Latest Offenders New

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A man who waged a "campaign" of rape against a primary-school-aged boy shouted abuse in court as he was sentenced to a 23-year extended term as a dangerous offender.

Judge Celia Hughes described Mark Cain's offenses as the "calculating actions of a predatory man" and deemed an extended sentence essential to protect the public.

Cardiff Crown Court heard that Cain, a warehouse worker, raped the child under 13 multiple times—representing at least 22 incidents—in the Vale of Glamorgan over a prolonged period, and forced him to view pornographic materials. The abuse, unreported at the time, surfaced years later during a routine medical appointment.

Cain denied the allegations but was convicted by a jury of four counts of child rape and causing a child to watch a sexual act.

In a victim impact statement read by prosecutor Matthew Cobbe, the complainant said he had long suppressed the memories but felt people "could see through me." He described a "hole in the person" he became as an adult, feeling Cain's abuse had "taken some masculinity" away, yet he felt proud for reporting it, gaining a "healthier mindset" through the process.

Mark Anthony Cain, 38, of Morden Road, Newport, had eight prior convictions for 22 offenses, including indecent assault of a girl, sexual assault of a woman (grabbing a shop worker's breasts), and robbery.

Defense barrister Heath Edwards acknowledged a "life-changingly long" sentence was inevitable. He noted Cain's pre-trial relationship and efforts to address drink and drug issues, and despite rejecting the verdicts "categorically," Cain would engage with prison courses.

The judge said Cain had

"regularly abused and degraded [the victim] at your will." Finding him dangerous "both in the legal meaning and in the ordinary sense," she imposed the sentence amid Cain's outbursts calling the case "bullsh*t."

The 23-year term includes 20 years' custody followed by three years' license; Cain must serve two-thirds before parole consideration. He is a lifelong registered sex offender with an indefinite sexual harm prevention order restricting child access.

South Wales Police detective constable Ameila Lewis said post-sentencing: "The victim has shown immense bravery throughout. I hope that the outcome at court brings them some comfort that the offender has been brought to justice and that their bravery has helped protect the wider public from harm."

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Former Premier League referee David Coote has pleaded guilty to making an indecent image of a child.

The 43-year-old appeared at Nottingham Crown Court over an allegation relating to a category A video, the most serious kind, recovered by police in February.

Coote, from Woodhill Road, Collingham, Nottinghamshire, was granted conditional bail ahead of an appearance on 11 December.

Judge Nirmal Shant KC ordered a pre-sentence report and said: "You have pleaded guilty to a serious matter. Whether this means custody or not will be decided when all the information is before the court."

The court heard Coote extracted the video from a hard drive to a laptop on 2 January 2020.

He previously pleaded not guilty to the charge at a hearing on 10 September at Nottingham Magistrates' Court.

At the six-minute hearing on Tuesday, Coote, who wore a navy suit and black tie, spoke only to confirm his name and enter his guilty plea.

The charge of making an indecent image of a child refers to activities such as downloading, sharing or saving photos or videos containing abuse.

Judge Shant KC said: "You must not go away with the impression that this will not lead to a custodial sentence."

Coote was sacked last year when comments made in a video about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp in 2020 came to light.

In August this year, he was given an eight-week suspension by the Football Association over the Klopp footage.

In addition, the ex-official is also banned by European football's governing body Uefa until 30 June 2026 after photographs emerged of him snorting a white powder through a bank note while in Germany for Euro 2024.

In January, Coote came out as gay in an interview with The Sun and said a lifelong struggle to hide his sexuality had contributed to the rant about Klopp.

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A pervert who engaged in sickening online sex chats with a nine-year-old girl has been jailed.

Connor Ormston chillingly responded "nice" when told the child's age after befriending her on Snapchat.

Newcastle Crown Court heard his offending was exposed when the victim's mother noticed her daughter becoming "secretive" and receiving messages.

Prosecutor Liam O'Brien said: "She checked her phone and saw a number of Snapchat messages and videos which had been sent by the defendant.

"This prompted her to speak to her daughter. She made a note of the questions and answers she was given on a piece of paper and then recorded a WhatsApp voice call.

"She then contacted the police and provided them with the evidence she had gathered."

