Latest Offenders Middlesbrough

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A man has been jailed for 33 years after carrying out horrific sexual and physical abuse.

68-year-old Stephen Poulton, of Ellis Gardens in Hemlington, Middlesbrough, was convicted of 28 offences following a trial at Teesside Crown Court.

The horrendous sexual and physical violence was some of the most harrowing that officers from the Child Abuse and Vulnerable Adults Team had heard during their careers.  

At Teesside Crown Court today, Friday 28th November, Stephen Poulton was sentenced to 33 years in prison.

Detective Inspector Joanne Lamb, from the Child Abuse and Vulnerable Adults (CAVA) Team, said:

“Today’s sentencing marks an important step towards justice in this case. We want to first recognise the extraordinary courage shown by the victims. Coming forward to speak about deeply painful experiences is never easy and their strength has been essential in bringing the truth to light.

“We hope this outcome provides some measure of comfort for the victims, and we thank them for their bravery, resilience and trust throughout this process. Their actions have not only helped secure accountability for these horrendous offences, but may also protect others from harm.

“Whilst all forms of abuse are difficult to comprehend, this is a particularly harrowing case, and despite the officers working on it being experienced, they were visibly impacted by the details and levels of abuse perpetrated by Poulton.

“We also want to remind anyone who has experienced or is currently experiencing abuse that support is available. You are not alone. We encourage you to speak out. No one should ever suffer in silence, and today’s sentencing demonstrates that when victims come forward, their voices are heard.”

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A sexual predator, Michael Wanless, has been convicted of attempting to rape a young woman during her early morning jog on Granwood Road in Eston.

The 41-year-old dragged the victim to the ground on July 17, 2023. She screamed for help, prompting local residents to rush out, pursue him, and hold him until police arrested him.

Wanless, of no fixed abode, denied the charges but was found guilty after a trial at Teesside Crown Court, where the jury deliberated for just 35 minutes, reports Teesside Live.

Judge Aisha Wadoodi recommended commendations for the brave members of the public who assisted.

Cleveland Police said their intervention "undoubtedly saved the woman from an even worse fate."

A force spokesperson added: "The man attacked the woman, pulling her violently to the ground but she bravely fought him off whilst screaming for help.

"Several local people came to her aid, chasing the man some distance until he was quickly detained by attending police officers."

Wanless will be sentenced at the same court on January 9.

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A former soap opera extra, Rizwan Khan—known as "Riz"—has been jailed for raping two women in separate incidents years apart.

He was also sentenced for sexually assaulting one of the rape victims and for causing unnecessary suffering to a child by slapping them.

Teesside Crown Court heard that Khan told one victim, "I need what I need. I want what I want. You, as a woman, should abide by what a man wants," before raping her despite her repeated refusals. He punched and slapped her, and both victims testified to his violence. The second victim awoke to him assaulting her.

Khan denied the charges but was convicted by a jury in August of two rapes, one sexual assault, and child cruelty; he was cleared of four other rape counts.

At sentencing on Tuesday, Khan stood emotionless as prosecutor Robin Turton read victim statements. One said she suffers anxiety and nightmares: "What he did goes round and round in my head. When I see his face in the newspaper, I feel sick."

Defense barrister Andrew Stranex said Khan maintains his innocence: "It would be quite bizarre if he said he did it, after standing trial." He added, "He is concerned about his parents and their healthcare. Any account saying there's social care available, doesn't take into account the level of his care for them."

Judge Paul Reid noted, "Your pre-sentence report says you demonstrate entitlement and hostility towards females."

Khan, of Union Street in Middlesbrough, was sentenced to 11 years and nine months in prison. He must sign the sex offenders' register for life, is subject to a sexual harm prevention order, and restraining orders prohibit contact with the victims.

During trial, Khan said he worked in a Stokesley call center before pursuing acting at 34, going to the gym daily as jobs came in. He appeared in Hollyoaks and ITV's Vera.

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A paedophile who sexually assaulted two young children and made them watch sexual content has today been jailed for 18 years with five years on extended license.

Connor Wright, 32, assaulted the children between June and July 2024 and told them not to tell anyone about the abuse, because it was “their secret”.

