Latest Offenders

Description

A predatory sex offender has been jailed for six years, having breached a previously imposed Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Jonah Albanese was arrested on Tuesday 18 March 2025 at his home in Snargate Street, Dover. As part of a previous sexual offence conviction in 2024, monitoring software had been installed on his devices and had alerted police of a potential breach.

A search was conducted of the property, uncovering two mobile phones owned by the 30 year old. One of these contained indecent videos of children and showed a conversation with a man in which Albanese attempted to arrange sex with two children.

At a Canterbury Crown Court hearing on Tuesday 22 April 2025, he admitted to nine charges including breaching his SHPO, failing to meet sex offender notification requirements, possessing indecent images of children and attempting to arrange the sexual assault of a child.

He was sentenced to six years in prison with an additional four years on licence at his sentencing at Canterbury Crown Court on Thursday 18 September 2025.

Detective Constable Nichola Shepherd said:

‘This sentence shows the effectiveness of SHPOs in monitoring sex offenders and preventing more children from becoming the victims of paedophiles like Albanese.

‘Albanese was well aware of the conditions of his order, and yet he continued with his actions regardless. I’d like to thank my colleagues for their thorough work in ensuring he faces the consequences of those actions.’

Description

A sex offender pounced on a female receptionist and winked at her as he walked away after the attack, a court heard.

Adam Malinski, 48, of Lear Close, Worcester, was found guilty of sexually assaulting the woman following a trial.

At his sentencing at Kidderminster Magistrates' Court on Monday (September 22), prosecutor Liz Blacklock said the incident occurred in November last year.

The court heard the victim—who cannot be named for legal reasons—opened the office door for Malinski, who entered, sat down, and stared at her.

Reading the victim's statement, Ms. Blacklock said: "He started asking me questions. What are you doing after work?

"I told him I was going Christmas shopping with my boyfriend."

The woman then opened the door for him to leave, but Malinski lingered in the doorway, acted as if trying to kiss her, touched her arms, and groped her.

"This contact was very much unwanted," the victim said in her statement. "It was about 15 seconds but it felt like a lifetime."

Malinski then winked and waved as he departed.

Sam Lamsdale, defending, said her client could not remember the incident but was sorry, noting: "At the time of the offence he was drinking very heavily.

"He did complete an alcohol treatment programme and he has significantly reduced his alcohol abuse."

Malinski received an 18-month community order including 30 rehabilitation activity days. He was ordered to pay £100 compensation to the victim, £620 costs, and a £114 victim surcharge.

Bench chairman Brent Robinson told Malinski he would be placed on the sex offenders' register.

Description

A man who raped and punched a woman in Stoke-on-Trent has been convicted in court.

Audrius Zukauskas, 55, of Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent, pleaded guilty at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Tuesday (16 September) to three counts of the rape of a woman and one count of assaulting a person thereby occasioning them actual bodily harm.

Zukauskas met the survivor at a bus stop on 16 August this year. He asked her if she wanted to come up to his apartment.

When she did, Zukauskas raped her and punched her in the face.

At 3.50am on 17 August, someone called 999 and reported that a woman was covered in blood and fighting with a man. That man was Zukauskas.

Officers arrived quickly and took Zukauskas away in handcuffs, while others stayed at the scene to speak to the survivor.

After admitting the offences in court, Zukauskas has now been remanded ahead of his sentencing date at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on 10 November.

PC Eve Loach, from our rape and serious sexual offences unit, said:

Zukauskas forced himself on the survivor and subjected her to abhorrent abuse.

We will always seek to secure the toughest possible punishment for perpetrators of sexual violence in Staffordshire, and Im glad weve now been able to deliver this outcome for the survivor.

Description

A man from Trowbridge has been sentenced to 16 and a half years in prison for raping two women a decade apart.

Marcin Janikowski, 39, of Cusance Way, Hilperton, was sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court on September 19.

