Latest Offenders Merseyside

Description

A woman in her eighties was sexually assaulted by a perverted burglar who broke into her home. The bedbound victim, woke to find Anthony Shakleton 'standing over her' with a hoodie over his head before he carried out the 'dark and deviant' act, a court heard.

Shakleton, 33, had broken into her home in Birkenhead, Wirral as she slept in the early hours of May 31 this year, Liverpool Crown Court was told.

The terrified woman asked who he was and told her to get out. Robert Dudley, prosecuting, said Shackleton shouted back at her that she was a "nosey b***h" and a "c***" before sexually assaulting her.

When Shackleton realised the victim wore an incontinence pad he called her "a baby", the Liverpool Echo reports. He also placed, what was described as being like a golf ball, in her mouth and a flannel over her face.

Mr Dudley told the court Shackleton also slapped her in the face leaving a "red mark".Shackleton stole the victim's purse and a sentimental bracelet, which was given to her by her son who died in tragic circumstances.

The 33-year-old was linked to the horrific crimes after DNA evidence was found on a disposable vape left at the property and on the woman's purse which was stolen.

The woman also provided a victim impact statement and it said how she "does not want to see anyone" and was "scared to sleep". She added how she still sees images of Shackleton.

Her daughter also provided a victim impact statement and described how her mum's life has been "shattered" following the incident. She said how her mum was rushed to hospital following the incident and doctors feared she would not survive the night due to being so frail.

She added how her mum was hospitalised on various occasions since the incident but thanks to her "tenacity" and "mental strength" has come through.

Mr Dudley read the statement on her behalf and in it, she addressed Shackleton directly. "You deserve to go to prison for a long time as you are clearly a danger," she said.

The court heard how Shackleton had four previous convictions in his adult life, including burglary and conspiracy to commit blackmail. Chris Stables, defending, told the court the mitigating circumstances put forward was "in no way an attempt to justify what happened" and there was "scant mitigation to be found".

He added: "No amount of punishment will be enough but the court is here to take an objective view of the offences."

Mr Stables told the court he had a troubled childhood and suffered with substance and drug abuse. He said the "need to fund the addiction lead to the crimes" and was under the influence of drink and drugs at the time of the incident.

He said Shackleton had previous employment and did "possess employability skills". Mr Stables said: "He feels disgusted and embarrassed and regrets it bitterly."

Shackleton, of Queens Drive, Prenton, previously denied sexually assaulting his victim, but later pleaded guilty to both burglary and sexual assault on a female.

Judge Robert Trevor-Jones addressed Shackleton and said how the offence of burglary was "despicable enough", however, the second offence of sexual assault was a "dark and deviant impulse which is difficult to believe".

Description

A paedophile collapsed in the dock moments before he was due to learn his fate from a judge after plotting "fun meets" with girls at an Aldi supermarket.

Shaun Moynihan engaged in lewd discussions with what he believed were 13-year-old children in online chatrooms. But, unbeknown to him, he was actually speaking to undercover police officers.

Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday, Friday, that the dad began communicating with a PC posing as a 13-year-old girl on RandoChat on November 3 last year under the name "Anonymous Man 51" and using a photograph of himself as his profile picture. Fiona McNeill, prosecuting, described how he gave his first name and said he was "looking for fun meets".

Moynihan, of Clifford Road in Birkdale, "asked if she had big boobs" and stated he "wouldn't meet her until she was 16 or 18", but then "backtracked and said he would meet up as long as she looked older". The chat then continued on November 8, with the now 52-year-old suggesting that they meet on the coming Saturday.

The messages then became "extremely graphic and highly sexualised", with the defendant asking if she was a "naughty girl" and questioning her on her sexual preferences. Moynihan asked to meet up for sex, stating that he would drive to her location and they could then "go wherever she liked"

He proposed going to a hotel afterwards and said he would buy her underwear. The pervert asked whether she was in school at the time and instructed her to go to the toilet to record a voice note for him.

Moynihan then started a second chat with another decoy, who was also supposedly aged 13, on the same platform that day. But he was again talking to a police officer.

He stated that he was "Shaun from Southport" and again said he was "looking for fun meets". Moynihan suggested meeting at an Aldi store at 6.30pm the same day and asked whether she was "into naughty stuff".

The messaging continued on November 10, with him by now going by the username "Sean, Man, 51". He was reminded of her purported age, but said they could still "kiss and play with each other".

Moynihan detailed sex acts he wanted to perform on her and again suggested meeting at Aldi that night before "taking it from there". He asked her to turn up "without wearing any underwear" and said he would be there "at 6.30pm in his silver car".

Officers subsequently searched Facebook for users called Shaun in the Southport area and identified him from his profile picture. Moynihan was arrested at his workplace on January 16 this year and, after being cautioned, replied: "I have engaged in online chats but never knew they were children."

