Search results for Scunthorpe

Description

A man who committed violent sexual offences against a woman, making her fear for her life, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison.

Toby Snow, 29-years-old, of Scunthorpe, was found guilty of three counts of rape, as well as assault by penetration, following a four-day trial at Hull Crown Court which ended last month (Friday, 4 September 2026).

He appeared at Grimsby Crown Court for sentencing on Friday, 16 October 2026 and whilst passing his sentence, the Judge also ordered Snow to remain on the Sex Offenders Register for the rest of his life.

An investigation was launched in March 2026 after we received a third-party report that a woman had been repeatedly raped by a man she knew during the early hours of the morning prior, naming Snow as the one responsible.

Officers were immediately deployed, arresting Snow on the same day of receiving the report.

The woman was met by investigating officers where she bravely disclosed how Snow had returned from a night out and pinned her down against her will, before removing her phone to prevent her from calling anyone and subjected her to a violent sexual assault. The woman also explained how Snow told her he was going to harm himself afterwards so he wouldn’t have to go to prison.

During interview and when questioned, Snow denied all allegations put to him and following further evidential enquiries, he was subsequently charged and remanded into custody to await trial.

Leading the investigation, Detective Constable Douglass from our Protecting Vulnerable People Unit, said:

“I would like to start by commending the sheer bravery of the woman in coming forward and for her patience throughout all the court proceedings whilst Snow refused to admit his actions and forced her to relive what happened to her during the trial.

“These offences were appalling and deeply violating; the level of abuse and violence Snow subjected a woman to showed complete disregard for her wellbeing, dignity and safety.

“We take all reports of sexual offences extremely seriously and will continue to seek justice for those who have suffered at the hands of individuals like Snow who have committed such despicable crimes."

Description

A man who raped a woman whilst she was sleeping has been found guilty of rape following and appearance at Grimsby Crown Court on Friday, 17 July 2026.

Following a five-day trial a jury has found him guilty of rape, he has been remanded into custody and will return to the court on Friday, 14 August 2026 to be sentenced.

Jonathan Matthew, 30-years-old, of Scunthorpe was charged with rape, sexual assault by penetration, criminal damage, and breaching his existing Sex Offender Registration requirements on Monday, 9 February 2026.

He pleaded guilty to the criminal damage offence and breaching his Sex Offender Registration requirements on Monday, 16 March 2026, however denied all allegations of sexual offences throughout the legal proceedings. The jury returned on Friday, 17 July with a verdict of guilty on the count of rape and not guilty on the count of sexual assault.

Leading the investigation Detective Constable Niki White said:

“Firstly I would like to commend the woman who came forward and reported what had happened to her. Reporting to the police is never easy, and enduring an investigation through to a Crown Court trial is incredibly brave. The impact on this woman cannot be understated, but she has shown great strength which she should be proud of.

“Johnathan Matthew was already on the Sex Offender’s Register for an unrelated offence back in 2024 and breached his registration by failing to inform the police that he had changed his address.

“After receiving the woman’s report, Matthew was swiftly arrested. He denied the offences in police interview and maintained his lies through to trial. The investigation moved at pace, and I was pleased the charges were brought against him and he has been held to account.

“This has been a complex investigation, drawn out by Matthew’s refusal to admit his guilt. This vindictive decision only extended the pain and trauma he had already subjected the woman to by causing her to relive the events at trial. He lied repeatedly to the court, showing he has no respect for authority, and was only interested in saving his own skin rather than doing the right thing.

“Matthew caused damage to the house by throwing items and punching walls. Matthew attacked the sleeping woman at a point she was most vulnerable; the trauma and emotional impact that this has had will undoubtably stay with her for life.

“Whilst the result in court does not take away the harm Matthew has caused, I hope knowing he has been found guilty and will hopefully be behind bars for a very long time, offers some element of solace to the brave woman who came forward.

“We take all reports of rape and sexual offences extremely seriously and continue to work relentlessly to take offenders like Matthew out of our communities.

“Specialist trained officers work closely with partnering agencies across our force area to support victims and survivors, alongside aiding in preventing further incidents by putting perpetrators before the courts.

“My advice to all victims of sexual offences is to come forward and speak to us when you are ready, if you are not ready there are many partner organisations that you can tell, who are only required to pass this to us if you are in immediate danger.