He pleaded guilty to raping a woman last year, but tried to change his plea later in court. He pleaded not guilty to raping another woman ten years previously but he was found guilty by trial in July.

Janikowski was told he will serve 13 years and six months in prison and serve the following three years on licence.

He was also served a Restraining Order.

In a statement to the court one victim said:

"I thought he was that missing piece that made my life complete".

She went on to say

"he stole my hopes, my dreams, my future and every day was filled with fear, sadness and made no sense... No amount of justice will ever undo the damage that he has caused to me, my family and so many others."

Detective Constable James Gatherum, from CID, said:

“First and foremost, I want to express my sincere gratitude to both victims in this case. They have endured incredibly difficult circumstances and shown immense strength and courage throughout the investigation. Without their determination to stand up to Marcin Janikowski, today’s outcome would not have been possible.

"In 2014, Janikowski violently raped the first victim, who was known to him, subjecting her to a traumatic ordeal. At the time, despite a thorough investigation, there was insufficient evidence to proceed. However, as is standard in such cases, the evidence was retained in case further information came to light.

"In January 2024, Wiltshire Police received a report of rape and assault from another victim. A new investigation was launched, leading to his arrest and charges of rape and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He was subsequently remanded in custody.

"Following this, the earlier case from 2014 was reviewed, and the Crown Prosecution Service authorised charges based on the new evidence.

"I also want to acknowledge the bravery of the witnesses who came forward. I am acutely aware of the personal impact this has had on their lives.

"Today marks the end of a long and painful journey for both victims—each of whom had their trust abused by Janikowski, a decade apart. I am pleased that the sentence handed down today reflects the seriousness of his crimes and the danger he poses to women.

"Abuse in relationships rarely begins with violence. It often escalates over time, with factors such as housing, finances, language barriers, and children making it harder for victims—regardless of gender—to seek help. Support is available, and today’s verdict shows that justice can be achieved.”

Description

A Brentwood man has been jailed after admitting breaching the terms of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and making indecent images of children.

Jack Weller, of Doddinghurst Road, appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court for sentencing on Friday 19 September after previously pleading guilty to two counts of making an indecent image of a child and one breach of his SHPO.

Thirty-two-year-old Weller was made the subject of a 10-year SHPO in October 2024 after being convicted of an offence relating to indecent images of children.

This order was issued with certain conditions and he must not possess any device capable of searching the internet or storing digital images/videos unless:

• It can retain and display history of internet use and he does not delete it
• He makes the device immediately available on request, providing pin or password
• Doesn’t interfere with any monitoring software installed by police.

His offending was identified in July through monitoring software which had been installed on his device by the Management of Sexual or Violent Offenders team (MOSOVO) at Essex Police.

He was arrested and taken into custody for questioning. He was then further arrested for breach of his SHPO after it was revealed he had flouted his conditions for deleting images.

A full review was carried out and found nine category A images and four category B images on his device.

He was subsequently charged and pleaded guilty.

He was jailed for two years and two months and has been placed on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.

zero-tolerance

MOSOVO officer Jai Rivers said:

It is our duty to protect the most vulnerable people in our society fromo ffenders like Weller.

He was rightly subject to a SHPO and our management of sexual offenders like him enabled us to act quickly and prevent further offending.

We take a zero-tolerance approach to breaches of orders and his additional further offending is shocking and he has rightly been brought before the courts again.

I hope this sentence sends a clear message that we are committed to keeping people safe and will respond quickly, investigate thoroughly and ensure people intent on targeting children in this abhorrent way are brought before the courts.

Description

A former Essex headteacher, Lee Brumby, has been jailed for 16 years for repeated sexual abuse of a young girl, including raping a child.

Brumby, 64, of Wellands, Witham, was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court on September 19, with one year on extended licence. He will not be eligible for parole until 10 years and 8 months into his sentence.

