Latest Offenders Stafford

Description

A Stoke-on-Trent man has been put behind bars for three years after grooming a teenage girl in Congleton.

Raheem Rahman, 23, of Andrew Mulligan Close, Tunstall, had been messaging his victim via the Snapchat app, and had arranged to meet her in Congleton on Monday, January 23. He collected the girl in his car at around 8.10am that day and drove to a country lane, thought to be in the Astbury area.

He then stopped the car and sexually assaulted the girl before driving her back to Congleton, Chester Crown Court heard.

Rahman was located after Ring doorbell footage helped to identify the car he was driving. He was arrested the same day at his place of work in Congleton.

During interview, he admitted talking to the girl on Snapchat but initially denied any sexual contact with the victim, saying he had picked her up and then dropped her off at school. He later pleaded guilty to one count of grooming and two counts of sexual activity with a child.

He was sentenced to three years in prison in a hearing at Chester Crown Court on Friday June 30). A sexual harm prevention order was also imposed for an indeterminate period.

As well as being jailed for three years, Rahman must sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and is subject to a restraining order.

Following the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Simon Mills of Cheshire Police's Eastern Crime Unit, said: "Firstly, I would like to thank the victim for her bravery throughout this investigation, and we hope this case encourages other victims of sexual offences to come forward. Rahman would have been well aware of the age of the victim but in spite of this, he chose to sexually assault the girl.

"I also hope that this case acts as a warning to others about the potential dangers of social media. Rahman met his victim online and he purposefully used social media as a tool to groom the girl before taking advantage of her

"We treat all reports of sexual offences extremely seriously and any allegations will be thoroughly investigated.”

Description

A pervert former soldier was caught after offering to share child abuse videos involving babies with an undercover police officer. Jonathan Mathias also threatened to post pictures of what appeared to be 14-year-girl on Facebook unless she performed a sexual act.

The 41-year-old, of Honeywood, Newcastle-under-Lyme, was arrested at his parents' house in Porthcawl on September 29 last year while his wife was present. When he was out of earshot from his family, he admitted to officers he knew why they were there but claimed he was 'just messing about'.

A sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court on Friday heard the undercover officer created a profile on the Kik messaging app and began speaking to the defendant who asked him to 'trade pictures'. He sent pictures of a young girl being abused and a picture of children's underwear and claimed he had abused a young girl, WalesOnline reports.

The police obtained a warrant as a result of this and arrested Mathias who initially made no reply. A Samsung phone was seized and when examined was found to contain 39 indecent images of children and seven extreme pornographic images as well as 66 videos of child abuse and nine videos of extreme pornography.

Prosecutor Clare Wilks told the court there were a number of 'small children' depicted in the videos – the youngest of which was just a baby. Among the chats on Mathias' phone was a conversation with someone claiming to be a 14-year-old girl in which he threatened to post photos of her on Facebook unless she performed oral sex upon her brother. The defendant had also visited websites related to bestiality.

Dad Mathias pleaded guilty to possession and distribution of indecent images and possession of extreme images. The court heard he was of previous good character.

In mitigation Tim Petrides said his client had been a member of the Royal Welch Fusiliers and had served tours of Iraq and Northern Ireland as well as being a member of the prison service. He said the defendant had been diagnosed with PTSD and felt "shame, remorse, and acceptance of harm" as a result of his offending.

Judge Wayne Beard sentenced Mathias to two years and four months imprisonment. He also made him subject to a sexual harm prevention order and sex offender notification requirements for 10 years.

Description

JAIL sentences have been handed to two teenagers who forced a terrified 15-year-old girl into an Appleby alleyway and raped her.

Levi Stephen Lee, 18, and Othie Danny Lee, 19, have shown no remorse for their horrific crime, which they committed in broad daylight in 2019, while they were in the town for Appleby Horse Fair.

As he passed sentence at Carlisle Crown Court, Judge Ian Unsworth KC contrasted the cowardice of the defendants with the courage of their victim, who has vowed that she will not let what happened define her.

Both defendants aged 14 and 15 respectively when they raped the victim were each jailed for five years and four months. They denied raping the girl but were convicted after a three week trial.

In court today, Judge Unsworth told the defendants: It is plain that this was a terrifying ordeal for [the victim]. ..She was no match for the two of you. You were both larger and stronger than her.

