Latest Offenders Northampton

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One victim said she was "filled with pain and torture" and she had "given up on the thought of happiness"

A Northampton man has been sentenced to 12 years and eight months in prison for historic sex offences against children.

Stephen Mitchell, aged 58, of Heron Way, was sentenced on Tuesday, March 22 at Northampton Crown Court after pleading guilty to a number of offences. The most severe of Mitchell's offences was the attempted rape of a child under the age of 14.

Families of the victims wept in the public galleries as Mitchell's charges were read out and described in full.

Mitchell was arrested on August 15 last year after the parents of one of his young victims reported the defendant to the police. Another victim subsequently came forward and then Mitchell informed officers he wanted to confess to crimes against a third victim.

Sally Hobson, prosecuting, told the court that Mitchell's actions had a "significant impact" on his young victims. She described how one of his victims is now receiving counselling and self harms because it "helps him to forget for a short while".

Ms Hobson said: "He feels there are permanent marks on his skin that he can't wash off."

A second victim, who was present at court during Mitchell's sentencing, asked for her victim personal statement to be read out.

It described how her innocence had been taken away from her and, as a result, she was "filled with pain and torture". She said she lost friends, partners, family members and even herself because she "gave up on the thought of happiness". She added that she turned to drink, had to leave a job she loved and she barely leaves the house.

The statement said that - after finding out about Mitchell's other victims - she even put all the blame on herself for not going to the police as a child.

Liam Muir, defending, said that an "extremely important mitigation" was Mitchell's engagement with the police, his guilty pleas and the fact that he made them aware of the third victim, who had not come forward at that time.

His honour Judge Mayo sentenced Mitchell to 12 years and eight months in prison. He additionally slapped Mitchell with a restraining order that bars him from making any direct or indirect contact with his victims.

A sexual harm prevention order was also made indefinitely, which prevents Mitchell from having any unsupervised contact with any children under the age of 16. This order additionally bars Mitchell from staying in any house with a child under the age of 16.

Judge Mayo said: "It is considerable note that these people came forward with remarkable bravery with remarkable support from their families."

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A dark web Northampton paedophile who was caught with help from the FBI in the United States has been handed 30 years in jail.

Keith McFadden, aged 57, formerly of Talbot Road, Northampton, was sentenced at Northampton Crown Court today (11 March) for historic child sex offences.

The convicted child predator was finally arrested by Northamptonshire Police detectives following an investigation of the dark web by the National Crime Agency.

Andrew Howarth, prosecuting, said McFadden had bragged about the offences and later read impact statements from McFadden's victims.

The statement said the victim had tried to take his own life and had been on "antidepressants for most of my life because of what he did to me."

Other victims described having their lives "turned upside down" by McFadden's actions.

Stephen Garbett, defending, said: "Mr McFadden is going to be in prison for a significant amount of time. By the time he is released from prison he will be extremely old.

"Mr McFadden is under no illusion that this will be the case."

Her Honour Judge Rebecca Crane said in sentencing: "There is no way of knowing whether you will engage with programmes, especially given that you continue to maintain your innocence.

"You pose a threat to young boys, as opposed to the general public."

Keith McFadden was sentenced to 30 years in prison, with a minimum time to serve of 20 years.

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A Northampton detective tracked down a suspected child sex offender to Germany after he fled from the town in a bid to escape the law.

Szymon Leszek Sieczkiewicz, aged 38, has been jailed for six years for assault and incitement involving an 11-year-old in January 2019.

The Polish HGV driver skipped the country and headed across the Channel ahead of a court appearance but was hunted down by police using a European Arrest Warrant and dragged back to Northampton.

Sieczkiewicz, whose address was not given in court, was was finally found guilty of all charges in October 2021 and last month sentenced to six years and handed an indefinite Sexual Harm prevention Order at Northampton Crown Court.

DS Selena Leppard, who led the investigation, said: I am really pleased that my relentless pursuit of Szymon Sieczkiewicz has resulted in this six-year sentence.

Sieczkiewicz thought he could escape justice by leaving the country, but this case goes to show that Northamptonshire Police will not only go beyond our county borders to pursue offenders but also cross national borders too.

The child in this case has been very brave from the beginning of our investigation and I would like to thank them and their family for their support throughout.

I hope this result, after such a drawn-out case, will allow them some closure and the ability to move forward with their life.

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A 72-year-old man has been sent to prison for three years and six months after he breached the conditions of his sexual harm prevention order and notification requirements.