He was convicted in August of two counts of raping a child, one count of indecency with a child, and two counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child. The offences occurred against the same victim, starting when she was around five or six and continuing until she was around 9 to 11.

The victim described Brumby first abusing her by making her play a game where she was a waitress and had to obey his sexual orders, followed by a sustained period of abuse. She said the couple had sex in front of her on several occasions.

His ex-wife, Elaine Cotton, 62, of Kiln Road, Great Wakering, admitted to police that the victim was telling the truth but claimed Brumby, her coercive and controlling husband, forced her into it. "It wasn’t my choice," she said, adding she was "mortified" and "disgusted," left in tears. "I hated my husband with a passion. I didn’t know what to do... I just decided it was easier just to keep quiet."

Cotton, who stood trial alongside Brumby, was acquitted after her accounts to police and in court. Brumby denied everything, even after her admissions, responding in his police interview: "I dispute that 100%. That makes me sound like a weirdo." He suggested the victim was mentally ill, a claim Judge Richard Conley said was unsupported by evidence.

In her victim impact statement read to the court, she said the offences continue to haunt her: "I live with constant fear. I suffer from night terrors that wake me up in the middle of the night, leaving me shaking, panicked and unable to go back to sleep. Because of this, I am always tired, drained and never truly rested."

"Since I first disclosed the awful crimes committed against me... my life has not been the same," she added. "I feel trapped in my own home, unable to open my front door without checking my security cameras first, and when I'm home alone I can't relax unless I have double locked all the doors. I struggle to build genuine new relationships because I don't want to fully open up about my past. I feel myself having to lie."

She said her job was affected by the legal proceedings, which spanned two trials (the first in November 2024 aborted due to Brumby's barrister's wife's death). "I feel my whole life has been put on pause because of the trials. It feels like I can't fully live my life. I always imagined becoming a parent one day but now I question whether I could bring a child into the world when I feel this unsafe. I would worry constantly about the safety of my children. This experience has taken away my peace, my sleep, my confidence and my sense of safety. It has affected my daily life, my relationships and even my sense of safety... I don't know when or if I will ever truly feel safe again."

Judge Conley noted Brumby was "a respectable and well-respected pillar of the community," so "it must have come as an enormous shock to learn what it was you were doing, hiding in plain sight." He added: "No doubt, the pupils and the parents of the pupils who attended the schools at which you were a teacher and a headteacher will be aghast when they learn, if they haven't already learned, about the kind of man in whose charge they placed their children."

"You continue to deny these offences," the judge said. "Not only have you not shown any remorse for any admitted behaviour, you have appeared throughout to seem cold and unfeeling." He called Brumby "a deeply selfish man" who abused his "extremely young and vulnerable" victim out of "a selfish desire to satisfy your own sexual needs and wants," causing her "severe psychological harm." "Your behaviour to the victim in her youth and during your 40s has left a trail of devastation in its wake."

Defence barrister Peter Rouch KC advanced no admissions of guilt or remorse, saying Brumby had the "full support" of his family and new wife's family. Seven supporters, including his new wife, were in the public gallery. Rouch said there was no evidence of planning or grooming, nor that the victim was "particularly vulnerable" in law, and disputed "sustained abuse," calling the incidents "isolated, sporadic."

Prosecutor David Baird described a "sustained period of abuse" after the first incident.

Brumby showed no emotion during sentencing.

Description

A VIOLENT rapist who carried out six sex attacks in Worcester has been jailed for ten years.

Bryan Lilley, who is formerly from Worcester but whose address in court was given as Reaside Clinic, Bristol Road South, Rednal, Birmingham, was sentenced at Worcester Crown Court sitting at Redditch on Thursday (September 17).

The 30-year-old was convicted of four rapes and two counts of assault by penetration.

All the attacks took place between New Year's Day, 2021 and May 26,

Lilley had pleaded not guilty to the charges but was found guilty following a trial on April 4 this year.

And at court, His Honour Judge Nicholas Cole sentenced Lilley to ten years' imprisonment in total.

