Latest Offenders Liverpool

Description

A paedophile who had sex parties with children has been allowed to change his name.

Steven Sullivan was jailed for six years in 2009 after the then 18-year-old hosted sick events attended by boys and girls aged as young as 12. Between 10 and 20 kids would attend each sordid gathering and were plied with drink and drugs.

The pervert would arrange for taxis to pick his victims up, and indecent pictures and videos of children were found on computers and mobile phones when police raided his home. Officers also discovered disturbing chat logs where Sullivan groomed girls and asked other twisted adults to send him images of five-year-olds.

He was subsequently convicted a string of sexual offences but was released on licence in January 2012. Just over a year later, in April 2013, he was arrested on suspicion of raping a 15-year-old girl - but charges were ultimately dropped "due to weaknesses in the case".

However, Sullivan was recalled for breaching his licence conditions and remained in prison until November 2014. The sex offender continued with his despicable behaviour though, playing with himself in front of a camera while talking to a 14-year-old girl online.

He also bought two mobile phones without telling police - against the terms of his sexual offences prevention order - and used one of them to send the teenager sexually charged texts during 2015.

Sullivan, then of Damwood Road in Speke, admitted engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and breaching his SOPO. He was locked up for three years aged 27 in July 2016.

The aforementioned order was extended at this point, and it now runs indefinitely. Today, Friday, Sullivan appeared back before Liverpool Crown Court in a bid to have its conditions amended in order to allow him to change his name.

Wearing a white 2007/08 Liverpool away shirt in court, he submitted that he had struggled to gain and keep employment in the past due to the publicity of his crimes in the media. He also claimed that he had been subjected to harassment at his home address on several occasions.

Judge Denis Watson approved a change to the SOPO which will allow Sullivan to change his name by deed poll in the next 10 weeks. He must also notify Lancashire Police, the Probation Service, the Crown Prosecution Service and Liverpool Crown Court of his new identity within 48 hours of this alteration.

An additional requirement was also added to the order, requiring him to inform the authorities of the details of any planned foreign travel at least seven days before his scheduled departure. Giving his judgement, the QC said: "In short, Mr Sullivan's offending was reported with his name prominent in the reporting such that a general search of his name and this area leads very quickly to a detailed report of some of the facts that underline the convictions - which has led to a numbers of issues for Mr Sullivan, including the loss of employment where he has performed his job well and without complaint.

"But when employers find out about his past, which he did not have to disclose because it didn't involve working with children, he has been summarily dismissed and his accommodation has been targeted by those hostile with him by reason of his previous convictions. He is clear in his application that he does not seek to alter the other prohibitions.

"However, he does say he is unable effectively to function and continue his rehabilitation - which he is trying to do - while the public and employers are able to read of his past, because it prevents him from obtaining work or retaining work and because of the risks to him from others. He now wishes to try and protect himself by changing his name.

"The protections of the system are still in place, because they will have responsibility for checking up on him. They will know precisely where he is and what name he is going under."

No parties objected to the amendments passed. The SOPO also limits Sullivan's use of electronic devices capable of accessing the internet and his contact with children, while he is banned from keeping any image of an under 18 without the permission of their parent or guardian.

Description

A pervert attacked a woman, sexually assaulted her and stole her possessions on a busy city centre street.

Cole Thomas headbutted and throttled his victim before groping her during a shocking incident outside St Johns Shopping Centre. The 22-year-old then made vile threats to rape her and her family.

Liverpool Crown Court heard on Monday, that the incident occurred shortly before midday on November 9 last year. Thomas, from Aigburth, "began shouting at" the complainant before grabbing her fingers and headbutting her.

She pushed him away, but he responded by "grabbing her round the throat and digging his fingers into her neck". The defendant continued to be "verbally abusive", calling her "disgusting" and saying that her mum was a "paedo".

Thomas, of Mossley Hill Drive, then told her: "I hope you get raped. I will rape your mum and siblings while I'm at it."

He then began "stroking her face" and grabbed her breasts over her clothing as she was pinned up against a wall. The sex offender "suggested she was enjoying it" and added: "How does it feel to be touched without consent?"

Thomas, who appeared in court via video link to HMP Styal with two of his fingers in a bandage, took her purse from her handbag - causing the bag to rip - stole three bank cards and ripped up her train ticket before leaving. Police attended the scene and found the victim "very distressed and crying", while her assailant was located nearby and arrested.

In a statement read out to the court on her behalf, she described how she had been "overwhelmed by the incident". She said: "It was the most frightening time of my life. He had no issue assaulting me in public and taking my property as if it was his. I don't leave the house as I'm scared.

"I don't know how to live anymore. I can't even look at myself in the mirror. I'm not the person I used to be. I'm unable to build up the courage to go out of the house.

"He has ruined my life in more ways than you could imagine. I'm stuck in a pattern of being unable to move on and put it behind me."

Defending, Jim Smith stated that his client suffers from conditions including ADHD and bipolar disorder - adding that the attack was "not sexually motivated". He added: "He is someone with no substantial criminal history and who has never had experience of a custodial environment.

"He deeply regrets the harm and distress she has suffered. He wishes to contribute to society and he is still a very young man."

Thomas admitted sexual assault and theft and was jailed for 30 months. He was also handed an indefinite restraining order and a 10-year notification requirement.

Sentencing, Recorder Eric Lamb said: "She was left feeling overwhelmed. She has found it frightening.

"It has resulted in panic and left her struggling to live her normal life. She summed it up, 'I'm not the person I used to be'.

"That's as a direct result of your conduct towards her. The impact of your behaviour towards her has been devastating for her."

Thomas was also told to pay a victim surcharge.

Description

A convicted rapist who carried out a sickening attack in a graveyard has been rapped by a court over a 6,000 drugs stash.

