Latest Offenders Nottingham

Description

A former support worker has been branded a dangerous offender after sexually assaulting a man by rubbing him intimately and penetrating him from behind without consent.

The assault occurred around a decade ago at Lee O'Brien's former home in the Wrexham area. O'Brien, 52, is already serving a prison sentence in England for sex offences against another victim.

At Mold Crown Court today, he admitted assault by penetration and was sentenced to nine years, with five and a half years in custody.

Judge Rhys Rowlands heard the victim, who cannot be named, arrived expecting others but found only O'Brien. Prosecutor John Wyn Williams said they sat on a sofa, where O'Brien tried to kiss him; the victim pulled away, but O'Brien, "bigger and stronger," got on top.

O'Brien rubbed him intimately over clothes, removed his trousers, and penetrated him, causing a "burning sensation in his anus as if he needed to go to the lavatory." The victim couldn't see what it was—"it could have been a finger or it could have been an object," Mr. Wyn Williams said. O'Brien suddenly stopped, smiling. No consent was given.

Years later, work training "triggered a reaction," leading the victim to report O'Brien to police on June 22, 2023. O'Brien, interviewed September 7, 2023, claimed the behavior was "consensual" and "mutual" with no sex.

In a court statement, the victim said before the incident, "I was living my best life. The world was my oyster." Afterward, he became socially isolated, distrustful, suffered nightmares, and needed counseling. He prepared for trial but O'Brien's guilty plea denied him that: "You have taken away my voice by taking away 'my' trial." Overall: "You made me feel dirty and disgusting and I will never be able to get over this fact."

Defense barrister Matthew Dunford noted the guilty plea spared cross-examination, both had been drinking without O'Brien "plying" the victim as in other cases, and O'Brien is genuinely remorseful.

The judge cited the assault's "severe psychological effect" on the victim. As a dangerous offender at HMP Whatton, Nottinghamshire, O'Brien must serve two-thirds of the custodial term, followed by three and a half years on licence "to protect members of the public." 

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Description

A man who provided sweets to children at a summer camp which he had laced with sedatives has pleaded guilty to 17 offences.

Jon Ruben, 76, admitted offences including wilful ill treatment of eight children and possession of class C drugs following a police investigation which Senior Investigating Officer Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Neil Holden today (Friday) described as “horrific, complex and emotional”.

Ruben, of Wayte Court, Landmere Lane, Ruddington, Nottingham, also admitted sexual offences against two children and charges of possession of indecent images of children when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court today. None of the images concerned relate to children who were at the summer camp.

The charges Ruben admitted are:

• Eight counts of wilful ill treatment of a child in relation to eight separate victims
• One count of acquiring or possession of dutiable goods by fraudulent intent
• Three counts of possession of a class C drug
• Three counts of making indecent photographs of a child.
• One count of assault by penetration of a boy under 13
• One count of sexual assault of a boy under 13.

Ruben pleaded not guilty to a second charge of assault by penetration of a boy under 13.

The charges came following police attending Stathern Lodge, Canal Lane, Stathern, near Melton, on Monday 28 July this year following concerns raised that a number of children had become unwell while at the camp there which was being run by Ruben. A report was made that Ruben, who ran a charity providing short holiday breaks for children, may have been drugging children at the camp with a number of children reported to be unwell including feeling drowsy and sick.

East Midlands Ambulance Service also attended the scene with eight children, who were all boys aged between eight and 11, being taken to hospital as a precaution. An adult was also taken to hospital at the time. All were later discharged.

At the time of police attending, Ruben was found to be at a nearby pub with some of the children. He was arrested by officers at the pub and transported to custody.

Searches were carried out at Stathern Lodge with items including syringes and sedatives being found.

While initial investigative work led to Ruben being charged four days later on Friday 1 August with three counts of wilful ill treatment of a child, the force’s Major Crime team then continued more than three months of detailed and dedicated enquiries to uncover further evidence of Ruben’s crimes.