For each rape, he was sentenced to ten years to run concurrently.

He was sentenced to eight years for each of the two assaults by penetration convictions, also to run concurrently.

Lilley will also be on the sex offenders' register upon his release.

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David Marsh, aged 70, of Windsor Road, Conisbrough, Doncaster has been sentenced today at Lincoln Crown Court for child sex offences.

The offences include sexual assault of a child by touching, attempt rape of a child, assault by penetration and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. The offending took place between July 2016 and July 2019 in Skegness.

Marsh was sentenced to a total of 13 years in prison and will be the subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Acting Detective Sergeant David Ziller said,

“The victim showed great courage in speaking out and hopefully this conclusion goes some way to provide the justice they deserve. Credit is due to all the people that have been involved in this investigation for supporting it from the start. This is another example of an offender being brought to justice, and a time to encourage any person that may have suffered abuse to come forward, in the faith that their voice will be heard and they will be believed.”

Description

A convicted pedophile who breached court orders to hide his criminal past from his new girlfriend has been jailed for two years and eight months.

Gary Chitticks, 41, failed to notify police of his move from Bournemouth to Wearside for the relationship and did not register a new mobile phone, as required by a 2021 order after his imprisonment for attempting to meet a decoy child for sex.

He admitted six breaches at Newcastle Crown Court.

In 2021, Chitticks was jailed for four years in Bournemouth after admitting attempting sexual communications with a child, having messaged a decoy profile and suggested meeting for sexual activity, prosecutor Ian Windridge said.

Lifelong orders mandated notifying police of his address via the sex offender register, registering internet-enabled devices, and retaining their search histories.

In July, Chitticks told Northumbria Police he was homeless and sleeping rough in Hetton-le-Hole, Sunderland.

Officers traced a linked mobile number to a woman in Houghton-le-Spring, who said they began dating in May, spent a week at a Bournemouth hotel, and he then moved in with her—changes he should have reported.

Upon his August arrest, police found an unregistered phone set to auto-delete history and a bank card under the alias Dave Chambers, Mr. Windridge said.

In mitigation, Claire Anderson said Chitticks had "allowed his heart to rule his head" to protect the budding relationship.

Judge Gavin Doig noted Chitticks had also been jailed for exposing himself since 2021, had "clearly sought to hide the truth" from the woman, and deemed the breaches "serious." He called the orders "simply non-negotiable," saying Chitticks posed "far too high a risk" to the public for leniency.

Description

Maxx Stobbs, also known as Max Hinchley, 24 from Staithes, was sentenced at York Crown Court on 19 September 2025.

After being reported to us in March 2023, an investigation began into the sexual abuse of an underage teenage girl. Stobbs was then arrested in April 2023.

Stobbs pleaded guilty on 18 July at York Crown Court to four counts of penetrative sexual activity with a girl. For these offences he has been jailed for three and a half years, and ordered to pay a surcharge of 190. Stobbs has also been ordered to sign the sex offenders register indefinitely.

The investigation has been led by Detective Constable Matthew Edwards, from our Scarborough and Ryedale Safeguarding Investigation Team.

He was able to support the victim throughout the investigation, and ensure she received professional care and support, including from an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA).

The following are quotes from the victim's personal statement, that was read out in court by the prosecuting solicitor:

"The defendant targeted me at a time when I was young, vulnerable, just starting to discover my identity and learning to navigate the world. The defendant used my naivety and innocence against me; and I can never get these things back.

"Every day feels like a mountain to climb, as I constantly carry the weight of what the defendant did to me.

"I am working hard to rebuild my confidence and self-worth, but I will forever grieve for the girl I was, and the woman I could have been, before I met the defendant."

DC Edwards said:

"The victim in this case is to be commended for her bravery in coming forward to the police, and for her strength in re-building her life after the long-term offending by Stobbs, who is now a convicted sex offender.

