Latest Offenders Oxford

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Following a Thames Valley Police investigation, a man has been jailed in connection with a rape in Oxford city centre in 2014.

Salam Karis, aged 35, has been sentenced to 13 years in prison following a hearing at Oxford Crown Court.

Karis was also issued with an indefinite restraining order preventing any direct or indirect contact with the victim. He will also be on the sex offender register for life.

He was previously found guilty of three counts of rape following a trial at the same court.

Karis raped a young woman, who was visiting friends in Oxford for a night out, in Oxford city centre in 2014.

Officers from Oxford’s CID department conducted a thorough investigation at the time and identified Karis as a suspect.

He was arrested on the same day of the offence and charged, following which he was brought before the courts who released him on bail and Karis fled the country.

Thames Valley Police ensured his Fail to Appear warrant was re-issued, so when he did re-enter the country in Kent in July last year, he was arrested.

Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Pete Warne said:

“This was an appalling attack by Karis, and I am pleased that he has finally faced justice after fleeing the country.

“This conviction demonstrates our determination to pursue offenders, regardless of how much time has elapsed, and shows that attempts to evade justice will not succeed.

“We pay tribute to the victim, whose courage and resilience in continuing to support the investigation and give evidence in court has been instrumental in securing this conviction.”

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Following an investigation by Thames Valley Police, a man has been jailed for rape and sexual assault offences carried out across more than two decades.

Shaun Smith, aged 47, of Bernwood Road in Barton, Oxfordshire, was jailed for 18 years at Oxford Crown Court today (29/4).

He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life and has been issued with restraining orders for each of his victims.

Smith was arrested in March 2017 and again in December 2022. Following a thorough police investigation he was charged on October 18 2024.

Smith had originally pleaded not guilty to one count of rape, one count of sexual assault and two counts of assault by penetration. Following a two week trial at Oxford Crown Court, a jury found him guilty of all offences on Wednesday 1 April.

The jury heard how Smith had raped a teenager in Oxford in 2000, had sexually assaulted a woman in her twenties in Hastings in 2012 and had sexually assaulted two women in their thirties in Oxford in 2017 and again in 2022. On each occasion the women were asleep and not able to consent to what was happening.

Investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Chris Bennett, of Oxfordshire’s Criminal Investigation Department, said:

“I would like to commend the incredible bravery of the women involved in this case. Without their determination, courage and support we may never have known about Smith’s offending and it would have been much harder to bring him to justice. This result today is a testament to them and while it can never undo what has happened, I hope it helps them gain some kind of closure and allow them to move forward with their lives.    

“Smith has proven himself to be a serial sex offender who preys on women while they are asleep and at their most vulnerable, unable to consent. Cases like this are the reason I became an officer and being able to bring dangerous predators like Smith to justice makes me proud to be a detective. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to everyone here at Thames Valley Police who worked incredibly hard to help put Smith behind bars where he cannot harm anyone else.

“I hope that this case shows how seriously we take all reports of rape and sexual offences, no matter when they occurred. My plea today to anyone who has been affected by rape or any sexual offence is to please tell us. You can contact us via our website or call 101 where you can speak to specialist officers in confidence. There are also a range of other services available that can offer you support.”

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Following an investigation by our Major Crime Unit, a man has pleaded guilty to kidnap, rape and sexual assault following incidents in Wantage and Grove.

Najeebullah Arab, aged 39, of Mayfield Avenue, Grove, today (12/3) pleaded guilty to one count each of kidnap and rape and two counts each of sexual assault following a hearing at Oxford Crown Court.

On Wednesday 21 January this year, a woman in her late twenties was approached by Arab on Cane Lane, Grove, who followed her to Main Street and sexually assaulted her.

On Tuesday 27 January, a woman in her late teens was approached by Arab who was riding a bicycle on Grove Road.

After speaking briefly with her, he sexually assaulted her, and then took her towards an area behind Mably Way, where he raped her. 

