Latest Offenders

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A top chef shook his head and smirked as he was finally brought to justice for sexually abusing young girls.

Peter Wright, who has worked in some of the city's most highly-regarded restaurants and been hired to cater for private clients abroad, "poisoned" his two victims - leaving them "devastated". Despite this, he has shown an "utter disregard" for his vile crimes and "does not seem to care" for the impact on their lives.

A trial at Liverpool Crown Court previously heard that the now 31-year-old, of Old Swan, repeatedly targeted them when they were aged as young as 12 during the noughties. Wright, who was also a juvenile at the time, also tried to rape one of the girls on one occasion.

Natalie Cornwall, prosecuting, on Friday read out statements to the court on behalf of the complainants describing the extent of the effect his actions had upon them. One said she had suffered nightmares and wet the bed as, adding: "I don't feel like I have a normal childhood.

"There is a huge void that can never be filled. It's hard to accept my life is never going to be normal because of what he did to me."

The other victim outlined she had self-harmed and attempted suicide due to Wright's abuse, saying: "I felt like I was overwhelmed with pressure and pain. I withdrew more and more and distanced myself from everybody.

"It feels like the poison he has caused is never ending. He has an utter disregard for the devastation he had caused - he does not seem to care."

Wright appeared to be shaking his head and smiling as the statements were aired and said "I don't think so" at one stage, which saw the dad reprimanded by the judge. Andrew Jebb stated in defence of his 6ft7 client: "He himself was a child at the time of the offences.

"He is a very talented chef. He has worked here in Liverpool for some very esteemed establishments.

"He has travelled on a private client basis to Ireland to provide private dining. There are very positive aspects to this defendant.

"Obviously what he did as a teenager was appalling behaviour and he is about to be punished for it. He is now a positive, hard-working member of society."

Wright was convicted of attempted rape and eight counts of sexual assault by a jury. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool, he was jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Sentencing, Judge Anil Murray said: "I have to bear in mind you were a child at the time and I take into account your immaturity at the time. In recent times there are positive aspects to your character.

"You have got a good work record and looked after your brother when he was ill. While you deny the offences, they were committed at a time when you were an adolescent, which is a period of rapid change.

"You fail to take responsibility for your actions and there is no remorse. You have been shaking your head during the sentencing process."

Wright was also told to sign the sex offenders' register indefinitely. Judge Murray imposed a restraining order preventing him from contacting his victims for life.

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A PERVERT investigated by Cumbria Police was found with sickening child abuse videos of infants as young as four, a court heard.

Sam Partington was hauled before a court after he hacked into a woman's social media accounts of stole private photos of her.

When police searched the 30-year-old's devices they found hundreds of indecent images and videos of children being sexually abused.

Preston Crown Court was told Partington hacked into a woman's Facebook and Snapchat accounts and stole photos and then changed login details to prevent the victim from accessing her own accounts.

The court heard he stored hundreds of indecent images on three devices, including an iPhone.

He hid files inside what appeared to be a calculator app.

Passing sentence, Recorder Daniel Prowse said: "Each one of the children shown in those images and videos is a real child being sexually abused.

"Some involved the most serious and damaging types of sexual abuse.

"Some of the children depicted were particularly vulnerable due to their age.

"The harm, both physical and psychological, that is caused to children who are the subject of this sort of abuse can be lifelong in nature."

The judge accepted evidence that the Covid lockdown and Partington losing his job contributed to the offending because the defendant was spending long periods alone in his bedroom.

He said Partington had a 'good job' and was seeking support for his mental health.

The court heard the defendant had denied having a sexual interest in children but Recorder Prowse said 'the evidence in this case demonstrates comprehensively to the contrary'.

"I do remind myself, however, that it is not uncommon for people with such a sexual interest to come to terms with the enormity of that realisation," the judge added.

Partington, Cecil Street in Lytham, was jailed for 29 months for a number of offences, including hacking offences under the Computer Misuse Act, s170 Data Protection Act and making indecent images of children.

Cumbria Police said the investigation forms part of Operation Alliance, the force's ongoing response to serious and organised crime.

