Search results for Northampton

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A 23-year-old drug dealer has been jailed after he was found guilty of raping a 17-year-old girl.

On the evening of February 23, Jack Lemaistre arranged to meet the girl after they had first connected on Snapchat a few days earlier.

He drove her to his caravan in Goldfinch Street where he encouraged the girl to smoke cannabis. This made her violently sick and despite asking Lemaistre repeatedly to drive her home, he refused.

He then told her to watch a film with him, and she fell asleep. But when she woke up, Lemaistre was sexually assaulting her.

The assault continued for 20 minutes in which Lemaistre raped the girl despite her continuing to tell him to stop.

She eventually managed to return home and bravely reported the incident to Northamptonshire Police.

Lemaistre was arrested and when police searched his property, they found a large quantity of cocaine and ketamine.

He was subsequently charged with rape, assault by penetration and two counts of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.

Lemaistre pleaded guilty to the drugs offences but took the sexual assault and rape charges to trial at Northampton Crown Court. However, following just two hours of deliberation, the jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on both counts with the trial ending on August 20.   

Lemaistre, of Goldfinch Street, Thrapston, was sentenced last week (October 9) to 16 years in prison. 

At the sentencing hearing, Her Honour Judge Lucking said:

“There is no time scale for recovery for the harm you have done. From sitting through your evidence, it is clear you have no respect for the autonomy of the complainant’s body.”

Detective Constable Orla Foster from Northamptonshire Police’s SOLAR Team said:

“This was a horrific and predatory attack on a young woman who repeatedly made it clear she did not consent to any sexual activity. Instead of helping her when she was vulnerable and unwell, Lemaistre chose to exploit her for his own gratification.

“I would like to commend the bravery and courage shown by the victim throughout this investigation and court process. Her determination to come forward and give evidence has ensured a dangerous offender has been held accountable for his actions.

“I hope this sentence demonstrates that we will relentlessly pursue those who commit sexual offences and do everything we can to secure justice for victims.”

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A 36-year-old man has been handed a 27-year extended sentence after being found guilty of a horrific campaign of sexual abuse against a child.

Jack Moore was reported to Northamptonshire Police on January 2, 2023, after a girl bravely disclosed the abuse that she had suffered at the hands of Moore over a two-year period.

Investigations by officers from the Force’s Child Abuse Investigation Unit saw the girl reveal that Moore had repeatedly raped her as well as engaged in sexual activity with her and forced her to watch pornography.

Moore went on to be charged with three counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of rape a girl under 13, two counts of assault a girl under 13 by touching, one count of attempted rape, assault a girl under 13 by penetration and causing a child to watch/look an image of sexual activity.

He went to trial at Northampton Crown Court in early May this year before the jury returned guilty verdicts on all 10 counts on May 11.

Moore, formerly of Johnswell Way in Moulton, returned to the same court on Friday, October 9, where he was handed an extended sentence.

Used for offenders convicted of specific offences who are deemed to be extremely dangerous, Moore’s extended sentence consists of 22 years’ imprisonment with an extension period of five years on licence.

In addition, Moore was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order designed to prevent him from reoffending once released. He was also ordered to pay a £181 victim surcharge.

Following the hearing, lead investigator Detective Constable Nicky Webb, of the Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said:

“Jack Moore targeted this girl for his own selfish, sexual gratification and I am pleased that he now must face the consequences of his predatory behaviour.

“Nothing will ever make the girl forget what Moore did to her, however for someone so young, she should be proud of the incredible bravery she has shown.

“This has been a lengthy and challenging investigation, but I hope she knows that because of her resilience and courage, Moore cannot do this to anyone else, and she has helped put a dangerous sexual predator behind bars.

“I also hope this case shows how seriously we investigate crimes of this nature. Our team will always strive to secure justice for anyone who finds the courage to come forward to us – please know that we will listen to you, believe you and support you every step of the way.”

