Latest Offenders Wakefield

Description

A sex offender blackmailed another and threatened to expose him to his wife after hacking into his social media. Joseph Hutchinson, 33, targeted convicted sex offender Gareth Mellor after messaging him on KIK and hacking his way into his social media.

Both men have since been sentenced for indecent images offences.

Leeds Crown Court heard on Wednesday that Hutchinson had previously been sentenced for making indecent images and causing a computer to perform a function which was unauthorised. Prosecutor John Bottomley said: "He hacked two females' phones and extracted topless photographs of them. He threatened to distribute them if they didn't send more."

Hutchinson was given a suspended sentence in 2022 for the crimes, and was subject to a sexual harm prevention order. Despite this, he went on to make more indecent images of children between January 2019 and February 2023 and between December 2020 and April 2021, blackmailed Mellor. Police discovered his crimes against him after Mellor's arrest.

Mr Bottomley said: "He [Mellor] had two internet accounts associated with an email which contained a huge amount of indecent images of children. He was sentenced in December last year. During the investigation and IP login with the same email address showed it was being used by another party..."

That led police to Hutchinson and during that arrest images were discovered on a Samsung phone. Mr Bottomley said: "It was taken from a vehicle, not within the property. He was arrested and interviewed and made admissions that he pictures would be found and said he had been blackmailing the other man."

It was said that in total, Mellor paid Hutchinson, of Clifford Court in Ossett, £3,102.98, after he threatened to expose him to his wife. Mr Bottomley said: "He [Mellor] said he met the defendant sometime around 2018 or 2019 while searching for illegal pornography. He was directed to KIK by the defendant and in 2020, the defendant offered to sell him a megalink to pornography for £200.

"In 2020 he said he got a message from the defendant, 'You better get onto Kik now I know what you are and what you do.' He said he had been arrested and threatened to expose him to his wife unless he paid him money. He correctly told him [Mellor] his full address, causing him to panic. He requested money through a crypto website..."

The court heard Hutchinson continued to make demands for payment after Mellor's arrest, but he did not send any more money "Because people knew about his offending" but he "still felt anxious."

Hutchinson went on to plead guilty to blackmail and making indecent images. Mitigating, Steven Smithson, said the images offences spanned before and after a sexual harm prevention order being put in place. He added: "The defendant has reconciled to a custodial sentence. He hasn't put forward any weak protestations."

His Honour Judge Khan KC jailed Hutchinson for 38 months, telling him his offending is "more serious because of that previous conviction going back to June 2022."

Description

It was discovered in October last year that convicted sex offender Edwin Swallow had targeted the youngster, encouraging her to send sexually explicit photos of herself – and sending photos of his genitalia over a messaging app.

The 55-year-old pervert had been told he must inform the police of any mobile phone he was using, having previously been found guilty of an offence involving indecent images of children.

But he kept the use of his Samsung device a secret, so was breaking the rules of the court order.

Swallow, of Sullivan Grove in South Kirkby, was arrested and later pleaded guilty to causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, causing a child to watch a sexual act, and two counts of breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

He was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on November 3.

Prosecuting, Abigail Langford said: “The victim’s mother contacted the police, but there was an attempt to smash the phone and the pictures were deleted. The images do not exist and so the prosecution’s case is based on descriptions.

“When the defendant was arrested, a neighbour confirmed that the defendant did have a mobile phone.”

The court heard that Swallow has since expressed remorse and recognises his long history of offending.

Michael Collins, for the defence, said: “His personal circumstances are miserable and depressing. He has two children with whom he has no contact. He has no significant relationship. He lives alone and is in debt.

“If there’s any brightness, it’s because he had a job. Of course, he has now lost that as well. There are no positives in his life.”

Swallow has a history of mental health issues and self-harm, including suicide attempts.

Recorder Jason Pitter said the defendant poses a high risk of reoffending and causing serious harm to children.

He added: “You are someone who targets young girls. Your previous convictions set that out. Your determination to fulfil, as you see them, your sexual desires are illustrated in this case despite the barrier put in place to prevent this very activity.”