Ormston was arrested in a toy shop at the Metro Centre in Gateshead, claiming "I've done nowt wrong."

The 31-year-old, of Dorrington Road, Fawdon, Newcastle, admitted sexual communication with a child, three charges of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and one of causing or inciting a child to watch a sexual act.

Judge Gavin Doig sentenced him to five years and eight months in prison, with lifelong sex offender registration and a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard Ormston told the child he was 16, and the Snapchat conversation quickly turned inappropriate.

Mr O'Brien said: "It began with the defendant sending a picture of him in his boxer shorts and soon progressed to him sending images of his penis.

“As time went on the defendant began to ask her to send sexual images and videos."

The youngster complied with requests for explicit material via messages and FaceTime video calls.

Mr O'Brien added: "The complainant was truthful about her age, she told the defendant she was nine, about to turn 10. His response to that, chillingly, was 'nice'."

The defendant also told the child not to tell anyone about their discussions, which were "our little secret."

Defending, Jennifer Coxon said Ormston was isolated during the 2022 offences, has mental health difficulties, and has been in no trouble since.

Description

A convicted rapist has been jailed again for shoplifting high-end goods in Newcastle and Sunderland. John Hall, imprisoned for rape in 2004, has been in and out of jail since for thefts and failing to comply with the Sex Offenders' Register.

The 56-year-old, of no fixed abode, stole over £1,500 in clothes and fragrances from JD Sports in Washington and Fenwick in Newcastle city centre. He also failed to notify police every seven days of his homelessness, as required.

Hall appeared at Newcastle Magistrates' Court, pleading guilty to four shop thefts and one count of failing to comply with register notifications. Prosecutor Glenda Beck said the first offences occurred on June 23 and July 3, when he took £500 worth of goods from JD Sports.

He pleaded guilty but missed his August sentencing, leading to an arrest warrant. While wanted, he stole £320 in fragrances from Fenwick on September 27 and £510 in tops on October 1. Mrs Beck added: "He was apprehended on the second occasion, so the tops were recovered."

The court heard Hall had been on the register since 2004 and failed to comply three times previously. Mrs Beck said he hadn't registered since June, despite being homeless.

Defence lawyer Ian Cassidy said: "Mr Hall tells me he was released from custody on June 8 and, up to date, has not had any money or accommodation and has been relying on his family. He explains that the reason for the shop thefts is lack of money."

Hall was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison and ordered to pay £500 compensation to JD Sports and £320 to Fenwick.

Description

A sex offender, Sean Yearnshire, previously jailed for attempting to meet an underage girl after online grooming, has been sentenced to 20 months in prison for new offenses.

Just months after completing his licence period from a 27-month sentence in January 2023, the 26-year-old sent sexualised messages, including explicit images, to an undercover police officer posing as a 13-year-old girl on TikTok between August 14 and 21, 2025. 

He also attempted to solicit intimate images and declared his love for the "girl." Yearnshire, who breached a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), admitted to attempting to cause a child to watch sexual activity and engaging in sexual communication with a child.

Arrested on August 26 at his workplace in Consett, County Durham, he confirmed ownership of seized devices but gave mostly "no comment" responses in interviews.

Durham Crown Court heard Yearnshire had completed a probation-led Horizon course to address his sexual offending, yet reoffended shortly after.

His defense noted he responded to the officer’s initial contact while feeling lonely in supported accommodation in Byker, Newcastle, and expressed remorse for letting himself and the court down.

Judge Nathan Adams highlighted the severity of reoffending soon after release and in violation of an SHPO, imposing the 20-month sentence and a new ten-year sex offender registration period, alongside the existing SHPO, which continues for seven-and-a-half years.

Description

A sex offender, Paul Holmes, was jailed for 16 months after being caught with 97 indecent images of children.

Previously convicted in 2011 for similar offenses, the 69-year-old from Newcastle breached a sexual offences prevention order by using an app to delete his internet history.

Police also found 15 undeclared internet devices at his home. Despite no other convictions and a military background, Recorder Tom Moran sentenced Holmes, who expressed motivation for rehabilitation, at Newcastle Crown Court.