Detective Inspector Julie Allington of the Child Abuse Investigation Unit added:

“This has been a challenging and complex investigation spanning several years, requiring significant persistence, professionalism, and dedication throughout.

“This has been very much a team effort involving various departments across the Force led by DC Nicky Webb and Police Staff Investigator Lucy Fraser-Allen, who both demonstrated outstanding resilience, commitment and determination in seeing the case through to its conclusion to achieve the best possible outcome for the girl.”

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Former Police Radio Dispatcher Harry Blumire Jailed for Seven Years

Harry Blumire, 24, of Slade Crescent, Kettering, a former radio dispatcher in the Bedfordshire Police control room, has been jailed for seven years after being convicted of rape and other offences against a woman in her 20s.

Blumire was arrested while off duty in Northamptonshire in June 2024. He was immediately suspended and dismissed by Bedfordshire Police in September 2024.

He was convicted at Leicester Crown Court on 7 October of rape, sexual assault, actual bodily harm and intentional strangulation, having denied the charges. The offences took place between August 2023 and May 2024. He received a seven-year sentence for the rape, with concurrent sentences of 24 months, nine months and 18 months for the other offences.

Bedfordshire Police Assistant Chief Constable John Murphy said: “He had tried to use his role as a member of police staff to dissuade the victim from coming forward by telling her she would not be believed. That could not be further from the truth.”

Detective Constable Gina Rosignoli of Northamptonshire Police praised the victim’s “remarkable strength and determination” during an investigation that took more than two years to reach trial. She said: “I hope this outcome reassures other victims of sexual offences that they will be listened to, supported and taken seriously when they come forward to report what has happened to them.”

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Two women who were sexually abused by a man when they were children have been praised after their evidence led to him being jailed today (Friday 11 September).

Jordan Gray-Higgs committed his crimes in Leicestershire between 2012 and 2014.

His offending was brought to the attention of police in 2022, when the victims told officers what had happened. They described how Gray-Higgs had incited them to engage in sexual activity and abused them.

In interview Gray-Higgs, of Waver Close in Corby, Northamptonshire, denied the allegations and claimed that the victims must have been seeking an act of vengeance against him.

However, he was charged with nine offences and found guilty of four counts of rape, four counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching and one count of causing/inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity following a trial at Leicester Crown Court in May this year.

Forty-year-old Gray-Higgs was sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment with a four-year extended licence period. He was also placed on the sex offender register for life.

Detective Constable Kam Kalia was the investigating officer. He said:

“I’m immensely proud of the courage shown by both victims throughout the investigation and court proceedings.

“The details they were able to recall about the horrific abuse they suffered served as key evidence that led to Gray-Higgs being brought to justice for his crimes.

“I hope the sentence he’s been given today provides them both with a sense of closure and allows them to move on with their lives as best they can.”

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A man who sexually assaulted two women in Northampton town centre has been jailed for 30 months.

Raj Devjee, aged 21, of no fixed address, appeared at Northampton Crown Court on August 21, 2026, where he was sentenced after pleading guilty to two sexual assaults.

The offences took place within 11 days of each other near Victoria Promenade.

The first assault happened at about 2.55am on October 4, 2025, as a woman was walking back to her accommodation with a friend after a night out in Northampton town centre.

As the pair walked along St John’s Street, Devjee approached from behind, and sexually assaulted her.

The second assault took place at about 10.30pm on October 15, 2025, when another woman was walking with friends near the junction of St John’s Street and Victoria Promenade.

Devjee approached the woman from behind and sexually assaulted her before fleeing into St John’s car park. The victim was left bruised as a result of the attack.

CCTV enquiries proved crucial to the investigation. While footage from the first assault captured the incident from a distance, CCTV from the second assault provided clear images of Devjee as he fled the scene and removed his coat.

When officers arrested him, he was wearing clothing matching that seen during the first offence.

