Latest Offenders Liver

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A paedophile barricaded himself in his bedroom at his parents' home then kicked a police officer in the face.

Liam Perkins was caught sharing his disgusting collection of child rape photos with other perverts online.

But the 30-year-old was released under investigation and caused havoc at his family's home in St Helens.

The dad, now of Meredith Street, Garston, later broke his ex-girlfriend's front door in another violent outburst.

And he launched a foul-mouthed rant at a judge when he was finally jailed at Liverpool Crown Court.

Police acting on intelligence raided Perkins' then home in St Helens on March 18, 2020.

Cheryl Mottram, prosecuting, said officers seized his two Samsung mobile phones, which both contained indecent videos and photos.

There were 17 Category A - the most serious category showing child rape - 17 Category B and 89 Category C files, plus two animal porn pictures.

Analysis of the phones showed Perkins had used Kik Messenger to distribute six Category A, six Category B and 19 Category C files.

Ms Mottram said these were sent over a four-day period in March 2020.

In response to one Category A image sent by Perkins, another paedophile replied: "Damn man your stuff is great"

The court heard the age range of the children was from five to 15, with the majority aged nine to 13.

Ms Mottram said Perkins searched for "young baby porn pics", "very young", "young porn", "young feet" and "teen boy boy".

When interviewed, he gave a prepared statement and accepted the devices were his, but denied a sexual interest in children.

He was released under investigation, but at around 3.30am on January 2, police received a call from his mum, who said he was drunk and causing a disturbance at their property.

Ms Mottram said police found him in his bedroom, he was "very aggressive", "couldn't be reasoned with" and when taken to the ground he kicked out at an officer, causing the victim's nose to bleed.

When interviewed, he said he had a drinking problem and couldn't remember the attack.

He was released under investigation again, only to go to his ex-partner's home in St Helens on February 1.

She closed the front door on him and he repeatedly banged on the door, cracking a glass panel, before later telling police he had been drunk again.

Perkins admitted three counts of downloading, three counts of distributing and one count of possessing indecent images of children, plus possessing extreme porn, assaulting an emergency worker, resisting arrest and criminal damage.

He had three previous convictions for four offences, including public disorder and criminal damage in 2012 and theft in 2017.

Desmond Lennon, defending, said his client expressed remorse and "recognises the complete wrongness of his behaviour in terms of the sexual interest in children and also his violent behaviour".

He said his client's underlying problem was his use of alcohol and cocaine, before suggesting he was suitable for a sex offenders treatment programme and rehabilitation in the community.

Mr Lennon said Perkins would "inevitably" lose his job and likely his home if jailed, but was "sorry and ashamed for his behaviour, understands belatedly perhaps that it was entirely wrong, and would welcome the chance to make amends".

Judge Gary Woodhall said the Kik Messenger conversations showed Perkins was "fully aware" what he was sharing online, with the child abuse images showing girls and boys aged five to 15.

The judge noted Perkins' parents had been reluctant about him moving back into their home, before the January 2 incident.

He said Perkins "smashed furniture" at their address, but they hadn't pressed any criminal charges.

Judge Woodhall added: "They believe you're in need of professional help."

He said: "You had barricaded yourself in your bedroom so that the officers had to force their way into your bedroom."

The judge said Perkins was "attempting to push them down the stairs", threatened to kick them, then when taken down, kicked an officer in the face "full force".

He said the officers had to use incapacitant spray to calm him down and arrest him.

Judge Woodhall said the incident at his ex-partner's house saw Perkins injure his own hand.

He said after Perkins realised she had called the police, he sent her messages calling her a "grass" and a "rat".

The judge said Perkins had expressed remorse in a pre-sentence report and was no longer able to see his daughter because of his crimes.

Judge Woodhall said Perkins admitted he was attracted to young teens, under the influence of cocaine and alcohol when viewing the images, and had tried to get help.

However, he said the offences were too serious for anything other than prison and jailed him for two years and one month in total.

He made a five-year restraining order to protect his ex-girlfriend and told Perkins to sign on the Sex Offenders Register and comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.

Perkins yelled from the dock: "Bulls***! You let a guy walk with 32,000 images the other day!"

He paused to shout "love you dad" to his father sitting in the public gallery, before continuing to rant: "As for that five-year-old, I've never seen pictures like that, f***ing k***head!

"They sent it, I didn't, f***ing k***."

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He had warned officers he would 'he would commit suicide before he reached prison'

A 76-year-old man who had threatened to take his own life before he reached prison slashed his neck with a craft blade in court.

Leslie Marrs produced the blade and slashed the right side of his neck moments after Judge Stuart Driver, QC, had warned the dock officer about the defendant.

Judge Driver had had just warned the dock officer before that Marrs had told probation that he would commit suicide before he reached prison."

The judge added: "He needs to be handled with particular care today."

However seconds later Marrs, who was appearing off-bail, produced a craft blade from his suit and twice slashed his neck, before the dock officer wrestled the weapon from him.

The officer then pressed paper towels to the wound while urgently calling for assistance for the former soldier and the court was cleared of most of those present which included the shocked mum of Marrs teenage victim.

Security staff arrived to administer first aid and paramedics and an ambulance rushed to Liverpool Crown Court to attend to him in the cells.

Marrs, of Dunkeld Close, Kensington, Liverpool, had just been sentenced to 32 months imprisonment after admitting sexual assault and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Anya Horwood, prosecuting, had told the court that the incident came to light when the victim, who was in her mid-teens, confided in her youth worker that some months earlier she had been sexually assaulted by Marrs who had also previously made inappropriate remarks.

When interviewed Marrs claimed that they had been discussing pubic hair and in that context touched her vaginal area.

A photograph of his penis was found on his mobile phone and he admitted the girl, who was vulnerable, might have seen it but he had not shown it to her.

In an impact statement the victims mum told how the girl had suffered nightmares and self-harmed after the assault and had displayed out of character challenging behaviour. She said she realised now that Marrs had been grooming her daughter. I believe he knew exactly what he was doing.

The court heard that he has previous convictions but none for sexual offences.

Paul Lewis, defending, said that Marrs has chronic lung issues and heart problems and some mental health problems relating to his Army service.

Sentencing Marrs earlier today ( Monday) the judge said that he had caused significant psychological harm to his victim and described her mums statement as moving.

After Marr sliced his neck the court was closed for a while to allow for it to be thoroughly cleaned.

Marrs was taken to hospital for treatment and no injuries were sustained to officers during the incident.

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Sick Marc Stokes-Denson claimed he was acting as a paedophile hunter himself

A paedophile said he wanted to repeatedly rape a girl, aged 12, as her mum watched.

Marc Stokes-Denson tried to claim he was in fact acting as a paedophile hunter and continued the chat because he was "concerned", but a jury didn't believe his lies.

The 45-year-old was actually talking to an undercover police officer who posed as 'Becky'.

