Latest Offenders West

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A West Lothian who told jurors that he wouldn’t abuse women because it would be like “scaring away the prey” has been jailed.

Tendayi Magadu, 51, made the hunting reference when he told prosecution lawyer Shanti Maguire that he wouldn’t harm females. However, jurors at the High Court in Edinburgh heard evidence that showed Magadu raping two women, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

The court heard how the sex offender made a recording with his mobile phone of the rape of one his victims. He also made a recording of his victim “doing a private act” with also the intention of obtaining personal “sexual gratification” or her “humiliation”.

Magadu, of Broxburn, denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him by the Crown. He gave evidence in his own defence.

During proceedings, jurors heard how Magadu verbally abused his victims, calling one of the women “used goods”. When Ms Maguire asked him about the abuse, Magadu denied any wrongdoing.

He said: “Why would I do that? That would be like scaring away the prey.”

Magadu was convicted on Thursday afternoon of raping two women in the West Lothian town. These sexual assaults took place between August 2010 and November 2019. He was also convicted on voyeurism charges by making recordings of one of the woman, who is now aged 42.

Magadu also raped another woman, who is now aged 46. Magadu was brought to justice after police learned of his activities.

Jurors saw the recording that he made of him raping the woman. The court heard that at the time of the assault, the female, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was asleep and was incapable of providing consent to her attacker.

Magadu removed her clothing and raped her. When she awoke, he pushed her on her bod and restrained her before continuing the attack. He then made two further recordings of her performing private acts violating voyeurism laws.

The court also heard evidence that on an occasion between August and November 2010, Magadu raped another woman whilst she was “intoxicated”.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges. In her closing speech to jurors, Ms Maguire urged them to return guilty verdicts in the case.

She said that Magadu’s decription of women as “prey” was indicative and insightful of his wider attitudes towards females. Ms Maguire added: “It may have been an analogy but what an analogy it was.”

She also said: “The Crown have led a clear, powerful and compelling body of evidence against the accused.

“I invite you to find the accused guilty of each of the charges on the indictment.”

After conviction, it emerged that Magadu had convictions for road traffic offences and had served a prison sentence for attempting to pervert the course of justice. Defence solicitor advocate Brian Gilfedder asked judge Lady Poole to continue his client’s bail ahead of a sentence hearing next month.

Lady Poole deferred sentence to obtain a report on Magadu’s background. She also placed him on the Sex Offenders Register. She told Magadu: “You will be remanded in custody meantime.”

Lady Poole then thanked them for their service in a case which was not “easy” or “pleasant” to serve as jurors. She also thanked them for their service which she described as being of “real value” to the public interest.

Magadu will be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on November 15 2024.

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A former West Sussex social worker has been jailed for abusing his position and engaging in sexual communications with vulnerable children.

An investigation was launched on 3 March when sexual messages were found on a vulnerable teenage girl’s Snapchat account between her and a man later identified as Thomas Weller, 33, from Horsham.

The messages were sexual, and continued despite the girl telling Weller she was a child.

Weller also offered to buy her alcohol in exchange for sexual acts.

The investigation also found Weller had used his position to access personal data.

He was arrested on 24 March and further sexual communications were found with another teenage girl on his Snapchat account.

Weller was subsequently charged with two counts of sexual communication with a child and misconduct in public office.

He pleaded guilty to both counts of sexual communications at Lewes Crown Court on 5 July, and admitted the misconduct in public office at the same court on Wednesday, 31 July.

At the same court on Friday (27 September), Weller was jailed for 34 months and given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be on the Sex Offenders’ Register for seven years.

Detective Chief Inspector Jon Gillings: “Thanks to the bravery and support of Weller’s victims and their families, we have been able to bring an extremely disturbing offender to justice.

“Weller held a position of trust, with a duty to protect vulnerable children. His crimes are a betrayal of that responsibility.

“I would again like to thank West Sussex County Council for supporting this investigation and for all involved for their work in catching Weller, putting him behind bars and securing an order that will significantly limit his ability to cause further harm.”

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A musician who told horrified strangers he was 'evil' and shared warped thoughts about buying a baby to abuse is facing jail.