Having observed both defendants during the trial, said the judge, they had provided not even a hint of self-reflection or remorse.

You engaged in victim blaming, said the judge. I have no doubt that you put your heads together to create a wholly dishonest version of events which you tried to put before the jury

You are each without shame; you are each without remorse. The judge spoke of the victims description of how the double rape had turned her life upside down, affecting her so profoundly that she had to pull out of school.

She became suspicious of males, viewing them as a threat; and her sleep was badly affected. She had to sleep with the light on and this went on for two years after she was raped, said the judge.

Incredibly, as a result of her ordeal, she was subjected to bullying behaviour for which those responsible should feel thoroughly ashamed, said the judge.

Judge Unsworth quoted from the victims impact statement.

The girl had said of the defendants: My message to both of you is that you raped me on that day but it will no define me as a person. I have turned a corner in my life; and I am coming out of my shell.

Despite the young womans resilience, she did suffer severe psychological harm, ruled the judge. She is a remarkably brave young woman, whose bravery contrasts with your utter cowardice, the judge told the defendants.

Earlier, the court heard how the girls ordeal began when Levi Lee grabbed her by the hand and, according to some witnesses, she was then dragged and "frogmarched" along the street, over a bridge, and into an alleyway, away from CCTV cameras.

Othie Lee had quickly followed.

While in the alleyway the two teenagers had taken it in turns to rape the girl, while the other acted as lookout. She was treated like an "object", passed between the defendants to satisfy their sexual needs, observed the judge.

She manifestly did not consent, said the judge. The girl later told her mum she was scared of the two teenagers, and feared that they may have a knife and would possibly kill her.

Both defendants will be on the Sex Offender Register indefinitely. They must serve at least two thirds of their sentence before they will be eligible to apply for release on parole.

Neither Othie Lee, of New Street, Bridgetown, Cannock, who now works as a gardener, or Levi Lee, a roofer, of Willenhall Lane, Walsall, had shown any victim empathy, the court heard. Defence barristers for both men highlighted their immaturity at the time of the offences.

After the defendants were led away to begin their sentences, Judge Unsworth commented on the professionalism and thoroughness of the police officers involved in what turned out to be a "highly sensitive" and "complex" investigation, singling out Detective Sergeant Michael Gilsenan for particular praise.

* When defendants commit offences as juveniles, as in this case, judges are legally obliged to impose sentences which are approximately half of what would have been imposed had the defendants been adult when they offended.

In this case, Judge Unsworth had determined an adult equivalent sentence of 11 years custody, bearing in mind aggravating and mitigating factors.

Description

A man who raped a woman he met on a night out in Bath has been jailed.

Anthony Brown-Jones, 31, of Rugeley, Staffordshire, denied raping his victim in September 2020 at a holiday lodge but was found guilty following a trial at Bristol Crown Court.

Sentencing Brown-Jones to seven years and six months in prison, Judge Martin Picton said the attack was “animalistic” and “inhumane”.

Brown-Jones must serve two thirds of his custodial sentence before being considered for parole and will also be on the sex offenders’ register for life.

In a statement read out in court ahead of the sentencing hearing last week (Wednesday 5 April) his victim said: “[Brown-Jones] felt entitled to do what he wanted and I was not in a position to defend myself.

“I was drunk, I was unconscious. I would never have consented.

“This investigation has had a massive impact over the last two years on me and my family.

“I also know it is going to have a massive impact on him, because of what he has done and the sentence that will be passed.

“I am not an unkind or malicious person, but he needs to be punished and I would like to thank the jury for the decision that they have come to.”

Detective Constable Jon Oakey, the investigating officer, said: “This was a disgusting attack on a defenceless young woman who at the time was unable to consent to having sex.

“Together, with our partners, we have provided her with support but I don’t underestimate the impact the attack has had.

“While the victim does not remember the incident, it’s clear the trauma of knowing what happened is just as significant.

“I’d like to thank her for the support she has shown our investigation – it’s because of the strength and resilience she has shown that a dangerous rapist is now in prison.”

Description

A pensioner who admitted carrying out more than 30 historic sex offences after preying on children has been locked up. Gary Cooper will be approaching 100-years-old before he will be eligible to apply for parole.

The 79-year-old, from Stafford, abused five children over a 15-year period, 'destroying' their childhoods. One of his victims branded Cooper 'pure evil' after revealing how they have found it 'difficult to carry on'.

