Latest Offenders Newport

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A NEWPORT man was found with extreme child abuse images and videos and bestiality on his mobile phone.

Michael Neye-Williams, of Birch Grove in Llanmartin, was arrested in a lorry near his place of work in Avonmouth on January 19 last year, after police had been unable to reach him at home.

He handed his phone over to the police and gave them the PIN, and told officers they would find indecent images of children on his phone, prosecutor David Pugh told the court.

After examining his phone, police found a video involving a man having sex with a girl aged between 10 and 13, as well as a number of images of young girls exposing themselves and performing sexual acts on men.

In total, he was found with one Category A – the most extreme level – video, one picture and one video in Category B, and 14 pictures in Category C.

Officers also found seven pictures of extreme pornography – involving men and women having sex with live animals.

Mr Pugh said there were also “46 indicative images” that, although not illegal, were “inappropriate”, as well as “inappropriate internet search terms” – including “jailbait” and “teen s***s”.

When interviewed, Neye-Williams told police he “did not have sexual interest in children” and “seemed remorseful”, Mr Pugh said.

Neye-Williams, 34, has no previous convictions.

Gareth Williams, in mitigation, told the court the defendant admitted the charges at the earliest opportunity, and fully co-operated with the police.

“He is sorry. He is remorseful,” Mr Williams added.

Judge Neil Bidder sentenced Neye-Williams to a 36-month community order.

He must complete the Horizon programme, and 30 days of rehabilitation activity requirement.

Neye-Williams was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order, and must register as a sex offender – both for five years.

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A PERVERT jailed for shoving a courgette down the front of his leggings before simulating a sex act in front of shoppers and children is back behind bars.

“Persistent sex offender” Geoffrey Chambers, 68, from Newport has been locked up for breaching an order regulating his use of the internet.

That sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) was imposed in February 2021 after he’d “paraded himself” in Hereford while making eye contact with women.

Tabitha Walker, prosecuting, said Chambers was arrested in Cwmbran town centre last August after police received reports he was “following young women around and filming them”.

There was no evidence of him doing this but officers searched him and found two mobile phones that had wiping apps which were prohibited by the terms of his SHPO.

The defendant, formerly of Cwmbran, now Clarence Place, Newport, admitted the breach.

Cardiff Crown Court heard Chambers was jailed for 22 months in 2021 after being caught exposing himself on a crowded beach at Barry Island when it was packed with thousands of sunseekers.

He was spotted stroking himself near a group of teenage girls.

A judge told him on that occasion he was “addicted” to flashing.

Chambers has 33 previous convictions for sex offences – the majority for exposure – dating back to the early 1980s.

Ruth Smith, representing him, said: “He’s a defendant who has struggled with a compulsion to expose himself in the past.

“He’s someone who has indicated a willingness to engage in programmes and is making the most of the use of his time in custody.”

Judge Paul Hobson told Chambers: “You are a committed and persistent sex offender.

“You were warned about this software and it seems to me the breach was deliberate.”

Chambers was jailed for 12 months and told he would serve half of that time in custody before being released on licence.

He was ordered to pay a victim surcharge following his release from prison.

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A SEX offender from Newport has been jailed after being caught with explicit images of children - just months after he had been spared jail for the same reason.

James Snowden, of Chepstow Road, was handed a suspended sentence and ordered to register as a sex offender in September 2022 after being convicted of “a number of offences” involving possessing indecent images of children.

On November 29, sex offender officers paid a visit to Snowden’s home and inspected his devices to check he was complying with the order.

Snowden’s Samsung Galaxy phone was checked, and the officers found he had logged into an image sharing site on November 4, 5, and 9 – and that its history showed “at least one video” had been shared, prosecutor Martha Smith-Higgins said.

Ms Smith-Higgins told Newport Crown Court that Snowden had also created a server on the messaging service Discord, which he told officers he used to “create a chatroom with polyamorous couples”.

Further examinations of his devices revealed 38 computer-generated images which depicted penetrative and non-penetrative sex between adults and children.

Snowden was arrested on January 4 at Newport Police Station.

He told officers his failure to follow the sexual harm prevention order was “the result of misunderstanding” the order, Ms Smith-Higgins said, though he later pleaded guilty to all charges.

In mitigation, Alex Greenwood told the court that Snowden had been arrested before the courses he had been ordered to complete to help rehabilitate him had begun.

“The Horizon course was due to take place five days after the defendant was arrested,” he said.

