Search results for Salisbury

Description

A 36-year-old man from Wiltshire has been jailed having pleaded guilty to numerous child sex offences and possession of cocaine.

Christopher Saunders-Pope of Randalls Croft Road in Wilton was sentenced to three years and four months by HH Judge Townsend at Swindon Crown Court today (28 May) following an investigation by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU).

Saunders-Pope was arrested by SWROCU officers in March 2024 after he had been communicating online with who he thought was a teenage boy. He travelled within the county intending to meet the child to sexually abuse. Instead, he was met by officers from the Unit and arrested.

In April this year he pleaded guilty to the following offences:

• Attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child 
• Arranging / facilitating commission of offence of sexual activity with a child 
• Making indecent photograph / pseudo photograph of a child (three counts)  
• Distributing an indecent photograph / pseudo photograph of a child 
• Possessing extreme pornographic image 
• Possessing a class A drug (cocaine) 

Detective Inspector David Wells from SWROCU said:

“When we arrested Saunders-Pope, he had travelled that day having made plans to abuse a young boy. Instead, he was taken into custody and prevented from causing the harm he intended. 

“Law enforcement agencies are constantly across the internet working to identify anyone looking to abuse or exploit children. Saunders-Pope's arrest was part of this ongoing work.”

HH Judge Townsend also handed Saunders-Pope a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

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A man has been sentenced for child sex offences after being caught flying a drone over a primary school in Salisbury.

Jeremy Bird, 48, of Coldharbour Lane, Salisbury, appeared at Winchester Crown Court yesterday (28/04) after pleading guilty to two counts of making indecent images of children and recklessly allowing an aircraft to endanger people or property.

He was jailed for 19 months, suspended for two years. He was also made the subject of a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

On September 13th, 2023, police received a report that a drone had been flown over a primary school within the Salisbury area on several occasions, following the children within the playing fields.

At around the same time, police received a further report from another school within the Salisbury area reporting that when teachers were taking the children out to visit a harvest festival, a man was seen recording the children and trying to chat with them.

The man was seen a short time later in a vehicle appearing to be taking more pictures of the children.

Enquiries by police identified the suspect as Jeremy Bird. He was arrested and searches of his devices found a considerable number of indecent images of unknown children.

He was subsequently charged and convicted.

Complex Crime Investigator Debbie Quayle said:

“I’d like to thank the schools for reporting Jeremy Bird’s behaviour – without their support we would be unaware of the extent of his offending.

“Mr Bird has taken no accountability for his actions and the fear he put into the children when flying his drone near to them to film them.

“He has now been sentenced and has been made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which places limits on his internet use and travel.

“He is also not allowed to own or use a drone and must also allow officers into his address to do checks.

“I hope this investigation also shows that we will not tolerate any person who uses drones in an inappropriate manner, and they will be put before the courts.”

Description

A man who sexually assaulted a woman and strangled another has been sentenced to 11 and a half years imprisonment.

Cameron Mackay, 37, of Rougemont Close, Salisbury, was sentenced today at Salisbury Crown Court after he was found guilty at trial of assault by penetration, sexual assault, indecent exposure, actual bodily harm and intentional strangulation.

In around April 2022, Mackay plied one of the victims, a woman in her 40s, with alcohol after she had been invited round to the suspect’s house by a friend. The victim then fell asleep and woke up to find Mackay sexually assaulting her.

On another occasion, in February 2023, the victim, a woman in her 30s, met Mackay while he was out walking his dog, when he invited her back to his address.

He then exposed himself to her, at which point she tried to leave. Mackay has then assaulted her and climbed on top with her, strangling her with both hands.

The victim managed to defend herself and escape the property.

Both incidents were reported to police in around June 2023. Following an investigation by South CID, Mackay was charged.

Detective Constable Dan Smith, of South CID, said:

“Mackay is a dangerous man who has committed serious offences which will no doubt have a long lasting impact on the victims.

