Latest Offenders Southampton

Description

A "FOOLISH" Southampton sex offender lied to police about his real address, because he was afraid of losing his home and job.

Andrew Portelli was given a suspended sentence just last month after attempting to meet what he thought was a 14-year-old girl at a supermarket car-park in Southampton.

The 49-year-old was told to register his address with police, as part of the requirements of his sexual harm prevention order.

But he gave police the wrong address, because he was living and working as a night porter at The Elizabeth House Hotel, on The Avenue, in Southampton.

Portelli believed he would lose both if his job and accommodation if his employers found out.

But police later informed them of Portelli's sentencing, which was reported in the Daily Echo, and he was sacked.

Appearing at Southampton Crown Court, Portelli was given a six week prison sentence by Judge Gary Burrell QC, who described his actions as "astonishingly stupid".

The court heard how Portelli had breached the order just days after his sentencing, on February 8 this year.

During that sentencing, it was revealed how Portelli had sent inappropriate messages to a member of a paedophile hunter group, posing online as a 14-year-old girl.

He sent messages inviting the girl to shower with him before arranging a meeting at an Aldi car park in Portswood, where he was confronted by the paedophile hunters.

He was given a six-month suspended sentence after admitting to engaging in sexual communications with a child.

Just days later, he was found to have lied about his address.

In mitigation, Gemma White said Portelli had been "foolish".

She said: "He was concerned for his employment at the hotel if he made them aware of these matters and he would lose that accommodation, which was source of stability for him."

Judge Gary Burrell QC also described Portelli's actions as "astonishingly stupid".

He said: "You must have realised that not giving police the right information would have caused a breach of your order."

Portelli, who had been in custody for a month since his arrest, was jailed for six weeks as punishment, meaning he was eligible for immediate release.

He was also ordered to complete an extra 50 hours of unpaid work, which will be added to his previous punishment of 100 hours.

His six month suspended sentence remains in place.

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Cleaning company manager Micheal Harris from Bitterne Park in Southampton has escaped an immediate prison sentence after sexually communication with a child.

The court heard that the communications took place between the 16th June 2018 until the 4th August 2018

At the hearing at Southampton Crown Court.

Harris was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment suspended for a period of 24 months.

He must also comply with the following requirements to register under S.92 Sexual Offences Act 2003 for a period of 7 years.

Must participate in the HORIZON programme.

He will also have to undertake all rehabilitation activity requirements as described by an authorised provided of probation for 10 days.

Harris was also placed on the Sex offenders register for a period of seven years.

The court ordered Harris to pay a surcharge of 115 to fund the victim services along with 500 prosecution costs .

Description

A taxi driver who raped a female passenger who he believed had fallen asleep has been jailed. Ferham Khan, aged 29, from Derby Road, Southampton was sentenced to 12 years in prison at Southampton Crown Court after being found guilty of raping a woman in September 2017. Khans victim had been enjoying a night out with her friends and at the end of the evening called for a taxi so she could get home. The court heard how Khan had picked up the woman from Broadway in Winchester at around 1am on Saturday, September 30 2017. On the journey home, Khan preyed on the woman, believing she had fallen asleep he pulled over in an unknown location and proceeded to sexually assault her and orally rape her. The woman was so scared that she froze, and when Khan thought she had passed out through having too much to drink, he had the audacity to call the police and complain that he had an unconscious woman in his car and that he wanted her removed. As soon as police and paramedics turned up, the woman was able to disclose her ordeal. Khan was immediately arrested and his taxi seized for forensic examination. When questioned by officers, Khan said it was an accident, saying that the woman had fallen on him whilst he had his trousers unbuttoned. Later he admitted that was a lie, saying he was concerned his wife would find out he had had a sexual encounter with another woman. He went on to say the whole situation was consensual, claiming the victim had started touching him first and even suggesting that she did it for a cheaper fayre. The jury found Khan guilty by unanimous verdict. The judge sentenced him to 12 years imprisonment. In a quote, the victim explained the impact the events of that night has had on her life: On that night, I did as any young woman would. I went out with friends and I took a taxi home. What happened in the taxi destroyed me. That man shattered my world into tiny pieces. The pain and suffering I have endured because of what he did to me has left me broken. I dont know who I am anymore. This man had stripped me of my identity. At the moment I am simply surviving, I take each day as it comes and pray that one day I will feel like me again and be able to start living. Police Staff Investigator Joanne Parr-Daniels said: The bravery and strength we have seen in this woman is commendable. Khan turned her life upside down that night 17 months ago. We are so impressed with her courage. No matter how traumatic this has been for her and continues to be, she has supported this protracted and a complex investigation of rape. Without her would not have been able to get Khan to face justice for what he did. I hope now this sentence means she will be able to move forward with her life.