Under interview, he accepted that he had been chatting to children but "denied any intention of meeting a child" - instead saying that it was "fantasy only". He has no previous convictions.

Moynihan had previously been due to be sentenced on Friday last week, but the case had to be adjourned after he seemingly suffered a panic attack. After entering the dock, he was heard to say that he was "claustrophobic" and began hyperventilating.

The defendant initially appeared to have been calmed down by a security guard, but his state worsened once more when the judge entered the courtroom. The dock officer remarked that she believed he had stopped breathing and Moynihan appeared to fall unconscious, with his head having fallen back as he sat apparently unresponsive.

An ambulance was called, and he was subsequently taken to hospital. His sentencing was adjourned for seven days as a result.

Jeremy Rawson, defending, told the court today: "References speak highly of him. He has kept the support of his family since his arrest.

"He has always worked, either in the care system or in shop work. At the time of the offence, he was working as a salesman in mobility products.

"He is the sole wager supporting the family. His wife is sitting in the public gallery and is supportive of him."

Moynihan admitted two counts of attempting sexual communications with a child, two charges of arranging a child sex offence and attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity. He put his head in his hands and cried as he was jailed for two years and 11 months and told to sign the sex offenders' register for 10 years.

Sentencing, Judge Robert Trevor-Jones said: "You were making persistent efforts to try to meet up. You are someone of fully good character before this offence took place.

"Clearly, you are remorseful. One hopes, given the indication I have seen in this courtroom, that you are able to bear what you have done.

"It seems you were a long time user of chatrooms. Clearly, this is something that led on to what you did.

"You are 52 and the girls, so-called, were 13 years of age. There is no getting away from that fact."

Description

A sex offender who believes he was wrongly convicted a decade ago failed to tell police where he was staying, a court heard. Following his conviction in 2013, David Nash is required to tell the authorities where he is living but failed to do so.

The 28-year-old admitted failing to comply with notification requirements of the Sex Offenders' Register. Today a judge jailed him for eight months.

Prosecutor Dafydd Roberts told Caernarfon Crown Court that Nash had been convicted of sex offences back in 2013. He was released from prison on August 1 this year.

He was told to go to an office of the probation service and was given an address in Denbighshire where he should live. But he failed to do so and had no fixed address.

He then failed to tell police of his whereabouts every seven days - as required by the terms of his sentence - until police found and arrested him on August 18. Mr Roberts said Nash accepted he was in breach of the notification requirements.

But Mr Roberts said: "He said he was wrongfully convicted in 2013 and he wished to know how to appeal against the imposition of the notification requirements." Mr Roberts said it was Nash's "eighth breach" of those terms.

Sarah Yates, defending, said her client believes he was released from prison into an environment surrounded by drugs which was "detrimental" to his welfare and rehabilitation. It was true he hadn't gone to the accommodation as directed but was living with family and friends.

He should have known about the notification terms but is vulnerable. He has ADHD, cerebral palsy and poor coping skills. At 16 he had been diagnosed with a reading age of a nine-year-old.

The judge His Honour Timothy Petts told David Adam Barry Nash, now of Pool Hey, Stockbridge Village, Merseyside, that he had been convicted of a very serious sexual offence in 2013. He added: "Whatever you feel about the conviction, unless and until that conviction is successfully appealed, you are going to be subjected to the notification requirements.

"And if you don't comply with them you are going to get into further trouble." He said he would be going through a "revolving door".

He said it was the eighth breach and the punishments are steadily increasing.

Description

A high school teacher has been unmasked as a Snapchat paedophile "addicted" to indecent images of children.

Antony Phillips collected thousands of photographs of child abuse over the span of several years, even paying to download these vile materials. The 32-year-old, who also worked as a football coach, meanwhile made worrying searches for "changing room boys" online.

Liverpool Crown Court heard last week that he was linked via his IP address to the upload of a category B indecent image to Snapchat. Ben Berkson, prosecuting, described how police attended his home in December last year in order to arrest him, seizing two laptops and a mobile phone.

Both of the computers were subsequently found to contain indecent images of children. This included a stash of 784 pictures in category A, those showing the most serious forms of abuse.

A further 1,052 images in category B and 3,801 in category C were also discovered, as were 79 computer generated prohibited images. The "majority" of the more than 5,000 images were said to have shown "teenage boys of school age".

"Concerning search terms which indicated a predilection for young teenage boys" were found in Phillips' internet history, including one for "changing room boys". A teacher at Calday Grange Grammar School in West Kirby, Wirral, for more than seven years until January this year, he had been amassing his "large collection" since at least 2018 - including paying for images on websites and chat rooms.

The defendant, of Bridgenorth Road in Pensby, was also a football coach who took his team on residential trips. Phillips, who has no previous convictions, made "full and frank admissions" under interview, confessing to detectives that he was "addicted to accessing this material".

But he "denied having a sexual interest in the boys he taught and coached" as he was "able to draw a veil when it came to his professional career". The pervert did however "accept sexual arousal from accessing and viewing images of children".

