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A successful businessman caught with more than 1,700 child abuse images today avoided jail after a judge heard he needs to care for his cancer-stricken wife.

Steven Bowden claimed he viewed the explicit photos while he was under a lot of 'distress' at the time due to his spouse Heather's diagnosis with an aggressive form of breast cancer.

While being investigated by police and in a moment of 'pure panic' the businessman - who owns a bespoke joinery company - destroyed a computer hard drive and dumped it in a river, a court was told.

But the 60 year old avoided jail after a judge highlighted how his wife - who has 'stood by him' - 'needs' him due to her health condition.

Prosecutor Rod Blain told Southampton Crown Court that Bowden's £900,000 home in Hythe in the New Forest was searched by police in July 2022.

But after officers visited his office in Salisbury, he removed a hard drive, smashed it and threw it in a nearby river.

James Bull, mitigating, described the destruction of the hard drive as an 'impulsive' moment.

He added: "It was a state of pure panic - it was not done as calculated as one might expect."

Bowden claimed to have gained access to the child porn after he was sorting the 'estate' of a deceased family member.

Mr Bull said: "The desktop tower that was in his possession - he received from a family member.

"He received the computer and also the content on the computer.

"He accepts at the time he should have informed the police about the content.

"Instead, he viewed the content and did not take that course of action."

Bowden was found with 1,734 indecent images of children - 145 of which were Category A, the most serious kind.

Mr Bull told the court he is a 'successful businessman' who co-owns a 'bespoke joinery company' with his son but that in 2022 his wife had received her diagnosis.

"Mr Bowden was experiencing a significant amount of emotional and psychological distress at the time," he said.

He added: "[This is] something that he did once and he accepts that it's the biggest mistake he has ever made."

Bowden pleaded guilty to three charges of making an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child and one charge of perverting the court of justice.

Judge Christopher Parker said 'the destruction of the hard drive is a very serious matter' but highlighted the case's mitigating features - in particular in 'regard' to his wife'.

He said: "She has stood by you - notwithstanding the nature of your offending - but she needs you because of her health condition."

The judge handed Bowden an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

He will also have to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, pay £1,000 in prosecution costs, and complete rehabilitation activity requirements.

Bowden was also issued with a sexual harm prevention order to last for the next 10 years.

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A SERIAL paedophile was told by a judge to throw his laptop away in order to prevent him committing further crimes.

Andrew Davidson, 63, from Belmore Gardens, Lymington, has a history of downloading child abuse images and breaching sexual harm prevention orders.

He was jailed for ten months in 2018 in Nottingham, where he was living at the time, for possessing thousands of indecent photos of children including Category A – the most severe.

At that time Davidson was under a SHPO imposed for a similar offence in 2006, for which he was given a suspended sentence and ordered to take part in an internet sex offenders treatment programme.

In 2021 he again breached an SHPO order and was given a suspended prison sentence. Another order was also imposed.

But a jury a Southampton Crown Court heard in November he breached it again.

An offender monitoring firm were alerted in October last year that he had downloaded software on a laptop which enabled him to browse sites undetected.

It meant, said prosecutor Harvey Keely, the company could not see what Davidson was looking at on the internet. There was also no search history.

Police were alerted and went to Davidson’s home, where they seized all his internet capable devices including a Samsung mobile phone on which there were five child abuse images including three within category A.

The defendant pleaded guilty to breaching the order but denied making an indecent image of a child between 25th February 2018 and 1st June 2021. However, he was found guilty by the jury at the city’s crown court and sent to Portsmouth for sentencing.

In defence, barrister Nicholas Gammon said his client had claimed he had used the software to look for old emails and did not know how the indecent images “got there.”

The defendant cares for his partner, added Mr Gammon, who is “seriously ill” and “would not be able to cope” if he was jailed.

Mr Gammon continued: “The police are not going to leave him alone; they will monitor him very closely and he is not someone who can escape the net. My advice to him was to throw his computer away.”

Sentencing the defendant, Judge Newton-Price KC said he agreed with the barrister, adding: “You are extremely lucky to escape an immediate custodial sentence and might want to consider Mr Gammon’s suggestion to get of rid all internet devices.”

