Latest Offenders Worcester

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A man has been jailed after he raped a six-year-old girl in the 1990s. Craig Watson, now 39, was 14 or 15 at the time of the incidents, police said.

He was found guilty on March 30 this year of the rape and sexual assault of a girl in crimes carried out in 1998 and 1999. Watson, of Walter Nash Road West, Kidderminster, was jailed for two-and-a-half years on May 18.

Following the sentencing, Watson's victim was praised for her courage in coming forward. Det Con Matthew Harris, who led the investigation for West Mercia Police, said: "I'd like to commend the victim on her immense courage in coming forward to report what Watson.

"I'm pleased that justice has been done and that Watson will now rightly spend time in prison for his crimes. I hope this helps to show that we take all reports of rape and sexual assault seriously and will thoroughly investigate them regardless of how long ago they took place."

A spokesperson for the force added: "A man from Kidderminster has been jailed for two-and-a-half years for the rape and sexual assault of girl over 20 years ago. He will also be added to the sex offenders’ register for life.

"Craig Watson, 39, of Walter Nash Road West in Kidderminster, was sentenced on May 18, 2023 at Worcester Crown Court. He was found guilty on March 30 2023 following a four-day trial at Worcester Crown Court.

"Watson carried out the crimes during 1998 and 1999 when the girl was just six-years-old and he was 14 to 15-years-old."

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A MAN will have to wait even longer to hear his fate.

We reported earlier this year that Michael Sefton, previously of Pershore, admitted two offences of sexual assault and exposure.

The court previously heard Sefton intentionally touched a woman sexually without her consent and exposed his genitals - intending that someone would see them and be caused alarm or distress - at Worcestershire Royal Hospital on April 25 last year.

The 60-year-old appeared at Worcester Crown Court on Friday, (June 2), expecting to be sentenced.

But at the start of the hearing Michael Aspinall, prosecuting, explained Sefton, of Stanhope Way, Great Barr, Birmingham, had admitted a further offence of sexual assault of a similar nature at Worcester Magistrates Court last week, .

In that hearing magistrates chose to wait for the outcome of the crown court matters before sentencing and kept the matter at magistrates court.

The prosecutor asked for an adjournment so the matters could be tied together with Jason Aris, defending, supporting that application.

Recorder John Benson KC agreed to the adjournment so that magistrates could send the other matter up to the high court.

The judge told Sefton, who was given unconditional bail, to return to the crown court for his sentencing on July 14.

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A paedophile from Kidderminster has been jailed over a string of sex offences. Lee Greenhill, aged 46, of St Cecilia Close, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to six separate offences.

They included attempting to engage in sexual communication with children, possessing indecent images of children and possession of images portraying sexual acts with an animal. Greenhill was arrested on January 17 of this year after West Mercia Police received information he had engaged with two girls on the internet, both under 16.

During the conversations, Greenhill used photos of other young men and pretended that he was a rich businessman, West Mercia Police said. He showed the children photos of luxury yachts and cars telling the children that he would take them on them.

The conversations included that Greenhill intended to have sexual intercourse with the children and included the sending of explicit pictures and videos to them. Following his arrest, examinations were carried out on all his devices, which provided further evidence.

Greenhill was charged on January 18, despite denying the offences during his police interview. He later pleaded guilty to:

• Three counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child
• Possession of indecent images of children
• Attempting to cause a child to look at images of sexual activity
• Distributing an indecent photograph of a child
• Possession of images portraying sexual acts with an animal
• Breaching a sexual harm prevention order

Alongside his prison sentence, Greenhill has also been added to the sex offenders’ register for life. He was shamed as he posed in his mugshot wearing a Wolverhampton Wanderers football shirt.

Detective Sergeant Dave Meyer, from the Online Child Sexual Exploitation Team at West Mercia Police, said: "I’m pleased that Greenhill will now face the consequences for his actions, and will rightly be identified as a sex offender for life. There is no doubt that he poses a threat to young people and without our intervention may have gone on to groom others online, escalating his behaviour towards contact offending, something we work day-in and day-out to prevent.

