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A predator who raped a 14-year-old girl after grooming her online has been jailed for eight years.

Rhys Walker, 24, spent weeks messaging the teenager before he forced her to engage in sexual acts with him, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

He had denied rape and sexual assault but was found guilty of both offences by jurors.

Judge Tim Gittins said Walker, from West Boldon in South Tyneside, knew about and "preyed upon" the "particularly vulnerable" girl's age and her difficult home life.

'I can move on'

Walker was 21 when he befriended the girl on social media and quickly started sending her sexualised images, the court heard.

After three or four weeks he offered to let the girl stay at his home, jurors were told.

Judge Gittins said it appeared on the face of it to be an offer of sanctuary, but Walker was actually "seeking to get her alone" where he would be prepared to use force to have sexual activity with her.

In a statement read to the court, the girl said the attack had severely damaged her mental health and led to her self-harming, while she also suffered flashbacks and an inability to sleep.

"I am relieved people have believed me and I can get closure knowing he can't do this to anyone else," the girl said, adding: "I can finally start to move on with my life."

Walker, of Hall Gardens, must also sign the sex offender register and abide by a sexual harm prevention order limiting his use of internet-enabled devices for an indefinite period.

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A paedophile gave a young girl a wand he used for mixing paint to decorate Warhammer figures and told her you will figure it out, dont tell anyone. Nottingham Crown Court heard how police found a staggering 43,000 sick child abuse images and videos on Christopher Jollys mobile phone after they launched an investigation into his behaviour.

The 38-year-old former electrical engineer told officers he had been getting sexual pleasure from viewing the worst of the worst photos and films saying he had been visiting the dark web to download them for a number of years. Now he has been spared an immediate prison sentence for his perverted crimes.

Handing him an 18-month sentence, suspended for two years, Recorder Helen Malcolm KC said: Clearly what makes this serious is her age and there were upwards of 43,000 indecent images. But set against that you were the first person to go to the police and say to them you had done something wrong and made admissions in interview.

David Allan, prosecuting, said the offences all happened earlier this year. He said: One of Mr Jollys hobbies was decorating Warhammer figurines and he had a wand which he used to mix the paint. He gave this to the victim and she asked him what it was for to which he replied you will figure it out, dont tell anyone knowing what he meant sexually".

The prosecutor said the girl told her father, who found and confronted the defendant, who denied giving her the item. Mr Allan said: He was arrested in May of this year and made extensive admissions. He was bailed and arrested again in late July and asked where his phone was. It was rung and found under his duvet and again in interview made extensive admissions.

He told them he had been accessing the dark web for a number of years to look at the images. He said he looked at the worst of the worst and they found a vast amount of indecent images of children.

There were 81 unique category A, 111 unique category B and 1,264 unique category B as well as 101 prohibited images of children which show cartoons or childrens faces imposed on to adult females. The police said there were over 43,000 images which were found but not categorised."

Jolly, of De Lacy Court, Ollerton, near Newark, pleaded guilty to inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, three counts of possession of indecent images of children and possession of prohibited images of children. He has a previous three-year jail sentence for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm on an ex-girlfriends new partner, Mr Allan said.

Victoria Rose, mitigating, said her client has been remorseful throughout and was full and frank with the police. She said: He just told her to have fun with it (the wand he used to mix paint for Warhammer models), she did not know what the object was for, and she did not use it and he did not give her any instructions.

He had the realisation he needed to tell them (the police) everything now because there was the opportunity to seek help.

As part of the suspended sentence order, the judge ordered Jolly to attend a 31-day sex offender treatment program and to attend 30 rehabilitation sessions. She also placed him on the sex offender register for 10 years and handed him a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.

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A homeless South Tyneside sex offender who breaches a court order to be returned to prison has been spared fresh jail time after allegedly changing his ways.

Stanley Riches, 51, convicted of rape in 2003 and currently sleeping rough in a tent, has taken steps to turn his life around, his latest court appearance heard.

Before borough magistrates, he pleaded guilty to breaching the terms of the notification requirements of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

He did so by failing to inform police of his whereabouts on one weekly occasion earlier in November, as required.

His apparent lifestyle progress led to borough magistrates jailing him for 26 weeks but agreeing to suspend the sentence for a year.

She revealed previous non-compliance saw him jailed for 26 weeks in July, 15 weeks in April and 26 weeks last November.

