Latest Offenders Portsmouth

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A Portsmouth man has been jailed for 13 years after being convicted of raping a child.

Paul Deacon, 67, was found guilty following a trial of a string of non-recent sexual offences against a young girl between the ages of 8 and 15. Some of the offences dated back to more than 20 years ago.

Deacon denied one count of rape, five counts of indecent assault, one count of gross indecency and one count of inciting a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity.

Following a trial this month at Portsmouth Crown Court, Deacon was convicted on all charges.

He was sentenced at the same court yesterday (25 August), when he was jailed for 13 years.

Speaking after the case Detective Constable Graham Skull, of Hampshire Constabulary’s specialist Operation Amberstone team, said: "Paul Deacon is a sexual predator who forced himself on an innocent young girl on multiple occasions.

"I would like to commend the victim for her bravery and courage in coming to us to report her ordeal and help secure the guilty verdict against this despicable man.

"I hope she finds some comfort in knowing the man who attacked her will now be behind bars for many years.

"This sentence shows our commitment to bringing sexual offenders like Deacon to justice. I hope results like this continue to encourage victims to come forward and report crimes to us."

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A RAPIST who abused a woman and kept sick recordings of the assault on his phone has been jailed for more than a decade.

Sick Stuart Lionel Cosgrave, of Fyning Street, Landport, in Portsmouth carried out his sick attack on a woman in 2018.

The 48-year-old targeted a woman, who was known to Cosgrave.

The victim had initially reported Cosgrave to police for other offences which included burglary and harassment.

Cosgrave was arrested at the time and two mobile phones were seized from him.

However, when detectives examined the phones they found a number of videos on them that showed what appeared to be a series of sexual assaults.

Identification enquiries were carried out by officers and confirmation provided by the victim that she was the person in the footage.

Cosgrave was subsequently charged with the offences assaulting a female 13 and over by penetration with part of body/a thing and the rape of a woman 16 years of age and over.

He pleaded guilty to both accounts and has now been jailed for 10-and-a-half years, with an additional five-year license period.

In a joint statement Detective Constable Vicki Bousfield and Detective Sergeant Beth Marshall, who led the investigation, praised the victim for coming forward.

Without her courage we would not have secured this conviction and sentence today, they said. We hope that this result has provided her with some element of closure, knowing that Cosgrave will now serve a long time in prison as a result of his actions.

The detectives added: We hope that this sentence also sends a message to anyone who has been the victim of sexual assault and rape that you can report it to us and we will take it seriously, no matter how much time has passed.

We take allegations of sexual offences incredibly seriously, and do everything in our power to support victims and bring perpetrators to justice. We also work closely with a number of support agencies who provide specialist help to those who need it.

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Samuel Belstone, 29, of Copnor Road, was sentenced in Portsmouth Crown Court today (May 9), after being found guilty to two counts of rape following the incident last year.

The court heard that in the early hours of Saturday, October 9, following a night out in the city centre, the victim, now 23, had been raped by a man she didnt know in an outdoor area she was not familiar with.

This was reported to police at 8.30am on the same morning and an investigation was launched by specialist officers.

Following CCTV enquiries and forensic analysis, Belstone was arrested and charged with two counts of rape.

Detective Sergeant Claire Ratcliffe, of Hampshire Constabularys specialist rape unit operation amberstone, said: First and foremost, we would like to commend the bravery and courage of the victim in this case. We know how incredibly difficult it can be to report crimes of this nature and this has understandably been a traumatic time for the lady involved, who has been supported by specialist officers at every stage of the investigation.

I hope that todays sentence will give her some closure and help her to begin moving forward in her life.

Portsmouth Superintendent and District Commander Clare Jenkins added: We have been upping our patrols at key times around our bars and clubs, as well as working with licensed premises within the city around how they safeguard their customers, with all venues having been offered welfare and vulnerability training. This is so that staff are able to identify potentially vulnerable people and how to properly safeguard them.

The training encourages premises to adopt safe areas and encourage the use of welfare officers, as well as ensuring that people feel they can easily report an incident to staff.

If youve been a victim, please report rape or sexual assault as soon as possible. Even if youre not 100 per cent sure, wed sooner hear from you so that we can make sure youre safe.

You can find out more about the support available to victims of sexual offences here at hampshire.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/rsa/rape-and-sexual-assault/support-for-victims-of-rape-and-sexual-assault.

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A DISGUSTING pervert who exposed himself to a female jogger at a popular beauty spot is facing jail for his grubby antics after a successful campaign to hunt him down.