Cameron Shaw, 28, contacted random people via social media using different accounts and struck up conversations. But he quickly moved the chat towards the twisted abuse of youngsters.

Shaw asked one man if he knew anyone who would have a baby for him and that he would even pay 'monthly' for the child.

The fiend added: "Can you help me get a baby or a desperate woman who will have one for me."

He then said he would do 'evil stuff' to the baby and wanted to make the child 'cry a bit' because he enjoyed 'seeing them in pain'. Shaw later told a woman on Telegram that he wanted to 'have a bairn for a couple of hours' and liked to see 'bairns in pain'.

Another man was sent a video by Shaw which showed an 8-month-old baby being sexually abused. The sickened people who were contacted by Shaw in June and July last year took screenshots of what he was sending and reported him to police.

He told officers he was 'disgusted and disturbed' by the allegations being made against him and that he would 'never hurt a child'. A raid of his former bedsit flat in Bellshill, Lanarkshire, found 53 images of child abuse along with 18 videos with many at the most depraved level on various devices.

Shaw, of Fauldhouse, West Lothian, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court and admitted sending sexual communications. He also pled guilty to possessing indecent images of children between March and July last year.

The court heard Shaw had previously taught youngsters piano as a private tutor and in a formal education setting.

Describing one chat Shaw had with a stranger, depute fiscal Carla McGuire said: "The complainer states that her husband said something like 'this f****rs trying to sell a bairn' then showed her a chat with JLad123 on Telegram. She states JLad123 messaged about how he could 'have a bairn for a couple of hours' and then JLad123 wrote about being 'evil' and that he liked to see 'bairns in pain'."

The prosecutor revealed that in a chat with another man, Shaw had said: "I'm looking for some c**t who can be as evil as I am. I want to use something, someone small, in a really evil way."

Neil Kilcoyne, defending, said: "He understands the serious nature of the charges and understands the gravity of what he has done."

Sheriff Louise Gallacher deferred sentence on first offender Shaw until August for reports and continued bail. But the sheriff warned: "Bail is continued but that is not an indication of what the sentence will be, these are very serious matters."

Shaw was placed on the sex offenders' register.

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A suspected drug-driver failed to register a new vehicle with police, putting him in breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Steven Shevlin was stopped by officers from the Specialist Enforcement Unit (SEU) carrying out proactive patrols near Arundel.

The unit aims to deny criminals the use of the road network.

It followed a request from the Violent Sex Offender Register Team (ViSOR) who police offenders subject to the Sexual Harm Prevention Orders and work with Sussex Police teams to ensure these orders are enforced.

Shevlin had a fraudulent registration mark on his vehicle, and was also found in possession of cannabis and offensive weapons in the form of a baton and a knuckle duster.

The 34-year-old appeared before Lewes Crown Court on May 16 for sentence.

It followed an investigation by officers from Crawley CID to ensure the conviction in court.

Shevlin, formerly of Stoney Lane, Shoreham, admitted breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which was imposed in 2020, requiring him to provide information to police in order to protect the public from the risk of sexual harm.

But he failed to declare the new vehicle he was driving.

He also admitted possession of cannabis, fraudulent use of a vehicle registration mark, failing to provide a specimen of blood for analysis when suspected of drug-driving, possession of offensive weapons, and driving without valid insurance.

Shevlin was sentenced to a total of 50 weeks in prison for the offences and was given a further three-year driving disqualification.

Drug-driving is one of the fatal five factors that lead to people being killed or seriously injured on our roads.

The court was told how the SEU carried out patrols in Arundel on November 23 last year.

Shevlin was stopped while driving a Ford Transit van, he provided a positive roadside DrugWipe test for cannabis, but refused to provide a sample of blood when he was taken to custody.

SEU Inspector Ollie Pullen said: “Through regular proactive patrols we disrupt criminals using our road network, while also catching intoxicated or disqualified drivers to help keep people safe on our roads.

“In this case, we found Shevlin in a vehicle which he was required to register with the police, but had failed to do so.

“I’m pleased that our officers caught an offender who has tried to evade police and evade his responsibilities under the Sexual Harm Prevention Order to inform the police.

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A sex offender who terrorised women and girls is facing a lengthy jail term after being convicted of his crimes. John McKechnie was found guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh.

