Latest Offenders

Description

A sex offender from Boston who was caught by paedophile hunters after he tried to groom a decoy under-age girl has been jailed for six years.

Graeme Denton, 46, will also have to serve an extended licence period of two years on his release from jail after a judge decided he posed a high risk to children.

Lincoln Crown Court was told Denton had exchanged hundreds of messages on Facebook and WhatsApp with the profile of a 12-year-old girl called ‘Tiff Jones’.

The profile was in fact being managed by an online child safety group, the court was told.

Phil Howes, prosecuting, said during the exchanges Denton offered to pay the decoy £50 for a photo of herself and encouraged a meeting at a railway station where they could have intercourse.

Mr Howes said Denton also encouraged the decoy to touch herself.

The court was told Denton was a registered sex offender who was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) after he was sentenced to 28 months’ imprisonment at Norwich Crown Court in 2018 for similar offences.

When police arrested Denton at his Boston home in October 2024 they found a mobile phone he had not disclosed to the authorities, the court was told.

During his police interview, Denton denied intending to meet the decoy child.

Denton, of Wyberton Low Road, Boston, pleaded guilty to two charges of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, one charge of attempting to breach a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, two charges of attempting to incite a child aged under-13 to engage in sexual activity and one charge of attempting to arrange a sexual offence.

All six offences occurred between August 2023 and October 2024.

Stuart Lody, mitigating, stressed Mr Denton did not actually turn up for a physical meeting and had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

“His offences have never actually been against a real child,” Mr Lody told the court.

“He appears to be amenable to treatment.”

Passing sentence on Monday (June 9), Judge Simon Hirst told Denton the probation service had concluded he was a ‘high risk’ to children.

“I am satisfied you do pose such a risk,” Judge Hirst added.

Description

A paedophile who travelled 130 miles to meet a “14-year-old girl” in Fife has been hounded out of his home, a court has heard.

After making arrangements online, Allan Cruickshank travelled from Peterhead to Kirkcaldy with the intent of spending a night in a guest house, engaging in illegal sex.

Description

A West Yorkshire Police officer has been jailed following his conviction for rape and sexual assault by penetration.

PC Ben Bottomley, aged 23, who is based in Kirklees District, appeared at Sheffield Crown Court today (Wednesday, 11 June) where he was sentenced to four years imprisonment for rape and one year imprisonment for sexual assault by penetration, to be served concurrently.

PC Bottomley will also be subject to the requirements of the Sex Offenders Register for life.

His conviction followed an investigation by West Yorkshire Police’s Professional Standards Directorate into off-duty offences which were reported to the police after he joined the Force.

He has been suspended from duty since the outset of this investigation. An accelerated misconduct hearing is due to take place next month with a view to him being added to the College of Policing’s Barred list preventing him from gaining further employment in policing. 

Tuesday, 22 April, 2025

A West Yorkshire Police officer has been found guilty of off-duty sexual offences.  

PC Benjamin Bottomley, aged 23, who is based in Kirklees district, has been found guilty of rape and sexual assault by penetration following a trial at Sheffield Crown Court.  

The charges relate to offences committed against one adult female victim. The rape offence occurred prior to PC Bottomley joining West Yorkshire Police and the sexual assault by penetration offence occurred while he was a student officer. Both offences were reported to the police after he joined West Yorkshire Police.  

Detective Chief Superintendent Tanya Wilkins, Head of West Yorkshire Police Professional Standards Directorate, said: “These were extremely serious allegations to be made against a serving police officer and he was immediately suspended from duty when the investigation commenced in June 2023.  

“The victim has shown immense courage in coming forward to report these offences. We do not underestimate how hard it is to report such offending in any circumstances but understand that there may also be additional concerns when the perpetrator works in policing.  

“I hope the investigation and subsequent prosecution show that police and partners will take action, regardless of the occupation of the offender.  

“We are committed to protecting women from violence and sexual violence. PC Bottomley has demonstrated a disregard for the victim’s right to consent and, in addition to any custodial sentence he is given, he will now be subject to extra conditions on him as a convicted sex offender.”  

“We will also now continue with misconduct proceedings with a view to PC Bottomley being barred from working in policing in any role in the future.”  

PC Bottomley is due to be sentenced on 11 June.

Description

A man has been sentenced to six years and 11 months in prison after pleading guilty to 17 counts relating to the possession, making and distribution of indecent images of children, publishing an obscene article and attempting to incite a boy aged 13-15 years to engage in sexual activity.

Harry Nyazai, 27, (DOB 13/5/1998), had also pleaded guilty to one count of outraging public decency at an earlier hearing, and was sentenced at Guildford Crown Court on Friday (6 June).

