Latest Offenders Southampton

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A 25-year-old man from Southampton has been sentenced to 13 years in prison after being found guilty of a number of child sex offences.

Dalton Wills, formally of Chettle Road, appeared at Southampton Crown Court yesterday (Thursday 31 August), having been found guilty by a jury in July of four counts of sexual activity with a child, one count of rape and one count of causing/inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. 

He had previously pleaded guilty to two further counts of causing/inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, one count of engaging in sexual communications with a child and two counts of possessing indecent images of a child (category A and C).

The court heard how Wills sexually assaulted the victim shortly after meeting her when she was 12 years old.  It also heard how he went on to rape her when she was 13 and continued to commit a number of other sexual offences against her.

A judge has now sentenced Wills to 13 years in prison as well as imposing an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He has also been ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely.

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A man has been sentenced to more than a year in prison after pleading guilty to sexual communication with a child.

Appearing at Southampton Crown Court yesterday (Thursday 31 August), Phillip Trevor Cornock, aged 34, previously of Denzil Avenue in Southampton, was sentenced for attempting to communicate with a child under 16 for sexual gratification.

The court heard that Cornock exchanged messages, often of a highly sexual nature, between August and October 2022 with a boy he believed to be 14-years-old. He had also made arrangements to meet with the child in Southampton – although in this instance the victim was not real.  

Cornock was charged and appeared at Southampton Crown Court on Wednesday 2 August where he pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to communicate with a child under 16 for sexual gratification.

Appearing at the same court yesterday, Cornock was sentenced to 14 months in prison, as well as being placed on the sex offenders’ register and being subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for a period of ten years.

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Sex offender Jordan Larcombe has been jailed for breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

The 27-year-old, of Landguard Road in Southampton, was initially handed the SHPO on 5 April 2017 after he was convicted of sexually abusing two teenage girls on the Isle of Wight.

Under the conditions of the SHPO, Larcombe is prohibited from using any phone or device capable of accessing the internet unless it can retain the internet history. He must also make the device available for inspection on request by police, and he must not delete any internet history or mobile phone use.

On 28 July this year, police officers conducted a visit to Larcombes home address where they examined his devices. He was found to have deleted his online search history a breach of his SHPO.

He had also failed to register 5 new online usernames with police, which amounted to a failure to comply with his sex offender register (SOR) notification requirements.

As a result, he was arrested and charged with breaching his SHPO, and five counts of failing to comply with his SOR requirements.

Larcombe admitted all of the offences, and was sentenced to 16 months in prison when he appeared at Southampton Crown Court on Thursday 24 August this year.

PC Rob Thomas, from the Western Offender Management team, said: Larcombe is a prolific offender and is rightly back in prison for his blatant disregard for the conditions imposed on him.

We take the management of sex offenders incredibly seriously, and invest significant resources into doing everything we can to keep the public safe.

Officers will often make unannounced visits to offenders where they may be subject to an intrusive investigative interview process. This helps us understand an offenders routine, interests and behaviours so we can closely monitor them.

We can also examine their digital devices to ensure they are sticking to the legal requirements imposed on them. These orders are put in place to protect the public, and ensure that individuals do not re-offend.

Where sex offenders fail to comply, as can be seen in Larcombes case, they can and will be returned to jail.

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A SEX offender caught by online paedophile hunters was spared an immediate jail term because he suffers from cerebral palsy.

Anthony Albert Witts gets around with the aid of a walker and had to be helped into the dock at Southampton Crown Court.

Witts, 63, of Mansel Road East, Southampton, thought he was in contact with two 13-year-old girls.

But it was a sting carried out by members of a group set up with the aim of flushing out adults who try to groom children online.

Witts, who had no previous convictions, admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child in 2021 and engaging in sexual communication with a child in 2022.

Keely Harvey, prosecuting, said Witts sent naked and semi-naked pictures of himself to the people he thought were girls.

The first crime came to light after adult decoys identified and then confronted the defendant. He was arrested by the police and gave a no-comment interview but uttered the words: "I did not even realise."