Jim Smith, defending, told the court that his client "would always remain sorry for his actions and accepts he betrayed the faith and trust bestowed upon him by the school and students in not upholding the high moral standards and values of his position as a teacher". He was also said to have sought treatment from a psychotherapist and "made positive changes in his life".

Phillips admitted distributing indecent images, possession of indecent images, three counts of making indecent images and possession of prohibited images of children. He was handed a nine-month imprisonment suspended for two years by Judge Garrett Byrne, as well as being told to complete 60 hours of unpaid work, a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 15 days and the Horizon sex offender treatment programme.

Calday Grange head teacher Stephen Gray said in a statement to the ECHO: "I can confirm that Mr Phillips was an employee at the school between September 2015 and January 2023. Once we became aware of Mr Phillips' arrest, the school acted decisively and took all appropriate measures working alongside the police and the local authority designated officer.

"We were advised at every stage by our school solicitor and alongside the criminal process, the school also implemented its disciplinary policy and referred the matter to the Teaching Regulation Agency and Disclosure and Barring Service. The safeguarding of our students is of paramount importance to our school."

Phillips was also told to sign the sex offenders' register. Forfeiture of the seized devices was ordered.

Description

A sick couple who hatched a chilling paedophile plot on Facebook met for the first time in the dock after being convicted of a disturbing string of offences.

Sara Oliveria filmed herself performing sex acts as a young child watched in a series of Facebook and WhatsApp messages before sending them to 'depraved' David Lee, despite the pair never having met in person. Lee was 'misusing' messaging app Kik by uploading twisted videos of children being sexually abused, Liverpool Crown Court heard on Friday.

The 37-year-old was eventually foiled when officers tracked down his IP address to his home on James Road in Woolton on February 1 last year. A series of vile chats between the former support worker and Oliveria were then discovered when several electronic devices were seized from him, Liverpool Echo reports.

Lee "stated his desire to have sexual contact" with his co-defendant "in full view" of a child and said he wanted the youngster to "touch his penis" in messages to Oliveria. Many of the details of their conversations are too graphic to publish, but Oliveria, of Gray Street in Bootle, responded to his perverted proposals by saying: "Yes, I love this idea."

The 37-year-old restaurant cleaner then filmed 24 videos and two photos which she sent to Lee. His mobile phone had a stash of two category A indecent images of children - the most serious form of abuse. Also stored on the device were two category B pictures, one being a still from said movie, and one category C image.

Under interview with police, Oliveria told officers that she had met Lee on Facebook and the pair had subsequently chatted on the social media network and WhatsApp. She also said that they had "never actually met in person".

At points during the hearing, Oliveria could be seen holding her head in her hands and weeping and described herself as being "vulnerable" when she struck up a relationship with Lee due to the breakdown of a previous relationship. She stated that speaking with Lee "made her feel good" and she "did not want to lose contact with him", so "played along with the fantasy".

Neither defendant has any previous convictions. Peter Wilson, appearing on behalf of Lee, said: "His offending behaviour really stems from his formative years. His uncle began to engage in assaults and homophobic abuse towards Mr Lee. He describes his uncle's behaviour as having left him feeling anxious and frightened.

"That has caused serious mental health issues. When he was young, he saw his mother suffer from an emotional breakdown. That caused him to use alcohol and drugs to self-medicate and escape his feelings. He didn't have the resilience to tackle his problems.

"However, all of that cannot excuse what has been said and done by Mr Lee. It goes some way to perhaps explain his behaviour. He is working hard to address these issues. He is absolutely terrified of what the court may impose today. He is motivated to address these issues and build a better life for himself. He is doing everything he can."

Peter White, defending Oliveria, meanwhile told the court: "She has come prepared for all eventualities. It wouldn't appear she was the driving force behind this offending. It is accepted that she engaged voluntarily. She is at a loss to explain why she has chosen to engage in this behaviour.

"She felt lonely and isolated. She concedes that that is no excuse. Her chief motivation is, whatever happens today, to try and put this behind her. She assures me she won't darken the doors of the court again.

"This is a lady who has had no involvement with the police until her arrest on these matters. She had a difficult upbringing in her native Lisbon - she tells me she was abandoned by her parents and there were periods of homelessness as a child."

Oliveria admitted two counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and was jailed for 16 months and told to sign the sex offenders' register for 10 years. Lee pleaded guilty to encouraging an offender, possession of indecent images and three counts of making indecent images. He was imprisoned for two years, as well as being handed a sexual harm prevention order and a notification requirement - both of which will run for the next decade.

Sentencing, Judge Denis Watson KC said to him: "What is clear from many, many of the messages is that the sexual thrill and satisfaction you got was from the fact that this was happening in front of a child. Initially she was reluctant, but whatever reluctance she had initially was largely forgotten."

