Latest Offenders Surrey

Description

A man from Surrey who raped two women he met after targeting them on the dating site Tinder has been jailed for 12 years.

Prince Darkwa, 26, of Yeomans Lane, Blackwater, Camberley, was found guilty of two counts of rape against two different women at Guildford Crown Court on 17 May following an eight-day trial. He was found not guilty of a third charge of rape against a third woman.

The court heard how Darkwa met both women on online dating apps in October 2021.

He was arrested on 6 October 2021 when one of the victims came forward to report that Darkwa had raped her at her home after they had met on Tinder. Within minutes of meeting up with Darkwa, the victim expressed concerns about his behaviour in a number of text messages to one of her friends.

Darkwa was interviewed and released from custody the next day.

On 5 November 2021 police received another report of rape in which the second victim alleged that she'd been out for dinner with Darkwa on 18 October 2021. The court heard he insisted on accompanying her home where they both began drinking.

The victim said that the next thing she remembered was waking up with Darkwa smiling at her and stroking her face. She was bleeding and was in a lot of pain.

The victim said she had initially been reluctant to come forward because she had been unconscious when Darkwa forced himself on her and so had doubted her own belief of what had happened.

Detective Constable Alastair Bagshaw from the Sexual Offences Investigation Team (SOIT), who investigated the offences, said: Darkwa is a sexual predator who deliberately targeted women on dating sites with the sole purpose of meeting up with them for sex.

"Whether or not they consented to this was irrelevant to him.

"The prison sentence he has received today will ensure that he will be behind bars and will not be able to do this to anyone else. I hope that this will also give him time to reflect on his attitude towards women and his perceived entitlement when it comes to sexual activity.

Both women expressed reservations about coming forward and reporting this to police but they must be commended for having the courage and strength to speak out and ensure that Darkwa was brought to justice for his vile and predatory behaviour.

I would also like to thank the team of officers who worked on this case it was a fast-moving and intensive investigation but our determination has paid off by the fact that Darkwa has now been brought to justice for his offending.

"I would encourage anyone who has been subjected to a sexual offence to report it to the police it will be taken seriously, it will be investigated thoroughly and every possible effort will be made to bring the offender to justice where possible.

Detective Inspector Mark Butterworth from the SOIT, who oversaw the investigation, said: I would like to pay tribute to both victims and the witnesses involved in this case who were brave enough to come forward and give evidence, which meant re-living the ordeal they had endured as a result of the Darkwas actions.

Darkwa used the internet to meet his victims before he raped them. They were alone and when they first reported the incidents to us, the defendants identity was not known to them. The team worked quickly to identify the suspect and link the cases together. We then worked in conjunction with the CPS to ensure that he was remanded in custody to protect the public from further offences while the investigation was progressed.

I would also like to thank all those involved in the investigation for their hard work and dedication. Bringing together such a complex case within six months is a huge achievement, and without this co-ordinated teamwork, this would not have been possible.

I hope that Darkwas conviction sends a clear message that we will always do everything we can to ensure allegations of rape are investigated thoroughly and that we will leave no stone unturned to get to the truth and bring offenders to justice, as well as demonstrating to potential offenders that the internet does not provide you with an opportunity to evade detection and ultimately imprisonment.

Sally Lakin from the Crown Prosecution Service said: This is a truly appalling case, where the defendant demonstrated a horrifying pattern of entitlement. Darkwa is a sexual predator, who manipulated the situation to intimidate and control his victims in order to rape them.

"It wasnt that Darkwa didnt know his victims werent consenting, to the contrary, he was left in no doubt that the sex was not consensual, even asking one of his victims if he would get a visit from the police. He simply did not care.

I commend the bravery of the victims in reporting and supporting the prosecutions case which meant Darkwa was found guilty and sentenced today for his abhorrent crimes. I hope they can take some comfort from todays sentencing.

I want to encourage victims to please report these crimes; you will be taken seriously and where our legal test is met, we wont hesitate to prosecute.

Darkwa was sentenced to six years imprisonment (to run concurrently) for the offence committed on 5th October 2021. He was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment with an extended license period of four years under the Dangerous Offender Provisions for the offence committed on 18th October 2021.

It means he will have to satisfy a parole board before being eligible for release.

Darkwa was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a Restraining Order against both victims for an indefinite period and will have to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Description

A Surrey sex attacker has been jailed for targeting children over a nine-year period. Stuart Menzies was found guilty of sexually abusing three children in Woking. The 58-year-old was charged with eight counts of non-recent sexual abuse against the children following an investigation from Surrey Police.

