Latest Offenders Ringwood

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A MAN who made plans to sexually abuse a nine-year-old child has been jailed after an undercover police sting.

Stephen Biles, 61, thought he was speaking to someone who would arrange for him to abuse the girl in a hotel, but was actually communicating with a police officer.

The undercover investigation between January and March 2020 discussed a decoy child, who did not exist.

On April 1, 2020, Biles was arrested at his home in Riverside, Ringwood, with devices seized containing 52 category C indecent images of children.

Work by the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) allowed further investigation by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Internet Child Abuse Investigation Team (ICAT).

Biles was charged with making indecent images of children and two counts of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.

He pleaded guilty to the indecent images but maintained his innocence on the other two charges.

However, after a trial at Portsmouth Crown Court on September 4 this year, Biles was found guilty.

On September 27, at Southampton Crown Court, Biles was jailed for three years and nine months.

He was also made subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and placed on the sex offender register indefinitely.

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A man with a paedophile manual who operated equipment beneath a womans clothes for his own pleasure has been dumped behind bars - where he belongs.

Tristan Clamp, 33, was sentenced at Southampton Crown Court for four and a half years for shocking sex offences against women and girls.

The disgraced pervert was convicted of offences spanning more than 10 years, including taking and possessing indecent photographs / pseudo photographs of a child, voyeurism, operating equipment beneath the clothing of another without their consent, and possession of a paedophile manual. The offences occurred between January 2010 and August 2021.

Sentencing Clamp, the judge said: You are a deceitful and deviant offender. The paedophile manual is an abominable document. The indecent images are horrendous images of abuse.

I have great doubts as to whether your remorse is genuine and I agree with the victim, who states your deceit was ongoing for many years.

Responding to a letter Clamp had written for the court, the judge said: In my judgement, your letter to the court smacks of self-pity and regret and is entirely self-serving.

The judge went on to thank and praise the victim for reading her victim personal statement in court, describing her as courageous and having suffered severe psychological harm as a result of Clamps actions.

As well as the time he will now spend behind bars, Clamp, of Northfield Road, Ringwood, must also serve a total extended licence period of seven and a half years. He will also be subject to restraining orders and an indefinite sexual harm prevention order. Forfeiture orders are in place for all of his devices containing illegal material.

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A charity shop worker has been jailed for two years for possessing extreme child abuse images, after being cleared of exposing herself to two 11-year-old girls.

Samantha Norris was acquitted by a jury at Southampton Crown Court of the two charges of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child which were alleged to have taken place on July 27, 2023. The prosecution had claimed that Norris, who is in the process of gender transitioning, had exposed her penis deliberately to the two youngsters through the window of her flat.

The 56-year-old was also cleared earlier in the trial of two further charges of engaging in sexual activity and two of indecent exposure. Norris told the court that she was a naturist who was habitually naked in her own home and the children could only have seen her naked if they had been spying on her.

Norris, who worked at a Sue Ryder charity shop in her home town of Ringwood, Hampshire, said she had been the victim of abuse from youngsters in the town and she felt these girls had been taunting her. During the trial Charles Gabb, prosecuting, told the jury that Norris was naked by the window when she was seen by the two girls on two days in a row.

He said: The defendant, Miss Norris, now transitioning, she has a penis, was standing there fully naked, on the first day almost glorifying in that nudity over quite a period of time knowing the girls were there and drawing attention to herself. And the next day when she saw them again and she was naked, glorying in her nudity, almost posturing, definitely manipulating her penis with these two young girls being able to see all this. The Crown would suggest there was no attempt to cover up, no attempts of any modesty or propriety.

He said that one of the girls described the defendant throwing her penis around and added both children could see her playing with her penis and knowing the children were watching. It certainly caused alarm for these two children and an element of distress as well.

Norris told the court she thought the children had only seen her head and shoulders and, when asked why she did not put clothes on, replied: Because I am a naturist and I didnt see it was necessary in my own home. She added: For people like me, we can provide an object of curiosity, so we attract unwanted attention and various behaviours related to it. I have seen it quite a lot. I think they got themselves wound up and were taunting me for a while.

After the jury returned its not guilty verdicts, Norris, entered guilty pleas to three charges of making indecent images of children of categories A, B and C, one count of possessing prohibited images of children and a charge of possessing an extreme image depicting a person engaging in sexual activity with an animal.

As well as the prison sentence, Judge Nicholas Rowland made Norris subject to a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years. The court the defendant had 16,000 images of children including about 2,000 still and 121 moving images of category A seriousness. The images included children aged as young as three with others showing youngsters aged about six in distress and pain, the court heard.