Swallow was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment, extended by five years on licence.

Description

David Dunn, 39, who is originally from Pontefract, was jailed at Leeds Crown Court today for non-recent sexual offences, including rape.

Dunn was found guilty of offences of rape of a child and causing a child to engage in sexual activity in relation to one young male victim and attempt rape of a child and indecency with a child against another young male.

The offences were committed in the Wakefield District area between the years 2002 and 2009.

The offending came to police attention after both of the victims came forward separately to police in 2019 and reported what had taken place.

An investigation was launched by specialist child protection officers at Wakefield District.

Detective Constable Sophie Green, who investigated the case, said: “We are pleased to see Dunn sentenced today for what were some awful sexual offences committed against two young and vulnerable children.

“Their courage in reporting these dreadful offences and in supporting the prosecution against Dunn has meant that a dangerous sexual offender had been forced to answer for his crimes and been punished for them.”

She added: “This case is another reminder to victims that it is never too late to tell us if you have been the victim of offending such as this.

“We really do not underestimate how hard it is to come forward, but I want to make clear that we will do all we can to help you very rightly seek justice and access any support you may need.”

Description

Stephen Pocklington, who has been jailed before for crimes against children, made contact with girl over Messenger earlier this month, but was a decoy profile run by a paedophile hunter group.

Leeds Crown Court was told that the 50-year-old initially asked an innocuous question about liking chocolate, and when the profile responded making it clear she was just 12, he told her not to tell anyone.

It quickly turned sexual and over the course of two days, he encouraged her to masturbate and asked if he could perform sex acts on her, prosecutor Gareth Henderson-Moore said. He also asked for her phone number and when she would be alone, telling her it would be “their secret”.

The case was handed to another hunter group who then went to his home on Clifton Road, Sharlston Common, Wakefield. The court was told that Pocklington has five convictions for 17 offences, 12 of which are against children. He was jailed for 33 months in 2018 for multiple counts, including causing a child to watch sexual activity. He also attempted to pay a child for sexual services.

He was put on the sexual offender register and given a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

For his latest offending, he admitted attempting to cause a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, breach of the SHPO and breach of the terms of the sex offender register.

Mitigating, Ian Cook told the court: “He understands his only real mitigation it entering his guilty pleas at an early opportunity and co-operating with the police investigation. He has expressed a willingness and desire to work with probation in the prison environment to get to the bottom of his offending that causes him great shame. He feels it is triggered by alcohol misuse.”

Jailing him for 32 months, and putting him on the sex offender register indefinitely, Judge Simon Phillips KC said: “It’s part of a clear pattern of offending behaviour. You pose a risk towards female children. This was determined sexualised behaviour towards what you thought was a young child.”

Description

A WEST YORKSHIRE man described as a dangerous sexual predator by police has been jailed for attempting to rape a child.

Kristian Annus, 29, from Lincoln Street, Wakefield, was jailed for 10 and a half years at Leeds Crown Court today (Wednesday), after pleading guilty to an attempted rape offence in the Kirklees area.

The 29-year-old was also made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which will place restrictions on his activity following any release from prison and will remain on the Sex Offender Register for life.

Officers arrested Annus on February 19 of this year after receiving a report he had sexually offended against a child.

He was charged two days later and was remanded in custody by the courts.

PC Jay Laughton of the Kirklees District Child Safeguarding Team said: “Annus is without doubt a dangerous sexual predator and we welcome his conviction and sentencing.

“He took advantage of his young victim in the most appalling way and subjected him to what has clearly been a dreadful offence.

“I want to praise the bravery of the victim and his family in reporting what took place and then supporting the prosecution which has put this man behind bars.”

Description

Daniel Hudson aged 35, was sentenced on Thursday at Leeds Crown Court for the offences, which occurred at an address in Leeds against a 14-year-old girl.

Hudson, from the Lupset area, was found guilty of five sexual offences against the victim.