"The impact of this type of offending should not be underestimated and I urge victims to come forward to police. No matter when the abuse took place, you will be listened to."

Description

Today (Friday 19 September 2025), one of the most prolific child sexual predators even seen in the North West has been jailed for 14 years following investigations by Greater Manchester Police and Lancashire Police.

Stuart Latham, 22, from Wigan has been sentenced at Preston Crown Court to 49 offences including rape, sexual activity with a child, blackmail, sexual communication with children, inciting children to engage in sexual activity, and the creation, possession and distribution of indecent images, against 41 victims between the ages of 11 and 15, spanning the whole of the UK.

In 2023, Lancashire Police received a report that Latham, who was from Greater Manchester, had raped a girl in Heysham, who was aged 12 at the time of the offences.

He had met the girl on the social media app ‘Swiper’, where he had told her he was 15, despite being an adult. The girl had told him her age over messages.

Latham was arrested on suspicion of rape and a joint investigation with Greater Manchester Police later commenced.

Latham was arrested by GMP in April 2024, whilst on bail for the offences in Lancashire, following a referral made by US authorities via the National Crime Agency that a local man was having sexualised chat with children on Snapchat.

When officers arrived at his home address that very same day, Latham tried to conceal his mobile by throwing it to the back of his wardrobe. After our digital forensic experts were able to download and analyse this device, it was clear why he was keen to evade its discovery.

Despite denying all allegations in interview, his mobile revealed that he had ‘catfished’ a large number of young girls on Snapchat under the name ‘Josh’, posing as a 14-year-old boy. He would send mass messages to up to 200 girls at a time on the platform, initially asking for their help but not specifying what with, only to go onto request sexualised images and videos, sometimes offering cash and giftcards in return.

He would send them fake pictures, taken from the internet, to keep up this identity of being a teenager himself, and never paid any of the victims.

Once he had successfully lured the victims in, he would continue to demand more and more images, blackmailing them with threats to leak them or tell their parents, and exploiting their vulnerabilities if they didn’t send any. He would also send explicit videos and images of himself in response to what they had shared with him.

The chats with these children showed no care about their age or wellbeing, and were extremely explicit, graphic, and distressing in nature. He showed no remorse or accountability in any of his police interviews.

We were able to find Latham had spoken to 48 victims, bringing charges against him in 41 of those cases. Of the 41, eight of the children remain unidentified, but the rest we have been able to speak with and safeguard from further harm. That support will continue beyond today’s result.

Whilst we uncovered over 4,000 indecent images on Latham’s devices, we know that some data which had been deleted from his device before his initial arrest in Lancashire couldn’t be recovered, so the full scale of his offending could be much greater.

Detective Constable Emma Murtagh, from GMP’s Online Child Abuse Investigation Team, and who led this case, said:

“This is one of the most horrific cases I have ever had to investigate, not only due to the scale of the offending, but also due to the devastating impact and harm this this man’s behaviour and actions have had on these young girls and their families.

“We worked incredibly hard to identify as many victims as possible, listen to them, safeguard them and support them through this terrible ordeal. That has been our priority throughout and the victims living in very different locations has not been a barrier to this investigation.

“The impact has also been felt by all their parents and guardians, who understandably were very shocked and distressed to hear about what had been happening.

“This case demonstrates unfortunately the ease of which those looking to exploit children can target, manipulate and blackmail them online. 

“We encourage anyone who may find them in a situation like these young people to come forward to police. We are steadfast in our pursuit of holding child predators to account and protecting children, and will act on any information we receive.”

Detective Chief Inspector Dylan Hrynkow, of West Rape and Serious Sexual offences team said:

“This investigation was complex with cross border offending, due to excellent joint working we have been able to secure charges and  convictions for these horrendous offences.”

“This crime has understandably had a profound impact on the victim, who has shown incredible strength and bravery over a significant amount of time, throughout proceedings. I can only hope that the knowledge of Latham’s significant sentence will bring  some sense of closure in knowing he has been brought to justice.

