Latest Offenders

Description

A Leicester man has been jailed for more than six years after he was found guilty of sexual assault.

In the early hours of Saturday 16 November 2019, Lee Young went into the home of his victim – who he knew – unannounced as she slept on the sofa. When she woke, Young started kissing her and telling her he loved her as she tried to push him off her. He then became aggressive, throwing items around her living room, before sexually assaulting her.

During the incident, the victim managed to contact emergency services discretely by pressing the side button on her iPhone five times – which automatically calls 999.

Young was later arrested by police nearby after being found hiding in a front garden. In interview, he remained silent during all questions put to him by police.

On Tuesday 24 September he was found guilty of one count of assault by penetration following a trial at Leicester Crown Court. On Friday (27 September) the 39-year-old was sentenced to six years and eight months’ imprisonment.

Young, of Sharpley Drive, Beaumont Leys, was also placed on the sex offender register for life.

Description

A Bootle man has been jailed for six years after repeatedly sexually assaulting a girl.

Brian Colin McCoy, 64 years, of Bootle was accused of touching a girl inappropriately on a number of occasions in multiple locations.

He appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday, 30 September, where he was jailed after being convicted of the following offences:

• Meeting a girl under 16 following grooming
• Assaulting a girl under 13 by touching
• Three counts of assaulting a girl by touching
• Causing/inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity
• Two counts of failing to comply with notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Register.

Description

A sick pervert who groomed a child by offering her sweets and then raped and sexually assaulted her is likely to die in prison after being handed a 20-year prison sentence.

Thomas Hobbs, 78, of Ovington, Northumberland, appeared before Judge Penny Moreland at Newcastle Crown Court on Monday September 30. He had been convicted of a string of vile child sex offences. Hobbs was convicted of 10 offences, which included at rape, sexual assaults and encouraging a child to engage in sexual activity at the same court in July.

Judge Moreland passed a custodial sentence of 20 years - this is to be made up of a 19-year jail term extended for a year due to the danger Hobbs poses to the public. Hobbs will not be considered for parole until he has served two-thirds of his sentence.

Hobbs will also be placed on the sex offenders' register for life, and has been made subject to a restraining order preventing him from contact with his victim.

He was told he will "in all likelihood" die in prison. Speaking to Hobbs, who appeared in court via videolink from Durham Prison, Judge Moreland said: "The jury convicted you of a series of serious sexual offences against [the victim]." The judge also told Hobbs the jury was satisfied he "abused her sexually and in the most serious way imaginable".

Judge Moreland said the offending had been aggravated by a number of factors including that he had gonorrhoea at the time of the offences. The judge said the defendant had begun to groom her, "by offering sweets" and then later asked her "can you give us a feel down there".

Judge Moreland then detailed the nature of the horrific offences and the impact they had on the victim. Judge Moreland added: "What you have done has had a substantial impact on her, and it has had an impact on her ability to trust and to build relationships with adult men. You have caused her immense anxiety and have affected her personality in ways she has described."

The judge said she had "no doubt" Hobbs was a dangerous offender.

The court had earlier heard a victim impact statement in which the girl - who has the automatic right to lifelong anonymity under law - said: "The abuse I have suffered has had a massive impact on my life. Firstly it has impacted my trust in men, particularly older men. There are a few males in my life but I do not feel I can build relationships with them."

She said the Hobbs' abuse had also led to her developing social anxiety. She said when her mother had told her the jury's verdict - convicting Hobbs that: "I cried and hugged my friend. It was such a relief that it was all over."

Defending, barrister Steven Reed offered no mitigation though did reference that Hobbs takes medication for a heart condition.

Description

A Nottingham-based child sex offender has been sentenced to 11 years and 4 months for the abuse of two teenage girls at a Manchester apartment.

Leo Farodoye (08/05/1990) of North Road in Nottingham was sentenced on Friday 20 September 2024 at Manchester Crown Court for multiple child sex offences, including inciting a child to engage in a sex act, breach of a SHPO, a sexual act with a child, and taking indecent photos of a child. He received 7 years and 4 months with an extended license of 4 years.