“It is important that you tell someone, a friend, a loved one or an organisation who is there to help. We will always do everything we can to hold those to account who chose to commit such horrid crimes.”

Description

A man has been jailed for nine years and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life after secretly filming and sexually abusing a teenage girl.

David Rudkin, 57-years-old, of Roxby Road in Winterton pleaded guilty to two counts of assault by penetration, sexual assault, voyeurism and making indecent photographs of children at an earlier court date. He has now been sentenced to nine years behind bars and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life following an appearance at Hull Crown Court last week (Friday, 22 May 2026).

An investigation into Rudkin was first launched when we received non-recent reports of a teenage girl that had been subjected to sexual abuse across a period of five years. As well as engaging in sexual activity with her whilst she slept, she also reported that she believed Rudkin had hid his phone on multiple occasions in order to film private videos of her without her knowing.

Rudkin was arrested on 7 April 2019 and interviewed by detectives. He denied all allegations and blamed the victim on being tired, resulting in confusion and the reason behind the report. He was released under investigation whilst further enquiries were conducted.

Further evidence came to light when the victim provided text messages that were exchanged between her and Rudkin. He attended Brigg Police Station for a voluntary interview on 6 June 2021 to be questioned in regard to this new evidence. He denied any sexual intention behind the messages.

Detectives continued the investigation and building a case of evidence into the reports against Rudkin, with one line of enquiry being an old mobile phone that was located and seized. On this device was a video of the girl being secretly filmed getting undressed, confirming the original concerns that Rudkin had hidden his phone without her knowing.

He eventually pleaded guilty to all offences at an appearance at Grimsby Crown Court on Monday, 23 March 2026.

Detective Constable Molly Cross who led the investigation said:

“Rudkin is a sexual predator who took away a young girls’ teenage years by subjecting her to years of abuse and trauma.

“I would like to commend the bravery of the girl who came forward and reported Rudkin, these investigations are lengthy and complex, but it is thanks to her bravery throughout the process that he is now behind bars.

“I hope this sends a message to that whether sex offences have taken place a yesterday, or 10 years ago, we take all reports of this nature extremely seriously. When you are ready, we will support you through the full judicial process, and signpost you to relevant agencies.”

Description

A man who sexually abused and manipulated two teenage girls with alcohol and threats over a prolonged period of time has been found guilty of seven counts of non-recent sexual offences.

Following a five-day trial at Grimsby Crown Court that concluded on Friday, 28 November 2025, Alan Wigglesworth, 45-years-old from Scunthorpe has been found guilty of two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, two counts of sexual assault, causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, assault by penetration, and inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

He has been remanded into custody to appear back at Grimsby Crown Court on Friday, 6 February 2026 for sentencing.

On Tuesday, 24 June 2025, a 13-year-old girl disclosed to a trusted adult that she believes she had been touched inappropriately and sexually abused in a series of non-recent sex offences over a number of years by a man she named as Wigglesworth.

The trusted adult came forward and reported this allegation to the police, and our Protecting Vulnerable People Unit immediately launched an investigation.

Detectives first engaged with the teenage girl to understand the full circumstances around the report, who began to make further disclosures that the same had happened to her friend, again naming Wigglesworth as the one responsible.

Initial enquiries quickly uncovered that Wigglesworth had been manipulating and controlling two 13-year-old girls, luring them in by giving them alcohol to enable him to go on and perform sexual acts on them.

Wigglesworth was subsequently arrested at work in June 2025 on suspicion of sexual assault of two children aged under 13. 

During his interviews, he claimed he had no knowledge of the offences he had been arrested for and denied committing any sexual offences against either of the girls.

Detectives, however, submitted evidence gathered to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), charges were accepted, and Wigglesworth was remanded into custody to await his court date.

Detective Constable Nathan LeQuelenec from our Protecting Vulnerable People Unit led the investigation and said:

“Wigglesworth enticed the young and vulnerable teenagers with alcohol and even threatened them that they would be taken away if they ever tried to tell anyone about what he was doing to them.

“He cruelly took advantage of them, luring them in to sexually assault and abuse them all for his own perverse sexual gratification.

