Latest Offenders Southampton

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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.

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Eliot Easterby, 44, was given a three year community order when he appeared for sentence at Southampton Crown Court following his conviction last month.

Jurors had heard how police armed with a search warrant arrived at his home at 6.45am on January 22 last year, following a tip off from Canadian police as part of a major international operation.

In a four and a half hour search, they found ten DVDs and examined his computer, a hard drive and three memory sticks on which they discovered almost 700 images.

Almost 300 had been viewed on the computer but deleted. Another 374 had been downloaded and stored.

The prosecution accepted the images were of the least serious category.

DVDs included Water Wiggles and More Water Wiggles, showing boys cavorting in paddling pools.

They also discovered a hoard of boys underwear beneath his bed, which had been left behind when he took scouts on trips as leader of Hamble Sea Scouts.

It took jurors less an hour to convict Easterby, who taught maths at Sholing Technology College and has written teenage ghost stories, guilty on 13 counts of possessing and making indecent images and not guilty of one other charge.

He had denied all the allegations.Passing sentence today, Judge Peter Henry said the jury had in his opinion quite rightly convicted him of the charges that involved boys aged between 8 and 15.

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A music teacher has avoided being sent to prison after he pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images of children and extreme pornography involving animals.

Edmund Warbrick, of Middle Road, Sholing, Southampton, Hampshire, was sentenced to six months in prison suspended for two years at Southampton Crown Court after he admitted the 18 offences of child sex abuse images and two counts involving animals.

The 48-year-old, who has been sacked by Sholing Technology College where he worked for 20 years, was also given a sex offences prevention order which bans him from working with children for 10 years and he was ordered to sign on the sex offenders' register for 10 years.

Warbrick, known as Jim at the school, was also given a two-year supervision order, ordered to pay an £80 victim surcharge and £340 costs.

Martin Brown, headteacher at The Sholing Technology College, said: "We are aware that a former member of staff, employed by The Sholing Technology College from 1 September 1994 until 15 December 2014 - pleaded guilty to 18 counts of possession of child pornography and has been sentenced in Southampton Crown Court.

"We have been fully co-operative in the police investigation against this former member of staff.

"The safety of our students is of paramount importance to us and is therefore something we take very seriously. As a college we review our safeguarding arrangements on a continuous basis and as a result have robust procedures in place to protect our students."

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A SOUTHAMPTON judge sympathised with a sexual abuse victim as he jailed her assailant for eight years.

Judge Peter Ralls QC said the girl struck him as bright and conscientious as she gave evidence against Nicholas Ray (Nick Ray) at the city crown court.

“I hope she recovers from this and is able to put the past behind her,” the judge said.

In two impact statements she told police how the abuse had affected her school work and friends had to tread warily around her because she could snap at them. She underwent counselling and suffered from panic attacks.

“What has happened has affected my education and has changed my future forever.”

Ray, 41, of Tenterton Avenue, Southampton, was convicted of four counts of having sexual activity with a child. He had pleaded not guilty.

The judge told him: “You took advantage of her in a cynical, appalling way.”

Ray also received a 15-year sex offenders prevention order and was placed on the sex offenders register for life.

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A SOUTHAMPTON sex offender serving a suspended sentence from a court in America has been jailed in the UK after being caught with images of an underage girl.

Adam James Robinson was arrested by police in this country after officers received a tip-off about an "inappropriate online relationship" with a 14-year-old girl in America.

The 28-year-old was later released under investigation.

But when police revisited Robinson 10 months later, they found indecent images of the same girl – which he had accessed after his initial arrest.

Yesterday, at Southampton Crown Court, Robinson was jailed for two years.

The court heard Robinson, who was once convicted of having sex with an underage girl in America, was initially arrested in September 2016 after police received information he was talking to another 14-year-old girl in the US.

Prosecutor Nick Saunders said a number of items were seized from Robinson and he was informed that the girl was 14.

Officers then arrested Robinson again in July 2017 and seized a computer, a USB stick and a hard-drive.

Mr Saunders said that while police were inspecting the devices, they found indecent images of the same underage girl Robinson had earlier been talking to.

