Latest Offenders Liver

Description

A former Liverpool primary school teacher has been banned from the classroom for life after being convicted of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

Prior to being caught up in a police sting, Alan Harbottle spent 12 years working at Mosspits Lane Primary School in Wavertree.

The 52-year-old will now never set foot in a school again after a teacher regulation agency panel felt his conviction was so severe he may not be allowed to work with young people for the rest of his life. Documents released from a hearing held in private have revealed how the former PSHE lead was caught by officers pretending to be a 14-year-old boy online.

Harbottle, who taught at Mosspits from September 2011, was arrested on suspicion of sexual communication with a child in May 2023. He appeared in court a month later and was subsequently suspended by the school.

Following a disciplinary hearing held in September 2023, Harbottle - who had led the school’s drama club, was dismissed. On June 1, 2023, he appeared at Southend on Sea Magistrates Court and was convicted of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to meet a child under 16 after grooming them online.

The ex-teacher admitted that he had been contacted by Essex Police following a police sting operation whereby Harbottle communicated with officers posing as a 14-year-old boy. He admitted that this had involved the exchange of sexualised nude images and discussion of sexual acts.

Harbottle also admitted that he organised a meeting with the boy as he believed. He was subsequently sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment suspended for 24 months, ordered to participate in a sexual offender programme for 30 days, undertake a rehabilitation activity requirement for 25 days and was barred from working with children.

The former teacher was also given a sexual harm prevention order for a decade. The court was told how in May 2023, Harbottle began speaking to someone on a legal dating app with someone he believed to be over 18.

The person was in fact a decoy police officer, who purported to be 14. The documents set out how sexualised photographs were exchanged at Harbottle’s behest and the conversation led swiftly to discussions about “specific and highly intimate sexual behaviour.”

The judge said: “It’s clear that you knew what you were doing, you made that obvious by the sense of some form of self-awareness during the course of those exchanges, and obviously that what you were doing was wholly wrong…” The Judge added how “nonetheless, you persisted, and so it was that you went to meet, what you believed to be, a 14-year-old boy… It must have been in your head, that there was a possibility you might have sexual activity with him…”

The court was told how Harbottle had written a letter in which he had “expressed, unusually but perceptively, [his] own relief at being caught”. The Judge said that it seemed to him that Harbottle had had time to reflect and to “appreciate that the actions of the police in trapping [him]… has perhaps saved you and indeed some other young person, from the reality of what this criminal offence would otherwise mean.”

It was accepted Harbottle had expressed genuine remorse and nothing else was discovered that suggested the former teacher was predatory in any other way. He was given full credit for his guilty pleas and was said to have a significant prospect of rehabilitation.

However, this was not enough for the Teacher Regulation Agency to permit him to return to the classroom. A three person panel found he had acted deliberately and he had fully expected to be suspended from the profession as a result.

The seriousness of the offending meant a lifetime ban was imposed on Harbottle. This means he is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England.

He will not be permitted to apply to have his eligibility restored.

Description

A man from Tuebrook has been jailed for five years after sexually assaulting a girl under 13.
 
John Thompson, 46 years, of Pennsylvania Road was convicted of three offences of sexual assault against a child under 13 and one of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

Thompson was arrested in March 2022 after the victim came forward and reported his actions.

Description

A prolific sex offender who stole an innocent man’s identity and spent almost three decades on the run has been found guilty of numerous sexual offences against young boys.

Richard Burrows was found guilty of 54 offences on Monday 17 March 2025 at Chester Crown Court, including indecent assault of boys, buggery, attempted buggery and indecency with a child.

The 80-year-old, of HMP Altcourse, had already pleaded guilty to 43 offences, including indecent assault of boys,  making indecent images of children, possession of indecent images of children and four counts of possession of false identity documents with intent, at an earlier hearing.

Burrows has been remanded in custody and will be sentenced on Monday 7 April for a total of 97 offences.

The court heard how between 1968 and 1995 Burrows systematically abused 24 young boys across the Cheshire, West Midlands and West Mercia areas. 

