Latest Offenders Merseyside

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A primary school headteacher has been caught with category A images of child sex abuse and extreme animal porn on his mobile phone.

Ian McDonald, who has since quit as head of Bishop Martin School in Skelmersdale, was given a community punishment and put on the sex offenders register by a Preston Crown Court judge after admitting to downloading seven films that fall into the most serious class of abuse.

The father of one also pleaded guilty to making 14 category B images and three category C images plus possessing 10 extreme porn films involving humans having intercourse with animals.

The hearing was told they had been downloaded from the popular messaging app Kik.

Former colleagues today expressed disgust, shock and anger that someone in such a position of responsibility with children should be involved in such crimes. They also questioned whether he might be guilty of other child sex offences that have not so far emerged.

McDonald, 46, formerly of Skelmersdale and now living in St Helens after the breakdown of his marriage, had appeared at Preston Magistrates Court in June to admit to the offences and was subsequently sentenced at the citys Crown Court last month to a three-year community order, which included completing 30 days of rehabilitation activities and the forfeiture and destruction of his mobile.

He was also made the subject of a five-year sexual harm prevention order and must sign onto the sex offenders register for the same amount of time.

A one-time colleague, who asked not to be identified, said that the first suggestion that anything was amiss at the school came in March last year when McDonald was in work as usual but then suddenly left at an uncharacteristically early hour.

Thereafter all the schools locks were changed to prevent him, as the keyholder, from getting back in.

His school computer was seized, although this was later returned with the message that there was no evidence of its having been used for improper purposes.

McDonald was suspended by the board of governors and in September 2023 it was announced, without explanation, that he was no longer the headteacher of Bishop Martin and any references to him on the school website or literature were expunged.

The school has since become an academy and has a new headteacher.

The ex-colleague said: When it all came to light in June this year everyone was absolutely gobsmacked.

"No-one thought of him as the type of person who would do this the worst possible child abuse images and animal porn. He was very dedicated to his job and prided himself on Christian values which made this all the more shocking and sickening to learn.

"Here was this man in such a position of power over children doing this. Since we found out about it, we cant help asking was it just images? and racking our brains as to whether there were any opportunities for him when he was alone with children. Have we missed something? Will something else come out?

Bishop Martin School, on Birkrig, Skelmersdale, has been contacted for a comment but has so far not responded.

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A WIRRAL man who breached his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) has been jailed for 20 months.

Wayne Thomas, was sentenced yesterday (Thursday, August 1) at Liverpool Crown Court.

Thomas, 23 and from Birkenhead, is a Registered Sex Offender and required to adhere to conditions under the Sex Offender Register and his SHPO.

Bell was found to have breached his conditions when he had unsupervised contact with a young girl under the age of 18, without the consent of the child’s parent and the approval of Children's Social Services.

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A woman cried "I love yous all" as she was locked up for sexually abusing a teenage girl. Lucy Wilding targeted her victim over the course of several months after grooming her on Snapchat.

This included sending her a "manipulative" video, in which she asked the youngster to "be her girlfriend" by spelling these words out in love hearts. The 20-year-old then engaged in sex acts with the teenager on dozens of occasions.

Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday, Monday, that Wilding was aged 18 when she initially met the complainant in Liverpool city centre in early 2023. The two thereafter began exchanging messages over Snapchat and began meeting up with one another in the spring.

Steven Ball, prosecuting, described how this progressed to the 14-year-old girl staying overnight at the then 19-year-old defendant's home, sleeping in the same bed together. This led to Wilding, of Southey Street in Bootle, touching the teen sexually on at least 20 occasions, with the victim reciprocating these acts on at least four occasions.

She was said to have known the victim's age "from the outset", but "would tell other people that she was 17 so they would not get into trouble". The sex offender also sent the girl a "quite manipulative" video on one occasion in a clip showing balloons and love hearts spelling out words on the floor "asking her to be her girlfriend".

The child's mum became aware of their relationship during the summer of 2023 and warned Wilding to cease her contact. But the mother informed the police around a month later when she continued to contact her daughter "using fake social media accounts".

Under interview, she claimed that she "thought she was 16". But messages recovered from her phone showed that Wilding, who has no previous convictions, had sent messages to the girl's mum "apologising for the stress and drama caused" and "acknowledging she knew it was wrong, but also reassuring her that she would wait until she was 16".