"I would once again like to express my utmost thanks to the two victims in this case who have shown incredible bravery and strength in reporting their ordeal to police and having the courage to stand up in court and relive their stories.

“I recognise how difficult this can be to come forward and speak about these types of incidents and I hope this investigation shows that victims will always be listened to.

“I am pleased a lengthy custodial sentence has been given to Mackay - it reflects the serious nature of his offending.”

Description

A sex offender who told a friend he had “f***** up” after inappropriately touching a teenage girl has been jailed for two years.

David Marsh, 40, of Melvin Close in Salisbury, abused his victim on August 9, 2023, leaving her "haunted" by the memory. He was sentenced at Salisbury Crown Court on Wednesday (October 1).

Marsh pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual activity with the girl at his initial magistrates' court appearance in January, and admitted attempted touching when his crown court trial began in August. Judge Adam Feest imposed immediate imprisonment, with Marsh expected to serve half his sentence before release on licence.

Prosecutor Mike Mason said the offences occurred within minutes, after which Marsh confessed to a friend and turned himself in to police. The victim reported the crime to her family, who believed her; her clothing was forensically tested.

Mr. Mason added: “The defendant contacted a friend saying that he had ‘f***** up’ – those are his words – and needed to talk to her. He arranged to talk to her that evening, which he did. He said he knew what he had done was inappropriate, and he had done something really stupid.”

In victim impact statements, she said Marsh "stole her innocence" and left her "on edge" around men. She wrote: “It is difficult for me to put into words how I have been affected. The thought of bumping into him or seeing him when I’m out and about fills me with dread. I regularly have thoughts about it, which is upsetting and a permanent reminder. I was not able to concentrate well on my schoolwork, and I think that suffered as a result. I feel like people like me need to be protected from him.”

Defense lawyer Nicholas Cotter argued the incident was "not pre-planned" but "impulsive," adding: “I don’t think the defendant understands what made him do it. He is profoundly remorseful about what happened. From the very outset, he has admitted to others, not just the police, the criminality that he has latterly accepted. He is terrified about going to custody.”

Mr. Cotter requested a suspended sentence, but Judge Feest rejected it, saying: “You took the opportunity, for reasons that only you will ever understand – if that – to sexually abuse her. She had, and still, suffers significantly from what you did.” He accepted Marsh's remorse as genuine.

Marsh, who had no prior convictions, will be on the sex offenders' register for 10 years. He also faces a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, an indefinite restraining order, and a £140 victim surcharge.

Description

A Salisbury man has been jailed for sexually abusing a child, at the retail store where he was working.

Joseph Marriott, 33, of St Andrew’s Road, Salisbury was sentenced at Swindon Crown Court  yesterday (04/09) having previously been found guilty of two counts of causing/inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

He had previously admitted breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

His Honour Jason Taylor KC sentenced Marriott to 10 years custody - comprising 4 years 6 months imprisonment and 5 years 6 months on licence. He must also abide by the terms of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and register with the police indefinitely.

In addition he must pay a £228 surcharge.

The court heard how Marriott abused the child in the back room of the Salisbury store where he was employed, while her parents were shopping.

DC Billy Baker said:

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the young survivor and her family who have remained resolute and dignified throughout this ordeal; their support has been invaluable in bringing this offender to justice.”

Description

Craig Arrowsmith, 48, of Hoadley Green, Salisbury, appeared at Salisbury Crown Court yesterday (01/09) after pleading guilty to sexual communication with a child, making indecent images of children and four counts of possession of extreme pornography, namely bestiality.

He was jailed for 12 months, suspended for 18 months.

He must also complete 200 hours of unpaid work, pay compensation of £500 and complete up to 35 days of rehabilitation activity days. He will also be required to sign on to the sex offender’s register for 10 years.

On January 30, 2024, police received a Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) referral from the victim’s school raising concerns that the victim was receiving inappropriate messages from Arrowsmith.