The offences in Cheshire occurred between 1969 and 1971 while he was working as a Housemaster, looking after vulnerable children at Danesford Children’s Home in Congleton.

His victims in the West Midlands and West Mercia areas were also all young boys who were abused between 1968 and 1995, the majority through local Scout groups where Burrows worked as a leader.

In each case, he befriended the victims by using his position of trust over them and their personal interests, such as radio communications or boating. After gaining their trust, and in many cases the trust of their families, Burrows then went on to sexually abuse the boys.

While some of his victims attempted to speak out at the time, many simply did not feel that they would be believed.

It was not until the 1990s, following revelations in relation to offences at other children's homes and institutions, that many of the victims had the confidence to come forward.

Following the allegations in relation to the offences at Danesford Children’s Home, a large-scale investigation was launched by detectives from Cheshire Police in 1994.

Burrows was initially arrested in April 1997 and was subsequently charged in May 1997 with two counts of buggery and 11 counts of indecent assault in relation to the offences in Cheshire and some in the West Midlands. 

After his initial appearance in magistrates’ courts, he was released on bail by the court and was due to attend a further hearing at Chester Crown Court on Monday 8 December 1997. 

However, Burrows failed to attend and officers subsequently discovered that he had disappeared.

Over the past 27 years detectives from Cheshire Police have been carrying out multiple enquiries to locate him. This included several wanted appeals and four Crimewatch appeals on national television as well as following up numerous leads, none of which indicated Burrows had left the country.

The investigation also included enquiries with various agencies and institutions within the UK as well as border and international checks, however there was no trace of him either within or outside of the UK.

Burrows remained on the Cheshire Police wanted list throughout the 27-year period and his case was regularly reviewed.

Despite the officers’ best efforts, there was no trace until April 2023 when detectives from the force's Serious and Organised Crime Unit used specialist software to search for any possible images of Burrows online.

After searching through billions of images, the system came back with a match for a man using the name of Peter Smith who was living in Chalong in Phuket, Thailand.

‘Peter’ had an active interest in sailing and had previously been working at an advertising company in Phuket. He had even featured in the local news in 2019 when he retired from his job.

Following further enquiries, officers discovered that Burrows had stolen the name Peter Smith from an acquaintance who was terminally ill. This allowed him to fraudulently obtain a 'genuine' passport in 1997 and so leave the country without detection.

After confirming that ‘Peter’ was in fact Burrows, officers contacted the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and began the process to extradite him to the UK.

Before that process was formally commenced, officers became aware of Burrows’ intention to return to the UK travelling under the alias of Peter Smith. The NCA informed Thai authorities and monitored his travel back to the UK. He was arrested as soon as he landed at Heathrow.

Following his arrest, Burrows was subsequently charged in relation to further offences in Cheshire, the West Midlands and West Mercia which had been reported since his disappearance.

A number of victims had come forward at different times to different police forces over the years as a result of media and Crimewatch appeals and because they felt the time was right for them to tell their story. Some victims also came forward on seeing that Burrows had been arrested.

Description

Daniel Albertina was caught in the act filming a teenager on his mobile phone underneath the walls of a cubicle.

A lad was left 'feeling sickened' after spotting a taxi driver filming him in the toilets at an Odeon cinema.

The police unravelled a series of heinous offences by Daniel Albertina following his capture on camera as he recorded the young lad on his mobile from under the toilet cubicle partition.

The sordid list of crimes included covertly capturing footage of a girl showering and hoarding a disgusting collection of indecent child images. In court yesterday, the paedophile hung his head in shame as his true nature as a "monster" with a "secret life" filled with wicked acts was laid bare.

Liverpool Crown Court was told on Tuesday that a 16 year old boy had gone to Odeon Switch Island last year and popped to the gents during his film. It was there he clocked a mobile phone poking out from under the wall of the next stall.

Prosecutor Paul Becker recounted how the teenager confronted Albertina, from Eastbourne Road in Aintree, in the restroom before alerting staff. The 39 year old, who had driven to the flicks in his Delta cab, was later identified through the taxi firm.

