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Eight men have been convicted of multiple counts of rape and sexual offending against a child in the early 2000s in Bradford.

Anna (which is not the womans real name) was between the ages of 13 and 15 years old at the time of the abuse which took place between 2002 and 2004.

An investigation was launched in 2019 after Anna reported the abuse to police.

Four trials have taken place over the last eight months, however until now they have all been subject to reporting restrictions to protect the integrity of proceedings. Today, the Judge lifted these restrictions.

One man Raja Zulqurnean, 42, of Bradford was found guilty of ten rapes and nine indecent assaults; he was sentenced to 18 years in jail. He was also given a lifetime restraining order, sexual harm prevention order and will remain on the sex offenders register for life.

His sentence was referred to the court of appeal for being unduly lenient, his sentence was increased from 18 years to 23 years.

Those convicted and awaiting sentence are:

• Mohammed Imran Akram, 42, of Bradford was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault
• Mohammed Shezhad Hussain, 39, of Keighley was found guilty of two rapes and three counts of indecent assault
• Basharat Khaliq, 44, of Bradford was found guilty of three rapes and four counts of indecent assaults
• Wajid Hussain, 42, of Bradford was found guilty of indecent assault
• Mohammed Naheem, 39, of Bradford was found guilty of three counts of indecent assault
• Nadeem Ali, 39, of Bradford was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault
• Safraz Ahmed Latif, 40, of Bradford was found guilty of four indecent assaults

They will all be sentenced in due course.

In Annas own words, she said:

I lost vital school academic years; you took away my basic rights and stole my future.

The investigation and trials have been so traumatising, the triumph of this trial has not left me triumphant it has left me feeling pain for the girl I was when you came into my life.

Detective Chief Inspector Vicky Greenbank said:

Annas courage and bravery has been immeasurable; she has had to wait a long time to see these convictions after all these years.

Cases such as these are incredibly sensitive and complex and it has taken years of painstaking investigation to bring these men before the courts.

I would like to take this opportunity to praise Anna for coming forward and reporting these offences to the police and for her patience while the criminal investigation has been ongoing.

If anyone has suffered abuse or has concerns about someone who may be suffering abuse, I would urge them to come forward and speak to us. We will listen to you, investigate all reports, and ensure you have access to any help or support you need.

I hope this sends a clear message that regardless of how long-ago abuse happened we will pursue every avenue to get justice.

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A man with learning difficulties has been jailed for twice raping a girl under 13. Kyran Wingfield-West was 17 when he committed the offenses several years ago in northwest Wales.

Wingfield-West, formerly of Anglesey, pleaded guilty to two counts of raping a child under 13. At Caernarfon Crown Court, Judge Her Honour Nicola Jones sentenced him to two years and eight months in a young offenders' institution for each offense.

Prosecutor Jemma Gordon said the crimes were discovered when the victim's father found messages expressing her pregnancy concerns after sex with Wingfield-West. Police investigated and learned the defendant had asked if he should bring a condom, and she said yes.

They had sex in a car park, where he raped her twice. Wingfield-West did not ejaculate and assured her she could not be pregnant. When police got involved, he told the girl to delete a messaging app.

In her statement, the victim said she now understands "even more how wrong the defendant's behaviour was." It has "tainted" her impression of home, and her ordeal must have been difficult for her dad.

Defense barrister Dafydd Roberts cited an expert report calling Wingfield-West a "naive soul." He argued that while the victim was too young to consent, it had been "sex by agreement," and suggested community rehabilitation instead of custody.

The judge told Wingfield-West that as the girl was under 13, she "did not have the capacity to give her consent" to sex. She acknowledged his learning disability but noted his attempt to interfere with the investigation.

The sentence was reduced for his immaturity, mental health difficulties, and guilty pleas.

Wingfield-West, now of Ropery Road, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, was also subjected to an indefinite restraining order, sex offender notification requirements, and sexual harm prevention order.

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A former Inverness teacher has been placed on the sex offenders register after admitting to having a sexual relationship with a pupil.

