Latest Offenders Stoke-on-Trent

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A 'bankrupt' ex-soldier from Staffordshire who abused two schoolchildren has been locked up. Former tank commander Patrick Elkin's offending only came to light when his two young victims revealed all to their parents.

The sex offender, who is now bankrupt after building up a 41,000 debt, served in Northern Ireland and the First Gulf War. Elkin, 64, has since been branded a 'monster' by the mum of one of his victims.

The mum went on to say his vile crimes could 'never be forgiven'. It comes after he was handed a four-year prison sentence for grooming the children and then sexually abusing them, StokeonTrentLive reports.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard how 'lonely' Elkin was arrested in 2020 after the children bravely spoke out about their ordeals. Elkin, of Longbrook Avenue, Blurton, later admitted sexual activity with a boy under 16 and two counts of sexual assault of a girl under 13.

The boy said Elkin had touched his private area a number of times. The abuse stopped when he sent Elkin a message saying he did not like it. In a statement read to the court, the schoolboy said he might want to punch the defendant if he saw him again.

Elkin's second victim told how he had touched her private area on more than one occasion. She also revealed that he had squeezed her breasts once, prosecutor Tom Sherrington said.

The girl said she is worried he has done it to someone else or might do it in the future. Her mum added: "What he has done can never be forgiven. He is nothing but a monster."

The former soldier was arrested on December 18, 2020. Barry White, defending, said Elkin - who has no previous convictions - fully accepts what he has done. Mr White said: "He expresses genuine remorse, shame, and his words to me, disgust at what he did.

"He has not sought to bring this matter to a trial. He is now a much more lonely man. He does recognise the impact his actions have had on the victims."

He said the defendant will lose all his possessions if sent to prison. He added that Elkin has a number of health conditions and recently became bankrupt after accruing a 41,000 debt.

Mr White added: "He understands this a very serious matter and the custody threshold is passed. I do ask, if there is any way this matter can be suspended I would encourage the court to consider that."

Judge Graeme Smith said: "You have taken those children's innocence. They were very brave to speak out in the way they did.

"Your actions have had a significant impact on the lives of the two children and will no doubt continue to have for much of their adult life."

Elkin must serve two thirds of the sentence before he is released. He was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely.

Speaking after the case Detective Constable Tracy Adams, of Staffordshire Polices Child Protection and Exploitation Team (CPET), said: I would like to commend the victims bravery in coming forward to report what happened to them.

Im pleased that the judge handed Elkin a custodial sentence for his offending and hope that it provides some comfort for the victims and their families.

I would like to encourage anyone who may be a victim of sexual abuse to come forward and report it to us, regardless of when the abuse occurred, as we will do all we can to support you and bring offenders to justice.

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A sex offender arrested for spying on mums changing babies' nappies in a supermarket has been jailed. Pervert Paul Thomas was made the subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) after grooming and meeting a child.

But, as reported by StokeonTrentLive, the 41-year-old was then arrested in October 2020 after watching parents in the baby changing area clean up their children for his own sexual gratification.

And during police interview, he disclosed that he had been in a relationship with a woman who had three children, including two under the age of 16. As a result, he breached the order by staying overnight at her address without informing the authorities.

Prosecutor Harinderpal Dhami told Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court how Thomas disclosed he had been in a relationship with the mum who had no idea of his offending history. On October 4 he handed his phone to police and he disclosed to his probation officer he had deleted messages received from the Plenty of Fish dating site.

Mr Dhami said: "His phone was analysed and there were 6,529 web entries that had been deleted. There was no suggestion that material being sought was indecent images of children.

"He also deleted WhatsApp messages. There were 507 internet search items deleted. It seemed to be indicative that the defendant searched for his own name and details."

Thomas, of no fixed address, admitted breaching a SHPO and two charges of failing to comply with notification requirements of the sex offenders' register. Stuart Muldoon, mitigating, said: "He is sorry for what he has done. The remorse is genuine.