Arrowsmith was arrested and bailed. An examination of his phone revealed that between March 2023 and January 2024, Arrowsmith repeatedly messaged the victim, a 15-year-old girl, on a social media platform, many of which were sexual in nature.

Four videos featuring bestiality were also found on his phone, as well as a total of 245 category C indecent images were also found on his phone, all of which related to superimposed photos of the victim.

Arrowsmith admitted the offences and was sentenced yesterday.

DC Louise Butler of the Child Abuse Investigation Team said:

“Firstly, I would like to thank the victim for her bravery throughout the case.

“Her courage in speaking with us and giving a video recorded interview has led to Arrowsmith being sentenced yesterday.

“Arrowsmith’s crimes are abhorrent. Despite knowing the victim was only 15 years old, he continued to message her in a sexual manner and used photos of her to impose her face onto an AI-generated female’s naked body.

“He has now been sentenced and will be on the Sex Offender’s Register for the next decade.”

Description

A Salisbury man has been sentenced to six years and four months in prison after pleading guilty to multiple sexual offences dating back as far as 1994.

Michael Colin Bell (known as Colin Bell), 72, of Pinewood Way, Bemerton Heath, was sentenced on June 8 at Salisbury Crown Court for two counts of indecent assault, two counts of sexual assault, and two counts of gross indecency.

The offences span several decades, with some dating back over 30 years.

During the sentencing hearing, powerful victim impact statements were read aloud in court. One victim described the lasting trauma:

"Trying to explain how this has affected me is the hardest thing I've ever done because there is no way to explain what this has done to me, all I can do is try and describe what is my life now.

"There is not a day I don't think about what happened to me. If I am not busy, I have flashbacks and I am back to being abused, like it is still happening to me. I still feel like he owns me and I am his trophy. I wake up at night sometimes and see the darkness in the corner of the room. I can't move and am frozen. I want to move, but can't.

"I hate the feeling of people touching me and this has massively affected my relationships. I have to sleep with a pillow between my legs as the feeling of my legs touching makes me feel sick.

"I hate the feeling of my own skin."

A second victim said:

"The abuse happened over a number of years.

"The person who did this to me was a trusted family friend — someone I was told I could count on, someone who was meant to protect me. Instead, he betrayed that trust in the most painful way.

"I spent years questioning myself. I asked if what happened was normal. I wondered if I had done something to deserve it. That kind of self-doubt and shame doesn’t disappear just because time passes — it settles in your bones. As a child, I didn’t have the words to make sense of what was happening. That confusion — that feeling of being lost inside your own life — stayed with me for years."

Another victim said:

"As a direct result of what I experienced, I have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and severe anxiety. I now suffer from frequent panic attacks, which have affected both my personal life and my ability to work. 

"There are times when I cannot relax, even in the safety of my own home. Memories intrude unexpectedly-triggered by sounds, smells, or even certain words.

"These flashbacks make it incredibly difficult to find peace, and I live in fear of when the next one will strike."

The case was first reported in 2022.

Investigating officer Sergeant Myles Scott, who worked on the case for four years, said:

“I am really glad that Colin Bell has finally been held to account for the abhorrent actions he chose to commit against children. This case shows that if you commit offences, they will eventually catch up with you — no matter your age or how long ago they occurred.

“I want to thank the victims for their strength and courage throughout this investigation. Their support was vital, and I hope this sentence helps them begin to rebuild their lives.

“I also hope this outcome reassures other victims that they will be believed, and that justice can be pursued regardless of how much time has passed.”

Description

A man who raped and strangled a woman in Andover has been jailed.

Martin Collins, aged 46, was found guilty by a jury at Winchester Crown Court of two counts of intentional strangulation and one count of rape against a woman who was known to him.

The offences took place between 1 July 2023 and 1 August 2023, and Collins was also found guilty of criminal damage to a tumble dryer at an address in Andover, which took place during this same period.