Stuart Nolan, defending, told the court: "These are very serious matters, and the court will be concerned with them. She is a woman of hitherto good character.

"She still works at a company in Merseyside, Makro. They are aware of the circumstances of this hearing. The indications are that she is well liked there, and she intends to work there as soon as she possibly can.

"She is clearly well thought of by her family and friends. She has previously required the assistance of medical practitioners for anxiety and depression. She understands the gravity of what went on. This is a young woman who is obviously terrified at the prospect of jail."

Wilding, who appeared to be in tears at times during the hearing, admitted two counts of sexual activity with a child and two charges of inciting sexual activity with a child. Wearing a navy blue suit and tie over a white shirt in the dock, she was jailed for 18 months.

Sentencing, Judge Katherine Pierpoint said: "She was a child. While you yourself were relatively young, you were an adult. You should have stopped and you should not have carried on seeing her, but you did.

"She stayed over on many, many occasions at your address. During this period of time, you engaged in sexual activity with her. Unlike her, you were aware that it was wrong. You knew full well that she was underage.

"You have never been before the courts before. It is a great shame to find a woman such as you, who has a number of positive attributes, in the dock in a crown court facing serious sexual allegations.

"I take into account your lack of maturity, but this was not just a one off incident. This was a number of times with a number of offences over a number of months.

"The number of people supporting you today shows you are well viewed by those who care for you and love you and someone who, at the start of your adult life, does have a positive future ahead of you. You are someone who, in the past, has struggled with your mental health.

"The fact is that you, as an adult, should have controlled your behaviour and you failed to do so. Anybody involved in sexual activity with a child will be viewed gravely by these courts.

"The law is in place to protect minors, sometimes from their own actions. You, as an adult, knew it was wrong. In this case, you do present a risk to the public. In this case, in my judgement, appropriate punishment can only be achieved by an immediate custodial sentence."

Wilding was also handed a sexual harm prevention order, a notification requirement and a restraining order - all lasting 10 years. She turned to the public gallery and said "I love yous all" to her sobbing supporters as she was led down to the cells.

Description

A woman recognised her rapist and "took matters into her own hands" in order to bring him to justice. Kevin Knox spiked his victim's drink with sleeping tablets before sexually abusing her as she lay powerless to resist in her own bed.

Months later, the 33-year-old attempted to attack her again in an almost identical manner. But the quick-thinking complainant rumbled his depraved plot and swapped their drinks around, meaning that he "ended up essentially drugging himself".

A trial at Liverpool Crown Court heard that Knox raped the woman in August last year before returning to her flat for a second time three months later, leading to an incident which saw him break into the address and steal a kitchen knife. Gareth Roberts, prosecuting, described the "strange circumstances of the case", with the victim having been "supplementing her income" by working as an escort at the time.

Knox, of Maplewood in Kirkby, initially met her as a "potential client" via the website AdultWork. They were said to have "come to an arrangement that he would pay her a sum of money in return for sex", namely £1,750, but he "had no intention of paying".

He instead spiked the woman's vodka drink with zopiclone, a sleeping tablet which was subsequently found in her system, leaving her "feeling extremely groggy" and "rendering her pretty much incapable" before "forcefully" raping her in her own bed. Knox then allegedly stole her bank cards before leaving, although he was subsequently acquitted of charges in relation to this.

Then, in November, he contacted her again "asking if he could pay for her services" using a different phone number and a false name of "Danny". She however recognised him upon him subsequently attending her apartment once more and "decided to take matters into her own hands".

Knox again poured two drinks, but she switched their glasses without his knowledge. He then "started to demonstrate signs of having been drugged" and was subsequently dropped off at a petrol station by the woman.

However, he then returned to her now empty flat once more and smashed a window in order to gain entry before stealing a knife from the kitchen. Police officers then attended the scene and found Knox "wandering about in a communal area" and "stumbling around" with the weapon.

Zopiclone was then similarly found in his system following his arrest. Traces of his semen were also detected during swabs taken from the complainant following the first incident.

Mr Roberts told jurors: "The crown say that, in August, he went round to the flat of an escort intending to have sex, whether she liked it or not and whether he was able to pay or not. The crown say that he saw her as an easy touch and that, a couple of months later, he went round to the same address with the intention of doing exactly the same thing.

