Latest Offenders Merseyside

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."

Description

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.”

Description

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."

Description

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.

Description

A man described as a “danger to young women” sexually assaulted a woman on a train and returned to the scene to find her again, a court has heard.

The victim managed to record pervert Nathan Nash, 30, of Ribblesdale Close, Eastham, as he told her he was "horny" and rubbed her thigh on the Merseyrail Service. Nash appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday for sexually assaulting the woman on a train.

David Polglase, prosecuting, explained that she was waiting for her train to work on the morning of April 14 when Nash began talking to her. Mr Polglase, reading the 20-year-old victim’s statement, said: “He started to talk to himself, saying he had nowhere to go, nowhere left, saying hi nan whilst looking at the sky.

“He spoke to her about getting married saying he would rather be in jail.”

The victim said she believed he was talking to a dead relative, and she felt uneasy because he was continually staring at her, so she began to film him. Nash then followed her onto the train when it arrived, and sat opposite her.

He apologised for “being such a weirdo”, and despite the victim loudly asking what he wanted and why he was following her, nobody on the train intervened. Nash asked her if she “fancied” various men as they got off the train, and claimed he would sleep with the men referenced if he were homosexual.

Soon after, he moved to sit next to the woman, and asked to take a picture with her, which she refused. The conversation then became more sexual, he called her beautiful, and got “aggressive” when she received a text message from her boyfriend.

The victim then began filming and captured the assault on camera. Judge Neil Flewitt, KC, described the assault, he said: “You stroked her left leg and then the inside of her right thigh, quite high up and towards the area of her groin.”

Whilst assaulting her, Nash leaned his head on her right shoulder, and told her he was “horny”. The footage taken by the victim and shown in court clearly showed the assault, and she can be seen pushing his hand off her leg.

When she disembarked from the train, he continued to follow her, and tried to give her his jacket which she shrugged off. Nash followed her all the way to her place of work, at some points blocking her path, and upon arrival, asked for her phone number.

He also told her he would be waiting for her at the train station when she finished work at 5pm, which she also captured on film and was shown in court. The victim eventually managed to enter her workplace safely, alert her manager about what had happened, and call the police.

Nash was apprehended by police at the train station at 5.25pm that evening, as he laid in wait for the victim. In a victim impact statement read by the prosecution the court heard how the victim now wears a hoodie on her commute, and “feels awful every day, and tries to sit by the driver's door for safety”.

She also said she gets flashbacks of the assault, is “on edge all the time”, and is anxious towards the end of her work day about having to get the train home. Mr Polglase explained how the victim was screaming and crying after managing to escape Nash at her workplace, and it took over two hours for her to calm down.

Nash claimed in a police interview the day after the attack that he only touched the victim below the knee in a “friendly and not sexual fashion”, which was proven to be a lie by the video footage. Christopher Macmaster, defending said: “He utterly incorrectly somehow managed to take that he was in some way going to come back and meet with her to go on a date or something like that.”

Judge Flewitt replied: “Or have another go at assaulting her”. He added: “I don’t believe he went back there at 5pm in the legitimate expectation of some sort of consensual romantic liaison.

“You were clearly intent on striking up some sort of relationship with her, in circumstances where it must have been obvious to you that she was not the slightest bit interested in you”

Mr Macmaster said Nash knew the behaviour was “wholly wrong” but that he originally “struggled to come to terms” with his behaviour. Judge Flewitt described Nash’s “clear pattern of violent offending” and “of abusive behaviour in relationships”, including revenge porn and assaulting his sister.

He explained that most of Nash’s previous cases of violent offending were against women and that this assault was “another form of violence against women.” The judge concluded that Nash does pose “some danger to young women”.

Nash pleaded guilty to sexual assault on October 21. He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, and a restraining order barring him from contacting the victim or visiting her place of work was imposed for five years.