Sexual deviant Leslie Croucher, 53, exposed himself to the shocked woman at Southsea Rock Gardens on April 4 sparking a frantic search to locate the seedy criminal.

Croucher, of Baythorn Close, Buckland, was subsequently located a day after the police appeal later in the month but denied any wrongdoing with a trial date listed.

However, at the start of his trial at Portsmouth Crown Court today Croucher admitted a charge of exposure representing a triumph for the police and the female who was subjected to the ordeal.

The court heard how Croucher had rubbed his hand up and down during the exposure that left the jogger shocked on a sunny Sunday morning.

No contact was made with the woman, who was not injured during the incident, police previously said.

The incident sparked the woman to post on Facebook about her ordeal in order to warn others, sparking concern in the community.

Hugh French, defending, said: It happened in an open area where families often go and walk. It was aimed at (the victim).

Crouchers failure to admit the offence meant the woman had to attend court as a witness before she was no longer needed after the guilty plea was entered.

Judge, Recorder Adam Feest QC, thanked the victim for her help to bring Croucher, who has a previous flashing conviction to his name, before the court.

Croucher will now be placed on the sex offenders register ahead of his sentence on March 10 to allow probation to complete a pre-sentence report on him.

Recorder Feest told Croucher: I will look at all options (including jail) and make no promises with the sentence. My priority concern is to protect the public.

Because of your plea you have to sign the sex offenders register. If you fail to do so it is a separate offence.

How long you are on the register depends on the sentence.

The victim, speaking after Crouchers court appearance, said: I just want to put it behind me now.

Police, in their appeal to find Croucher, said last April: At 10am, a man indecently exposed himself to a woman jogging past Southsea Rock Gardens.

No contact was made with the woman and she wasnt hurt.

Officers have followed a number of lines of enquiry and are now turning to the public for help.

Croucher will now be sentenced at Salisbury Crown Court next month. He was granted unconditional bail.

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A Portsmouth man has been sentenced to 28 years in prison for a number of non-recent child sex offences spanning several decades.

Anthony Plummer, 71, of Clydebank Road, Portsmouth, appeared before Portsmouth Crown Court on Friday (14 January) following a trial at the same court in November.

On Friday 3 December 2021 a jury found Plummer guilty of:

- Two counts of rape

- Two counts of attempted rape

- Two counts of causing/inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity

- Three counts of assault by penetration

- Two counts of sexual assault

- Two counts of indecent assault.

During the trial, the court heard how Plummer abused four girls aged between 9 and 16 across several years, with his first offence taking place in 1978 and the final reported offence taking place in 2009.

In 2019 one of Plummer’s victims contacted police, prompting three further victims to do the same and a thorough investigation followed which lead to Plummer being arrested and charged.

Plummer pleaded not guilty to all offences, but was found guilty by a jury and has now been sentenced to 28 years in prison with a two year license extension following this.

Sentencing, Judge David Melville QC said that no-body could fail to be moved by the impact statements of the victims, which were bravely read out in court.

He added that Plummer was a dangerous person and a predator.

DC Graham Skull, who led the investigation, said: “The victims in this case have been remarkably brave in coming forward to report these crimes and giving evidence in court about such a traumatic period of their young lives.

“They have had to live with the memory and effects of Plummer’s abuse for decades and the impact of that on their lives is almost inconceivable for those of us who have never experienced such abuse. I would like to commend them on their remarkable bravery and courage today, without which we would not have secured this result. We are pleased that the victims have now finally found justice having suffered the effects of this terrible abuse for decades.

“I hope that this sentence today shows that we will treat all reports of this nature with the utmost seriousness and investigate thoroughly, no matter when they occurred. I would like to appeal to anyone who has been affected by abuse of this type to come forward and talk to us, and be reassured that you don’t have to suffer in silence.”

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Officers investigating a sexual assault on London Road on Thursday evening (28 October) have charged a man.

Christopher Michael Spybey, 43, of no fixed abode, has been charged with sexual assault on a female and two counts of possession of a knife.

The charge comes after it was reported to us that between 7.30pm and 8.30pm on Thursday 28 October a man had approached a woman on London Road and sexually assaulted her. He also had a knife in his possession.

Spybey has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates Court tomorrow (Monday 1 November.)

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Officers investigating the rape of a 22-year-old woman in Portsmouth have charged a man.

Samuel Belstone, 29, of Copnor Road, Portsmouth, has been charged with two counts of rape and possession of a controlled Class B drug.

