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Description

A man has been jailed after pleading guilty to numerous sexual offences against a teenage girl.

Cody Tierney, 21, of Dulverton Avenue, Swindon admitted three counts of sexual touching of a child, when the victim was aged between 13 and 15, and sexual activity with a 14-year-old child in July 2024.

In a hearing at Swindon Crown Court today (01/10), he was sentenced to two years and three months imprisonment.

He will also be on the Sex Offender’s Register for 10 years, and be subject to a 10 year sexual harm prevention order and an indefinite restraining order. 

From April 2023, Tierney – who was known to the victim – gradually escalated his grooming behaviour of the victim, who had just turned 13.

He began by sexually messaging the victim, after which he would tell her to delete the messages, before escalating to sexually touching the victim.

In one incident in May 2023, Tierney sexually assaulted the victim on a train, and in July 2024, Tierney coerced the victim to engage in sexual activity with him. He then ordered her not to tell anyone and they needed to keep their distance.

In September 2024, the offences were reported to police by the victim’s mother on behalf of her daughter.

Tierney was arrested and subsequently charged. He refused to provide a comment during interview and initially pleaded not guilty, before changing his plea in July this year.

Investigating officer DC Melanie Reeves of the Child Abuse Investigation Team said:

“This was a traumatic experience for the victim where she was sexually assaulted by someone she trusted.

“Tierney abused that trust in a horrible way with gradually escalating behaviour despite being in close proximity to her family.

“I would like to pay tribute to the victim for her bravery in getting to this point and I hope that today’s sentencing can start to bring some closure for her.”

Description

A registered sex offender from Medway has been jailed again after police seized a secret phone containing more than 600 animated images depicting children being abused.

Stuart Wenham had only been released from prison in March 2025, when he ignored strict measures passed by the courts to prevent him from reoffending and accessed material which included the abuse of an infant under a year old.

Wenham had previously been convicted in 2023, for making indecent images of children.

When he was granted parole he was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and had to comply with notification requirements linked to his use of devices and software.

Multiple breaches 

Shortly after his release, officers suspected he was using two phones but had only notified police about one of them.

He was arrested on 6 June and this led to the seizure of the unregistered phone.

When reviewed, it was found to contain a catalogue of ‘pseudo-cartoon’ images linked to the sexual abuse of children.

Wenham had also been illegally using a VPN and during previous checks by specialist officers who manage sex offenders had repeatedly failed to declare the phone.

Further evidence was revealed after a laptop was examined which Wenham had also kept secret. This showed prohibited use of cloud storage and the deletion of his internet history.

When questioned during police interviews, he told officers that in his mind the images showing abuse were not of real children and that they appeared to be happy.

Wenham, 47, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court to multiple breaches of a sexual harm prevention order and failing to comply with notification requirements. He also admitted possessing a prohibited image of a child.

On 12 September 2025, he was described by the judge as ‘a dangerous man’ with a long record of appalling similar offences.

He was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment. 

Cartoons never an excuse

Leading the investigation was PC Leona Valsler, who said:

‘Wenham has been given every opportunity to change his ways but has chosen again to pursue and obtain abhorrent and disturbing material.

'Having cartoons, rather than real videos showing children being abused, can be no excuse and Wenham has repeatedly shown a flagrant disregard for the important measures and restrictions imposed to prevent him from reoffending.

‘This case demonstrates the vital work our officers and staff do to closely monitor and manage convicted sex offenders in our communities.

'Despite the challenges, we remain committed to using every available legal and investigative tool to prevent further harm, protect vulnerable children, and bring offenders to justice. Wenham’s actions are another reminder of why this work is so critical.’

Description

A man who raped a vulnerable woman in Cambridge has been jailed for nine years.

Jason Smith, 34, forced himself on the victim at a house in Kings Hedges, while his partner and children slept upstairs, on 11 June 2023.