“To then plead not guilty and force the victims and their families through the ordeal of a trial, could be seen as another twisted ploy to control them and appease his detestable behaviour.

“I’d like to commend the victims for first disclosing what was happening to them to a trusted adult, and for their patience and maturity throughout the entirety of what has been a very lengthy process.

“Whilst he has been found guilty, I know that this will not take away the pain and trauma they have faced and continue to have to live with, but I am pleased he is being held accountable and will be sentenced next year.

“We take reports of this nature incredibly seriously and will continue to seek prosecution against anybody who thinks it is okay to commit these types of offences.

“If you believe you have been a victim of these kinds of crimes, or suspect someone you know has, please report it to us, a trusted adult, or if you are not yet ready, you can first speak to an appropriate support agency. You will be listened to, and working alongside partner agencies, we will continue to take action against offenders like Wigglesworth.

“You can speak to specialist support networks and organisations privately and confidentially before you even call us to talk through the criminal process or seek advice about reporting both recent and non-recent crimes of this nature to us.”

Description

An ‘abhorrent’ man who took advantage of a families trust in him and sexually abused two children has been sentenced to three years and three months behind bars, handed an indefinite restraining order and sexual harm prevention order, and will be on the Sex Offenders Register for life following his appearance at Hull Crown Court today (Tuesday,19 August).

Stacie John Farrar, 47-years-old of Oakland View in Scunthorpe was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 following a five-day trial concluding on Friday, 13 June at Grimsby Crown Court.

An investigation was launched after officers received reports that a child had disclosed Farrar had sexually abused them over a number of years. During initial lines of enquiry, another brave victim came forward to report similar offences they had been subjected to at the hands of Farrar.

Farrar was arrested and when interviewed, he denied all allegations put to him, insisting he was unsure why they would say that about him.

He was subsequently charged with five counts of sexual assault of a female child under 13, assault by penetration, and rape of a girl under 13.

Description

A man who raped a woman as she slept has been sentenced to five years and ten months behind bars, given a ten-year restraining order, and will be on the Sex Offenders Register for life following his appearance at Grimsby Crown Court today (Thursday, 7 August).

Craig Hillman, 36-years-old, of Dovedale Road in Scunthorpe was charged with rape in October last year, and pleaded guilty at a hearing at Grimsby Crown Court on Monday, 7 July. 

Detective Constable Rebecca McInnis from our Protecting Vulnerable People Unit said:

“Coming forward and reporting offences of such nature is not easy, and I commend the woman for the bravery and strength she has shown in coming forward, ultimately helping to take a sexual predator like Hillman off our streets.

“Hillman preyed on the woman and raped her as she slept, and this ordeal will undoubtedly stay with her for the rest of her life, and no amount of justice will take away the trauma Hillman has inflicted.

“We take all reports of rape and other sexual offences extremely seriously and we will continue to seek justice for those who have suffered at the hands of predators like Hillman.

“Our specialist trained officers work closely with partnering agencies across the region to support victims and survivors, as well as working hard to prevent further incidents by putting perpetrators before the courts.

“When you are ready, we encourage you to tell someone. Tell a trusted adult or friend, reach out to specialist support agencies and tell us. We will always do everything we can to hold those accountable for such vile crimes."

Description

A man who sexually assaulted teenage girls has been jailed.

Christopher Florides, 62, of High Street, Yaddlethorpe, near Scunthorpe, pleaded guilty to nine counts of sexual assault at Grimsby Crown Court in February.

In a later appearance, before the same court on 28 June, Florides was jailed for six years and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.

He was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order.

Description

A registered sex offender, described by Bedfordshire Police as “a vile individual”, has been jailed for more than eight years after grooming a vulnerable teenage girl into having a sexual relationship with him.

Ben Wooding, 27, met the girl in August 2021 when he was living in the Bedford area and doing some work at her house. He initially struck up conversations and became friendly with her, before he engaged in sexual activity, and regularly gave her alcohol.

He used SnapChat to message the victim, where he coerced her into sending indecent images of herself to him.

Becoming suspicious, the victim’s mother checked her daughter’s PlayStation and discovered the messages and images they had been sending each other and reported it to the police.

Wooding was initially arrested in May 2022 for other offences relating to the possession of indecent images of children. He served a short custodial sentence and was released on licence the following year. He was also the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

During this time, the victim had come forward and told police that she had been groomed by Wooding and that he had engaged in sexual activity with her.