Although Devjee denied both offences during interview, forensic examinations of clothing seized from both victims identified his DNA, providing further evidence of his involvement.

In addition to the 30-month prison sentence, Devjee was placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely and made subject to a three-year restraining order.

PC Macsen Allery of Northampton Neighbourhood Policing Team said:

“These were two distressing stranger sexual assaults committed against young women who were simply walking home.

“Thanks to thorough investigative work, including CCTV enquiries, witness evidence and forensic opportunities, we were able to build a strong case which resulted in Devjee pleading guilty.

“I hope this outcome provides some reassurance and a sense of justice for both victims. We will always take reports of sexual offences seriously and will work tirelessly to identify offenders and bring them to justice.”

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A 41-year-old man has been sent to prison after he was found guilty of attempted rape.

On November 8, 2025, Bishan Shiekh approached a vulnerable woman inside a property in Northampton and attempted to rape her.

Thankfully she managed to get away and the offence was reported to Northamptonshire Police.

Shiekh was arrested and subsequently charged with one count of attempted rape, taking the case to a trial which started on April 28 this year at Northampton Crown Court and lasted for five days.

At the end, the jury found him guilty.

Shiekh returned to the same court earlier this month (July 10) where he was sentenced to seven years in prison with another two on extended licence. 

Detective Sergeant Liz Jeeves from Northamptonshire Police’s SOLAR Team said:

“This was a frightening and traumatic experience for the survivor of this incident, who showed great courage throughout the investigation and court process. Thanks to the dedication of the officer in the case, DC Adam Smart, the strength of the evidence presented, and the bravery of this woman, Bishan Shiekh has now been held accountable for his actions.

“Violence against women and girls remains a priority for Northamptonshire Police, and we are committed to relentlessly pursuing those who commit these offences. We take every report of sexual violence extremely seriously, thoroughly investigating allegations, supporting victims and doing everything we can to bring offenders to justice.

“We hope this sentence provides reassurance that reports of this nature will be acted upon and that anyone who has experienced sexual violence feels able to come forward and speak to us. You will be listened to, supported and your report will be investigated.”

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A man who was arrested within hours of raping a woman in Sheffield has been jailed for the offence.

Ilias Hassan, 23, of Bristle Street, Northampton, raped a woman at a student accommodation in Sheffield city centre in the early hours of 8 May 2023.

The victim bravely reported the incident to police and officers arrested Hassan later the same day.

At his police interview on 13 May (2023), Hassan provided a prepared statement in which he did not admit to the offence, but provided no comment to all questions put to him.

Officers gathered lots of evidence including CCTV footage showing Hassan with the victim, witness statements, and messages sent by Hassan on social media.

In Hassan’s prepared statement he said, “my recall of events is very clear”, but officers retrieved a voice note he sent following the rape in which he said: “I actually can’t remember anything like. I don’t remember nothing.”

Hassan pleaded not guilty to rape but was found guilty of the offence following a trial at Sheffield Crown Court on 13 February 2026.

On Wednesday 29 July at the same court, he was sentenced to five years and three months imprisonment. He was also given a 10-year restraining order and required to register with the police indefinitely in accordance with the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

DC Alice Watson-Flowers said:

“Firstly, I want to commend the bravery of the victim in this case.

“She not only found the courage to come forward and report this horrific crime to us, but she was also put through the ordeal of a trial because of Hassan’s cowardly refusal to admit his guilt.

“While I appreciate a jail term will never detract from the trauma of such an offence, I hope it can provide some sense of justice.

“We are completely committed to tackling all forms of sexual abuse in South Yorkshire and I want to make it absolutely clear that we fully investigate every single report made to us.

“If you have been raped, sexually assaulted, or sexually harassed, you can report to us in confidence online or by calling 101.

“If you don’t feel able to report to police, try and talk to someone you trust. You can also seek specialist and confidential support via the 24/7 Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Line.”

