Latest Offenders Merseyside

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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."

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A paedophile who was on bail for trying to meet a 'schoolboy' for sex was later caught grooming another 'child', a court heard.

Andrew McClean, from Southport, sent messages to what he believed was a 13-year-old and arranged to have sex with him in a public toilet near Southport station. The 39-year-old was in fact communicating with an adult member of a local ‘paedophile hunters’ group who was using an online decoy.

On February 15 this year, McLean arrived at the station with the intention of meeting the boy. However he was instead met by members of the group who alerted police.

McLean told them: “I confess I was in the wrong and I accept the punishment.”

But three months later, after being released on bail, he once again began sending online messages of a sexual nature to what he believed was another 13-year-old boy, and arranged to meet him at Formby station on May 18, the ECHO reports.

Again, he was met with members of the paedophile hunters group, who had created the decoy profile as part of an “online child protection effort to apprehend child sex offenders”.

He appeared at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday (October 4) after pleading guilty to arranging a child sex offence, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, and attempting to meet a child following grooming.

Judge Louise Brandon said: "While these cases are attempts, they are only attempts because the child in question did not actually exist. Had Josh been a real child, the offences would have been committed."

The court heard that McClean was developmentally disabled, and did not understand the consequences of his actions.

However, experts agreed that his disability did not impact his ability to make decisions or understand right from wrong. 

Judge Brandon said: "You have been described as vulnerable and you have a limited understanding of intercourse, and in your offending you made no attempt to hide your identity. But you knew what you were doing, and you knew that what you were doing was wrong."

McClean was sentenced to three years in prison, and must serve half of this term before being released on licence. He was also subject to a sexual harm prevention order.

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A Wirral man who was Principal of an international school in Iraq has been jailed after grooming and attempting to sexually exploit children around the world using social media.

Nicholas Clayton, 38,of Charles Road, Hoylake, was working in the Kurdistan region of Iraq when he used Facebook Messenger to contact children as young as 10 in multiple countries, grooming them and asking them for photos.

After receiving intelligence that a 13-year-old boy from Cambodia had been contacted on Facebook messenger by a man who asked for photos of his naked upper torso, National Crime Agency investigators identified Clayton as the perpetrator.

He had subsequently arranged to pay for the boy to travel to Malaysia so they could meet.

Clayton was arrested by NCA officers when he returned to the UK. To mitigate the potential risk of further offending, NCA officers successfully obtained a court Sexual Risk Order, which prohibited Clayton from worldwide travel while the investigation continued.

Investigators then obtained further messages from social media platforms, which showed Clayton had been in communication with hundreds of boys aged from 10 to the late teens around the world over a period of just three months.

Chats were found with victims in the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Iraq, Morocco, Turkey amongst others.

Clayton appeared at Liverpool Magistrates Court on 23 August where he pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual communication with a child under 16 years and one charge of inciting the sexual exploitation of a child.

He was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday (20 September) to 20 months imprisonment and made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 15 years.

Recorder Ian Harris described Claytons behaviour as persistent, repulsive and insidious.

Hazel Stewart, from the NCA, said: Nicholas Clayton abused his position of trust as a head teacher by attempting to sexually contact and exploit children, using technology to access hundreds of potential victims across the globe.

Clayton was very cautious and careful in his communications, making them appear to be innocent, but as NCA investigators we could see the patterns of predatory grooming he was using on vulnerable children.

