Latest Offenders Sheffield

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One of two courageous victims who were abused by a jailed sex-offender has told how his abuser smashed a child’s trust into pieces.

Following a trial at Sheffield Crown Court, Louis Maidment, formerly of Hinde House Lane, Sheffield, was found guilty of four counts of raping a child aged under 13 and one count of inciting a child aged under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and on April 4 he was sentenced to nine years of custody.

In July 2019, the abuse was reported to the police and 28-year-old Maidment was questioned and despite denying the offences he was later found guilty of all five charges laid against him.

In a victim impact statement read in court, one of the victims said: “As a child I have gravitated towards those who I have needed support from as and when I needed it. What happened to me, made me question this and how I could keep myself safe.

“The whole thing has made me question my self-worth right to adulthood. I just hope I can gain some closure now from this and move forward.”

The second victim added: “Due to the events that transpired with Maidment I have suffered immensely for years. I find it’s very difficult for me to form meaningful connections with people. I can’t trust anybody anymore and see them as potential threats.

“He controlled, humiliated, and harmed me physically and mentally. I hope he learns that his actions have consequences and that no one should ever have to be subjected to that abuse.”

South Yorkshire Police also stated that one of the two victims who suffered sexual abuse at the hands of Louis Maidment also stated: “He took a child’s trust and smashed it into pieces.”

Detective Sergeant Susannah Taylor, who led the investigation, said: “These victims had their childhood stripped away from them due to Maidment’s actions and on top of the sexual abuse he put them through, he also used physical violence to further scare them.

“I am pleased to see Maidment has been jailed for his appalling actions, and I hope his victims can begin to move forward now he is behind bars.”

Description

A paedophile who arranged to meet who he thought was a 14-year-old boy for sex has been jailed.

William Grassby was handed the two year term at Sheffield Crown Court today (Thursday 9 March) after admitting to multiple offences relating to sexual communications with children.

Grassby was identified through two sting operations one led by the police, and the other by members of the public.

The then 47-year-old had been messaging the first decoy, who he believed to be 14, over the course of a week before arranging to meet him for sex at Meadowhall, Sheffield.

Grassby also befriended an undercover police officer, posing as a 12-year-old boy, on social media. He began to send multiple sexual messages to the boy, asking about his sexual interests and arranging to meet up and have sex.

Following his arrest, Grassbys electronic devices were seized which divulged his engagement in multiple sexual communications with suspected children.

He was charged with two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, and one count of attempting to meet a boy under the age of 16 following grooming. He entered a guilty plea on 16 February before being jailed today.

Investigating officer Sarah Anderson said: Grassby is an incredibly depraved individual with abhorrent intentions towards children.

Grassby knew of both the childrens ages, and we have screenshots of messages where hes arranging to meet with them out of the view of CCTV.

This is obviously incredibly concerning for parents and carers of young children, particularly those who are on social media. If you have suspicions about who your child is speaking to online, I would urge you to contact us.

Grassby, formerly of Spring Close View, has also been issued a 10-year sexual harm prevention order. He will also remain on the sex offenders' register for a decade.

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A serial sex-offender who was trapped online by paedophile hunters told police that he was glad he had been caught because he needed help.

Mark Best, aged 57, of Baslow Road, at Totley, Sheffield, who has convictions for sex offences, had sexual conversations with two online decoy profiles which had been set up by paedophile hunters and he tried to arrange to meet one of them before he was caught by police, according to a Sheffield Crown Court hearing.

Prosecuting barrister David Webster told the hearing on January 25: “The defendant’s activities came to light as a group of volunteers were setting-up online decoys to attract the attention of those with certain proclivities. He made contact with two decoys believing them to be children.”

Mr Webster added that Best engaged in sexual conversations with the first decoy who claimed to be a 13-year-old girl and he discussed his genitals, spanking, cuddling, unzipping his trousers, oral sex, sexual intercourse and that he could go to prison for being involved in this kind of communication.

Best also discussed masturbating and he tried to arrange to meet this decoy at a McDonald’s restaurant at a retail park in Chesterfield but he changed his mind, according to Mr Webster, and he told the decoy she should be with people her own age.

However, Mr Webster added that the defendant contacted the decoy again and said he had felt bad about not meeting her and asked if they could still meet up.

Mr Webster also said that another paedophile hunter group volunteer set-up another decoy as a 12-year-old girl from Derby and Best contacted them and became involved in further sexual conversations.

