Latest Offenders Merseyside

Description

An obsessed man who was in a sexual relationship with a schoolgirl threatened to throw acid in her face and stab her.

Michael Collins, 35, had only recently been released from prison when he started talking to the 15-year-old via Facebook last summer while she was trying to track down her biological mum.

Liverpool Crown Court heard today how Collins, of no fixed address, threatened to throw acid in the girl's face and threatened to stab her outside her school after becoming possessive over her.

A judge told 35-year-old Collins, that it was accepted by the prosecution that it was a loving and caring relationship in which you showed genuine affection for her.

The threats he made to the girl, who is from Newton-le-Willows, were hollow but his victim took them seriously, said Judge Neil Flewitt, QC.

Nicola Daley, prosecuting, said the couple began communicating a month after he was released from Hindley prison in August last year after being recalled to finish a previous sentence.

Their contact via FaceTime and their meetings, which included having sex while the girl was in her school uniform, came to light in November after she confided in a teaching mentor that she had slept with a much older man who was now behaving in an aggressive way.

The police were called and when interviewed she said they had argued earlier that day during the course of it he threatened to throw acid in her face.

Although she was concerned about threats he had made she remained in contact with him as they both wanted the relationship to continue.

She said things became difficult when he was off his head on drugs.

The girl told school staff they would drink vodka and take cocaine together and said she performed a sex act on him.

After daily contact by FaceTime, the girl said they first met at Hunts Cross station where a group of lads said she should not be with him because of her age but she claimed he was her uncle.

They had sex and the dad-of-three did not take any precautions saying he wanted her to have his baby.

Miss Daley said: That was a mutual wish.

He made threats about throwing acid and stabbing her after becoming jealous about other boys or after they had been drinking, smoking cannabis and taking cocaine.

After their relationship came to light the girl left the area, but on December 31 Collins turned up in a stolen car to see her at her new address.

When he realised a police helicopter was overhead he got out and said he would be back in a couple of minutes but did not return.

He was arrested the next day at his grandads home in Kirkby.

Miss Daley said: She is extremely torn and drawn to the defendant and in many ways wishes for the relationship to be allowed to continue.

It appears he had genuine affection for her.

Stuart Mills, defending, said that the girl had not been scared of Collins, who had maintained a loving relationship with her. It was a loving caring relationship in which both sides were happy to engage.

He has done wrong because of the age difference and he will be punished for that.

Their contact initially began after he was released from prison and was feeling lonely and isolated, said Mr Mills. He intends to move away from Merseyside when freed and make a fresh start elsewhere.

Collins had pleaded guilty to six offences involving sexual activity with a child, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

He was jailed for five years and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

The judge also imposed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

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A convicted paedophile was caught living with his new partner and her children who had no idea of his sinister past.

Despite this breach, Dylan King was sent to back to jail again for a further breach, which once again involved not telling police where he lived.

King was previously jailed last June after he 'disappeared' for seven months.

He was eventually found living a woman and her children after meeting her on a dating app.

King hadn't told the woman about his sickening past and when she found out she was 'angry and disgusted'.

The 30-year-old was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register and jailed for two years and three months in 2012 for sexual activity with a child under 16 years of age.

He appeared at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday after the court heard he had moved without informing police within three days of his new address.

Louise Santamera, prosecuting, explained on February 22 last year King was released from prison after previously breaching the same order.

He then moved without telling police, Ms Santamera said, but King claims a Merseycare staff member said they would tell police the new address.

Ms Santamera said that due to his previous breaches it "must be abundantly clear he and he alone is responsible for attending the police station to provide these details".

Gary Lawrenson, defending, said this was not accepted and it was an "unintentional act of forgetfulness".

King has eight previous convictions, a number of which are failing to comply with notification requirements.

These arose after his 'disappearance' from Merseyside for seven months.

When he was eventually found King was living in Teesside with a woman he had met on a dating app and her children, all of whom had no idea of his sinister past.

He had mentioned to the woman he had been in trouble with the police and had served time, but didn't explain he was a registered sex offender.

A court heard he had placed the children at "serious risk" after being left alone with them "numerous" times.

There was no evidence any offence had been committed against the woman's children.

Mr Lawrenson today said: "The gist of the probation update is positive in that he is making steps to address his issues."

Mr Lawrenson said King is "trying to make some progress" in addressing his mental health issues.

He said: "I think it will be right to say in the past his response has been pretty awful so [the probation service] are quite impressed with his positive attitude in recent times."

King, of Grey Road, Walton, admitted failing to comply with his notification requirements.

Judge David Aubrey, QC, said: "Regrettably on numerous occasions you have failed to notify the police of any change of address."

The judge said it was "difficult to determine whether this was a deliberate act of an unintentional act of forgetfulness".

King was jailed for one year.

Description

A 'sweating' and 'fully naked' pervert ogled a group of teens from his balcony as he performed a sex act on himself.

A horrified onlooker witnessed Trevor Smith performing the sex act while looking at a group of around nine teenagers on March 18 this year.

She said she "felt physically sick" and called police, who discovered the 50-year-old sweating profusely and "out of breath" as pornography played from his mobile phone.

Chris Hopkins, prosecuting at Liverpool Crown Court, explained the disgusted onlooker lived in an adjacent apartment block and "at about 9.50pm was alerted to a noise in the street".

Mr Hopkins said: "She looked out her window and saw a group of about nine teens, male and female, were walking along in the street.

"She then noticed this defendant hanging out of his window."

Mr Hopkins said he was "well known" by neighbours and the woman recognised him.

Smith had his hand on the window ledge and was "leaning over the window ledge looking towards the ground".

The woman saw when Smith stepped back from the balcony that he was "fully naked" with his "boxer shorts pulled down to his knees".

Mr Hopkins said Smith appeared to be performing a sex act on himself.

He said: "She was horrified and felt physically sick, especially because the group of kids walking passed and he was looking out towards them."

She said it was "disgusting" and near a busy road, adding "anybody could have seen what he was doing".

The horrified woman called police, who arrived to find Smith "wearing a towel", "out of breath" and "sweating".

They searched his bedroom and discovered a bag of cannabis and noted that on his mobile phone "pornography was visibly on display".

