Latest Offenders

Description

A Southport man has been jailed for 15 years and must sign the Sex Offender Register for life after raping a child and committing a series of sex offences against four other children.

Callum Crofts, 22, of King Street, Southport, was found guilty of the rape of a child under 16 last February after a two-week trial in November 2024. He then pleaded guilty in March 2025 to 11 more offences against children.

Crofts was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court, on Monday 30 June,  to a total of 15 years in prison for the following sexual offences, which took place from February 2023 to March 2024 against five victims:

• Rape of a child under 16
• Seven counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child
• Three counts of engaging in sexual communications with a child
• One count of cause/incite a child to engage in sexual activity
• One count of send a photograph of genitals to cause alarm/distress or humiliation
• Three counts of Make indecent photographs of a child (Cat A,B,C)

Detective Constable Lindsey Harris said:

“Crofts showed no regard for the long-lasting emotional impact his vile actions will undoubtedly have on all his victims, acting only to satisfy his own depravity.

“I hope this sentencing shows that violence against women and girls will not be tolerated and we will work tirelessly to bring offenders to justice. 

“Crofts was found guilty by a unanimous verdict of this heinous crime. He will now spend a significant time in prison.

“Anyone that has been a victim of a sexual offence, is concerned for the safety of someone they know or suspects someone to be engaging in this criminal activity, should come forward and speak to us.

“We have a team of dedicated staff who will expertly and compassionately deal with your reports and we will do everything we can to bring offenders to justice.

“While no sentence will repair the trauma which was inflicted on his victims, I hope this sentencing will not only provide them with justice, but also encourage other victims to come forward and have the confidence in us as a police force to take reports seriously and ultimately ensure offenders are put before the courts.”

Description

Convicted sex offender Stephen Proctor has dodged prison for breaking a court rule - four years after being jailed for a similar offence.

The 58-year-old was caged for 30 months in 2021 after setting up fake social media profiles on Facebook. It followed his conviction for sexual activity with a child after kissing a 15-year-old girl on the lips in 2021.

Now Proctor - who has eight convictions for 34 offences - has been sentenced yet again.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard how Proctor, of Leek Road, Stoke, failed to tell police that he had obtained a new passport ahead of a trip to Turkey.

Prosecutor Gurdit Singh said: “The defendant notified police he was planning to go to Turkey. He planned to use a passport which he had not notified police he had received and was arrested. In an interview later that day, he told police he wasn’t aware he needed to.”

But Rashid Mohammed, mitigating, argued that Proctor’s failure to comply was a genuine oversight.

He said: “The real question of this case is whether we need to send Mr Proctor to prison. There wasn’t a total disregard to inform authorities of his actions - he had notified police of where he was going. But he had overlooked the need to tell police about his new passport. He is currently on referral for help with ongoing mental health issues, including a suspected personality disorder. He is trying to keep himself busy with volunteer work and is trying to secure employment at a takeaway which is dependent on the outcome of this case.”

Proctor was handed an 18-month community order. It includes 20 days of rehabilitation and 200 hours unpaid work. He must also pay £1,000 costs.

Judge Richard McConaghy said: “You failed to notify police of your new passport in September. You did tell them you were going abroad. I acknowledge that your old passport was set to expire in January 2025, and you feared the passport would no longer be valid for travel. I also understand that you assumed it would be fine as it was using the same passport number. But it was your responsibility to notify police. I consider this a serious breach as you have been convicted of failing to notify police on a previous occasion, resulting in your imprisonment in 2021.”

Description

Man jailed after being found guilty of sex offences.

John Cooper, 80, of Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, has been sentenced to two and a half years’ imprisonment at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court today (Monday 30 June).

He was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14 and two counts of indecent assault on a woman over 16 years of age at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on 9 April 2025.

He has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register.

The allegations against Cooper were reported to us in 2021 and our rape and serious sexual offences team launched an investigation.

The offences happened in the 80s and 90s.