The paedophile group also set-up an adult, mature decoy and when the defendant turned up for a meeting he was arrested by police and said he was glad to have been caught and could not understand what he had been doing and that he needed help.

Best pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to arrange or facilitate a child sex offence with a decoy between April and October 2022, and to one count of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order from between April, 2022, and October, 2022, by using the internet to attempt to communicate with a child.

The court heard Best already has convictions including offences of non-penetrative touching of a female, breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

Defence barrister Joy Merriam said: “He admits he has a problem and he is attracted to young girls. He said he wants help in prison and the probation officer has said that his sentencing plan should involve that kind of work.”

The judge – Recorder Abdul Iqbal KC – sentenced Best to 48 months of custody and because he was deemed to be dangerous he must serve two-thirds of that term before he can be released and he will also have to serve an extended three years on licence at the end of the four year-term. Best has also been made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order to last until 2031.

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A sex-offender who failed to declare his conviction when he became a head chef at a pub and made sexual comments to a 14-year-old colleague has been put back behind bars.

Doncaster Crown Court heard on December 7 how Alun Sutton, aged 44, of Hazlebarrow Grove, at Jordanthorpe, Sheffield, had originally been given a custodial sentence for attempted child communication offences and he had been made subject to a restrictive ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

But prosecuting barrister Emily Hassall said Sutton got a job as a head chef at a Derbyshire pub after he was released from custody on licence and he failed to declare his conviction and his employer also failed to do a background check and the defendant came into contact with two female kitchen porters aged 15 and 14.

Ms Hassall added that during a Facebook communication from the 14-year-old girl who had been checking if she needed to work, Sutton had replied making a reference to oral sex and suddenly recalling her young age.

The judge – Recorder Alex Menary – said: “Your employer failed to carry out a DBS check. Nevertheless, you went to work there as a head chef. At that time you were the first point of contact for kitchen staff and the offences arise in this way.”

Sutton initially claimed to police he had not known the girls were aged under 16 and that he had not gained any sexual satisfaction during the Facebook communication because he said he is gay.

However, the defendant, who has nine previous convictions for 22 offences, pleaded guilty to two breaches of his SHPO relating to the undeclared and unsupervised work-related contact with the two girls who cannot be identified for legal reasons.

He also admitted a further breach of his SHPO after the sexual communication via Facebook with the 14-year-old girl, as well as admitting engaging in sexual communication with a child.

Benn Robinson, defending, said Sutton had been in a long-term relationship with his former husband and when that relationship had become difficult he had started drinking alcohol and that seems to be the foundation for his offending.

Mr Robinson added that Sutton had also worked a difficult shift and had just discovered his motorbike had been stolen so he had been drinking and was upset when he spoke to the 14-year-old girl over Facebook.

He said: “He started drinking throughout the course of the afternoon and by the time the evening comes around he is significantly inebriated.”

Recorder Menary highlighted that Sutton had already been convicted and sentenced to custody in May, 2020, for attempting to incite a sexual act with a child, attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act, and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

The court heard Menary’s ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order also prohibited him from having unsupervised contact with children aged under 16.

He told Sutton: “You were in a position of being head chef at the ‘hotel’ and these were young people and as pot washers they were at the very bottom of the kitchen hierachy.”

Recorder Menary sentenced to Sutton to two years of custody and stated that the length and terms of defendant’s SHPO would continue as originally outlined.

Description

A sex-offender who repeatedly raped and assaulted a woman has been sentenced to a lengthy jail term and has been made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life.

Sheffield Crown Court heard on December 8 how Louis Williams, aged 39, of Huntingtower Road, near Greystones, Sheffield, was convicted after a previous trial of three counts of rape, one count of indecent assault, ten counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, five counts of making threats to kill and one count relating to disturbing behaviour.

The defendant’s victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, stated: “It is something I will never be able to forget and it will have an impact on me for the rest of my life. The impact on me has been immeasurable.”

She explained how the offending changed her life and thwarted her ambitions as she lost friends and family and it had left her feeling like a prisoner who had been robbed of her life.

The complainant added: “I walked past my old primary school and wished I could start again.”

She added that the trial had been horrific for her because she had been forced to relive her ordeal.

Defence barrister Guy Wyatt, representing Williams, said: “There are some persuasive indications that he is somewhere on the autistic spectrum. People with these kind of difficulties find life more difficult - find life more frustrating.