He also showed them graphic sexual content, incited them to engage in sexual activity and took indecent images and videos of them.

After one of the children bravely disclosed what was happening, it was reported to police and the force’s specialist Child Abuse and Vulnerable Adults Team (CAVA) launched an investigation.

Wright was arrested on 25th July 2024 and his phone was seized for examination. A search was also carried out at his home address, where further devices and items were recovered.

The force’s Digital Forensic Unit (DFU) examined the devices and located more than a 100 indecent and prohibited images and videos of children, with four being graded as category A – the worst category.

Wright was arrested and charged with 25 offences including making indecent images of children, possessing prohibited images of children, voyeurism, rape and sexual assault.

He pleaded guilty to all offences at court and appeared at Teesside Crown Court for sentencing on 7th November where he was sentenced. 

Investigating officer Detective Constable Victoria Brown said:

“Wright committed some of the most vile crimes imaginable and caused an immeasurable amount of trauma to his young and vulnerable victims.

“He targeted the children in pursuit of his own twisted sexual gratification without any consideration for the impact his actions would have on them and I’m pleased that he has today been given a significant prison sentence.

“This was an extremely distressing case but the joint work from CAVA, DFU, and our Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT) was instrumental in helping us bring Wright before the courts and get justice for his victims and their families.

“I hope this result makes it clear we will do all we can to pursue those committing sexual offences against children and protect the vulnerable from harm.”

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A man has today been sentenced to 32 years in prison, following a string of violent and sexual offences dating back as far as the 1990s.

Edwin Youll was today sentenced at Teesside Crown Court, after he was found guilty of 26 charges following a trial in July this year.

63-year-old Edwin Youll, of Bexley Drive, Normanby, targeted vulnerable women and children and became violent towards them if they did not do as he commanded. He used his job as an unlicensed taxi driver to drive women around and target them, and on occasion used knives to facilitate his offending.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Superintendent Stuart Hodgson said:

“Firstly I would like to thank the brave victims who came forward and gave harrowing accounts of the horrendous sexual abuse carried out by Edwin Youll.

“I commend the bravery of these women, and all witnesses involved in this investigation, for coming forward and speaking to us, and for their patience throughout the investigation and judicial process.

“Whilst the experiences will stay with them forever, I am pleased that this chapter has now come to a close and that justice has been served, and Youll will now spend a significant time behind bars.

“Violence against women and girls is not acceptable and we will always urge anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence to contact Cleveland Police.”

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A sex offender was only out of prison for a few days before contacting the "vulnerable" victim of one of his previous crimes, a court heard.

Ethan Vickers was made subject of several prohibitions as part of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) imposed when he was jailed in October 2023.

Durham Crown Court was told they included not deleting the internet history on any device, and not using any alias on social media without the approval of his public protection officer.

But in late February this year, shortly after he was released from prison, police learned he had been in contact with a "vulnerable" 17-year-old woman in the area.

Victoria Lamballe, prosecuting, said it was the same victim of his offending in 2023, when she was aged 15.

Vickers was expressly told not to contact her when he was released from prison on February 20.

Miss Lamballe said some of the messages sent by Vickers to her in the few days after his release were sexually explicit and he also discussed meeting her.

When police visited his Teesside home address his phone was accessed and inspected and there was no evidence of the chat with the 17-year-old.

It emerged he had deleted the messages, in contravention of the SHPO.

Further analysis revealed he accessed X, formerly Twitter, on February 25, using the name 'Soft Boy 123', an alias he had not made police aware of, also in breach of the SHPO.

Miss Lamballe said other messages uncovered by police were made by other people in conversation with Vickers and related to the abuse of children.

She said the repeated nature of them were indicative of the defendant having been in conversation with these people, suggesting he had deleted his own comments.

When interviewed he made no comment at first but he claimed the messages from the female were old ones from previous chats.

Appearing by video link from HMP Holme House, where he has been on remand, Vickers, who turns 21 on Friday (July 11), and said to be of no fixed abode, admitted two breaches of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Miss Lamballe said he has four previous convictions for 15 "all directly relevant" offences.

