Latest Offenders Northampton

Description

An international rugby player who had been due to play for the Barbarians has been sentenced to two years and 10 months for a series of sexual offences.

Api Ratuniyarawa, 37, admitted two counts of assault by penetration and one charge of sexual assault at a hearing in December in relation to three young women.

The Fiji lock had been due to feature on the bench for the Barbarians in their match against Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on 4 November 2023.

Cardiff Crown Court previously heard the offences took place between 31 October and 2 November last year.

Ratuniyarawa, who lives in Northamptonshire, denied two further charges of sexual assault relating to one of the three women.

The court previously heard the father-of-four had been without a club since the summer when premiership side London Irish went into receivership.

A sentencing hearing on Tuesday was told Ratuniyarawa had travelled to Cardiff ahead of the Barbarians match, "to attend media commitments and training for the fixture".

Prosecuting, Heath Edwards KC said "the defendant appears to have spent many of his nights socialising" in the week prior to the game.

The prosecution said Ratuniyarawa attended the Revolution bar in Cardiff on the evenings of 31 October, 1 November and 2 November.

The court was shown CCTV footage of all three incidents from the bar's VIP area.

One of his victims read her impact statement in court.

"My attack came out of the blue. It was sudden, shocking," she said.

"I feel degraded, embarrassed and humiliated. I still do."

She said the incident had "started not just to impact [her] but [her] family".

"I should be excited to be going out with my friends, but I can't stop thinking about what has happened," she added.

"He's ruined my life by what he's done, and I feel like I'm in my own personal hell."

She told the court she had been "such an independent person" prior to the incident.

"I couldn't shower until I'd been examined and all I wanted to do was wash that man off me," she said.

"This man had his whole career ahead of him, and such a high-profile person. He did this to me."

In mitigation, Ruth Smith KC said the defendant would like to apologise for his actions but that he had "limited recollection" of the incidents.

"The defendant would like, through me, as an initial statement, to apologise to each of the victims in this case," she said.

"The consumption of alcohol for him in such quantities was completely out of character."

Ms Smith told the court Ratuniyarawa had "never drunk that much before in his entire life".

"This incident fell at a time of upheaval in the personal life of the defendant," she added.

"He was without employment. He is a gentlemen that supports not only his immediate family financially, but a range of others financially. And it resulted in a situation of stress for him," Ms Smith said.

The court heard the defendant had been described "by those that run Fiji Rugby as a dedicated and valuable asset".

"He knows his legacy is forever tarnished with behaviour that is reflected in these counts," Ms Smith added.

"He has not only let himself down, his family, but also his country in respect of his behaviour."

Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke also granted a restraining order of three years in relation to one of the victims.

Description

A 63-year-old registered sex offender has been sent back to prison after he was found in possession of indecent images of children.

Chris Wells, previously of Northampton, was convicted in 2007, 2014 and 2021 for similar offences. On one occasion,  a warrant executed by Northamptonshire Police at his home address resulted in officers finding in excess of 175,000 images on devices seized from his property. He was convicted as a result and sent to prison.

His most recent offending happened this August and October when he was visited by officers from the Force’s MOSOVO (Management of Sexual and Violent Offenders) Team and devices seized from him were found to contain 1,957 indecent images of children, 44 of which were Category A images - the most serious.

Wells was arrested and charged with five counts of possessing indecent images of children and one count of breaching his sexual harm prevention order, all of which he pleaded guilty to at Northampton Crown Court in October.

Last week (December 13), he returned to the same court where he was sentenced to two years and six months in prison.

Wells’ Offender Manager, Ruth Moreton said: “Chris Wells is a prolific sex offender who has acted with impunity time and time again with regards to downloading indecent images of children.

“It is our regular unannounced visits that have uncovered his offending so I am pleased that he has been sent back to prison.

“I hope that anyone reading this who downloads similar images takes a lesson from this conviction. We will uncover your offending and you will be sent to prison.

“These images wouldn’t exist if people like Chris Wells didn’t download them and the suffering that takes place in order to create them cannot be measured.”

MOSOVO Detective Sergeant Tom Curlett-New added: “The officers in my team see the day-to-day devastation this type of crime causes and that is why we are so determined to work as hard as possible to put the people who look at these images behind bars.”

