Latest Offenders Southampton

Description

A "PREDATORY" man who lured a woman into his van and repeatedly raped her has been jailed for seven and a half years.

Shafiullah Zahid, 33, of Sirdar Road, Southampton, approached the woman, who was alone after a night out in Southampton, and spoke to her.

Southampton Crown Court heard that the victim was offered a lift home by Zahid, before he drove her to an unknown location and attacked her in his vehicle.

Zahid pleaded not guilty but was found guilty of two charges of rape after a trial.

Detective Constable Sue Hampton said: "I would like to commend the woman's courage for doing what she did and reporting the incident to the police.

"With her help, we have been able to identify a man who's behaviour we can only describe as predatory.

"From the start, Zahid completely disregarded his crime and at no point has he considered the impact he has had on this woman.

"We want to show you that no matter the circumstances, Hampshire Constabulary is committed to supporting survivors of rape and sexual assault and we will do everything we can to identify offenders and put them in front of a court."

A Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said: "If you've been the victim, please report rape or sexual assault as soon as possible.

"Even if you're not 100 per cent sure, we'd sooner hear from you so that we can make sure you're safe.

"If you're not ready to talk to the police just yet, that's OK.

"There are a range of places to get support, advice and medical help.

"You can speak to a number of organisations in confidence and what you tell them won't be shared with the police unless you ask for it to be."

Description

Louis Alexander Szasz never considered the fact that children were being abused, a judge was told.

The 41-year-old "just stumbled across" the photos and "didn't know why he downloaded them".

Prosecution barrister, Rose Burns told how police had found a large number of files on a MacBook and external hard drive belonging to Szasz.

These included 683 category A images - the most serious category - as well as extreme pornography involving animals.

Ms Burns told how officers had gone to his home address in Bridge Road, on May 18, 2019.

During a police interview the next day he said he did not look at images often and was not addicted to them.

Appearing before Southampton Crown Court, the water cooler engineer faced six charges with the offences taking place between August 2016 and May 2019.

These included making indecent photographs of a child and distributing indecent images.

The court heard how Szasz had used the "black" or dark web to download files.

Some of these had then been distributed via a sharing application.

Defending, Peter Asteris said that his client had never been before a court before.

He described him as extremely vulnerable and suffering from extremely low self-esteem.

Mr Asteris argued that Szasz cares for his terminally ill father and had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

During sentencing, Mr Recorder Richard Smith QC said that the offences had crossed the custody threshold.

However, he said how Szaz had sought to address his behaviour and that there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

He was given a 30-month community order, must complete 40 days of rehabilitation and 150 hours of unpaid work.

Szasz will be the subject of a ten-year sexual harm prevention order.

Mr Smith warned if Szasz failed the order he would have no one to blame but himself.

Description

A Southampton man has been jailed for 13 years after he attempted to rape a woman while she slept.

Amro Badawi, age 28, of Mandela Way, Southampton denied the offences which included one count of rape, one count of attempted rape and one count of sexual assault.

After a five day trial in December, a jury at Southampton Crown Court found him guilty of attempted rape and sexual assault by penetration.

During the trial, the court heard that a woman went out with work colleagues to a Southampton bar.

At around 3.30am, she got a taxi back to her flat where she went to sleep.

Sometime between 4am and 5am, the woman awoke to a man lying behind her, sexually assaulting her. The court heard that the woman froze in fear before the man then attempted to rape her.

She managed to shout and push the man away to get him off her before he left the room. The woman then reported the incident to the police.

What crimes are happening where you live? Find out by adding your postcode.

On 18 December 2020, Mr Badawi was convicted of the attempted rape and sexual assault by penetration by a jury at Southampton Crown Court.

He was found not guilty of rape.

On Thursday (January 21) he appeared at Southampton Crown Court for sentencing where he was jailed for 13 years.

Detective Constable Sue Hampton from Operation Amberstone commended the victim for having the courage to come forward.

She said: "Badawi is an opportunist and a danger to women and I would like to commend the victim for her courage in disclosing what happened that night and for giving evidence in court so that he could be brought to justice.

"I welcome today's sentence and hope that it brings some closure to the victim and allows her to move on in her life.

"I also hope it encourages other victims of rape and serious sexual offences to come forward and report what happened.

"In cases such as these, we work in partnership with Independent Sexual Violence Advocate Services to ensure adequate support is available victims throughout investigations.

