Latest Offenders

Description

A London Underground worker was snared by paedophile hunters as he tried to groom a 13-year-old girl for sex and promised to “deflower” her, a court has heard.

Garret Kelly, 62, exchanged hundreds of messages with the girl called Saskia on Facebook and WhatsApp over the course of six weeks before setting a meeting up at Paddington Station.

Kelly had cleaned his house in preparation for her stay, urged the schoolgirl to start taking the contraceptive pill, and promised “to make you a woman, sexually”.

However, Kelly was confronted at the train station by a so-called paedophile hunter who had created Saskia online using a digitally de-aged photo of her own face.

At Southwark crown court on Wednesday, Judge Martin Griffith sentenced Kelly to 21 months in prison and agreed to suspended the term for the next two years.

The court heard Kelly, a London Underground worker for more than 20 years, has lost his job since his arrest in December last year.

Prosecutor Carol Summers said Kelly, a father of two, starting communicating with Saskia on Facebook last October, where she had a profile clearly indicating she was 13-year-old.

He gave out his mobile phone number and messaging switched to WhatsApp, where repeated references were made to the girl’s school, mother, and homework.

“Slowly and methodically he made reference more and more to sexual contact, her clothing, being in the bath”, said Ms Summers, adding that he asked “how good were her sex education lessons”.

“He was putting himself forward as a confidante, a helper, and an instructor.”

The prosecutor said Kelly started making references to “deflowering” the girl, before discussing their upcoming meeting when he suggested she wear stockings and a suspender belt.

When Saskia messaged saying she did not “know how I’m supposed to feel”, Kelly replied: “That’s OK, you are open to the idea, not opposed or repulsed by me”.

Ms Summers added: “He was encouraging her to go to the doctor to obtain contraception.”

Kelly travelled from his home in Tooting to the meeting on December 2, when he was met by the paedophile hunter, caught on camera, and evidence was handed over to police.

On police bodyworn video Kelly is visibly angry and upset, and complained: “They have tried and sentenced me”, and suggested it had been “sold” to him that the girl’s mother was away.

Lee Sergent, for Kelly, urged the judge not to send him to prison to allow for rehabilitation in the community.

“The fallout and impact of being caught has been already punitive – he has lost his long-standing work, and his relationship with his two daughters at the moment is non-existent.

“This is a man who, as a result of facing up to these charges, is on the point of giving up.”

Kelly was ordered to carry out 125 hours of community service and 45 days of rehab as part of his suspended prison sentence. He will be added to the sex offender’s register and under a sexual harm prevention order.

He pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child and attempted grooming.

Description

A paedophile sent a picture of his genitals to someone he believed was an 11-year-old girl and told another girl to think of sex "like kissing Harry Styles". At least one of the accounts he was speaking to was a decoy being run by an undercover officer.

Joel Jones, 38, began talking to domeone he believed was an 11-year-old girl called but it was in fact a decoy account run by an undercover police operative. Their initial conversation took place on social media site MyLOL which is for teenagers aged between 13 and 17 years old.

A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court heard Jones told the decoy his name was James and he said he was 15 years old and from Swindon. He asked her: "Do you want to see my d***?" and asked her if she had a boyfriend. The defendant also asked her if she masturbated and told her she had a "great butt".

The conversation moved to Wickr where Jones again instigated messages of a sexual nature. He went on to send images of his penis and testicles on Snapchat. He messaged her: "Any pics of you? Let's see."

Information was passed to South Wales Police who identified Jones from his MyLOL and Wickr profiles. He was arrested on July 22, 2021, and his Samsung mobile phone was seized.

On the phone was a Skype application which was found to contain a series of messages in 2018 from a profile belonging to what appeared to be a 13-year-old girl. Attempts were made to identify the girl, which were unsuccessful, so police were unable to ascertain whether it was a real girl or a decoy.

During the conversations the defendant claimed to be a 17-year-old boy and asked the girl if she liked older boys and told her she had a "cute body and bum". Jones added: "Do you ever role play, where you act out roles and have sex?" He told the girl he "fantasised" about sisters and mothers and asked her if she fantasised about her dad or masturbated.