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Sex offender was convicted in his absence and is believed to be in hiding in Turkey A child rapist fled the country before being convicted of historic sexual offence at his trial and remains at large. Martin Gill, from St Helens, is believed to be in hiding in Turkey after jetting off three days before he was due to be tried for his sickening crimes at Liverpool Crown Court. The now 36-year-old committed his campaign of sexual abuse in the early noughties, when he himself was a youth. He indecently assaulted his victim when she was aged as young as 10 and performed sex acts on her. Gill then raped the younger girl when she was roughly 13. A statement read out to the court on her behalf described how she "didn't want to live anymore" as a result of his actions and had attempted to take her own life. The statement added: "I have nightmares which take me back to being a young, vulnerable child." Gill's escape from the UK came after an earlier trial was postponed when he tested positive for Covid-19. Defending, Colin Witcher said: "The defence has made enquiries of Mr Gill, and there has been no response or engagement. "Given his absence, there is very little I can say in positive mitigation on his behalf. He has not engaged with the process." Gill, of Waring Avenue, admitted six counts of sexual assault but was found guilty of a further four of the same charge plus two of rape by a jury. He was sentenced to eight years in prison in his absence today, Tuesday. Sentencing, Judge Robert Trevor-Jones said: "The defendant abused his victim from a very early age, gradually escalating his activity. It was sustained abuse. "He threatened her not to tell anyone, and those threats were clearly successful. The victim buried memories of the abuse until recently when she resurfaced feelings of fear, isolation and pain. "There is clear and enduring serious emotional and psychological trauma." Gill will also be required to sign the sex offenders' register for life.

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A woman from Sefton has been jailed for more than nine years following an investigation into sexual offences against a teenage boy. 

On 15 February 2019, Sarah Campbell, 39 years, of no fixed address but formerly from Bootle, was arrested and charged with engaging in regular sexual activity with the 15-year-old victim between January 2016 and January 2017.

She pleaded not guilty, and initially failed to appear part-way through the trial which took place in May 2021.

However she was arrested on 12 May this year and brought back before the courts where she pleaded to all nine counts of sexual activity with a child.

She was remanded in custody until her court sentencing today, Tuesday 14 June, at Liverpool Crown Court where she was jailed for nine years and six months.

Detective Sergeant Peter Sloan said: “Thankfully, despite trying to evade justice by failing to appear in court, Campbell is now paying for her crimes.

“The atrocious abuse that Campbell carried out not only traumatises victims when it happens, but has a huge impact on their mental wellbeing which can last a lifetime. It can also cause irreparable damage to a victim’s faith and trust in adults, which can affect their ability to form trusting relationships.

“The bravery shown by the victim and his family in coming forward and reporting Campbell to police so that that she could be brought to justice means she cannot cause any further harm.

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A child rapist walked free from court today after his dementia diagnosis meant he could not stand trial.

A jury in a fact finding hearing at Liverpool Crown Court determined John Fisher had subjected two girls to a campaign of rape and sexual assault for years. Yet the paedophile could not be jailed as he was not formally convicted of the offences due to his health conditions.

A judge today warned Fisher still poses a risk to women and girls as he handed him a supervision order that allowed him to keep his liberty with conditions.

Michael Scholes, prosecuting, said Fisher committed rape and sexual assaults on two girls throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. Liverpool Crown Court heard his victims reported the crimes years later and the 75 year old was charged.

He said in a crown court hearing last year that he would fight the charges but a number of medical assessments found he was unfit to stand trial after being diagnosed with vascular dementia. In a rare move, Fishers case was then put before a jury in what is known as a fact finding hearing. Mr Scholes said: The jury found that in fact the defendant had done the acts and that the victims were telling the truth.

While juries in these hearings make a judgement on the facts of a case in a similar way to those in a trial, they cannot convict. Instead, defendants in these cases are sentenced by a judge on the basis of the jurys findings - but the lack of a conviction means the courts power to punish is severely restricted. The only options in Fishers case were to detain him in hospital, hand him a supervision order or discharge him.

Doctors said he was unsuitable for a hospital order and, at a previous hearing, Judge Anil Murray said a discharge, which would see no further action taken, would be unsuitable because Fisher needed the supervision of support workers.

John Weate, defending, said he believed a supervision order was the only suitable option. Mr Weate said: I have come to a conclusion and my submission is that I cannot in good conscience ask the court to consider an absolute discharge.