"We hope that the strength of this partnership working alongside convictions like this, encourage victims to come forward and report their experiences to us."

Description

A PERVERT has admitted making hundreds of images of children and having an extreme pornographic images involving animals. A PERVERT has admitted making hundreds of images of children and having an extreme pornographic images involving animals. Philip Smith appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court and admitted the four charges put to him. The 34-year-old pleaded guilty to making 419 moving indecent images of children in Worcester at category A, the most serious offence, between December 4, 2013, and June 23, 2018. During the same period he made 223 moving indecent images of children, and two still, at category B. And also between those dates he made in Worcester 98 moving indecent images of children, and six still images at category C. He further admitted possessing nine extreme pornographic images, on June 26, 2018, that were described as an act of intercourse with a dead or alive animal. Shafquat Reaz, prosecuting at the court on December 17 said the starting point for the category A offence alone was one year, so submitted the case should be sent to Worcester Crown Court. Richard Hull, defending Smith of Portsmouth Road, Southampton, agreed and made no submissions. David Shadwell, the chairman of the magistrates bench, said: We agree it is not suitable for summary trial. A pre sentence report, which will help the judge determine his sentence, was also ordered. The case was set for Worcester Crown Court on December 17.

Description

Yang Wang put his hand up his victim's skirt and kissed her as she sat slumped unconscious.

The 23-year-old Southampton University student could be seen laughing as he groped her in CCTV footage played at Southampton Crown Court on Tuesday, December 15.

The sexual assault took place at a "snug room" in Cumberland Place Halls of residence on March 2 this year.

Prosecution barrister, Natasha Dardashti told how the woman could not remember what had happened and would not have consented to anyone touching her.

Furthermore, she gave no impact statement.

Following his arrest, Wang who was accompanied by a lawyer gave a no comment interview but after being shown the CCTV footage gave a statement.

Read out in court by defence barrister Justin McClintock, it said: "I fully accept that my behaviour is such that I sexually assaulted this female. I am appalled by my behaviour and what I have done."

Mr McClintock argued his client is academically bright having achieved a distinction in his studies but is "ultimately very immature".

During sentencing, Judge Nicholas Rowland described the assault as both ugly and serious. He scolded Wang saying the girl was particularly vulnerable as she was unconscious. Jailed for 12-months he will have to register as a sex offender for ten years.

Description

A man has been sentenced to seven years in prison today (Friday 27 April) following a three week trial at Southampton Crown Court last month.

The jury found Abdi Mohammed, 21, of Tennyson Road guilty of raping an 18-year-old woman on August 19 in 2016 at an address in St Marys after meeting her outside Oceana nightclub.

The woman was on a night out at Oceana nightclub with her friends when she became separated from them. Outside the club Mohammed took advantage of the woman, finding her alone and vulnerable, and put her in a car and drove her to an address in Derby Road where he raped her.

After her ordeal, the woman bravely fled the address on foot and alerted security staff at Royal South Hants Hospital on Brintons Terrace.

Detectives investigating the rape arrested Mohammed a week later and charged him in July 2017. He was identified through CCTV analysis and forensic evidence.

Today, Mohammed has been sentenced to seven years in prison.

Detective Inspector Toby Elcock said: This was a complex and protracted case of the rape of a young woman on a night out in Southampton.

I firstly want to commend the bravery of the young woman and thank her for the dedication she has given to the case that has allowed us to bring this offender to justice today. We would not have been able to achieve this result without her support.

Mohammed preyed upon this young woman who found herself outside a nightclub, separated from friends, alone and vulnerable. He coerced her to go with him, convinced her that he had her best interests at heart by helping her get home, but instead took her to an address where he raped her.

Hampshire Constabulary is dedicated to getting justice for victims and ensuring Southampton is a safe place to enjoy nights out. Remember to look out for each other, avoid walking alone and plan how you are going to get home with friends.

I hope this sentence today goes someway to giving the woman closure and reassures her, and the communities in Hampshire, that justice has been served."

