

He admitted five offences between May 20 and July 24, 2022.

They included causing a 14-year-old girl to watch sexual acts, attempting sexual communication, attempting to cause or incite a girl to engage in sexual activity of a non-penetrative nature and attempting to meet a girl aged under-16 following grooming.

Neil Sands, mitigating, told the court Slater entered his guilty pleas at the very first opportunity when he appeared before Lincoln magistrates and argued a suspended sentence would allow him to work with the Probation Service.

"All of these offences arise during the same 61-day period," Mr Sands added.

"I have seen his shame [over] what he has done and Your Honour can no doubt see that over my shoulder.

"He is not a man who lied about his age. It was on his Facebook profile. He wants nothing more to do with the internet."

Passing sentence Recorder Graham Huston accepted no real child was involved but said the communications ran to hundreds of pages.

Recorder Huston told Slater: "In this case you attended Grantham railway station to meet a 14-year-old girl who you had been communicating with. In fact it was an adult."

"It is clear you deliberately set out grooming this girl," the Recorder added.

"You viewed her as a sexual object from the beginning."

Slater was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years and must register as a sex offender for the same period.

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A registered sex offender has been sent back to jail after indecent images of children were found during a visit to his Barndey home.

Martin Fry, 58, of Manor Close in Bardney, has been sentenced to five years and 10 months for six counts of making indecent images of children and breaching prevention orders.

He had previously served a six-year prison sentence for abducting and sexually assaulting a young girl. He was also sentenced to for four years for possession and making indecent images of children.

During a routine visit to his home in July 2020, officers discovered he was breaching his Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) and notification requirements as a sex offender.

His desktop computer and other digital devices were seized and examined. A forensic examination revealed 4,874 indecent images of children.

It was also found he had been deleting his Internet search history and using a web browser that masked his online activity.

Fry was arrested subsequently arrested for the breach of his prevention order as well as making indecent images of children.

He pled guilty to the offences in Lincoln Crown Court on Wednesday, April 26 and has now been sentenced.

He will remain on the sex offenders’ list for life, and will have a SOPO for life.

DC Nicola Paradowski, who led the investigation, said: "I am glad that the judge recognised the seriousness of Fry's offending and not only deemed him a dangerous offender, but also went outside the parameters of sentencing guidelines.

“The viewing, possessing, and distributing indecent images of children is not a victimless crime. Behind every video or photograph is a child who is or has been the victim of child sexual abuse.

“Police work tirelessly to actively monitor registered sex offenders and violent offenders in the county. This includes holding regular visits, examining digital devices, and seeking orders designed to protect the public from harm and to prevent further offending.

“I hope this case sends a clear message that we in the Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT) will thoroughly investigate and take action when we suspect these offences are being committed.”

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A man has been jailed for 10 years for five charges of sexual assault. Tom Louth, 35, of East Elloe Avenue, Holbeach St Marks, stood trial at Lincoln Crown Court and was sentenced after the jury delivered a guilty verdict.

Detective constable Helen Morris was the investigating officer in the case, working in Lincolnshire Police's protecting vulnerable persons unit. She said: "This guilty verdict and sentence is both punishment for Louth and a warning to others.

"We will do all we can to investigate and built a case, ensuring that suspects are brought before the courts. Each report we receive of sexual assault is taken very seriously and treated sensitivity.

"We know what it takes for a victim to come forward and therefore it's vital that we investigate thoroughly, leaving no stone unturned. We hope that outcomes such as today's build confidence in reporting and our ability to do our job and keep people safe."

Louth was sentenced to 10 years and made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order. He was ordered to keep to sex offender notification requirements for life.

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Victims of a sexual predator who posed as a photographer and set up hidden cameras in changing rooms to film hundreds of aspiring young models said they felt utterly violated as their abuser was jailed.

David Glover, 48, made secret recordings of his victims who came to him for portfolio shoots over at least four years and cataloged them on his computer, Peterborough Crown Court heard.

After admitting five counts of voyeurism concerning 35 women identified by police, Glover was jailed for 20 months.

One of his victims, who waived her right to anonymity, said it made her "skin crawl" to think she had trust the defendant, to take photographs of her baby.

Francesca Rowden told the court that she no longer worked in the modelling industry.

Another victim, breaking down in tears, said: "I thought about how this could affect my career now if they [the images] ever got leaked."

In a statement to court another woman said she felt "utterly violated" and another said "the guy is an absolute creep".

Glover, 48, of Tallington in Lincolnshire, admitted at an earlier hearing to five counts of voyeurism concerning 35 women identified by police, but prosecutors said a further "70 or so" women were in footage that police found on Glover's electronic devices.

Thomas Brown, prosecuting, said these women had not been identified and Glover was not being sentenced over images of these further women - but could face further proceedings if any of them came forward.

