Latest Offenders Liverpool

Description

A paedophile who played sick games with a young girl had the smile wiped off his face at court.

Michael Carr repeatedly sexually abused the child when she was aged between six and 11 and he was aged 17 to 23.

He indecently assaulted the girl, who had to take off clothes if she lost at cards and was made to dance for him in her underwear.

The 57-year-old, of Station Road, Maghull, smiled and grinned when he appeared at Liverpool Crown Court for sentencing via video link.

He was supported in the public gallery by family members, one of whom stormed out when the impact of the abuse on the victim was described, while Carr shook his head.

However, Carr stopped smiling when he was jailed for eight years and told he must serve two thirds of the sentence behind bars.

During a trial in August, a jury heard how one game Carr played with the girl involved her running up to him, when he would pick her up and lift her in the air.

However, one time he made her take her underwear off and indecently assaulted her when he held her aloft.

Sarah Holt, prosecuting, said Carr would make the girl open and close her legs, before touching her genitalia.

She said he also played card games with her such as snap, which involved items of clothing being removed.

He would take the girl for walks to an area known locally as "The Boards" and to "The Ralla", where she liked to make dens.

Ms Holt said once she had made a den and was excited and wanted to show him, but he exposed himself to her.

He then took the girl's hand and placed it on his penis, telling her to stroke it and asking: "Does that feel nice?"

Carr asked the girl to dance to music, then said he wanted to see her dance in her knickers, because "he could see her better like that".

Ms Holt said he also told the child to lie down for a "hug", but "put himself against her and pulled her shorts down".

The court heard he would kiss her on the cheek or turn her face towards him, so he could kiss her on the lips.

Ms Holt said there was also an occasion when the girl was older when he approached her from behind, put his hand on her back and tried to pull her bra strap, but she told him "no, I don't like it" and told him to leave.

The abuse came to light in 2019, when the woman contacted police and told officers Carr had abused her when she was a young child.

When interviewed by police, Carr denied ever touching his victim sexually and said the allegations were "disgusting".

However, he accepted that as an adult she had confronted him several times and accused him of being a paedophile.

Ms Holt told the jury: "He said that he hadnt reported this as he didn't want to cause any hassle."

Carr, who had no previous convictions, was found guilty of seven counts of indecent assault.

In a victim statement, the woman described how she had been forced to live with the impact of the abuse on a daily basis.

The woman said she suffered from "bad anxiety" and "severe panic attacks", when she struggles to breathe, which can be "triggered by the slightest things" and particularly certain smells and playing cards.

She described self-harming, suffering from eating disorders, "vivid nightmares", feelings of vulnerability and fear, and how "I've often thought what's the point of being here anymore".

The woman said: "When I'm close with partners, I see Michael's face looking back at me."

The victim, who has undergone counselling, said: "I'm happy that after 40 years Michael is facing the consequences of his actions and justice is being served. However, this will never change the devastation he has left behind."

Brendan Carville, defending, said: "The defendant of course still denies the offences and I'm not able to comment in any way at all on the findings of the jury."

He said Carr hadn't been in trouble since these offences, which showed he could rehabilitate himself, and that at the age of 59 he would find his first time in prison "devastating".

Judge David Swinnerton told Carr: "You're 59 years of age. You've got no previous convictions, but what that reveals is to some extent you've been living a lie for the last 30 years, because people have treated you as a man of good character."

He said Carr had "sexualised" typical childhood games, such as when he threw her up and indecently assaulted her.

The judge said when playing snap, who lost "had to take a piece of clothing off".

He added: "You played that with that young child."

The victim first told her mum years previously Carr had touched her and it was "wrong", but at the time didn't feel able to disclose the abuse in full.

Judge Swinnerton said the victim also talked to a friend about the abuse over the years, who described her breaking down in tears.

He said: "Though this was a long time ago Mr Carr, and though it's difficult for any man to face the first custodial sentence of his life at the age of 59 as Mr Carville said, you've had a devastating effect on the life of your victim for the last 30-odd years, and that's a continuing and ongoing impact, and serious impact on her."