These included inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity, possessing indecent photos of a child, and seeking to meet a girl for sex.

Offences of sexual communication with a child, in breach of a SHPO, led to him receiving a 28-month prison sentence and the further indefinite order, in October 2023.

But in August last year he received a further eight-month sentence for more indecent images offences.

Miss Lamballe added that it was a "significantly aggravating" feature of the case that he was just released on licence at the time of the latest offences and the female involved was the same victim in the earlier offending.

Nicci Horton, in mitigation, said she could not suggest that the defendant should receive anything other than an immediate prison sentence.

"The Probation Service does not feel they can manage his risk in the community.

"It's clear from his pre-sentence (probation) report that he doesn't have the full grasp of why this offending is so serious, but he says the complainant in one count voluntarily engaged with him."

Miss Horton added that the defendant has a diagnosis on the autistic spectrum and is prone to compulsive behaviour.

Judge Jo Kidd told Vickers: "The commission of these offences was within a few days of you being released from prison in circumstances where they were committed on licence and you knew what you were doing was in breach of your SHPO.

"It would appear to have had no deterrent effect on your behaviour, a pattern reflected in your appearances before court in 2023.

"It's clear you have an ongoing interest in viewing images of children and you have a complete disregard for court orders and don't consider they should in any way bound you."

Imposing a further 28-month prison sentence, the judge said it would be an adult prison term, as of Friday this week (July 11).

Judge Kidd said as the victim of his messaging will shortly turn 18 and did not request a restraining order, she would not put such an order in place.

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A pervert who had sexual communications with a child has been locked up.

Curtis Smith, who was sentenced for the original offences in 2021, was back before Teesside Crown Court after admitting five counts of breaching his sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard Smith, 25, of no fixed abode, had not only failed to notify police he was using certain social media platforms he was also using aliases on platforms including Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram without notifying officers what those aliases were.

Judge Advocate Thomas Mitchell said the defendant was placed on seven year order for having sexual communication with a child and officers uncovered the breaches when they visited his home. He said: "If you use an alias, you tell police what that alias is. This was a deliberate breach by you."

Judge Mitchell said it wasn't just one breach, it was several using different platforms. However, he added: "There is no evidence of you having communicated with children."

But, he said he was talking to females on the sites. The judge said that he felt Smith does potentially pose a risk to the public and ordered him to serve 15 months in prison.

He said the sentence would serve as a starting point for any courts in the future if he reoffends.

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A paedophile who groomed a girl online for years while using a fake profile then abused her in person is starting a lengthy jail term.

In May this year, Shabaz Hussain was found guilty of 12 child sex offences including five counts of engaging sexual activity with a child. He was sentenced on Tuesday to nine years' imprisonment at Teesside Crown Court.

His offending also included sexual communication with a child and arranging/facilitating commission of a child sex offence and three counts of possessing indecent images of children. A spokesperson for Cleveland Police said examination of his devices showed that Hussain, of Woodlands Road in Middlesbrough, had groomed a female child online over a number of years from when she was 12.

In order to gain the child’s trust, Hussain had also created a fake female child profile. "This profile was also used to communicate with the child reinforcing trust in Hussain and it was used to exploit and manipulate the victim," said a police spokesperson.

"The online grooming would eventually lead to Hussain arranging to travel and meet the child when she was 15 years old in order to engage in sexual activity with her under false pretence." The sentencing followed a lengthy investigation by Cleveland Police’s specialist POLIT team (Paedophile Online Investigation Team).

It came after a referral was made to them regarding Hussain communicating online with a child. Speaking after the sentencing, officer in the case, POLIT PC Evans heeded a warning to others about dangers online and also praised the victims' bravery.

“I’d like to pay tribute to the victims for their bravery in speaking to police and for supporting our enquiries which inevitably meant they had to relive their experiences with Hussain as we gathered information and evidence," said PC Evans.

“Hussain’s deceit in concealing his true identity while online and then when meeting the victims in person shows the danger he poses and I’m relieved he will now spend time in prison, with further restrictions on his freedoms after he is released. I hope the victims and their families can now begin to rebuild their lives.