Mr Greenwood added Snowden had attended “47 of the 55 appointments” required as part of his suspended sentence, and “had excuses for all bar one of the others”.

Snowden suffers with anxiety and depression, Mr Greenwood said, and referring to his offending, said: “He has an underlying issue clearly”.

Recorder John Philpotts sentenced 26-year-old Snowden to nine months in prison each for two breaches of a sexual harm prevention order and possession of a prohibited image of a child – running concurrently.

He was also jailed for a further nine months – running consecutively – for breaching a suspended sentence.

Snowden was ordered to re-register as a sex offender for 10 years, and was made the subject of a new sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.

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A man raped a girl four times over a protracted period starting with an attack when she was five years old. Gareth Reilly, of Newport, has shown no remorse for the crimes which began in the early 2000s.

The 46-year-old appeared at Newport Crown Court where he was sentenced for four offences of raping a child and one of indecent assault, all against the same victim. He denied the offences but was found guilty following a trial. Judge Richard Williams said Reilly had carried out an "entrenched pattern of serious sex offending against a particularly vulnerable child".

The judge told him: "You are 46 and have not otherwise been in trouble. You maintain your innocence and there is no remorse to be taken into consideration. The probation service has found you pose a low risk of further offending in general but a high risk of a further sexual offence against a child."

There is no suggestion that Reilly, of Fairoak Avenue in Maindee, has targeted any other children, his barrister Byron Broadstock told the court. "He's a man of, until these convictions, good character. He was in employment and had been for many years. The effect [of the case] on his children and his parents has been profound... He knows he is facing a very significant sentence but beyond what I have said – given that he has been found guilty by a jury – there is little I can say."

Judge Williams said Reilly poses a "significant" risk of causing serious harm to girls and has shown "little prospect" of rehabilitation. Classing Reilly as a dangerous offender the judge handed him an extended sentence of 20 years in prison followed by four years on licence. He must serve two-thirds of the prison term in custody before he can be considered for parole.

Reilly will be on the sex offenders' register indefinitely. A hearing to decide a restraining order and sexual harm prevention order will take place on February 24.

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A man who raped a 15-year-old girl has been jailed for 12 years after he "turned her life upside-down". Jacob Curley, 32, was found guilty of rape by a jury following a trial and was also found guilty of sexual assault and assault by penetration. He had denied the offences against him.

A victim impact statement read out by prosecutor Ieuan Bennett at Cardiff Crown Court said: “This incident has affected me a lot. It has completely torn my family apart and turned my life upside-down." The victim added: "He is the reason my life is not going the way I planned [...] He really has ruined my life and I feel that I have completely lost my identity."

Mr Bennett told the court that Curley, of Harlequin Road, Newport, had 15 previous convictions for 39 offences. There were no previous convictions for sex offences. Joshua Scouller, representing the defendant, said that Curley was a father and that the offences against the victim were "relatively short-lived."

“Despite overwhelming scientific evidence of your DNA you did not plead guilty and you put her through the ordeal of a trial,” Judge Jeremy Jenkins told the defendant. He added: "I have read with care [the victim’s] victim impact statement in this case and I say immediately it is difficult to imagine a more profound impact than these events have had and continue to have on the complainant."

He continued: “She continues to struggle and her life has been turned upside-down by these events.” Judge Jenkins sentenced the defendant to a total of 12 years in prison. Curley will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life and was also given a restraining order which will last indefinitely.

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 A MAN raped a 15-year-old schoolgirl as she was being sick after she had been plied with alcohol.

Bradley Bullock, 26, from Newport, went on to sexually assault women and threatened to rape a nurse. 

 The defendant, who was sectioned at one point, claimed to have “met the devil in jail and said there was a conspiracy to kill his family”. 

 The defendant, who was sectioned at one point, claimed to have “met the devil in jail and said there was a conspiracy to kill his family”. 

 Matthew Cobbe, prosecuting, told Cardiff Crown Court: “The rape victim was 15 at the time of the offence.

“She was targeted and the defendant knew her age and realised there was an opportunity.

“He raped her as she was vomiting. It was humiliating.

“Alcohol was used to facilitate the offence and she was plied with drink.”

Byron Broadstock, representing Bullock, said in mitigation of the rape: “There is no criticism of the victim but she was drinking of her own free will.

“This was an opportunistic offence on Mr Bullock’s behalf.”

The court was told that the defendant had been sectioned and was “clearly mentally unwell” at the time of some of the offences.

Mr Broadstock added that his client had a “sad and tragic background”.