The trial heard how Hudson had befriended the victim, buying gifts and food for her to make her think she was in a romantic relationship with him. It also heard how the sexual abuse had started once he had secured her trust. 

Detectives in Wakefield opened an investigation in June 2020 after reports were received of Hudson’s offending. 

Detective Constable Ashleigh Gath-Clark, said:

“This has been a complex investigation spanning over three years.

“Daniel Hudson was responsible for a catalogue of appalling sexual abuse against this vulnerable child.

“These were awful offences that he committed, and I would like to commend the victim for their courage and bravery in coming forward and reporting the offences to the police at a young age. 

“This was a challenging investigation and I welcome the sentence that has been passed. I hope that it provides reassurance to the victim and their family, as well as the wider community.”

Description

An ageing music teacher masturbated during online lessons he would provide for children, and then used advance computer software to superimpose pupils’ heads into sexual scenes.

Warped 70-year-old Paul Moxon taught freelance lessons from his home in the Wakefield area using the meeting platform, Zoom. But he was caught out when a horrified pupil noticed he had taken his trousers down during one of her lessons.

She then caught sight of him performing a sex act on himself. The youngster suspected he had done it before but had previously covered his genitals with the musical instrument he was teaching, prosecutor Gerald Hendron told Leeds Crown Court.

The girl told her parents and the police were called. Moxon was arrested and internet devices and hard drives seized. They found more 1,000 illegal indecent images made up of Category A – the most serious – and Category B. But even more disturbingly, they found recordings of online lessons with pupils, from which Moxon then superimposed still images of the youngsters into sexual scenes involving himself. He even put audio of the victims’ speaking during lessons into the vile scenes.

Mr Hendron suggested that pupils were coerced into saying certain words that could be construed as sexually suggestive, in order for him to place them into his sick videos and fuel his sexual gratification. It was eventually found that there were several other victims.

The court heard that he had masturbated in front of the victims on multiple occasions. He was not affiliated to teaching at any schools in the area.

Moxon, of Wakefield Road, Normanton, gave no comments during two police interviews. He later admitted eight counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, and two of making indecent images.

He has no previous convictions, but his defence barrister Satpal Roth-Sharma said that he has accepted he had thrown away his long and distinguished career as a music tutor.

She said: “These are serious offences and he was a teacher in a position of trust which he wholly abused. He has had a shining career and one has to wonder what has triggered this. He has no previous convictions, he has never even had a speeding ticket in his life.

"Regrettably, his sexual behaviour has led to this, and he does not seek to avoid accepting that. He has become separated from his family and loneliness has played a part.”

The judge, Recorder David Gordon told Moxon: “This is extremely serious sexual offending, this was an abuse of trust. You were trusted by the parents of these children to help teach them music.”

He said of the superimposed images: “You are somebody with computer skills who manipulated those images for your own sexual gratification.”

He jailed him for three years and gave him a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) designed to monitor his internet use and ban him from contact with children. The order will last for life, while he will also be on the sex offenders register for life.

Moxon is also barred from ever teaching young people again.

Description

A MAN has been sentenced to over a decade behind bars after being found guilty of non-recent sexual offences against young girls.

On Friday, Jason Cartledge, 42, of Charles Street, Wakefield, was sentenced to 14 years, which includes a 10-year custodial sentence and four years on extended licence.

The investigation began in 2019 when a woman came forward to report non-recent sexual abuse.

Officers from Wakefield District Safeguarding identified a substantial number of witnesses and during this time a second woman disclosed further non-recent sexual abuse.

Cartledge was arrested in June 2019 regarding the initial report and further arrested in December 2020 for the second disclosure. He was later charged with a number of sexual offences. 

He appeared at Leeds Crown Court and following a lengthy trial, he was found guilty of six offences, three counts of sexual activity with a child and three counts of indecent assault of a child.

He will remain on the Sex Offender Register for life and has been given a Sexual Harm Prevention Orders and Restraining Order preventing him from contacting the victims.

