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A mother-of-one and her rapist boyfriend have been jailed for a total of 26 years over sickening sexual abuse they inflicted upon two young girls.

Tiffany Eccles, 27, and John Mills, 38, forced their victims to watch them have sex 'as a demonstration' before Mills raped both girls on separate occasions telling one to keep it their 'little secret'.

The couple were arrested last November after one of the victims told her mother how she had been abused by the couple over the course of four years, starting when she was just eight.

Landscape gardener Mills, of Bury, Greater Manchester raped the first victim at least five times and made her watch him and Eccles have intercourse. The sick group sex sessions involved them playing a game of spin the bottle whilst naked.

At Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, Mills was jailed for 19 years and three months after he admitted rape, assault by penetration, sexual assault and causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

Girlfriend Eccles, also from Bury, was jailed for seven years and two months after she admitted engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child under 13 and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

The court heard the first victim was targeted after Mills befriended her father. Prosecuting, Mr Jon Close said the first attack happened during a camping trip attended by the couple, the now-teenage victim and her father and other friends.

'She was just eight years old and stayed in the same tent as the defendants,' he told Minshull Street Crown Court.

'He began touching her and she tried to get out of the tent he pulled his hand over her face saying: "Shh! don't do that".

'She was shouting for her father but he didn't hear as he was asleep. He told her not to tell anyone saying it was their "little secret".

'She knew it was wrong but was too frightened to tell anyone as she was fearful she would get into trouble. Eccles was present at the time but was asleep.

'The offending escalated when he took her to a shop in his car and he bought condoms. As they were coming back, he turned down a country road and told her to lie down in the back of his car and he raped her.

'Another car containing teenage boys arrived on the lane but they thought she was older than she actually was and Mills drove away.'

In one incident, Mills raped the girl whilst Eccles was in another bedroom aware of what was happening. He also raped her on a sofa at his home.

'On one occasions she was told she had to stay with Eccles until Mills got back from work,' said Mr Close.

'She recalled him saying the could "have some fun". They were drinking alcohol and when he got back they went to a bedroom where they were all naked and they played Spin the Bottle.

'Eccles and the girl engaged in sex acts whilst he watched before joining in. The girl recalls how Mills made her watch him and Eccles have sex saying: "watch this". She felt disgusted. She said Mills was manipulative saying saying there would be lots of girls her age who liked these things.

'She said he was like two different people, one hand being friendly then on the other being totally different.'

As Eccles and Mills were locked up for a total of more than 26 years, relatives of the youngsters burst into applause in the public gallery and shouted: 'You filthy scumbags - hope you f**king rot.'

Police examined Mills' phone and also discovered he had filmed Eccles having sex with another man.

Another victim came forward to a teacher in school after she learned of the arrest. It emerged that their ordeals only came to an end when Covid-19 lockdown restrictions prevented them from meeting.

The court heard the second girl told police how Eccles stripped off at a house whilst Mills watched and then told the youngster to get undressed whilst they play a 'game.'

Eccles then had sex with Mills in front of the girl as a 'demonstration.'

During the hearing the mothers of both girls also gave emotion-charged statements detailing their heartbreak over the victim's ordeals.

In mitigation for Eccles, Anna Chestnutt said her client had started dating Mills when she was 18 and added: 'The offending was only ever instigated by Mills and she acted under his direction.

'She suffered a campaign of emotional abuse and manipulation at his hands. He demeaned her and left her trapped and in fear of him. He would threaten to leave her if she did not comply with his demands.'

In a letter to the court Mills said: 'I know I caused a great deal of trauma, hurt and pain to a great many people. I can't take back what I have done and make it right but I wish I could.

'I didn't think about my actions at the time but I realise I have torn lives apart and innocent people now suffer for what I have done. I hope they will eventually find peace.'

In a statement, the first victim, told officers: 'What happened has made me want to physically hurt myself in ways which are unimaginable, this has made me not want to walk this earth any longer.

'I have been suicidal for as long as I can remember and I have tried to take my life four times.

'What you did to me was sick and you both deserve everything coming your way. You've destroyed my life but I will not be silenced any longer.

'Before any of this happened and I was a bright and confident girl who walked around with a permanent smile on my face. I enjoyed life like any other child would and you ruined that.

'Now when I close my eyes at night all I remember is the repulsive things you did to me.

'You took advantage of me - a child and a minor - and you knew I couldn't fight back. Reporting you to police is my payback as I am strong enough to realise you will not ruin me any longer.

'I will never get back the body I had before the abuse but if I didn't speak up about this, I would never have been saved and this would have happened to other children.

'You brainwashed me into believing what you did was wrong and all you thought about was yourselves and your sick pleasures.

'I want you to sit there and listen to me as I had to do with you when you did all those horrible things. Hear my words - what you did will not define me.'

The second, now also in her teens, said in a statement: 'I was subjected to horrific things no child should ever be subjected to. They did what they wanted regardless of my feelings... They manipulated me.'

