Latest Offenders

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A paedophile who abused children for many years starting when they were very young has been jailed for more than 15 years.

Martin Slater’s sexual crimes, which began when he himself was underage, had had “devastating” effects on the victims, the Recorder of York, Judge Sean Morris told York Crown Court.

Christopher Bevan, prosecuting, said it took years for each of the victims to tell police what had happened to them. Both were at primary school when the abuse began. 

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Leah Gillon of Scarborough CID,  said: “Slater has caused immeasurable harm to the victims which has affected all of their lives and that of their families.

“They are to be commended for coming forward and reporting the abuse. As with many victims of abuse they have lived with the trauma caused by Slater for many, many years, before feeling able to report what had happened to them.

“I hope the guilty verdicts and the sentence handed out to Slater helps them to put a traumatic time in their lives behind them and provides a semblance of closure for them.

 “I also hope other victims of abuse feel they can report what happened to them to the police, no matter when it happened, in the knowledge that they will be listened to, we will carry out a thorough investigation and you will be offered professional specialist support.” 

Both victims had to give evidence against Slater after he denied any wrong doing with them.

Slater, 53, who lived on a houseboat, of no fixed address, pleaded not guilty to 16 charges of sexual offences against children but was convicted by a York jury earlier this year. The offences happened in and around Scarborough.

Today he is starting 15 and a half years in jail with a year’s extended licence after he is released because he is an “offender of particular concern”.   He will be on the sex offenders’ register and subject to a sexual harm prevention order, both for life and was made subject to a restraining order, banning him from contacting the victims, also for life.

For Slater, Derek Duffy said he had not offended for many years and that he himself had been a child when he committed the earliest offences. 

In his childhood he had been badly burnt and as a result had suffered visible scars on his face which had affected his life. In his later teens and early adult years he had moved from accommodation to accommodation.

“He has lived a quite isolated and lonely life,” said Mr Duffy.

Slater had a job, which he had now lost, and a houseboat.

Following his sentence, which would be his first spell behind bars, he would have to start his life again.

Description

The full extent of a paedophile’s sickening child and animal abuse interest emerged after he was jailed for offences including voyeurism, earlier this year, a court heard.

Cameron Greaves, now 21, received a total prison sentence of 18 months at Durham Crown Court, in May, after he admitted two counts of voyeurism plus possession of indecent imagers of children and extreme pornography.

The lead offences at that hearing were considered to be those of voyeurism, the covert filming of two boys doing private acts against their knowledge by Greaves, with the other offences relating to 16 indecent images of children and an unspecified number of extreme pornographic images.

Just a few months into his term of imprisonment, Greaves appeared again for sentence before the court, this time via video link from HMP Northumberland, where he is serving the jail term imposed in May.

Charlie Thompson, prosecuting, told the latest hearing that Greaves now falls to be sentenced after new charges were brought once the full contents of devices seized from him by police, in April, emerged.

The defendant, from Crook, admitted three new charges of making incident photographs of children and four of possessing extreme pornography when the case went before magistrates, in June.

It was sent to the crown court for sentence.

Mr Thompson said the new charges related to a far greater number of images, about 1,500 featuring indecent child material, 98 classed as extreme pornography and 54 prohibited images of children, in cartoon or CGI format, some stills but many of them videos.

Much of the offending material, particularly the images and videos featuring animals, were said to be of a sadistic nature featuring gross acts of cruelty and torture, while the child abuse images featured very young children, some in discernible distress.

Mr Thompson said Greaves had traded in the images, requesting, “the harder the better” from one like-minded individual with whom he communicated online.

Greaves had sought to buy some of the animal abuse material which originated from a now jailed British zoologist in Australia.

Cole Cockburn, for Greaves, said the images were gathered during the period covering the original conviction, offences dating back to a time when the defendant was aged 19, and of previous good character.

Mr Cockburn said the offending stemmed from the defendant’s addiction to pornography.

He said the harsh conditions his client has endured serving his prison sentence have exemplified the defendant’s, “on-going shame and deep regret.”

Mr Cockburn said: “He desires to leave prison as a man who can put this all behind him.

“He was well-liked before he went to prison and has made it clear when he does leave prison, he will do so with a deep-rooted desire not to return.”