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A 46-year-old man has been jailed for five years for sexually assaulting a stranger in a North Tyneside park.

Khaled Ibrahim encountered the victim in March 2022 after she became separated from her friends during a night out. He took her hand offering help, but then tried to remove her clothing, kissed her without consent, and sexually assaulted her.

The victim pushed Ibrahim away and fled to a stranger's house, where she immediately reported the incident.

Identified via CCTV, Ibrahim was arrested and denied wrongdoing. After a lengthy investigation by Northumbria Police's Safeguarding Department, he was charged with sexual assault in April 2024.

Following a trial at Newcastle Crown Court in August 2025, he was found guilty. He was sentenced on September 10, 2025, to five years' imprisonment and placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

In her Victim Personal Statement, she said:

“I am very cautious about who I speak to in general, but I feel I have been forced to put a barrier up now and have had panic attacks in public since this incident making me feel extremely vulnerable whilst out in public alone.

“Because this was a stranger offence I am worried I will bump into the suspect. I have not been sleeping properly and have been suffering from nightmares regularly. These nightmares got worse over the week leading up to court.

“I have had trouble maintaining friendships with male friends, people I should be able to trust. My mind wonders all the time questioning if I am safe in other peoples’ company.

“I am really struggling to come to terms with what happened to me.”

Detective Constable Caroline Ross said:

“Ibrahim is clearly a predatory man who was on the lookout for someone vulnerable that night which he unfortunately found.

“I want to praise the victim in this case who trusted police by making that first report and allowed us to act for her and bring her attacker to justice.”

Det Con Ross added: “Ibrahim now has the rest of his life ahead of him on the Sex Offenders’ Register so everyone will know what he is and how he behaves.

“We hope the outcome sends a clear message to others who may consider committing these types of crimes – we won’t tolerate this it and we will do everything we can to put you before the courts.”

Description

Robert Pomroy has been sentenced to 13 years and four months in jail at Cardiff Crown Court.

The 76-year-old from Newport, previously pleaded guilty to twelve offences including the rape of a girl under 13, six counts of sexual touching of a girl under 13 and five counts of taking/making/possessing indecent images of children. 

Pomroy was arrested in August 2023 after allegations that he had sexually assaulted three girls, all aged 10 and under at the time, were reported to police. As part of the investigation, electronic devices, including phones and laptops, from his home were seized and indecent images, across all three categories of severity, were found by officers.

He appeared at Cardiff Crown Court today (Wednesday 10 September) where he was sentenced to 13 years and four months in prison and issued with a 15-year restraining order.

DC Lauren Price, the officer in charge said:

“Pomroy inflicted abuse on three young girls for his own depraved and selfish sexual gratification, but not only this, his actions have had a ripple effect causing distress and upset to the families of those involved. I would like to commend the courage of the victims and witnesses in this case, not only in coming forward to report but throughout the entire investigation.

“While the effects of being a victim of this crime can be longstanding, and nothing can erase the impact his man’s actions has on these girls, I hope today’s sentence can offer a step toward healing for them.

“I also hope that this outcome shows we take all reports of sexual assault seriously and encourage any victim of a sexual offence to contact us with the confidence that they will be listened to, and that we will do everything we can to bring those responsible to justice.”

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A married lawyer who once helped run Britain's best post office paid an underage boy in Roblox game vouchers in return for explicit videos.

Sean Hudson, 62, of Romsey Drive, Boldon, groomed the child, who was living in the Glasgow area, over the Telegram online messaging app using an alias. He asked the boy to record sexual videos and engage in acts of sexual touching, then sent him codes to make purchases on the gaming platform.

Hudson, who has now been jailed, suggested visiting him in person although no meetings were ever actually arranged.

The vulnerable teen, who had health problems and spent a lot of time at home in his bedroom, said he went along with Hudson's sickening requests because he was getting gifts, effectively bribing him.

Prosecutor Daniel Ingham told Newcastle Crown Court the offences happened between March 31 and May 28 last year. The victim sent a number of sexualised images, and now feels "shame, frustration and guilt that he engaged with a predator" and no longer feels safe. Mr Ingham described graphic requests by Hudson, who said he was going to "coach" the boy.