Commenting on the sentencing, Detective Constable Kerry Wiles, of West Yorkshire Police, said:

“I would like to praise the incredible courage and bravery of the victims in this case for coming forward to report the offences, but also for having to endure the criminal justice process where the trauma was relived due to Cartledge refusing to admit his guilt on all the charges.

“Cartledge preyed upon the vulnerability of these young victims, and I hope that these victims will find some comfort that justice has been served. I thank them for having the confidence in the police that what they said to officers would be listened to.

“The offending, in this case, went back over a decade, but despite the passage of time, we investigated his crimes and brought him justice.

“I would encourage anyone who has suffered any sort of abuse either recent or not to come forward and speak to police. You will be listened to and given the help and support you need.

"We have specially trained officers who will work tirelessly to bring any perpetrators to justice.”

Description

A MAN previously sentenced to almost 20 years for a string of child sexual offences has been jailed for three more years following a further investigation by detectives.

Mark Greenwood, of Normanton, was jailed at Leeds Crown Court in 2019 after he pleaded guilty to six sexual offences and three counts of making indecent images of a child.  

Following his conviction, a second complainant came forward to report that she had been abused by Greenwood as a young child.

Detectives at the Wakefield District Safeguarding Unit opened an investigation into this report and Greenwood was later charged with sexual assault.

The 57-year-old pleaded guilty to the charge when he appeared before Leeds Crown Court in November. He was sentenced today.

He remains on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and subject to indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Detective Constable Will Denton, of the Wakefield District Safeguarding Unit, said: “We welcome the extension to Greenwood’s sentence and commend the bravery of the victim and her family for coming forward and speaking with our officers.

“There is no doubt that he is a dangerous man who deserves to remain behind bars for a substantial amount of time.

“I hope this result will encourage other victims to engage with our specially trained officers who work tirelessly to bring offenders to justice.”

Anyone with child safeguarding concerns is advised to contact either West Yorkshire Police or their local authority’s children’s social services.

Description

Carl Mardel, who has no fixed address, used a dating app to message two girls, ages 12 and 14, earlier this year.

After vivid discussions of sex with the two profiles, he attempted to meet one of the girls in a Wakefield parking lot.

But Mardel was unaware these were decoy profiles being run by a pedophile hunter group and he was quickly arrested by West Yorkshire Police officers who today hailed his prison sentence.

Carl Mardel was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison.

At a sentencing hearing at Leeds Crown Court, it was revealed that Mardel used a mobile dating app earlier this year.

The pedophile hunter group set up two decoy profiles on the app – claiming to be a 12-year-old girl and a 14-year-old girl.

Mardel texted the alleged 12-year-old for two months, asking for intimate details about her body and explaining the sexual intercourse.

The 14-year-old Bait’s profile was messaged by Mardel in October, where he again asked for intimate details about the victim and suggested they meet for sex.

Mardel visited the girl in a Pontefract car park before being arrested by police on October 20 this year.

During his arrest, Mardel said, “I can’t believe I was that stupid. I ruined my life and that of my wife and daughter.”

The court heard how the defendant was jailed in 2000 for violently raping a 15-year-old girl and was only removed from the sex offender register in 2019.

Mardel had pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to date a girl under the age of 16 and two counts of sexual communication with children.

James Littlehales defended Mardel, saying in court: “He is determined to deal with his offensive behaviour.

“I accept that there is still a considerable way to go.

“He is determined to use his sentence wisely and address his criminal conduct.

“Admitting that he ruined his life shows he understands the seriousness of what he did.”

Recorder Mark McKone sentenced Mardel to two years and eight months in prison with an extended license term of six years. Mardel was issued a Sexual Violence Prevention Order and will remain on the sex offender registry for life.

Rec McKone told Mardel, “They had extensive contact with two decoys who pretended to be girls, ages 12 and 14.”

DS Ben Howley of the Kirklees Police Online Investigation Team said: “Mardel is a committed sex offender and we welcome the judgment handed down by the court today.