Peter Butt, previously of Northampton, was convicted in May 2021 of possessing and distributing indecent images of children.

As part of his sentence, he was handed a sexual harm prevention order, meaning he has to notify police of any new electronic devices and accounts.

However, when DC Sophie Duffree from Northamptonshire Polices MOSOVO (Management of Sexual Offenders and Violent Offenders) Team visited him in December 2021, alongside his probation officer, she found three phones and a laptop that he had not declared.

He had also created a new Twitter account, which again he had failed to notify police of, alongside two other names used online.

He was subsequently arrested for the breaches and charged.

At Northampton Crown Court last week (January 21) he was sentenced to 18 months in prison, in addition to the previously suspended 24 month sentence.

Following the sentencing, DC Duffree said: Registered sex offenders like Peter Butt are very closely monitored by our team and we take a zero-tolerance approach to breaches such as these there is absolutely no room for second chances or pleading ignorance.

"Breaches of a sexual harm prevention order are serious, and Im pleased that that has been recognised here with a custodial sentence.

"The facts of this case have shown Peter Butt to be a manipulative and deceitful individual who has shown a complete disregard for the orders placed upon him. I hope he takes this time in custody to reflect on his actions.

"In cases like these we will look to immediately arrest and charge these offenders, thereby protecting the public.

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A repeat sex offender from Northamptonshire has been handed a 'winning lottery ticket' after narrowly dodging prison for his second sexual offence.

Curtis Bull, now 29, of Oak Lane, Crick, was sentenced for sexually assaulting a female, to which he pleaded guilty.

During a hearing at Northampton Crown Court on Thursday (January 20), it was read that the assault took place in June 2019. Bull was reportedly under the influence of alcohol at the time.

This was not Bull's first offence. He had already served time for a near identical crime back in 2016 which had left bruises on another woman's neck. Bull pleaded guilty to that offence as well and was sentenced to 16 months in prison.

His then-barrister Jonathan Dee said it was an isolated incident that was 'out of character' at the time.

During the hearing for his latest offence, Her Honour said: "There is no indication that you have any criminal tendencies whatsoever and it is very hard to see why, after you have served a custodial sentence, that you have done almost the exact same thing as you did in 2016."

Bull's defence suggested that there were 'much deeper underlying issues' that had driven his behaviour, including mental health concerns, as well as the heavy use of alcohol.

The judge agreed to this and suggested that 'the public will get better protection' if Bull was allowed to work with the probation service from outside a prison.

Bull was issued with a 36 month community order and 40 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) days. He was also required to sign the Sex Offenders' Register for a further five years, join a specified sex offender intervention programme for men, and submit to a six month alcohol treatment programme.

In closing, Her Honour cautioned Bull, saying: "Make sure you attend every appointment with the probation service as if you were holding a winning lottery ticket.

"That's how seriously you should take this, or you will end up in prison."

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Jared Graham Bassett's vile actions had a 'severe emotional effect' on the victims.

A man who committed historic rape offences against two young girls has been locked up for 20 years.

A judge branded Jared Graham Bassett's actions as a "campaign" and stated they had scarred his victims who had been aged under 16.

Bassett, who had been aged between 18 and 25 at the time, denied the offences but was convicted after a trial.

The 38-year-old appeared at Mold Crown Court in Wales on November 5 to be sentenced for a total of 24 sex offences.

North Wales Live reports the court heard Bassett began his campaign of offending while living at a North Wales holiday camp.

He then continued to carry out his crimes at a variety of addresses across North Wales and abroad until 2007.

His actions came to light when one distressed girl alerted a shopkeeper.

In a victim impact statement read out by prosecutor Robert Edwards, the older girl - now a woman - told how she was badly affected.

She said in giving the statement she "felt like I was a (child) all over again".

She has difficulty with relationships and "If someone unexpectedly touches me I have a reflex reaction which is out of proportion."

She said no sentence can "give her back her childhood".

In her statement, the younger victim, also now grown up, said she had self-harmed by cutting her wrists and drinking but eventually reported the abuse.

She had been "relieved to be believed".

However, she still has "massive trust issues" with men and women.

She added: "Sex feels more like a chore. He (Bassett) has taken that enjoyment and special moment from me."

Mark Kelly, defending, said Bassett maintains his innocence.

The inevitable prison sentence would have a negative emotional and financial effect on his own young family.

The judge, Her Honour Judge Nicola Saffman, noted that one victim who went to the shopkeepers had reported the abuse.