David Polglase, prosecuting at Liverpool Crown Court, said Stokes-Denson had used the name 'KinkDomM_UK on Chat Avenue and live:d***stokes on Skype.

Judge Anil Murray said over two months Stokes-Denson "developed a relationship" with 'Becky'.

He told her he was sexually interested in her 12-year-old daughter, Lizzie and in vile chats spoke about the two of them sexually abusing the 'child' together.

Mr Polglase said: "On one specific day, Becky allowed Lizzie onto the computer to chat with the defendant, and he engaged in sexual communication with Lizzie'."

Stokes-Denson was arrested on Sunday, September 2019, and in a police interview claimed he had reported 'Becky' to an online admin, despite having no evidence he had done so.

He claimed he "continued to chat with Becky as he was concerned and wanted to find out more".

He denied being sexually attracted to children and said he carried on so he would have "evidence" to show police.

Stokes-Denson, of The Close, Walton, was convicted by a jury of arranging to commit an offence of penetrative sexual activity with a child between May 28 and August 6, 2019.

He was also convicted of attempting sexual communication with a child between the same dates.

Stephen Tettey, defending, said: "The defendant makes clear he is sorry for the position he places himself and his family in.

"He is ashamed of his conduct and realises the hardship which members of the jury must have endured in listening to a case of this nature."

Mr Tettey said there was a "prospect of rehabilitation" and Stokes-Denson had undergone treatment "by way of counselling" and had a "willingness to cooperate".

Mr Tettey said: "A rehabilitated defendant is better than one who is only punished."

He said Stokes-Denson is "not the person he was in 2019" and his family "continue to support him".

Mr Tettey stressed there was no actual child involved and that he sent a message to say he was "no longer prepared to meet".

Judge Murray, sentencing, noted Stokes-Denson had a "good work record" and had suffered "some physical illness in 2017" as well as financial problems which "caused stress".

In February 2019 Stokes-Denson had also separated from his wife.

A doctor said Stokes-Denson showed signs of an adjustment disorder which meant he was "unlikely to consider the full consequences" of his actions.

The judge rejected the suggestion and said: "The way you acted was quite deliberate."

Judge Murray added Stokes-Denson was a "danger of causing serious harm to children".

The judge said he was not sure if Stokes-Denson's claim he was "ashamed and sorry" was an admission of guilt, but said he did not accept remorse.

Judge Murray said: "You have shown not a shred of remorse."

Stokes-Denson was jailed for five years and six months and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

He was also ordered to adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life.

Speaking after the case, Detective Chief Inspector Bev Hyland said: "Were pleased to see Stokes-Denson dealt with at court today after his plans to abuse a child.

"Unbeknownst to him, Stokes-Denson was speaking to an undercover officer, and he was swiftly arrested.

We are absolutely committed to protecting children, from those who seek to cause them harm. Our Merseyside Police Online Child Abuse Investigation Team works tirelessly and will use all available powers to identify offenders who pose a risk towards children and bring them to justice.

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 continue to bring offenders to justice.

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A woman's supposed friend punched and kicked her when she refused to perform a sex act on him.

Mohammad Keneshlou told his victim he was "sad" and tried to hug and kiss her after an evening drinking.

The woman told him to stop, said she was married and even rang her husband to make clear she wasn't interested.

But 28-year-old Keneshlou, of Rocky Lane, Anfield, exposed himself and then pushed the woman's head towards him.

Liverpool Crown Court today heard she only escaped after biting him on the hand and screaming to alert neighbours.

Nicola Daley, prosecuting, said Keneshlou and the woman went for a walk to a park in Liverpool one evening in 2019.

They then went to her accommodation, where they had some drinks, before going to her room.

Ms Daley said the victim accepted that when Keneshlou said he was sad and lay down on her bed, she lay down next to him.

However, when he tried to kiss her and rub his clothed genital region against her she told him to stop and pushed him away.

The court heard she rang her husband to tell him she loved him, because she wanted Keneshlou to realise she was serious.

Ms Daley said Keneshlou pulled her back onto the bed and tried to hug and kiss her, then exposed himself.

She said: "He was pleading with her to give him oral sex. She refused and he initially tried to push her head towards his penis, but then she refused again and so he punched her to the face."

The woman again refused and he punched her again and kicked her, as she tried to fight back and screamed.

Neighbours responded to her cries, she ran out of her room and police were called, before she was taken to hospital with swelling and bruising to her eyes, cheek and lips.

Ms Daley said the victim now suffers with anxiety, struggles to sleep and is "fearful of being in the company of other men".

The prosecutor said: "She has described moving away from Liverpool to try and put the matter behind her, but has indicated that continuing anxiety has made it difficult for her to work and the relationship with her husband has deteriorated.

"She describes being scared of being attacked both when at home and when out in public."

Keneshlou, who was arrested at around 10.25pm, had scratches to his arms and an injury to his thumb consistent with the victim fighting against him.

Ms Daley said he was "clearly under the influence of alcohol" and had vomited next to the woman's bed.

When interviewed, Keneshlou said he had felt "sorry" for the woman and described her as "unattractive".

He said she told him she was "lonely", and she instigated kissing before reaching for his penis, so he pushed her away.

Keneshlou was set to stand trial after denying attempted rape, sexual assault and assault causing actual bodily harm.

Prosecutors dropped the attempted rape charge, which was ordered to lie on the file, after he admitted the other charges shortly before the trial.

Keneshlou, who has no previous convictions, had multiple character references, including a testimonial from Reverend David Gavin of Christ Church in Anfield, who was sitting in the public gallery today.

Ben Jones, defending, said theses references showed a "very decent human being who goes out of his way to assist those who are even less fortunate than him".

He said Keneshlou had sought to demonstrate remorse "albeit with some minimisation", had undergone counselling with Reverend Gavin, and it had been his "sole experience" drinking alcohol.

Mr Jones said Keneshlou feared prison because of a "traumatising" experience in custody abroad and suggested he was a "good man", who if spared jail could continue his "good works" for others.

As Keneshlou cried in the dock, his lawyer said: "He wants me to emphasise that he seeks if not prays every day for forgiveness from the victim of his offending.

"He recognises the damage that he's done to her, he recognises the impact upon her and it, I seek to assure the court, has affected him deeply as well."

Judge Anil Murray told Keneshlou: "This must have been a thoroughly terrifying experience for the complainant.

"She screamed for help and bit you on the hand to get away."

He said the impact included her losing more than 10kg in weight, feeling unable to go out shopping or trust anyone, and leaving the city.

The judge said it was "a very bad example" of sexual assault, with physical and psychological injuries, against a "vulnerable" woman.

Referring to a pre-sentence report, which found he likely "held negative attitudes towards women", the judge said: "You say you're remorseful, however you only accepted limited responsibility and you put the blame on your victim."

He added: "I've read about your background, I note that you come from Iran and that you were tortured and that you came to the UK as an asylum seeker. I note that you have anxiety, depression and PTSD."