The defendant was released under investigation and went on to commit the second offence.

Thinking he was in contact with another 13-year-old girl he told her not to be shy and said their contact should remain a secret.

Chris Gaiger, mitigating, said the defendant accepted he had been stupid - not just once but twice.

He added: "He can't give any explanation as to why he engaged in such behaviour again. He should have learned from the first time."

Judge Christopher Parker KC told Witts: "You plainly had a deviant sexual interest in children.

"You attempted to communicate with a 13-year-old girl, not knowing she was a decoy set up by vigilante paedophile hunters.

"When you were being investigated for that you did the same thing again with another supposedly 13-year-old."

Witts was handed a 22-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and was also made the subject of a ten-year sexual harm prevention order.

Judge Parker told him: "If it were not for the fact you have cerebral palsy, there is no question you would have immediately been sent downstairs to custody.

"It's difficult to fathom how you could have been so stupid. Had these been real children, the damage caused by you cannot be estimated."

Judge Parker said Witts would go straight to prison if he committed another offence, adding: "Be in no doubt, if I see you again there's no way out."

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A SOUTHAMPTON paedophile was caught twice with indecent images of children as young as six.

Liam Davey, 27, had more than 70 images after police seized his devices on two separate occasions, a court was told.

He was first arrested in January 2021 when police visiting his home in Meggeson Avenue found 31 category A images - the most severe kind - 15 category B and 10 category C.

But after being arrested, charged and appearing in court, he was found with more images when police visited him in May this year.

Prosecuting, Keeley Harvey said Davey took officers to another property where more images were found.

He was further charged with possession of 10 category A images, including four movies, three category B, and eight category C.

Of these, 10 or 12 had been saved with some depicting children as young as six or seven.

Ms Harvey added that Davey would not save the images of children that age, but that “those over the age of 12 were, in his view, okay because they were experimenting with their body”.

The court was also told how he had been “distributing and sharing” images which showed children in “pain and distress”.

Davey pleaded guilty to six counts of making indecent images of children which he said came from a website where others had shared them with him.

Mitigating, Bridget O’Hagen told Southampton Crown Court that Davey is a “young man who has never had police involvement at all”.

She added that his actions could have stemmed from a childhood incident, currently under investigation by police.

Ms O’Hagen said there are also plans to go to his GP due to suspicions he may have autism.

“He is unlikely to come back before the court in any way shape or form going forward.

“There is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.”

Davey was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment suspended for two years and made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for five years.

He must attend 35 rehabilitation activity requirement days, carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and register as a sex offender.

Judge, Nicholas Rowland, said the second set of offences had been committed whilst “under investigation and potentially on court bail as well”.

He added that it is because of people like Davey that “those children around the world are repeatedly abused in this dreadful fashion.

“It is a very thinly balanced decision. Just and it is only just, am I able to suspend the sentence.”

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A SCHOOLGIRL raped by a ‘vile’ predator had her self-worth destroyed and is still picking up the pieces of her life, those close to her have said.

The young girl was assaulted in Totton by delivery driver Denis Kadena.

The attack left her afraid to go outside on her own and has ‘shrunk’ her confidence.

Kadena, 34, was yesterday jailed at Southampton Crown Court for 11 years with a four-year extended licence for his ‘predatory’ attack.

Kadena raped the victim in the back of his van after taking her to a ‘secluded area’, in what has been described as a ‘horrific ordeal.’

In a statement read out in court, the victim said she is ‘so scared’ she will be attacked again.

She said: “Some days I just want to crawl under a table and hide. He took something special from me.

“I am slowly starting to build myself back up. Now I am hoping I can put this behind me and try to get better.”

In a separate statement, a person close to the girl said: “She now has a long road ahead of her in order to build her confidence.

“I don’t know how to express my feelings for what she is going through for something she did not deserve.”

Another described her as ‘a frightened little girl.’

They said: “She relies very heavily on her phone to make her feel safe.

“She never manages to be out on her own for more than 10 minutes.”