The defendant incited her to masturbate and to use her fingers and a hairbrush to perform sex acts. Prosecutor Owen Williams said Jones told the girl to think of sex like "kissing Harry Styles". He also asked if she was "home alone", told her to strip naked, and said he was masturbating and told her to do the same with a cucumber and a hair brush handle.

When he was interviewed by police Jones claimed he committed the offences "out of curiosity". Jones, of Danygraig Street, Pontypridd, pleaded guilty to attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and attempting to communicate with a child in a sexual manner. The court heard he had one previous conviction for driving with excess alcohol.

In mitigation Matthew Comer said there was no evidence to suggest his client had interacted with a real child. He said the defendant was concerned about the stress caused to his wife who knows about his offences and stands by him. The barrister added: "This is something that he's never going to do again and he will stop being so selfish. He has some insight into the triggers and causes of his offending behaviour and accepts responsibility."

Judge Shoman Khan sentenced Jones to a total of three years imprisonment. He was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and sex offender notification requirements.

Description

A man from Chippenham has been jailed after admitting to raping a young boy multiple times. James Morrison, of no fixed address, a 19 year and four month sentence – 13 years and four months of which must be served in prison and six years on extended licence - after carrying out the 'horrific' crimes and threatening his victim.

On July 18, Morrison, 31, appeared at Salisbury Crown Court and pleaded guilty to four counts of raping a child, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and engage in non-penetrative sexual activity with a child.

He was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court on Wednesday, November 22. As well as his jail sentence he was also issued with a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order and must sign the sex offenders register for life.

Wiltshire Police has praised Morrison's victim for his bravery in coming forward, after the offender threatened him, making him feel unable to tell anyone about the abuse. Detective Investigator Francesca Mason, of the Child Abuse Investigation Team, said: “After committing these horrific crimes, Morrison made threats towards his victim which made him feel trapped and unable to confide in his parent."

“Fortunately, the victim’s mum found messages on her son’s phone which led to her son disclosing exactly what had happened and the subsequent police report," DI Mason continued.

“I would like to commend the young victim for the bravery he has shown during the court process – maturity far beyond his years following what has been an incredibly traumatic ordeal.

“I am pleased Morrison has been given a lengthy custodial sentence, reflecting the horrific nature of his crimes. He took advantage of a vulnerable child, abusing him and then making threats towards him.

“As a member of the CAIT team, I would urge anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse to report it to police immediately so that we can put offenders like Morrisons before the courts.”

Description

A man has admitted indecently assaulting a young girl in Rotherham.

Ishtiaq Khaliq, 40, formerly of the town, pleaded guilty to charges of indecent assault and theft of a mobile phone when he appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on Wednesday.

The offences are said to have taken place in Rotherham in the 2000s when the victim was only 13 or 14 at the time. The National Crime Agency [NCA] says the case was investigated as part of Operation Stovewood, its inquiry into allegations of non-familial child sexual abuse in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013.

Khaliq is already serving a 17-year prison sentence for other child sexual abuse offences following a separate investigation. He will be sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on December 14.

A spokesperson for the NCA said: "A man has admitted indecently assaulting a girl in Rotherham in the early 2000s, following an investigation by the National Crime Agency.

"Ishtiaq Khaliq, aged 40 and formerly of Rotherham, pleaded guilty to charges of indecent assault under the Sexual Offences Act 1956 and theft of a mobile phone at a hearing at Sheffield Crown Court yesterday (22 November).

"The charges relate to a victim who was aged only 13 or 14 at the time. The case was investigated as part of Operation Stovewood, the NCA’s inquiry into allegations of non-familial child sexual abuse in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013. Khaliq, who is already serving a 17-year prison sentence for other child sexual abuse offences following a separate investigation, will be sentenced on 14 December."

Description

A man from Halifax has been jailed for 16 years after he was found guilty of multiple sexual offences against 14 child victims.  

Aidan Firth, 26, of HMP Armley, was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court earlier this week (Tuesday, 21 November) for offences including rape of a child, sexual activity with a child inciting a child into sexual activity, and sexual assault. In addition to the custodial sentence, he was also made the subject of a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order.  