“If you have been a victim of any sexual offending in Lancashire, I want you to know that we will listen to you, we will appropriately investigate, and we will do all we can to get you justice.”

Description

A man from Bootle has been jailed for 21 years for rape and multiple sexual offences.

Michael Senior, 32, from Bootle, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court today (Friday 19 September) after being found guilty of the following offences:

• Five counts of rape
• Two counts of sexual activity with a child
• Two counts of sexual assault
• Two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity

He was also convicted of making indecent images of a child, distributing indecent images of a child and possession of extreme pornography, which he had pleaded guilty to before the trial.

It follows a complex investigation into a report that a 12-year-old boy had first been subjected to a serious sexual offence in 2013. There were further reports of sexual offences against the same person across a ten-year period.

As well as a prison sentence, Senior has also been placed on the Sex Offender’s Register for life and given a 20-year restraining order.

See below for an extract of a Victim Personal Statement read in court:

“Throughout the whole process, the investigation and the trial, Senior denied all the allegations put against him.

“This only enhanced the upset and trauma for the survivor of his appalling crimes and I sincerely hope this sentencing brings him some comfort.

“Thankfully the jury saw through Senior’s lies and found him guilty. He will now rightly spend a considerable amount of time in prison when he can reflect on his heinous actions.

“Merseyside Police is completely committed to protecting children from sexual abuse and those who seek to do them harm.

“If you have experienced any form of sexual abuse, or know of a child being abused, please come forward and report this to police.”

Georgiana Panteli of the Crown Prosecution Service Mersey-Cheshire said:

“Over the course of a decade, Senior inflicted unimaginable trauma and it is testament to the extraordinary courage of the victim in coming forward that this abuser has been brought to justice.

“Working closely with Merseyside Police, we were able to show the jury how Senior violently threatened and intimidated his victim in an attempt to keep them silent.

“Despite Senior’s continued denial, we proved how he had lied about aspects of the case, including contradicting his own police interview when testifying in court.

“I hope today’s outcome sends a clear message that the CPS will relentlessly pursue those who sexually exploit children, and victims can be confident they will be heard, supported, and taken seriously.”

Description

Kristian John Franks, a man with a extensive criminal record dating back to his early teens, was convicted of rape on September 18, 2025, following a trial at York Crown Court.

The conviction stems from an incident in which he allegedly raped a woman within hours of meeting her for the first time. Below is an overview of his criminal background, leading up to the recent trial and its outcome.

Early Criminal History

Franks first came to police attention as a juvenile. At age 13, he was convicted of assaulting a police officer in the course of duty. During his teenage years, he committed multiple vehicle-related offenses, including dangerous driving and taking cars without the owner's consent.

By age 19, Franks had begun using drugs and committed his first burglary. Two years later, at 21, he was convicted of burgling a house.

Escalating Offenses in Adulthood

In 2016, Franks harassed a former partner, resulting in a restraining order designed to protect her. He subsequently breached this order.

In 2019, he was involved in a road rage incident where he tailgated another vehicle and, when confronted, claimed, "I can drive however I want, I don’t have insurance." He attempted to deceive authorities about the event, leading to an eight-month prison sentence for perverting the course of justice.

Even after serving this sentence, Franks continued offending, with convictions for drug driving, going equipped for theft, and failing to appear on bail.

Prior Sexual Risk Concerns

In December 2023, after being acquitted of raping Leah Bedford, Franks was subjected to a sexual risk order by York Magistrates' Court. This civil order aimed to restrict activities of individuals posing a sexual risk to the public.

By January 2025, police issued a public appeal for help locating him, suspecting he had breached the order's conditions.

The 2025 Rape Charge and Trial

In April 2025, Franks was charged with raping a woman shortly after their first meeting. He was sent on bail to York Crown Court.