Bullock, formerly of Stelvio Park Court, Newport, was also being sentenced after he pleaded guilty to a burglary and robbery offence committed after the sexual offences. 

 Matthew Cobbe, prosecuting, told Cardiff Crown Court: “The rape victim was 15 at the time of the offence.

“She was targeted and the defendant knew her age and realised there was an opportunity.

“He raped her as she was vomiting. It was humiliating.

“Alcohol was used to facilitate the offence and she was plied with drink.”

Byron Broadstock, representing Bullock, said in mitigation of the rape: “There is no criticism of the victim but she was drinking of her own free will.

“This was an opportunistic offence on Mr Bullock’s behalf.”

The court was told that the defendant had been sectioned and was “clearly mentally unwell” at the time of some of the offences.

Mr Broadstock added that his client had a “sad and tragic background”.

Bullock, formerly of Stelvio Park Court, Newport, was also being sentenced after he pleaded guilty to a burglary and robbery offence committed after the sexual offences. 

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A PAEDOPHILE who raped one schoolboy and sexually assaulted another has been jailed for 22 years.

Paul Allen, 60, from Newport, was told by Judge Daniel Williams that he had "an insatiable interest in the sexual abuse of young boys”.

The defendant, of Backhall Street, Caerleon, was found guilty following a trial of a catalogue of offences.

They included rape, sexual assault and inciting a 13-year-old boy to engage in sexual activity.

At Newport Crown Court Allen was handed an 18-year jail sentence plus an extended licence period of four years.

He will serve two thirds of the custodial sentence before he will be eligible for parole.

Allen will be on the sex offenders’ register for life.

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 A CHILD rapist was jailed for more than 12 years for sexually assaulting an underage schoolgirl after grooming her.

Paedophile Matthew Wreford, 42, from Newport, was told by a judge he is a dangerous offender who poses a “high risk” to teenage girls. 

 Byron Broadstock, prosecuting, told Cardiff Crown Court how the defendant had told the girl he loved her. 

 After Wreford was arrested, police seized his mobile phone and found sexual messages he had sent to his victim on social media before he raped her.

Byron Broadstock, prosecuting, said: “The defendant had told her, “Send me pictures baby” and asked her, “Do you feel loose?”

Examination of Wreford’s internet browsing history revealed an interest in teenage girls.

When the defendant was first interviewed by detectives he “denied any form of sexual activity”.

Mr Broadstock added: “There had been grooming behaviour and there was also a significant disparity of age.”

The defendant, of Torridge Road, Bettws, pleaded guilty to rape, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and sexual communication with a child.

He had 17 previous convictions for 26 offences, including public disorder.

There were none for sexual offences.

Stuart John, representing Wreford, said: “He has taken some responsibility for his actions.

“The defendant entered guilty pleas at his plea and trial preparation hearing.

“He will be in prison for many years to come.

“The defendant does feel genuine remorse.”

Mr John added how Wreford was hoping to “make substantial changes” while he serves his custodial sentence and had sought help on a sex offender programme.

The Recorder of Cardiff, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke told the defendant: “You told your victim not to tell anyone because you would go to prison if she did.

“You were under the influence of alcohol.”

Wreford was made the subject of an extended prison sentence of 12 years and six months.

He will have to register as a sex offender for life and was made the subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order. 

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A PAEDOPHILE groomed a schoolgirl before going on to abuse her after asking her to wear lingerie while having underage sex.

James Brum, 39, from Newport, was condemned as selfish and self-centred for having abused the girl.

He had intercourse with her on seven occasions and told her after the first time: You really wanted it.

The defendant would manipulate his victim and said to her that she was in his secret club.

Brum would also ask the girl to send him nude photos of her, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

Rachel Knight, prosecuting, said: The defendant groomed his victim.

He bought lingerie for her to wear during their encounters.

She would wear these at his request.

You used her to satisfy your sexual urges

The victims impact statement was read out in which she said: I have flashbacks to the events that happened.

He targeted me specifically for his sexual desires.

I feel uncomfortable around men now.

Nothing will change what James Brum has done to me and hes had a huge impact on my future.

He has stolen my childhood from me and he has stolen my virginity.

Brum pleaded guilty to seven counts of sexual activity with a child, two of causing a child to engage in sexual activity and one of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

He was a man of previous good character with no convictions recorded against him.

Gareth Williams, mitigating, asked the court to take into account his clients guilty pleas.

His barrister said: The defendant hasnt contested matters at trial and admitted what the victim said was true.