Mills held his head in his hands whilst Eccles wept as Judge Bernadette Baxter said: 'There was literally nowhere that was a sanctuary for these defenceless children when they were with you.

'This vile behaviour was committed over a number of years and the victim's statements make clear the dreadful and long-lasting impact your depravity has had on them.

'You have affected their confidence, their self esteem, their ability to form trusting relationships, their mental health and even their will to continue living. Your behaviour will live with them long after any sentence I pass expires.'

Eccles and Mills were also ordered to sign the Sex Offender Register and abide by an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Both were barred from contacting the girls under the terms of a restraining order.

Following Mills' release from jail he will be on licence until 2043 under the terms of an extended sentence.

Description

An 'abusive and serial predator has been jailed for 30 years after controlling and manipulating numerous women before raping them. 'Monster' Jonathan Mealing, 52, was convicted by a jury of 17 offences including multiple rapes, sexual assaults and engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour in March this year.

Minshull Street Crown Court heard that Mealing, of Whitefield, Bury, felt he was entitled to sex and would often force his victims into having sex throughout the day and night. He told one of the victims it was their duty.

He also controlled and manipulated them, telling them who they could have contact with, what they could wear and in one incident, how much food they could eat. He became aggressive and violent if they resisted, the court heard.

Today Mealing was jailed for 30 years with an extended licence period of eight years as a judge deemed his offending as abusive, serial and predatory.

Prosecutor Huw Edwards told the court that Mealing took the driving licence from this first victim and prevented her from using her mobile phone. He belittled her, assaulted her and deprived her of food, he said.

In essence, he controlled every aspect of her life. He frequently demanded sex from her and there were times when he had sex with her whilst she was asleep.

The second victim was also controlled by him in that he restricted contact with her family and friends. There were references to him as a Prince Charming before showing his true colours, Mr Edwards said.

He went onto rape her, and when she said that she didnt like it, he replied: Well I like it. He also told her it was her duty for perform oral sex on him, and said she wasnt allowed to say no to him. He then sexually assaulted the woman.

Mealing forced his third victim to leave her job, accusing her of cheating on him and took control of her bank account. The court heard that during a food shop, she could be seen on CCTV doing the international hand gesture for domestic violence. Sadly, no one knew what the symbol was, the prosecutor said.

The abuser went on to rape the victim twice. The sentencing judge said already read the victim impact statements in advance of the hearing, and said the one by the first victim was particularly harrowing.

The rapist was said to have one previous conviction of domestic violence dating back to 1993.

In mitigation, Iain Simkin said Mealing continues to deny the offences and said this will be his first period of custody that he will suffer.

This offending pattern is of an abusive, serial and predatory sex offender towards women, Judge John Potter said. You viewed each of your victims as little more than objects to be exploited by you to satisfy your selfish and misogynistic desire.

You quickly persuaded each of them to share intimacy with you and as you did this you deliberately tried to destroy their independence. You tried to limit those with whom they have contact with, you tried to take over their financial affairs and you threatened violence or caused violence upon each of them when they tried to resist.

The judge said that Mealing had acted in a campaign of rape against the victims and said one of the women described him as a monster.

Finding him to be a dangerous offender under the sentencing guidelines, Judge Potter said: You have no insight whatsoever as to the risk you present to others. You have not a shred of remorse for the gross and serious harm you have caused.

Mealing, of Welbeck Close, was jailed for 30 years with an extended licence period of eight years. He was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life and was made subject of restraining orders in relation to each victim for life.

He will serve 20 years in prison before being considered for release by the parole board. That means you will either be in custody or subject to licence conditions until you are 90, the judge added.

Detective Sergeant Steve Horton, of GMP's Bury district, said: "Mealing's treatment of the victims was deplorable. I would like to thank them for their courage and providing us with evidence which enabled us to pursue this prosecution. Though these offences often have a lifelong impact on victims, it is my hope that this result provides them with a sense of closure.

"I would like to use this opportunity to appeal to people who are being coercively controlled or sexually abused to contact us or one of our specialist partner agencies. Greater Manchester Police will do everything in our power to keep you safe and ensure that the person responsible for harming you is brought to face justice for their crimes."

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Rapist Amanuel Tsegay, 37, caught a train from Manchester to Preston where he stalked the city streets in search of victims before attacking two lone women on September 22, 2019.

The CCTV footage was released by Lancashire Police after Tsegay, of Lords Avenue, Salford, was jailed for 12 years and seven months at Sessions House in Preston yesterday (Wednesday, May 4). He was also handed a six-year extended licence period after a judge deemed him to be a dangerous offender and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Speaking of the footage, Det Insp Fiona Jackson, from Lancashire Police, said: Amanuel Tsegay is a sexual predator and it is clear from CCTV footage that he was prowling around the centre of Preston looking for vulnerable women.

"He raped one young woman, forced another woman into a kiss and made lewd comments about performing a sex act towards two others.

The 18-year-old rape victim was targeted by Tsegay at around 4.20am after he found her separated from her friends following a night out in the city.