On June 19, 2012 Smith was handed a 12-month conditional discharge for outraging public decency.

He was handed a community order for three years in June 2016 for a similar offence which he later breached by failing to comply and for drug and drink driving, for which he was locked up for three months.

On October 24, 2019 he was handed a 26 week sentence suspended for two years after he was found "intoxicated in a lift at a train station thrusting his hips towards a cleaner's cone" which was witnessed by members of the public.

He breached this suspended sentence by committing the offence on March 18 and was remanded into custody. He will also have to serve part of the 2019 sentence that was suspended.

Mark Philips, defending, emphasised it was unlikely the group of teenagers would have seen Smith as he lived on one of the higher floors and it was late at the time of the offence.

He said: "He tells me he has looked at himself whilst in prison and realises his whole offending has been related to drug abuse."

Mr Philips said Smith has started a drug awareness course and he now wants to "start his life".

He explained Smith had completed his suspended sentence in part and carried out Rehabilitation Activity Requirements.

Smith, of Hall Street, St Helens, admitted possession of cannabis, exposure and breaching his suspended sentence order.

Judge Stuart Driver, sentencing, said the offences were aggravated because "you were focused on the group of teenagers when you committed this offence" and because of his criminal record.

The judge jailed him for 10 months.

Smith must also sign the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

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He sent the girl a 55 second video clip of him touching himself and said, Do you want daddy, baby? A retired Cammell Lairds worker engaged in filthy online conversations with a 13-year-old girl hoping they could meet up. Colin Robinson, 75, encouraged the child to bunk off school, sent her an indecent video of himself and said he wanted to seduce her. When told she lived in Manchester, he replied: "You are now in big trouble, its just down the M57." But unknown to the Wirral grandad he was actually communicating with an undercover officer going by the name of Lucy, posing as the school girl. Liverpool Crown Court heard that he has no previous sexual convictions and is now remorseful and ashamed, but Judge Gary Woodhall told bald Robinson: "Only a custodial sentence can be justified." Robinson, of Borough Road, Seacombe, had pleaded guilty to five offences involving attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act, attempting to incite a child to engage in a sexual act and attempted sexual communication. He had initially pleaded not guilty and had been due to stand trial in August but changed his pleas. Paulus Barnes, prosecuting, told how the offences took place between September 12 and 18, 2019. The undercover officer set up a decoy profile on Kik Messenger using the handle Lulu Girly Girl and also set up Gmail and Skype accounts. On September 12 that year she logged onto a free to use site called Chat To You. Mr Barnes said: "She received a private message from Aged Mariner, 66 years from Merseyside. She told him she was only 13 and he said 'Mmm that is so hot xxxYou are lovely'." She accepted a friend request from him which also displayed the name Colin Robbo and he began sexualised conversations with her. Mr Barnes said: "He wanted to seduce her. "The officer told him she was still at school but off school. He asked her to touch herself and began instructing her to masturbate herself." He made various other highly sexualised remarks and asked if he could call her. He said he had spent the weekend fishing and playing golf but had been thinking about her which had aroused him. Robinson made similar comments in other conversations and told her what he wanted to do to her and asked her to miss school but when she said she could not travel to him he became aggressive and dominating. The next day he apologised but continued telling her what he wanted to do sexually with her, said Mr Barnes. He sent her a 55-second video clip of him touching himself and said: "Do you want daddy, baby?" Robinson was identified and traced and interviewed on October 21 and confirmed he used the Chat To You site under the name Aged Mariner, but said he thought the site was for adults only. Mr Barnes said: "He said if he had been chatting to someone 13 he would have told them to find someone of their own age." He maintained he did not recall speaking to anyone aged 13 and when told he had been speaking to an undercover officer he said he had been entrapped. The court heard that he has six previous convictions for 13 offences involving dishonesty, with the last one in 1978. Judge Woodhall told Robinson: "You have expressed disgust at your behaviour and said you are ashamed. When interviewed you continued to deny sexual gratification. That is utter nonsense." He said he accepted he has health problems, has no similar convictions and that the delay in the case reaching sentence was not entirely Robinson's fault. But Judge Woodhall ruled that it was so serious there had to be an immediate jail sentence. The judge said the chat conversations "from the outset were highly sexualised". He said the grandad had encouraged her "to bunk off school" and "made reference to the fact she lived a short distance away down the motorway no doubt implying you could meet". Zahra Baqri, defending, had told the court: "My client is utterly disgusted with his actions over those few day in 2019. He accepts he is at real risk of being sentenced to immediate imprisonment but I invite you to suspend the term." She said: "He accessed dating applications on the computer in order to speak to adult women so his original use was legitimate. "He accepts he did think and knew he was talking to a 13-year-old child and continued with these communications. He accepts that." Ms Baqri pointed out that there was no real victim and no sexual activity took place between them. She said: In his probation report he speaks about feeling confusion and shame. "He had started employment at the age of 15 and worked for Cammell Lairds for 50 years. He has a strong close family including siblings, children and their offspring." She added: "He unreservedly apologises for the humiliation and upset he has caused his family. He apologies for his vile and scandalous behaviour." Robinson was jailed for two years. He was also ordered to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years and will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same length of time.

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A fairground security guard slapped and groped the bottoms of two teenage girls in "sinister" attacks.

Former doorman Paul Long worked at a temporary funfair when it came to Birkenhead Road in Seacombe.

But the "large and physically imposing" 59-year-old preyed on two children in separate incidents on the same evening.

He slapped the bottom of a 15-year-old girl while giving her first aid, then laughed in her face and followed after her.

Liverpool Crown Court heard he then trapped a second girl, 14, on a Waltzer ride and grabbed her bottom, before squaring up to her dad when he arrived.

Long was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault after a trial, when the girls had to go through the ordeal of giving evidence and reliving the attacks.

Judge Brian Cummings, QC, today said the factual basis upon which he would sentence Long was "one I am myself sure of, having heard the evidence".

He said Long "took advantage" of the access to children he had as a funfair security guard to commit the crimes.

Judge Cummings added: "I also note that you are a large and physically imposing man."

Long, now 61, of Huddleston Close, Woodchurch, Birkenhead, struck twice on Thursday, March 28, 2019.

