Latest Offenders Southampton

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A man who was caught in a sting by a paedophile hunter has been jailed for child sex offences.

Robert Babey, 68, was arrested in July following a vigilante operation which was filmed by BBC Inside Out South.

He admitted attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming and multiple breaches of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Sentencing him to seven years in prison, Judge Gary Burrell QC said he had been "publically humiliated".

Southampton Crown Court heard Babey was found in possession of sex toys when he arrived to meet who he thought was a 14-year-old boy but was in fact paedophile hunter Stephen Dure who had posed as a boy online while communicating with the former businessman.

The encounter was filmed as part of a BBC Inside Out South documentary about Southampton-based Mr Dure's activities.

In the programme the National Police Chiefs' Council criticised vigilante activity for potentially compromising police operations.

In sentencing, Judge Burrell QC said that Babey, of Grantham Road, Eastleigh, was "at high risk of serious harm to children".

"You may well have been publically humiliated. You deserve to be. It was an appalling thing to do," he added.

Babey had first been convicted in 1990 for indecent assault.

He was sentenced to seven years in prison, of which he was ordered to serve two-thirds before being released on licence. He was also handed a new Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life.

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A CONVICTED paedophile dressed up as a clown at Saints’ home games as “he liked having his picture taken with families”, it has been revealed.

Season ticket holder Kyle Fourie “concerned police officers” when he told them he would go to games in funny outfits to encourage people to have their photo with him.

Fourie, 26, was convicted of possessing indecent images in April 2016 – and was charged four days later after officers found him with more than 100 videos of boys and girls aged between five and 13.

He was exposed again in February, this time by paedophile hunters TRAP after he believed he was going to meet and abuse a 13-year-old boy.

Southampton Crown Court heard that when Fourie was initially sentenced last year, he was placed on a sexual harm prevention order.

But while serving the sentence he was caught with even more images.

When officers continued their investigations into Fourie they said he was found with briefcases full of newspaper clippings of child abuse cases as well as notes and stories he wrote depicting sexual activities with children.

In February, Fourie then contacted someone he believed to be a teenager, but who was, in fact, members of TRAP.

The group, operating under the fake identity of 13-year-old Tyler on Facebook, were contacted by Fourie.

Fourie sent a number of sexually explicit messages before arranging to meet the ‘child’ earlier this year outside a school in Millbrook.

When he arrived he was confronted by the vigilante group. Officers arrested Fourie and found in his rucksack porn, condoms and sexual enhancement tablets. After the sting, police raided his home again and found X-rated DVDs involving children.

Prosecuting, James Newton-Price told the court that officers had grown concerned about Fourie during unannounced visits to his property between the two sets of offences.

He said: “The officers were concerned that, despite being under a sexual order, he attended all Southampton Football Club matches as he was a season ticket holder.

“He liked to dress as a clown at games as he would always be asked for photographs from families, which meant he was a particular risk to children.”

Mr Newton-Price added: “In July 2016, officers also found magazine and newspaper cuttings of children and articles of child abuse and kidnap stories from the press.”

The court heard that Fourie had been previously convicted on a number of occasions for possessing indecent images of children.

He was also cautioned in 2010 when he admitted taking a picture of a child on the toilet while he volunteered at Mencap in Southampton.

Mitigating, Robert Forrest said Fourie’s offending “was linked to his disability”.

Dr Kevin O’Shea, who assessed Fourie, found him to have learning difficulties that meant it was not possible to “change his intellect, we can only try and change his behaviour”.

Judge Christopher Parker QC sentenced Fourie, of Tatchbury Mount, Calmore, to a hospital order. In order for Fourie to leave hospital, he will have to be signed off by the secretary of state or in a tribunal.

Following the case, an NSPCC spokesperson said: “Fourie’s attempts to groom a child are yet another stark reminder of the risks children and young people face online.”

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A HAMPSHIRE man is lucky be alive after a savage knife attack by his neighbour.

Whitney Palmer was the victim of the attack by friend Peter Smith outside their homes in Woolston, Southampton,

The 62-year-old could have died after he was repeatedly stabbed by convicted rapist Smith when he turned up on his porch late at night.