Both victims said they continued to deal with the fallout of the abuse and said it had marked their entire lives. In a statement to the court, one said: I always wonder what person I would have been if this did not happen to me.

Judge Anil Murray sentenced Fisher to a two year suspension order, the maximum. He raised concerns about Fishers behaviour in recent years and said he still posed a risk to the public. He said: Whilst the most recent offence in this case was 20 years ago there is evidence that you have behaved in a sexually inappropriate way towards staff at the unit where you were residing as well as members of the public.

Fisher, previously of Webster Avenue in Wallasey, was handed a two year supervision order. He was also given a restraining order which prevents him from contacting his victims for ten years and a sexual harm prevention order that places restrictions on him for the same period of time. He will be subject to the notification requirements for sex offenders for five years.

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A sick dad begged an undercover police officer to send him depraved images of children and said: Im 100% paedo.

Graham Handlon believed he was chatting to a fellow pervert on a chat room. However, the 49-year-old was really chatting to a covert officer, only months after the deviant previously avoided jail for having a stash of sick images.

The father-of-two revealed he had bought an unregistered pay as you go phone for all my paedo. And he boasted: Theres no limits with me. Im just a dirty c***, Im just into everything. Everything and anything what goes. You know what I mean?

Handlon, was given a two-year community order in January 2020, after he was caught with child rape images. He was given a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

On November 30 that year he messaged the officer on web forum ChatIW stating Hi m 47 peD north west no limits and using the profile name Bipedlknforbiped. Jamie Baxter, prosecuting, said: Perhaps bi-sexual paedophile looking for another bi-sexual paedophile, if thats what bi-ped stands for.

Handlon sent him indecent photos and videos before claiming he did a girl when she was two, report Liverpool Echo. He sent more photos, boasting he had 100s, and asked the officer if he had any photos of his 11-year-old daughter - who the officer pretended to have sexually abused.

The officer said he was cautious who he shared images with, but Handlon replied: I understand that bud, Im 100% paedo bud. To prove his claims he sent more images and added: I have vids too.

Handlon revealed he had the burner phone for all my paedo and swapped numbers. When they spoke that day, the officer recorded the call.

Handlon asked about the imaginary daughter and said: Is she sexy as f***? He added: Older women dont really do much for me but little girls I like.

He then described himself as a dirty c***. The pair also exchanged contact details for messaging app Telegram and Handlon said hed share a 10-minute video of a mum and dad with a little girl.

Handlon, of Park Crescent, Southport, sent three child rape videos to the officer, plus a video of himself performing a sex act. Police tracked his phone and found CCTV footage of him buying a top up voucher at the Spar in Roe Lane, Southport on November 7, 2020.

Officers raided his home on January 25, 2021. He handed over a phone and laptop, but didnt produce his Alba mobile, which was discovered hidden inside a plastic bag in his letterbox.

Handlon denied it was his and gave a no comment interview to police. However, his DNA was on its battery, SIM card and storage card, and the number matched his call with the officer.

Police found 1,408 Category A - the most serious category showing child rape - plus 1,463 Category B and 797 Category C indecent images on the device. A further 80 extreme porn images involved animals were found.

He had used a cloud storage device more than 3,000 times. Officers discovered he shared 126 indecent files with other paedophiles on WhatsApp under the name Big Little and on Wickr as UKMember123 from November 2020 to January 2021.

When interviewed again, he admitted the phone was his and he had downloaded the files. He claimed he had been addicted to pornography since childhood; wanted to stop offending; and had sought help through courses and books.

Handlon accepted the chats with the officer and sharing the files. He said he just had a massive problem with it but denied ever sexually abusing a child.

He admitted three counts of downloading, three counts of distributing and one count of possessing indecent images of children, plus possessing extreme pornography and breaching his SHPO. Jim Smith, defending, said: This defendant has embarked on a personal crusade to ensure his continuing rehabilitation and enlightenment.