Nyazai, who had worked at a number of schools in Surrey, as well as a children’s holiday club and also advertised his services on social media as a babysitter and after school tutor, was arrested after police received information that he was uploading indecent images of children to a Google account in October 2022.

Nyazai was arrested on 24 November 2022 on suspicion of making indecent images of children. 

Following his arrest, a number of digital devices belonging to him were seized and examined, which showed that indecent images of children had been downloaded.

Nyazai was further arrested in January 2023 in relation to material on messaging apps which showed he was communicating with others who had similar interest in indecent images of children and child sexual abuse.

He was arrested again in February 2023 after further examination of his devices showed he had also been taking, making and encouraging distribution of indecent images of children, including children in his care.

The families of the children who were identified as victims of an offence were contacted at the time and provided with the appropriate support and care.

A Sexual Risk Order (SRO) against Nyazai was granted in February 2023. In May 2023, he pleaded guilty to two breaches of the SRO at Guildford Magistrates’ Court and was given conditional bail, including not to have any unsupervised access with anyone under the age of 18 years.

In June 2024, Nyazai was seen sitting in his car near a school playground in Farnham during break time.

Due to his suspicious behaviour, the witness took a photo of Nyazai’s car and reported the matter to the school who reported it to police.

He was subsequently arrested for outraging public decency after a number of items, including children’s underwear and indecent photos, were found in his car.

At the time of committing this offence, Nyazai was on bail for the other matters.

Following a further court appearance, he was remanded in custody.

Sentencing Nyazai to six years and 11 months in prison, the Judge HHJ Sellers said his “escalating activity” showed he was a “significant risk and therefore dangerous”.

As well as having his licence extended for a further three years, Nyazai was also barred from working with children, placed on the Sex Offender Register for life and given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Description

A registered sex offender from the Isle of Sheppey has been jailed for targeting young girls and multiple breaches of a court order.

In 2021, Paul Knight pleaded guilty to sexual offences involving children and became subject to strict conditions on his conduct.

A 10-year sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) along with sex offender notification requirements (SONR) included restrictions around his interaction with young people, use of the internet and phones, and possession of bank cards.

Knight was also required to install monitoring software on his internet-enabled devices.

Unannounced inspection

On 10 November 2023, investigators made an unannounced visit to Knight’s home address and there was a delay before he answered his door. He then handed over his mobile phone for inspection, stating it was his only device.

Suspecting Knight had bypassed the monitoring software on this phone, he was arrested.

The officers then searched his property and recovered an iPhone hidden inside a wardrobe. It was locked and Knight said it did not belong to him. They also found he had bank cards he had not declared to the police.

On the following day, Knight, of Queenborough Road, Minster-on-Sea, was charged with five breaches of his SHPO, three breaches of his SONR, and possessing indecent images of a child.

He was remanded in custody and his two phones were then sent for further digital forensic examination.

Targeting children

When investigators gained access to his iPhone, they found Knight had been communicating with multiple young girls online for several months. He had been engaging in sexually explicit conversations and had sent indecent photos of himself whilst asking for illegal ones in return.

His phones also contained a total of 129 indecent images of children including one of the most serious category.

Knight was further charged with 13 counts of causing and attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity, and three counts of making indecent images of children.

Guilty

He pleaded guilty to all the indictments at Maidstone Crown Court. On Monday 9 June 2025, the 61-year-old received an extended sentence with a total of eight years and three months' imprisonment.

On his release he will be required to complete an additional four years on licence. Knight will also be subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Description

A man who ran his hands over a woman’s thighs and bottom has admitted a charge of sexual assault.

Kyle Miller carried out the crime after drinking beers during a gathering at the woman’s home.

Description

A man who sexually assaulted three women on trains in London has been jailed.

Ahmad Ahmedzai, 30, targeted lone women on trains three separate times last year.

On September 10, he was on a train from Bushey to London Euston when he sexually assaulted a 28-year-old multiple times – but as the train was busy, she was unable to move away.

Then on November 2, he was on a Jubilee line train from Bermondsey when he again sexually assaulted another 28-year-old during a busy service.

Later that month on November 25, Ahmedzai was on a busy train from Watford Junction to London Euston, when he targeted a 22-year-old woman.

All three victims reported these assaults to the British Transport Police and he was tracked through facial recognition on CCTV.

Ahmedzai, of Great Road in Hemel Hempstead, was sentenced on May 30 at Inner London Crown Court to 27 weeks in prison after he pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault.

He was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for seven years and is on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years and pay costs of £687.