Leslie Ryder was previously locked up in 2005 after dragging a teenage student teacher off the street and raping her in the grounds of St Michael in the Hamlet Church in Dingle. He was hauled back before Liverpool Crown Court today, Wednesday, after he was caught harvesting cannabis by police for a third time in six years.

The court heard that plain clothes officers were on patrol on Windfield Green in Garston shortly after 10.15am on January 18 last year when they encountered the 41-year-old, who "smelled strongly of cannabis". Ryder was stopped and searched, during which a wrap of cocaine and a quantity of the class B drug was found upon him.

He was also in possession of a phone which displayed a message reading "are you bagging it now?". The addict had replied: "No, tomorrow."

This led to a raid on his home on the same street, during which cannabis was discovered in a shoe box, a gift bag, a plastic tub and two boxes. A set of scales was also recovered inside.

The stash weighed a total of 414.37g and came with an estimated street value of up to 6,215. Ryder had bypassed an electricity meter in setting up the grow.

After his arrest, he "maintained that he didn't sell drugs" and claimed the text had been from his cousin in relation to a drill. The defendant added he had grown the cannabis for his own personal use, having been "heavily reliant on it since the age of 12".

But Ryder has now "stopped using entirely". No grow was located inside the flat, but the substances found equated to a yield of around seven plants.

He has 14 previous convictions for 34 offences dating back to 1996, including two for production of cannabis in April 2015 and May 2021. Most seriously, he was locked up for seven years in the mid-2000s after being convicted of rape.

The 19-year-old victim was walking home late at night when she was attacked by Ryder, who was described as a "petty thief who lay in wait for a woman to pass by". He threatened the woman with a knife and told her: "Don't scream, just walk with me."

His own heavily pregnant girlfriend was at home just weeks away from giving birth to his child at the time of the incident, and he fled to her apartment afterwards. But he was ensnared after DNA evidence linked him to the appalling crime.

Then aged 24, the sex offender was jailed for only four years and four months originally. But this was later extended by the Court of Appeal after the sentence was deemed to have been "unduly lenient".

Presiding over the appeal, Lord Justice Gage said: "This was a very serious offence of rape occurring in an attack late at night. Ryder threatened the woman with a knife and subjected her to conduct that the trial judge described as sexual indignities."

She ultimately quit her university course as a result as she was too upset to sit her exams.

Ryder, now of Strathmore Road in Tuebrook, has spent the past month in custody and appeared via video link to HMP Liverpool. He admitted production of cannabis, possession of cannabis and possession of cocaine and was handed a two-year community order with 100 hours of unpaid work and a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 20 days.

Sentencing, Judge Louise Brandon said: "This is now your third time before the courts for producing cannabis. You admitted growing cannabis in order to manage the problem you had at the time.

"It is accepted that you were producing cannabis for your own benefit. I know you were heavily addicted and you have now stopped using despite your heavy addiction.

"You have stable accommodation which you will likely lose if you were to receive a custodial sentence. You now wish to live a life which is not involved in criminal offences.

"You have the support of your family, who are keen to see you rehabilitated. You are very lucky to have their support, given all you have put them through. I encourage you to continue with this motivation and continue making positive progress."

Ryder must also serve a six-month drug treatment programme and pay a victim surcharge. Forfeiture and destruction of the drugs and paraphernalia was ordered.

Description

A paedophile son who was outed as a sex offender after brutally attacking his mum with her own walking stick has a shocking history of beating her black and blue.

John Skelton was this week brought to justice for attempting to groom what he believed were two 13-year-old girls. He was in fact being ensnared in a paedophile hunter sting.

And The ECHO can now reveal the extent of the 46-year-old's criminal history. His record extends to 36 convictions for 65 offences, which "on the main" have been for episodes of violence and were committed as long ago as the late 1980s.

These include counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in 1999 and 2006, the latter of which he received an extended prison sentence for. Then, in 2011, Skelton received another extended sentence for wounding after breaking his mother Hazel's jaw.

His rap sheet also includes convictions for battery, drunk and disorderly behaviour and flouting court orders. Matters escalated further in September 2019 after he was banned from Ms Skelton's Wirral home for "threatening to snap her back" during an assault.

But he breached this restraining order and even moved out of a bail hostel and into the address in Rock Ferry in early 2020, telling her that the Probation Service had allowed it. Skelton's behaviour deteriorated again, and he "lost his temper" during a row in the early hours of May 15 that year.

He attacked the 66-year-old after she refused to buy him alcohol, subjecting the pensioner to a "sustained and repeated" assault. She was lying defenceless in bed when she was battered using the walking aid, which was broken in half and left covered in blood as a result.

Ms Skelton suffered a "large and deep laceration" to her head, fractures to her rib, finger and arm and bruising to the face. Despite this, her son would not allow her to call 999 and she had to wait until he had fallen asleep before sneaking out of the house and seeking refuge with a neighbour.

She was left with a permanent scar from the attack. Skelton later admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent and breaching a restraining order and was handed 10 years behind bars with an extended licence period of four years in December 2020.

But he appeared in court again on Friday after a phone seized from him upon arrest was analysed and revealed lewd chats with teenage girls on Facebook. Skelton - of no fixed address, but previously from Kensington - sent the decoy profiles pictures of his penis, encouraged them to perform sex acts upon themselves and asked for indecent images of the pair.

The pervert also asked one to be his girlfriend and talked about meeting up for sex. He pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting sexual communications with a child and two of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and was handed a further two-and-a-half years behind bars, to be served consecutively to his current jail term.

Description

A child rapist who groomed a girl with sweets and cigarettes has been jailed for 14 years.

Brian Morton, from Halewood, turned his victim against her own family in order to manipulate her for his sick sexual urges - even telling her that her parents did not love her. More than a decade later, the now 61-year-old attempted to groom another 14-year-old - although he was spared prison when he was caught out.