The cruel sex offender admitted 11 counts of rape, 20 counts of indecent assault and three counts of indecency with a child. Cooper, of Within Lane, Stafford, was jailed for 27 years yesterday (April 5).

He must serve at least two-thirds of his sentence - which is a total of 18 years - before he is eligible for release. Taunton Crown Court heard how the convict groomed his victims and abused them between the 1980s and early 2000s in Taunton, Somerset.

A two-year investigation was launched by Avon and Somerset Police when one victim stepped forward in 2021. Other victims then reported their abuse to police.

One of those abused at the hands of Cooper said: "What happened has ruined my life. I can say that for many years, I have suffered from nightmares as a result of being sexually abused by Cooper. My childhood was awful. I was angry when I was young and I am still angry now."

Another victim said they were 'angry', adding: "He destroyed my childhood and that has had such an impact on my life as an adult. I am so angry that he did this to me.

"I want him and the court to know how much hurt and distress this has caused me throughout my life." A third victim said in a statement: "As a victim of sexual abuse, you try to deal with it, but it just never goes away.

"It is always there. Throughout the police investigation, it has been so difficult to carry on. It never goes away. I just want justice to be done, justice for me and for all of [his victims].

"We need closure so we can all move forward. Gary is just pure evil. What he did was disgusting." DC Harvey Ahern, who was the officer in the case, said his team scoured through hundreds of documents to compile their case.

He said: "This was a difficult and complex investigation resulting in hundreds of evidential documents being collated and numerous interviews being carried out. I wish to commend the bravery and resilience of the victims and witnesses who have remained strong and dedicated throughout the investigation and court process.

"This result would not have been possible without their courage and kind faith in us as a service, and I hope this conviction encourages other victims of sexual abuse to come forward."

Description

'Laurie' said Chris Brown was recruited to assist with the move but his true identity was only brought to her attention after he sent her daughter a Facebook friend request.

A horrified mother has slammed her landlord and the police after a registered child sex offender was sent out to help her and her five children move house. The woman, who wishes to be named as just Laurie, was moving between Aspire Housing properties in North Staffordshire when Chris Brown was recruited to assist.

She says the man's true identity was brought to her attention after he sent her daughter a friend request on Facebook the following day, Stoke Sentinel reports. The mother says the response to the incident from both Aspire and Staffordshire Police has seriously impacted her confidence in them.

Aspire has apologised for the incident but claimed the work being carried out wasn't a job that would have required background checks to be carried out on the firm it had contracted. Staffordshire Police said that no offence had been committed by Chris Brown at that time.

During the move, Brown was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) that he received in 2017, aged 29. He had been jailed for two years after exchanging explicit images with a 13-year-old boy.

Brown, who remains on the Sex Offenders Register, was back in court in August 2021 for breaching the order by deleting Snapchat messages. He told StokeonTrentLive that he had reason to believe from previous conversations with the girl that she was over the age of 18, which is a claim that Laurie strongly rejects.

Laurie, 33, who has four other young children living with her at home, said: Im baffled that the police seem to think that if someone just tells them they thought someone was over 18, thats good enough for them. They havent investigated this properly at all as far as Im concerned. They took no statements from me or my daughter, they just seem to have taken his word for it and left it at that. Its disgusting.

Brown was helping out local removal firm Bailey and Cooper Removals, which is owned by his stepfather, when he was sent out to the womans home. Laurie contacted the police after the Facebook friend request for her daughter arrived the next day.

She said: I rang them and then later on they came back to me to say theyd been round to check his devices. That told me something was up, so I asked if that meant what I thought it meant, but they wouldnt say. So we looked him up on Google and found out about his court cases.

"I was sick to my stomach. All they would say was that theyd been to see him and that as far as they were concerned, everything was ok. They were going on about having a duty of care to him and all that.

Staffordshire Police confirmed to StokeonTrentLive that it had visited Brown, and that there had been no breach of his SHPO. It's been reported that the now-expired SHPO imposed by the court did not forbid him from making contact with all children and was only applicable to boys under 18.

Laurie who found this 'astonishing' said: Why would anyone impose an order that only protected boys, not girls as well? These orders should be made with the protection of all children in mind.

It is understood that Brown's SHPO was not extended when he breached it in 2021. A spokesperson for Staffordshire Police said: At the time of the incident, the individual was subject to a SHPO that only applied to boys aged under 18. These terms were set by the judge at the time of the previous court hearing.