"This case is testament to the fact that our close relationships with partners in regional organised crime units, children’s services and the charitable sector are paying dividends in our fight to protect children online."

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A CONVICTED rapist has been found guilty of an attack on a second woman and now faces even longer behind bars.

David Gilks of Sayers Avenue, Malvern was convicted of a second rape by a jury just before Christmas and falls to be sentenced at Worcester Crown Court on Friday, February 17.

The 30-year-old sex offender carried out the rape against an adult woman in September 2019.

Gilks denied the offence but was convicted by the jury on December 23 last year. The case was then adjourned for sentence. He remains in custody until he is sentenced later this month. Time spent on remand is deducted from any custodial sentence imposed by the court.

He also has a previous conviction for rape from September 2014 which is taken as an aggravating feature by the courts. This attack was also against an adult woman. 

West Mercia Police has applied for a sexual harm prevention order which, for the first time, contains a positive requirement other than prohibitions.

Officers and civilian staff with an intimate knowledge of the case stressed that it would be for a judge sitting in the crown court to decide whether the draft order they had requested would be granted.

The positive requirement would require Gilks to inform West Mercia Police of information which they believe would better help them monitor his behaviour in the community upon release.

Although a sexual harm prevention order is a civil order, breaching it is a criminal offence and can bring sex offenders back before a court where they may face more draconian measures to monitor and control their behaviour or, potentially, a further custodial sentence.

A spokesperson for West Mercia Police said: "We are committed to protecting women and girls from sexual violence and harm using every tool at our disposal, especially civil orders."

She said West Mercia Police was committed to using new legislation to protect the public in South Worcestershire.

We have previously reported how police and crime commissioner John Campion has highlighted the impact of Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) on society with a focus on educating, encouraging a societal change, engaging with the community and empowering women and girls.

VAWG has featured heavily in the headlines in the last year following the tragic death of Sarah Everard with the second anniversary of her murder next month.

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A SEX offender from Worcester who was on the run after bolting to London will soon be back behind bars after he was caught in the capital.

Sullen-faced Lewis Jones of Worcester was arrested and handcuffed in Commercial Road, Whitechapel in London's East End today after a police appeal.

He will go straight back to prison, West Mercia Police has confirmed.

The 26-year-old fled to London after boarding a train at Worcester's Foregate Street Railway Station but his offender managers monitored his movements closely from Worcester Police Station in Castle Street and were able to gain intelligence about his whereabouts.

Sporting a beard instead of his usual clean-shaven look, as seen in his custody photos, Jones was sleeping rough and known to be frequenting soup kitchens when police swooped and made the arrest. He is pictured here moments after he was caught.

DI Dave Knight of Proactive CID said: "Lewis Jones was arrested for recall to prison in Commercial Road, Whitechapel, London this afternoon.

South Worcestershire Police Offender Management Officers, working with The Metropolitan Police, had responded to intelligence and found him sleeping rough. He will be returned to prison.

"This is a great example of various departments across West Mercia Police and The Met working together for a common purpose, and underlines the value of good old fashioned police work, on foot, putting in the miles. "

Jones of Worcester and who also has links to Malvern was believed at one stage to be in Camden Town after police received new intelligence about his whereabouts in London.

The 26-year-old was sentenced to one year and 10 months in prison on August 3 last year and released on January 6 this year to an approved premises in Worcester.

But, due to his behaviour since, he was recalled to serve the remainder of that sentence in prison rather than on licence in the community.

Jones was seen boarding a train at Worcester Foregate Street station and was believed to be heading to London on Thursday, January 12.

We reported in 2019 how Jones appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court for two charges of breaching a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) by altering a Facebook profile by using a false name and by being in possession of an internet-enabled phone.

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A sex offender who gave a woman “zombie” drug Black Mamba before groping her breasts in the street has been jailed.