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Ryan Clarkson, of Swain Court, Northampton, was sentenced last month (June 19) to five years in prison for committing child sex offences.

The 27-year-old had previously been found guilty of 13 counts of child sex offences, some counts including multiple occasions, totalling 28 offences, at a trial in Leicester Crown Court in December 2025.

Clarkson committed the offences when he was aged between 10 and 15, with his behaviour escalating from sexual touching to rape.

An investigation into the offences was launched in 2022 after multiple survivors of Clarkson’s abuse came forward, which led to him being charged with 20 offences, including six counts of rape of a child under 13 and three of rape.

He was also charged with two counts of assault by penetration of a child under 13, six counts of sexually assaulting a child under 13, two counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child, and one count of sexual activity with a child.

Having denied the charges, Clarkson was found guilty by a jury and was convicted of six counts of raping of a child under 13 years, two counts of assault by penetration of a child under 13 years, four counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 years and one count of sexual activity with a child.

However, the jury found him not guilty of seven further offences – two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 years, three counts of rape and two counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child.

When sentencing Clarkson at Leicester Crown Court in June 2026, His Honour Judge Ebrahim Mooncey said: “I accept he has not committed further offences. However, I have concluded that only a custodial sentence is appropriate in the circumstances to meet the justice of the case.

“The sentence cannot undo what has been done and the effects it has had on people’s lives for so many years. For the defendant, he has to be dealt with for his conduct when he was young and for the victims, some closure is needed for the damage he has caused to their lives.”

Detective Constable Evie Mugridge from the Force’s Child Abuse Investigation Unit, who led the investigation, said: “Ryan Clarkson subjected his young victims to serious sexual abuse over many years, causing them harm not only while they were children but psychological harm as adults, carrying the weight of what he did to them when they were young.

“I want to thank the survivors for the immense courage they have shown throughout and it is only because of their bravery and strength that Clarkson has been held accountable for his horrendous actions.

“We are committed to protecting children and bringing to justice those who seek to exploit or abuse them. We take these offences extremely seriously and would always encourage victims to come forward and report to us.”

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A 36-year-old man has been jailed for more than 18 years after he pleaded guilty to multiple child sex offences.

Joseph Hewitt, previously of West Haddon, appeared at Northampton Crown Court last month (June 26) where he admitted to two counts of raping a girl under 13, one count of raping a girl aged 13-15, and three counts of engaging in penetrative sex with a girl aged 13-15.

The offences were committed against a girl and took place over a period of six years when she was aged 10-16.

Following a report made, Hewitt was arrested and subsequently charged, and after admitting the offences at court, he was sentenced to 18 years and six months in prison.

Lead investigator - Detective Constable Kirstie Brooks, said:

"Joseph Hewitt subjected this young girl to serious sexual abuse over a number of years, causing harm that no child should ever have to endure.

“I welcome the significant custodial sentence handed down by the court, which reflects the severity of his offending and ensures he will spend a considerable period of time behind bars.

“I would also like to thank the survivor in this case for her bravery in coming forward and supporting the investigation. Reporting offences of this nature can be incredibly difficult, and her courage has been instrumental in bringing Hewitt to justice. I’d also like to thank retired officer Sharon Jephcott for her help in investigating this case.

“Northamptonshire Police is committed to protecting children and pursuing those who seek to exploit or abuse them. We will continue to work tirelessly to investigate reports of child sexual abuse and hold offenders accountable for their actions.”

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A 25-year-old Northampton man has been jailed for seven years after he was found guilty of raping a woman.

The incident happened on June 28, 2025, when Liam Patrick Kieran Blanchfield raped a woman inside an Ipswich hotel.

During the incident, he verbally abused her and continued the assault despite being told numerous times to stop.

Blanchfield, previously of Barrack Road, Northampton, was arrested a short time later and subsequently charged with one count of rape and two counts of assault.