Detective Inspector Chris Wynn-Jones, of our rape and serious sexual offences team, said: “I would like to commend the bravery of the victims for coming forward and for giving evidence at Cooper’s trial. They have shown true courage and determination.

“I hope it brings some reassurance that he is now behind bars but also highlights that, no matter the length of time passed, we will always do what we can to investigate and bring these offenders to justice. I also hope this will encourage others who may have suffered similar experiences to come forward and report them to us.”

Description

A teacher has been jailed for nine years for the sexual abuse of 11 boys over a 21-year period at private schools in Scotland

William Bain, 72, attacked the pupils, aged between 11 and 14, at schools in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dumbarton and at a flat in the grounds of one school.

The former physics teacher, from Crieff in Perthshire, admitted the attacks from 1978 to 1999, after his victims came forward following a previous conviction for similar offences.

Bain was previously jailed in 2016 for abusing five boys at a school in Dunbartonshire.

He was freed in 2020, but he was rearrested in 2022 after evidence was given at the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.

One of Bain's victims was aged just 12 when he began abusing the boy during detention sessions at a private school in Edinburgh in the late 1970s.

Another pupil was sexually abused while Bain helped him with his homework, later ordering the boy not to tell anyone about what had happened.

By the mid-1980s, Bain had relocated to Aberdeen, where he sexually assaulted an "isolated and homesick" boy who had moved to the school from England.

Bain, a housemaster at the school, invited the boy to his classroom where he abused him until the school bell rang.

Bain's next victims were at the boarding school in Dunbartonshire - the same school that led to his imprisonment in 2016.

One teenage boy was abused on three occasions in the physics teacher's laboratory "in view of other pupils".

Bain played off the abuse as "mere wrestling".

Another boy had been the victim of bullying and had described the school as a "brutal environment".

He was also attacked the lab as well as in a dark room at a photography club the teacher ran, during rugby training sessions and on hill walking trips.

Other incidents occurred in the physics lab, dark room and in Bain's private flat in the grounds of the school, which "a number of pupils" were given access to.

One teenager was attacked there while a film was being shown and a further attack occurred while this boy was using a computer at the flat.

Another victim described feeling "uncomfortable" as the teacher stood watching him and others pupils as they showered.

'Terrible legacy'

Bain's lawyer, Brian McConnachie KC, said he had accepted his offending had been "out of control" about the time of the millennium.

Sentencing, Lord Young said he had read a number of victim impact statements describing the "terrible legacy" left by Bain's abuse.

The judge said the then boys were left feeling "alone and lost" and thought they would not be believed had they spoke out at the time.

Lord Young said: "These children were entrusted by their parents to the schools. They ought to have been nurtured and educated in a safe environment.

"Instead, it seems that throughout your career as a teacher, you abused this position to pursue your own sexual deviances."

His sentence was cut from 10 years due to the guilty pleas.

Det Sgt Alan Macdougall described Bain as a "prolific sexual predator".

DS Macdougall said: "Bain used his position of power to inflict pain and harm on his young victims.

"The scale of his offending is horrendous. "

Description

An Aberdeen paedophile has been jailed after admitting breaching a ban of him looking up and watching porn online.

Graeme Redwood was placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely in 2016 after being convicted of a similar offence and breaching an order.

Description

Two men who were found guilty of multiple child sex offences earlier this year are both facing prison sentences following a hearing at Guildford Crown Court today (30 June).

Stephen Ireland, 40, (DOB: 8/3/1984) from Addlestone, was sentenced to 24 years in prison, with a further six on extended licence, after being found guilty of the rape of a child under 13, three counts of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and the sexual assault of a child under 13, as well as:

• Conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a child;
• Arranging commission of a child sex offence;
• Six counts of making indecent photographs of children;
• Four counts of distributing indecent photographs of a child;
• Possession of prohibited images of children;
• Possession of an extreme pornographic image.

David Sutton, 27, (DOB: 10/10/1997), from Addlestone, was sentenced to four and half years (54 months) in prison after being found guilty of three counts of making indecent photographs of children and one count of possession of an extreme pornographic image.