Mohammed Khalid Hussain, 35, preyed on the woman after spotting her outside a hotel in a city centre.

He offered her a cannabis spliff which was laced with Black Mamba.

Within minutes the victim became “stupefied” and Hussain grabbed her breasts.

Hussain carried out the attack outside the Fownes Hotel in Worcester on June 25 2020 during a Covid-19 lockdown.

A passerby witnessed the assault and dragged Hussain off the woman. He was arrested after the woman reported him to police.

Hussain denied sexual assault but was found guilty following a trial at Worcester Crown Court.

He was cleared of administering a substance with intent to stupefy or overpower to allow sexual activity.

Hussain, of Worcester, was jailed for 11 months and placed on the sex offenders register for ten years when he appeared at court on Wednesday (7/12).

He was also handed a restraining order banning him from contacting the victim for five years.

Detective Constable Pete Ryland, of West Mercia Police, said: “Hussain approached the victim and offered her a spliff, unbeknownst to her it was Mamba.

“She subsequently suffered a ‘Mamba’ attack whereby she was physically stupefied.

“Hussain then purposely, and for his own gratification, touched the victim’s breasts.

“The attack was witnessed and he was physically pulled away from the victim.

“She describes the impact of the sexual assault as psychologically long lasting and she is still coming to terms with what Hussain did to her.

“With the support of agencies and counselling she is hoping to put this behind her.

“The victim in this case showed courage in coming forward and resilience throughout the trial.”

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AN elderly sex offender who had 2,000 plus indecent images of child abuse fell over in court.

Colin Wright took a tumble in the dock and had to be helped to his feet when he appeared before magistrates in Worcester today (Thursday).

The 81-year-old of Colonel Drive, Rushwick, near Worcester, who walked with the aid of a stick, stumbled and fell on his back after he was told he was free to leave the court on bail.

He admitted possession of 21 indecent photos of children at category A between June 18 and July 20 last year.

Category A images are the most serious within the sentencing guidelines, showing penetrative acts involving children. He further admitted possession of 54 category B images of children and 2,127 category C images between the same dates. All images were found on a Lenovo laptop.

He did not indicate a plea to a further charge of breaching a sexual harm prevention order between June 18 and July 20 last year by installing forensic wiping software. He was prohibited from doing by the terms of that order, made at Worcester Crown Court on May 26, 2017.

Throughout the case Wright put his hand to his ear and at one stage said 'I apologise, I can't hear', prompting court staff and the prosecutor to raise their voices.

Monuwara Begum, prosecuting, said the offences exceeded the sentencing powers of the magistrates court with possession of category A images alone attracting a custodial sentence of over a year with a range of up to three years available.

Mark Sheward, defending, said matters would have to be sent to the crown court.

He added: "The guilty pleas are aggravated by the fact he has a previous conviction from 2017. I suggest they're probably outside your sentencing powers today. I would think the court would consider it a persistent breach."

Kevin Lloyd-Wright, chairman of the bench, said: "These matters are so serious they cannot be dealt with in the magistrates court. We are therefore committing you to the crown court sitting at Worcester."

Wright was granted unconditional bail to attend Worcester Crown Court on August 25.

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A SEX offender from Worcester has been jailed after sending indecent messages to teenage girls.

25 year-old Jacques Doldersum was jailed on Friday after being caught by undercover police officers on online messaging service Kik.

There, he had been messaging what he believed were a 12 and a 13 year-old girl.

However, they were in fact undercover officers, catching him encouraging them to send him indecent images, as well as sending them an indecent image of himself.

In addition to the undercover officers, he also made contact with a vulnerable 14 year-old girl.

Doldersum also sent indecent images of himself to her and encouraged her to send indecent images to him.

Kik, which is an online messaging service, says teenagers between 13 and 18 should not use the app without their parents' permission.

Despite this, users can communicate without revealing their actual names or numbers.

The app also does not track the content of messages or the phone numbers of its users.