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A 21-year-old man has been jailed for three years and four months after he pleaded guilty to non-recent serious sexual offences, including rape, against a 12-year-old girl. 

Scott Palmer, also known as Scott Tarry, previously of Gloucester Crescent, Northampton, was 16 when he first started abusing the 12-year-old girl. 

During a two-year period, Palmer forced the girl into sexual acts, including raping her on a number of occasions. 

The offences finally came to light years later when the girl bravely reported the abuse to Northamptonshire Police and an investigation was launched. 

Palmer was eventually charged with three counts of rape, four counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching, four counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by penetration with a part of your body/a thing, one count of causing/inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and one count of being an offender aged 18 or over and causing/inciting a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity. 

Palmer pleaded guilty to all 13 offences at a hearing at Northampton Crown Court in May, returning to the same court this week (December 11) where he was sentenced to three years and four months in prison. 

Lead Investigator – Detective Sergeant Elli Amson said: “The survivor in this case suffered horrendous abuse at the hands of this man and I am really pleased that he has been sent to prison for his crimes. 

“She has been extremely brave in coming forward and supporting this case, which has taken a number of years to conclude, and she should be commended for the dignity and strength she has shown throughout. 

“Scott Palmer was 16 years old when he committed these offences and so was sentenced as such. Like so many abusers, he thought he was safe from justice, but this case goes to show that even if years have passed since sexual abuse happened, Northamptonshire Police takes it extremely seriously and that we will do everything we can to secure justice.”

Description

A 33-year-old man has been jailed for nine years after pleading guilty to sexually abusing underage girls in Northampton.

The investigation into Joseph Martin James Arnold, previously of Ashcroft Gardens, Northampton, formed part of Northamptonshire Polices ongoing Operation Antigua.

Op Antigua was launched at the end of June 2020 and focuses on reported sexual abuse between the years of 2006 and 2016, all originating from the statue in Abington Street where young people would gather.

Since then, multiple people have come forward to report offences against them including three young women who Arnold sexually abused when they were underage.

One of the girls was only 13-years-old when she met a 23-year-old Arnold and engaged in what she believed at the time to be a two-year consensual relationship.

During this time, Arnold sexually abused her on multiple occasions, isolated her from family members, and manipulated her into developing low self-esteem.

He would make me feel really insecure and that people didnt like me very much, she wrote in her victim personal statement which was read out at court yesterday (November 30).

At school I didnt really speak to people as I didnt think anyone would like me because of how Joe had made me feel about myself.

Whenever I see anyone or anything with the name Joseph or Arnold in it now, even the news, it brings up everything to do with him, things that have happened, or about the case.

A second woman was aged 15 when she entered into what she believed at the time was a consensual relationship with Arnold who was 19-years-old at the time.

Joseph was a master manipulator, she wrote in her statement. He made me feel so destroyed and defeated. He got away with his abuse for so long. I realise now I have a right to feel upset.

I feel like he took my childhood and my teenage years away and destroyed them.

A third woman was aged 16 when a 21-year-old Arnold lured her back to his house on the promise of a party. However, when she got there it became clear he wanted it to be just the two of them and used the evening as an opportunity to sexually assault her.

Joe was someone who just hung around with the same group of people I did on Abington Street. He made me feel special, older and cool, when in fact I was being groomed. I realise this now that I am older, when reflecting on what happened.

He completely took advantage of my innocence.

The investigation into Arnold led to him being charged with six counts of sexual activity with a girl aged 13-15, and one count of sexual assault, all of which he pleaded guilty to at an earlier court hearing at Northampton Crown Court in September.

Yesterday (November 30) at the same court, he was sentenced to nine years in prison and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

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Police released a statement today following a review into the vetting of former PC Luke Horner who was jailed for child sex crimes earlier this month.

Horner, 24, was convicted following an incident that took place while he was off-duty in Rushden, Northamptonshire, on 11 June 2023, involving the sexual assault of a teenage girl.

The Amersham police station based officer was sentenced on 6 October, at Northampton Crown Court to six years’ and four months’ imprisonment, for engaging in penetrative sex with a child aged 13-15.