Ireland and Sutton were also found guilty of one count of voyeurism and one count of perverting the course of justice.

Following the trial, the jury found Sutton and Ireland not guilty of the conspiracy offences with which they had also been charged, including three counts of arranging a child sexual offence, five counts of conspiracy to sexually assault a child, one count of conspiracy to kidnap a child and one count one count of conspiracy to administer a substance with intent.

Both men had already pleaded guilty to a number of offences at the start of the trial. Ireland pleaded guilty to possessing 274 prohibited images of children and possessing an extreme pornographic image, while Sutton pleaded guilty to distributing a category A indecent photograph of a child, distributing three category B indecent photographs of a child and possessing 64 prohibited images of children.

The four-week trial followed an extensive investigation by Surrey Polices Complex Abuse Unit, which began following the report of the rape of a 12-year-old boy, which led to Ireland being arrested in April 2024.

A search of a phone hidden in his flat revealed indecent images of children.

Ireland and Sutton were both arrested on 11 June 2024 for distribution and possession of indecent images of children.

On 14 August 2024, charges were authorised for 44 offences (later increased to 45), relating to Ireland and Sutton, and spanning the period between August 2022 and July 2024.

Temporary Detective Chief Superintendent Debbie White, Head of Surrey Polices Public Protection Command, said: "Stephen Ireland was a sexual predator who targeted a young boy and took advantage of his age and vulnerability for his own gratification. I would like to pay tribute to the victim in this case for their courage in coming forward and for giving evidence. I hope the fact that both Stephen Ireland and David Sutton have been given prison sentences can help them start to re-build their life.

As well as both men demonstrating an extreme sexual interest in children, they then tried to cover up their offending by intentionally deleting material from their phones once they became aware of the police investigation and following their arrests.

This has been an extremely difficult and complex investigation, and I would like to thank all those involved for their hard work and dedication. I hope the sentences handed down today send a clear message to any victim of a sexual offence, that you will be listened to, you will be supported, and we will investigate such crimes thoroughly.

Claire Gallagher, Senior Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: It is clear that both Stephen Ireland and David Sutton had a perverted and dangerous interest in children.

Child sexual abuse is a devastating crime which can have a lifelong impact on victims. I would like to offer my deepest thanks to the victims who supported the prosecution and helped the CPS and Surrey Police bring these offenders to justice.

Description

A 20-year-old man convicted of serious sexual crimes has been jailed for eight years.

Riley Kirk was sentenced to prison at the High Court in Edinburgh on Monday, 30 June, 2025, and placed on the Sex Offenders Register.

He was found guilty at the same court on Monday, 26 May, 2025. The offences, which included rape and sexual assault, took place in the Falkirk and West Lothian areas between October 2019 and January 2023.

Detective Constable Marc Lunn said:

"Riley Kirk is now facing the consequences of his abhorrent actions.

"This outcome was made possible thanks to the victims who came forward and reported him. I commend them for the strength they have shown during the investigation and court proceedings. Our thoughts remain with them, and I hope this sentencing offers them some comfort as they move forward with their lives.

"I would also like to reassure our communities that we are committed to investigating all reports of sexual crimes and remain determined to bring those responsible to justice. I urge anyone who has been the victim of any offence of this nature to contact us - you will be fully supported by our officers and partner agencies."

Description

A 92-year-old man has been convicted of the murder and rape of Louisa Dunne, whose body was found at her home in Bristol 58 years ago.  

Ryland Headley, of Clarence Road in Ipswich, denied the offences but was found guilty by a jury following a trial at Bristol Crown Court. The jury unanimously found him guilty of rape, and guilty of murder by a majority of 10 to two. He will be sentenced tomorrow, Tuesday 1 June.

Louisa, 75, also known as Louise, was found dead in her home in Britannia Road, Easton, by a neighbour on Wednesday 28 June 1967. The cause of her death was determined to be strangulation and asphyxiation. She had also been raped. 