Hudson, a solicitor, helped run West Boldon Post Office in South Tyneside when it was named Independent Post Office Retailer of the year at the Retail Industry Awards in 2019.

He admitted causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual communication and having sexual communication with a child.

Recorder James Wood KC sentenced Hudson to 21 months behind bars and said he must register as a sex offender for ten years.

The recorder told him:

"Initially you asked questions about his day to day life and having secured his confidence you then began to ask him to send you sexual pictures, videos, and engage in acts of sexual touching himself. In return you offered him money in the form of online vouchers for the sexual images or videos, vouchers which would enable him to make purchases on his Roblox account."

Recorder Wood KC added:

"By reason of your profession as a solicitor and lawyer you should have well known the gravity of the acts you were perpetrating upon your victim and of the consequences their discovery would have for you and him. You must have been fully aware of the gravity of what you were doing and a qualified officer of the court conducting themselves in this way will inevitably be regarded as offending with real gravity."

Mark Harrison, defending, said Hudson was involved in a professional company for a quarter of a century but resigned from that partnership when charged. He has been married for 35 years, has adult children, has since sought counselling, and provided references from colleagues and friends about the other part of his character.

Mr Harrison said Hudson was going through a "time of particular stress" when he committed the offences, had been working too hard while carrying out voluntary roles in the community, made no steps to have an actual meeting with the victim, and has made suicide attempts during the proceedings.

Mr Harrison told the court:

"He has regret and remorse towards the victim and the victim's family. He is deeply sorry for the harm he has caused to all of them. He has lost his good name, career, standing in the community, friendships and trust of his family."

Description

A violent abuser has been jailed for four years for subjecting his ex-partner to years of domestic and sexual abuse.

David Smith, 40, began his campaign of cruelty against then-partner Louise Sutherland-Knowles, 39, after they began their relationship in 2018.

However, Smith’s behaviour soon spiralled into abusive and controlling – before quickly becoming physical.

Smith would use manipulative tactics and threats to control Louise, despite having multiple affairs during the course of their relationship.

After ending their relationship in 2022, Smith went on to persistently and unwantedly text, call, and email Louise. After she ignored him, he would then turn up uninvited at her home address and to her place of work.

Louise’s mam became so concerned with the behaviour she was witnessing her daughter be subject to that she reported Smith to Northumbria Police for stalking.

This report would become the first of three investigations Louise would have to undergo for the crimes Smith committed against her.

In December 2022, Smith was charged with stalking.

However, within days, in a bid to see Louise, and despite strict bail conditions for the stalking offence, Smith scaled a six-foot fence to climb into her garden, carrying a large knife and breaking a window trying to enter the address.

He did this just before 2am as Louise slept in the house with her children. She was awoken to the sound of a thud – before Smith was spooked by a neighbour and ran away. He was rapidly arrested after Louise informed police.

The next day, Louise attended Middle Engine Lane police station where she disclosed that during their relationship, Smith had also sexually assaulted her.

She described how, on the evening of May 7, 2022, Smith had thrown his phone and pizza against a wall – later smashing some into her face.

He pinned her up against the wall and put his hands down her underwear and sexually assaulted her. 

Only a month later in February 2023, Smith pleaded guilty to stalking Louise and was handed a restraining order.

In September last year, Smith was charged with possession of a pointed article and criminal damage – in relation to the offence where he attended her address in the middle of the night. He appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on May 7, where he pleaded guilty to the offences.

In April 2025, following a complex investigation by the Force’s Safeguarding Department, Smith was also charged with assault on a female by penetration and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, following Louise’s final report.

Yesterday (July 21), Smith, of Brandling Court, North Shields, appeared once more at Newcastle Crown Court where he was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment after previously pleading guilty in relation to both the sexual, knife, and assault offences.

As part of his extended sentence, he will also spend a further three years on licence once he is released from prison and must serve at least two thirds of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.

Smith was also placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and was handed a six-year restraining order to protect Louise.

Following the sentencing, Louise has also made the courageous decision to waive her lifelong right to anonymity as a victim of a sexual offence and share her harrowing story in the hopes of showing people that abuse can take many forms.