"This time, in a strange turn of events, he ended up essentially drugging himself. Then, he broke into her house and armed himself with a knife - thankfully, the police intervened before he could use it."

Robert Wyn Jones, appearing for the prosecution yesterday, told the court that Knox has a total of four previous convictions for eight offences including burglary, but none for sexual offences. He was however subjected to a sexual risk order in 2016 due to "sexually exploitative behaviour towards adolescents and young females" and his "inappropriate sexual interests".

Simon Christie, defending, told the court: "It is of note that his antecedents are for different matters. His only sentence of imprisonment was in September 2016, when he received four months for a wholly different matter.

"He is now in a completely different position, facing, with little experience of the system, a substantial prison sentence. These are serious matters. He is educated. He has been a worker in bars and warehouses.

"He has the benefit of substantial family support. His parents are in court today, and others have supplied references speaking of the other side to the defendant - a respectable family man, a hard worker and a person who people can rely on.

"The defendant is in relatively poor health. He has depression, ulcers for which he has had surgery, Bell's palsy and kidney stones."

Knox was found guilty of three counts of rape and one of burglary by a jury. He was jailed for 12 years, of which he must serve at least two thirds before becoming eligible for release, and handed an additional two years on licence.

Sentencing, Judge Ian Harris said: "In my judgement, you never intended to pay her anything. You spiked her drink in the way she alleged and used violence on her to have intercourse with her.

"She was incapable of fighting you off. She was trying to push you away, but you ripped her shorts off and were determined to have sexual intercourse.

"Testimonials say what a great person you are and how honest, trustworthy and helpful in your community you are. From my observations, I do not find you to be honest, helpful or trustworthy." Knox was also handed an indefinite restraining order. He will be required to sign the sex offenders' register for life.

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We are welcoming the sentencing of a Wirral man to 10 years in prison for the rape of a woman in 2022. 
 
James Alldis, 50, of Wilton Road, Tranmere, will also serve a further five years on an extended licence and be placed on the Sex Offender Register for life. 

He was sentenced on Friday, 5 July at Liverpool Crown Court. The offence took place at a location in Wirral in 2022.
 
Speaking after the sentencing of Alldis, Detective Inspector Carla Cross from our specialist Unity team said: "Alldis is a dangerous and predatory sex offender who will now serve a lengthy sentence, as well as being closely monitored upon his release.
 
"His victim has shown immense strength, courage and patience to get to this point, and we will continue to support her as she looks to move forward. Hopefully this outcome aids the process of her recovery in some way.
 
"Alldis showed absolutely no remorse for his actions, which undoubtedly added to the harm caused to his victim.
 
"We understand how difficult it can be to come forward and report serious sexual offences, so I want to take this opportunity to encourage anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence or is concerned for the safety of someone they knows. Please be assured that we have a team of dedicated staff who will expertly and compassionately deal with your reports and we will do everything we can to bring offenders to justice.
 
“We take all such reports extremely seriously, and work with partner organisations, who are there to support victims every step of the way."

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We can confirm that a Wirral man has been sentenced to three years in prison for sexual offences at Liverpool Crown Court today, Friday 5 July.
 
Kyle Moore, 21, from Eastham, was found guilty in June of two counts of sexual activity with a child aged 13-15.
 
The offences took place in 2023.
 
As well as a three-year prison sentence, Moore was also handed a seven-year Restraining Order from contacting the victim.
 
Speaking following the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Rebecca Igglesden said: "Moore is a sex offender who preyed on his young and vulnerable victim and we welcome that today he has been dealt with by the courts.

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Today, Tuesday 2 July, a man from Prescot has been jailed for 20 years for committing child sex offences in the 1980s.

A jury found Kevin Perry, 56 years, of Cross Lane, guilty of 13 counts of indecent assault of a girl under 15 years and two counts of rape under the age of 16 years at Liverpool Crown Court last month.

Today Perry was sentenced to 20 years in prison, and he has been put on the Sexual Offenders Register for life. He was also issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life which prevents him from being in the company of children under 16 years of age, working with children under 18 years and from travelling to designated countries where children are deemed as being at risk of sexual harm.

Today’s conviction relates to historic offences against his young victim from the age of 12, which took place over a four-year period more than 30 years ago.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, gives an account of the significant impact the abuse has had on her.