A re-review of the case began in 2023, with officers from our Major Crime Review Team (MCRT) later submitting items for forensic analysis, including clothing. 

Louisa’s blue skirt (pictured in source), which she was wearing at the time she was attacked, was among the items tested and an examination resulted in a full DNA profile being obtained from it. 

This profile was compared to the national database and found to be a match with Ryland Headley, whose profile was placed onto the system in 2012 following an unconnected and unrelated incident. The court was told the DNA was a billion to one times more likely to be from Headley than anyone else. 

Headley was arrested following a police operation on Tuesday 19 November 2024, and he was taken into custody in Ipswich and interviewed by our officers. He was later charged and remanded in custody to appear in court (footage from the interview in source).

It was following this that a palmprint found on an upstairs bedroom window at Louisa’s home was also found to be a match to Headley, after a new set of prints were taken from him in custody. This palmprint had resulted in prints being taken from more than 19,000 men during the original murder investigation. 

Headley was convicted of two counts of rape in the late 1970s, after he attacked elderly women in Ipswich by breaking into their homes overnight and threatening them with violence, before carrying out the rape offence. Both offences happened in October 1977. One of the victims was in her late seventies, and the other in her mid-eighties. 

Headley (pictured in source) admitted these offences, with a further 10 burglary offences committed in the 1970s being taken into consideration. He was initially sentenced to life imprisonment, but this was reduced following an appeal to a seven-year jail term.  

He was caught for these offences after he left fingerprints at one of the scenes, which led to him being identified following a mass house-to-house and fingerprinting operation carried out by Suffolk Police. Headley had his fingerprints taken as part of these enquiries on 3 December 1977 and was arrested in London nine days later. 

Timeline to justice 

28 June 1967  
Louisa Dunne is found murdered in a downstairs room of her home in Britannia Road, Easton 

1967  
A huge police investigation is carried out in Bristol, in which palmprints from 19,000 men are taken in a bid to identify the killer 

October 1977  
Two women in Ipswich are raped in separate incidents after a man breaks into their home at night. Fingerprints are recovered from one of the scenes. 

3 December 1977  
Following a mass house-to-house and fingerprint testing operation in Ipswich, Ryland Headley’s fingerprints are taken. Two days later he was positively identified as the offender. 

12 December 1977 
Following information received, Headley was arrested by officers in Marshalsea Road, London 

May 1978  
After pleading guilty, Headley is convicted of two rape offences and sentenced to life imprisonment. This sentence was later reduced to seven years on appeal

2012  
Ryland Headley’s DNA is entered onto the national database following his arrest for an unrelated and unconnected incident 

2023 
Following a review of all unsolved murder investigations by our MCRT, the Louisa Dunne investigation is looked at in detail to identify any forensic opportunities 

May 2024  
A skirt worn by Louisa at the time she was attacked is among items sent off for forensic testing  

Sept 2024  
A full DNA profile is obtained from the skirt and matches with 92-year-old Ryland Headley 

19 Nov 2024  
Ryland Headley is arrested by MCRT officers at his home in Ipswich and taken into custody for questioning. Later the same day he is charged with the murder and rape of Louisa Dunne. 

20 Nov 2024  
Headley makes his first appearance via video link at Bristol Magistrates’ Court. The following day he appears at Bristol Crown Court, again via a video link and is remanded in custody pending his trial.  

June 2025 
Following a trial at Bristol Crown Court, Headley is convicted of the murder and rape of Louisa Dunne

Description

A man who raped a woman while she slept has been jailed for eight years.

Daniel Barbosa, 27, of Hinchcliffe, Orton Goldhay, Peterborough, forced himself on the victim in July 2022.

As she woke up to what was happening, she repeatedly told Barbosa to stop.

But he refused to listen, and carried on with the attack, leaving the victim distraught.

After the incident, the victim fled to the bathroom in tears.

She didn’t initially report the incident, but a month later, told officers what had happened.

She also discovered Barbosa had filmed her in an intimate state without her knowledge, five months before the rape.