However, the judge said a psychiatrist found Keneshlou being "emotionally unstable" and his mental health issues didn't lessen his culpability and that his account to the doctor of what happened was "not consistent with guilt to these offences".

Keneshlou sobbed as Judge Murray jailed him for two years and eight months, imposed a five-year restraining order to protect the woman, and told him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.

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An ex children's entertainer keeps asking girls to send naked and semi-naked pictures of themselves to him.

In his most recent vile messages Michael Monks asked a 13-year-old to lift her skirt and take a photo for him before sending videos of himself performing sex acts.

Despite having been snared by paedophile hunters in the past the 41-year-old was duped again, this time by an undercover police officer.

The former DJ was caught in 2017 after asking another decoy profile, also pretending to be a 13-year-old girl, for oral sex and suggesting they stay the night at a hotel or bed and breakfast.

Today the dad, who used to work as a DJ and entertainer at childrens parties, was back in the dock at Liverpool Crown Court for similar offences.

Ken Grant, prosecuting, explained an undercover police officer was using the Kik Messenger app while pretending to be a 13-year-old called Millie.

Monks, using the names 'AnfieldGuy' and 'MikeLeon' contacted the decoy profile on April 15 this year.

As soon as the conversation began the decoy told Monks they were 13-years-old, to which he replied "I'm a bit older, where are you now, in your bedroom?".

Mr Grant said: "'Millie' told the defendant she was 13, but this didn't deter the defendant from continuing with the online conversation."

Monks sent a photo of himself and when the 'girl' also sent a picture he replied "You look cute" and asked "Are you naughty?".

Mr Grant said he asked "increasingly sexualised questions" including "You ever been naughty with a boy, played with a willy?".

He also asked what he thought was a child "You ever touched yourself below? Bet you have".

Monks sent the 'girl' two videos of him performing a sex act on himself and said "Please can I see you with your skirt lifted up and I'll show you more".

He was arrested at a builder's yard where he worked on April 17 and gave a no comment interview.

Monks has seven previous convictions and in May 2018 was jailed for two-and-a-half years for nine sexual offences including attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming and attempting to incite a child in sexual activity.

Paedophile hunters said Monks had cried 'crocodile tears' when he was caught red-handed.

After breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order he was jailed again following his release for four weeks.

Jamie Baxter, defending, said Monks wanted to "do something to address his abhorrent and unjustifiable behaviour" and hoped to move to HMP Wymott near Leyland where there are "specific courses available".

Mr Baxter asked the judge to consider his guilty pleas and totality.

He said this had been the "first significant breach of the Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Monks, of Richmond Terrace, Anfield, admitted breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause a child to watch sexual activity.

Judge Robert Trevor-Jones, sentencing, said Monks' sexual offences were "now becoming a very worrying trend indeed".

The judge noted Monks remains a "high risk of harm to children" and jailed him for two years and nine months.

He imposed a new Sexual Harm Prevention order for 15 years.

Monks already has to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life from a previous conviction.

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Jeffrey Hickey has been assessed as posing a high danger to women

A serial sex offender was jailed after historic offences came to light.

Jeffrey Hickey, 41, appeared by video link from prison for sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court.

He was convicted last week after a trial of two counts of rape and one of indecent assault.

His victim was just 13 years old at the time the offences were committed in the mid-1990s, while he was 16 years old.

The court heard Hickey forced himself on the victim.

A personal impact statement on behalf of the victim was read out by Charlotte Kenny, prosecuting, who said: "Prior to these assaults, she had a happy, outgoing childhood, with aspirations to go into performance as a singer.

"In the weeks that followed she said she felt alone, scared, disgusted and frightened, and didn't know what to do.

"It had a serious impact on her education and subsequent employment opportunities.

"She became isolated and began drinking alcohol heavily to try to forget what happened to her and find relief from the nightmare she was having every day."

The ordeal was brought back to her around 10 years ago when she read in the ECHO that Hickey had been convicted of a sexual assault, but it was 2018 before she brought her own experiences to the attention of police.

Miss Kenny said: "She felt angry the defendant was still free and able to assault other women."

The victim said that when she finally reported the crimes she had suffered at the hands of Hickey to police it felt "like a huge ton of bricks had been lifted from her."

The court heard that since the offences were committed in the 1990s, Hickey had had a long subsequent history of violent sexual offences, and had been more or less constantly in prison since 2008 as he was assessed as posing a high danger to women.

His victims ranged from an elderly resident in a nursing home, to lone female students returning home.

On one occasion, he climbed up a drainpipe and entered a house through an open window to carry out an assault.

The offences had occurred while Hickey had been set free from prison after convincing the parole board he no longer posed a danger to women.

Jonathan Duffy, defending, said Hickey now "accepted his guilt" over the historic rape offences, after initially claiming he had no recollection of them.

Mr Duffy said: "He has already served very long sentences of imprisonment. His principal mitigation is that at the time he committed these offences, he was 16 years old."

The Recorder, Tom Gilbart, told Hickey: "It took many years for the victim to report these matters to police.

"She has said you stole her childhood and just hearing your name makes her feel physically sick.

"It should be a matter of great shame to you that you had this effect on another human being.

"These were abhorrent offences and you used force to subject your victim to rape and indecent assault to satisfy your lust and exercise control on her."

Mr Gilbart sentenced Hickey to a total of 11 years in prison, of which he must serve two-thirds before he is considered for release.

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Simon Dickinson commented 'nice' after being sent a video of a child being raped

A paedophile swapped videos of children being raped in a sickening group chat called 'TeenTinyGirl'.

In the perverted chat on Kik Messenger Simon Dickinson and other paedophiles would comment on child sex abuse videos calling them "sexy".

The 44-year-old's disgusting behaviour was revealed after he used Snapchat to share pictures of child sex abuse, and police were able to trace his IP address.

After a raid the full extent of his criminal content was uncovered and police found that he had also sent links to videos of child rape to seven other people from his computer.

Derek Jones, prosecuting today at Liverpool Crown Court, said Merseyside Police received intelligence that a "user of the Snapchat social media app uploaded indecent images".

Officers were able to track the IP address from the account to Dickinson's address, where they arrested him on November 24 last year when he initially denied any involvement.

Mr Jones said there were 58 images of child rape, eight of which were videos and 266 other images of child sex abuse, 15 of which were videos.

The court heard the children in the videos were between the ages of six and 10.

Dickinson was part of a group chat on Kik Messenger called 'TeenTinyGirl' in which the members would share sickening videos and images of children being raped.

Comments in the group included "nice", "sexy" and "want to trade".

Mr Jones said Dickinson commented "nice" after a video of a child being raped was shared in the group.

Dickinson had also sent links to videos of children being raped to seven other people "shortly before the arrest".

Mr Jones said: "Recipients of those links seemed to indicate they had received them and comments put down showed their approval of the images."

The sick paedophile had shared 75 child rape videos and 81 videos of other forms of child sex abuse as well as one still image of an adult woman being raped.