The teenager had been walking along Lancaster Road alone when she was confronted by Tsegay near the Harris Museum. He led her towards grassland between the Guild Hall and the bus station where he raped her.

In a victim impact statement read out in court, she said: Before that night I was happy, I liked to meet new people and make new friends. I didnt have any worries and now that has all changed.

Since the attack, she has been unable to sleep, suffers recurring nightmares and has been forced to give up her job due to anxiety.

Another victim, aged 19, was grabbed by Tsegay who forced himself on her that same night after she kindly offered him some food. She now fears leaving her own home.

Description

24 year old Thomas Cooper of Tame Street, Denton, was sentenced at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court to 3 years and 9 months imprisonment, as well as being subject to a 10 year sexual harm prevention order and his name on the sex offender register for life,

The court heard how in December 2021, Cooper had been communicating online with a girl that he had contacted after adding her on the social media platform SnapChat.

After grooming the victim online, he made arrangements to meet the girl and subsequently engaged in sexual activity with her on two separate occasions.

These incidents were later discovered by the victims family who alerted police.

On the 31st January this year, Cooper was arrested in the Ashton-Under-Lyne area and taken into police custody. In his interview, he blamed the victim for forcing him to engage in sexual activity against his will on both occasions.

During the investigation, detectives were able to obtain enough evidence which lead to Cooper eventually pleading guilty to the offences.

Detective Constable Mike Allen, of GMPs Tameside district complex safeguarding team, said: Cooper is clearly a predator prying on children for his own sexual pleasure.

Sexual offences often have a long lasting impact on victims and Greater Manchester Police is committed to preventing this harm. I would, therefore, like to use this opportunity to encourage any young person who is being contacted by an adult or whos aware of an adult inappropriately contacting a young person, to report it to an appropriate adult or agency so they can be safeguarded and supported and the suspect can be identified.

I hope this result today warns offenders that this behaviour will not be tolerated in Greater Manchester and that authorities here are committed to ensuring they face justice.

Description

A man from Middleton, has been jailed for 8 years after an investigation into online child sexual offences after appearing at Minshull Street Crown Court yesterday, 3 May 2022.

Denis Atkinson, of Millbeck Road, pleading guilty to the following offences:

1x count of attempting to meet a child under the age of 16.

4x counts of attempting to sexually communicate with a child.

1x count of attempting to incite a child under 13 to engage in penetrative sexual activity.

1x count of possessing an image of extreme pornography.

1x count of possessing 5x prohibited images of children.

3x count of distributing category A,B and C indecent images of children.

3x count of making a total of 4,035 indecent images of children ranging from category A-C.

He is being placed on the sex offender register for life and being subject to a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

On the 14th June 2019, police received intelligence from the USA based 'National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children' (NCMEC) who stated that in November 2018, a user on the 'Kik.com' messaging app using the name 'denismufc93' posted an indecent photograph of a child, which was intercepted by the NCMEC before being passed to the UK based National Crime Agency.

Further enquiries established that the mobile phone connected to the Kik account was registered in the name of Atkinson at his home address in Middleton.

Shortly after this discovery, Atkinson began to communicate online with the decoy profile of a 12 year old girl which was controlled by law enforcement. He messaged the profile using the name 'Warren' with a profile photo of a male in his late teens. Atkinson informed the child profile that he was 18-years-old and did not react to the child profile informing Atkinson that she was 12.

Conversation of a general nature took place before Atkinson eventually started to turn the conversation to be more sexualised, asking the child profile 'so are we dating' and asking if they could meet in Cardiff, suggesting that the profile bring along a friend that he could speak to beforehand to get to know them.

Over the following month, Atkinson became persistent in asking the child profile for pictures, again regularly asking if they were now dating and stating that he loved her and wanted to have sex when they met.

Atkinson's behaviour continued to escalate by asking the child profile sexualised questions asking about her sexual history and what sexual acts she would perform on him.

Atkinson was reminded on a number of occasions that the child profile was 12-years-old and in foster care.

In July 2020, Atkinson told the child profile that he would arrange to stay in a hotel with her with further sexual comments being made by Atkinson. On the 7th August 2020,

Atkinson sent a number of messages to the child profile, in which he confirmed that he was due to set off to the arranged location where they would meet, at which point the child profile explained that they were unable to meet him. Atkinson stated ' We will have to meet some other time'.

Numerous chat logs seized by police as evidence showed that Atkinson had a clear interest in underage girls and on Wednesday 2nd December 2020, officers from GMPs Online Child Abuse Investigation Team attended Atkinson's address and arrested him before he was subsequently charged with the offences.

A number of mobile phone devices were seized from Atkinson's home address and upon examination, thousands of indecent images of children were found including around 836 categorised as 'Class A', the most serious category of images. Atkinson also attempted to sexually communicate with a large number of underage children using several different messages apps, adopting numerous fake male and female personas.