Following a trial in April, Barbosa was found guilty of two counts of rape and voyeurism.

On Monday, 23 June, Barbosa was sentenced to eight years in prison and barred from working with children and vulnerable adults.

He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

DC Katie Housham, who investigated, said:

“Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the incredible courage of the victim in this case for coming forward and reporting what had happened. It is thanks to her bravery Barbosa’s predatory behaviour has been exposed.

“Barbosa forced himself on a woman who was asleep and could not give consent. This sentencing is a reminder that no means no, and we will always strive to bring offenders before the courts.

“I would encourage anyone who thinks they might’ve been a victim of a sexual offence to contact us on 101 or via web chat on the force website. We take all reports of sexual offences very seriously.

“We have a dedicated team of specially trained officers ready to investigate allegations promptly, fully and professionally, and a network of partnership agencies and support services to offer assistance and support.”

Description

A man with more than 1,000 indecent images of children on his phone told a court an unnamed drug dealer had uploaded them.

Finlay Moorcroft, 23, of High Street, Sawston, Cambridgeshire, was arrested last year after the pictures were linked to his email address.

Det Sgt Julia Boon, of Cambridgeshire Police, described the material as "abhorrent examples of child abuse".

Moorcroft admitted six counts of making indecent images of children and was jailed for two years and two months at Peterborough Crown Court.

The hearing was told how when officers searched Moorcroft's home they seized two mobile phones.

One had 1,179 indecent images of children and one video.

More than 100 of the images and the video were classed as category A – the most severe.

The second phone was too damaged to retrieve any information.

Moorcroft claimed a drug dealer had taken his phone on several occasions and said the dealer must have uploaded the images.

He refused to name the person and further investigation found the phone had been near Moorcroft's home when some of the images were downloaded.

Moorcroft was arrested again after police received further information relating to another device which contained a further 50 indecent images of children.

He was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the sex offenders register for ten years.

Det Sgt Julia Boon added: "Moorcroft is a persistent offender who clearly didn't change his behaviour after he was arrested on the first occasion.

"The images and video found on his devices were abhorrent examples of child abuse.

"I'm pleased he has now been brought to justice.

"Protecting children is one of our top priorities. We will continue to work tirelessly to do all we can to prosecute those who prey on them."

Description

A REPEAT offender who wanted to ‘adopt’ and teach sex acts to a ‘child’ he believed was 14 has been jailed after being caught trying to meet a girl online in Ayr.

Hugh Wilson appeared from custody at the town's sheriff court after pleading guilty to causing a person pretending to be a young child to receive sexual communications.

The 64-year-old was stung by members of a child protection group and livestreamed on social media, after previously avoiding prison when snared in the same manner by police.

When he returned to the dock last week, he was jailed, however, he is likely to be released soon due to the length of time spent on remand.

We previously reported how Wilson, now of HMP Kilmarnock, took members of the voluntary online protection group on a tour of his flat on Craigie Avenue in Ayr, in a video streamed on the Against Sexual Abuse (ASA Scotland) Facebook page.

A procurator fiscal depute said: “The accused was communicating with a witness who portrays herself as a 14-year-old as part of a voluntary online safety group, who makes various social media accounts on various platforms.

"The locus was the home address of the accused. The decoy account received a message from the accused.

“He complemented her and said 'If I said you were cute, how would you feel?' She said it was nice of him to ask and said she was 14 and from the UK.

“He said he was 63 and asked if that was okay, she said 'that’s no problem', they then engaged in general chat, and acknowledged her age several times.

“He stated that if he were younger he would ask her on a date. He asked if he could adopt her. He asked if they could run away together and said he would look after her."

The fiscal depute added: “From October 16 to November 6, 2024 the accused engaged in conversation with the decoy profile. During the conversation he referred to himself as ‘daddy’ and repeatedly used highly sexual language.

“He encouraged her to [perform sexual acts on herself], said he would ‘help her’ and repeatedly asked if she was aroused and if she had ever seen an erect penis before, and what she would do if she saw the accused’s.