Kadena’s ‘heinous actions’ were subject to a ‘robust’ investigation by Hampshire Constabulary.

Detective Constable Marie Leather said "vile" Kadena was caught by a details police investigation that brought him to justice for his "heinous actions".

She said: “It resulted in allowing us to bring this vile crime to the forefront of the criminal justice system via the courts.”

She said extensive lines of enquiry were carried out by the force’s investigations teams. Jurors were told that Kadena lied and lied throughout.

Officers collected witness statements, underwent house-to-house enquiries, and carried out extensive CCTV scoping.

This included gathering ‘vast quantities’ of Ring doorbell footage from residents and businesses.

DC Leather said: “A stranger rape is an unusual and uncommon occurrence across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight; however, we understand that rape and other sexual offences are one of the most devastating crimes a person can survive and that’s why we prioritise it.

“We take these reports very seriously – exploring all relevant lines of enquiry and ensuring that we gather sufficient evidence promptly in order to aid our investigations.

“On this occasion, there were challenges around sourcing all relevant CCTV footage, however, we persevered and obtained appropriate footage as part of our investigation.”

She added: “The victim is a young girl who has experienced a horrific ordeal at the hands of Kadena and she has been incredibly brave and shown great courage in supporting a prosecution which has led us to Kadena being imprisoned for a significant period of time.”

The victim has been commended for her bravery in reporting the incident to police.

Detective Inspector Claire Shawley said: “If it wasn’t for her bravery, then we would not have been in a position to achieve the result that we have.

“Kadena would still be out on the streets as a risk to others.

“She has been incredibly brave given the trauma she has experienced – especially at such a young age."

Sentencing at court on Thursday, Judge Christopher Parker KC told Kadena: “Your behaviour was opportunistic and there was a predatory element to what you did."

Kadena denied the charges but the court was told he now "takes full responsibility".

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A pervert who took indecent images of a 10-year-old girl in Swindon and molested a six-year-old more than a decade earlier has been put behind bars.

John Shannon, from Southampton, was jailed after pleading guilty to five offences including the sexual assault of a child under 13, taking and possessing indecent images of children and possession of an extreme pornographic image.

The 58-year-old was handed a prison sentence of five years and six months at Southampton Crown Court last week.

Shannon was caught out when National Crime Agency (NCA) investigators identified a woman who he had sexually assaulted in 2010.

The victim was just six years old at the time of the assault and was in Shannon’s care.

Shannon was arrested in September, 2022, and was released on conditional bail.

NCA investigators seized his phone and laptop, for analysis, and discovered child abuse material including a category A video, the most serious type, and 13 category C images of a man and a child.

The child, a 10-year-old girl, has since been identified and safeguarded.

The New Milton Advertiser and Lymington Times reported that some of these indecent images and videos were found to have been taken at an address in Swindon.

They added that the investigation found Shannon had attended a party at the address, and stayed the night, before recording the images on his mobile phone.

Investigators were able to prove Shannon was in the photos and had taken them himself, while records showed that he had travelled to the location where the pictures were taken.

Shannon was subsequently re-arrested in December, 2022, and charged with these additional offences.

As part of his sentence, Shannon will also be subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Graham Clare from the National Crime Agency said: “Shannon was a repeat offender who clearly has a sexual interest in young girls.

“Having felt he had gotten away with assaulting one child, he went on to take sexualised images of another 12 years later.

“I commend the young woman in this case who showed great bravery in speaking out against him and helping to ensure he was put behind bars.

“Protecting the public, especially children, is the NCA’s top priority. We will continue to ensure those seeking to harm them are identified and jailed for their crimes.”

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A CHILDREN'S holiday camp worker created a fantasy world to groom more than 70 teenage boys.

Cameron Osman from Southampton would pretend to be a 16-year-old girl 'Lizzielemon' to lure in young boys online.

The 44-year-old used this fake identity on Instagram, MyLol and Love Crush, before moving them on to Google Hangouts, Discord and Skype.

Osman would engage his victim in sexualised chats revolving around a fantasy online world.