Doldersum was arrested in November 2021 and analysis of his mobile phone discovered he had made indecent images of children.

He was subsequently charged with 12 sexual offences.

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced on Monday, June 27 at Worcester Crown Court.

Doldersum, of Sandpiper Close, Worcester, was jailed for three years and eight months.

He was also issued a sexual harm prevention order and will be included in the Sex Offenders' Register.

Detective Inspector Matt McNelis said: "This case was part of our ongoing work to keep children and young people safe online.

"We warn anyone attempting to engage in this type of behaviour that you are being watched and will be investigated.

"We also urge everyone to act with caution when using social media and to verify the identity of anyone you may have contact with."

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A PERVERT who secretly filmed teenagers having sex and took naked photos of young girls made the mum of one victim 'physically sick'.

Daniel Barrett, also known as 'Bill', even climbed onto a flat roof to film a teenage couple having sex and also performed a sex act in front of a young girl in a tent.

The 42-year-old of Bewdley Street, Evesham, showed no emotion as he was jailed for 33 months at Worcester Crown Court on Monday. One victim described 'suicidal thoughts' while the mother of a victim threw up when she learned the defendant had filmed her daughter having sex.

He had previously admitted four counts of voyeurism which had three separate victims in total and one count of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child which he only accepted on what have been the first day of his trial. This 'plea at the door of the court', though entered late, did spare one victim having to give evidence.

Jonathan Veasey-Pugh, prosecuting, said one of the children he filmed would have been either nine, 10, 11 or 12 at the the time of the offence and the other would have been 14, 15 or 16. The voyeurism offences took place between February 23, 2006 and February 22, 2009 and again between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2017.

An iPhone and a computer were seized during the course of the investigation.

Mr Veasey-Pugh described how one victim saw a light and found a camera hidden in a pile of clothes. The video on the camera even showed the defendant placing it there.

Barrett also performed a sex act upon himself in a tent in front of a child. "He made eye contact with her. She made eye contact with him" said Mr Veasey-Pugh.

The whole incident lasted five minutes. Photos of a girl naked from the top down were found on the defendant's computer as was a video of a girl having sex with her boyfriend when she was an adult. The defendant's brother ultimately brought the matters to the attention of the authorities in 2020.

Barrett had filmed a teenage couple having sex by placing the phone on a window ledge, admitting that he had done this for his own gratification. In interview he accepted he was 'fascinated generally with teenage girls'.

In a victim impact statement one of the complainants 'talks of anxiety, stress and suicidal thoughts', said the prosecutor. After discovering a video had been made of her daughter having sex, the mum of one victim said: "I was violently sick."

"The defendant's mother also has some rather robust things to say about the defendant" said the prosecutor, although he did not disclose her words in open court.

Judge Nicholas Cole spoke of the impact upon the victims and upon the mother who learned what had happened. "One can only imagine the horror and disgust that her mother experienced observing this video and to know that you had made it and stored it on your computer for your own sexual gratification."

He made a restraining order to prohibit any contact with the victims until further order. A sexual harm prevention order will restrict his contact with children and his use of the internet and electronic devices for an indefinite period. Barrett must sign the sex offender register and is subject to notification requirements, again indefinitely.

The forfeiture and destruction of the computer was ordered. Barrett was told he could expect to serve half his sentence in custody and half in the community on licence.

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A 41-year-old man tried to engage in sex chats with a girl he believed was 13 years old.

Dean Taylor of Sawmill Close, Worcester was really talking to undercover officers working for the Metropolitan Police and using the Kik social media platform to target sex offenders and protect children from online predators.

Taylor, who asked permission to leave the court by a back entrance but was denied by security staff, appeared before magistrates in Worcester today (Thursday).

Inside court he indicated guilty pleas to four sexual offences.

He admitted an attempt to engage in sexual communication with a child between February 14, 2019 and June 22, 2019 'for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification' (a 'child' aged 13 years); two charges of attempting to cause/incite a girl 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity between the same dates; and attempting to cause a child 13 to 15 to watch or look at an image of sexual activity, again over the same dates.