He was convicted of two charges by a jury, having earlier pleaded guilty to 14 other offences. The 32-year-old was convicted of rape, possessing indecent images of children, and domestic abuse offences.

The court heard he preyed on women and girls in West Lothian between 2015 and 2022. Detective Inspector Adrian Ure, of Police Scotland's National Child Abuse Investigation Unit, spoke out after his conviction.

He said: "John McKechnie's offending and behaviour was appalling. He showed complete and utter contempt for the abuse he inflicted upon his victims, and the horrific sexual abuse featuring in the images and videos he was viewing.

"There is no hiding place for these offenders, and as a result of our investigation, he will now rightly face the consequences of his actions. Any form of child sexual abuse is a serious criminal offence and is a priority for Police Scotland.

"We encourage anyone with concerns about a child at risk of abuse, or a potential victim, to contact police immediately." McKechnie is due to be sentenced for the offences next month

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A pervert florist committed a sex attack on a teenager at a hotel after she attended a Calvin Harris concert.

Kaeleb Thomas, 21, pounced on the then 19-year-old at Glasgow city centre's Jury's Inn on July 3 2022.

The victim had been at the Hampden Park gig with her friend before she met up with Thomas and his friend, who she knew, at the hotel room.

Court papers state Thomas sexually assaulted the teenager by repeatedly placing his hand underneath her shorts.

Thomas, of Livingston, West Lothian, went on to touch her inappropriately over her underwear.

He then touched her legs, sat astride her and kissed her on the neck.

On two occasions Thomas performed a sex act on her.

Thomas was found guilty on Tuesday by a jury of the single charge at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

Alan Jackson, defending, told the court that his client is a first offender who has worked as a florist for two years.

Sheriff Tony Kelly said: "You were convicted of a serious charge which puts you at risk of custody in light of its seriousness."

Sentence was deferred pending background reports until next month.

Thomas is now subject to sex offenders requirements and was granted bail meantime.

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A pensioner has been jailed for sexually abusing two young children in the 1990s. The victims came forward and told police they were assaulted by Mukhtar Singh Bajwa between 1990 and 1995.

A specialist team of detectives from the West Midlands force's Public Protection Unit began an investigation. Bajwa, now 67, was found guilty of two counts of gross indecency and four counts of indecent assault at an earlier hearing at The Park Hall Hotel, Wolverhampton.

He was jailed for nine years. Survivors of sexual abuse are protected by law and have life-long anonymity.

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A Pulborough man who raped and sexually assaulted multiple boys and young men has been jailed.

Ian Elliott, 71, of North Heath near Pulborough, was accused of committing 92 offences against six victims in West Sussex between 1999 and 2021.

Elliott would earn the trust of his victims – who were as young as 16 – and their families.

As a well-known member of the community, Elliott was also the chairman of the local sports association and was involved in local social clubs.

He would then give his victims drugs and alcohol with the intention of stupefying or overpowering them, before subjecting them to rapes and serious sexual assaults.

Many of the attacks were filmed by Elliott himself. Footage was discovered by investigating officers, despite Elliott’s attempts to destroy it, which was used in evidence against him.

He was arrested in September, 2022 and his victims were given specialist support while the investigation continued.

In November, 2022, Elliott was charged and remanded in custody. He was charged with 92 separate offences, including 13 rapes, three attempted rapes, 13 sexual assaults and 20 counts of voyeurism.

At Lewes Crown Court on Thursday, 2 November, 2023, Elliott pleaded guilty to 11 counts of rape, one count of attempted rape, 17 counts of voyeurism, eight sexual assaults, four counts of possession of Class A, B and C drugs, one count of causing actual bodily harm and one count of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The guilty pleas related to four victims, aged between 16 and 28 at the time of the offences.

An additional 38 charges will lie on file, and 11 were not put forward by the Crown Prosecution Service but are covered by the sentencing powers given through the other convictions.

At Hove Crown Court on Thursday (22 February), Elliott was sentenced to 18 years in prison, with an additional five years to be spent on licence.

He was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be a registered sex offender for life.

Passing sentence, HHJ Gold said Elliott had an 'innate sense of superiority' over his victims and had shown 'not a trace of empathy'. 