Davidson was sentenced to a total of 14 months in prison suspended for two years. He was given a 10-year SHPO and ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work.

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The suspect in an alkali attack in south London was convicted of a sex offence in 2018 and was later granted asylum after three attempts.

Police are looking for Abdul Shakoor Ezedi, 35, who was last seen in north London on Wednesday evening.

A mother and her three-year-old daughter hurt by the corrosive substance could have suffered "life-changing" injuries in the attack.

Police have warned people not to approach Ezedi and to instead call 999.

The 31-year-old woman and her daughter remain in hospital, along with her older daughter, eight.

Five police officers were injured as they responded, as were four members of the public who tried to help.

The attack took place near Clapham Common at about 19:25 on Wednesday.

The suspect attempted to escape the scene in a car but crashed into a stationary vehicle, then ran.

One witness described seeing the suspect lift a young child over his head and throw her onto the ground like a "ragdoll", telling the BBC the incident was like a "horror movie".

A community worker who knows Ezedi has appealed for him to give himself up, and to get medical help for his injuries.

Azad, who helps refugees in Newcastle where Ezedi lives, described the 35-year-old as polite and respectful.

In 2018, Ezedi was convicted of one charge of sexual assault and one of exposure, before being granted asylum in 2020.

He received a nine-week jail term suspended for two years for the sexual assault and, for the exposure, 36 weeks' imprisonment to be served consecutively, also suspended for two years.

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A tattooist who paid a teenage girl for sex in his tattoo parlour has been jailed. He gave her a tattoo in exchange for sexual favours and later told police he was "killing two birds with one stone".

Adrian Edwards, 57, of Newport, was found guilty of two counts of paying a child for sex, and not guilty of one count. He claimed there was no monetary agreement between him and the then 16-year-old victim, and she was 18-years-old when they first slept together.

But this was disbelieved by a jury following a trial at Newport Crown Court in September, which heard Edwards had intercourse and oral sex with the girl on a number of occasions. Their first sexual encounter took place at the defendant's tattoo parlour in Caerphilly, after the victim "pestered" him for a tattoo and told him "I'll do anything".

During his remarks at a sentencing hearing on Thursday, Recorder Dyfed Thomas said: ""You took advantage of that child Mr Edwards, as she was a child at the ages of 16 and 17 for your own sexual gratification. You promised payment of money and had sexual activity with her which was alleged and found guilty by a jury. You knew as an older man with money she would go along with what you suggested."

In his opening of the case to the jury, prosecutor James Wilson described the encounter as a "cold transaction". He added: "(The defendant) took her into the piercing room, locked the doors, and started to touch her. He bent her over the piercing bed and put his penis inside her. Afterwards he laughed and asked her what tattoo she wanted."

The court was told Edwards paid the victim for sex regularly, and she used the cash to buy alcohol and hair extensions amongst other things. They continued to meet with each other after the defendant began working at one of the tattoo parlours he opened in Cardiff.

Mr Wilson said Edwards continued paying the complainant for sex after she turned 18-years-old, but the jury were only concerned with the events prior to her 18th birthday. The victim contacted the police in 2019 and was interviewed about her allegations towards the defendant.

Edwards, of Caerleon Road, Newport, was invited to a voluntary interview with police which he attended. He claimed the girl asked him for money on a number of occasions before they had sex, and he had given £100. He told police: "She was all over me, she would come up, stroke me and kiss me, all kinds of things. I thought 'She obviously wants more money'.

The defendant described their relationship as "completely clinical". He described himself having a "high sex drive" and admitted to using prostitutes in the past. It was alleged he told police that sex between himself and the complainant was "consensual" and he paid her some of the time, and added: "No words were exchanged, it was an understanding.

Later in the interview, he told police he was "disgusted with himself" but didn't see what he was doing was wrong as "it was like a prostitute". He added: "It was killing two birds with one stone, passion and helping her out with money."

Edwards has a number of previous convictions including theft by an employee in 1984, tattooing a person under 18 in 2016, and other offences including matters of dishonesty, driving offences, theft and handling stolen goods.