Description

A paedophile was caught red-handed by a dog on a 'routine' police visit to his home.

Andrew Contento, a serial sex ofender, thought he had been able to hide his phone from officers when they visited his house after he had previously been handed a sexual prevetion order. But Contento was rumbled once again following the introduction of a police dog specifically trained to find hidden devices.

Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday afternoon, Wednesday, that the 54-year-old is subject to a lifelong sexual harm prevention order as a result of his previous convictions. Derek Jones, prosecuting, described how the terms of this SHPO require Contento to hand over any electronic devices he owns upon request by police officers, the Echo reports.

Merseyside Police made a routine visit to his home on Rock Lane East in Rock Ferry, Wirral, on the morning of July 24 this year as part of the order. He let the PCs into the address and handed over three such items.

Contento claimed he had no other devices to disclose, and was then told that a "specialist digital media search dog" would be brought into the property to ensure that he was complying with his SHPO. The pervert maintained his denials, but PD Monty entered and swiftly sniffed out a further mobile phone inside a rucksack situated beside his feet.

At this, he replied: "You're going to lock me up. I know what's on it."

Contento interrupted Mr Jones at this stage in proceedings by saying: "Liar. That's a lie."

The prosecutor continued addressing the court however, saying that the defendant confessed under interview that he had been collecting indecent images "for his sexual gratification". Contento then made a further outburst, saying: "No, I didn't."

When the extra phone was analysed, it was found to contain 24 indecent videos graded in category A - those showing the most serious forms of abuse. These included a 31-minute "compilation" showing a girl aged as young as 12 being raped and a five minute and 35 second clip of a four-year-old being forced to perform a sex act on a man.

The device also contained 15 category B indecent images, including 13 videos, and 34 category C pictures - five of which were movies. A further 29 "cartoon or CGI images" were discovered on the hard drive.

Contento was first handed a sexual offences prevention order in 2009, when he received a community order for making indecent images. This was amended to a SHPO in 2015 when he was again found with a vile stash of child abuse material.

John Weate, defending, told the court that his client "disputed a number of comments attributed to him" but added: "He accepts through me that it is inevitable that an immediate custodial sentence is going to be passed in his case. He does not come forward with any limp excuses for his behaviour.

"He is a man who, at this point in time, is behaving himself in custody. He understands there is a requirement for him to tackle the obvious problems he has.

"If he doesn't want to be back and to into custody, he has got to ensure that nothing like this happens again. I ask your honour to pass a sentence that does not crush the resolve he appears to have to challenge the issues he has in life, so that at some stage he can come out of custody and learn his lesson."

Contento admitted three counts of making indecent images, possession of prohibited images of children and breaching a sexual harm prevention order. Appearing via video link to HMP Altcourse, he was jailed for 20 months.

Sentencing, Judge Anil Murray said: "Clearly, your past amounts to an aggravating feature in this case. Unfortunately for you, police dog Monty is a specialist in finding electronic devices and did just that.

"You know this has to be an immediate custodial sentence. I am told you hope to have access to therapy and intend to try and change upon your release.

"I hope you do. Otherwise, you are going to serve more and more sentences of imprisonment."

Contento replied: "I understand. Thank you your honour."

Description

A Sefton man has been jailed to four years for child sex offences.

Callum Fairclough, 26 years, of Quigley Avenue in Netherton was sentenced to four years in prison at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday, Monday 21 August. He was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent photographs of children, possession of indecent photographs of children, two counts of taking an indecent photograph of a child, attempted blackmail, attempted sexual communication with a child, and attempting to cause/incite a child to watch a sexual act.

Following a long investigation, detectives charged Fairclough with a string of child sex offences which took place in June 2021.

Detective Inspector Victoria Tinsley said: “Following a long investigation Fairclough was charged with a string of offences which demonstrated him as a sexual predator, and now he is behind bars and can no longer cause harm to children.

“Merseyside Police is completely committed to stopping the possession and distribution of indecent images and, ultimately protecting children from sexual abuse and those who seek to do them harm.

“We hope that he will now reflect on the consequences of his utterly depraved actions while serving his jail time.”

Merseyside Police works with other UK forces, agencies and the Child Exploitation Online Protection centre as well as law enforcement agencies across the world who share our determination to protect children from dangerous offenders online. 
 
Det Insp Tinsley, added: “We have specialist officers within our Online Child Abuse Investigations team who are dedicated to investigating these crimes, bringing those responsible before the courts and ultimately protecting young people from unimaginable suffering. 

“Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to stress that if you have experienced any form of sexual abuse, or know of a child being abused, please come forward and report this to police. 

“We take all such reports extremely seriously and if you can find the courage to come forward and speak to us we have specially trained officers who will treat you with sensitivity and compassion.”

Description

A paedophile magician who had animals including monkeys, meerkats and a pig in his 'Neverland Ranch-style' home was working in a school when he was arrested in Thailand for child sex offences.