The offences took place between 2015 and 2020 and involved 14 victims, who were all under 18 at the time of offending.    

They came to light in 2015 when a victim approached police to report offences and an investigation was launched by Calderdale Child Safeguarding Unit.   

During the investigation, further victims came forward and disclosed further offences.

He was arrested in 2020 and was subsequently later charged. Following a three week trial at Bradford Crown Court in September 2023, Firth was found guilty by a jury for multiple sexual offences and jailed. 

Description

A man has been jailed for seven years after breaching a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) and striking up a "friendship" with a 13-year-old boy.

Luke Tucker, 23, was convicted of a sexual offence in October 2022 and given an SHPO in February 2023, which required him to notify police if he is going to stay at any address where someone under 18 lives or stays and tell them if he is using any aliases.

He also had his access to the internet significantly limited, as well as his ability to store images and videos. 

Just after he was given his SHPO in February, police have discovered that Tucker struck up a "friendship" with a 13-year-old boy, having told him that he was 16.

Tucker gave the boy gifts, stayed at his home address, and had him back to stay at his own address in Eight Acre Lane in Colchester.

While officers were investigating him, they discovered that Tucker had also been messaging a 15-year-old boy and trying to encourage sexual activity.

They searched his house on March 25 this year and discovered several memory cards, USB sticks and hard drives, all in breach of his SHPO.

He was charged with a range of offences and convicted of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, breaching a sexual harm prevention order, and failing to comply with the requirements of the sex offenders register.

He was jailed for a total of seven years at Chelmsford Crown Court on Wednesday.

PC Graeme Braby, who led the investigation, said: "Luke Tucker poses a very real danger to young people.

"The fact he defied the significant constraints on his contact with children, access to the internet, and access to storage devices highlights the lengths he was prepared to go to.

"Many people around the county will not think, or want to think, about the possibility of a registered sex offender living in their community but I hope the fact there is a professional, specially trained, and dedicated set of officers and staff managing the risk they pose will be reassuring."

Description

A paedophile father and son groomed and sexually abused a vulnerable young girl. Pensioner Roy Lockett initially targeted the child and subjected her to a lengthy period of abuse before "handing her over as a prize" to his rugby coach son who continued the abuse.

The pair then denied the offending, forcing the youngster to go through the ordeal of giving evidence at a trial. Swansea Crown Court heard the abuse meted out by the dad and son has had a profound effect on the victim leaving her feeling "worthless". Sending the defendants to prison a judge told 73-year-old Lockett he had used the girl "as his sexual plaything" and then "handed her over as a prize" to his 42-year-old son who continued the abuse.

The court heard widower Lockett targeted and groomed the girl and sexually abused her for a period of more than a year with the abuse including the use of items from his large collection of sex toys. He also took indecent photographs of the child and plied her with alcohol. Lockett's son, rugby coach Austin, then took over the abuse.

In statements from the victim which were read to the court the girl said what the defendants did to her had left her feeling anxious, depressed, "used", and "worthless". She said the abuse had affected every aspect of her life including her schooling, sleeping, and eating. In the statements she said that going through the court process had been "scary" and it had been embarrassing to talk about what happened to her in front of strangers but she said when she heard of the guilty verdicts from jurors "it felt like I could breathe again".

Roy Lockett, of Pembrey Road, Llanelli, had previously been convicted of three counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, causing a child to watch a sexual act, two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child, and making an indecent photograph of a child and had previously pleaded guilty to causing a child to engage in sexual activity and two counts of engaging in sexual communications with a child when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. Peter Austin, of Pant Y Celyn, Llanelli, had previously been convicted at trial of five counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child when he appeared alongside his dad in the dock.

Kate Williams, for Lockett, said the defendant did now accept his wrongdoing and that he must be punished for it. She said her client had health issues which would only get worse with time and said given his medical conditions he would find a custodial sentence harder than would a younger and fitter man. Dyfed Thomas, for Austin, said the defendant maintained the position he held at trial that he was not guilty. He said there was no evidence of anything untoward having happened in relation to Austin's role as a rugby coach and he said the offending against the girl had been "isolated" in nature.