Description

A MAN groomed a vulnerable teenage boy after first making contact through social media.

Lewis Westbrook used his Instagram page 'Littlebooboo15' to make contact with his 15-year-old victim.

The 20-year-old later talked his victim into sending an indecent picture of himself, after promising him a threesome with an older woman.

He was caught after carers inspected the boy's phone and found the messages.

At Southampton Crown Court Westbrook admitted one count of sexual communication with a child and another count of inciting a child into sexual activity. He was given a two-year detention in young offenders institute.

He was also given an extended two-year licence period by a judge, who deemed him a danger to children.

Southampton Crown Court heard how initial contact was made through Westbrook's Instagram page, which had around 1,000 followers.

The pair began messaging about parties, vaping and drugs, before Westbrook turned the conversation to sex.

Prosecutor Dan Sawyer said Westbrook then requested an indecent picture of the victim, before sending one back, as well as a video showing adult pornography.

Westbrook continued to groom his victim during the day-long conversation, which included an offer of a threesome with an older woman.

Mitigating, Mary Aspinall-Miles described the conversation as "fantasy" on behalf of Westbrook.

She said: "This is clearly fantasy.

"For example, he he says to the young man at one point 'be right back, I've got to go to the shop to get some petrol and munch'.

"He hasn't even got a car."

Ms Aspinall-Miles described her client as having a number of learning conditions, which caused him to be "immature".

She said that Westbrook was homeless at the time of the offence, in September last year, and was living a "chaotic existence" by sleeping rough in a multi-storey car park in Southampton.

Judge Robert Pawson sentenced Westbrook, listed by the courts as of Lionheart Way, Bursledon, to two years' detention in a young offenders institute.

He also handed down an extended two year sentence, which he will serve on licence.

Judge Pawson said: "I have to decide if you pose a significant risk of causing serious harm to child.

"It is in my view that an extended sentence is necessary in this case to protect the public and protect children."

Two further counts, one of possession of an indecent image and another of inciting a child to view pornography, will lie on Westbrook's file.

Description

A HAMPSHIRE police worker was snared by paedophile-hunters after sending "abhorrent" images to people he thought were 13-year-old girls.

Police resources co-ordinator Andrew Grimsted was cornered outside his Southampton flat by members of Justice for the Innocent after posting footage of himself performing a sexual act.

He appeared at Southampton Crown Court yesterday and was handed a three-year community order.

Last night Justice for the Innocent described the sentence as "diabolical", saying Grimsted was in a position of trust and should have been jailed.

A spokesman said: "The sentence fails to reflect the seriousness of his crimes and what could have happened had there been no intervention by a decoy."

Christopher Wing, prosecuting, told the court: "The offences came to light after Grimsted went on the internet and thought he was communicating with young girls aged 13 or so.

"In fact he was communicating with members of a vigilante paedophile-hunters.

"They attended his address and detained him in the car park outside his home. Police were called and he was arrested on suspicion of grooming a child."

Justice for the Innocent filmed their confrontation with the defendant and posted the footage online.

Grimsted, 50, of Millbrook Road East, Southampton, admitted three offences of attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act and three of attempting to have sexual communication with a child.

Richard Onslow, mitigating, said: "These offences were committed by a man of previous good character with a sensible job who ought to have known better.

"Fortunately there was no actual child, so the harm is lower than it would have been had the full offence been carried out."

Judge Gary Burrell QC described Grimsted's actions as "abhorrent" and told him: "Sending moving images to people you believed to be young girls indicated something seriously wrong with your thinking."