Farodoye had previously been convicted at Manchester Crown Court on Friday 24 May 2024. He also breached a previous Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) from 2014.

The court heard how Nottingham-based Farodoye had booked an Airbnb apartment in city centre Manchester on 12 December 2023, to cover the period of 18 – 27 February this year. He had booked it under the pretence of enjoying a relaxing weekend with his wife.

When turning up at the apartment on Sunday 18 February 2024, he was seen with two young females. As this was different to what he had told the owner, the police were called and the alarm raised.

When officers attended the location, Farodoye escaped via an upstairs window. The two females confirmed they were aged just 15 and 17. It was further disclosed to police that they had travelled across the UK to meet with Farodoye, under the pretence they were taking part in a photography shoot.

One of the victims described how she had first met with Farodoye at an address in Nottingham in October 2023, during which she was supplied with alcohol before photographs were taken of her. She was also subjected to the first sexual assault.

It was noted in court that when the officers attended at Turner Street, there was clear that photography equipment had been set up in various rooms, including lighting and backdrop screens. A search also revealed extensive amounts of sexualised underwear and clothing, quantity of cash and white powder in a bottle.

He later attempted to discard a backpack containing photography equipment, which was later recovered in Manchester city centre.

Farodoye was subsequently arrested for sexual activity with a child and was interviewed under caution at Pendleton Police Station on the evening of Wednesday 21 February 2024. He was also further arrested on suspicion of rape, breach of SHPO and Registered Sex Offender (RSO) requirements.

Description

A paedophile who was initially discovered with indecent images by his wife who recorded him playing guitar breached a court order after being found with further images or child abuse. He tried to delete the images after police made an unannounced visit to his home.

Eifion Humphries, 32, was made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order in 2023 after he was convicted of possessing images of child abuse, including photos that had mages of young girls being orally raped by a man. He was discovered after he asked his wife to use his mobile to video him playing the guitar and she saw what was stored on the device.

A sentencing hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Monday heard Humphries was sentenced to a community order, and was made subject to conditions which would prohibit him from deleting his internet browsing history and his electronic devices regularly monitored. Prosecutor Matthew Murphy said police visited the defendant's home in Newtown, Powys, on August 22, and he suspiciously took his phone to the toilet.

The device was later inspected and was found to contain indecent images of children, between the ages of eight and 10-years-old, in a deleted file. He had also been messaging a woman with four children.

Humphries, of Parkers Lane, was arrested and told police he had visited a chatroom, because he was "bored", and was sent the images by others which he had not requested. He did say he was prepared to distribute the images if anyone asked for them. The defendant had also deleted the Telegram app, which he was prohibited from doing.

In total, Humphries was found in possession of 41 category A images, 40 category C images and 72 category C images. In mitigation, Sol Hartley said his client had told him "I have a problem, I need to be in prison". The barrister said the defendant needed help to better understand his actions, and recognised immediate custody was inevitable.

Judge Jeremy Jenkins sentenced Humphries to 24 months imprisonment. He also made him subject to a new Sexual Harm Prevention Order and sex offender notification requirements for 10 years each.

Description

A Tayside businessman blamed money worries and relationship troubles for his increasingly explicit sex chats with what he thought was a 13-year-old girl.

Iain Moody ordered the child to strip for him, tried to persuade her to skip school and asked if she wanted “full sex”.

Read More

Description

A sex offender stayed at a new address for too long without telling police. Tony Simmonds had to inform officers if he stayed anywhere new for longer then seven days but lived at a former partner's house for 10 days.

This breached a notification requirement of a suspended sentence. Today the 50-year-old was jailed for the breach and jailed for part of the suspended jail term.

Prosecutor Richard Edwards told Caernarfon Crown Court Simmonds had been convicted of indecent images offences at Chester Crown Court in September last year. He was given a 14-month jail term, suspended for two years.