Detective Constable Jon Hill from Cumbria Constabulary's Cyber and Digital Crime Unit said Partington 'used technology as a weapon to exert control'.

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A SICK paedo filmed herself sexually abusing a two-year-old girl and sent indecent images to another predator who promised her £5,000.

Vile Abigail Kikke, 27, was also caught with 69 indecent snaps on her phone after cops raided her mum's house in Cumbernauld.

Kikke claimed the coronavirus pandemic left her “in a dark place” as she pled guilty to sexually assaulting the girl and distributing images of her and other children today.

She also admitted taking or permitting to be taken indecent images of children and possession of indecent photographs between March 18 and March 26 2020.

Cops found a video of her with the toddler lasting 1 minute and 58 seconds, and another lasting five minutes after searching the house while the baby was asleep in a cot.

Kikke had indecent images of other children ranging between three-years-old and 14-years-old.

Prosecutor Shanti Maguire told the court: “One of the images had been sent by the accused to an internet user known as 'Daddy'.”

Kikke was meant to be looking after the toddler when she sent the sick clips via app Kik.

The court also heard that she had chatted to another internet user called  'Hollow' who asked her to perform sex acts on the girl.

Miss Maguire added: “She told 'Hollow' that she sent 'Daddy' images of her and the girl and that he was willing to pay her £4,000.

“Between March 22 and 23 she corresponded with a user she addressed as 'Daddy' at his request.”

Kikke told him she was in debt and self-isolating – struggling with having no contact with people other than over the phone.

Miss Maguire said: “He claimed he would send her £1,000 and in subsequent messages he claimed to be a successful stock trader who would take the woman and girl abroad on holiday.”

Kikke followed up by sending pictures of the girl in a nappy and further indecent image.

The hearing was told Kikke communicated with an internet user named 'gs1177 Mike D'.

The pair chatted about children before Kikke was told the user was “sexually aroused.”

Kikke sent images of the girl to him while she received an image of a male and female children.

Miss Maguire added: “The user has been identified as 43-year-old man Gary Smith, who lived in Wigan.

“He has since been convicted at Bolton Crown Court of sexual offences including ones arising from his conversation with Kikke.

“He was sentenced to six months for distribution of images and attempting to arrange or facilitate the commission of a child sex offence which he received 32 months imprisonment.”

Ronnie Renucci QC, defending, told the court Kikke appreciates that a custodial sentence is “inevitable.”

He added: “These offences took place at a black point in her life.”

Sentence was deferred until October pending background reports by judge Lord Sandison.

Kikke, now of Alloa, Clackmannanshire, showed no emotion as she was remanded in custody meantime.

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Nigel Lay, 56, previously of Barnes Close, West Wellow, was found guilty of four counts of rape and one count of coercive and controlling behaviour, following a 12-day trial at Southampton Crown Court.

The trial had heard that the offences took place in Hampshire during a four-year period, between 2016 and 2020. The woman, aged in her 50s, reported that during that period, the man had controlled her life, including finances and access to food, lighting and heating.

He had also repeatedly raped her during this time, the jury was told.

The victim said: The court case has been extremely difficult, especially sharing personal and embarrassing information. I found the strength to do so only that (he) would face his actions and accept responsibility for them.

Speaking after the hearing, officer in the case, police staff investigator Keely Osborne said: This is a case that will remain with me, and everyone else who worked on it, for a long time. The victim, who is vulnerable, has been so incredibly brave, as have her family and friends.

Lays behaviour has left scars that are likely to remain for some time to come. I sincerely hope this sentence goes some way in helping the victims closure and recovery. We take every report of rape and sexual assault seriously, and will investigate each one, no matter what the circumstances. We have a specially trained team to investigate and provide support to victims.

We would urge anyone who feels they are a victim of domestic abuse, rape and other sexual offences to report it to us or to a domestic abuse support service. You will be listened to and supported.

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Michael Kellard, 64, was found guilty of 15 child sex offences by a jury after a trial last month.

Kellard faced 17 child sex offences at Bournemouth Crown Court involving two young male victims dating back 20 years. He was found not guilty on two counts of rape.

The charges related to incidents which occurred from December 7, 2000, to May 2005.