Judge Nathan Adams told Greaves: “This is effectively the second part of a sentencing exercise started by Judge Kidd, in May.

“It appears for the previous two years you have been accumulating an extremely high-level of illegal material, including images featuring the abuse of children as young as one or two, just horrific conduct.”

He said the extreme images feature more than 70 videos of animals being, “tortured, mutilated and killed.”

Judge Adams said the officer overseeing the investigation described it as some of the most disturbing material he has had to view as part of his professional duties.

He said people like the defendant prepared to seek out and pay for material featuring such “horrific conduct” only encourage the making of more images of child abuse and sadism to animals.

Imposing a 28-month total sentence, it adds a further ten months onto the prison term passed on Greaves in May.

He also ordered deprivation of all the images and videos, plus the devices seized by police during their inquiry.

Greaves is already subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and registration as a sex offender, both for ten years, arising from his sentence in May.

But he was told the ten-year notification requirement period will now start afresh.

Detective Constable Liam Padget, of Durham Police’s Online Child Abuse Investigation Team, said the force’s digital investigation unit launched an operation in June 2023 after it identified Greaves as having control of a Google account onto which indecent images of children were uploaded.

Greaves’ devices were seized immediately and upon examination, it was found he was in possession of a large quantity of extreme pornography, plus more than 1,500 images and videos featuring child abuse.

As a result, he was further arrested for these offences and brought into custody.

He was interviewed and later charged with possession of extreme pornographic images, possession of indecent images of a child, making indecent images of a child and voyeurism.

Det Con Padget said: "Following an in-depth investigation we can see Cameron Greaves has very deep-rooted sexual perversions, which included possessing disgusting child abuse images and images involving animals, even going to the lengths of recording others without their knowledge.”

He added: “Hopefully the sentence passed will deter others from sharing in children's misery".

Description

A former primary school teacher and scout leader has been jailed after having a sexual conversation with what he thought was a 13-year-old girl.  

Samuel Robinson, 27, made contact with the person, who turned out to be a decoy from an online child activist group, through social media chat platforms between April 7 and April 11, 2023. 

The decoy repeatedly told Robinson they were 13 but he continued with the sexual conversation. 

Robinson was arrested after the activist group visited his home on the evening of April 11. 

His electronic devices were seized, and examination of his Snapchat account found he had also communicated with a 15-year-old girl between May 2021 and June 2022. 

The conversation was sexual, and Robinson offered to send inappropriate pictures of himself. 

Robinson, of Butt Lane, Milton, appeared at Cambridge Crown Court on Wednesday (October 2) and was sentenced to two years and 10 months in prison.  

He entered guilty pleas to engaging in sexual communication with a child, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause a girl to engage in sexual activity. 

DC Caroline Murphy from Cambridgeshire Police has clarified the offences had no connection with Robinson’s teaching or his role as a scout leader. 

She said: “Robinson was well aware of the obligation we all have to protecting young people so to contact what he believed were children in this way and engage them in grossly inappropriate conversation was appalling. 

“This case shows the seriousness with which we take protecting children from harm.” 

Description

A predator subjected a vulnerable woman with the mental age of a young child to an "appalling" sex attack after luring her away from her family in a pub.

The victim, who has obvious and profound learning difficulties, was taken around the back of a pub where bins were stored and, in shocking scenes caught on CCTV, he subjected her to a sex attack.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the victim's family have been left disgusted and devastated by Newton's actions. Now he has been jailed for more than 11 years after admitting sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder impeding choice.

Anne Richardson, prosecuting, told the court: "She has learning difficulties, which are obvious to anyone who encountered her." Experts say the victim has the mental age of a young child and she does not have the capacity to consent to sexual activity.

On the evening of the attack, her family took her to a pub to allow her to enjoy a social setting while under their care and supervision. She was dancing and Miss Richardson said: "It would appear that the defendant was watching her dance and the complainant started to speak to him.

"A doorman in the pub noticed the defendant and the complainant walking round the corner, which he thought was unusual. At about 9.30pm her family noticed that she was missing from the pub, and frantically began to search for her.

"She eventually returned to the pub and told her family that she had been sexually assaulted. CCTV was examined and showed that the complainant and the defendant had walked together from the pub and round the corner, to where the bins were."