In mitigation, defence barrister Julia Cox referred to her client's character and the work he had done with sporting bodies. She said: "He'd been involved with charitable organisations and involved with reputable sporting bodies not only towards his socialisation but his positive impact on others. He travelled the country taking part in darts tournaments and organised events on their behalf working closely with the national bodies."

Ms Cox also referred to the defendant's ill health, having suffered a stroke at a young age and has diabetes. She said the victim would have been able to legally consent to sex as she was not under the age of consent.

Sentencing, Recorder Thomas said the defendant continued to deny the offences, and minimised his actions by claiming the victim was over 18 at the time of the offences. It was said Edwards did not accept his actions would have caused harm, and referred tothe victim as a "liar and untrustworthy".

The judge added: "It's clear from reading the (pre sentence) report you think of yourself as the victim in this case. There's no remorse that has been expressed that would have been a mitigating feature but it's singularly absent in this case....

Edwards was sentenced to 28 months imprisonment. He was also made subject to a restraining order for 10 years.

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A pet-collecting paedophile who sexually abused two youngsters has been jailed for 27 years.

Fraser Brennan subjected the children to sickening abuse which has left both of them traumatised. Newcastle Crown Court heard the 35-year-old was previously convicted of sexually assaulting two other youngsters when he was 15 or 16 years old. He got a community order for that then was cautioned twice for breaching a sex offender registration requirement.

In relation to the latest case, the court heard Brennan kept a selection of animals, including a bearded dragon, snake and rabbits and he admitted the pets were attractive to children, although a judge said it was unclear whether he kept them for that purpose.

Brennan denied offending against the victims but was convicted of two counts of assault by penetration on one of them and attempted rape and two counts of assault by penetration on the other.

The abuse came to light after a school teacher was alerted and Brennan was arrested. He continues to deny any wrongdoing.

In a victim impact statement, one youngster said they are "more angry than ever" and has self-harmed. They added that they'll never forget it but hopes to use the experience to grow stronger.

The second victim said they have not been happy since the abuse and has depression, anxiety and has self-harmed.

Judge Christopher Prince jailed Brennan, of Camperdown, North Tyneside, for 27 years with an extended licence period of a further six years. He will also have to sign the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Fiona Lamb, defending, said: "There's a different side to this defendant. His family are supportive of him."

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A 76-year-old man who paid to watch children be sexually abused in the Philippines has been jailed.

Leslie Fletcher, of Brancepeth Close, Washington, requested indecent photographs and videos of babies and children online.

Northumbria Police Det Con Rob Smoult said offenders such as Fletcher were "not welcome in our communities".

Fletcher was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on Monday to five years and nine months in prison.

Specialist officers from the force's Paedophile Online Investigation Team (Polit) became aware of Fletcher's crimes after Google and Microsoft flagged the sharing of indecent images.

When officers seized Fletcher's devices, they found receipts and records of calls with people abusing their children.

'No excuse'

Fletcher was charged and pleaded guilty to 14 charges.

These included three counts of making indecent images of children, three counts of arranging the commission of child sex offences, four counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and four counts of attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity.

Seven of the offences related to Fletcher arranging the abuse of children abroad.

Along with his prison sentence, Fletcher was issued with a sexual harm prevention order and ordered to sign the sex offenders register.

Det Con Smoult said the sentence "shows that offending like this will not be tolerated and that people like Fletcher are not welcome in our communities".

He said: "Fletcher knew he had no excuse and was left with no choice but to admit his guilt."

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A LYMINGTON paedophile who was found with more than 2,000 indecent pictures of children has avoided an immediate jail sentence after a judge ruled he did not intend to share them.

Martin Davidson (49), of Ditchbury, had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of making indecent images, which included some of the most serious, category A, and three counts of distributing them.

He also admitted possessing an extreme pornographic image.

However, Davidson claimed he was unaware an app he had downloaded to boost his internet speed would automatically share the images with others, which led to a Newton hearing at Southampton Magistrates Court to resolve factual differences.

Southampton Crown Court
Giving evidence, Davidson said he had used the app to download films and music before this led to viewing pornographic and indecent images.

He said the app was a complicated system and he had used an internet search to find how to improve his download speeds, changing the settings in the app based on what he copied from a forum.