He would tell his victims that ‘Lizzielemon’ was from Bristol or Birmingham, that he had a fetish for dominating boys in school uniform and sports kit, and for conducting teacher/student role plays.

He never identified himself, instead telling victims his camera was broken during 2020 and 2021.

The National Crime Agency tracked Osman down to a friend’s address in Crowborough, East Sussex, in September 2021 and arrested him.

He had resigned from his job at a holiday camp activity centre in Hailsham a few days earlier.

His laptop and mobile phone were seized, and Osman was found to have contacted 76 boys in the UK aged between 12 and 16 during the offending period.

Investigators in the United States also uncovered chat logs showing sexualised communication by Osman with underage boys in 27 countries.

He also searched online for underage boys in Columbia, where he was planning to visit.

He was released on bail but continued to offend, leading to his arrest on 27 March this year after a further victim was identified.

Osman pretended to be a younger man on this occasion and shared photos of himself.

Osman appeared at St Albans Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to 36 separate charges, including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, causing a child to engage in sexual activity, sexual communication with a child, and making two category C indecent images of children.

NCA operations manager Danielle Pownall said: “Cameron Osman callously preyed on vulnerable teenage boys, masquerading as a teenage girl for his own sexual gratification.

“I have no doubt, if we had not stopped Osman he would have gone on to commit more severe offending.

“We will continue to work with our partners across the world to combat the perpetrators of online child sexual abuse, and hold people like Osman accountable for their crimes.”

Osman is due to be sentenced at the same court on Friday, 30 June.

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A PENSIONER has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a child in Southampton. 

David Seagrave was found guilty by a jury of six charges.

These included two allegations of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and sexual assault of a child.

He was also convicted of a single count of exposure at Southampton Crown Court on Thursday. 

The case has now been adjourned until May 31 for sentencing. 

Seagrave, 83, of Witts Hill, Southampton was found not guilty of an allegation of sexual assault. He was also cleared of an allegation that he exposed himself in a pub.

Giving his closing speech earlier in the trial, Simon Walters raised doubts about the prosecution's witnesses saying that the alleged exposure in the pub "just doesn't make sense".

The pensioner denied all the offences.

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A convicted paedophile was caught with more than 8,000 indecent images of children as young as three.

Gary Bowden was found with pictures and videos on multiple devices when police raided his home.

The 32-year-old failed to tell officers about a new phone despite being subject to a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) he was given for a previous offence.

Officers who searched his devices found a total of 8,465 indecent images including 1,926 category A images – the most serious type.

Prosecuting, Leigh Hart said the photos depicted children as young as three being abused.

Bowden of Mescott Meadows, Hedge End, gave no comment during his police interview.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent photographs of children as well as breaching an SHPO for owning the phone.

The defendant, who has four previous convictions for 24 offences - including making or distributing indecent images - appeared at Southampton Crown Court on Friday for sentencing.

Mitigating, Keely Harvey said her client had been “very open and honest” and had “indicated his guilty plea very early on”.

“He always accepted that these images would be found.”

She said he was surprised by the number of images that were found adding that her client “needs some help”.

Judge Brian Forster KC, said: “It is a bad case because of the number of class A images.

“This case must be seen against the background of your previous offending.

“This was a deliberate breach. You were fully aware of the terms of your order.

“There is no doubt that the possession of these images falls within the most serious category."

Bowden, who was produced from custody, was given a total of 24 months in prison as well as an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

He must also abide by notification requirements for the next 10 years.

A further order was made for the forfeiture and destruction of his phone and devices.

Judge Forster added: “I hope he can get through this and make more of his life in future.”

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A Southampton man has been jailed for committing rape and a number of sexual assaults.

Bradley Herring, 30, of Bracklesham Close, Southampton, was sentenced to six years and two months in prison at Southampton Crown Court on Friday (24 March).

This comes after he pleaded guilty to offences including rape and two counts of sexual assault.

On 22 January, Herring raped a woman in her 20s at a different address in the east of the city.