Description

A "dangerous offender" has been jailed for 20 years for the rape of a woman in north Wales. Thomas Goodier, 25, of St Helens, Merseyside, had been found guilty of two counts committed in Conwy county.

As well as the jail term, Judge Timothy Petts also handed Goodier an extended licence of seven years at Caernarfon Crown Court. The judge praised the victim for her bravery in giving evidence to the police and being cross-examined in court: "You are going to need a lot of love, help and support,” he told the court.

Judge Petts told Goodier, who showed no emotion in a video link from prison that he was “a dangerous offender.” The court heard he maintained his innocence.

Speaking after sentencing, DC Bev Humphreys from Central Division Protecting Vulnerable Persons Unit said: "I welcome the sentence today which I hope allows the victim and their family to focus now on positively re-building their future. The victim has shown incredible bravery throughout.

"The investigation and sentence should send a message that whilst we recognise that any form of violence is unacceptable, anyone who wants to target and commit sexual offences against women or children in particular should know that we will be thorough, we will persevere, and we will bring you to justice.

"I would also like to thank partners at the Crown Prosecution Service, who we have worked hard with us to make north Wales safer by putting Thomas Goodier behind bars."

Lifetime sex offenders’ and sexual harm prevention orders were also imposed on Goodier.

Description

A WIRRAL man has been jailed for five years and one month for sexual activity with a child.

Neil Rycroft, 48, of Cherry Tree Road, Moreton appeared on Tuesday, November 2 at Liverpool Crown Court.

He was also issued with a Lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), Restraining Order and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Rycroft was arrested on Thursday, May 26, this year, the same day that the victim, a 15-year-old girl, reported the offence, which had taken place three days previously in Wirral.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Constable Alex Fowler from the Force's Unity team, said: "We hope that this sentence goes some way to helping the victim as she comes to terms with this traumatic experience and we will continue to support her.

"We'd like to praise the whole family's immense strength and courage in reporting this crime and engaging throughout what can be a harrowing process, through to today's outcome.

"Rycroft is a predator, who saw a young and vulnerable child as someone to manipulate and abuse.

"Such offenders should be removed from the streets and closely monitored when the time comes to release them.

"He had no regard for the psychological impact of his heinous actions, nor the consequences for the victim, the victim’s family and less importantly, his own liberty.

"We treat all allegations of sexual offences sensitively and with compassion and have specially trained officers who ensure victims are listened to, safeguarded and supported from the moment they report a crime and right through the judicial process.

"If anybody is out there suffering in silence we want you to know that there is help and support available, both from Merseyside Police, and from reliable and trusted support groups who will stand with you from the initial report and for as long as you need.”

Description

Graeme Phillips also asked for a "naughty picture" and sent the decoy a picture of his penis in a "semi-erect" state and asked if she thought "it was nice".

A pervert told what he thought was a 14-year-old girl that he had a 'Big Mac in his shorts'. Graeme Phillips, 41, was caught by paedophile hunters after speaking with two decoy accounts last year.

Phillips was snared by the 'Dank Dragons Exposed' group after sending naked selfies and sick messages to what he believed to be underage girls. He was tracked to a pub where another group called Stop UK confronted him on behalf of Dank Dragons Exposed and performed a citizen's arrest.

He received a suspended sentence at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday (Tuesday November 15) after pleading guilty to two counts of attempting to engage a child in sexual communication. 

Liverpool Echo reports that Phillips told an account called 'Sarah' on the 'Meet4U' app that he was 40 and initially said "I think you're too old for me". However the court heard that Phillips began sending sexualised messages on December 1, 2021, after she changed a profile picture on her WhatsApp account.

Prosecution barrister Paul Blasbery said: "As a result of that picture the defendant told the decoy she was beautiful and stunning, he then sent a picture of himself naked from the waist up where he was sitting on the bed. He then told her 'I probably have bigger t***' than her, and told her he didn't care if she wore a bra or not."