Judge Paul Thomas KC said having heard the evidence in the trial he had no doubt that the defendants had been fully aware of what the other was doing to the vulnerable young girl. He said Lockett had groomed the girl first and used her "like his sexual plaything" including using items from his "hoard of sex toys" on her before he had "handed her over as a prize" to his son who continued the grooming and sexual abuse. The judge told Austin he had put himself in the role of a rugby coach knowing he had a "predilection" for young girls but he said there was no criticism to be made of the rugby authorities, the offending was unconnected to the coaching position, and the defendant had presented himself as a "responsible member of society".

The judge said both men had known of the victim's vulnerabilities when they targeted her and said in Lockett's belated admission of wrongdoing there was at least "a glimmer of some remorse" unlike in the case of his son who was maintaining his stance "in an attempt to present himself to some people as a victim of a miscarriage of justice", which he was not. Lockett was sentenced to a total of eight and a half years in prison and Austin was jailed for seven and a half years. Both defendants will be registered sex offenders for the rest of their lives and were made the subject of indefinite sex harm prevention orders.

Description

A paedophile Fife joiner who secretly snapped a naked picture of a 15-year-old girl with a hidden camera has been told he deserved to be jailed.

Voyeur Blair Mackie was caught with a perverted picture on his tablet.

The covertly taken picture of the girl, standing naked in her bedroom, was uncovered by her mother.

Sheriff Elizabeth McFarlane rejected his claim he was not sexually motivated and told him his victim and her mother no doubt wanted him locked up and the key thrown away, adding, you deserve that.

However, given the length of the maximum sentence available to her, the sheriff decided punishment in the community would be more beneficial.

Mackie, a joiner who works on new-build houses, is now on the Sex Offenders Register and must not have contact with anyone under 16 unless he gains prior approval from the authorities.

Family blasts delusional Mackie

Speaking after the sentencing, the girls mother explained she was receiving cancer treatment when she made the gut-wrenching discovery.

She explained Mackies victim stopped attending school and required anti-depressants and sleeping tablets.

She wasnt herself, she said.

The girls mother said, while their custody wish was not delivered, they believe Mackies business will take a significant hit from the court-imposed conditions.

I got upset because I was hoping he would get time.

Hes obviously delusional, talking about it not being sexually motivated.

Who wakes up one day and puts a camera in a childs bedroom?

Hes definitely not wired up right.

Weve been waiting on this coming its been a long two years.

She used to be so happy and confident. Shes a completely different wee girl.

Creep took illicit picture

49-year-old Mackie previously admitted that between May and November 2021, he covertly recorded a 15-year-old girl, naked, in her bedroom at a property in Fife with the intention that he or another would view it.

Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court heard the girls mother found the photo in the recently-deleted section of Mackies tablets camera roll.

The girl was completely unaware the image had been taken, from what appeared to be dressing unit.

Her mother confronted Mackie and asked him to explain himself.

He denied being responsible and told her: Dont do anything rash.

Unbelievable behaviour

The sheriff said: Mr Mackie, you might appreciate that these are the cases that sheriffs find most difficult to deal with because we have to comprehend unbelievable behaviour, and try to satisfy all the factors that we have to take into account.

I have no doubt that the complainer and the complainers mother, would like me to send you to prison today and throw away the key you deserve that because I have no idea how you would begin to actually comprehend this.

You betrayed trust terribly and I have no idea why.

You say it wasnt sexual motivation but I dont believe that.

I could send you to prison today (but) I would have to discount it you would ultimately serve five months in prison.

I dont think thats going to be of benefit to anyone.

Im going to make sure that theres no contact between you and the complainer for some years.

Sheriff McFarlane imposed a one-year supervision order and made him subject to registration requirements for as long.

For the orders duration, Mackie must only stay at approved accommodation, have no unauthorised contact with under-16s and must declare any friendships or relationships to social workers.

The sheriff imposed a four-month restriction of liberty order, keeping him in his home at Balbirnie Avenue in Markinch between 7pm and 7am each night.