Judge Swinnerton told Carr to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Description

A man sexually assaulted a woman then begged her not to tell the police in text messages the next day.

James Navickas performed a sex act on his victim, which she previously told him she found the idea of "abhorrent".

A judge said the 28-year-old, of Joules Close, Walton, sexually assaulted her when she was "particularly vulnerable".

Judge Stuart Driver, QC, said: "Because she was so drunk, she was incapable of giving informed consent."

Liverpool Crown Court heard Navickas and the woman had both gone out drinking together before the attack.

Frank Dillon, prosecuting, said witnesses described her as being eight or nine out of 10 on a scale of drunkenness.

He said the woman had made plain to him previously that she found the idea of a type of sex "abhorrent".

Mr Dillon said they went to Navickas' home but she felt "very drunk" and went to bed, only to wake the next day in pain, with a "hazy" memory.

The court heard she remembered Navickas performing sex acts on her and her saying to him: "What the hell are you doing?"

The victim reported what happened to a friend and a family member, before she and Navickas exchanged text messages. He said the woman had made plain to him previously that she found the idea of a type of sex "abhorrent".

Mr Dillon said they went to Navickas' home but she felt "very drunk" and went to bed, only to wake the next day in pain, with a "hazy" memory.

The court heard she remembered Navickas performing sex acts on her and her saying to him: "What the hell are you doing?"

The victim reported what happened to a friend and a family member, before she and Navickas exchanged text messages.

Navickas said "I hope you're feeling better" and she replied "I remember what you did, don't deny it".

He replied: "I'm so sorry, f***ing idiot me."

The woman said "that's absolutely disgusting" and he responded: "I know, I don't even know what came over me, can't even say anything because there was no reason for me to do it."

She replied "it's like rape, just putting it bluntly like", to which he said: "There's no other way to put it, I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry."

The woman continued "I don't know what to say, like what the actual f***", before adding: "It's not like rape, it is rape."

Navickas replied "I know, I don't know what came over me" before the woman told him she was "scared" of him.

The woman later said: "You sexually assaulted me and I will be taking it further. You're dangerous and me keeping it quiet is making it acceptable."

Navickas said: "Please, I'm asking you, as the last thing I will ever say to you, please can you not take it further, I'm looking to get help as soon as possible and speak to a therapist."

Mr Dillon said Navickas was arrested and gave a "no comment" interview when first spoken to by the police, at which stage the text messages were not available.

However, the texts were put to him in a second interview, when he "by and large admitted his wrongdoing", but denied performing the sex act she found abhorrent and denied that his victim was so drunk she didn't know what she was doing.

He later admitted sexual assault and two counts of assault by penetration.

Mr Dillon summarised a victim personal statement, in which the woman explained how she suffered from anxiety, depression and panic attacks, feels "she is not in control of anything anymore", and has "a feeling of shame that won't go away".

He said: "She has thoughts of not being here anymore - in other words, suicidal thoughts."

The woman, who regularly broke down and cried, said she felt like "a nervous wreck", which affected her social life and work.

Mr Dillon said the victim still suffers from anxiety and that she explained: "It's really hard. It never goes away - it's always on my mind."

Anthony O'Donohoe, defending, said Navickas indicated guilty pleas at the earliest opportunity and made "substantial admissions" in the second interview.

He said alcohol had been a "disinhibitor" for Navickas, who on that night had been drinking to excess and had "deficits in his consequential thinking skills".

Mr O'Donohoe said: "Had he stepped back, I daresay he never would have engaged in the activity that he did."

The barrister said Navickas, of previous good character, had a job and was working towards a managerial position.

He urged the judge to impose a sentence of two years or less in prison, which could be suspended, accompanied by "stringent" requirements to address his client's problems.

Mr O'Donohoe said: "This man clearly has the highest prospects of rehabilitation and is unlikely to ever darken the door of a court again."