But the Crown Prosecution Service had wrongly believed that proceedings would be unsuccessful on the basis of her word alone and so discontinued the case.

However, Bassett was eventually arrested and prosecuted for his offences.

The judge said it had been a "campaign" of abuse.

"You have blighted their childhood and in doing so blighted their adult lives."

The serious psychological effects had led his older victim to be "hysterical and distressed" and the younger victim to be "closed off and blunt".

She jailed Bassett, now of Station Road, Cogenhoe, Northampton, for 20 years for multiple rapes of the older girl and two rapes of the younger girl.

He also received jail terms of between five and 17 years for other sexual offences which will all run concurrently to the longest sentence.

Detective Inspector Iolo Edwards of the North Wales Police Amethyst Team said: The investigation team has worked closely with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) team to present a compelling case at trial and we therefore welcome the sentencing outcome today.

Our thoughts remain with the victims in this case and we acknowledge their determination to support the investigation to its conclusion.

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A Northampton man who was found guilty of repeatedly raping an 11-year-old girl has been jailed for 17-and-a-half years.

Andrew Brian Nicholls, 46, was last month found guilty of 14 charges at Northampton Crown Court relating to the abuse he carried out between 2014 and 2017, which began when his victim was just 11.

The court heard Nicholls began abusing the girl when she walked in on him watching pornography.

This escalated into repeated rapes until she informed Northamptonshire Police of the abuse in 2017.

Nicholls, formerly of Camp Hill, Bugbrooke, was subsequently charged with offences including multiple rapes, sexual activity with a child, and taking indecent photos of a child.

On October 4, a jury at Northampton Crown Court returned guilty verdicts on all 14 charges against him.

Today, Tuesday, November 2, His Honour Judge Rupert Mayo handed Nicholls 13 concurrent sentences ranging from three to 14-and-a-half years, plus one consecutive sentence of three years, making a total of 17-and-a-half years in prison.

Telling the defendant to look at him as he passed sentence, Judge Mayo said Nicholls had robbed his victim of a happy and innocent childhood and forced her to live in fear of him revealing videos he had made of his repeated attacks.

The judge added that even when his victim became withdrawn as a result of her ongoing ordeal, Nicholls knew he was the cause 'yet you continued to use her to satisfy your own paedophilic urges' and had also encouraged others to turn on her when she finally reported what had happened to police.

He concluded: “This was sustained abuse of a particularly vulnerable victim.”

Upon release from prison, Nicholls will spend the remainder of his sentence on licence.

He will also be subject to a sexual harm prevention order, indefinitely barring him from living or staying with any female child under the age of 16 without the approval of social services and the child’s parent or guardian having knowledge of his convictions.

He will also be on the sex offenders’ register for life.

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Police tracked down the ringleader of an online child abuse gang after arresting a known Northampton paedophile.

Simon Peach, 36, was jailed for seven years in June 2021 after detectives found a laptop with 128 recordings on his laptop of live streams of girls under 16 performing sexual acts.

But officers from Northamptonshire Police Paedophile On Line Investigation Team (POLIT) then discovered messages between Peach and Matthew Mather-Franks, who was later identified as playing a leading role in the group and arrested.

The gang said to include between six and ten men even kept a Google spreadsheet containing details of young girls, mainly from Russia, taking part in live sex streams.

Crown Court Judge, His Honour Judge David Herbert QC, jailed Mather-Franks, 37, for eight years at a hearing on Friday (February 11).

Both Peach and Mather Franks were already on the sex offenders register.

Peach, previously of Clarke Road, had more than 1,000 indecent images of children on his phone and laptop, breaching a sexual harm prevention order when he was arrested in early 2020.

Four out of five devices belonging to Mather-Franks seized were not registered with the police, breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

He had been using the devices to commit online sexual offences relating to young girls, mainly aged between nine and 12, although some involved infants. Some of the children involved appeared drugged or intoxicated.

Judge Herbert told Mather-Franks: "The facts show that the work you did as part of that order failed."

Police also found evidence of images being shared on an encrypted Telegram group.

Mather-Franks, previously of Redding Road, Rushden, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children, one of paying for the sexual services of a child, one of distributing category A live streams of child abuse, one of breaching a sexual harm prevention order and one or encouraging or assisting the commission of an offence

Judge Herbert told him: "You have an entrenched sexual interest in very young girls and you represent a serious danger to them."

Mather-Franks will serve at least five years, four months behind bars before he can be considered for parole. Once released, he will serve the remainder of his sentence plus and extra four years on licence.