Arab was arrested on Friday 30 January and was charged on Sunday 1 February. Arab is an Afghan national. He did not self-define his ethnicity when he came into police custody.

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Stuart May said:

“Firstly, I want to acknowledge the victims in this case for the incredible courage they’ve shown in coming forward.

“Thames Valley Police take reports of sexual offences extremely seriously, especially those involving violence against women and girls.

“Our officers are committed to carrying out thorough investigations, supporting victims every step of the way, and working closely with our partners to help prevent further harm.

“The guilty plea in this case is a clear reflection of the strength and thoroughness of the evidence gathered by our officers in relation to these offences. Faced with the weight of that evidence, he had no option but to admit what he had done.

“We remain absolutely committed to protecting the public and ensuring offenders like Arab are brought to justice.”

Najeebullah Arab will be sentenced at a later date to be determined by the Court.

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An Oxford judge has urged a man jailed for breaching court orders to "get on with his life."

Benjaman Johnson, 31, of Abingdon Road, Oxford, was sentenced on February 17 at Oxford Crown Court after pleading guilty to failing to comply with sex offenders' register requirements and breaching his sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard Johnson was released from prison on January 14 this year. Five days later, on January 19, his offender manager discovered a Samsung phone used in incognito mode—a breach of the order—and an unreported bank card, leading to his arrest.

Johnson admitted the breaches in a police interview. He has two prior convictions for five offenses, including sexual communication with a child and attempting to meet a girl under 16, plus a previous breach of his sexual harm prevention order.

Prosecutor Alexandra Bushell said: "This was a very serious breach, it was deliberate."

Defense counsel Gareth James noted: "He was using incognito mode. That does pose a serious risk as police didn't know what he was doing with the phone." He added concerns about Johnson's mental health, accepting "there is little alternative open to the court" and that "he does not seem to be suitable for provisions in the community."

Judge Michael Gledhill KC said: "You've had difficulties in your childhood and early adult life. When you appeared at Swindon Crown Court, you pleaded guilty to two very serious offences. They were trying to communicate with a child for sexual purposes and attempting to meet a child. That judge gave you a chance, but it wasn't long before you breached that chance."

The judge continued: "You were released from prison on January 14 this year and you were well aware of the sexual harm prevention order. Five days later your offender manager arrived and discovered you were using incognito mode. In these circumstances, you were arrested. This was a serious breach and it was deliberate. We don't know what you were accessing in incognito mode."

Johnson was jailed for 12 months, with his phone ordered deprived.

Judge Gledhill added: "You're now 31, you can't go on like this. You need to get on with your life and not come back before the courts."

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A sex offender with a "deplorable" criminal record has been jailed for volunteering at a shop near a primary school.

Anthony Cox, 62, of Cote Road, Aston, Bampton, was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on February 17 after pleading guilty to three counts of breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

Between November 2024 and April 2025, Cox deleted his internet history from a laptop at least 20 times and downloaded forensic software. On January 19, 2026, he failed to provide a laptop for inspection and undertook voluntary work that put him in contact with children under 16.

In March 2025, police seized his laptop during an unannounced visit; Cox admitted deleting history after viewing images of children in swimwear.

In January 2026, police found a hidden laptop and learned of his shop work, where he served a child under 16. The shop was near a primary school frequented by pupils.

In interview, Cox called the order "confusing." He has 31 prior convictions for 68 offences.

Mitigating, Nick Cotter said: "My client accepts the inevitability of an immediate custodial sentence today."

Judge Michael Gledhill KC said: "Your criminal record is deplorable."

Cox was jailed for 12 months.

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A man has been found guilty of numerous sexual offences against a woman, including raping her while she was sleeping.

Following a trial by jury at Swindon Crown Court, Daniel Smith, 45, of Ladywell Close, North Leigh, Oxfordshire, was convicted of rape, sexual assault and breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

He has been remanded into custody and is due to be sentenced in January.