Charleston Academy physics teacher David Vincent, 57, first targeted the girl when she was aged 16.

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A former Glasgow Clyde College student who admitted possessing over 2,600 child abuse images—claiming he was the victim of a "cyber attack by a hostile nation"—was sentenced after spending two years on remand.

Jack Marshall, 32, avoided further punishment after police found the material at his Symington home in December 2022, including images of a child aged eight being sexually abused by a man dressed as a clown.

The content depicted children aged 4 to 12, with 1,499 category A images (the most severe), 413 category B, and 699 category C.

Marshall pleaded guilty at Ayr Sheriff Court, where he had appeared over 30 times and gone through several solicitors. He previously ranted in the dock that he was "the victim of a crime," alleging a "cyber attack" from a hostile nation.

The court heard he echoed The Who guitarist Pete Townshend's defense; Townshend was placed on the sex offenders register in 2003 after admitting to accessing a child abuse website for "research" to "write a book."

Returning for sentencing, Marshall told the Advertiser "it was a cyber attack," claiming he was "a journalist" with a "movie deal." His social work reports were described as "not good."

A Crown prosecutor explained that police searched Marshall's home after receiving information about a device linked to child exploitation images. Devices seized included a mobile phone, laptop, and USB stick from his bedroom.

"Indecent images were found on the USB stick, and the accused was arrested and conveyed to Kilmarnock police office," the fiscal depute said. "He stated it belonged to him and he was then cautioned and charged."

Across the devices, over 2,600 still and moving images were recovered. A keyword search revealed queries for "lolita," a child sexual abuse term.

Graphic descriptions of the images were read in court but deemed too horrific for publication.

Marshall's solicitor said his client did not wish to hear the descriptions ahead of the plea, adding: "It is his position that there is no underlying deviancy. He was brought to this area in the same way that a celebrated rockstar [Townshend] was once brought in."

Sheriff Mhari Mactaggart acknowledged awareness of that case.

The solicitor continued: "This case has brought great stress. He wishes to apologise, not limited to all members of the court service when he has appeared, but to me for his occasional brisk manner."

Marshall later returned to court for posting lists of Russian names to Symington neighbors.

Sheriff Mactaggart sentenced him to 12 months of supervision and placement on the sex offenders register for the same period. He was admonished on the other charge.

Marshall muttered "ridiculous" as he left the dock a free man.

Previously, one solicitor, Mark Dunbar, told the court it was his "estimation" that Marshall was "seriously psychologically unwell." Another mentioned claims he was "in the CIA," which Marshall denied to the Advertiser.

The Crown was ready for trial on December 16 last year after another solicitor withdrew.

Marshall said: "On February 23, 2023, I informed Police Scotland I had been the victim of a crime, a cyber attack by a hostile nation."

Complaining in court—"you just chucked my lawyer out"—Sheriff Desmond Leslie clarified: "I've not, she left."

Marshall added: "I've not been provided defence evidence for my trial date, I am utterly appalled by the behaviour of the courts."

Sheriff Leslie noted: "You have been in custody almost two years."

Marshall claimed: "I'm an investigative journalist as well - I studied at Glasgow Clyde College."

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We are encouraging victims of non-recent sexual abuse to speak out after a man who groomed a teenage girl more than 45 years ago was jailed today (Thursday 2 October).

After first meeting his victim in Melton Mowbray when she was around 13 years old, John Raisen began committing his crimes in 1979. He took an interest in her relationship with boys, which soon progressed into a sexual interest in her.

Despite knowing her age, his behaviour began with inappropriate touching but over a period of around 15 to 18 months, he encouraged her to engage in sexual activity.

When Raisen’s victim contacted police in 2021 to report what had happened, she said Raisen had made her feel special and that she did not realise what he was doing was wrong. However, she had now come to realise he had stolen part of her childhood.

Following the report, 76-year-old Raisen was interviewed by police and declined to answer all questions put to him in interview.

On 19 September, following a trial at Leicester Crown Court, he was found guilty of 12 counts of indecent assault and four counts of indecency with a child.