Dickinson has two previous, unrelated, convictions involving drugs and alcohol from 2002 and 2008.

Stuart Mills, defending, urged the judge to suspend any custodial sentence.

Referring to Dickinson's denial of any sexual interest in children, which is cited in a probation report, he said: "The defendant is someone who is prepared to engage with the service and the probation service is perhaps the best placed organisation to deal with these difficulties."

He said: "He is frankly mortified, devastated and broken by what he has done."

Mr Mills said Dickinson was "isolated and lonely" and lives alone.

He said: "He has few friends and resorted to chat applications on his telephone which led to this offending."

Mr Mills said if he was jailed "he will lose his job" and it would affect his relationship with his children.

Dickinson, of Dwerryhouse Lane, West Derby, admitted three counts of making indecent images of children, possession of indecent images of children, possession of an extreme pornographic image, two counts of distributing indecent images of children and possession of indecent photographs of children for show.

Judge David Aubrey, QC, sentencing, said: "Notwithstanding the fact you may be an isolated and lonely man you were immersed in sexual depravity concerning children."

The judge said that despite Dickinson's denials he was "obtaining sexual gratification" from the indecent images.

Judge Aubrey said: "Each and every image that you were in possession of to which I have had made reference represented the abuse of a child."

The judge said he was "perpetuating the abuse of such children".

Judge Aubrey said: "You were actively involved, immersed, in that network specifically designed to facilitate the communication of the sharing of such images of children and that in my judgement is a serious aggravating factor."

Dickinson was jailed for two years and six months.

He was put on the Sex Offenders Register for life and ordered to adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same period.

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'HornyScouser78' was arrested outside B&M after buying three Kinder Eggs for a 13-year-old he called 'well fit'

A paedophile bought Kinder Eggs to give to a "girl" he was planning to meet at McDonald's.

Keiran Alderton was arrested outside B&M in Hunts Cross after talking online to what he thought was a 13-year-old girl, but she was actually an undercover police officer.

The 31-year-old, under the username 'HornyScouser78', told the girl he was "going to kiss the face off her" and "kissing might lead to more".

After he was arrested police discovered sickening child sex abuse images of children on his iPhone, including pictures of children being raped.

Cheryl Mottram, prosecuting today at Liverpool Crown Court, said the decoy profile of a 13-year-old girl, was set up by police on Kik Messenger.

Ms Mottram said: "On June 5 on that application she was contacted by 'HornyScouser78'".

After being told the 'girl' was 13-years of age Alderton "asked for details about her" and "asked if she 'liked older blokes'".

Ms Mottram said Alderton then "sent an image of himself in a red Liverpool t-shirt".

She said he informed the "girl" he was 30 years of age and said it was a 'shame' she wasn't older".

Alderton asked for a photo and was sent a picture of a girl, to which he replied she was "well fit with nice lips and eyes".

Ms Mottram said: "He suggested meeting up and asked what they would do when they met up and said 'maybe a little kiss'."

She said they then arranged to meet at McDonald's on June 10, 2020, at 11am.

The undercover police officer asked Alderton to bring Kinder Eggs and Alderton said he was "going to kiss the face off her" and "kissing might lead to more".

Alderton was arrested "at the retail park outside a B&M store where he had been to buy her Kinder Eggs".

After his arrest officers found 347 indecent pictures of children on his iPhone, including 35 of the most serious category, which involved images of children being raped.

Ms Mottram said the youngest child in the images was five-years-old.

Mike Hagerty, defending, urged the judge to suspend any custodial sentence stressing Alderton had admitted the offences at the earliest opportunity and didn't have any previous convictions.

Mr Hagerty said the offences took place against "the background of a breakdown in the defendant's long term relationship with the mother of his two sons".

He said Alderton has moved back in with his mum and has only been able to see his children once under supervision as a result of the proceedings.

He said Alderton has also been unable to see his brother "who has cerebral palsy and who he was a carer for".

Mr Hagerty said Alderton has "lost his job of 10 years working as a carer" and lost his home.

Mr Hagerty said he had provided "no real explanation to why he acted in the way he did" and he "denies any sexual interest in children".

He added Alderton, who has no previous convictions, had shown "shame", "regret" and "remorse" and the judge confirmed the defendant had "suffered from anxiety and depression".

Alderton, of Feltwell Road, Anfield, admitted attempting sexual communication with a child, attempting to meet a child after sexual grooming, three counts of making an indecent photograph of a child and possession of indecent images of children.

Judge Anil Murray, sentencing, said: "You travelled in an effort to meet what you thought was a child, that went beyond looking at images."

Determining whether the prison sentence could be suspended Judge Murray explained a pre sentence report deemed him a "high risk of serious harm to children should you reoffend".

The judge said: "I ask whether you present a risk to the public, the answer is yes."

Judge Murray added: "There are significant concerns about your sexual preoccupation and level of denial."

The judge jailed Alderton for two years and two months.

He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years and told to adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same period.

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Kamil Lesiak was part of a monstrous gang who kidnapped, tortured and raped another man.

He was the last of the group to be jailed after forcing the victim to commit depraved sex acts in a 10-hour attack.

The 27-year-old man was kidnapped in Bootle in November 2015 and kept against his will at a house in Simons Croft, Netherton.

Lesiak and Daniel Misiolek, who was jailed for life with a minimum of nine years in 2016, subjected him to a series of physical and sexual assaults.

Around 90 minutes of his horrifying ordeal were filmed by Misiolek's girlfriend, Awna Baszak, before he finally escaped when the gang left the house.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was initially attacked at a home in Bootle - days after another one of the gang, Dagmara Szary "appeared to have taken offence" to mobile phone photos she claimed to have seen.

Lesiak, 25, of no fixed address, was found guilty of false imprisonment, assault causing actual bodily harm, rape and causing a man to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.

He was jailed for 18 years.

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A paedophile used library computers to search for 'Harry Potter erotica' and 'fetish sites' which focused on children in their underwear.

Melissa Wilson, whose name was given in court listings as "Paul Wilson, also known as Melissa Wilson", managed to bypass security systems at Liverpool Central Library and Toxteth Library, later confessing to the crimes in a letter from her alter ego, Dan Thompson.

After creating library accounts the 34-year-old would attend "almost every other day" and used a Russian search engine "associated with accessing illegal files".

Liverpool Crown Court heard as well as looking up "Harry Potter erotica with a focus on Hermione Granger", Wilson searched "children porn" and "young girls modelling underwear".

In a letter from her alter ego she claimed she wanted to go back to prison because she felt 'accepted for who she is and who she wants to be'.

Nick Cockrell, prosecuting, explained Wilson's probation officer received the letter from Wilson's alter ego, Dan Thompson, detailing how she had bypassed library security systems.

Mr Cockrell said: "Merseyside Police received information Miss Wilson had been using computers at Liverpool City Libraries and Toxteth Libraries."