At Northampton Crown Court on February 24, he was found guilty of the offences by a jury.

He returned to the same court this week (June 15) where he was sentenced to seven years in prison.

He was also given an indefinite restraining order against the survivor.

Following the conclusion of the case, the survivor detailed how she feels she can now live in peace for the next few years.

Lead investigator - PC Kimberly Streuli said: “I would like to commend the survivor in this case for her remarkable bravery in coming forward and supporting this investigation. The strength she has shown has been instrumental in securing this conviction and ensuring a dangerous offender is held accountable for his actions.

“Northamptonshire Police take all reports of sexual offences extremely seriously.

“Tackling violence against women and girls remains a key priority for the Force, and we are committed to supporting victims and pursuing offenders relentlessly. I hope this outcome reassures others that they will be listened to, supported, and believed when they come forward.”

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A paedophile who raped and sexually abused a young girl over nearly seven years has been jailed for 19-and-a-half years.

Robert Jepson, 62, abused the victim between December 2015 and October 2022 in St Ives. 

As well as raping her, he carried out numerous other sexual offences against her.

The girl disclosed what had happened in February 2023 after she had a class at school with the topics of consent and appropriate sexual behaviour.

Jepson was arrested as soon as the allegations came to light but denied the charges and blamed the victim for instigating the sexual contact.

However, on Wednesday (13 May), at Cambridge Crown Court, Jepson, of Woodford, near Kettering, was jailed after a jury found him unanimously guilty of rape, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child under 13 and six counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching. 

He was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely and handed indefinite sexual harm prevention and restraining orders.

DC Leah Meftah, who investigated, said:

“Jepson was a manipulative abuser who committed serious sexual offences over many years.

“He apportioned the blame of these offences on a vulnerable child, and took no responsibility for his actions, describing the victim as manipulative and instigating the offences.

“The victim showed the upmost courage in disclosing her offences, and showed immense bravery throughout the judicial process. The impact of these types of cases on all of the families involved is far reaching but this was a successful prosecution due to the strength of the victim and her family.

"Anyone who experiences sexual abuse can take the next step in reporting it to us - we have special trained officers to deal with your allegation." 

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A 33-year-old man has been handed a life sentence after he was convicted of nine child sex offences.

Sean McDade, previously of Northampton, abused the child between May and July last year.

In a statement read out to the court during sentencing last week (April 30), the child said: “He scared me and made me think I would get in trouble if I told anyone.”

But the child did end up telling someone and McDade, who was already a registered sex offender, was arrested and subsequently charged with six counts of assault by penetration of a girl under 13, three counts of raping a girl under 13, and one count of causing/inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

After pleading guilty to the offences at Northampton Crown Court in January, McDade returned to the same court last week (April 30) where he was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 12 years.

Lead investigator - Detective Constable Kirstie Brooks from Northamptonshire Police’s Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said:

“I would like to commend the child in this case for their bravery, and I hope the conclusion of this case allows them to move forward onto brighter things.

“Although no sentence can ever take away what happened, I hope it brings them comfort that their abuser will now go to prison for a long time, and hopefully they can move on and finally get the life they deserve.

“Sean McDade is now where he belongs and we will continue working hard to put more people like him behind bars.”

Detective Superintendent Jen Castle said:

“This was an immensely challenging case involving an extremely manipulative and depraved offender however despite the complexity, DC Brooks approached every stage with professionalism, resilience and compassion.

“As a direct result of her work, the child in this case did not have to give evidence and I am grateful to her for the skill and sensitivity she demonstrated throughout the investigation.”

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A 34-year-old registered sex offender has been jailed after he was found to be breaching the terms of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Aaron Ray Dungey, previously of Butterfields, Wellingborough, was issued with a SHPO in December 2016 following his conviction for the assault by way of penetration of a female child under 13.

The SHPO was issued with certain conditions he was required to abide by, including not having any contact with children.