The probe into his behaviour began after the offending came to light in 2018. During a trial at Guildford Crown Court, Menzies' victims talked about the impact his crimes had on their lives. One victim said: Its been a long battle to overcome this and for the longest time I couldnt envision any future for myself, because I didnt think I would live past my twenties.

Its only within the last few years where my mental health has gotten better that Ive decided to do something with my life. If I hadnt experienced any of the things hed put me through I believe my life would have been much different.

Another victim added: "I am unable to build relationships, I treat new introductions with great caution, giving the impression I am closed and distant, so it appears I dont care, when really I feel lonely and without real friendship or support. My past has prevented me from gaining the contact with others. I have been conditioned to keep my emotions and thoughts to myself.

Even though there may be a small ray of light on the horizon to some future point, its still hard and difficult to see through the dark clouds of my childhood.

Menzies, of Walton Road in Woking, has now been brought to justice. He will serve 23 years behind bars.

Detective Constable Sharron Goodchild, of Surrey Police, said: Todays result is testament to the courage of the three victims who have shown formidable strength throughout this investigation.

Menzies selfish and abhorrent actions have had devastating consequences, but I hope that his imprisonment is a message to all perpetrators of child sexual abuse that we will do everything we can to hold you to account.

Description

An investigation into a registered sex offender who repeatedly approached young girls online via social media has resulted in a man being put behind bars for four years and eight months.

Albert Jones, 55, of High Road in Byfleet, was found guilty of attempt to cause or incite a female under 16 to engage in sexual activity. He was sentenced at Guildford Crown Court on Thursday (30 June).

During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that, using a fake profile posing as a 17-year-old, Jones would contact 13-year-old girls via social media sites encouraging them to chat in a sexual nature. After a brief engagement, he would then close the account and then re-engage with the child using a different profile username.

Jones was arrested at his home address on 7 April. Most of the offences took place between August 2021 and January this year.

Investigating Officer Estelle Sharp, who led on the investigation, said: This was a complex case that involved both us and officers from the Metropolitan Police.

I hope that this case demonstrates that we will catch prolific sex offenders who target children online and will do everything we can to investigate reports, support victims and pursue perpetrators.

If you are thinking of reporting sexual abuse, please be reassured that your report will be taken incredibly seriously, and that we have specialist support in place to help you.

Description

A man who lived in Woking has been jailed for child sex offences after he was snared by paedophile hunters. Asad Ullah, 28, was sentenced to three years and nine months at Guildford Crown Court on Wednesday, June 15 after admitting his crimes.

Ullah, of no fixed address, had been speaking to who he thought were young girls online in a sexually explicit manner. He had planned to meet one of them on November 10 last year.

But Ullah had actually been speaking to adult members of the public who had posed as children in order to identify paedophiles online. It was the same members of the public who met Ullah at Woking Leisure Centre when he was arrested by officers.

Ullah was charged with the offences in January this year when he was remanded to prison to await sentencing. In addition to his prison sentence, he was also given a lifetime sexual harm prevention order and will be on the sex offenders' register for life.

Investigating officer Dave Evans, who works in Surrey Police's paedophile online investigation team, said: Ullah displayed dangerous, predatory behaviour towards young girls. It is a relief that he is in prison where he can't continue to pose a threat to children.

"I know that this is an emotive subject for members of the public, and rightly so, but I would like to take this opportunity to urge people not to take matters into their own hands and to report any allegations straight to us so that we can carry out a full investigation." The force is also asking social media users to consider the impact on the judicial process before sharing anything online which could harm future court proceedings.