“He had every intention of committing serious sex offenses against what he believed to be a minor woman after snooping on online conversations, but now he faces jail time instead.

“Online child sex offenses are taken incredibly seriously by West Yorkshire Police, with all offenses being thoroughly investigated.

Description

A sick paedophile who entered into a relationship with a 15-year-old girl while knowing how old she was has been jailed.

Andrew Burrows, 38, from Castleford, has been jailed for more than eight years after being found guilty of a catalogue of sexual offences Burrows was found guilty by a jury at Leeds Crown Court of four counts of sexual activity with a child following a trial in September.

He has now been jailed for eight years and six months.

Jurors heard how Burrows had entered into a sexual relationship with his 15-year-old victim in the Kirklees area in 2017, knowing she was under the age of consent. She later reported the offences to West Yorkshire Police and they were investigated by the Kirklees Child Safeguarding Unit.

DC Carole Haste, who led the investigation said following Burrows' sentencing: "We welcome the sentencing of Burrows who took advantage of a young, impressionable victim who he knew to be under the age of consent. The victim gave her evidence in court and remained calm, dignified and articulate. I hope seeing Burrows brought to justice can now give her some closure and allow her to move on with her life.

"All reports of sexual offending made to West Yorkshire Police are fully investigated by specialist officers with the needs of the victim at the heart of every investigation."

Description

A hospital security guard who tried to pass himself off as a "Jekyll and Hyde" character to probation staff has been jailed for the "torture" of a woman which saw him sexually assault her and burn her body with an iron.

Paul Thwaites, 40, used sexual and physical violence against the woman during the offences which saw him sexually assault her, punch her genitals, burn her body, and strangle her until she was unconscious before slapping her awake again.

Twisted Thwaites - who worked as a security guard at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield - then told a probation service worker the lines between consent and excitement had become "blurred," which a judge said he had done to try and show he had little control over his behaviour.

Leeds Crown Court heard on Monday Thwaites filmed sexual activity and "blackmailed" the woman - telling her he would release the footage. Prosecutor, Alex Menary, said Thwaites "restrained her around her neck and her next recollection was waking up with a buzzing noise in her ear and she became aware he was slapping her in the face to wake her".

The court heard the woman was also "encouraged" into sexual activity by Thwaites who told her "it would be fun" and she consented but he turned aggressive. Mr Menary said Thwaites, of Leeds Road in Wakefield, also punched the woman's genitals over five times and sexually assaulted her with a curtain pole and an aerosol can, during which she asked him to stop and tried to kick out. He also forced her to perform oral sex upon him.

The woman was also subjected to burns on her breasts and stomach by Thwaites who used a pair of straighteners and an iron to cause horrifying injuries. She reported his offending to police in May this year. Thwaites was arrested a day later and denied the offending. However, he later pleaded guilty to two counts of assault by penetration, oral rape and two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to do so.

Dad-of-two Thwaites appeared in court via video link and his victim bravely faced him as she told him he had "destroyed" her life. In the victim impact statement, she said: "He completely destroyed me as a person. It doesn't matter what I'm doing, I can be washing up or driving and I have flashbacks of the things he did to me and I break down and cry.

"When I'm driving I have thoughts of letting go of the steering wheel and going into a lorry and the nightmare will be over."

The woman told the court she is on medication and has been signed off work indefinitely by her doctor. She added: "He completely killed me inside. It's going to take years and years to start getting to the old me. I observe things and realise I don't react to them as anyone else does. I have to make myself smile and laugh at things so no one worries about me but inside I just want to crawl into a ball and stop existing."

Mitigating, Michael Collins, said Thwaites is a "model prisoner" and has completed courses while being remanded into custody. A letter from Thwaites and a reference from his mother had been handed to His Honour Judge Robin Mairs. He said he had no relevant previous convictions.

Mr Collins said: "There is nothing that suggests he is going to repeat the commission of any similar offending in the future." The barrister said Thwaites accepted he had been "insensitive" to the woman's "reluctance" to engage in parts of sexual activity. Mr Collins said: "What the defendant would say upon reflecting on his conduct to which he has pleaded guilty is that he is disgusted by it. He would say that he doesn't recognise - and these are his words - 'that horrible man'.