Raisen, of North Parade in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment. He has been placed on the sex offender indefinitely and is subject to a lifetime restraining order prohibiting contact with the victim.

Detective Constable Aisling McPhillips was the investigating officer. She said:

“What happened to the victim in this case is something she has had to live with for more than 45 years.

“Today her abuser is finally facing the consequence of his crimes and I hope this now provides a degree of closure and allows her to move on from her past.

“This outcome should also serve as a reminder to anyone who has also been sexually abused that it’s never too late to speak out and that we will continue our work to bring offenders to justice."

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A sex offender who told a friend he had “f***** up” after inappropriately touching a teenage girl has been jailed for two years.

David Marsh, 40, of Melvin Close in Salisbury, abused his victim on August 9, 2023, leaving her "haunted" by the memory. He was sentenced at Salisbury Crown Court on Wednesday (October 1).

Marsh pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual activity with the girl at his initial magistrates' court appearance in January, and admitted attempted touching when his crown court trial began in August. Judge Adam Feest imposed immediate imprisonment, with Marsh expected to serve half his sentence before release on licence.

Prosecutor Mike Mason said the offences occurred within minutes, after which Marsh confessed to a friend and turned himself in to police. The victim reported the crime to her family, who believed her; her clothing was forensically tested.

Mr. Mason added: “The defendant contacted a friend saying that he had ‘f***** up’ – those are his words – and needed to talk to her. He arranged to talk to her that evening, which he did. He said he knew what he had done was inappropriate, and he had done something really stupid.”

In victim impact statements, she said Marsh "stole her innocence" and left her "on edge" around men. She wrote: “It is difficult for me to put into words how I have been affected. The thought of bumping into him or seeing him when I’m out and about fills me with dread. I regularly have thoughts about it, which is upsetting and a permanent reminder. I was not able to concentrate well on my schoolwork, and I think that suffered as a result. I feel like people like me need to be protected from him.”

Defense lawyer Nicholas Cotter argued the incident was "not pre-planned" but "impulsive," adding: “I don’t think the defendant understands what made him do it. He is profoundly remorseful about what happened. From the very outset, he has admitted to others, not just the police, the criminality that he has latterly accepted. He is terrified about going to custody.”

Mr. Cotter requested a suspended sentence, but Judge Feest rejected it, saying: “You took the opportunity, for reasons that only you will ever understand – if that – to sexually abuse her. She had, and still, suffers significantly from what you did.” He accepted Marsh's remorse as genuine.

Marsh, who had no prior convictions, will be on the sex offenders' register for 10 years. He also faces a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, an indefinite restraining order, and a £140 victim surcharge.

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A man has been jailed after he followed a young woman out of a Derby fast food restaurant and attempted to rape her.

Ivan Godla spotted the woman in the McDonalds on Osmaston Park Road on the evening of 19 November last year.

The 24-year-old then followed her down Portland Street before trying to speak to her and exposing himself.

The woman carried on walking and crossed the road to get away from Godla, but he continued to follow her before pushing her to the ground and trying to rape her.

The woman managed to fight Godla off and ran away, before calling police.

Godla was arrested on 21 November and was subsequently charged and remanded.

Godla, of Leacroft Road, Derby admitted charges of sexual assault and sexual exposure but initially denied a charge of attempted rape.

 He eventually admitted attempted rape on the day of trial, in May this year.

He was sentenced at a hearing at Derby Crown Court on Tuesday 23 September, with a judge ordering him to serve a prison term of 8 years and 1 month.

Detective Constable Spibey, officer in the case, said:

“This was a calculated and predatory attack on young woman.

“No woman or girl should be made to feel unsafe for fear of violence, whether they are walking home, at home, or at work.

“Thankfully this kind of stranger attack is rare, but we are committed to weeding out those who commit any acts of sexual violence and will do everything we can to ensure that justice is served against perpetrators.

“This was a complex investigation, and I would like to thank the members of the public in the Portland Street area who assisted police by providing CCTV footage. This footage allowed us to build a timeline of events which assisted with us securing a charge against Ivan Godla.