He was remanded into custody to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates Court today (Thursday 14 October).

This charge is in relation to an incident which happened in Portsmouth between 3am and 6am on Saturday 9 October.

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A man has been jailed for sexually assaulting two women at a party.

The incident happened in the early hours of Sunday 23 August last year, when 54-year-old Bryan Searle attended the get together at an address in the Portsmouth area.

Searle, who was drunk at the time, got into a hot tub at the party and sexually assaulted two women.

The incident was reported to police later that morning and Searle was arrested the same day.

Following an investigation, he was charged with two counts of sexual assault and one count of assault by penetration.

He admitted all three offences when he appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court on 17 September this year.

Appearing at the same court today (Friday 1 October), he was jailed for 25 and a half months.

DC Hannah Mosely said: “No one has the right to abuse another person, and as a police service we take all allegations of sexual offences extremely seriously.

“This kind of behaviour is simply not acceptable and there is no excuse for perpetrating it.

“Searle knew this, but chose to carry out these assaults anyway. I hope the outcome of this case sends a message to those who think they can get away with behaving in this manner that there is no place for it in society, and we will take action.”

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An 18-year-old man has been jailed for nine years for raping a woman he approached in a city centre.

Abdelarahman Saleh Adam was found guilty of attacking the 19-year-old victim in Portsmouth in the early hours of 20 September last year.

Police said Adam was one of two men who followed the woman after approaching her in Lake Road. Adam then raped the victim in Turner Road at 00:30 BST.

He was told he must serve at least two thirds of his sentence in custody.

Adam, of Gathorne Road, Wood Green, London, will also be placed on the sex offenders register.

Hampshire Constabulary said the judge Robert Bright QC had praised the victim for her courage during the trial.

Seven other people were arrested during the investigation - all were released without charge.

Portsmouth Chief Inspector Robert Mitchell said: "Stranger assaults of this nature are rare, and I hope the community feels reassured that when we receive these sorts of allegations, we will take them seriously and do everything in our power to bring those responsible to justice."

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A Portsmouth man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for sexually abusing a child and being found in possession of thousands of indecent images.

Stephen Newell, 48, of St Mary’s Road, London, came to officers’ attention as a Portsmouth resident when an online account linked to him uploaded an indecent image of a child to the internet earlier this year.

Our Internet Child Abuse Team subsequently carried out an investigation, which led to the seizure of a number of devices, including a laptop and mobile phones that had inappropriate content on them.

Our investigation revealed that Newell had also sexually abused a boy under the age of 13.

Newell was arrested in February this year and subsequently charged with two counts of taking indecent photographs of a child, one count of making indecent photographs of children, three counts of distributing/showing indecent photographs/indecent pseudo-photographs of a child/children, one count of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, two counts of assault of a child under 13 by penetration and three counts of sexual assault of a child under 13.

He pleaded guilty to all charges and appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court today (Friday 16 July) where he was sentenced to 14 years in prison.

Officer in charge of the case, DC Stephen Hill said: “The sexual abuse of children causes unfathomable damage, and I hope that this sentence provides some justice for the victim, who will continue to receive support from partner services.

“We take all reports of sexual assault extremely seriously, and will do everything in our power to bring those responsible to justice.

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The survivors of a horrific cycle of non-recent child sex abuse bravely confronted their abuser in court today (Wednesday 30 June), where he was branded a ‘conniving and exploitative serial paedophile’.

Mark Burgess, aged 68 years, of St Chads Avenue in Hilsea, was handed a 40 year sentence at Portsmouth Crown Court today after he was convicted of abusing children over a period of nearly four decades. He will serve a minimum of 21 years in jail before being considered for parole.

Following an investigation by Hampshire Constabulary’s Operation Marmion team, Burgess was charged with a raft of offences relating to 13 children, all of whom were under the age of 16 during his time as a choirmaster for the All Saints church choir in Portsmouth, and Westbourne Choir in Sussex between 1975 and 2009.

On 28 May this year, following a lengthy trial, he was convicted of the following offences:

• 26 counts of indecent assault
• 15 counts of gross indecency with a child
• 4 counts of buggery
• 1 count of attempted indecent assault
• 2 counts of sexual activity with a child

During the trial, which began on 15 March, Portsmouth Crown Court heard that Burgess had previously been a music teacher as well as a choir master, vocations which had brought him into contact with children time and again.

Burgess had taught at Portsmouth City Boys’ School and also ran choirs in St John’s church in Westbourne, Sussex, and All Saints church in Commercial Road in Portsmouth.

