Latest Offenders

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Nathan Waddell engaged in “at least 19 conversations” over a six-week period on the messenger app, Telegram, with analysis of his devices showing he even sent videos to multiple people involved in a single chat.

He had also stored almost 1,000 images in a personal “library”, involving children as young as two being abused in the most horrific way, Leeds Crown Court heard.

Judge Simon Batiste jailed him for two years this week and told him: “The message must go out that if you distribute such vile images, then custody will follow that. Some were of very young children. It makes it more serious that you distributed them.”

Prosecutor Charlotte Noddings said the National Crime Agency alerted West Yorkshire Police in August 2022 about images being uploaded by an account that was eventually traced back to Waddell.

They arrested him three months later on November 29 at his former in Leeds, seizing an iPhone, Apple MacBook and a USB stick. On them they found 148 video and images in Category A – depicting the most serious abuse. There were also over 200 Category B and 570 Category C.

They also retrieved 600 images classed as Category Six – which are not illegal images but contain children and could indicate a sexual interest in children, Miss Noddings said.

Following his arrest, 30-year-old Waddell was candid with police, admitting what he had done. He admitted two counts of distributing indecent images, and three counts of possessing indecent images. He has no previous convictions.

Mitigating, Laurence Dilworth said Waddell, now of Rundle Place, Pocklington, East Yorkshire, had experienced mental health problems, lost his job, became withdrawn and isolated and “turned to pornography”.

He added: “He had a sexual attraction to children but has taken steps to address that by engaging with a children’s charity to prevent sexual abuse. He is ashamed of his actions and has taken steps to address his offending behaviour.”

In addition to his jail sentence, Waddell was put on the sex offender register for 10 years, and given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) to restrict his internet use.

Description

A sex offender who went on the run from the police claimed he was on a road trip, a court heard.

Luke Eames, aged 28, spent five months dodging officers trying to monitor his behaviour.

He went to Wales with his partner where he was arrested for attacking police.

Former computer shop owner Eames, with a record of distributing perverted images of children, has seen his road trip end in prison.

Judge Paul Darlow jailed him for 16 months for a range of offences at Plymouth Crown Court.

He told Eames: When you left your accommodation in March, you were in no doubt of your obligations to inform the police of your whereabouts, whatever your intentions were regarding this road trip.

Eames, being of no fixed address, was meant to contact the police once a week so officers could keep an eye on him.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to comply with the notification requirements as a registered sex offender.

Eames also admitted two breaches of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order imposed in 2015 by having mobile phones which were not registered with the police.

That order was imposed when Eames, then living in Dartmouth, was jailed for possession and distribution of indecent images of children and perverting the course of justice.

He ran Conker Computers in Ivybridge at the time.

Eames had first been convicted of distributing indecent images of children back in 2010. He failed to comply with sex offender treatment designed to tackle his perverted behaviour.

Nigel Wraith, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said he had been registered with the police as living at Holmes Avenue in Efford from November 2017.

He added that police had a 999 call from his registered mobile phone on March 8 this year.

Officers attended Holmes Avenue to find that he had moved out two days before.

Mr Wraith said police caught up with him on March 30, when he said he was of no fixed address.

The barrister said that he was meant to tell the police his whereabouts every seven days but they heard nothing from him for five months.

Mr Wraith said Eames turned up in Pembrokeshire in August, when he was convicted of assaulting two police officers and criminal damage.

The court heard a neighbour had called the police because he was playing loud music at his accommodation.

Michael Green, for Eames, said it was an unusual case but he had spoken to the defendants fiancee and she had confirmed they had been on a road trip.

He disputed that Eames had been evicted from his home in Efford.

Mr Green added that his clients mother had confirmed he had been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

The barrister said: He is a young man who has had some difficulties in communicating with his offender manager.

Mr Green said Eames had no fixed address but had planned to settle back in Plymouth with his fiancee. He added that the defendant had spent the last four weeks in custody.