The victim repeatedly told Smith to stop, but he refused to listen. He was arrested the same day and claimed in interview nothing sexual had happened.

However, DNA evidence helped prove his actions to a jury and he was unanimously found guilty of three counts of rape following a trial in July.

Smith, of Main Street, Hardwick, near Cambridge, was sentenced yesterday (29 September) at Peterborough Crown Court.

He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and handed a ten-year restraining order.

Det Sgt Jodie Bolton, who investigated, said:

“I would like to praise the courage of the victim for not only coming forward but for the strength and bravery she has shown during the investigation and trial.  Without her bravery to keep supporting this investigation, we wouldn't have been able to receive this result.

“This sentencing is a reminder that consent matters, no means no, and being intoxicated is no defence. We will always strive to bring offenders before the courts.

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

Description

Police have released a photo of Zeeshan Sheikh, 32, of Cornwallis Road, Oxford, who was jailed for raping an unconscious woman.

Sheikh was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Monday, September 29, after pleading guilty to one count of rape and one count of sexual assault. His earlier attempt to change his plea was refused.

The court heard that Sheikh raped the woman on Sunday, January 5, at an unnamed women's refuge in Oxford, where he had been invited by a friend of the victim to celebrate the new year. All rooms at the refuge are covered by CCTV, which captured the incident.

A victim personal statement read in court said: "When I was told I was sexually assaulted, I didn't know what to feel. I felt really upset, I was extremely shocked and scared.

"I had no knowledge of it occurring. I became really depressed. My lack of sleep is affecting me and adding to my state of depression.

"I'm apprehensive about meeting new people."

The statement added: "I feel emotionally broken. Simple things I once enjoyed no longer bring me happiness. My confidence has been shattered.

"I have frequent panic attacks and I'm always on edge. The brutal attack has left me in constant fear."

Sheikh was jailed for 83 months, must comply with notification requirements for life, and received a restraining order prohibiting contact with the victim until further order.

Description

A "sadistic" Sutton rapist armed with a knife brutally assaulted and repeatedly raped a woman after trapping her in her bedroom, doing "everything he could to humiliate and degrade her," Nottingham Crown Court heard.

Ionel -Alexandru Paicu, high on drink and drugs, attacked the woman on January 1 this year, prosecutor Catherine Picardo said. He repeatedly slapped and backhanded her face, causing "lots of bruises," threatened her with a kitchen knife, forced her to strip naked, and "effectively" trapped her in the bedroom before raping her.

The victim's statement described her ongoing anxiety when leaving home and fear of encountering the defendant again.

Mitigating, Mark Knowles said Paicu, 24, had previous good character. "Everything went wrong," he added. "He had never drunk as much as that before. He knows he has got to live with the situation and knows he is responsible. All I can ask is My Lady to reflect on the positive aspects of this defendant." He noted it was "a continuous event" in one evening and expected Paicu "will be deported at some point."

Judge Nirmal Shant KC told Paicu: "You did everything you could that evening to humiliate and degrade her. You have left her afraid of the future. What you did that evening and night has left a profound effect on her. The starting point is 12 years. There were different kinds of rape, albeit in one incident. It is, in my judgment, a case where sadistic conduct was involved."

Paicu, listening via a Romanian interpreter, admitted on the day of trial to making threats with a bladed article, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, false imprisonment, three counts of rape, and one of penetrative sexual assault.

He was jailed for 15 years, placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely, and given a restraining order banning all contact with the victim.

Description

Daniel Davis, 33, from Trowbridge has been jailed for 68 weeks for breaching of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order after appearing before Salisbury magistrates today (30/09).

Earlier this year, Daniel Davis was handed a suspended prison sentence for filming and watching people using the toilet in a McDonald’s restaurant in Bath.

The court heard how he was in possession of a mobile phone with a camera, in contravention of the conditions of his order.

His breach came to light in relation to other matters which remain under investigation.