Details of the offences are too graphic to print in full but involved inciting the 'child' to perform sexual acts and to take and send sexualised photos of herself to him, what he termed 'naughty photos', and also the sending of a video involving a male performing a sexual act.

Mark Hambling, prosecuting, said Taylor was caught by an online operation conducted by the Metropolitan Police using the Kik platform.

He explained that the 13-year-old child Taylor had been communicating with 'does not exist'.

The sentencing guidelines indicated a starting point of 18 months in prison for attempted sexual communication with a child with a range available of between nine and 24 months.

Causing or inciting a child has a starting point of 26 weeks and a range of a high-level community order to three years' custody.

He added: "These matters should go to crown court for sentence."

Mr Hambling also said Taylor was now required to sign the sex offender register.

Paul Stanley, defending, said: "I have nothing to say in terms of jurisdiction."

Taylor was told he must next appear at Worcester Crown Court on Friday, May 13 this year. As he had been on a postal requisition he was granted unconditional bail by the court.

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A SEX offender who attacked a woman with learning difficulties has been convicted of rape after an attack on a different victim in her own home.

Luis Calado was unanimously convicted of one count of rape and one count of sexual assault by penetration in Worcester at the city's crown court on Friday.

The Crown will need to consider whether to pursue a trial in relation to a second count of rape which the jury could not reach a verdict upon.

The 28-year-old also falls to be sentenced for a sexual assault on a different complainant who had learning difficulties after he was convicted after trial last December, a conviction the jury had been told about in the course of the second trial. Those sexual assaults (sexual assault and sexual assault by penetration) happened on the same day in July 2018.

Calado showed little emotion in the dock but sobbing could be heard from the public gallery when the guilty verdict on the rape and sex assault came in shortly after 4pm on Friday.

The jury had been deliberating for five hours and 18 minutes. The sentence will now take place on Wednesday, March 2 subject to any decision by the prosecution.

The attacks took place on August 10 last year. During a tense exchange, Mr Nelson spoke of Calados attempts to call and text the defendant after the attack.

You knew by this stage your number was up and she was going to go to the police because you had raped her said Mr Nelson.

Absolutely not replied Calado from the witness box.

Mr Nelson asked why Calado was trying to call her at 2.30am. Calado replied: I didnt know she had blocked my number.

Mr Nelson put it to Calado that he was perpetually trying to ring and text her but Calado said: I dont agree with that. Thats very incorrect.

The prosecutor referred to the previous sexual assault and said: You have a propensity to sexually assault women.

Calado replied: Absolutely not Mr Nelson.

In his closing speech Mr Nelson described the alleged rapes as taking place following 'a chance encounter' between the complainant and the defendant.

"I suggest to you that he knew, there and then, that she was vulnerable" he said.

Mr Nelson suggested there was 'an obvious, underlying vulnerability' and that he 'changed the tempo, knowing there was a vulnerability'

"He moved to get what he wanted which was sex whether she was going to consent to it or not" he said.

Mr Nelson said the complainant had become 'a sitting duck'. "He stepped into that type of physical contact within 30 minutes or so" he said.

The prosecutor said she had withdrawn consent. That didnt bother Mr Calado at all. Sex was on his mind and he was going to get it, come what may. Mr Calado totally ignored her protestations. He made no effort to establish whether she wanted what he was doing, made no effort to ascertain whether she was consenting. He was more interested or entirely interested in his own gratification. He is, the prosecution say, a man with a propensity to behave in this way towards women. In those moments she doubtless felt utterly powerless.

Calado was remanded in custody ahead of his sentence hearing.

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Matthew Sherwood was concealed by supporters outside Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday, ducking down behind three of them, wearing a baseball cap and a Covid mask, as he made his way to the police station to sign the sex offender register.

However, we can now show you the face of the convicted sex offender who tried to contact girls online.

