Latest Offenders Yorkshire

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An NSPCC tip off has led to a Yorkshire child sex offender being jailed for crimes many years ago.

In 2022, the NSPCC received a referral stating two children had been sexually abused many years ago by Darren Hinson, 55.

The information was passed to specialist detectives from Cleveland Police’s CAVA team.

Detective Sergeant Natasha Vaughan, an officer in the case, worked to identify the two women and made contact with them.

Regardless of the amount of time that had passed, police were able to take action against Hinson and they were offered appropriate support.

The women confirmed that Hinson had sexually abused them as vulnerable children between the ages of 4 and 10 years old.

This “horrific offending” then continued over a period of years, a court heard.

In 2023 Hinson was charged with 16 non-recent sexual offences against two children; the offences included sexual touching and rape.

On August 16, 2024, a jury at Teesside Crown Court found Hinson guilty of all 16 counts and he was immediately remanded into custody until his sentencing at the same court.

The 55-year-old was eventually sentenced to 22 years in prison.

Hinson will be placed on the sex offenders’ register for life and he'll be subject to stringent conditions and monitoring on his release from prison.

Det Sgt Vaughan said: “Because we received the information from a third party, the victim-survivors received contact from the police out of the blue, so I had to be very mindful of this and the impact it would have on them.

“Both women displayed great courage though, and they fully supported our investigations from the outset.

“I’m so grateful for this and I hope this result brings a degree of comfort as they continue to process everything they’ve been through.”

CAVA Chief Inspector Matt Murphy King added: “I’m extremely glad and grateful that someone took the time to report Hinson’s abuse to the NSPCC. He might have thought he’d never face justice for his abhorrent actions but he has now been held accountable for what he did.

“Anyone who has experienced abuse of any nature, whether recent or non-recent, can report via this organisation if they don’t feel able to contact police.

“If you do feel able to speak to police, I can promise you my specially trained officers will listen to you, they will believe you and they will support you.

“We can also put you in contact with our excellent specialist local organisations who can also give you bespoke advice and support during the police investigation and the entire court process.”

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Dean Martin Blackwell was jailed for 21 years for a series of rapes and sexual assaults on the then young girl at York Crown Court on Friday, September 27.

The 54-year-old, now of Stokesley, was also handed an extended licence period of one year, placed on the Register of Sex Offenders for life and made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Following a trial in July, Blackwell was found guilty of two counts of raping a child and four counts of sexual assault.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is now an adult. She reported the sexual abuse she had suffered as a child to the police in 2022.

This set-in motion an intensive investigation, during which she has received ongoing support from specialist officers and partner agencies.

Following the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Beverley Garbutt, from Scarborough and Ryedale CID, said: “The level of trauma and pain the victim has endured throughout her young life is difficult to comprehend.

“She has shown immense bravery in seeking and securing justice. I hope the outcome at court provides additional strength to rebuild her life.”

DS Garbutt added: “As for Blackwell, the sickening child abuse he committed all those years ago has finally caught up with him with this significant prison sentence.

“He has also been made subject to robust safeguarding measures to manage his behaviour for the rest of his days.”

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Judge Sean Morris jailed Ryan Purvis, 29, for six months today (Oct 1) but said the Hawsker man would have served double that amount of time had the case not taken an “unacceptable” three-and-a-half years to reach court.

Mr Morris, the Recorder of York, said he apportioned no blame whatsoever to police for the inordinate delay but demanded that cases of this type - which included images of children being raped - reached court much sooner so that proper justice could be served.

“There will come a time when, unless the police are given proper resources to bring these cases to court in a reasonable time, then the court will find it impossible to impose an immediate prison sentence,” warned the judge.

He spoke out after jailing Purvis for making and distributing indecent images of children.

Some of the images were rated Category A - the worst kind of such material involving the sexual abuse of children.

Purvis, who worked as a cabler for an energy company, was arrested in April 2021 when police swooped on his home after receiving intelligence that he was uploading indecent images on the internet.