The court heard that, over the years, his attention became ‘fixed’ on a series of children. Burgess then took advantage of his positions in the school and choir settings in order to get closer to these children and draw them, and sometimes their families, into his trust.

These children were then sexually abused by Burgess, with assaults taking place during piano lessons at Burgess’s home address or in the church vestry, in Burgess’s car, on choir trips out of county, and in the school music room.

After decades of keeping this a secret, the children – all now adults – found the confidence to report this abuse to the police.

In emotive statements read out in court, the survivors told of the damage Burgess had inflicted on so many lives, with one describing his abuser as a ‘festering, rancid boil’.

Others spoke of how Burgess manipulated, groomed, charmed and bribed his way into their lives for his own sexual pleasure, and labelled him abhorrent, deplorable, calculating and despicable.

One survivor, now an adult woman, told how the abuse at Burgess’s hands had affected her passion for music. In a statement, she said: “This person helped me use my voice to make beautiful music, but I would become too ashamed to ever use it again.”

Another, who was abused at the age of 13, told the court: “You took a bright, naïve, funny, energetic child and you destroyed all of that in the most cynical and vile way.”

Speaking of finding his voice after all these years, he continued: “It has been a very difficult process, but I take courage and strength from the survivors here, and the love and support of my family.”

Passing sentence, His Honour Judge William Ashworth commended the survivors in this case for coming forward, and commented on the ‘dignity, restraint and stunning openness’ in which they spoke about their experiences.

Following the sentencing, Detective Inspector Adam Edwards said: “Burgess made a choice to exploit his position and manipulate certain scenarios that would give him the opportunity to carry out these heinous and evil acts.

“These were young children, and he deliberately preyed on their naivety for his own sordid agenda.

“He is now behind bars, where he belongs, for a very long time.

“The survivors in this case have shown an incredible amount of bravery and strength throughout this entire process, which has ensured that the cowardly man who sat in the dock can’t hurt another person again.

“Their courage is to be commended. I am pleased that justice has now been served and these brave individuals have had their voices heard after years of keeping this abuse secret.”

An NSPCC spokesperson said: “Burgess brutally abused his position of trust at the cruel expense of his victims’ wellbeing.

“This case shows that perpetrators of child abuse can be brought to justice, no matter how long ago or who they are, and we hope that this sentencing allows the survivors to move on with their lives.”

Operation Marmion is Hampshire Constabulary’s dedicated team who tackle non-recent child sex abuse perpetrated within an institution or by a person of prominence.

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A RUTHLESS paedophile who raped a girl and subjected her to other sexual assaults has been locked away for 11 years.

Fratton predator Daniel Cross, 22, left the girl psychologically damaged after taking gross advantage of her.

Cross, of Samuel Road, was jailed at Portsmouth Crown Court on Friday.

The child-groomer was locked up for a string of offences against a girl aged under the age of 13. These included rape, attempted rape, two counts of sexual assault, inciting a girl to engage in sex, and possessing three indecent category C images of the girl.

In the victims statement read out to court, the girl said she now struggled with every day life.

The girl said the episode had a severe impact on her schooling and personal life as she became withdrawn.

She said: I find it really hard to trust anyone now. It makes me wonder if people are telling the truth and mean what they say.

This has made making new friendships and relationships really hard. Im anxious around men now. If I find myself alone with a man I find myself trying to get out of the situation. It makes me feel unsafe.

The victims mum said she had been left struggling to cope after the bombshell discovery of what Cross had done to her daughter.

What he did haunts me to this day, she said.

It has had a catastrophic effect on my health both physically and mentally. I feel like its affecting every aspect of my life. It has been truly devastating.

I have been on a rollercoaster of emotions with shock the first emotion, which was crippling. I was unable to function.

I did not know how to be a mum any more...and this was one thing I had always considered to be natural at.

The mum went on to say she was consumed by harrowing guilt after failing her daughter. I knew I could never give her innocence back. My baby girl had been broken and I didnt know how to fix her, she said.

She added: I do not think I will ever be able to get over this. I really need the closure of justice.

Judge Timothy Mousley QC then served up justice on Cross who he called a groomer and someone who had limited insight into his offending which had caused serious psychological harm on the girl.

You took gross advantage of her, he said.

After being dumped behind bars for 11 years - which Cross will have to serve at least two-thirds of - the defendant was also told he will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the rest of his life.

He will also have to maintain in regular contact with police when he is released back into society.