Mr Cockrell explained Wilson accessed the computers between July 10 and October 23 in 2019 on 86 days, "multiple times a week".

Wilson went on a chat forum which doesn't require the user to register and on which "illegal images of children are shared".

He explained the investigating officer went on the website during his investigation and a child sex abuse image "remained visible for 10 minutes before a moderator removed it".

Wilson also used a Russian search engine which had been "associated with accessing illegal files".

Mr Cockrell said there were times when Wilson would use the library computers to search for jobs but said there seemed to be a "lot more activity centring around the chat site".

Judge David Swinnerton explained one site which was accessed was a "sort of children's underwear fetish site" on which children between the ages of three and five were pictured in underwear.

The judge said they "can't say the defendant viewed that particular image" but she did click on the link.

Mr Cockrell said on the search there was reference to a username "c**face" and 13 photographs of two young girls aged between three and five who were either in their pyjamas or topless.

On July 10 Wilson searched for "Harry Potter erotica with a focus on Hermione Granger", "Lolicon", which refers to an attraction to prepubescent girls, Mr Cockrell explained.

Mr Cockrell explained she had also used Facebook Messenger, an American chat site and a UK chat forum as well as a chat room designed specifically for teens.

The court heard Wilson was charged for breaching her Sexual Harm Prevention Order in February 2021, which she later admitted in court.

Her first offence was in April 2008 for indecent images of children and was given a community order which she then breached twice in the same year and was jailed again having more indecent images of children.

Wilson then consistently breached court orders in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

In August 2015 she was jailed four years with an extended four years on licence for threats to kill, possession of prohibited images and breaching notification requirements.

In total Wilson had six previous convictions for 39 offences.

Mike O'Brien, defending, said there was "no excuse for her behaviour" and said she accepted the "persistent" breaches.

He said at the time of the offences she "wasn't welcome or accepted in her local community" and she "felt a sense of hopelessness".

He explained Wilson had applied for training courses and voluntary work but would "hit a brick wall" at the interviews which Mr O'Brien said was most likely due to her previous convictions.

He said: "A letter from Dan Thompson, her alter ego, explains initially she committed these offences in order to be returned to prison."

Mr O'Brien added: "She feels safer and happier in that environment."

He said she has been diagnosed with gender dysphoria and "identifies as a female even though she was born as a male".

He said she felt accepted in prison by the guards, doesn't feel isolated and is able to get help when she needs it.

Mr O'Brien said: "Even the inmates accept her for who she is and who she wants to be."

He added Wilson, who is serving her sentence at HMP Altcourse, suffers from asperger's and multiple personality disorder.

Judge Swinnerton, sentencing, said: "You have a lengthy and growing criminal record which revolves around your interest in indecent images of children and your repeated breaches of the orders which try to prevent you from accessing such images of children."

The judge said: "Some of the search terms you were using revolved around what I would describe as fetish sites of children in their underwear."

The judge added she "quite deliberately" accessed chatrooms despite a clause in the Sexual Harm Prevention Order which specified she could not.

The judge said he also took account of the delay which was "no fault of yours" and "will impact upon the earliest time on which you can apply for parole".

Judge Swinnerton said: "I understand for various reasons life on the outside must be difficult for you.

"I understand that it would be difficult for you to get a job."

The judge added that "a lot of that is down to you" for persistently breaching court orders and that if it didn't change "you're not going to find a constructive role".

Judge Swinnerton added that she would "waste a lot of your life behind bars" if she didn't stop offending.

Wilson was jailed for 32 months, although she will continue to serve a sentence after being recalled until June 23 2022.

She must sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and was ordered to adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life.

Description

A terrified boy sexually abused at a hellish children's home would sleep outside in the cold to escape his tormentor.

Edward Stanton raped and molested youngsters in his care at the infamous St Vincent's home in Formby from 1976 to 1995.

The former house master was jailed for 13 years in 1996 for sexual offences committed against seven boys, aged between 10 and 13.

The 69-year-old was back in the dock at Liverpool Crown Court today after being found guilty of two more sex attacks last month.

They related to a 13-year-old boy, who he twice indecently assaulted in the early 1980s, leaving the victim with psychological scars he bears to this day.

Stanton, formerly of Kirkdale, but now of Earle Road, Wavertree, had claimed someone else was responsible for the abuse.

The court heard the first attack took place when the boy returned from a period of home leave and Stanton pretended to search him for cigarettes, then put his hand down his trousers and touched his genitals.

A terrified boy sexually abused at a hellish children's home would sleep outside in the cold to escape his tormentor.

Edward Stanton raped and molested youngsters in his care at the infamous St Vincent's home in Formby from 1976 to 1995.

The former house master was jailed for 13 years in 1996 for sexual offences committed against seven boys, aged between 10 and 13.

The 69-year-old was back in the dock at Liverpool Crown Court today after being found guilty of two more sex attacks last month.

They related to a 13-year-old boy, who he twice indecently assaulted in the early 1980s, leaving the victim with psychological scars he bears to this day.

Stanton, formerly of Kirkdale, but now of Earle Road, Wavertree, had claimed someone else was responsible for the abuse.

The court heard the first attack took place when the boy returned from a period of home leave and Stanton pretended to search him for cigarettes, then put his hand down his trousers and touched his genitals.

"He describes the defendant as controlling and frightening. He was terrified. He felt he had nowhere to run. He often absconded and would sleep in the cold and felt that was safer than being at St Vincent's."

The prosecutor said the now adult suffered from attacks of depression and anxiety with which he struggled to cope.

He had an "emotional breakdown" when he self-harmed and was admitted to a psychiatric hospital, where he starved himself.

Mr Polglase said the victim also suffered nightmares and night terrors "where he calls out for his mum".

The court heard Stanton was jailed for 16 months in February 2013 for possessing indecent images of children and for two years in July 2016 for similar offences.

Mr Polglase said he was then jailed for two years in January 2018 for breaching his Sexual Offences Prevention Order and possessing further indecent images.

The court heard these images depicted both boys and girls being sexually abused.

Arthur Gibson, defending, accepted his client "undoubtedly" caused the victim psychological harm, but said the boy also had other issues not connected to Stanton.

He acknowledged that the victim was "forced to give evidence", but suggested if Stanton had also been sentenced for this abuse in 1996, it probably wouldn't have increased the sentence he received then any further.

Judge Robert Trevor-Jones told Stanton: "Of course in having a trial you forced the victim to undergo again a renewed ordeal by attending court and giving evidence and of course being branded a liar in the process."

The judge said Stanton "completely breached" his pastoral responsibilities as a house master at St Vincent's by targeting the vulnerable child and molesting him.

He said: "The short term impact upon him was to instill him with fear and panic about being in the institution.

"It led to him beginning a regular pattern of absconding and it seems some minor offending, which continued until he was told he need not return at St Vincent's."

Judge Trevor-Jones said the boy was left with a continuing impact of his "terrifying ordeal" until he confided in his wife and reported the abuse in 2017, which led to Stanton's arrest in April 2018.