“Cases like this illustrate the need for everyone to be aware of the dangers of speaking with people online. They may not be who they seem and we’d always urge extreme caution, especially when youngsters are engaging with people they don’t actually know.”

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“I am a survivor. As hard as it’s been, I am proud I spoke up and told someone.”

These are the powerful words of a young girl who this week saw her abuser jailed for four years.

Newrick Grange, who is more commonly known as Rob, tried to force the girl to carry out sex acts on herself over several years when he lived in Darlington.

The quick-thinking girl managed to secretly record one of the instances on her phone, which provided evidence of the abuse to the police and courts.   

Grange was arrested after the girl bravely told an adult what had happened, and an investigation was launched.

The 41-year-old was charged with three counts of sexual assault and one count of causing or inciting a girl under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity.

Grange (Rob Grange), of South Bank, Middlesbrough, denied the offences and went on trial at Teesside Crown Court in April.

A jury found him guilty of causing or inciting a girl under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity. He was acquitted of sexual assault.

He returned to court on Monday (June 9) for sentencing, where he was jailed for four years and handed a restraining order prohibiting him from contacting the girl.

He was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) preventing him from having any contact with children under 16 and placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely. 

In a victim impact statement, the girl said:

“The trauma inflicted on me is not just a moment in time, but a lifetime burden that will always affect me and all my relationships. However, I will try to heal as best as I can for the younger me.

“I tell people I’m okay, but I’m not. My childhood has been taken away from me due to the actions of Rob. All my good memories are now shadowed with the bad. I feel like I’ve had to mentally mature faster due to what I was subjected to by him.

“I want Rob to know exactly what he has done to me and the trauma he has caused me. He knows exactly what he has done, and it will haunt me for the rest of my life.

“I will use my experience to better other people. I want to spread awareness and help anyone who has or is going through what I have endured.”

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A man has been sentenced after being convicted of sexual assault following an incident in Middlesbrough.

On 1st July 2023, a woman in her forties was sexually assaulted whilst she slept after a group of people went back to a house after an evening out.

The woman fell asleep on the sofa and awoke in the early hours of the morning when she realised that one of the group, 53-year-old Jason Ahmed, was sexually assaulting her. When confronted he denied the offence.

Jason Ahmed, also known as Jake, from Gayton Sands in Middlesbrough, received a sentence of nine months imprisonment at Teesside Crown Court on Thursday 22nd May. He was given an indefinite restraining order and must adhere to strict sex offender notification requirements for ten years.

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A convicted sex offender has been accused of breaching a court order by photographing a child in a Tenerife swimming pool.

Ronald Barnbrook is currently subject to a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) and notification requirements relating to the sex offenders' register. But the 73-year-old is accused of breaching these by failing to notify police before allegedly flying to Tenerife from Newcastle Airport in November 2024.

Barnbrook, of Park Road South, Middlesbrough, was made subject to the SHPO in 2017. He appear at Teesside Magistrates' Court on Thursday, May 8, charged with the offences.

Court documents outlining the charges say: "Between November 19, 2024, and December 3, 2024, at Tenerife (Spain), without reasonable excuse, taken photographs of female children under the age of 18 years, an act prohibited from doing so by a sexual harm prevention order."

Anne Mitchell, prosecuting, told the court one image relates to a child in a swimming pool in Tenerife. Barnbrook was given conditional bail and will appear at Teesside Crown Court on June 5.

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A university graduate who stalked, chased and stabbed a schoolgirl has been locked up for 38 years.

Recluse Ellis Dismore, 24, posted intimate photos of his online partner to social media, after the teen blocked him to end any further contact between them. Despite being in a relationship, which was mainly conducted over Snapchat, the two had had never met.

On Thursday, June 22, 2023, after days of sending his victim, and her family, voice notes threatening to stab the pupil in the heart - Dismore bought two steak knives from Wilko and waited for the teen in Middlesbrough.

The pupil thought she had been in a relationship with a teenage boy called "James Wilson" but in fact Dismore had set up fake profiles online and used other people's photos. But she recognised Dismore's voice as that of James - as he began shouting at her and chasing her on Premier Road.

Dismore approached his victim from behind. The girl ran, but Dismore stabbed her five times in the back and in the chest.