Judge Cummings said the first girl "cut her foot quite badly getting off one of the rides" and was told to go and see Long, who she asked for a plaster.

The cut continued to bleed so she went back for a second plaster, this time alone, when she accepted Long's offer to help by putting it on her foot.

The judge said: "You then slapped her on the bottom and started laughing."

The girl walked back to a group of friends, but Long followed after her, stopping if she looked at him, and only left when she reached her friends.

Judge Cummings said: "It was rather sinister."

The second girl went on the Waltzers with her male cousin, but when they sat down in a car, Long got in and sat between them for no apparent reason.

Judge Cummings said she felt "uncomfortable" and wanted to get off, but he wouldn't let her and the ride started.

The judge told Long she was "struggling to breathe and nearly started crying", but he asked her age and when she said 14, "you expressed surprise and said you would kiss her if she were older".

The pervert asked if she wanted him to kiss her before grabbing her bottom, when her cousin saw she was crying.

Long held a safety bar down "to prevent her getting away" - during which time the judge said she was "trapped in" - but the girl managed to squeeze out and the two children ran off.

"Very upset and hyperventilating", she called her dad, who drove immediately to the fair.

Judge Cummings said: "You approached in an aggressive manner. You had the effrontery to get in his face so to speak and push him back."

The judge said "surprisingly" Long didn't face a separate charge over that "physical confrontation", but it was an aggravating feature.

He said: "It highlights, I'm afraid, your complete absence of remorse."

Judge Cummings said Long denied any wrongdoing in his police interviews and at trial.

He told him: "You said the witnesses were all lying. They weren't - you were."

David Birrell, prosecuting, said the girls described the impact of the attacks in video interviews in the autumn of 2019.

The first girl said she had "pushed it to the back of her mind".

However, she said: "I do get a bit wary when I'm walking around, when I'm on my own. I'll have people walk me home."

The second girl said the attack made her feel "crap", adding: "I don't like going out. I go out with my mum and dad, but I have only been out twice."

Long has 10 previous convictions for 13 offences, mainly for dishonesty in his youth.

He was last convicted in January 2017 of causing death by careless driving, when he had tried to help a drunk man.

Long pulled over after seeing Aso Azzizi collapsed outside The Crown pub in Birkenhead, at around 2am, on January 31, 2015.

He checked the 30-year-old was okay, who started walking off down Conway Street, and got back in his Ford Mondeo, parked on the other side of the road.

Long decided to do a U-turn, but "didn't look properly" in his mirrors to check it was safe and failed to indicate.

Renault Megane driver Kieran Platt - speeding at around 60mph in the 30mph zone - came up behind and clipped the front of the Mondeo.

The impact sent the Megane spinning to the opposite side of the road, where it hit Mr Azzizi, throwing him into metal railings.

Platt, then 21, from Prenton, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and was jailed for four years.

Long received a community order with unpaid work for the lesser offence.

John Weate, defending, said that case had "a lasting effect" on Long.

He told the court his client continued to deny the sex attacks.

Mr Weate said there were "troubles" in Long's family background, which led to his offending as a youth.

He said Long then worked until 2017 without any convictions and as part of his job in the security industry, stopped many illegal activities.

The lawyer said: "He's a man who can become very emotional at times.

"He's suffered difficulties through the break-up of relationships, there's been estrangements from his children, who are now adults, albeit he has a close and loving relationship with one of his sons."

Mr Weate said despite "strain" on his current relationship of nearly a decade, his partner had remained "supportive".

He said Long was considered a "low risk of further offences" and argued it would be of benefit to society if he was rehabilitated, rather than jailed.

Judge Cumming said there was a "breach of trust" as Long's job was to ensure the safety of visitors to the fair.

He said he was "the very person that the victims in this case should have been able to turn to if sexually assaulted in the fairground, not the person committing these assaults".

The judge jailed Long for eight months, who looked at his girlfriend in the public gallery and shook his head.

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

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Mark Jacobson, of Washington Parade, Bootle was also made to sign the sex offender's list and hit with a restraining order A monster who raped a child and forced them to watch sexual acts has been jailed for 16 years. Mark Jacobson, 44, of Washington Parade, Bootle, was found guilty of 16 counts of serious child sex offences. These include two counts of rape, two counts of attempted rape and multiple counts of sexual activity with a child, causing a child to watch a sexual act and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child. Today, at Liverpool Crown Court, he was sentenced to 16 years in prison. Jacobson was also given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) and was issued with a restraining order and sex offender notification requirement. Detective Constable Lucy Emmett said: Jacobson is a dangerous individual and he will now spend a significant amount of time behind bars where he can no longer pose a risk to children. Merseyside Police is committed to protecting children from sexual exploitation and those who seek to do them harm. I would urge anyone who has been a victim of child abuse, or thinks a child is being abused, to contact police immediately, where a report can be made in confidence. Similarly if you have suffered a sexual offence and can find the courage to come forward, we will take your report extremely seriously and investigate it thoroughly.