Smith, of Radstock Road, is today beginning a 12 year jail sentence after a court heard how he lunged at the victim on his doorstep when he opened his front door, narrowly missing major arteries as he stabbed him twice.

Winchester Crown Court was told the exact motive was unclear but that Smith seemed to have developed a grudge for the victim over money.

The court heard the 53-year-old, who was found guilty of the attack at a previous hearing, was under the influence of alcohol at the time, but did not appear drunk to police officers when he was arrested.

Judge Jane Miller QC said the attack was launched without any precipitating cause and that the victim had been amazingly lucky to survive the assault.

It is quite clear the effect the attack has had upon him. He could so easily have died, she said.

Prosecuting Dawn Hyland referred to Smiths previous conviction of rape for which he has served four years in prison.

In a statement Mr Palmer said he had suffered nerve damage in his leg and as a result of the knife attack at around 10pm on March 5, and now found it difficult to move around.

He added: I have not slept well since the assault and experience feelings of dread on a daily basis, he said.

I still cant comprehend what happened to me really. I could easily be dead now.

He added that Smith was, a very unpredictable and dangerous person.

Mitigating, Jamie Swain admitted that Smith had caused nasty injuries, but that he would not want to hurt anyone in that way ever again.

He added that Smith, a joiner, had been friendly to other neighbours, even offering to build items for them and buying them things.

Smith remained expressionless when he was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, hearing that he would serve at least nine years behind bars before being considered for parole.

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A “DISGUSTING” Southampton courier who poses a risk to children has been jailed.

Graham Williams admitted 14 charges including possessing indecent images of children and distributing them.

The 30-year-old was described as being “in denial” of his sexual interest in children, despite having more than 100 images on all of his electronic devices.

He was jailed for four years and one month at Southampton Crown Court.

Prosecuting, Siobhan Linsley said Williams’ manager found the indecent images on his phone after the driver had been due to deliver a parcel to a 17-year-old female customer.

However after struggling to get the package to his customer, Williams, pictured, ended up sending numerous text and Whats App messages to her.

The girl contacted father-of-one Williams’ boss who was informed and arranged a meeting with him and asked to see his phone.

Miss Linsley said: “The manager asked to see Williams’ personal phone that the message had allegedly been on. But when he went on the phone he saw photographs of females, which were of an indecent nature.”

Williams was arrested but while on bail continued to offend.

The court heard that Williams had also contacted children under an alias.

Ms Linsley said: “His profile picture was of a teenage girl and he used an alias when using the sites. When asked who he is, he said a 14-year-old.

“He would ask the girls how old they were and regardless of whether they were under-16, he would ask if they were virgins.”

The court heard that Williams’ personal devices, all which were seized by police, contained 163 images - 73 category A.

Mitigating, Timothy Akers said the offences were “frankly disgusting” but the “number of images wasn’t especially high”.

Mr Akers added that since his offending, which began in 2015, his partner had left him and taken his two-month-old child with her.

In sentencing, Judge Gary Burrell QC said the defendant’s pleas that he was not attracted to children were “preposterous”. He said: “Clearly he has an interest in children sexually and in the probation report it states he struggles to accept what he has done. He is in denial.

“It’s hardly surprising no one is here for him. He’s committed these offences. He has to take what comes from it and often it’s isolation.

“In my judgement you are interested in children. What else can it mean but having one. You’re a risk to any community especially one if there are children around.”

Williams, of Millbrook Road West, was also ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for life and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for life.

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A man has been jailed after grooming and then sexually abusing a young girl.

Paul Jenkins of Southampton appeared at Southampton Crown Court where he faced a four charges of child sexual abuse.

The court was told that Jenkins began abusing the girl when she was just 11 years old and the repeated abuse continued for two years.

Jenkins was found guilty of three of the four charges he faced.

The judge handed Jones a 30 month prison sentence of which he must serve half.

Jones is also required to register a sex offender for life

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A "predator" who picked up underage girls in the street for sex and infected them with sexually-transmitted diseases has been jailed for 12 years.