Liverpool Crown Court heard today, Friday, that he began grooming his first victim when she was 11. Morton also bought her mobile phone top-ups and took her for ride in his car, where he would sexually assault her.

The pervert would watch her while she bathed and "offer to clean her". Then, when she was aged 15, he raped her while she was sleeping in the spare bedroom of his home.

His actions had a "severe psychological impact" on the girl, who turned to drug abuse in order to "self medicate" and "block out what happened to her". In 2018, Morton was convicted of engaging in sexual communications with a child after sending a string of sexually charged messages to another teen the previous year - grooming her "in similar terms to all those years ago".

He again asked her to go out for drives in his car, while one text message he sent read "night night sexy bum". The paedophile received a community order after she reported what had happened to her, admitting the offence but "denying a sexual interest in children".

Defending, Trevor Parry-Jones told the court that his client had attempted to take his own life five years ago. He said: "He maintains his innocence.

"This is obviously a serious case, and it is a sensitive case. This defendant will receive a lengthy custodial sentence, and he accepts that.

"He will spend a considerable period of his remaining life in custody. By the time he is released from this sentence, he is going to be approaching the age of 70."

Morton, of Torrington Drive, was found guilty of two counts of rape after a trial. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool, he was also handed an indefinite restraining order and a lifelong notification requirement.

Judge Gary Woodhall described the "devastating impact" his crimes had had. He added: "You offered her treats she wasn't getting at home, you bought her sweets and cigarettes, took her for rides in your car and bought credit for her mobile phone.

"You suggested her family did not love her. You told her you loved her, and that she was pretty. You told her you wished you could be with her. You would even wear aftershave is if to impress.

"It's clear she was being groomed for some time prior to these rapes. You behaved as this was a normal, loving relationship when it was anything but. You knew she was someone who could not consent. She simply froze, and had to pretend it was not happening.

"She lived with the knowledge of what happened to her with feeling of self-loathing. She tried to block out what you did to her for years. She struggled to cope with the consequence of your offending. She has resorted to the use of drugs to self-medicate for her poor mental health and to escape.

"She is still struggling to process what happened."

Referring to Morton's conviction in 2017, Judge Woodhall said: "This is almost identical offending to the way you offended so many years previously. This demonstrates an established pattern of sexual interest in young girls and a willingness to act on those urges."

Morton was also handed a restraining order, preventing him from contacting the victim and her family. Detective constable Lucy Emmet, who led Merseyside Police's investigation, said: "Thanks to the determination and bravery of Mortons victim, he will now spend a considerable amount of time behind bars for his actions.

"I would like to take this opportunity to praise Mortons victim for her compelling statements when reporting his crimes and the strength they have shown throughout the whole of this investigation. While no sentence will repair the damage that Mortons abuse has caused, I hope that by seeing him sent to prison for such a considerable period of time will give his victim some sort of closure and allow them to move on with their lives knowing he cannot harm anyone else.

"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. 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. 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 man has been jailed for 17 years for historic sexual offences against a child.

Alan Dreha, aged 70, of Kirkby was jailed for 17 years, plus two on licence for 14 counts of sexual assault.

The court heard how Dreha subjected his young victim to sexual assault for a period of 11 years, between 1990 and 2001.

Following a trial, Dreha was convicted on Monday 16 May and sentenced yesterday, Thursday 23 June, at Liverpool Crown Court.

Detective Inspector Yoseph Al-Ramadhan said, Dreha denied his offending meaning his victim was forced to endure a trial. We welcome that he will now spend a considerable amount of time behind bars to consider the consequences of his actions.

I would like to take this opportunity to praise Drehas victim for their courage in coming forward to report his crimes, and the dignity they have shown throughout the whole of this investigation.

While no sentence will repair the damage that Drehas abuse has caused, I hope that by seeing Dreha sent to prison for a long time, this will give his victim some sort of closure and allow them to move on with their lives knowing he cannot harm anyone else.

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.

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.

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.

Senior Crown Prosecutor Sarah Egan, a specialist lawyer with CPS Mersey Cheshires Rape and Serious Sexual Offences unit (RASSO) said, Alan Dreha repeatedly sexually abused this victim over many years, from childhood through to early adulthood. He was controlling, and manipulated and groomed the victim in order to satisfy his own sexual needs. He maintained her silence with threats. This has been an appalling, gross abuse of trust. He has shown no remorse at all for what he has done to his victim.

She has spoken of how difficult she found it to write her Victim Personal Statement. She said she felt controlled and manipulated throughout childhood. She still struggles to trust people, and it has severely affected her mental health, to the point where she has contemplated suicide. She said that it is such a lonely life you live when you are the victim of sexual abuse.

Dreha has spent the last thirty-two years living a lie and maintaining an image of a respectable life, whilst the victim has had to endure, and deal with, the consequences of the sexual abuse she has suffered. There is absolutely no doubt that Drehas actions have caused this victim grave harm.

The Crown Prosecution Service would like to thank the victim and family for the courage and strength they have shown throughout the proceedings, as well as the parties involved who have assisted in bringing a successful prosecution. We hope that the prosecution allows the victim to move forwards with her life.

Anyone with information or wants to report a sexual offence is asked to call 101 where you will be spoken to by specially trained officers or you can pass information to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

If youve been affected by sexual violence of any kind, support is available through the Police and Crime Commissioners Victim Care Merseyside service delivered jointly by two registered charities.

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A paedophile who kept more than 10,000 images of child sex abuse has walked free from court.

Andrew Lomax, who worked as a carer for 30 years, stored more than 1,600 videos of child rape in his disturbing collection across a number of devices.

The youngest victim among the child abuse images was an 18-month-old baby girl.

The 45-year-old kept 3,188 videos of children being sexually abused and 8,052 indecent images of children, and in total had 11,240 of the vile images.