Prosecutor Christopher Bevan said officers seized two mobile phones on which they found 102 indecent photos and videos of children, some as young as five years of age.

Of these, 58 were Category A videos and five were Category A photos.

Forensic officers also found 16 “extreme pornography” images.

He was charged with three counts of making indecent images, two counts of distributing illicit material, one count of possessing a prohibited image of a child and possession of “extreme pornography”.

He admitted all the offences and appeared for sentence today.

Defence barrister Rhianydd Clement said that Purvis had now “lost his good character” due to the offences which had led to the breakdown of a long-term relationship.

Judge Mr Morris condemned Purvis for “the distribution of foul videos of children”.

He added: “I’m afraid for distribution, an immediate prison sentence has to follow, but this (case) is three-and-a-half years old, which is unacceptable, so I’m going to reduce the sentence.”

Purvis received a six-month jail sentence, roughly half of what he would have received if the case had reached court in a timely fashion, and which was reduced further for the current overcrowding in British prisons.

He will only serve half of that time behind bars before being released on prison licence.

After jailing Purvis, Mr Morris warned that the strain on police resources meant that it was becoming more difficult to ensure that such cases, which required forensic analysis of devices, reached court in good time.

He added: “Because of the delay in this case, (the defendant’s) sentence has been cut in half.

"To take three-and-a-half years to get a case before the courts – a case that is a guilty plea – means that it is unjust.

“It is not the fault of the police…but something is going to have to be done to get these cases analysed quicker, otherwise for distributing indecent images like this case, the sentences are literally going to be slashed.

“Three-and-a-half years from arrest to court is not acceptable.”

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A former East Yorkshire pub landlord has been jailed after he targeted and sexually assaulted three young women after he repeatedly pestered them and tried to "shower" them with cash or lavish gifts or holidays.

The victims of sex-obsessed Gerald Ellis felt powerless to speak out, but they finally did so when he was prosecuted for having indecent videos and images of children, Hull Crown Court heard.

Ellis, 64, of Primrose Drive, Filey, admitted three offences of sexual assault against one woman and two offences of assault by penetration against her between December 2013 and May 2016.

He also admitted sexually assaulting a second woman between January 2016 and December 2017 and two offences of sexually assaulting a third woman between November 2016 and March 2020.

Claire Holmes, prosecuting, said that the offences against the three young women came to light after Ellis was sentenced at Hull Crown Court in September 2020 for three offences involving downloading indecent images of children.

The case was reported in the press. "On learning of that conviction, the three complainants came forward," said Miss Holmes.

Ellis' behaviour towards the first of the women included repeatedly touching her intimately.

He trapped her against a wall and she was unable to move. He kissed her but she managed to push past him and told him to get off her. Other people saw Ellis intimately touching her.

She later described the incidents as "horrible" and she said that she came forward to report them because she did not want Ellis to do the same thing to anyone else.

The offence against the second woman happened when Ellis lunged at her and tried to kiss her. "She pulled back," said Miss Holmes. The woman later said that she had been very affected by the press report of Ellis looking at indecent images of children and this "broke her heart".

The incidents involving the third woman included hitting her on the bottom over her clothes when he passed her. He offered her £1,000 to sleep with him but she refused. The woman found the sexual assault behaviour of Ellis "weird and uncomfortable". During police interview, Ellis denied the offences.

Ellis admitted separate offences of breaching a sexual harm prevention order and breaching his notification requirements as a convicted sex offender following the indecent images conviction.

These involved allowing a girl to stay at his home when he should not have done and having an iPad that was not registered with the police.

Simon Reevell, mitigating, said that Ellis had pleaded guilty on the day of a scheduled trial. "For everyone, this is a sorry and unfortunate business," said Mr Reevell. "This is the end of a sorry period."

Judge Alexander Menary said that Ellis "targeted" the three women and "showered them" with gifts and money, including "expensive items" such as a mobile phone, a horse and holidays abroad.