A court heard Antonio Agard, 54, targeted young girls in Southampton, giving them gifts and money, and lying about his age.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with victims aged 14 or 15 at the time of the offences.

The judge said Agard "brainwashed" the girls to feed his sexual desires.

'Playing with dolls'

Southampton Crown Court heard Agard, of James Street, was already on the sex offenders register when he met his first victim in 2002 or 2003.

The court heard he approached her in a BMW car as she was walking in the street.

The pair had a relationship lasting two or three years, during which time the girl contracted gonorrhoea from him.

In a victim impact statement, she said she was now estranged from her family because of the relationship and had been diagnosed as suffering from depression.

The second girl was befriended in 2006 and "repeatedly infected" with chlamydia, the court heard.

Her statement said she had been "playing with dolls" only a month before meeting Agard, and felt he had "taken her childhood away".

The court was told Agard had three previous convictions for having sex with underage girls and one conviction for indecent assault on a child.

Judge Gary Burrell QC told him: "What you did was absolutely dreadful. You operated as a street predator looking for young girls.

"You used both girls for sexual pleasure: controlled, manipulated and in effect brainwashed them to be compliant with your sexual desires."

He imposed consecutive six-year jail terms for each count, together with a sexual harm prevention order to last indefinitely.

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ONE OF Southampton's most wanted men has been jailed for four years after a string of sex attacks on women and girls as young as 11.

Daniel Randall-Coles will serve four years in prison and five years on licence after pleading guilty to 17 sexual attacks on women between 11 and 38 years old.

Appearing at Southampton Crown Court the 25-year-old of Millbrook Road West admitted to riding up silently behind women on his bicycle wearing high visibility gear and groping them, grabbing their bodies in a sexual nature on many occasions by putting his hand up the female's coat or skirt before fleeing the scene.

Sentencing, Judge Ralls QC said it was a "bizarre" offence and told the court he believed Randall-Coles was a danger to the public as the offences showed Randall-Coles planned the attacks which happened in the space of around two weeks.

Crying as his mother, sister and partner - who he has a two-month-old son with - sat in the public gallery, Randall-Coles heard from prosecution that between January 11 and January 29 this year he assaulted women when they were alone in public places, regularly occupied taking on the phone, listening to music or exercising and he would cycle up behind them and grab them.

The assaults happened in various locations across the city near West Quay and Above Bar Street, Southampton General Hospital in Millbrook and Lordshill.

On some occasions victims said that he circled back on his bike, laughed or grinned at them and one woman said he winked at her.

Victim statements read to the court said that many felt "violated and very scared" as well as "disgusted and ashamed."

Randall-Coles was sentenced to four years in prison and five years After admitting 15 counts of sexual assault and two counts of sexually assaulting girls aged under 13.

He will also be registered on the Sex Offenders Lister and has been given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for an indefinite period of time.

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A FATHER downloaded indecent images of children less than a month after admitting the same offence, a court heard.

Sukhdev Sandhu had been sentenced to attend a course for sex offenders after pleading guilty to his first offence on January 28, 2010.

But he was discovered to have accessed more images on February 20 that year.

However he has walked free from court after arguing that the second offence took place before he had been on a rehabilitation course that had stopped him re-offending since.

Siobhan Lindsey, prosecuting, told Southampton Crown Court how Sandhu was caught when offender managers visiting his Southampton home became suspicious and seized his laptop computer on July 23, 2014.

Experts found 32 indecent images of children in the computer records, two of which fell into the most serious category, as well as five extreme pornographic images depicting bestiality and violent sexual acts.

The youngest child identified was thought aged eight to 10 years old.

Investigators also found an external hard drive had been used to download and store the images but this was never recovered.

There was also a search term on the computer commonly used when searching for indecent images.

Sandhu was arrested and eight further indecent images of children were found on his mobile phone along with another three extreme pornographic images.

Miss Linsley said she had no evidence of when these were put on.

The court was told that Sandhu said the pictures were downloaded after his conviction but before he started his sex offender program and he had stopped once he completed that course.

Sandhu, 50, of Selborne Walk, Bitterne, admitted six counts of making indecent photographs of a child and one count of possessing an extreme pornographic image.