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A PROLIFIC sexual offender travelled across the country from Hampshire in the hope of grooming what he thought was a 13-year-old girl, only to find out he had been stung by a vigilante group.

David Hodges made contact with what he thought was a youngster on Chat Avenue using the username Hubblebubble99, a court heard.

The decoy, from the group Confronted and Caught, made clear she was 13.

Hodges told the account she made him feel “tingly” and she said she “doesn’t know how to kiss and has no experience.”

Hodges proceeded to say he thought about touching her on her breasts and between her legs.

He went on to send her pictures of his genitals and videos of him engaged in sexual activity.

In one of the pictures sent a letter could be seen which revealed his identity and his address in Portsmouth.

He went on to arrange a visit to Oldham last month when he was told the girl’s father was working a night shift.

While there he was stung by the vigilantes and reported to the police.

He was found to have two mobile phones, which he was banned from having without permission from previous sexual harm prevention orders.

When taken to Ashton Police Station he made a full confession and admitted having a sexual interest in children.

He appeared at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court to be sentenced for sexual communication with a child, grooming and two breaches of a sexual harm prevention order.

Prosecutor Peter Malone revealed his previous convictions for sexual offences.

He said: “At Portsmouth Crown Court in July 2017 he was convicted of possession of indecent images of children, extreme pornography and prohibited images of children.

“In Cardiff Crown Court in May 2018 he admitted attempting to meet a girl under 16 following sexual grooming.”

He said he was jailed for more than two years for the second offence.

Representing the 57-year-old, defence counsel William Donnelly said his client was realistic in accepting a jail sentence was inevitable.

He read from a letter which Hodges had written to the judge, in which he said: “I am here for the abhorrent thoughts and actions that I have.

“I do want help, I can’t continue like this.

“I do not see myself as the victim, other people are the victims, I apologise to them.”

Imposing a sentence, judge Sophie McKone said his intentions were obvious.

She said: “You are determined to have sexual activity with a child.

“Your attempts have been thwarted until now.

“It seems no court order or prison sentence can deter you from your ultimate goal to have sexual activity with a real child.”

She jailed him for 40 months, but also ruled that after his release he must be subject to an extended period of licence for two years.

Hodges, whose address was given as Western Parade in Swansea, was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for life.

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Muhib Uddin attacked and raped a 19-year-old woman in an alleyway off of Clarendon Road in Southsea at around 10pm on Saturday, August 29, 2020. The victim did not know her attacker.

The 31-year-old, of Newcomen Road, was jailed for six years at Portsmouth Crown Court on Wednesday (January 13) after pleading guilty to rape when he appeared at the same court in November.

In a statement, senior investigating officer, detective inspector Emma Crute commended the victim for her bravery in coming forward and reporting what had happened.

She said: "We are pleased that the victim has found justice now that Uddin is behind bars.

"I hope the outcome of this case reassures members of the public that we take allegations of this type of offence extremely seriously, and will do everything in our power to bring offenders before the courts.

"This has understandably been a traumatic time for the victim who has been supported by specialist officers at every stage of our investigation. I would like to commend her for her bravery and courage in coming forward and reporting what happened. I hope that today’s sentence will give her some closure and help her to begin moving forward in her life."

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Portsmouth chief inspector Robert Mitchell, of Hampshire Constabulary, added: "The officers involved in this case have worked extremely hard to bring the investigation to the point we have reached today. I would like to thank them for their dedication to securing this outcome for the victim.

"Stranger assaults of this nature are rare, and I hope the community feels reassured that when we receive these sorts of allegations, we will take them seriously and do everything in our power to bring those responsible to justice.

"We work very hard in Portsmouth to tackle sexual offences in partnership with organisations that support survivors. We want you to have the confidence to come forward and talk to us if something has happened to you, or somebody you know."

Police have encouraged anyone who has been the victim of a sexual offence to contact Hampshire Constabulary on 101, and speak with an officer in confidence.

We encourage anyone who has been the victim of a sexual offence to contact us on 101 and speak with an officer in confidence. To find out more about the support available to victims of sexual offences, follow the link here.

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Anthony Stallard, 30, of Alverstone Road, Southsea, admitted assault by beating in Fareham on June 28.

Portsmouth magistrates jailed him for eight weeks.

He must pay a £128 victim surcharge, a statutory requirement courts must impose.

Magistrates declined to impose any compensation.

He admitted failing to surrender to court from bail but received no separate penalty.

His guilty plea to the assault was taken into account when he was sentenced at court.