Paul McKee used the stage name "Professor Paulos" while working as a children's entertainer - having performed for television celebrities and at private parties for legendary Liverpool FC footballers.

However, vile McKee was secretly a child sex offender, subjecting his victims to a catalogue of harrowing abuse over the course of nearly 25 years.

McKee, 57, could now spend the rest of his life in prison after being locked up for 30 years at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday, reports the Liverpool Echo.

McKee, of no fixed address but formerly of Wallasey Village, Wirral - had to be extradited back to the UK from Thailand by authorities.

A trial previously heard he targeted some children who were just toddlers, and began his vile abuse in the mid-1980s until the late noughties. Several of the assaults had been filmed with a camcorder.

Prosecutors told the court McKee was a "serial abuser of children", with some of the details of his attacks being too graphic to publish.

His disgusting behaviour was finally reported to police in 2017. In their "harrowing, dark and disturbing" accounts, the complainants described how, when they were as young as two, McKee "treated them like sex slaves".

The defendant, a Mormon from a religious family, was living in Thailand and had to be returned to this country in order to face a jury. When his brother messaged him on social media after learning of the allegations, the pervert replied saying he was "sorry for what he had done and was asking for God's forgiveness".

The court was told he was "a predatory paedophile capable of extreme acts of violence against very young children" and had subjected the victims to a "prolonged, vicious campaign of abuse". He had committed acts of "brutal and profound degradation" which were "designed to emasculate and humiliate".

McKee's career in the entertainment industry, which saw him work as a DJ as well as a magician, included shows at the Floral Pavilion Theatre in New Brighton, Greenacres Animal Park in Deeside, Wales and Robin Hood Caravan Park in Rhyl.

He is reported to have given personal performances to at least two former Liverpool FC stars, who each made hundreds of appearances for the Reds. A news report from 1998 also said he performed ahead of that year's Christmas lights switch on by Michael Le Vell and Sally Dynevor - who played Kevin and Sally Webster in Coronation Street.

McKee was known to allow young children to "come and go" to his house as they pleased and permitted them to drink and smoke on his premises from an early age. He reportedly kept a pig in his back garden and had monkeys, meerkats and sugar gliders as pets at his property which appeared similar to 'Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch'

Judge David Swinnerton told McKee in his sentencing remarks on Monday: "You created an environment in the house where children wanted to come. You had animals - a pig, monkeys.

"(Children) were allowed to come and go. In their teens, they were allowed to drink and smoke."

McKee spent a decade living in Thailand - where he worked as a teacher in a primary school and has a wife and young daughter.

Judge Swinnerton said: "It is notable though that you chose to work in a sphere that would put you in contact with children. You also spent some time in a school after your move to Thailand, although you were very evasive about that in evidence."

A first offender, McKee's defense counsel said: "The mitigation in this case is of course limited, because my lay client exercised his right to have a trial. He will spend a large proportion of the remainder of his life in custody. Of course, he has not been in custody before."

McKee was convicted of 13 child sexual offences, including rape and sexual assault after a trial. He was cleared of two further counts. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool, he was jailed for 30 years - a term of which he must serve at least two thirds before becoming eligible for release - and handed an additional four-year licence period.

Sentencing, Judge Swinnerton said: "You were highly emotionally manipulative, controlling and physically violent. You systematically and repeatedly subjected them all to an appalling catalogue of sexual abuse and rape.

"Throughout the trial, the pain and psychological damage that you have caused to those seven women was raw and obvious. I once again pay tribute to them for their strength in coming forward and their determination and courage in giving evidence.

"You, on the other hand, have shown not one sign of remorse. You do not seem to experience shame, guilt, remorse or empathy - you acted on your own sexual desires with no care for the traumatic impact on the children you abused."

One woman left the courtroom in floods of tears saying "I'm going to pay someone to kill him, I want the f***ing b****** dead" as the judge passed sentence.

Detective Constable Graeme Beacall said following his sentencing: "The offences McKee committed were truly horrific and spanned a number of years and victims. Our investigation commenced in 2017 when his victims first came forward.

"When the charges against him were authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service, the extradition process was initiated. McKee was located and arrested by Royal Thai Police in September 2022 and spent a period on remand in Bangkok before being returned to the UK.

"He then chose to prolong his victims' agony by pleading not guilty and forcing them to suffer the ordeal of a trial. Thankfully today, due to the courage of the victims, justice has been served and he will now serve a considerable period of time behind bars.

"I hope that McKee’s conviction and sentence will provide a sense of closure for his victims and finally allow them to move on with their lives. This case has proven that time and distance is no barrier to justice, and that we will do everything within our powers to find the people responsible for committing crimes such as this and bringing them to justice - even when they attempt to flee to other countries."

Description

A perverted chef who sexually assaulted a semi-conscious student on Concert Square has been jailed again after groping a girl on a train.