"These offences are so serious that only immediate custody can be justified," said Judge Menary. "There have been no further contact offences since these offences were committed."

Ellis, who was already in custody on remand, was jailed for three years and two months and he was given a sexual harm prevention order for 12 years. He was given a 15-year restraining order and must register as a sex offender for life.

During the previous court case in September 2020, the court heard that Ellis, known as Gerry, watched videos of children being abused, including a girl of four or five being raped. Another showed a boy and girl, aged between eight and 10, being forced to perform sexual acts.

Police seized his laptop in March 2019 and videos and images were found.

Ellis, at the time, had been drinking excessively, including up to 15 pints a day, the court heard that day. His wife left him and he turned to pornography.

Ellis was given a two-year community order at the time, with rehabilitation days, and he had to register as a sex offender for five years.

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Jonathan Walker, 34, from Liversedge, Kirklees, subjected a young girl to “appalling offences” between 2005 and 2007.

Following an investigation by Kirklees District Child Safeguarding Unit, Walker was found guilty following a trial at Leeds Crown Court in August.

On Wednesday (Sept 25), the 34-year-old was sentenced to six years in prison for sexual offences against a child.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Natalie Green, of the Kirklees District Child Safeguarding Unit, said: “The appalling offences Walker committed against a young girl has affected her deeply, and illustrates the dreadful impact this can have on a victim.

“I would personally like to thank her for her bravery throughout this process and I hope the conclusion of this case brings her some closure on an extremely difficult time in her life.”

“I hope this sentence also provides a reminder to victims that we take all reports of sexual offences seriously and in confidence no matter when they happened. All reports will be thoroughly investigated by our specially trained officers who will also provide you with support throughout.”

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A "prolific" sex offender who was arrested after an indecent image of a child was uploaded to Snapchat has been jailed for six years.

Liam Crosby, of Harewood Rise in Keighley, was found guilty of numerous sex offences against children after a trial at Bradford Crown Court.

These included making and distributing indecent images of children and attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

Crosby, 31, was sentenced on Tuesday to six years in custody with a three-year extended licence period.

'Victim's bravery'

Bradford Crown Court heard he was arrested on 11 July 2022 following a referral from the National Crime Agency after an indecent image of a child was uploaded from a Snapchat account linked to him.

West Yorkshire Police said his phone was seized, and further indecent images of children and numerous sexualised communications with children were found.

After he was charged and summonsed to court in relation to a number of offences, police received information that Crosby had been linked to similar offences involving a 15-year-old victim.

He was further arrested and another device seized, and police found more images and sexualised communications with children.

He was charged with additional offences and remanded into custody.

Det Sgt Craig Stevens, of the Bradford District Online Child Abuse Investigation Team, said: "He is a prolific offender who deserves to be behind bars for a long time.

"The victim has shown immense bravery throughout this process, and I hope the conclusion of this court case brings them some closure on an extremely difficult period in their young life."

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A convicted sex offender is facing another jail sentence for depraved online sex chats after he was snared for a third time by a paedophile hunter group.

Alan White, 62, previously of Richmond but now of Bedale, contacted what he thought to be a 14-year-old girl who was actually an adult member of an online vigilante group posing as a child, York Magistrates’ Court heard today.

He was subject to a strict court order at the time to curb his online activities following previous convictions for similar behaviour.

Prosecutor Martin Butterworth said that on September 3, North Yorkshire Police’s child online safety team were contacted by a paedophile-hunting group in South Wales who said that “a man called Alan” had been engaging in sexual chats with an adult decoy on an internet platform called RandoChat.

The decoy had pretended to be a 14-year-old girl and gathered incontrovertible evidence which was provided to police who turned up at White’s home in South End Avenue.

During his arrest, they noticed a Samsung tablet on his bedside table. When an officer checked the tablet, the RandoChat social media platform was open with the screen clearly showing the sordid sex chat with the adult decoy.

