Latest Offenders Liver

Description

A dangerous rapist, Liam Cowley, 32, crept into a pregnant woman's Liverpool home at night using a stolen key and subjected her to a horrific hours-long attack, raping her repeatedly as she screamed and begged for her life. He blackmailed her, threatening to report her to social services and have her children removed.

Cowley, of no fixed abode, entered her house multiple times, sometimes raping her while she slept. Prosecutor Martine Snowdon told Liverpool Crown Court: "The defendant on a number of occasions just did what he wanted when he wanted in circumstances where she was not consenting to it, and he was repeatedly threatening and intimidating her."

One night, with her children asleep upstairs, Cowley headbutted and spat on her, demanded she cook him steak, punched her when she refused, and smashed her phone as she tried calling 999. Ms Snowdon said: "With no means to call for help, she ran out of the front door to scream for help, but no one responded and he dragged her back inside. He grabbed her round her throat and started choking her.

"Briefly he let go but then did it again, this time she blacked out and woke up on the floor, where he then proceeded to kick her. She pleaded with him saying 'you know I’m pregnant', which was true, in the hope that was stop him attacking her.

"Instead of bringing him to his senses he picked up the metal tube from the hoover and snapped it holding it over her as if he was going to hit her with it. She said she was lucky because he changed his mind and hit the television, not her.

"She went to go upstairs and he began ripping at her clothes. He told her she couldn’t check on the children, she couldn’t go to the toilet and wasn’t to leave his sight.

"He continued to be aggressive and took two knives from the kitchen, putting one on the side near the door and another next to her on the sofa and said 'you know what’s going to happen next'. She said 'I don’t know, you’re probably going to kill me', and believed that is what he was going to do. His response was 'no, much worse'."

He raped her twice before falling asleep, allowing her to flee with her children to a nearby phone shop and call police. Cowley was arrested but absconded before his 2024 trial, fleeing to Norfolk under the alias Tommy Lee King.

There, he worked at a bar, dated a 19-year-old colleague, and moved into her mother's Wareside home. Over five months, he assaulted her multiple times. Ms Snowdon said: "She described occasions when, during an argument, Tommy would try and strangle her. He would pin her to the bed and grab her throat. This had happened a few times but she specifically recalled it happening on two occasions, both taking place during arguments in which he physically assaulted her as well as strangling her. She also described him spitting at her in the course of arguments."

On December 7, 2024, after a punch and strangulation, she sought hospital treatment and police photographed her injuries, though she initially declined to complain. Later, via social media, she discovered his true identity and alerted authorities.

Cowley, formerly of Kingham Road, Wareside, was rearrested and tried at Liverpool Crown Court in July 2025. He denied three rapes, four intentional strangulations, and threats to kill but was convicted; he pleaded guilty to two assaults and breaching bail.

Sentencing was delayed for unverified claims of OCD, ADHD, borderline personality disorder, and brain injury. Defence counsel Graham Wilson said: "I have seen nothing of medical notes. It seems the injuries he has reported to his head were never reported and he never went to hospital for them.

"The defendant during his time in custody has done many courses. He has been an enhanced prisoner in Bedford and Liverpool. She was working in mental heath and also in the neurodiversity area to understand his own, what he describes as ADHA, although that is not confirmed by any medical or psychological evidence. The defendant believes he has ADHD and that's what he believes was a factor in his assaults.

"He has work lined up for when he gets out of prison. That, he accepts, could be a number of years. This is a man who, despite these very serious offences, is in many ways trying to come to terms with what he is and why he behaves in the way he has. I accept he doesn't accept guilt on the rape matters. The sentence is bound to be a lengthy one."

On December 10, 2025, Cowley received 18 years' imprisonment plus a five-year extended licence for dangerousness, totaling 23 years.

Description

Samuel Gebru, 22, who resided in Toxteth, pleaded guilty to one count of Sexual assault and one count of Common assault, against two women in Aigburth across the same night in July. 