"People with these sort of difficulties are often prone to difficulties with outbursts of temper. Communications are difficult. Understanding someone else’s thinking is more difficult.

"In the context of this case it is a very small point. I accept that but it is a real point.”

Judge Kirstie Watson revealed how Williams had thrown items at the complainant, punched her, threatened to kill her and sexually assaulted her which had left her suffering with post traumatic stress disorder.

The judge told Williams: “Whatever condition you may or may not suffer from you committed these offences and you knew what you were doing when you committed them.”

She sentenced Williams to 18 years of custody and made him subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and an indefinite restraining order.

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An online predator with a previous conviction has been caged after he was trapped by a paedophile hunter group posing with a decoy profile of a 13-year-old girl.

Luke Pryor, formerly of Deerlands Avenue, Parson Cross, Sheffield, was originally convicted in 2020 for three counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and for three counts of attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act, according to a Sheffield Crown Court hearing.

Prosecuting barrister Amy Earnshaw told the hearing on September 6 how 26-year-old Pryor was given a community order but in June, this year, he struck up a sexual online conversation with a decoy profile of a 13-year-old girl which had been set up by a paedophile hunter group called Defending the Innocent.

Judge Peter Kelson QC told Pryor: You have shown yourself to be a predator. A person who wishes to prey upon children. You have been given a chance of a non-custodial sentence and you have spurned that chance.

Ms Earnshaw explained Pryor began communicating sexually with the decoy on WhatsApp in June and discussed kissing, cuddling, and undressing her.

Pryor sent four images of himself including three of him wearing nothing but a towel.

Ms Earnshaw said a further decoy contact was deployed by the paedophile hunter group and a meeting was arranged at Deerlands Avenue where the group attended and alerted the police.

Pryor pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching a previously Sexual Harm Prevention Order after possessing two phones capable of internet connection and by contacting someone online who was believed to be a child, and he also admitted attempting to sexually communicate with a child.

Rebecca Tanner, defending, said Pryor had become socially isolated and had developed poor health and after he was bailed he lost his address and he does not yet have a home.

Ms Tanner added: Nobody is more disappointed than Mr Pryor himself by letting himself down by committing these offences. He accepts what he has done has placed him in an extremely vulnerable position and he accepts he has no one else to blame but himself.

She also said Pryor realises his actions were not appropriate and that he should not have been trying to contact someone who was not his own age.

Judge Kelson revoked Pryor's previous community order for the three counts of attempting to sexually communicate with a child, and the three counts of attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act, and he chose to resentence the defendant for these matters alongside his new offences.

He told Pryor: The offending you have now committed is the same one in so many ways. You were caught by a sting which was being run by a protective group here in Sheffield.

Judge Kelson sentenced Pryor to two years of custody and the defendant was made subject to a restrictive Sexual Harm Prevention Order to run alongside his Sex Offender Register monitoring for 10 years.

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A pervert who has been dubbed a monster was found by police to have had over 40,000 indecent images of children on a laptop and a phone but still managed to avoid a prison sentence

Sheffield Crown Court heard on September 5 how John Godbehere, aged 51, of Broomhill, Sheffield, had 44,852 indecent images of children on a laptop and 3,944 indecent images of children on a phone at his former family home in Sheffield.

The judge, Recorder Patrick Palmer, told Godbehere who works for the civil service : In December, 2020, you came to the attention of the authorities that images were being uploaded onto the internet from your address. Officers attended your address and found you there.

Recorder Palmer added the material included 44,852 still and moving images on a laptop and 3,944 still and moving images on a phone, all from categories A to C,

Godbehere and had also been having online discussions about sexual abusing and raping children with like-minded perverts.

Godbehere admitted three formal charges of making indecent images relating to categories A, B and C, with category A being the most serious, from between 2017 and 2020.

The defendant also admitted one count of distributing indecent images of a child.

Recorder Lambert told Godbehere: These are despicable and disgusting offences. Each and every one of those children are a genuine victim and that does not appear to have occurred to you until recently.

He highlighted aggravating factors as the pain and distress suffered by the youngsters in the images, the long period of offending, the high volume of images, and evidence that there had been efforts by Godbehere to hide the images with software.

But Recorder Palmer recognised Godbehere is of previous good character, is remorseful and he has done what he can to put this offending behind him.

He sentenced Godbehere to 16 months of custody suspended for two years with a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement.

The defendant was also made subject to the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years and he was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same period.