In police interview Atkinson commented 'I can't remember' and 'It wasnt me I must have been hacked' to the questions presented to him, before then stating 'everything is true, you dont need to go through it anymore'.

Detective Inspector Suzanne Keenaghan, of GMPS Online Child Abuse Investigation Team, said: "Atkinson is very clearly a danger to children. His messages to who he thought was a 12-year-old girl, together with his clear intentions to meet a child and the images that he possessed, to satisfy his depraved sexual desires is utterly deplorable

"Child Sexual Exploitation takes place in many forms and in this case Atkinson engaged in online communications with what he believed were young children, not sparing any thought for the lasting damage his actions could have.

I am pleased with the sentence he has received, which has been as a result of a thorough investigation working with the National Crime Agency. Our team work tirelessly to bring these people to justice and we will continue to do so."

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A man from Wigan who sent sexually-motivated messages over a sustained period to a girl nearly four decades younger than him has been jailed for 14 years after key evidence from his survivor.

The victim - now aged 16-years-old - has been praised by investigators after helping to bravely report to us Michael Dennett (54) and then support our probe into his year of offending against her between 2017 and 2018 when she was aged just 12-13.

Manchester Crown Court heard how Dennett, of Poolstock Lane, started messaging the girl after the breakdown of his relationship and began to embark on a persistent campaign of sexually-motivated offending; sending her indecent images and asking her to send them in return.

Dennett's offending was also physical as the victim spoke of wanting him to 'leave her alone' when he would try to hug and kiss her, but she helplessly 'felt like she couldnt say no' as he also would inappropriately touch her.

It was reported to police initially after her mum had found sexualised messages on her phone from Dennett before subsequent disclosures came from the victim around sexual assaults.

Dennett was initially arrested for the communication in November 2018 and then subsequently interviewed in February and November 2019 as enquiries continued and forensic evidence was collated.

When we first interviewed Dennett in November 2018, he refused to provide comment when asked about some of the messages we had seen he'd been sending to the victim.

As enquiries by our Wigan Child Sexual Exploitation team continued, the victim reported a new allegation prompting us to arrest Dennett for a second time where he didnt admit any offences and suggested that the victim had been 'put up to this'.

Due to the detail of evidence the victim was able to provide us, we were able to charge Dennett with nine offences - including three counts of sexual assault of a child, one count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, four counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of sexual communication with a child.

He was found guilty after a trial in February 2020 of the communication offence, before being convicted of the remainder of the offences in a re-trial earlier this month.

Yesterday (Thursday 28 April) Dennett was sentenced to serve 14 years in prison and ordered to sign the sex offenders' register and given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order indefinitely.

The survivor of Dennett's abuse has received ongoing specialist support throughout the case and we have praised her for the evidence she was able to provide to us and the courts to help bring her offender to justice.

Police Constable Vicki Flemming, from our Wigan Child Sexual Exploitation team, said: "I want to firstly pay tribute to the survivor of this campaign of sexual abuse for their bravery in not only helping to report this incident to us, but for also having the courage to give evidence in court that was key to the success of this case.

"Michael Dennett's offending was predatory and repulsive and it's clear that he was a clear danger to this child and deserves his place behind bars for a number of years to come.

"We are committed to bringing to justice any sex offenders - especially those who target children as a way of gratifying their own depraved and perverted desires - and I want any victim of such abuse to know that we are here to listen to your concerns and to take thorough and robust action to bring offenders to justice."

Greater Manchester is nationally recognised as a model of good practice in terms of support services available to victims.

If you or someone you know has been raped or sexually assaulted, we encourage you not to suffer in silence and report it to the police, or a support agency so you can get the help and support available.

Saint Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Manchester provides a comprehensive and co-ordinated response to men, women and children who live or have been sexually assaulted within Greater Manchester. They offer forensic medical examinations, practical and emotional support as well as a counselling service for all ages. Services are available on a 24-hour basis and can be accessed by calling 0161 276 6515.

Greater Manchester Rape Crisis is a confidential information, support and counselling service run by women for women over 18 who have been raped or sexually abused at any time in their lives. Call on 0161 273 4500 or email [email protected]

Survivors Manchester provides specialist trauma informed support to boys and men in Greater Manchester who have experienced sexual abuse, rape or sexual exploitation. Call 0161 236 2182.

Description

A man who sexually abused a young girl in Cheshire in the 1990s has been jailed. Gerard King, of Bury, previously lived in the Wilmslow area and Chester Crown Court heard how he systematically abused the victim for three years.

The victim had previously reported the offences to professional agencies on several occasions. But she had 'never received the support' to take the case further - but eventually came forward again to police in 2020.

A detective constable at Cheshire Police stated that King put her through 'horrifying' experiences. King also made the victim recall the events during a 'distressing' trial.

Detective Constable Lee Ferris, who led the investigation said: Firstly, I would like to recognise the bravery and determination that the victim has shown throughout this investigation. She had previously reported the offences, on several occasions, to numerous professional agencies, but had never built up the courage or received the support she needed to take the case further.