He was also given an order to tell police if he stayed at a new address for longer than seven days. But he stayed at his former partner's home until he became "reluctant to leave" and she informed police. You can sign up for all the latest court stories here

Simmonds told officers he was staying with the woman to give his brother a break. He normally stayed with his brother in Marine Road, Pensarn near Abergele.

Sarah Yates, defending, accepted that the probation service are concerned his engagement with a rehabilitation work is "superficial and limited". But she pointed out he suffers from schizophrenia, a personality disorder and psychosis.

He has taken medication "sporadically" in the past but more regularly recently. He is "fearful" of custody and is a vulnerable individual.

But the judge Her Honour Nicola Saffman today told Simmonds, of Marine Road, Pensarn, he had not taken his medication at times nor complied with the services he had been offered.

She jailed Simmonds for six months for failing to comply with the notification requirement and for ten months of his suspended jail term, to run consecutively.

Description

A former football coach has been jailed after being found guilty of sexually abusing a boy more than 40 years ago.

Anthony Pickering, 62, was jailed in 2018 for similar offences, committed while coaching a youth football team in Windermere in the Lake District.

Police said the latest victim, who was abused in the 1970s and 80s, came forward after the 2018 prosecution.

Appearing at Carlisle Crown Court, Pickering had denied attempted rape and two counts of indecent assault on a boy, but was found guilty and jailed for 13 years.

He was also put on the sex offenders register for life.

Description

A convicted sex offender landed himself in trouble with the police when checks revealed that he was not complying with the strict monitoring restrictions that had been placed on him over registering his details.

Craig Bronzo was repeatedly late in complying with his annual sex offender registration obligations despite a court order. During a routine monitoring visit by the police, he was asked to provide the PIN code for his mobile phone so that his internet activity could be analysed but he did not do so, Hull Crown Court heard.

Bronzo, 28, of Calvert Road, off County Road North, Hull, admitted failing to comply with his annual registration requirements as a sex offender within the required time frame on November 26, 2022 and again on October 2 last year.

He also admitted failing to provide the PIN for a mobile phone at Clough Road police station, Hull, on January 16 last year. The phone had been seized on October 2, 2020.

Jazmine Lee, prosecuting, said that Bronzo had previously been given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order because of his earlier convictions as a youth and he had to register as a sex offender.

The previous convictions included, in 2012, offences of raping a girl under 13, inciting a girl under 16 to engage in sexual activity and assaulting a girl under 13 by penetration. Bronzo had been given a youth rehabilitation order for two-and-a-half years.

He also had a conviction in 2014 for assaulting a boy under 13 by penetration. He had also been given a youth rehabilitation order for two-and-a-half years.

Under the terms of the sexual harm prevention order, Bronzo had to comply with registration conditions as a sex offender, including the annual notification of his details to the police, but he repeatedly did not do this and he was later arrested. He did eventually comply with the requirements.

In January last year, officers responsible for sex offender management called at his home to check his devices for internet use to ensure that there were no breaches of the conditions relating to what he was not allowed to do. He failed to provide the personal identification number for his mobile phone and he was arrested.

Oliver Shipley, mitigating, said that the breaches were technical in their nature but Bronzo accepted that he needed to take the notification requirements that had been placed on him through the court order more seriously.

He was late for his annual registration of his details and he did not provide the PIN for a phone. He had pleaded guilty to the offences and he would comply with the orders of the sex offenders' register in future.

Bronzo was given a nine-month suspended prison sentence and 20 days' rehabilitation. The indefinite sexual harm prevention order will continue.

Bronzo was warned that he needed to take the sex offender registration requirements more seriously or he would face being jailed.

The court heard that Bronzo was originally accused of two offences of possessing indecent images or videos of girls on October 2, 2020 but these charges were dropped by the prosecution. No evidence was offered.

Description

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.

Description

A convicted sex offender claimed to be a teacher and sent pictures of his penis to someone he thought was a 12-year-old girl, a court has heard. In fact Timothy Edwards was communicating with an undercover police officer.