He was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court today, Monday 8 December.

At around 10.35pm on Monday 28 July, a women in her 20s was walking along Aigburth Road when she noticed Gebru following her. Gebru followed her up Lark Lane towards the junction with Sefton Grove and the victim turned to challenge him. Gebru then grabbed the victim by her arm and, following a brief altercation with the victim and the emergence of two people from the Albert public house, Gebru walked away. The incident was reported online on Wednesday 30 July.

At around 12.20am on Tuesday 29 July, a report was received of a second woman in her 20s being sexually assaulted off Aigburth Road by Gebru, who had followed her from Aigburth Road and attacked her in the street. Gebru made off on foot after residents were alerted. He was arrested in the early hours of Wednesday 30 July.

Gebru was in police custody for the second offence by the time the first offence was reported. Following an extensive investigation, including CCTV, doorbell footage and forensic work, Gebru was subsequently charged with both offences and remanded into custody.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Inspector Natalie Charlesworth said:

“We understand the huge concern that such serious offences cause in our communities, and it is pleasing to see that such a dangerous, predatory offender is now behind bars.

“Gebru subjected both of his victims to traumatic ordeals, and we are continuing to support both victims through this difficult process. I would like to thank them for their patience and strength in assisting our investigations, and share our hope that today's outcome at least provides some form of comfort moving forward.

“I hope this sentencing shows and reassures the public how seriously the courts take these offences and how Merseyside Police is completely committed to protecting anyone from violence and sexual abuse.

“Anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence, is concerned for the safety of someone they know or suspects someone to be engaging in this criminal activity, should come forward and speak to us. Merseyside Police has a team of dedicated staff who will expertly and compassionately deal with your reports, and we will do everything we can to bring offenders to justice.

“We take all such reports extremely seriously, and in addition, work with partner organisations such as Victim care Support Service and RASA who are there to support victims.”

Description

Martin Ryder, 56, of Rawson Road, Seaforth, sent inappropriate messages to what he believed was a 13-year-old girl and possessed 46 indecent images of children, including 15 category A (the most serious) and explicit material depicting babies and young children.

The offences were uncovered by a paedophile hunter group who created a fake profile named "Ella" on Chat-Avenue. Aware she was 13, Ryder continued sexual conversations over several days, asking inappropriate questions and requesting explicit photos.

He was confronted by the group at his home on October 8 last year and arrested.

Ryder pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children, one count of attempted sexual communications with a child, and possession of extreme pornography.

Judge Gary Woodhall acknowledged Ryder's remorse but said he had accessed the material deliberately and had a sexual attraction to children. Ryder received a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, plus rehabilitation, mental health treatment, and a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Description

A man has been jailed for 16 years for rape, child cruelty and assault in Oxton.

Ibrahim Cetin, 54, of Hornby Road in Liverpool was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday 6 October after being found guilty of assault, actual bodily harm, rape and child cruelty.

It follows reports from two boys in February who said they had been abused by Cetin several times.

Cetin was arrested by officers on suspicion of assault.   Following his arrest it was also reported that Cetin had raped and repeatedly assaulted a woman since December 2024.

Cetin was later arrested and charged for each of these offences. He has been placed on the Sex Offender’s Register indefinitely. 

Detective Chief Inspector Phil Atkinson said: “Cetin subjected his victims to serious physical harm and violence on numerous occasions.

“They have all shown immeasurable bravery in coming forward and telling us exactly what happened to them.

“Cetin also forced his victims to go through a trial after he denied the offences, but thankfully a jury saw through his lies and he was rightly convicted.”

Detective Chief Inspector Phil Atkinson added:

“Merseyside Police is completely committed to protecting children and women from violence and sexual abuse.

“As you can imagine for victims of such appalling crimes, the impact on them is significant and long-lasting.

“If you have experienced any form of sexual abuse, or know of a child being abused, please come forward and report this to police.

“We take all such reports extremely seriously and if you can find the courage to come forward and speak to us we have specially trained officers who will treat you with sensitivity and compassion.”