Description

A man convicted of asking for sex instead of rent has been jailed for 12 months. Christopher Cox, the first person to be convicted of such an offence, "targeted vulnerable young women" who needed a place to stay, Guildford Crown Court heard. One woman was described as homeless, "unwell and desperate". Cox had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of controlling prostitution for gain and two counts of inciting prostitution for gain. The 53-year-old advertised on classifieds website Craigslist for young or homeless women to stay with him at his then home in Cranleigh, Surrey. He asked for photos and said they should wear bikinis and provide sexual services in exchange for a room. The charges, connected to offences made between May and November 2018, related to three separate women. After meeting them, Cox realised they had triggered the interest of two undercover reporters who were working on a programme presented by Jeremy Kyle. Kyle confronted Cox and told him that "what he was doing in targeting young vulnerable women for sexual favours was morally wrong and criminal", prosecutor Ross Talbott said. Later, in a message to friends, Cox described his behaviour as his "dirty secret", adding: "I got myself into a bit of hot water due to my sex-for-rent tenants." Even after being confronted by the TV team, he carried on placing adverts. Following an investigation by ITV researchers, the allegations were passed to Surrey Police in 2019, and the force identified a woman who said she entered into a sex-for-rent arrangement with Cox. Judge Robert Fraser told Cox he was involved in "very deliberately targeting homeless women who were vulnerable". The judge added that such offending has now become "colloquially known as sex-for-rent" and "this is the first such prosecution that has been brought". Cox has a previous conviction for assaulting a boy when he was 18, the court heard.

Description

A sex offender who left a teenage girl having nightmares after a campaign of abuse has been jailed.

Guildford Crown Court heard Guiseppi Volante, of Glebelands in West Molesey, started to abuse the girl when they were alone.

The court heard the 56-year-old would cut the girl's clothing off, and on one occasion even attempted to rape her while they were out on a walk.

However his reign of abuse ended when Volante's crime were reported to Surrey Police after the youngster confided in a friend.

When police searched Volante's home after interviewing him, they discovered a series of pornographic videos with titles such as Abused Girls Sleeping and Drug Abused Girls.

Volante's victim spoke of the abuse she faced when giving an impact statement in court.

She said: "Every day I fight with myself, trying to move on, be normal, but I will never get that opportunity. You took that from me.

"I started to have nightmares. In one of them, I was running away from you. It was like I was going as fast as I could but I wasnt actually running that fast.

I was screaming for help but no one was around. At the end, before I woke up, I found help, finally. I was unsure on why I had these dreams, so I sought to ask a friend and she explained that nightmares are a way for our brain to cope with trauma.

Volante has now been jailed for 10 years after being convicted of seven charges against the same child, including three counts of penetrative sexual activity, three counts of non-penetrative sexual activity and one count of attempted rape.

He will also remain on the Sex Offender's Register indefinitely.

Detective Constable Julia Thomas, who investigated the case for Surrey Police, said: This was a horrific crime where an older man repeatedly preyed on a vulnerable young girl, relying on her silence to continue his abuse.

The victim showed incredible bravery coming forward after what happened to her as a child and my colleagues in our Victim and Witness Care Unit have worked closely with her to provide support throughout the investigation and court proceedings.

I hope todays result shows that were determined to thoroughly investigate all reports of sexual abuse, no matter how long ago they happened. Please dont think there wont be enough evidence to progress the case - we will work with you and do our very best to ensure those responsible are held accountable.

Description

A Surrey man has been jailed after being found guilty of a string of offences towards three teenage girls.

Marcus Collins, 22, of Canterbury Gardens, Farnborough, and Furze Close, Redhill, was sentenced during an appearance at Guildford Crown Court on Friday, January 28 for numerous offences.

Collins has been jailed for rape, sexual assault, assault and controlling and coercive behaviour and will be behind bars for 15 years.

The offences, which took place between 2018 and 2020, involved three female victims who were aged 18, 17 and 16 years old at the time.

Collins was arrested on January 8 2020 and was subsequently charged for the assault and controlling and coercive behaviour offences while the allegations of rape from his first victim were investigated.

In February 2020, a second victim contacted Surrey Police to report that Collins had assaulted, raped and controlled her between September 2018 and January 2020.

In the same month, a third girl came forward and said that Collins had raped, sexually assaulted, strangled and controlled her.

Collins was arrested on March 16 2020 for these further offences and was subsequently charged on August 26 2020 with numerous rapes, sexual assault by penetration, controlling and coercive behaviour and numerous assaults (ABH).

Detective Constable Nicky Dell, who investigated the case, said: Collins treated these three young women with incomprehensible violence and threatening behaviour over a long period of time.

"He repeatedly raped and assaulted them, he threatened to shoot them and used various weapons against them.

"He controlled them by forcing them to block friends and family on social media, dictating what clothing and make up could be worn, and not allowing them to socialise with friends.

The messages he sent to these young women, recovered from mobile phones examined during the investigation, were threatening, vile and utterly appalling.

I would like to personally commend the bravery of all three women for finding the courage to speak to police and give evidence at court.