Mr Butterworth said the sex chats began on October 31, when White, under the nickname “Chalky”, sent a message to the decoy who said she was 14 and from Cardiff.

“The conversation became sexualised, with a request (by White) for a topless picture,” added Mr Butterworth.

“The conversation continued over a couple of days.

“Chalky then asked the ‘child’ to perform a lewd act and engage in sexual activity.”

Mr Butterworth said a further message in the chatroom was subsequently deleted by White, who was charged with attempting to cause or incite a 14-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity, attempted sexual communication with a child under 16 years of age and breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

He admitted the offences when he appeared in court today, but magistrates decided that the offences were so serious that sentence should be transferred to the crown court.

The prosecution outlined White’s track record for similar offences, starting in 2018 when he received a 12-month suspended prison sentence at Teesside Crown Court for offences including sexual communication with a child and possessing indecent images of a child, after being snared by another adult decoy from a group called Keeping Kids Safe.

In February 2021, at the same court, he received a 28-month jail sentence and made subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order after he was again trapped by “paedophile hunters” while trying to talk to underage girls online.

In that case, White contacted a user in an online chatroom in December 2020. The user immediately said she was a 14-year-old girl.

Despite this, White told her she was “gorgeous” and that he’d like to kiss and touch her, then asked her to take her clothes off and touch herself in a sexual manner.

He also asked her for naked pictures, promising he would later delete them.

White will be sentenced for the new offences at Teesside Crown Court on September 16.

He was remanded in custody until then.

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A sex offender described as a “danger to young children” has been jailed for over 18 years for sexually attacking a young girl.

David Gray, 50, from Batley was was sentenced to 18 years and eight months at Leeds Crown Court on Thursday (August 29) after admitting two serious sexual assaults against a young girl.

They were reported to police in January of this year, prompting an investigation by dedicated Kirklees child safeguarding detectives. Gray was swiftly arrested following the report and then charged.

He pleaded guilty to the offence at a hearing at Leeds Crown Court in June and was remanded in custody for sentencing. Investigating officer Detective Constable Natalie Green, of the Kirklees District Child Safeguarding Unit, said: “Gray clearly poses a significant danger to young children, and we welcome the strong sentence handed down by the court.

“The appalling offences he committed against a young victim has affected her deeply, and starkly illustrates the dreadful impact these crimes have on victims. I would personally like to thank the victim and her family for their courage and strength during the investigation and for coming forward and speaking of the crimes committed by Gray.

“We continue to urge victims of sexual assault to come forward, no matter when the offending took place. All reports will be thoroughly investigated by our specially trained officers who will also provide you with support throughout.”

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A private maths tutor who sexually abused a vulnerable teenage boy has been jailed.

Holly Rouse-Sweeney, aged 37, tutored the boy online before organising to meet him at her former Nottinghamshire home.

She then had sexual contact with him on several occasions – despite being aware he was under the age of consent.

Police were called in May 2023 when the boy’s mother found inappropriate WhatsApp messages on his phone.

After Rouse-Sweeney was arrested, officers found several incriminating diary entries on her laptop in which she detailed the abuse and even referenced the boy’s true age.

She later pleaded guilty to two counts of engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a boy, and four counts of causing a boy to engage in sexual activity.

Rouse-Sweeney, of Hebden Bridge, appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday (9 August) and was jailed for six years.

She was also added to the sex offenders’ register and made the subjection of a sexual harm prevention order which will tightly restrict her activities when she is released.

She was also handed a restraining order forbidding her from any future contact with her victim.

Rouse-Sweeney had claimed that her actions had been influenced by a long-standing mental health condition.

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A MAN has been locked up for more than nine years after admitting multiple serious sexual assaults against a child.

Christopher Holdsworth, 38, appeared at Bradford Crown Court by video link from HMP Leeds to hear a powerful statement read by his victim.

The statement said the victim’s life had been “ruined”.

After being confronted about his behaviour Holdsworth denied any wrongdoing and threatened to beat people up for “spitting out lies”.