He said Handlon hoped to re-establish a relationship with his parents and his two children, who he was separated from. He hadnt seen them for more than a year.

Mr Smith said Handlon had completed 10 sessions of a Stop It Now! course, and further courses with the child sexual abuse prevention charity the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, costing him almost 1,000. He said Handlon had daily support from a mentor to prevent offending and attended Sex Addicts Anonymous sessions in Liverpool.

He said his clients was genuinely remorseful and a rehabilitation programme and unpaid work attached to his previous community order hadnt addressed his issues. The judge, Recorder Ian Harris, said: The report says he engaged with probation but didnt take his offence seriously at that time.

Mr Smith said: I think thats an interpretation which I dont think properly reflects the efforts, or the lack of specific targeting of the motivations for his offending, which subsequently he has voluntarily submitted to. He added if Handlon was jailed he would lose his job, his children would miss financial support and he would lose his home.

Recorder Harris told Handlon: Im telling you now there will be an immediate custodial sentence. The judge said in a sinister aspect of the case he bought a phone for your paedophile activities.

He said Mr Smith told Liverpool Crown Court Handlons comments about molesting a child were just bravado and he wasnt being sentenced for that. But he enjoyed and shared repulsive images.

He said a report noted Handlon didnt believe he had the support he needed when previously sentenced, but now felt sick. The judge said: You had every opportunity and carried on.

Recorder Harris said Handlon described himself as a paedophile. He said: These offences are vile and reflect the corruption and abuse of young children.

The judge jailed him for three years and 10 months. He made a new 15-year SHPO and told Handlon to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

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A judge was left speechless after hearing how another clip showed a baby being raped A paedophile's sick stash of child sex abuse videos included a half-hour film of him molesting a child. Convicted sex offender Peter Wilson moved to Merseyside after being released from prison and going "missing". The 32-year-old was eventually tracked down to a hotel in Litherland. Police discovered he had downloaded twisted files including a video of a baby being raped, which left a judge speechless when it was described in court. But a further movie showed Wilson himself sexually abusing a young girl - then turning to the camera to reveal his face. Liverpool Crown Court heard Wilson was first jailed for two and a half years in September 2018 for attempting to incite children to engage in and watch sexual activity, plus downloading and distributing indecent images of children. He was released from prison in December 2019. Within six months, Kent Police learned child sex abuse images had been uploaded to Skype via an IP address at his home in Sevenoaks. Officers raided the house on June 10, 2020 and spoke to Wilson and his dad. Wilson claimed he had been sent "links" by Pridefall, which Max Saffman, prosecuting, said was "a group that disrupts the LGBTQ community". Police seized Honor and Nokia mobile phones, with the former containing 140 illegal files, including 27 Category A indecent images - the most serious category - involving children as young as five being raped. Wilson was recalled to prison on licence, before he was released again in March 2021. Mr Saffman said: "He went missing and Kent Police were unable to trace him." The pervert was arrested by Merseyside Police at a hotel in Linacre Road on December 21. Wilson had to keep police informed of his digital devices under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). However, he only handed over one Alcatel mobile phone and didn't mention a Nokia handset hidden under his pillow. He said: "I forgot that one was there." The Nokia revealed Wilson had shared 10 child sex abuse files, including rape images, with five accounts online, via Kik Messenger and Wickr Me. Over three months he had also downloaded 338 illegal files, including 48 Category A images. Mr Saffman described one Category A video, which showed a baby girl aged six to 12 months being raped. The courtroom then fell silent. After a pause, Judge Brian Cummings, QC, said: "A baby." Mr Saffman said other descriptions were also "repulsive". Wilson admitted two counts of possessing and two counts of downloading indecent images in relation to the Kent investigation. He admitted breaching his SHPO and three counts of downloading, two counts of distributing and one count of possessing indecent images, plus one count of possessing a prohibited image, in respect of the Merseyside raid. Ken Heckle, defending, conceded his client would receive a prison sentence. He accepted reports considered him to be "a danger to children". He said: "The defendant does accept your honour that he does get sexual gratification in respect of looking at these terrible images. Why he gets that sexual gratification is something that he wants to look into and try to resolve. "To say the defendant has a complex background would perhaps not do justice to it. He's someone who has got lots of contradictions in his life, in respect of his sexuality, his religion and his mental health background." Mr Heckle said Wilson suffered with a social communication disorder, was possibly autistic and had attended a "special school". He said Wilson had "complications with regard as to who he is", was "estranged" from his family and "appears to be a bit of a loner". Judge Cummings said a summary of the videos recovered in Litherland also referred to a 32-minute Category A video, showing Wilson abusing a child. The court heard he was not charged with any offence in respect of the clip because it happened abroad and "outside this jurisdiction". The judge said Wilson would not be sentenced for the activity shown in that video. But he said it would be "madness" for him not to take it into account when considering whether Wilson was "dangerous", as defined in law. Judge Cummings said a description referred to Wilson facing the camera at the end of the clip. After a short adjournment, Mr Heckle said Wilson confirmed it was him. Mr Heckle said: "Your honour is entitled to take that into account in your general views about dangerousness. It would not affect the custodial element [of the sentence], but it could affect the length of the extended licence, should your honour find him dangerous." Referring to the baby rape video, Judge Cummings said: "It is quite unspeakable." He said: "The child could scarcely have been younger or more vulnerable." He told Wilson: "These offences of course involve serious harm being caused to defenceless children, even including babies as we've seen, for the gratification of people like you. You therefore form part of the market, without which this activity would not occur, or at any rate, not on the same industrial scale."