"It took incredible courage to speak up against the crimes being committed against them and they have no doubt protected other women from becoming victims of similar horrific crimes.

I would like to reassure anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation that we will always take you seriously your allegations will always be investigated - and you will be given the appropriate specialist support.

DC Dell added: We believe there may be other victims and I would urge them to come forward, either to Surrey Police or to the independent charity East Surrey Domestic Abuse Service (ESDAS), on 01737 771350 or [email protected]

Describing the cruelty that she faced on a daily basis at the hands of Marcus Collins, one of the victims said: Even two and a half years down the line, I am still reminded on a daily basis of the cruelty that I faced at the hands of Marcus Collins.

"I get anxious in public, concerned that anyone could attack me at any time. Marcus took great pleasure in attacking me in public as well as private.

"These were often sustained attacks, all the while people walking past and staring but not helping. I could count the number of times on one hand that I was offered help, despite being kicked, jumped on, punched, shouted at.

"On one occasion, Marcus said: Look, no one cares about you, before punching me in the face. Then he looked around at everyone watching and laughed.

Even when offered help, victims may say no for fear of further violence, or even because they are so manipulated and controlled, they cannot imagine their life without their abuser.

"Either way, it would have been paramount to my mental health both during the relationship and after to have been offered help when attacked in public.

Her mother added: I would like to take this opportunity to thank Surrey Police, in particular DC Dell, for all her hard work, dedication and support throughout this case.

"Collins turned my daughter from a strong and confident girl into a shell of the person she was.

"No one should ever have to go through that hell and now hes in prison he cant make anyone else suffer. We hope the girls can rebuild their lives knowing they are finally safe.

Another victim paid tribute to the support she received from ESDAS: I am incredibly grateful for the amazing support, kindness and advice of ESDAS throughout this whole ordeal.

"This fantastic charity helped to keep me strong and I can never thank them enough.

Description

A man has been sentenced to two years behind bars for breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order after pleading guilty at Guildford Crown Court on Monday (15 November).

Steven Sturgess, 52, from Guildford, was given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the Sex Offender's Register in 2009.

The conditions of this order included restrictions in Sturgess' access to the internet and he was also subject to unannounced visits from officers.

During one of these visits in February last year, officers found that the monitoring software which had been installed on Sturgess' laptop had been removed.

Further searches of the device found that he was accessing extreme pornography and indecent images of children.

Sturgess also pled guilty to possession of extreme pornography and making indecent images of children.

PC Lisa Varley and PC Graham Smith, who both investigated the case, said: "The restrictions placed on convicted sex offenders allow us to monitor their behaviour closely, and when breaches such as this one arise, we are able to take swift action to prevent further harm and de-escalate the offender's behaviour.

"I hope this sentence serves as a reminder to other offenders out there that we will diligently monitor and check your behaviour and we will not hesitate to act if you re-offend."

Description

A man whose "appalling" crimes included raping a 14-year-old girl has been jailed. Jay Louis Benjamin Connor, 20, of Kingswood Road, Tadworth, was sentenced to nine years imprisonment with a further five years on extended licence after being found guilty of multiple sexual offences, including six counts of rape, following a six-week trial at Guildford Crown Court. Connor was arrested on October 30 2019 in Epsom Downs car park after officers found him in his car with a young girl and noticed that he was behaving suspiciously. The girl, who was under the age of 16, subsequently told officers that she had been raped by Connor and he was arrested and taken into custody. Further enquiries revealed that Connor was already known to Surrey Police, who led the investigation, and was currently under investigation in relation to other allegations of sexual offences, the earliest of which dated back to 2018. What police described as a "complex" investigation involving seven complainants coming forward to make allegations against Connor took place over a three-year period. "Even after being arrested on suspicion of rape and sexual assault, Connor continued to meet further victims. With almost all the victims, Connor would make up lies about his past and his health in order to manipulate them into engaging in sexual activity with him," a police statement after his sentencing described. Throughout the trial, Connor reportedly claimed that all victims were lying. He was eventually found guilty of six counts of rape of a female 14 years of age or over, two counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of sexual assault by penetration. In addition to his sentence, the Tadworth man was given a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life. One of his victims, who was just 15 at the time, spoke out after he was sentenced. "I cant trust boys/men and I cant see how I will be able to have a normal relationship as I cant bear to be physically touched and I dont know when it is okay to believe nice things that someone may say to me. I dont want to be attractive or to even look the same or similar as I did at that time. I dont ever want any man to look at me in the same way that he felt he could use me, without any respect for me as a human being," they said. "I cant cope if I get catcalled. I crumble and have a panic attack. I just cant lead a normal life like every other teenager. I am not sure how to make you fully understand the devastating effect he has had on my life. I did survive the ordeal but the scars that remain are very deep and I need to feel safe again," they added. Another victim, who was 14 when Connor raped her in Priory Park in Reigate, said she wanted to use her experience to help others. "I did not expect anything like this to ever happen to me," she said, adding: "I have never felt so small and lonely, not knowing what to think or feel. The whole range of emotions I have gone through have been confusing, upsetting, unnerving and very difficult to cope with. I can now see that Jay had a plan and knew exactly what he was doing. Everyone should know that saying no, means NO. I will always have this experience with me, however I refuse to be a forever victim. I want to speak up and do whats right for myself and others."