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The "danger to women" pretended to comfort the child just after she had been sick then raped her A predatory paedophile raped a little girl who had just been sick when he was pretending to comfort her. Philip Jones was branded a "danger to women" after he made thousands of searches on internet rape sites, then spiked a victim's drink. The former soldier was caught by a doorman at a Wirral pub putting powder into a woman's drink so he could sexually assault her in 2013. Jones, who also downloaded child sex abuse images, was jailed for five years, with an extended three years on licence, in 2014. Last December he was sent back to prison for hiding a mobile phone from police, after secretly working as a maintenance man in family homes. But today it emerged that the 59-year-old had also raped and molested a little girl prior to his arrest in 2013. That abuse only came to light when the child revealed last May that she had been living with the trauma for nearly a decade. She sat with her mum holding her hand at Liverpool Crown Court this afternoon, when Jones was produced on a video link from prison. Eric Lamb, prosecuting, said: "She explained that she wanted to disclose the offending for several years and she felt the burden of carrying the secret. "The defendant told her she must not say anything to her mother and she was scared of being reprimanded so chose to say nothing. "But it had been on her mind for many years and she said she wanted to 'get this off my chest'." The court heard the girl was "confused" when first sexually assaulted by Jones and on a second occasion she had just vomited. Jones pretended to comfort the child but raped her, when she cried and said he was hurting her, so he stopped. Mr Lamb said Jones also raped her on another occasion and in a fourth incident he performed a sex act on her. When interviewed last July, he gave a prepared statement and denied any of the abuse. However, after several court hearings, Jones pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and two counts of sexual assault. The girl said at first she didn't want to write a victim statement and just wanted to concentrate on her education. Summarising a statement, Mr Lamb said she worried about "everyone at school" finding out what happened. He said if the girl smelled the same body wash that Jones wore, memories of her abuse came flooding back. Sometimes if stressed she said it would "pop into her mind" and she would start crying. The girl said: "It makes me feel really sad." The victim added she was "confused and scared" because Jones told her not to tell anyone. Jones, of Poulton Road, Seacombe, and formerly of Trafalgar Road, Birkenhead, has previous convictions including wounding in 1990. He became a HGV driver after leaving the Army and in 1996, for a sexual offence now classed as rape, he was jailed for three and a half years. Jones targeted the 24-year-old woman at The Tap in Charing Cross, Birkenhead in February 2013, using nitrazapam - prescribed for insomnia and related to date rape drug Rohypnol. When the then 52-year-old's computer was seized and examined, 183 indecent images of children were found, along with extreme porn. He had searched the internet using the term "date rape" on 52 occasions and visited a rape site 23,500 times. Jones admitted administering noxious substances for facilitating sexual activity and 15 offences involving downloading and possessing indecent images and extreme porn. He was jailed for 20 months in December for failing to comply with the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Register and breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO). Police raided his home on November 4, when they found a secret phone hidden behind a kitchen cupboard. He has since been recalled on the licence of his 2014 sentence, which isn't due to expire until June 2022. Rebecca Smith, defending, today said Jones accepted he would receive a long prison sentence. She said: "He understands the difficulties, embarrassment, the distress and the misery his offending has caused." Ms Smith added: "He knows now that his behaviour on these occasions was selfish and he hadn't considered the wider impact of his behaviour." The barrister said Jones had undertaken courses to address his offending, recognised the "demons" he had to live with and apologised to his victim. Judge David Swinnerton said the girl had been "scared" to disclose the "disgraceful abuse" committed against her. The judge said Jones now said he recognised the distress he caused and apologised, but in all the courses he had attended due to his earlier sexual offending, he didn't disclose these crimes and when the child did, he initially denied them, "so your remorse doesn't appear to have been very strong at that point". He said the girl described her distress at remembering the pain of the abuse and added: "I have no doubt that as a memory that will not go away, no matter how well she manages to cope with it." Judge Swinnerton said one rape was when the girl was "particularly vulnerable" after being ill. He said: "You acted as a predatory paedophile when the opportunity presented itself to you." Judge Swinnerton jailed him for 13 and a half years, with an extended five years on licence. Jones must serve at least nine years behind bars before he can apply for parole and will only be released then if he is no longer considered to be a risk. He must sign on the Sex Offenders Register and comply with a SHPO for life. Judge Swinnerton turned to the girl after Jones was sent down and said: "Thank you for your bravery in coming forward and in coming [to court] today."

Description

A serial child rapist forced girls to pose for semi naked pictures during his catalogue of abuse against them.

Sick Stephen Rafferty committed abhorrent acts against three children who were all under 14.

When one girl bit the vile paedophile he punched her and called her "Satan's child", swearing her to silence.

The now 27-year-old was convicted by a jury of 13 sexual offences against the children, including nine counts of rape.

He had previously admitted six counts of sexual assault against the victims.

Judge David Swinnerton, sentencing Rafferty today at Liverpool Crown Court, said with his first victim he began "massaging her" before he touched her inappropriately and began to rape her repeatedly.

He said: "She first felt scared and threatened and didn't say anything."

The judge explained Rafferty had been tried and found not guilty of sexual offences when he was a child.

Judge Swinnerton said: "I mention it because as a result you knew it was very wrong to commit sexual offences."

In a statement his first victim said that she struggled with "feeling ashamed of myself for allowing it to happen and not fighting back".

She said: "I live with it every day. It continued to stay with me long after the abuse stopped.

"He has taken away my sense of self, my sense of security. I feel so violated."

The victim said she had since self harmed and suffered with an eating disorder .

Judge Swinnerton said: "A substantial part of the effect on her and the difficulties she has had was due to you.

"The impact on her life has been devastating."

The judge ruled that Rafferty's monstrous actions had caused "serious psychological harm" to all of his victims.

With his other two victims the court heard he used "grooming behaviour" and "would play games" which then became sexual abuse and rape.

Judge Swinnerton, referring to his second victim, said: "You started touching her and told her she couldn't tell anyone."

Sick Rafferty told the girl it was "all your fault" and would regularly abuse her.

She said: "Sometimes I asked him to stop at first but he wouldn't and there was no use."

As well as raping the child he would force her to perform sex acts on him sometimes three or four times a week and would take his phone out and "take pictures of her body" while she wore a top and no bottoms.

Judge Swinnerton said when his third victim was interviewed by police she was "unable to speak" but wrote down "Stephen forced me to have sex with him".

As Rafferty raped the third girl she bit his penis and he "punched her, telling her she was Satan's child" and told her to "never tell anybody else", claiming it was "natural".

The vile paedophile told the girl "the world would be better without me" and said she was to blame for his sick crimes.

As a child the girl was diagnosed with anxiety and depression and said: "I struggled to copy and used to self harm."

Rafferty's third victim, in a personal statement, also said she had tried to take her own life on two separate occasions and has been diagnosed with PTSD.

She said: "It felt like my world was crashing around me."

The victim said: "It is so scary to know people have the audacity to try and ruin people's lives for their own joy."

The judge said he accepted Rafferty, of Russell Road, Mossley Hill, has mental health difficulties including Autism Spectrum Disorder, OCD and "possibly Asperger's" and had a "very tough time as a child".

Judge Swinnerton said: "You have accepted limited responsibility."

The judge explained that when asked in a probation interview if he was a risk to children Rafferty replied: "In an ideal world I would want to say no but I can't say that."

The court heard his grandparents described him as having "qualities of generosity" and having "shown a work ethic".