Other vile comments including asking if he could "make her blush", talking about her breasts and telling her he had a "Big Mac in his shorts", referring to his penis. He also asked for a "naughty picture" and sent her a picture of his penis in a "semi-erect" state and asked if she thought "it was nice".

On December 14, Phillips also began messaging a decoy account on Meet4U called 'Scarlett', operated by an adult who also posed as a 14-year-old. Mr Blasbery told the court Phillips began making sexualised comments and told her he slept naked, and began asking about her breasts. Phillips also told the decoy "not to tell her mum".

At this point, Dank Dragons called on Stop UK to help and Phillips was confronted outside the Farmer's Arms pub in Moreton, Wirral. Mr Blasbery said Phillips, who has no previous convictions, refused to answer any questions in his police interview.

Lionel Greig, defending, said his client had been living an "isolated" existence during lockdown, with his 71-year-old mum who suffers from Alzheimer's disease. He also said his client had lost his dad in 2018.

Mr Greig urged the court to spare his client immediate custody, and order intervention to address his behaviour and prevent him from re-offending, rather than a prison sentence.

The judge, Recorder Mark Ainsworth, agreed to spare Phillips immediate custody, telling the pervert addressing his perverted behaviour in the long term would benefit society more than a prison sentence.

He said: "I have to make an assessment of the prospect of rehabilitation in this case, having read the pre-sentence report I do believe there is a good prospect of rehabilitation in this case and I have a duty to society."

Phillips, of Ivy Lane, Moreton, was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, and told he must sign the Sex Offenders' Register for 10 years. He was also ordered to complete the Horizon course for sex offenders and to complete 40 Rehabilitation Activity Days with the Probation Service.

He was also told to complete 250 hours of unpaid work and made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order severely restricting his internet usage.

Description

A pervert used a hidden camera to spy on a teenage girl and stream live video of her to his mobile phone.

Simon Tunstall, 45, set up the camera, which sent moving images of the girl to his mobile phone for approximately four weeks in May 2019. He initially denied the offences but later pleaded guilty to voyeurism and the production of indecent images of a child.

After being arrested, Tunstall's mobile phone was searched and a link to a camera was found, as well as four images of the girl in various states of undress. Tunstall, of Fleet Lane, St Helens, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday (November 11).

Prosecuting, Cheryl Mottram said Tunstall admitted he set up the camera after he was caught but denied it was for his sexual gratification. He initially pleaded not guilty to the offences but later changed his plea.

An impact statement from the victim was read to the court. It said Tunstall's acts "traumatised" her, and meant she has been "constantly on edge" since. The victim attempted to end her life due to depression she suffered after the incident.

She said: "I don't think I'll ever recover from the problems that Simon's actions have caused me". The statement continued: "I never wanted to be a victim but Simon has made me one".

Defending, Paul Becker said Tunstall "feels deep shame about his actions" and "understands the trauma and impact it has had on his victim". The barrister pointed to his client's lack of previous convictions, guilty plea and an "impressive work record" in mitigation, also telling the court Tunstall suffers with depression and anxiety.

Sentencing, Judge Gary Woodhall told Tunstall: "You installed a secret camera" and "did it for your own sexual gratification". The judge added the images were: "Sent to an email address called 'Size11', a reference to the size of your penis".

He told Tunstall: "You are struggling presently to accept your motivations for it" and said he needed to accept his motive was sexual. The judge added that the victim's "whole world came crashing down" after the offences and her mental health had deteriorated to a level where she "felt it necessary to take her own life."

The judge pointed to the length of time between the offences taking place and Monday's proceedings - essentially placing Tunstall under the terms of a suspended sentence during the last three years as he waited to be sentenced. He also said he was of previous good character and showed remorse for his actions.

However, Judge Woodhall was satisfied that only an immediate jail term would suffice as punishment. He jailed Tunstall for 12 months. The 45-year-old will also have to sign a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and was handed a restraining order, keeping him away from the victim.