Chris Hopkins, prosecuting today at Liverpool Crown Court, explained police acted on "intelligence received" about internet use in a property in Woodchurch, where Lomax was living at the time.

On October 21 last year police went to the address and Lomax said he "knew why police were there" and confessed to having indecent images on his computer.

Lomax told police in an interview they would find "images of toddlers up to the age of about 14 or 15" and admitted he had a sexual interest in children.

Mr Hopkins explained 1,694 of the child rape images were videos and he also had 1,494 videos of other types of child sex abuse.

Lomax stored 2,000 indecent images of children on a computer tower, the earliest of which was created on September 30, 2019 and the most recent was created on June 16 last year.

He kept 1,300 indecent images of children on an Acer Laptop and had 151 prohibited images of children as well as 42 indecent images on a HP laptop, on which the earliest creation date was April 2015.

Lomax stored another 679 prohibited images of children on an external hard drive, on which the earliest creation date was January 2013.

Mr Hopkins explained one of the sex abuse videos involved a baby girl aged 18 months old.

Lomax is of former good character.

Jim Smith, defending, said Lomax had made "frank admissions" and "expressed remorse".

He said Lomax had been a carer for 30 years with the "most vulnerable in society including dementia sufferers" but left the role after his offences came to light.

Mr Smith said: "To his benefit your honour he has acknowledged not only his wrongdoing and criminality but tried to explain and certainly been frank and honest in relation to his offending behaviour."

He said Lomax's relationship had broken down and he "retreated into addictive online voyeurism" and into the "markedly criminal world".

Mr Smith said Lomax was "deeply sorry" and has been working with the Lucy Faithfull Foundation to address his "unhealthy addiction".

He said: "He is trying to do everything he can to rehabilitate himself from this addiction from which he became subservient to for a significant period of time."

Mr Smith said Lomax had suffered anxiety and depression and was an "extremely lonely individual".

Lomax, of Needham Road, Kensington, admitted possession of extreme pornographic images, possession of indecent photographs, three counts of making indecent images and one count of possessing a prohibited image of a child.

Judge Brian Cummings, QC, said: "In order for all these images to be created real children, including babies, have been subjected to the most appalling and damaging abuse, all for the benefit, if that's the word, of you and others like you.

Description

A paedophile collected nearly 2,000 "horrific" child rape and abuse images.

James Mercer was hit with a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) in 2013 after he was caught with a sick stash of indecent images of children. The decade-long order prevented him from accessing the internet unless he retained the browsing history and made it available for inspection by police.

But when officers performed a routine check on his computer equipment as part of the SOPO, they discovered another library of "appalling" photos. The 41-year-old, of Ashburn Avenue, Tower Hill, Kirkby, later admitted possessing 1,997 indecent images of children.

According to the charge, he downloaded the files over a near three-year period between May 16, 2018 and March 17, 2021. Mercer admitted downloading 368 Category A images - the most serious category involving child rape - plus 323 Category B and 1,306 Category C files.

Liverpool Crown Court heard he also pleaded guilty to possessing seven prohibited [cartoon or animated] images of a child. Prosecutors said Mercer was not in fact in breach of the SOPO, as the sex offender had not deleted or attempted to manipulate his search history.

The judge, Recorder Michael Taylor, said his previous convictions were an aggravating feature of the case. He decided the offences were so serious that only an immediate custodial sentence was appropriate.

Recorder Taylor jailed Mercer for 12 months and made him subject to a new indefinite SOPO. The judge told Mercer he must sign on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

Speaking after the case, an NSPCC spokesperson said: "Every child featured in these indecent images is a victim of horrific abuse. The demand created for this appalling material by offenders like James Mercer means he shares responsibility for their terrible experiences.

"The NSPCC is determined to ensure the Government's upcoming Online Safety Bill is strengthened to prevent offenders like Mercer from using the online world as a gateway to abuse children."

Description

William Ormandy approached his victim as she went to get a taxi home from Liverpool Lime Street

A vile man who raped an 18-year-old woman behind Liverpool Lime Street station was jailed after his "sickening" attack.

William Ormandy, 31, approached and started talking to an 18-year-old woman just before 2am on Sunday, February 6 as she walked alone towards Liverpool Lime Street Station taxi rank. Ormandy said, youre gorgeous, and asked where she was going as he followed.

A short while later he said, give me a kiss to which she told him no, he then grabbed her and tried to kiss her. Cheryl Mottram, prosecuting, at Liverpool Crown Court, said: "She told him she just wanted to get home, but he continued to follow her asking to go back to her house with her. She told him that she lived at home with her mum and told him she was only 18."

The court heard how at just after 2am he pulled her into a service alleyway near the station and continued trying to kiss her as she pleaded for him to let her go. She decided to walk up to London Road to get to the next taxi rank, Ormandy then raped the victim and left the location.

When she started to walk off he told her "come here" but she left the scene and he went in the opposite direction. Luckily three women came across the 18-year-old in a distressed state and she explained what happened. One of them refused to leave her and flagged down a taxi and took her home.

A major investigation was then launched by BTP detectives to trace and arrest Ormandy. On Wednesday, February 16, Ormandy handed himself in at St Anne Police Station and was arrested on suspicion of rape. In interview, he stated he consensually kissed the victim three times and denied raping her.

In a statement, the 18-year-old victim explained how she must take medication to sleep and described the impact of the rape. She said: "Since the incident l have not left the house unless I am accompanied by a family member. I dont like to be left alone. I need to know where my family are at all times, and I often sleep in same bed as my sisters.

"There have been times that my mum has held me whilst I cry. I am awake at all times in the night having showers, washing myself.

"The incident has had a devastating effect on my education. I had been aspiring to go to university, but I have failed all my university interviews. I had clear ambitions and dreams, now I dont know what the future holds for me."