Description

A pervert from Surrey who shared child abuse images on the internet after being banned from having a computer or going online at home has been jailed for five years.

Nicholas Murphy, aged 65, of Staines-upon-Thames, was found with hundreds of indecent pictures and videos of children on his phone which police said he was sending to scores of other people.

During a hearing at Guildford Crown Court, he admitted breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order issued to him following a conviction for distributing indecent images of children in 2005, which prohibited him from having a computer or internet access at his home address.

He successfully applied to have his order discharged in February 2020.

But in July 2020, Surrey Police received information that the user of an email address linked to Murphy had uploaded more indecent images of children to the internet in June and July 2019.

The following September, officers carried out a warrant at his home and he was arrested.

A mobile phone was found at his address and, following examination, it was found to contain hundreds of images and video footage, including prohibited and extreme images.

A message was also found on the same phone which showed Murphy had communicated with another man and made comments about raping children.

A number of chat conversations were also identified where the users of the group had shared indecent images of children, with some of the conversations involving several hundred participants.

Murphy pleaded guilty to making and distributing indecent images of children, possession of prohibited images and possession of extreme pornographic images.

PC Callum Darby from Surrey Police's Online Paedophile Investigation Team, said: "Murphy was already the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which prevented him from having a computer or internet access, when it came to light that he was offending again. As the investigation unfolded, we uncovered hundreds of indecent images and footage of children on his phone which he was sharing with hundreds of other people. We also found extreme pornographic and prohibited images on the same phone.

"The sentence given to Murphy demonstrates our commitment to ensuring those who take part in such vile and predatory practices at the expense of innocent children are brought to justice."

Description

A man was imprisoned for eight-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to historic sex abuse against a 14-year-old boy after appearing at Guildford Crown Court on April 8.

Christopher Coleman, 59, of Milford, pleaded guilty to six charges against the same victim, including three counts of gross indecency, two counts of indecent assault and one count of buggery.

The victim came forward in February 2019 after reading an article in a newspaper about Coleman being convicted for similar offences in 2013, following which he received two life sentences, with a minimum of 15 years. This was later reduced on appeal to 12 years.

The victim rang to thank Surrey Police for ensuring Coleman was put behind bars and said he had also been abused by him. An investigation was subsequently launched and Coleman was arrested in June 2019 on suspicion of a number of sexual offences.

Description

James Jeffrey tried to outwit police with PIN protected phones but was caught out. A "predatory" and "manipulative" paedophile has been sent to prison for five years for targeting a 14-year-old girl. James Jeffrey, 45, of Cherry Orchard Road, West Molesey was sentenced to five years in jail yesterday (Tuesday, May 11) at Kingston Crown Court, following an investigation by Surrey Police's Paedophile Online Investigation Team. Jeffrey had tried to outwit officers by refusing to cooperate when police tried to access PIN protected phones. But Surrey Police said he was "naive" if he thought he could evade justice for his "appalling" crimes. How did police catch James Jeffrey? In 2018, Surrey Police received intelligence that an email address was being used to post indecent videos of children to an online chat group. The email address was traced to Jeffrey and he was arrested at his work while a search of his home was undertaken. Three mobile phones were seized. Accessing the PIN-protected phones took some time because Jeffrey was uncooperative and refused to provide police with the correct codes. Surrey Police investigators were, however, able to gain access to the phones with the assistance of a forensics lab. They then uncovered a series of explicit WhatsApp and Facebook messenger chats on one of the devices between Jeffrey and a female - who was found to be just 14-years-old. After a trial at Kingston Crown Court in March 2021, Jeffrey was found guilty of sexual communication with a child, causing a child to watch a sexual act and two charges of causing a child to engage in sexual activity. He had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing an extreme pornographic image. Jeffrey has also been given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order by the court. Such orders can require offenders to have their internet access monitored, or their movement restricted in public places, such as children's parks. The victim has shown incredible bravery Investigating officer Detective Sergeant James Tibbs from the force's Paedophile Online Investigation Team said: "The victim has shown incredible bravery and determination in helping us with our investigation. "I sincerely hope she and her family can move on from this and that Jeffrey being behind bars for what he has done helps them do that. "Jeffrey is clearly a predatory and manipulative paedophile and it has taken time to get to this point so it's extremely satisfying to see him sentenced." DS Tibbs added: "Surrey Police is committed to fully investigating all offences of this nature and will always follow every line of enquiry to ensure that suspects are identified, located and brought to justice. "Providing a fake PIN like Jeffrey did may delay our investigative work briefly but he was naïve if he thought this was enough to stop us investigating such an appalling crime."