Description

A PUB CHEF who caught with indecent images of children has been jailed. Louis Joe Kalizewski has a previous conviction for raping a minor. The 23-year-old has admitted he has a sexual interest in children", a court heard. When police raided his home on July 12 last year they found him in bed. Kalizewski, of Sullivan Road Southampton, presented his electronic device on request. Upon examination, officers found indecent images which included one category A, three category B and four category C images. Prosecution barrister, Edward Warren told how during a police interview that day Kalizewski claimed he had no idea how the images came to be on his computer. Appearing before Southampton Crown Court on Monday he faced three counts of possessing indecent photographs of children with the offences taking place between April 15, 2018, and July 12 last year. He had previously pleaded guilty. Mr Warren told the court how Kalizewski was convicted at a youth court in 2015 for raping a boy under the age of 13. Defending, Tom Horder said his client still is relatively young and was caught with a small number of images which he did not attempt to hide. Mr Horder added, Kalizewski hopes that he can get some help. Judge Peter Henry slammed the images as particularly unpleasant. He jailed him for eight months and gave him a ten-year sexual harm prevention order. Kalizewski is subject to a ten-year notification requirement.

Description

He claimed he wanted to "tease out paedophiles and bring them to justice".

Tall of Aspen Close, Hedge End appeared before Southampton Crown Court on Tuesday.

He was charged with attempting to cause or incite a female child under 13-years-old to engage in sexual activity and with possessing indecent images of a child. He previously pleaded guilty.

Prosecution barrister, Nick Hall told how Tall was caught with 17 category A images, 14, category B images and 2,880 category C images.

Defence barrister, Berenice Mulvanny argued that Tall was of good character with a previous conviction for an unrelated matter from 2011, adding he had committed no further offences since he was arrested.

Tall claims to live every day regretting what he did and has "lost his daughter" due to his actions.

Judge Gary Burrell QC slammed his collection of images as repulsive and justifying imprisonment.

However, citing the prospect of rehabilitation he said there was a good chance of him leading a good life.

Tall was given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years. He must complete a 60-day sexual offenders programme. He is subject to a two-year sexual harm prevention order and a four-month curfew from 7pm to 7am.

Description

Jordan Bibby, 19, thought he was chatting to under-age girls but was actually talking to adults who go online posing as children in a bid to catch offenders.

Yesterday he was sent to a Young Offender Institution for what a judge at Southampton Crown Court described as the defendant's "revolting" behaviour.

Dawn Hyland, prosecuting, said Bibby was arrested after viewing fake profiles created by the Child Online Safety Team and a similar group called Innocent Voices.

Thinking he was chatting to an 11-year-old girl he said: "I want you babe. I want to be your boyfriend."

Miss Hyland said Bibby also sent "the profile" explicit photographs of himself as well as asking for sex.

The defendant was charged and bailed but committed more offences after going online again and chatting to someone he thought was a 12-year-old girl.

During one of several video calls he performed a sexual act, the court was told.

Bibby pleaded guilty to attempting to sexually communicate with a child, attempting to cause a child to watch a sex act and attempting to meet a child after grooming her.

His address was given as the McMullen Barracks at Marchwood.

But Robin Griffiths, defending, said Bibby had lost his career in the army as a result of committing the offences in the first few months of last year.

Mr Griffiths said the "terrible misfortunes" the defendant suffered during his childhood had resulted in him leading a "very isolated form of existence".

He added: "After being recruited into the army he found what felt like a family life for the first time".

Judge Peter Henry told Bibby: "Having been arrested you went on to commit a number of other offences.

"Had it not been for your immaturity and your learning difficulties, you would have gone to prison for rather longer."

Description

A SOUTHAMPTON paedophile has been jailed for 13-months.

Adam Piggott appeared at Southampton Crown Court on Friday faced with charges of attempting to engage in sexual activity with a child and attempting to meet a child for sexual activity.

Using social media, the 31-year-old messaged a 13-year-old-girl called Molly between October 28 and November 7, 2019.

He started the conversation by sending her a message from a profile with the name of Martin – his middle name.

Piggot, of Mansfield Park Street, asked what she was "into" and what she looked like, the court heard.

Molly sent a photo – which he deemed "cute" – and then sent an image of himself back.

His messages eventually turned more explicit and more sexual.

Little did he know, Molly was not a real girl.

An online police unit tasked with catching paedophiles had created a fictional profile.

Prosecutor, Dawn Hyland told how Piggott asked if "Molly" had been with an older man.

He offered to meet her and they made arrangements for when his girlfriend was at work.

Piggott asked Molly not to tell anybody.

They agreed to meet at McDonald's in Shirley High Street on November 7.

Piggott drove in and out of the restaurant's car park searching for Molly in vain.

After pulling up in a cul-de-sac opposite he was snared by officers.

During a police interview, he admitted he knew she was 13-years-old and he wanted to meet for sex.