He said that among the 65 images were 21 Category A images – the most serious kind.

Mr Saunders said that by being in possession of the images, Robinson had breached a Sexual Harm Prevention Order set up in 2014.

He added that Robinson had attempted to conceal the images by using a hard-drive which required a separate USB stick in order to work.

In mitigation, Damian Hayes said his client had not committed any offences, including sexual offences, since his arrest in 2017.

He said Robinson had initially stopped talking to the girl after his arrest.

But he said Robinson had later resumed their "inappropriate relationship" after she had sent him messages and handwritten notes in which she had expressed her upset at their break in communication and had threatened to kill herself.

Mr Hayes said Robinson also suffered from autism, depression and anxiety.

Sentencing Robinson, who pleaded guilty to one count of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and three counts of possessing indecent images of a child, judge Gary Burrell QC said: "You are not an unintelligent young man, in fact quite the reverse.

"This was a blatant breach and you must have known what you were doing.

"It is aggravated by your previous convictions and by the fact you tried to cover up what you were doing."

Robinson, of Shirley Road, Southampton was jailed for a total of two years.

As previously reported in the Daily Echo, Robinson's Sexual Harm Prevention Order was put in place in 2014 after he was convicted of an act of voyeurism.

On that occasion, Robinson rigged up a camera so he could record and view pictures of a semi-naked 13-year-old girl with whom he was infatuated.

He was sentenced to four months in prison.

Robinson is still currently under a suspended sentence, imposed in America, after admitting having sex with an underage girl in 2013.

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A SOUTHAMPTON man posed as a young teenage girl to talk to fellow paedophiles on Internet chat room sites, the city crown court heard.

Nathan Long was arrested after police had received a tip-off from computer giants Microsoft who provided details of an email account being used to download pornographic pictures of children.

They traced the information to a house in Southampton where Long immediately confessed he had been responsible. His computer and iPhone were then seized for analysis.

Long told investigators he had been using the site for up to two years after someone had sent him an image. He said he knew it was wrong but he continued.

He then went on to describe how he had posed as a 13-year-old girl to talk to older men, and had traded images.

Prosecutor Rachel Robert-son told the city crown court: He had also discussed at various times the kidnap, rape and murder of children and encouraged others to act in that way. He also claimed he had been abusing children but insisted it was all fantasy.

Long, 24, of Westwood Road, admitted 35 charges incorporating the possession and distribution of more than 850 still and moving images Recorder Nicholas Haggan QC jailed Long for two years. After his release he must attend a probation service run Internet sex offenders programme.

Long also received a sexual offenders prevention order to run indefinitely, was banned from working with children and placed on the sex offenders register.

In mitigation, Mark Florida-James described Long as a depressed and lonely man. He is terrified of going to prison, said Mr Florida-James. Long was of previous good character.

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A HAMPSHIRE university lecturer tried to kill himself after being caught in an international sting operation set up to tackle child abuse.

David Clarke, 46, was duped into believing he was chatting to another paedophile in reality he was talking to a special agent stringing him along about exchanging sickening images of children.

The case was so disturbing that one officer investigating it had to take a break from her work at one stage because she found the work so distressing.

Clarke, a senior lecturer in psychology at Southampton Solent University, was later arrested at his home which he shared with his partner and their three young children.

An examination of his laptop and a memory stick revealed about 1,800 images involving children as a young as three being subjected to a horrifying catalogue of bondage, rape and sadism.

Prosecutor Tom Wright told the city crown court Clarke, who had been using chatrooms under the aliases of Davyboy, Emma Watson 27, and Kirstyandlouise, refused to give his password to the police who were unable to gain access to his accounts to determine the full amount of his trafficking.

Clarke, of Median Road, Shirley, admitted 20 charges of making, possessing and distributing still and moving images between the summer of 2009 and last November and was jailed for 30 months.

He had pleaded guilty to the charges at his preliminary hearing but sentence had been adjourned after he had tried to commit suicide.

Judge Peter Henry said: The images concern a high number of different victims and there was a deliberate and systematic searching of the Internet for images for your sexual gratification.