The trial began on Monday 9 June this year, with the jury returning their verdicts on Friday 13 June.

Collins, of Netton Close in Bishopstone, Wiltshire, was sentenced that same afternoon. His Honour Judge Dugdale jailed him for seven years and issued a 20 year restraining order.

Description

A predator who prowled online chatrooms sent explicit images to a ‘girl’ before arranging for them to have sex.

Darren Warner struck up a conversation with 13-year-old ‘Maisie’, who was a police officer posing as a teen.

The pair quickly moved from an online chat forum to Kik, where the girl revealed her age to Warner.

Plans were made for them to meet “in a public park or car park in Southampton” to have sex at the end of May 2024 but the plug was pulled by Warner, Southampton Crown Court heard.

Prosecuting, Lucy Taylor said: “Communication between the defendant and the ‘girl’ including them agreeing to have sex, with Warner asking what she would wear and where it would happen.

“The pair also spoke about having different kinds of sex together.

“A discussion was had about them meeting at the end of May, but Warner said his car had broken down so he could no longer meet.”

The court heard how the 49-year-old sent two explicit images to the ‘girl’ and encouraged her to carry out sexual acts on herself.

Warner was arrested by police on June 1, 2024, two days after he was due to meet the ‘girl’ for sex.

Mitigating, Keely Harvey said the severity of his actions hit home months before he was charged.

“Mr Warner contacted two organisations to help rehabilitate him in September 2024, three months before he was charged”, she said.

“He had that sudden realisation that it was wrong, and he stopped himself.

“He is determined to make sure this never happens again and has demonstrated that he can be rehabilitated.”

Warner, of Fairfield Road, Salisbury, pleaded guilty to a charge of arranging or facilitating sexual activity with a child involving penetration, intentionally causing a child to look at an image of a person engaging in sexual activity, and a charge of attempted to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

He also admitted a charge of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

Judge Nigel Peters KC described Warner’s approach as “exceptional” as he “accepted the behaviour was wrong”.

“I have never come across a case where a defendant has paid, more than £700, for some rehabilitation prior to being charged."

Warner was handed a two-year sentence suspended for two years.

He must complete 26 sessions with probation and five rehabilitation activity days, pay £150 costs and is on the sex offenders’ register for ten years.

Description

A man has been jailed for almost 20 years for multiple sexual offences against a child.

Gabriel Philip Chirwa, 38, of Holders Road, Amesbury, was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment, plus four years on extended licence, for four counts of rape and multiple other sexual offences.

The incidents were reported in August 2022, when the victim told her mother about the abuse, which took place over a two-year period.

Speaking after the sentencing, Det Con Fiona Rawlings of Wiltshire Police's Child Abuse Investigation Team said: "Chirwa is an incredibly dangerous offender who has shown absolutely no remorse despite the horrendous abuse he inflicted on a young girl.

She praised the victim for her bravery, adding that she appreciated "the toll" that the abuse, investigation and court process had on her.

"Hopefully today's sentencing can bring an element of closure and she can look to move forward," she said.

In her personal statement, the victim said: "He had made me completely disgusted with myself, I was so young. I ask myself, 'why me?'.

"You [Chirwa] never cared. I hope you will care when I am free to live the life that you can't."

After the incidents were reported, Chirwa was arrested, and following an investigation, was charged with the following offences:

• Four counts of rape
• Two counts of sexual assault by penetration
• One count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity

He denied the offences, requiring a trial by jury at Winchester Crown Court in December last year.

Chirwa will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order indefinitely, which will forbid him from any contact with the victim and from having any unsupervised contact with any person under the age of 16.

Description

A Wiltshire couple groomed a young woman before she was raped in their hot tub.

James Owen, 55 and his partner Ellen Rea, formerly Ellen Oades, 52, jointly preyed on an 18-year-old in Salisbury between January and February 2021.