Referring to the other seven boys he had abused at St Vincent's, some of whom he raped, the judge said: "Your predatory conduct there was out of control."

Judge Trevor-Jones told Stanton his three convictions for indecent images of children revealed "how entrenched your perverted attitudes are".

He said: "You still maintain your innocence of these two assaults. You accept you're sexually attracted to young children and you've undertaken several sexual offending programmes over the time, but clearly with very little impact."

The judge noted Stanton's health problems, including insulin dependence, kidney disease and high blood pressure, but said he had caused his victim "ongoing psychological damage".

He jailed him for three and a half years and told him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

The ECHO has previously reported how dozens of children's lives were destroyed by paedophiles who worked at St Vincent's and also St Aidan's in Widnes, and documented the brave victims' fight for justice.

The now closed homes, both run by Liverpool charity the Nugent Care Society, formerly Catholic Social Services, were intended to give troubled boys care, education and safety .

But the reality was prison-like regimes of beatings and sexual abuse likened by one survivor to the film Scum, about the infamous Borstal young offenders institute.

In St Vincent's, principal Alan Langshaw and lab technician Stanton were launching vile attacks on boys in their care, while at St Aidan's head master Terence Hoskin and teacher Colin Dick were also convicted of abuse.

Description

He used an app to secretly film another woman in a bathroom but his partner found out

A shocked girlfriend discovered a disgusting toilet video of another woman that her pervert boyfriend filmed on his phone.

Aiden Peel downloaded a Secret Camera Recorder app before placing his mobile in a bathroom to capture an unsuspecting victim.

The 24-year-old recorded the woman going to the toilet, undressing until she was naked to take a shower, then towelling herself dry.

But the sick voyeur also inadvertently filmed himself setting up the covert device on a sink and returning afterwards to collect it.

Peel later claimed that he downloaded the app after being "inspired" by a YouTube video and thinking it would be good for "pranks".

However, he kept the footage for five or six weeks, until it was "discovered by chance" by his girlfriend after he had been on a night out.

Peel, of Mersey Road, Aigburth, was found guilty of voyeurism after a trial at Liverpool Crown Court in April this year.

During the trial, the jury heard Peel was "heavily intoxicated" after the night out and his now ex-partner said she hadn't ever seen him like that before.

The judge, Recorder Ian Unsworth, QC, today said: "He couldn't speak, he was crawling on the floor and she was concerned as to what he had consumed.

"She therefore wanted to speak to his friends to see who he had been out with. Of course, as the jury heard, there was other activity on his phone, which was concerning enough for her, but of course I don't sentence the defendant for that."

His ex told the jury she discovered upsetting information, but then also came across the app, which attracted her attention and had taken one video.

When she realised it was a secret recording of the victim she became "confused, upset and clearly distressed" and rang a friend to tell her what had happened, before deciding to call police.

Recorder Unsworth said officers spoke to the girlfriend and the victim herself, before Peel, who had no previous convictions, was arrested and interviewed.

The judge said: "He maintained throughout the trial and as he maintains now in the pre-sentence report that was a prank that had gone wrong."

He added: "That assertion was rejected by the jury.

"This is from these facts a serious case, an alarming one but also an unusual one."

The court heard the app used the front-facing camera of his phone but the screen was blank, so to anyone present the device would have appeared inactive while it recorded the 16-minute clip.

Stella Hayden, prosecuting, said the woman Peel filmed didn't want to have her victim personal statement read out in court.

Recorder Unsworth said: "It appears to have had a profound effect upon her."

Ms Hayden said it involved a significant degree of planning, as shown by him downloading the app, which wasn't available on Google Play and had to be sought out online.

The court heard there was no evidence the video had been ever shared with anyone else, or that anyone else had ever seen it.

David Polglase, defending, said: "There is no evidence of what would otherwise be a grave aggravating feature of distribution and dissemination onwards."

He said his client was still "very young" and the Probation Service said it was willing to work with him on his "lack of insight, distorted thinking and behaviour".

Mr Polglase said Peel lived with a new partner's grandparents and the judge could see what "he does for them and what he does for his own parents".

He said Peel was due to become a dad "very shortly" and "there would be an impact on those other people if he were to go to custody".

The lawyer said Peel would be unable to care for his pregnant girlfriend and their unborn child, while his job would also be at risk.

He urged the judge to spare him jail so that he could undergo rehabilitation.

Recorder Unsworth agreed there was no evidence the clip was shared.

However, he said: "But for this accidental finding it isn't clear as to when that material would ever have been deleted.

"Mr Peel's assertion at trial that he had simply forgotten that the material was there is something that I am unable to accept."

The judge said there was "a significant degree of planning".

He said: "In terms of his remorse, it isn't easy to discern given the defendant's stance.

"He's clearly sorry as he expressed to the jury that the victim was captured in the way that she was, that as much appears to be genuine, but he of course still maintains his innocence."

Recorder Unsworth said Peel was assessed as a "medium risk of harm" and his lawyer invited him to consider there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation and the impact on others.

He said: "In my view this was a gross invasion of the privacy of the victim."

The judge added: "In my judgement this was a cunning, deliberate and pre planned act.

"But for the accidental discovery of this material there is no indication as to when that video would ever have been deleted.

"I reject your assertion that you had forgotten about it and by the very nature of the jury's verdict, you did obtain that for your own sexual gratification."

Recorder Unsworth jailed Peel for nine months, made a five-year restraining order to protect his victim, and told him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

Peel turned to his new girlfriend and family as he was sent down and said: "I love you."

Description

A sex attacker who molested and photographed a sleeping friend had his arm snapped in "retribution".

Lee Monaghan, now 48, targeted the woman, who was in her 20s, after she had earlier come to his aid.

She woke to find him sexually assaulting her, when he brazenly claimed he thought she had consented.

But after he confessed in texts the next day and begged for forgiveness, the victim's sister and others went to his home.

Monaghan suffered a broken arm, which both his own lawyer and a judge today remarked many people would say he "deserved".

Liverpool Crown Court heard the attack happened at Monaghan's home in Smollett Street, Bootle late one night in 2017.

Arthur Gibson, prosecuting, said the victim had come across Monaghan "arguing furiously" with another man.

She defused the situation and took Monaghan back to his home, before leaving, only to later return to check he was okay.

Mr Gibson said they chatted, drank a significant amount of alcohol and likely both took drugs, before the woman fell asleep on a settee.

The court heard he sexually assaulted her by pulling down her lower clothing, touching her and photographing her naked body.

The victim was totally unaware of this until police discovered the photos when they seized his mobile phone.

Mr Gibson said Monaghan committed a further more serious sexual assault, which caused her to wake up.

She demanded to know what he thought he was doing and Monaghan said he thought she wanted him to do it, even though she had been "fast asleep".

The angry and upset victim walked home but bumped into a friend and through tears said: "I told him I didn't want it but he done it anyway."