He didnt deny what was going on.

The evidence was overwhelming.

He is sorry for what happened.

Judge Michael Fitton QC told Brum: This was an appalling campaign of sexual abuse.

You are a profoundly selfish and self-centred man.

You used that child to satisfy your own sexual urges.

This is a classic case of grooming.

Brum, of Llanthewy Road, Newport, was jailed for eight years.

The defendant will have to serve two-thirds of that sentence in custody before being released on licence.

He will have to register as a sex offender for life and was made the subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Brum must also pay a victims surcharge after his release from prison.

After sentencing, the officer in charge of the case, Detective Sergeant Mike Patterson said: The victim in this case has been incredibly brave throughout.

It is their courage and strength that has ultimately led to the conviction of Brum who will now be sentenced for these horrific crimes.

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A grandfather sent sick messages to an online contact he thought was a 14-year-old girl but turned out to be a 'paedophile hunter'. Raymond Francis believed he was talking to a child when he fantasised about "fondling" her and "making love" in her mother's bed.

The 64-year-old from Newport started an online conversation last July with a profile for a fictional child, Tia Johnson. In reality he was messaging a member of Elite Solo Decoys a vigilante group which "identifies people who seek out children on the internet", Cardiff Crown Court heard on Monday.

Prosecutor Matthew Roberts said the conversation stretched across a 91-page chat thread in the space of a week as Francis became increasingly "persistent, determined and sexually explicit". The vigilante had from the beginning told Francis that she was 14, sending computer-generated images of an underage girl which prompted the defendant to compliment her "sexy figure".

"The defendant said he wished 'Tia' was 16 before going on to ask if she would like sex now," Mr Roberts added. "The subject turned to the issue of contraception in the form of the pill, and she said she had not yet had a boyfriend. He sent pictures of himself topless, which were taken a number of years ago when the defendant was a lot more youthful. He asked for pictures of her breasts in return. She did not send any. He told her he drooled over pictures of her with long hair. He then told Tia she should delete pictures of him from her computer in case her mother located them."

Francis talked of "fondling" Tia in the shower and sent her images of couples having sex. He told her to "hurry up and get on the pill soon" because he hated using condoms. He also told her: "Don't tell anyone at all Tia."

Mr Roberts said Francis sought to make arrangements for sex with Tia when her mother was away. The granddad-of-four discussed "making love in your mother's bed all night".

Francis was arrested at the Coldra Roundabout McDonald's restaurant after being duped into a meeting with a different decoy run by a separate paedophile-hunting group. While being recorded Francis told the vigilantes he had been "chatting, nothing more", before they passed evidence to police. No charges came from the McDonald's meeting because Francis had believed he was meeting an adult, according to his barrister Stuart John.

But the defendant, of Westfield Avenue, pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child over the Tia Johnson messages. Mr John said his client was already an "isolated man" and the publicity around the case has made him reluctant to leave the house as well as impacting his relationship with his children and grandchildren.

"He has never committed an offence like this before," said Mr John. "The one conviction he has goes back a significant period. He accepts he has to address his issues head-on. That's the only way to prove himself to his family, and if he can't do that his later years will look extremely bleak."

The judge, Recorder Duncan Bould, accepted Francis would be "extremely vulnerable" in prison due to his age and health issues. He said the defendant's actions were "insidious" and "designed to manipulate", but he was "just" persuaded that Francis should be spared immediate custody. He imposed an eight-month prison term suspended for two years and ordered the defendant to complete 30 days of rehab activity and a sex offender programme. Francis, who will be under a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years barring him from unsupervised contact with under-16s, must pay 700 in prosecution costs and a 156 victim services surcharge at a rate of 20 per week.

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A CONVICTED rapist has been jailed after he subjected a young girl to horrific abuse in a separate case.

Paedophile Gad Evans, 55, from Newport, has been locked up for nine years following his guilty pleas to a raft of offences.

They were committed in Caerphilly county between 2007 and 2011.

He also admitted five counts of sexual assault of a child under 13.

Jeffrey Jones, representing Evans, asked for his client to be given credit for his guilty pleas.

Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke told the defendant he would have to serve two-thirds of his nine-year sentence in prison.

Evans must register as a sex offender indefinitely and was banned from working with children for life.

Following sentence, Detective Constable Alison Perry, the officer in the case, said: We would not have been able to bring Gad Evans before the courts to face justice without the courageous testimony of his victim.