James Owen, who has a shocking record for sex offences, drunkenly attacked the teenager as she travelled on the service with a friend.

Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday afternoon, Wednesday, that the 17-year-old victim was on a train in the Wirral area in June 2021 when the stranger began talking to her. David Polglase, prosecuting, described how the 27-year-old then sexually assaulted her as she got up to leave at her stop.

Owen, of Buckingham Road in Wallasey, was arrested the same evening. He has a total of 37 previous convictions for 58 offences including for "fare dodging" on railways, harassment and violent crimes.

The pervert was convicted of indecent exposure in 2015, receiving a suspended prison sentence. Owen was then locked up for 12 months for sexual assault in 2018.

The ECHO previously reported how he preyed on a drunk and defenceless student who had been separated from her friends after a night out in Liverpool city centre in May of the same year. The young woman was unable to stand when he approached and tried to talk to her, ruffled her hair then walked off towards Concert Square.

But Owen, then of Sussex Road in Southport, returned and was shown on CCTV footage standing "uncomfortably close" to the complainant before "tampering" with her handbag and spilling its contents. She held onto a window to try and stay upright before he kissed her, despite the fact that her eyes were closed.

The sex offender went on to rifle through her bag, stealing cigarettes and a lighter. Owen - who was then homeless but working as a chef -subsequently put his hand on her leg and moved it up her thigh, before he was joined by a second man who pinched her mobile phone.

An unknown woman also stole an item from the victim's handbag before passersby intervened. The defendant subsequently received a 17-week imprisonment suspended for two years in April 2021 for failing to comply with notification requirements and battery.

Paul Wood, defending, told the court that his client had "expressed remorse and been abstinent from alcohol". He added: "Very importantly, he has showed insight into what he has done.

"He does want to change his way. He has lived somewhat of a chaotic life."

Owen admitted sexual assault shortly before he was due to stand trial, as well as a further charge of failing to comply with notification requirements after neglecting to inform the police of a change of address. He was jailed for two years and told to sign the sex offenders' register for a further 10 years, as well as being handed an indefinite restraining order.

Sentencing, Judge David Hale said: "You didn't know her from Adam, but you struck up a conversation. When she gets up to leave, you stuck your hand out and groped her in the crotch without any thought for the consequences.

"She has been extremely badly affected by it. You have troubling previous convictions, some of them trivial and some of them not - including a previous sexual assault.

"This took place on a train when people were about. Despite that, you felt able to do this."

Description

Christopher Wade, 54, of no fixed abode, was found guilty following a trial at Liverpool Crown Court which concluded in February before his sentencing today, Tuesday 14 March. He was also issued with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and Sex Offender notification for life.
 
At around 10.30pm on Friday 12 August 2022, Wade approached the teenage victim in Southport town centre. He bought alcohol and supplied her with drugs, and while she was incapacitated, Wade raped and sexually assaulted her in a nearby park. The victim was left on a bench and managed to alert a taxi driver to what had happened, at which time police were called.
 
Following an extensive investigation including forensic, CCTV and witness enquiries, Wade was last month found guilty of rape; assault by penetration; and sexual assault.
 
Speaking after the sentencing of Wade, Detective Constable Jennifer Guest said: "Today's sentence hopefully gives the victim some comfort as she continues to recover from this traumatic and deeply damaging ordeal, and we will continue to support her going forward. We recognise the profound impact such serious crime has on victims, and hopefully she will in time gain strength and a brighter future.
 
"Wade preyed on and exploited this vulnerable young girl, using drugs and alcohol to lure her away from a public place, and then added to her suffering through the ordeal of an investigation and trial.
 
"He showed callous disregard for his victim and is clearly a significant danger to the public. Wade will now be serving a sentence which reflects the gravity of his crimes, and one which will protect the public. We'd also like to thank the taxi driver who showed compassion in looking after the victim and calling police on the night. His swift actions helped our investigation immensely.
 
“We are committed to protecting victims of sexual offences, and ensure that anyone who reports an incident to us will be safeguarded and supported throughout the investigation.
 
“Anyone that has been a victim of a sexual offence or is concerned for the safety of someone they know should come forward and speak to us. This isn’t always an easy decision, but be assured that we have a team of dedicated staff who will expertly and compassionately deal with your reports and do everything we can to bring offenders to justice.

Description

Thomas Beddow also sexually assaulted one young girl after subjecting her to a string of vile comments

A registered sex offender invited a group of schoolchildren to his house under the ruse to buy vapes, but instead answered the door naked and exposed himself to them.

Thomas Beddow performed a series of sex acts on his doorstep and also sexually assaulted one young girl after subjecting her to a string of vile comments.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that the 12-year-old girl, and a group of boys, would attend the 66-year-old's home in Rainford, in order to purchase vapes from him, the ECHO reports.

John Wyn Williams, prosecuting, described how Beddow used the restricted products as a 'way of grooming the children' as they visited on a number of occasions.

