Latest Offenders Merseyside

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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.

Description

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.

Description

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”.

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The ex karate instructor was labelled a 'monster' after raping a woman and schoolgirl A former karate instructor who raped a schoolgirl and a woman was today labelled a "monster". David Bottomley said he led a life of "public service" - working at a YMCA and as a coastguard and a prison security officer. But the 58-year-old was exposed in court as a "violent and abusive" rapist and paedophile. Bottomley, who ran martial arts classes and also worked as a doorman in Southport, was today jailed for 14 years. That was after one of his victims called him a "monster" and a top judge branded him "dishonest and devious". Liverpool Crown Court heard Bottomley first abused a woman, when he committed a historic sex offence against her, which would today be classed as rape. Robert Dudley, prosecuting, said in another incident he used a karate kick on the woman's jaw while wearing steel toe capped boots. The first victim did not tell anyone about what happened until other allegations against Bottomley emerged in 2017. That was when his second victim - at the time of the abuse a schoolgirl and now an adult - watched an episode of BBC Crimewatch. Mr Dudley said when the presenter asked a question about knowing anyone who was sexually abused as a child or an abuser who has contact with children, "it triggered something in her". She wrote a letter to her mum, whom she had never told before, and it was decided that she should contact the police. When interviewed by officers, she disclosed Bottomley raped her when she was about 12. The first victim then also made a complaint to the police. Bottomley, of Hoole Lane, Banks, denied any wrongdoing, which meant his victims had to give evidence at a trial in January. He was convicted of the historic sex offence and of assault causing actual bodily harm against the first woman. She today said Bottomley "permanently destroyed" her trust in people and made her feel "damaged, spoiled and degraded". In a victim statement read by Mr Dudley, she told her abuser: "You're a bully and a coward. Some people might say you're an animal, but that would be an insult to animals... You're a monster and what nightmares are made of." Bottomley was found guilty of rape, indecency with a child and two counts of indecent assault against the schoolgirl. In a victim statement, she said what Bottomley did to her would stay with her until the day she dies. Bottomley was acquitted of two other sex assaults on the schoolgirl and of three sex offences on two other girls. When the verdicts were returned, he collapsed in the dock and was helped by security staff, until he was taken away by ambulance to hospital. Judge David Aubrey, QC, ordered a medical report on the defendant, who he was told had a history of minor strokes. However, Patrick Williamson, defending, today confirmed his client actually suffered from salivary gland cancer, which caused symptoms including facial numbness similar to a stroke, when he had a carotid tumour removed in 2017. He said: "In respect of the episode at the conclusion of the trial, that was diagnosed as a dissociative episode brought on by stress and anxiety. But it was not fortunately related in any way to the question of a stroke or a TIA [transient ischaemic attack]." Mr Williamson said Bottomley, of previous good character, was supported by his girlfriend, sitting in the public gallery. He said his work history was "in essence of public service", initially volunteering with Sefton Coast and Countryside Service, then working and volunteering at Southport YMCA, before he worked for five years for the Coastguard, in search and rescue teams, when he witnessed 13 deaths. Mr Williamson said his client later joined the Prison Service as a security guard at HMP Kirkham. However, he was diagnosed with "complex PTSD" due to what he saw as a coastguard, "witnessing both adults and children who had died as a result of misadventure at sea". The lawyer said it would be Bottomley's first time in jail. He said: "His reaction on receiving the verdicts is perhaps indicative of the predicament he finds himself in and the future that is held for him." Judge Aubrey said he was satisfied Bottomley was a "violent and abusive" man, whose sex attack on the woman left her feeling sick, violated and humiliated. He said on another occasion he kicked her in the jaw. Judge Aubrey said: "You had steel toe cap boots on. She described it as being excruciatingly painful and thought you had broken her jaw." The judge said Bottomley raped and abused the schoolgirl - manipulating her by giving her money afterwards. He said: "You have left your victims scarred for life and in effect have imposed a life sentence upon each." Judge Aubrey told Bottomley: "You have shown no remorse whatsoever." He said the victims had to "relive their ordeals" at his hands because he pleaded not guilty. Judge Aubrey said: "However, the trial has allowed me to assess you. It's apparent in my judgement your evidence you had rehearsed in detail, in order to seek to tailor a dishonest and devious account, to the evidence. Not only did you manipulate your victims, you then sought to manipulate the evidence." Judge Aubrey jailed Bottomley for four years in respect of the woman. He imposed a consecutive 10 years, with an extended one year on licence as an "offender of particular concern", in respect of the schoolgirl. The combined effect of these two types of sentences means Bottomley must spend at least eight years and eight months behind bars before he can apply for parole. Judge Aubrey told him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life. Bottomley's girlfriend told two companions "come on let's go" and left court, moaning: "Utter joke."