David Reid, mitigating, said such behaviour was often compulsive or addictive and Sandhu had not then yet been given strategies to help him avoid temptation. The fact that he offended so soon after was “maybe his best mitigation”, Mr Reid added.

He said there had been no offences in the four and a half years since he was sentenced for 18 charges of making indecent images.

The court heard how Sandhu had then lost his job and due to these new offences his wife had now lost hers as a school teaching assistant, making it unlikely they could fund their son’s first year at university.

But Sandhu hopes to return to Malaysia short-term to work for his brother, allowing his wife to return to work and their income to fund their son’s education.

Judge Peter Henry said the images were “appalling” and this was not a “victimless crime” as children had been abused.

He said he could not be sure that Sandhu had continued looking at these images after his treatment and that sending him to prison might undo that work.

Sandhu was sentenced to eight months in prison suspended for two years with an 18-month supervision requirement.

He was also given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, put on the sex offender register for 10 years and his mobile phone and laptop will be destroyed.

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A pervert found guilty of grooming a schoolgirl for sex laughed as he was sentenced by a judge.

Terrance (Terry) Day, 23 of Southampton was found guilty at Southampton Crown Court of sexual activity with a child aged under 16-years-old with penetration.

The court heard Day groomed the child for his own sexual gratification.

Day showed no remorse throughout the trial.

He was sentenced to 15-months imprisonment and was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for a period of two years.

He is also required to register as a sex offender for a period of ten-years.

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A man who raped a 13-year-old girl, who he befriended in an internet chat room she had joined because she was being bullied at school, had his jail sentence doubled after an appeal.

Lawrence Fernandes, 35, formerly from Southampton, was handed a six-year sentence for two counts of rape and two indecency offences relating to events in 2003.

But three judges at the Court of Appeal in London agreed with Solicitor General Robert Buckland that the term given out by Exeter Crown Court in August was "unduly lenient" and extended it to 12 years.

The judges heard how Fernandes, who was in his 20s at the time, had given the girl numerous gifts, including underwear, money, and a teddy bear with a voice recording of him telling her he loved her.

Mr Buckland told the appeal judges that the victim met Fernandes though an online chat room she had joined because she was "being bullied at school and felt lonely".

She made a complaint to police in 2013 after watching a television programme about rape, the court heard.

When interviewed, Fernandes denied there had been any sexual activity and claimed the girl told him she was 16.

Speaking after the hearing, Mr Buckland said:

Lawrence Fernandes groomed his victim online and when they arranged to meet, he forcibly raped her. He showered her with gifts and money, tricking her into thinking they were in a relationship, but she was a child and was vulnerable. I asked the Court of Appeal to look again at his six-year sentence as his behaviour had a significant impact on his child victim and I hope that today has offered her a degree of comfort knowing that her attacker's sentence is now 12 years.

Solicitor General, Robert Buckland

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A VIOLENT rapist who launched a terrifying attack on a young student before beating a brave stranger who came to her rescue is today behind bars thanks to a selfie.

Shumel Ahmed hid in bushes ready to pounce on the 19-year-old who he subjected to a severe beating before raping her and threatening to kill her as she screamed desperately for help.

It was only thanks to the bravery of another student walking past who rushed to her rescue having heard her blood-curdling screams that she was able to get away.

But little did 21-year-old Ahmed know that a selfie he had taken on his own phone would be the key to getting him jailed.

Southampton Crown Court heard how the Southampton University student was walking home from a night out with friends in Southampton when she was grabbed round the neck and dragged backwards into some bushes on Portswood Road, at around 1am, on February 26.

Just yards from his own home, Ahmed punched her in the head repeatedly as she screamed for help and then threatened to kill her if she didnt stop.

Prosecutor Rachel Robertson said: She knew if she struggled it would get worse. She lay there praying for help. She said I wont tell anyone, just dont kill me.

She added: Her prayers to some degree were answered when she heard someone saying whats going on.

That was another student from the university who was also on his way home after a night out.

As he came to her aid, Ahmed started beating him, giving the teenager a chance to make her escape.