Winchester Crown Court heard that Owen – a personal trainer – first sexually assaulted the teenager under the guise of training sessions.

A jury was told that over a number of weeks, the evil duo exchanged text messages outlining their intentions to abuse the woman.

On 6 February 2021, they invited their victim to their home for dinner – where they plied her with alcohol and persuaded her to join them in a hot tub.

It was there that the woman was raped by Owen and sexually assaulted by Rea.

At the conclusion of a nine-day trial today (Friday), Owen was convicted of rape, two counts of sexual assault and conspiracy to commit sexual assault.

Rea was found guilty of sexual assault and conspiracy to commit sexual assault.

Owen was sentenced to eight years in custody and Rea was sentenced to two years.

Detective Constable Martyn Powell said: “James Owen and Ellen Rea conspired to abuse the trust of a young woman.

“Their horrendous actions were fuelled by their own selfish desires, without for a moment considering the long-lasting consequences that this abuse would have on their victim.

“I would like to pay tribute to the bravery of the young woman who worked with us to help bring these two offenders to justice and hope that she is able to find some solace in the lengthy custodial sentences that have been handed down today.”

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Description

A PAEDOPHILE who thought his poor health allowed him not to comply with a court order has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Colin Boon, of Ashmore Close in Whiteparish, failed to register as a sex offender last year without reasonable excuse.

The 65-year-old was stung by online paedophile hunters at his previous home in Salisbury in 2018.

During his sentencing at Swindon Crown Court in 2021, it transpired that Boon had collected hundreds of child sex abuse images since 2006 and stored them on 26 devices.

The vile collection featured children estimated to be as young as 12 months.

As part of Boon's sentence, he was ordered to register as a sex offender and comply with a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.

But Boon did not comply with this order and failed to complete his annual registration.

Boon pleaded not guilty to the offence but the court said he had tried to avoid the requirements and "suggested his health allowed him not to comply with a court order".

The blind paedophile sentenced to 18 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, at Salisbury Crown Court on Thursday, June 20.

Boon must also pay £350 court costs and a £154 surcharge.

Description

A man has been jailed for 14 years after admitting sexually assaulting a child.

Stephen Harrison, 40, of Barrington Road, Salisbury, was sentenced at Salisbury Crown Court on Tuesday.

Wiltshire Police said he had pleaded guilty to "multiple counts" of sexual assault on a child under 13 and an attempted rape.

The offences took place on various dates between 2015 and 2020, the court was told.

Det Con Dawn Rowan, from Wiltshire Police, said: "Firstly, I would like to praise the victim in this case who has shown bravery and courage well beyond her years in reporting this to police and ensuring this dangerous man is put behind bars.

"Harrison has shown little remorse for his despicable actions, continuing to lie through numerous police interviews before eventually pleading guilty in court.

"I am pleased that we were able to secure this conviction and see Harrison sentenced.

"We are committed to targeting individuals who commit such abhorrent crimes, regardless of how much time has passed since.

"I would urge anyone reading this who has experienced something similar to report it to police immediately - you will be fully supported through the process by specially-trained officers", she added.

Description

A serial sex offender has been jailed after he went off the polices radar for almost two weeks before being tracked down to Totnes.

Gary Taylor, aged 63, formerly of Salisbury and the Isle of Wight, but now of no fixed address, was required to tell police about his movements because he has a history of sexual assaults on vulnerable lone females and is a registered sex offender.

Taylor was categorised as a dangerous offender when he was jailed for a total of eight years and four months in 2015 for sexually assaulting an 18-year-old woman who had mental health issues.

He approached her while she was sitting on a bench in June 2014 and offered her a cigarette and whisky before taking a spot her to a bridge at Summerlock Approach where he was sleeping rough.

He went on to sexually assault her, leaving her traumatised. She told police Taylor was rank and she had told him to leave her alone. She later said she felt sick and terrified.