Wooding was arrested and interviewed in relation to this, and bailed whilst the investigation was ongoing, but shortly after he breached his conditions by failing to notify police of a change of address and was re-arrested.

On Friday (19 April) Wooding, of Exeter Road, Scunthorpe, received a custodial sentence of eight years and three months, after pleading guilty to three counts of sexual activity with a child, and a further count of breaching both his Sex Offender Notification Requirements and Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

He will also serve an additional five years on licence, will be the subject of a lifetime SHPO, on the Sex Offenders Register and was also handed a life-long restraining order.

Description

A former Humberside Police officer who had sex with a troubled woman in a clear breach of trust has been jailed for two years and four months.

Ex-PC Simon Miller was supposed to be helping her as part of his duties but he "completely abused his position of trust" by having a sexual relationship with the "vulnerable" woman. He sent her a message that allegedly warned her that nobody would believe her if she told anyone about what had happened, Hull Crown Court heard.

Miller, 54, earlier admitted engaging in a sexual relationship with a victim, knowing that this was improper.

He had been immediately dismissed last year after a misconduct hearing was held into his "unforgivable" behaviour. He met the woman while he was on duty during an incident.

Defence barrister Alex Menary told an earlier hearing that messages were sent to the woman, some of them from Miller's phone and some from Snapchat, and there were pages of records about these and the woman's responses.

The woman had made screenshots of some of the messages. Mr Menary said that Miller went to check on the woman and took her back to a refuge. They had sex that day.

Miller, of Scunthorpre, arrived in a marked police car to pick her up. They went back to the refuge and she and Miller were there between 2 and 3pm.

"In that time, sexual intercourse took place," said Mr Menary. There was later a message to Miller from the woman to say "Thank you." He replied: "No worries."

The woman sent a message to him at 4.37pm saying: "Thanks." Miller sent her a message later that day. Mr Menary told the court that the woman was claiming that "he was saying that, if you tell anyone, they won't believe you because you are in a mental asylum."

She said: "I wasn't in the best place at the time. My mental health wasn't in the best scenario at the time."

Mr Menary said that it would be "quite a hurtful thing to hear" and the woman said that it was really upsetting. "I had just been through an extremely difficult time," she said. "To hear that was quite upsetting. I wasn't in the right frame of mind."

Mr Menary said that the woman later sent what seemed to be "very affectionate" messages to Miller but she replied: "The amount of medication I was on, I wasn't thinking straight. It's very difficult for me to recollect many of the messages."

She insisted that she was "really hurt" by the asylum message. Mr Menary asked whether she was pursuing a relationship with Miller and claimed that she had asked him: "Can't I have you?" but he had replied: "No, you can't."

Mr Menary claimed that the woman told Miller in a message: "So you f*** me once and that's it." Mr Menary asked the woman if she accepted that she was wanting more contact with Miller but she denied that. "I wasn't seeking a relationship," she claimed.

She admitted a prosecution claim that she was "kind" and "a little bit flirty" to Miller in later messages. "I believe so," she said.

A Humberside Police spokesman said previously: "Criminal and internal investigations were launched into the actions of former PC Simon Miller after a report was received of inappropriate conduct and behaviour. "Miller, based in Scunthorpe, engaged in a sexual relationship with a vulnerable victim after meeting her while on duty at an incident in 2021.

"After the internal investigation, an accelerated misconduct hearing took place in August last year, in private so as not to jeopardise the ongoing criminal investigation. The misconduct panel found that he had breached the standards of professional behaviour in relation to discreditable conduct and he was immediately dismissed and placed on the College of Policing barred list."

Head of professional standards Superintendent Andy Maultby said at the time: "Miller has completely abused his position of trust and took advantage of someone when she was in need of support. His discreditable conduct and behaviour didn't just breach the standards of professionalism, it was utterly condemnable and unforgivable.

"I want to praise the lady for her courage in speaking out. It has enabled us to ensure he has been criminally prosecuted, removed from our police force and placed on the College of Policing barred list.

"We will not condone or accept any form of abuse of position within Humberside Police and we will always take action and hold those responsible to account.