"Following the allegations, we visited the individual on August 4, 2022, to conduct inquiries. The relevant officer spoke to the girls mother later the same day. No criminal offences were identified as part of our enquiries. We can only base our investigations on the evidence we have available and within the constraints of the court order issued, this particular incident does not meet the criteria for the breach of that order.

When asked about the incident, Brown said: "With regard to the matter last August - yes, in the course of helping out on the job the woman and daughter started conversations with me and the daughter gave me the impression by what she said that she was over 18."

Aspire Housing said that the removal firms remit did not meet the criteria for a background disclosure check. Jon Dickin, Head of Neighbourhoods at Aspire Housing, said: We have taken this incident very seriously and have been providing support to the customer and working with local partner organisations to help investigate the situation.

"On this occasion, we used a new contractor due to lack of availability from our usual supplier. We would like to reassure our customers that we will not be using this contractor to undertake any further work. We are sorry to hear about the impact this incident has had on the affected customer and their family, and we will continue to work with and support them in any way we can.

A spokesperson for removal firm Bailey and Cooper Removals said: We were short staffed, somebody suggested he would work for us that day. We didnt know about his convictions. He hasn't worked for us since. We have got high standards, we would never hire someone like that intentionally.

Description

Steven Morris had previous convictions for child sexual offences when he started talking to what he thought was a 14-year-old boy online

A convicted paedophile tried to meet a schoolboy for sex because he was "lonely and isolated" during the national Covid-19 lockdowns.

Child sex offender Steven Morris was jailed and made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order in 2014 for inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and making indecent images of children. However, the 45-year-old proved he hadn't learned from his past sordid mistakes when he started messaging what he thought was a 14-year-old online.

In fact, Morris was actually talking to a fake account, set-up by an undercover police officer. Newcastle Crown Court heard that the messages soon turned increasingly sexual and resulted in Morris arranging to meet the boy at a hotel in Gateshead.

When police showed up at the premises and arrested Morris, they found he had lubricant, baby oil and a further sex-related item in a plastic bag in his room. The pervert, of Booth Street, in Chesterton, Newcastle Under Lyme, has now been jailed fro five years with an extended three-year licence period after a judge deemed him to be dangerous.

Sentencing him, Judge Amanda Rippon said: "Your previous convictions were planned, sophisticated and serious. You were sentenced to a term of imprisonment as a result. The most serious offence was committed against a boy the same age as you believed your current victim to be.

"You're an intelligent man. You undertook a sexual offenders' course with the Lucy Faithful Foundation. You engaged with work with the Probation Service and you undertook personality disorder work with a psychologist. Despite all of that and being subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, you went on to commit further very serious sexual offences.

"The probation officer identified you posing a high risk of serious harm to children. It's argued that it was your isolation during Covid that led to your offending. Countless suffered anxiety and isolation during Covid, who didn't commit offences.

"You have this history and you have not learned to control your behaviour. You prioritise your own sexual needs above everything else. I'm extremely satisfied you will commit further, specified offences and cause serious physical or psychological harm."

The court heard that Morris began chatting to the "boy" online on September 26 last year before the conversations move to Snapchat. Nicoleta Alistari, prosecuting, said Morris's messages became increasingly sexual and he requested photos of the teen before sending images of himself lying on a bed in his boxer shorts.

Ms Alistari added: "The defendant suggested meeting up at a hotel in Gateshead and said he would not do anything to [the boy] without him wanting to." The prosecutor said Morris also asked what the boy's favourite snacks were.

The court heard that police attended the Premier Inn, in Gateshead, on October 15 last year, arrested Morris and found him in possession of the lubricant, baby oil and sex-related item. He went on to plead guilty to arranging the commission of a child sexual offence, breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and attempted sexual communication with a child.

Brian Mark, defending, said Morris made no excuses for his behaviour and expected an immediate custodial sentence. He added: "He was running a café but there was a very long period during Covid when he became isolated and depressed and, in that state, he reverted to that behaviour."

Judge Rippon responded: "There were loads and loads of people who were isolated during Covid, it was an isolating experience for huge swathes of the country. Those people didn't commit offences like this. People didn't resort to serious sexual offending."

Morris was also made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life and must sign the Sex Offenders' Register for the same period.