The following morning the crying woman rang another friend and said "I didn't want him to do it", adding: "Jugsy done things to me."

The friend went to her house and found her in the bath crying, saying "I didn't want him to do it" over and over again, so called her mum, who rang the police.

Mr Gibson said Monaghan effectively admitted what he had done in a series of texts from 9.30am, after first asking the victim if she was "alright".

She replied "are u messing after u touch me why I was asleep" adding "thats's called rape you do now that".

Monaghan replied: "I no. am so sorry plz forgive me x"

He then begged "plz av said am sorry", "let me come an c ye plz am so sorry", "soz sorry sorry **** plz am so sorry" and "plz don't hate me now x".

Mr Gibson said the victim's sister and a number of friends went to see Monaghan, who was physically assaulted.

He fled his home and went to a friend's house, where he was arrested, but first had to be taken to hospital due to his fractured arm.

When interviewed the next day, he admitted having a "little play with her below" but denied anything else, until confronted with the photos in a second interview in 2019, when he admitted putting his hand in her underwear but denied any further sexual assault.

Monaghan, of Linacre Road, Litherland, admitted assault by penetration on the opening day of a trial, having previously admitted sexual assault.

The court heard he had previous convictions for assault, but nothing for sexual offences.

Trevor Parry-Jones, defending, said Monaghan had a "big problem with alcohol" but had since attended drug and alcohol courses.

He said his client quit using any "hard drugs" and while he still smoked cannabis, also "greatly reduced his alcohol consumption".

Mr Parry-Jones said Monaghan's girlfriend sitting in the public gallery knew of his crimes but was prepared to help him.

He said: "Obviously they have great respect for each other and she will assist him and hopes he can come home."

The lawyer said Monaghan was "ashamed" and "horrified" by his actions, for which he had already been "punished".

He said Monaghan had to have his arm set at hospital following what was a "proper fracture" and a "proper beating".

Mr Parry-Jones added: "Many would say he deserved it."

He said following that "retribution" Monaghan was "fearful" and moved away from the area.

The barrister said Monaghan's dad died in 2015, his sister died in 2016, one of his brothers lives in America, and his other brother has cancer.

Urging the judge to spare him jail, he added that his mum was 84 and Monaghan "does everything for her".

Judge Trevor-Jones said the victim was a friend of Monaghan's but "nothing more than that" who had tried to help him.

He said Monaghan sexually assaulted her "as she lay there clearly quite defenceless and unaware".

The judge said the victim blamed herself, was left more reserved socially and it worsened her mental health issues.

Judge Trevor-Jones told Monaghan people "understandably angry" went to his home when "it seems you were then the subject of an assault".

He said he took account of these "violent consequences", but added: "Many will say you probably thoroughly deserved that."

The judge said from a starting point of 30 months he deducted six months because of the "considerable delay", some of which was of Monaghan's making, and the fact he had no previous relevant convictions.

Giving him credit for his guilty plea, he further reduced the sentence to 21 months, then deducted two months to take account of the "retribution", and a further one month for the effect of serving a prison term during the pandemic.

Jailing him for 18 months, he said a case involving "the sexual exploitation of a vulnerable woman who was asleep" demanded immediate custody.

Judge Trevor-Jones told him to sign the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years and made a four-year restraining order.

Speaking after the case, Detective Constable Julia Jennings said: "Monaghan consistently lied to police about what took place in his home in the early hours of that morning and has forced his victim to relive her ordeal by denying that he sexually assaulted her.

"I would like to pay credit to her as she has shown immense courage and strength throughout the whole of this investigation.

"Unfortunately because of the Covid pandemic this case has been repeatedly delayed so I am pleased that Monaghan has now been put before the courts and sentenced for his crime and I hope it now affords his victim the chance to get on with her life.

"I also hope that this will encourage other victims to come forward and speak to us.

"We take issues such as this extremely seriously and specialist officers are on hand to offer support and guidance through the courts process."

Description

A married man who raped two boys as a teenager collapsed in the dock when jailed today.

John Merritt, 60, of Leathers Lane, Halewood, denied sexually abusing the children more than four decades ago.

But at the age of 14 or 15, when going by the name Walter Merritt, he raped his victims in Belle Vale and Netherley.

Merritt offered chocolate to Boy A, before inviting him into his house and raping him in a bathroom and a nearby field.

He also raped Boy B in the bathroom, pouncing after his mum invited the disadvantaged little boy in for tea and cake.

Boy B described how the abuse "destroyed" his life and even landed him in jail, after he stole to buy drugs to block out the horror.

Liverpool Crown Court heard the now dad-of-four carried out the attacks in the 1970s.

Stephen McNally, prosecuting, said they came to light when Boy A made a formal complaint to the police in 2016.

He previously told his sister about the abuse 30 years earlier and also mentioned it in a letter to police in 2014, but hadn't taken it further at that stage.

When interviewed, Boy A told police he believed it happened to others and mentioned Boy B, who was traced by officers and interviewed in 2018.

Mr McNally said Boy B wasn't told who provided his name, but both men "independently provided accounts which bore a number of similarities".

Boy A said Merritt passed him in the street, offered him chocolate and invited him into his home, before raping him in the bathroom. He said Merritt also raped him at another location and in a field in Netherley.

Boy B said he went to Merritt's home because Merritt's mum was nice to him and fed him, when times were hard in his family and he was "largely left to fend for himself".

Mr McNally said: "He said that Mrs Merritt offered him tea, biscuits and cake, which he didn't get at home."

The court heard Merritt followed him into the bathroom, locked the door and raped him on two occasions.

Merritt was convicted of three counts of a sexual offence which would now be classed as rape after a trial in March.

In a victim statement, Boy A - who attended the sentencing - said the abuse "destroyed his life".

Mr McNally said: "He describes how he turned to drugs because he 'needed not to remember'."

Boy A didn't wish to make a victim statement, but in evidence described how the abuse affected his "personal relationships" and he also turned to drugs.

The trial heard Merritt was convicted of wounding aged 15 in 1976, when he threw a bike cog at a girl's face, leading to him being put in care. His family later moved to Speke.

Mr McNally said in 1980 he was convicted of possessing a weapon, "a stick with a chain" when "part of a Teddy Boy outfit".

Merritt was most recently convicted of a racially aggravated public order offence in 2015.

The court heard he had character references from his wife, adult son and two adult daughters.

Louise McCloskey, defending, said her client "acknowledged" the jury's verdict, but maintained his innocence.

She said Merritt was "only a child" at the time and expert evidence, including an intermediary's report, detailed his "educational difficulties and learning difficulties, as well as significant physical difficulties".

The judge, Recorder Ian Harris, accepted there had to be a significant reduction in the sentence, because of Merritt's age at the time and his "characteristics".

Ms McCloskey said Merritt was assessed as being "a low risk of re-offending" and hadn't committed any crimes since.