"He did not wish there to be any interference by the authorities in that relationship. That is why he did not disclose it to the authorities."

Judge Sally Hancox jailed Thomas for two years. She said: "You formed a friendship with a woman who had three daughters, two were under 16 at the time. You stayed overnight with that woman at her home, she being in complete ignorance of your previous offending record.

"You failed to comply with the notification requirements in that you failed to tell those who monitor you that your address had changed. There was no wrongdoing on your part towards her or her family.

"You breached the SHPO by deleting your internet usage and search history on your mobile phone. You remain a risk. Thankfully, nothing found to be deleted was a concern. It was still a deliberate breach of your SHPO."

Speaking after the case, Police Constable Sarah Gifford said: Thomas thought he could lie and deceive police about his activities and cover his tracks. Im glad he has been handed a custodial sentence and hope it goes to show how we continue to monitor sexual offenders in order to bring them to justice.

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A Scholar Green man has admitted possession of indecent images.

Christopher Shaw (28) of Drenfell Road, Scholar Green, appeared before Cheshire Magistrates Court, sitting in Crewe on 7th July, and admitted between 11th September 2015 and 19th June 2021, in Scholar Green, he made 69 category C indecent photographs of children and that between the same dates was in possession of 83 indecent images of children.

He also admitted making 10 category A indecent photographs of children and four category B indecent photographs.

He was required to register with police until the case what is dealt with, reporting to Crewe police station.

He was remanded on conditional bail until his next hearing in Magistrates court on 8th August at Chester Magistrates Court for sentence, expected to take 30 minutes. The court asked for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

He is prohibited from using any device capable of accessing the internet unless it has the capacity to retain and display the history of internet use. Which capacity is at all times enabled; make the device available on request for inspection by a police officer and not to delete internet history.

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Police are hunting for a registered sex offender who could be in the Potteries. Today Staffordshire Police have issued a public appeal as officers look to track down 27-year-old Perry Wheatley.

The force has issued a photograph and description of Wheatley as officers have appealed for anyone who knows his whereabouts to get in touch. A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said: "He is a registered sex offender and wanted for breaching his sex offender notification requirements. He has connections in Stoke-on-Trent and Tamworth."

He is described as a white man who is of slim build and 5ft 8ins tall. Anyone who has seen him - or knows where he is - is being asked to contact Staffordshire Police.

Those with information can contact the force via Facebook, Twitter, or by calling 101. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

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Now Peter Cooke, aged 66, of Endon, has been jailed at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court

Pervert pensioner Peter Cooke has been jailed after he downloaded scores of horrific images of children being abused. The 66-year-old registered sex offender was convicted in 2009 of attempting to facilitate the commission of a child sex offence and four charges of making indecent images of children.

He was handed a nine-year extended sentence. And a year later he was jailed for a further 12 months with one year's licence for acting with intent to defraud the revenue. That meant he remained on licence until 2020.

But within weeks of his licence period expiring the defendant downloaded the child sex abuse photos. Some featured children as young as three.

Officers seized his laptop but returned to his home three months later and found another laptop which contained more indecent images. Now Cooke has been jailed for 10 months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Prosecutor Antony Longworth said police attended the defendant's home on August 20, 2020 and he appeared to be anxious. His devices were examined and officers found 'ccleaner' - software which erases the use of the internet - and TOR browser, which contacts the dark web. The laptop was found to have 23 category A images - the most serious; 21 at category B and 126 at category C.

Mr Longworth said: "The defendant admitted he had been accessing and viewing indecent images for the previous two months. All the images were inaccessible. They had been viewed but attempts were made to delete them."

Police went to the defendant's home again on November 12, 2020 and seized another laptop. Mr Longworth said: "The officer was able to determine the TOR browser had been deleted from it. It was sent off to be examined and was found to contain 10 category C images."

The defendant accepted he accessed the indecent images. He said he looked at the images when he felt stressed. He claimed he did not get sexual gratification from viewing the images but felt disappointed with himself for looking at them. He said he bought the second laptop after the first was seized by the police.