She is encouraging anyone who has been affected to report to police and seek support.

In charge of the investigation was Detective Constable Leasa Banks, of Northumbria Police’s Safeguarding Department.

Speaking after Smith’s court appearance, she said: “David Smith has shown time and time again who he is – and that is a violent and abusive man who manipulates, becoming dangerous when he doesn’t get what he wants.

“I want to thank and praise Louise for a few things, but firstly, for reporting the offences to police – which she has now stated is the best thing she could’ve ever done.

“Now, thanks to her extreme bravery, and composure through years of investigations, the whole world now knows that Smith is a domestic abuser, a stalker, and a sex offender.”

Det Con Banks added: “Louise’s decision to waive her anonymity is an extremely courageous one. Whilst we would never expect any victim of any sexual offence to do this, we throw our full support behind anyone who’s experienced these heinous types of crimes – and will always help them in whatever way they need.

“We’ve now put Louise’s abuser before the courts, which has hopefully been able to provide her with a degree of closure – and we are now also providing her with the platform to tell her story in her own words.

“This is what we can achieve when we work with victims and help them hold their abusers to account.

“If you’ve experienced any form of abuse, whether domestic, sexual, or stalking – please let us know we can act for you just as we have for Louise here.”

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A paedophile who targeted two children online has been jailed for more than a decade.

Northumbria Police’s POLIT department – a dedicated team working to protect vulnerable children – acted on intelligence and arrested Joshua MacFarlane in January 2024.

He was subsequently charged with a series of offences and in April 2025 at Newcastle Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual communications with a child, two counts of causing a child to watch a sexual act and six counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in a sexual act.

He also pleaded guilty to meeting another child following sexual grooming, causing a child to watch a sexual act, sexual activity with a child, paying for sexual services of a child, three counts of distributing indecent images of a child and one count of making indecent photographs of a child.

MacFarlane, 20, of Coquet Avenue, South Shields, was also sentenced for multiple breaches of an interim Sexual Risk Order.

He appeared before the same court on Wednesday where he was sentenced to 10 years and four months behind bars, with a further four years to be spent on licence.

MacFarlane will also remain on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

Leading the investigation, Detective Constable Elizabeth Biggins, of Northumbria Police said:

"First and foremost, I’d like to praise the victims for their bravery.

MacFarlane is a dangerous predator who is now facing a long spell behind bars, and this outcome was only made possible by the incredibly bravery of his survivors.

We would like to take this opportunity to urge all victims of sexual abuse to come forward, no matter how much time has passed.

Our message to survivors is clear – we are here to support you and we will do everything we can to bring those responsible to justice."

Description

A dog walker who raped a dementia suffering pensioner in her own home in a shocking attack is facing years behind bars.

Married grandfather Paul Woodmass hunted down the elderly stranger after chatting to her while they walked their pets a few weeks earlier.

As police spoke to the vulnerable victim hours later, Woodmass turned up outside her house, refused to give his name to police until he was arrested and was found to be in possession of a packet of condoms. He had denied rape despite his saliva being found inside her underwear.

After jurors at Newcastle Crown Court unanimously convicted the 66-year-old, of Linnel Drive, Lemington, Newcastle, of rape, Assistant Judge Advocate General Andrew Smith said: "It's inevitably going to be a long prison sentence."

The judge called on the probation service to assess Woodmass' dangerousness before he is sentenced in September, adding: "I'm sure he went away and obtained some condoms and came back because he was forensically aware and realised by that stage he could do what he wanted to with that lady. For that reason, I want a risk assessment."

During the trial jurors were told the complainant has dementia, which affects her memory but does not make her delusional. It was just after 3pm one afternoon that the pensioner called her son and said someone had been in her house and raped her.

The son and his wife rushed to her home, where she repeated the claim, saying someone had had sex with her and she didn't want it. Lee Fish, prosecuting, said: "The individual who had been in her house was this defendant, Paul Woodmass. It's possible she had met him while walking her dog, however she didn't know him.

"There can be no doubt he had been in her house because he admitted as much when interviewed by the police. He also chose to return to the area where she lived after the police had been called by her son.