When she came forward to police in 2020 we provided her with the specialist help and support she need to ensure that she was able to tell her story. What King put her through was truly horrifying, he systematically abused her over a three year period in order to fulfil his own sexual gratification.

Not only that, but he also made her endure a trial and recount what he had done, which was extremely distressing. But thanks to her courage, he is now facing the consequences of his actions.

"The sentence handed to King reflects the severity of his crime and I hope that his conviction will encourage other victims to come forward. As this case demonstrates, we treat all reports of historic sexual offences seriously and we will always do our best to ensure offenders are brought to justice.

King was found guilty of one count of rape of a child and seven counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14 following a five day trial at Chester Crown Court, which concluded on Monday (April 25).

The 59-year-old returned to court the following day (April 26) where he was sentenced to 15 years in prison, plus one year on extended licence. King was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Description

A perverted pensioner has been jailed for 17 years for his horrific sexual abuse of a young boy and girl more than 30 years ago. Paedophile Peter Byrne violently raped both his victims on multiple occasions and Judge Andrew Hatton imposed an extended licence period on top of his jail sentence after concluding that the 76-year-old was a dangerous offender. Former Calderdale man Byrne was first convicted of indecently assaulting girls under 14 back in 1970 when he was 25 and he also admitted further sexual abuse offences in the late 1980s. In 2016 at the age of 69 Byrne, now of Townsgate Way, Irlam, Manchester, travelled 150 miles to have sex with an eight-year-old girl only to find out he had been talking to an undercover police officer. Byrne was jailed for 30 months for that offence, but his court case prompted two more of his victims to contact the police and last month he was convicted of a series of serious sexual offences against them dating back to the 1980s and early 1990s. Byrne was jailed today for offences of rape, buggery and indecent assault and his own barrister David Hall said the pensioner would be a frail old man when he becomes eligible for release after serving two-thirds of his 17-year jail term. Judge Hatton said the victims impact statements made harrowing reading and by putting them through a trial Byrne had continued abusing them by requiring them to be cross-examined. Both of them have been significantly impacted by your offending, he told Byrne via a video link to HMP Leeds. Both of them clearly found the experience of giving evidence in their own ways very difficult. The court heard that Byrne plied the young girl with alcohol and also recorded some of the abuse using a camera. He said Byrne had used violence of a gross nature against both complainants, who must not be identified for legal reasons, and they had both suffered a severe psychological impact. Byrne is already subject to a lifelong notification requirement as a sex offender as a result of his previous crimes. Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Samantha Lindsay said: I would like to thank the victims for their bravery in coming forward and reporting these matters. Because of this, Byrne has got the sentence that he deserves. This case shows that, despite the passage of time, people like Peter Byrne can be brought to justice and I would urge anyone who has suffered in a similar way to come forward and to report the matter to us. We have dedicated safeguarding officers here in Calderdale who are able to support you, will believe you and will take your reports seriously.

Description

A pervert asked what he believed was a 13-year-old girl to ring him for a sick phone call, but didn't realise he was actually speaking to an undercover cop. Paul Barrett has been jailed for two years after failing to convince a jury that he thought that the account he was speaking to was an adult 'role playing'.

Barrett, who was 40-years-old at the time of the offence, used an online chat room to speak with a profile called 'Sasha' between January and February 2019, Bolton Crown Court heard. Despite the account telling Barrett that she was 13-years-old and in school, he turned the conversation sexual.

In the first conversation, Barrett asked if she liked getting kissed and also asked if she wanted to perform sexual acts on him. The following day he asked the account questions about her school uniform and detailed sexual acts that he wanted to perform on her.

Sickeningly, Barrett then sent a message with his phone number and asked if he could speak with the girl directly so he could 'hear her orgasm'. The undercover police officer operating the account rang the number twice but Barrett did not answer.

Barrett, of Nearcroft Road, Wythenshawe, was arrested in March 2019 but denied the offences in interview and subsequently pleaded not guilty to a string of crimes under the Sexual Offences Act. Following a trial, a jury found him guilty of sexual communication and three counts of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

Defence barrister Helen Longworth told the court that Barrett has a 'supportive' family, including a partner and two step sons. She said that at the time of the offence, he was going through 'family difficulties' and 'stress' at work.

Ms Longworth also said that Barrett, now 43, has no previous convictions and cited the long delay between the arrest and case going to trial. She added: "Imprisonment will affect him but also have a significant impact on his family who clearly rely upon him."

Judge Tom Gilbart jailed Barrett for two years. He said: "I find it utterly mind boggling to consider how a father could act in this way to a person he thought was a 13-year-old child."

"These were extremely serious offences in which you sought to engage a child in sexual activity of the most serious kind. It was predatory behaviour by you."

Barrett will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the next 10 years. He will also have to sign the Sex Offender Register for the same length of time.