Description

 A convicted sex offender was found in possession of one of the worst baby abuse videos "anyone can imagine".

Adam Park had downloaded the sickening clip of an adult man sexually assaulting the one-year-old child, which was then found during a routine police check.

Officers then discovered the 41-year-old had also used a Tor browser to access the dark web.

It meant Park, of Fenton, Staffordshire, was in breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for making and possessing indecent images of children.

He was jailed for 20 months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Prosecutor Mark Brookes said Park was made the subject of a-three year community order and a five-year SHPO in 2016 which was due to expire on April 29, 2021.

 Mr Brookes said a police risk assessor visited Park's home to carry out a risk assessment on April 18, 2020 , reports StokeonTrentLive.

Officers returned on April 6, 2021 and inspected a computer tower and Park was arrested.

It showed a Category A indecent image - the most serious - had been accessed.

Mr Brookes added: "It involved an adult man sexually abusing a one-year-old child.

"The report concluded he used Tor, a streaming facility enabling online anonymity."

Park pleaded guilty to two charges of breaching a SHPO and making an indecent image of a child. Hamish Noble, mitigating, said Park has had a problem with alcohol.

Mr Noble said: "He was living with his parents. He had no social outlets. He has never had a long term relationship.

"He had a job he found stressful. He felt put upon by colleagues and bosses. He had dyslexia as a child and was bullied at school.

"He used the Tor browser. He accepts accessing the category A image. The opinion of the report is that he can be managed in the community."

Judge David Fletcher said: "You were convicted in 2016 of a number of offences of possession of indecent images of children.

"You were coming to the end of the notification period when there was a visit by the officer overseeing your compliance and that resulted in the information we now have before us.

"There were two breaches of the SHPO. The first related to your deletion of internet history and also utilising the Tor system on your computer. It enabled you to access the dark web.

"It is clear there was an image, a moving image of a child, probably one of the worst images anyone can imagine, placed on the system.

"The real concern I have is the lack of real progress following the order made in 2016. It is a very serious breach."

Park will serve half the sentence in custody and the rest on licence. He was made the subject of a SHPO for 10 years.

Description

An escort and OnlyFans model who was caught with child abuse images five years ago has appeared in court for breaching the original terms of her sentence.

Jodiee Hart, 32, from Stoke, Staffordshire, was given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) in November 2017 for having indecent images of children on her phone.

This week she pleaded guilty at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court for not registering social media accounts, downloading Snapchat, and using alias JenniferXXX for online accounts including OnlyFans.

However, the escort and OnlyFans model told MailOnline her trial was 'unethical' and it was 'unfair' that she was prosecuted when she was just 'trying to get on with my life'.

She has an OnlyFans account that promises photos and videos every week for less than 10 per month and an escorting profile where she charges 150 per hour.

When Staffordshire Police confronted the escort, who is also a webcam model, on December 7, 2021, she had image and messaging app Snapchat on her phone.

Prosecutor Richard McConaghy said: 'There had been a discussion that that was a breach of the SHPO and the Snapchat was deleted. But Snapchat was put back on the phone by January.'

Police found she had reinstalled the app in January this year and also saw the name JenniferXXX, which had not been registered.

Hart admitted in her police interview that she re-downloaded Snapchat because she wanted to talk to someone.

She said she was lonely and the previous police force in Runcorn, Cheshire, where she used to live, allowed her to use Snapchat.

Hart pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the notification requirements of the sex offenders' register and breaching an SHPO.

She did not think to re-register the OnlyFans account as it remained the same as when she was in Runcorn.

The sex offender also used Snapchat in Runcorn as it was acceptable to the police there and she did not hide the reinstallation of the app.

Yet since pleading guilty Hart has railed against the judicial system and the police.

She said sending and receiving sexual images from a child was a 'mistake' but she was 'so sick of being referred to as a 'pervert' or 'sex offender''.

Hart told MailOnline: 'In 2015, I was chatting to someone via Skype and Snapchat and had received and sent images of a sexual nature. I was prosecuted.

'[It's] a mistake that has lived with me since and I carry guilt and shame.

'2015 was a bit of a rough time, having had a broken-down relationship, drug misuse, alcohol misuse and homelessness. I feel it may have played a part to why I did what I did.

'I come from a background of abuse as a child, neglection and homelessness as a teen.

'I started an OnlyFans in 2018 because I wanted to be creative whilst having fun. I registered this with Runcorn [police]. I also had a Snapchat account.

