Search results for Rotherham

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A young woman has spoken of the devastation and distress she feels after being sexually assaulted by a Rotherham man. 

Sex offender, Andrew Wilcox, was forced to hear of the continuing impact his heinous actions have had on the woman he sexually assaulted twice on the same night, as her statements were read to Sheffield Crown Court this afternoon (Wednesday, July 10, 2024). 

“I feel completely broken,” she said. 

The young woman continued: “This incident has made me feel violated. I can still feel his hand on me, and it’s always on my mind, his hand touching me.”

“A normal Saturday night turned into the worst night of my life, and destroyed everything.”

She described how the impact of the sexual assaults had sent her into a depression, and was ‘dreading’ receiving the counselling she has been on a waiting list for because she knows she will need to ‘bring it all back up again’. 

“I feel like my life has been on hold, waiting for the day he would plead guilty and it would be over,” continued the young woman, who is entitled to lifelong anonymity.  

Prosecutor Louise Reevell told the court that Wilcox sexually assaulted the complainant twice, and as the second of the two attacks was happening, she screamed so loudly that it attracted the attention of those nearby. 

As he sent Wilcox, aged 51, to begin a prison sentence for his crimes, Judge David Dixon told him that any remorse he had shown was not for the impact of the two sexual assaults but for the ‘consequences’ he had brought upon himself. 

“You’ve sought to minimise and evade responsibility for this…you’ve sought to wriggle and squirm throughout,” Judge Dixon told Wilcox. 

He also had to repeat instructions for Wilcox to stand as his prison sentence was being passed down, as a sign of ‘courtesy’ and respect both to the complainant and for the seriousness of the offences he was being brought to justice for. 

Wilcox, of Howard Road, Bramley, Rotherham, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault at an earlier hearing. 

Defending, Rebecca Tanner prefaced her mitigation by acknowledging that Wilcox’s behaviour had been ‘disgraceful’ and ‘deplorable’; and told the complainant - who was present in court for the sentencing - that nothing she says on his behalf is intended to ‘minimise’ the ‘seriousness of what he has done’. 

Ms Tanner pointed to Wilcox’s lack of previous convictions and his guilty pleas at an early stage, which, she suggested, was ‘perhaps the greatest indicator of his acceptance and remorse’. 

“He’s a man who realises how severely he’s let people down, and wants to understand how he’s been capable of behaving in that way,” Ms Tanner told the court. 

She suggested that prior to this conduct, Wilcox had led an ‘ordinary and hard-working life’; and ‘plays a part in the lives’ of his children, grandchildren and parents.

Ms Tanner told Judge Dixon that Wilcox has a ‘realistic prospect of rehabilitation’ and suggested that, coupled with his other points of mitigation, means he can step back from imposing an immediate prison sentence.

Judge Dixon rejected that assertion, however, and said he regarded Wilcox’s continued efforts to ‘minimise’ and ‘manipulate’ as proof that he cannot be rehabilitated. 

Jailing Wilcox for 13 months, Judge Dixon told him: “There’s simply no way at all that this case can be anything other than an immediate term of imprisonment.”

Judge Dixon also granted a restraining order, which prohibits Wilcox from contacting the complainant for a period of 15 years, as well as a 10-year sexual harm prevention order. He also told him that he will be required to sign on to the sex offenders’ register. 

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A 33-year-old man sobbed from the dock, as he was sent to begin his first prison sentence for attempting to incite a ‘12-year-old girl’ to send him sexually explicit pictures and videos online. 

The security guard flanking defendant, Timothy Newberry, had to wait to escort him out of Sheffield Crown Court while he attempted to collect himself, after Judge Graham Reeds KC told him his sexual offences were so serious that only a prison sentence could be justified.

A hearing held on May 20, 2024 heard how Newberry engaged in extreme sexual communication with an online profile purporting to be a 12-year-old girl called Sophie, but was, in fact, an undercover police officer. 

Prosecutor, Joseph Bell, described how from the offset of Newberry’s communication with ‘Sophie,’ which began over a social media messaging app in June 2023, she ‘immediately’ informed him that she was 12-years-old, and repeatedly referred to her attendance at school. 

After a brief conversation with ‘Sophie’ concerning her online profile, Newberry began attempting to ‘solicit images’ from her, Mr Bell said, adding that Newberry quickly began to talk about, and send her images of, his genitals. 

