Latest Offenders

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A man has been jailed for 31 years after being found guilty of 29 sexual offences.

Brian Lines, 84, of Leek, was sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment, with an extended licence period of one year, at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Tuesday (21 May) after he was found guilty by a jury following a trial earlier this month.

He was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

He was found guilty of three counts of the rape of a female under 16, three counts of the rape of a female over 16 years or over, attempted rape of a female under 16, 16 counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 16 years, four counts of sexual assault, assault of a girl under 13 by touching and sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 15.

The offences took place in Staffordshire between 1970 and 2009. They were reported in August 2021 and Lines was arrested shortly afterwards. Following an investigation by our Rape and Serious Sexual Offences team, he was charged in January 2023.

DC Annie Blairs, of our Rape and Serious Sexual Offences team, said: “The sentence was only possible thanks to the sheer determination and bravery of Lines’ victims. Despite denying the offences, a jury saw through his lies and he will now spend the rest of his life in prison.

“The impact on the victims is significant and long lasting and I hope this sentence provides some comfort in knowing they did the right thing in reporting his heinous crimes to us.

“We are committed to investigating those who carry out sexual offences, bringing them before the courts so that they can face justice, while supporting victims.”

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A voyeur who recorded women in toilet cubicles for his own sexual gratification has been jailed.

Pawanjit Singh, also known as Robbie, snuck into female toilets and hid in cubicles before using his mobile phone to secretly record his victims as they used the toilet next to him.

He captured 26 clips and six images of numerous women in several different pubs in the North East in September 2020.

In May 2021, the 35-year-old was caught by a woman as he was in the act of recording her in the female toilets at Washington Service Station.

The woman confronted him, and subsequently contacted police.

The investigation progressed when police accessed Singhs mobile phone and, after interrogating the device, uncovered the voyeuristic content.

Singh was charged with 27 offences of voyeurism and appeared at South Tyneside Magistrates court in April where he pleaded guilty to all counts.

Last Thursday (May 2), Singh of Henry Street, Shiney Row, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court and was sentenced to one year in prison.

He will spend ten years on the Sex Offenders Register, was given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and was ordered to have his devices destroyed.

Talking after the sentencing, Detective Constable Kate Bain, of Northumbria Police, said: We would like to thank the woman who turned out to be Singhs last victim after she witnessed and challenged his offending meaning the scale of his depravity was uncovered.

Singh secretly filmed women in what should have been a totally private space, without their knowledge or consent. He showed no respect for these women whatsoever and saw them only as tools for his own sexual gratification.

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A man from Stevenage has been sentenced to eight years in prison for multiple non-recent child sexual offences.

Michael Aggabao, aged 51, of Lister Close, was found guilty of six counts of sexual assault, one count of digital penetration and one count of attempted digital penetration following a 10-day trial at St Albans Crown Court in October 2023.

All charges relate to two victims who were under the age of 13 at the time, and occurred between May 2009 and May 2014, and during March 2019.

He was cleared of one count of sexual assault and one count of digital penetration.

For charges against the first victim, Aggabao was jailed for a total of five years with a year on an extended licence, as well as a further nine years to be served concurrently.

For charges against the second victim, Aggabao was sentenced to three years in prison, with a further nine years to be served concurrently.

The sentences against both victims will run consecutively, taking his total prison term to eight years plus one year on an extended licence.

He was also handed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and will be placed on the sex offenders register.

Detective Constable Sam Dutton, from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Non-Recent Sexual Offences Team, said: “The predatory and harmful behaviours of Aggabao have had a long-lasting impact on the lives of both the victims and their families.

“I hope this conviction and lengthy sentence shows that we will continue to take proactive action against anyone who targets young people.”

Becoming a victim of sexual assault is never your fault. If you’ve been a victim, no matter how long ago the offence occurred, please report it. We have specialist officers on hand to provide advice and support throughout an investigation. The constabulary also has several officers who are specially trained to provide support to members of the LGBT+ community.

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A delivery driver who repeatedly asked a customer for sex then tried to kiss her has been jailed.

Denis Bahrim asked to use the woman's toilet at her home in Doncaster before coming back downstairs and grabbing her shoulder when she rejected him.