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A "predatory sex offender" who used social media to groom and abuse three teenage girls has been jailed.

Reece Greenall, 24, befriended his victims online before subjecting them to "horrific" sexual assaults, South Yorkshire Police said.

He was jailed at Sheffield Crown Court after being found guilty of eight offences, including one count of rape.

Greenall, of Dyke Vale Avenue, Sheffield, was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Police said Greenall knew all three of his victims were under 16 but "persisted in his pursuit of them".

Det Con Richard Blakey said: "Greenall has demonstrated that he is a predatory sexual offender, approaching girls who he knew were underage on social media and pestering them with requests to meet.

"The guilty verdicts and jail term will never undo the damage he has caused his victims, but I hope they feel they can focus on the future and their recovery from the abuse they have suffered."

The sentencing hearing was held on 24 June, but police have only just released details.

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A man in South Yorkshire has been sentenced to a decade behind bars after raping a woman in her own home last year.

Soloman Sanyas, 46, of Wincobank Avenue has been on trial for the past week at Sheffield Crown Court charged with rape, witness intimidation and assault after he raped his victim in her own home last year.

During the trial the court head how on May 16 2021 Sanyas entered the home of his victim while she was out. The victim, known to Sanyas, returned home earlier than anticipated and found Sanyas in a bedroom.

Following a verbal altercation Sanyas dragged his victim down the stairs and raped her in her living room.

Detectives and forensic teams attended and found Sanyas gained entry through a window after using garden furniture to climb up.

PC Bernice O'Brien from the Sheffield Protecting Vulnerable People Team said: During this investigation the victim has showed great bravery throughout and I would like to commend her for continuing to ensure Sanyas receives the punishment he deserves. During the investigation Sanyas intimidated the victim on multiple occasions and had known associates threaten her to stop police intervention.

By remaining strong she has ensured that Sanyas cannot harm her or anyone else. I am pleased Sanyas has received a lengthy custodial sentence.

Sanyas was sentenced on Tuesday to ten years in prison after being found guilty of all charges. He was also given a restraining order for ten years to not contact his victim.

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Steven Hobson, aged 29, was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years in 2017 after being jailed for making and distributing indecent images of children.

Upon his release he had to agree to abide by strict rules, including notifying the police of any change of address.

Hobson is now wanted for breaching the Sex Offender Notification Requirements.

South Yorkshire Police said: As part of the terms of the Sex Offenders Register, Hobson is required to regularly update his address with police, however he has now failed to register an address with us since January 2022.

Extensive enquiries have been made to locate Hobson but despite speaking to him, he has failed to provide us with his current location.

Hobsons last known address was in Sheffield but he also has links to Rotherham, Lincolnshire and Lancashire.

Questions have been raised over why it took South Yorkshire Police so long to notify city residents that the sex offender was missing.

Jacqueline Howarth said: Why has it taken four months to release this information? I hope he is found quickly and taken off the streets again. We all have a duty of care and protection towards all children whether they are your own or not.

Addressing South Yorkshire Police, Dale Young said: So he's been missing since January, a DANGER to children and your letting the public know NOW. Wow do we not think the public should of been updated on day one of the offender missing?

Hennifer Rach added: Since January they've not known where he is and only just made the public aware.

Others are suggesting a change in the law, including sex offenders being tagged upon their release from prison.

Dawn Cartwright said: Shouldn't he have one of them things on his ankle, so they know where it is at all times?

In agreement, Julie Beales said: They should be on tag for 10 years and the register for life.

Anyone who spots Hobson should dial 999 immediately.

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An elderly sex-offender who was caught wearing a mini-skirt with no pants has been jailed after he repeatedly breached a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Sheffield Crown Court heard on March 11 how Colin Norfolk, aged 67, of Richmond Road, Sheffield, had been made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order after he had accumulated repeated convictions for indecent exposure.

James Baird, prosecuting, said the SHPO prohibited Norfolk from wearing clothing that facilitated the indecent exposure of his genitals in a public place.

But Mr Baird added that between February and September, 2020, police had struggled to locate and monitor Norfolk at his flat and when he had been seen he was obstructive so a camera was installed outside his home to capture his movements.

Mr Baird said: He was seen on the camera and he was arrested leaving the flat wearing a coat, a hat and a short, floral mini-skirt that came just above his knees and flip-flops.

When he was taken into custody it was found he was not wearing underwear.