He was also put behind bars for 24 weeks in December 2021 – and has seven other same breaches.

Riches was returned to court after being arrested on Tuesday, November 12, for failing to keep his weekly date with police.

Ms Burgess added: “The circumstances are straight forward. He must register every seven days if homeless.

“He last did so on November 4, thereby seven days was midnight on November 11. He should have gone back to register.

“The defendant was arrested and in interview he made admissions. He has 40 previous convictions from 91 offences.

“There are a number of like convictions where he has not adhered to the notification requirements.

John Williams, defending, said he had seen a marked improvement in Riches’ attitude to life.

He said: “He accepts he should have signed on but didn’t. He’s homeless and living in a tent. He fully complied between September 12 and November 11.

“He says that on the day in question he had gone to his doctors for medication and his head was all over the place and he forgot.

“He signed yesterday and thought that would be the end of it. There’s been a significant change in his attitude.”

The Probation Service also said Riches’ attitude towards his work with them had seen “vast improvement”.

Riches must pay a £154 victim surcharge.

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A NEW Forest man who shared images of children featuring the superimposed face of Harry Potter actress Emma Watson has been jailed for 30 months.

Paul Woodford (39), of Hillside Road in Pennington, admitted making and distributing indecent images of children, whose ages ranged between eight and 14.

Southampton Crown Court heard Woodford’s devices, including mobile phones and laptops, were seized by police on 25th May 2022, who had been tipped off over the images.

Investigators found Woodford had downloaded 38 category A images – the most severe – along with 25 category B and 353 category C.

He had distributed to others five category A, two category B and 19 category C pictures, the court heard. All were a mixture of stills and videos.

Prosecutor Keely Harvey told the court that in his initial interview, Woodford admitted to police that he had been part of online chat groups in which people had shared indecent images.

As an administrator of one group, Woodford would ask new users to submit three indecent images of children before they were allowed to join, Ms Harvey said.

He had asked one user for images of children aged between five and 14, she explained. Another he had asked for “upskirt” images of 11 and 12 year-olds.

The images of actress Emma Watson were superimposed onto bodies of young girls aged around 12 or 13, the court heard.

When Woodford was interviewed by police for a second time, he told them he had deleted the messaging app for a period, but added: “Old habits die hard”.

He also admitted forwarding some images to other people, but claimed the ones he had sent were not illegal as the youngsters were simply scantily-clad, rather than naked.

Ms Harvey said he had asked officers: “Would that be classed as indecent?”

He also admitted in interview that he had said “stupid stuff” in the online chats, and “people always wrote stuff they did not mean”.

Ms Harvey added: “He said he had been trying to impress people and that he felt important to be able to invite or disinvite people to the chat group as he did not have this type of authority in real life.”

She added: “Despite what he claims about them being dressed, it is quite clear the images show naked or undressed children.”

Defending, Joscelyn Lee said her client felt “a great deal of remorse”, adding: “He did not think about the harm caused [to the children] until after his arrest when his head was firmly pulled from the sand.

“He was so low, with such a hopeless sense of place in the world, that the risk was worth it. The [online] community was all he had.”

Woodford, who suffers with “significant” mental health problems, now had “a sense of relief” that the matters were now in the open and he could seek help, she added.

She also urged any sentence to be suspended.

Woodford pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and three of distributing indecent images of children between 15th May 2018 and 25th May 2022.

Handing him an immediate prison term, Assistant Judge Advocate General Jane England said: “There are other ways to feel important without asking people to send you indecent images of children.

“You facilitated the sharing of these images amongst the group and you asked people to post images, actively seeking them out over a period of four years.

“You don’t need me to tell you that any right-thinking person looking at indecent images of children would be shocked and disgusted and would want to report the people posting them – not solicit more.

“In order to create these images it is obvious a child is being abused and their innocence ripped away. Those who seek these types of images create a market for it.”

She added: “Only an immediate custodial sentence is appropriate due to the seriousness of the offending. It is the least I can impose which reflects the justice of the case.”

Woodford will be the subject of a sexual harm prevention order, aimed at preventing re-offending, and must also sign the sex offenders register indefinitely.

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An 83-year-old paedophile could die behind bars for historic sex offences against three schoolgirls. 

Terrance Whittingham denied he had targeted any of the victims but was convicted by a jury after a trial. 

In harrowing impact statements read at Newcastle Crown Court the three women say the are still traumatised by their ordeals but one added: "I know he can never again do anything like this to anyone, which means I get peace."