Description

A Kuwaiti asylum seeker who messaged what he believed to be a 14-year-old girl has avoided prison after claiming, "I didn't know I was doing anything wrong."

Fahad Al Enaze, 31, sent sexual texts to paedophile hunters posing as an underage girl, according to The Sun. Living in a Liverpool migrant hotel, he was caught by the Widnes Parents Against Predators group in September 2024.

He pleaded guilty to attempting sexual communication with a child at Warrington magistrates' court on Friday.

Prosecutor Chelsea Kearns said Al Enaze sent explicit messages to the decoy child and, upon arrest, told officers, "I didn't know I was doing anything wrong."

Kuwait raised its age of consent to 18 in March 2024, allowing sex only within marriage. Previously, men could marry (and have sex) at 17 and women at 15 with parental or judicial consent.

The court heard Al Enaze persisted in asking for photos after learning her supposed age, quizzed her on sex, and suggested he could "teach her everything" in a relationship.

He received an eight-month suspended jail sentence for 24 months, plus a sexual harm prevention order and 10 years on the sex offenders register.

Al Enaze must complete 25 rehabilitation days, 300 hours of unpaid work, and pay £272 in costs and surcharge.

Magistrate JP Paul Chadwick called him "very lucky" to avoid custody, adding: "In this country we take these offences seriously. You should be truly ashamed of yourself."

Description

A man from Liverpool has been jailed for several child sex offences with teenagers aged 13 to 15.

Keith Simpson, 67 years, of Hartington Road, Toxteth was convicted today (Wednesday 17 September) of three counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, one count of attempting to cause a child aged 13 to 15 to watch/look at an image of a sexual act, one count of attempting to cause/incite a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity and possession of indecent images of children.

Simpson was jailed to a total of 4 years imprisonment and also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Officer in case William Wilson, said: “I know that people hearing the details of Simpson’s crimes will feel complete revulsion at the way he attempted to exploit who he believed to be vulnerable children. Simpson is a sexual predator that used anonymous chat sites in an attempt to target female children as his prey, to achieve sexual gratification.

“His crimes are quite simply despicable. Simpson had no regard for the impact his behaviour would have on victims and subjected them to a number of offences.”

Chief Inspector Alan McKeon added: “Merseyside Police is completely committed to protecting children from sexual abuse and stopping those who seek to do them harm – including those who share images of that abuse.

“Sex offending has a huge and devastating impact on victims and their families, and that harm can last a lifetime’’

“Our Sex Offender Management Unit is dedicated to preventing sexual offences and protecting the public from registered sex offenders. This should send a very clear message to the public that we will do everything in our power and use all tools at our disposal to target offenders and bring them to justice.

“Merseyside Police has invested in digital risk management software to reduce the risk posed by sex offenders living in the community, but also to ensure that robust proactive arrests can be made quickly should any illegal activity be identified.

“If you have experienced any form of sexual abuse, know of a child being abused or know of an adult involved in storing or sharing images of abuse please come forward and report this to police. 

 “We take all such reports extremely seriously and if you can find the courage to come forward and speak to us, we have specially trained officers who will treat you with sensitivity and compassion.”

Description

Mark Smith, AKA Mark Bocker

A former headteacher who sexually assaulted three girls at his school has been jailed.

Mark Bocker, 65, abused the teenagers between 2007 and 2016 at a school in the Oswaldtwistle area.

Bocker, of Gorse Lane, Formby, was jailed for three-and-a-half years at Burnley Crown Court after he was convicted of three counts of sexual assault.

He was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

Police Investigating Officer Amanda Gallery said:

"First and foremost I would like to praise these girls for having the courage to come forward and report to us what happened to them.

"I hope the guilty verdicts and sentence give them some sense that justice has been done."

Description

Stephen Attah, 47, groomed a 14-year-old girl with lewd sexual messages over six months after spotting her in a Liverpool pub with her family.