This led to the confiscation of a laptop and two mobiles from Albertina. On these devices, cops found 165 indecent snaps of kids, some of which were videos Albertina had taken of a teenage girl in the shower, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Officers also discovered a number of extreme pornographic images depicting sexual acts involving cows and mice. During questioning, he confessed to detectives that he had "committed offences of voyeurism over six weeks on about six occasions" at the same cinema and "stated that he had an attraction to young males and females".

In a statement read out in court on his behalf, the boy said: "Following the incident, I didn't leave the house for a couple of weeks on my own. I used to go the the cinema on a regular basis, but I no longer feel safe.

"I'm now worried about using public toilets. It still makes me feel sick knowing what this monster did to me. I feel like this was an invasion of privacy. I should be able to use them without something like this happening to me. This should have been a private area where I should have been able to use the toilet in privacy."

Albertina has no previous convictions. Ken Heckle, defending, told the court: "He understands that he has destroyed many lives. He is, however, a man of 39 years of previous good character.

"While he sits in your lordship's court full of guilt, shame and embarrassment, he wants assistance with regards to these matters. This defendant has been brutally honest in not only accepting the case against him but saying that his sexual issues and problems have been there for some considerable length of time, effectively a secret to all concerned - a secret life separate from his family, who he was providing for in full time employment.

"He is not full of self pity. He is an intelligent person. This was previously his dark secret. It is no longer secret. It is out in the open. He can discuss it with people rather than harbouring these terrible thoughts. He wants to get help so that he does not find himself in this position."

Albertina admitted two counts of voyeurism, four charges of possession of indecent images of children, nine offences of making indecent images and four matters of possession of extreme pornographic images. Appearing in the dock wearing a turquoise jumper, he was seen with his head in his hands at times during the hearing before he was jailed for 18 months.

The Honorary Recorder of Liverpool, Judge Andrew Menary KC, delivered a scathing rebuke during the sentencing and said: "All of this came to light as a consequence of an incident which happened at the Odeon cinema at Switch Island. What came to light was a quite disgraceful, appalling catalogue of conduct, committed by you and arising out of your obsession, which you have had for many years, in relation to sexual gratification in relation to young children.

"This was not the first time that you had done this. It is clear from what you said to the police that you had got into the habit, having used the toilet after dropping off a customer and realised that it was possible for you to go into the toilets and use your telephone to take a picture or record what was happening in the adjacent cubicle.

"This is outrageous conduct. It is not often that this court is shocked. Sadly, we have seen it all. But these are really bad images of their type."

Alongside the condemnation, Albertina received a five-year restraining order and a 10-year sexual harm prevention order. Additionally, he must sign the sex offenders' register for a decade.

Description

Two men have today, Thursday 6 February, been jailed for raping a woman in Liverpool city centre.

The charges relate to an incident in the early hours of 20 April 2024 in which a woman was raped inside a property.

The woman reported the matter and within a matter of hours officers were able to identify the offence location and arrest both men.

Whilst on bail, the mobile phones of the suspects were downloaded and intimate videos of the woman were found on the devices of both men, which appear to have been made without her knowledge.

Both men denied the allegations but following a trial in January, Shuaib Iboko-Akoh, 24, formerly of Harrington Street, Liverpool and Evaristus Ozumizi Akerele, 25, from Luton, were both found guilty of rape and voyeurism.

Today at Liverpool Crown Court they were both jailed for a total of seven years. They were also both ordered to sign the sex offender’s register for life.

Description

A man was found with sick images of children and videos of upskirting. Mark Harrison of Sheil Road, Kensington, was jailed for making, taking and possessing indecent photographs of children.

Harrison was arrested after officers, in response to intelligence, executed a warrant at his home in March 2022 and seized a number of digital devices for forensic examination.

The 63-year-old pleaded guilty to six charges relating to the images, which were of category A, B and C seriousness, a further five charges of recording images under clothing without consent (upskirting) and one charge of possessing extreme pornographic images.

He was jailed for two years when he appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday, February 3. Detective Chief Inspector Phil Atkinson said: “We have a duty to protect our communities from harm and to deter individuals from committing these types of horrific offences and we will continue to seek to identify and convict those who engage in this behaviour.