Judge Gavin Doig jailed Whittingham for 13 years with a one year extended licence period.

Whittingham, of Colliery Close, Hebburn, was ordered to abide by a sexual harm prevention order and sign the sex offenders register for life. 

Judge Gavin Doig told him: "There is no doubt your offending has caused significant and lasting trauma to these women, who were and are telling the truth about you and have been throughout. 

"I would like to pay tribute to all for them for having the courage to come forward in the first place and perhaps having greater courage to see the case through." 

Whittingham was convicted of 16 offences of indecent assault and indecency with a child and attempted indecency, all of which he denied. 

David Callan, defending, said Whittingham, who has poor mobility, was of positive good character, served in the army and receives a war pension. 

Mr Callan added: "It's probable, with any sentence that gets passed, it may mean the defendant is going to die while in prison. This is not a defendant who views the future as a friend." 

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A teenager caught with indecent images of children has been spared prison.

Leon Dunlavy was arrested on August 22 last year following the police receiving intelligence about what he had been doing. When quizzed, he said he may have seen indecent images through pop-ups redirecting him but said he would click off them.

Newcastle Crown Court heard he also said he was on Discord and that people "may have sent him links to indecent images but they were not at his request and he didn't save them". His devices were then checked and on one phone there was no illegal material but there was evidence of him using search terms associated people searching for child abuse images.

On a second phone, two of the most serious, category A images and one category C image was found. On a cloud storage device, 45 category A videos, 27 category B videos and 12 category C videos were discovered, along with two extreme pornography videos featuring bestiality. The ages of the children were estimated to be between four and 14.

Dunlavy, 17 at the time of the offences and now 19, of Chestnut Avenue, Cowgate, Newcastle, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and one of possessing extreme pornography. He said he was only interested in the images of older teens and was disgusted by some of the material showing younger children.

He was sentenced to a two year community order with 120 hours unpaid work. He will also have to sign the sex offenders register for five years and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order.

Jonathan Cousins, defending, said: "This is a very young man who leads a very sheltered life, is heavily reliant on the support of his family, considerably isolated and not a mature offender."

Description

A man from Wallsend who used social media platforms to send explicit messages to and request indecent images from children has been sentenced following a National Crime Agency investigation.

Daniel Lee, 29, used multiple social media platforms to send more than 60,000 messages across 2,405 conversations to acquire indecent images of children through conversations with victims.

NCA officers recovered a total of 97 Category A, 94 Category B and 215 Category C images and videos from his device.

Nine UK male and female child victims were identified, aged between 13 and 16 at the time of his offending.

In one chat, a 14-year-old victim told Lee her age but he continued to engage in sexually explicit messaging via social media and using voice notes.

In another, Lee asked the age of his victim and continued to ask for indecent images after he was told she was 15.

Lee also deliberately used a false profile image on his accounts, telling one 14-year-old victim that he was 16 and sending her £20 during the course of the conversation to encourage sexually explicit messages. Lee swapped more than 4000 messages with this victim alone.

When searching Lee's phone, officers found that Lee had also messaged a number of accounts asking if they were selling sexual content. Numerous messages indicated he wanted to pay for images, videos or live 'sessions' but had no money to pay.

Lee was arrested at his home in August 2022. On arrest, he told NCA officers "I hold my hands up to it, I should never have done it". He went on to provide a no comment interview.

He was charged with 45 offences including inciting a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity involving penetration, sexual communication with a child and making and distributing indecent images of children. He pleaded guilty to all the offences at Newcastle Crown Court in July 2024.

Lee was jailed for four years and five months at the same court today. He will be subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be on the sex offenders register for life.

Danielle Pownall from the National Crime Agency said: "The NCA is committed to protecting children and bringing those who seek this material out to justice.

"Daniel Lee was a prolific offender, targeting children on social media sites and soliciting illegal images from them for his own gratification.

"We uncovered tens of thousands of messages on Lee's device, both to his victims and to other accounts to request sexual content. He preyed on vulnerable children to continue his offending."

Bethany Raine, Specialist Prosecutor for the CPS, said: "Daniel Lee made a number of different accounts with false personas, for the predatory purpose of targeting children online and obtaining sexual images of them.

"His offending has affected dozens of children, who were manipulated and exploited, all for his own sexual gratification.