She said: "The man before the court, 60 years of age, is a very different one from the teenager that committed these offences."

Ms McCloskey said the Probation Service recommended a community-based sentence, so Merritt could undergo work to rehabilitate him.

She said his family thought "very highly of him" and he was a "great support" to his wife and 12-year-old son, who has health difficulties.

Ms McCloskey said: "The defendant was convicted of these offences - not his family. Since this case was first publicised, his family have been subject to the most despicable abuse and general intimidation."

She added: "His family are guilty of nothing and should not be treated as such.

"They themselves perhaps your honour could be considered victims of the offences."

Recorder Harris said Merritt, when 14 or 15, raped Boy A up to five times, when the child was nine or 10, and raped Boy B twice, when the victim was eight or nine.

He said Merritt "befriended" then groomed and isolated the boys, which involved "significant planning".

Referring to Boy A, Recorder Harris said: "It's quite clear there has been a lifelong impact upon him."

The judge said Boy B, who screamed and shouted out during the rapes, was left with "lifelong psychological harm".

He said Boy B told the court: "I needed not to remember what this man did to me as a kid, so I took drugs, which made me not think about what had been done to me by him.

"He ruined my whole life. All my relationships failed with me being insecure with what happened to me. I stole to fund my drug habit, which put me in jail... one big, vicious cycle."

Recorder Harris said a pre-sentence report referred to Merritt's "dysfunctional sexual interests" as a teen and how the rapes allowed him to "exert power and control over the victims".

The judge noted his learning difficulties and said Merritt suffered from physical problems, including abnormally short arms, as a result of his mum receiving thalidomide treatment when pregnant, which Merritt said led to him and his family being "marginalised and verbally abused" when living in Netherley.

He said the report suggested "optimistically and unrealistically" that he could be spared jail, but if Merritt had been an adult at the time of the abuse, he would have faced more than 16 years in prison.

Recorder Harris jailed him for eight years, at which point Merritt collapsed, hitting a wooden rail as he fell.

When helped up by a dock officer, he claimed "I just fainted a bit", then muttered: "It's my back as well."

He will serve at least six years in prison, before he is released on licence.

Merritt, who must sign the Sex Offenders Register for life, waved to his crying wife and adult son as he was sent down.

Speaking after the case, Detective Constable Julia Jennings said: "The actions of Merritt have clearly had a long lasting and devastating impact on his victims, who have been forced to relive their ordeals through his trial.

"I would like to pay tribute to their courage and strength in coming forward to speak up against Merritt and I hope that today's sentencing will finally give them the closure they have waited so long for.

"Time is never a barrier to investigating a crime and bringing someone to justice and I would encourage anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse to come forward. We have specially trained officers who can support you through the investigation process."

Description

A paedophile football coach catfished a girl on Snapchat by pretending to be a 17-year-old boy.

Ian Kaufman, 48, sent the 16-year-old pictures he had taken from the internet so he could groom her.

The vile pervert would then use software to save videos and pictures she sent him on Snapchat.

When police raided his home they discovered Kaufman kept other sick images of child sex abuse and cartoons of children being raped.

Liverpool Crown Court today heard one of the disgusting images involved a girl as young as two-year-old.

Ken Grant, prosecuting, explained police raided Kaufman's home after receiving "information about the uploading of an indecent image of a child to the internet using the Kik Messenger service."

As officers searched Kaufman told them he had a concealed mobile phone in his bedroom, which was seized along with various other items.

In an interview, Mr Grant explained, Kaufman "stated he set up the Kik account and that the name was JJDingle1".

Kaufman denied uploading any indecent images of children but admitted to speaking to a 16-year-old from Scotland on Snapchat, claiming he didn't know it was an offence.

Mr Grant said: "He admitted he had told her he was 17 and admitted he had sent her images taken from the internet of a male penis."

The 16-year-old girl from Scotland had sent Kaufman a video of herself "using a sex toy" and "fondling her breasts".

He said: "All these images were recorded by the defendant from Snapchat using an application called Mobizen."

The court heard that the software allows the user to keep videos from the social media platform even after they are deleted from Snapchat.

Mr Grant said: "He believed the Scottish girl sent them to him around February 2020 and didn't ask her for them but was in an online relationship and it was in the context of that relationship in which she sent him those videos."

He said: "He had sent her money on two occasions and also sent her a necklace.

"He did this because he felt sorry for her and she had needed help financially."

Mr Grant explained that while searching his devices officers discovered Kaufman had kept other indecent images of children and had an image of bestiality.

In a second interview Kaufman denied using Twitter to access indecent images of children, Mr Grant explained.

Among the images were eight category A videos, two category B pictures and 37 category C images.

Kaufman has no previous convictions.

Des Lennon, defending, explained that despite a difficult upbringing Kaufman went on to work as a "football coach in the community", adding there were "no complaints about his conduct" and it was "quite startling these matters have come to light in recent times".

Mr Lennon said there had been "issues within his marriage" and he was "searching for sexual gratification online".

He said: "This is a complete aberration as far as he is concerned."

Mr Lennon said Kaufman accepted the behaviour was "unacceptable" and "inexcusable".

He said: "The defendant is utterly sorry and ashamed for what he has done and is genuinely remorseful."

Mr Lennon said Kaufman had made efforts "of his own volition" such as reaching out to the Lucy Faithful Foundation and completing 12 modules.

He said Kaufman suffers from cerebral palsy and epilepsy and had been the victim of "unspeakable acts" as a child.

Mr Lennon explained Kaufman volunteered information about the girl to police, which is why they were able to trace her.

He added Kaufman suffers from mental health difficulties and had tried to take his life four times since April last year.

He said: "Once this issue came into the public domain he was vilified by members of his local community and as a consequence had to move out."

Mr Lennon explained that he had since been "living in his car outside the city" and suggested he would be "terribly vulnerable" if he was sent to prison.

Kaufman, formerly of East Dam Wood Road, Speke, admitted possession of category A, B and C images, possessing an image of extreme pornography, attempting to take indecent photographs of a child and making indecent images of a child.

Judge David Swinnerton, sentencing, explained Kaufman had sent the girl 50, a necklace and photographs of a boy who he pretended was him.

The judge said Kaufman claimed he hadn't asked for the videos, but admitted using screen capturing software to save them.

Judge Swinnerton said that whether he had asked or not "she still sent them because of your deceit and your lies, which I regard as grooming".

The judge said there were 10 videos of the girl, some of which were eight minutes long, adding it was unclear if the girl was aware he was saving the videos.

Judge Swinnerton said he was in "no doubt" Kaufman "kept them for your sexual pleasure".

The judge ruled that capturing the videos and keeping them was "clearly production".

Judge Swinnerton said: "You encouraged her while she was filming herself with highly sexualised comments."

The judge ruled that his grooming was an aggravating feature but also took into account Kaufman's disabilities, his early admissions and difficult childhood.

Kaufman was jailed for two years and eight months.

He must sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same period.