On November 4, 2023, Smith raped the victim – a woman in her 30s who was known to him – inside a property in Highworth while she was sleeping.

On December 9, 2023, Smith again targeted the victim, climbing into the same bed with her against her consent and groping her.

The offences were reported to the police on December 18, 2023, and Smith was arrested the same day.

He was subsequently charged with the offences, as well as for breaching the conditions of his SHPO.

Smith pleaded not guilty to the offences, forcing the victim to relive the experiences in a trial in front of a jury, but was found guilty today.

Investigating officer DC Hemns said:

“Firstly, I’d like to commend the victim for the bravery she has shown throughout this investigation.

“It has been a lengthy process to get to this point but she has always remained supportive of the prosecution and has stayed strong, even when Smith required her to relive the trauma of the sexual offences in court under cross examination.

“I hope that after two years, today’s verdict can give her the chance to start to heal and move forward, without this still overshadowing her everyday life.”

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Following a Thames Valley Police investigation, a man has been jailed for raping a woman in Banbury.

Faris Bashir Mohammed Suleiman, aged 19, of Windrush, Banbury, was sentenced to six years in prison, with a four-year extended licence, at Oxford Crown Court today (24/10).

A jury found Suleiman guilty by majority verdict of one count of rape of a female aged 16 years and over on 22 September following a six-day trial.

On Sunday 30 March this year, a woman in her late teens was in the town centre when she left a nightclub with Suleiman sometime between 3am and 3.20am.

However, Suleiman lured her to a secluded area of People’s Park, where he raped her.

The victim remained with Suleiman out of fear and they both re-entered the town centre, where she searched for her friends and told them what happened.

Police were informed shortly afterwards and officers stopped Suleiman as he matched the description of the offender that was given by the victim.

Suleiman was charged the following day, 31 March this year, and remanded in custody.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Gemma Kerby said:

“Faris Sulieman preyed on a vulnerable victim on a night out with her friends and raped her, which has had an unimaginable impact on her.

“I would like to thank the victim and witnesses for their support and engagement during the investigation.

“I hope that the victim can continue on the road to recovery knowing that Suleiman has been found guilty and jailed as a result of his actions.

“We will always work relentlessly to bring those who cause harm to others to justice and we encourage any sexual offence victims to report what’s happened to police.”

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Police have released an image of a homeless sex offender jailed for breaching court orders.

Steve James, of no fixed abode, failed to inform police of his whereabouts in breach of a court order to do so every seven days.

James, 30, was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Monday, October 13.

He pleaded guilty to the breach.

James was first convicted in 2017 and placed on the sex offenders register.

He then breached his order four times in 2020 and in 2021, he was convicted for using violence to enter a property in Botley Road where there was someone present who opposed his entry.

In 2022, he failed to comply with notification requirements before the breaches in December last year.

His charges also put him in breach of a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, issued on October 30, 2023.

In 2024, he was jailed for 36 weeks for a further breach.

On the most recent occasion, the court heard he found himself homeless on May 4, and would have had to notify police of this on May 11.

However he didn't do that and was next found outside a pub in Margate, Kent, on June 6.

The court heard he admitted the offence in police interview.

In mitigation, it was heard that James had become an 'avid reader' in custody and had ambitions to become a personal trainer.

James was jailed for 12 months.

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An image of sex offender David King, 63, of The Street, Crowmarsh Gifford, has been released after he was jailed for 22 months at Oxford Crown Court on Friday, October 3.

King pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to comply with notification requirements and one count of breaching a sexual offences prevention order. He was also ordered to pay a £187 victim surcharge.

In 2021, he was jailed for 16 months for similar breaches.

King was previously sentenced to a decade in prison in 2010 at Reading Crown Court for nine rapes, plus another five years in 2011 for raping a six-year-old girl in the 1970s.

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Police have released a photo of Zeeshan Sheikh, 32, of Cornwallis Road, Oxford, who was jailed for raping an unconscious woman.