"The prosecution case is this defendant deliberately targeted (her) because of her obvious vulnerability. For reasons that only he can really explain, he chose to go to her home even though he barely knew her.

"The prosecution case is that he had sex with her in her own home when she was not consenting and he couldn't possibly have believed she was. There is no suggestion she consented to sexual activity. Therefore, you may feel one of the crucial issues for you to decide is whether this defendant had sex with her that afternoon."

Jurors were told that earlier that afternoon, Woodmass had gone to a nearby house asking for the victim but he had gone to the wrong address. A neighbour then heard the complainant talking to a man - prosecutors say likely Woodmass - around 1.30pm and between 2pm and 2.30pm another neighbour saw a man with two small dogs walking down the pensioner's driveway. It was just after 3pm that the woman rang her son reporting that she had been raped.

Mr Fish said: "He must have spent at least half an hour in her house, it's possible he was there for longer. Not long after this defendant was seen walking down her drive, she was on the phone saying she had been raped by a strange man in her house.

"She said there had been a man there who left two dogs outside and had sex with her. She told him she didn't want it."

The court heard police arrived at the woman's home around 3.30pm. While she was struggling to recall certain details, she gave some details of what had happened.

Police spoke to neighbours and had identified the man with the two dogs as Woodmass after he was caught on ring doorbell footage. Mr Fish said later that day, police were still with the pensioner when "bizarrely, the defendant came to them". As an officer spoke to the pensioner, they saw Woodmass at the bottom of her driveway.

Mr Fish said: "The police officer ran straight outside, perhaps in disbelief the person they were looking for was at the bottom of the drive. The prosecution's case is the defendant's behaviour was immediately suspicious. He refused to give his name, saying he would only provide information if he was accused of committing a crime, a rather odd thing to say, you may think, members of the jury."

After being arrested, Woodmass said he had gone to the woman's home "to have a cup of tea". When he was searched, he was found to be in possession of a packet of condoms.

Mr Fish said: "He said he had found them in the street. He said he had no use for them because he was an old man. He referred to the complainant as "a bit senile".

The prosecutor said: "The prosecution say you may wish to ask why he returned later with condoms in his pocket and refused to give his name to police if he had just been for a cup of tea."

When interviewed by police, Woodmass denied having sex with her and said he had met her on a dog walk. He said he had taken up her offer of a cup of tea but when he got there, they just chatted.

Mr Fish said it's accepted the victim has memory problems and was inconsistent about where in the house the alleged rape happened. But he added: "There can be no doubt he was in her house, she barely knew him and shortly after he left she reported being raped. Later on, he returned with condoms in his pocket."

He added that Woodmass' saliva was found on the inside of the pensioner's underwear, which "is not consistent with having a cup of tea and giving her a hug".

Jurors were told about a previous incident with another woman Woodmass met while dog walking in 2021. She said they got talking, had a shared interest in music and he offered to share some of his music with her. When he attended her house with a device with some music on it, the woman said he asked her for a hug and she agreed but during the "prolonged" embrace, he kissed her twice on the neck, which she said she was not happy about.

The woman said he then turned up at her home another day out of the blue in a drunken state. She said he told her he had not had sex with his wife for 20 years and that he "needed intimacy". She told him he was making her feel uncomfortable and she believed he was asking for sex. She said he asked for a hug and she closed the door and locked it.

The woman said she got a family member to call him and they left a message telling him to leave her alone and she never saw him again. She reported her concerns to the police.

Woodmass was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on September 26.

Description

A man has been jailed for almost two decades for abuse he committed more than 30 years ago.

David Wilkinson, now 56, initiated the abuse of the school-aged girl in the late 1980s when he was a teenager.

He raped and sexually assaulted the girl multiple times, including in the Newcastle area.

After living with the consequences of the abuse for most of her life, the victim bravery made a report to police in 2023.

In May last year, Wilkinson was charged in connection with the abuse.

Earlier this month, following a seven-day trial at Newcastle Crown Court, Wilkinson, of Wood Grove, Newcastle, was found guilty of 10 counts of non-recent child sex abuse.

The offences comprised of three counts of indecent assault and seven counts of rape – being that the offences occurred before the Sexual Offences Act was introduced in 2003.