Newberry, of Reresby Park Close, Dalton, Rotherham, continued to send messages to ‘Sophie’ and repeatedly requested explicit videos of the girl.

He sent a video he took of himself engaging in a solo sexual act. 

Newberry made numerous attempts to contact the undercover police officer’s decoy account in the days that followed, but received no responses. 

Police then arrested Newberry at his home address, before interviewing him, during which he answered ‘no comment’ to all questions posed. 

Newberry was subsequently charged with, and pleaded guilty to, one count of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and one count of attempting to cause or incite a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity - penetration.

Newberry’s barrister, Clarkson Baptiste, referred Judge Reeds to Newberry’s pre-sentence report, which, he suggested, detailed Newberry’s ‘difficult childhood’. 

“He wasn’t able to be looked after by his mother, and was sent to live with his grandparents who made him homeless at the age of 16. He’s struggled through his adult life to achieve stability,” Mr Baptiste told the court. 

Mr Baptiste continued: “He attends court with his current partner. She sits in the public gallery, in full knowledge of why he’s here. He’s aware of the potential sentence he faces.”

Jailing Newberry for 42 months, Judge Reeds told him: “Police officers work to detect people like you who intend to corrupt children into sexual activity for their own sexual gratification.”

“This was serious sexual offending, and the intended harm was considerable, even though no actual harm was caused to a real child.”

Judge Reeds also made Newberry the subject of a sexual harm prevention order and told him he will also be required to register as a sex offender, both of which will run without limit of time. 

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She had been at home when he persuaded her to leave in the night and join him in his Jaguar car.

Jonathan Ward, aged 22, had denied the allegation against him throughout an investigation by South Yorkshire Police.

He went on trial for the offence at Sheffield Crown Court, but on the second day of the hearing changed his plea and admitted that he was guilty of sexual activity with a child.

Ward, of no fixed abode, was convicted of sexual activity with a child under 16 (penetration) and was locked up by a judge.

South Yorkshire Police said he had known his victim for over a year. After he took the opportunity to exploit the her, he left her petrified. She then retunred home.

Details of the offence emerged because the victim was brave enough to confide in a member of her family, whyich resulted in the start of a police investigation.

As part of the investigation DNA was recovered from the victim’s clothes and was matched to Ward.

He was sentenced on Tuesday, February 6, when he was sentenced to 10 months in prison, ordered to pay a £228 victim surcharge and placed on the sex offenders’ register for ten years. He was also given a restraining order, meaning he is not allowed contact with the victim for ten years.

Victims of sexual offences are granted anonymity for life.

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A man who plied a child with alcohol before sexually assaulting her has been jailed.

Colin Shaw, 51, gave his 15-year-old victim multiple cans of beer before touching her inappropriately and attacking her inside his home in Rotherham.

He put his hand up her top and inside her bra leaving his teenage victim traumatised, and the morning after Shaw encouraged her to stay silent and downplay what had happened to her.

Detective Constable Charlotte Adamson, from our Major Crime Unit, said: "Shaw took advantage of his young victim by plying her with alcohol before subjecting her to a sickening assault.

"To make matters worse, Shaw then encouraged her to downplay what had happened before touching her inappropriately once again.

"I cannot imagine how terrified she must have been after such a traumatic ordeal and I want to commend the bravery of the victim for showing courage beyond her years in reporting this to us.

"It's thanks to her bravery that this dangerous sex offender is now behind bars and I hope his imprisonment will bring his victim and their family some comfort."

Shaw, previously of the Worksop area, was found guilty of one count of sexual assault and not guilty of another following a trial at Sheffield Crown Court.

He was jailed for three years and four months at the same court on 22 December 2023 and has been placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

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A Rotherham man who raped and sexually abused multiple children has been jailed for a catalogue of sickening seuxal offences.

45-year-old Darren Thomas repeatedly abused and exploited the vulnerability of children for his own gratification for a period of more than 10 years from 2010 to 2021.
 
A South Yorkshire Police spokesperson said Thomas 'silenced his victims,' making threats and 'telling them to keep his evil sexual abuse a secret'.