She told him to leave but he refused and told her she was "beautiful", Sheffield Crown Court heard.

Bahrim, of Beckett Road, Wheatley, admitted sexual assault and was jailed on 15 May for two years and 10 months.

The woman reported the attack to police after the defendant left her home.

Officers were able to identify 26-year-old Bahrim through footage from the woman's doorbell and a subsequent search led to his arrest.

As well as a prison sentence, he was given an indefinite restraining order against the woman.

South Yorkshire Police investigations officer Jenny Dunkin said: "Bahrim took advantage of his victim's generosity.

"She let him into her home to use her toilet only for him to repay her kindness by sexually assaulting her."

She added: "I hope this court result brings some closure to the victim and allows her to move on from what must have been a very traumatic ordeal."

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A "predatory" man who raped a woman he met on the dating app Tinder has been jailed for seven years.

Alisdair Randalls had been out drinking when he persuaded the woman to leave her home and accompany him to his flat in Aberdeen in December 2015.

The victim made clear she did not wish to engage in sexual activity but Randalls "persisted" and "seized" her by the throat while raping her in the property, a court heard.

He later told the victim he could not remember "anything", the hearing was told.

Randalls was found guilty of one count of rape at the High Court in Aberdeen last month and was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow today.

As well as his jail sentence, he was also banned for life from contacting the woman and was placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely.

Judge Lord Colbeck said Randalls accepted "no responsibility" for his crime and it had significantly affected the victim's life.

"You show little or no insight in to your offending behaviour and the impact this has had upon your victim," the judge added.

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Benjamin Bull, 40, of Clare Gardens in Petersfield, has been jailed for 13 years following several sexual atrocities in Waterlooville. He was found guilty by jury today (May 20) of five charges committed in 2020 and 2021 against a girl.

This included rape of a child under 13, causing a child to watch a sexual act, causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and two counts of assault of a child under 13 by penetration. Bull was handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.

At the end of the five-day trial at Portsmouth Crown Court, the judge commended the victim's bravery for speaking out. They added that Bull remains a significant risk to members of the public and in particular young girls.

Detective Constable Hannah Owen, from the Eastern Child Abuse Investigation Team, said: “The victim in this case showed immeasurable bravery in coming forward and incredible courage throughout the investigation and court process. Without her, we would not have secured this result.

“We are very happy with today’s result, which means that Bull will now face the consequences of his predatory and unthinkable actions. I am pleased we can give the victim the outcome the case deserved and sincerely hope that this sentence helps her begin to move forward with her life.

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A sick predator has been jailed after jurors found him guilty of raping a woman

Philip Gaddis, 24, was found guilty following a trial at  Leeds Crown Court and earlier this month was jailed for six years. His victim was 20 when Gaddis, of Main Street, Glasgow, attacked her in the Mirfield area in 2019.

Following his conviction, the woman's sister - who must not be named for legal reasons - has spoken out and said he had admitted the offence in a message. She said the first trial resulted in a hung jury, but Gaddis was finally convicted this year.

The woman said: "She woke up to him having sex with her...She told me the day after it happened and I said, 'It's rape, we need to go to the police,' but she didn't want to talk about it or report it.'"

It was said the rape was eventually reported after Gaddis "admitted it over message a number of times in different circumstances," the woman said. She said: "He was charged and released on bail."

The court confirmed that Gaddis was also released on bail between the guilty verdict and his sentencing, something which the victim's sister said was "unjustifiable". She said his strict bail conditions included him not contacting her sister, but said the decision to release him on bail was still an "unjustifiable risk in my eyes".

She added: "He could have done anything else he wanted for three weeks. He went to a concert in that time...We were a bit worried he wouldn't turn up because he lived in Scotland but he did.

"She read her victim impact statement in court - it was one of the hardest things I have seen...When he was found guilty at the end of the trial he started crying. He was crying and said, 'I didn't do it.'"

The woman said she was "just relieved" when the verdict came in and said: "It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to see my sister and best friend go through. It has destroyed her in so many ways and I am just grateful it is over and it was recognised, what he did.