Thames Valley Police DCC Ben Snuggs said: “Our thoughts remain with the young girl and her family who have been affected by Horner's criminal behaviour.

"Such behaviour has no place in policing or in society.

"We are grateful for His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) insight.

"In its report, HMICFRS highlights we could not have anticipated that Horner would end up committing such abhorrent sexual offences against a child.

"It also agreed with our decision to grant vetting clearance, and that our processes were consistent with national practice at the time."

CC Jason Hogg had chaired an Accelerated Misconduct Hearing and found it in the public interest for former PC Horner to be included in the police barred list.

A targeted review carried out by HMICFRS noted that the force could not have reasonably anticipated that PC Horner would carry out the offence.

Horner’s vetting file was reviewed and the HMICFRS agreed with the force’s decision to grant initial vetting clearance.

The HMICFRS review is also not critical of the outcome of the Counter Corruption investigation carried out into Horner following information being received by the Force in February 2022 prior to the incident on 11 June 2023.

The statement on Mr Horner comes amidst other nationwide hearings on police misconduct, with a disciplinary hearing today finding that the behaviour of two met officers amounted to gross misconduct over stop-and-search operations.

Thames Valley Police made an investment of staff in to the Central Vetting Unit in April this year.

A training course was developed alongside this to refresh staff in-line with recommendations.

The force says that as a result of the recent investment it now conducts more in-depth research on applicants, completes an increased number of vetting interviews, and has improved recording of decision making and rationale.

DCC Snuggs added: “We will review each of the HMICFRS recommendations carefully to ensure that any further changes to our processes are made. 

“We want to help build a police service the public trusts in and will continue to remove those who have no place in policing.”

Description

A registered sex offender from Northamptonshire has been sent back to prison after he breached his sexual harm prevention order by allowing his tracker to go flat.

Elando Parsi, previously of Brackley, had a sexual harm prevention order in place until August 2, 2025, meaning he had to abide by a number of conditions, including wearing a Buddi Tracker at all times – a device which allows Northamptonshire Police to monitor where he is.

When the tracker was fitted, Parsi was shown how to charge the device and had it impressed upon him the consequences of not wearing it, police say.

However, at the end of August this year, he allowed the device to go flat on four separate occasions, resulting in his arrest.

Lead Investigator – PC Gemma Glover said: “Elando Parsi was the first case in which we managed to make wearing a Buddi tracker part of his sexual harm prevention order, and it just goes to show the very severe consequences of him choosing to let its charge run out.

“I am really pleased that he has been sent back to prison as it sends a strong message to other registered sex offenders that breaches will not be tolerated by Northamptonshire Police.”

Parsi was charged with four counts of breaching his sexual harm prevention order and after pleading guilty to the offences at Northampton Magistrates’ Court on August 31 this year, he returned to Northampton Crown Court yesterday (October 11) where he was sentenced to one year and five months in prison.

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A man who subjected a teenage girl to repeated sexual assaults has been jailed.

Caine Emmingham, aged 21, targeted the girl on multiple occasions at an address in the Mansfield area, and in his car.

His offending, which took place over several months in 2022, was uncovered when his victim confided in her mother about what had happened.

Nottinghamshire Police was informed, and an investigation was started.

Emmingham, who travelled regularly from his home in Northampton to commit the offences, was arrested but denied all the allegations against him.

After a trial at Nottingham Crown Court, he was found guilty of three counts of sexual activity with a child, one count of inciting sexual activity with a child, one count of causing a child to look at sexual activity, and one count of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

He was cleared of two other charges.

Emmingham, of Lake Drive, Weldon, Corby, appeared at the same venue on Friday 6 October and was jailed for a total of four years.

He was also handed a restraining order and made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order that will tightly restrict his activities once he is released from prison.

Detective Constable Richard Howe, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:

“Emmingham groomed this girl over many months before committing a series of extremely serious sexual offences against her.

“He was aware of his victim’s age and knew very well that what he was doing was illegal.

“I am pleased the law has now caught up with him and hope this sentence serves as a warning to others about the consequences of committing sexual offences against children.”