'In 2020, I had completed two years of probation, had counselling and applied for university. By 2021 I moved from Runcorn and started studying video game design.

'The police want you to re-offend. They decided to breach me on the condition I did not register the [OnlyFans] name with police and it did not match the one they had on system. It's quite easy to make a mistake with a username.'

The prosecution said Hart redownloaded Snapchat because she was lonely, which she said was partly true.

However, she gave MailOnline other conflicting reasons as well.

She said: 'The reason I downloaded Snapchat again was because I was managing a university society'.

Yet later she said it was 'mainly to manage a potential university society I wanted to begin'.

Ms Hart also told MailOnline she felt 'silenced in court' and her trial was 'unethical' and 'did not resemble a fair trial'.

She said: 'It's not every day someone is taken to court for having an OnlyFans account. This was the last thing I needed.

'I am so sick of being referred to as a 'pervert' or 'sex offender'. People can make mistakes in life, they can also learn and move on. It's unfair.'

She added: 'I am just trying to get on with my life.'

Hart said her friends have been sent death threats and she will quit university.

She said: 'I've lost everything. How are offenders of any background supposed to fix their lives if we don't give them a chance?'

Jason Holt, mitigating, said: 'For a number of years she has been using Snapchat in Runcorn. She was under no illusion Staffordshire Police said she should not use it but she reinstalled it.

'That was more out of annoyance rather than to do something underhand. It was not for an unlawful purpose that she reinstalled it. It was because she was annoyed.'

Judge Sally Hancox gave Hart a two-year community order and the escort must complete a rehabilitation activity requirement for 30 days.

The judge also made a deprivation order for Hart's mobile phone.

Judge Hancox said: 'You failed to comply with notification requirements. A different name was used which was not registered.

'The use of Snapchat is a breach of your SHPO because it is an automatic deleting app. The app was reinstated.'

Description

 A convicted sex offender caught with an indecent image of a child he had downloaded on his laptop has been jailed after he breached his Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Craig Neal Jenkins, aged 52, and from Burton, has been sentenced to two years and two months imprisonment after appearing at Stafford Crown Court on Wednesday, October 19.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of making an indecent photograph of a child and two counts of breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order at the same court. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for 10 years and made the subject of a further Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

He was caught on August 2, when he was visited by officers from Staffordshire Police’s Sexual Offender Management Unit, who checked his devices as part of the Sexual Offences Prevention Order he was subject to. The order had been imposed in 2014 and was to last 10 years. A check of his mobile phone identified deleted WhatsApp messages, one of which was an indecent image of a child, said a Staffordshire police spokesman.

Jenkins denied having any other devices. However, a search of his home was conducted following his arrest. A camcorder and several camcorder tapes were recovered and seized by officers. He was found to be in possession of indecent images of children and to have breached his order by deleting his WhatsApp history, failing to hand over devices and using an incognito browser.

Jane Mulliner, from the Sexual Offender Management Unit, said after the court case: "We take the management of sex offenders extremely seriously. Jenkins rightly, has very strict notification requirements he is expected to abide by and he has shown a complete disregard and lack of respect for them."

Description

A paedophile from Stafford who was caught with 50,000 vile child sex abuse pictures has been locked up. Oliver Cadden had 'almost an industrial scale' of disgusting indecent images.

Many of the images downloaded by the sex offender, 43, were of children under the age of 10, Stafford Crown Court heard. Police found images and videos of abused youngsters on a storage tower and external hard drive in Stafford.

Cadden has now been jailed for 16 months for his offending. It comes after a judge said he had a 'deep-seated' sexual interest in children.

 The material was downloaded between August 24, 2019, and April 7, 2020, StaffordshireLive reports. Cadden admitted three counts of making indecent photographs/pseudo-photographs of children and another charge of possessing an extreme pornographic image.

He also admitted a charge of possessing extreme images. Prosecutor Andrew Wallace said the images involved girls and boys.

Cadden used search words such as "pre-teen" and "hardcore". The defendant was caught with 12,163 of the most serious category A images, which included 831 being videos.

There was also 8,458 category B, with 410 videos and 31,800 that were category C with more than 400 videos. During a police interview on September 27, 2021, Cadden accepted responsibility for downloading the images on the devices and replied no comment to questions about sharing the files.