"I'm just happy he is going to be put away for years and it's going to protect other women and hopefully when he is in prison he gets the time to reflect and reform."

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A convicted paedophile infiltrated a theatre group before developing an "obsession" with a child actor.

Charles Thompson made a collage of pictures of the teenage girl after downloading the images from her Facebook page and suggested that they play roles which would see them portraying a couple on stage, despite their 30-year age difference. He also suggested that he "join her" in bed and admitted that his "new year's resolution to give her up" would be doomed to failure as he could not stop "daydreaming" about her.

Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday, Wednesday, that the 46-year-old was previously handed a lifelong sexual offences prevention order and told to sign the sex offenders' register for seven years in 2014 after being convicted of causing a child to watch sexual activity. This also saw Thompson, of Neville Road in Waterloo, handed a 26-week imprisonment suspended for two years at Sussex Magistrates' Court.

Louise Santamera, prosecuting, described how the dad then became involved in Waterloo and Crosby Theatre Company after his daughter joined as a member. He subsequently gave lifts to other children to and from rehearsals and began exchanging messages with one such girl.

While she was "sick in bed", Thompson texted her stating that he "almost wished he could join her, but that sounded wrong". Just over a week later, he messaged her to say he was "sending hugs" and added: "You've been on my mind since I last saw you."

Around six months later, he referred to having a dream in which "she would be the prince and he would be the pretty princess". Thompson added: "Don't worry, I intend to give you up as my new year's resolution.

"I'll see if I can go a whole year without daydreaming of you then making some creepy, inappropriate remark about it. I don't reckon I would last a day."

Thompson was also said to have "prepared a collage" of pictures he had taken from the girl's Facebook page without her knowledge. The police were contacted the following month after concerns were raised to the group's chairman.

She then challenged the defendant, who "apologised and said it was wrong". Thompson added that it "started off as a joke but it had gone too far" and said he was "glad the staff knew about it as it stopped it from going any further".

Ms Santamera said that he had been "involved in a number of productions" and "would have come into contact with various children under the age of 16". The chair also recalled one occasion on which he had recommended the girl for a part which she was deemed "too young for", and said that he had put himself forward for the role of this character's boyfriend.

Thompson was also said to have had access to a private Facebook group of which 70 to 80 teenagers were members. He was arrested at his home address and gave a prepared statement under interview saying that he was "refusing to answer questions because of his perceived belief that there was no evidence".

Following his release on bail, Merseyside Police installed "risk management software" on his phone. But, on January 12 this year, this technology detected that Thompson had visited pornography websites using incognito mode then accessed the girl's Facebook page, as well as logging on to online dating sites.

His criminal record also shows an entry for three counts of gross indecency with a child in 2003, for which he received a two-year community order and a five-year notification requirement. Ms Santamera said he had "lied about his convictions" during application forms relating to his involvement with the theatre company and had shown an "unhealthy interest" in the girl.

Charles Lander, defending, told the court: "There was a lengthy period of compliance. In relation to the previous suspended sentence, he complied fully.

"Because of his criminality, he lost his employment. More significantly, he has lost his home.

"The biggest effect on him is being apart from his wife and two young children. Since January this year, he has been in custody.

"It has been a difficult four months for him. It is his first experience of custody.

"When his daughter first joined the theatre group, he never had ulterior motives. She enjoyed him being there, and he joined the theatre group."

Thompson, who was supported by his wife in the public gallery, admitted two counts of breaching a sexual offences prevention order. Appearing via video link to HMP Altcourse, he was jailed for two years.

Sentencing, Judge Louise Brandon said: "It is quite clear that you had a completely inappropriate interest in her. You stalked her Facebook page in incognito mode while on bail in the hope that you would not be detected.

"You lied on your application form to prevent safeguarding from taking place, and you withheld what you were doing from your offender manager. You appear to be obsessed with her.

"I take into account your problems with your mental health and the impact on your family. I accept that you became involved in the theatre group because of your daughter's interest and not because you were actively looking to offend."

Thompson was also handed a 10-year restraining order. He will be required to sign the sex offenders' register for the same period.