Swansea Crown Court heard Edwards used a false name and a picture of a cat in his online profile - a picture which turned out to be a snap of the family cat which had been taken in the conservatory of the family home. The court also heard the defendant began sending sexual messages and images to the online cop just weeks after being handed a suspended prison sentence for possession of images of children being sexually abused.

Alycia Carpanini, prosecuting, said in May, 2024, Edwards was given a sentence of eight months in prison suspended for two years and was made subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) after being convicted of making indecent images of children. As part of the order the defendant must notify police about any internet-enabled devices he owns, and he is prohibited form having social media accounts or online profiles in any name other than Timothy Edwards or an alternative that has not been approved by his offender manager.

The court heard that in June this year Edwards initiated contact with a profile purporting to be that of a 12-year-old girl on the networking platform Kik. The defendant had the username ThomWayne500 and his profile picture was of a black cat. The defendant began chatting to the "girl" and said he was a teacher from Bristol and said he was glad it was the school summer holidays. When the girl asked him if he was a teacher at her school Edwards said no, and said he would remember teaching a "cute young lady" like her.

The court heard the defendant then began making "suggestive" comments to the decoy and asking for pictures, and told her if she sent him a rude photo he would send one back. The prosecutor said Edwards then sent the decoy pictures of his erect penis - one showing him having just ejaculated - and sent her a series of sexual messages during which he said he wished he was her teacher and said he would give her private sex education lessons. The decoy send Edwards a picture of a girl in a shirt and stripped school-type tie and the defendant responded by calling her beautiful and saying he wanted to unbutton her shirt. He asked her for a selfie which he could use as a background picture on his phone ,and asked her for pictures of her in her bra and for topless snaps. For the latest court reports, sign up to our crime newsletter here

The court heard that on the morning of August 15 police officers went to the defendant's home address in Swansea and arrested him. After being cautioned the defendant said: "There is a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra in the house and my wife knows where it is". Officers located and seized the mobile and on it found an email account in the name of ThomWayne500 which contained emails from the Kik, Telegram and Instagram platforms. The court heard the black cat depicted in the Kik profile Edwards was using appeared to be a snap of the Edwards' family cat taken in the conservatory at his home address. The court also heard that details in the background of the penis pictures which the defendant sent to the decoy were consistent with them having been taken in his bedroom at the property. The Samsung phone itself had not previously been disclosed to the police.

Edward Timothy, aged 24, of Cwmgelli Road, Morriston, Swansea, had previously pleaded guilty to breaching a sexual harm prevention, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child - the charge is one of attempt as no real child was involved - and sending a photograph or film of genitals to cause alarm, distress or humiliation when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has one previous conviction for three offences of making - that is possessing - indecent images of categories A, B and C.

With credit for his guilty pleas Edwards was sentenced to 15 months in prison for the new offences and recorder Greg Bull KC activated the previously imposed eight month sentence in full to run consecutively making an overall sentence of 23 months in prison. A new 10-year sexual harm prevention order was imposed - albeit it an order with same terms as the previous one - and the defendant will be a registered sex offender for the next 10 years.

Description

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.”

Description

A disgraced teacher sent pictures of his naked genitals to teenage girls and begged them for indecent photographs after targeting them online. Robert Collins, 39, was the head of art at Formby High School when he sent perverted messages to several young girls over a period of four years.

His offending was discovered in June 2023 when Collins sent online messages to what he believed was a 12-year-old girl. He told the youngster - who was really an undercover police officer - he was a teacher and asked her "what's the naughtiest thing you've done?". He also asked if she wanted to be in detention with him.

He repeatedly asked her to send him pictures of her body, telling her: "I'm only asking because I like you a lot." He also sent the "girl" a close-up picture of an erect penis and a man's torso along with the message: "Here's my d*** X".

Police then went to Collins' home in Banks Road, Southport, and his electronic devices were seized and examined. These revealed chat logs with three other teenage girls.