He took her phone, added his number, and began messaging her on WhatsApp, switching to 24-hour disappearing messages.

At Liverpool Crown Court on August 1, prosecutor Jamie Baxter said: "While at the pub, (Attah) took the girl's phone, entered his personal number into it, and soon after began messaging her on WhatsApp, and began grooming her. The defendant changed the chat to 24-hour disappearing messages. This deletes the chat thread after that period."

The girl saved some messages, which she shared with police. Mr. Baxter added: "These messages reveal a snapshot of the defendant's lewd and sexual messages toward the victim. The victim explained in addition to the sexual messages, the defendant had at some stage taken a photo of his penis and sent it to her. He tried to book a hotel for them to meet up - to arrange and facilitate the commission of a sexual offence against her."

Court-heard messages included a 12:30 a.m. text urging her to meet him in pyjamas: "come and see (him) for 10 minutes." He said he was "round the corner" from her house and offered "£20 for a vape." He asked: "can I have a picture please? Sexy ones. Send me some different pictures of you and I'll video call you in a minute. Don't talk, just look at me and see what's waiting for you."

He offered to book a hotel the next day, warning: "You can't let anyone else know what we're doing or see us together, you know. You know that, right?" Messages grew more explicit, demanding nude photos from her bathroom and becoming forceful.

Mr. Baxter said: "She said the defendant would threaten her not to tell anyone what they would speak about. He told her 'if you tell anyone, something's going to happen to you', and she believed him."

The girl confided in her cousin, leading to her parents alerting police. Attah was arrested and pleaded guilty to arranging or facilitating a child sex offence and sexual communication with a child.

In her statement, the girl said: "When everyone found out I was terrified and upset, and it's impacted my confidence massively. I don't go out alone anymore. I'm scared I'll bump into someone who knows him or his family. I'm scared if he does get out, what he'll do to me or my family. It plays over in my head every single day. I feel scared and upset every single day because of it."

Mr. Baxter noted Attah, of Askham Close, Toxteth, had 18 prior convictions for 38 offences, including drug supply, firearm possession, and bladed article possession. He added: "The use of threats, when considered in the context of his convictions, may add significant credibility to the victim's concerns."

Defence barrister Carmel Wild said references from family, friends, employers, and his partner showed a "very different side": "Somebody they can count on, kind, compassionate, empathetic and very committed to his work." She noted his remorse and shame, explaining: "Although there is no excuse for this disgusting behaviour, he outlines the place he found himself in. He wasn't taking his prescribed medication during this time, and was blocking out traumas with alcohol. The loss of his mother and the daily care of his father."

Attah has PTSD from witnessing a friend shot dead and testifying against the perpetrators, after which the perpetrator's brother murdered the mother of his children. Ms. Wild added: "He had accepted he was struggling and turned to alcohol and turned to this offending despite having a partner. This offending is very much out of character. The defendant does had previous convictions but there is some gap in offending between 2017 and 2025."

Since remand, Attah has worked as a cleaner and completed an alcohol awareness course.

Description

Orme appeared in Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday, July 2, after he was found guilty of the rape of a child under the age of 13 following a five day trial at the end of April. 

Orme, 37, was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison after being found guilty of three counts of rape of a child under the age of 13, one count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and one count of indecency with a child.

Description

Today, Monday 14 July, a man from Newsham Park has been jailed for the rape of a woman in Liverpool.

James Anthony Elliott , 30 years, was sentenced to eight years in prison and issued with an indefinite restraining order at Liverpool Crown Court today.

Elliott, of Newsham Drive, was found guilty following a three-day trial which commenced on Monday 7 July.

The court heard that Elliot raped an 18-year-old woman inside a house in August 2022. The woman has been supported by specially trained officers.

Detective Constable Andy Littler from Merseyside’s Unity Team who specialise in Rape and Serious Sexual Assault Offences, said: “This has been an extremely lengthy and complex investigation. Elliott then put his victim through the trauma of having to relive the experience by way of a trial.