Ahmed, of Portswood Road, demanded money and a mobile phone from his male victim, who managed to get up, hit his attacker and fled.

She suffered several injuries including a hairline fracture to her jaw and the male suffered a chipped tooth, concussion and a black eye.

Officers were quickly on the scene, having been alerted to residents who had heard her scream and set up a cordon.

But within just 90 minutes of the attack Ahmed had been arrested after he was spotted returning to the scene by the officer guarding the cordon.

When officers searched through his phone they found a selfie of Ahmed wearing the same baseball cap found at the scene, giving officers enough evidence before forensic came back to charge him and keep him off the streets.

The court heard how forensic tests later found both Ahmeds and the rape victims DNA on the hat (see below) and her DNA in his underpants.

Ms Robertson also told how shortly before the attack, a couple driving on Portswood Road had seen a man, matching Ahmeds description chasing another woman, who was running. They felt so concerned they stopped to offer her a lift home.

Ms Robertson added: We can say the running lady was extremely fortunate.

Defending Ahmed, Christopher Bauer said the defendant, who had no previous convictions for sexual assault, did show remorse and had pleaded guilty early on.

Sentencing Ahmed to 14 years in prison -10 years for rape and four years to run consecutively for assault with intent to rob, Judge Gary Burrell said it was frightening attack which has had a physical and psychological effect on both victims.

Speaking about the student who intervened, he added: Goodness knows what would have happened if he hadnt because you were beating that girl up very badly and she sustained some very bad injuries.

Stating the importance of the selfie after the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Paul Harrison, said: This was a pivotal piece of evidence that allowed us to charge him before forensic evidence became available, making the streets of Southampton a safer place to be within 24 hours.

I would like to pay tribute to the bravery of our female victim, who was subject to the worst possible ordeal but still found the strength and courage to keep shouting and screaming which alerted witnesses to what was happening.

We are also very grateful to our male victim who didnt think twice before stepping in and confronting Ahmed during the horrifying attack.

The work of all involved in this investigation has resulted in this dangerous man being taken off our streets.

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HE WAS the man who was supposed to protect her from harm but he stole her childhood in the most terrifying way.

Caroline* was just 11 years old when her depraved dad John Farmer raped her in the family home.

He subjected her to a catalogue of vile crimes including sneaking into her room to assault her while she slept and forcing her to perform sex acts on him.

When he had finished with her, he would call her his special princess and tell her she could tell nobody otherwise she would be taken away.

When she was 12, Caroline raised the alarm at her school, but though it put an end to the abuse, the schoolgirl was not believed and authorities failed to take action.

It was only decades later that Caroline plucked up the courage to report what happened and bring her dad to justice.

The mum-of-four was in court to see the 71-year-old, pictured below, sentenced to 12 years in jail for rape and sexual assaults over a two-year period.

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Echo, Caroline said: It is your dad, the one man in the whole world you should have 100 per cent trust in and who you believe would never hurt you.

When I was finally able to speak out, it was like a huge dark cloud had been lifted off my shoulders. It was no longer a dirty secret that was swept under the carpet.

Caroline, who has an older sister and two brothers, said family life had always been normal.

We were just a normal family doing normal family things. Like any other kids, we would jump into bed with mum and dad in the morning. Youd think nothing of it at that age.

However one morning, her innocent care-free life ended.

I had woken up and climbed into mum and dads double bed like any other time. Mum was downstairs making breakfast at the time. Dad pulled me towards him and started play fighting with me but all of a sudden, he put his hands under my nightie and touched me.

I felt complete disbelief and fear. Afterwards you just freeze, you become numb.

Terrified, Caroline hoped the abuse by her controlling father would never happen again, but it did, and it got worse.

I was in his bed one morning having cuddles and he started tickling my back.

The next thing I knew, he forced himself on top of me and raped me.

I just wanted it to stop. It was painful.

I looked at him and no longer saw my dad. Instead of guarding me from the monsters, dad was a monster.

Caroline, pictured below as a child, describes losing interest in life as her living hell continued for two years in the family home in Fritham Road, Harefield, as well as in Wales when her dad abused her on a family holiday.