Despite it being described by prosecutor Ellie Sheehan as a peer-to-peer sharing app, Davidson said never at any time had he considered the files he was downloading would be shared elsewhere and was unaware the sharing was automated.

Recorder James Watson KC ruled Davidson had not knowingly distributed the images, which the court heard showed children as young as two in distress.

Davidson was arrested at his home in September 2021, and his laptop and a mobile phone were seized.

On examination they were found to contain 772 category A images, 298 category B and 1,006 category C.

All categories contained stills and videos, the court heard, with most of the children shown estimated to be aged between five and 10 years.

Defending, Daniel Higgins said his client had been in a dark place when the offences were committed over a three-month period, but had been transparent and compliant after his arrest.

He had taken significant steps to address his offending, and engaged with therapy and the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, a charity dedicated to preventing child sexual abuse.

A letter from Davidsons wife, which was not read out in court, spoke volumes about the impact of his offending on the family, he said, who would be punished if he was sent to jail.

He added: The stigma carried with this type of offending, which is known within the local community, is further punishment itself.

Sentencing him to a total of 16 months in prison, suspended for 24 months, recorder Watson said: Distribution is, within the guidelines, a much more serious offence than possession and in dealing with you that must be the lead matter.

However, I have concluded the prosecution cannot show you intentionally distributed the images with knowledge of what you were doing.

There was a degree of naivety, coupled with carelessness, through using the app.

Turning to the possession charges, he said aggravating factors included the volume of images and evidence of organised and encrypted storage archives.

He added: You and your wife have clearly worked hard on the difficulties revealed by your behaviour, and I accept overall the direction of travel gives one some optimism for future rehabilitation.

You have shown a degree of remorse and insight, and put the time from your arrest to good use.

Had I found the prosecution case proved, there would have been no escape from an immediate custodial sentence.

Davidson must also carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which restricts his internet activity for 10 years.

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A PAEDOPHILE has been jailed after he was convicted of a catalogue of sexual offences in east Wales.

Chris Hood, 36, admitted three counts of making an indecent photograph of a child and one each of taking an indecent photograph of a child and possessing an extreme pornographic image involving an animal.

The defendant also pleaded guilty to two counts of observing a person doing a private act and one each of voyeurism by recording a private act and voyeurism by installing equipment or constructing/adapting a structure.

Hood’s offences were committed in Newport (Gwent) and Chepstow.

The defendant was jailed for 26 months at Cardiff Crown Court.

He will have to register as a sex offender for the next 10 years and he was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for the same period.

Description

A pervert loitered in bushes outside a primary school carrying out a sex act while children played.

Alemshah Amin hung around outside Sacred Heart Primary School, in Fenham, Newcastle, for several hours on two days in June this year, briefly interacting with a child on one occasion. On both occasions, he stayed until caught by staff.

When arrested he claimed he had just being going to the toilet despite the fact he could have walked to his home in just one minute. Anne Richardson, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: "One two occasions he loitered in the vicinity of the school for several hours, hiding in bushes around the site and masturbating while looking into the school yard when children were playing.

"On both occasions he remained there until caught in the act by staff." He was arrested on the second occasion and interviewed by police.

Miss Richardson said: "He said, despite his home address being less than a minute's walk away, he had been caught short, desperate to use the lavatory. He then shook his penis to clean it and it became sore and he said he relieved the soreness by shaking it more with his hand."

Amin, 27, of Lotus Place, Fenham, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to two offences of outraging public decency. Because of time served on remand, he was given an 18-month community order with rehabilitation. He will also be subject to sex offender registration for five years and a sexual harm prevention order for the same period which bans him from waiting outside any school or educational facility for under-18s.

Recorder Richard Wright KC told him: "You have pleaded guilty to serious offences of outraging public decency. These are offences that involved you masturbating in pubic outside the Sacred Heart Primary School in this city.

"They were plainly sexual offences and you chose to commit them in the vicinity of that school quite deliberately, of that I am sure." The judge said alcohol consumption contributed to the offending but added: "There is also a sexual element to your behaviour which requires the public to be protected from you because I'm concerned that otherwise you may offending in a similar way in the future.