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A woman who sexually assaulted and raped a child with two other men has been given a life sentence for sexual offences against children today (Friday 13th May) following an extensive joint investigation by Merseyside Police and St Helens Social Care. During a previous court case in June 2021 a phone of a convicted paedophile showed indecent images and videos of children sent by a mobile number that was linked to Vicki Bevan. Further messages and images alleged that Vicki was sexually abusing children with two other men. The evidence led to a search being conducted of Vickis home address where numerous devices including laptops and a mobile phone were found with several indecent images of children that were shared with two men Tony Hutton and Paul Rafferty. Bevan was arrested on Monday 25th October 2021 and was charged with 11 offences the following day. Further charges were then added to Bevans indictment at court and she was charged with a total of 34 offences. After all pleading guilty at Liverpool Crown Court in January 2022 Vicki Bevan of Napier Street, St Helens was today given a life sentence with a minimum term of 10 years for rape, five counts of assault of a child under 13 by penetration, two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, making indecent images, three counts of distributing indecent photographs of a child and two counts of possessing extreme pornography. Paul Rafferty, 62, of Fry Street, St Helens was jailed for 10 years with an extended four year license for the rape of a child under 13, assaulting a child under the age of 13 by penetration, sexual assault of a child under 13, three counts of making indecent photographs of a child, one count of making an indecent photograph and two counts of making indecent photographs. Tony Hutton, 42, of Liverpool Street, St Helens was jailed for four years for sexual assault of a child under 13 and two counts of taking indecent photographs. Detective Chief Inspector Allison Woods said: These extremely disturbing crimes committed by Bevan, Rafferty and Hutton have caused great psychological and physical harm to their victims and destroyed lives. They repeatedly subjected them to deplorable offences, and we welcome the lengthy sentences given out by the court today. "Thanks to our extensive investigations with St Helens Social Services these three despicable offenders are all behind bars where they pose no further risk to other children. I would like to thank the detectives and social workers on the investigation team who have worked tirelessly to support the victims of Bevan, Rafferty and Hutton and gather evidence to bring them to justice. It proves that Merseyside Police are completely committed to protecting children from sexual abuse and those who seek to do them harm. 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 have a specialist team committed to dealing with all forms of child abuse, who will treat any information from you extremely seriously, and will follow up every report and any information that comes in, so please report this to us. I can assure anyone who reports such offences that you will be treated with the utmost sensitivity and fully supported through the entire process.