You deny you find children sexually attractive but in my view, sexual gratification is at the forefront of your offending.

The judge said he accepted Clarke had suffered mental health problems, depression and alcoholism but he could not have misunderstood the harm he was causing children.

Stephen Tricker, defending said Clarke had strayed into viewing the material after searching the Internet for interest in other areas and then going into adult sites.

He has expressed remorse and knows the shame he has brought upon himself and his family. He is motivated to tackle the treatment programme.

Mr Tricker added: His self-destruction is complete.

In addition to the jail term, Clarke was placed on the sex offenders register and banned from working with children.

Under the terms of a sexual offences prevention order, he has restricted use of the Internet and cannot not be left alone with children except with the knowledge of the police or the childs parents.

After the case a spokesman for Southampton Solent University said: The individual concerned has not been present or teaching at the university for many months now.

The university was first notified of this issue last week and has already put in place steps to address this as a matter of urgency.

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Judge Derwin Hope said he was "concerned" about the case when he agreed to the application from defence barrister Richard Onslow.

Benjamin Larmer, 20, of Bishops Road, Itchen, had pleaded guilty to three charges of having sexual activity with two 15-year-olds, and one count of meeting a third girl after sexual grooming.

Larmer was further remanded in custody until July 21.

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AN 18-YEAR-OLD man has been jailed for raping a girl at his Knutsford Road home.

Adam Jones was sentenced to six years in prison at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday.

He was found guilty of one count of rape and one count of assault.

The court heard he attacked a teenage girl, known to him, on June 11 last year.

Police say they were lying on a bed together when he turned violent and raped her.

She managed to fight him off by elbowing him in the face.

In a separate attack two weeks earlier, Jones had beaten the same victim up, punched her to the face and ribs, knocking her unconscious.

She went to hospital and still suffers from blurred vision.

DC Laura Smith, from Cheshire Police, investigated the case.

She said: "Rape is an horrific offence, which affects victims in the most profound way.

“In this case the sexual offence was compounded by a serious assault, which could leave the young victim with lasting injuries.

"She has been incredibly brave throughout the case and was forced to relive the incident during the trial.

“I would like to thank the victim for her willingness to stand up to her attacker and see him brought to justice.

“I hope that the conclusion of this case will give her some closure and allow her to get on with her life.

"Cheshire Police is committed to tackling sexual violence and our Dedicated Rape Unit helps and supports victims of this type of crime.

"I hope this sentence - and the bravery shown by the victim - gives others who may have suffered in silence the courage to come forward."

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FOR two years he had kept his shame a secret.

Unknown to his wife, Philip Cant had recorded a 80-minute video of him molesting a young girl who he had lured to a room where he had set up cameras to film them.

The youngster had legitimately posed for pictures to help the paedophile and his wife promote their children’s clothing business.

Cant kept the video, which also showed shots of the girl semi-naked, on a computer memory stick for future viewing for his own sexual gratification.

And he got away with it – until he worked abroad as an engineer in Belgium.

A colleague found the stick, discovered the images and called police in Antwerp. They arrested Cant and notified colleagues in England.

Cant admitted assaulting the girl and keeping the images.

Gavin Sumpter, prosecuting at Southampton Crown Court, said: “He admitted in interview he was a paedophile and had been since he was 15-year-old, with a preference for girls aged between six and eight.”

Cant, 55, of Myrtle Road, Southampton, pleaded guilty to two charges of sexual assault and four of making an indecent image. He received a four-year jail term with a six-year extended licence.

The court heard Cant had two significant previous convictions. In 1972 he admitted sexually abusing an eight-year-old and in 1989 he had committed gross indecency with a five-year-old.

Sentencing, Judge Derwin Hope said: “You have acknowledged you can’t be alone with young girls and not abuse them. You pose a significant risk of causing significant harm to the public.”

The judge ordered Cant to be placed on the sex offenders’ register and the subject of a sexual offences prevention order, both indefinitely.

In mitigation, Neil Fitzgibbon said Cant was ashamed of his behaviour and had referred himself for psychological assessment to try to combat his desires.