He also has convictions for sexually assaulting lone females on trains and was already on the register when he committed the offence in Salisbury.

Taylor admitted failing to comply with the sex offenders register.

He left his home on the Isle of Wight without informing the authorities on February 11 this year and did not turn up again until February 22, when he presented himself at Torquay police station but refused to complete the necessary forms.

He was eventually arrested in Totnes the next day and had apparently been living rough in Devon. He claimed he wanted to be arrested so he could get treatment for a hip condition.

Taylor has been jailed for nine months by Judge David Evans at Exeter Crown Court.

He told him: This was a deliberate failure to comply, in particular by leaving the Isle of Wight and going off elsewhere. It caused more than a little upset and concern because you went a significant distance from where the authorities had tabs on you.

Miss Caroline Bolt, prosecuting, said Taylor is on the register for life and required to notify police if he was away from his home address for more than three days.

He left home without telling the police in February before turning up in Devon, where he failed to re-register correctly at Torquay Police station on February 22 and being arrested in Totnes the next day.

Taylor was not represented but told the judge he had been confused by the law. He said he went to the police station in the hope of being arrested but had been turned away.

He said: I went to get arrested because I needed treatment for a broken hip but it was not until the next day that I got picked up for something else.

Description

A MAN from Salisbury has been jailed after pleading guilty to multiple child sex offences. 

John Devine, 52, is a registered sex offender and was on prison licence and living in Salisbury at the time of the offences was sentenced this week after pleading guilty to multiple offences which included:

• Make indecent images of a child (category A)
• Make indecent images of a child (category B)
• Make indecent images of a child (category C)
• Distribute an indecent image of a child (category A)
• Distribute an indecent image of a child (category C)
• Attempt to engage in sexual communication with a child
• Attempt to cause a child to engage in penetrative sexual activity
• Attempt to cause a child to look at an image of sexual activity

Devine engaged online with a profile of a user who he believed to be a 12-year-old boy between September 2, 2021, and October 1, 2021.

The conversation was of a sexual nature and he encouraged the child to carry out a sexual act. 

The investigation into Devine was run in conjunction with the Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit in South Wales, and there was no real-life victim. 

No children had been abused. 

Following Devine's arrest, devices were seized from his property and more than 600 images along with videos of category A indecent images of children were located. 

The images were of the most serious abuse of children. 

In addition to the 12-year prison sentence, Devine must register as a sex offender indefinitely.

Det Con Sadie McCoy, of the Wiltshire Police Child Internet Exploitation Team, said: “Despite being on licence at the time of these offences, Devine has continued to offend. He is a risk to society and I am pleased the serious nature of his offending has been recognised and he has been given a lengthy prison sentence.

“I hope this investigation demonstrates Wiltshire Police's commitment to rooting out serious offenders like Devine within our community and ensuring they are put before the courts. We would encourage anybody who wishes to report child sex abuse of any nature to come forward and contact us – you will be supported by a team of professionals whose role it is to protect children from harm.”

Det Insp Mathew Davies, of TARIAN ROCU, said: “It is our absolute priority to protect and keep children safe in our communities.  Law enforcement operates across the internet and we will relentlessly seek to bring to justice offenders who use the web to facilitate the abuse of children. We are committed to combating child sexual abuse, safeguarding children and bringing those offenders who seek to abuse children to justice.

"If anyone has been a victim of child sexual abuse, I urge you to report it to your local police force via 101. We will always follow up on allegations of abuse, no matter when they occurred. Victims can talk in confidence to experienced investigators and we can also help them get access to a range of other support services.

"If you have concerns about your use of the internet or inappropriate thoughts or behaviour about children or if you are worried about how someone you know behaves around children or are worried about their use of the internet then the Lucy Faithfull Foundation provide a free, anonymous and confidential Stop It Now! Helpline on 0808 1000 900 for advice, support and information.”