She also made non-harassment orders to protect the girl and her mother from any contact for three years.

Mitigation

Mackies solicitor Aaron Thomson said his client has previous road traffic convictions and experience of custody.

Mr Mackie has displayed a significant level of remorse.

He recognises that his actions were wrong.

He regrets his actions and he understands this was a significant invasion of the privacy of the complainer.

He fully recognises he abused his position of trust.

He clearly recognises the impact his behaviour has had.

Mr Thomson said his clients motivation was curiosity, not sexual gratification.

He accepts, of course, it can be inferred that his curiosity related to a sexual motivation and there can be little to no other explanation for his actions.

Description

A 38-year-old man struck up a relationship with a teenage girl and sent explicit messages to another in America.

Stephen Slimings was caught out when he uploaded vile images to Snapchat. Police raided his Hartlepool home and found hundreds of indecent images of children and a drawing depicting child abuse.

On Tuesday, Teesside Crown Court heard that officers traced the Snapchat account to Slimings' IP address, after he posted the illegal images. His computer revealed he had been having sexually explicit online chats with a 13-year-old who lives in the USA, and police traced the girl and told her parents. The device also showed he "was in a relationship with an underage girl".

Shaun Dodds, prosecuting, said he was also found to have downloaded 3 category A photos - the most serious type - showing children being abused. Police also found 51 category B and 536 category C illegal photos of children; in addition to the "sketching."

Mr Dodds told the court with regards to the contact with the American youngster, Slimings had saved screenshots of an online conversation her. "He was pretending to be someone else and there were photos of her performing sex acts," Mr Dodds said.

Slimings, of Mickey Barron Close, in Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to:

• Three counts of making indecent images of children between 2020 and 2022.
• Possession of a prohibited image of a child.
• Sexual activity with a child.
• Inciting the sexual exploitation of a child.

In a statement, the mother of the teenage girl, said her previously "outgoing" daughter became withdrawn and didn't want to leave her side. She added: "She wants to sleep in my bed. It's like she's regressed to a small child."

Stephen Constantine, mitigating, said his client claimed to be "in the midst of a mental breakdown" where he would do things that were out of character. He said: "A report by probation has found that he has some insight into the way his behaviour has impacted on others. He is described as being remorseful. The defendant will go to prison for the first time in his life."

Judge Paul Watson told Slimings: "The communications with a 13-year-old girl - police found you were instructing her on how to perform sex acts on herself and send photos of it. You sent a highly sexualised photo of yourself. The images you had were of an appalling nature, showing real children being abused and subject to sexual indignity. It's a highly profitable and wicked trade in the suffering of young children."

Slimings was jailed for four-years-and-seven-months. He was made subject to sex offender notification requirements for life.

Description

A Fife man has been sentenced after admitting sending a picture of his penis and sexually explicit comments to someone he thought was a 13-year-old girl.

Alan Somerville, 45, believed he was communicating online to a girl called ‘Lexi Mae’ but was actually speaking to an adult pretending to be the child.

Last month, he pled guilty to attempting to cause an older child to view a sexual image and attempting to communicate indecently with them between August 5 and 9 last year from an address in Burntisland.

This week, he was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for three years and given a child contact ban, internet restrictions and a supervision order.

Mitigation

Solicitor David McLaughlin explained his client had recently had a stroke, his marriage had broken down and he has lost contact with his children.

The lawyer said first offender Somerville has a “sense of shame.”

“He takes full responsibility for this, he doesn’t seek to excuse his actions.

“The reality is he thought he was communicating with a certain person.

“As a first offender and someone who has never before been in custody, there are various alternatives.

“A community payback order is put forward as one possibility.”

‘Serious offences’

At Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court, Sheriff Steven Borthwick imposed a three-year community payback order.

Somerville will be supervised during this period and must complete the Moving Forward: Making Changes programme aimed at rehabilitating sex offenders.

During the course of his order, Somerville must only live in approved accommodation and must declare any friendships, associations or relationships to his social worker.

All contact with children under 16 during this time must be approved in advance.