Sentencing Norris, Judge Rowland said that Norris had also in her possession written notes describing sexual fantasies involving a four-and-a-half year old child and a New Years resolution to have sex with a girl under 10.

He told the defendant: Its all about you Samantha Norris and not the victims. You do not accept they are victims, you have distorted views and you do not feel your offending should be treated as serious how would a right-minded person think about that? Your views are alarming and complex you present a high risk of harm to children.

He added: Its pretty blatant to me that you decided not to enter guilty pleas (earlier) as these pleas would have gone in front of the jury of the other matters.

Description

A Plymouth man has been jailed for 11 and a half years after he admitted a slew of of charges including sexual assault of a child. Peter Turner, originally of St Michael Avenue, Keyham, but now from Ringwood in Dorset, admitted the sexual assault on a girl aged under 13 which happened during 2020.

He also pleaded guilty to taking Category A - the most serious - images of a child, namely filming the sexual assault. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of voyeurism and a further sexual assault of a child under the age of 14.

Turner, 39, also pleaded guilty to taking indecent images of a child in March 2021, and three further counts of taking indecent images of a child in 2021. Having been remanded into custody following a hearing at Plymouth Crown Court last month where he pleaded guilty to nine charges, Turner was jailed by a judge at Plymouth Crown Court on Thursday.

At his sentencing, Crown Prosecution Service prosecutor Mary McCarthy explained that Turner had filmed the digital penetration of the child - who cannot be identified for legal reasons - on his mobile phone. Interrogation of the phone by investigators also revealed he had made searches for specific types of imagery related to the sexual abuse of children.

The court was told that after the girl revealed the abuse she had suffered, she told police she was warned by Turner that if she said anything "she would be taken away". The girl's mother, in a victim impact statement, wrote how the girl was "terrified of police" when they came to her home "because she was afraid that they would take her away because of what [Turner] had told her".

Speaking of her daughter, she said Turner "stole her innocence" and they had to install extra locks on the windows and doors "to help her feel safe".

Ms McCarthy noted that Turner had no previous convictions and told police he was under the influence of cocaine at the time. In mitigation, his advocate said his client had been hard working, covering a range of jobs from building tennis courts, working as a DJ and working as a chef. Judge Robert Linford, after retiring to consider his sentencing, returned to remind Turner he pleaded guilty on the second day of his trial.

He told Turner: "These offences were absolutely abhorrent to all right thinking members of society", before reminding the 39-year-old that he initially denied them, resulting in the girl having to give evidence and be cross-examined in court. His late guilty plea did, at least, save others from giving evidence, Judge Linford noted.

Turner was told that he was an offender of particular concern due to the digital penetration of the girl and as such he would serve two thirds of his sentence before being considered for parole and would be subject to a one year licence.

He agreed Turner did deserve "minor credit" for his guilty plea, granting a five percent reduction in the total sentence. Taking into account the aggravating and mitigating factors he passed a total sentence of 11 and a half years with an additional one year licence period, minus time served. He also ordered Turner to be made subject of a 10 year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

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A HAMPSHIRE sex offender who molested a teenager during camping trips has been spared an immediate jail term.

Former Boys' Brigade leader and charity founder David Wall was handed a suspended prison sentence because he had already served time for similar offences.

Wall was jailed for seven years at Plymouth Crown Court in 2017 after being convicted of indecently assaulting four boys between 1981 and 2001.

The married father-of-two later established the Hampshire-based Christian charity Acts 4 Sharing.

Southampton Crown Court heard that the incidents involving the teenager took place between 2005 and 2007.

Peter Asteris, prosecuting, said the first offence occurred in the New Forest, where Wall touched his victim's back and bottom.

The teenager tried to fend him off but the defendant had his arm around his neck and tightened his grip.

Describing the second offence Mr Asteris said Wall caressed the teenager's leg and bottom.

In a statement that was read to the court, the victim said he lacked confidence and suffered low esteem as a result of the defendant's actions.

He added: "I feel I have completely lost my early adult life.

"I find it impossible to form close, loving and intimate relationships. I have lost careers because of depression."

Mr Asteris said the victim went to police after reading a newspaper account of Wall's 2017 trial.

Appearing at Southampton Crown Court last month Wall denied two counts of sexual assault but was convicted and the case was adjourned for pre-sentence reports.

Thomas Horder, mitigating, said his client had already served a "significant" custodial sentence for similar offences.

Describing the 2005-2007 offences Judge Peter Henry said the victim was sexually assaulted on two separate occasions.

He told the defendant: "They were over his clothing but nevertheless the boy found it extremely distressing.

"You pleaded not guilty and he had to go through a trial, giving evidence as well as being cross-examined."