Jason Holt, defending, said Cadden had sought help for his offending and was remorseful for what he had done. He had written to the judge along with his father, brother and ex-wife, who he still has a good relationship with.

Mr Holt said: "He doesn't shy away from what's behind his offending and sorting these problems out. He's starting to come to terms with that behaviour."

Judge John Edwards said he would give full credit for the guilty plea and how honest he was in the letter and told Cadden he could 'see you are genuinely remorseful', adding this was his first kind of any criminal activity he had been involved in.

However, he said those that go into this "cesspit from the dark web" only encourage the abuse of children to continue.

The judge said that the volume alone suggested a 'deep-seated, engraved sexual interest in children'. Cadden, of Elworthy Close, in Beaconside, Stafford, was jailed for 16 months and made the subject of a five-year sexual harm prevention order and will spend 10 years on the sexual offences register.

It was ordered that the computer and all of the materials were destroyed.

Description

A 'depraved' paedophile who sexually assaulted a child and was found with more than 20,000 indecent images on computer devices has been jailed. Ian Worthington, 51, from Staffordshire, was brought down after an interventional investigation was launched by authorities to uncover "cross-border activity", Stafford Crown Court heard.

Worthington uploaded child sexual abuse material onto the dark web, where he also spoke with other paedophiles. Crown prosecutor, Maria Brannan, said an IP address was discovered before British police attended the defendant's address.

His house was searched and officers seized a number of devices, including a phone and laptop, which were forensically examined, said the National Crime Agency (NCA). An iMac computer was found containing thousands of indecent images of children, said Ms Brannan.

Of the images found on the iMac, there were 425 of the most severe type, Category A, followed by 691 Category B images and 4,895 Category C images. Worthington admitted to using a piece of software called TOR, also known as The Onion Router, which allows people to communicate online anonymously.

Police later found two hard drives owned by Worthington which contained thousands of more indecent images of children, the court was told. Investigators traced some images, made by Worthington, to a device belonging to an Australian sex offender, who was jailed for 22 years in 2015, said the NCA.

The NCA said Worthington used a number of dark web hidden service forums in an effort to ensure his activity remained anonymous. Meanwhile, investigators recovered 20,500 indecent images, from Category A to C, from his devices.

The National Crime Agency said among these, were 135 Category B and 140 Category C images showing a child being sexually assaulted by Worthington. There was also evidence which suggested they had been distributed to other paedophiles online.

Sentencing Worthington, Her Honour Judge K Montgomery QC said: "These offences came to light through an international investigation, determined to uncover cross-border paedophilic activity." She said some images found in Worthington's possession were of the most "depraved and disturbing", involving the sexual assault of children.

The judge said chat logs showed Worthington had an "active involvement in a network of paedophiles." Defending Worthington, Mark Nicholls said his client described his behaviour "as an addiction".

In total, Worthington was caged for six years and eight months - extended by two years on license. He was also ordered to be put on the sex offender register indefinitely and given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

NCA operations manager Hazel Stewart added: "Online abuse material cannot exist without the real-world exploitation of children. As this case shows, there is a clear link between offenders seeking out such material and committing sexual abuse themselves.

"We have wide-ranging capabilities to identify the most dangerous offenders who use the dark web in an attempt to remain anonymous. We will stop at nothing to ensure they face justice, and to protect children from exploitation."

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A convicted rapist ended up living in a tent in Hanley Park after finding himself homeless. David Bailey was back in court this week for breaching an order after failing to tell police where he was living.

The 27-year-old neglected to notify officers that he was stopping at an address in Crown Bank, Hanley, for three months. And he was three days late notifying them that he was of no fixed abode while he was sleeping rough in Hanley Park.

Now Bailey has been sentenced to a three-year community order at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Prosecutor Maria Brannan said the defendant was convicted of rape in 2014 and was placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely. He attended Longton Police Station on February 7 to register his address as no fixed abode and was told he would have to return every seven days.

But he failed to register on February 14 and attended the station on February 17 after being contacted by police. He said he had been living in a tent on Hanley Park and had to live outside Birmingham Police Station after a row with his mum.

Miss Brannan said: "That was reported in the local press together with a photograph of the defendant which led to the second set of offences."

She said on November 17 the defendant had registered as no fixed address. But following the newspaper report police received a call from a man who had been told someone living in his property was a sex offender.