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Noor is wanted for sexually assaulting an 8 year old girl in a Mosque. Can you help locate this dangerous male?

Full Details

Noor Alam was an Imam at a Mosque in Northampton where he taught religious studies to young children. Between October 2018 and October 2019 it is alleged that he was involved in sexual offences against young girls. He is considered to be a risk to children.

Crime type: Sexual Assault on a Female Child under 13

Crime location: Argyle Street, Northampton NN55LJ

Suspect name: Noor Alam

Nickname: N/A

Number of people involved:

CS reference: CS2302-18929

Police force: Northamptonshire

Suspect Description

Suspect name: Noor Alam

Sex: Male

Age: 35 - 40

Hair colour: Black

Facial hair: Beard

Ethnic appearance: Asian

Description

A Northampton man has been sent to prison for 16 years and four months for raping a child.

The offending of 32-year-old Aaron Oxlade came to light after the victim told her mother, Northampton Crown Court heard on Monday, July 17.

Oxlade, formerly of Spenfield Court, answered “no comment” to all questions put to him by police but did make a number of “significant comments” about the sentence he might get, the court heard.

Pamela Brain, in mitigation, described Oxlade as a “timid character” who has found prison a “very difficult place to be” since his remand. She said that Oxlade is “very keen” to cooperate with whatever is on offer during his sentence of imprisonment.

Oxlade’s mother, father and other relatives attended the sentencing hearing at Northampton Crown Court.

Ms Brain, speaking of Oxlade’s mother, said: “She was absolutely shocked and horrified by all of this but, obviously, he is her son so she supports him.”

His Honour Judge David Herbert KC, sentencing the defendant, said: “You should be thoroughly ashamed of what you have done. It has become clear to me that is not so.”

Oxlade, after pleading guilty, was sentenced to 11 years and four months in prison with a five-year extended licence period. This totals 16 years and four months in prison.

A Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a restraining order were also imposed indefinitely.

Description

This is the face of a monster paedophile every parent should see after a family's 'two years of hell.' So 'disturbing' were Edwin Darby's police confessions, one officer reportedly had to stop the interview.

Though the 67-year-old was jailed for 54 months and ordered to sign the sex offenders register, the victim's mum fumed he could be out in just over two years and "doesn't have a neon sign on him." She wants everyone to know his name and face in the hope that he's never able to hurt anyone else.

Darby, of Northampton, admitted two counts of assault by touching on a girl under 13. His mugshot, released by West Midlands Police, can now be revealed following the sentencing at Birmingham Crown Court on May 5.

Details of the lorry driver's sickening crimes emerged after the mum's children reported Darby had 'moonied' in front of them, she said. After opening up an honest conversation over 'private areas', one of her children made a harrowing disclosure.

"The way she said it so innocently and blasé, so matter of fact, I was like, 'no this can't be'," recalled the mum, who cannot be named for legal reasons. West Midlands Police was alerted, with the mother and daughter interviewed at the station.

"I was told he [Darby] had made some disclosures to police," she added. "The police officer at the time said he had to stop the police interview because he was so disturbed."

As Darby was jailed, he was also handed a sexual harm prevention order and ordered to sign the sex offenders register. A restraining order was imposed and the trucker will, or may be, barred from working with children and or vulnerable adults upon his release, the court said.

The victim's mum added: "This person's a monster. I don't want him to be able to hurt anyone else, ever," said the mum. "Ok so he's on the sex offenders register, ok so he's got a sexual harm prevention order, but he hasn't got a neon sign on him.

"He could carry on and live his life and nobody would be any wiser. He could put himself in situations and befriend people and they will be in danger again. I couldn't live with myself if something happened to anyone else.

"I can't settle. He has the ability to befriend people very quickly, very easily." She hopes by telling her story, other victims of sexual abuse will feel more comfortable in coming forward to police.

Description

A former Northamptonshire Police special constable has been jailed for two years and six months for child sex offences.

On December 1, 2021, Steven Hayden-Tift, 45, previously of Northampton, engaged in sexualised chat with a person he believed to be a 14-year-old boy but who was actually an undercover police officer.

During the conversation, which took place over Grindr and Snapchat, Tift sent sexual photos of himself and asked for similar photos back.