During a hearing held today (Tuesday, December 19, 2023), Sheffield Crown Court heard how Thomas used alcohol to take advantage of his vulnerable victims, forcing them to perform sexual acts. Two days prior to his arrest, Thomas sent a text message where he referred to himself as a ‘paedophile,’ the court heard.

Thomas had previously pleaded guilty on September 5 at Sheffield Crown Court to two counts of rape of an under 16-year-old, five counts of sexual assault, two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and one count of digital penetration. All convictions relate to offences committed between 2010 and 2021 involving children and young people aged between 11 and 17.

At the conclusion of today's hearing,Thomas, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to 18 years and seven months in prison. He was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and restraining order for life.

Speaking after Thomas was jailed, officer in the case, Detective Constable Caroline Anderson, said: "This has been a complex investigation, with evidence spanning almost eight years to uncover and review. It has undoubtedly been a long and difficult process for the victims, and I want to commend their tremendous bravery in coming forward and providing statements and key evidence.

"I hope the result has brought the victims a certain level of closure, but nothing can eliminate their ordeal.

"They will have to deal with the consequences of his actions for the rest of their lives, but thanks to their support a dangerous and prolific offender is now off the streets and serving time behind bars, unable to prey on anyone else.

"I am proud of the results of the investigation and would encourage other victims of sexual assault to come forward, so we can support you in seeking justice and continuing to make our communities safer, together."

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A man has admitted indecently assaulting a young girl in Rotherham.

Ishtiaq Khaliq, 40, formerly of the town, pleaded guilty to charges of indecent assault and theft of a mobile phone when he appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on Wednesday.

The offences are said to have taken place in Rotherham in the 2000s when the victim was only 13 or 14 at the time. The National Crime Agency [NCA] says the case was investigated as part of Operation Stovewood, its inquiry into allegations of non-familial child sexual abuse in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013.

Khaliq is already serving a 17-year prison sentence for other child sexual abuse offences following a separate investigation. He will be sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on December 14.

A spokesperson for the NCA said: "A man has admitted indecently assaulting a girl in Rotherham in the early 2000s, following an investigation by the National Crime Agency.

"Ishtiaq Khaliq, aged 40 and formerly of Rotherham, pleaded guilty to charges of indecent assault under the Sexual Offences Act 1956 and theft of a mobile phone at a hearing at Sheffield Crown Court yesterday (22 November).

"The charges relate to a victim who was aged only 13 or 14 at the time. The case was investigated as part of Operation Stovewood, the NCA’s inquiry into allegations of non-familial child sexual abuse in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013. Khaliq, who is already serving a 17-year prison sentence for other child sexual abuse offences following a separate investigation, will be sentenced on 14 December."

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A 31-year-old Rotherham man has been put behind bars after raping a woman while she was asleep.

During a three-day trial, Sheffield Crown Court heard how Christopher Pearce sexually assaulted a woman, putting his hands down her trousers despite her telling him to stop, before she fell asleep.

The victim subsequently woke up to Pearce shining a light in her face. He said to her: "You were awake for that weren’t you?" before she realised that her trousers had been removed and felt some pain, the court heard.

Christopher Pearce, of Crownhill Road, Brinsworth, was found guilty of rape and sexual assault and was sentenced to 14 years in jail at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday, October 20, 2023.

Detective Constable Katy Walker said: "The victim has shown true bravery and determination during this trial.

"Despite the overwhelming forensic evidence, Pearce refused to admit his crimes.

"We would like to thank the victim for helping us with our investigation, ensuring that Pearce paid for the truly horrific crime he committed.

"At South Yorkshire Police we take every report of rape seriously. We hope this sentence provides the relief the victim needs to attempt to move on with her life."

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A man has pleaded guilty to raping a 13-year-old girl in Rotherham in the early 2000s.

The CPS prosecuted Mohammed Imran Ali Akhtar, 42, as part of Operation Stovewood, a major National Crime Agency investigation into child sexual abuse and exploitation which took place in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, between 1997 and 2013.

Akhtar appeared in Sheffield Crown Court today (17 October 2023) where he pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault which he committed between August 2001 and July 2002. 

On multiple occasions during this period, Akhtar picked the victim up in his car and drove her to different locations before raping her.

The defendant groomed the young victim, providing her with alcohol and drugs each time they met.

At the time, the victim was led to believe she was in a relationship with Akhtar, who would threaten to drive her to unknown locations and leave her stranded if she did not comply with his demands for sex.