“I hope this sentencing encourages anyone who has been a victim of any sexual offence to please contact us. We have a specialist team ready to treat you with respect, care and compassion and make sure that reports are properly and thoroughly investigated.

Description

A convicted child sex offender died in HMP Liverpool on the day he was due to be sentenced for new offences. John Sadler, previously of the Woodchurch area, died at the Walton prison on Tuesday, November 26.

The 32-year-old, whose address was most recently listed as HMP Altcourse, was convicted of a number of offences on Monday this week following a trial. According to charge sheets, Sadler faced communication and image charges involving both real children and police decoys.

The ECHO understands Sadler was facing the prospects of a sentence up to 10 years' imprisonment. A source told the ECHO that Sadler was due to be sentenced on video link on Tuesday afternoon but the hearing got adjourned due to a medical emergency.

Both the Prison Service and the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has now confirmed to the ECHO that Sadler died. A spokesperson for the Prison Service said: "HMP Liverpool prisoner John Sadler died on 26/11/2024. As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate."

Adrian Usher, Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, added: "My office are conducting an independent investigation into the death of Mr John Sadler at HMP Liverpool on 26 November 2024. We will publish our final investigation report into his death after the inquest concludes."

The ECHO has previously covered Sadler's previous appearances in court. In 2014 the then 21-year-old groomed a 13-year-old girl before having sex with her in a Wirral park. He met the victim online and chatted to her through Skype before meeting up with her on multiple occasions.

Sadler denied five counts of sexual activity with a child but was found guilty after trial. He was handed an extended prison sentence, as well as a consecutive term for contempt of court after he threatened the victim's family, telling them: "I’ll ****ing have you when I’m out."

Sadler attempted to challenge his sentence at the Court of Appeal in 2017 claiming he was the victim of a miscarriage of justice. He said his password was "known to others" and that his computer and mobile phone had been hacked. Despite the strength of the prosecution case, Sadler fought a futile battle to prove his innocence - including making representations to the Queen about his case.

The dangerous offender, branded "manipulative and calculating" by his trial judge, was refused permission to appeal, with a high court judge concluding: "These convictions are entirely safe, he has failed to identify a single valid ground." Sadler's offending time frame for his recent offences stretched between March 2019 and September 2021, according to charge sheets.

A number of separate investigations are currently ongoing by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman into deaths at HMP Liverpool. he most recent inspection report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons praised its "caring culture". The chief inspector of prisons wrote: "The prison’s strategy for reducing self-harm evidenced a good approach to care, predicated on good staff-prisoner relationships, which were a real strength at HMP Liverpool."

The Ministry of Justice's most recent performance list ranked HMP Liverpool as good. However, a whistle-blower at the prison told the ECHO staffing levels were "frighteningly low", adding the prison's resources were severely stretched, "putting staff and prisoners at risk". In response to the whistle-blower's claims, the Ministry of Justice said the prison had increased the number of officers and invested in new security measures.

Description

A transgender pervert who raped and abused an 11-year-old schoolgirl has been jailed.

Aria Peers, 51, abused the child after bonding with her over Star Wars, with the sickening campaign of rape and assault leaving an "untold impact" upon her.

The offending came to light after the complainant confided in friends and teachers about the abuse.

Now, Peers has been jailed for 15 years after being found guilty of two counts of rape, attempted rape three charges of sexual assault and two offences of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity by a jury following a trial.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that the 51-year-old, of Camberley Drive in Halewood, began by touching the victim's breasts and private parts before encouraging her to use a sex toy on herself. She was then raped.

The court heard how Peers identified as male when the offences were committed in Wirral, but now identifies as female.

Anthony O'Donohoe, defending, told the court: "There is nothing I can say about the facts of the case. The defendant accepts that a significant, lengthy custodial sentence is inevitable in this case.

"The defendant has settled on the wing that she is on, and that is encouraging. That was a matter of some concern. The custodial experience for her in her particular circumstances is likely to be more difficult to navigate than in other, more usual, cases."

Sentencing, Judge Katherine Pierpoint said: "I accept that, in this case, there is an element of grooming with the close bond that you developed and took advantage of.