“He sent pictures of his guitars and his tablet. When she said she was jealous he had a tablet, he said ‘if you’re a good girl for daddy I might get you one for Christmas’.

“At 7pm on November 6 she attended his home address with other group members. The group live posted the video on Facebook.

“Police were contacted, attended and arrested the accused. He made no reply and was taken to Kilmarnock police office.

“Devices including a mobile, laptop and a tablet were searched. The Crown intend to destroy all devices."

Sheriff Scott Pattison said: "In relation to the narration, I thought the police and Crown had told such groups not to attend at houses in such a manner. For my part, I would appreciate if the group can be told."

When he returned to court for sentencing, defence solicitor Tony Currie said: “I have had the opportunity to discuss with my client. I have to say the ability to discuss in detail was difficult as he was very unwell, whatever is going on he is very softly spoken. 

"Parts of the [social work] report will cause concern - there is a suggestion the offence was not for sexual gratification. I had further discussions on what else could be the motive.

"His position is there was no sexual motivation.

"The combination of analogous offending and the nature of the offence moves it much beyond the custody threshold."

Raising the length of time he had spent on remand, Mr Currie added: "You could consider a long order while monitored for guidance and learning." 

Sheriff Pattison said a custodial sentence was "the only appropriate thing to do".

He added: "Mr Currie may be right that you will be released soon but the offence needs marked for the seriousness."

He was jailed for 16 months - backdated to when first remanded.

He was also placed on a strict sexual harm prevention order forbidding any intentional contact with children under 18.

He was placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

Description

A sex offender has been jailed after he was caught staying at a home where three children lived.

Linton Mwingi had informed the mother of the youngsters of his sordid past and that he was on the Sex Offenders' Register but he hadn't informed the authorities that he sometimes stayed at her house.

The 28-year-old, who was given a suspended sentence in 2016 for sexual assault after he loitered near toilets in Eldon Square, exposed himself, made lewd comments and tried to drag a young man into a cubicle, also hadn't told the police of two bank cards he'd taken out or that he wasn't always living at his usual Lemington address, all of which were requirements of the register. A court heard that it was not the first time Mwingi hadn't adhered to the Sex Offenders' Register, having previously been convicted in 2021.

The former talented footballer, of Dene Avenue, in Lemington, has now been locked-up for eight months after he pleaded guilty to five counts of failing to comply with the requirements of the Sex Offenders' Register. Glenda Beck, prosecuting at Newcatle Magistrates' Court, said Mwingi's risk management officer attended his Lemington home in September 2024 and spoke with a male, who confirmed that Mwingi was not living there.

Mrs Beck continued: "Financial checks were carried out and the defendant had two registered bank cards, with one having a home address in Sunderland." The court heard that officers again visited his Lemington home and were told by two males that he didn't live there.

They then attended the Sunderland address linked to the bank account and found a number of items belonging to Mwingi. The property was the home of a woman Mwingi claimed to be a friend and her three children.

Kash Khan, defending, said Mwingi had suffered a brain injury in the past. Mr Khan added: "He's suffered since with remembering things and getting his affairs in order."

Jailing him, District Judge Paul Currer said: "These are serious offences because you were not living where you ought to have been. Instead, you were present at an address where there were children without notifying the authorities and you had two bank accounts, which you also didn't register with the authorities."

Description

A convicted paedophile who lied about doing an online cookery course so he could target new victims has been spared jail.

James Stephen, 27, was jailed in 2021 after he was caught sending sickening sexual messages on Snapchat to a 12-year-old girl.  

Description

Arlanzo Sherwood was found guilty of child sexual offences and voyeurism following a nine-day trial at Basildon Crown Court.

The jury convicted the 46-year-old on two counts of assault of a girl by penetration, one count of sexual activity with a child and one count of voyeurism.

He was cleared on two counts of assault by penetration and one count of sexual activity with a child.

Essex Police’s Quest team, who investigate sexual offence reports where the victim was a child at the time of the offence but is now an adult, started making enquiries in July 2019 after receiving reports from a family friend of the survivor.