Farmer, who worked as a labourer, often abused his daughter after tucking her in at bedtime and once even sneaked into the bedroom she shared with her sister at night and sexually assaulted her while she slept.

Every time he would just get up, walk away and carry on as if everything was just totally normal. Hed never say a word about it, as if it never happened.

It was at school in February 1979 that Caroline plucked up the courage to tell her teacher what had happened to her.

She explained: I was sent home with mum and remember feeling so frightened, I was clinging on to her hand. When we got back I was sent up to my bedroom.

"There was a heated conversation downstairs between her and dad. He admitted to her hed touched me as if a kiss and a cuddle and that was it.

"I was called downstairs, but I didnt say anymore. Mum said it had been a misunderstanding and walked me back to school.

Knowing what I know now, I feel so let down by the school.

Carolines mum and dad divorced shortly after Farmer had an affair and though initially hurt that her mother did not protect her, she now feels she too was brainwashed by his lies.

For years, the horrific abuse took its toll on every aspect of Carolines life.

She married four times and at one stage became so depressed she became alcohol dependant, lost her job and unable to cope with the mental trauma, got in trouble with the police and became so low she even tried to take her own life before a stint in rehab.

I remember one time my daughter asked me did I remember when I lost my virginity and I couldnt answer her. I felt sick.

It was her husband and the support of her older brother Steve that finally gave her the strength to report her dads evil crimes two years ago.

Caroline, now 48, contacted Hampshire charity Southampton Rape Crisis who supported her to get justice.

Farmer, of Bye Road, Swanwick, was arrested and charged with rape and indecent assault, but he pleaded not guilty and Caroline had to prepare herself not only for a trial, but also to be cut off from family members.

I was 100 per cent frightened to speak out. When I did, it felt like I was finally free, but it wasnt easy.

On Facebook Ive had abuse from family members I was called a prostitute, a drama queen, a liar.

It did really hurt me but it makes me appreciate the people who do love me.

In May, the trial began at Southampton Crown Court and adamant to look her abuser in the eye, Caroline took to the witness stand where she relived every detail of her nightmare.

Five days later the jury found him guilty of one count of rape and seven counts of indecent assault.

Earlier this month, Farmer was sentenced to 12 years in prison and is on the sex offenders register for life.

Caroline explained: There was no remorse on his face at all. I didnt care if he got a year or a hundred years, I just wanted justice. After months of sleepless nights and seeing his face in nightmares, I felt like I could finally breathe again.

As the victim of a serious sexual crime, Caroline was entitled to lifelong anonymity, but in an act of incredible bravery, she has decided to waive that right in order to give others hope that there is life after rape.

It takes so much courage at any age to speak out to know if you are going to be believed but not talking about it, means it festers inside.

If you do nothing, it will eat away at you and it will destroy you.

Once you make that first little contact, you feel like you have taken control of your life again.

Ive become a strong person now. I feel empowered.

I cant call him my dad. I say I dont have a dad if anyone asks. John Farmer saw me as a victim but he didnt count on me being a survivor.

Investigating officer DC Alison Humby, from Western CID, told the Daily Echo: Hampshire Constabulary will always endeavour to investigate all reports of non-recent sexual abuse in a thorough and compassionate manner.

The victim in this case is an extremely brave person. She has shown strength of character and Ive seen how, over the last two years, she has been able to move on in her life.

Farmer committed a series of appalling sexual offences against his daughter when she was aged between 10 and 12 years old.

"The breach of trust in this case is immeasurable. His conviction demonstrates that sex offenders can and will be brought to justice regardless of the length of time it takes for their crimes to be brought to light.

*The victims surname has not been used to protect her identity.

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A chef has been jailed for 15 months after abducting a 15-year-old girl and fleeing to the Isle of Wight with her.

Michael Britten sparked a huge police manhunt when he ran off with the teen in August last year.

The 33-year-old admitted to a judge that he ran off with the girl, which the court heard was 'sexually motivated'.

The girl's mother pleaded for her to come home during the manhunt, before police found them on the island.