As he sentenced Rafferty, Judge Swinnerton said: "You have committed extremely serious offences which have had a devastating effect on three young women."

Martine Snowdon prosecuted the case on the behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service.

Jenny Tallentire, defending, said there was "hope" Rafferty "could be rehabilitated" having "made some extremely frank admissions to the probation officer".

She explained he had experienced a "difficult upbringing", adding "it is not an excuse, there are many others who have had a difficult upbringing".

Rafferty admitted six counts sexual assault against a child and was convicted following a trial on January 11 of two counts of assault by penetration of a child, nine counts of rape of a child and two counts of taking indecent photographs of a child.

Judge Swinnerton said Rafferty was a "dangerous" offender and jailed him for 20 years, with an extended five years on licence.

This type of sentence means he will spend at least two thirds of the custodial term behind bars.

Rafferty will then only be released before the end of his sentence if a parole board considers he is no longer a risk.

He was also subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life and must sign the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.

Description

A top maths teacher groomed and sexually exploited a vulnerable schoolgirl during a sickening campaign of manipulation.

Richard Chipchase once locked his victim in a storeroom when she refused to hug him and tried to win her over with cigarettes, McDonald's meals and car rides.

It was during one of those lifts that he sexually assaulted her.

Chipchase abused his position to target the girl while he was head of maths at Woodchurch High.

Liverpool Crown Court heard he initially singled the pupil out for preferential treatment, allowing her to get away with not doing homework and offering her access to his treat-filled storeroom.

Cheryl Mottram, prosecuting, said: He let her listen to music in the classroom, caught her smoking but didnt report her and started to buy her cigarettes.

"He would compliment her on her looks, telling her that she was pretty and would hug her at any given opportunity."

After concerns were raised about his behaviour towards the girl he passed her his mobile number while she sat a mock exam - sparking text conversations that would take place every day.

From this point he started to buy alcohol and cigarettes for her and giving her lifts.

He left her terrified when he once refused to let her leave his store room without hugging him, with Miss Mottram telling the court: He was saying to her that he wouldnt let her out until she gave him a hug.

"The space was only small and she recalls feeling really scared. When he eventually did unlock the door another maths teacher was stood outside. The defendant told her that the girl was just calming down.

After this incident she reports that her view of her relationship with Mr Chipchase changed. She began to feel that it was wrong.

On another occasion he placed his hand up her skirt and assaulted her while giving her a lift. He simply laughed at her when she pushed it away.

Miss Mottram added: From then on that he became more tactile with her, hugging her more, stroking her arm and back, kissing the top of her head.

"These acts were always out of the view of the other students and teachers in his classroom or in the store cupboard... Throughout the time at the school the defendant would write her letters, give her books and DVDs.

"He once gave her a book which he had written inside the cover 'I hope you enjoy this, love R' with a kiss. He bought her bits of jewellery and other small trinkets.

In an impact statement the victim told how his behaviour had an impact on her mental health and affected her relationship with her parents.

It also affected her maths grades although she has since been able to catch up.

The court heard she felt no one understood her and that the grooming had an ongoing effect on her.

Chipchase's campaign came to end when concerns were raised about inappropriate behaviour by him towards another schoolgirl.

This sparked an investigation by the Independent Safeguarding Authority and Chipchase was dismissed from the school and his teaching licence revoked.

The police were told but the victim did not tell them about the abuse in his car and they left matters to the school to deal with, Miss Mottram said.

Last year the victim contacted Wirral Council and Chipchase, now 55 and of Welford Avenue in Prenton, was interviewed by police during which he denied behaving inappropriately.

He was today jailed for 27 months after he pleaded guilty to four charges of sexual activity with a child.

Steven Swift, defending, said after his client's behaviour came to light he proffered his resignation but it was not accepted and he was instead dismissed and his teaching licence revoked.

Mr Swift said Chipchase has since rebuilt his life with a new career and has a partner and son and no other convictions.

The initial investigation into his actions led to the loss of his home and bankruptcy, he said, adding: It took him 18 months to really start his life afresh. He is held in high regard and has built his life anew. He has expressed remorse and regret, he said.

Judge Gary Woodhall told Chipchase: You abused and manipulated your position of trust in order to groom and then exploit this vulnerable young girl over a number of years for your own sexual gratification... You targeted her because you identified her as vulnerable.

He ordered Chipchase to sign the Sex Offenders Register for ten years and imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for seven years.

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A vile paedophile kept 'depraved' rape videos of crying babies.

The videos in Adam Whitfield's sickening collection were described by a judge as something "which would strike any normal person as disgusting."

Another 16 second video showed a three-month-old baby being raped. Other scenes were too graphic to even be described in this article.

The 26-year-old had 30 videos of children being raped on his phone and computer - which were discovered when his mother called the police.

Sarah Griffin, prosecuting, explained that police went to Whitfield's Newton-Le-Willows' address in relation to a "potential separate offence" which wasn't pursued.

Ms Griffin said police were called by Whitfield's mother and while there "she handed over a number of the defendant's devices including a mobile phone and computer".

After examining the phone and computer officers discovered 32 indecent images, 30 of which were videos of children being raped.

The videos were kept by Whitfield between July 25, 2017 and May 3, 2020.

Some of the videos included a three month old, a six month old and a child between five and seven.

Whitfield has no previous convictions.

Louise McCloskey, defending, said: "It is quite clear, your honour, to any right minded member of the community, hearing the description of those moving images will inevitably cause both a sense of outrage and revulsion.

"It's also clear that any member of the community would inevitably believe an immediate lengthy period of custody should be imposed to mark the seriousness of this case."

Ms McCloskey, urging the judge to suspend a custodial sentence, explained Whitfield is 26, has no previous convictions and is "vulnerable".

She said he is "ashamed of his actions" and explained he "clearly struggled" in his younger life, but no further detail was given in open court.

Ms McCloskey said: "While an immediate custodial sentence might mark the offence it will not address the issues or behaviours which this defendant needs to understand in order to ensure there is not further future offending."

Ms McCloskey explained that while the period of the charges spanned from 2017 to 2020, there wasn't consistent downloading of images over the years but a "flurry of activity" and then a "recent surge" in 2019.

Whitfield, of Alder Street, admitted three counts of making indecent images.