Description

A man who blackmailed a girl after he groomed her into sending him naked selfies during an abuse ordeal has been jailed. Retired tool maker Barry Doyle, 71, warned the vulnerable child he would share the pictures with others unless she submitted to further sexual demands - telling her: ''You have to behave.''

Doyle, from Stretford, had become obsessed with the girl and would take her out on trips in his car without her parents knowing. He also took her on shopping errands to the Trafford Centre, a court heard.

Greater Manchester Police arrested Doyle after discovering he had given her six mobile phones and on occasions used them to film himself molesting her. Officers seized a sex doll from his property plus a bag containing pairs of young girl's underwear.

It emerged he had a previous conviction from 1981 for indecent assault after he gave another girl money to strip before he attacked her. His latest victim was said to be 'extremely reluctant' to disclose details of her ordeal and was left suffering from severe bouts of embarrassment and anxiety.

At Minshull Street Crown Court, Doyle admitted 14 charges including sexual assault; inciting a child to engage in sexual activity; child abduction; and making and possessing indecent images. Following his release from jail, he will be on licence until 2032 under the terms of an extended sentence after the judge branded him a 'dangerous offender'.

David Bentley, prosecuting, said: ''He engaged in grooming behaviour towards her. He gave her mobile phones to entice her into having communications with him and he controlled her behaviour.

"She was given six phones and he would send messages some of which were affectionate and loving, such as addressing her as 'babe'. He said he loved her and he asked what colour knickers she wore.

''Her use of the phones was not unconditional. If the defendant suggested doing something to which she didn't acquiesce he would inform her that she had to return the phone to him. Arrangements would be made for her to return the phone back to him but he would then give it back to her and this happened on many occasions.''

The offences emerged after one of the victim's friends told her parents she was frequently being driven around in Doyle's car. The victim's father then saw his daughter in the car with Doyle and challenged him about what he was doing.

She was said to be anxious and crying and police were informed. It emerged Doyle would often call the girl to pick her up in his car and once collected her from school. Three pairs of girls' knickers were found in his vehicle.

Officers later seized various phones and inquiries found Doyle had told the girl to repeatedly pose naked for him during online chats.

Mr Bentley added: ''She said she sent pictures of herself to him at his instigation and she said she replied to him about 20 times. Specific naked poses were found on four devices. She said she was doing these poses for the defendant.

''She also disclosed that he threatened to show the pictures to others if she didn't behave. She suffered embarrassment and anxiety and what happened caused to her lose concentration during lessons at school although she has improved since his arrest.''

Doyle later denied wrongdoing in police interview and falsely tried to claim some of the images were of the sex doll.

In mitigation, defence counsel David Toal said: ''He will never involve himself in this kind of behaviour again. He recognises what he has done.''

Doyle was also made subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and was ordered to sign the Sex Offender Register. He was banned from contacting the girl under the terms of a restraining order.

Jailing Doyle for jailed for seven and a half years, Judge Tina Landale told him: ''You took advantage of social ties to exploit a vulnerable girl and took multiple opportunities to be alone with her. You groomed her and you got what you wanted from her using gifts or with punishment by taking those gifts back.

''What you wanted was sexual contact and sexual pictures and movies of her. You took her out in your car... and repeatedly caused her to pose naked for photos.

''You used those photographs to blackmail her in addition to using these images for your own depraved enjoyment. If she didn't behave as you wanted, you threatened to show the pictures to others.

''A report says you pose a high risk of causing serious harm to children and I have reached the conclusion you are a dangerous offender. You committed these offences persistently and there is a pattern of sexual offending spanning several months.

''You have a clearly developed sexual interest in children - you have little genuine empathy, regret or insight into what you did.''

Description

A convicted paedophile is back behind bars after he was caught engaging in online chats about child abuse weeks after his release from jail. Brett Harriss, 28, had been locked up for 27 months after he ignored a court order and used an Xbox to trawl the internet for child pornography.

After serving a year of his sentence, the former McDonald's worker moved into a hostel. But just three months later, he was found in the illegal possession of a phone and tablet whilst he used to secretly communicate with other paedophiles.

It emerged he had used the devices to download more squalid material over a period of six weeks and to communicate on forums with what he called 'like minded individuals' via the encrypted social media app Telegram.

At Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, Harriss, from Bredbury, Stockport, who appeared via video link from Berwyn jail in Wrexham, North Wales, was sent back to jail for another 30 months after he admitted five charges of breaching the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and making an indecent image of a child.

He admitted a sexual attraction towards children but blamed his behaviour on him being 'entirely isolated' due to being disowned by his adoptive parents. Harriss had originally been locked up in 2017 for 32 months and was barred from using the internet after he distributed child pornography to other online predators.

He was released in 2019 but he was arrested again that December after he secretly acquired the games console to go online and trawl for more squalid images of youngsters - some aged as young as two.

Police carrying out a routine check on Harriss discovered he had stored a library of 981 sick images on an iPad and filed them in folders labelled 'rape', 'younger', 'dad and daughter' and 'sibling'.