Jo Maxwell, prosecuting at Liverpool Crown Court today, said: "Sexual communications with the children and attempted communications were discovered on two phones and a laptop. The communications revealed the defendant had a sexual interest in children. He used different names for himself but always identified himself as a teacher."

The messages spanned a four-year period from August 2019 to May 2023. One girl, who was traced by police, confirmed she had chatted with Collins on Snapchat, Facetime and Omegle, a video chat website shut down in November 2023. Ms Maxwell said: "He told her he was in his early 20s. She said when she heard his voice over a phone call she could tell he wasn't a teenager. He sounded older and she was aware there must have been a disparity in their ages."

He told the girl he was moderating GCSE artwork and offered to help her with her own GCSEs. He also sent her a picture of his penis and asked her to send pictures of her own body in return which she refused to do.

Ms Maxwell said: "He would tell the girl that he loved her and they had a future together and that he wanted to be in a relationship with her. She informed the officer she didn't want to be in a relationship with Collins. There was a disparity in age. She didn't trust him and she thought it was weird that he would send sexually explicit images to her."

Another girl was just 13 when she was contacted on social media by Collins who asked her: "What are those t**s like?" The girl sent a photo and he replied: "Any of them out?". He asked her what her body was like, asked for more pictures and if she would be willing to meet.

Other perverted messages were sent to what Collins believed to be a 15-year-old girl though police were unable to trace her and so it was not known if she was a real teenager or a decoy by online paedophile hunters. Also found on his devices were four category C indecent images of girls.

Collins, who has no previous convictions, initially denied the offences. But he later confessed, telling police: "I was not targeting a particular aged female. It was scattergun." He pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual communications with a child, four counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and one count of possession of indecent images of children (category C).

Emma Kehoe, defending, said: "Anything that I say on behalf of Mr Collins is not an excuse for what he did and he wants to make that perfectly clear through me, because he is embarrassed, devastated about what he did. But there are explanations in relation to why he offended... It's a background that goes some way to explain why this teacher, who had been respected and well liked over the 11 years that he worked, found himself communicating with young women online in the way that he did.

"Collins found himself at home during 2020 lockdown unable to properly carry out his job, that he had carried out well and was well respected for, and he felt frustration because of that, because he cared very much about his students and he loved his job as an art teacher. Incarcerated at home, unable to teach properly during lockdown, he found it very difficult.

"He was teaching online, which was why he found himself in front of the computer for hours on end, and that led to him using it not just in his professional capacity but in the way which brought about the offending. He has been diagnosed with a number of mental health issues including autism and through that diagnosis came an understanding of himself and why he acted the way he did, not just then but in other ways in his life, because in many ways he couldn't understand why he felt different from others.

"He wants to apologise through me. He wants to reiterate he is embarrassed and ashamed, not only for himself but for his family and for his school and past students."

She said Collins had made significant efforts to rehabilitate himself since his arrest, undergoing therapy and completing a number of sex offender courses including a Safer Lives course and the Stop It Now rehabilitation programme. He had also completed volunteer work for food banks and the mental health charity MIND.

Sentencing Collins, judge David Potter accepted his mitigation, saying: "I have no doubt that you are truly remorseful for your offending and I have no doubt you have placed great stock in your rehabilitation, such as I'm satisfied there's a low risk of your reoffending."

But he added: "Despite your remorse, what must be remembered is time and again you made contact with children under 16, time and again you solicited pictures of their bodies and on two occasions you sent pictures of an erect penis to them. In such circumstances a custodial sentence is required." He sentenced Collins to a total of two years and six months in prison.

Mr Alex Wood, Headteacher at Formby High School, said: “We were absolutely appalled to learn of these shocking offences. While the offences are in no way connected to Mr Collins’ work at Formby High School, the severity of their nature meant he was immediately suspended from all duties following his arrest and subsequently dismissed.

“The safety and wellbeing of our students will always be our highest priority and we have robust safeguarding policies in place to ensure their protection.