William John Ormandy, 31, of Derby Court, Church Road, Halewood, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court via video link on Friday, March 18 where he pleaded guilty to rape. This afternoon (April 25) Judge David Potter sentenced him to eight years and three months in prison and imposed an extended four year licence.. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

On handing down the sentence at Liverpool Crown Court, the judge said he was satisfied that Ormandy deliberately targeted a lone 18-year-old and isolated her, showing a significant degree of planning. The court heard Ormandy has 13 convictions for 29 previous offences including a history of violence against women.

He was convicted last year of assaulting and harassing a former partner and was subject to a community order at the time of the rape. Sarah Holt, defending, said that Ormandy struggles to comprehend his behaviour and has no recollection.

She added: He is ashamed of himself and says he is lost for words. Miss Holt said his family is devastated and does not condone his behaviour but will support him when he leaves jail.

Judge Potter told Ormandy, his previous convictions reveal a worrying attitude that you have towards those you are involved within intimate relationships. You have a violent history against women.

It was a persistent incident and force was used. The pre-sentence report demonstrates a lack of insight into your offending.

Judge Potter said that he agreed with the probation officers view that Ormandy represents a high risk of harm specifically to women, known to him or strangers.

Senior Investigating Officer in the case, Detective Inspector Granville Sellers, said: Despite claiming he didnt commit the offence in interview, Ormandy is undoubtedly an opportunist sexual predator that preyed on a vulnerable girl and subjected her to a sickening ordeal. He realised the net was closing in as my team worked round the clock to apprehend him and he subsequently handed himself in.

"The physical and emotional impact his despicable crime has had on the victim cannot be underestimated. She showed incredible bravery to report his actions to us, and we continue to support her as Ormandy faces his adequately long stint behind bars.

"While crimes like this are extremely rare on the railway, they will never be tolerated. I hope his quick journey between committing the abhorrent crime and being convicted serves as a stark warning to sexual predators we will catch you and promptly bring you to justice."

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Francis Ward, 36, of Fox Street, was jailed for 25 years at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, April 22, 2022.

A rapist looked stunned as he was jailed for 25 years for sexually assaulting two teenage girls.

Francis Ward refuses to to accept he raped one of the teenagers and sexually assaulted the other even after being found guilty earlier this year. The two girls and their families faced him down in court today and celebrated as the sex attacker was led to the cells. 

He was open mouthed as Judge Robert Trevor-Jones sentenced him to a lengthy jail term. David Birrell, prosecuting, said Ward, from Fox Street, Liverpool, committed his first attacks on one girl before then targeting the second girl. 

He said that after being arrested Ward, who turned his head away from the victims seated in the public gallery for much of the hearing, denied the attacks took place. Mr Birrell said: “He was arrested and taken into police custody. He was questioned and answered 'no comment' to each and every question."

Ward's denials continued through all of his court hearings, including the trial. Jurors found him guilty of the attacks on March 18. Jonathan Duffy, defending, said Ward still disagreed with the jury’s verdict. Mr Duffy said: “As your honour knows from having heard the trial and what is said in the pre sentence report, the defendant does not agree with the verdicts of the jury but he respects them and understands your honour will have to sentence him on the facts as the jury found them.”

One of the girls addressed the court today, explaining how Ward’s attack had made her contemplate taking her own life. A statement from the second girl, read out by Mr Birrell, outlined similar psychological trauma.

Judge Robert Trevor-Jones told Ward his actions continued to have far reaching consequences for both girls. He said: “Each of them clearly articulated an enduring trauma and scarring. As far as they are concerned, I am satisfied you inflicted serious harm on them.”

Judge Trevor-Jones added that Ward’s continued denials during his trial had forced both girls to “relive the horrors of this abuse, branding them liars in the process”. He jailed Ward for 18 years for the rape and sexual assault of one of the girls and for seven years for the sexual assault on the other.

The length of the sentence appeared to take Ward by surprise. He was open mouthed and shook his head a number of times after the verdict was announced before being taken down to the cells.

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Jamie Hart hid his address from officers after being released from prison

A convicted rapist who refused to tell police where he was living after he was released from prison is now back behind bars.

Jamie Hart was required to inform officers of his address as part of the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Register. But the 36-year-old "persistently and deliberately ignored" these rules and police warnings.

Liverpool Crown Court heard Hart was convicted of rape and jailed for seven and a half years in November 2013. He was also told to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Paul Blasbery, prosecuting, said Hart's notification requirements included that if he had been in custody, or otherwise detained, he had to inform police within three days of his release of details including his home address. On February 8 this year he was released from prison.

On February 11 an officer contacted Hart, who told him he had gone to Wavertree Road and Bootle police stations, but both had been closed. He claimed he had then called the police, but hadn't been given a log number, and promised to attend again to complete the process.

On February 14 the officer checked whether Hart had done as he said he would, but he hadn't, and by February 17 he had still not notified police of his address. The officer contacted Hart and warned him again, but Hart said he had been in hospital having an operation.

The sex offender was given a list of police stations he could attend and when the officer rang him the next day, Hart said he was on his way to St Anne Street Police Station. However, by February 21, he still hadn't notified the police of where he was living.

Hart was arrested on March 16, when he declined to be interviewed. He had still not notified officers of his address.

Hart, of no fixed address, admitted failing to comply with his notification requirements. He has 24 previous convictions for 43 offences, including three previous breaches of his requirements.

The court heard for the first breach he was handed 12 weeks in prison, suspended for nine months, for the second in October 2020 he was jailed for 12 weeks, and for the third in August 2021 he was jailed for 26 weeks. He was then released from jail in February.

David Birrell, defending, said: "He does maintain on release he did initially make efforts to notify, going to two police stations, both of which were closed, and speaking to somebody on one of those yellow telephones outside the police station, but that doesn't excuse what followed. He had ample opportunity to notify.

"He's fortunate to have a supportive family, his mother sits in court. His father would be here, but for his ill health, and they stand by him."