Somerville must also make his internet-accessible devices available for inspection upon request and do nothing to hide or clear his online activity.

The sheriff said: “You’ve pled guilty to committing what are serious offences.

“The circumstances of that offending does give rise to concern.

“You may be a person who poses a risk to members of the public.

“These are serious matters which could result in a custodial sentence.

“You’ve admitted responsibility at the earliest opportunity – that’s to your credit.

“It’s clear that you are a man who has suffered health difficulties.

“On balance, I’m persuaded that it is not necessary to impose a custodial sentence at this stage.”

Offending

Prosecutor Joanne Ritchie previously told the court the female adult decoy was using the alias of a 13-year-old girl on a chat platform and opened a ‘hi’ message from a user called ‘Talktomeiambored’ – an account belonging to Somerville.

Within their first four messages the adult told Somerville she was 13.

He initially replied “that’s young” before engaging in conversation and making inappropriate remarks.

These included questions such as, “do you have a bf?” and “why not? You are a pretty girl”.

The comments turned more sinister and Somerville, now of Heather Court, Glenrothes discussed sexual activities in detail.

The fiscal depute said he went on to say: “I would like to see more than just your face.

“Take a selfie with your beautiful body in it.

“If you are ever up here just give me a shout”.

Ms Ritchie said Somerville sent an image of his penis and one showing a leg and boxer shorts.

Communication then ceased and the adult decoy, a volunteer for online child protection group ‘For the Kids,’ found where Somerville lived.

A group confronted him at his then-home on the evening of August 11 2022.

In the video, the married father describes how he is recovering from a recent kidney transplant.

Police were contacted and two officers arrived a short time later and were shown screenshots of the relevant message exchanges.

Description

A man who had a "sexual interest in teenage girls" cynically took advantage of two to commit repeated sexual offences against them over a period of about 18 months.

Laurence Gladwin at first groomed the girls with "friendly banter" but it soon progressed to sending messages to them before "quickly escalating" to having sex with one of them in his car and committing sexual acts in the car with the other.

He encouraged them to send him intimate pictures of themselves and he sent a video to one of the girls showing him committing a sex act, Hull Crown Court heard. Gladwin, 43, of Young Street, Withernsea, admitted seven offences of sexual activity with a girl while in a position of trust and four offences of making indecent images of children.

Robert Stevenson, prosecuting, said that Gladwin initiated contact with the girls. It escalated to meeting them and committing sexual acts with them or inciting them to do so.

He kissed one of the girls and he also repeatedly intimately touched her as well as causing her to commit a sex act on him. She later said that the behaviour started with banter and then escalated to frequent messages being sent before they later met up on several occasions in Gladwin's car.

He would drive to a secluded area of a public car park. She felt "out of her depth" and "pressured" into sexual behaviour. Gladwin suggested that they could go to a hotel but she refused and that brought an end to their meetings.

The girl later came forward, and after police became involved, Gladwin's phone was seized and the offences involving the other girl came to light. The indecent images were discovered.

The second girl initially denied any involvement but later gave details. Friendly banter with Gladwin led to messages being exchanged before matters "escalated quickly".

He picked her up in his car. They had full sex in his car on one occasion and at his home when his wife and children were not there. "He told her that he loved her and she reciprocated," said Mr Stevenson.

The girl said that she was a willing participant but later realised that this was because of the "significant power imbalance" between them. They met several times, initiated by him.

"She froze," said Mr Stevenson. "She didn't know what to do. It was her first experience with anyone. There were a number of incidents, all of a similar nature.

"She felt scared," said Mr Stevenson. "She feared him a bit because he had more power. There were no threats or force." She sent "nude pictures" of herself and he sent her a video of him committing a sex act.

There were 12 indecent images of the first girl, 81 indecent images of the second and 134 of other unknown girls on Gladwin's phone.

The first girl said in a statement that it was a "burden which she had carried for some time" and she now has a lack of trust. "She feels the defendant exploited her and she feels uncertain around new people," said Mr Stevenson.

"She feels emotionally damaged. She was not eating for a period. She still has sleepless nights and flashbacks. She feels that the defendant took advantage of her vulnerability."