Glover, who also worked as a wedding photographer, was "well thought of" said prosecutors. He would shoot in his home and sometimes hired studio space.

"There was private space provided by the studio for people to change from their outdoor, everyday clothing into whatever they were wearing for the shoot," said the prosecutor.

"As a private space, it was used for exactly that purpose by people who were to be photographed."

His voyeurism was uncovered by a woman's partner who investigated the changing room to find "an alarm clock that looked remarkably out of context".

He investigated further and found it was a covert camera, and that the memory card in it had footage of his partner getting changed on it.

After a police investigation was triggered, more women came forward.

Judge Matthew Lowe said: "Following the breakdown of his marriage in 2011, this defendant sought to turn what had been a hobby into a business and began working as a professional photographer."

He said the offending took place over at least four years, was "clearly planned offending" and some of the women in the footage appeared "completely naked".

Glover was jailed for 20 months for his offending, and was also ordered to sign the sex offenders' register, and made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.

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A dangerous Grantham man who was convicted of a string of sexual offences against four victims over two decades was today (Thursday) sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Christopher Manning, 38, of Dalton Close, Grantham, was also made the subject of an extended licence period of four years once he is released from custody making a total sentence of 29 years.

Manning was found guilty of 21 charges, including rapes, after a three week trial earlier this year.

Lincoln Crown Court heard two of Manning's victims were children when they were raped.

Passing sentence, Judge Catarina Sjolin Knight told Manning she had concluded that he was a dangerous offender.

Judge Sjolin Knight explained Manning would therefore be subject to an extended licence period of four years on his eventual release from custody to protect the public.

The Judge told Manning: "I am satisfied you take delight in abusing children and have done so since you were a child."

Judge Sjolin Knight said Manning also contacted girls online and developed an interest in looking for indecent images which led to his arrest when he contacted an undercover officer called 'Dave'.

The Judge told Manning he showed no concern for his victims during his trial, accusing them of lying and going on the offensive. "You are 38. You donated a kidney to your father. There is no other mitigation."

Judge Sjolin Knight said Manning's online activity also made her concerned about his interest in babies.

Manning was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life and must also register as a sex offender for life.

Impact statements from Manning's victims were read out in court. One woman described how she suffered flashbacks and nightmares, but was now finally getting justice.

Another victim said she did not trust anyone except her immediate family. A third victim added: "The impact of the crime on me has been significant."

In total Manning was convicted of seven rape charges, two charges of indecent assault, three charges of sexual assault, three charges of making indecent photographs of children, two charges of causing or inciting a person to engage in sexual activity, one charge of sexual activity with a child, one charge of sexual communication with a child, one charge of encouraging or assisting an offence and one charge of sexual intercourse with a girl aged under-13.

Manning was arrested on February 25 last year and denied all the offences when he gave evidence during his trial.

The offences occured over 20 years and began when Manning was a child himself.

The court heard there was a significant disparity in age between Manning and some of his victims. All his victims are entitled to anonymity for life.

Karen Walton, mitigating, conceded Manning is someone who would present a considerable risk in the future and would require management once he is released from a long sentence starting at the age of 38.

Miss Walton urged the sentences for when Manning was a juvenile to reflect his age at the time.

"Any sentence he gets today is going to be very long, and before any release he will have to go before the parole board."

Miss Walton said she could not speak of any remorse from Manning as he does not accept the offences.

Judge Sjolin Knight also praised the support given by the National Crime Agency (NCA) to the victims.

David Levett, senior investigating officer at the NCA, said: “This investigation uncovered that Christopher Manning inflicted the most horrific abuse against children over the course of many years.

“The impact of his criminality is utterly devastating, yet many of his victims bravely gave evidence during the trial and helped to secure his conviction.

“He is a prolific and dangerous sexual offender who poses a grave risk to the public. His sentence reflects the severity and totality of his offending.

“The NCA is dedicated to identifying high harm criminals like Manning and ensuring they are brought to justice.”

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A 34-year-old sex offender who posed a ‘serious danger’ to young girls has been captured by police.

Ryan Bufton was a wanted man after failing to comply with his sex offender notification requirements following his release from prison.

With his whereabouts unknown, a police search was launched and an appeal issued warning that he should not to be approached.

The public were asked to report any immediate sightings to 999 and Lancashire Police believed he might have travelled to the Blackpool area.

“Just to update you, Bufton was arrested in Lincolnshire yesterday.

“Thank you to everybody who shared and supported our appeal.”

He was jailed for three and a half years in 2017 after preying on a 15-year-old runaway who he plied with alcohol and took advantage of in a woodland area.

Bufton was arrested and pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child aged under 16.

He also has previous convictions for sex offences dating back to his own teenage years.

At his sentencing, Judge Sara Dodd described Bufton as posing a ‘serious danger’ to young girls and sentenced him to 40 months in prison, with an extra three years on licence.