On Friday (July 11), he returned to the same court where he was sentenced to 19 years’ imprisonment. He will also spend an extra year on licence as part of his extended sentence once he is released from custody.

Wilkinson will also spend the rest of his life on the Sex Offenders’ Register and was handed a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). The victim will also be protected by a lifelong restraining order.

Speaking after Wilkinson’s conviction, the victim shared these words:

“I’ve found writing this statement incredibly difficult. It has brought up so many emotions that I’ve been feeling and at times needed to bury due to the sexual abuse that happened to me when I was a child at the hands of David Wilkinson.

“I have had difficulty sleeping due to intrusive thoughts and flashbacks. I struggle to communicate with others about how I feel.

“Since the abuse, I have felt weak all my life. I don’t feel like I’ve achieved what I could’ve achieved in life. During and after the sexual abuse, my life spiralled.

“I had no respect for myself and was used to being treated like a piece of meat.”

She added:

“I believe if the abuse had not happened my life would have been so different, I feel I would have achieved more in life, I would have focused more at school and maintained healthy relationships with others and more importantly myself.

“David Wilkinson has committed horrific offences against me, and instead of admitting it and saving me a further ordeal of a trial, he watched as I was cross-examined and made to feel like I was on trial.

“He was a coward, and I feel like I have been so brave to stand up to him.

“I would like to thank my team for believing in me and bringing justice for me. I feel like I have belief in the justice system, and I have faith that the sentence given to David Wilkinson will reflect the impact that he has had on me and my life.”

Leading the case for Northumbria Police was Detective Constable Sarah Hails, from the Force’s Rape Investigation Team (RIT).

Speaking after the sentencing, she said: “I hope this case shows other people out there who may be hesitant to come forward that it’s never ever too late to make that report and look to have your abuser put before the courts.

“The victim struggled with the consequences of Wilkinson’s heinous crimes for most of her life – but bravely made the disclosure to us.

“Her voice has now been heard loud and clear – and it’s because of her that this predatory man is in prison.”

Det Con Hails added:

“No one should have to go through anything like this, and I'd urge anyone who has been a victim of any form of sexual offending to reach out, whether it happened today, yesterday, last year, or half a century ago.

“The clock never runs out on the support we can provide for you.”

Description

A man who was found guilty of rape has been jailed for seven years and three months.

Francesco Aria assaulted the woman at his Newark-based home in the early hours of 22 August 2021.

The victim was able to escape the address and bravely reported the incident to police immediately.

When the 30-year-old was arrested and interviewed by detectives, Aria claimed to have had consensual sex with her.

A jury at Nottingham Crown Court, however, disagreed and found Aria guilty of rape after a three-day trial in June (2025).

Appearing at the same court for his sentencing on Monday (7 July), after a nearly four-year wait for the victim, Aria, previously of Massey Court, Newark, was jailed for seven years and three months.

He was also handed an indefinite restraining order, which forbids him from contacting the victim, and was added to the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

Detective Constable Donna Elliott, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:

“Aria’s actions were appalling, and unsurprisingly this incident has had a very considerable impact on the victim’s life.

“She has shown emormous courage in coming forward and immense patience as this trial reached the courts.

“I hope this result empowers other survivors of rape or sexual abuse to feel able to report what happened to them.

“We have specially trained officers who specialise in helping people to report sexual offences and support them through the process.”

Description

A man crept into women's houses in the dead of night and entered their bedrooms to watch them sleeping, a court has heard. On one occasion Evan Powell pleasured himself while staring at one of his dozing victims.

When arrested the defendant claimed he had been going into houses looking for someone who might have the mobile phone he had lost during a student night out on Swansea's Wind Street. He denied there was any sexual element to what he had done. A jury rejected that version of events and found him guilty of trespassing with intent to commit a sexual offence.

Making the defendant the subject of an extended sentence the judge at Swansea Crown Court said on the night in question Powell had been "prowling the streets" looking for "opportunities for non-consensual activity" and he described Powell's behaviour as "extremely sinister".