Sgt Gemma Rutter said:

"I'm aware of the community concern relating to this person and I hope that the fact that he has been jailed following a breach of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order will reassure the public that we will act swiftly and robustly to bring such offenders to justice."

Description

A ‘controlling and manipulative sex offender’ who groomed and repeatedly raped a young girl has been jailed.

Christopher Swift, aged 35, was exposed when incriminating messages he’d sent to his victim were discovered and passed to detectives at Nottinghamshire Police in February of this year.

His victim was interviewed by officers and revealed a significant history of abuse at Swift’s hands.

The girl also revealed the high level of control Swift exerted over her life – from telling her what to wear to controlling her use of social media.

Swift initially gave no comment answers to officers’ questions, but later pleaded guilty to four counts of raping a girl under 13, four sexual assaults and another offence of engaging in sexual activity.

Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday 26 September, Swift, of no fixed address, was given an extended 17 year sentence.

He was also added to the sex offenders' register, and made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order which will tightly restrict his access to children once he is released.

Detective Constable Keeley Bringhurst, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:

“Swift is a controlling and manipulative sex offender who very deliberately targeted his victim over an extended period of time.

“He knew perfectly well that what he was doing was illegal and that his victim couldn’t possibly consent to what happened to her.

“His behaviour was utterly inexcusable and has understandably had a profound impact on his victim and her family.

“As he begins a very lengthy jail sentence I would like to pay tribute to the girl at the centre of this case for the bravery and resilience she has shown during the legal process.

“I would also like to send a very clear warning to other adults thinking of committing similar offences against children – you will be caught and we will ensure that you go to prison for a very long time”

Description

A woman from Huddersfield has been commended for her courage after helping jail the man who seriously sexually abused her as a child.

Henry Carson, aged 75, of Clayton Rise, Keighley was jailed for 5 years at Leeds Crown Court today (Tuesday September 30) after being found guilty of two serious sexual offences in the 1980s.

Detectives from the Kirklees Child Safeguarding Unit said the woman’s bravery in coming forwards and supporting a lengthy investigation had been instrumental in putting Carson before a court.

The 75-year-old was found guilty by a jury of offences of committing acts of gross indecency and indecent assault with a girl under the age of 14.  

His offending took place in Kirklees in the early 1980’s, and was reported by the victim as an adult in 2022.

Her report initiated a long running investigation by specialist child protection detectives.  

It resulted in Carson eventually being charged in January 2024.

Detective Constable Paul Campbell of the Kirklees Child Safeguarding Unit, who investigated the case said: 

“We want to absolutely commend the bravery of the victim who endured awful offences at the hands of Carson, but whose courage has seen him being made to answer for this crimes.

“She was a defenceless young girl when he committed some dreadful sexual acts upon her and we welcome his sentencing for those offences at court today.

“I hope the victim in this case can take some comfort in seeing him jailed and should also be extremely proud of the courage she displayed in coming forwards in 2022 and taking that difficult first step in making her report.

“We are fully aware of just how difficult it can be to come forwards, especially many years after the offending took place, but this case and others like it demonstrate that the passage of time is no barrier on justice.

“We do continue to urge all victims of sexual offending who have not contacted us, for whatever reason to do so.

“Whether you are reporting a crime to us in Kirklees, or to colleagues in other parts of West Yorkshire, we can assure you specialist officers will listen and do all they can to investigate and seek justice for you.”

Description

A 22-year-old man from Tottenham has been given a 16-months prison sentence after sexually assaulting a women and masturbating on board a London Underground train.

Following a British Transport Police investigation, Rohan Uddin, of Bedford Road, Tottenham pled guilty on Wednesday 9 July 2025 to outraging public decency, sexual assault and two counts of assaulting an emergency worker.

He was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Tuesday 16 September and handed a 16 month prison sentence which, includes 12 months for outraging public decency, three months for sexual assault and two months for the two counts of assault emergency worker. He was ordered to pay £187 surcharge.