“And while no sentence will repair the damage Elliot inflicted on his victim, I hope this conviction has secured some justice for her.

“I would like to praise the dignity she has shown throughout the investigation. Today’s results shows that violence against women and girls will simply not be tolerated and we will work tirelessly to bring perpetrators to justice.”

Detective Constable Littler added:

“We are committed to protecting victims of sexual offences, and anyone who reports an incident to us will be safeguarded and supported throughout the investigation by Specially Trained Officers and Sexual Violence Advocates who will provide all the relevant support.

“Anyone that has been a victim of a sexual offence, is concerned for the safety of someone they know or suspects someone to be engaging in this criminal activity, should come forward and speak to us.

“We have a team of dedicated staff who will expertly and compassionately deal with your reports and we will do everything we can to bring offenders to justice.”

Description

A dad-of-three falsely claimed to be a reverend while attempting to groom two schoolgirls online. Kevin Marshall, 45, of Hursley Road in Fazakerley, posted Facebook pictures of himself in a priest's collar and Moncler coat, befriended the teens via social media, booked hotel stays, and arranged meetups for coffee or drives.

Unbeknownst to him, he was ensnared in a paedophile hunter sting by Saving Children's Futures UK, using decoy profiles of 15-year-old girls on Facebook and WhatsApp. He made repeated attempts to meet one and specific arrangements with the other. Marshall was confronted at home by the group around 9:30pm on April 28, 2025, leading to his arrest. He told police, "honestly, I've done nothing wrong" and described matters as "both 'nasty and dangerous'."

With the first decoy, he asked when she turned 16, called her "hot," sent photos of motorcycles, cars, and his shoulder X-ray after a biking accident. He proposed a hotel stay, offered to travel to Glasgow to collect her, sent train times, booked a room for April 25, 2025, asked "what type of drunk she was," and said he would "make her comfortable on her first experience with a man."

For the second decoy, contacted in January 2025, he claimed "he had been a reverend but quit when his mother died," suggested "meeting up for coffee, a walk or a drive as friends, for a chat," called her "stunning and beautiful," admitted "naughty thoughts," offered to "pick her up in his Volvo" and "put a smile on her face." He also commented on family court as "pricks who think they know better" and arranged a Crosby coffee meet.

Marshall has 20 prior convictions for 51 offenses, including a five-year blackmail sentence in 2015. Defense lawyer Matthew O'Neill said: "He puts it down to the loss of his mother in January this year, which resulted in him misusing cocaine to the extent where he found himself communicating with what he believed to be 15-year-old girls online. He is disgusted in his behaviour and embarrassed, given the nature of his offending and the fact that he has three young children. Mr Marshall has spent the best part of two months in custody. He tells me that he is using his time constructively and reflecting on his actions to ensure that, when he is released from custody, he does not appear before the courts again."

At Liverpool Crown Court, Marshall pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted sexual communications with a child and two charges of arranging or facilitating a child sex offense. Appearing in a grey t-shirt, he wiped away tears during the hearing and was jailed for three years.

Judge Simon Medland KC said: "There were two supposed children involved under pseudonyms. They were both girls who were 15, or so you thought, yet you were prepared to go to considerable lengths to arrange sexual encounters in the most graphic ways. Under an imaginative disguise, you sought to groom them in a prolonged way. Children are entitled to their childhood. They are not there to be sexualised or seen as sexual objects by dirty minded, paedophile inclined adults. Yet that is what you were doing."

Marshall received a lifelong sexual harm prevention order and must sign the sex offenders' register indefinitely.

Description

A Liverpool man who was found to have committed child sex offences after hotel staff raised the alarm has been jailed today, Thursday 3 July.

Joel Dever, aged 25, was sentenced to five years, three months in prison at Liverpool Crown Court.

He was also issued with a lifelong restraining order and is required to sign the Sex Offender Register for life. 