Complications arose in May 2025 when Franks was arrested at Fulford Road Police Station but escaped custody. He was later apprehended and charged with escape from lawful custody. After failing to attend a subsequent court hearing, he was arrested on a warrant and remanded in custody.

On July 18, 2025, Franks admitted the escape charge.

The rape trial commenced on September 9, 2025, at York Crown Court. After deliberations, the jury found him guilty of rape on September 18, 2025.

Franks is scheduled to be sentenced for both the rape conviction and the escape from lawful custody on October 30, 2025.

Description

Nathan Ashton, 33, raped one girl twice after plying her with cannabis until she had a "whitey"—feeling sick from the drugs—leaving her vulnerable.

He similarly assaulted a second victim by giving her cannabis, then digitally penetrating and raping her. He left the room before returning to rape her again.

After arrest, Ashton forced the victims and their families through a five-day trial at Bolton Crown Court, where a jury found him guilty. He was sentenced on September 17.

Prosecutor Robert Smith told the court:

"He then proceeded to digitally penetrate and rape her."

Victim statements were read. The rape victim said she was "so scared" and felt "if I stopped him, he would have killed me."

The first victim added: "I feel like he is always there, I feel like someone is watching me, following me, it makes me scared." She "keeps getting flashbacks" in dreams "a lot" and has spoken to a doctor.

Ashton, of Westhoughton, has 41 convictions for 108 offences, mostly dishonesty and court order breaches, plus battery, common assault, and harassment. He has no prior sexual convictions; his last offence was in 2016.

The jury convicted him of seven counts: two rapes, three assaults by penetration, and two sexual assaults.

Defense counsel Anna Chestnutt noted:

"He is still only 33, notwithstanding his lengthy previous convictions. His last offending was almost a decade ago and he has no convictions for sexual offending." She said he changed his life in 2016 after drug misuse issues.

Judge Abigail Hudson highlighted the victims' vulnerability and how Ashton used cannabis to "assist the offending." Citing his poor compliance with court orders, she deemed him a "dangerous offender," adding: "A sentence with an extended license condition is necessary to protect the public from further offending."

She imposed 16 years' imprisonment with a two-year extended license. Ashton appeared visibly distressed.

Judge Hudson also issued indefinite restraining orders against the victims and a sexual harm prevention order.

She commended the young victims for their courage in testifying "in front of complete strangers," noting: "Both alluded to the fact that they were concerned whether they would be believed. They gave their evidence in front of the jury and were believed, and I hope that gives them some comfort." She hoped they become "productive young ladies."

Description

A man who took a 15-year-old girl to his home after meeting her in a town centre has been jailed for 11 years for rape and causing a child to engage in sexual activity. 

Rasseika Duncan (04/11/1984), of no fixed abode, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Square Court yesterday (Thursday 18 September) after previously being found guilty in June this year.

The court heard how on Saturday 1 October 2022, Duncan was in Hyde when he stopped a girl who was walking through the area, at around 8pm.

After a brief conversation, Duncan convinced the girl to go back to his address in the Stalybridge area. On the way, he bought a quantity of cannabis.

Once back at the address, he locked the door of the room, forcing himself on her and continuing his assault despite the girl attempting to stop him.

As a friend of the girl had previously reported seeing her with Duncan and raised her concerns, her phone was traced, with officers turning up to the address and arresting him later that evening.

Following a comprehensive investigation by GMP’s Tameside Child Sexual Exploitation team, Duncan was charged with the offences.

In addition to his sentencing, he has received an indefinite sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) and restraining order.

Detective Sergeant Michelle Davies, from GMP’s Tameside district, said:

“Duncan exploited a vulnerable young girl and took advantage of her, in what was a terrifying situation.

“I would like to thank the victim in this case for the immense bravery and courage she has shown throughout both the investigation and the trial.

“I hope today’s sentencing can provide some comfort to her, as she continues to rebuild her life following this awful ordeal.”