Judge Darlow ripped up the community order imposed by Welsh magistrates for the offences in Pembrokeshire. He resentenced Eames for 16 months for all offences in total.

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A sex offender from Ipswich who targeted teenagers as they walked home has been jailed for more than two decades – despite refusing to show up to his sentencing hearing.

At Ipswich Crown Court Today, Judge Emma Peters sentenced Adiley Pires, 25 of Kensington Road, in his absence, after a conviction on two counts of attempted rape, one count of sexual assault, and common assault.

Following a nine-day trial, Pires was found guilty on all counts on October 26.

The charges related to two separate incidents in 2021 and 2022.

During the first incident, which took place between 3.10am and 3.20am on October 17, 2021, Pires chased his victim – who was 18 at the time – into the courtyard of an apartment block in College Street.

The victim had been walking down the waterfront in the direction of Stoke Bridge, when Pires approached her, tried to make conversation, and touched her bottom.

It was after she told Pires to leave her alone that he proceeded to chase her.

Once in the courtyard, Pires pushed the victim into a flower planter and attempted to lift up her dress, the court was told.

She screamed as loud as she could and got the attention of residents, who shouted at Pires, before he ran away.

CCTV footage from Cardinal Park on the night of the incident showed him watching her as she left a nightclub, before following her to the waterfront.

The club put out an appeal, and he was arrested on October 23.

Detectives sought advice for charging him with attempted rape, but a review of evidence gathered at the time led to the Crown Prosecution Service determining that more was needed.

As a result, Pires was bailed, forced to surrender his passport, and ordered to adhere to a curfew.

It would also require him to present himself to any police officer attending his home address to conduct checks.

The second incident took place in Tower Mill Street at 11.40pm on December 8, 2022.

He approached a 17-year-old girl from behind after she entered a towpath on Yarmouth Road.

He then grabbed her and pulled her to the ground, before covering her mouth, and trying to get her leggings off.

The court heard how the victim tried to fight Pires off – eventually calling for help and getting the attention of nearby residents.

He then ran off.

After the attack, officers conducted a CCTV investigation, and Pires was flagged as a suspect due to the similarity to the 2021 incident.

He was also a positive match for being present in the relevant locations at the time of the attack.

Pires was arrested on December 15 and later charged.

For the 2021 incident, Pires stood accused of one count of attempted rape and one count of sexual assault; and one count of attempted rape and one count of assault by beating for the 2022 attack.

Pires admitted the charge of assault by beating but denied the three other offences.

Throughout his trial, he denied the attacks were sexually motivated.

The jury dismissed these claims and found him guilty of all charges.

He was sentenced to 15 years in prison, with an extended licence of six years, for a total of 21 years, and was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

Detective Inspector James Cassedy, the senior investigating officer for the case, described Pires is a predator.

“He preyed on lone females who were simply trying to walk home after a night out and our streets are now undeniably safer with him locked up,” he said.

“In both cases, he tracked the victims’ movements and followed them to a point that he presumably thought was isolated enough for him to attack them.

“What he hadn’t accounted for was that both of these individuals would fight back and call for help. I want to pay tribute to their bravery – not just whilst being attacked, but in then sitting down and speaking with our officers afterwards and doing all they could to help us catch him.

“I also want to thank the members of the public who came to their assistance in both cases. Not only did they help to scare Pires off, they also took care of the victims and waited with them until the police arrived.

“Targeting perpetrators of sexual assault and violence against women and girls is a priority for Suffolk Constabulary – we will not tolerate it and will continue to do work tirelessly to bring offenders to justice.”

Description

A serial sex offender has today (Thursday 21 December 2023) been sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment at York Crown Court for twice subjecting a young girl to indecent assault in Northallerton during the 1990s.

John William Marshall (pictured below), 68, of Fairfax Avenue, Harrogate, was sentenced after being found guilty at a trial held in August.