HHJ Gold listed Elliott's significant degree of planning, use of intoxicants, betrayal of trust, recording of the offending and attempts to destroy the evidence as aggravating factors, concluding Elliott passed the threshold for dangerousness.

In a statement given to Sussex Police, one of Elliott's victims said: “Mr Elliott is now in prison because a couple of brave men decided to speak up. If I’ve learned one thing from this case, it’s to go with your instincts and don’t be afraid to speak up if you think abuse is happening.

"Whatever the outcome or however long the outcome takes, don’t let your abuser win. Pick up the phone and report them to the police or at the very least don’t keep it to yourself and tell someone.”

Detective Constable Victoria Ashworth Kirkby, of the Sussex Police’s Complex Abuse Unit, said: “I cannot commend each of these victims enough for the incredible courage and determination they have shown.

“They deserve immense credit for their strength and resilience, which was crucial in achieving this conviction. I would like to thank them for their support and perseverance throughout this investigation.

“Elliott has been convicted for his crimes but we believe he may have more victims. If you believe you or someone you know may be a victim, please report to us online or via 101, quoting Operation Ridge. You will be believed and supported and we will investigate.

“You can also report offences to Crimestoppers anonymously via 0800 555 111 or via their website www.crimestoppers-uk.org.”

Detective Superintendent Miles Ockwell, head of Sussex Police’s Safeguarding Investigations Units, said: “Today’s sentence means that Ian Elliott will spend a significant amount of the rest of his life in prison.

"This is the only appropriate outcome given the multiple lives he has ruined as a result of his relentless campaign of sexual abuse, hidden behind the façade of a trustworthy pillar of his local community.

"I want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the bravery of Elliott’s victims who came forward to help us bring him to justice. They will live with the effects of the horrendous abuse they have suffered for the rest of their lives.

"Today, Elliott had the chance to show genuine remorse to his victims in court. Instead, through his Counsel, despite saying that he acknowledges the harm he has done he sought to pass the blame from himself onto them. Elliott is not sorry for what he did – he is just sorry that he got caught.

"Despite a wide-ranging, complex police investigation, we cannot be sure that there are not other unidentified victims of abuse perpetrated by Elliott and I would encourage anyone who does think that they have been a victim to contact police.”

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A convicted rapist who lied that he was forced into having sex with his victim has been jailed. Dalvir Singh, aged 48 and from Sandwell, was investigated by West Midlands Police’s Public Protection Unit after a young woman visited her GP surgery and told staff about the sexual abuse she had been subjected to.

Singh was arrested and admitted he had sex with the woman ‘on more than one occasion’ but made false claims it was ‘under duress’. The brave woman gave evidence in a video-recorded interview and police said that was key in securing the conviction.

Singh, from West Bromwich, was found guilty of rape and sexual abuse at an earlier hearing. He was jailed for 15 years at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Tuesday, February 6.

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A 'despicable' sex beast who abused two females in West Lothian has been jailed for six years.

Kyle Sievewright, 20, was found guilty of eight offences, including rape, committed between 2019 and 2022 at the High Court in Livingston on January 17.

Today, Sievewritght received his sentence of six years in prison and a further three years extended sentence at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Detective Constable David Bryce said: “Kyle Sievewright subjected the females to violent, sexual attacks over a period of time. He’s been found guilty of these despicable crimes and now faces the consequences.

“I hope today’s sentencing brings some form of justice to these females as they continue to move forward.

“Police Scotland is committed to bringing all perpetrators of sexual crimes to justice, regardless of when it happened. I would urge anyone who wishes to report a sexual crime to contact us. We will always investigate thoroughly and you will receive support from police and partner agencies.”

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A serial paedophile who escaped being caged in April as a result of “soft touch” sentencing guidelines aimed at rehabilitating young offenders has finally lost his liberty – for raping a child.

George Low was remanded in custody for background reports to be prepared after he pleaded guilty at the High Court in Livingston to committing six serious offences against children.

The sexual predator has been warned he is unlikely to escape a significant sentence of detention when he returns to court on January 9 next year .

In addition to raping a girl under the age of 13, Low admitted sexually assaulting a schoolgirl under 13, causing a child to engage in sexual activity and two counts of using threatening behaviour towards a child.