Cooke, of Spinney Close, Endon, pleaded guilty to four charges of making indecent images of a child.

Paul Kay, mitigating, said the defendant has medical problems including colon cancer, a tumour on his liver and he is also being investigated for bowel cancer.

He said Cooke pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. Mr Kay added: "He is very ashamed of what he has done. He would co-operate with anything the probation service could do to assist him, anything that could keep him at liberty so he could have his cancer treatment."

But Judge Sally Hancox said the sentence had to be immediate custody. She said: "He was but weeks away from the end of his licence period. After a device had been taken from his home images of children being sexually abused were found and he was in possession of applications which allowed him to access and hide images. When a further device was found by the authorities he continued to behave in the same way. He was told in 2009 what would be the consequences of any breach or if he acted in defiance of any regulation."

The judge told Cooke: "It is clear you are sorry for what you have done. But you are still somebody who indicates you got no sexual gratification from looking at the images. Why have you gone to them? Why have you gone to them again?"

Cooke was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for 10 years and remains on the sex offenders' register for life.

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A sex offender who was jailed for grooming teenage girls has been back in court for breaking rules imposed on his release. Liam Proudman was sentenced to three years in a young offenders institution in 2018 for having sexual online chats with the three victims - and subsequently warning one girl to 'drop the charges' against him.

Having been released, he set up six social media accounts in false names and sent unwanted sexual videos and photos of his genitals to a male 'acquaintance' on Snapchat.

Proudman, now aged 23, also started a new relationship without telling police, which brought him into contact with a three-year-old girl. He is banned from doing either under the restrictions placed on him following his previous conviction.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard Proudman sent sexual photos and videos after contacting an acquaintance on Facebook. Prosecutor Rosemary Proctor said: "The defendant contacted the male using an account in the name of Liam Smith. The two exchanged messages.

"The conversation moved to Snapchat. The defendant started to send masturbation videos and photos of his penis. It was reported to the police."

In October, police carried out a check at Proudman's home and found he had two mobile phones. Miss Proctor said: "He told police a Sony phone was his girlfriend's. It transpired he had been in a relationship for a week.

"He had attended a meal with her and her family at a pub restaurant and a three-year-old female relative had been present. The defendant had not notified the police that he had entered into a relationship."

Proudman, of Yarnbrook Grove, Norton, pleaded guilty to two breached of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order and failing to comply with the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Register.

Stuart Muldoon, mitigating, said: "The defendant wants to comply with the orders and be clear of offending. They are causing issues where he lives. He has already served the equivalent of a 14-month sentence on remand."

Due to the length of time Proudman has been in custody on remand, Recorder Francesca Levett decided to sentence him to a community order. She said: "There was a clear and deceitful attempt to breach your notification requirements. The fact you had six Facebook accounts in false names is clearly an aggravating factor.

"You have served longer in prison than you would have done had you been sentenced in November. I'm sorry that matters could not be dealt with sooner.

"If I were to impose a suspended sentence on you today, the most I could impose would be 24 weeks. You have already served that, so there's no benefit in you having that hanging over your head.

"The most important thing is to give you some structure. It will make the community a safer place and hopefully you and your family can put this behind you."

Proudman was handed an 18-month community order with a six-month monitoring requirement and a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

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Former World Darts Champion Ted Hankey has been jailed for two years after he was caught on camera sexually assaulting a young woman.

Hankey, who acted with an "air of entitlement" was filmed carrying out the attack in Cheshire, and was immediately arrested after the victim reported the assault to police.

The 54-year-old pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault, in September 2021, at Warrington Magistrates Court in April.

Jailing him, Judge Steven Everett, Recorder of Chester, said Hankey, of Berry Hill, Stoke-on-Trent, would have "denied it to the bitter end" if the attack had not been caught on film.

He was given an immediate two-year jail term and has been placed on the Sexual Offenders Register for the next 10 years.

After being arrested Hankey denied committing the offence, and - after being shown the video footage - answered 'no comment'.