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A 26-year-old man who took a video of a naked woman while she slept has been jailed.

A judge told Daniel Tiernan, “This was a betrayal by you.”

The unsuspecting woman knew nothing about what he had done until she came across his mobile phone by chance and decided “to have bit of a nose”.

She found a 25-second video on it showing her saying asleep in her own bed. 

Peter Killen, prosecuting, told the court the video showed the woman was lying with her back to the camera and the duvet she was under was pulled up exposing her naked body.

She reported the matter to the police and said she had been asleep and had not consented to being filmed.

In an impact statement the woman described herself as “mortified and betrayed. I feel messed up in my head.”

She is on medication for depression and anxiety and had been worried that the footage might have been posted online. She said she felt very traumatised, said Mr Killen.

Tiernan, of North Road, Tranmere, pleaded guilty to sexual assault.

Jailing him for 16 months Judge David Aubrey, QC, said that there was no suggestion he had distributed the footage but there had been the possibility that he might.

He said that the victim’s fears that he might have distributed it or if she had not found it whether he might have gone on to do so underlined the seriousness of the offence.

“She was asleep in her own bed and in the judgement of the court was particularly vulnerable.”

Judge Aubrey said, “That was a betrayal of trust and in the judgement of the court it was an extreme betrayal.

“You had violated her, you had invaded her privacy in the most serious of ways.  It is clearly understandable that when she observed what you had recorded she felt deeply betrayed and mortified.”

Tiernan initially denied the offence and only pleaded guilty on the first day of the trial.

Judge Aubrey ordered him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years and imposed a restraining order to last the same length of time.

David Birrell, defending, said that Tiernan is in work though his employers were unaware of the court proceedings.

“At the time he was abusing controlled drugs on an almost daily basis but he has now addressed that drug problem.

“He voluntarily sectioned himself at Clatterbridge Hospital and was referred to Wirral Ways to Recovery and through their assistance has managed to rid himself of drug habit to his credit.”

Mr Birrell added that Tiernan is a “troubled young man with mental health and emotional issues and he attempted suicide last year.”