Judge Thomas Teague, QC, summarising the images, said: "Even the category C images would strike any normal person as disgusting."

The judge said the images, even for material of this type, are "exceptionally depraved".

Judge Teague noted Whitfield's pre sentence report makes for "troubling reading" describing Whitfield as "vulnerable" and as having had an "unhappy childhood".

The judge said the offences were aggravated by the fact some of the children in the images "display discernible pain and distress".

Whitfield was jailed for eight months and ordered to adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.

He must also sign the Sex Offenders' Register for 10 years.

Description

A paedophile took baby wipes and Mini Eggs with him for a '12-year-old girl' he planned to meet a McDonald's.

Paul Coulthwaite had called the child "sexy" and said he wanted them to meet in secret, planning to lure her away from her home.

But the 55-year-old didn't get to give the girl the mint Aero chocolate and WKD he bought her because instead of a schoolgirl he was greeted by police who arrested him for his sickening offences.

Christopher Hopkins, prosecuting at Liverpool Crown Court, said that between January 7 and January 19 this year Coulthwaite spoke with an officer who was pretending to be a 13-year-old called Paige.

They used Chat Avenue and texted and "literally within minutes" of the first message Coulthwaite said "I'm a bit horny".

Mr Hopkins said: "He went on to tell her she was nice and they carried on chatting. He suggested they meet."

Coulthwaite said he wanted to meet so they could "cuddle and have a cheeky kiss" before suggesting he could shower with the child.

When the 'girl' told him she was going to bed the sickening pervert told her she should perform a sex act on herself.

Mr Hopkins said Coulthwaite would persistently groom what he thought was a 13-year-old and "manipulated the conversation to sexual content at any opportunity and used flattery".

Between January 8 and February 10 in the same year Coulthwaite also spoke with what he thought was a 12-year-old girl called Rebecca.

Mr Hopkins said: "The conversation followed a similar pattern, he told her she was pretty and sexy."

He suggested they met and said: "We could meet away from your house one day when there's no lockdown."

Mr Hopkins explained Coulthwaite told the girl he wanted them to be "online boyfriend and girlfriend" and "told her repeatedly contact between them needed to be secret".

Coulthwaite said they would "kiss and cuddle and feel each other" before listing sex acts he wanted to perform.

When the police officer, pretending to be the girl, said she had "never cuddled and kissed a grown up" Coulthwaite said "hopefully that will change".

On February 12 he travelled from his Newton-Le-Willows home to a McDonald's on Longsands in Preston where he was hoping to meet the girl.

Having asked her "what she would like him to bring" the girl asked for WKD which Coulthwaite brought with him.

Instead of a schoolgirl Coulthwaite was greeted by police officers who found that as well as the alcopop he had brought baby wipes, a kitchen towel, a mint Aero chocolate, Mini Eggs and a necklace in a gift bag with the girl's name on.

Coulthwaite has no previous convictions.

Charlotte Kenny, defending, said: "This defendant is very much a man who is struggling still to come to terms with what he's done."

Ms Kenny emphasized he has no previous convictions and the court heard he has a history of work.

She explained he has not had the benefit of working with the probation service to address the issues behind his offending behaviour.

Ms Kenny said the "trigger appeared to be the end of a long term relationship".

She said: "He began to engage more in social media and found it easier to engage with younger people."

Ms Kenny said: "He very much wishes to engage with any assistance that can be provided within the prison."

Coulthwaite, of Haydock Street, Newton-Le-Willows, admitted two counts of sexual communication with a child, attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and meeting a child following sexual grooming.

Judge Thomas Teague, QC, said Coulthwaite's sexual intent was confirmed when he turned up and "by the articles you brought".

The judge said: "You arranged to meet her at a branch of McDonald's in Preston near where she lived. You turned up for that meeting and were promptly arrested."

Judge Teague noted he had brought a "gift wrapped necklace", "chocolates", "drink" and "baby wipes" for the meeting and was "doing your best to groom" what he thought were children.

The judge said: "I have no doubt you would have done the same to 'Paige' if you had got as far as meeting her as you plainly would have liked to do."

Judge Teague noted in a pre sentence report Coulthwaite didn't accept full responsibility for his actions and is "still struggling to come to terms with your guilt of these offences".

The judge noted Coulthwaite had previously been arrested in relation to different offences which were not proceeded with and at that point "sought help" but was unsuccessful.

Judge Teague reduced the sentence to reflect Coulthwaite's guilty plea and the current impact of the coronavirus pandemic on prisoners.

Coulthwaite was jailed for three years and was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

He must also adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life which bans him from being in the presence of any child under 16 unless social services are aware.