He said it had dawned on him she was not real and he could not give a specific reason why he sent messages.

Transcripts of their exchanges totalled 81 pages.

Defence barrister, Jamie Gammon said: "He [Piggott] is a man of good character and has no previous convictions."

And, that he had taken steps to address his offending behaviour – including hypnotherapy.

Gammon argued that Piggott is "clearly a man with mental health problems" and furthermore he had pleaded guilty.

For his "serious crimes", Judge Henry sentenced him to 13-months in prison and gave him a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Description

A man has been jailed for 3 years after being found in possession of indecent images of children.

Thomas Powell, aged 24, of Broomy Close, Dibden was sentenced at Southampton Crown Court yesterday, (19 May) to 3 years imprisonment, put on the Sex Offenders Register for life and given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.

Powell pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to one count of possession of extreme pornographic images, two counts of possessing a prohibited image of a child and six counts of making indecent photographs of a child.

Officers executed a warrant at Powell's home on 14 May 2019 after intelligence suggested he had been downloading indecent images of children.

Officers from Hampshire Constabulary's Internet Child Abuse Team (ICAT) seized Powell's phone, two computers and a tablet which were analysed by a forensic computer examiner within the force. Between these devices, officers discovered over four million images and videos of abuse involving children had been downloaded and included category A images – the most serious.

PC James Giles said "Behind every indecent image of a child is a vulnerable victim and these crimes are among the most appalling that we investigate.

"Powell is a habitual collector of indecent images that include category A, the most serious kind, for his own sexual gratification.

"Tackling online viewing of indecent images is a priority for police and we will do everything in our power to bring offenders to justice."

Description

Stephen Lea, 53, of Logan Close, Southampton was found guilty of one count of rape and 13 counts of indecent assault on a child, following a trial at Southampton Crown Court.

The court heard that Lea began abusing his young victim in 1994 and continued until 1999.

Lea's offences were reported to the police after the victim disclosed what had happened to a relative.

Lea was sentenced to 17 years, with an extended licence period of one year. He was also made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and ordered to be placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Detective Constable Marie Leather from Hampshire Constabulary's Amberstone team said "Lea's offending took place over a prolonged period of time.

"I cannot praise the victim enough for the bravery and courage she has shown in reporting what happened. Lea's actions have had a significant impact on her and it has been something she has been trying to come to terms with throughout her life.

"I hope this sentence goes some way in helping her move forward.

"I also hope this sentence will encourage others who have suffered this type of abuse, no matter when it happened, to come forward and speak to us. We take allegations of this nature extremely seriously and work hard to bring offenders to justice."

Description

A man from Southampton has received a prison sentence for a series of thefts as well as sexually assaulting a female hairdresser. Rashpal Sanghera, aged 36, of Southampton, has been jailed for 30 months after he sexually assaulted a female hairdresser. He was also responsible for a spate of thefts. Southampton Crown Court heard he had been having his beard trimmed when he sexually assaulted the female hairdresser. Sanghera chased the victim around the barbershop. When he forced himself on her, she used a rolled-up magazine to fend him off. He stopped the assault, however, Sanghera issued a threat, telling the victim: Watch out what happens to you. Robert Welling, prosecuting, said the woman was alone at the time and was left scared and distressed by the ordeal. In September 2019, Sanghera was arrested and released under investigation. On October 18, 2019, he had been driving his BMW on The Avenue when he was pulled over. A test found traces of cocaine and benzoylecgonine, a breakdown product of cocaine, in his system. Sanghera, who has 29 existing convictions, went on to steal a charity tin from Sams Chicken Takeaway in Shirley High Street on January 17, 2020. On January 27, he stole another charity tin from Moby Dick fish and chip shop in Church Street, Shirley. Sanghera was later found in possession of a bank card which had been stolen from a student. He used it to pay off 770.21 of drug debts across Southampton, Eastleigh and Winchester. On February 1, Sanghera had been at the McColls store in Bedford Place when he lunged over the counter and stole four scratch cards. Just days later on February 7, he and a friend stole four bottles of alcohol worth 115 from Sainsburys in Leigh Road, Eastleigh. Sanghera then failed to appear at court for the sexual assault offence but was found guilty in his absence on March 16. He was finally arrested on March 24, 2020. On March 25, he pleaded guilty to three counts of theft, one fraud, one burglary and one count of driving under the influence of drugs. Chris Gager, defending, stated that Sanghera planned to change but was stuck in a vicious circle of drug abuse. Sanghera was jailed for 30 months, of which he will serve half. As he was sentenced, he repeatedly abused Judge Christopher Parker. Sanghera was also disqualified from driving for two years which will begin upon his release. In 2015, he had been accused of robbing a sex worker in her own home. The victim had been at her home when three men burst in and one of them held a knife to her throat before making off with 100 and identity documents. Sanghera was arrested and interviewed by police. He admitted going to her flat, saying he wanted to have sex with Miss Pasare, but told detectives he had a panic attack and denied being involved in any robbery, the court heard. After listening to evidence given by defence witnesses the jury found him not guilty.