Judge Driver said mitigating features of Navickas' case included his "previous good character", references which spoke "highly" of him, and his good employment record.

Jailing him for three and a half years, he said: "You showed genuine remorse by immediately confessing in text messages afterwards."

Judge Driver told Navickas to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life and also made a restraining order to protect his victim.

Description

A paedophile nurse who downloaded baby rape images was spared jail after a court heard he had "lost everything".

Married dad-of-four Christopher Ewan, 45, used to work at the A&E department at Aintree hospital in Fazakerley.

During lockdown he downloaded more than 100 child rape files, plus extreme porn images showing bestiality.

Liverpool Crown Court today heard that after his sick crimes came to light, his family's home in Netherton was targeted by vigilantes, forcing his innocent wife and children to flee.

Ewan's lawyer explained how "in every sense the defendant has suffered significantly - but it's all down to him".

Police were informed of "suspicious activity" relating to a Sky broadband account and messaging app Kik Messenger last summer.

Officers raided Ewan's former home in Musker Drive, Netherton on June 26, 2020 and seized his Samsung mobile phone.

When he was interviewed by the police, Ewan denied any knowledge of any indecent material.

But the device was found to contain 137 Category A files - the most serious category involving child rape - consisting of 127 photos and 10 videos.

There were 217 Category B images, 130 Category C files, one prohibited "cartoon" image and 21 extreme porn images, downloaded between March 3 and June 23 last year.

Christopher Hopkins, prosecuting, said: "A lot of them were thumbnail images but they did find evidence of saving these images on the device. There was a secure folder, which had suspicious activity on it."

He said it was to be "noted" that one Category A image showed a female baby aged six to 12 months and one Category A video, around 24 minutes long, featured children aged eight, seven and four.

Mr Hopkins added: "So of their type, they are particularly serious images in the Crown's submission."

Ewan admitted three counts of downloading and one count of possessing indecent images of children, plus possessing a prohibited image of a child and extreme porn.

In a pre-sentence report, Ewan claimed he didn't intentionally download the images or do it for sexual gratification, but he has since confessed that isn't true.

Desmond Lennon, defending, said: "He unreservedly accepts deliberately downloading this material. He also accepts at the time there was a sexual interest in children and the notes indicate, being pressed, accepts it remains."

Mr Lennon said Ewan was married for 19 years with four children, but developed an interest in adult porn, which the dad described as "thrill seeking".

He said his client had been off work due to "stress" and his interest in adult porn progressed to viewing child sex abuse images.

Mr Lennon said if Ewan was spared jail, he could receive "the assistance he perhaps now belatedly recognises that he needs".

The lawyer said: "He understands how it's not only affected him, but people who are very important to him, his wife and children.

"His wife has left him, the marriage is over and his four children have been taken away from him."

Mr Lennon said when Ewan's crimes first became public knowledge, it had a "catastrophic effect" on the family, who then lived in Netherton.

He said: "The home was vandalised, bricks were thrown through the window, paint was thrown at the front door and people congregated outside, behaving in an intimidating way. The effect on his children in particular has been devastating."

Mr Lennon said his children had now moved, Ewan hadn't seen them since July and he only spoke to them "intermittently".

A letter from The Walton Centre said Ewan had muscular degenerative issues and was currently deemed incapable of working by the Department for Work and Pensions.

Mr Lennon said Ewan was an engineer before retraining as a nurse at the age of 30 and had worked in A&E "conscientiously" since 2010.

He said: "His fall in terms of his professional life he described to me this morning as catastrophic. His nursing career is over."

The barrister said Ewan wouldn't be allowed to practise as a nurse again and would "inevitably" be struck off.

He said: "It's all down to him. He has lost everything in real terms."

Mr Lennon suggested his client, who felt "shame, regret and disgust", could be rehabilitated in the community.

Judge Anil Murray told Ewan: "You were of previous good character. More than that, more than just having no previous convictions, you were of positive good character and worked as a professional person.

"By this offending you have thrown all that away."

He added: "Your offending has had a terrible effect on your family."