He has also been made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

The bravery of the victim has ensured that Marshall faced justice for his crimes, despite the number of years that have passed.

The victim made contact with North Yorkshire Police in 2019 following publicity surrounding the conviction of Marshall for possession of more than 24,000 indecent images of children, for which he served a custodial sentence and made subject to a SHPO which was due to expire.

Marshall had previously been described publicly by a judge as a “dangerous paedophile”.

The court heard that Marshall had befriended the victim’s family, offering help with their newly acquired computer.

He was subsequently trusted to look after the girl when her parents went shopping.

It was during these times that Marshall sexually assaulted her.

The victim’s parents reported it to police and social services at the time, but no further criminal action was taken due to a series of complications.

Now an adult, the victim’s life had been overshadowed by the thought that she was not believed.

Description

A dangerous sexual predator has been jailed for a campaign of sexual offending against a girl whom he treated like an object. Zack Hosking, 26, repeatedly had sex with the 15-year-old after grooming her with gifts.

Hosking, formerly of Camborne but more recently of Plymouth, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence after pleading guilty to nine sexual activity with a child charges and two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. All of the offences took place in Camborne in 2020.

Prosecuting the case, Mary McCarthy told the court how Hosking met his victim when she was very young, before drifting away and getting back in touch when she was 15. Hosking started sending flirtatious messages and pressuring her for sexual activity. Ms McCarthy said: "He bought her presents and said he loved her to gain control."

Ms McCarthy then told the court about the offending, how Hosking got the victim to masturbate him and send him sexual videos. Then, on one occasion, Hosking bought her alcohol and chocolate and asked her if she was ready to lose her virginity. The victim wasn't keen but went along with it to make him happy. It was painful but Hosking told her it was normal before leaving after it had finished.

More sexual intercourse followed over the next few days and Hosking cruelly told his victim to get emergency contraception and "get on the pill". Hosking, over the following months, aggressively demanded the complainant meet him in various locations for sex, which she reluctantly agreed to.

In a victim impact statement, the complainant said she finds it hard to trust men and has had breakdowns when surrounded by men at work.

Representing Hosking, Jason Beal said: "His pleas are a public acceptance that she tod the truth about what happened. His acceptance is a recognition that what he did was wrong. He doesn't engage in victim blaming."

Mr Beal went on to point out how Hosking lost his mother, father and stepfather in quick succession.

Sentencing Hosking, Judge Simon Carr described the offending as "the systematic sexual abuse of a child". He said: "You renewed contact when she was 15. You were 23. You quickly sexualised the conversation and you knew perfectly well what you were doing.

"You complimented her and bought her jewellery and underwear. This was all carried out for one reason. To groom her for sexual activity and this took place on a number of occasions. You treated her like an object, not a human being, and the language you used towards her was truly dreadful."

Hosking was jailed for eight years and made subject of a sexual harm prevention order.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Shortern said: "I welcome the sentence in this case and I would like to thank the victim in this case for her incredible strength and courage in bringing this dangerous offender to justice.

“We take child sexual exploitation offences extremely seriously due to the profound and lasting effect these offences have on victims. I hope this case demonstrates how seriously the police take this type of offending and helps people to find the courage to come forward in the future.”

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A baby-faced child rapist has been branded a danger and locked up.

Karl Kingston subjected a youngster to horrific abuse which led to her plucking up the courage to tell her mum by giving her a note. Now Kingston, 18, of Ashington, Northumberland, who admitted rape and sexual assaults, has been sentenced for his offending at Newcastle Crown Court.

Michael Bunch, prosecuting, said the victim reported trying to push Kingston off but he was too big and she was unable to stop him. After finding the strength to tell her family what had happened to her, she said she was "angry and didn't want it to happen again".

Kingston was found to have a bag in his wardrobe containing various items including sex toys and two pairs of adult knickers. He had also searched the internet for child rape material.

The girl's mother said in a victim impact statement: "[She] threw me a note which would change our lives forever. I was in complete shock.