"These are offences that are so serious that, ordinarily, I would impose a prison sentence. However you have been remanded in custody for several months and you have served on remand a prison sentence approaching the length of any sentence I might impose."

Tony Cornberg, defending, said he has a learning disability and despite denials of the offence in a pre-sentence report, admits his guilt. He added: "He is isolated and has limited social skills."

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A worker later described as a "bad man" by the three-year-old girl he sexually assaulted has been jailed. Kevin Sillcox was carrying out work at the family's home when the incident happened.

Sillcox, 63, committed the offence - exposing his penis to the girl before removing her underwear and touching her - while working in her bedroom last year. The girl and her mother had been downstairs while he was working, but a court heard that at some stage she went up to play in her room.

On Wednesday, Newport Crown Court was told that Sillcox, from the Welsh city, was found out some time later, when the girl asked if the "bad man" would be coming back. She went on to describe what he had done to her.

Sillcox, of Commercial Road, denied the offences, claiming the allegations had been "fabricated". However, he was found guilty of sexually touching a child under the age of 13 following a trial, reports Wales Online.

In victim personal statements read out to the court by prosecutor Matthew Roberts, the girl's father said: "I am reliving the incident again and felt unable to help my daughter when she was in distress... We no longer feel safe in our own home. I feel I no longer know my daughter. She is less trusting and pulls away from me."

The father described the impact of the assault as an "emotional rollercoaster" and stated he tried to take his own life and had turned to alcohol. He added: "It's awful to think this man came into my daughter's home, that was supposed to be her safe space, and did this to her."

The girl's mother said: "The actions of Sillcox have greatly affected me and my daughter's life. Since he committed this crime I have been unable to sleep at night and I'm constantly afraid it will happen again. I am no longer able to trust people as before. It's torn me to pieces, I've never felt so isolated and alone... The trauma has made me feel things I had never felt.... I cry all the time and find it hard to get my head around how he came into my home and did this to the most vulnerable person in the house, my beautiful daughter."

The mother said her daughter was "cautious, scared and worried", hides away and finds it hard to socialise, which the mother described as "heartbreaking" to see. The court heard Sillcox had four previous convictions, none of which were sexual offences. His barrister, Alex Greenwood, said the offence was "relatively short in duration" and said there was no penetration involved.

Sentencing, Recorder Greg Bull KC said: "The effect on (the victim) and her parents has been significant, she has seemed to have a changed personality and is no longer the child she was. You have shown no remorse and chose to plead not guilty as was your right. You said it was a concocted allegation against you. I reject that allegation by you."

Sillcox was sentenced to four years of imprisonment. He was also made subject to sex offender notification requirements indefinitely and will be made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order at a later date.

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A pervert who filmed himself wearing lingerie while trying to have a sexual chat with a 12-year-old girl was actually talking to an undercover police officer.

Roy Drummond dressed in clothing that included a panty set, various coloured stockings, a pink corset and a baby doll nightie during a series of sickening online conversations over social media site Kik in October 2021. Newcastle Crown Court heard Drummond, who claimed to be a 19-year-old from Manchester, sent pictures and videos of himself dressed up and using a sex toy to the person he thought was a child.

But prosecutor Joe Hedworth told the court the fake profile had been set up by a covert police operative and the 12-year-old did not exist. Mr Hedworth said: "She said she was a girl aged 12. The defendant continued the
conversation and it was sexual from the off. He said 'girls in uniform are cute'."

The court heard the graphic chat went on for several days until Drummond was arrested. He denied having any sexual interest in children and said he got involved in the conversation through "stupidity".

Drummond, 35, of Condercum Road, Benwell, Newcastle, admitted attempting to have sexual communication with a child between October 7 and October 19, 2021. Recorder Abdul Iqbal sentenced him to 12 months, suspended for two years, with rehabilitation requirements and 100 hours unpaid work. Drummond has to sign the sex offenders register and abide by a sexual harm prevention order for ten years.

Recorder Iqbal told him: "You said you thought you were talking to an adult pretending to be a child. Whether that's true or not is debatable. It is clear you were communicating with someone who was telling you she was 12 and you were obtaining sexual gratification from explaining to her your own sexual interests."