Description

A former Surrey head teacher has been jailed after justice was finally served more than 30 years after he sexually abused a girl on multiple occasions. Over a period of three years during the 1980s, Colin Brooks, now 77, took advantage of the girl's vulnerability to exploit her sexually, forcing her to perform sex acts on him at "every opportunity" according to the judge who sentenced him. He has been sentenced to 28 months' imprisonment after pleading guilty to seven counts of indecent assault on the female victim, having initially accused her of making up the abuse. The defendant, who had since moved to Brixham, in Devon, previously worked as a teacher and headmaster at various educational establishments across the South East of England. He became the head teacher at The Grove School in Hindhead during the 1980s. The school is now known as The Royal School. A sentencing hearing on Monday (May 17) at Guildford Crown Court heard the sexual abuse began in the 1980s when the victim was a teenager, with the first offence taking place during a car journey. Prosecutor Adrian Fleming said: "[Brooks] put his hand on hers to keep it on his leg. He then moved her hand up to near his groin. She became aware that he had an erection." He added that Brooks "pulled the car over, stopped, unzipped his flies" and placed her hand on his privates, before driving on. He only removed it near the end of the journey, "and for the first time of many, he told her 'this is our secret, don't tell anyone'." The court heard how Brooks made "more serious threats" to enforce her silence, including that if she told her mother, she would be sent away or placed into the care system. The abuse continued over a three-year period, during which he kissed her and felt her breasts and she was forced to perform oral sex and other acts on him. Mr Fleming said Brooks visited the victim's house and went into her bedroom "under the pretence of saying goodnight". He said he "showed her how to give him the most pleasure". The victim, who appeared at Guildford Crown Court for the sentencing hearing, read aloud an emotional impact statement to the court, detailing her "most painful memories". She said: "The evening when things began not only shook me to the core, but effectively ended my childhood. I was fairly grown up for my age, but this was on an altogether different scale. "It meant I grew up far more quickly than I should have done and I also learned to be an efficient liar." After the abuse ended, the victim said she "learned to live with the after-effects of what happened" and hoped to put the past behind her. However, she was forced to disclose the sexual abuse to police years later when one of her former partners made allegations which implicated the wrong man. She completed a video interview on November 14, 2018, and Brooks was arrested and interviewed on January 4, 2019, the court heard. In that interview, he denied all the offences, claiming they were "fabrications of the worst kind". He was interviewed a second time on November 28, 2019 and "persisted in those denials". He was later charged and pleaded guilty to all seven counts of indecent assault. Defending Brooks, John Price QC told the court: "He regrets it [his initial denial]. He regrets that he did not take the stance at the police station that he chose to take for the court." In his closing remarks, Judge Jonathan Black said the victim had a difficult childhood and was "vulnerable" at the time the offences were committed. He said Brooks "took full advantage of that vulnerability by exploiting the situation for [his] own gratification" and took "every opportunity" to sexually abuse her.