Jurors found Kellard guilty of three counts of sexual activity with a child, three counts of rape, four counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and five counts of indecent assault on a male person.

Kellard, of Dunkeswell in Devon, will be banned from working with anyone under the age of 16 or in a vulnerable position.

He will serve 12 years in prison and the final 6 years on licence.

He has been put on the Sex Offenders Register for life and will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 20 years which prevents him from having contact with anyone under the age of 18 without written consent.

Judge Susan Evans KC said in her sentencing remarks that Kellard "groomed" his victims, gave them alcohol and went on to sexually abuse them in his van, hotels, his mother's home and his brother's flat.

 Judge Evans said: “You were a charismatic individual involved in a sport popular with teenage boys.

“You were regarded as the go-to guy for teenage boys aspiring to be racing drivers.

“You abused your position at the top of the sport.

“You took advantage of your position, and you knew the boys were vulnerable due to their ages.

"Karting is an expensive hobby which you subsidised on a basis to sexually abuse your victim.

“The effect of your abuse has had life-long and life-changing effects on your victims.”

Kellard was a go-karting enthusiast, travelling around the country, training and driving with young go-karters.

He also ran a kart shop at the Clay Pigeon raceway, off the A37 between Dorchester and Yeovil, where he would also frequently train young racers.

The two victims both met Kellard through go-karting. 

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A monster who sexually abused a toddler had his head in his hands as he was jailed for serious sexual assaults. The girl, aged just four at the time, was sexually touched by Andrew Michael Hansford in West Dorset on no less than three occasions.

The girl, who cannot be identified due to legal reasons, told Hansford that the assault hurt her, but he carried on. She bravely told her mother about the abuse and its pain and they immediately reported the sexual assaults to Dorset Police.

In a moving victim impact statement to Bournemouth Crown Court, the girl’s mother spoke of the horror of the sexual abuse. The abuse also had significant harm on the victim, with her being “terrified of men”.

She said: “I’m enjoy just having my daughter back. I don’t want her to be made to suffer anymore. I want her to see that not all men are monsters. She was just a child and doesn’t deserve the hurt she has been put through.”

The girl, now aged six years old, is now recovering from the serious abuse she suffered at the hands of Hansford. Sexual Trauma and Recovery Services (STARS) is continuing to support the victim.

Hansford was arrested and denied any incident took place. Hansford, aged 29, and of Belben Road in Poole, was charged with two charges of assault by penetration of a girl under the age of 13. He denied the charges and triggered an extensive trial, but was found guilty.

Defending, Robert Griffiths, told the court that Hansford accepted he was going to prison for this serious offence. It was also noted that Hansford has ADHD and attempted self-harm.

He said: “It has to be a custodial sentence and it has to be a sentence of some length, but I do ask you to take into account that the conditions in prisons are still not particularly good.”

Judge Evans outlined how “vulnerable” the victim was. She added it was repeated behaviour and spoke of the distress he caused her family.

She said: “The effect on the victim and her mother has been one of huge distress. The girl is still very young at six and she has become frightened of men and in particular in fear of having to see you again.

“This court cannot know what the long-term impact will be but there is likely to be long-term impacts. You also caused huge distress to her mother. She blamed herself and she is not to blame in any way, but it is entirely human to blame oneself and ask oneself the question of ‘what if?’.”

As Judge Evans delivered her sentence, Hansford had his head in his hands and appeared to look emotional.

Hansford was sentenced to 15 years in prison and issued a sexual harm prevention order for 20 years and placed on the sex offenders register for life. Hansford was also issued a restraining order against his victim not to contact her directly or indirectly and was placed on a list of people barred from working with children. 

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A man who stalked, sexually assaulted and raped a number of women across Scotland has been jailed for more than 12 years.

Steffan Cox - who was said to have "an obsessive and highly dangerous interest in rape" - repeatedly targeted young women he met on social media and dating apps.

The 25-year-old's "appalling and predatory behaviour" included making anonymous and indecent phone calls, threatening to rape his victims.

Judge Lord Young said: "One of the recipients of your phone calls was aged just 15 at the time.

"You told another woman that you would rape her so that her son could hear her screaming. It is not difficult to imagine just how terrifying the calls must have been to these women."