Once there, Newton sexually assaulted her in various ways and had sex with her. The entirety of the sexual offending was captured by the CCTV.

Miss Richardson added: "Once at the pub door, the defendant briefly stated to the complainant’s family that it was his fault that she was outside, before leaving, and the complainant told her family what had happened, albeit she said that the defendant had told her not to say anything,

"She told her family that the defendant had suggested taking her outside for a cigarette, taking her hand, and although she had asked him if she could go back to her parents several times, he refused. The police were called immediately, and CCTV was viewed."

Newton, 61 of Elsdon Avenue, Seaton Delaval, Northumberland, who said he had consumed ten pints of alcohol, repeatedly denied sexual activity when quizzed by police, even when faced with DNA evidence. However he eventually pleaded guilty.

As he was sentenced, the victim's dad said in an impact statement: "Since the assault I've noticed how withdrawn she is. She's very wary of communicating with others, which is sad to see.

"As a family we are disgusted with what that man has done to our daughter. She is extremely vulnerable and we feel he preyed on her to take her away from her family when he could to abuse her. It's had a great impact on our family."

He branded Newton's initial denials of what he had done as "cruel and thoughtless" and added: "That man has tainted our trust in people.

"The fact he has sexually abused (the victim), who clearly has learning difficulties shows what he is capable of. I will never forgive what he has done to my daughter and he should be held accountable for his actions."

Passing sentence, Judge Amanda Rippon said: "I've seen a lot but I've rarely seen something as shameful as this. Your impact on that young woman is significant and I suspect, sadly, will be lifelong."

Regarding the victim's family, the judge added: "I know they will feel they let her down. They didn't.

"They took her somewhere safe, that should have been safe. Unfortunately on that night, instead of being met by love and kindness of people in the pub she met a predator, someone who was prepared to put his sexual gratification above all else."

Newton was jailed for 11 years and three months, of which he will serve two-thirds before he can be released. He must also sign the sex offenders register for life and was given an indefinite restraining order.

Ian Cook, defending, said the only mitigation was Newton's guilty plea. He added: "I concede these are appalling offences. He is quite rightly shameful of his conduct on this occasion and has demonstrated some remorse."

Description

Alan Cunningham (08/01/1961) pleaded guilty in June 2023 to four counts of sexual activity with a girl under 13 and possessing indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child.

Cunningham was also made to sign the sex offenders register indefinitely today (Friday 4 October 2024) at Liverpool Crown Court.

Cunningham was already serving a three year prison sentence for other child sex offences. He will now spend another 15 years in prison and a further four years on extended licence. 

In May 2019, Cunningham began sexually assaulting a nine-year-old child and forced her to send him indecent photographs of herself.

His behaviour continued until March 2023 when the mother of a the child noticed inappropriate text messages from Cunningham to her daughter.

Text messages were sent by Cunningham to the victim with comments such as “Where are my kisses at the end of messages” and “you could have took me to the bath too”.

Following examination, a number of category C images were found on the device seized from Cunningham, with him requesting that the victim send nude pictures in return for money.

His conviction follows an investigation led by the Wigan Complex Safeguarding Team and Detective Sergeant Vicki Flemming.

Description

A convicted child sex offender has been locked up after he hid three mobile phones and other digital devices in his Newcastle home.

Roland Mitchell, who was jailed in the 1980s and 1990s for indecently assaulting youngsters, was made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order in 2016 after he was caught with indecent images of kids. Under the terms of the order, the 74-year-old must inform police of any devices he owned, which were capable of accessing the internet or storing digital photos or videos.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that, during a routine visit to his home, an officer noticed that his regular mobile phone had a very small internet history, which aroused her suspicions. A subsequent search of the property found three further phones, a laptop, a tablet, a USB and hard drive device and three camcorders.

Now, Mitchell, of Cambridge Street, in Elswick, Newcastle, has been jailed for 10 months after he pleaded guilty to five counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and two of failing to comply with notification requirements of the sex offenders register.

Rachael Glover, prosecuting, said an officer attended Mitchell's address on November 30 last year. She added: "During that visit, the defendant handed over a mobile phone, in which the officer identified there was very little internet history and, suspecting this may be down to him deleting the history, he was arrested."