"We are committed to rooting out those who should never have embarked on a police career and who cause the communities we serve to doubt our integrity and professionalism. Our communities deserve the highest quality service and should feel they can have confidence in policing and we will do all we can to deliver this."

Description

A 'violent' Scunthorpe rapist has been jailed for 11 years.

Ceirion Jones, 24, of Valley View Drive, Scunthorpe, was convicted of six offences which happened between 2014 and 2017. He will also be placed on the sex offenders register for life.

Jones was found guilty after an 11-day trial at Grimsby Crown Court of five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault by penetration. Humberside Police praised the victims for their bravery and courage during the investigation.

Officer in the case, Detective Constable Megan Sherwin said: Jones is a violent offender who continues to show no remorse for his crimes, putting his victims through the stress of a trial instead of admitting what he has done.

I am reassured that he is now off our streets and is facing considerable time behind bars. I hope he uses that time to reflect on the harm he has caused and the impact that his perverse attacks have had on the lives of others.

I want to take this opportunity to praise the victims, who have all shown great bravery in speaking out about their ordeal. It is because of their courage, throughout both the investigative and judicial proceedings, that Jones is now locked up and unable to prey on anybody else.

I hope that this sentence sends a clear message to any other victims of sexual abuse that we will listen and support you and we will investigate thoroughly, doing everything we can to bring offenders before the courts.

If you are a victim of crime, or have concerns that someone you know is, please call us on our non-emergency 101 line or 999 in an emergency.

Description

A Derby sex predator who targeted three women has been jailed for eight years.

A court heard how James Jacklin had preyed on the vulnerable women and attacked them on separate occasions.

He was charged with two counts of assault by penetration and one count of sexual touching.

Jacklin, 26, denied the offences but was found guilty by a jury following a week-long trial at Derby Crown Court.

Victim statements from two of the women said one “wakes up having nightmares” and another “has flashbacks about the incident”.

The court heard that while Jacklin was on bail for the first offence in July 2017, he carried out the second in September of the same year.

The offences happened in Derby between July and October 2017.

He knew victim was vulnerable

Mark Watson, prosecuting, said Jacklin put his hand inside the cup of his first victim’s bra.

He said Jacklin took advantage of the second woman when she was “heavily intoxicated and vulnerable”.

Mr Watson also described the third woman as vulnerable.

One victim statement read: “The crime has knocked my confidence a lot.

“I have been worried about getting to places in Derby.

“I have had flashbacks about the incident. I have had extensions from University.

“I am now comfortable with my boyfriend but at first I was flinching when he went to touch me.”

Parents shocked by son's crimes

Another victim statement said: “This case has been ongoing for a year.

“I left my job as a result of the crimes.

“I’m struggling at work with anxiety. I became unwell and lost weight.

“I would wake up having nightmares. I have also had therapy as a result of what happened to me."                                     

Defence solicitor Edna Leonard said that Jacklin had never been in prison before.

She said: “At the time when he was due trial he had moved back to live with his parents in Scunthorpe.

“It came as a great shock to him and to them.”

She said he had been sacked from his job.

She added: “He’s been hard working since he left school.

“Having a few nights in custody is a massive shock to the system.”

Assault by penetration

Judge Jonathan Bennett said they were “three serious offences”.

He said: “You were convicted by a jury here this week of sexual assault and two counts of assault by penetration.

“You have no previous convictions for sexual offences. These offences have a common theme running through them.

“All of them, when they were sexually assaulted, were in drink and indeed you were.”

He said one of the women was “vulnerable and unwell”.

Judge Bennett said Jacklin had also “shown a degree of arrogance” in his actions.

He said: “You were arrested in July.

“You were released and during that period the [next] offence occurs.”

Judge Bennett sentenced Jacklin to eight years imprisonment.

He also imposed an indefinite restraining order on Jacklin prohibiting him from contacting the women.

Detective Constable Leah Conner, of Derbyshire police, who investigated the offences said: “I want to commend the bravery of the three women who fell victim to Jacklin’s predatory behaviour.

“They have remained steadfast throughout the investigation and trial and I am hopeful that, although we cannot erase what happened to them, this sentence will allow them to put what happened behind them.

“I also hope that they can take comfort in the knowing that Jacklin is off the streets and cannot hurt anyone else.”