“Most importantly I want to express my thanks to the victim in this case, who bravely came forward and recounted the details of this incident.

“Her courage throughout the investigation has been commendable.

“Godla is now off the streets, and our communities are that bit safer.”

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A Highland paedophile watched a short clip of a girl as young as five being sexually abused and then requested the price for the “full video”, a court has heard.

Ashley Wiltshire’s sickening conversation with a fellow paedophile was revealed at Inverness Sheriff Court as he pleaded guilty to a number of sex charges, including communicating indecently with children.

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A man has been jailed for the rape of a child, who he met on Snapchat, after being found guilty by a jury following a trial.

Joshua Emery, aged 25, of Cannock, was handed a seven-year jail term on Monday (29 September) at Stafford Crown Court, after being convicted of raping a girl aged 13 to 15 in August 2022.

Emery was found guilty of the offence in court at the end of June 2025.

Along with his prison sentence, Emery has also been placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and has been ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £228 upon his release.

The court heard how Emery, who was 22 at the time, raped the girl - who he stated he believed was 16 or older - and who he had contacted through Snapchat, near Essington Pools in August 2022.

Specialist officers carried out inquiries immediately and traced Emery through a taxi booking he made to the location. He was arrested in the following days and his devices and clothing were seized.

Emery denied the offence, but the victim gave compelling evidence and a jury found him guilty.

Following the sentencing on Monday, Detective Constable Hayley Cave, of our child protection and exploitation unit, who was the officer in the case, said:

“This was a harrowing case of an extremely serious sexual offence involving a child.

“I’d like to praise the victim, whose courage in coming forward and supporting the investigation has been instrumental in securing this conviction.

“Her strength and resilience are commendable.”

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A 23-year-old man has been jailed for six years for the rape of a woman in Colden Common in 2021. 
 
Lewis Dean Pearce, of Gort Crescent in Southampton, appeared before Guildford Crown Court today (1 October) having been found guilty of rape on 6th August 2025 after a four day trial.
 
The court heard how on 25 April 2021, the victim, a woman in her 20s, was staying at a friend’s address on Elder Green when she woke to find Pearce having sex with her. 
 
Pearce was charged with rape in February 2024.
 
DC Jack Droy, from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Criminal Investigations Department, said:

“I would firstly like to commend the victim’s bravery and tenacity in this case. This has been a long investigation, and I would like to thank her for her support during the investigation and court process. I hope this result is able to bring her some closure.
 
“Pearce’s actions that night are intolerable, targeting a woman as she sleeps is not acceptable and we will work tirelessly to bring these types of predatory offenders to justice. 
 
“We take all allegations of rape and sexual assault seriously, and have specially trained teams that can investigate these offences and provide support to victims. If you have experienced these kinds of offences, it is our promise to you that you will be heard and listened to, and your report will be believed. We are determined to put victims first and relentlessly pursue offenders.” 

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A male stripper who "jiggled the breasts" of a solicitor during her hen party has been found guilty of sexually assaulting the bride-to-be.

Stuart Kennedy, 42, has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register and warned he could face prison after a sheriff noted his previous similar conviction.

Sheriff Paul Reid told Kennedy that his act itself would not have been criminal with consent, but he lacked it here. The victim testified she vomited after the assault.

The sheriff found Kennedy guilty of two charges at Perth Sheriff Court: "I am satisfied he did touch her breasts. Her evidence was clear and corroborated.

"Witnesses spoke to being taken aback by what happened. There was the complainer's evidence of immediate distress that brought the whole show to an end.

"I do not accept he could have had reasonable belief he had consent. It was clear she was deeply uncomfortable with the performance.

"Nothing could have given him the impression she consented to being touched in that manner. His activity towards the complainer from when she sat in the chair in the middle of the room was plainly sexual.

"She did not give her free agreement to what happened, simulated oral sex, being made to drink out of a penis-shaped straw, or touching his fake penis.

"I am not satisfied he took any reasonable steps to ascertain consent was continuing throughout his performance."