Due to the order, he can only travel on the Transport for London network using an Oyster card or contactless card linked to his name – and when travelling outside of TfL he must notify police in advance.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Jack Leach said: “Ahmedzai is a dangerous predator who targeted women on busy services in order to hide his sick antics, but due to the brave actions of those he targeted, by reporting the crimes to us we were able to catch him.

“There is zero-tolerance for sexual offences on the rail network and we will do everything in our power to bring offenders to justice.”

Description

A DANGEROUS drug-driver is to spend longer behind bars after police found his stash of sickening child abuse images.

Craig Pryor, 46 and of of Robinson Road in Ellesmere Port, was jailed for four years in October after a motorcyclist was left with 'truly life-changing' injuries after being knocked off his bike. 

The victim was smashed into by Pryor in Winwick Lane, near to junction 22 of the M6 near Croft.

The day after the serious crash, when Cheshire Police were investigating the defendant, they rumbled his collection of images of children being sexually abused.

He was later charged with possessing indecent images of children, three counts of making them, and one of possessing prohibited images of children.

Having pleaded not guilty, matters went to trial, and he was convicted by a jury on all counts at Chester Crown Court.

He appeared back before the court recently to be sentenced, where Nicholas Williams, prosecuting, explained the nature of the offending.

Pryor was driving his grey Mercedes C350 erratically at around 9.20pm on Friday, May 26, 2023, when he caused the horrific collision in Winwick Lane.

He had gone to overtake the vehicle in front of him when he collided with a black Yamaha motorcycle travelling in the opposite direction.

The motorcyclist, a 42-year-old man from Woolston, suffered life-changing injuries, including the loss of an arm.

The extent of the victim’s injuries left the motorcyclist still receiving treatment more than 18 months after the collision, and it was said then that he could yet lose his leg.

Following roadside tests, Pryor was found to have delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and benzoylecgonine, the by-products of cocaine and cannabis use, in his system.

He was subsequently charged with two counts of drug driving and one of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, which he admitted at the last minute before his trial was due to start.

For the driving matters, Pryor was sentenced in October at Liverpool Crown Court to four years in prison and disqualified from driving for six years.

When investigating the defendant, police also came across 435 indecent images in his possession of children being sexually abused.

Of these, 255 were graded as category A – the most severe form of abuse involving child rape – while 100 were category B, and 80 were category C.

In addition, officers discovered 60 prohibited images of children, which are sexually explicit and generally in the form of sketches, paintings, and cartoons.

The particulars of the charges state that he possessed them in Ellesmere Port, where he lived, between February 2020 and May 2023.

For the abuse image charges, judge Steven Everett sentenced Pryor to an additional nine months in prison.

He must also sign the sex offender register and abide by the terms of a sexual harm prevention order, both for a period of 10 years.

In addition, the court approved an order to deprive him of his electronic device on which the images were stored.

Speaking after Pryor’s driving sentence, inspector Steve Griffiths, of Cheshire Police, said: “When you get behind the wheel of a vehicle, you are in control of a powerful machine, easily capable of causing serious injury or even death.

“Pryor completely ignored this, not abiding by the rules of the road or considering the safety of others, ultimately colliding with a vulnerable road user who had been travelling on the same stretch of road.

“The victim has suffered tremendously, both psychologically and physically, as a result of Pryor’s reckless choices.

“I welcome the sentence handed to Pryor, and I hope he truly considers how his actions have permanently changed the victim’s life.

“I also hope this case can serve as a reminder of the long-lasting impact of dangerous driving, deterring others from the same fate.”

Description

A voyeur who took a photograph of an unconscious and naked visitor to his home for "bragging rights" has been jailed.

The victim became stranded in South Shields without money and wearing shorts. Someone he suggested he go to Jonpaul Elessar's home to wait for a taxi, which he did. The court heard that when he got there, he asked Elessar to turn off cameras he had installed in his home because he didn't want to be recorded. Elessar gave the man a drink and said he took some drugs and ended up unconscious.

Sentencing Elessar at Newcastle Crown Court, Judge Sarah Mallet said: "He has no recollection of anything else until he was woken by his partner. While unconscious and naked, you took an image of him.

"You were amused by what you had done and said he was drunk and had taken G[GHB] and you had performed a sex act on him."

The court heard the victim felt violated when he was in a vulnerable position. Judge Mallet said: "He was concerned you had taken other images while he was vulnerable.

"He said it was humiliating, shocking and disgusting. You have caused him significant emotional harm.

"You took and sent an image out of malice or spite - bragging rights, as you call it in the pre-sentence report."