His victim said she has been left scared and depressed since the assault last September.

Footage of the attack was played to the judge after the court had been cleared of the press and members of the public.

Passing sentence, Judge Everett told him: You genuinely believed nobody would believe her, until you were shown the damning evidence."

He added: "You treated her as an object for your own disgusting and deviant sexual desires.

"Your self-pity about the loss of status and ability to earn money Im sure you will never play darts again on television.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, the woman said she now suffers continuing distress, panic attacks and heart palpitations.

She added: As a result of this crime I believe I have developed PTSD.

This crime has had a major impact on my mental health. Im very distrusting of males. I find it very difficult to have any physical contact with others.

Following the sentencing Detective Constable Laura Bradshaw, of the Cheshire Police Public Protection Directorate, who led the investigation said: "Firstly I would like to commend the victim for the courage and bravery that see has shown throughout the investigation.

"The evidence she provided proved vital in Hankeys prosecution and left him with no option but to plead guilty to the charge against him.

"While the victim will never be able to forget what Hankey subjected her to, I do hope that the conclusion of this case provides some closure and enables her to move forward with her life.

"I also hope that this case encourages other victims of sexual offences to come forward and report them to us."

District Crown Prosecutor Brian Forshaw, a specialist lawyer with CPS Mersey Cheshires Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) unit, said: "The Crown Prosecution Service and Cheshire Police had damning evidence of this assault and Mr Hankey thankfully pleaded guilty at an early stage. He has now been sentenced.

"The evidence she secured of the assault was crucial to this case and no doubt led to Mr Hankeys guilty plea.

"Mr Hankey is now a convicted sex offender and this case may have prevented further offending.

"It can be hard to tell the authorities about abuse, but we would like to say to victims that we will help and support you to give your best evidence and bring your abuser to justice."

Edward 'Ted' Hankey is a British former professional darts player and two-time World Champion.

He recently withdrew from the 2022 World Seniors Darts Championships which took place in February.

If you have been a victim of sexual abuse, or know of someone who has, call police on 101 or visit the website.

Information can also be reported anonymously, via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.

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Pervert Christopher Price has been caught with 237 indecent images of children. The 27-year-old, of Flamborough Grove, Middleport, has admitted three counts of making indecent images of children; possessing an extreme pornographic image; and possessing a prohibited image of a child.

Prosecutor Zaine Riaz told North Staffordshire Justice Centre that Staffordshire Police had received intelligence that indecent images had been accessed and uploaded on the internet from the defendant's address.

Mr Riaz said: "He was not at home. However he contacted the police to say he would be the reason they were at the address. The police returned and spoke with him. They seized his devices and he attended a voluntary interview."

Officers found 43 category A indecent images; 87 at category B; and 107 at category C. In the interview, the defendant admitted he was responsible for the indecent content found on his device. He said he would carry out a sex act when viewing the material.

Magistrates sent the case to Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court and Price will appear there on a date to be fixed. They ordered a pre-sentence report. Price's bail was extended.

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A CONVICTED child rapist is back behind bars after he told police during a search of his home: I cant help myself.

Back in 2011 James Green was jailed for five years at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court for raping a girl under 13 and in 2019 the same court locked him up for ten months for downloading indecent images of children.

As part of that latest sentence he was also made subject of a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order which banned him from having unauthorised devices which could access the internet.

But Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday that West Yorkshire police officers were alerted in April last year to the downloading of sickening child abuse images and videos and their inquiries led to Green being arrested in August.

When his mobile phone was examined officers found more than 250 movie and still images in the worst category involving the sexual abuse of children under five years old.

About a fortnight later police officers made another check on Green at his home in Croft Place, Brighouse, and when they asked about any more phones he replied:Ive got another one. Theres things on it. I cant help myself.

This time officers found a Samsung mobile phone hidden under his mattress and there were a small number of indecent images on the device.

Green, 32, was released on police bail, but when a further monitoring check was carried out in October he had obtained another mobile phone without informing the public protection unit and it was found hidden in a plant pot.