Uddin has also received a 10 year sexual harm prevention order which prohibits him from talking to or engaging with any women or girls not known to him when travelling on public transport, entering a station or travelling on transport while under the influence of any intoxicating liquor or substance, placing his hands inside clothing in order to touch his genitals while on board or at stations and from travelling without a valid ticket or payment for travelling.

The court heard how Uddin sexually assaulted a woman on an east bound Central Line train at Marble Arch station just after 9pm on Tuesday 29 April 2025.

Uddin chose to sit next to a lone passenger in a relatively empty tube carriage and began to masturbate as he sexually assaulted her.

The woman in her twenties moved away from Uddin, scared for her own safety. She was able to get an image of him which enabled police to identify Uddin and place a wanted marker on his name.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police Service stopped him for unrelated reasons in June and arrested him upon discovering he was wanted. He then assaulted the two officers, leading to him being further arrested.

Detective Constable Sexton-Thomas said:

"It is thanks to the brave woman reporting this horrific incident to staff and to officers that we have been able to get this vulgar and sickening individual off of the railway network.

"The sentence handed down and the long-lasting Sexual Harm Prevention Order should act as a warning to others that we take all reports of sexual offences and unwanted sexual behaviour seriously and we will always support and believe victims throughout the investigation."

Description

A therapist has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl.

Anthony Agius, 53, was convicted of four charges of sexual assault at Southampton Crown Court on Monday, following a trial the previous week.

The court heard that Agius touched the victim inappropriately over her clothing, including smacking her bum several times and licking and sucking her neck.

While giving evidence, she told the court he “smacked my bum a few times as well as licking and sucking my neck.”

Prosecutor Tom Wilkins asked her: “Did you ask him, or want him, to touch you in the way you describe?" She replied: "No."

On another occasion, she “begged” him to release her from a headlock that restricted her breathing.

Mr. Wilkins said Agius offered to take the girl to London to buy her whatever she wanted, but her mother refused. He also invited her to dinner at The Ivy in Winchester.

Testifying from behind a screen, the girl said Agius asked her to perform cleaning tasks and spoke to her in a sexual manner.

Defense barrister Giles Bedloe told her during cross-examination: “I'm going to suggest they [the allegations] are not true and that you made them up. They were an afterthought."

He added: "I'm going to suggest that you flirted with Tony. This is all about the messaging. There never was any physical contact. I don't accept there was any headlock, you made that up."

Agius denied all physical sexual contact, claiming the roleplay was her idea in exchange for French lessons. He said he thought “she was old enough” and he was “desperate.”

“It is not something I am proud of,” he added.

Agius, of Allington Lane, Fair Oak, will be sentenced at the same court on November 13.

Description

A Kuwaiti asylum seeker who messaged what he believed to be a 14-year-old girl has avoided prison after claiming, "I didn't know I was doing anything wrong."

Fahad Al Enaze, 31, sent sexual texts to paedophile hunters posing as an underage girl, according to The Sun. Living in a Liverpool migrant hotel, he was caught by the Widnes Parents Against Predators group in September 2024.

He pleaded guilty to attempting sexual communication with a child at Warrington magistrates' court on Friday.

Prosecutor Chelsea Kearns said Al Enaze sent explicit messages to the decoy child and, upon arrest, told officers, "I didn't know I was doing anything wrong."

Kuwait raised its age of consent to 18 in March 2024, allowing sex only within marriage. Previously, men could marry (and have sex) at 17 and women at 15 with parental or judicial consent.

The court heard Al Enaze persisted in asking for photos after learning her supposed age, quizzed her on sex, and suggested he could "teach her everything" in a relationship.

He received an eight-month suspended jail sentence for 24 months, plus a sexual harm prevention order and 10 years on the sex offenders register.

Al Enaze must complete 25 rehabilitation days, 300 hours of unpaid work, and pay £272 in costs and surcharge.