Prosecutor Christopher Rose it is unclear if the victim ended up "completely naked" before of after he fell unconscious. The victim said he didn't know how he ended up in a state of undress.

Mr Rose said: "While prone on the defendant's sofa, naked and unconscious, the defendant took an image of him which he sent to another man."

When Elessar's phone was examined in relation to that offence, two indecent images of children aged between 12 and 16 were discovered.

The 38-year-old, of Norfolk Drive, Washington, who has a previous conviction from 2013 for possessing and distributing indecent images of children, pleaded guilty to voyeurism and possessing indecent images of children. He was jailed for 20 months and must sign the sex offenders register and be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for ten years. He was also given an indefinite restraining order.

Robin Turton, defending, said: "He shows good victim empathy and a good deal of remorse." He added: "His behaviour was unseemly and pretty grubby.

"It was a sly photograph taking, effectively, for bragging rights. It doesn't reflect well on him."

"There are good aspects to his character." Mr Turton said the two indecent images of children were in Elessar's trash bin on WhatsApp.

Description

A sex offender is behind bars after he was found with nearly 300 indecent images of children. Richard Dickens, 40, who was under the management of specialist officers, was arrested in March last year and his phone seized.

Officers discovered 299 indecent images on his phone, 127 of which were category A, the most serious.

They also discovered message threads sharing illegal images and discussions relating to attraction to children.

On Wednesday (June 4), at Huntingdon Law Courts, Dickens, of Prospero Way, Hartford, Huntingdon, was jailed, having pleaded guilty to three counts of making an indecent photograph of a child, two counts of distributing an indecent photograph of a child, sharing a photograph or film of a person in an intimate state for the purpose of sexual gratification, and failing to comply with notification requirements.

Detective Sergeant Scott Lloyd, from the Management of Sexual Offenders and Violent Offenders unit (MOSOVO), said: “Dickens’ crimes and failure to stick to his notification requirements prove he poses a serious threat to children.

“I’m glad justice has been done today. This case shows how seriously this type of offending is taken by us and the criminal justice system.”

Description

A CONVICTED sex offender has returned to prison for raping an extremely drunk and “incredibly vulnerable” girl in Caernarfon 10 years ago.

Kyle Parry, who was previously jailed for sexually assaulting a boy, was told by his victim that he will “never know the pain this has caused me”.

Parry, 29, of Wellington Street, Huddersfield, was sentenced to eight years and nine months’ imprisonment at Caernarfon Crown Court today (June 10), having previously admitted rape and assault by penetration.

Prosecutor David Mainstone said that in December 2021, Parry was interviewed by a probation officer to assess his ongoing risk of committing sexual offences.

During that interview, he disclosed that he had sex with the girl, but was worried she might report him in future, and maintained the sex was consensual.

In early 2015, the girl was at Parry’s home in Caernarfon, where she was described as being in a “paralytic” state and vomiting, such was her intoxication.

It was later that evening that Parry raped and penetrated her.

Parry, who had also previously been convicted for making indecent photographs, maintained his “fabricated” account that the sexual activity was entirely consensual.

Addressing him in court today, the victim said: “What you did to me had a profound effect, and totally changed the way I feel about relationships.

“After you raped me, my life went into freefall. I blame you for this. The impact of what you did to me has been huge; it has affected all parts of my life.

“You left me so unstable. It’s taken me years to understand what a heathy relationship is. After you raped me, I dropped out of life.

“I am stronger than you thought. I have rebuilt my life, and I’m going to have an amazing future, while you are behind bars for your crimes.

“I have stuck with this investigation because I want to protect other young people from predators like you.

“I have learnt to keep you in a box, and make sure that you can no longer control me.

“You will never know the pain this has caused me.”

Representing Parry, Dafydd Roberts said these matters pre-date the other sexual offences for which he has already sentenced.

This incident happened when Parry was a “much younger man”, Mr Roberts said, stressing that he self-reported it.

Parry “wishes to be rehabilitated,” Mr Roberts added.

Sentencing, Judge Nicola Jones commended the bravery of Parry’s victim, and the “excellent” work by North Wales Police in bringing him to justice.

She added to the victim: “Don’t let what that man has done to you define your life.”

“It has been an absolute honour to have sat on a case where you have given such courageous evidence.”

Judge Jones told Parry: “She was incredibly vulnerable, and has suffered significant trauma as a result of your actions.”

Parry will be subject to indefinite sex offenders register notification requirements, while a lifelong restraining order was made for the victim’s protection.

Description

A 25-year-old registered sex offender has been handed a 64-week prison term after he breached Sex Offenders’ Register requirements.