Description

A paedophile climbed up a ladder and into a bedroom to sexually assault two sleeping little girls. Convicted sex offender Luke McHugh was supposed to be locked into his secure accommodation on Knowsleys Longmeadow Road and prevented from leaving without supervision. Yet the 20-year-old tampered with a window and escaped in the dead of night to launch his attack on a house in the local area in July last year. Liverpool Crown Court heard today he was only stopped from sexually assaulting two girls in the house after their dad heard him get in. Nardeen Nemat, prosecuting, said McHugh planned his attack for days, using loud music and a request for quiet time from his support workers to sneak out of his room and spy on the house where his victims lived. He was caught on CCTV lurking outside the home on numerous days leading up to the attack after seeing toys through the windows. Finally, he climbed into the back garden of the house, found a ladder and placed it against the wall under the bedroom window. Hot weather meant it had been left ajar and McHugh climbed in before being disturbed by the girls dad. He then fled and went back to his accommodation without being apprehended. The girls parents were initially unsure about the motivation for the break-in, believing it could be a burglary. However, police investigations later uncovered CCTV of a man later identified as McHugh visiting the house on numerous occasions before the attack. When police arrested him in August they found a range of disturbing items in his bedroom in his accommodation unit. They included childrens toys and underwear, as well as nappies, condoms and sexual lubricant. He was in the unit after trying to incite an eight-year-old girl he was chatting to over the internet to send him pictures of herself naked. He also has convictions for possession of indecent images of children. Ms Nemat said his previous convictions and the extensive planning that went into the break in pointed towards McHugh having the intention to commit a serious sexual assault. She also referenced probation reports which pointed to McHughs fixation on sexual activity. Ms Nemat said: The defendant is quite clearly obsessed with having his [sexual] needs met. He also has a deep rooted fascination with and sexual attraction towards children. The girls mum spoke today of the familys difficulty in coming to terms with what had happened to them. She said that while McHughs ultimate aim had been avoided, she and the wider family had been left traumatised by what had happened. She said it was his intention to make our wonderful precious girls his victims. This really is any parents nightmare - and our nightmare continues. The woman said she was now scared of the dark and worried about how to explain the attack to her children in the future. Jonathan Duffy, defending, said McHughs age and, particularly, his complex mental health conditions, including ADHD and autism, represented a significant impediment to his understanding of his offending. However, he said McHugh understood a lengthy prison sentence awaited him. Mr Duffy said: He accepts that and he understands he needs help and probably treatment and he will take any opportunity he can in prison to avail himself of those opportunities. The judge, Robert Trevor-Jones, said McHugh had carried out his attack in a calculated and predatory way, specifically scoping out the house in the days before the attack. Referring to the girls mothers statement to the court, he said the incident was every parents worst nightmare and it was only the girls father that stopped him from going further. Judge Trevor-Jones said: Some noise luckily awoke the father who opened the door only to see your silhouette in the childrens room and to shout out. That caused you to flee. Even more fortunate of course was the fact that neither child woke up to witness a stranger in their bedroom and that the fathers actions avoided the girls being violated and traumatised. Judge Trevor-Jones said he was confident McHugh intended to commit a serious sexual assault on the children. McHugh, of Longmeadow Road, was detained for a total of ten years, the maximum term available for trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence. The judge extended his initial sentence of six years and eight months to take account of McHughs dangerousness. He will serve two thirds behind bars before being assessed for parole.

Description

A paedophile who downloaded more than 14,000 images of kids being sexually abused was caught with a manual detailing how to rape children.

Roy Neilson collected a trove of images on his laptop showing children as young as two being subjected to horrendous abuse. The 66-year-old, from Wirral, later said he had downloaded the images out of interest but had later developed an obsession with child abuse.

Derek Jones, prosecuting, said police traced Neilsons IP address from a tip off about indecent images being downloaded to a computer. They later seized an HP laptop from his Moreton home and recovered 14,670 indecent images, including 1,296 which fell into the most serious Category A.

Liverpool Crown Court heard a number of the images showed children clearly in distress or pain. In addition, Neilson had also downloaded parts of a manual on how to rape children.

Mr Jones said: It seems he had visited a Japanese pornographic website for the guide and bookmarked the page so he could return to it. He said the document contained an image of a child being raped and provided instructions for potential sexual abusers.

Mr Jones said: It is quite a shocking document. Bernice Campbell, defending, said there was little apart from Neilsons guilty plea that could be used as mitigation in his case.

She said Neilson had downloaded the disgusting pictures first out of curiosity but had then become addicted to looking at photos of child sexual abuse and was shocked by the number of photos recovered by police. Referring to the paedophile manual, Ms Campbell said Neilson had looked at it out of interest as opposed to having an intention to commit physical abuse against a child.

Appealing to the judge not to send him to prison, Ms Campbell referred to a pre sentence report which said he could be rehabilitated. She also pointed to the fact that he had taken no steps to cover up his offending and said that if he were to go to prison he would likely be exposed to more serious offenders who could impede any progress addressing his behaviour

Judge Stuart Driver QC said the amount of images, the age of the children and the clear distress of many of the victims in the images meant only immediate custody was appropriate for Neilson. Referring to the paedophile manual, he said: The court see many cases of indecent images but that is an unusual and most unpleasant feature of this case."

Neilson, of Fairmead Road, Morton, was jailed for 12 months.

Description

The dark past of a former primary school and college caretaker was exposed in court.

Robert Jones, now 70, was a caretaker at Sudley Junior School in Aigburth in the early 1970s. While working at the school the then 20-year-old exposed himself to two little girls in the toilets.

But he went on to get a job at Liverpool Polytechnic, which later became Liverpool John Moores University. During this period he subjected a little girl to depraved sexual abuse, which has only now come to light.