But he added: "You're of previous good character and I'm required by law to take into account."

Grimsted was handed a 36-month community order, which includes a requirement to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work. He was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The defendant was a civilian employee based at Southampton Central Police Station.

Speaking after the case a Hampshire police spokesman said: "His role involved planning resources and did not involve any interaction with the general public.

"He remains suspended from the role and subject to ongoing gross misconduct procedures."

Detective Superintendent Nigel Lecointe, from Hampshire Constabulary's Professional Standards Department, added: "The investigation into Andrew Grimsted uncovered his attempts to exploit what he believed to be vulnerable children whilst he was off-duty.

"Hampshire Constabulary expects the highest standards from its officers and staff and will take action against those who commit criminal offences or breach the standards of professional behaviour."

Description

A MAN who attempted to hide hundreds of images of children in a secret folder on his mobile phone has been jailed.

Christopher Roberts set up a password-protected area of his mobile in a bid to hide the images from police.

The 32-year-old told police he had forgotten the password when officers visited his home as part of a routine check made due to his previous sexual offences.

When the folder was unlocked, police found more than 500 images of children being sexually abused – with some believed to be as young as six.

On Friday, Roberts was jailed for more than two years at Southampton Crown Court.

Prosecutor Dan Sawyer told the court how Roberts was subject of a sexual harm prevention order after previously being caught in possession of indecent images of children.

Roberts was also convicted of attempting to contact a young teenage girl via social media in 2013.

Police visited Roberts at his home in March last year and asked him to submit his phone.

When officers could not access the password-protected folder, Roberts was arrested for not giving full access to his phone.

When officers inspected the device, they found five category A still images, four category B still images and 544 category category C images.

In an interview with probation, Roberts questioned the harm caused by him viewing the images, and claimed the victims were "often smiling".

Mitigating, Jamie Gammon, said Roberts had been open with probation about his interests.

He said: "There doesn't appear to be any attempt by him to hide his interests.

"He has had a rather frank conversation with probation officers and told them exactly how he feels."

In sentencing, Judge Robert Pawson was critical of Roberts and his views.

He said: "You say that they are not real victims and they are often smiling and it's not like they have been forced into it.

"That shows a complete lack of empathy on your part.

"Every time you download one of these images of a child being sexually abused you contribute to that person's misery."

Roberts, who is currently serving a sentence at HMP Dartmoor for the original breach of his order, pleaded guilty three counts of making indecent images of children.

He was jailed for two years and eight months.

Description

A hunt has been launched to find a missing sex offender who previously raped a teenage girl.

Christopher Clarke is wanted by police for breaching his sex offender's notification requirements.

The 38-year-old is on the sex offender's register after the rape and sexual assault of a girl, aged under 16, in 1997.

Officers have been carrying out a number of enquiries in Southampton to locate him and are now asking the public for help in finding him.

He is described as white, 5 ft 9 in, brown hair and may have facial hair.

Detective Inspector Howard Broadribb said: "We believe that Clarke is most likely to be in the Southampton area.

"We have not been able to locate him since he failed to report at a police station as part of his requirements as a registered sex offender.

"We have been carrying out a number of enquiries to locate him and are now asking the public for assistance in finding him.

"If you have seen him or know where he is, please call us immediately."

Clarke has previously been hunted by police for a similar offence.

In June 2018, he appeared among a Hampshire's Most Wanted list, put together by charity Crimestoppers.

An appeal was also launched for Clarke in December 2004 after an alleged assault earlier that year.

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A DISGUSTED judge said a paedophile possessed the worst indecent image he had heard of in 30 years of sitting in court.

Judge Nicholas Rowland told family man Kelvin Brookes the child abuse image was "abhorrent and horrifying" and sentenced him to 18 months behind bars during the 40-year-old's hearing at Southampton Crown Court.

Weeping, Brookes was told it was the actions of abusers like him that led to youngsters across the world being tortured for paedophile's pleasures.

The court was told that Brookes had been caught distributing 84 category A images to six online users.

Edward Phillips, prosecuting, said Brookes, who admitted the charges, was also found in possession of more than 150 different category A, B and C moving images.