Following a two-and-a-half-year investigation, where Sherwood either refused to comment or denied the allegations, he was charged in October 2021.

In court the survivor, who is now in her 20s, told the jury about the abuse she had suffered at the hands of the defendant.

She had kept it a secret but told a friend and then her mum what had happened to her. Sherwood was confronted by her horrified mum, and the allegations were reported to police.

Jailed

On Thursday 26 June at the same court Sherwood, of Clayburn Circle, Basildon, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for both assault charges, which will run concurrently.

He was sentenced to eight years in prison for the sexual activity offence and 18 months in prison for voyeurism. These will run concurrently with the 11 years sentences.

He was placed on the sex offenders’ register for life and given a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

After the victim impact statement was read to the court HHJ Judge Richard Conley thanked the survivor for her bravery and noted the arduous trial.

He also acknowledged the “professionalism” “hard work” and “diligence” of Detective Constable Chris Sedgwick.

Investigating officer Det Con Chris Sedgwick said:

"I would firstly like to pay tribute to the survivor in this case.
"She has shown incredible fortitude and bravery throughout the investigation and the protracted court process.
"Not only did she come forward and tell someone what had happened to her but managed the process with incredible dignity.
"Sherwood committed heinous offences against a vulnerable child and is now rightly serving a long prison sentence.
"At Essex Police we will fully investigate all allegations reported to us and I hope this case helps encourage others who have suffered similar offences, recent or not, to come forward.
"You will be listened to; you will be supported and specially trained officers will be there throughout the process.
"We do not underestimate how difficult it is to come forward and I want to assure all survivors of abuse that we will do all we can to secure justice."

The survivor in this case added:

"Telling the right person has made all the difference to my life. I never thought I would tell anyone, but I have had incredible support.
"The independent sexual violence advisors were there throughout this horrendous time and I’m really grateful to them for their understanding and patience."

Description

A 39-year-old man has been jailed for 19-years with an extra eight years on extended licence after admitting multiple sexual offences committed against two girls in Bristol.

Mark Manship, of Cardiff, raped, sexually assaulted and shared indecent images of a “very young” girl online. He was also convicted of taking an indecent picture of a teenage girl in 2011.

He was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court today (27 June) where he was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, a restraining order and added to the Sex Offenders’ Register.

The court heard Manship was caught after exchanging sexually-explicit messages describing child abuse, as well as indecent images of children, with an undercover FBI agent in December 2020 who then informed police in the UK.

He was arrested by Avon and Somerset Police and a search of his devices uncovered hundreds of indecent images of children.

He was charged with the following offences:

• One count of rape of a child under 13
• Four counts of sexual assault of a child under 13
• Two counts of taking indecent photographs of a child
• Two counts of distributing indecent photographs of a child
• One count of making indecent photographs of a child

He pleaded guilty to each offence when he appeared at Bristol Crown Court last month.

In a victim personal statement, the court was told of the significant impact of his crimes and that it “continues to echo through every part” of their lives.

It said they “no longer feel safe in their own world,” and that there is now “fear where there used to be comfort; suspicion where there used to be ease”.

Sentencing Manship, the judge said: “The facts of this case are extremely distressing. They are nothing short of revolting or horrific.”

He handed him a 19-year prison sentence with an extend licence period of eight years. He also granted lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention and Restraining orders and added Manship to the sex offenders’ register.

DC Elizabeth Howell, the investigating officer, said: 

“Mark Manship is a manipulative man who committed truly abhorrent crimes to fuel his own grotesque sexual desires.

“He took advantage of very young girls and shared his horrific abuse of one of them online – giving absolutely no thought to their wellbeing or the devastating long-term effects his crimes will have on them and their families.

“The impact of his offending has been immense and I don’t underestimate how horrendous these last few years have been for them.

“They deserve enormous credit for their dedication in helping us bring Mark Manship to justice and for the bravery and strength they have shown.

“I’m very pleased they have been able to see him handed a significant prison sentence today.”