A later search of the flat uncovered the hidden devices, as well as a Barclays bank card and a passport, which he must also tell police about under the terms of his order. During interview, Mitchell claimed he had forgotten about the digital devices but had no explanation for the three phones.

The court heard that Mitchell had 32 offences on his record, including gross indecency from 1964, indecent assault on a female under 14 in 1980 and similar offending in 1983. He was then jailed again in 1998 for indecent assault. Caroline McGurk, defending, said Mitchell now suffered with ill health and there was no evidence that he had used the devices in a "suspect" way.

Locking him up, Judge Penny Moreland said: "They were deliberate breaches and I'm satisfied it couldn't be anything other than deliberate to posses that number of devices."

Description

A sick sex offender used a hidden camera to capture hundreds of indecent images, including images of a child.

Kevin Green was found to have almost 400 indecent images when police seized his electronic devices, a court heard.

Now the 60-year-old has been jailed at Newcastle Crown Court and must sign the sex offender register. His actions will also cost him his job, the court heard.

The court heard that Green's victim found the concealed camera which she believed must have been placed there at least six months prior.

The court heard that the camera had been capturing footage which could be accessed via an app on Green's iPad. And when police examined his devices they found one Category B video and 366 Category C images, including photos and videos of his victim.

He originally pleaded guilty to two counts of taking indecent images of children and denied two counts of voyeurism. However, he later changed his plea and pleaded guilty to all four counts.

The court was told that Green is "ashamed" and "disgusted" by his behaviour and "can't believe what he has done". He has worked in a high pressure job for many years, however, he will now lose the job due to his conviction, the court heard.

Judge Tim Gittins sentenced Green, of Prestdale Avenue, Blyth, to 13 months in prison. He must sign the sex offender register for 10 years and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order.

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A GP has been jailed for 22 years after he was found guilty of indecently assaulting seven women during routine examinations.

Warning: This article contains details some readers may find upsetting

Stephen Cox, 65, was convicted of 12 counts of indecent assault after a four-week retrial at Reading Crown Court. He was acquitted of a further four charges.

Cox denied all 16 charges of indecent assault while working at a surgery in Bracknell, Berkshire, during the 1980s and 1990s.

Thames Valley Police said that, over a number of years, Cox repeatedly indecently assaulted seven of his female patients on the pretext of carrying out routine medical examinations.

During his trial, the jury heard Cox got patients to undress unnecessarily, touched their breasts, pressed his body against them, and carried out internal examinations when they were not needed or without using gloves.

Cox, of Stockton Mill, Welshpool in Shropshire, claimed the women were mistaken in their allegations and that the examinations would have been medically justified.

He also said he did not remember any of the patients and that they were not telling the truth.

After the GP was convicted, Detective Constable Sara Di Giorgio said Cox was a "prolific and predatory sex offender hiding beneath the mask of being a trusted doctor", and he "completely betrayed" patients' trust.

She added that Cox carried out a series of indecent assaults "which his victims have had to live with for many decades".

"He has never displayed an ounce of remorse for what he had done, and has constantly denied any wrongdoing, this despite a number of women, none of whom know each other, coming forward to report what he had done to them," DC Di Giorgio said.

The offences had taken place before the use of computerised healthcare records, which meant the police investigation revolved around handwritten GP notes.

The indecent assaults were not reported at the time and victims came forward once a police investigation opened into Cox, the CPS said.

Lawyer Chris White, for the CPS, said Cox's behaviour was "clearly sexually motivated" and he "used his position to take advantage of his patients".

"With no witnesses to the assaults, it was the strength of all the victims' accounts, which showed a similar pattern in Cox's behaviour, that helped secure his conviction," he said.

"We would like to thank them for coming forward and we hope today's sentence gives them some sense of closure."

Description

A registered sex offender has been sent to prison for one year for breaching a court order three times.

Jake Wilson, 24, had been handed a Sexual Harm Prevention order in October 2023 after being convicted of sexual communication with a child.

He was told not to use a phone or online social media but he breached this order three times, in January, in February, and then on September 4 2024, each time by obtaining a mobile phone with access to the internet and setting up accounts on Facebook and Instagram.