Kate Barnes, defending, said Drummond has ADHD and is prone to "impulsivity and poor decision making processes".
Miss Barnes said Drummond poses a low risk, has fully co-operated with the authorities and can be managed safely in the community.

Description

A HORDLE man who sexually assaulted a woman on their first date was branded a “considerable risk” to women by a judge as he jailed him for more than three years.

Steven Christian (25), of The Pines, caused his victim “severe psychological harm” resulting in panic attacks and nightmares after the incident in Burley on 1st July.

Southampton Crown Court heard how Christian had been exchanging texts with the woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, ahead of their first meeting at a picnic spot.

The victim, who suffers from anxiety, had told Christian she felt comfortable meeting at the spot as it was familiar and safe.

Prosecutor Simon Walter told the court Christian had been “sweet and understanding” about this, his victim later told police.

After walking for a while, the pair sat down and Christian repeatedly attempted to kiss the victim, the court heard.

She continually rejected his “persistent” actions, but eventually gave him a kiss in the hope he would leave her alone.

However, Mr Walter explained, Christian then proceeded to sexually assault the woman by placing his hands on her breasts.

He then repeatedly tried to put her hands on his genital area.

Despite the victim continually asking him to stop, Christian then pulled down his trousers and underwear, exposing himself.

The court heard he then began pleasuring himself.

Mr Walter added: “At this point the victim was literally shouting ‘no’ at him.

“He eventually stopped and abruptly left, acting as if nothing had happened.”

He later sent her a message in which he said he was “really sorry” and added: “I messed up, I’m sorry for letting you down.”

The victim contacted police and, after his arrest, Christian told officers any sexual contact had been consensual.

Reading an impact statement to the court, the victim said the incident had taken “a major toll” on her mental health.

She had been suffering with panic attacks and sleepless nights and was forced to take time off from work.

She said: “I was left feeling frightened and unsafe [and] I am fearful of being taken advantage of.

“I felt exploited, vulnerable and used. I am easily startled and on high alert. I am unable to go to the Forest, even in the company of my family.

“It will take me a long time to trust others again.”

The court heard Christian has one previous conviction for the rape of a woman, which happened in 2018.

He was then sentenced to five years in a young offenders institution and added to the Sex Offender’s Register indefinitely.

He was on licence at the time of the sexual assaults, the court heard.

Defending, Laura Duff said her client expressed “the deepest remorse” for the incident and now understood that thinking he could persuade the victim to engage with him in sexual activity was wrong.

She said he was prepared to get help for this behaviour.

He had a strong support network, with his parents present in court, she said, and a job he could return to if he was given a community order instead of a custodial sentence.

Judge Peter Henry sentenced Christian to 38 months in custody with an extended five-year period, meaning he will be kept under supervision after his release.

He told him: “I have no doubt you pose a considerable risk to women.

“An extended prison sentence is required to adequately protect women from the danger you pose.

“You say you were overwhelmed with desire and that you couldn’t help yourself – I suspect that is a recurring theme with you.”

He added the victim had been deceived by his “insincere conduct” and added: “What happened was very far from sweet and understanding.

“Just imagine the fear and disgust and the sense of violation felt by the victim when you were doing the repugnant and self-centred act in front of her.

“This is undoubtably a case where there is severe psychological harm caused by you, which is aggravated by the fact you were still on licence for a previous conviction, and your targeting of a particularly vulnerable victim.”

Description

A 15-year-old girl was raped by a stranger who offered to charge her phone for her.

The horrific attack happened just two days before the teen started her GCSE exams.

Warren Richardson, 19, was jailed for almost five years at Newcastle Crown Court last week after pleading guilty to rape. After his conviction the victim's mum has revealed the devastating impact the attack has had on her daughter's life.

The mum, who cannot be named to protect her daughter's identity, said: "It's had a massive impact on her. It's every parent's worst nightmare," reports Chronicle Live.

The attack happened on May 21 last year. The victim was in Newcastle City Centre after going to a birthday party in Jesmond when she realised her phone was dead, her mum said.

Richardson, who was 17 at the time, started talking to her. They went to a nearby fast food restaurant to ask to borrow a charger. But when this was unsuccessful Richardson offered to charge the victim's phone at his home, where he raped her.