Cox was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on Wednesday after being convicted of 21 sexual offences that occurred between 2016 and 2022.

He had previously pleaded guilty to indecent communication offences back in February.

Cox was jailed for 12 years and nine months. He will also be supervised for a further four years upon his release from prison and was added to the sex offenders' register indefinitely.

Lord Young noted that Cox continues to deny responsibility for the most serious offences but spared him from an order for lifelong restriction.

The judge explained: "You are still a young man with one analogous previous conviction and I consider that you ought to be given an opportunity to demonstrate that you can return to society after rehabilitation without the ultimate sanction of an order for lifelong restriction being imposed."

However, Lord Young noted that Cox had exhibited "escalating and compulsive sexual offending".

He added: "Your previous conviction in 2017 involved making sexually violent calls to two teenagers, but that conviction has not caused you to change your behaviour. Indeed, quite the reverse.

"You clearly have an obsessive and highly dangerous interest in rape."

Detective Sergeant Julie Nedley, of the National Rape Taskforce, said Cox was now facing the consequences of his "appalling and predatory behaviour".

DS Nedley added: "The victims have shown great courage in coming forward with vital information, making sure he was held accountable for his actions, and ultimately convicted.

"I want to take the opportunity to thank the public and partner agencies for their assistance and information provided, particularly in providing support to the women involved.

"I hope this sentence provides a sense of closure for them and sends a clear message that all reports of sexual abuse, regardless of the passage of time, will be thoroughly investigated by Police Scotland and victims will be supported throughout."

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A Calne man was caught with a huge collection of child and animal abuse images.

Luke Frewin denied four sex offences but on 3 December, just a few days before his trial at Swindon Crown Court, he changed his pleas to guilty.

The 27-year-old father admitted possessing 750 indecent images of children, including 239 described as being in category A – involving penetration.

He also admitted possessing 57 extreme images involving sexual activity with animals.

On 14 December, at the same court, Frewin was sentenced to 15-month prison sentence suspended for two years and was told to complete 60 rehabilitation days.

The defendant, of Ebor Paddock, Calne, was also ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years. A Sexual Harm Prevention Order was imposed to run alongside it.

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A man who poured boiling water over a fellow inmate before beating and raping him has been sentenced.

Robert Reynolds, 29, had denied grievous bodily harm with intent, two counts of rape and a sexual assault.

A jury at Salisbury Crown Court found him guilty of all offences following a five-day trial.

The court heard that Reynolds attacked the victim, a man who was in his 20s at the time, in July 2021, when they were prisoners at HMP Winchester, in Romsey Road.

Reynolds threw boiling water from a kettle at the victim, causing burns to his back and face.

He then punched and kicked the victim before raping and sexually assaulting him, the jury was told.

The victim was initially treated at the prison before being taken for treatment at a specialist burns unit in hospital. He later disclosed the sexual offences.

On Wednesday 13 December, Reynolds, currently of HMP Bullingdon, was jailed for 12 years following a hearing at Winchester Crown Court.

Speaking after the hearing, Detective Sergeant Harry Wilson said: This was a horrific attack on a vulnerable man in a prison.

While the victim has since left prison, he continues to deal with the physical and mental impact of what happened to him.

This was a difficult and long investigation and I hope this shows that we will work closely with the prison to investigate any criminal offences that occur there.

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Vaclav Kopcil, 52, of All Saints Road, Portsmouth, was found guilty of assault of a child under 13 by penetration, sexual activity with a child, and two counts of rape of a female aged under 16 years.

The trial heard that the offences took place in the Portsmouth area during a five year period between, between September 2009 and April 2014. The victim was just 10 years old at the time of the first offence.

Kopcil pleaded not guilty to the offences, however a jury found him guilty on all counts following a seven day trial. Kopcil appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court where he was sentenced for 18 years in prison.

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A PAEDOPHILE and former choir master has been convicted of a series of vile sex offences, including abusing boys under the age of 11 years old.

Thomas Rodgers, 44, from Billericay, initially denied committing the crimes, but was convicted by a jury following a trial this month.