He added: "It is a narrow decision. On the facts of this case he did not have consent for what he did. If she consented, or he had reasonable belief that she did, no crime would have been committed.

"The onus is on the person in Mr Kennedy's position to check they have consent for what they are doing. He did not do what was required of him by law."

Sentence was deferred for reports, with bail continued. The sheriff rejected a Crown motion to ban Kennedy from stripping as a bail condition.

Kennedy, who runs Alpha Male Strippers and Buff Butlers Aberdeen, described hiring his firefighter act as "a beautiful gift" and claimed over 4,000 shows in 19 years as a "professional entertainer."

He said: "I see my work as a craft. It's a premium service. I do it to the absolute best of my ability. No-one's ever stormed off. I've never had a show been stopped."

Calling himself "a consummate professional," he added: "It is all about reputation and you have to be spotless. Your reputation is so important to you and I have only ever had nothing but good reviews."

However, fiscal depute Jennifer Bairner referenced his prior conviction for an identical offense in his firefighter persona.

"Have the High Court of Justiciary given a 'review' of one of your performances?" she asked. "Has that impacted on your business?"

Kennedy replied: "It was widely reported. If anything it boosted things."

He claimed the bride-to-be was "raging" at first but later engaged, describing her as "no shrinking violet" and "quite a force to be reckoned with." He believed consent ended only when she fled to the bathroom.

Kennedy, from Bridge of Don, said he adapted his act for her size, denying breast contact: "She jiggled her arms a bit which - in a larger woman - can cause jiggling. I didn't touch her breasts. That could be suicide and ruin the business. One bad review and it's over."

He admitted being asked to leave before undressing and suggested her breasts moved during a YMCA routine.

The 32-year-old solicitor said she became hysterical and vomited after Kennedy "jiggled her breasts" at Crieff Hydro on March 22 last year.

She was "shocked" and "froze" when he burst in, feeling forced to participate after her sister secretly arranged it.

She repeatedly said "no thank you"—which Kennedy confirmed—but he continued despite her discomfort.

"The door burst open and slammed hard against the opposite wall. A man dressed in a firefighter's uniform came in," she said.

"I began to realise he was there as some form of entertainment. I started crying and panicking. Eventually I understood he was there for me as he asked who the bride was.

"I decided I had to grin and bear it and go through it. It's not my preference, that kind of activity. I didn't think I was in danger, just that it would be unpleasant and not to my taste.

"Me storming off felt like it would be an over-reaction," she explained, noting 15 guests at the prosecco and pizza party.

"I wasn't fully appreciating what he was doing. I was just in shock. His crotch was within half a foot of my face. I was trying to communicate that I was not a willing participant.

"I was just cringeing away from him constantly. His first move was to make me simulate giving him oral sex.

"I started to comply with him because I didn't know what he was going to do next. He still had his trousers on. He had sewn a fake erection into the crotch. It felt like a bean bag."

She said Kennedy "violated" her, licked her nose unintentionally while simulating a kiss, then grabbed and jiggled her breasts: "He saw some of the girls gasp. By now they were all panicking.

"When he was not near me I bolted towards the door. I made it to the bathroom. I was physically sick. I vomited in the toilet. I was crying hysterically and screaming and grabbing my hair."

Her younger sister stated: "He put his legs over her and did a Magic Mike sort of thing. He got his waist close to her face.

"He was dry humping her while she was sat down. She was visibly upset and left. I think the way he stormed in gave us a fright and this triggered her.

"I enjoyed myself and I don't remember anything you wouldn't expect from a stripper at a hen party."

Kennedy was convicted of shaking the woman's breasts and making her drink through a penis-shaped straw, plus intentionally causing her to participate in sexual activity by sitting on her and forcing her to handle a fake penis.

He has appeared on breakfast TV as an unregulated sperm donor and was cleared of rape at Aberdeen High Court in June this year.

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A man from Bury St Edmunds has been given an extended sentence totalling 19 years for rape offences and controlling or coercive behaviour.

Stephen Brazier, aged 53 and of Harland Court in Bury St Edmunds, was found guilty by a unanimous jury verdict of two counts of rape and one count of controlling or coercive behaviour, following a six-day trial.