She said: “This man destroyed the person I had the potential to become. Spending my childhood and early adulthood pretending that what he did to me was normal, was the only way I could cope with the trauma of being abused by him. I have spent my whole life being ashamed and embarrassed about keeping his dirty little secret, as I now know this is what it is, his secret, his wrongdoing, not mine.

“I developed an eating disorder and obsessive compulsive disorders of various kinds when I was 18. These enabled me to gain some control over my life, to this day this still has an impact on me. There are so many triggers that bring back memories, therefore living a normal life seems impossible.

“Last year my marriage broke down because my husband could not cope with the fact that I kept this a secret in our marriage for so long. He couldn’t find a way to help me cope with the feelings of panic and breakdowns I was experiencing daily, when I was having to remember and relive what I spent so long burying deep in my mind.

“My children and I have had to find a whole new way of making our family work without their dad.

“Whenever I visit the area, I am always tense and scared in case I see him. I often find myself panicking and asking what area we are in because of the memories certain places bring back to me.

“I had never spoken about this with anyone until the investigation began. I began taking time off work unable to cope with the feelings of anxiety reliving it all was having on me, I only felt safe at home.

“When I returned to work, I had to confide in my boss.  This is something which I battled with, having to tell someone my secret.

“One day they found me crying because I was struggling to work and pretending I was ok, when in fact I was falling apart. Before then I always loved my job and very rarely took time off, but now I doubt my ability to do my job. I am hoping justice will be done, I can get the help I need to recover and mend what he has broken."

Officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Sergeant Tim Rowlands said: “Throughout the whole process, the investigation and the trial, Perry denied all the allegations made against him. Thankfully the jury saw through his lies and found him guilty.

“The victim has shown immense courage and bravery to report the utterly depraved actions he committed and the impact on her is significant and long-lasting. I hope this sentence provides some comfort in knowing they did the right thing to report his heinous crime to us.”

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A pensioner tailed a woman as she walked in the street before sexually assaulting her.

Convicted sex offender Brian Halfhead, who has a record of perverted crimes spanning more than 40 years, brazenly assaulted the woman in daylight as she walked in Birkenhead.

Liverpool Crown Court heard today, Monday, that the victim was walking along New Chester Road in Birkenhead, close to Rock Retail Park, shortly after 3pm on May 31 this year when she noticed the 68-year-old behind her. Halfhead, of Cross Street, was said to have made her "feel uncomfortable and uneasy" and she stopped to let him pass her as a result.

Kevin Liston, prosecuting, described how the complainant then put her headphones on and was listening to music as she continued walking, but was then grabbed between her legs from behind. She turned around to find the defendant, who had his "jeans halfway down his legs", and shouted: "What the f***".

This was said to have "spooked" Halfhead, who ran away from the scene in the direction of the Queensway Tunnel. The woman called 999 and gave a description of her attacker, and he later arrested at the Fountain Project mental health support centre.

She was left "terrified" and "afraid to leave her own home" following the incident. The victim was even left waiting several days to visit the shop for supplies as she felt unable to do so without being accompanied by a friend.

Halfhead has a total of 17 previous convictions for 48 offences. These include indecent assault of and gross indecent with a child under 14 from 1977, indecent assault of a child under 16 in 1987 and sexual intercourse with a child under 16 in 1988.

Ken Heckle, defending, told the court: "It is alarming that he has revisited this, but there has been a long time of stability in his life. He accepts that this offence was sexually motivated.

"He has a lack of serious offending for the last 35 years. This is not somebody who is out of control."

Halfhead admitted sexual assault. He was jailed for 16 months and told to sign the sex offenders' register for 10 years.

Sentencing, Judge Robert Trevor Jones said: "This is not the first time you have come before the courts for sexual offences. There are historic court appearances, even though the last of those was now some 35 years ago.

"It is quite clear that there is an undercurrent of sexual behaviour as far as you are concerned. You are described as representing a high risk of sexual reoffending and a high risk of causing serious harm to children and females, and with that assessment I must agree."

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A paedophile's sick haul of abuse images was uncovered after he was caught speaking online with someone he thought was a child.

Kaylum Forrester, 34, was arrested after detectives from Regional Organised Crime Units in the North West and North East gathered evidence that showed he had interacted with someone online who he thought was a child and this communication was sexual in nature.