"He is disgusted by his actions. His regret and remorse are genuine. He recognises he has done wrong and it is right he is imprisoned. He struggles to understand his behaviour and has been working and taking advantage of whatever is available in prison to begin to understand his conduct and how a man in his 40s without a history of violent or sexual offending commits these offences of such seriousness."

The court heard how the author of the pre-sentence report said Thwaite is "high risk" which had been elevated from the analytical testing available to the probation service. Mr Collins said the authors said Thwaites "failed to recognise the seriousness and consequences of his conduct" and he "doesn't understand that assessment as he has been clear that he does and can offer no explanation about why that has been put."

Mr Collins said: "He did have concerns that the author of the report wasn't listening with care to some of the answers he was giving. He doesn't know that but he's trying to explain what he thinks was a breakdown in communication. He can't fathom why the author asserts that when he clearly did."

Judge Mairs said: "Perhaps because he said the lines became 'blurred' and was at great pains to show himself as a Jekyll and Hyde character with little or no control of behaviour? Or perhaps because there was an air of confidence to portray himself as misunderstood?"

Mr Collins said Thwaites "does not shy away from what he has done and knows he is going to be punished for it".

Judge Mairs described Thwaites' crimes as "torture" as he handed him an extended sentence of 23-and-a-half years, made up of 16-and-a-half-years in custody and an extended licence period of seven years. He will have to serve two thirds of the sentence before going before the Parole Board who will determine if he is safe for release.

The judge said: "As the probation officer put it - you dismantled her emotional resilience to meet your own needs. You knew the seriousness of what you were doing." The judge said counts 2 and 3 (assault by penetration) followed consensual sexual activity. He said: "This was repeated sexual violence designed to humiliate, belittle and degrade someone for your own sexual gratification so you could enjoy your own encyclopedia of torture.

"With formidable courage she came to court today and read her victim impact statement. In her words, you took everything and destroyed her as a person. You have subjected her to a life sentence."

Judge Mairs said Thwaites' description of himself as a "Jekyll and Hyde" character was "just another persona to take blame for this offending." He was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders' Register for life and was made the subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Reacting to the sentencing, Detective Constable Matthew Sherriff, who was the investigating officer, said: I would like to thank the victim for her bravery and courage in coming forward and reporting these offences and to all those who supported the police investigation.

Thwaites is a dangerous individual who has been convicted of serious offences. These convictions will hopefully not only bring closure and justice to the victim but will ensure that he cannot harm anyone else."

Description

A Wakefield man has been jailed for more than six years for historic child sex offences against two victims.

Malcolm Shipman, aged 64, of no fixed address, Wakefield, appeared at Teesside Crown Court today (Tuesday, 13 September) for sentencing after being found guilty at an earlier hearing.

Shipman, who is a former manager of the Snooty Fox pub in Wakefield, was sentenced for four counts of indecency with a child.

The offences occurred between 1988 and 1997.

He was sentenced to six years, five months in prison and ordered to sign on the sex offenders register.

Detective Inspector Paul Oldham, of Wakefield District Crime Safeguarding, said:

The investigating officers and I welcome this sentence today. The bravery shown by the victims to report this man for the truly horrendous offences carried out against them as children, must be recognised and not underestimated.

Their courage has resulted in the successful prosecution of Shipman, ensuring the safeguarding of future possible victims.

I would like to reassure others who are suffering, have suffered or those who have any information of similar offences that we have specially trained officers who will treat victims with compassion and will work tirelessly to bring perpetrators to justice.

You can report crime or contact us online at Contact us | West Yorkshire Police. You can also contact us by calling 101. You should always call 999 in an emergency.

There is more information about what happens when you report sexual offences and the support available on our website at: Serious Sexual Assaults Campaign | West Yorkshire Police

In a statement issued by the victims following the sentencing, they said:

We are now adults, but we were those two little girls who we feel have finally been given a voice and have got justice for the horrible childhood we had to endure.