Magistrate JP Paul Chadwick called him "very lucky" to avoid custody, adding: "In this country we take these offences seriously. You should be truly ashamed of yourself."

Description

A man has been jailed for 16 years after committing serious sexual offences against a woman in Flintshire.

Dumitru-Robert Lactus, 27, of Welsh Road, Garden City, appeared at Mold Crown Court today, Monday 29 September, after being found guilty of multiple offences including rape, assault causing physical harm, intentional suffocation and threats to kill.

He was jailed for 16 years.

He was also handed a restraining order to protect the victim lasting indefinitely and he must register as a sex offender with police indefinitely.

Detective Constable Gareth Bostock said:

“Lactus subjected his victim to shocking and violent behaviour that will stay with her forever.

“I commend her courage in coming forward and reporting these horrific offences as well as her bravery throughout the judicial process.

“We will do everything in our power to bring those who inflict sexual harm to justice.

“We take every report of violence against women incredibly seriously and urge anyone who has experienced such behaviour to get in touch with us. You will be listened to and supported.”

Description

A woman secured a job at a youth club while under investigation for raping a 17-year-old girl. Sarah Vigus, aka Sarah Parkinson, continued working at YMCA Porthcawl's after-school club until she was remanded in custody after being convicted of rape and assault by penetration, WalesOnline can reveal.

When asked how this occurred, a YMCA spokesman said: "We have not been contacted by the police at any point, either before or following Sarah’s arrest, and were shocked to learn of the events that had taken place." However, South Wales Police contradicted this.

A police spokesman stated the DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checked Vigus in May 2023 when she applied to the YMCA, and the certificate "contained comprehensive details about her arrest and the nature and extent of the alleged offences" from 2022.

In April 2024, a jury convicted Vigus, 38, and her partner Robert Ellis-Evans, 39, of rape. Vigus was also guilty of assault by penetration. This month, both from Heol Degwm in North Cornelly, Bridgend county, received eight years and three months in prison.

WalesOnline sought YMCA's response to the police statement. Meanwhile, parents of children at the John Street club were horrified.

One mum said:

"This woman worked with YMCA Porthcawl after-school club while she was under investigation – picking my child up and other young children from primary school right up until the court date. I feel absolutely sickened this was allowed to happen. I would have never ever let my daughter near her if I knew this."

Another mother posted on social media: "Sarah looked after my son from the age of three upwards. It sends a shiver down my spine."

What did the YMCA know?

The spokesman claimed the charity had "no knowledge of the investigation or the charges" until Vigus missed work and a family member informed them of her conviction and remand.

"Like any employee of YMCA Porthcawl Sarah had undergone complete DBS and safeguarding checks," he said, adding she was "immediately dismissed." "Had we been aware of the investigation she would have been suspended from the outset. Prior to [her remand] we were completely unaware of any case against Sarah or even the fact that she would be attending court."

Police clarified:

"We understand that Sarah Vigus submitted a DBS application, via an umbrella organisation, to work for the YMCA which was processed and returned by DBS in May 2023. The certificate issued contained comprehensive details about her arrest and the nature and extent of the alleged offences. We are unable to comment as to the YMCA’s actions in recruiting Sarah into the role after this DBS check."

A disturbing crime

At Cardiff Crown Court, the victim described passing out after vodka shots bought by the defendants at a pub. Invited to their home, she awoke on a sofa to Vigus holding her down by the waist while Ellis-Evans penetrated her vagina with his penis.

Realizing the rape, she screamed and cried. Ellis-Evans withdrew; Vigus claimed consent, which the victim denied. She reported it to her parents, leading to arrests. Both denied rape; Vigus admitted digital penetration but claimed consent.

Vigus, with no prior convictions, had messaged Ellis-Evans about her sexual interest in the victim.