On one occasion, when she did refuse to engage in sexual activity, she recalled having to walk for hours after she was kicked out of the car by Akhtar in the early hours of the morning.

Akhtar is currently serving a 23-year prison sentence having been convicted in 2018 of sexual offences under a separate sub-operation investigated under Operation Stovewood.

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“It’s not an overstatement to say you’ve ruined the childhood of each of these vulnerable young people,” a Sheffield judge told a ‘depraved’ sexual predator who abused three 12-year-old girls over a period of more than 30 years. 

The judge, Recorder Richard Wright KC, made the comments to paedophile, David Hodson, after being read the ‘moving’ personal statements of girls he subjected to sickening sexual abuse, and then tried to silence. 

Sheffield Crown Court was told how Hodson, after abusing the young girls, warned them not to tell anyone, claiming to one of the complainants that it ‘wouldn’t matter’ if she came forward because ‘no-one would believe her’.

But after the courageous complainants found the strength to report his offending, Hodson, aged 72, was charged with, and subsequently pleaded guilty to, multiple sex offences. 

As he sat in the dock during a hearing held on September 11, 2023, Hodson was also forced to hear, through their statements, the details of the prolonged and devastating trauma his victims are still forced to live with, after subjecting them to what Recorder Wright described as ‘depraved sexual attentions’. 

After finally being given a voice, one of the complainants described how in the years following Hodson’s abuse, it continued to have a pervasive impact on her life, manifesting in the form of suicide attempts, self-harm, anxiety and nightmares, self-medicating; and had also resulted in her not sitting her GCSEs, after her doctor signed her off from school.  

“I’m determined to not let what he did ruin any more of my life,” she said. 

Another of the complainants described how she is working hard to move on with her life, and knows she needs counselling, but said she ‘still finds it so hard to talk about what happened’. 

A third complainant described the damage caused by Hodson as being ‘irreparable,’ and said many of the issues stemming from his abuse have permeated into her adult life, leaving her with post-traumatic stress disorder and body issues. 

Hodson, care of Rotherham General Hospital, Rotherham, pleaded guilty to offences of indecency with a child; three counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 and attempting to cause/ incite a girl 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity.

Hodson had tried to claim through his barrister, Helen Chapman, that he felt ‘genuine remorse for the way he conducted himself with these three victims’ and had demonstrated that through his guilty pleas.

But after reading Hodson’s pre-sentence report, in which he had the audacity to 'victim-blame' by describing one of the young girls he abused as ‘promiscuous,’ Recorder Wright said it was clear the only ‘real remorse’ he feels is ‘towards himself’.

Recorder Wright told Hodson: “I reject that your guilty pleas have anything to do with any real remorse felt by you.”

He added: “It’s not an overstatement to say you’ve ruined the childhood of each of these vulnerable young people.”

Ms Chapman continued by saying Hodson would say he is ‘deeply sorry’ and not just for himself, but to the children he abused, as well as for the ongoing consequences of his actions. 

She said Hodson had made an attempt on his life in the months since proceedings against him were launched; and also had a list of ‘physical health conditions,’ the nature of which was not disclosed in open court, to contend with. 

“He knows that to order to really rehabilitate he will have to engage in proper, constructive work in a custodial setting,” Ms Chapman told the court. 

Recorder Wright jailed Hodson for seven years, six months and made him the subject of a sexual harm prevention order, and sex offender notification requirements, which will be in place for the remainder of the pensioner’s life. 

Hodson was told he must serve at least two-thirds of his custodial sentence, before he can be considered for release from prison.

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A South Yorkshire man who sexually abused two children has been jailed.

Andrew Wileman abused his victims on numerous occasions in Rotherham in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He bought his victims sweets and warned them not to tell, Sheffield Crown Court heard.

Wileman, 54, originally from Maltby, was jailed for 14 years after admitting charges including indecent assault part-way through a trial.

He was also placed on the sex offenders register for life.

Commenting after the hearing, Det Con Emma Parsons, from Rotherham's Protecting Vulnerable People team, said: "Both of the victims in this case were incredibly brave to report the horrific abuse they suffered at the hands of Andrew Wileman.

"No child should ever have to endure what happened to them, and I hope they are now able to begin to heal and rebuild their lives, knowing that Wileman is beginning a lengthy custodial sentence.