The judge said sentencing guidelines indicated a starting point of 12 months in prison, but he had to increase this because of the "particularly serious" Category A images, before giving Ewan a discount of one third off his sentence, for his early guilty pleas.

Judge Murray said by law he had to consider guidelines on whether this sentence should be served immediately, and because Ewan had no history of poor compliance with court orders, was thought to have a realistic prospect of rehabilitation, and jailing him would have "some significant impact" on his family, he was "able, but only just, to suspend the sentence in this case".

He handed Ewan 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, with a 40-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement.

The judge said he wouldn't make a "punitive element" to the order as Ewan wasn't suitable for unpaid work, adding: "There is no point in ordering a curfew when your interest is sitting inside looking at a computer."

Ewan must sign the Sex Offenders Register and comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.

Description

A paedophile tax officer kept a sickening collection of child sex abuse images for three years.

John Lee had a total of 4,781 indecent images of children, 134 of which were videos of children as young as two being raped.

The 43-year-old, who worked for HMRC for 20 years before being sacked yesterday, also shared 14 child sex abuse images on WhatsApp and Kik Messenger with a fellow paedophile.

He told him he wanted to have sex with an 11-year-old girl he knew, and even sent him a picture of her.

Peter Hussey, prosecuting at Liverpool Crown Court, said: "All charges arose from an investigation by Merseyside Police following the execution of a warrant at his address in May last year, when police had reason to believe he had been downloading indecent photographs of children from the internet."

Mr Hussey said the images were discovered after a laptop and a phone were seized.

Lee kept a total of 4,781 indecent images of children, of which 1,041 were images of child rape.

Among his vile collection were 1,006 Category B images and 2,734 Category C images.

The court heard 172 of the images were videos, which included 134 videos of child rape.

Lee distributed 14 images, of which seven were videos on WhatsApp and Kik Messenger.

Mr Hussey said he had shared images with a user called 'Incestloverboy' and in the discussion Lee sent a picture of an 11-year-old girl he knew, who was fully clothed, and said he wanted to have sex with her.

Lee, of Dalemeadow Road, Knotty Ash, admitted three counts of downloading, one count of possessing and one count of distributing indecent images of children between July 25, 2017 and May 21, 2020.

David Birrell, defending, asked the judge to consider letters from Lee's family and said a report from a psychosexual therapist states it "appears he had certain mental health issues" as a result of "work related stress" and depression.

Mr Birrell said Lee, who has no previous convictions, is "full of remorse and shame" as well as "self loathing".

He said Lee was "hardworking" and had been employed with the civil service for 20 years during which he "rose through the ranks" and had a "distinguished career which came to an end yesterday when he was dismissed from employment".

The court heard his wife of 19 years was "standing by him" and Mr Birrell added Lee has two sons.

Mr Birrell said: "They know about this and he continues to see them through supervised contact."

He said Lee's risk of offending according to a pre sentence report was low and said after the offences came to light he contacted a helpline, completed a 10-week programme with the Lucy Faithfull Foundation and paid for therapy.

Mr Birrell said he had also sought medical help for mental health issues and is now taking anti-depressants.

He asked the judge to consider the impact of the pandemic on prisoners and said there has been a "traumatic effect" on Lee's sons.

The judge, Recorder Ian Unsworth, QC, said: "Whilst the images of children might have been something you fantasised about and collected in the early hours of the morning, each and every one is a real person.

"Each and every one is a victim, many of whom will have little consciousness of the horrors that have befallen them before they have even begun to walk or even begun to talk."

The judge said there was a number of "significant" aggravating features including the vulnerability of the children and the fact the images were distributed.

The judge also noted the "significant" mitigation including his lack of previous convictions and remorse.

Lee was jailed for 32 months and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

He must also adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same period of time.

Description

A terminally ill pensioner who raped a little girl "weekly" was today told he will probably die in jail.

James Knowles, 78, carried out "depraved sexual acts" on an "extremely young child" several decades ago.