"My life went from perfect to a nightmare. What you have done to my baby girl is unforgiveable. She's petrified of you coming to kill her. You haunt her dreams at night.

"I've had to sit for hours reassuring her he won't get her, while she's breaking her heart in fear of what he could do. I will never forgive or forget what you have done to our family."

Kingston pleaded guilty to five counts of rape and five of assault by penetration. He was locked up for ten years with an extended licence period of a further five years. He will also be subject to indefinite sex offender registration and a sexual harm prevention order.

Judge Tim Gittins said Kingston may have signs of autism and added: "There is a lack of remorse or awareness of the seriousness of what you did that raise real concerns for your future conduct."

The judge said Kingston poses a significant risk of committing further, similar offences and is therefore assessed as being a dangerous offender. Peter Schofield, defending, said Kingston had been cooperative with the authorities about what he had done.

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A PROLIFIC sex offender set up sick private chat rooms to exchange footage with other perverts of him sexually assaulting 10 children - raping one of the youngsters dozens of times.

Benjamin Young preyed on the youngsters during a near two-year campaign of horror abuse.

The 42-year-old cook was finally snared days before Christmas last year after the National Crime Agency discovered he had sent photos to a fellow paedophile in Denmark.

It led to his home being raided and police seizing two mobile phones which stored almost 20,000 indecent images and videos.

The High Court in Glasgow heard yesterday how one child alone had been raped 26 times.

First offender Young - via his KC Ronnie Renucci - pleaded guilty to a total of 32 charges.

These included rape, multiple sexual assault as well as the possession, taking and distribution of indecent images.

A judge told Young he had plumbed “the depths of depravity”.

A full risk assessment was instructed to be carried out which could eventually lead to Young made the subject of an Order for Lifelong Restriction.

The offences occurred between January 2021 and December 2022 mainly in Argyll and Bute.

Prosecutor Kath Harper said: “This case involves extensive and prolonged sexual offending by Young against 10 children - all aged under 13 years - and one adult.”

Young also pleaded guilty yesterday to sexually assaulting a woman while she was sleeping. He further recorded her in a “voyeuristic manner”.

Family of a number of the young victims were at court yesterday to see Young admit his guilt.

Lord Arthurson remanded him in custody and adjourned the case until March 19 next year in Edinburgh.

The judge said there are some case where “words can be inadequate” to describe what was heard.

Lord Arthurson told Young: “Your offending has plumbed the depths of depravity.

“You are plainly a calculating and committed paedophile.

“I think it can be safely said that this is one of the worst types of this sort of case to come before the court.”

Detective Inspector Adrian Ure, National Child Abuse Investigation Unit, Police Scotland added: “Benjamin Young is a sexual predator who manipulated and abused defenceless young children for his own sexual gratification.

“The nature of his offending, which included multiple serious sexual assaults, was truly horrific and through a long and complex investigation we were able to uncover the significant extent of his criminal behaviour, which also expanded across the dark web.

“He was directly responsible for creating and sharing unspeakable content which contributed to the wider demand and process of child sexual abuse across the world.

“Although what Young has done will no doubt have lasting impacts, we hope this conviction will serve as a warning to others who are involved in this kind of criminality.”

Young showed no emotion as he was led handcuffed to the cells.

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A DELIVERY driver who sexually abused three children has been jailed for 13 years.

Daniel Cassells preyed on his young victims during a string of horror attacks.

A judge heard how a relative of one victim found the child curled up and sobbing after being put through a harrowing ordeal.

The woman later went to police which led to Cassells ending up in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow.

The 37 year-old pleaded guilty to raping two of the children and sexually assaulting the other.

The crimes occurred between 2018 and 2021 at different addresses in South Lanarkshire.

Cassells was today sentenced by Judge Lady Stacey, who also ordered him to be monitored for two years on his release.

Prosecutor Margaret Barron told how Cassells "never spoke" during attacks on the first victim.