This included statements being taken from victims and witnesses, exhibits being sent off for examination and analysis of digital devices seized.

These enquiries led to it being found that on the evenings of Saturday 26 July and Sunday 27 July, Ruben had carried out a ‘sweet game’ with a number of children at the lodge which involved encouraging them to eat the sweets.

Following toxicology tests, a sedative was found to be present in children at the camp as well as within sweets which had been provided to the children. Inspection of the sweets found incision marks had been made.

Analysis of devices belonging to Ruben were found to contain more than 50 category A indecent videos of children. Category A images as well as Category B and C videos were also found. The categories indicate the seriousness of the content shown with category A being the highest.

The enquiries carried out also found evidence that Ruben had sexually assaulted two boys – both victims were under 13-years-old.

The evidence gathered by the investigating team led to Ruben being further arrested in October this year on suspicion of further offences and interviewed. Charges in relation to all alleged offences were then put to Ruben at court today.

Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Holden said:

“This has been a horrific, complex and emotional investigation involving multiple young, innocent, vulnerable victims and a man who committed the vilest crimes.

“Our focus today must of course remain on the young victims and with the support of partners and dedicated Family Liaison Officers, we have and continue to support their welfare and to ensure their safeguarding going forward.”

Description

A rapist who fled the country in a futile attempt to avoid justice has been jailed.

Craig Saunders was reported to Nottinghamshire Police in November 2020 after his teenage victim confided in a teacher at her school.

Saunders denied any wrongdoing, even when presented with damning forensic evidence during a follow-up interview with detectives.

Now aged 39, Saunders was due to stand trial in September of this year, but fled the country while on bail.

After failing to sign in at a police station as required, he flew to Turkey on 6 September on a return ticket. 

When he failed to return as planned ten days later, it was discovered he had travelled on to Lanzarote via Zurich, showing a clear intent to evade capture.

With support from Spain’s Guardia Civil and the National Crime Agency (NCA), Saunders was arrested and held in custody pending his extradition back to the UK.

Following a trial at Nottingham Crown Court held in his absence, Saunders — now of HMP Nottingham — was found guilty of rape and sexual assault.

All offences occurred in Nottinghamshire.

Appearing at the same court on Friday 18 October, he was sentenced to ten years and six months in prison.

He was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which will severely restrict his interactions with young women upon release.

Detective Constable Kerry Stringer, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:

"Saunders' behaviour showed a callous disregard not only for his victim, but also for the wider legal process.

“Whilst the Jury were not told of the reason for his absence, the evidence available to them enabled them to convict him of his crimes.

“As this case concludes, I am full of admiration for the victim’s courage in coming forward and reporting what happened.

"I am also grateful to our international partners for their collaboration in tracking Saunders and facilitating his return so quickly.

"Finally, I would like to appeal directly to all victims of these kind of offences to come forward and tell us about them. 

"We know it can be a daunting prospect for people, but we will do whatever we can to support them and investigate the reports they make."

Description

A man who secretly filmed himself abusing girls and women has been jailed.

Nottinghamshire Police said Andrew Hallam's offending was uncovered after one victim discovered the filming, leading officers to find his recorded footage and over 300 indecent images of children on his phone.

The 46-year-old from Beeston, Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to 20 sexual offences, including assaulting a girl under 13 by touching, sexual assault of a woman, and voyeurism.

He received a 14-year extended sentence—nine years and one month in prison, plus four years and 11 months on extended licence—at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday.

Hallam was also placed on the sex offenders register and given a lifelong sexual harm prevention order.

'Perverse behaviour'

Police said Hallam "went out of his way to try to record footage of women and girls in various intimate situations so that he could watch it back later."

He hid cameras in bathrooms and changing rooms, committing offences across Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire since 2019.

A force statement noted the assaults occurred "without his victims even realising it had happened."

Det Con Lucy Clarke said:

"committed a series of shameful acts that any right-minded person would have found revolting."