The first time the girl went to his house, he answered the door naked and offered her £10 to perform a sex act on him. She was left feeling 'embarrassed and disgusted' following the incident.

During a second visit, the complainant waited around the corner while the boys knocked on the door. Beddow again appeared naked and asked where the girl was before approaching her and saying "hello sweetheart, hello beautiful, hello sexy".

The pervert made a further sexual comment - deemed too graphic to repeat, and then performed a sex act in his doorway in front of the children. On a third occasion, the girl was walking past his home when he shouted "your t**s look great in that top" at her before groping her breasts.

After his arrest, Beddow claimed under interview that "he was being hounded by the children for vapes". A statement read out to the court on behalf of the girl's dad described how she often "breaks down and cries", adding: "He has ruined other children's lives. He should never be allowed to do this again.

"When she cries, she asks me why any grown man would do things like this. I feel it it will be a long process in getting her to where she was before this happened."

Beddow was previously jailed for 27 months in 1996 after inciting a nine-year-old girl to perform a sex act on him, then was was locked up again for 40 months in 2011 for abusing a 12-year-old girl. He also has a "string of convictions" for breaching his sexual harm prevention order.

Joanne Maxwell, defending, told the court: "He uses vapes and would be asked by the youths to obtain vapes on their behalf. I think there is an element of impulsivity to his behaviour - he knows he should have dealt with it very different, but he didn't."

Beddow admitted sexual assault and two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. Appearing via video link to HMP Altcourse, he was imprisoned for five years and four months and handed an additional three years on licence.

Sentencing, Recorder Imran Shafi KC described his "persistent and pervasive interest in young girls" and added: "You were engaging with a group of 12-year-olds at your age of 66, and it is clear that you were doing it by way of grooming in order to achieve your aims.

"She went to that address multiple times with the males, and each time it was obvious that you had taken a liking to her despite her tender years.

"In reality, there is very little mitigation available to you. It is clear to me that you have groomed this group of youngsters to achieve your aims.

"It was suggested that your actions were impulsive - I have no hesitation in concluding this is not the case. Your actions were designed, planned and carried out to achieve your sexual gratification.

"It is plain you have shown no remorse or empathy or insight into your behaviour. You have not stopped for a moment to consider the effects, probably lifelong, your behaviour will have on the victim and the other children too."

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A 51-year-old man from Wirral has been jailed for sex offences after indecent images and messages he sent to a teenage girl were found on his phone.

Karl Waterhouse of Audlem Avenue, Oxton was sentenced to 18 months at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday 22 February) after pleading guilty to causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, sexual communication with a child and possessing a number of Category C indecent photographs of a child.

In December 2021 indecent photos of a teenage girl and messages of a sexual nature were found on Waterhouse’s phone dating back to December 2019.

Waterhouse was also issued a restraining order for five years and a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.

Detective Inspector Philip Ryan said: “For years Waterhouse groomed his victim by sending her messages and storing disturbing images on his personal phone. 

“His deplorable behaviour caused great psychological harm to his victim and we welcome the sentences given out by the court.

“I hope this result gives his victim some sort of closure and allows them to move on with their lives knowing he cannot harm them or anyone else.

“Merseyside Police is completely committed to protecting children from sexual abuse and those who seek to do them harm.  I would like to take this opportunity to reassure anyone who has suffered a sexual offence that if you can find the courage to come forward please speak to us as soon as you can. Our specially trained officers will treat you with sensitivity and compassion.”

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This is the face of an historic paedophile who was jailed for assaulting a boy under the age of 14.

Iain Lloyd, 33, of William Burton Place in New Ferry, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, February 10 after pleading not guilty for historic sexual offences with a child. Lloyd was convicted in December following a trial, and has been sentenced to four years in jail after being found guilty for indecent assault on a boy under the age of 14 years.

He will also be on the sex offender register for life. Detectives from Merseyside’s Unity Team who specialise in Rape and Serious Sexual Assault Offences, charged Lloyd for two counts of indecent assault with a minor which took place more than 20 years ago.

The officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Constable Claire McDonald said: "This sentence follows a lengthy investigation to bring Lloyd before the courts so that he pays for his crime. Thanks to the determination and bravery of his victim, Lloyd will now spend a considerable amount of time behind bars for his actions.

"Despite the evidence against him, Lloyd chose to plead not guilty and put his victim through the ordeal of a trial. I would like to praise the courage and dignity shown by his victim throughout the investigation.

“Merseyside Police is completely committed to protecting children from sexual abuse and those who seek to do them harm. We hope that he will now reflect on the consequences of his utterly depraved actions while serving his jail time.”

DC McDonald added: “I would like to take this opportunity to stress that if you have experienced any form of sexual abuse, or know of a child being abused, please come forward and report this to police. We take all such reports extremely seriously and if you can find the courage to come forward and speak to us we have specially trained officers who will treat you with sensitivity and compassion.”