He continued to try and stab her when a passing motorist heard her screams, and told the teen to get in their car. The victim suffered horrific injuries - three puncture wounds to her left breast and a slash wound to her hand.

Teesside Crown Court has hard that Dismore's attack would "likely have been fatal" if the passing motorist hadn't stopped. Dismore was found guilty of the attempted murder after standing trial in December 2023.

He pleaded guilty to the possession of a bladed article, after CCTV showed him buying knives and using one of them to stab his victim.

He was also found guilty of:

• the possession of a knife in public
• inciting a child into sexual activity
• three charges of making an indecent photograph of a child
• five charges of distributing an indecent photograph of a child

Sentencing for the attempted murder was delayed, after police found evidence that Dismore had blackmailed and demanded intimate photos from other underage pupils. Forensic examination of his computer and phone, showed that the gaming-obsessed masters student had downloaded indecent images of children and that he had contacted eight other girls.

He messaged them - often using fake profiles - and groomed them, until they sent him naked photos of themselves. Dismore was under 16 himself, when he contacted his first two child victims.

He targeted school pupils who were young teens and as his offences continued over several years, he used fake photos to pretend he was a teenage boy himself. Dismore used social media profiles to bombard some of his victims with hateful messages and threats - whilst he played the good guy, and pretended to be concerned.

Dismore stood trial for a second time last year, over the charges relating to the eight more victims. He was found guilty of:

• Six charges of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity
• two charges of stalking causing fear of violence or serious harm/distress
• making indecent photographs of a child
• four counts of arranging the commission of a child sexual offence
• sending an indecent electronic communication with intent to cause stress or anxiety
• causing a child to watch a sexual act

He pleaded guilty to a second count of making indecent images of children. On Wednesday, the court heard statement from some of the victims.

The schoolgirl that Dismore tried to kill, said she had been "a normal, happy teenager" until she met 'James Wilson'. Dismore was jealous and controlling over the pupil, telling her she couldn't see friends and pressuring her to send indecent photographs of herself.

"I was so frightened of Dismore, or 'James,' I told a friend of mine what had been going on, and she told me to block him," she told the court. "I heard that he had sent indecent photos of me, that I had sent him. I was so embarrassed that people I know and strangers would see pictures of me."

The victim said: "Ellis Dismore tried to kill me. I replay that attack over and over again in my head. I'm scared to go out now."

Another victim said she felt that Dismore was "obsessed with me" and it had been "too awkward" to tell her parents that he kept sending her sexualised images. One girl said that Dismore put her "under so much pressure" she sent him naked photos of herself that he was demanding.

She never heard from him again, once she sent the photos. Another victim, who was 14 when she met Dismore online, talked about the threats he made to rape one of her friends.

In mitigation, Paul Abrahams told the court that a pre-sentence report by the probation service, found that Dismore presents a "very high risk of causing serious harm to the public." The defence barrister said that he could only make the points that Dismore has never received a prison sentence before; and that he has no previous convictions; and that he was a youth himself, when he targeted his first two victims.

'You turned nasty'

Judge Timothy Stead told Dismore: "Your offences spanned several years and culminated in the most serious offence of attempted murder. Starting when you were a teenager - you had few, if any, friends at all, but you had knowledge and skills with regard to the use of the internet.

"You used that knowledge with cunning to create identities. You posed as a young teenager and you indicated to victims that you were a friendly teenage boy of the same age. Your initial communications were friendly and innocuous.

"But you turned nasty. Very nasty indeed. You demanded indecent images were sent to you. You asked for sex with them. You disclosed images."

Speaking about the attack on June 22, he stated that Dismore approached his victim from behind. He continued: "You stabbed her repeatedly in the back. The victim can count herself very fortunate she wasn't murdered.

"It is to enormous credit that a stranger shouted at you, and gave time for your victim to get into her car. If it hadn't been for the actions of this woman, this would very likely be an offence of murder." The judge classified Dismore as a "dangerous offender."

Dismore, of Stoneyhurst Avenue, Acklam, in Middlesbrough, was handed an extended 43-year sentence - comprising of 38-years in prison and five years on licence. He was made the subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order; and a restraining order prohibits him from contacting his nine victims indefinitely.