Following Friday's sentencing, DC Andy Shears from the Police POLIT team said: I am really pleased to see the lengthy sentences handed out to both of these men who preyed on young children for their own depraved satisfaction.

Both men used sophisticated methods to try and evade detection which makes their behaviour even more deplorable.

"However, there is nothing we cant and wont do to uncover child abuse and bring the offenders to justice.

The protection of children is something that is hugely important to me and to Northamptonshire Police and I hope this case shows that if you are a predator like Peach or Mather-Franks, that we will catch up with you and put you where you belong behind bars.

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A Northampton man who sexually assaulted a young girl has been locked up for 10 years.

Ryan Johnson, from Duston, denied all allegations against him during his trial - but last month, a jury convicted him on four counts of child sex offences.

The 31-year-old was found guilty of sexually assaulting the young girl two years ago.

At his sentencing at Northampton Crown Court yesterday (February 11), Her Honour Judge Rebecca Crane told Johnson: "Victim impacts statements have shown how your victim now finds it hard to trust people.

"It has affected her friendships. her mother says it has destroyed her confidence."

The court heard how the young girl messaged a friend after the incident, who then alerted the girl's mother to what happened.

Johnson was jailed for 10 years and nine months. He will remain on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life.

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A paedophile from Rushden has been sentenced to prison at Northampton Crown Court today (Wednesday, September 16).

Philip Jackson, 32, formerly of Rushden, was sentenced to 10 months in prison for sexually assaulting a young girl in April 2019.

He showed no remorse and forced the case to go to trial, making the child take the stand and give evidence.

Jackson was unanimously found guilty at Northampton Crown Court in August.

Lead Investigator, Detective Constable Paul Lilley, from Northamptonshire Polices Child Protection Team, said: I hope Jacksons punishment brings some closure for this young girl and her family and I am pleased this individual will now serve time behind bars for his actions.

Northamptonshire Police takes reports of sexual assault very seriously and will always treat reports of this nature with the confidentiality and sensitivity they deserve.

At the time of the guilty verdict, DC Lilley described Jackson as a remorseless liar who had repeatedly tried to discredit the account of the young girl.

DC Lilley said: Im very pleased that the jury saw through his lies and as a result, a dangerous paedophile who no doubt poses a risk to children going forward, has been convicted.

What is most incredible about this case is the bravery of the young girl who stood up in court and gave evidence.

I hope Jacksons conviction brings some closure to this young girl and her family who throughout the investigation and trial have shown great courage and dignity.

Jackson was also handed a 10-month Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

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A sex pest who has "repeatedly proven he is a danger to women" has been jailed again.

Richard Enderby Hall-Trafford, 24, was jailed for 34 weeks last year after he admitted sexually assaulting two women, flashing at a jogger and performing a sex act in public in Corby.

He was deemed so dangerous magistrates banned him from approaching, touching or attempting to engage with any unknown female for five years through a sexual harm prevention order.

But on May 23, just months after he was released from prison, he sexually assaulted another woman in Spencer Street, Burton Latimer.

He admitted sexual assault and breaching the order by touching his victim and he has now been jailed for 18 weeks.

A further two weeks in prison was added to his sentence because he failed to meet supervision requirements after he was released earlier this year, meaning his risk was "unmanageable", making his total sentence 20 weeks behind bars.

A Northamptonshire Police spokesman said: We are pleased to see Richard Hall-Trafford given time behind bars as he has repeatedly proven that he is a danger to women.

Everyone in this world deserves the right to go about their business without fear of being approached inappropriately and Hall-Trafford has continuously threatened that right.

Northamptonshire Police is committed to taking action against sex offenders and we hope that Hall Traffords conviction demonstrates that commitment.

As part of his sentence Hall-Trafford, of Dumble Close in Corby, will also be on the register for sex offenders for seven and must not contact his most recent victim because of a restraining order.

The pervert must also pay his victim 200 in compensation, court costs of 145 and a surcharge to fund victim services of 128.

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Gordan Newman, from High Barns Close, used the social media website Tumblr to chat to other paedophiles and post indecent images.

But the sentence he was handed in Northampton Crown Court yesterday (January 30) is the third time he has appeared in court for handling indecent images of children since 2010.

He was given a suspended sentence in 2010 and even earned time in jail for it in March 2017.

But when police visited his home for a spot check as part of his sexual harm prevention order in November 2018, they found his phone was logged into Tumblr and had been sharing images with other online paedophiles in private sessions.