"The CPS will continue to work closely with law enforcement partners to relentlessly pursue justice for victims and prosecuting those who engage in online child sexual abuse."

Description

A convicted child sex offender has been locked up after he hid three mobile phones and other digital devices in his Newcastle home.

Roland Mitchell, who was jailed in the 1980s and 1990s for indecently assaulting youngsters, was made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order in 2016 after he was caught with indecent images of kids. Under the terms of the order, the 74-year-old must inform police of any devices he owned, which were capable of accessing the internet or storing digital photos or videos.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that, during a routine visit to his home, an officer noticed that his regular mobile phone had a very small internet history, which aroused her suspicions. A subsequent search of the property found three further phones, a laptop, a tablet, a USB and hard drive device and three camcorders.

Now, Mitchell, of Cambridge Street, in Elswick, Newcastle, has been jailed for 10 months after he pleaded guilty to five counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and two of failing to comply with notification requirements of the sex offenders register.

Rachael Glover, prosecuting, said an officer attended Mitchell's address on November 30 last year. She added: "During that visit, the defendant handed over a mobile phone, in which the officer identified there was very little internet history and, suspecting this may be down to him deleting the history, he was arrested."

A later search of the flat uncovered the hidden devices, as well as a Barclays bank card and a passport, which he must also tell police about under the terms of his order. During interview, Mitchell claimed he had forgotten about the digital devices but had no explanation for the three phones.

The court heard that Mitchell had 32 offences on his record, including gross indecency from 1964, indecent assault on a female under 14 in 1980 and similar offending in 1983. He was then jailed again in 1998 for indecent assault. Caroline McGurk, defending, said Mitchell now suffered with ill health and there was no evidence that he had used the devices in a "suspect" way.

Locking him up, Judge Penny Moreland said: "They were deliberate breaches and I'm satisfied it couldn't be anything other than deliberate to posses that number of devices."

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A vile paedophile who "stripped his victims of their childhood innocence" when he subjected them to multiple rapes and sexual assaults has been jailed.

Thomas Reay stole the childhoods of two young girls when he carried out the sickening abuse over a number of years. But now the 65-year-old has been locked up for 25 years after his victims found the courage to report the offending to a loved one in May of this year.

The report prompted an investigation by Northumbria Police’s Safeguarding Department and Reay was subsequently charged with a string of offences and remanded in custody.

Reay, of Hesleyside Drive, Newcastle, later pleaded guilty at Newcastle Crown Court to 16 child sex offences in July.

He appeared before Durham Crown Court on Tuesday where he was sentenced to 25 years behind bars.

Leading the investigation, Detective Constable Paul Armstrong, of Northumbria Police, said: "Reay subjected the victims in this case to horrific ordeals over the course of a number of years, and I am pleased the courts have seen fit to hand him a very lengthy custodial sentence.

"Reay is a vile predator who stripped his victims of their childhood innocence through repeated abuse. I would like to praise the victims for their incredible bravery and courage to come forward because if they had not taken that first step of telling a loved one what had happened, Reay might not be behind bars today.

"No sentence will ever detract from the trauma they suffered, but I hope this lengthy sentence can provide some degree of closure which will allow them to move forward with their lives. Protecting the vulnerable and ensuring the most serious offenders like Reay are brought to justice are our top priorities as a Force.

"I would urge anyone who has been a victim, or wants to share information about an offender, to get in touch. We will support you and we will believe you."

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Brett Wight, 47, subjected the woman to multiple rapes causing her lasting physical injuries.

The stoic victim, though, had the fortitude to come forward to disclose the offences to police.

An investigation was immediately launched by the Northumbria force and last year the defendant was charged with multiple sexual offences.

Wight, of Throckley, Newcastle, went on trial at the city’s crown court late last year where he was convicted by a jury of four counts of rape, following the two-week hearing.

He returned to the court, on Friday (September 20), where he received a 15-year custodial sentence to be followed by an eight-year extended licence period.

Wight will also be subject to registration as a sex offender and prohibitions under the terms of a restraining order, both for life.

Following the sentencing hearing, the sister of the survivor of his crimes praised the police investigators for their, “remarkable actions.”

She said: “I cannot emphasise how much of an impact the brilliance of Northumbria Police has had on my family.

“I can say with all honesty we would not have had this result had it not been for your amazing police force.

“Particularly those officers who have been by our side and supported us since the start.”

She singled out Detective Constable Leo Douglas and Police Constable Kris Wightman, who she described as, “the absolute guardian angels” of her sister.