When the teenager did not return home her mum called the police to report her missing.

"It's not her to not come home., and it wasn't like her not to answer," he mum said. Then the next morning she came back and told her sister what had happened.

Richardson, of Cross Parade in Elswick, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to rape in July. Last week he was sentenced to four years and 10 months in prison. He was also made subject to an indefinite restraining order and a 10 year Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Richardson must also sign onto the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

Det Cons David Ostle, who led the investigation for Northumbria Police, has praised the victim's bravery

He said: “This was an absolutely appalling offence and I am pleased that Warren Richardson has been convicted at court.

“This outcome would not have been possible without the amazing bravery of the victim, who along with her family have shown huge support and cooperation throughout this investigation.

“I sincerely hope that this outcome offers them some comfort, seeing Richardson behind bars as a result of his despicable actions. I also hope that the victim’s bravery can give others the confidence to come forward and speak to police."

However, the victim's mum said it would take her a long time to get over what happened.

"These should be the best years of her life. She should be enjoying herself and she's not," she said. "She just doesn't want him to do this to anyone else. That's why she went all the way with it."

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Paul Vickers, of Moreland Road in South Shields, was found guilty at Newcastle Crown Court of six child sex offences, including three counts of sexual assault of a child under the age of 13.

The 39-year-old denied the offences but following a five-day trial in June, he was found guilty by a jury.

The judge in the case remanded Vickers in custody until he is due to be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on Tuesday, October 31.

Description

A predatory paedophile sexually abused young girls for his "own depraved sexual urges". He left his victims scared of potential violence and thinking they would not be believed if they were to report the assaults.

Gary Morgan, 59, of Newport, targeted his two victims during the 1980s and 1990s. The abuse involved him touching one victim's naked genitalia as well as her chest and her bottom.

A sentencing hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard the defendant stopped abusing the girl after she shouted: "No" as he attempted to touch her again. In his sentencing remarks. Recorder Dyfed Thomas said: "You pathetically apologised and said you thought she liked it. She was scared because nobody said no to you but she as a child was brave enough to do so."

Morgan sexually assaulted the second victim on two occasions, the first of which involved him pinning her arms against her side, forcing her legs open, and pressing his body up against her. This happened a second time on a later date when he pushed her down, pinned her, and pressed himself up against her.

Decades after the abuse the victims contacted the police and Morgan faced a trial. He denied the offences and claimed the victims were lying but he was found guilty of six offences of indecent assault. The defendant, of Jackson Court, has no relevant previous convictions.

In a victim personal statement read out to the court by prosecutor Nigel Fryer the first victim said: "As a child I was constantly scared and recall feeling physical pain. This was due to the trauma.... I was worried disclosing what had happened would lead to violence. I have had to live with this since I was a child and I continue to live with this. It became a learnt behaviour.

"I find it difficult to ask anybody for help. I became a destructive teenager and lost trust in authority and adults. The abuse impacted my education and I could have done so much better in school if I didn't have to deal with this.... I suffer with nightmares. I constantly feel guilty and responsible for the way other people feel. I feel guilty for not saying something sooner as I could have prevented other people being abused by this man."

The second victim said: "I struggle to get my head around everything that happened to me with this man. As a child I was scared – scared of what this man was capable of and what it would lead to. When I think about what this man has done to me I automatically get emotional – it has stayed with me throughout my life. I was afraid of him – he made me feel weak and helpless and when the incidents happened I was in shock and so vulnerable."

In mitigation defence barrister Thomas Stanway said his client was "living a chaotic lifestyle" at the time of the offences and had difficulties with alcohol but had "turned his life around" after beginning a relationship with his current partner of 23 years. He said the defendant had been in consistent employment in the construction industry and was a "family man" and "hardworking".

Sentencing, Recorder Thomas said: "You are a sexual offender who has been convicted of being a predatory paedophile whose offences were opportunistic in nature. You used children for your own depraved sexual urges."

Morgan was sentenced to a total of seven years imprisonment. He was also made subject to sex offender notification requirements and a restraining order indefinitely and a sexual harm prevention order for 15 years.