Following an investigation by Northamptonshire Police’s Online Child Abuse Investigation Unit (OCAIU), Tift was identified as the offender and arrested at his home address on December 19, 2021. 

He was subsequently charged with attempting sexual communication with a child and attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, and was found guilty by a jury following a trial at Northampton Crown Court which ended on March 18, 2023.

He returned to the same court today (May 4) where he was sentenced to two years and six months, half of which he will serve in prison.

He was also handed a five-year sexual harm prevention order and placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register.

Detective Inspector Matt Haworth, said: “We are pleased with the outcome of today’s sentencing as it means that Steven Tift will spend time in prison as a result of our investigation.

“Tift’s position as a Special Constable placed him in a position of trust which he grossly abused when he sought to use the internet to abuse a child. Thankfully in this case, the child in question was actually a police officer and we were able to take swift action to arrest him.

“I hope this case reassures the public that we work proactively at Northamptonshire Police to bring people like Tift to justice regardless of who they are or what roles they hold.

"As an organisation, we are determined to identify those who commit wrongdoing and who are not fit to serve the public and we will be relentless in our pursuit of them.

“We will continue working hard to keep our children in Northamptonshire safe and to bring anyone who threatens that safety to justice.”

Description

Southall pleaded guilty to two counts of kidnap and two of blackmail at an earlier hearing at Northampton Crown Court, and was sentenced at the same court on Friday, April 14, to a total of four and a half years.

At the same hearing Southall was also sentenced to 33 months for a 2020 robbery offence, and three months for a 2019 theft, both committed in Birmingham, as well as two offences which took place in Leicestershire - one count of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs for which he received a 42-month sentence, and six months for one count of making indecent images of children. He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for seven years.

All Southall’s sentences will be served consecutively, making a total of 11 years in prison.

Detective Sergeant Cory Wise, of Northamptonshire Police, said: “I am pleased with the sentences handed out in this case as they demonstrate the seriousness with which we, and the courts, take crimes such as this.

“The victims in these incidents went through terrifying experiences at the hands of Sullivan and Southall, with their parents being put through equal distress wondering whether their children were going to be harmed or not.

“I hope both Sullivan and Southall spend their time behind bars reflecting on their actions and that they come out determined to make better life choices.

“Thankfully, incidents of kidnap and blackmail are rare in Northamptonshire but I hope this case reassures people that when they do happen, we deal with them quickly and robustly.”

Description

A convicted sex offender who posed as a single mum looking for an au pair online has been sent back to prison.

Peter Smith was jailed in 2012 after trying to trying to abduct two women three months apart while armed with a knife, and sexually assaulting one of them.

The creep was put on the sex offender register, meaning he had to notify police of his details so he could be monitored.

But when officers visited his home in Braybrooke Road, Desborough, to check on him on March 15 this year they uncovered more disturbing activity.

Smith, 43, had created an alias on website aupair.com pretending to be a single mother called Alex who was looking for an au pair, before moving chats onto WhatsApp where he continued to pose as a woman.

He had also created a Facebook profile under the alias of Liam Smith and didn’t notify the authorities of the username.

This month he admitted two charges of failing to comply with notification requirements and was jailed for 12 months by magistrates.

Smith was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge to fund victim services of £187.

A Northamptonshire Police spokeswoman said: “Registered sex offenders are very closely monitored by our management of sexual or violent offenders team (MOSOVO).

“This means regular unannounced visits to the offender’s home to ensure they are abiding by all of their conditions. If they are not, we do not give second chances and all offences will be dealt with robustly.

“Our team work really hard every day to ensure sex offenders are rigorously managed and if any breaches are identified we are very swift in dealing with them.

“I hope this case is a lesson to other sex offenders that our processes will always find you out. And that you will be sent to prison as a result.”

Convicted sex offenders must register with police when they are convicted or released from prison, for a period specified when they are sentenced.

They must register details including their name and aliases, address, bank details, passport and whether they are live with a child, as well as renewing details annually.

Failing to comply is punishable by up to five years in prison.

Description

A registered sex offender found in possession of child abuse images and illegal weapons has been jailed for 18 months.