She first went to the police in the 1990s, but said she was told "there was nothing they could do, because it happened years ago".

However, the woman found the courage to come forward again in 2018, leading to her abuser today being jailed for 25 years.

Judge David Aubrey, QC, told Knowles "your evil past has now caught up with you", stating: "You are likely to die in prison."

Liverpool Crown Court heard Knowles, of Amber Way, Stockbridge Village, abused the child when she was aged between five and 10.

He denied any wrongdoing, but was found guilty after a trial last week of six counts of rape and three counts of indecent assault.

Knowles was allowed to give evidence from home via video link because of his poor heath, but today sat in a wheelchair in the well of the court, just metres away from his brave victim.

The paedophile, who didn't have any previous convictions, had claimed she was lying and still maintains his innocence.

However, Keith Sutton, prosecuting, told the jury Knowles had made admissions to his family, including that he "messed around" with and had "done some bad things" to the victim, before claiming that he was mentally "sick" at the time.

The victim said she was raped "weekly" by him and each count of rape specified "on no less than 10 occasions".

Judge Aubrey said this meant Knowles would now be sentenced for raping her "on no less than 60 occasions".

He said: "It can properly and indeed only be described in my judgement as a persistent campaign of rape upon a particularly vulnerable child."

The woman today read from a victim statement, in which she outlined the horrific impact of the abuse, how she spent her youth "looking over my shoulder", and how Knowles "did not only rob me of my childhood, but my life".

Judge Aubrey commended her "courage" and referred to when she first approached the police in the 1990s.

He said: "Unfortunately her complaint then fell on deaf ears and she was turned away.

"It was a different era then and now complaints are listened to, investigated and examined and your evil past has now caught up with you."

The judge said: "In her poignant victim personal statement she refers to her smile in an old photograph but behind the smile was a child living in fear, dread and incessant worry.

"She speaks now and still of her immeasurable pain and anguish."

Judge Aubrey said Knowles took away the victim's "innocence" and "destroyed her childhood".

He said: "You have taken away more than that, you have scarred your victim emotionally and psychologically for the rest of her life.

"You caused all of that everlasting hurt and harm for your own perverted sexual gratification."

Brian Treadwell, defending, highlighted his client's age and ill health, including his terminal heart condition and kidney failure.

He said Knowles had a pacemaker fitted with a defibrillator, but had decided to have the defibrillator switched off and had recently been receiving palliative care at home.

Judge Aubrey said Knowles quality of life was "very poor" and because his defibrillator had been switched off "it leaves you vulnerable to serious ventricular arrhythmias, which would be likely to end your life".

He said Knowles had made a personal decision that if he suffered a heart attack, he didn't want the defibrillator turned back on or to be resuscitated.

The judge said he took into account Knowles' age and heath, adding: "I bear in mind a prison sentence would be greater punishment for you than a younger person - I make a downward adjustment for that."

However, he added: "I cannot and do not overlook the gravity of these offences or indeed the extreme harm that you have caused to your victim."

The judge said Knowles was "an offender of particular concern" and handed him an extended one year on licence.

This type of sentence means Knowles must serve at least half of the 25 years - 12 and a half years - in prison.

Judge Aubrey said he would then be 90 when his case would be referred to the Parole Board and he would only be released before the end of the 25 years if he is no longer considered to be a risk.

Can you help us keep Merseyside covered?

He added: "It may well be that the Parole Board would never be in a position to consider your case."

Knowles shook his head and glared at the victim as he was taken out of court.

An NSPCC spokesperson said: "This was an horrific and prolonged period of abuse carried out by Knowles, and we hope his victim is receiving all the support she needs.

"Her courage in speaking out against her abuser cannot be understated and shows that offenders like Knowles can still face justice even decades after their unthinkable crimes.

"No matter when abuse took place, help is available to survivors and we would encourage anyone who has concerns about the wellbeing of a child or who has experienced abuse to speak out and seek support."

Description

A paedophile who has repeatedly threatened to rape women and children is set to be released next month.