The latest offences were discovered last year when Harriss was released in January 2021 and he moved into a hostel. Police had already carried out a series of routine inspections in which he insisted he had no electronic devices to use the internet.

But the truth emerged on April 29 last year when officers searched his room during an unannounced visit. Prosecutor Miss Sophie Kenny said: ''He produced a Huawei tablet device and when asked if he had any other devices produced an internet enabled Alcatel mobile phone.

''He told officers there were Japanese style cartoons of child sex abuse and other indecent images on the tablet. He said he had been using the Telegram app to speak to what he called 'like minded individuals' who would forward him onto forums where he could discuss child sex abuse.

''Both items were seized and sent for investigation. The tablet was found to have Google auto fill records with entries including 'club paedo', 'prison bus paedo' and 'extreme pead' which had been searched over the previous two months.

''Two images were also found which were judged to be a female aged between nine and 12 and the tablet was found to have a cloud storage account and an encrypted SD card was recovered.

''Harriss was interviewed and made full admissions saying the pictures had been downloaded using the Telegram app and said he was sexually attracted to children. These were very deliberate and serious breaches of the Sexual Harm Prevention Order. There was an obvious persistence in his behaviour.''

In mitigation, defence barrister, Miss Kay Driver, said her client had previously enrolled on a 'Horizon' programme for convicted sex offenders but said it was 'not effective'.

She added: ''He is motivated to address his offending behaviour and to lead a lawful life - he does not want to be in the position he finds himself in now. He was fostered at a very young age, his biological father having died in 1995. His mother died when he was 19.

''Since the 2017 offences both his adoptive parents have disowned him and he is found himself entirely isolated. He has resorted to his offending behaviour online to look for company. He wants out of that situation.''

Sentencing, the judge Mr Recorder Ciaran Rankin told Harriss: "Your rather disrupted youth and background give you no excuse whatsoever for the behaviour you undertook. You have described yourself as an idiot but much stronger words to describe you could be employed. This is repeat offending.''

Harriss will also be made subject to a new Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will sign the Sex Offender Register for an indefinite period. He can only use an electronic device to access the internet if it has 'risk management software' installed and managed by police.

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This is the controlling rapist who held a woman hostage for weeks and tortured her with needles. Neil Cauchi is starting a 19 year jail sentence for the horrific crimes he committed against the woman.

Over the course of nearly two months she was falsely imprisoned in a house in Salford, where he raped her and subjected her to cruel and terrifying attacks. After an argument, Cauchi, 33, tied her to a bed before he began slapping, punching and hitting her legs with a 'heavy object'. She had been tied up so long that her hands turned purple.

Knowing she had a phobia of needles, he also jabbed her legs with hypodermic needles which he had used to administer steroids. At one point he threatened to stick a needle in her eye.

While she was falsely imprisoned, Cauchi raped and sexually assaulted her. She was no longer tied up but was too scared to leave the house in Eccles due to threats he made.

The woman was eventually rescued from her ordeal. Cauchi, of no fixed address, was found guilty of two counts of rape, two counts of false imprisonment, one count of causing actual bodily harm and one count of sexual assault after a trial.

The judge said Cauchi had 'effectively tortured' his victim with the needles, and he had 'held her hostage' for weeks. He admitted witness intimidation in relation to another woman, who had accused him of 'abuse'.

Cauchi bombarded the woman with up to 200 calls a day over a seven day period telling her to retract her statement, which she later did. At his sentencing hearing Cauchi read a letter to the court, saying he was 'deeply sorry' and 'ashamed' of his behaviour.

"I am disgusted with myself," he said. "May God help me find peace." His barrister said Cauchi is now a 'quite different person' now after becoming clean of drugs.

Cauchi will serve two-thirds of his 19 year sentence in prison.

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A TAMESIDE pensioner looks set to spend the rest of his life in prison after a campaign of sexual offences lasting 32 years.

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An "obsessed" paedophile who forced his victims to eat raw meat from pigs' heads has been released from prison. Colin Cooper was jailed for 18 years in July 2011 but is free after serving just over ten years. Today the father of one of his victims said: "When I had the phone call from the Probation Board I wanted to scream. My daughter is safe, but there are other children out there who are not. In my opinion he should never be released."

Cooper, who is now 72, - formerly known, as Alan Makinson - would force his victims to eat raw meat from pigs' heads when they tried to avoid his clutches. Manchester Crown Court heard his homes in Hattersley and Wythenshawe were a "magnet for children' - who is was 'utterly obsessed' with molesting in bizarre ways.

Youngsters with learning difficulties were lured into playing in his garden and plied with treats before being forced perform sex acts on with each other and him. He tried to buy their silence with trinkets and small amounts of cash. When they attempted to escape he would lock them in rooms, block their way with his pet Alsatians, and make them eat the meat he fed them as punishment.