The offences relate to one victim.

The court heard Brazier would message the victim persistently. He was suspicious of her friendships with other men, her interactions on social media and would aggressively challenge her actions and behaviour.

Following his initial arrest for rape, Brazier breached his bail conditions by contacting the victim to intimidate her and persuade her to withdraw her evidence. During that period, he raped her again.

He denied the offences, claiming the sexual activity was consensual and blamed the victim for his arrest.

Brazier appeared at Cambridge Crown Court on Friday 26 September where he was handed an extended sentence totalling 19 years, made up of 16 years’ imprisonment and a further three years on licence.

Extended sentences are handed to those who are convicted of serious violent or sexual offences, where an additional period of post-release supervision is required to protect the public.

Brazier was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Detective Constable Ellie Evans-Eastman, the officer in charge of the case said:

“Brazier is a manipulative man who expected his victim to comply to his demands to dominate and belittle her.

“He attempted to influence her to withdraw her allegation, refused to take responsibility for his actions and behaviours, and made aspersions against character to isolate her from friends and family.

“We know cases like this can have a profound impact on victims and I would like to commend her bravery and resilience in coming forward and seeing the case to its conclusion.

“Suffolk Constabulary is committed to bringing perpetrators of abuse and sexual violence to justice, and we work closely with the Crown Prosecution Service to build the strongest possible case to secure these convictions, with specialist officers available to support victims.”

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A PAEDOPHILE who sent a naked picture of himself to “underage schoolgirls” has been locked up.

Gerald Thomas, 42, of Sir Ivor Place, Dinas Powys thought he was in contact with two 14-year-old girls but was in fact messaging a decoy.

He was jailed for two years and 10 months by Judge Lucy Crowther after pleading guilty to three child sex offences.

The defendant admitted two counts of attempting to cause/incite a girl 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity one count of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

Thomas’ offences were committed between January 12, 2024 and January 22, 2024.

He will have to register as a sex offender indefinitely and pay a £228 surcharge following his release from prison.

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The sentencing of an Isle of Wight paedophile caught with a huge collection of child sex abuse images has been delayed for a third time.

Logan Robinson, of Nelson Road in Newport, was due to be sentenced at the IW Crown Court on June 10, July 1, and once again on August 1 – rescheduled on each occasion due to delays in the case.

The 25-year-old previously admitted:

• Three counts of possessing indecent images of children
• Two counts of distributing indecent images of children
• Possession of prohibited images of children 
• Possession of extreme pornography portraying a sexual assault
• During a visit to Robinson’s home on November 15, 2021, police discovered two

mobile phones, which contained 273 Category A images — the most extreme kind — 367 Category B images, and 561 Category C images.

Robinson, who had received a "huge file of images" from a sexual offender living abroad, was caught distributing at least six images of children via social media.

When interviewed by police, Robinson said: "I knew it was wrong, but I couldn't help myself".

The third delay in this case was so Robinson could seek legal representation, the court heard.

Robinson was bailed until his new sentencing date on September 4.

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UK police located and re-arrested violent sex offender Ashley McPhee, 27, from Cork, yesterday after a public appeal.

Blackpool police had sought information on the registered sex offender, originally from East Cork but now living in the UK, who failed to comply with notification requirements and was wanted for prison recall.

McPhee was re-arrested as a "direct result" of public tips. The force confirmed in a Facebook post: "as a direct result of information you have given us following that appeal he has been located and arrested. Many thanks to everyone who came forward with information - your help really is greatly appreciated and can make a real difference to the work we do to keep our communities safe."

Originally from Midleton with links to Blackpool and Blackburn, McPhee was jailed for 10 months in March 2024 after pleading guilty to engaging in sexual activity with a child. He sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl in Lancaster in 2023 by biting her chest three times; he possessed a knife at arrest and wrote a letter to the victim while on remand.

He must sign the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years and will be monitored post-release. McPhee has prior convictions in Ireland, including a violent assault on a young woman in Midleton over five years ago.