The second pleaded with him why he was doing this- but again the pervert "did not respond".

After one attack in 2021, a relative of the youngster found the child lying curled up and visibly upset.

The woman recalled: "The child did not say anything, but the face was crying for help."

The victim later confided in her what Cassells had done.

Cassells, of Denny, Stirlingshire, preyed on the final victim when he was alone with the child.

The woman who had been told about the abuse went to the police in July 2021.

Cassells later handed himself in but did not comment on the accusations.

His lawyer Rosalyn McTaggart today said Cassells had "shown a level of shame and remorse" for what he had done.

Two of the victims had already given pre-recorded evidence which would have been played at a trial before Cassells admitted his guilt.

Lady Stacey told him: "Your behaviour was shocking. You moved from one child to the next."

The judge added she took the view Cassells may "likely be a danger to people" even after a lengthy jail term so he will be supervised when back on the streets.

He was also put on the sex offenders list indefinitely.

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A woman who used ‘careful deception’ to manipulate her victim into thinking she was a man in order to have sex with her has been jailed for more than 10 years.

Blade Silvano made a fake profile on dating website PlentyOfFish in 2016 and posted pictures of herself looking like a man, a judge told Cambridge Crown Court on Wednesday.

After meeting a woman on the site and convincing her she was meeting a man, Silvano twice had sex with her using a strap-on sex toy while wearing an oversized T-shirt.

Over the course of 18 months, she misled her victim by claiming she was a British military officer and sending pictures of her appearing to wet shave.

The victim ‘saw a future’ with her and the couple even discussed getting married.

Describing the deception as ‘unspeakably cruel’, Judge Philip Grey said the victim had tried on wedding dresses with her sister and she was left ‘horrified’ when she discovered Silvano’s true identity on Facebook.

During a trial at the same court last May, Silvano told the jury she had never met the victim and the relationship was built on fantasy and online roleplay – an account the judge described as ‘remarkable and at times laughable’.

She was found guilty of two counts of assault by penetration at the end of the trial, and today was sentenced to 10 years and six months imprisonment.

Silvano, of Bishop’s Castle in Shropshire, has also been placed on the sex offender’s register indefinitely.

Judge Grey said it was not a case of gender dysphoria, but a ‘calculated’ series of ‘deceit and lies’ in order to achieve sexual gratification.

He continued: ‘You managed your appearance carefully to look like a man.

‘You deliberately set out to deceive her (and) did so in the most reprehensible way.

‘She was convinced she was having sex with a man. You achieved this with a series of careful deceptions. Her consent is null and void.’

The judge added: ‘This was a fantasy you were playing out for your own selfish enjoyment.

‘You continued to string her along and that was unspeakably cruel. Your lying was constant.’

Description

A violent and manipulative man who subjected two women to horrific abuse has been jailed.

Laurence Patrick Leavy, of Cledford Lane, Middlewich, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday 19 December where he was sentenced to 18 years, plus six years extended licence, for multiple counts of rape and controlling and coercive behaviour.

The 43-year-old was found guilty following a trial, which concluded on Wednesday 13 December.

The case first came to the attention of Cheshire Police when it was reported in May 2021.

The woman reported Leavy being charming when they first met, but he then dramatically changed and started to become abusive.

The victim was regularly verbally belittled and physically assaulted. On one occasion she described him losing his temper in the car. He pulled over and dragged her from the vehicle, throwing her into a field and driving away, leaving her there.

She was forced to partake in sexual acts which she did not consent to and was raped on a number of occasions.

When this victim reported what had happened to police, officers sought another potential witness to Leavy’s abuse, who then also decided to make a formal complaint.

The second victim also reported being abused by Leavy. She was verbally abused, making her feel very insecure. Leavy also refused to work and caused her immense financial pressure.

The victim reported Leavy would force her to have sex on demand. He had also assaulted and raped her multiple times, including while she was pregnant.