Green pleaded guilty to a series of offences relating to his downloading of indecent images of children and persistent breaches of his SHPO and the Recorder of Bradford Judge Richard Mansell QC jailed him again for a total of 24 months.

The judge said his offending was aggravated by his previous convictions and he had committed serious and persistent breaches of the order.

Green will now have to register as a sex offender with the police for the next ten years and he is still subject to the existing SHPO which runs until 2029.

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A man from Stoke-on-Trent has been jailed for 20 years, with an additional four years on licence, after being convicted of child sexual offences.

Mark Roberts, 39, of Madison Street, Tunstall, was sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court today (Wednesday 13 April).

Allegations of abuse against a child were reported to the force and an investigation was launched.

He pleaded guilty to assaulting a girl under 13 by touching.

He was found guilty of the rape of a girl under 13 and sexual assault of a girl under 13.

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Convicted sex offender Robert Hicks is back behind bars - after sending a photo of scantily-clad girl to a hotel worker. The 67-year-old RAF veteran - who has 67 convictions for 100 offences - was staying at the Plough Motel on Campbell Road, Stoke, when he sent the picture of a teenager dressed in 'scanty white clothing' to a woman who worked there.

Alarmed by the WhatsApp message, staff reported the matter to the police. But when officers arrived at the motel, Hicks had changed the locks to the room. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard entry was forced and a search revealed a laptop had been hidden in the coffee table.

Now Hicks, of Campbell Road, Stoke, has been jailed for 16 months after pleading guilty to three breaches of his life-long Sexual Harm Prevention Order. The court heard the pervert has a number of sexual offences on his record including possessing indecent images of children.

Prosecutor Jonathan Dickinson said: "He is a registered sex offender. His first conviction was in 2004. He was also convicted in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2013, 2015 and 2018. He is subject to a notification requirement for life, since 2015.

"The chain of events leading to this remand in custody began on February 20 this year. He was a resident at the Plough Motel. He had been in contact with a female employee there. They had exchanged messages via WhatsApp.

"The employee received what she thought was an inappropriate image from the defendant. The image was a female aged around 16 or 17 dressed in white scanty clothing. The people at the motel contacted the police and reported the incident. This led to the police arresting the defendant on February 21. Police discovered an extra SIM card which had been in hidden in a pencil holder."

The court heard the landlord at the motel also sought to remove him but the lock on the door had been changed, and the master key couldn't open it, resulting in the door having to be forced. Upon removing the defendant's furniture, a workman realised there was something inside the coffee table and a Lenovo tablet device was discovered.

Mr Dickinson added: "When interviewed, he said he had forgotten about the SIM card. He said it would have been an old one that was deactivated. He was asked about WhatsApp, and agreed it was him, but declined to give any explanation. He said he had the tablet for three years. He claimed he didn't use it very much and had forgotten it was in the table at his room."

The court heard that when Hicks was asked to provide the pin for the device, he gave three incorrect ones. Police have never been able to access it.

Barry White, mitigating, said: "He comes from a very troubled childhood. He suffered abuse from a young age. He became a hospital DJ at 17 and a presenter there. In 1987 he received an award for presenter of the year.

"He served for 12 years in the RAF. He nursed his wife of 50 years who was terminally ill. She passed away in 2002. He says he went mad and everything fell apart from there."

The lawyer said his client also wanted the court to know he had a "good side" as he had spent time at numerous charities, including helping the Ukraine efforts, offering his van to deliver prescriptions in the pandemic, and making Christmas hampers.

Jailing the defendant, Judge David Fletcher told Hicks: "You are now 67 years of age. You have been before courts since the 2000s. Until 2003 when you were about 45 you had never been in any trouble. Now you have been an offender since that time.

"There are two separate incidents relating to a SIM card and laptop. In my experience sitting here for many years, it's very rare people get away with that. It's clear to me it was in that place because it's a good place to hide an item such as that. It's a sad state of affairs but there's little other than custodial sentence. You remain the subject of the order, which will be there for as long as you are."