We both never dared speak out about what this man did to us as children, we had hoped to never have to and just wanted to get on with our lives, but you never forget the past as much as you try.

We have done this to stop him hurting anyone else and to finally tell the truth and get justice for what happened to us.

It has been the most painful experience going through this trial and there is still a lot of healing to do, as hard as this has been he had to be held accountable for his own sick choices against vulnerable children.

We encourage anyone who has been through anything like this to please come forward, it is not easy, but it is the right thing to do.

The fear of speaking out and him getting away with it keeps you prisoner long after the abuse. We urge others not to be scared and come forward to show strength in numbers to these predators and that there will be consequences, no matter how long it takes.

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Parents have expressed outrage at the sentence handed to a teenager who possessed images showing the rape and torture of young children.

Dillan Waters, 18, of Horbury, Wakefield, who lives just 100 metres from a nursery, admitted six counts of possessing indecent images of children and one of distributing the images when he appeared at Leeds Magistrates' Court last month.

But he avoided a prison sentence despite downloading and sharing images of child sexual abuse including some in Category A, which are the most serious. The images covered all levels of indecency including the most severe showing the rape and torture of young children.

He was handed a community order of 150 hours of unpaid work. A five-year sexual harm prevention order was imposed to limit his internet activity and he was ordered to register as a sex offender for five years.

Jodie Heaton said: "We don't want him living here and he shouldn't be living here, everyone on this cul-de-sac has small children. I have five aged 13, 10, nine, seven and 10 months and my neighbours have kids younger than 10, and there are at least 15 kids just on this street not to mention the kids at the nursery.

"I've only just started letting my children play on the front on their bikes if I'm out doing the garden but I won't even let them do that now. The street is usually full of kids playing but since this has come out it's been deathly silent, no kids have been out playing.

"It's disgusting really that he's been allowed to live here with his grandmother. It's so wrong and at only 18 with all the vile images he must have had I think he's only going to get worse as he gets older."

And Jade Leather who lives opposite him said: "As a parent of two young children, (one is autistic and due to this - doesn't like being clothed and is often spotted naked around the house) this absolutely terrifies me. The fear of not knowing if someone who lives on the same street, opposite your house is spying on your children is horrific.

"This offender has been found guilty of possessing and distributing horrific things in relation to young children. I don't understand how any legal body can find community service and a measly fine a fit punishment for that?

"How is he allowed to return home, to a street full of young children, with a nursery less than 30 seconds from his doorstep? Why is he allowed more rights, than our innocent children are?

"Every child has the right to play safely on their street or in their own garden and home. This street is in uproar over it. No kids are out playing.

"Parents are hurrying their children inside when bringing them home. It's not normal. All while he gets to parade around, living life as normal. It's not right and something needs to be done about it, however, if we try do something and force him out we will be the ones that end up in trouble with the authorities. It's so backwards - it needs to change!"

Description

A Wakefield man has been jailed for 23 years for sexual offences against two child victims over a 12-year period. Paul Ingham, 63, of St Catherine Street, Agbrigg, Wakefield, appeared at Leeds Crown Court today (Friday, July 29) for sentencing.

He was found guilty at an earlier hearing. Ingham was sentenced for five counts of causing or inciting a child aged 13 to 15 years old to engage in sexual activity.

He was charged with one count of assaulting a girl under 13 by penetration, five counts of sexual touching a girl under 13 and the rape of a girl under 13.

Ingham was also given a restraining order for life and a sexual harm prevention order for life. The offences took place between 2004 and 2016.

Detective Sergeant Heather Brady, of Wakefield District Child Safeguarding, said:

I would like to take this opportunity to thank and commend the two victims for their immense bravery in reporting such horrendous abuse. Their courage has ensured that he was unable to continue his offending.

The sentence that Ingham has been given reflects the extent and sustained nature of his offending. He is a dangerous, predatory man and deserves to be behind bars.