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He previously filmed a toddler and said he wanted to have sex with him A paedophile used the popular children's video game Fortnite to try and groom boys. Adam Syers previously filmed a toddler and made vile sexual comments before posting the video on Facebook. The 23-year-old - who recorded the sick clip from the window of his home - walked free from court last September. But within hours of being spared jail he was back online, trying to snare children playing Fortnite and Roblox on Xbox. Using the username JuicyGamer, he let a 12-year-old boy spend 200 on his credit card and got the child to send him a photo of himself in shorts. He then targeted a seven-year-old boy, asking him whether he wanted to go on a date with him and be his boyfriend. Liverpool Crown Court heard Syers, aka Adam Shipley, was handed 10 weeks in jail, suspended for two years, on September 2. He admitted sending an indecent communication after filming a mum and little boy walking down the street outside his then address in Orford, Warrington last May and saying he wanted "sex" with the child. Magistrates gave Syers a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) - banning him from contacting boys online -and told him to comply with the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Register for the same period. Later that day the pervert began communicating with a 12-year-old boy via Xbox Live, before their chats progressed onto Instagram. The boy's mum noticed a credit card on her son's Xbox gaming account registered to AG Shipley and Tully Avenue - Syers' new address in Newton-le-Willows - over a month later. Louise McCloskey, prosecuting, said her son explained the card belonged to "Adam", whom he had become friends with online. The mum asked to chat to then 22-year-old Syers on the Xbox, who explained he let her son buy a game for 7.99. He had actually allowed 200 of purchases, but claimed he wasn't good with numbers, was autistic and considered her son to be a friend. The boy revealed Syers asked him not to tell his parents and to send a picture of himself wearing shorts, which he did. He said during chats Syers asked him to turn his camera on and sent messages saying he missed him and loved him. Texts downloaded from the Xbox showed Syers asked him to play Fortnite and Roblox and join Xbox party chats. Syers had also begun talking to a seven-year-old boy via Xbox Live and TikTok on September 6. That child's mum discovered a string of "inappropriate messages" between the two on October 5. Syers gave the little boy his mobile number and asked "can I meet you?" before asking him to call and sending the message: "I love you." The boy said they played Fortnite together and when he told the man he was seven, he asked if he wanted to go to his house to play football or Fortnite, and to change his Xbox name because he would get in trouble if anyone found out. Ms McCloskey said: "The man also asked whether he wanted to go on a date with him and be his boyfriend. He had also commented that he was fit." The mum investigated Syers' account and found a picture of a man in his 20s and noted his TikTok was "full of videos of young boys, none more than 10-years-old". Syers had also failed to provide police with his personal details within the necessary period. Officers were informed he was adding girls under 16 to his Instagram account and visited his home on September 15. They found he had been accessing Pornhub, Grindr, Chaturbate, Snapchat and Instagram on his phone. On Instagram he sent messages to a third unidentified boy - thought to be under 11 - who Syers denied knowing. Screenshots revealed he had a photo of the boy, asked his age, whether his mum was there, said he loved him, told him "this is our secret", and had live chats with him. When arrested and interviewed, Syers answered "no comment" to questions about the first two boys, but claimed he thought the third was an adult. He admitted three counts of breaching his SHPO, failing to comply with notification requirements and breaching his suspended sentence. A report said he hadn't attended any rehabilitation appointments since November, showed "no insight", denied a sexual attraction to children and there were "significant risk concerns". Syers has a conviction for sexual assault on a child and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity from November 2012. He received a warning for this offence, when he was aged just 14. Natalia Cornwall, defending, said Syers only had "himself to blame" for not taking the chance given to him last year. She said he now accepted he had a "problem" and "a sexual interest in children". Ms Cornwall said Syers was immature and diagnosed with ADHD, autism, learning and speech difficulties, and struggled to put on weight because of stomach ulcers. She said: "He himself has had a difficult upbringing. He was taken into care from a relatively young age, he himself has suffered abuse whilst in foster care and he also had to deal with the death of his mother. "He now has no contact at all with any of his family members and is effectively isolated within the community." Judge Rachel Smith accepted Syers was himself a "vulnerable individual" and there was "some prospect of rehabilitation". However, she said: "Only immediate custody will follow for the range of offences that you have committed in this case." The judge said it was a "persistent breach risking serious harm" and jailed him for two years and eight months. She made a new seven-year SHPO, told him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely, and ordered the destruction of his iPhone and Xbox.

Description

A paedophile who molested a little girl was extradited from New Zealand to face justice but refused to say a single word.

Cecil John Thorn, 48, has exercised a "vigil of silence" ever since he stepped off a plane in February last year.

That included not saying anything in his defence at a trial when the brave victim described how he repeatedly abused her.

Thorn, from Wirral, was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault and three counts of causing or inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity at a trial last month.

Liverpool Crown Court today heard this is the second time he has been convicted of molesting a child, after previously being jailed for eight years in 2013 for similar offences, also in Wirral.

But after serving just three years in prison for those crimes - and when police were already aware of his second victim's allegations - he was deported back to his native New Zealand, under an early release scheme.

That meant the authorities then had to go through a long extradition process to drag him back to the UK and lock him up all over again.

Thorn, who has been held in custody since his extradition on February 24, 2020, appeared in court via video link from prison.

The clerk asked him to identify himself and Judge Brian Cummings, QC, said: "He doesn't respond, he never has during these proceedings."

Thorn, with a bald head, long black beard and wearing a face mask, then sat in silence, with his eyes closed.

Judge Cummings gave him the opportunity to address the court on any of the matters being discussed or to offer any mitigation on his behalf, but Thorn, who didn't have legal representation, refused to speak.

The court heard he had even refused to talk with the Probation Service for the purpose of a pre-sentence report.

Judge Cummings told Thorn: "You have maintained what has been termed a vigil of silence."

He said at a previous hearing, a determination was made that Thorn's silence "was not the result of any medical or mental health incapacity, but rather was voluntary".

The judge said this was confirmed when shortly before the trial last month, Thorn spoke to staff in the cells to ask whether the trial was going ahead.

Charlotte Kenny, prosecuting, said Thorn was jailed for eight years in July 2013 after he admitted four sexual assaults against a teenage girl.

The predator had confessed in full, after that vulnerable child's parents discovered that she had been abused by him.

He was deported back to his New Zealand and set free in Wellington in December 2016.

However, his second victim had already come forward to the police in February 2016, around 10 months beforehand.

She told a teacher at school and her mum that she was sexually abused by Thorn, leading to officers being informed.

The second girl revealed Thorn performed a sex act on her and made her perform a sex act on him on multiple occasions.

Police went to speak to Thorn in jail about those allegations, but he made no reply and later that year was flown to the South Pacific.

When arrested by officers in New Zealand in February 2020 and interviewed, Thorn, formerly of Wirral but now of Favona Road, Auckland, again remained silent.

However, Judge Cummings said his "parting words" to a detective "were to the effect that you were now embarking on a vigil of silence".

The second girl today said Thorn's abuse had a "devastating effect" on her and it was difficult to put this into words.

Ms Kenny said in a victim statement the child outlined how she lost her self-confidence, had "self-worth issues" and "started to hate her own body".

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Woman kidnapped on Liverpool city centre street by sex attackerliverpoolecho

The girl self-harmed, couldn't stop thinking about her ordeal and found it very difficult having to relive it when she gave evidence during the trial.

Ms Kenny said the girl felt "incredibly embarrassed" about what happened to her, even though it wasn't her fault, adding: "It made her feel worthless."

The prosecutor said: "She couldn't understand why it was that it was done to her."

The girl's mum, who was present in court with her daughter today, also made a statement, in which she said her child had become "withdrawn".

Ms Kenny said she described her daughter trying to take an overdose and how concerned she was about leaving the girl on her own as a result.