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Guilty of raping a 14-year-old who he stalked and assaulted as she waited for a lift home.

Billy Rutter was caught with an improvised weapon after arguing with strangers outside Revolution bar.

A rapist who decapitated and cooked his son's rabbit has been jailed again after he armed himself with a broken glass bottle during a fight on a night out. Billy Rutter was previously jailed for a violent sexual assault on a schoolgirl and more recently locked up after killing the pet, throwing its severed head at his ex-girlfriend and cooking it in the oven.

He is now behind bars after police saw him arming himself during a fight outside a Revolution bar in Liverpool city centre, according to Liverpool Echo. 

Liverpool Crown Court heard on Monday afternoon, the police on patrol on Victoria Street at around 1.15am on December 11 last year heard glass smashing then saw the drunken defendant holding a shattered bottle.

Matthew Conway, prosecuting, described how Rutter hid the item behind his back then walked towards Temple Court, approaching a group of strangers outside Revolution.

An argument ensued, with the improvised weapon still concealed behind the 35-year-old's back.

The court was told that he was involved in another argument with them moments beforehand.

The officers then ran up behind Rutter and tackled him. He "immediately" dropped the improvised weapon to the ground.

The sex offender has a total of 18 previous convictions for 36 offences including for possession of an offensive weapon in a public place in 1999, assault with intent to rob in 2012 and being jailed for six months for possession of a bladed article in a public place in August 2020.

In 2005, Rutter was found guilty of raping a 14-year-old who he stalked and assaulted as she waited for a lift home from her mum.

Then aged 17, Rutter targeted the girl as she waited at a bus stop on Eastern Avenue in Speke - grabbing the youngster and dragging her to nearby waste ground. She screamed in terror, but he placed his hand over her mouth and raped her.

When convicted, Rutter pointed to the jury and said "I know all your faces" - which reduced one female juror to tears. His brother shouted from the public gallery and was thrown out of court before the teen was handed nine years behind bars.

In February 2021, he was then imprisoned for 15 months after pleading guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, assault and breaching a restraining order.

It came after his former partner was forced to flee her home with their children after she discovered Rutter cooking their rabbit in her oven, having decapitated the pet and thrown its head at her while she lay in bed - landing on her pillow.

The mum called police from a payphone as her son repeated "I miss my bunny". The abuser had nailed the rabbit above the kitchen door in a scene one police officer described as "one of the most distressing sights he had ever seen".

Rutter told PCs "rabbits and chicks get slaughtered everyday" then added: "Bubble and squeak, have you ever tried rabbit? It's lovely."

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A convicted murderer and sex predator who was found with nearly 1,600 indecent images and videos of children has been returned to jail.

Michael McGrane, from Southport, was released and deported back to the UK in 2013 from Australia for sexual assault and murder. A court heard how the 60-year-old downloaded the vile content over a one-year period.

Prosecutor Kenneth Grant said the defendant had been linked to the offences after an investigation by the police's Online Child Abuse Investigation Team. They traced an IP address suspected of sharing indecent images of children, to his home address on Victoria Street.

Officers went to McGrane’s home where 15 desktop computers, two mobile phones, a laptop, and 250 hard drive disks were seized. Police found 1,585 category C images of children, including 208 prohibited images of children on the devices, the ECHO reports.

Liverpool Crown Court heard how 600 of those were videos, and one was one hour long. In his first interview on the day his electronics were seized, McGrane said to the best of his knowledge, there would be no indecent photos on the hard drives.

During his second interview on August 27, after all the electronics had been thoroughly examined by authorities, he claimed the devices were second hand.

Judge Brian Cummings KC said: “You, as a possessor of this material, form part of the market without which that material either wouldn’t exist in the first place or certainly would not exist on the industrial scale that we deal with in this court. It would not happen if it wasn’t for people like you, the consumer.”

Simon Christie, defending, told the court that McGrane has not committed any crimes since his arrest. Judge Cummings detailed that in December 2001 while living in Australia, McGrane was convicted of murder, and was given a life sentence.

In July 2003, he was also convicted of 13 offences, six of which involved the use of chloroform or some other stupefying drug to commit an indictable offence, and seven offences of indecent assault against adult females. Following his release in 2013, he was deported back to the UK, where a sexual offences notification order was imposed upon him.

This meant he had to check in quarterly with authorities and inform police of any change of address, places he regularly stays, or plans to travel abroad. On November 21, McGrane pleaded guilty to one count of making (downloading) indecent 1585 category C photographs of children, between June 10 2019 and 12 June 2020, and to possession of 208 prohibited images of children on June 11 2020.

He was sentenced to nine months imprisonment for both counts, and a sexual harm prevention order was also implemented for ten years, alongside the requirement that he be on the sex offenders list. Items related to the offence were also ordered to be destroyed, and a deprivation order prohibiting him from using any device capable of accessing the internet unless he informs the police was also implemented.