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A Met cop has spoken out about her role in the investigation into a “horrific” case of child exploitation by a repeated sex offender.

Tyler Charter, of Windsor House, Croydon, is due to be sentenced today at Croydon Crown Court for arranging or facilitating a child sex offence and possession of images of children. 

Detective Constable Nikki Jones led the investigation into Charter after intelligence from the National Crime Agency (NCA) identified the 35-year-old as a key suspect in grooming young children in June 2022.  

Charter had previously been sentenced to seven years in prison in July 2018, but had been released on parole in May 2022.

DC Jones said: “We were flagged intelligence about Charter, who was known to police as a registered sex offender, which showed him discussing sexual offences and sharing videos with like-minded individuals on his Telegram account.”

Telegram is a messaging app you can access from multiple devices.

DC Jones arrested Charter at his address in Croydon in September 2022. During the arrest he was seen trying to dispose of evidence on his devices before officers stepped in and seized them. 

DC Jones said: “He resisted arrest and was restrained.

“When he was interviewed he became violent and answered “no comment” to all the questions we put to him.”

Charter’s phone was sent for analysis which revealed conversations between him and other Telegram users, detailing a desire to commit horrific acts, including rape towards minors in South London.

DC Jones said: “On his account we found 4,233 images and videos of children – many of which included Category A videos of young boys and babies.”

Category A defines images or videos involving penetrative sexual activity.

Officers also uncovered conversations discussing the abuse of young children, some as young as three years old, as well as exchanges of Charter arranging assaults on underage victims.  

DC Jones said: “Charter is a very dangerous man. Our work is crucial in preventing high-risk predators like him from targeting, grooming and sexually abusing vulnerable children in our society.” 

Charter was found guilty at Croydon Magistrates Court on February 29, 2024. 

Detective Inspector Peter Harvey, from the Met’s online child exploitation and specialist crime team, works alongside 70 staff members on 400 investigations at one time.

He said: “We have a proactive system that reacts to intelligence and victim reports as well as officers who engage with schools to educate teachers, parents and families about the warning signs for child exploitation.

“Warning signs include children becoming suddenly withdrawn, personality changes or unexplained gifts.

“It is important to have open conversations with your child so they are comfortable sharing any concerns. After these conversations it is important that concerns are reported to the police.”

In Feburary, a report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) – reviewed investigations by the Met into child exploitation.

Of the 244 cases it examined, 121 were rated inadequate, 80 as needing improvement and 43 were graded as good.

The Inspectorate said the Met had to fix these failings before it can get out of special measures. The inspectorate placed the force in special measures in June 2022.

Since the report, the Met said it has put more resources into the area and is retraining officers to have a better understanding of child exploitation.

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A Perth paedophile, Darren Adams, avoided jail for breaching a court order, despite possessing 18,000 obscene photos and videos and a self-written paedophile manifesto.

Adams, also known as Derek Jones, argued that his "minority group" was being discriminated against, questioning why he should respect laws that don't respect him. He had been placed on the sex offenders register following a police raid at his Midlothian home during the 2020 lockdown. Last month, at Perth Sheriff Court, the 52-year-old admitted to violating his Sexual Offences Prevention Order when police found he was using an internet-capable Blu-Ray player at his home in Alyth.

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A paedophile sexually assaulted a girl twice and sent her inappropriate messages saying "I wish I was the one who captured your heart". The abuse came to light after the victim showed the messages to her mother.

Gareth Nye, 32, of, Bridgend, abused his victim on at least two occasions by touching her over her clothing. He did this on the pretense he was tickling the girl.

A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday heard the victim was "young and naïve" to the defendant's behaviour and didn't think much of it at the time. After the victim was given a phone for Christmas by her parents, Nye exchanged messages with her.

In those messages, he told his victim: "Don't tell your mummy and daddy what I talk about with you". This made her feel suspicious and she showed her mum the messages. Being able to appreciate the full meaning of the message, the victim's mother became "upset and angry".

The police were called and the victim was interviewed, but she did not disclose the sexual assaults at the time. Months later she told her mother what Nye had done to her, after experiencing a nightmare.