We reported last week how Sherwood, 37, of Mandalay Drive, Norton, Worcester had admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity as well as having indecent images of children.

At the hearing, Sherwood had pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child between January 31, 2020 and February 8, 2020. He further admitted attempting to cause or incite a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity between January 31, 2020 and February 8, 2020.

'Attempts' mean the defendant was communicating with a 'decoy', such as a so-called paedophile hunter group or a police officer using fake profiles, rather than an actual child. Sherwood further admitted making indecent photos of a child between April 12, 2020 and June 6, 2020.

He had three category C images, the least serious category within the guidelines.

Because of the serious nature of the case, magistrates declined jurisdiction for the case.

Sherwood, represented at the hearing by city solicitor Mark Sheward, was granted unconditional bail to attend a further hearing at Worcester Crown Court on February 25 this year.

Charles Townsend, chairman of the bench, said: "Despite the fact you have pleaded guilty to all matters - that has has been noted and will be your credit - it will be at crown court that you will receive that credit. The issues are too serious for us to deal with here in the magistrates court."

The bench also requested that a pre-sentence report be prepared by the probation service. A sexual harm prevention order will also have to be agreed and ultimately imposed by a judge sitting at the crown court.

Sherwood was told he needed to sign on as sex offender within three days of the hearing.

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A man from Malvern has been jailed for sexual offences involving children.

Richard Webb, 34, of Moat Crescent, was sentenced to nine years in prison at Worcester Crown Court yesterday (Thursday 2 December).

He will be placed on the sexual offenders register for life and will have a three-year extended licence period.

His offences took place in the Hereford area between 2006 and 2019 and involved incidents where the victims were between the ages of 8 and 14 at the time of the offences.

He also met with a child and committed sexual offences following a period of grooming and possessed extreme pornography.

Detective Constable Leah Lowe said: This investigation was highly emotional and Id like to recognise the courage of the victims who came forward.

This man groomed and abused his victims and this sentence is reflective of the suffering and misery he caused.

West Mercia Police take all complaints of sexual abuse very seriously and I hope this case gives the public confidence to come forward and report any incidents of concern whether recently or in the past.

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A Worcestershire man has been jailed for rape.

Daniel Jones, 28, of Hancocks Lane, Welland, was sentenced to 17 years in prison at Worcester Crown Court today (Friday 12 November).

In April 2020 Jones contacted a woman on the social media app Whisper. He travelled to meet her in Norfolk, raped her and stole her wedding and engagement rings.

Then in January 2021, following further interaction on social media, he drove to meet a women in Somerset, took her back to his home address and raped her.

Very bravely, the victims came forward to officers who were able to identify Jones and arrest him.

Following investigations, he was subsequently charged with two counts of rape and found guilty at a trial in October 2021.

Detective Constable Carl Shenton said: I would like to thank the victims for coming forward and giving their evidence, as well as the bravery they have shown in doing so.

Hopefully this sentence will offer them some sort of closure and allow them to move forward with their lives.

We urge anyone with any concerns about an incident either recently or in the past to get in touch.

We investigate all reports we receive and anyone making a report is offered full and comprehensive support from specialist staff.

You can contact the West Mercia Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Centre on 03456 461188.

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A paedophile has been jailed for 18 years for what detectives described as 'horrific offences that destroyed a young life'.

Richard Tate, 34, pleaded guilty to seven counts of rape at Worcester Crown Court yesterday(Thursday October 28). 

The offences took place between last year and this year.

Tate pleaded guilty in September to the charges but was sentenced yesterday.

In February, West Mercia Police launched a public appeal to help locate Tate, who went missing from Redditch and had been last seen on February 19.

Detective Sergeant Paul Willetts said: “Tate committed these horrific offences against a child over a period of time to gain sexual gratification and destroyed a young life.

“I would like to pay tribute and commend the victim in this harrowing case for alerting the police to Tate’s crimes, which has allowed us to bring him to justice. We hope the conviction and this substantial prison sentence will bring some measure of comfort.”