"This was a gross breach of trust and invasion of privacy from a man with a dangerous infatuation for underage girls," she said.

"None of his victims had any idea what Hallam had done until later, when the videos he'd taken were discovered and the truth emerged.

"His perverse behaviour caused immeasurable pain to his victims, so we're really grateful to them for working with us to get them justice."

Description

A convicted sex offender has been jailed again after he sent explicit messages to a 14-year-old girl.

James Lacy (pictured) was jailed for 32 months in 2016 after striking up a sexual relationship with an underage girl, who he groomed online.

Nottingham Crown Court heard he was aged 21 at the time of the offence and that his sentence included a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which prohibited him from having contact with a female child under the age of 16.

The order also required him to register devices used for internet access with the police.

Lacy, now 33, was arrested in February this year after it emerged he had sent sexually explicit messages to a 14-year-old girl via social media.

The victim informed her father and a report was made to Nottinghamshire Police.

Detectives arrested Lacy before searching his address and seizing a number of devices that he had failed to disclose as per his Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

He answered no comment to most of the questions put to him across two police interviews.

With the weight of the evidence against him, Lacy, of Bransdale Road, Clifton, Nottingham, was charged with engaging in sexual communication with a child, causing a child to engage in sexual activity and two breaches of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

He pleaded guilty to the offences and was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday (2 October). The judge handed Lacy an extended sentence of eight years, comprising a custodial term of three years and then five years on licence, during which time he will remain under close supervision.

Lacy was further handed a new 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order lasting to October 2035 and made subject of a restraining order that prohibits him from contacting his victim.

Detective Constable Will Huggins, of Nottinghamshire Police’s Public Protection unit, said:

“Lacy has a despicable attitude towards the legal system and so remains a serious risk to children.

“Despite serving a prison sentence and being subject to court orders, he has continued to flout the law and behave in this depraved manner towards a vulnerable 14-year-old girl.

“His victim demonstrated extraordinary bravery in alerting her father about the messages and it is because of her strength and willingness to come forward that we were able to put Lacy back before the courts.

“He knew full well that he wasn’t allowed to message young people in this way but once again his warped sexual desires have landed him in trouble.

“I hope this latest sentence will finally result in him changing his ways and leading a positive and law-abiding lifestyle.”

Description

A "sadistic" Sutton rapist armed with a knife brutally assaulted and repeatedly raped a woman after trapping her in her bedroom, doing "everything he could to humiliate and degrade her," Nottingham Crown Court heard.

Ionel -Alexandru Paicu, high on drink and drugs, attacked the woman on January 1 this year, prosecutor Catherine Picardo said. He repeatedly slapped and backhanded her face, causing "lots of bruises," threatened her with a kitchen knife, forced her to strip naked, and "effectively" trapped her in the bedroom before raping her.

The victim's statement described her ongoing anxiety when leaving home and fear of encountering the defendant again.

Mitigating, Mark Knowles said Paicu, 24, had previous good character. "Everything went wrong," he added. "He had never drunk as much as that before. He knows he has got to live with the situation and knows he is responsible. All I can ask is My Lady to reflect on the positive aspects of this defendant." He noted it was "a continuous event" in one evening and expected Paicu "will be deported at some point."

Judge Nirmal Shant KC told Paicu: "You did everything you could that evening to humiliate and degrade her. You have left her afraid of the future. What you did that evening and night has left a profound effect on her. The starting point is 12 years. There were different kinds of rape, albeit in one incident. It is, in my judgment, a case where sadistic conduct was involved."

Paicu, listening via a Romanian interpreter, admitted on the day of trial to making threats with a bladed article, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, false imprisonment, three counts of rape, and one of penetrative sexual assault.

He was jailed for 15 years, placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely, and given a restraining order banning all contact with the victim.

Description

A ‘controlling and manipulative sex offender’ who groomed and repeatedly raped a young girl has been jailed.