The bravery and resilience that she has shown throughout the investigation has been truly inspirational.

Taking the first step to speak out about the horrific abuse they have endured is hard and we understand that is can be difficult for victims to make that initial call.

We take all allegations of sexual assault, particularly against children, very seriously.

"If a report is made to us, our officers will investigate them thoroughly.

I want to reassure anyone considering doing so that there is a whole range of support out there; not only from Gwent Police but from partner agencies who can help you through the entire process.

There are support services available for victims of sexual abuse, both non-recent and current and for both adults and children.

"This help is also accessible to all genders.

Sexual abuse can be reported to us via 101, or to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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A PAEDOPHILE illegally using his fathers Facebook profile to contact women was caught when one of them saw a report about him in the Argus.

Convicted child rapist Louis Beagen was barred from going on social media under a false name under the terms of a sexual harm prevention order.

The 28-year-old from Newport was getting in touch with women via Facebook Messenger by using the profile of his dad Gareth Beagen.

Beagan told one woman, a stranger, he had gone to Hartridge High School before sending her a photograph of himself lying bare-chested on a bed.

She recognised his picture from a court report shed read of about him in the Argus and contacted the police.

Beagen was jailed for more than six years in 2014 for sexual offences, including rape, committed against underage teenage girls.

Four years later he was locked up again after being snared by paedophile hunters when using his father's mobile phone and iPad to contact what he thought were three girls, one aged just aged 13.

Beagans latest offence took place last Christmas and he appeared before Cardiff Crown Court for sentence.

The defendant, of Ennerdale Court, Old Barn Estate, pleaded guilty to breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

These orders are made by courts for the purpose of protecting the public from further offending by defendants convicted of sexual crimes.

Judge Richard Williams told Beagen: You used a Facebook profile in the name of Gareth Beagen.

Gareth Beagen is your father.

Your basis of plea is that you did not create this account but made use of it and the prosecution does not seek to disprove that assertion.

However, under the terms of your order you had to notify the police about it and you did not.

You used that profile to contact women through Facebook Messenger.

These were all adult women.

One whom you contacted became suspicious and discovered that you had also tried to contact a friend of hers using a pseudonym and she also recognised from a newspaper report in the South Wales Argus that you were a convicted sex offender.

This amounts to a series breach of the order and it caused some alarm.

Julia Cox, mitigating, said: The defendant was not communicating with any individual under the age of 18.

It wasnt an account he had created for deceptive purposes but there is no excuse for the offending.

She added: Mr Beagen has now been predominantly in custody since the age of 19 and hes now 28.

There is a risk, in my submission, of him becoming institutionalised.

Beagen was jailed for 20 months and ordered to pay a victim surcharge after his release from prison.

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Jordan Parton, 22, created a fake persona when chatting to his victims on social media before forcing them to take indecent photos.

Parton - a professional entertainer who dreamed of becoming the "next Penn and Teller" - then used the images to threaten the teens.

A court heard one victim pleaded with him not to post images of her on the internet, but Parton replied: "OK, I wont post them as long as you do what I say."

Another girl said: "He said he was 15 and he appeared to be funny."

Parton was the youngest member of the Cardiff Magic Society when he was just 14 and regularly did tricks for people in the street.

He was also a juggler and balloon entertainer known as Crazy Clown Balloons.

But prosecutor John Ryan said the children's entertainer had a hidden secret - he hoarded up to 1,000 indecent images of the young girls in sexual poses.

Mr Ryan said: "He was grooming his victims over Snapchat.

"The defendant was coercing and threatening them to provide him with indecent images of themselves."

Cardiff Crown Court heard Parton's house was raided by police over an unrelated matter in February 2020.

His electronic devices revealed he had filmed the youngsters performing sex acts while threatening to send the images to their parents.

Mr Ryan said: "He told one victim he would publish the images all over the internet and would show them to her parents.

"She felt pressurised and blackmailed."

Parton, of Newport, Gwent, admitted causing or inciting girls to engage in sexual activity and sexual communication with girls.

He also pleaded guilty to making category A, category B and category C indecent images of children between September 2019 and January 2020.

Stuart John, defending, said: "His parents have been shocked that their son has committed such serious offences.

"Hes immature, even for a 22-year-old man. The defendant was bullied as an adolescent.

"He does realise the wide-ranging impact on his victims and their families."

SICK TRICKS

Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said: "You were recording the sexual abuse as it was taking place.

"You were coercing and threatening young girls to provide you with images.

"Some of your victims were prepared to cooperate with police and provide evidential interviews.