Cooper, of Sylvester Close, Hattersley, was jailed for 18 years at Manchester Crown Court in 2011 after being found guilty of abusing eight youngsters between 1984 and 2002, at addresses in Wythenshawe and Tameside, at an earlier trial. He had been jailed for just three years in 1986 after admitting a string of child sex crimes, including rape. He changed his name, moved address, and continued to prey on vulnerable youngsters.

The father of the victim, who was one of the eight youngsters he abused between 1984 and 2002, said: "In a way she has suffered far more than him over the last ten years. She has had four years of therapy, and has had mental health issues which has led to dropping out of school, self harming, trying to take her own life and becoming homeless for a while. She had to give evidence at the trial by video."

"I did ask the Probation Board for Cooper's new name and address but they would not give it me. There words were 'he has rights and we have to protect him'. I am not the kind of person who would be a vigilante, I just want to protect my daughter. Her first words when she knew he was out were 'he will do it again'.

"My daughter is surviving, but it is a slow process. She is scared to go out at the moment, now that he has been released. He is a serial offender and should not be out."

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson confirmed today that Cooper had been released under licence.

At court in 2011, Alaric Bassano, prosecuting, told the sentencing hearing how his victims 'were plagued by flashbacks, had battled feelings of depression and guilt, struggled to trust others, and had their chances spoilt by disrupted education. One told police, 'my life has been miserable., while another said, he has wrecked my life.

Cooper was arrested in March 2009 after a man, in his thirties, told police how he had abused 25 years earlier, and the police investigation unearthed the other victims, who had been suffering in silence. After his sentencing Detective Constable Grace Hulse, of the South Manchester Child Abuse Investigation Team, said: "It is only down to the bravery of his victims that we are able to put this man where he belongs behind bars. I believe today's sentence demonstrates that we take allegations of sexual abuse extremely seriously and will investigate thoroughly, no matter how long ago the offences occurred."

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A transgender father of two awaiting gender reassignment surgery has been jailed in a male prison for three years after being exposed as a paedophile.

Britnee Aitken, 47, will have her treatment delayed after two girls said she molested them ten years ago when she identified as a truck recovery driver called Marcus.

One of the victims, then six, said she targeted them under the guise of offering to play board games.

They said she poked her genitals through a letter box when they knocked at the front door.

At Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, Aitken appeared in the dock wearing a low cut woman's blouse and sporting makeup and long red hair.

She was referred to as 'she' and 'her' during the hearing that saw her convicted of three charges of sexual assault and one of exposure.

She was also ordered to sign the Sex Offender Register for life. She denied any wrongdoing. The Ministry of Justice told MailOnline she will go to a men's prison.

The sexual offences occurred after Aitken, from Rochdale, went public about a bizarre legal battle over a 30 fine imposed by police in 2008 for playing her Riverdance CD too loudly inside her car.

Identifying at the time as Marcus she had refused to pay the fine, and in the months after she was pestered by demand letters and received six visits from bailiffs to her home and the debt eventually rose to 270 because of administration costs.

She said the bailiffs demanded entry at 7.30am and shouted threats through the letterbox while she was inside with her then girlfriend and their two sons.

In 2008 a judge quashed the fine on appeal. The court heard the offences against the girls occurred between July and September 2012 when they visited his home.

Mr Ben Berkson prosecuting said: 'The defendant was then known as Marcus Aitken and the girls were five or six years old at the time.'

In a statement one of the victims said: 'I suffer flashbacks due to the abuse and I get angry when I contemplate and think about what this person did to me.

'What happened has affected my ability to form and maintain relationships with friends and family and the abuse has caused me to struggle with anxiety and anger management. I am concerned about these things will impact my life going forward.'

itken who was charged in 2020 had no previous convictions but had accepted a caution in 2012 for having an illicit 'upskirt' video of another little girl aged seven.

In mitigation defence counsel Adam Roxborough said: 'These offences occurred over a short period ten years ago and there is no suggestion of any repeat offending since.

'During that time Miss Aitken has maintained a good work ethic as a recovery truck driver and led a decent life.

'She has fragile mental health and given her sexuality, she has suffered abuse on a regular basis. It is for her a daily issue.

'That, she hopes, would come to an end to an extent when she is able to have gender reassignment surgery and her plans for that were moving ahead for this year. Of course any custodial sentence would put that progress back considerably.

'She has to be punished but the question is whether that punishment should effectively cause such damage to her notwithstanding the damage she has caused to others.

'She still does not recognised her guilt but a sentence of imprisonment could be suspended. It must be a difficult life for her to lead at the moment..'

Sentencing Judge John Edwards told Aitken: 'I bear in mind the difficulties you may encounter in a custodial environment but this offending was sustained, predatory and very distressing for these girls.

'It has had a significant emotional impact on one of them, she being vulnerable and impressionable courtesy of her age.

'You presented as an almost avuncular figure, happy on the surface to indulge those children with games, when your true motives were more sinister.

'You crossed a very clear boundary in order to indulge your attractions. Your caution plainly displays an interest in young children.'

Aitken was also ordered to abide by a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order which will bar her from 'loitering' near schools or children's play areas.