When he was arrested a number of electronic devices were seized and sent for analysis. During examination of the devices officers recovered more than 800 indecent images of children. Forrester, of Liverpool Road, Huyton, pleaded guilty to arranging/ facilitating the commission of a child sex offence, and making, possessing, and distributing indecent images of children.

He was jailed for six years, given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be on the Sex Offenders Register for life. Detective Inspector Jon Weir from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit said: "Although there is no evidence that he had met with a child while committing these offences, Forrester is undoubtedly a sexual predator who preyed on vulnerable children with no regard for the effects this would have on his victims and their families.

"I hope this conviction will act as a reminder that there are no borders when it comes to sexual abuse, it can happen anywhere and the impact is devastating. If you have experienced any form of sexual abuse, or know of a child being abused, please come forward and report this to police."

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A paedophile asked police officers "is this about the videos?" when they came knocking at his door.

Lewis Wilkinson used Snapchat, Telegram and Mega to collect and trade vile pictures and videos of children aged as young as four being sexually abused. He told detectives that he "just couldn't stop" after "going down a wormhole" online following his grandad's death.

Liverpool Crown Court heard this afternoon, Tuesday, that Merseyside Police received information that the 22-year-old's IP address had been used in order to download indecent images of children, while his Snapchat account was also utilised in order to access illicit files on January 15 last year. As a result, officers executed a search warrant at his home at around 9.30am on May 30 2023.

Wilkinson - of Stringhey Road in Wallasey, Wirral - answered the door and asked "if this was about videos". Stuart Mills, prosecuting, described how an iPhone and an iPad were then seized from the property.

A total of 15 category A indecent images, those showing the most serious forms of abuse, were subsequently discovered on the mobile phone. Wilkinson was also found to have collected 51 images in category B, 123 category C images, 54 prohibited computer generated images and two extreme pornographic images.

Mr Mills meanwhile said there was "evidence of distribution of indecent images of children" on the device. This concerned him sending five category A images, eight category B images and one category C image to other perverts.

Wilkinson, who has no previous convictions, was interviewed on November 30 the same year and told detectives he had been viewing such materials for around a year. He added that "it started following the loss of his grandfather" and "started out of curiosity but escalated and he just couldn't stop", having used the applications Telegram and Mega to download the sickening pictures and videos.

Anthony O'Donohoe, defending, told the court: "He is someone who, rather refreshingly, has been completely open about this matter. Here is a young man who fully cooperated with the police and has voluntarily started steps to rehabilitate himself.

"He became rather isolated. The death of his grandfather struck him very hard.

"It was easy for him to be in his own room, in his own world. He went down a wormhole and started getting a morbid interest in this type of material."

Mr O'Donohoe said his client "swapped with like minded people to receive other images" but had distributed a "relatively small number" of images, adding: "In addition, he has been diagnosed with autism and ADHD. His parents describe him as immature for his age, but as a likeable young man.

"He has started other hobbies - an interest in air shows and the like. He wants to do courses to assist himself in the job market."

Wilkinson admitted three counts of distributing indecent images of children, possession of indecent images, three charges of making indecent images, possession of prohibited images of children and possession of extreme pornographic images. He was handed a 16-month imprisonment suspended for 18 months.

Sentencing, Judge Robert Trevor-Jones said: "Of all of these offences, the most serious is that of distribution of category A images. I am quite satisfied that this activity can be confined to a relatively short period of time within 12 months.

"One of the positive elements of your case is that, after your arrest, you immediately were candid with the police. That is an attitude which has continued to this day.

"You, by your activity, were making your contribution to a horrendous, sordid global industry of the manipulation and exploitation of young children. They are inevitably damaged and traumatised.

"I see how this all began, a period of isolation in covid days following a sorely missed bereavement of your grandfather. You have started to engage with the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, and of course what has transpired is your diagnosis of ADHD and autism."

Wilkinson was also given 160 hours of unpaid work and a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 30 days. He was subjected to a seven-year sexual harm prevention order and told to sign the sex offenders' register.

Description

Jack Gilmartin, 23, of no fixed abode, was found guilty of rape; harassment; assault occasioning ABH; intentional strangulation; and possession of controlled drugs. The offences took place in the St Helens area in 2022.

Gilmartin was found guilty of the rape offence following a retrial this week, having pled guilty to the other offences last year. He remained in custody between the trials.