Sentencing, Judge Paul Dugdale said: "You did exactly what you were told not to do. This court has now run out of road, we have been lenient and taken your difficulties into consideration but the court has a duty to protect children and we tried to do this with the original SPHO and now we will do it by sending you to prison."

The court heard Mr Wilson has learning difficulties and has attended appointments with a learning difficulty team. 

Wilson, of Aylwards Way, Nether Wallop, will serve a 12 month sentence due to the persistent breaches and he must go on the Sex Offenders Register for the next ten years.

Wilson who appeared in a red t-shirt, nodded and listened as Judge Dugdale passed sentence.

Description

A child sex attacker who attempted to rape a 15-year-old girl before she managed to escape his clutches has been handed a lifelong restriction order after being described as a "considerable threat" to women and children.

Andrew Anderson, 40, was previously found guilty of sexually assaulting the teen with intent to rape. And at the High Court in Edinburgh on Thursday, October 3, he was jailed for a minimum of three years as part of the order, after being deemed a risk to the public.

The court heard how he preyed on the girl one evening in Kilmarnock town centre. Prosecutors told how he repeatedly asked to kiss her, told her to lie on the ground, lay beside her, placed his hand inside her lower clothing, pulled her towards him, repeatedly requested that she have sexual intercourse with him, and sexually assaulted her.

When sentencing, Lord Matthews said: "It was only with great presence of mind that she managed to trick you and escape from your clutches before alerting police officers who were patrolling nearby."

It comes after Anderson was convicted of raping a 13-year-old girl, for which he was jailed for six years in 2006. When he was found guilty of raping two other women and indecently assaulting a third at houses in Cumnock and Kilmarnock, he was placed on an Order for Lifelong Restriction at the High Court in Glasgow in 2018.

The thug was jailed for a minimum of five years and he was warned he might never be released. However, the conviction was quashed in 2019 after the Court of Appeal in Edinburgh ruled that a legal rule on corroboration which is used in sex cases, known as the Moorov doctrine, was wrongly applied.

Sources said Anderson, who previously claimed to have children with “nine or 10 different women”, was then trying to sue prosecutors for the harm caused while he was wrongly imprisoned but lawyers reportedly refused to take on his case.

He claimed that during the period he spent behind bars, his relationship with his partner suffered, possessions – including a PlayStation and television – vanished and he was unable to attend the funerals of loved ones.

A woman involved in the case previously told how she was "disgusted" that he was pursuing compensation. It's unknown whether he took legal action any further but Anderson has been in custody since November 2022. Due to another prison term during that stint in custody, Anderson's latest sentence runs from November 23, 2023.

Lord Matthews described him as a "persistent offender" as he went through his lengthy record. The judge added: "I ordered a Risk Assessment Report and can safely say that it is the most pessimistic I have ever read. You represent a considerable threat to vulnerable women, female adolescents and female children.

"In the circumstances the only way I can properly protect the public is by imposing on you an Order for Lifelong Restriction. In doing so I have to set a period of time, the punishment part of your sentence, which must pass before you can apply for parole.

"Whether you are successful in any such application will be a matter for others to decide. This is not a sentence of imprisonment for three years and you will only be released when it is considered safe to do so."

Anderson was also made subject to the Sex Offenders' Register for an indefinite period and Scottish Ministers will be informed of his conviction.

Description

A dangerous offender has been jailed for four years after a string of sexual offences against women in a Warwickshire town. Paul Sanders was convicted of a series of sexual offences against women in Leamington Spa in the space of 24 hours.

Police described Sanders, 36, as a "very dangerous man" after he was sentenced. He was convicted on September 23 at Warwick Crown Court of the offences, which he carried out on April 6.

Warwickshire Police said Sanders in just 24 hours sexually assaulted a woman, attempted to sexually assault a woman and tried to force entry to a house with the intent to commit a sexual offence. The force praised the courage of the victims in the case that helped secure a conviction.

A Warwickshire Police spokesperson said: "A dangerous offender has been jailed after being convicted of a series of sexual offences against women in Leamington. On April 6 2024, Paul Sanders sexually assaulted a woman, attempted to sexually assault a woman and attempted to force entry to a house with the intent to commit a sexual offence.

"The 36-year-old was jailed for four years last week. He will serve another three years on licence following his release. He was also ordered to sign the sex offender’s register for life.