Jay Ferguson put together a sinister 'rape kit' and threatened to abduct and rape a child in 2017, when aged just 18.

He was locked up for 22 months, but within days of his release told police he had a child sex abuse video and a knife.

The 22-year-old, of Liverpool Road, Huyton, received a 14-month sentence in 2020, to be served at HMP Styal.

While there he wrote to prison officers saying he intended to carry out a "violent rape" using the dating app Tinder when released.

He was then hit with a further six months behind bars after writing to a female guard to say he would hunt her down and rape her.

Ferguson was moved to a different prison and eventually released on February 26 this year.

But within "two or three days" he breached his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and was arrested again on March 1.

Michael Stephenson, prosecuting, said Ferguson's phone revealed he had accessed two "female only dating websites" - Zoe and Only Women.

Liverpool Crown Court heard he also breached the order by using Facebook Messenger to contact his adult niece.

Mr Stephenson said: "It was a discussion about money, nothing more sinister than that."

Ferguson admitted two breaches of his SHPO at a hearing in March and has since spent four months on remand in custody.

His criminal record includes assault and possessing a knife in public in 2015, when he was still a youth.

In November 2017 he admitted attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and five counts of malicious communications.

That was after he put together a chilling kit, containing a balaclava and gloves, and told police he would abduct and rape a child.

Ferguson said he got the idea from a "psycho" on the TV show Law & Order, and showed officers a teddy, explaining: "I hurt the teddy so I don't hurt kids."

He had been arrested after making rape threats to teenagers, children and one 15-year-old victim's mum.

Ferguson said he was aware sexual activity with children was wrong but "just wanted to do it", "couldn't help" himself, had every intention of carrying out his "fantasies" at the earliest opportunity, and as soon as he was left to live on his own "would abduct and rape a child".

Police also found a letter in which Ferguson said he was planning to rape someone, with a step by step numbered to-do list.

When released in August 2019, Ferguson moved back to Huyton, but within days rang police to say a man had sent him indecent images of children.

Officers discovered he had encouraged the man to send videos, chatted about abusing children, and they exchanged videos of themselves performing sex acts.

Ferguson, who claimed he was acting as a 'paedophile hunter', had a clip of a girl aged between eight and 10 performing a sex act.

He was released on bail, but later walked into Huyton Police Station and said he had a knife because he had been sexually assaulted.

Ferguson was convicted of possessing an indecent image and having a blade in January 2020, when prosecutors revealed the letters "indicating his intention to carry out a violent rape on his release" by using Tinder.

Last August he was convicted of malicious communications, in respect of a letter sent on February 6, 2020.

Mr Stephenson today said that involved threats to a female officer at Styal "to track them and tie them up and attack them with a rape kit".

Ferguson was given a two-year restraining order, which banned him from Styal and from contacting his victim.

Gerald Baxter, defending, today said the breaches caused "little or no harm or distress" because Ferguson hadn't contacted anyone or arranged a date on the apps and had talked to his niece about money.

He said: "He had a difficult childhood to say the least. There is a history of personality disorder."

Mr Baxter urged the judge to spare him jail and said a place was available at a hostel in Birmingham, where Ferguson is from originally, which had a "strict regime" including a curfew.

He said treatment would be available "which the defendant is anxious to take advantage of" including for drug and alcohol misuse.

The lawyer said Ferguson also intended to refer himself to a nearby hospital for mental health treatment.

Judge David Potter asked how he should "square" that with risks identified in a pre-sentence report and psychiatric report.

Mr Baxter suggested if Ferguson accessed the treatment "perhaps there is a real prospect that the risk might be reduced".

Judge Potter said it was a "deliberate" and "flagrant" breach of the SHPO on two occasions within days of his released from jail.

He highlighted Ferguson's criminal record, past disclosures regarding his intentions and "rape threats towards a female prison officer".

The judge said Ferguson was assessed by the Probation Service as a "very high risk" of reconviction and causing serious harm.