One of the images was described by Mr Phillips as "horrifying" and Brookes had received 200 requests for the image.

In mitigation, Mark Ashley said although Brookes had downloaded the images he was unaware he had shared them.

"He has lost his family, his job and his home," Mr Ashley said.

"He was abused when he was younger and he was in a dark place when he viewed this material."

In sentencing Brookes, Judge Rowland said: "The image was abhorrent. It means that as we sit here children around the world are being abused for the gratification of people like you.

"In all my 30 years of sitting in court, I have never heard of such a horrifying image.

"It amounts to the torture of a young child.

"It's bad enough having to read about the image let alone think about the abuse this child suffered.

"It's said on your behalf you were in a dark place but no doubt this child was in an even darker one.

"A custodial sentence is exactly what a civilised society demands in this case."

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Eugene Tyrrell, 43, formerly of Hedge End, had been on the run for five years after being arrested for inciting sexual activity with a child.

Southampton Crown Court heard how, after a birthday party, Tyrrell, 43, met his 13-year-old victim and began talking to her online between December 2011 and 2012.

Prosecutor Fern Russell said: "It is clear the defendant was interested in sexual activity with teenage girls."

She told the court Tyrrell, 36 at the time, and his victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had begun talking about school, before he admitted he had feelings for her.

The court heard Tyrrell had also been in contact with a younger relative of the victim, although there are no charges relating to this.

Tyrrell admitted knowing the victim's age, but told police he only "asked her for sex to see her reaction" and didn't intend to meet her.

The court also heard a statement from the victim, who said she had self-harmed following the incident. It read: "I was young and vulnerable and Eugene Tyrrell preyed on this.

"It led me to become depressed... I have been taking medication for depression ever since.

"All these years he has been free to live in South Africa."

Ms Russell added that the cost of bringing Tyrrell to justice would have been nearly £10,000.

Mitigating, John Dyer said this was an isolated incident, adding that Tyrell, a funeral director, had been "very lonely at the time – intimate relationships were infrequent".

Mr Dyer said: "He went back to South Africa and clearly from the reference of his employer in South Africa he is a good worker and highly respected."

Sentencing Tyrrell to 21 months in prison for three counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and one of failing to appear in court, Judge Rowland said: "This offending has contributed to quite a significant condition [the victim] has been suffering with from an early age."

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A SOUTHAMPTON dad has been jailed for making and sending "highly disturbing" images of children.

Southampton Crown Court heard how Graham Andrew Davis used different aliases to chat to people online - and posed as a teenager himself.

Defending, Andrew Houston also told the court how Davis had watched porn since the age of 13.

He added that he had been encouraged by others to expose himself online at the age of 13 - but that he hadn't done so because he didn't have a webcam.

The court heard how Davis had posed as a 15-year-old while chatting to others on the internet.

On one occasion he had sent images of a child which he pretended were of himself, Judge Peter Henry was told

Davis, of Golden Grove, pleaded guilty to making 17 still images and one moving image, making still images.

The 28-year-old was described as of "good character" and had no previous convictions.

The court heard that he has "accepted that he needs help," and that he knew his behaviour was "disgusting and hurtful".

But the court also heard that he "doesn't understand how children are abused in the making of these images" - or that they are being "sexually abused in or for the market".

He was sentenced to 20 months in jail for making category A images and distributing category B images.

Davis cried as he was handed the sentence and led from the dock.

Addressing Davis, Judge Henry said: "Quite clearly you were sending images of very young children pretending that you were at a very young age and the chats are entirely sexual - what you would like to have done to you as a child and what this man would like to do to a child."

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POLICE found 58,000 "inappropriate" images on the laptop of a convicted paedophile, a court heard.

Pensioner Malcolm Webster is back behind bars after committing his fourth child sex offence and must now tell the authorities of his whereabouts for the rest of his life following his latest conviction for distributing videos of children being abuse.

The 69-year-old, pictured, who was previously jailed in 2000 for sexually assaulting youngsters and in 2013 for possessing images, was caught after officers carried out an inspection of his electronic devices.