Christopher Swift, aged 35, was exposed when incriminating messages he’d sent to his victim were discovered and passed to detectives at Nottinghamshire Police in February of this year.

His victim was interviewed by officers and revealed a significant history of abuse at Swift’s hands.

The girl also revealed the high level of control Swift exerted over her life – from telling her what to wear to controlling her use of social media.

Swift initially gave no comment answers to officers’ questions, but later pleaded guilty to four counts of raping a girl under 13, four sexual assaults and another offence of engaging in sexual activity.

Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday 26 September, Swift, of no fixed address, was given an extended 17 year sentence.

He was also added to the sex offenders' register, and made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order which will tightly restrict his access to children once he is released.

Detective Constable Keeley Bringhurst, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:

“Swift is a controlling and manipulative sex offender who very deliberately targeted his victim over an extended period of time.

“He knew perfectly well that what he was doing was illegal and that his victim couldn’t possibly consent to what happened to her.

“His behaviour was utterly inexcusable and has understandably had a profound impact on his victim and her family.

“As he begins a very lengthy jail sentence I would like to pay tribute to the girl at the centre of this case for the bravery and resilience she has shown during the legal process.

“I would also like to send a very clear warning to other adults thinking of committing similar offences against children – you will be caught and we will ensure that you go to prison for a very long time”

Description

A rapist who subjected a woman to a catalogue of sexual assaults, violent abuse and controlling behaviour has been put behind bars.

Callum Anderton, aged 34, raped the victim on two occasions in August 2023.

The victim also reported multiple assaults, threats and attempts to control her behaviour by Anderton.

Police were made aware of Anderton’s offending when he was reported for breaching an order which had prevented him contacting the woman.

Following investigations, Anderton was arrested and interviewed while the victim was supported by specialist officers.

When detectives seized and analysed his mobile phone they discovered a number of indecent images of children and extreme pornography on the device.

Anderton, of no fixed address, was handed an extended prison sentence of 21 years at Nottingham Crown Court on Monday (15 September).

He pleaded guilty to rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, assault, breach of a non-molestation order, two counts of making indecent images of a child and one of possessing extreme pornographic images.

Detective Constable Holly James, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:

“Anderton is a violent and controlling bully and I’m pleased he has been locked up after this sequence of appalling offending.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the victim for her bravery in speaking to officers and throughout the court proceedings.

“We know cases of this nature can take a huge emotional toll on victims and their families.

“The victim has shown great courage and resilience, and I wish her the very best in the next stage of the process of rebuilding her life.

“I hope this case serves as a warning to other violent men who think they can subject women to this sort of abuse. We treat such reports with the utmost seriousness and will do whatever it takes to bring offenders to justice.

“My message to other victims who are suffering is that although the steps to come forward and report can appear difficult, you will be listened to, helped and kept safe.”

Description

It was in January this year, the victim – who is in her 30s and from Leicestershire – made an online report to police regarding stalking and harassment concerns by Whittaker.

After an officer attended to take a statement from her, the woman disclosed a number of offences had occurred.

She told officers he had regularly used threats of violence as a way to control and manipulate her.

He had also raped her, slapped her across the face and on one occasion had kidnapped her - forcing her to drive with him for miles to confront another man she had previously been in a relationship with. 

After vital evidence was gathered from the victim, the investigation was handed to detectives working in the force’s dedicated rape and serious sexual offences team.

A policing operation was also put in place to arrest Whittaker so he could be questioned.

Due to the possible risk imposed by the defendant, specialist firearms officers were deployed to Nottingham to bring him into custody.

After being interviewed, a team of detectives worked round-the-clock – some putting in a 24 shift – to ensure Whittaker was successfully charged and remanded.

Detective Constable Jack Grieves was assigned as the officer in the case and throughout this year has worked tirelessly to build a mountain of evidence against Whittaker – including carrying out a number of out of force enquiries to help strengthen the case.

Alongside this, DC Grieves has also been supporting and updating the victim throughout the process – alongside her Independent Sexual Violence Adviser, known as a ISVA.