Judge Stuart Driver, QC, told Hart: "The facts are you persistently and deliberately, again and again, ignored police reminders and failed to notify the police officers of your address between February and March of this year."

The judge said the case was aggravated by Hart's previous convictions and three past breaches, and mitigated by his guilty plea, entitling him to a discount of one third off his sentence, plus conditions in prison during the pandemic.

Judge Driver said he had not been asked to consider guidelines on whether he should spare Hart prison, but if he had, he would have noted his "history of non-compliance" with court orders and that "appropriate punishment" could only be achieved by an immediate custodial sentence.

The judge jailed Hart for eight months, who sighed loudly and nodded to his mum as he was sent down.

Description

A sexual predator is behind bars after his quick-thinking victims took photos and videos of him. Another brave woman also chased Ahmed Al-Razawe and punched him.

Al-Razawe carried out three sex attacks in Liverpool city centre in the space of just four days last year. The creep, 24, first targeted two teenage friends sitting at a bus stop - asking them for sex and groping their thighs, the Liverpool Echo reports .

He then smacked a young woman's bottom, before biting her breast after she wrestled him to the ground. A judge said Al-Razawe tried to treat the victims as his "sexual commodities" with "no regard for their rights".

But they outsmarted the predator - using their mobile phones to take photos and videos of him. And one woman even chased him down the street, before landing a punch that helped put him behind bars.

Attacks on teenagers

Al-Razawe attacked two teenagers, aged 17 and 18, who were waiting for a taxi at Liverpool One bus station, at around 11.30pm, on Saturday, October 23. He groped their legs and slid his hand up one victim's shorts.

But the other used her phone to take a photo and record a video of him, which she later posted on Facebook, to warn others and to get him identified. At the time the Syrian national - who had entered the UK illegally and applied for asylum - was living in a hostel in Upper Park Street, Toxteth. Several days later, the man running the hostel was sent a screenshot of the post when he immediately recognised Al-Razawe and contacted the police.

In the meantime Al-Razawe had struck again, this time in Lydia Ann Street, at around 12.40am, on Wednesday, October 27. The drunken thug approached two women walking down the street, asking them to open a wine bottle, and when they walked on, he slapped and squeezed the bottom of one of the women. When her friend protested, he started swinging his arm at her, so the woman he had just molested grabbed him around the neck, and they both fell over. There he sunk his teeth into her left breast and hit her in the head with the bottle.

Liverpool Crown Court heard a man shouted "get off" and Al-Razawe ran away. But by now the two women had been joined by another female friend, who chased after him and caught him up. Henry Riding, prosecuting, said: "There was something of a struggle before he then ran off again. During that struggle however the friend punched the defendant in the face.

"The defendant suffered an injury causing him to bleed and some of his blood got on the friend's clothing. As a result of which, it was matched to the defendant as a result of DNA analysis." The third victim and her two friends also managed to take photos of Al-Razawe, before he was picked out in an identity parade. Faced with the overwhelming evidence against him, the coward admitted three counts of sexual assault and one count of assault causing actual bodily harm.

The 17-year-old victim told the court she was left struggling to sleep. In a victim statement, she said: "Every time I close my eyes I could see his face." She added that she is now much more wary of people when she is out and that she was relieved neither her nor her friend had been on their own. The 18-year-old victim said she was left jumpy at the slightest noise, struggled to sleep, and woke up with a heavy feeling on her chest. Mr Riding said: "She describes how she doesn't want to get up or go out and relives what happened in her head over and over again."

The third victim, in her 20s, had moved to Liverpool from a different area and described how she was left feeling uncomfortable in the city. She suffered nightmares, struggled to cope with social situations, and reacted negatively to men touching her in a friendly way. Mr Riding said: "She describes that the bite to her breast left a lasting scar, which is a permanent reminder of what happened and affects the clothing she can wear."

Passing sentence, the judge Recorder Harris praised the woman who "bravely" chased after Al-Razawe and helped bring him to justice. He said the pervert would have to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for a decade.

Al-Razawe, who claimed drink and drugs played a part in both attacks and that he didn't remember the first incident, was found by a probation officer to "pose a high risk of causing serious harm to women".

Recorder Harris said he had shown "no insight or empathy" and had "a predatory sexual approach to women". The judge jailed him for three years. Al-Razawe will serve half of that sentence in prison, at which stage depending on the outcome of a Home Office hearing he will either be released on licence or deported.

Description

The dad of a vulnerable young woman with Down's Syndrome and the mental age of a six-year-old walked in on a perverted care worker exposing himself to her on a video call.

Wavertree man Peter Edge, 62, was the then director of a company offering respite care to adults with disabilities - giving parents and carers a much-needed break. The family of *Jane (not her real name), told the ECHO they had total trust in him.

Today, Preston Crown Court heard Edge, of Goswell Street, betrayed them in the most devastating way imaginable, raping and sexually assaulting her at the West Lancashire respite centre at a time when he knew it was empty. The abuse only came to light when her dad, to his horror, saw Edge had exposed his penis over the webcam while Jane was in the family home.

An investigation was launched and Lancashire Police discovered that Edge had sexually abused Jane on the very first day she was allowed out from her home after shielding from coronavirus as a vulnerable person.

The pervert was supposed to be taking her to a park to maintain social distancing boundaries, but knew the fact other staff and service users at the respite centre were there meant it would be empty. Her parents said Jane had to point out what happened to her to specially trained officers, a process which caused her stress and embarrassment.

Judge Heather Lloyd, passing sentence today, described Edge as a remorseless and manipulative offender who posed a significant danger to the public. She said: "It is a blessing that [Jane's dad] saw what you were doing. Had he not, who knows how long you would have gotten away with this criminal behaviour towards his daughter.

"She may have enjoyed the attention you were showing her... but she did not understand the gravity of what you had done to her."