The second girl said that she felt "used and taken advantage of" by Gladwin. "She finds it hard to trust people." She had a "very bad memory" of the incidents.

Nigel Clive, mitigating, said that Gladwin "thoroughly regretted" his actions towards the two girls and he had pleaded guilty at a very early stage and shown remorse. He had no previous convictions.

"For some time, he would have wished to have been able to apologise," said Mr Clive. "He can't turn back the clock. Sometimes such defendants try to play it out and that causes the complainant far more distress than the proceedings have perhaps done in this case.

"He accepts that he needs to be punished," said Mr Clive. "He is very disappointed, to say the least, in himself. It's caused some internal reflection on his part."

Father-of-two Gladwin's marriage ended and some "self-destructive and ill-thought-out life choices" followed.

"He accepts that he behaved in a terrible way," said Mr Clive. "This is not a defendant who will repeat such behaviour. He knows what he has done and he is very sorry."

Judge Kate Rayfield told Gladwin: "You plainly have a sexual interest in teenage girls," said Judge Rayfield.

Gladwin had shown some remorse but, after the police got involved, he telephoned one of the girls and asked her not to say anything if she was asked. This was "selfish" and did not show genuine remorse.

"There was grooming behaviour and you retained sexual images of your victims," said Judge Rayfield.

Gladwin was jailed for six years and he was given a sexual harm prevention order for life. He will have to register as a sex offender for life.

Description

A fast food restaurant worker who raped a woman in Brighton has been jailed.

Bogdan Cioropa, 28, of Staplefield Drive in Brighton, raped his victim – a woman who was 17 years old at the time – at a property in Brighton on Friday, 9 April, 2021.

She reported the offence to police and Cioropa was arrested the following day on suspicion of rape.

The woman was given support by specialist officers while an investigation was carried out.

Cioropa was subsequently charged with rape, attempted oral rape and sexual assault, but left the country before his trial was due to start.

Proceedings continued in his absence and a jury unanimously found him guilty of all three counts at Hove Crown Court on Thursday, 14 September.

At Lewes Crown Court on Wednesday (22 November), Cioropa was sentenced in his absence to nine years in prison.

He was also given a 15-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, a restraining order of 15 years and will be a registered sex offender for life.

After extensive attempts to locate Cioropa in Europe, a warrant is with the Crown Prosecution Service for his arrest and extradition.

Stringent measures are in place to ensure he will be apprehended should he attempt to re-enter the UK.

In a victim impact statement shared with the court, Cioropa’s victim said: “Thanks to you my whole life changed. I went from being innocent to the horrors that go on in this world to no longer being able to trust anyone. I struggle to believe people and I am constantly worrying about their true intentions.

“I had been told about monsters like you my whole life and how I should be cautious, but at the time I was still a child, I had never expected you to be one of those people I should have been watching out for.

“I am thankful for the support I’ve had from my family and friends, the police and especially Laura from Survivors’ Network who has listened to me talk for hours about all my thoughts.”

Detective Constable Laura Pettitt said: “I would like to thank this courageous young woman for the determination she has shown in not only reporting Cioropa’s crimes initially, but for her supporting a court process delayed by his refusal to attend trial and face justice in person.

“The jury were unanimous in finding him guilty of all three charges and he will be placed behind bars where he can pose no further danger to women.

“I hope this result provides his victim and her family with some degree of comfort as they look to move on with their lives.

Description

A West Midlands man who posted videos of himself raping and sexually assaulting a young boy online has been jailed for nearly 12 years.

Aiden Foster, 22, from Wednesbury, made a series of child sexual abuse videos which were shared on social media site Discord.

The National Crime Agency worked with US law enforcement agencies and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which led to Foster being identified.

Experts in the NCA’s victim identification team used facial comparison tools to confirm his identity.

Foster was arrested by NCA officers at his home address on 6 May this year.

His electronic devices were seized and NCA crime scene analysis investigators matched items at his address to those shown in the videos - including his jewellery, a distinctively patterned blanket and boxing trophies.