Holdsworth was jailed for nine years and six months by His Honour Judge Colin Burn, put on the sex offender’s register for life, and made the subject of an indefinite restraining order banning contact with the victim.

A sexual harm prevention order will be set at a later date.

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Police discovered over 2,000 disturbing images or videos of children on a man's mobile phone following a tip-off from the National Crime Agency.

The collection included 1,638 pictures and 404 videos totalling 2,042 with 653 of them falling into the most severe category, Hull Crown Court was informed.

Jay Fleming, 26, from Bridlington, pleaded guilty to three charges of creating indecent images of children between April 2021 and March of the previous year. Prosecutor Michael Masson revealed Fleming was apprehended in Bridlington due to information provided by the National Crime Agency.

It was suspected that indecent images of children had been shared via Snapchat. Images were located on a mobile phone, including 382 picture files and 271 videos in the gravest Category A, as well as 614 images and 99 videos in Category B, and 642 images and 34 videos in Category C.

However, Snapchat had not been installed on the phone. Fleming made complete and candid admissions during his police interview, reports Hull Live. Emily Hassell, defending, stated there was no evidence to suggest that Fleming had tried to contact or had contacted children directly. He had no prior convictions and was assessed as having a low risk of reoffending.

Judge Tahir Khan KC admonished Fleming in court, declaring: "You accessed from the internet indecent images of children. Found on your device were a large number of Category A images and also Category A videos. Category B and Category C images were also found on your device as well.

"If you had not pleaded guilty to these offences, I would have sent you to prison for 18 months but you had the good sense to admit what you did.

"That makes a difference to a sentence of custody that I can suspend and a sentence of custody that would require you to go down those steps. I have a duty to protect the public, and children in particular, given the nature of the offending."

Subsequently, Fleming was handed down a one-year suspended prison term, coupled with a rehabilitation requirement lasting 30 days. Additionally, he is subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and will be listed as a sex offender for a decade.

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A convicted rapist will be almost 90 years old before he can be considered for release from prison after a he was put behind bars for 27 years.

Skipton man Charles David Pratt, now 71, was convicted by a jury at Bradford Crown Court of a catalogue of serious sexual offences against three female complainants who must not be identified for legal reasons.

Judge Ahmed Nadim highlighted the courage shown by Pratt’s victims in reporting his historical sexual abuse of them. The judge told Pratt: “They are deserving of the gratitude of this court and society as a whole for the courage they showed in reporting you to the authorities and bringing you to justice and in the process reliving the most painful of memories."

The court heard that Pratt, of Keighley Road, Skipton, committed offences of rape against the two women and a girl often when he was under the influence of alcohol. Judge Nadim said Pratt had also used violence to overcome any resistance his victims may have offered to his sexual demands.

He said: “In short Charles Pratt you are a violent and callous man. In order to meet your perverted sexual needs you do not recognise or respect any societal or moral boundaries. As a result of your conduct three lives have been blighted. The damage you have inflicted upon each of your victims is immeasurable."

Pratt, who had no previous convictions, was found guilty by the jury of several rape offences and other sexual allegations. Judge Nadim explained that Pratt would have to serve at least two-thirds of his 27-year jail sentence behind bars before his case could be considered by the Parole Board.

He explained: “This means you will serve at least 18 years imprisonment before that reference to the Parole Board can take place."

Pratt was also classed as “an offender of particular concern” which means he had an extra 12-month licence period added onto his sentence. He will also have to register as a sex offender with the police for the rest of his life.

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Britton started offending in 2014 and was arrested in September 2022. There was a suppression order on his name until he pled guilty in September 2023.

Adam Robert Corden Britton (born c. 1970) is a British-born Australian crocodile expert and zoosadist who in September 2023 was charged with 60 offences relating to sexual abuse and torture of animals and possession of child abuse material. He has pled guilty to the charges. 

He had searched for dogs on the website Gumtree Australia, claiming to rehome them, and telling their former owners that they were thriving in his care, when in fact he had already sexually abused and killed them. He is known to have sexually abused 42 dogs, of which 39 died.