The SHPO also prohibited Norfolk from possessing devices capable of securing images without authorisation and that such devices should be available for inspection and he should co-operate with police.

Mr Baird said police had initially attended Norfolks home on October 18, 2020, and when he failed to answer the door the camera later showed him leaving the property which proved he had been present during the visit, according to Mr Baird.

The court heard that on November 17, 2020, Norfolk was then captured on the camera wearing the clothing the mini-skirt which could have facilitated an indecent exposure.

Officers subsequently searched Norfolks flat and six mobile phones were seized and only one of them had actually been registered with the police.

Mr Baird said police also tried to execute a search warrant at Norfolks flat but he refused to answer the door and after they had started to force entry he told them he would have answered but he was getting changed.

Norfolk, who has previous convictions including SHPO breaches, pleaded guilty to four counts of breaching his SHPO by failing to make himself available to police, by wearing clothing designed to facilitate indecent exposure, by possessing undeclared phones, and by failing to answer his door to police.

Ian West, defending, said: He instructs me he had an epiphany in mid-December, 2020, and he decided he had to change his ways.

This sort of behaviour. The dressing and being obstructive to the police was clearly not to his benefit and matters had got totally out of hand.

Mr West added that Norfolk is no longer wearing dresses or other female clothes not even in his own home.

Judge Rachael Harrison told Norfolk: Taking the four counts together you exhibited, in my view, a persistent breach.

She added: You treat this as some sort of game. It is not. Your position is seriously aggravated by your previous convictions.

Judge Harrison sentenced Norfolk to 24 months of custody and he was given a further eight weeks of custody relating to the activation of a previously imposed suspended prison sentence.

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A TWENTY-YEAR-OLD man arranged to meet an underage girl for sex, having spent months grooming her in online messaging, a court heard.

Dave Hirchfield travelled from his home in Sheffield for the liaison with the girl in her home town in County Durham, on Wednesday February 9.

Durham Crown Court heard that that several months earlier the girls mother discovered her daughter was exchanging messages on the internet with a man called Dave Hirchfield.

Elizabeth Muir, prosecuting, said although the conversations were not sexual and there was no talk of a meeting, at that stage, she blocked him on her daughters phone, but did not take it further.

But on February 9 the girl told her mother she was going out to a nearby shopping centre.

Miss Muir said some time later her mother tried to ring her, but her daughters phone was switched off.

But a second phone, of which the mother knew nothing, was found in her bedroom containing more sexualised messages with the same man, discussing plans to meet.

Miss Muir said police were contacted and the girl was considered, a high-risk missing person.

By 7.35pm that day she was spotted at the roadside and when spoken to, she seemed anxious.

She told police said she had fallen over while running and walked into a lamppost, accounting for a bruised knee and marks on her coat.

The girl was taken to a police station where her mother was waiting.

Hirchfield was located not far away and when approached by police claimed to be, Bob from Dublin, and asked the way to a bus station.

He was challenged as to his true identity and arrested.

Miss Muir told the court the girl was spoken to by police that evening and the following day, and refused to give a statement, but from the messaging it was clear sexual contact was planned.

It also emerged that Hirchfield wanted her to return to Sheffield to stay the night with him, but she made excuses why she could not go, as her mother would be suspicious and she had a hospital appointment the following day.

Miss Muir said during their rendezvous Hirchfield had kissed the girl and touched her sexually, while he also performed a sex act on himself in her presence.

In a further message he asked if she would be waiting for him for four years for when he comes out of prison.

Hirchfield, of St Elizabeth Close, Sheffield, admitted engaging in sexual communication with a child, meeting a child following sexual grooming, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, and sexual assault.

In a victim statement read to the court, the girls mother said she found it "heart-breaking" that her daughter could not talk about it with her and she felt it had affected her daughters previous bubbly personality.

Ian West, in mitigation, said the defendant, of previous good character, had a difficult upbringing and has had a harsh introduction to the world of adult punishment while on remand in custody for the last month.

Judge Ray Singh said despite being blocked from messaging the girl, in October, the defendant had not left it there and resumed communication, making concerted attempts to meet her, with the aim of having sexual contact.

Imposing a 26-month sentence in a young offenders institution, the judge also made Hirchfield subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and registration as a sex offender, both for ten years.

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Sheffield Crown Court heard on March 3 how Jake Proverbs, aged 21, of Wainwright Crescent, near Richmond, Sheffield, claimed he had consensual sex with the girl in a park and that he had believed she was aged 17.