A court today heard Britten, of Southampton, was seen on CCTV buying the teenager a ring from Cash Recycle in Newport, Isle of Wight.

The pair later spent the night at a hotel in nearby Shanklin, and were captured on a CCTV camera kissing.

The chef's semen was also found on her underwear, however prosecutors could not be sure how it got there.

In court today they accepted his defence that sexual activity between them amounted to no more than kissing.

Judge Nicholas Rowland described his actions as 'sexually motivated' and today jailed Britten for 15 months after he admitted abducting a child.

Britten was also handed a 12-month sentence after admitting a charge of sexual activity with a child, namely kissing, and 12 months for admitting possessing indecent images of the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

These sentences will run concurrently.

Southampton Crown Court also heard the girl moved out of her family home to live with a friend of her mother before the pair ran away.

Britten, who worked as a chef in Yates's pub in Southampton, was also lodging at the house.

Christopher Stopa, prosecuting, said: "Britten pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child on the basis the activity was not to do with the semen but related to the kissing on the bus.

"In July 2014, she chose to move out of her family home and stay with her mother's friend.

"On Friday, August 8, the pair travelled to the Isle of Wight and on Friday night they stayed with a friend of the defendant's brother.

"They then went to spend the following night at a hotel in Shanklin, Isle of Wight.

"He was arrested by police on the Sunday and she was taken back into care.

"CCTV footage shows Britten with his arm around her and her with her head on his shoulder.

"Other CCTV footage from Cash Recycle on August 8, 2014, shows Mr Britten buying a ring for her and she can be seen putting it on her finger."

Peter Asteris, defending, said: "Mr Britten is now 33 years old and is someone with difficulties in learning.

"He found himself going down a road and started to panic when the situation became serious.

"He will never go down that road again."

Judge Nicholas Rowland said: "You have pleaded guilty to three counts.

"You kissed the girl as shown on the CCTV from the bus and you accept you shared a bed, which indicates there was a sexual motivation for the child abduction.

"You were 33 and she was 15 - she was troubled and remains a troubled child.

"You went away for three days and went to a hotel and shared a bed, which shows this child abduction was sexually motivated."

Judge Rowland also ordered Britten to sign a sexual harm prevention order for the next 10 years which prevents him being alone with a child under 16.

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A convicted sex offender who went on the run after climbing a fence at a secure hospital in Hampshire has been found.

Stephen Munden, 54, went missing from an independent hospital in Winchfield on Tuesday evening and Dorset Police was among the forces issuing an appeal for information.

Hampshire Constabulary said he handed himself into police in Thames Valley at about 00.45am yesterday.

A police spokesman said: "He has been detained and taken to a mental health facility."

Munden was described by police as a "vulnerable adult" with mental health treatment needs.

Munden was detained at the facility under a hospital order after being sentenced for sexual offences in 2014.

These were possessing, making and attempting to make indecent images of children, and sexual assault on a child under 13.

The 54-year-old, who was detained under the Mental Health Act, was last spotted leaving Mildmay Oaks independent hospital in Winchfield, near Hook, but he failed to return.

It has emerged that Munden climbed over a fence and fled on foot from the hospital grounds.

Despite being sent to the hospital by a judge after being convicted of sexually touching a child and possessing indecent images of children, the hospital told the Daily Echo that it did not deem this patient suitable for a secure setting.

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A JUDGE branded a serial offender as a potential danger to women when he jailed him for 20 months for sexually abusing a student in a Southampton supermarket.

David Lunn, 28, pictured, distracted the 20-year-old as she was approaching him on stairs in the Asda city centre store before groping her.

He then dropped his trousers when she walked past him on the street outside.

Lunn, of no fixed abode, admitted sexual assault and exposure.

He further pleaded guilty to stealing £190 from a cashpoint machine after taking an acquaintance’s bank card.

The court heard Lunn had 36 previous convictions for 78 offences, 11 of which were for sex related offences.

As the judge told him that he was probably unaware of the affect he would have had on his victim, Lunn interrupted, shouting. “Yes, I can.”

He then bawled: “You’re wasting my time. I just want to be sentenced.”

In addition to the jail term, Lunn was also placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.