"I also hope this result will give other victims of historical sexual abuse the confidence to talk to us."

Wileman, of The Lanes, East Dene, Rotherham, admitted four counts of indecent assault on a child, two counts of gross indecency with a child and one count of indecency with a child on the third day of a trial in March.

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A convicted paedophile has been caged after he breached a sex-offender order when he was caught with undeclared devices and indecent images including cannibal-style fetish material.

Sheffield Crown Court heard on March 29 how Alastair Yeardley, aged 25, of Ravenfield, Rotherham, had originally been convicted and given a community order with treatment in April, 2021, for possessing indecent images of youngsters. He was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

However, police visited Yeardley’s home in January, this year, during routine checks and recovered an undeclared laptop and phone, and a computer tower analysis revealed he had indecent images and 129 prohibited images including cannibal-style fetish material.

Prosecuting barrister Matthew Burdon said: “He said he was struggling to manage his addiction to children. He had the fetish involving the consumption of one party by another.”

Yeardley disclosed a laptop to the officers and they also found a phone and both these devices had not previously been declared to the police as part of the required conditions of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The defendant pleaded guilty to breaching his SHPO by failing to declare a laptop and a phone in January, and he also admitted making five category C indecent images – the least serious category relating to downloaded indecent images of youngsters - between April, 2022 and January, 2023.

Yeardley also admitted possessing 129 prohibited images between April, 2022, and January, 2023, which had included the fetish material.

Mr Burdon said the prohibited images included fetish material such as a person being ‘chewed and swallowed’.

Defence barrister Jessica Butterell said Yeardley, who had alerted officers to the devices in his home during the police visit, had struggled once his previous treatment had stopped but he now recognises the triggers he needs to act upon.

Ms Butterell added: “His initial offending arose out of a time when he was taking cannabis and he was distressed and emotional. It started as a trigger to alleviate stress and he is now open and honest about his feelings and if it happens again he knows to seek help.”

Yeardley has also begun making a journal recording his thoughts and feelings which he says has ‘greatly assisted him’, according to Ms Butterell, and he wants to make a change and has sought counselling.

She added: “Thinking about the effect on those victims felt like a brick to his face and he became extremely emotional and remorseful.”

Judge Graham Reeds KC told Yeardley he had originally been given a chance with a community order with a sex-offender treatment programme to rehabilitate himself but this had failed.

He said: “Your treatment was a failure. In late 2022 you downloaded more indecent images of children including prohibited images and you breached your SHPO not just by making those downloads but also by obtaining devices that you failed to notify to police.”

Judge Reeds told Yeardley: “It’s now time to impose prison as an appropriate punishment to deter you from behaving in this way in the future.”

He sentenced Yeardley to 14 months of custody and he also imposed an additional five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

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A South Yorkshire pensioner who raped a young child may die in jail after victims finally told their stories to police.

Clive Nuttall, aged 79, from Catcliffe, near Sheffield, was jailed for nine years this week after pleading guilty to multiple child sex abuse charges, including the rape of a child under 13, with the police officer who led the investigation saying there is a chance Nuttall may spend the rest of his life in prison.

Nuttall’s offending came was revealed after one of his two victims – who cannot be identified for legal reasons – told the police that he had been sexually abused as a young boy. As officers investigated, a second victim came forward and reported numerous sexual offences committed by Nuttall against her while she was a child.

Investigating officer in the case Simone Stacey from South Yorkshire Police’s Rotherham’s Protecting Vulnerable People (PVP) team said: “Nuttall’s victims have shown tremendous courage and strength of character coming forward and reporting the awful abuse they suffered as children.

“While Nuttall did plead guilty to his crimes, and there is a chance he may spend the rest of his life in prison, this news will do little to erase the harm he caused to two vulnerable children with his sick sexual offending.

“Their childhoods were taken from them, and their lives forever changed by his abuse. I am so grateful to the victims for the resilience and dignity they have shown throughout our inquiry and hope that now Nuttall is behind bars they are able to take a step forward in their journey of recovery.”

Nuttall, formerly of Church Lane, Catcliffe, pleaded guilty to 13 sexual offences including one count of rape of a child under 13, five counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, two counts of assault by penetration of a child under 13, two counts of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and three counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child under 13.