Gilmartin was also handed a 10-year restraining order against his victim.

Description

A nan now goes to bed every night with a pair of scissors under her pillow after she was raped at knifepoint by a man she met at a bus stop.

Alex Belay appeared to be a "nice lad", and the nan agreed to go back to his flat in the belief that she had missed the last bus home. But he instead snatched her phone from her as she spoke to her son, held a knife to her stomach and throat and subjected her to a horrific sexual assault.

She was left "genuinely believing" she was going to die during the attack. A remorseless Belay then "smirked" after finally bringing the ordeal to an end.

Liverpool Crown Court heard this week the victim had been visiting a friend before leaving to get the bus home at around midnight. She encountered the defendant at the bus stop but, believing they had missed the last service of the evening, they then began walking away together while chatting, the Liverpool Echo reports.

Olivia Beesley, prosecuting, described how Belay then invited the woman into his flat on Sefton Moss Villas in Litherland. She agreed as she "thought she would be safe and wasn't in danger because he was much younger than her".

But, having returned from the toilet, she "felt that something was wrong" and told him that she was going to leave. Belay, an asylum seeker who was born in Eritrea and came to the UK in 2020 after fleeing civil war in Sudan, responded by turning the lights out and pushing her.

When she answered an incoming call from her son, the 26-year-old took her phone from her and locked the front door. He then grabbed a knife and held it to her stomach and pointed it at her throat "every time she began to speak".

Ms Beesley said: "She thought she wasn't going to get out of there alive."

Belay then pushed the woman onto his bed, pulled her trousers down and raped her. When the assault finished, she asked "can I go?" before escaping and phoning a family member.

A trial previously heard that she was able to describe her attacker's clothing and flat "in great detail", while she was found to have left her cigarette lighter in his bathroom. Belay's DNA was also discovered in her underwear, but he denied having even met her.

In a statement which was read out to the court on her behalf during his sentencing on Thursday, she detailed how she had "tried to kill herself numerous times" since and added: "Before this happened, my life wasn't perfect but I was a jolly person. I was happy and always had a smile on my face.

"I felt like I had everything to live for. I would do anything for anyone. Since the day this happened to me, I have been so angry and depressed. I just feel numb.

"I feel so dirty and I have no self respect. I am so angry for being so stupid. I never thought for one second that my life would be ruined by this. This has consumed me.

"It's all I think about. The day this happened to me, my world ended. When I go to bed, I keep a pair of scissors under my pillow. I don't feel safe any more, not even in my own home.

"I didn't do anything wrong. I'm paying for what he did to me. I just don't understand how he could do this. I go over what happened to me every day.

"What has happened to me has scarred me for life. I sometimes think, why didn't he kill me? I just thank god for letting me live so I can see my kids again. I will never be the same again.

"I am scared of my own shadow all the time. I just can't carry on this way. I just want to forget everything and get on with life, but I just can't. It's always there, every minute of the day."

Stella Hayden, defending, told the court: "This is plainly a particularly grave example of an offence even this serious in nature. It is very difficult to realistically advance that this is not a case where there has been severe psychological harm.

"It seems to have been a chance encounter when at the bus stop late at night. It is his first conviction. He is still a relatively young man. I understand that, given his status, he is likely to be deported in any event."

Belay was found guilty of rape by a jury. He was jailed for 12 years, a term of which he must serve at least two thirds before becoming eligible for release.

Sentencing, Judge Katherine Pierpoint said: "She saw no danger in you. She described you as being what she thought was a nice lad.

"She was a chatty person and you invited her back to your flat. Once she got into the flat, she got the feeling that something wasn't right. She said she wanted to leave, but you wouldn't let her. You turned the light off and locked the door, and you took her phone off her.

"At the time, she was speaking to her son. It is clear from the evidence that he was left distraught, having heard something of his mother's panic and the phone then being turned off.

"She pleaded with you to let her go. You picked up a large knife and put it to her stomach and then, when she tried to speak, put it to her throat. You dragged her to the bedroom, taking the knife with you. You pulled her lower clothes off and forced her onto the floor, where you then raped her."

"She was petrified. She genuinely believed you were going to kill her. It was her account that, as you got off her having raped her, you smirked. She left that flat traumatised.