Liverpool Crown Court heard Jones even threatened the child that if she told her dad, her dad would "batter" him, and it would be her dad - not him - who went to prison. Prosecutors said the woman came forward to the police in 2018, after years of living with the effects of the abuse, in the 1970s and 1980s.

Jones, of Hardie Avenue, Moreton, Wirral, denied any wrongdoing, which forced his victim to give evidence in a harrowing trial. He was found guilty of five counts of indecent assault and one count of indecency with a child, in relation to the now adult victim.

Sarah Holt, prosecuting, told the jury Jones began abusing the girl when she was aged just six, by touching her genital area. The trial heard he performed a sex act in front of her on several occasions and once told her to do the same to him, which she did.

Ms Holt said he took her out in a car to a country lane close to Speke Airport, where she could watch the planes taking off. But while there, he exposed himself to her, told her to touch him and "said he would buy her things if she did".

The court heard the girl knew she didn't want to do it, but described how he made her perform a sex act, as he had done previously. Jones lowered his trousers and rubbed himself against the girl when she was clothed on another occasion, when she was aged nine or 10.

Ms Holt said when the girl was around that age, Jones asked if he could touch her breasts and told her "it would make them grow bigger". The victim described another time when she was around nine when he touched her genital area over clothing under the pretence of a game.

The court heard as the victim grew older she "knew it had to stop" and once said she would tell her dad. Ms Holt said Jones told the girl that if he found out, her dad would "batter" him, and then her dad would go to jail.

She said the child later "started to stand up" to Jones, told him "no" and refused his offers of gifts. Yet the court heard the victim "never got over her feelings of anger" towards Jones and his behaviour "had a profound effect upon her".

When interviewed by police, Jones denied ever sexually abusing the girl, accused her of lying, and denied having a sexual interest in children. He maintained this stance at trial, when he told the court he didn't have any previous convictions, except for an old driving offence.

This was supported by a police print out of his criminal record, which led to Judge Anil Murray telling the jury he was effectively of good character. However, ahead of sentencing Jones spoke to the Probation Service for a pre-sentence report and it emerged he in fact had a conviction from July 1972, which had been missed off the end of the print out.

That was for indecent exposure with intent to insult a female, under the Vagrancy Act. Further enquiries made by the prosecution revealed that at the time he had been working as a caretaker at Sudley Junior School in Aigburth Road, where it was said he had gone into a toilet while two six-year-old children were present and exposed himself.

David Watson, defending, said his client claimed he couldn't remember this offence, but accepted his criminal record was correct and wanted to be sentenced. He said Jones still denied sexually abusing his victim.

Judge Murray jailed Jones for five years. He told him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register and comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life.

Jones was also accused by two other women of sexually abusing them when they were children in the 1970s and 1980s. But the jury couldn't reach verdicts in respect of those allegations, which prosecutors asked to be left to lie on the file at the conclusion of the trial.

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A child rapist is back in jail after police discovered his collection of extreme pornography.

Michael Wright was found deleting content from his laptop when a police officer visited his home. The device was seized and more than 150 images of bestiality were discovered - along with Google searches for more depraved content.

Wright was jailed in 2016 after admitting a string of child sexual offences including three counts of rape. Then of Southport, the HGV driver was sentenced to seven years in jail.

He had been released on licence when a police officer attended his home in June 2021. The visit was a requirement of a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order he was subjected to. That order banned him from having electronic devices that police were not given access to, and from having any device that could access the internet unless it recorded his search history.

Daniel Bramhall, prosecuting, said the officer who attended Wrights home believed he was attempting to deter them from going in, arguing: Its a bit of a mess. Once inside, the officer found the flat clean and tidy and saw two laptops and a mobile phone on a coffee table. One of the laptops was in use.

Mr Bramhall said: When asked if police had the details of this device the defendant said the computer did not belong to him and he was wiping it for someone who lived downstairs. He then claimed it was his laptop but that he was clearing it so that he could sell it.

Wright was arrested on suspicion of breaching his SHPO and the laptops seized. The one that was having its memory cleared was found to hold 169 images of extreme pornography, typically involving animals. The images dated back to 2016 and Wright said: I was addicted to pornography at the time it was depraved. The 54-year-old admitted possession of extreme pornography and breaching his SHPO.

Gareth Roberts, defending Wright, told Liverpool Crown Court his client had sought to fight his demons over recent years but said that in 2016: He was in the grip of an insidious and rather horrible addiction to pornography.