Description

Jack Bowker was spared jail after sending Snapchat messages to an account he thought belonged to a child

A man who sent messages to a '12-year-old girl' about taking her virginity did not believe he was a paedophile.

On Wednesday (November 9), Liverpool Magistrates' Court heard that, between July and November 2021, Jack Bowker, 29, engaged in sexual conversations over Snapchat with an account he thought belonged to a 12-year-old girl. The conversations began innocently but became sexual.

Prosecuting, Callum Bryce said Bowker sent messages about "spanking" the 12-year-old's backside, lying in bed with her and getting an erection, having oral sex and taking her virginity. Bowker also sent selfies to the account but did not send any explicit images.

The account posing as the girl was actually run by the police. After receiving a warrant, officers searched Bowker's home on November 9, 2021 and seized electronic equipment, but they did not arrest him.

He attended a police interview in April 2022 and admitted to sending the messages. Bowker, of Twickenham Drive, Leasowe, then pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

In mitigation, Colin Rawson pointed to his client's lack of previous convictions, that he made a prompt guilty plea and had been fully cooperative with police. Mr Rawson said Bowker "has difficulties engaging with other people" and he "rarely leaves his own address", making contact with people primarily through social media.

Mr Rawson said Bowker's conversations with the account began nicely but "sexual contact crept into the conversation". He said the age of the 'girl' was "mentioned on several occasions" and Bowker "has to recognise he is an offender".

Sentencing, District Judge Timothy Boswell told Bowker, that though he was not actually conversing with a child: "You didn't now that when you engaged in chats" and said his reason for sending the messages was "to obtain sexual gratification".

The judge added: "You do not regard yourself as a paedophile". He explained this can happen with some offenders of this nature, adding: "Some people struggle to accept the type of person their offending makes them". Judge Boswell told Bowker there was "work to be done to challenge your perception of yourself".

Addressing Bowker, he added: "You knew what you were doing". and handed him a six month sentence, suspended for 18 months.

Bowker was also given a seven year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, while he will also have to undergo a 30 day rehabilitation programme and perform 160 hours of unpaid work. The Sexual Harm Prevention Order requires Bowker to notify police of any device with internet access, while he is not allowed to delete or alter his internet history.

Description

A sex offender cried and told his victim he 'couldn't help it' after attacking her.

William Roberts repeatedly sexually assaulted the youngster over a period of around six months and told her on one occasion "I can't help it". Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday, Monday, that the 42-year-old's crimes were discovered after he was taken to hospital due to concerns about his mental health and alcohol consumption.

While in hospital Roberts, of Alpha Street in Bootle, admitted his crimes to his sister and told her "I don't know what's real" and believed that his victim was plotting to kill him.

Peter Killen, prosecuting, said he confessed that he had "heard voices in his head telling him to touch" his victim over the previous eight months and admitted having done so. When police contacted the complainant, she confirmed that he had regularly touched her on the bottom and chest over her clothing.

The schoolgirl described one occasion in which she confronted him and he began crying. Roberts, who appeared via video link to HMP Altcourse, told her: "I can't help it."

Under interview after his arrest, he stated to officers that he had "been hearing voices in his head telling him to touch her". The defendant added: "I can't take it anymore."

Roberts "denied a sexual motive", but said that the girl was "beautiful" and "attractive". He had also heard "voices telling him to rape her, but he wouldn't do it".

A statement read to the court on behalf of the victim's mum said: "He took a happy teenager and destroyed her confidence. He broke her spirit.

"I will never recover from this, but we will slowly start to rebuild our lives. Our lives are devastated.

"We pray the court will ensure that he never has the opportunity to repeat this with another person. I really worry the abuse has left a mark on her."

Roberts, who has no previous convictions, admitted two counts of sexual assault. Recorder Ian Harris jailed him for three years and handed him a sexual harm prevention order, a notification requirement and a restraining order.