"Others were too upset or embarrassed to do so."

Patron was jailed for 11 years for his twisted tricks and must register as a sex offender for life.

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A SERIAL paedophile was caught in an online sting after a decoy tricked him by offering him two young girls for sex.

Peter Warry, 46, of Chepstow Road, Newport, was the prey in an entrapment operation, prosecutor Matthew Roberts.

Cardiff Crown Court heard the defendant thought he was grooming a 13-year-old girl but Sienna was a fictional character used to lure him in.

Warry was also sharing vile child abuse images on social media via the Kik and WhatsApp platforms.

He also had previous convictions for sexual crimes against children and was jailed at Derby Crown Court for 12 months in 2012 for distributing indecent images.

Warrys latest offending occurred over the past 14 months.

He pleaded guilty to the distribution and possession of indecent images of children.

The defendant was found with 85 pictures at the most serious level of category A, 25 at category B and 19 at category C.

Warry also admitted that he attempted to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempted to cause a child aged 13 to 15 to watch/look at an image of sexual activity.

He also pleaded guilty to failing to comply with notification requirements.

Ieuan Bennett, representing Warry, said in mitigation: He knows he needs help.

His barrister added how his client said he had ruined his own life.

Judge Huw Rees told the defendant: A decoy was offering you, unbelievably, two young girls for sex.

He added: Your previous convictions are a serious aggravating factor in this case.

You have said that your life has been left in ruins but you have nobody to blame for that but yourself.

Warry was jailed for four years and four months and ordered to register as a sex offender for life.

He was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order until 2036.

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A FORMER Andover athletics coach who manipulated, abused and violated schoolgirls, one as young as 11 years old, has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years.

Philip Banning, 68, pursued a horrific reign of abuse in Andover during the 1970s and 1980s.

Today he mouthed "sorry" to his victims after pleading guilty to 18 counts of indecent assault relating to four girls who were under the age of 16 at the time of the offences.

Prosecutor Tim Moores told Winchester Crown Court that Banning, who now lives in Penhow, Wales, had been an Olympic hopeful in his younger years.

He ran at an international level for Team GB before returning to Andover Athletics Club as a qualified coach where he met the four girls.

It is in this context that he came into contact with the four complainants, and in due course began to sexually abuse them to a greater or lesser degree, Mr Moores said.

Under the guise of acting as coach and mentor, he was pursuing a regime of abuse against certain members of the club.

The court heard that Banning would assault the girls during car rides home after training, as well as during sports massages.

One of the girls was aged just 11 years-old when she was assaulted in Bannings car, before he asked her, is this something youve done before?

Two of the girls were assaulted in a room under Bannings stairs at his home address, during a party where the children were allowed to drink alcohol, the court heard.

One of the girls bumped into Banning in Andover town centre, before he led her to a school field and abused her.

Three of the survivors in this case, now adult women, defiantly hit back at their abuser when reading their victim personal statements to the court.

You were my coach, and you were my teacher, and you held a position of trust, one of the women told the defendant as he sat in the dock.

You were meant to nurture a childs development, you were trained to safeguard children, but instead you chose to slowly manipulate, violate and sexually abuse me. I was left abused, violated and confused, still too young to understand the significance of this. I did not have the understanding of how sinister and insidious your motives were.

You took my childhood, my trust, my voice, my worth, and nearly my life.

The woman told the court that Banning had also given her a Valentines card when she was just 12 years old.

She continued: You said to me that this was your way of showing me your special love. But this was like a septic wound that was never allowed to heal. Even if it did scab over briefly, it was picked open by my own self-hatred.

Another survivor told the court that her first kiss as a child which was brutal and forceful was with Banning, which left her feeling shattered.

Banning mouthed sorry to the women in court as he was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for the offences. He must also sign on the sex offenders register for life.

Sentencing Banning, Judge Keith Cutler CBE said: You are responsible for what everyone agrees was a grave abuse of trust.

What you were doing was grooming [the girls], abusing your position, and seeking them as your sexual relief, not caring really how that was to affect them, as clearly you can see it has.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Toby Elcock, said of the case: After initially denying the offences, Banning has now taken responsibility for his horrific reign of abuse, which has spared the victims having to go through a difficult trial process.

For these girls, this should have been an important time in their young lives. They were schoolchildren exploring their passion for sport, and this was ruined by Bannings appalling sexual appetite.

I hope they can now rest assured that justice has been served and Banning will not be able to harm another child.