While awaiting trial, Whittaker committed a further offence by asking a member of his family to contact the victim and try to persuade her to not attend the trial. This led to him being charged with perverting the course of justice.

DC Grieves said:

“Whittaker’s victim felt scared, isolated and was subjected to physical and sexual abuse. She had made reports to police on previous occasions but didn’t want to pursue any further for fear of what he would do.

“In January this year, she did then make an online report which led to the full details of what had occurred coming to light. The courage and strength the victim has shown during the investigation and the court process has been truly incredible.

“This case really has been a team effort. From the officer who attended the initial report, to the arrest, charge and remand of Whittaker and the building of the case ahead of trial. This is a shining example of numerous officers from not only different departments in Leicestershire but also other forces who have work together – striving to ensure justice is served.

“I hope, now he is serving a considerable time behind bars, the victim can begin to put the pain she has endured behind her and move forward with her life.

“I also hope this case offers some reassurance to other people who may be in a similar situation. Please don’t be afraid to come forward if you are suffering or have suffered abuse before. We have specialist teams who deal with both domestic abuse and sexual offences who can help and also ensure you get the right support from other agencies.”

Description

A child rapist’s despicable offending was exposed when officers went through his phone.

Carl Andrews put himself on the police’s radar after uploading indecent images of children online.

When confronted with this, Andrews admitted to owning the images, but denied doing anything else.

Not buying this, officers reviewed all his devices and discovered videos of him sexually abusing young children.

Both the victims – a boy and a girl – are believed to have been targeted during 2022 by Andrews in Nottinghamshire.

Distinctive tattoos on Andrews’ hands that were visible in the videos were used by police to link him to those crimes.

More than 1,400 indecent photos and videos of children were also discovered on the sexual predator’s phone and other devices.

He would go on to be charged with a range of child sex offences.

This included rape, inciting someone to engage in sexual activity, assault by touching and three counts of making indecent images of children.

Faced with the damning evidence against him, Andrews elected to plead guilty to the six separate counts on 18 July this year.

He returned to Nottingham Crown Court to be sentenced on Wednesday (3 September).

Andrews, of Charles Street, Arnold, was handed an extended sentence of 13 years in jail.

He was also put on the sex offenders’ register for life, made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order and issued with a restraining order banning him from ever contacting his victims.

PC Laurenie Haynes, of Nottinghamshire Police’s Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said:

“The content we found on Carl Andrews’ devices was disgraceful and vile.

“Amongst the more than 1,400 indecent images of children were videos of Andrews himself sexually abusing and in one case raping young children.

“There are truly no words to describe how much of a heinous crime that is.

“We were able to prove it was him in the videos because of distinctive tattoos on him that were clearly visible in the clips.

“Thankfully, the evidence we gathered was sufficient to pressurise Andrews to admit what he’d done, so his victims and their families didn’t have to sit through a trial.

“Andrews is a despicable individual who belongs behind bars, so we’re pleased to see he’s now been jailed.

“Despite this, we believe there could be other victims out there, who may have been targeted by Andrews but haven’t felt able to report it yet.

“To them, we’d say please come forward. It doesn’t matter if it happened years and years ago, we will listen to you and investigate further.”

Description

An online sex offender who was caught trying to groom someone he believed to be a 13-year-old girl has been jailed.

Giampiero Franchi was actually speaking to an undercover police officer in a chat room when he engaged them in sexual communications on 9 July 2024.

When the incident was passed to Nottinghamshire Police they arrested the 70-year-old and seized his mobile phone and other devices.

A series of indecent photographs, including 18 of the most serious Category A images, depicting the most severe abuse, were discovered.

There was also evidence Franchi had previously incited young children to engage in sexual activity online.

When he was interviewed by officers Franchi admitted he ‘needed help’.

Franchi, of Kingswood Road, Nottingham, pleaded guilty to inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity, three counts of making indecent images of children, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and possessing an extreme pornographic image.

At Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday (14 August) he was jailed for a total of five years. He was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and must sign on the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely.

Police Constable Summer Smith, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:

“Franchi thought he was talking to a young girl but was actually in conversation with a police officer.

“When the case was taken on by our detectives we uncovered the extent of his offending.

“Behind the disgusting images on his devices are real children who have been subjected to degrading abuse.

“Protecting children is of paramount importance to the force and we have teams of officers working on cases like this to protect victims and bring offenders to justice.

“I hope this case also serves as a warning to other parents about the danger people like Franchi can pose to their children via the internet.”

Description

A 31-year-old man from Nottingham has been given a one year prison sentence after sexually assaulting a young woman.

Following a British Transport Police investigation, Steven Ross, DOB 1/5/1994 of no fixed address was found guilty following a trial on Tuesday 15 April and sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on Wednesday 30 July.

He was handed a 12 month prison sentence, on the sex offenders register for 10 years and a five year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) alongside paying victim surcharge of £187.

The SHPO prohibits Ross from entering any railway station in UK except for the purpose of travelling with a valid ticket and cannot be in possession or drinking from any open alcohol in any unlicensed premises.

The court heard how on Sunday 16 June a 25-year-old woman was waiting for her train at Kettering railway station when she saw Ross staring at her, they boarded the same train and he continued to look at her.

On arriving at Leicester station, the young woman waited before exiting the train hoping that Ross would have already left the service. He had not, Ross moved close to her in the vestibule on the train, making her feel uncomfortable.

He then sexually assaulted her.

As he left the train he continued to keep looking back at her.

Ross was identified by rail staff and officers were able to arrest him.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Alex Price from Nottingham CID said:

"This was a totally unprovoked assault on the victim who was going about her life, the manner in which Ross watched her and waited in order to assault her is calculated and utterly disgusting

"The Sexual Harm Prevention Order should act as a warning to others that we take all reports of sexual offences and unwanted seriously and  unwanted sexual behaviour seriously and will support victims throughout our investigations."

Description

Detectives have praised the strength of a rape survivor for helping lock up the man who abused her.

The woman was subjected to a series of terrifying ordeals at the hands of Ashley Chambers last December.

She was raped by Chambers at a Nottinghamshire address on two separate occasions during the month.

The 38-year-old then attacked the same woman again – this time threatening her with knives and a pair of scissors.

This escalated to the extent that Chambers’ victim lost consciousness when he decided to assault and then strangle her.

She eventually regained consciousness and managed to escape the address by jumping out a window, before going to seek help.

The police were then notified, with officers arriving at the address soon after and leading Chambers away in handcuffs.  

Based on the victim’s brave decision to disclose what happened to her, a series of charges were brought against Chambers.

He went on to plead guilty to two counts of rape, intentional strangulation, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and threatening a person with an offensive weapon.

Appearing before Nottingham Crown Court on Friday (8 August), Chambers, of Ilkeston Road, Stapleford, was jailed for 12 years.

He was also made subject of an indefinite restraining order, banning him from having any contact with the victim.

Detective Constable Jessica Ratcliffe, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:

“I’d like to firstly praise the victim in this case, whose brave decision to share her experiences helped put Ashley Chambers behind bars.

“After going through such a horrific ordeal, she deserves so much credit for doing what she’s done since then.

“In stark contrast to her strength, Chambers showed himself to be a complete coward, with his despicable behaviour rightly seeing him sent to prison.

“While no amount of time will ever make up for the pain he caused, we were really pleased to see the judge impose such a significant sentence, which we hope will provide the victim with some small degree of comfort.”

Description

A sex offender inadvertently revealed his illicit activities to police after reporting an apparent attempt to blackmail him.

Andrew Mayfield called Nottinghamshire Police on 16 September last year after receiving a message via social media accusing him of exchanging explicit messages with a teenage boy.