Judge Henry said he had taken the defendant's age, health and behaviour in prison into account but added: "Had you not served a previous sentence I would have sent you immediately to custody."

Wall, 58, of Ash Grove, Ringwood, was handed a nine-month sentence, suspended for two years, and was told to pay 2,500 costs.

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A RINGWOOD man who groomed a 14-year-old boy he took to car events around the country has been jailed for sexual activity with a child.

Jack Lane (23), of Hangersley, was sentenced to a year in prison after being found guilty following a trial at Bournemouth Crown Court. He was also placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

The court heard Lane met with the boy, who was from Poole, several times between March and July 2017.

They shared an interest in cars and together went to meets in Poole, Hampshire London, Wiltshire and Northamptonshire. They also communicated through Facebook and sent texts to each other.

In July 2017 they travelled to an event in Ringwood, where Lane touched the boy inappropriately, the jury was told. Around the same time they attended a car show in Devon, and on the way back Lane again inappropriately touched the teen.

When the boy challenged him, he claimed he had done it accidentally.

The pair went for a swim in the sea in Boscombe that evening, when Lane touched his victim inappropriately over his swimming shorts.

In November 2017 the victim told his mother about the incidents.

Sentencing, the judge said aggravating factors in Lanes offending included the psychological harm caused to the boy and the fact there were multiple incidents.

DC Andy Hale, of Dorset Polices child exploitation team, said: Jack Lane groomed his young victim and gained his trust before making repeated sexual advances, despite the boy making it clear they were against his wishes.

I would like to praise the victim for having the courage to come forward so that Lane could be held accountable for his despicable actions.

I hope this bravery will encourage anyone else who is the victim of this type of offending to come forward in the knowledge that action will be taken and offenders will be prosecuted.

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Jason Peach abused his 15-year-old victim in a case of “classic grooming”, a court heard.

The 36-year-old formerly of Kingston near Ringwood met his victim at a music gig when he was just 14-years-old.

He even befriended and went for beers with the boy’s father.

The sexual abuse happened between July 9 and July 24 this year over several weekends.

While spending time together “delivering parcels” Peach would “repeatedly kiss” the “extremely vulnerable” boy.

Prosecution barrister, Matthew Lawson told how the predator claimed he “loved” his victim and talked about “setting up home together”.

Peach would send naked photos of himself to the child but was caught when his wife found indecent images on his phone.

But still, the abuse went on.

After the breakdown of his marriage, Peach gave the boy his "wedding ring saying throw it away".

A "suicide-pact" was made and he suggested they "spend the night in a hotel room and then kill themselves".

However, police swooped to the victim's home "just as he was leaving" to meet his abuser - they found razor blades in his bag.

In a victim impact statement read out in court, the boy said: "The abuse has affected me really badly and I find it really hard to sleep.

"I wanted to kill myself".

He is said to be reminded of the abuse every time he sees Royal Mail vans, post boxes and post offices.

Meanwhile, the victim's father said the postman "needs help and locking up".

Peach appeared at Southampton Crown Court on Tuesday facing six charges including rape and making indecent images of a child.

He previously pleaded guilty.

Defending, Keely Harvey called for Peach's previous lack of convictions to be taken into account during sentencing.

Miss Harvey added that he had no intention of putting his victim through any more distress and that there was remorse expressed.

Judge Peter Henry jailed Peach for seven years. Subject to a sexual harm prevention order he will have to register as a sex offender for life.

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A former senior teacher at a Dorset secondary school has been jailed for child sex offences.

Michael Herrity, 44, of Top Lane, Ringwood, Hampshire, was found guilty of five counts of indecent assault and three of indecency with a child.

The offences dated back to the early 2000s. He went on to become associate head teacher at Twynham School in Christchurch.

He was jailed for six years following a trial at Portsmouth Crown Court.

In a statement, Twynham School said the offences took place before Herrity was employed by the school and he had not worked there since the allegations came to light in May 2016.

"All aspects of Mr Herrity's employment at Twynham School met full compliance with statutory safeguarding and recruitment processes," it said.

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A man has been jailed for more than 18 years for a series of sexual offences in Hampshire, including assaults on two children aged under 13.

John Cooper, 57, admitted 15 offences in the Ringwood area in 2014 and 2015.

Cooper, of Hurst Road, was convicted of two further offences following a trial at Bournemouth Crown Court in January including the rape of a third female.

Police said the victims' courage throughout the investigation had "stopped a "dangerous offender".

Det Con Richard Chegwidden said: "These brave individuals have prevented others from coming to harm."

Cooper was jailed for a total of 18 years and 9 months.

His offences included sexual assaults and taking indecent photos of a child.

He was found guilty by a jury of inciting girls to engage in sexual activity.