"At Warwick Crown Court last week Sanders, of no fixed abode, was jailed after pleading guilty to sexual assault, attempted sexual assault and knowingly trespassing on premises with intent to commit a relevant sexual offence."

Det Sgt James Stone-Fewings, a sexual offence investigator from Warwickshire Police, said: “The courage shown by all the victims in this case must be commended. Thanks to their continued support we have been able to ensure a very dangerous man is no longer on the streets.”

Description

A pervert head teacher who secretly filmed boys getting changed in PE is facing jail again after being found with sickening child abuse images.

Timothy Moule, 53, who was also the safeguarding lead at his school, was jailed for 52 months back in 2018 for voyeurism and making indecent images of children.

He covertly recorded videos using secret cameras and more than 3,500 vile images were found on his devices. A concerned parent had contacted police after finding social media messages from Moule to her son.

This week, he was back in court after being found to have a fresh collection of 1,100 indecent images of children which he accumulated over four years.

As part of his original sentence, Moule was made subject of a sexual harm prevention order to try and prevent him from carrying out further sex offences. The court heard officers would check his electronic devices to make sure he was not searching for or collecting indecent material.

But it was discovered he accumulated more child sex abuse pictures between June 2020 and September this year. Police officers seized two tablet devices and four laptops, and discovered a stash of images which included 142 category A - depicting the most serious and depraved examples of child sex abuse.

Moule, who worked at schools in Wolverhampton and Shropshire, also had 149 category B pictures, 789 category C and 21 of an unspecified category. He pleaded guilty at Kidderminster Magistrates Court to four counts of making indecent images of children and one of breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

Magistrates committed the case to Shrewsbury Crown Court for sentencing on November 1 and granted Moule, of Telford, Shrops., bail. In the meantime, he must sign onto the sex offender's register at his local police station and live and sleep at his bail address.

Speaking previously, Superintendent Tom Harding, of West Mercia Police, said: "We're committed to bringing sex offenders to justice and put a stop to any form of child sexual abuse and our efforts to tackle this will continue.

"I'm keen to stress offending can take place across all sections of society and whenever we receive a report of a sex offence it will be thoroughly investigated regardless of those involved or their background."

Description

A Bewdley man has been jailed after being found guilty of rape. Audey Loveridge, 47, was sentenced to eight years and two months at Worcester Crown Court today, October 3.

West Mercia Police said Loveridge was found guilty of a rape that took place nearly two years ago. He was also handed a restraining order and made to register as a sex offender.

Speaking following sentencing, Det Con Simon Reilly, of West Mercia Police, said the jail term was "welcome in offering closure" for the victim. But he added that trauma would "sadly live on."

A West Mercia Police spokesperson said: "A 47-year-old man has been sentenced to eight years and two months after he was found guilty of rape. Audey Loveridge, of Woodman Caravan Park, Ribbesford Road, Bewdley was sentenced at Worcester Crown court today (3 October), after he was found guilty of a rape that took place in December 2022.

"Loveridge also received an indefinite restraining order against the victim and has been ordered to register as a sex offender for life."

Mr Reilly said: “The sentencing is certainly welcome in offering closure for the victim, and I hope it assists her in being able to move forward with her life, however, I know the level of trauma inflicted upon the victim is something that sadly lives on.”

Description

A SICK pervert thought he was meeting a 14-year-old girl in a park, but instead he was detained by a paedophile hunting group run by Widnes residents.

Steven Smith was talking to a number of teenage ‘girls’, telling them he would like to kiss, cuddle, and date them, before he was caught by Widnes Parents Against Predators.

He even encouraged them to perform sex acts on themselves.

The 52-year-old dad appeared before Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to a catalogue of child sex offences, including three counts of attempted sexual communication with a child, two counts of attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity, arranging the commission of a child sex offence, possessing indecent images of children and making indecent images of children.

Prosecuting, Shannon Stewart said how Smith’s offending came to light in May of last year when officers were notified by members of Widnes Parents Against Predators that they had detained a man who had arranged to meet who he thought was 14-year-old girl at a park in Cronton.

Smith, of Rylands Drive, Orford, was arrested and when officers seized his devices, they discovered he had been talking to a number of young ‘girls’ online.