Mr Roberts said this decimated his clients life but said the images found on his laptop had been downloaded a long time ago and since his conviction he had worked hard to turn his life around. He added: He wants to get on with the process of rehabilitating himself.

Judge Stuart Driver, QC, said Wright was caught in the very act of deleting his laptops history but accepted there was no evidence of recent unlawful activity.

He handed Wright, who has been in prison since his arrest last summer, a six month jail term.

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A child rapist took sick photographs of himself abusing a little boy.

Robert Trigg had been accessing child porn images from the internet, the National Crime Agency found in May last year. Officers raided his home and seized electronic items from his bedroom including his iPhone.

Arthur Gibson, prosecuting, said when the phone was forensically examined indecent images were found. Liverpool Crown Court heard there were 36 images in the most serious category of abuse, 38 in the next category and 137 in the least serious group.

It was noticed there were three images in each category showing the same young boy and police were able to identify the victim. Mr Gibson said that the offences had taken place when the boy was aged between three and five.

Pervert Trigg had moved the images, showing him and the boy both naked engaged in inappropriate sexual behaviour, to a secure keep safe vault on his phone so that he could look at them whenever he wanted. Trigg, of Fairclough Crescent, Haydock, pleaded guilty to oral rape of the child, two offences of causing or inciting him to engage in sexual activity and three offences of taking indecent photographs of the boy.

The court heard since those offences Trigg was convicted of three offences of downloading a total of 147 indecent images in all three categories of seriousness, for which he received a community order. Jailing him for 11 and a half years with an extended licence of 12 months Judge Denis Watson, QC described his behaviour as involving grotesque and serious offending.

He said he would sentence him on the basis the victim had been aged five and that the offences all took place on the same day. Judge Watson said that he had kept the images so you could access them if you wished to do so.

He added reports showed Trigg poses a high risk of re-offending against children. The judge ordered him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life and imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order to last indefinitely.

Paul Becker, defending, said Trigg was an intelligent man who had 13 GCSEs and had worked in various roles including the hotel industry. Mr Becker said: Sadly his life has been blighted by alcohol.

He added Trigg had been involved in working for the charity, the HoneyRose Foundation in St Helens. Mr Becker said: He accepts full responsibility for these terrible offences and is thoroughly ashamed of himself.

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Gary Healey flew to Faro with his fiance, breaching his court order for an eighth time A child sex offender broke a court order for an eighth time by flying to Portugal with his fiance. Gary Healey flew off to Faro with his fiance without notifying police he had obtained a passport or he was leaving the country. Daniel Bramhall, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court how the Home Office contacted police on October 22 last year about Healey having left the country. Five days later, Healeys sex offender manager spoke to him on the phone. Healey, 46, had been placed on the sex offenders' register for seven years in 2017 after being convicted of inciting a girl under 16 to engage in sexual activity, which earned him a suspended prison sentence. Healey confirmed he had obtained a passport on December 8, 2020 and failed to notify police about it. He voluntarily attended Birkenhead police station and admitted to the breach and also said he failed to notify the force about going abroad. The court heard he has three previous convictions for 11 offences. The other seven convictions are for breaching the requirement of the Sexual Offenders Register by not notifying the authorities he was homeless. Healey, of Osborne Road, Birkenhead, pleaded guilty to two offences of breaching the SOR order but narrowly escaped being sent straight to jail after a judge heard how he has recently been engaging with support workers. Judge Gary Woodhall imposed a six month prison sentence suspended for 15 months and ordered him to carry out 15 days rehabilitation activities. He said: "You have this hanging over you to make sure you continue to engage with those support services." The judge also imposed a three month curfew with an electronic tag for three months between 9pm-6am and ordered him to pay 340 prosecution costs. Anna Duke, defending, said that his probation officer confirmed that he has been engaging with his support workers. Judge Woodhall told Healey, whose fiance sat in the public gallery, that the pre-sentence report revealed when his partners father was terminally ill his dying wish was for the couple to have a foreign holiday. He encouraged Healey, who had never been abroad, to get a passport and after his death they went to Faro. The judge said that Healey had long term drug problems but there has now been consistent engagement with community support services and you have demonstrated your motivation to engage with the problem. He added that the defendant now has stable accommodation and strong family ties and is assessed as a low risk of re-offending.

