Latest Offenders Liverpool

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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.

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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."

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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.

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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."

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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.

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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.

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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."

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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.

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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.

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David Blackburn raped one girl and molested another then threatened them to stay quiet This is the paedophile who laughed in the face of his victims when they begged him to stop abusing them. David Blackburn targeted two girls from when they were aged just nine and seven-years-old - threatening them not to speak out about the abuse. He was a teenage boy when he started molesting the victims. But he continued as an adult, even after he got married and had children of his own. One of the girls was raped by Blackburn, of Quarry Green, Northwood, Kirkby, more than three decades ago. She burst into tears and clenched her fists when he was jailed for 19 years on Monday, as supporters celebrated and hugged her in the public gallery. Merseyside Police said it did not take a mugshot of Blackburn because he attended a voluntary interview, meaning the ECHO did not have a photo of him. But we can now show you the face of the man who "grotesquely abused" situations to use the girls as his "sexual playthings". Blackburn was found guilty after a harrowing trial at Liverpool Crown Court. He denied any wrongdoing, but was convicted of five counts of indecent assault and one count of indecency with a child in relation to his first victim, when she was aged between nine and 13. The now adult victim said Blackburn touched her sexually, performed a sex act on her, exposed himself and asked her to touch him, and showed her sexual pictures in a book. Martine Snowdon, prosecuting, said: "She would ask him to stop when he touched her but he would just laugh." Blackburn was convicted of 15 counts of indecent assault, two counts of indecency with a child, and one count of rape, in respect of his second victim. The prosecutor said Blackburn abused that girl from when she was aged seven by touching her sexually, including performing sex acts on her. Blackburn made her perform a sex act on him when she was 12, and once lay on top of her, only to be disturbed and flee, before he raped her when she was 14. Ms Snowdon said the girl reported that rape in 1990, but later retracted her complaint when put under pressure. In a victim statement, the second woman said she takes antidepressant medication and medication for anxiety. The prosecutor said she outlined how "the abuse is on her mind all the time" and led to suicidal thoughts. The woman has continuing nightmares and only now, after the trial ended, has been able to take up the offer of counselling. The judge, Recorder Ian Harris, said he had read a pre-sentence report provided by the Probation Service. He said: "It's as one would expect given the denials in the trial. He doesn't express any remorse and maintains his innocence, and the author of the report assesses him as being a high risk of further sexual contact offences." Lee Bonner, defending, said Blackburn suffered from depression "in part caused by his divorce", was on antidepressants and had been referred to a "memory clinic". He said his client had no previous convictions and at his age, prison may "have a far greater impact upon him than may otherwise have been the case". Mr Bonner said Blackburn previously made a serious attempt on his life, which left him in a coma, and his memory issues were linked to cognitive impairment. He said he was "perhaps not a sophisticated man", who didn't complete his education, had difficulties reading and writing, and was "unable to sustain long term employment". Mr Bonner said the last offences were 30 years ago. He added: "The defendant that the court will sentence today is, it would appear, a very different defendant to that young man of so many years ago." Recorder Harris said Blackburn initially satisfied his "predatory lust" with the first girl, then abused the second child. The judge said: "This paedophile offending continued after you were married and had your own children. "Both victims said how you threatened them and that the abuse had hurt them. The second girl said she would beg you to stop what you were doing." Referring to the second girl, Recorder Harris said: "She would say she didn't want to engage in sexual activity with you, but you would tell her not to tell anyone or you would hurt her." The judge said that girl was "forced" to retract the complaint she made about the rape in 1990. Recorder Harris told Blackburn: "Both of your victims have suffered and continue to suffer to this day. You simply ruined the innocence of these two children." The judge said he was sure Blackburn had known that what he was doing was "wrong". Recorder Harris said Blackburn was an "offender of particular concern" and jailed him for 19 years in total, with an extended year on licence. The effect of a combination of different types of sentences in this case means Blackburn must serve around 11 and a half years in jail before he can apply for parole. Blackburn must also sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

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A paedophile who collected nearly 2,000 child sex abuse images was today told he could face prison.

James Mercer, 41, was handed a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) in 2013 after he was caught downloading indecent images of children. The 10-year order prevented him from accessing the internet unless he retained the browsing history and made it available for inspection by police.

Liverpool Crown Court today heard when officers performed a routine check on his computer equipment as part of the SOPO, they discovered a vile stash of indecent material. Mercer, of Ashburn Avenue, Tower Hill, Kirkby, later admitted possessing 1,997 indecent images of children, which according to the charge he downloaded between May 16, 2018 and March 17, 2021.

He pleaded guilty to downloading 368 Category A images - the most serious category involving child rape - plus 323 Category B and 1,306 Category C files. Mercer also admitted possessing seven prohibited [cartoon or animated] images of a child.

Jonathan Duffy, prosecuting, said Mercer was not in fact in breach of the SOPO when the sex offender appeared in the dock for sentencing this morning, as he had not disguised his search history. Mercer, with long grey hair and beard and wearing a black coat, spoke only to confirm his personal details.

Charles Lander, defending, said at a previous court hearing the case was adjourned for the defence to obtain a psychiatric report. He said that report would then be served on the Probation Service, so they could prepare an "addendum" to an existing pre-sentence report.

However, the court heard the psychiatric report had only been made available to the Probation Service today. Mr Lander said he therefore would apply for an adjournment.

Judge Robert Trevor-Jones told Mercer that "regrettably" it would take the Probation Service four weeks to prepare the addendum report. The judge adjourned sentencing until April 28 and remanded Mercer on bail until that date.

However, he warned Mercer that the fact he was adjourning the case and requesting the addendum report should not be taken by him as an indication of the eventual sentence in his case. Judge Trevor-Jones told him: "All options remain open and that includes immediate custody. Is that clear?"

"Yes," mumbled Mercer from beneath a face mask, before he shuffled out of court, carrying a black rucksack.

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The family of a young man who downloaded images of children as young as three being abused stood by him after his arrest.

Matthew Simm, a 21-year-old zoological student, had his house raided after the indecent images were uploaded to the internet via Twitter, Liverpool Crown Court heard. Police arrived at his Lydiate home on May 6 last year after checks on a related IP address led them to that property.

Frank Dillon, prosecuting, said Simm acknowledged the email addresses were his but denied knowing anything about the offences. His electronic devices were seized and illegal images were found on two phones and a laptop.

The court heard that forensic examination revealed a total of 703 images and videos, including 362 in the most serious Category A, which involves child rape. Mr Dillon said that they also found 100 extreme pornographic images, of which one was a video.

It was found that the images had been searched or accessed in the days before his arrest. Simm, of Coppull Road, Lydiate, pleaded guilty to three offences of making indecent images of children, one of possessing them and one of possessing extreme porn. Judge Anil Murray told him that he found it impossible to accept his claim that he was not sexually attracted to children.

He said that the images showed children as young as three or four and they included videos but he accepted there was no distribution of the images. The judge told the student that he accepted he has shown insight into his offending and is being supported by his family.

Judge Murray also said Simm had also been assessed as posing a low risk of re-offending or causing serious harm and had pleaded guilty. The offences admitted by the defendant involved a lesser overall amount of indecent images of children - 566- than in the prosecution case and the judge said he would sentence on the lower basis.

He sentenced him to eight months imprisonment suspended for two years, ordered him to carry out 150 hours unpaid work and 15 days rehabilitation activities. Simm was also ordered to sign on the Sexual Offenders Register for ten years and the judge imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same length of time restricting his internet use.

Peter White, defending, said that the defendant has no previous convictions and had pleaded guilty, indicating his remorse. He also presents a low risk of re-offending, he added.