Miss Brannan said: "He looked at the photo and recognised the person. He had a 12 bedroom property and the defendant had lived there with his mum since November. Police attended and removed him from the address on April 3."

Bailey, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the notification requirements of the sex offenders' register.

Paul Cliff, mitigating, said the most serious matter was the defendant failing to tell police he was living at the address in Crown Bank. He said the defendant has had issues with accommodation. Mr Cliff added: "The court could impose an immediate sentence but it would not be a long time until he is released."

As part of the community order, Bailey must complete a thinking skills programme and a rehabilitation activity requirement for 40 days.

Judge David Fletcher said: "I know you have spent a considerable period of the last few years living on the streets. That doesn't mean that you are incapable of being proactive in doing things. You know where the various people that can help you are.

"Just failing by a day to notify the police of a change of address or where your address is will almost certainly result in you being charged. The more of these charges you get the more likely it is you will go straight to prison for longer and longer periods."

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Pervert Robert Alexander wants to put his criminal past behind him as he learns to cope with the stigma of being a convicted sex offender.

Lawyers representing the 24-year-old told Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court that he is keen to become a more responsible member of society.

It comes after Alexander once again appeared in the dock for breaching two court orders. The defendant had been made the subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and was placed on the sex offenders' register for 10 years after he forced schoolboys to take part in sexually explicit videos.

But he breached the SHPO by using Snapchat, as it deletes internet history, and he also failed to tell police about a change of address. Now Alexander has been handed a three-year community order at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Prosecutor Nick Tatlow said under the terms of the SHPO the defendant is prohibited from deleting any internet use. But police went to his address on January 7 and requested he make available any device capable of accessing the internet or storing images.

Mr Tatlow said: "The risk assessor identified a Snapchat image. One of the features of Snapchat is that pictures are only available for a short period of time so the defendant is unable to use it as it doesn't have capacity to keep the history of internet use."

In his police interview the defendant admitted breaching the SHPO by using Snapchat.

Police made an unannounced visit to Alexander's address in West Street, Leek, on April 21. Mr Tatlow said: "There was no response to their knocking. They discovered the defendant had last paid rent in February and was not living at the flat for some months. Further enquiries led police to another address.

"The defendant called police and said he had left his previous address and was staying at Westminster Road. He agreed to meet them the next day. Police went there the next day and he was arrested for breach of the notification requirements."

In his police interview the defendant said he had started to move his belongings from the flat three months earlier and moved in fully with his brother-in-law six weeks previously.

Alexander, of West Street, Leek, pleaded guilty to breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and failing to comply with notification requirements of the sex offenders' register.

Anis Ali, mitigating, said the defendant fell into rent arrears. He said: "Knowing he was going to appear before a court and realising what could happen he took it upon himself to vacate the premises."

He said the defendant requires assistance and support but has curtailed his excessive consumption of alcohol.

Mr Ali added: "He realises he has to put his criminality behind him to address the stigma and become a more responsible member of the community."

As part of the community order Alexander must complete a mental health treatment requirement for 12 months and a rehabilitation activity requirement for 40 days.

Judge David Fletcher said: "You know that prison is a distinct possibility today. On this occasion what I think is better for you is you have ongoing contact with those who are in a position to assist you." Alexander was ordered to pay 475 costs.

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A Cannock man who raped a girl aged under 13 and took an indecent photograph of a child has been jailed for 17 years. Daniel Cater, aged 30, also attempted to cause or incite a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity and also distributed an indecent photograph of a child.

He was found guilty of the offences after a trial. An investigation into his activity began in March 2021 when he was arrested by Staffordshire Police officers on suspicion of making, possessing and distributing indecent images of children.

His digital devices were then also seized and analysed. It resulted in Cater being further arrested for the rape of a girl aged under 13.

He was was sentenced at Stafford Crown Court on Monday, March 14. Alongside his jail term, Cater was ordered him to register as a sex offender for life and comply with a sexual harm prevention order.

Detective Sergeant Sophie Boden, of the forces child protection and exploitation team, said: "I would like to thank the victim and their family for showing great strength and courage in providing evidence in this case. Cater is truly a dangerous man who has now been brought to justice, and as a result others are now protected from him.

"I am immensely proud of DC Sophie Crooks and DC Jennifer Rawsthorne, who led the investigation. Alongside their colleagues, they have worked tirelessly on this case which has been particularly distressing."