The assaults happened on 1 January last year, when Herring carried out sexual acts in the presence of a teenage woman at an address in the east of the city.

Since the incidents were reported to us, both women have been supported by specialist officers.

A 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order was also imposed on Herring which means that when he is released, he will have to abide by strict conditions or face being sent back to prison. He was also made to sign the sex offenders register for life.

DC Marie Leather works in Operation Amberstone, the specialist team which deals with rape cases, and investigated the rape. DC Daisy Green from Southampton Investigations was the officer in the case for the sexual assaults.

They said: “Firstly we would like to praise both women for the bravery they have shown for coming forward and reporting these horrific crimes to us, and during the investigation and court process.

“Herring is a sexual predator and now he is locked up, he cannot harm another woman.

“Our teams work tirelessly to bring offenders to justice and I hope this result encourages other women or men who have been victims of sexual offences to speak to us, no matter when the incidents took place.

“You will be listened to, respected and supported by us.”

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The image of a man seen ‘tweaking his nipples’ near children has been released.

Convicted sex offender Christopher Bagley of Stroudley Way in Hedge End was jailed on Friday.

The 77-year-old was found guilty of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and breaching his sexual harm prevention order.

Southampton Crown Court heard how a witness saw Bagley ‘furtively sheltering in the bushes’ by the duck pond in Dowds Farm Park in November.

The witness said he ‘unzipped his hoodie and proceeded to rub and tweak his nipples for about five seconds.’

She said: “He then took the whole jacket off.

“There were two boys on the opposite side of the pond area playing.”

He left the pond area and park to return to his car, passing by a children’s playground.

But, mitigating, Damien Hayes, said it was a ‘private moment’ as Bagley undressed to urinate.

Giving evidence, Bagley told the court he ‘could have done more’ had he seen the young boys on the other side of the pond.

He said: “I have no recollection of tweaking my nipples. I was not aware of anyone in the area.”

The court recorder, Mr Donald Tait sentenced Bagley to a total of 18 months in prison.

Bagley was previously sentenced in Bournemouth in 2006 after admitting sex offences with young boys.

The former head of computing and maths teacher at Poole Grammar School admitted sexually assaulting an 11-year-old boy, four counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a 10-year-old boy, and exposure.

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A paedophile was caught with images of children as young as five-months-old being abused, a court heard.

Sean Hammerton has a history of sexual offences involving children stretching back six years. 

The 28-year-old asked online forum users for “young selfies” and said he was “into those aged 10 plus".

When officers seized his silver iPhone they found 730 still and moving images of children, aged six months to five years.

They also found images of “extreme bestiality”.

Prosecuting, Mr Andrew Houston said that the defendant boasted online about how he “kept his images so they couldn’t be found".

Hammerton, of Bursledon Road, Southampton, appeared at the city crown court on Monday charged with possessing and distributing indecent images of children, and possessing extreme pornography.

He pleaded guilty to the offences committed between 2017 and 2020.

He also admitted to breaching a suspended sentence. 

Mr Houston told that in 2016 Hammerton was handed an 18-month suspended sentence for distributing and taking indecent images of children, sexual assault, and voyeurism.

In 2020 he was found to be in breach of a sexual harm prevention order after using an incognito private browsing mode to watch porn.

He was also caught with three prohibited images of children. 

Speaking on the previous convictions, Mr Houston said: “When the defendant was 16 he began discussing the sexual abuse of others.

“His crimes spanned over 10 years.

“He then went on to commit further offences during the period of his suspended sentence.”

Defending, Charles Gabb said that entering a guilty plea was Hammerton’s “sincerest way of expressing remorse".

He said: “The effect upon others is very reprehensible.

“Mr Hammerton has got to do something about this because it’s longstanding and a problem.

“This dark side of his life can be exposed in such a format that he learns ways to avoid it in the future.

“Sometimes, it takes people a bit longer to face reality.

“One can only hope that a new chapter of his life is about to begin.”

Passing sentence, Judge Nicholas Rowland said: "There are a number of passages of offending after your previous conviction.