The historic offences took place in the 1990s, when the victims were all children, but only emerged after the crimes were reported to police on January 5, 2019.

Following an investigation by officers from Met’s East Area Command, Rodgers was arrested on February 10, 2019, on suspicion of sexual assault.

Rogers has previously worked as a choir master in Essex.

A spokesman for Met Police said: “Rodgers was bailed to appear at Snaresbrook Crown Court where, following a trial on Tuesday, December 5, he was convicted.

“Rodgers was convicted of indecent assault on a male aged eight to 11 years; indecency with a child aged eight to 11 years and indecency with a child aged five to seven years.”

Liam Woon, investigating police constable for Met Police, praised the victims for showing bravery to come forward and report the offences to police.

He added: “The offences in this case took place in the late 90s when the victims were children.

“That trauma has followed them throughout their lives.

“I hope this conviction brings the victims a sense of closure and highlights that no matter how much time has passed, we will investigate all reports of sexual abuse with a view to placing those responsible before the courts.”

Rodgers will next appear in custody for sentencing at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Wednesday, January 10.

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A man who pleaded guilty to filming a teenager undressing in a changing room has been spared jail.

Liam Warlow, 27, had attempted to record footage of the school girl with his phone under the divider of a cubicle in the unisex changing area of LC Swansea waterpark, south Wales, when she spotted the phone and kicked it from his hand, a court heard.

“Most people would expect me to send you to prison,” Judge Geraint Walters told him after he pleaded guilty to observing a private act for sexual gratification.

Warlow was given a six-month sentence suspended for two years on Dec 20. Judge Walters also ordered him to undertake a 43-day programme to address his issues around filming in public for sexual excitement and to attend 45 days of “general rehabilitation”.

CCTV footage shows Warlow loitering in the doorway of a cubicle in the changing rooms before the incident. He had finished getting dressed when he spotted the girl and then entered the cubicle next to her.

Warlow is then seen running out of the leisure centre after being discovered attempting to film the girl undressing.

He told police he had dropped his phone which had “managed to start recording by itself”, Swansea Crown Court heard.

Despite this Judge Walters said it was “perfectly obvious” what Warlow was doing.

He said: “Having set eyes upon her, you quite purposefully, and with a fair degree of determination, hung about in the changing area - including viewing her through a mirror at one stage - until she entered a cubicle.

‘The phone was plainly recording’

“You entered the adjoining cubicle, and while there you used your phone to film her. She said the phone was plainly recording and she could see herself on it.”

Upon his arrest, Warlow told the police he could not remember the code to access the “private area” of his phone, but the judge said his claim was not plausible.

Warlow has previous convictions for burglary and cannabis possession from 2013.

Judge Walters added: “Your conduct that day has, for a considerable period of time, blighted you. And it will.

“You will be on the sex offenders register. You’ve lost your partner, by the looks of it. No doubt in any future relationship you have, you will end up coming under the scrutiny of social services.”

Warlow will be placed on the sex offenders register and subject to a sexual harm prevention order for seven years.

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Colin Mark Hollands, aged 60, from Aylesbury, was sentenced to 24 years’ imprisonment at Aylesbury Crown Court today (22/12).

On 29 August, Hollands pleaded guilty to seven counts of adult sexual activity with a female child, four counts of assault of a child by penetration, three counts of rape, two counts of rape of a child, two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. He also pleaded guilty to one count each of; indecent assault, sexual assault, causing a child to watch a sexual act and causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

Hollands was arrested for the offences on 8 June 2023 and charged on 14 June 2023.

The offending occurred over a number of years in Aylesbury.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Collette Parker said: “This sentence brings justice to the victims and appropriately punishes Hollands for his reprehensible behaviour over a number of years.

“The horrific control, manipulation and abuse perpetrated by Hollands has had a significant impact on the victim’s lives.

“I would like to thank the victims in this case who have shown great courage, determination and dignity in their support for the investigation.

“We would not be where we are today without them taking that step forward and providing the vital evidence needed to prosecute Hollands. With their strikingly similar compelling accounts, a strong case was built against Hollands and he had to admit what he had done. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He ran Conker Computers in Ivybridge at the time.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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