"It became more sinister, with you grooming her so that you could start to abuse her. You took the opportunity to fulfil your own sexual desires. You were disbelieved by the jury and convicted. You still deny these matters today. She is a brave young woman who, by coming forward, has stood up to you. I hope that, with the support of her family, she will be able to move on with her life.

"Prior to this, you worked as a support worker for a number of years. You have suffered with periods of anxiety and depression and have struggled with your gender identity throughout your life.

"I appreciate that, as a transgender prisoner, there will be issues which you will have to navigate during the very long period of your sentence."

Pierpoint continued: "You targeted a young female child for your own sexual gratification.

"The impact on her is untold. This was offending behaviour on numerous occasions over a period of time."

Peers was also handed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and a lifelong restraining order and will be required to sign the sex offenders' register for life.

Description

A man was jailed after he raped and stalked a woman. Dean Wall, of Pinehurst Avenue, in Anfield, was found guilty of rape and was sentenced on Tuesday, November 5, at Liverpool Crown Court.

The 37-year-old raped a woman at her home in Wavertree on Friday, March 15 and for this offence he was jailed for eight years and three months. He was also jailed for nine months after he pleaded guilty to stalking the same victim, with the two sentences to run concurrently.

Wall has also been issued with a ten-year restraining order against the woman and will sign the Sex Offender Register for life. Detective Chief Inspector Andy McCourt said: “I would firstly like to acknowledge the courage and dignity shown by the victim throughout this investigation.

"I sincerely hope that this sentencing shows that violence against women and girls will simply not be tolerated and we will work tirelessly to bring perpetrators to justice. Wall denied rape but thankfully a jury found him guilty and he will now spend a significant time in prison for his appalling actions.

Description

We have today, Thursday 31 October, welcomed the sentencing of a man to 21 years in prison for historical child sexual offences.

Ali Alduhlaimi, 41, of Derwent Road West, Liverpool, was convicted of oral rape, sexual activity with a child, inciting a child to engage in sex acts and causing a child to watch adult penetrative activity following an eight-day trial at Liverpool Crown Court.

The charges relate to offences committed against one victim between 2010 and 2016.

He was today sentenced to a total of 21 years in prison with an additional year on licence. He was also given a restraining order, a sexual harm prevention order and ordered to sign on the sex offenders register for life.

Description

A sex offender left a fellow inmate with a broken cheekbone and in need of surgery after attacking him behind bars. John Reynolds subjected his victim to a series of "sucker punches" without warning while the two men were serving time at Walton prison.

The serial flasher was then freed from jail, but began drinking two bottles of vodka a day "with a side of cocaine". A judge today compared him to a "runaway mine train".

Liverpool Crown Court heard this afternoon, Tuesday, that Reynolds was handed an eight-week sentence for a public order offence in March this year and sent to HMP Liverpool. CCTV footage then captured the moment he approached fellow prisoner James Butterworth from behind at around 5.30pm on April and punched him three to four times to the right hand side of the head in an "unprovoked attack".

Rachel Oakdene, prosecuting, described how the 38-year-old, of no fixed address, was then "dragged away" following the "very short lived" assault. The complainant attended Aintree Hospital in the aftermath and was found to have suffered multiple fractures to his cheekbone which required surgery.

Reynolds was subsequently released from prison shortly after the incident and began residing in a hostel. However, he was then evicted from these premises on August 22.

His criminal record shows previous entries for wounding, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assault, harassment and breaching court orders. Reynolds was also locked up for 16 months for sexual assault and exposure in 2011, handed a four-month imprisonment suspended for two years for exposure in 2013 and sentenced to a further six months in December 2022, 17 weeks in November 2023 and 12 weeks in December 2023 - with all three of these convictions being for exposure.

This means that he remains subject to notification requirements obliging him to keep the police informed of his current address. But the "high risk sex offender" failed to disclose the fact that he had been made homeless to the force, placing him in breach of the terms of the register.

Emily Land, defending, told the court: "It appears that he is genuinely remorseful. He knows what the outcome is. Your honour has seen the explanation provided by the defendant.