The 20-year-old, from Bathgate, had not-guilty pleas accepted to 10 further charges on the morning his trial by jury was due to start on Friday.

The serial sex offender originally appeared on petition at Livingston Sheriff Court in December 2021 charged with rape and 50 other sexual offences.

Prior to last week’s High Court case, he was prosecuted at Livingston Sheriff Court in April earlier this year for coercing 28 schoolgirls – aged 13 to 16 – to view footage of him performing sex acts before threatening those who refused to reciprocate.

He targeted the youngsters over a three-year period on social media websites such as Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat with his last victim being a 13-year-old girl who he targeted while he was on bail for earlier offences.

Despite offending from the summer of 2018 when he was just 15 years of age until he was 18-and-a-half years old, Sheriff Jane Farquharson chose not to sentence Low to detention because he had already spent the equivalent of a 30-month sentence on remand.

Instead she made him subject to intense social work supervision for three years and told his name would remain on the sex offenders’ register for the same period.

Given the pending High Court prosecution, she warned the accused that he remained at “very high risk of reoffending”.

She told him: “Of particular concern to me in sentencing you is your continued interest in young girls, that it would appear from this charge has persisted into your adulthood.

“Put frankly, as you have got older, the victims of your sexual interest have not aged accordingly.”

Sheriff Farquharson highlighted that Low had been the victim of neglect and a lack of care at home and had experienced domestic abuse, neglect and bereavement as a child.

She added: “You have had an entirely disjointed education, and spent much of your time in and out of foster care. You have not had the benefit of a supportive family or a pro-social group of positive peers.

“I understand that your traumatic childhood is likely to have impacted on your ability to regulate your emotions.

“But you must understand, Mr Low, as difficult as your life has been, that does not excuse your behaviour.”

The sentence imposed on Low was criticised as being too lenient by Scottish Conservative shadow justice secretary Jamie Greene MSP.

He said: “Concerning cases like this once again reaffirm just how ill-advised some sentencing guidelines are in reality.

“They do nothing to assure victims that justice is fully being served, something which SNP ministers seem oblivious to.”

He added: “The SNP government’s soft-touch approach to justice continues to prioritise the criminals over the victims and their families.

“It is vital that the victims are put first, which is why I’ve brought forward my Victims’ Law to Parliament.

“We must ensure that they are always at the heart of our justice system.”

The Low case followed the controversially lenient sentencing of Sean Hogg, who was convicted of raping a 13-year-old girl in a Midlothian park.

Instead of being jailed for four or five years, Hogg was ordered to do 270 hours of unpaid work, put under supervision and had his name added to the sex offenders register for three years.

He benefited from the Scottish Sentencing Council’s guidelines, which came into effect in January 2022, advising against custodial sentences for those under the age of 25, and recommending that judges take into account an offender’s intellectual and emotional maturity.

Hogg, of Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, eventually had his conviction quashed at the Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh in October this year.

Judge Lady Dorrian told him: “There was an insufficiency of evidence for a conviction and the inevitable.

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Sussex Police said former maintenance engineer Daniel Williams, 51, ‘preyed on a young girl in his care’ as a scouts leader in Sussex.

“At Lewes Crown Court on October 9, he appeared for sentencing after admitting assaulting the child by penetration at an earlier hearing,” a police spokesperson added.

Williams – formerly of an address in Hassocks – was a scout leader for more than ten years and ‘committed the offence while acting in this role’, police said.

The spokesperson added: “He also admitted three counts of possessing indecent images of children.

“The court sentenced Williams to a term of five years in prison and an additional year on licence to make a six year sentence in total.

“It means Williams will not be automatically released half way through his sentence.”

Williams was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order to restrict his access to children, and will be a registered sex offender for life.

Speaking after the case, Detective Constable Dan Griffiths from the Safeguarding Investigations Unit said: “The victim in this case showed tremendous courage to come forward and report what had happened.

“She and her family received support from specially-trained officers.

“Daniel Williams is a dangerous offender who used his trusted position to enable his offending. He has abused that trust in the most abhorrent manner.

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A 'creepy' maths teacher made a schoolgirl play a game of sexual dares before luring her into bed.