He posted under the online handle 'Boundaryless' with the profile description 'not bad but badder'.

The court heard how Newman chatted with other paedophiles online and made such comments as 'cute' on pictures depicting child abuse.

Newman later pleaded guilty to distributing and making indecent images of children.

In sentencing, His Honour Judge Roger Tregilgas-Davey said: "You were talking and chatting to other paedophiles about the pictorial abuse of young children.

"Clearly this matter is so serious that only an immediate custodial sentence can be imposed.

"If you commit this offence again the sentence will only increase and the sentence will get longer and longer."

Newman was handed a prison sentence of two years and three months. A sexual harm prevention order preventing him from working with children or vulnerable adults was put in place for 10 years.

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Mark Kirby, from Thirlestane Crescent, Far Cotton, was sentenced to a total of three years and four months, after pleading guilty to one count of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

He also admitted three counts of causing or inciting a girl aged between 13 and 15 to engage in sexual activity and two of engaging in sexual communication with a child.

Sentencing Kirby, Judge Adrienne Lucking QC told Northampton Crown Court: "This is a clear example of the dangers people like you bring to the internet.

"You were persistent and determined in your efforts to establish a sexual relationship with children online."

Judge Lucking also made him the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 15 years and placed him on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.

PC Chris Barker-Bowles, who led the investigation leading to Kirbys conviction, said: Kirby preyed on children in the most sickening way and for his own sexual gratification.

"Im happy with todays court result which follows a long and complex investigation.

If people choose to engage in this appalling way they can expect our specialist police officers to be detecting and tracking their activity.

"We will bring to justice anybody who exploits children in this way.

Kirby will serve 20 months of his sentence before being freed on licence.

An NSPCC spokeswoman said: Kirby went to great lengths to commit horrifying abuse against children and his actions are a stark reminder of the risks associated with the internet.

Its far too easy for predators to contact young people online often with devastating effects - and its important that parents discuss the dangers with their children.

The government has a crucial part to play and its recent commitment to legislate to protect children online is a huge step forward and a victory for the NSPCCs Wild West Web campaign.

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The victim of a predatory Northampton taxi driver has described how the jailed sex attacker showed no remorse for his 'heinous' crimes by denying his guilt for three years.

Abdul Shohid, of Overstone Road, The Mounts, was arrested in 2015 after two women reported him to the police.

The taxi driver, who ran a private firm in Northampton, was then linked to an unsolved rape case after police matched his DNA.

Last month, judge Robert Brown handed the 47-year-old a 12-year sentence for the rape and a further six months for the two sexual assaults.

But one of his victims has described how the cab driver dragged his victims through a three-year ordeal by maintaining his not guilty plea.

It is clear Shohid is a sexual predator who has been preying on vulnerable women for some time," said the victim in an impact statement.

"Operating a taxi firm, he abused his position of responsibility and took advantage of three women that are known of.

"I feel I got away lightly, and if I were in an intoxicated state it may have been a considerably more horrific outcome.

"My sympathies go to the poor young woman he raped.

"I personally no longer take taxis unless absolutely necessary and never, under any circumstances, at night or on my own.

"It is a sad reflection on the strain and lack of funding on the judicial system that it took eight sets of trial dates and deferments and over three years to bring this individual to justice.

"And the fact Shohid pleaded 'not guilty' shows he had no remorse or accountability for his heinous actions by putting the victims through the additional ordeal of a crown court trial.

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Philip Allen, who has since been fired from his job at Shenley Brook End School, is a prominent figure in religious education nationally and has written frequently for the Times Educational Supplement.

48-year-old married man from Potterspury, appeared at Northampton Magistrates’ Court to plead guilty to six charges of making indecent images of children and a charge of possessing prohibited images.

He admitted possessing 172 ‘category A’ indecent images of children, the most extreme kind. He also admitted having 46 category B images and 37 of category C.

Prosecuting, Jerena Tomaszewska said Allen’s crimes were uncovered after police seized his electronic devices in June during a raid on his house.

She said: “Images were found on a laptop and individual images found on an external hard drive.

“The report shows that some of the images were also backed up from the defendant’s iPad.”

Allen had been a member of the TES teacher panel and a national TES advisor for key stage 4 religious studies.

He was bailed under a condition he could not come into unsupervised contact with any child under the age of 18.

Presiding magistrate Diana Whittaker told Allen: “Our powers of sentencing are insufficient for you, these charges are too serious.”

She referred Allen to Crown Court and he faces up to a year in prison.