Description

A SEX offender breached rules banning him from using Facebook when he logged onto the social media site and searched for his previous victim.

Josh De-Banks was banned from using the social media platform without the prior knowledge of police as part of a sexual harm prevention order.

The order was made after De-Banks admitted sending sexually explicit pictures to a young boy in 2019.

But the 21-year-old was later jailed for breaching the order after making contact with the same boy.

He was later released in Southampton.

But Southampton Crown Court heard that soon after his release, De-Banks was caught in possession of a mobile phone.

When police checked the phone they found De-Banks had been using Facebook.

On further inspection, officers found searches for the profiles of eight people, including the victim who was sent the explicit messages and members of his family.

Mitigating, Richard Tutt said De-Banks, who had been recalled back to prison on licence for his previous breach, had gained enhanced prisoner status while in custody and was studying a course in law.

He said De-Banks had a difficult upbringing, having been in care from the age of four, and at the time of his original offence was "coming to terms" with his background.

De-Banks, whose address was listed as Vanguard Road in Southampton, where he was at the time of his breach, was sentenced to 15 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

Description

A PAEDOPHILE caught sexually messaging an 11-year-old girl was released by police only to be caught offending again when he was snared trying to meet what he thought was a underage teen. Martyn Dunn, 27, was arrested when the 11-year-old's mother discover the sexually explicit messages on the girl's phone. But after collecting the messages as evidence, and having conducted a police interview, officers released Dunn under investigation for more than a year. In the meantime, Dunn arranged to meet what he thought was a 14-year-old schoolgirl after graphic conversation about sex. But the online profile was actually operated by a paedophile hunter group, who handed him into the police. While sentencing Dunn to a 10 month prison sentence, a judge hit out at Hampshire Police's decision to release him after he was caught the first time. Judge Peter Henry said: "You committed the second offence while being investigated by the police and released. "I question why you were not charged when interviewed in Summer 2018. I have absolutely no idea why when police had all the evidence they subsequently used. "You should have been charged then, whether that would have prevented the second offence I cannot say. But you must have been well aware that it was against the law to contact child, but you went ahead and did it." Police have since defended the decision, claiming an early charge was "not appropriate" in Dunn's case. A spokesperson for Hampshire Police said: "In order to ensure a fair and thorough prosecution, investigating officers must collect all available material - whether it points towards a suspect or away. This also allows for fair disclosure the defence. "It is only once all reasonable lines of enquiry have been completed that a case can be presented. This can then be done so in the knowledge there is no material which would otherwise undermine the case. "Whether any such material exists is not always known at the point of interview and the bar for considering an early charge, with enquiries left to complete, is rightly set high." Southampton Crown Court heard how Dunn was arrested in April 2018 after exchanging sexual messages with an 11-year-old girl which were later found by the child's mother. The court heard he was later caught messaging what he thought was a 14-year-old in January 2019. But it was actually a fake profile, named Emily, which was being run by paedophile hunter group TRAP. Prosecutor Simon Foster told the court that after weeks of messaging, Dunn agreed to travel more than 60 miles from Southampton to Weymouth in order to meet the girl in June last year. He was later arrested and charged with both offences. In mitigation, John Dyer said Dunn suffered from autism and his messages with the girls were "naive". He said: "When talking to Emily they talk about Weymouth and his reply is that there are nice buses there. "He also sent a message in which he said he needed to go for a pee now and asked if she liked trains." Mr Dyer added that Dunn was facing eviction from his supported living accommodation, provided by Autism Hampshire, in Chessel Avenue, Southampton. Dunn, who pleaded guilty to one count of sexual communication with a child and one count of attempting to meet an underage girl after grooming. He was sentenced to 10 months in prison, given a 10 year sexual harm prevention order, barred from working with children and made the subject of notification requirements for 10 years.