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Rapist Jamie Whiller has been caged for eight years. The 35-year-old former squaddie raped his teenage victim when she was aged 16.

His actions left the vulnerable girl unable to sleep and suffering with stress and anxiety. But she reported the abuse to her mum and the police were informed.

Now Whiller has been jailed for eight years at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. Prosecutor Stefan Kolodynski said the defendant 'forced' himself upon his victim and had full unprotected sex with her.

The offending came to light when the victim told her mum what Whiller had done to her. The defendant admitted having sex with the girl when she was aged 16 but denied rape, saying it was consensual.

But Whiller, formerly of High Street, Tunstall, later pleaded guilty to two charges of rape and another serious sexual offence.

Caroline Harris, mitigating, said Whiller is very upset he has caused his victim distress. She said: "It has affected his employment. He has been called names in the street and publicly on nights out. It has resulted in the loss of his employment, the loss of his home and him moving to the south coast."

She said Whiller served in the Army from the age of 18 to 25 and has sought to live a decent hard working life. He has no previous convictions.

Miss Harris added: "He made an attempt on his life last year, such is the remorse and regret he feels."

Deputy Circuit Judge Paul Glenn made Whiller the subject of an indefinite restraining order which prevents him contacting his victim for the rest of his life. He said the defendant's suggestion in the pre-sentence report that, 'She came on to me', was 'distasteful'.

Deputy Circuit Judge Glenn added: "You knew that child was vulnerable. By your pleas you now accept she did not consent on two occasions. She submitted to your demands. You used her to satisfy your sexual appetite.

"She has been left with anxiety, depression and anger and speaks of the effect it has had on her relationship with boyfriends."

Whiller will serve two thirds of the sentence before he can be considered for release. He will be on the sex offenders' register indefinitely and was barred from a range of activities involving children and vulnerable adults.

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Ryan Connor, from Longton, has been locked up for six years.

Sex beast Ryan Connor raped two women - after meeting them on a dating website.

The 30-year-old met his victims through the Plenty of Fish app and took them back to his house.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court has heard both women got into bed consensually and kissed the defendant.

But despite them making it clear they did not want full sex the defendant put his own sexual needs first and raped them.

Now Connor, of Longley Road, Longton, has been jailed for six years after being convicted of the two rapes.

The court heard there was a gap of 38 months between the two attacks.

One of the victims said the attack left her feeling 'sick, sore and disgusting'.

In a statement she said: "I felt petrified. I felt safe when I got home. I woke up in the night crying in my sleep. I felt it was my fault but I know deep down it was not.

"There still isn't a day that goes by that I do not think about it. I feel scared and lonely. I am scarred for the rest of my life."

Darron Whitehead, mitigating, said: "There are no winners in this case."

He said messages between his client and the two victims had been 'flirtatious' and 'two-way'. The defendant's current partner is standing by him.

"It was not just him coming on strong," said Mr Whitehead. "Both indicated an immediate attraction to him and him an immediate attraction to them.

"He was using Plenty of Fish to meet people for short casual relationships. He made that perfectly clear to both girls straight away. Both agreed to meet him and both got in his car. They were not threatened with violence. No violence was used."

Connor has been placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for the rest of his life.

The court heard both women had make it clear that 'did not wish to participate in any full sexual relationship' before going to the defendant's house.

Judge David Fletcher said: "The sexual touching by you started almost immediately when you entered your home. But both followed you willingly up to the bedroom and both got into bed and sexual activity of a less serious type started. There was kissing with tongues and that was reciprocal on the part of you and both of those women.

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Joshua Checksfield breached the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order

Devious pervert Joshua Checksfield has been jailed after he breached the terms of an order by contacting a 15-year-old schoolgirl.

The 19-year-old was sentenced to a three year community order and made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) in December 2020 after he was convicted of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

But months later he breached the order by contacting a 15-year-old girl and installing software to use Snapchat, which he was prevented from doing under the terms of the order.