Married James Stromfield, 39, who taught at a secondary school in Sussex, devised a sex game for the 15-year-old pupil to play at his home while his wife was out.

He wrote down 12 sexual dares, such as 'remove an item of clothing' or 'make out', on a piece of paper.

The teacher then produced a pair of dice and told her to roll them with the number corresponding to a sexual forfeit.

The game of sexual dares in February ended when he got her into bed where he sexually assaulted her.

Last week Stromfield was jailed for 12 years after he pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, two counts of attempted rape, one charge of sexual activity with a child and one of inciting sexual activity with a child.

The tearful victim said she had been 'sickened' and 'disgusted' by his actions and was left 'completely broken'.

Reading a statement to court she sobbed as she told how her life had been destroyed and she had been left suffering 'flashbacks and nightmares' over her ordeal.

She said: 'James Stromfield's actions have affected me and my daily life in a way I wouldn't wish on anyone. I feel like a part of me died on February 27.

'I was keeping a big secret to myself and it was destroying me day by day'.

She said: 'I wasn't the one who should have known better. I was a child and still am. Mr Stromfield is now 39.

'He has taken away many significant experiences teenage girls should be able to feel.

'I would claw at my skin as it no longer felt like it belonged to me after it had been touched by him'.

Hove Crown Court heard the girl had been a pupil at a secondary school where Stromfield taught maths.

When the teenager began to suffer problems at home, she spoke to the teacher frequently and came to trust him.

The head teacher was forced to step in and formally warned Stromfield not to have any further contact with the pupil.

But Stromfield downloaded an app, Proton, which automatically deletes messages, and continued to contact the girl using it.

Orlando Gibbons, prosecuting, said: 'The victim initially saw him as a friend, father figure as well as a teacher. Over time his messages to her became flirtatious and sexual, which she did find a little creepy.'

The court heard she put up with the messages because she did not want to lose the support and friendship of the teacher.

When his wife was out, Stromfield arranged for the girl to come to his home in West Sussex.

The pair played the game of sexual forfeits before getting into bed where sexual activity took place.

However the girl had been tracked to the address by her then-boyfriend using the Snapchat app.

Stromfield was arrested by police on suspicion of child abduction but refused to comment. He was released on bail with strict instructions not to contact the victim.

Stromfield ignored the bail conditions and the pair met again at his house in February while he wife was out.

They went to an upstairs spare bedroom where sexual activity once again took place before he drove her back in his car.

The girl's father found handwritten notes in her handbag written to the teenager by the teacher.

The note read: 'Sorry to hear things were tough for you, hopefully it helps I am thinking and missing you. If you want to meet sometime see instructions on reverse. I will be there every day at 11.00am just in case you turn up.'

A second note read: 'I miss you so much and being apart is really tough. If you do want to come and see me come alone and be 100 per cent sure you can't be tracked. Love you loads Xx.'

Two days later the victim went to his home again and went to his spare room where he raped her.

However police had already been called and turned up at the house while the victim and the teacher were naked in bed.

Stromfield ordered her to quickly put on some clothes before he answered the door.

Police found the victim curled up in a ball on the floor of the spare bedroom and the teacher was arrested once again.

He was charged with a series of serious sexual offences including rape, attempted rape and sexual activity with a child.

Jailing him Recorder Quincy Whittaker said: 'You groomed the victim. Your behaviour was abusive, exploitative and harmful to her.'

She said the teenager had suffered 'psychological trauma' that may last her entire life.

Recorder Whittaker said through 'distorted and dysfunctional thinking' Stromfield had managed to convince himself that his sexual attention was in some way helping with girl with her problems at home and self-esteem.

She told Stromfield he must serve at least eight years before being considered for parole and ordered him to pay his victim £5,000 compensation.

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A BRAZEN sex offender nicknamed himself “Amapedo” when he contacted what he thought was a 14-year-old girl online.

However, William Wilson later discovered that “Sophie”, the target of his predatory behaviour, was actually a fake identity set up by a paedophile hunter group, a court heard.

After making disgusting requests of the decoy “schoolgirl” and sending her indecent images of himself he was confronted by members of the Wolfpack group at his home in West Lothian from where video of his confession was streamed live on Facebook.