Judge Potter said he was also subject to "multi agency public protection arrangements".

He said: "You are assessed by them as a very high risk of causing serious harm to children, the public and staff that you come into contact with."

The judge said: "I accept you have made some efforts to tackle some of the underlying issues in your psychological make up."

However, he also noted Ferguson's behaviour when previously given a place at Adelaide House in Kensington.

Jailing him for 10 months, Judge Potter said: "The court has sadly no confidence that you, whether in approved premises or not, will not commit further breaches."

However, due to the four months he has spent in custody, this means Ferguson will be released in around a month's time.

Description

A rapist told his victim to "shut up" when she pleaded with him to stop during a series of sex attacks.

Matthew Jones assaulted and raped a woman, who cannot be identified, including an incident when he whipped her with a belt.

The 34-year-old left his victim with severe psychological damage, and she says she "still has many days she wishes she was dead".

Liverpool Crown Court heard Jones, of Dorset Road, Tuebrook, denied any wrongdoing and claimed the woman was lying to a jury.

But jurors, who saw photos of bruises to her back and thighs, found him guilty of four counts of rape and one of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Today it emerged the rapist, who still maintains his innocence, also has a history of violence against another woman - his ex-wife.

Describing the abuse, Judge Gary Woodhall said Jones punched his victim, threw things at her, and in one attack removed his belt and hit her with it, leaving her feeling "humiliated", with bruises the length of her back.

The judge said he raped the woman on one occasion when she was ill, "placing your hand on her throat".

He said: "She was crying and saying stop. You told her to shut up."

Judge Woodhall said the woman recalled two or three other occasions when he raped her in a similar way after overpowering her.

Gareth Roberts, prosecuting, summarised a victim statement from the woman, who he said now "struggles to lead a normal life".

Mr Roberts said she "constantly feels afraid and scared", has lost her faith in others, distrusts men, feels "unreasonable revulsion" to any man who looks like her attacker, suffers from panic attacks and has difficulty with any physical contact.

Mr Roberts said the victim was left suicidal, adding: "She didn't want to live because of the memories of what happened to her."

The prosecutor said the woman has undergone counselling, which has helped, but "still has many days she wishes she was dead".

The court heard Jones has four previous convictions for five offences, including battery convictions for violence against his former wife.

Michael Scholes, defending, said a series of character references conflicted with the views of a probation officer in a pre-sentence report.

He said in his dealings with Jones he was "articulate, intelligent and courteous", and while his client still denied the offences, he accepted the jury's findings and understood that he would have to be punished.

Judge Woodhall said the victim referred to how Jones' abuse "changed her" and "she is unable to forget what you did to her".

He said Jones "complained" to the probation officer how the victim "has taken everything away from you".

But the judge added: "That's what she has described you did to her."

Judge Woodhall said Jones had character references from his mum, sister-in-laws, girlfriend, brothers, an aunt and nan.

He said they described him as "loving and caring" and "honourable and responsible and supportive and hard working".

The judge said these testimonials suggested his offences were "out of character", but noted one brother said Jones had suffered with anger issues from a young age and taken steps to combat it, while his nan outlined Jones' problems with his father and the loss of a brother as a child.

Judge Woodhall said however he behaved towards them, his previous convictions and latest offending showed he had behaved "entirely differently" with his victims.

He said his rape victim was "vulnerable" at the time of the attacks and concluded she suffered "severe psychological harm", while his mitigation was limited, except for his absence of previous sexual offences and his positive work record.

Judge Woodhall jailed Jones for nine and a half years, as a woman in the public gallery shook her head.

He said Jones would serve two thirds of this sentence - six years and four months - behind bars, before he is released on licence.

The judge ordered Jones to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life and made an indefinite restraining order to protect his victim.

Supporters including members of Jones' family sobbed as he was sent down, with one man shouting: "I love you - you didn't do it."

Description

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Description

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Description

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The court heard Hickey forced himself on the victim.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dickinson was jailed for two years and six months.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The judge jailed Alderton for two years and two months.

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