Officers recovered 771 indecent images of children across categories A-C (A being the most severe) from four of his devices.

They also found an Instagram chat in which Foster requested ‘horny pics of a 14-year-old’ from an unknown person and boasted that he could send videos of someone carrying out a sex act on him.

The children in this case have been safeguarded.

Foster pleaded guilty to 24 offences, including rape of a child under 13, at Wolverhampton Crown Court on 8 August.

He was sentenced to 11 years and seven months in prison, with a further four years on license, at the same court today (22 November).

He is also subject to a sexual harm prevention order and will remain on the sex offenders register for life.

NCA operations manager Holly Triggs said: “Aiden Foster is a dangerous offender who conducted the most horrific abuse against children.

“Chat logs showed he revelled in the ability to share material online – an act that will no doubt have contributed to the normalisation of such abuse among other paedophiles.

“The NCA is dedicated to combatting this global threat, working tirelessly to protect children and ensure that high harm offenders like Foster are put behind bars.”

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A man who travelled to Chippenham with the intention of sexually abusing a child has been jailed.

Mark Pegram was sentenced at Swindon Crown Court today (Wednesday) after pleading guilty to the commission of a child sex offence and possessing indecent images of a child.

The 65-year-old engaged in a number of explicit conversations with an undercover officer online – who was posing as a woman with a nine-year-old daughter.

The defendant, of Chase Side Avenue in Enfield, London, was collared when he proceeded to arrange a meet and turned up believing he was going to be able to sexually abuse the youngster.

He denied he had any intention of carrying out any sexual acts on the child and went to trial, where he later changed his plea to guilty.

Pegram was sentenced to 48 months in prison and told the register as a sex offender indefinitely. He was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Wiltshire Police Detective Constable Kerry Foster said: “This was an extremely distressing case for the jury sitting on this trial.

“They had to view a large number of messages that contained graphic details about the sexual acts that he planned to carry out on the child when they met.

“The jury also had to listen to recordings that depicted the graphic detail of the sexual acts that he wanted to do with the child.

“Our Child Internet Exploitation Team works with other agencies such as children’s social care and health, to minimise the risk to children who may be vulnerable to harm.

“We would urge anyone who suspects a person of carrying out child sexual exploitation to get in touch with us straight away.”

Detective Inspector David Wells, from the Online Investigations Team at South West Regional Organised Crime Unit said: “This is vital work, identifying offenders who use the internet to groom children and, as in this case, attempt to arrange access to a child to abuse.

“It is our priority to protect and keep children safe in our communities and I encourage anyone worried about exploitation of a child online to report it to the police.”

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A 23-year-old woman who took indecent photos of a child and sent them to her boyfriend has been jailed following a National Crime Agency investigation.

Toni Andrews, from Hull, was also found to be in possession of more than 800 illegal images and videos, including hundreds showing child sexual abuse.

She was identified after the conviction of her then-boyfriend, Thomas Edeson, 24, of Franklin Street, Hull, who was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment in August 2021 for sexually assaulting a young girl and taking indecent images of her.

The NCA’s investigation into Edeson began in May 2021 with a referral from the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which was notified by Google of his attempt to upload child sexual abuse images to the internet.

After examining his electronic devices, officers discovered sexual images of a child which appeared to have been taken by Andrews and sent to Edeson.

Andrews was arrested in connection in December 2021.

In interview she admitted to taking and sending one of the photos to Edeson, but denied knowing about his sexual interest in children.

Examination of Andrews’ electronic devices, which were seized from her home when she was arrested, revealed almost 100 indecent images of children in categories A-C, over 500 prohibited images of children and over 200 showing extreme pornography.

As part of the investigation into Andrews’ offending, Edeson was produced from prison and interviewed by NCA officers.

He told them that Andrews had supplied him with sexual images of a child as well as children’s underwear, which officers recovered from his home when he was arrested.

At Hull Crown Court today [22 November], a judge sentenced Andrews to 16 months in prison and ordered her to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years.

She had pleaded guilty to a total of seven charges at an earlier court hearing, including taking indecent photographs of a child, possession of indecent images of children and possession of extreme pornography.