He will sign the sex offenders' register for the rest of his life. After the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Andrew Hamilton from Cleveland Police, gave a statement outside court describing Dismore as a "violent predator." Watch DS Hamilton here:

Debbie Breen from the Crime Prosecution Service, said: “Ellis Dismore is a dangerous and violent sexual predator who manipulated his young victims into sexual activity through fear and intimidation. It is clear that these were not idle threats, as Dismore went on to carry out a terrifying knife attack against one of his victims.

“Despite the horrific nature of his actions toward them, the evidence provided by the brave young victims in this case has been instrumental in helping the Crown Prosecution Service to build such a robust case against Dismore.

“We sincerely hope that the part they have each played in jailing such a dangerous man will bring them some measure of comfort.”

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A lying child rapist claims that a sex offender order ‘takes away his human rights’.

Chris Leyburn also says that the Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) is “an inconvenience”. The 34-year-old told cops that he wasn’t aware that he had to declare his alias on Snapchat when he was caught with two phones in his mum’s car.

But his claims were dismissed after his sex offender history was resurfaced at Teesside Crown Court - outlining multiple breaches of the strict guidelines he must follow.

The Acklam man appeared at the Middlesbrough court, via video link from HMP Durham, for sentencing on Wednesday. He previously admitted two breaches of a sexual harm prevention order and failing to comply with notification requirements.

The court heard that in 2006, Leyburn was convicted of raping two children. He also began relationships with women who had children so a sexual harm prevention order was imposed, prosecutor Dan Wilberforce said.

On September 12 at around 10am, two police officers went to arrest Leyburn after “information was passed” to the force regarding Leyburn’s use of Snapchat. At the time, he was travelling in his mum’s car.

After removing Leyburn from the vehicle, he was asked if he had any mobile phones. He replied no, lying to police. However a search of the car uncovered two mobile phones - a Motorola and a Samsung - stashed in the glove box.

WhatsApp messages between Leyburn and his girlfriend confirmed that the phone was his, Mr Wilberforce explained. Analysis of one of the phones showed that Leyburn had used the username ‘Lizardman1990’ on Snapchat and had been using the app since January.

Mr Wilberforce stated that failing to provide his mobile phone when requested was a breach of his sex offender prevention order. The use of a Snapchat alias - which had not been released to police - was a breach of his notification requirements. Mr Wilberforce told the judge that Leyburn has eight convictions for 23 offences, with 14 offences being of a sexual nature.

Judge Richard Bennett described the Snapchat usage as a “persistent breach”. He told the court that Leyburn has received a number of “length custodial sentences” for breaches of sexual harm prevention order breaches - but they appear to not to have “discouraged him”.

Leyburn, of Aylton Drive, Acklam, Middlesbrough, has eight breaches for not complying with notification requirements and six breaches of his sexual harm prevention order. Judge Bennett told the Middlesbrough court that Leyburn “claims the sexual harm prevention order takes away your human rights and is too restrictive”. Leyburn was jailed for two years.

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A sex offender, who parked up near a Middlesbrough school, performed a sex act on himself - and filmed it.

Kurtis Randall stayed in the car and turned his camera to film the reaction of two schoolgirls, who saw what he was doing as they walked home at the end of the day. The 29-year-old then threw a £10 note towards one of them.

When police arrived at Randall's home, they found the sick video he had recorded, stored on an encrypted cloud app; and another video showing a live video of a child watching him online, as he lay on his bed performing a sex act to the camera.

Teesside Crown Court has heard that Randall parked close to a footpath, near the school, in 2023 and 2024. Each time he arrived as school was finishing, and began performing a sex act on himself, while he sat in a borrowed white Audi.

One girl later told police: "He was proper w****** himself and then he threw a tenner at us." Randall returned the next day, and exposed his private parts as he carried out the sex act. The girl said: "He laughed and threw us a tenner."

Robin Patton, prosecuting, told the court that one of the schoolgirls had told a relative what she had seen, but she was not believed. When Randall returned again the day after, he performed the sex act with his car window down, but sped off when the same schoolgirl shouted: "That's him!" to her pal.