Nicola Quinney, prosecuting, said the offence came to light after the youngster, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, had made a separate complaint against another person of a sexual offence but a forensically-analysed swab produced a DNA match to Proverbs.

Ms Quinney said Proverbs told police the sexual contact had been consensual after he had met the youngster in a park and he had believed she was 17 years old but the court heard consent concerning such offences against youngsters is not an issue.

Recorder Andrew Smith MBE told Proverbs: She appeared to you to be tipsy, not drunk. You had smoked cannabis yourself and you had sex with her.

He added: Whatever your difficulties - and you do have difficulties - you are culpable and blameworthy. You should have known she was a 12-year-old girl.

Proverbs, who has previous convictions, pleaded guilty to rape of a child aged under 13 after the incident on May 19, 2019.

He also admitted dangerous driving from April 1, 2021, after he sparked a police pursuit while riding a motorcycle in the Manor area of Sheffield.

Ms Quinney said officers in a police helicopter had become concerned about Proverbs driving and alerted colleagues on the ground.

Proverbs drove the wrong way down a one-way system into traffic, drove down City Road at speed, and drove on a footpath in a park before discarding the bike in a garden.

Recorder Smith told Proverbs: It involved a police pursuit and you knew you should have stopped and you immediately admitted to police how stupid you had been.

Rukshanda Japeen Hussain, defending, said regarding the rape the issue of consent does not come into play because the youngster was 12-years-old and she added that he thought she was 17-years-old.

Ms Hussain said at the time of this offence Proverbs was an immature 18-year-old with mental health issues.

She added Proverbs does not appear to be predatory and he had been in an isolated sexual incident where he genuinely believed the youngster was 17 years old and no evidence other than the forensic match was provided.

The court heard Proverbs also suffers with post-traumatic stress disorder after he had been stabbed in an unrelated incident.

Proverbs was also found to be in breach of a suspended prison sentence which had previously been imposed for possessing class A drugs with intent to supply.

Recorder Smith acknowledged there had been an unacceptable delay in bring the rape matter due to problems with the forensic analysis.

He sentenced Proverbs to five years of imprisonment including four years of custody with a one-year custodial extension on licence due to the nature of the offending.

The defendant was placed indefinitely on the Sex Offenders Register and made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same period.

Proverbs was also banned from driving for 30 months.

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A Sheffield man who indecently assaulted a young girl over a number of years starting from when she was just four years old has been found guilty following a trial.

Norman Copeland, 53, of no fixed abode, subjected his victim to a series of sickening attacks over a period of six years.

Yesterday (20 January), Copeland was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14, and two counts of gross indecency with a girl under 14, by a jury at Sheffield Crown Court.

T/Detective Sergeant Susannah Taylor, from Sheffield's Protecting Vulnerable People team, said: "Copeland's vile abuse began when this victim was just a little girl of four years old, and carried on for a six-year period between 1990 and 1996.

"I would like to praise the victim for her tremendous bravery in coming forward and telling us what happened to her all those years ago. Her courage has resulted in a sex offender finally facing the consequences of his despicable actions."

T/DS Taylor added: "While nothing can heal the mental scars caused by this ordeal, I do hope that today's result brings some closure and will allow the victim, who is now a grown woman, an opportunity to begin moving forward with the rest of her life.

"I also hope that this result demonstrates our determination to secure justice for victims of sexual offences, even many years later. If you have been suffering in silence following historic sexual abuse, please report it to us. We will listen and we will work incredibly hard to take action and seek the justice you deserve."

Copeland will be sentenced on 22 February 2022.

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Wesley Hedge admitted six counts of indecent assault against a girl he met in the 1970s and was sent to prison for five years

A former Salvation Army cadet leader has been jailed over a series of historic sex assaults on a teenager.

Wesley Hedge admitted six counts of indecent assault against a girl he had met and groomed in the 1970s.

Sheffield Crown Court heard the 71-year-old would touch the teenagers breasts and get her to touch his genitals as well as carry out other sex acts.

During a sentencing hearing, his victims impact statement revealed she had not realised she was being groomed at the time and felt she was in love with Hedge.

Prosecutor Ian Goldsack told the court that Hedge invited the underage girl to his home while his wife was out and also got her to put his hand on his lap while she sat next to him on a coach trip.

Hedge, of Dunkeld Road, Sheffield, was sentenced to five years in prison.