During the hearing, Jane's mum bravely began to read a victim personal statement about the impact of Edge's crimes on the family - but became so emotional she asked prosecutor Richard Haworth to finish reading it out.

She said: "[Her dad] was absolutely devastated when he saw Edge expose his genitals to Jane and in that moment everything changed for Jane and us. She could no longer go to [the respite centre] for overnight stays or meet with her friends, she lost her entire care network and social life, and this was totally devastating and hard for us to explain to her."

The court heard initially the parents had no idea of the full extent of Edge's offending against their "beautiful and amazing" daughter until a detective came round to explain Jane had reported being sexually assaulted. Her mum said: "I felt physically sick. [Her dad] cried and that really upset me because as he never cries, he very rarely shows his emotions. I found it hard to process what Jane had been through and didn't know how to deal with it."

The family have since struggled to find new respite care for Jane, and lost her grandad before he could see justice. Her mum told the court: "I find it hard to digest that the person I trusted with Jane violated her in the sickest way. It's hard to believe anyone could take advantage of Jane, let alone when the perpetrator is someone I'd also thought of as a friend, someone I allowed into my home and more importantly into Jane's life to care for her and protect her whilst she wasn't with me."

Edge accepted two lesser charges, but denied raping Jane and her family were forced to endure a trial - a process which Jane's mum described as a "horrendous ordeal".

Edge claimed he felt "disgusted" with himself after acting inappropriately with her, but denied he had raped her. A jury saw through his lies and convicted him of rape, sexual assault and other offences.

Jane's mum told the court: "On the day Edge gave evidence [Jane's dad] couldn't even be in court as he was too angry and upset and he couldn't listen to what that man had to say. I did sit through his evidence. There are no words to explain how it made me feel.

"I was in complete disbelief and disgusted to hear that he had sexual urges towards my beautiful daughter. It was utterly disgusting to sit a few feet away from him and having to listen. It didn't feel like it was my Jane that was being talked about. I felt like I was watching someone else's trial except, every time Jane's name was mentioned, it hit me hard it was my daughter who was being talked about and it made it real again."

Lloyd Morgan, defending Edge, told the court that a the legal definition of dangerousness, a significant risk of future harm, was not met. He highlighted that the Probation Service classed Edge as a low risk of reoffending, and said the inevitable long prison sentence and restrictions imposed after his release would be enough to protect the public.

Mr Morgan also said the Probation Service believed Edge had displayed remorse and a desire to understand why he committed the offences. However Judge Lloyd said she could not understand how he could show remorse when he still maintained his innocence of the most serious charges.

However Judge Lloyd said she disagreed, meaning Edge would find himself spending a considerably longer time behind bars. She handed down an extended sentence of 15 years in prison, with an additional two years on licence.

The sentence means instead of being automatically released on licence at the half-way stage, Edge must serve a minimum of two thirds - 10 years - behind bars before a Parole Board can consider him for early release.

Speaking after the hearing, Detective Constable Kerry Briggs said: "Peter Edge is an offender who abused his position of trust as a carer to subject his vulnerable victim to abhorrent abuse whilst he should have been providing care.

"I would first and foremost like to commend her for her courage in speaking out and facing her abuser through the court process, and both her and her family for conducting themselves with such dignity throughout this process in the face of repeated lies and attempts by Edge to use this ladys vulnerability to try and conceal what he had done.

"The victim is a happy go-lucky individual and its heart-breaking to think that someone who she trusted took advantage of her in this way. We have worked tirelessly to secure this conviction in very difficult circumstances and I hope that this significant sentence keeps the public safe from his disgusting sick behaviour along with giving others the courage who may have suffered similar abuse to come forward."

Solicitor Kevin Donoghue, who is representing Jane and her family in a civil case against the care company, added: "My clients parents were totally taken in by Peter Edge and his company. They were convinced he had their daughters best interests at heart.

"Edge used the cover of helping her professionally to commit repeated acts of the most serious sexual abuse. He then fought the criminal charges, resulting in a Crown Court trial which compounded my clients distress. Understandably, the victim and her parents are utterly devastated."

Description

A rapist carried a drunk girl into a house and sexually assaulted her.

Annuar Ameir attacked the 17-year-old back in 2018, they had only met earlier that day and had been out with separate groups of friends. Ameir, from Toxteth tried to deny he had raped the woman as she slept on a sofa but a jury at Liverpool Crown Court found him guilty.

At the 30 year olds sentencing hearing today, the court heard the two groups of friends including Ameir and the victim merged at one point during the day. They all then went to a house in another part of Liverpool to continue partying.

By this stage, the victim was drunk and had already thrown up outside the house. Seeing her vulnerable state, Ameir, who was also drunk, carried her back into the living room as she slept, took off her clothes and raped her. She woke up as the attack took place but was unable to get him off her.

Gerald Baxter, prosecuting, read out statements from the victim in which she said the attack continued to have lasting effects on her. She said she had struggled with depression and had at times turned to alcohol abuse to deal with the trauma of what happened.

She added Ameirs denials meant she was forced to relive much of what happened throughout the trial. Referring to her statement, Mr Baxter said: It is all back in court again. I could not sleep and I am having flashbacks again.

Louise McCloskey, defending, said Ameirs actions were awful but appealed to Judge Gary Woodhall not to rule him a dangerous offender, something which would have opened the door to an extended sentence. Referring to the fact that Ameir had no relevant previous convictions and to the opportunistic nature of the attack, Ms McCloskey said Ameir clearly required rehabilitation to address the attitudes that led to his offending.

She added that the expected lengthy jail term would provide a chance for this to happen, as well as providing punishment. Ms McCloskey said: He conducted himself abysmally on that night but prior to that, your honour, there is nothing indicating he was a risk in the past and would be a risk in the future.