“The care, attention, support, professionalism, shown is astonishing.

“I cannot emphasise enough how important it is that those officers on my sister’s case are recognised for their brilliance.

“I don’t think there is an award big enough for them.

“If I could scream this from the rooftops for the whole world to hear, believe me, I would!”

She said the force ought to be seen as, “amazing”, and should be, “celebrated and recognised for their brilliance.”

The grateful sibling added: “I will spend the rest of my life spreading positivity about Northumbria Police and how wonderful they are.

“I know my sister feels exactly the same.”

The officer leading the case, DC Douglas, responded by saying: “First and foremost, I would like to thank the survivor for the incredible strength she has shown which has ultimately made it possible to bring her abuser to justice.

“No-one should ever have to experience what she went through at the hands of Wight, but without bravery in reporting what had happened, he would not be behind bars today and his offending may never even have come to light.

“Her strength and bravery is something she should be incredibly proud of, and I want to personally thank her for her tenacity, and her continued co-operation throughout our investigation.”

He added: “Wight is a dangerous individual and deserves to be behind bars for a significant length of time.

“As a force, protecting and supporting vulnerable victims is our top priority and we will continue to work incredibly hard to put offenders before the courts and ensure that no-one gets away with this type of criminality.”

He urged any victim to take the first step and come forward, stressing they will be listened to and supported, “in whatever way we can.”

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A ‘sadistic and controlling’ rapist threatened a woman with a gun before subjecting her to a prolonged and degrading sexual assault.

Ryan Beard, aged 26, had been following the woman and tracking her movements via a device he’d placed in her car.

He’s also installed a spywear app on her mobile phone in the weeks and months leading up to the attack on the night of 11 May 2023, when he lured her to his flat by posing as someone else.

He then placed an imitation gun to the woman’s head and into her mouth before filming himself raping her.

Beard was arrested in July when his victim came forward to tell the police what had happened.

He denied all the allegations against him and even claimed his victim was the one harassing him.

He answered “no comment” in a later police interview when he was shown the video of the rape and other digital exhibits detectives had recovered from his phone.

After a trial in July, Beard, formerly of Tuxford, was found guilty of two counts of rape, possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, intentional strangulation, assault and stalking involving fear of violence.

Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday we was given an extended 15 year prison sentence after being deemed a dangerous offender.

He was also added to the sex offenders register for life and handed a restraining order forbidding any future contact with his victim.

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A paedophile has been jailed for more than 25 years for raping two children

In some instances, Karl Young, 33, offered his victims alcohol and made aggressive threats towards them if they did not comply with his advances.

Both victims bravely raised the alarm about Young to those around them who informed Northumbria Police, and he was arrested in December of last year.

Following a thorough investigation by specialist officers from the force’s safeguarding department, he was charged with a string of sexual offences including rape.

While initially denying any involvement, Young, of St Marks Way in South Shields, later pleaded guilty to nine offences including assault by penetration, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, sexual assault, and four counts of rape of a child at Newcastle Crown Court on May 7.

He was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing.

On Friday, Young appeared before the same court where a judge sentenced him to 25 years and six months in prison, and a further year on licence.

He will also spend the rest of his life on the Sex Offenders’ Register, and was handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Leading the investigation for Northumbria Police was Detective Constable Gavin James.

Speaking after Young’s sentencing, he said: “Young is a calculated predator, who used alcohol and aggression to coerce his victims into sexual activity.

“I would like to commend both of the survivors in this case for the immeasurable bravery they have shown throughout the whole process.

“From coming forward and raising the alarm to those around them, and then having to re-live their pain speaking about Young’s horrific actions towards them.

“Ultimately, their unwavering support has allowed us to bring a vile offender like Young to justice – and I hope the survivors and their loved ones are able to find some closure in today’s outcome knowing he is now behind bars.”

Det Con James added: “I hope this sends a clear message to those who have committed these types of crimes – you won’t get away with them and we’ll do everything in our power to put dangerous offenders like Young before the courts.

“Most importantly, this result is an example of what we can do when we work together to support survivors of sexual offences and hold their abusers to account.

“If you’ve been a victim of sexual abuse, please know that we can help you – and we will listen to you.

“Please come forward and report anything of concern today.”

Description

A pervert who poses a high risk to children is behind bars after trying to target a 12-year-old online for a second time.