Wilson, 51, from Kirknewton, pleaded guilty on Monday to attempting to communicate indecently with a person he believed was an under-age girl.

He attempted to cause her to participate in sexual activity and asking her to photograph of the genitals of a seven year-old girl and send the image to him for the purposes of obtaining sexual gratification or of humiliating, distressing or alarming her.

Christine Brownlie, prosecuting, told Livingston Sheriff Court that the fake profile picture posted on the website Meet24 around 20 March 2022 was of a young white girl aged 12-14. She said it was clear that the photo was of someone under the age of 18.

Within a few hours of setting up the account it was contacted by Wilson, calling himself 'Amapedo' and stating "I like you”, quickly followed by explicit messages.

The decoy replied as Sophie telling the accused that she was 14 years old and from Birmingham.

'Amapedo' then sent Sophie a message stating: "I just love young girls your age. Any pics of you in your school uniform with skirt? Can I see?"

When she replied that she didn't think she had any pictures he asked, "Any of you with your legs open?"

The decoy told 'Amapedo’ that she didn't have pictures like that on her phone, but she was then asked if she had a younger sister and if she did would she be willing to provide a picture for him.

The accused asked to take the conversation to WhatsApp, and the decoy provided a phone number and told the user to add her on WhatsApp, but rather than communicating via WhatsApp, she received a phone call from someone asking to speak to Sophie then began to receive text messages.

Two days later further contact was made with the profile Sophie on Meet24 with someone using the username Grampa70, who also turned out to be the accused.

The user Grampa70 also sent her explicit messages.

The child profile was thereafter contacted by a user also identifying themselves as Grampa70 on the app Meet4u and she asked him to confirm the last 4 digits of his phone number to confirm it was the same person.

Wilson did so and again sent her sexual messages in which he asked if she could take pictures of her seven-year-old sister due to having "a big thing for young girls".

Following this the user Grampa70 told to her to forget it and asked her to delete his number.

Details of the chat between the decoy and Wilson were passed on to the West Lothian Wolfpack paedophile hunting group, as was the accused’s home address.

At about 7.30pm the same day three members of the group – one woman and two men – knocked on Wilson’s door and the woman streamed his reaction live on Facebook.

When she informed Wilson she was at his address because of his online activity he replied “Aye, aye” and invited them in.

Police were contacted and screen shots of the messages and images sent by the accused were handed to them.

They also watched the video stream which showed the accused sitting within his living room admitting to communicating indecently with who he believed to be a child aged 14 years old.

The accused was cautioned and charged and replied: “I’m sorry, I don’t know what else to say.” He later added: “Yes, I done it. I put my hands in the air.”

Sheriff Susan Craig called for a background report before sentence, warned Wilson that he may face a custodial sentence and added his name to the sex offenders’ register.

She said he would be told the length of time he would remain subject to notification requirements when he returned to be sentenced on 14 September.

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A man has been jailed for a string of historic sex offences against a young boy which left his victim “frightened and confused”.

Gary Woolgar, 51, committed the offences on the child and preyed on him over the space of four years, including when he was under 13 years old.

Woolgar, a heating engineer from Lancing, denied the sexual offences but was found guilty at trial.

He also admitted to being in possession of cocaine and cannabis.

Sussex Police Detective Constable Katherine Wilkins said: “This was a complex investigation that involved working closely with partner agencies.

“Woolgar preyed on the boy, and the abuse has had an ongoing impact upon him.

“I would like to thank the victim who showed great courage to come forward and report what happened to him, and to all the witnesses who provided evidence to ensure this offender was convicted.

“This case demonstrates that we take reports of sexual offences seriously and throughout we provided support to the victim with specially-trained officers.

“We are determined to get justice for victims of sexual abuse.”

Woolgar was found guilty of multiple counts of engaging in penetrative and non-penetrative sexual activity with a boy as well as two counts of sexual activity with a child and sexual assault by touching a boy under 13.

The crimes took place between 2013 and 2017.

The victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, described how the abuse left him frightened and confused and continues to impact his anxiety and stress.

At a hearing on August 3, Woolgar was jailed for 15 years. He will also be a registered sex offender for life and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order was imposed.