Sheikh was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Monday, September 29, after pleading guilty to one count of rape and one count of sexual assault. His earlier attempt to change his plea was refused.

The court heard that Sheikh raped the woman on Sunday, January 5, at an unnamed women's refuge in Oxford, where he had been invited by a friend of the victim to celebrate the new year. All rooms at the refuge are covered by CCTV, which captured the incident.

A victim personal statement read in court said: "When I was told I was sexually assaulted, I didn't know what to feel. I felt really upset, I was extremely shocked and scared.

"I had no knowledge of it occurring. I became really depressed. My lack of sleep is affecting me and adding to my state of depression.

"I'm apprehensive about meeting new people."

The statement added: "I feel emotionally broken. Simple things I once enjoyed no longer bring me happiness. My confidence has been shattered.

"I have frequent panic attacks and I'm always on edge. The brutal attack has left me in constant fear."

Sheikh was jailed for 83 months, must comply with notification requirements for life, and received a restraining order prohibiting contact with the victim until further order.

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Following an investigation by Thames Valley Police, a man has been jailed in connection with non-recent child sex offences in Oxfordshire.

David Kuca, aged 80, of New Road in Didcot, was found guilty by a jury of three counts of indecent assault on a girl, two counts of sexual assault of a child, one count of causing a child to watch a sexual act and two counts of making indecent photographs of children.

During a trial in May which lasted for 16 days at Oxford Crown Court, the jury heard how Kuca had sexually abused two young children in South Oxfordshire on numerous occasions between 1995 and 2001 and 2013 and 2017. Kuca was arrested on 5 December 2022 and indecent images of children were found on computers which were seized from him. He was charged with numerous child sex offences on 5 March 2024, following a comprehensive police investigation.

The jury found him guilty on 21 May this year and he returned to the same court on Tuesday (2/9), where he was sentenced to 12 years in prison, comprising of 11 years in custody with a one year extension on licence. He has also been served with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order to last for 15 years, and an indefinite restraining order in relation to the two victims.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Sophie Holliss, of the Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said:

“I sincerely hope that this sentence brings some closure to the two victims involved in this case, following an extremely complex and lengthy investigation.

“I would like to thank both the victims and witnesses in this case who have shown immense bravery, not only in coming forward to report what happened to them, but also throughout the court process where they were required to give evidence.

“Nothing can change what they have been through, but I hope that the victims in this case are now able to begin moving forward with their lives and heal from what has happened.

“I hope that this case shows that we will take all reports of sexual abuse seriously, no matter when it happened or how much time has passed. I would encourage any victim of a sexual offence to contact Thames Valley Police with the confidence that they will be listened to, and that we will do everything we can to bring those responsible to justice.”

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Following a Thames Valley Police investigation, a man has been convicted of rape and other sexual offences.

Darren Brassington was found guilty of two counts of rape of a female and one count of assault by penetration following a trial at Oxford Crown Court which concluded on Thursday (28/8).

The 47-year-old of Queens Road, Carterton, has since been remanded in custody and is set to appear at Oxford Crown Court on Wednesday 29 October where he will be sentenced.

During the trial, the court heard how Brassington violently raped and sexually abused the victim who he had groomed and coerced through fear of violence.

He was arrested on Sunday 16 February this year and charged on Tuesday 18 February.

Despite pleading not guilty, the jury found Brassington guilty on all counts following a 7-day trial.

Following the verdict, Detective Sergeant Matt Richardson from the Domestic Abuse Investigation Unit said: “Brassington was found guilty today by unanimous verdict for two counts of rape and two counts of sexual assault be penetration at Oxford Crown Court.

“On Friday 14 February 2025, he violently raped and sexually abused the victim, a young woman who he had groomed and coerced through fear of violence into having contact with him only a month prior.

“Brassington will be held on remand until sentencing at Oxford Crown Court on Wednesday 29 October 2025.

“The victim in this case has been incredibly brave, without her support I have no doubt that Brassington would have continued to pose a risk to any female who had the misfortune of coming into contact with him. I am very grateful for her unwavering support throughout this case.”