Now Checksfield has been sentenced to 30 months detention in a young offenders' institution.

Devious pervert Joshua Checksfield has been jailed after he breached the terms of an order by contacting a 15-year-old schoolgirl.

The 19-year-old was sentenced to a three year community order and made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) in December 2020 after he was convicted of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

But months later he breached the order by contacting a 15-year-old girl and installing software to use Snapchat, which he was prevented from doing under the terms of the order.

Now Checksfield has been sentenced to 30 months detention in a young offenders' institution.

Prosecutor John Oates told Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court the defendant was made the subject of a SHPO in December 2020 which prevents him contacting a child under 16.

But in July a mother of a 15-year-old girl realised the teen had been speaking on her phone and discussing travelling on a train to meet the defendant.

Mr Oates said: "She took the phone off her and formed the opinion somebody had been trying to groom her daughter. A check of the phone showed the defendant had contacted her daughter on a number of occasions.

"He had two phones. One was not registered with the police."

The girl had told the defendant she was 15.

Mr Oates said: "He kept insisting he thought she was 17 but that was clearly not the case from a review of the messages. Various messages had sexual implications. He spoke about love and called her kinky.

"He talked about travelling to Manchester to meet her.

"The matter was reported to the police."

Checksfield, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to two charges of breaching a SHPO.

Stuart Muldoon, mitigating, said the defendant has spent five months in custody. Mr Muldoon said: "He made admissions regarding his sexual attraction to young females, aged 15 upwards.

"He is going to take whatever steps he can to ensure he doesn't return to custody."

Judge Paul Glenn revoked the community order made on December 23, 2020 and re-sentenced him for that as well as these breaches. Judge Glenn said: "You contacted a 15-year-old girl on a persistent basis over seven weeks. You gave a false name and lied about your own age. She told you she was 15. You were not deterred.

"You are devious. You visited the child three times in Manchester in July. You used Snapchat by using a web browser rather than an app to avoid detection. You were thinking quite clearly.

"The risk of you re-offending is high.

"These offences are so serious it has to be an immediate custodial sentence."

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Sex offender Stefan Foy has been back in court after he stayed at a house where there were children without telling police.

The 29-year-old is obliged to inform officers if he is planning to be in a household with minors following his conviction for possessing indecent images of children.

Magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard Foy had several overnight stays with a couple he had befriended - who had no idea about his criminal past - which brought him into contact with their three children.

He also deleted the internet history from his mobile phone, which is is banned from doing, after using the dating app Grindr.

Foy will now have to wait to learn his fate until his case is heard by a judge at the crown court, after magistrates ruled the offences were too serious for their sentencing powers.

Prosecutor Sara Beddow said Foy was handed a community order at Chester Crown Court in 2017 and made subject to a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) and the notification requirements of the sex offenders' register.

"On January 11, police made an unannounced visit to conduct a risk assessment," said Ms Beddow. "He told them he had become friends with a couple in the Stoke-on-Trent area. He initially said the friendship did not bring him into contact with children.

"However, police checked his mobile phone and viewed the Facebook account for the couple. There was a picture of them with three young children.

"He was challenged and asked if the couple had children. He put his head in his hands and said he had been to their house several times and had only met the children 'from a distance'."

The court heard police seized Foy's phone and found he had deleted the Grindr app. He had started a new relationship with a man he met through the app, who was related to the couple Foy went on to stay with. None of them knew about his previous conviction.

Foy, of Cherry Tree Lane, Biddulph Moor, pleaded guilty to breaching a SHPO and failing to comply with the notification requirements of the sex offenders' register.

He declined the chance to be represented by a solicitor in court, but told magistrates: "I know I did wrong. I was in a bad place over Christmas, I got some attention from someone and his relatives.

"I got carried away with it, I didn't think about what I was doing. It was stupid of me. I'm glad I got caught by the police when I did."

Magistrates ordered a pre-sentence report ahead of Foy's next hearing, which will take place at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on a date to be fixed.