In December 2023, Davood Alekozai was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register (SOR) for five years after he was convicted of a sexual assault which took place in 2022.

As part of his SOR requirements, Alekozai had to complete an annual notification requirement as well as inform police of any aliases used online.

However, after Alekozai’s devices were reviewed following a routine visit, he was found to be using aliases online that he had not told police about. He also failed to complete his annual notification requirement.

Alekozai, previously of Northampton, was arrested and subsequently charged with two counts of failing to comply with SOR requirements.

After pleading guilty to the offences at Northampton Crown Court, Alekozai returned to the same last month (May 15) where he was sentenced to 64 weeks in prison.

Lead investigator, Police Constable Andy Glover from the Force’s MOSOVO Team, which closely manages sexual and violent offenders, said: “These breaches may seem very minor but it’s so important for us to manage those on the Sex Offenders’ Register very carefully.

“Any breaches are dealt with robustly and we take an absolute zero-tolerance approach.

“I hope this reassures our local residents and I want to be clear that we will continue working hard to keep people in our county safe.”

Description

A high-risk sex offender who repeatedly preyed on an underage girl was jailed for eight years today after his victim branded him “a monster”.

Paul Cowie, 54, targeted the child from the age of 11 and subjected her to sexual assaults and rapes in Aberdeenshire at a time when he was drinking heavily.

Description

A former soldier who attempted to penetrate a woman with a syringe containing his semen while she slept has been jailed and placed on the sex offenders register.

Brad Albutt, 40, sexually assaulted the victim on three separate occasions - twice with the sharp implement - over a 12 month period at a property in Edinburgh. The ex-serviceman, who was a corporal with the 1st Battalion, The Rifles, was forced to confess about his depraved acts when the woman woke up to find him holding the syringe and a tub containing his semen.

Albutt pleaded guilty to the three sex attacks at a hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in December last year and sentencing has been delayed on several occasions to obtain a psychiatric report. He also admitted to charges of assaulting the woman by punching her to the body and breaching bail conditions, all between October 2022 and October 2023.

Albutt returned to the dock for sentencing on Monday where Sheriff Kevin McCarron said there was no alternative but to impose a custodial sentence.

Sheriff McCarron said: “These offences spanned a period of one year and involved a significant violation of your victim. More worrying, these offences were planned by you.

“I am taking into account your background and it is also obvious you have served your country for a significant period of time and placed yourself at risk. To balance that, there must have been awful consequences for your victim of your actions.”

Albutt was jailed for 20 months and placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years. He was also handed a non-harassment order banning him from contacting the victim for the next 10 years.

Lawyer Paul Smith, defending, told the court Albutt, c/o the Scottish Veterans, Canongate, Edinburgh, was a South African national and had moved to the UK in 2000. Mr Smith said his client had joined the British Army in 2008 and had served two tours in Afghanistan before leaving in July last year.

The court heard Albutt had been working recently with Lothian Buses and the criminal justice social work reports had been deemed him a low risk of re-offending. The court was previously told the first syringe attack took place as the woman slept at Albutt’s former home in the capital in October 2022.

Fiscal depute Ruaridh Allison said the woman had woken up to find she was being penetrated by an object.

Mr Allison said: “The accused was sitting on the sofa and she reached down and removed an object from her vagina and realised it was a syringe. She described it as being a very thin syringe unlike one she had seen before.

“She chose not to confront him at that time and gave the syringe back to him. Following this she lay down and pretended to go to sleep.”

Mr Allison said the woman was subsequently attacked by the squaddie with the syringe for a second time the following week.

He said: “She fell asleep on the couch while she understood the accused to be in the spare room. Around 11.30pm she woke up to find the accused beside her feet at the couch and noticed he was holding something in his hand.

“When she asked what he was holding he attempted to hide the object. She tried to grab the object and found it again to be a syringe and there was also a small tub sitting on the couch. When she asked, the accused then disclosed to her that both the syringe and the tub contained samples of his semen.”

The court was told the woman reported the shocking attacks to the police and a forensic examination conducted later that night had found her DNA on the syringe.

Mr Allison said Albutt had also sexually assaulted the woman as she slept by penetrating her with his fingers in October 2022.

Description

Following an investigation by Thames Valley Police, a man has been jailed for sexual offences against a girl in Bicester.

Stephen Berry, aged 65, of no fixed abode, was jailed for nineteen and a half years at Oxford Crown Court.

He pleaded guilty to eight counts of rape, one count of indecency with a child and one count of indecent assault against one victim, a girl.

The court heard that other offences against two other children would lie on file.