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Police have released an image of an offender who has been jailed for multiple breaches of a sexual harm prevention order. 

Benjamin Robinson, 52, of Ock Street, Abingdon, pleaded guilty to three breaches ahead of his sentencing at Oxford Crown Court on Tuesday, August 5. 

The court heard he downloaded an app called Kik, deleted the history of chats on a Kik account and used an alias while using the internet, namely 'ukdad73', between May 19 and June 23. 

He was jailed for two years and a sexual harm prevention order was imposed.

He will also be on the sex offenders' register for 10 years and there was a deprivation order for his iPhone. 

Robinson was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £187.

An existing community order was revoked. 

The sexual harm prevention order he breached was imposed in 2023 when it was heard was caught chatting to ‘children’ using the same social media usernames that saw him hauled before the courts in 2019.

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Following a Thames Valley Police investigation, a man has been jailed for two rapes, an assault by penetration and drug-dealing in Wantage. 

Dylan Sims, aged 21, of St Marys, Wantage, was sentenced to nine years and six months’ imprisonment, with a further three years and six months on an extended license, at Oxford Crown Court today (24/6).

A jury unanimously found Sims guilty of two counts of rape and one count of assault by penetration at the same court on 8 May this year, after a seven-day trial. The jury also unanimously found Sims not guilty of a third count of rape.

Sims pleaded guilty to one count each of being concerned in supplying a controlled drug of classes A and B, namely cocaine and cannabis, and supplying a controlled drug of class A to another, namely cocaine, at the same court in May last year.

In October 2022, a 17-year-old girl and a woman told police about Sims’ sexual offences and cocaine and cannabis dealing, all of which was committed in Wantage from 2021 to 2022.

Sims was arrested on 14 October 2022, and charged on 22 February last year.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Jennifer Gibbons said: "I am pleased with the sentence given out to Dylan Sims, one that fits his abhorrent crimes.

“Sims has never shown any remorse for his actions; he lied in his police interviews and denied the offences, even when faced with overwhelming evidence.

“Sims later changed his account at court – admitting drug offences but denying rape.

“Thankfully, the jury was able to see through this and after only four hours deliberation, found him guilty of two rapes and a sexual assault by penetration.

“I would like to thank both victims for their courage coming to police, as well as all the witnesses who came forward and supported the investigation.

“I hope this conviction gives those who have been affected by sexual offending the confidence to stand up and know they will be listened to. This conviction highlights not only our commitment to tackling these crimes, but also our commitment to support violence against women and girls, as well as all victims of sexual violence.”

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Following an investigation by Thames Valley Police, a man has been jailed for sexual offences in West Oxfordshire.

Lee Butcher, aged 27, of Barrington Close, Witney, was convicted of a count each of knowingly/recklessly trespassing on a premises with intent to commit a sexual offence and sexual assault on a female, following a trial at Oxford Crown Court.

Butcher initially pleaded not guilty to the offences, but changed his plea to guilty on day three of the trial on Monday (9/6).

He was subsequently sentenced to three years’ imprisonment and he will be required to comply with notification requirements as a registered sex offender.

In the early morning of 10 August 2024, Butcher entered the victim’s home address via a kitchen window in West Oxfordshire.

He then went upstairs to the victim’s bedroom and sexually assaulted her, before leaving.

He was arrested and charged on the same day.

Investigating officer Detective Constable George Hill said: “Butcher made his way into an address via a downstairs window before going on to sexually assault his victim in a place she should have felt safe.

“There is absolutely no excuse for his behaviour, and I am pleased he eventually changed his plea to guilty and has now been sentenced to prison as a result.

“This kind of abuse is never acceptable and I hope that this custodial sentence shows that we listen and investigate fully, taking every action possible to safeguard victims.

“I would encourage any victims of assault and abuse to come forward and report this. You will be listened to and supported and we will seek to put offenders before the courts.”