"It is not a reasonable explanation, regardless of what had happened. It was a short lived attack. There were multiple blows, but in a very short period of time. He is immediately dragged away.

"He has been plagued by alcohol addiction, drinking two bottles of vodka a day with a side of cocaine. That was only made worse by the fact that his mother passed away in 2021.

"It was close to her birthday, which has caused a significant spiral at the point where he had been evicted from his accommodation. He found himself homeless and consuming alcohol, to the point where he failed to remember his requirement to go to the police station to let them know.

"As a consequence, he has now found himself back in prison when he had stable accommodation. He knows he has squandered that opportunity.

"He can use this opportunity now he is back in custody to get himself off the current track that his life appears to be on. He knows that he is the only one who can make that change in his life. If he does not do that, he is going to continue to be in front of these courts."

Reynolds admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and failing to comply with notification requirements. Appearing via video link to HMP Altcourse, he was jailed for two years.

Sentencing, Recorder Mark Shepherd said: "It is quite clear that there were issues between you and the other prisoner. Whatever those issues were, and they might have been things which were causing you distress, what you could not do without consequence was resort to violence to try to deal with the situation.

"You are somebody not unknown to the court by any means. You knew what you were doing that day and you did deliver a sucker punch, more than one.

"Offences in custody are more serious because they undermine the fundamental need for control and order to maintain the safety of prisoners and staff that work in that environment. You put all of that at risk by your actions."

Recorder Shepherd added of Reynolds' notification requirements: "These requirements have been in place for a long time. You will have been aware of your responsibilities.

"While it is extremely unfortunate, you are somebody who, at times of adversity, will self destruct and end up drinking vast quantities of alcohol on a daily basis and consuming drugs. You ended up losing your accommodation as a result of that. That placed the public at risk because when you are drinking to excess, when you are on drugs and when you are homeless, you are like a runaway mine train."

Description

A convicted rapist admitted he had "no excuse" after being caught breaching the requirements of the sex offenders' register for the 12th time. Andrew Prince "fell at the first hurdle" within days of his release from his latest spell in prison and has now been put back behind bars.

Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday, Monday, that the now 45-year-old was convicted of two counts of rape in 2005 and sentenced to 10 years. This also saw him handed an indefinite notification requirement, but he has since breached the terms of this court order on numerous occasions.

Christopher Taylor, prosecuting, described how Prince, of no fixed address, was released from a 16-month term for failing to comply with notification requirements on June 3 this year. He was required to inform the police of his address within three days of his release under the terms of the sex offenders' register, but was circulated as being wanted having failed to do so within 11 days.

This led to his arrest in Liverpool city centre at around 8pm on June 15. Under interview, Prince told detectives: "I chose not to, I have no excuse."

His criminal record shows a total of 28 previous convictions for 42 offences, dating back to 1998. These include 11 previous entries for breaching notification requirements, as well as for dishonesty and public order matters.

Olivia Beesley, defending, told the court: "He understands that, because of his repeated offending, he will have to be punished severely. Drinking is at the root of him not being able to seek or maintain housing. On some occasions, upon his release from custody, he ends up drinking immediately and rough sleeping. He suffers from depression, anxiety and severe paranoia as well.

"He falls at the first hurdle. As soon as he is released he drinks, and he does not attend immediately or attends while drunk. He realises that drinking clearly isn't the way forward for him, and he is frustrated with himself. He needs some kind of support network when he is released.

"Quite simply, he has not been able to achieve that yet. His aim this time, upon release from custody, is not to drink at all. He can see from the previous 12 occasions this pattern is just continuing. He tells me that he does not want to use alcohol as an excuse."

Prince admitted one count of breaching notification requirements. Appearing via video link to HMP Altcourse, he was jailed for a year.

Sentencing, Judge Denis Watson KC said: "The public has a very real and legitimate concern that the police know the whereabouts of those who have committed very serious sexual offences when at liberty in the community. Your obligation is to tell the police about your circumstances, whether you are homeless or not.

"You have repeatedly failed to tell the police about your situation, your whereabouts and circumstances. This is, I am told, the told time you have failed to comply with notification requirements.