However, on February 9, when officers from Northamptonshire Police’s MOSOVO Team made an unannounced visit to Dungey’s home, they analysed his mobile phone and found that he had been in contact with three children.

He was arrested and subsequently charged with three counts of breaching his SHPO.

On February 10, Dungey appeared at Northampton Magistrates’ Court where he pleaded guilty to the offences.

This month (April 16), he appeared at Northampton Crown Court where he was sentenced to one year and six months in prison.

Risk Management Officer, Lucy Fraser-Allen, from the Force’s MOSOVO team, said:

“Sexual Harm Prevention Orders are put in place to protect the public, particularly children, from individuals who pose a risk.

“Aaron Dungey was fully aware of the conditions he was required to follow and chose to ignore them.

“Breaches like this will always be taken extremely seriously, and we will continue to carry out proactive checks and take robust action against registered sex offenders who fail to comply with court orders.”

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A 29-year-old man has been jailed for 17 years after he was convicted of multiple child sex offences.

On a number of occasions between April 2023 and June 2023, Klein Chinoda, previously of Wellingborough, sexually abused a girl in Wellingborough.

An investigation was launched, led by specialist officers from Northamptonshire Police’s SOLAR Team, which led to Chinoda’s arrest. He was subsequently charged with seven counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of possessing indecent images of a child, and one count of rape.

Prior to the start of his trial, Chinoda pleaded guilty to all offences except the rape offence which was taken before a jury.

Following a four-day trial at Northampton Crown Court which ended on December 12, Chinoda was found guilty of rape.

He returned to the same court last month (March 20) where he was sentenced to 17 years in prison.

Lead investigator - DC Rachel Morrison from the Force’s SOLAR Team said: “I am really pleased with this significant sentence as it sends a strong message that the police and the courts take sexual offences extremely seriously.

“The survivor in this case has been incredibly brave and I hope, with Chinoda safely behind bars, that she can now move forward and learn to enjoy life again. I wish her the very best.”

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A 33-year-old man has been sent to prison after he secretly installed cameras in people’s homes and workplace.

Jean-Pierre Francis’ penchant for voyeurism first came to Northamptonshire Police’s attention in May 2024 when a woman found a hidden camera in the bedroom of her Northampton home.

An investigation was launched by detectives in the Force’s Criminal Investigation Department which identified Francis as the suspect.

As a result, his devices were seized and upon analysis, officers found hundreds of videos and images that Francis had taken between 2015 and 2025 using discreet cameras.

The cameras were found to have been used in all manner of items including a camera pen, USB sticks and plugs. On one occasion he even used a shower gel bottle to conceal a device.

Six women aged in their 20s-60s were found to have been victims of his crimes.

Francis was subsequently charged with six counts of voyeurism.

After pleading guilty to the offences at Northampton Crown Court on March 13, Francis returned to the same court last week (April 17) where he was sentenced to three years and six months in prison.

A destruction order was also made in relation to all of the devices Francis used to offend, and he was also handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order which prevents him from owning any phone with a camera, and any other recording devices. He will also be on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

Lead investigator - Detective Constable Georgia Sampson, said:

“Jean-Pierre Francis carried out sustained and deeply invasive offending, abusing everyday technology to violate the privacy of his victims in places where they should have felt safest.

“Our priority throughout this investigation was to give the victims a voice and to ensure their experiences were taken seriously. I hope the conclusion of this case allows them to move forward.

“This was a complex and highly technical investigation, involving the meticulous examination of multiple devices spanning a decade of offending, and it ultimately exposed the true scale of his behaviour.

"I want to pay particular tribute to PC Sean Taylor from our Digital Media Investigation Team, whose expertise and persistence in downloading and analysing a vast quantity of digital material was instrumental in securing this conviction.

“Tackling violence against women and girls is a priority for Northamptonshire Police and we will continue working hard to put more people like Francis behind bars.”