When officers arrived at his house, Mayfield handed over his mobile phone and displayed a series of messages and images, some of which had been deleted in a failed bid to avoid incriminating himself.

After his arrest on suspicion of engaging in sexual communication with a child, Mayfield’s phone was forensically examined and was found to contain multiple indecent images of children.

Mayfield was interviewed and released on conditional bail, with clear instructions not to have contact with anyone under the age of 18.

Despite this condition, he then began exchanging explicit messages with a person he believed to be a teenage boy.

In reality, he was exchanging messages with members of an online activist group, who confronted him at his home on 5 November and called Nottinghamshire Police.

His phone was later found to contain a series of sexually explicit messages to a boy who – despite not giving his age - told Mayfield he was still at school.

Despite this experience Mayfield then committed an almost identical offence with another decoy he believed to be a 14-year-old – an offence that led him to be arrested for a third time.

Mayfield, now aged 50, was remanded into custody and later charged with multiple sexual offences.

He later pleaded guilty to three counts of making an indecent photograph of a child and two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Wednesday via video link from prison, Mayfield, formerly of Farnsfield, was jailed for 20 months.

He was also added to the sex offenders register and made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order which will tightly restrict his online activities and access to children in the future.

Mayfield, the court was told, rarely left his home and had been driven to commit the offences by his loneliness and mental ill-health.

Detective Sergeant Adam Taylor, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:

“For obvious reasons most of the people we deal with try very hard not to have any contact with the police.

“Mayfield is unusual in that he made the decision to call us claiming to be the victim of a crime.

“In doing so he inadvertently handed over damning evidence of his illegal online activities.

“Seemingly unphased by this first arrest, he then went on to commit two other serious sexual offences before he was remanded into custody.

“I am pleased he has now been held to account for his actions and hope this case serves as a warning to others about the potential consequences this kind of behaviour.

“Because we will find out about it, we will investigate and we will put you before the courts.”

Description

A rapist has been jailed thanks to vital forensic evidence obtained more than a year before police were informed of his crime. 

The victim, a young woman studying in Nottingham, was raped by an acquaintance after a night out in March 2019.

When she initially decided not to tell the police she was advised by a friend to visit Nottingham’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre.

The SARC, an independent specialised medical clinic designed to secure evidentially sound forensic evidence, was then able to release its findings once a criminal complaint was made in November 2020.

The evidence, which clearly indicated intimate contact between the victim and her assailant, proved vital when he denied that any sexual contact took place.

After a four-day trial at Mansfield Magistrates Court in December, Michael Gibson was found guilty of rape. 

The jury heard how Gibson, now aged 26, had shared a room and a bed with the victim after missing his bus home.

She later awoke to find him committing the offence.

The victim initially approached Nottinghamshire Police five days after the incident but said she did not want to take the matter further.

With vital forensic evidence secured, however, she was able to successfully reengage with officers the following year.

That evidence, contained on clothing worn by the victim, was presented to prosecutors alongside Gibson’s denial of sexual contact and a series of mobile phone messages in which he apologised to the victim

Appearing at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Friday July 18, Gibson, of HMP Nottingham, was jailed for six-and-a-half years. 

Detective Sergeant Emma Steele, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:

“Like many victims of rape and sexual assault, the victim in this case was initially reluctant to involve the police or support a prosecution. 

“While we’d always encourage people to engage with us at the earliest opportunity, she did exactly the right thing in visiting the SARC on the day after the incident and ensuring that vital forensic evidence was secured.

“Had she not done that then it is highly unlikely that this prosecution would have succeeded.

“It is then important for all victims to know that they can attend the SARC without involving the police.

“They will provide you with support and advice, as well as obtaining valuable evidence which can be stored for two years in the event you wish to the report the matter at a later date. 

“In this case that allowed us to successfully prosecute a case we first knew of 18 months after it happened.

“As this case comes to a close I remain full of admiration for the victim and the determination she has shown, and hope this result encourages others to come forward and tell us what’s happened to them.”