“We have fully co-operated with the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit and Merseyside Police throughout the investigation and thank them for their diligent work in bringing this individual to account.”

Description

A man from Icklingham has been jailed for 20 years for a series of sexual crimes against children.

56 year old Richard Taylor (above) of West Street in Icklingham was jailed at Ipswich Crown Court on Friday 20 September.

He was sentenced to 20 years in jail and two years on extended licence after he was found guilty during a trial.

He was charged with a total of 17 offences of sexual activity against children and was found guilty of one count of rape, six offences of indecent assault of a male, and nine counts of gross indecency with a child. The offences all took place between 1999 and 2003.

Investigating officer DC Jen Botting said: “I’d like to pay tribute to the immense bravery and courage of both victims and their families. This was a highly complex and difficult case to investigate and without their evidence, it would have been extremely hard to secure this conviction and sentence against Taylor.

“As a consequence of Taylor’s not guilty plea, the victims had to endure revisiting their horrific and distressing experiences as part of the evidence heard during the nine day trial.  I hope the sentence passed provides some level of closure and allows them to move forward with their lives.

“I also hope this case demonstrates just how Suffolk police is committed to fully investigating any allegation of sexual assault, be it recent or non-recent as was the case here and will provide the highest level of support and care to any victim whilst a thorough investigation is carried out.”

Child abuse is often a hidden crime, and we work to ensure that the voice of the child is heard and concerns of abuse or neglect are reported and investigated. The Suffolk Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH), which involves police, county council, education and health, among others works to address issues of risk of harm, abuse and neglect.

Description

Brett Wight, 47, subjected the woman to multiple rapes causing her lasting physical injuries.

The stoic victim, though, had the fortitude to come forward to disclose the offences to police.

An investigation was immediately launched by the Northumbria force and last year the defendant was charged with multiple sexual offences.

Wight, of Throckley, Newcastle, went on trial at the city’s crown court late last year where he was convicted by a jury of four counts of rape, following the two-week hearing.

He returned to the court, on Friday (September 20), where he received a 15-year custodial sentence to be followed by an eight-year extended licence period.

Wight will also be subject to registration as a sex offender and prohibitions under the terms of a restraining order, both for life.

Following the sentencing hearing, the sister of the survivor of his crimes praised the police investigators for their, “remarkable actions.”

She said: “I cannot emphasise how much of an impact the brilliance of Northumbria Police has had on my family.

“I can say with all honesty we would not have had this result had it not been for your amazing police force.

“Particularly those officers who have been by our side and supported us since the start.”

She singled out Detective Constable Leo Douglas and Police Constable Kris Wightman, who she described as, “the absolute guardian angels” of her sister.

“The care, attention, support, professionalism, shown is astonishing.

“I cannot emphasise enough how important it is that those officers on my sister’s case are recognised for their brilliance.

“I don’t think there is an award big enough for them.

“If I could scream this from the rooftops for the whole world to hear, believe me, I would!”

She said the force ought to be seen as, “amazing”, and should be, “celebrated and recognised for their brilliance.”

The grateful sibling added: “I will spend the rest of my life spreading positivity about Northumbria Police and how wonderful they are.

“I know my sister feels exactly the same.”

The officer leading the case, DC Douglas, responded by saying: “First and foremost, I would like to thank the survivor for the incredible strength she has shown which has ultimately made it possible to bring her abuser to justice.

“No-one should ever have to experience what she went through at the hands of Wight, but without bravery in reporting what had happened, he would not be behind bars today and his offending may never even have come to light.

“Her strength and bravery is something she should be incredibly proud of, and I want to personally thank her for her tenacity, and her continued co-operation throughout our investigation.”

He added: “Wight is a dangerous individual and deserves to be behind bars for a significant length of time.

“As a force, protecting and supporting vulnerable victims is our top priority and we will continue to work incredibly hard to put offenders before the courts and ensure that no-one gets away with this type of criminality.”

He urged any victim to take the first step and come forward, stressing they will be listened to and supported, “in whatever way we can.”