Severe psychological harm

He said: "She has suffered anxiety, depression, palpitations and loss of sleep. She has described herself as almost broken and is considering early retirement from her employment. She reports symptoms of dissociative disorder. My view is she has suffered severe psychological harm." Detective Constable Rachel Moss, who investigated the case for Surrey Police, said: "Brooks committed the offences while he was in a position of trust and his behaviour is simply reprehensible. "I hope that this case demonstrates to people who have been sexually abused, no matter how long ago the abuse took place, that your allegation will always be taken seriously, we will always conduct a full and thorough investigation and that you will be given the appropriate support." Reacting to the conviction, an NSPCC spokesperson said: "Given his experience in education Brooks would have been well aware of the impact his actions would cause and it's now crucial that his victim receives ongoing support. "It's really important that survivors of child sexual abuse have the confidence to speak out – no matter how long ago the offences took place and no matter who the abuser is."

Description

A teacher has been banned from teaching indefinitely after sending sexual messages to a girl he thought to be 13 and possessing indecent images of children.

Daniel Butterfield, 36, of Portland Road, Kingston , sent sexually explicit messages on an online messenger app between June and August 2018.

What he didn't realise though was that he was really talking to a police officer.

Butterfield sent explicit images of himself, and requested indecent images in return. He also made arrangements to meet with the girl.

Butterfield was first charged last October 2019 at Kingston Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to 13 sexual offences. He was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for two years. He was also subjected to a 10 year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the Sex Offender Register.

The Teaching Regulations Agency met to discuss the crime and announced earlier this month (May 6) that it concluded Butterfield is banned from teaching indefinitely in schools, sixth form colleges, relevant youth accommodation and childrens home in England.

There will be no opportunity for a review of this decision.

Butterfield was employed as assistant head teacher at Tidemill Academy from September 1, 2013 until he resigned on July 28, 2019. Within his role Mr Butterfield also taught Year 6 classes English and Maths.

A spokesperson for REAch2, the parent organisation of Tidemill Academy, said: We can confirm that the individual in question last taught at Tidemill in July 2018. As the Metropolitan Police made clear, the offences did not involve any children from the academy.

"At REAch2 we take safeguarding extremely seriously in all of our academies, and we can confirm that all safeguarding processes were followed in full when this individual was appointed. The checks revealed no recorded history of any safeguarding concerns.

The panel was satisfied that the conduct of Butterfield fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession. They noted that while Butterfield showed remorse, the seriousness of the offence and the public interest overrides this consideration.

The decision maker, Alan Meyrick, on behalf of the Secretary of State said: The panel was not provided with sufficient information to determine whether or not the allegations took place outside the education setting, although it acknowledged that this was likely to be the case.

In any event, the panels view was that the findings of misconduct were of a serious nature, and the conduct displayed would be likely to have a negative impact on the individuals status as a teacher, potentially damaging the public perception.

Description

Charles Phillip Johnson, 72, of Hall Place Drive, Weybridge, pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault on a child and two counts of indecency with a child.

He was sentenced to two years and five months behind bars when he appeared at Guildford Crown Court on Tuesday (February 23).

An investigation was launched after the victim came forward in August 2018 to report physical and sexual abuse against him by Johnson which took place in the 1970s when he was a pupil at Barrow Hills School in Witley, Godalming.

Johnson was a teacher at the school at the time and was subsequently arrested and interviewed before being charged in 2019.

Johnson was sentenced to a year in prison in July 2017 after pleading guilty to two counts of indecently assaulting a boy under the age of 14. He was also given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

The offences also took place at Barrow Hills School in the late 70s and early 80s.

The school was owned by the Josephites, a religious order, but was sold by them in 1990. Since then it has been run by trustees as an independent charity.

Detective Constable Becky Thomson, of Surrey Police, said on Tuesday: "I hope that Johnson's guilty plea and the sentence he has received today will in some way help the victim to come to terms with what's happened and move on with his life.

"He had the courage to report Johnson's predatory behaviour and I'd like to commend his bravery in coming forward.

"I would also encourage any victim to come forward to Surrey Police and report any similar incidents. Surrey Police treats all allegations of sexual abuse, whether recent or non-recent, extremely seriously.

"Our priority is victim care and people need to feel confident that if they come forward and report an offence, we can help.

"We have a dedicated investigation team for such crime and the dedicated unit works to obtain best evidence. We also work closely with our partner agencies to provide support and care to victims."

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) has also urged anyone who has experienced abuse to seek support.

A spokesperson said: "Johnson's predatory and abusive actions, in flagrant contradiction to his duty of care as a teacher, will have had a profound impact and weighed heavily on his victim for many decades. It is so important he receives all the support he needs to move on with his life.

"This case shows that time is no barrier to justice, and we would urge anyone who has experienced abuse, no matter when it happened, to speak out and seek support."