Southampton Crown Court heard drawings of children, as well as thousands of prohibited pictures were found, including computer generated images of young people.

Prosecutor Daniel Sawyer said more than 7,000 illegal pictures were found, as well as indecent movies.

During the investigation police seized a computer tower.

While this was being examined, Mr Sawyer said, Webster purchased a laptop which was later found to have 58,000 "inappropriate but not chargeable images".

Mitigating, Mark Florida-James said Webster wanted to apologise to his friends.

Judge Nicholas Rowland said: "Only because of people like you are that these young children are being abused and the misery that it causes them. If you did not distribute the images, they would not be abused."

Webster, of Leaside Way, Southampton, admitted making indecent images, distributing indecent photos and possessing prohibited images.

He was sentenced to three and a half years imprisonment and an indefinite sexual harm prevention order was made.

Following Webster's conviction, a spokesperson for child protection charity The Lucy Faithfull Foundation said: "If you are concerned about what you are looking at online, or the online behaviour of someone you know, you can call the confidential and anonymous 'Stop It Now' helpline on 0808 1000 900 for advice, support and help to stop. Or visit stopitnow.org.uk to find out more."

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A CONVICTED paedophile was caught failing to register his devices to be monitored by police, a court heard.

Aaron Hutter was initially caught using internet chat rooms to contact young children by specialists using a fake profile.

Their investigations in 2015 uncovered evidence that he had also built up a collection of more than 1,000 indecent images of children as young as five – and some clips involving animals.

But three years on and despite being ordered to comply with a sexual harm prevention order, the 24-year-old admitted twice not registering his console and deleting his internet history on his iPhone.

Southampton Magistrates' Court heard that in May, Hutter failed to make the mobile phone available upon request to police and that he restored the factory settings on the phone.

He also didn't register the name he was using on his Xbox.

Previously, Hutter was handed an eight month suspended prison sentence for numerous charges of possessing indecent images.

At the time, Southampton Crown Court was told officials from the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) used a fake profile of a ten-year-old to snare him.

He was traced talking to a ten-year-old girl on social media and email.

Police raided his home and seized computer equipment containing 1,103 images – including 158 of the worst category, it was heard.

When sentencing Hutter, Judge Peter Henry said the images were "disturbing" and added: "No-one said you were directly involved in the abuse of these children but people are involved and they are in it to make money and in it to share these revolting images with people like you.

"The real victims are these young children."

Hutter, of Spring Road, Southampton, pleaded guilty to the charges and was made the subject of a community order, which includes the requirement to complete 100 hours unpaid work within the next year.

He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge.

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A SOUTHAMPTON man has been jailed for asking a 12 year old girl for sex.

Reice John Wills was described as an "isolated young man" in a "sad place" - and convicted at Southampton Crown Court after he was caught messaging the girl on Facebook.

Southampton Crown Court heard how Wills contacted the girl on messenger in July this year - making obscene suggestions of how they could celebrate the girl's thirteenth birthday.

But it also heard how Wills spent time in the attic of his mother's house alone - and had a history of being bullied.

The court was told how the 24 year old suffers from a limp, a speech impediment, cerebral palsy and epilepsy.

Richard Tutt, mitigating, said Wills knew he had been "extraordinarily foolish" but that he was "remorseful" and had acted out of "desperation."

He added that Wills is "quite an isolated young man" with "only one loyal friend" and said: "He has been bullied throughout his life. It has made him socially isolated and tends to spend a lot of time inside.

"His self-confidence is quite low, his self esteem is quite low. He has access to the internet. It's easy for him to get gratification from younger girls.

"The reason he has done that is because of the way he has been feeling about himself."

Mr Tutt went on to say Wills had "no intention of doing anything" with the girl he messaged - and that he has "struggled to form age appropriate relationships."

But he also said that Wills "fears for the future" and is keen to find "purpose in life," - concluding his mitigation by saying Wills "is in a sad place and it's from that position that he comes from."

But handing the two year eight month sentence to Wills, Judge Parker said Wills had "specifically targeted a 12 or 13 year-old girl as she was a relatively easy target."

He added: "You are either in denial of the fact that you have an unsavoury interest in teenage girls or you have no understanding or insight into that concern of yours in children.