Dever, of Good Shepherd Close in Croxteth, pleaded guilty to a number of child sexual offences, including six counts of sexual activity with a child, arranging or facilitating a child sex offence, and five counts of making indecent images of a child which were category A,B or C videos.

Today's sentencing relates to child sex offences Dever committed in 2023 when he was 22.

Dever met a 14-year-old girl on a social media site and engaged in a sexual relationship with her for more than a year, regularly booking hotels for them both in Liverpool and Southport.

Detective Constable Soph Lowe from Sefton Protecting Vulnerable People Unit, said: "We work closely with hotels and bars to raise awareness of child sexual exploitation. Hotel staff in particular have been trained to identify the signs of when a child is being sexual exploited and how to report issues to police.

“In this instance, Dever’s predatory and vile behaviour was found out when hotel staff at one establishment raised concerns about the girl's age and called police.

“The victim and her family have shown immense courage and bravery throughout the investigation to reach this conviction.

“Today’s custodial sentence has removed him from the streets to prevent further harm to anyone else. I hope Dever spends his time in prison reflecting on his wholly unacceptable behaviour."

Det Con Lowe added: “I hope his imprisonment encourages other victims to come forward and report sex offences to us, and demonstrates that they can have confidence in us to take reports seriously. We will ensure offenders are put before the courts so that they can pay for their crimes.

"“Anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence, or is concerned for the safety of someone they know or suspects someone to be engaging in this criminal activity, should come forward and speak to us. 

“We have a team of dedicated staff who will expertly and compassionately deal with your reports, and we will do everything we can to bring offenders to justice.

“Time is no barrier to reporting offences and I would urge anyone who has been victim of a sexual offence at any time to come forward and we will do everything we can to help and support them.”

Description

A former agency teaching assistant has been jailed for 20 months as part of an investigation into the possession of indecent images of children.

Keiron Pickett, 24 years, of Withington Road, Speke, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today, Friday 20 June. 

In May, he pleaded guilty to the following offences and was remanded into custody ahead of today's sentencing:

• Five counts of making indecent photographs/pseudo-photographs of a child (Categories A, B and C), none of which relate to the school
• Operating equipment beneath clothing, relating to an incident at the school in 2023
• Possession of a Class B controlled drug (cannabis), relating to cannabis seized from his home address

On Thursday 5 June at a plea hearing, a further charge of taking an indecent photo/pseudo photograph of a child was taken into consideration, in relation to the same incident at the school in 2023. Today, he was convicted and jailed for 20 months for that offence. 

He was further sentenced for the other offences, to run concurrent.

Pickett was also issued with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years and ordered to pay a Victim Surcharge.

Detective Inspector James Milligan said: “Pickett was an agency teaching assistant at Bank View School in Ganworth Road, Speke at the time of his abhorrent crimes, in the autumn term of 2023. He abused the trust placed in him by the organisation, and today justice has been served.

“We naturally understand the concern caused by such crimes, especially when they take place in an educational establishment, as two of these offences did. As soon as he was charged, Pickett was remanded into custody pending the sentencing.

“Pickett has today been dealt with by the courts following a complex investigation, but we continue to work in close partnership with all of those affected.

“If you have been affected by sexual offences of any kind, then please know that there is a lot of support available, both from ourselves and our partner organisations, so please come forward.”

Description

Detectives from our Child Criminal and Sexual Exploitation Team (CCSET) are welcoming the sentencing of a Liverpool man to life in prison for multiple sexual offences against girls. He was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court today, Thursday 16 September.

Marc Noonan, 27, of Fenwick Street, pleaded guilty to eleven sexual offences prior to appearing at trial on other matters. Noonan will serve a minimum of 18 years minus time spent on remand, until there is any possibility of parole.

In January, Noonan was found guilty of a further 29 sexual offences. The offences took place between 2022 and 2023, against three girls between the ages of 13 and 16.

The investigation found that Noonan met and groomed the victims after approaching them via social media, going on to commit further offences, including rape, sexual assault and disclosing private images.

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.