Ryan Pearson was spared prison last year for sending sexual pictures of himself to what he thought was a child but turned out to be an undercover police officer. Despite having a suspended sentence hanging over his head, he went on to commit very similar offences, chatting to another decoy profile set up by a police officer pretending to a 12-year-old girl.

Now the 31-year-old, formerly of Jarrow but now of no fixed address, has been locked up for four years at Newcastle Crown Court.

It was in April this year that Pearson began talking to what he thought was a 12-year-old girl on Kik. Despite being told the age of the "child", he continued the chat, asking about her school uniform and said he found school uniforms "cute".

He went on to say she was not allowed to have sex for more than three years and said he could get in trouble for talking sexually to her.

However he then asked if she would like to hear a "naughty thought" and went on to describe sexual activity he would like to have with her. He also asked if she'd watched pornography and suggested she did so.

He sent an image of himself in boxer shorts and said he wanted to see what she looked like in her pyjamas. On another day, he sent to images of his genitals and video of himself carrying out a sex act.

A different day, he sent a third image of his penis, which was the last interaction and he was arrested the following day.

The court heard he was given a ten month suspended prison sentence in January last year for similar offending. On that occasion he admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

He again thought he was communicating with a 12-year-old but it was an undercover officer. He sent a picture of his genitals and sent a video of him carrying out a sex act and suggested she show it to her little sister and her friend.

He admitted breaching that suspended sentence and the new offences of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity and attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act.

Judge Robert Adams said he poses a significant risk of causing serious harm to children and jailed him for four years. He was also given a sexual harm prevention order and must sign the sex offenders register.

Robin Turton, defending, said Pearson had been a hard-working man before engaging in the "abhorrent behaviour".

Description

A predator who abused a girl has been jailed for almost two decades.

Stephen Frame, 34, raped and sexually assaulted the girl numerous times.

The brave survivor came forward and reported the abuse to police in 2022, and the Force’s Safeguarding Department immediately launched an investigation.

Frame was swiftly arrested by police but denied the allegations against him.

In 2023, he was charged with a series of offences, including rape and sexual assault.

And in April, Frame, of South Eldon Street, South Shields, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court where a jury saw through his lies and convicted him of all counts of the sexual abuse.

On Tuesday (July 2), he appeared at the same court where he was sentenced to 17 years behind bars.

He will also spend the rest of his life on the Sex Offenders’ Register and was given a life-long Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and restraining order to further monitor his behaviour when he is released from prison.

Description

A sex offender has found himself in court once again - this time for failing to tell police about a change of address.

Barry Parker was given a lengthy prison sentence in the mid-1990s for a sexual offence and is on the sex offenders register. But the 66-year-old has committed breaches of his order on several occasions in the past and has once again been hauled back into court.

On Wednesday, Parker, of Byker Bridge House, Byker, appeared at Newcastle Magistrates' Court facing a charge of failing to comply with notification requirements. He pleaded guilty to the single offence, which dates back to March 22 this year.

The court heard that in January 1996, Parker had been jailed for seven years for sexual offending - the details of which were not given during proceedings. As well as his prison sentence, he was also put on the sex offenders register, meaning he must comply with certain conditions - one of which is notifying police of a change of address.

But Parker breached the order this year when he moved address and failed to notify police. Stephen Davies, prosecuting, said: "It became apparent with [police] that he was no longer living at his registered address. Police were notified that he was living at Byker Bridge House and failed to register the change of address. He was arrested and interviewed and explained he was evicted and failed to notify police of his new address."

The court was told that following his 1996 conviction, Parker had committed order breaches in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2016. His breaches had resulted in either prison time or financial penalties.

Michael Crowe, defending, told the court Parker is in "poor physical health" and has memory issues. He said: "The best part of 30 years ago [Parker] was convicted of something he's always maintained his innocence for. He has some breaches over a period of 29 years and it is right to say he has been required to report to police on hundreds of occasions. By and large, he has managed to comply with that."

Mr Crowe said Parker had been living in temporary accommodation but was attacked by another resident and he "defended himself". He was then evicted and moved to Byker Bridge House after spending a short time living on the streets. Mr Crowe added there was "nothing sinister" in not notifying the authorities of the address change, saying: "He says because of the circumstances in which he moved, he was in some state of distress and [notifying police] simply slipped his mind."

Magistrates fined Parker £120 and ordered him to pay a £48 surcharge and £85 costs.