On February 15 this year, Northamptonshire Police received information that Ryuken Miyamoto-Masamune, was in possession of indecent images of children.

Officers from the Force’s Management of Sexual Offenders and Violent Offenders (MOSOVO) team attended his home and discovered the 33-year-old had an electronic tablet containing illegal images, as well as a large collection of unlawful weapons, including eight samurai swords and a scythe.

Miyamoto-Masamune was immediately arrested and subsequently charged with one count of making indecent photographs of children, and 13 counts of possession of offensive weapons in a private place. At Northampton Magistrates’ Court on February 16 he pleaded guilty to all charges.

Appearing for sentencing at Northampton Crown Court last week, March 28, Miyamoto-Masamune was imprisoned for 12 months for the indecent images offence and an additional six months for the weapons offences. The sentences will run consecutively.

Investigating officer PC Al Knapper, of MOSOVO, said: “Miyamoto-Masamune is a dangerous sexual predator. Offenders like this are closely managed, including by unannounced visits by officers to ensure they are complying with the orders they are subject to.

“In this case, Miyamoto-Masamune was using a tablet he had not told his MOSOVO officer about. On it were a number of indecent images of children, many of which were of the most serious nature. Anyone who views or downloads material of this abhorrent nature is complicit in the abuse of children, and I’m pleased Miyamoto-Masamune is now in prison where he rightly belongs.”

Miyamoto-Masamune, of Wellingborough, was also issued with a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, which imposes restrictions around his contact with children and gives the MOSOVO team powers to monitor and review any digital devices he owns.

A destruction order was also made for all weapons and electronic devices seized from him. Miyamoto-Masamune will remain on the sex offenders’ register for life.

Description

A man who discussed meeting what he thought was a nine-year-old girl for sexual activity was told he was 'very lucky' to be spared from prison.

Struan Taylor, formerly of Victoria Street in Kettering, believed he was speaking to the youngster's mum when he embarked on his sickening chat and thought she would let him abuse her child.

But he had no idea he was communicating with an undercover police officer when he suggested possible locations and sent 'disgusting' pictures.

On Friday at Leicester Crown Court the 24-year-old was handed a suspended sentence and placed on the sex offender register.

Taylor, now of Sutherland Way in Livingston, Scotland, was arrested on January 25, 2022, after sending sexual images of himself and explaining in detail what he wanted to do to the 'child' when they met.

He denied attempting to arrange or facilitate an act which would commission a child sex offence but was found guilty by a jury.

Taylor, who wore a blue suit in the dock, spent about two months in prison on remand before being released on bail ahead of his trial.

The court heard he had claimed he didn't get any sexual gratification - and that his pleasure was that the person he was talking to was able to live out their fantasies.

Sentencing, His Honour Judge Ebraham Mooncey said: "The jury said that what you were talking was palpable nonsense.

"What you were doing was living out sexual fantasies and your aim was to meet with a child."

Prosecutor Claire Fraser said there was a significant disparity in age and told the court that sentencing guidelines for the offence said it had a starting point of five years in prison with a range of between four and 10 years.

Defending, Stephen Garbett said no firm meeting was ever arranged and that the chat was always with the 'mother' and not the 'child'.

He said Taylor, who had no previous convictions, was 'horrified' by the messages he had sent.

He said: "He does accept that his behaviour was absolutely inappropriate and the language used was disgusting."

Mr Garbett added that Taylor was a 'very, very changed person' and urged Judge Mooncey to suspend any sentence he passed, acknowledging that it was a 'big ask'.

Mr Garbett said: "He is a person who made a pretty awful mistake."

His Honour Judge Mooncey told Taylor his behaviour was 'worrying' and reduced the sentence from four years in prison to three years because there was no real child.

He then further reduced it to two years because of his mitigation meaning it could be suspended. And he said that, because he had already had a taste of custody and because of the prospect of rehabilitation, that he was willing to suspend the two-year prison term for two years - telling Taylor he was very lucky to have avoided jail by the skin of his teeth.

He told him: "I hope the probation service can work with you and the court will never see you again."

Taylor was ordered to take part in rehabilitation activities and carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.

He will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order and will be on the sex offender register for 10 years.