"The evidence against you in this case was, in my judgement, overwhelming. You denied that you had ever met her, ever had any contact with her or that she had ever been in your flat. You have shown no remorse and continue to deny that you ever even met her. Your attack on her has had a devastating effect.

"She is still suffering greatly. Her mental health has been seriously damaged. She has made numerous attempts to take her own life. She is left feeling angry with herself for trusting you.

"You have, in her words, wrecked her life. She feels that she will never get over what you did to her. I accept that your time growing up in a war torn country would have been extremely traumatic for you. I take into account your age and that you have no previous convictions."

Judge Pierpoint also said of the victim: "I want to say that she is a strong woman who should be commended for her bravery in standing up against you."

Belay began remonstrating in his native tongue with his interpreter in the dock before he was led down to the cells by dock officers, who told him "go, go on". He will be required to sign the sex offenders register for life.

Description

A vile predator took boys to McDonald's and Cheshire Oaks before subjecting them to sickening abuse.

Paedophile James Blundell embarked upon a depraved campaign of rape and sexual assaults against young boys, the Liverpool Echo reports. He groomed some of his victims with cash and sweets and took them in trips in his car before the horrendous assaults.

Liverpool Crown Court heard how he was said to have had a 'longstanding sexual interest in children', which a judge said had led to a catalogue of 'predatory sexual behaviour'. The 36-year-old has now been locked up for more than 14 years.

On Thursday (March 28), the court heard how Blundell befriended one of the children and paid him 10 in order to wash his car. The boy then carried out further chores at his home in return for 'pocket money'.

Michael Scholes, prosecuting, described how the defendant subsequently took him out in his car to buy sweets and on trips to McDonald's, Southport and Cheshire Oaks. He would often return the child home after giving him a 10 note.

But, around two months later, concerns were raised to his parents by a neighbour. This prompted his mother to ask him 'has James ever been silly with you?', at which he became 'immediately very distressed' and even 'so distressed that he was physically sick'.

He would go on to describe the vile sexual abuse he had been subjected to by Blundell - who had attempted to rape him, performed sex acts on him and performed a sex act in his presence, as well as sending him a picture of his penis. The boy recalled one incident where he was forced to perform a sex act on the pervert after he had pulled over following a drive along the East Lancs Road.

Afterwards, he warned his victim not to tell his mum as he 'would be in big trouble'. On another occasion, Blundell stopped in a car park during a trip to Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet.

Then, having bought him food from McDonald's, he attempted to touch the boy's private parts over his clothing. However, the complainant 'kept blocking him so that he could not touch it'.

It then emerged that Blundell had abused a second victim after these offences were reported to the police in November last year. This boy described how the defendant had taken him to McDonald's in Earlestown.

They then parked up at a nearby sports club, where the sex offender 'started to talk about sexual things and told him how he had had sexually transmitted diseases'. He showed the youngster pornography on his phone and asked to see his penis, although he refused.

Blundell told the boy that his own penis was 'proper small', then pulled it from his trousers and began waving it around while laughing before returning him home. He later sent the youngster a series of 'inappropriate' messages on Instagram, including pornographic images.

Following his arrest, three category C indecent images of children were found on Blundell's phone - which was recovered from underneath his pillow. An image of a person performing oral sex on a dog was also found on the device.

Blundell was previously handed a 12-month imprisonment suspended for two years by the same court in 2016 after pleading guilty to attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to engage in sexual activity in the presence of a child, distributing indecent images of children, possession of indecent indecent images of children and three counts of making indecent images of children. He was also handed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.

His defence counsel told the court: "He accepts that there is nothing at all I can say on his behalf to mitigate the truly horrific crimes that he has committed. He, through me, offers his most sincere apologies to the young children and their families, and everybody who has been affected by his terrible actions."

"He accepts how awful these crimes he has committed were and has shown that he is somebody who has an unhealthy interest in young children. He is also somebody who wants the help to ensure, when he is released from the sentence that awaits, that he can rehabilitate himself and ensure that he is no longer a danger to society."

Blundell admitted three counts of rape, two charges of attempted rape, three offences of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, three counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, engaging in sexual communications with a child, possession of indecent images of children, making indecent images of children, possession of an extreme pornographic image and two charges of breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

He was jailed for 14 years and five months. He was also handed an additional five years on licence.

Sentencing, Judge Anil Murray said: "It is clear that you have a long standing sexual interest in children. Lives are ruined by behaviour like this."