"It is obvious that you are sexually active. You pose a significant risk of serious harm to these girls and it's very difficult to see how long that will last.

"Either you recognise or not what you have done causes very serious harm to young girls."

In the summer of 2016 Wills, of Blackthorn Road Southampton, pleaded guilty to causing a child of under 16 to watch a sexual activity and asking her to undress.

He was handed a 12 month suspended sentence.

On October 19 this year Wills was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison for inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, breaching a sexual harm prevention order by deleting internet history, having unsupervised contact with an under 16-year-old, and failing to comply with notification requirements.

On his release he will also have to serve an extended licence period of six years' supervision from the authorities.

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A MAN faces prison after sexually assaulting a woman outside a Southampton bar in a late night, drunken attack.

Tomasz Adam Boron twice attempted to touch his victim below the waist with his hand as she waited outside The London Hotel, on Oxford Street.

As she pleaded with him to stop, the 38-year-old grinned as the woman took a picture of him to give to police.

Southampton Magistrates' Court heard Boron had been out drinking with his colleagues but made a "horrible mistake" when he tried to get close to the woman.

Prosecutor Ryan Seneviratne told the court all options should be open to the court when considering what Boron's sentence should be - including prison.

He said: "This was a serious sexual offence on a stranger outside a bar...when bouncers at the bar saw what happened they asked him to leave.

"The woman shouted at Boron twice to stop and that's when the bouncers became involved."

The court heard that the following morning Boron woke up with "a big headache and a hangover" as he began to piece together what had happened the previous night.

Will Day, mitigating, said: "He made a horrible mistake and has committed a very nasty offence on that young lady.

"He will accept any punishment for his actions.

"He is sorry and deeply ashamed by his behaviour."

Mr Day added that once the police were called by the victim, Boron waited for them to arrive and was arrested outside the bar at around 10.30pm on August 4.

In his interview, Mr Day said, Boron, of Millbrook Road East, Southampton, admitted attempting to sexually touch the woman.

He also told the court that while Boron was waiting, the victim took pictures of him, in which he was smiling at her.

During his hearing, Boron pleaded guilty to sexual assault on a female.

He will now sign on to the sex offenders' register.

A pre-sentence report detailing Boron's behaviour will be compiled by members of the probation team before he is sentenced at the same court next month.

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A PAEDOPHILE who fantasised about kidnapping Madeleine McCann has walked free after being caught with child abuse images.

Barry Shaw, 38, argued he would lose his spot at university if he was put behind bars.

It comes after Shaw was jailed in 2012 after investigators searching his laptop uncovered the largest collection of indecent images from the most extreme category ever.

The court heard he had fantasised about kidnapping toddler Madeleine McCann and downloaded thousands of horrific child sex abuse images, showing disturbing acts including between adults and children as well as bestiality and sadomasochism.

He has now moved to Southampton and was caught by officers again who discovered he downloaded an image of a teenage girl dressed in stockings and underwear before moving it to the recycle bin of his laptop.

Shaw was convicted at Southampton Crown Court after admitting one count of making an indecent photograph of a child.

Shaw has previously been jailed after fantasising about kidnapping missing toddler Madeleine McCann.

Eve Shelley, defending, said Shaw had "deep-rooted issues" with the images and was estranged from his family.

She said: "He was failing in his studies, that led him to have an increase in his low mood and an increase in his stress.

"The way he dealt with that was to access pornography."

Rose Burns, prosecuting, said Shaw was arrested after a search at his property in July last year. At the time he was already serving a 24-month community order for breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

Judge Gary Burrell QC gave Shaw a 24-month community order and ordered him to carry out 15 days of rehabilitation requirements.

He said Shaw was "addicted to porn and has been for a while".

He added: "The worrying thing is it seems you have a sexual interest in children. That is worrying for the community and those who are close to you.

"Here you are again, with a picture of a little girl dressed up in a bikini or underwear that is of course illegal.

"If you continue to behave like that or access those images you are going to destroy yourself."

The University of Southampton, which is part of the Russell Group, refused to comment after the case and also refused to confirm what Shaw studies.