As of 25 September 2023, Britton faces 60 charges, which relate to using child abuse material as well as bestiality, to which he has pled guilty.

Sentencing was supposed to occur in December 2023, but was postponed to February 2024, and subsequently postponed again to May 2024. In May 2024, sentencing was postponed for a third time due to the presiding judge's scheduling conflicts for 11 July 2024. His sentencing was postponed once more until 8 August 2024. Britton was finally sentenced on 8 August 2024 to 10 years and five months in prison, with a non-parole period of six years. His sentence was backdated to his arrest in April 2022. He was also banned from purchasing animals and having them on his property. Judge Grant stated that his conduct "… involved a degree of depravity and reprehensibility which falls entirely outside any ordinary human conception and comprehension."

In a letter written from prison and read by his lawyer Britton stated he took "full responsibility for the demeaning crimes" acted upon the dogs. He also stated "I deeply regret the pain and trauma that I caused innocent families and consequently to my family, friends and members of the community affected."

"I let you all down. I'm truly sorry. I now acknowledge that I've been fighting a rare paraphilic disorder for much of my life. And that shame and fear prevented me from seeking the proper help I needed." Britton wrote that he would seek "long-term treatment."

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A man who made covert explicit videos of teenage girls and women has been jailed for three years.

Luke Greenfield, 25, of Trinity Lane, Beverley, claimed the recordings were consensual, but was later charged with 18 counts of voyeurism.

He was also charged with three counts of having sex with a female under 16, two counts of making indecent images and two counts of taking indecent images.

Greenfield pleaded guilty to the charges shortly before his trial had been due to start.

He was also placed on the sex offenders register for life and handed a five-year restraining order at Hull Crown Court on Thursday.

'Inexcusable crime'

Police launched an investigation last year after a woman reported that Greenfield had made an explicit video of them without her consent, and when she confronted him, "he’d threatened to publish it online".

Officers later found a camera and other electronic devices, along with more than 30 explicit videos of 27 girls and women on a mobile phone.

The victims had been filmed at Greenfield's home and place of work, Humberside Police said.

Officers identified two teenage girls and several of the women, who said they had no idea Greenfield had taken explicit videos of them.

Det Con Daniel Radford, who led the investigation, said: “It is without a doubt that Greenfield is a dangerous sexual offender who manipulated women and girls for his own predatory desires.

“Highly calculated, Greenfield lured the women and girls to his home and made false promises to them about future plans and endeavours, when really he had an ulterior motive.

“Whilst I am pleased he eventually admitted to his inexcusable crime, sparing the victims the upset of a trial, Greenfield showed no remorse for his unforgiveable actions throughout the entirety of the investigation."

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Two men have been sentenced as part of a long-running investigation into the sexual abuse and trafficking of girls in West Yorkshire.

Ebrahim Pandor was jailed for six years for trafficking a girl when she was aged 13.

Another man, Amjad Hussain, was jailed for 10 years in his absence for raping the same girl when she was 18. West Yorkshire Police said efforts to locate Hussain were continuing.

The sentences meant 28 men in total had been jailed as part of Operation Tourway, police said.

The operation has been investigating the sexual abuse and trafficking of eight females in north Kirklees between 1999 and 2012.

Pandor, 44, of Highdale Road and Hussain, 45, of Lee Street, Ravensthorpe were sentenced at Leeds Crown Court earlier.

Police said as part of the operation, jail terms totalling almost 400 years had been given out to the 28 men.

The force said during trials, jurors had "heard repeated stories about how vulnerable victims were targeted and groomed by their abusers who treated them almost as commodities".

Speaking about Hussain, Det Ch Insp Oliver Coates said: “Clearly it is a matter of regret that Hussain was sentenced in his absence today and inquiries do continue to locate this convicted sex offender.

“Officers have been working with partner agencies to locate him and are keeping an open mind as to his whereabouts."