"Your motivation was clear. This was predatory sexual behaviour."

Blundell, of Wesley Avenue in Haydock, was also handed a restraining order lasting 15 years and an indefinite sexual harm prevention order. He must sign the sex offenders' register for life.

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A man from St Helens has been jailed for 13 and a half years for sexually assaulting a child and sharing images of the abuse online.

Andrew Haddock, 29, of North Road, who pleaded guilty to making and taking indecent images of a child and distributing those images to others online, was sentenced today, Thursday 28 March, at Liverpool Crown Court and told he must serve a minimum of nine years of his overall sentence.

He was also given a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order, made to sign the Sexual Offender Register for life and given an indefinite restraining order.

Following an investigation, Haddock was arrested in July 2023 after he boasted about his abuse online to an undercover police officer and shared images of the offences.

He was also found to be in possession of a quantity of prohibited images of children and extreme pornographic images.

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An "abusive and possessive" sexual predator is a "significant danger" to women everywhere, a court ruled.

Martin Marko, 35, subjected the terrified woman to three hours of horrific abuse after imprisoning her in his Seaforth Road flat in the early hours of August 15 last year. He threatened to kill her, forced her to strip, sexually assaulted her, brandished a kitchen knife in her face and beat her with a shoe. He also choked her, punched her, and threw a bowl full of urine at her.

The prolonged attack was caught on CCTV, in which the woman could be seen cowering and falling to her knees with her hands in a praying position. On two occasions she attempted to escape by climbing out of the first-storey window before returning to the locked flat, where Marko continued to abuse her.

Afterwards, he sent a slew of texts to the woman both apologising and threatening her as he tried to convince her to take back her report. He urged police officers to check the CCTV footage - in which his horrific crimes could clearly be seen.

He appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday, March 18, where he pleaded guilty to sexual assault, assault causing actual bodily harm, and making threats to kill.

Judge David Aubrey said: "Your victim was petrified and in fear to the extent she even contemplated escaping from your violence, from your threats, through a window of the flat, which I'm told was a first floor flat.

"In my judgement, you are an abusive and possessive person. You are demanding. You were treating your victim as a chattel, as an object. You were abusive to her. You degraded her.

"This case has been fully opened and if this sentence were ever to be reviewed elsewhere, then in my judgement it's absolutely essential that the footage is examined.

"You have a number of issues, but important in respect of these issues is how you treat women, and how you treated this particular victim. On this particular evening, over a protracted period of time, you were demeaning her, you were controlling her, you used violence. You had a knife in your hand on a number of occasions. You were brandishing that knife towards her face. You were threatening her with it. You were being abusive. You were gesturing towards her in a stabbing motion. On one occasion, you threatened to kill her.

"There she was in fear of you over a considerable period of time. She backed away. She was seen cowering in a corner. You threw a potty of urine over her. You hit her. You slapped her with a shoe. I have also had the opportunity of examining the injuries she received. And there came occasions when I have no doubt you were instructing her either to remove her top or her lower garments.

"In the aftermath you sent to her numerous texts, no less than 43, some of which were of a menacing nature, some of which may have been conciliatory. But your intention was to ensure that she didn't speak to the police. Fortunately, while you may be a coward, your victim is a courageous woman. She did make a statement to police. She didn't retract that statement, notwithstanding the pressure she was under from you.

"And then there was much victim blaming and much seeking to minimise that which you did. I return to that footage, which ironically came to this court because you had insisted on it being produced.

"The court accepts that you now show some remorse, but that remorse must be assessed against that which you said to the probation officer in seeking to blame your victim and minimise your culpability in what occurred under the influence of drink and/or drugs.

"There was much degradation. There was much humiliation. In my judgement, these offences occurred over a sustained period to time. There was violence. There were threats of violence. And your victim was particularly vulnerable.

"Your issues are deep rooted. Almost within your DNA is the domination and controlling of women. And so it's notwithstanding you're not highly convicted, and notwithstanding you have never come before the court for offences as serious as this. Everything I have seen from that footage, this court does find that you represent a significant risk of harm to the public, and in particular women."

He sentenced Marko, of Seaforth Road, Seaforth, to a 12-year extended sentence, ordering him to serve nine years in custody and an extended three years on licence. He also made a restraining order banning him from contacting the woman.