Nye, of Caeau Duon, Pencoed, was arrested and faced two trials before he was convicted of two counts of sexually assaulting a child. Despite the guilty verdicts, he continues to maintain his innocence, which was considered an aggravating factor by Recorder John Philpotts.

In a victim personal statement read to the court, the victim's mother said: "I noticed a big difference in (my daughter), she became quite quiet and withdrawn.... When the disclosure took place I couldn't believe what it was she was telling me. It felt like a hole had opened up and we were sucked back into this dark place. She was in such a state and I was trying to reassure her it was ok and she told me there was more. She hadn't disclosed it earlier because of how upset I had been about the messages and was worried about causing more trouble. I was gutted she felt like this and I wasn't there for her when she needed it and trying to protect me...

"I was so angry and upset this man could do this to us... (My daughter) became quite erratic and this lasted for two years. She started to have outbursts of rage, not responding to our parenting, rebelling against anything we do. Screaming and shouting, punching her bed. She had a built up rage, she had never been like this before and we didn't know how to help her."

The victim's mother said she felt "sick to her stomach" while her daughter gave evidence in the trial, and described her bursting into tears after leaving the courtroom. She said they felt they could not move on with their lives, and added: "What (the defendant) has done to my daughter is incomprehensible. I will never forget him for taking away my daughter's innocence."

In mitigation, Hilary Roberts said Nye was of previous good character, and had been diagnosed as being on the autistic spectrum. He argued that custody could be avoided in his client's case, and he would struggle in a custodial setting having previously been bullied.

Sentencing, Recorder Philpotts sentenced Nye to eight months imprisonment. The defendant was also subjected to sex offender notification requirements, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a restraining order indefinitely.

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A sex offender who terrorised women and girls is facing a lengthy jail term after being convicted of his crimes. John McKechnie was found guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh.

He was convicted of two charges by a jury, having earlier pleaded guilty to 14 other offences. The 32-year-old was convicted of rape, possessing indecent images of children, and domestic abuse offences.

The court heard he preyed on women and girls in West Lothian between 2015 and 2022. Detective Inspector Adrian Ure, of Police Scotland's National Child Abuse Investigation Unit, spoke out after his conviction.

He said: "John McKechnie's offending and behaviour was appalling. He showed complete and utter contempt for the abuse he inflicted upon his victims, and the horrific sexual abuse featuring in the images and videos he was viewing.

"There is no hiding place for these offenders, and as a result of our investigation, he will now rightly face the consequences of his actions. Any form of child sexual abuse is a serious criminal offence and is a priority for Police Scotland.

"We encourage anyone with concerns about a child at risk of abuse, or a potential victim, to contact police immediately." McKechnie is due to be sentenced for the offences next month

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A PAEDOPHILE jailed for 20 years for repeatedly raping a young girl was caught after she saw an NSPCC sex education talk at her school.

Andrew Flecknell’s victim told her mother of his “hideous” abuse following the showing of the children’s charity PANTS programme.

The 38-year-old defendant from the Bedwas area of Caerphilly was condemned by Judge Lucy Crowther who told him: “This was a campaign of rape.”

Flecknell sexually assaulted the girl “more times than she can remember”.

Clare Wilks, prosecuting, said that the child’s mother made a victim impact statement on her behalf which she read at Cardiff Crown Court.

It stated: “This has had a massive impact on her.

“I still don’t feel as if this is real, it’s heart-breaking. This is hideous.

“She amazes me with her bravery and resilience.”

The victim was described as a “fun, caring and smart child” who could now become “upset for no reason”.

Flecknell admitted four counts of rape and three of sexual assault.

Kevin Seal representing Flecknell said: “His best mitigation is his guilty pleas and he also has no previous convictions.

“He has suffered from anxiety and depression.

“The defendant has deficiencies in his thinking.

“He knows he’s going to receive a lengthy custodial sentence and that he deserves that.”

Judge Crowther told Flecknell: “It was as a result of the PANTS class that she told her mum of what you had done.

“She told her you had put your private parts into her.

“The victim said this had happened more times than she can remember.

“It is too early to say what the future holds for her.”

The judge added: “You initially denied that you had no sexual interest in children.