"It is, it seems, not just a question of you drinking on your release and becoming a rough sleeper or homeless. Alongside that, you are perfect well aware of your obligations to register and you choose not to which makes your position particularly serious."

Prince nodded and replied "thank you" after receiving his sentence.

Description

A 21-year-old man has been sentenced after he arranged to meet a 15-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity following a British Transport Police investigation.

Thomas Kasper, of Sceptre Road, Liverpool, pleaded guilty to meeting or arranging to meet a child following sexual grooming, sexual communication with a child and non-penetrative sexual activity with a child.

He was sentenced to nine months suspended for 18 months on Wednesday 10 July at Liverpool Crown Court.

He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for seven years and given a seven year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The court heard how on, Sunday 21 May last year, officers patrolling Liverpool Lime Street station spotted Kasper with a child engaged in kissing and hugging.

Concerned by what they had witnessed given the visible age difference, officers stopped the pair and engaged them in conversation with Kasper telling them he was 20 years old and the girl just 15.

Speaking to officers separately Kasper admitted they were dating but claimed no sexual activity had taken place. He was arrested for grooming and causing or inciting a child to engage in a sexual activity.

In interview he admitted knowing the child was underage but again claimed nothing of a sexual nature had taken place between them.

Kasper was bailed while investigations continued with officers examining the mobile phone he had with him at the time.

After examination officers found text messages between the pair which were clearly of a sexual nature.

CCTV images from the station on the day of his arrest also showed evidence of a sexual relationship.

Investigating officer Sergeant Stuart Maw said: “Despite Kasper’s claims that the relationship was not in any way sexual, his actions on CCTV from the station clearly demonstrated otherwise as did the text messages which he had sent to the girl.

“Our immediate concern was safeguarding the child who Kasper had evidently groomed for sexual purposes and collecting evidence that would result in preventing others falling prey to him.

“Now he has been issued with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order it is hoped Kasper will steer clear of contacting any underage girls in the future, not least for fear of imprisonment.”

Description

A paedophile former vicar who was jailed for sexually abusing children for four decades has been sentenced to a further four years after another victim came forward.

John Roberts, 89, was found guilty of 10 counts of indecent and sexual assault in 2020 and jailed for nine years.

He was vicar at St Peter's Church in Woolton, Liverpool, which is known as the "Beatles church" due to it being where John Lennon and Paul McCartney met.

Roberts has now been found guilty of a further five counts of indecent assault against a boy under the age of 14 and sentenced to four years in prison, three of which are to be served on top of his original sentence.

'Real monster'

Merseyside Police said that following publicity around the first court case another male came forward to report he too had been a victim of Roberts when he was aged 10-13 in the 1970s.

In a statement, he said: "For his entire career, [Roberts] has pedalled his lies with talk of sin, repentance and truth.

"I'm appalled that he has shown no intention of following his own guidance.

"How dare he use his God to disguise the real monster that he truly is. Monstrous acts on vulnerable helpless children over decades.

"I cope with it in a fashion, but I speak for those that didn't."

Three previous people reported attacks by Roberts in 2018 - one who had been assaulted as a boy in the 1980s, one who he attacked when they were a child in the 2000s, and one who was abused as an adult in the 2010s.

Roberts was previously convicted of sexual assault in 1989 but had remained in the Church of England after that conviction and became a canon.

Det Con David Tweedle said the victim had trusted Roberts because of the position he held - a trust he had "abused in the most heinous way".

"Today’s result in court will not undo the impact of Roberts’ actions, but I hope the victim and his family takes some sense of justice from it," he said.

"He has shown immense courage to come forward and speak about the hurt Roberts caused and the problems he has faced since."

Description

A man from Old Swan has been jailed for 14 years after being found guilty of child sex offences. 
 
Anthony Morrissey, 69, of St Oswald’s Street, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today, Tuesday 4 June, when he was sentenced after being found guilty of rape, causing/inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity and causing a child under 13 to watch sexual activity.
 
He was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be on the Sexual Offender Register for life.
 
Morrissey carried out the offences in Liverpool in December 2021 and he was arrested in February 2022.