"I can see you are highly manipulative and you do pose a significant risk of harm."

Hammerton was jailed for four and a half years.

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A SEXUAL predator followed a pensioner through the streets before brazenly walking into her home and launching a sex attack.

Serial offender Philip Packham followed the woman in her 80s in the Lordshill area of Southampton while she was alone.

Perverted Packham, 69, preyed on his “confused and worried” victim who asked him to leave.

Despite her protestations, he tried to touch her between her legs over her clothing - and tried to kiss and cuddle the terrified woman.

Prosecutor Matthew Lawson told Southampton Crown Court she was “extremely distressed by this” and told a neighbour who contacted police.

In a statement, the victim said she feels “worried and scared to go outside”.

She said: “I can't believe what has happened. I'm worried what happens if he was to get out and potentially do this again.”

Packham, who has 30 convictions for 73 offences, had previously been sentenced for gross indecency with a child, indecent assault of a female under 14, exposure and assault.

His first sex attack was in the 1980s.

He had been subject to a lifelong sexual harm prevention order - imposed when he was jailed and branded a dangerous offender - when he carried out his latest attack.

Jailing the defendant, Judge Christopher Parker KC said Packham had followed the woman deliberately and went into her house uninvited.

He added that the incident caused “severe psychological harm,” telling Packham: “You can shake your head now but what you say and what you do are very different.

“It seems to me that there is no question that you pose a risk of serious harm.”

Judge Parker imposed a six-year jail term with a four-year extended licence.

Packham, of Exford Avenue, Southampton, admitted sexual assault and breaching the sexual harm prevention order by being in a property alone with a woman.

In police interview he accepted he tried to touch her, but claimed he had been invited in. He stopped answering questions before asking for a solicitor - and then denied being responsible.

Mitigating, Keeley Harvey told the court: “The only real mitigation that I have got is that there was a guilty plea to these matters.”

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A MAN has been jailed for raping a woman as she slept leaving her "depressed and anxious".

Southampton Crown Court heard Shane Truckle attacked when she fell asleep on a sofa at a property.

The woman has been left having nightmares after the attack in 2017. She reported it in 2019, with a police investigation ending in December 2020.

Truckle, 41, of New Road, Netley, was on Thursday jailed for six years and nine months.

A jury previously found him guilty of one count of rape at trial in December 2022.

In a statement read out in court, his victim said: “It had been on my mind all the time”.

“I don't like to go out for a meal and if I see people that look like him then I go into a panic.

"Whenever I go out somewhere I feel I am looking for him. I have nightmares, the re-occurring dreams of what happened.”

She added that the incident has left her feeling “depressed and anxious”.

The case was delayed after a technical error when police submitted a case to the CPS. It meant the file had to be resubmitted in January 2021.

Jailing Truckle, judge Nicholas Rowland said the rape has been “hanging over [the victim’s] head for some time”.

Addressing Truckle, the judge added: “This is on the face of it a spontaneous opportunistic offence by you taking advantage of a vulnerable victim."

Truckle's family left in tears as he was led down. The defendant was described by the judge as an “otherwise a hard-working family man”.

Prosecutor Paul Fairley said Truckle has previous convictions for theft, burglary, disqualified driving and drink-driving, but no past sex offences.

Defending, Michael Mason said that he has a full-time job as a site manager overseeing shop fittings.

Following the case, Detective Sergeant Claire Grant said: “This crime has had a lasting impact on the victim, and her life.

“It takes great courage for people to come forward and speak to us about incidents of this nature, and that should never be underestimated.

"I hope this case goes to show that regardless of how long ago a rape happened, we will work tirelessly to target perpetrators and provide specialist support to survivors.

“We want our communities to know that we stand with them, and will do all in our power to bring the offenders of these horrendous crimes to justice.”

A police spokeswoman told the Echo that “due to complexities in this investigation it took time to gather sufficient evidence to charge Shane Truckle”.

She added: “As with any investigation there are multiple moving parts that mean it can take time, each investigation is unique and as such time from reporting to file submission can vary."