The prosecutor said the trial was a constant worry for the family, but now the mum "expresses the hope that they can move on".

Judge Cummings said: "As do I."

The judge said Thorn could have disclosed his abuse of the second girl when in prison for the abuse of the first girl.

He told him any "additional strain" that may have resulted from what happened since was "entirely of your own making".

Judge Cummings said: "You have blighted the lives of two young girls. The consequences for you must inevitably be severe."

The judge said he was an "offender of particular concern" and jailed him for 10 years, with an extended one year on licence.

This means Thorn will spend at least five years in prison, before he can apply for parole.

Judge Cummings said: "You will serve somewhere between five and 10 years actually in prison."

Thorn showed no emotion and did not speak or move on the video link.

He must sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Description

A couple who raped a little boy offered his mum cash afterwards.

David Bradbury, 55, would film the horrific abuse performed by William Gamble, 65, before offering to pay the little boy's mum 30.

Their sickening acts were only discovered after they uploaded an image of child abuse, not involving the same boy, to Facebook.

When police raided their St Helens home they discovered the horrific pictures and videos, in which Bradbury would encourage Gamble as he abused the child.

They also found toys, sweets and games they would use to groom the boy.

Judge Rachel Smith, sentencing today at Liverpool Crown Court, said: "You embarked on a course of grooming and sexually abusive behaviour."

The court heard the couple "exploited" the boy and groomed him before Gamble would commit "physical acts" of abuse while Bradbury would film them, sometimes engaging in physical abuse.

The judge said: "You acted as a team".

In one of the indecent images discovered the boy is naked lying on his back on a rug.

In one video the boy is seen performing a sex act on Gamble and in another Gamble is seen raping the child.

Judge Smith said Bradbury "commented on the quality of the recording you were making at the time", which the judge said is "clear evidence of Bradbury encouraging Gamble to continue with the rape".

Even when Gamble and Bradbury were told they shouldn't contact the boy they continued to try.

Judge Smith said: "You persisted with it in the face of involvement of the police."

Both Gamble and Bradbury were arrested on October 26 last year after the true extent of their crimes had been discovered when an indecent image, not of this child, was uploaded to Facebook.

In total officers found 14 category A images, which are the most serious and include child rape, four category B images and three category C images, on devices found at the men's home on Pigot Street, many of which were images of the boy.

John Wyn-Williams, prosecuting, said police "seized a notebook which contained a list of about 500 names" which are believed to be Facebook contacts, and the court heard "many are foreign names".

The judge added that the notebook showed "extensive contact with an all male group on the internet", adding that there was no evidence of distribution of images of this child.

In an interview the boy, when asked about the abuse, said he "wanted to keep secrets from himself" and "not remember it".

The court heard in a victim impact statement the child's father said: "Every single day I worry about the time [his son] will be old enough to fully realise what happened to him. I dread this and know it will be a terrible day."

Jim Smith, defending Gamble, asked the judge to take into consideration his guilty plea and said Gamble had an "evolving" understanding of the impact of his behaviour on the victim.

Mr Smith explained that it was Gamble's first period of custody and asked the judge to consider the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on inmates.

The judge, citing a medical report, noted that Gamble "falls in the learning disability range" and is "more vulnerable to manipulation and coercion than others".

The court heard that speaking in a pre-sentence report, Bradbury had said: "No I don't want to talk about it, I don't see how it will help".

Judge Smith explained that the author of the report said Bradbury had a "failure to take full responsibility for his actions".

Paul Becker, defending Bradbury, asked the judge to consider his history of anxiety and depression and his guilty pleas.

Gamble and Bradbury both admitted four counts of rape, two sexual assaults and two assaults by penetration, plus the taking of indecent videos associated to each act.

The court heard Gamble had no relevant previous convictions while Bradbury has a conviction for exposure in 1995.

Judge Smith said both Bradbury and Gamble were "dangerous" offenders and jailed each of them for 16 years, with an extended one year on licence.

This type of sentence means they will spend at least two thirds of the custodial term behind bars.

They will then only be released before the end of the sentence if a parole board considers they are no longer a risk.

Detective Constable Craig Doyle of Merseyside Police said: Both of these men are very dangerous individuals.

They acted as a team to exploit and carry out this horrendous abuse over a period of time and both men deserve to spend the rest of their lives behind bars.

Merseyside Police is committed to protecting victims of sexual offences, and anyone who reports an incident to us will be safeguarded and supported throughout the investigation.

Description

A little girl's dad caught a paedophile abusing his daughter only for the pervert to claim it was her fault.

Robert Gardener twice targeted the child but covered up the first incident by suggesting he was "just playing".

The 64-year-old predator's lies came crashing down when the victim's father saw the sick abuse for himself.

However, Gardener, of Rocastle Close, Kensington, then had the gall to claim that the child instigated it.

Liverpool Crown Court heard another girl first spotted Gardener with his trousers and underpants down in the presence of the little girl.

Fiona McNeill, prosecuting, said the child reported this to the victim's mum, who in turn spoke to her partner, who talked to Gardener.

Gardener assured the little girl's dad that he was "just playing" with the victim and that the child witness hadn't seen anything untoward.

However, on a second occasion the girl's dad saw his daughter with her hand moving down the front of Gardener's trousers near his groin.

Ms McNeill said the girl looked up and moved her hand away and Gardener stared at the victim's father.

The court heard the dad, who has his own vulnerabilities, removed his daughter from the situation.

As a result, the girl's mum again spoke to the child who witnessed the first incident and asked for more details.

The child told her she had seen Gardener standing over the little girl with his genitals close to her face.

Ms McNeill said the witness described how the little girl had "tears in her eyes".

The mum spoke to her daughter, who said she had put her hand down Gardener's trousers because he asked her to.

The dad then chatted to his daughter, when she pointed out to him on a drawing where she had touched Gardener.

The girl also confirmed to police that Gardener had pulled his pants down in front of her.

Gardener was arrested and made no comment when the allegations were put to him.

However, screenshots of a conversation between him and the girl's dad showed Gardener said he had been "messing around" with the girl.

Gardener, who had no previous convictions, admitted two counts of causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

In a victim statement, the girl's mum described a "deterioration" in her daughter's behaviour since the abuse.