Leavy was subsequently charged in December 2022.

In addition to his prison sentence, Leavy was also handed lifetime restraining orders against the victims and ordered to sign the sex offender register for life.

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A 58-year-old man has been sent back to prison after three more women who were sexually assaulted by him came forward.

Keith Coomber, previously of Kettering, was sent to prison in February 2021 after he pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a person suffering from a mental disorder impeding choice.

The offences related to incidents in 2019 where Coomber sexually assaulted a vulnerable woman and he was jailed for three years as a result.

Northamptonshire Police’s Corporate Communications Team issued a press release to highlight Coomber’s conviction and sentencing, and this article ended up being read by three other women who had been sexually assaulted by him in the past.

Bravely, they contacted police with their experiences and a second investigation was launched leading to Coomber being charged with further offences.

Due to the dates these offences took place, he was charged with 19 counts of indecent assault, a number of which related to digital penetration.

At an earlier hearing at Northampton Crown Court in September, Coomber pleaded guilty to 12 of these counts, returning to the same court today (December 15) where he sentenced to six years and nine months in prison.

During the hearing, the court learned how two of the girls had been sexually abused by Coomber on multiple occasions, with one of them being a vulnerable teenager in foster care at the time.

At sentencing today, their powerful victim impact statements were read out to the court and detailed how Coomber’s abuse has affected them.

“He was subtle - inappropriately and cleverly subtle,” one of them wrote. “Just enough to not be right but not quite enough to settle the doubt in myself. It was little and often, for years. I used to wash and wash and wash and yet still feel dirty.” 

“I felt worthless, unloved, unwanted, isolated, lonely, angry, scared, helpless and hopeless,” wrote the other. “No amount of punishment will change the damage you have done. Your sentence will never come close to the sentence I have endured.”

The third woman was in her 20s when she visited Coomber’s house as part of her job and he took the opportunity to sexually assault her - pushing her against a wall and kissing her before she managed to escape.

Lead Investigator - Detective Sergeant Robert Johnson, said: “The courage displayed by these women has been extraordinary. They have called upon strength they should never have had to find, and I hope that they recognise just how incredible they have been in reporting this abuse to us and supporting an investigation which has resulted in their abuser being sent to prison.

“As one of them eloquently said - no sentence will make up for the abuse Keith Coomber has inflicted, however I hope the conclusion of this case has allowed them to have truly felt listened to and provided them with some semblance of closure as a result.

“Keith Coomber is a dangerous sexual predator. His methods of abuse were subtle, calculating and manipulative, and I am so pleased that he has been put back in prison.

“Tackling violence against women and girls is a matter of priority for Northamptonshire Police and we will continue working hard to put people like Coomber behind bars.”

At the end of their victim impact statements, one of the women wrote: “You broke me at 18. Your actions very nearly killed me. I will not allow you to break me again. I am a victim, I will always have been a victim, but I am more so a fighter.”

And the other ended – “Please know that I survived and I made it. Please know that I will never fail. Yes I was a victim, but above all I am a survivor.”

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A sex offender army veteran who recently dodged court after news of his crime made him “upset” sparked a police armed response after telling officers he had guns.

Ryan Byrne became agitated after police turned up at his door to serve a court warrant after he failed to appear in the dock to answer for the 2018 sexual assault he committed on a 19-year-old girl student.

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Description

A Swanley man found guilty of more than a dozen child sex offences has been sentenced to 17 years in prison.

Luke Wallace was responsible for a catalogue of repeated abuse, including multiple rapes, and used threats to ensure his young victim didn’t tell anyone.

Allegations of abuse were first made to Kent Police on 14 June 2022, and Wallace was arrested the same day.

An investigation by the West Kent Child Protection Team established he had persistently targeted the victim, over a period spanning between three and four years.

Following his arrest, several devices belonging to Wallace were seized. These included a mobile phone, which officers discovered had a secure folder and contained illegal images of children.