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A paedophile claimed he sent a decoy posing as a 13-year-old girl explicit photos and sexual messages as an escape from the stress of his dad dying from cancer. Alex McDonald, 20, first messaged Amber on February 9 last year, asking on Kik if she wanted a tribute a type of sex act someone films and sends on. Despite Amber saying she was 13, McDonald carried on sending pictures and videos of his penis and lied that he was 16, saying: Is that bad, or are you fine with it? When she told him its up to you, he said: I mean, Im fine with it just making sure youre not scared. Liverpool Crown Court heard McDonald sent more nude photos, along with others clearly showing his face, and encouraged her to perform a sex act before the messages stopped on March 19. Police went to his home in Walton, where he lived with his parents, a week later and his mum identified him from one of the selfies. Officers seized his two iPhones and a tower computer, before he attended a voluntary police interview on September 20. He gave a prepared statement, in which he admitted talking to Amber and accepted his actions were unlawful and he knew she was 13. McDonald said he was ashamed before answering no comment to all further questions. He was jailed for 20 months after pleading guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to cause a child aged 13 to 15 to look at an image of sexual activity, and attempting to cause a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity. Defending, David Birrell told the court: He was at a low ebb in his life at the time he committed these offences. He was at home, essentially isolating, caring for his terminally ill father. His father has stage four cancer, which has spread throughout his body and, frankly, he has not long left. Hes lived beyond the prognosis he was given, which was 12 months, and the defendant was struggling emotionally and turned to alcohol. He sought to escape I suppose online and it was against that background that he committed these offences. Mr Birrell told the court McDonalds mum had written a letter saying he is a decent person and calling his behaviour a one-off. He said the author of a pre-sentence report believed McDonalds dads cancer may very well have contributed to this offending and suggested his risk could be managed in the community with a sex offender treatment programme. But Judge Anil Murray told McDonald that in his chats with Amber, you made it clear you werent bothered about her being 13. He also observed McDonald said he didnt remember the conversations, denied having any sexual interest in children and said he didnt think the chats were illegal at the time. The judge added: Youre now in a relationship with someone. I note you havent told her about this case. He went on: Im not convinced youre a realistic prospect of rehabilitation. You continue to say you cant remember what you did. You say you cant remember the conversations. You say you have no sexual interest in children. All of those contentions seem very unlikely to me. McDonald was also ordered to sign on the Sex Offenders Register and comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.

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A CONVICTED paedophile has pleaded guilty to further sexual offences against a young girl. Melvin Miller, 46 and originally from St Helens, was jailed in April 2020 for 17 years after pleading guilty to 35 sexual offences against two girls. While he was in prison, one of the girls he abused told an adult about other rapes that she was subjected to by the defendant on a regular basis. Police made further investigations and found a video on the hard drive of Millers computer that showed him raping her. The evidence was sent to the Crown Prosecution Service and authorisation was given for Miller to be charged with further offences Today (March 8, 2022) at Liverpool Crown Court, Miller pleaded guilty to offences of rape, attempted rape and taking indecent images of a child. He will be sentenced at a later date. In a statement Senior Crown Prosecutor Mairead Neeson, a specialist lawyer with CPS Mersey Cheshires Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) unit, said: The video evidence of the abuse of this very young girl found on the hard drive of Melvins Millers computer was harrowing and revealed the level of depravity he had inflicted upon her. This young girl could not possibly have understood what she was being forced into she was just a means to an end for Miller. "The feelings and emotions of this young child meant nothing to him. She now has to find a way forward in her life, having suffered such trauma. She was unable to disclose the full extent of the abuse she had suffered when Miller was prosecuted in 2020, given her tender years and the inherent difficulty that exists for very young children to voice matters of such an intimate nature. "This often happens. It is not unusual for children to deny the abuse they have suffered or be silent as to what has happened. "It often takes years for victims of sexual abuse to vocalise what has happened to them. She has been exceptionally brave in coming forward despite still being a very young child. The Crown Prosecution Service works hard to support the victims of child sexual abuse and their families and help them through the criminal justice system. Time is no barrier to a prosecution. "We will listen to victims, no matter how long ago the offending took place.