Description

Police investigation uncovered series of depraved Facebook chats between couple

A man sexually abused a child and filmed his wife having sex with their pet dog.

Kieran Parkinson groomed the boy with promises of paying him cash, then performed a sex act on himself as the youngster watched. Police also uncovered a series of depraved Facebook chats between him and his wife Mary, in which they discussed raping and assaulting children.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that an investigation into the couple, from Haydock, then revealed that the husband had messaged the victim on social media "asking him to play footsie". The complainant then told officers that Mr Parkinson, now of no fixed address, had offered him money in exchange for sex acts.

On another occasion, the 36-year-old stood rubbing his private parts in the boy's presence for several minutes. The paedophile denied this had been sexually-motivated, and claimed that he had actually been itching himself.

Steven Swift, prosecuting, described how a stash of videos of women having sex with animals were also found on Parkinson's phone. This included one "lengthy" homemade clip showing his partner engaged in sexual activity with the family dog.Simon Christie, defending Kieran Parkinson, told the court that his client had been "badly assaulted" during his seven months on remand in prison. He added: "Plainly, seven months in custody for a person who is inexperienced with that has had a significant effect."

Parkinson - who has no previous convictions and appeared via video link to HMP Liverpool - was found guilty of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and causing a child to watch a sexual act after a trial and admitted three counts of possession of extreme pornographic images. He was jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Sentencing, Judge David Swinnerton described him as having shown a "lack of control over his deviant sexual interests". He added: "You seem to have been motivated by your own needs and desires.

"There is a background of drug abuse by yourself, and particularly by Mary Parkinson. Some of the messages you were exchanging are extremely concerning."

The judge also imposed a sexual harm prevention order and a notification requirement, both lasting 10 years. Parkinson will be required to pay a victim surcharge.Mrs Parkinson, also of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of extreme pornographic images. Her defence counsel Sarah Holt told the court that the 38-year-old will be homeless upon her release from HMP Styal.

She had "limited" previous convictions, including for fraud. Her sentencing was adjourned until later this week.

Description

Pervert exposed himself to 14-year-old and told her to perform a sex act upon him.

A paedophile sexually assaulted and exposed himself to a schoolgirl in an arcade then gave her his phone number.

William Lea told the teenager to perform a sex act upon him and was caught because he left his contact details with her. But after being released under investigation over the incident, he went on to attempt to groom an 11-year-old.

Liverpool Crown Court heard this afternoon, Friday, that the 65-year-old had been using a gaming machine in an amusements next to the Scarisbrick Hotel in Southport when two 14-year-old girls entered. Paul Becker, prosecuting, described how Lea began talking the youngster and made them "feel increasingly uncomfortable".

The pervert then groped one of their breasts. She told him to stop, but he instead asked her "whether she liked it".

Lea unzipped his trousers, pulled out his penis and "invited her" to perform a sex act on him. The victim was left "disgusted", but he "bizarrely" left his phone number with them before leaving - leading to him being easily identified by police.

Then, while under investigation by police over the assault, he was ensnared in a paeophile hunter sting. Lea, of no fixed address, began communicating online with a decoy whom he believed to be an 11-year-old girl.

He groomed her and arranged to meet up with her at Southport Station. Once there, he was confronted by members of the group.

Lea had been subject to a suspended sentence order for drink driving and possession of a bladed article in a public place at the time of the first set of offences. Fiona McNeill, defending, described how her client - who appeared via video link to HMP Altcourse - recently suffered from a stroke and now requires the use of a wheelchair.

He admitted sexual assault, exposure, attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and breaching a suspended sentence order. Lea was jailed for four years and 10 months, told to pay a victim surcharge, handed a lifelong notification requirement and given a 15-year sexual harm prevention order.

Sentencing, Judge David Potter said: "I accept you do feel a genuine sense of remorse for your involvement in these child sex offences. You, at the age of 65, have very few convictions and this will be your first custodial sentence."