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A woman who sexually assaulted and raped a child with two other men has been given a life sentence for sexual offences against children today (Friday 13th May) following an extensive joint investigation by Merseyside Police and St Helens Social Care. During a previous court case in June 2021 a phone of a convicted paedophile showed indecent images and videos of children sent by a mobile number that was linked to Vicki Bevan. Further messages and images alleged that Vicki was sexually abusing children with two other men. The evidence led to a search being conducted of Vickis home address where numerous devices including laptops and a mobile phone were found with several indecent images of children that were shared with two men Tony Hutton and Paul Rafferty. Bevan was arrested on Monday 25th October 2021 and was charged with 11 offences the following day. Further charges were then added to Bevans indictment at court and she was charged with a total of 34 offences. After all pleading guilty at Liverpool Crown Court in January 2022 Vicki Bevan of Napier Street, St Helens was today given a life sentence with a minimum term of 10 years for rape, five counts of assault of a child under 13 by penetration, two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, making indecent images, three counts of distributing indecent photographs of a child and two counts of possessing extreme pornography. Paul Rafferty, 62, of Fry Street, St Helens was jailed for 10 years with an extended four year license for the rape of a child under 13, assaulting a child under the age of 13 by penetration, sexual assault of a child under 13, three counts of making indecent photographs of a child, one count of making an indecent photograph and two counts of making indecent photographs. Tony Hutton, 42, of Liverpool Street, St Helens was jailed for four years for sexual assault of a child under 13 and two counts of taking indecent photographs. Detective Chief Inspector Allison Woods said: These extremely disturbing crimes committed by Bevan, Rafferty and Hutton have caused great psychological and physical harm to their victims and destroyed lives. They repeatedly subjected them to deplorable offences, and we welcome the lengthy sentences given out by the court today. "Thanks to our extensive investigations with St Helens Social Services these three despicable offenders are all behind bars where they pose no further risk to other children. I would like to thank the detectives and social workers on the investigation team who have worked tirelessly to support the victims of Bevan, Rafferty and Hutton and gather evidence to bring them to justice. It proves that Merseyside Police are completely committed to protecting children from sexual abuse and those who seek to do them harm. 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 have a specialist team committed to dealing with all forms of child abuse, who will treat any information from you extremely seriously, and will follow up every report and any information that comes in, so please report this to us. I can assure anyone who reports such offences that you will be treated with the utmost sensitivity and fully supported through the entire process.

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A waiter at a Chinese restaurant 'persuaded' a 15-year-old girl to have sex with him after taking her back to his flat.

Christopher Chan, 34, took a 15-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, back to his flat in Southport and had what the court was told was 'consensual sexual intercourse' with her. On two of the occasions Chan had given the 15-year-old alcohol, but a judge found that was to 'develop their relationship' rather than to facilitate the offences.

Liverpool Crown Court heard on Friday, April 22, that Chan committed the offences while “on the bounce” after the end of a serious relationship. In an impact statement read to the court, the girl told how he persuaded her to have sex with him. 

She said his behaviour had affected her ability to concentrate at school and she went from having very good grades to poor ones which spoilt her chances of attending Cambridge University. She began self-harming and took an overdose, and has since been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder and is on medication.

The girl said: "I now have trust issues with men, worrying they want to take advantage of me for their own needs."

Chan, who worked at Lings On Kings in King Street, Southport, had been found guilty of four offences of engaging in sexual activity with a child involving penetration.

Jailing him for three years Judge David Aubrey, QC, pointed out that the defendant had been twice her age and she had told him that she was under the age of consent.

He said: "You were not in a good place at the time because a long term relationship had broken down. However you knew it was against the law and wrong to engage in sexual activity with your victim

"There is no doubt whatsoever your victim has been impacted to a considerable extent by the relationship that she had with you."