He was sentenced to nine years in prison at Doncaster Crown Court on Thursday November 17, as well as receiving a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, designed to prevent future offending.

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A "dangerous predator" has been jailed for 15 years for sexually assaulting a woman in her own home.

Monjur Khan, 32, forced his way into the property in Rotherham, in February, South Yorkshire Police said.

He then repeatedly punched the woman, who is in her 70s, before grabbing her by the throat, forcing her to the floor and assaulting her.

Khan was jailed on Thursday at Sheffield Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to attempted rape.

He also admitted two counts of attempted trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence.

Det Con Megan Byne said the assault took place despite the victim's "heroic" attempts to fend him off.

She said the investigation into the attack revealed Khan had been seen in the area earlier the same day "behaving either inappropriately or suspiciously".

"We had a number of instances where Khan was knocking on doors, asking for water or saying he was looking for someone. In some cases, he made his way into peoples' homes," she said."This is clearly dangerous predatory behaviour, which suggests Khan had been looking for a vulnerable victim to attack that day."

Khan, formerly of Doncaster Road, Rotherham, was told he must serve an additional five years on licence once released.

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A man who was found to be in possession of thousands of images and hundreds of indecent videos including prohibited images of a child and extreme pornography has appeared before court.

Neil Copnell, 51, of Rosebery Street, Rotherham appeared before Sheffield Crown Court last week (24 May) for sentencing after pleading guilty to seven offences of making and possessing indecent images of various categories.

On 20 May 2021 officers attended Copnells home and arrested him. Following his arrest, officers and the specialised Digital Forensics Team carried out searches of his devices.

The searches revealed images and videos dating back from 2004 until 2021. Over 16,000 indecent images were found and 353 videos involving children as young as four years old.

Copnell was charged with making category A, B, C images, possession of prohibited images, possession of extreme image, and possession of B and C videos. He pleaded guilty to all charges on 22 April 2022.

Detective Constable Emma Blackburn from the Rotherham Protecting Vulnerable People Team said: The images and videos that Copnell had in his possession were extreme, graphic and sickening.

Those with images and videos in their possession often believe they are not harming anyone but behind each photograph and video is a victim.

We are committed to protecting victims and vulnerable people, but also ensuring that those like Copnell are put before the courts to ensure there is no risk to members of our community and monitoring can take place.

Copnell was sentenced to a two year community order, 43 days sex offender rehabilitation programme, 100 hours unpaid work and subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years.

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A man plied teenage girls with food and drinks and made them believe he was in a relationship with them before pressuring them into sex.

Bradley Joynson, 21, of Rotherwood Crescent, Rotherham, exploited four teenage girls and coerced them to comply with his sexual requests, telling them of his violent nature.

Joynson - who was 18 at the time - preyed on his victims after he met them through his friends and led them to believe he was in a relationship with them, collected them in his car, bought them food and drinks and then went on to have sex with them at his home. One of his victims was abused in his car.

The depraved teenager's offending first came to light when one of his four victims, who were all aged between 13 and 15, contracted a sexually transmitted disease and another went missing from home. Both circumstances led police to investigate and Joynson was arrested in April 2019.

He was later charged with 11 offences including rape and sexual activity with a child. He initially denied having any contact at all with his victims. Police were able to seize and download a number of devices and piece together conversations.

Joynson - who was classed by a judge as a "dangerous offender," was jailed at Sheffield Crown Court for four-and-a-half-years for four counts of sexual activity with a child. All of the other charges will lie on file. He was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for eight years and a restraining order in favour of all of his four victims.

Reacting to his sentencing, DC Lisa Yates of Rotherham's Protecting Vulnerable People Unit said: "Joynson took advantage of four young girls, all of whom were particularly vulnerable due to their own personal circumstances.

"He preyed upon them for his own sexual gratification and used coercion and manipulation to get his own way. CSE [child sexual exploitation) cases are often complex, because victims don't realise they're victims until its too late.

"As well as the phone evidence, all four of Joynson's victims were prepared to stand up and give evidence in court. They gave compelling evidence in interview. I would like to thank each and every one of them wholeheartedly for their patience and cooperation - without them, Joynson would have got away with his actions.

"No length of sentence would ever compensate for what Joynson did, but I hope his victims can now begin to move on and find closure."