“That’s nonsense because you clearly do.

“You are a paedophile and you are sexually interested in children.

“You are a dangerous offender and you don’t seem to realise what you have done.”

Flecknell will have to register as a sex offender for life.

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A convicted murderer who killed a pregnant woman in a barbaric sexually-motivated attack was caught trying to meet an underage girl at the Royal Armouries in Leeds after grooming her online.

Norman Bowen-Jones was jailed along with his friend for the brutal slaying of the woman at a flat in Durham in 1996. The pair had fantasised about having sex with her and murdering her. They were given a life sentence and ordered to serve at least 13 years.

Bowen-Jones, who is now 45, was caught out by the paedophile hunter group, Predator Exposure, having contacted several child decoy profiles last year.

Appearing at Leeds Crown Court via video link from HMP Leeds, he was jailed again this afternoon.

Prosecutor Gareth Henderson-Moore said Bowen had made contact with the first profile in July of last year. She told him she was just 14 but he was undeterred and moved the conversation to WhatsApp.

Bowen-Jones, who had been living on Springwell View in Holbeck, sent her pictures of his penis and asked for photos of her. He suggested they meet and travelled to the Royal Armouries, where he was confronted by the hunter group who livestreamed it over the internet.

However, he had also contacted other decoy profiles run by the same group and suggested meeting at Leeds Railway Station, although he did not carry that meeting through.

He admitted attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity, four counts of attempting sexual communication with a child, arranging or facilitating commission of a child sex offence, two offences of attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming and two of making indecent photos of children.

Mitigating, Andrew Stranex said that since his release from prison he was like a “fish out of water”.

He added: “When he went into custody the world was a very different place and was really struggling to find his feet. He was in a city he was not familiar with. He used the internet to make contact with people. He accepts what he did was wrong.”

The judge, Recorder Alex Menary acknowledged Bowen-Jones was “struggling to adjust” after such a long time behind bars. He jailed him for 32 months, but said his life licence will remain in place, meaning he could be returned to prison at any time. after serving his latest sentence.

He was also given a lifelong sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) to curb his internet use and put on the sex offender register for life.

Bowen-Jones and his friend Timothy Dunn were just 17 and 15 respectively when they carried out their horrific murder. They had become friends with 29-year-old Lesley Fox, and frequently visited her at her basement bedsit in Darlington.

They fantasised about having sex with her, then killing her, and went through with the vile plan on October 12, 1996. She was four-months pregnant at the time and had been dead five days before he body was discovered. She had to be identified by dental records.

She had been subjected to a prolonged and violent sexual assault before being strangled by Bowen-Jones who used a piece of rope. The sexual assault continued after she had been killed.

Later arrested, the boys blamed each other for the killing. They were sentenced in November 1997 and deemed “very dangerous” by the presiding judge. They were told to serve a minimum 13 years, which was later cut to 12 years for Bowen-Jones, and 11 years for Dunn.

At the time of the successful appeal, a police advisor had reported that Bowen-Jones was “cold, calculating and ruthless” and he seriously believed he might kill again if released.

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A DANGEROUS paedophile has been jailed for 18 years for sexually abusing and raping a boy as the victim is praised for his courage in speaking out.

Robert Hampton, aged 77, of Somers Court in Upper Howsell Road, Malvern was found guilty of seven counts including the rape of a boy under 13.

He was convicted of: one count of rape of a boy under 13; two counts of offender of any age causing/inciting a boy under 13 to engage in sexual activity-penetration; one count of attempted rape of a child under 13; three counts of assaulting a boy under 13 years of age by penetration with a part of his body/ a thing.

He was sentenced yesterday at Worcester Crown Court to 18 years in prison and one year on licence for his crimes committed between January 2007 and December 2018.

Detective Constable Hannah Croft, said: “I would like to commend the bravery of the victim and their family in this case. Without their courage, perseverance and tenacity, Hampton would not have been brought to justice.

“Hampton is a dangerous individual and I’m glad his sentence reflects the heinous crimes he committed. I hope if anything positive is to come out of today is that it gives other victims the confidence to come forward and speak with the police”.