Arthur Gibson, defending, pointed out that the offences took place with a two week period when the girl was three months short of her 16th birthday.

He said the offences happened after the break down of a very serious relationship. He suffers from agoraphobia and depression and it was his continual demands on her that led to her leaving him.

Judge Aubrey ordered Chan, of Manchester Road, Southport, to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

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A former teaching assistant was jailed after he deliberately used his position as a football coach to groom and abuse a young boy.

David Jones, described by a judge as a "serious risk to boys", first met the young boy when he was working at his primary school as a teaching assistant. The 33-year-old took an "instant liking" to the child and invited him to join a football club that he coached, with the young footballer doing so.

He began to groom him with text messages and lifts in his car with him integrating himself into the life of the boy's family. His parents innocently thought that the friendship was good for their son and improved his confidence but Liverpool Crown Court was told that his sexual abuse of the young boy led to him attempting suicide and has devastated his life.

When jailing Jones, Judge Anil Murray told him: “Your actions were carefully planned and designed to groom a child to take part in sexual activity with you for your sexual gratification.” The court also heard that some years later, in 2018, by which time Jones was a fully qualified teacher, he created a fake Instagram profile posing as an 11-year-old girl to contact a boy one year older.

He sent him messages that included "you're fit" and asked him to send naked photographs of himself. Fortunately, the boy was sceptical and told his mum about the messages who then contacted the police.

Officers managed to track the IP address of the account to a home of a couple where Jones had been house sitting at the time of the offence. He originally denied being to blame when interviewed and then wrote to the couple saying he had developed an addiction to pornography. He said that this had led to an increased interest in boys aged 12 and 13, however, when he was re-interviewed he made no comment.

Judge Anil Murray told Jones, of Loxley Road, Southport, that every parent of every boy he had taught “will be wondering whether you have committed any other offences. He said: "You are an intelligent man and you used your intellect to commit these offences.”

He said that he was satisfied that he had “selected the boy for grooming due to your sexual attraction to him from the beginning”. And he told him that the victim “says that his whole childhood was taken away from him by you”.

He said he accepted that Jones has lost his career but pointed out, “It is all your own fault”. Judge Murray said that Jones posed a high risk of re-offending. He added: “I am satisfied you present a serious risk to boys.”

He jailed him for three and a half years and ordered him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life. He imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a restraining order for 15 years.

Jones admitted the Instagram offence involving inciting a child under 13 to commit a sexual act involving sending him photographs. He denied two offences of sexually assaulting the schoolboy footballer - one happening on at least five occasions - and an offence of causing him to engage in sexual activity but he was convicted by a jury after a trial.

Gareth Roberts, prosecuting, told how the two sexual assault offences on the schoolboy involved him putting his leg on his leg and rubbing his crotch. The third offence involved him asking the boy to touch his penis which the boy refused to do.

Mr Roberts told the jury that eventually the victim had enough of the texts and the touching and attention and left the football club. The prosecutor explained: “He didn’t want to tell anyone what had happened to him, he was embarrassed about it.”

But some time later he found that Jones had been in contact with his parents wanting to talk to them about rumours about him and so he told them about what Jones had done to him. Mr Roberts said: "He cried as he told them”, then his parents rang the police.

In an impact statement read to the court today, the victim told how he was having counselling and the offences have “impacted my day to day life”. He said that while at school he tried to commit suicide and became very angry but has since managed to control his anger.

He now has trust issues and only speaks to his family and girlfriend. The victim also said he has mental health issues and was afraid of bumping into the defendant. Hugh Barton, defending, said that Jones “has lost everything".

He said: “It wasn’t just a job, it was something he was passionate about and he was passionate about his coaching. He maintains it was not some sinister job to gain access to children.”

He pointed out that there were no other complainants and said that Jones was now a logistics manager for a salad production company after twice being promoted. Mr Barton added that the defendant “is a man who struggles with his identity”.