Denial

During police interviews, Wallace dismissed all the allegations. He also denied taking or downloading the images found on his phone and said it must have been down to ‘someone else’.

At Wood Green Crown Court, Wallace, 36, pleaded not guilty to a total of 16 child sex offences and the case went to trial.

He was found guilty of four counts of rape, four counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and two counts of sexual assault.

Wallace was also convicted of four charges which related to making and taking indecent images of a child. A jury returned a verdict of not guilty for a further two counts of rape.

Dangerous

Wallace was deemed by Judge Alexander Jacobs to be a ‘dangerous’ offender. On Monday 18 December 2023, he received an extended sentence of 17 years’ imprisonment with an additional four years on licence.

He must serve at least two thirds of the custodial sentence before he can apply for parole. He was also added to the sex offenders' register, indefinitely.

Description

A 63-year-old registered sex offender has been sent back to prison after he was found in possession of indecent images of children.

Chris Wells, previously of Northampton, was convicted in 2007, 2014 and 2021 for similar offences. On one occasion,  a warrant executed by Northamptonshire Police at his home address resulted in officers finding in excess of 175,000 images on devices seized from his property. He was convicted as a result and sent to prison.

His most recent offending happened this August and October when he was visited by officers from the Force’s MOSOVO (Management of Sexual and Violent Offenders) Team and devices seized from him were found to contain 1,957 indecent images of children, 44 of which were Category A images - the most serious.

Wells was arrested and charged with five counts of possessing indecent images of children and one count of breaching his sexual harm prevention order, all of which he pleaded guilty to at Northampton Crown Court in October.

Last week (December 13), he returned to the same court where he was sentenced to two years and six months in prison.

Wells’ Offender Manager, Ruth Moreton said: “Chris Wells is a prolific sex offender who has acted with impunity time and time again with regards to downloading indecent images of children.

“It is our regular unannounced visits that have uncovered his offending so I am pleased that he has been sent back to prison.

“I hope that anyone reading this who downloads similar images takes a lesson from this conviction. We will uncover your offending and you will be sent to prison.

“These images wouldn’t exist if people like Chris Wells didn’t download them and the suffering that takes place in order to create them cannot be measured.”

MOSOVO Detective Sergeant Tom Curlett-New added: “The officers in my team see the day-to-day devastation this type of crime causes and that is why we are so determined to work as hard as possible to put the people who look at these images behind bars.”

Description

A predatory offender has been jailed for life with a minimum of 10 years after pleading guilty to sexually abusing a seven-year-old girl.

Steven Cozens, 42, of Swindon, initially pleaded not guilty to sexual assault of a child under 13, causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, possession or making indecent images of children and possession or making of prohibited images.

During the trial, Cozens changed his plea to guilty.

In a hearing at Swindon Crown Court on December 8, Cozens was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 10 years.

He is also subject to a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) indefinitely.

The court heard how in July 2021, the victim’s grandmother – who knew of the defendant – arrived home one day to find Cozens working in her garden unsolicited.

Cozens then took advantage of the grandmother and ingratiated himself with her, visiting the house regularly.

He was occasionally left alone with the victim which is when the abuse took place.

After the victim, now aged 10, bravely disclosed details about the abuse, her grandmother submitted a Sarah’s Law (Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme) request to Wiltshire Police, which allows the police to share information about sex offenders.

She was then contacted by officers from the Force and Cozens was arrested the following day.

Investigating officer Robert Sweeney said: “These are horrific crimes committed by Cozens when he was trusted by the victim’s grandmother.

“Despite the overwhelming evidence discovered on his phone, Cozens initially pleaded not guilty which forced the young victim to be put through the trauma of a trial.

“Thankfully he has then changed his plea, but not before the young victim was required to give evidence herself.

“I would like to commend her for the bravery she has shown right from the beginning of this traumatic ordeal.

“I am pleased Cozens has been given a life sentence which reflects the awful nature of his crimes.