Randall was already under a strict court order whilst living in the community, after serving a jail term for paying a 15-year-old girl £60 for a sex act in a car, in the South Bank area of Middlesbrough. He also blackmailed another underage girl, to send him naked photos of herself, in 2016. He later posted the explicit pictures online.

Mr Patton said that police turned up at Randall's home to discuss him wearing a location tag, as part of the sexual harm prevention order imposed on him. When offender managers checked his mobile phone, they found the videos Randall had filmed near the school, titled "d*** flashing".

Another saved file showed a video of girls, aged 12 to 14, looking into a camera as Randall perform a sex act on his bed. It was filmed as a live video on social media and Randall had used an alias name as his profile, which breached the terms of his sexual harm prevention order.

A further file showed 50 images of children, aged two to eight-years-old, being raped and sexually abused. Randall had saved the videos to the encrypted cloud storage app 'Mega.' Mr Patton said: "He is determined to have as sexual encounter or experience with children - he is a danger. He is quite resourceful."

Schoolgirl 'shocked and scared'

In statements read out to the court, the schoolgirls who had walked past Randall in the Audi, said: "I felt shocked and scared. I do not want to leave the house if this man is released."

The other girl, who is in her early teens, said: "When I seen the man doing that in his car I was disgusted. Since it happened I only leave the house to go to school."

Randall, of Enfield Street in central Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to 12 counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child; to possessing indecent photos of a child; two counts of making indecent photos of a child; to two counts of breaching a sexual harm prevention order; and to failing to comply with notification requirements.

In mitigation, Shaun Routledge said that Randall was remorseful and "took full responsibility" for what he had done. Randall's mum watched from the public gallery as Judge Chris Smith said he would be passing an extended prison sentence - because of the high risk Randall poses.

The judge said: "In 2022, police received complaints about a man m*********** in his car. When they came to your house to discuss wearing a location tag to manage the risk you pose in the community, they discovered videos of what you did in the car and videos relating to further sexual offending by you.

"The videos showed that you parked close to a school. You deliberately set about removing your clothes, so you could be seen m***********. Mr Routledge says there's remorse, but I find very little evidence of that in your pre-sentence report."

10 year sentence

Randall was handed a 10-year extended sentence - made up of four-years-six-months in prison and five-years-six-months on an extended licence, in the community. He will be eligible to be considered for release after serving three-years of his prison term.

Randall was made the subject of a new sexual harm prevention order, meaning he has to wear a location tag for 10-years. "You must ensure the device is charged and you prohibited from tampering with it or removing it," the judge told him.

A restraining order banned Randall from the area where the schoolgirls live; and he must comply by sex offender notification requirements for the rest of his life.

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The detective who led a harrowing rape investigation in Whitby has praised a teenage girl whose courage ensured her attacker has been jailed for 12 years.

Dwayne Anthony Rhoden (pictured below), 34, from Union Street, Middlesbrough, was sentenced at York Crown Court today (Wednesday 17 April 2024).

Following a trial in January, Rhoden was found guilty of nine offences including:

• Five counts of rape
• Two counts of sexual assault by penetration
• Sexual assault
• False imprisonment

He pleaded guilty to a 10th offence of failing to comply with change of address notifications as a Registered Sex Offender.

As well as the prison sentence which includes an extended three years on licence, Rhoden was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Background to the investigation

The incident happened at an address in Whitby from around 11pm on Sunday 13 August 2023 to just after midnight on Monday 14 August 2023.

At 12.53am, a 999 call was made to North Yorkshire Police by a friend of the victim.

The girl was then put on the phone and she gave the first account of her terrifying ordeal to the Force Control Room.

An investigation was launched led by Detective Constable Matthew Edwards from the Scarborough and Ryedale Safeguarding Investigation Team.

He was able to establish that Rhoden had lured the teenager to a bedsit he was staying in after meeting her in town around 30 minutes before.

The teenager was eventually able to leave the address after about an hour. She contacted friends who helped her to alert the police.

Rhoden was arrested at the bedsit at 2.42am and was taken into custody for questioning.

He was subsequently charged with the 10 offences.