The court has previously heard that on the night of October 30 last year Swansea University computer science student Powell attended a fancy dress Cocktail Society house party on Brynmill Crescent in the Brynmill area of Swansea before going on to the bars of Wind street in the city centre. He was dressed in a black suit and tie in the style of the lead characters in the film "Men in Black".

In the early hours of the following morning the defendant left the city centre and returned to the Brynmill area where he entered three houses, and tried to enter a fourth.

In one property the student first went into a child's bedroom and rummaged through a chest of drawers - the child woke to see the stranger in his room - before entering the mother's bedroom. The court heard the women woke suddenly to see the 21-year-old standing near her bed watching her. Powell fled down the stairs and left the house.

At a property nearby Powell again entered a woman's bedroom - this time he exposed his penis and masturbated while watching his sleeping victim. The woman woke and challenged the defendant who fled into the kitchen where an altercation took place during which the woman punched him and he pushed her. The defendant then left.

The court heard Powell also entered a third property, though on that occasion the sleeping occupant was woken by the sound of the bedroom door opening. The defendant ran off and went home to his shared student house..

The incidents were reported to police and Powell was identified and subsequently arrested. Enquiries conducted by the police established that the defendant had tried to enter a fourth Brynmill property on the night in question but had been unsuccessful.

Powell subsequently pleaded not guilty and the matter went to trial in April this year. Following his conviction, sentencing was adjourned for the preparation of a report to consider the issue of dangerousness.

At the trial prosecution barrister Dyfed Thomas had put it to Powell that he had been "looking for sexual satisfaction from watching women sleeping in bed" but the defendant rejected that. Powell accepted it was a "very odd, unusual situation" but insisted he had been trying to find the property where the earlier house party had been held in the hopes someone there might know where his lost phone was. He added: "I'm very, very bad with directions".

Evan Powell, now of Rogerstone, Newport, had previously been convicted at trial of three offence of trespassing with intent to commit a sexual offence and one count of attempting to trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence when he returned to the dock for sentencing.

He has no previous convictions but the court heard that in October 2023 the defendant sexually assaulted a young woman in the Brynmill area in the early hours of the morning when he followed her along Bryn Road before grabbing her and putting his hands between her legs. The assault was reported to police but the defendant was not prosecuted and was dealt with by way of a "community resolution" which saw him admit the offence and write a letter of apology.

Judge Paul Thomas KC had previously expressed his concern at the 2023 offending being dealt with by a community resolution, and the prosecution barrister told the court he had made enquiries into the matter and it seemed the officer who investigated the incident had not referred it to an officer of detective inspector rank or above as he should have done before making the decision. The prosecutor said the officer had been spoken to.

Avirup Chaudhuri, for Powell, said the defendant came from loving and caring background. He said his client understands the gravity of the situation he was facing and asked the court to consider that it may be the "shame and embarrassment" Powell feels which prevents him from "confronting his offending in full". The barrister also asked the court to take into account the defendant's age and immaturity, and he said his client but been putting his "privileged education" to good use while on remand in prison by helping fellow inmates to improve their literacy skills.

Judge Paul Thomas KC said on the night in question Powell had been "prowling the streets of the student area looking for opportunities for non-consensual activity". He said the defendant's motivation in entering or trying to enter four properties in the space of around two hours had been sexual, and he described Powell's behaviour as "extremely sinister".

The judge said Powell had no insight into his problem and did not even acknowledge he had a problem, and he said until the defendant did come to terms with the reality of the situation he would continue to pose a high risk of sexual offending in the future.

Powell was given a nine-year extended sentence comprising five years in custody followed by a four-year licence period. He will become eligible for parole after serving two-thirds of the custodial element of the sentence. The defendant will be a registered sex offender for the rest of his life.

Judge Thomas added that it was a matter of "great regret" that the 2023 sexual offending had not been dealt with "properly" at the time as it should have been.

Speaking after the sentencing Carolina Mayorga-Williams, senior crown prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution service's rape and serious sexual offence team, said: "Waking up to find a stranger in your or your child’s bedroom must be a terrifying experience and violates a person’s right to feel safe in their own home. We take all allegations of sexual offending very seriously. The evidence presented by the Crown Prosecution Service resulted in the jury reaching their guilty verdicts and has brought Powell to justice."