Ms Stewart said how one of girls was called Imogen but officers have not been able to identify if she was a real child or a decoy.

Liverpool Crown Court was told how Imogen told the defendant that she was 14 and despite this, he turned the nature of the conversation sexual.

He asked for pictures of Imogen and encouraged her to perform sex acts on herself.

Smith told her that he wanted to watch TV, eat curry, and snuggle with her.

He asked her if she would like to kiss him and said that this would be ‘special’ and ‘feel electric’.

The court heard how Smith told Imogen that he may have got her a gift for her 15th birthday because he ‘liked her’.

This communication lasted from April 2022 to December 2022 and only stopped when Imogen stopped responding.

Another 14-year-old ‘girl’ who Smith believed he was talking to was called Molly, but this was actually a decoy account operated by Widnes Parents Against Predators.

Smith first contacted Molly in April 2023. She told him she was 14 and he said that was fine before calling her stunning and asking her to send a picture of herself.

The paedophile asked Molly about meeting up and suggested they should go for a walk and kiss and cuddle.

He said that although she was too young for sex, he would like to caress her and run his hands over her body.

Ms Stewart said how Smith also encouraged Molly to perform sex ats on herself.

In May 2023, Smith told Molly that he was working in St Helens and that he could come and meet her, so the pair arranged to meet at a park in Cronton.

But here, Smith was met by the paedophile hunting group and was detained.

From March 2023 to May 2023, Smith was talking to another decoy account which was posing as a 14-year-old girl called Megan.

Megan told Smith her age and said she was in school.

Smith sexualised the conversation and said he would like to have a curry with Megan and get a kiss from her for his birthday.

He said they could go on a date to McDonald’s and asked if he met her would she wear a skirt.

Smith asked Megan to send a picture of her bed and when she did he said it was big and that there would be room in it for kisses and cuddles.

He also sent voice notes, in one he said they could go for a walk in a park and that he would kiss her and grab her bottom.

Smith has no previous convictions.

Defending, Jim Smith said how his client has a ‘high level of regret’ for the commission of the offences.

He said that since his arrest, Smith has carried out extensive work to rehabilitate himself including self referring himself for psychological therapy and attending sex addicts anonymous – where he has now become a sponsor.

Mr Smith said how the defendant suffers from anxiety and depression and that he has lost his marriage, career, and home since he committed the offences.

Judge David Potter handed Smith three years and four months behind bars.

He also issued him with a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and ordered him to sign the sex offenders register.

Description

A convicted sex offender subjected a child to a campaign of sickening abuse 'enabled' by his partner. Former couple Alan Townley and Patricia Jones have been locked up after the brave victim came forward.

Chester Crown Court heard Townley, 61, and Jones, 58, were in a relationship. She was aware he was a convicted sex offender, Cheshire Police said, but 'facilitated access' to the child, 'enabling the offences to take place'.

A trial heard Townley flirted with the child, touching them inappropriately. Townley went on to rape and sexually assault the child on multiple occasions.

When the victim tried to stop him, Townley hit them. The abuse came to light years later when the victim spoke out about their ordeal. Townley and Jones were then arrested and charged.

Townley, of Elton Road, Sandbach, Cheshire, was sentenced to 17 years, plus eight years on extended licence. He was found guilty of 12 counts - including rape of a child under 13; sexual assault of a child under 13; causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity; and actual bodily harm. Jones, 58, of Glastonbury Drive, Middlewich, was sentenced to three years for facilitating the offences, Cheshire Police said.

Detective Constable Stacey Thompson, who led the investigation, said: "Firstly, I would like to commend the bravery of the victim in this case, who not only came forward to report what had happened to them, but also endured the process of a trial after Townley refused to take accountability for his horrifying actions.

"What Townley subjected them to is truly horrifying, systematically abusing them in order to fulfil his own sexual gratification. What makes this case worse is the fact that Jones knowingly allowed Townley to have access to the victim, despite being well aware that he was a convicted sex offender. Putting her relationship above the safety and welfare of a child.

"The sentences handed to Townley and Jones reflect the severity of their crime and I hope that his conviction will encourage other victims to come forward.

"As this case demonstrates, we treat all reports of historic sexual offences seriously, with the wishes and needs of the victim as our main priority, and any allegations will be thoroughly investigated."