Judge Gary Woodhall told Ameir he had exploited his victims vulnerabilities for his own satisfaction and traumatised her further by forcing her to go through a trial. He said: I am troubled by the circumstances of this offending, which involved predatory behaviour targeting a particularly vulnerable girl.

Judge Woodhall added that Ameir clearly had misogynistic and flawed views around sex. He said: You present as someone with a sense of male entitlement, with a misogynistic view of female characters.

While he said Ameirs actions meant he could be judged to meet the definition of a dangerous offender, he ruled that an extended sentence could not be justified. Ameir, of Arnold Crescent, was jailed for nine years and nine months.

Description

Roy Woodward, 56, was handed a prison sentence of up to 25 years for 14 counts of abuse. His wife Gaynor Woodward was also jailed

A high-risk committed paedophile who subjected a young girl to campaign of rape could spend a quarter of a century behind bars for his heinous crimes.

Roy Woodward, 56, of no fixed abode but previously of Runcorn and Widnes, faced justice at Chester Crown Court on Monday alongside his wife Gaynor Woodward, 58, of Worcester Court, Runcorn, who was convicted of one count of cruelty. At trial, Roy Woodward was found guilty of 14 counts of abuse, namely four of rape, eight of indecently assaulting a child, and two of indecency with a child.

Some counts represented multiple offences over a period of time, and the abuse began when the victim was of very young. At trial in January, prosecutor Matthew Dunford told jurors Woodward - who had a previous conviction of child rape - abused the girl at the centre of the trial throughout her childhood and after she turned 16.

He instigated abuse on one occasion by telling the girl he wanted to play snaky and in other instances by giving her lemonade that was really cider. The court heard the first rape left his victim in excruciating pain.

At sentencing on Monday, Judge Patrick Thompson said Woodward plied his victim with sweets to secure her silence as well as alcohol to assist his grooming.

He said the abuse began when the girl was very young and became a campaign of rape as she grew older. In an impact statement read to the court, the abuse survivor spoke of how since her early 20s she has had horrific nightmares resulting from her ordeal and said she believes it also triggered a mental health condition.

She finds it hard to trust other adults, and feels she will never be able to live a normal life.

Reading her statement, Mr Dunford said: I have to live with this for the rest of my life. I was denied a normal life and the chance to form my own life.

I will never be able to live a normal life. I feel hollow and empty.

Since my early 20s I have had horrific nightmares about the abuse suffered that I still get to this day. I can feel him repeatedly in these nightmares.

It has affected my relationships and with my current partner. I am lucky I have the support of my partner.

In general life, I find it hard to trust any adults because I was abused by an adult.

Mr Dunford said Woodward had seven previous convictions for 10 offences including criminal damage, battery and the previous child rape conviction from 2018.

Gaynor Woodward had older dissimilar convictions including two counts under Section 4 of the Public Order Act from 1999. Andrew McInnes, representing Woodward, said the defendant maintains his denial and could not be granted credit for remorse.

Mr McInnes added the features supporting mitigation were low and he conceded there are a number of aggravating features which are inescapable including that the case involved serious offences over a period of time. He said although Woodward had been assessed as a high risk of harm to female children, he was 56 years old and will be older when he leaves prison.

He called for Judge Thompson to consider the issue of totality.

Maria Masselis, appearing for Gaynor Woodward, said the court had been presented with character references describing her as hard-working woman and loyal friend. She conceded Gaynor Woodwards pre-sentence report was unflattering but said the probation officer had a difficult task and had not been in the trial, which lasted two-and-a-half weeks.

Ms Masselis said the jurors verdicts indicated they thought Gaynor Woodwards offending occurred later and was of a shorter duration than put by the prosecution. She compared the cruelty count to one of handling stolen goods in that Gaynors failing was one of recklessness and she closed her mind to the abuse.

Ms Masselis also challenged whether there was any clinical evidence to support the victims attribution of mental health problems to the abuse. Judge Thompson sentenced Gaynor Woodward to four years in prison.

He said Roy Woodward should be considered a dangerous offender and very high risk to children and sentenced him to 21 years in prison plus four years on extended licence, meaning he could serve 25 years in prison if he offends again including after initial release.

It could be the year 2047 when he experiences life outside custody again. The judge ordered Woodward to be placed on the sex offenders register for life alongside an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

During his summing-up, he said Woodward had chosen to abuse the girl to satisfy his twisted sexual desires. The judge said the offences spanned about 12 years and from the victims age of 13 onwards can be described as a campaign of rape.

Considering the question of dangerousness in light of this current case and Woodwards previous rape conviction, Judge Thompson said: Im required to consider the issue of dangerousness, and if theres a risk of further offences and causing serious harm.

Im satisfied you do present a risk. I have no doubt you are a committed paedophile.

You have an unhealthy sexual interest in children and present a danger to children.

Speaking after the sentencing hearing, Wendy Newton, Senior Crown Prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Service, said :This victim was subjected to sexual abuse by Roy Woodward from when she was a little girl.

The feelings and emotions of this young child meant nothing to him. His power and abuse continued as she grew up.

She has spoken of how what he did had affected every part of her life. She now has to find a way forward in her life, having suffered such trauma. The victim was unable to disclose what had happened to her until fairly recently.

This often happens. It is not unusual for children to deny the abuse they have suffered or be silent as to what has happened.

It often takes years for victims of sexual abuse to vocalise what has been done to them. The Crown Prosecution Service works hard to support the victims of sexual abuse and help them through the criminal justice system. Time is no barrier to a prosecution.

We will listen to victims, no matter how long ago the offending took place.

The judge ordered a statutory surcharge in respect of each defendant. Woodward will serve two thirds of his sentence before being considered for parole.

Jurors acquitted Roy Woodward of one count of rape and Gaynor Woodward of one count of cruelty. A bad character application approved before the trial meant jurors were able to hear Woodward had served a previous nine-year sentence for raping a separate 13-year-old girl.