In her statement, the victim said:

"I tried my hardest to move on with my life but it will always stick with me... Some days I can't leave my bed or eat, I can't look after myself. I feel dirty and no matter how many times I bath or shower or scrub myself I just don't feel clean.

"I feel uncomfortable in my clothes. I've fallen out of love with my body and who I am. I thought of self-harm and suicide. I felt powerless and out of control.

"I blame myself for what happened and think of what I could have done differently... When I had to go into court and tell the jury I had been the victim of a sexual offence I felt anxious, nervous, and angry after realising I had been the victim of a sexual offence and had to tell strangers what happened to me and had difficulty reliving that incident."

Vigus' barrister, Martha Smith-Higgins, noted her client has two children, stopped drinking in custody, lost five stone, and poses a "low risk of re-offending."

Judge Lucy Crowther said:

"You both violated her in an intimate way, both emotionally and physically... She was a particularly vulnerable woman."

They must serve two-thirds before licence release, with lifelong sex offender registration and indefinite restraining orders.

The YMCA spokesman added:

"We are deeply disturbed by the serious crime for which Sarah Vigus has now been convicted. First and foremost our thoughts are with the victim and her family who have shown immense courage through an unimaginably distressing experience.

"We want to reassure parents and the wider community that the safety and wellbeing of children and young people in our care is always our highest priority."

The DBS helps employers with safe recruitment using police data. WalesOnline contacted YMCA and DBS for more details.

Description

A convicted sex offender who worked as a carer in North Ayrshire has been struck off by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).

Alessandro Citti, believed to be from Kilwinning, was based in Irvine with the North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership during the offences.

He was convicted at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court in February for sending sexually explicit messages to someone he believed was a 14-year-old child, who was actually an adult posing as underage. The incidents occurred between May and August 2023.

According to the SSSC report, removing him from the social care worker register was "both necessary and justified in the public interest and to maintain the continuing trust and confidence in the social service profession and the SSSC as the regulator of the profession."

The watchdog added: "Social service workers must not put themselves or other people at unnecessary risk. Your behaviour placed the victim or deemed victim at significant risk of sexual and emotional harm. This displays a disregard for the wellbeing of vulnerable people.

"Behaviour of this nature is fundamentally incompatible with professional registration in the social services sector and represents a serious departure from the Codes of Practice and the standards of conduct expected of you.

"Your behaviour occurred over a period of time and should be regarded as serious."

The SSSC noted Citti's lack of engagement in the investigation, stating:

"Your behaviour raises serious values concerns and you have not demonstrated any meaningful insight, reflection or remorse in relation to the behaviour.

"If the behaviour were to be repeated there would be a significant risk of harm to children and young people.

"A finding of impairment is also necessary to uphold public confidence and trust in the social services profession, and in the SSSC as an effective regulator.

"We wrote to you on August 12, 2025 to tell you we wanted to place a removal order on your registration.

"After explaining the consequences and recommending you take legal advice, you have not asked for the case to be referred to a fitness to practice panel. We are therefore permitted by the rules to impose this removal order."

The ruling took effect on September 28, 2025.

Description

A convicted rapist buried his head in his hands upon learning he would spend many years in prison.

Dumitru-Robert Lacatus, 27, of Welsh Road in Garden City, appeared via video link from HMP Berwyn at Mold Crown Court for sentencing on Monday.

He was found guilty after trial on 12 counts: rape (x2), assault (x3), assault occasioning actual bodily harm (x2), making a threat to kill (x1), suffocation (x1), making a threat with a large blade (machete) (x1), and assault by beating (x2).

Defense counsel Simeon Evans told the court:

"Mr Lacatus continues to deny the offences.

"There is little I can say regarding his response which can assist him in shortening the sentence.

"It is the length of the sentence which will be his major concern.

"He is still a relatively young man and he has some English but it's very limited.

"That makes his time in custody much more challenging."

Judge Rhys Rowlands addressed Lacatus:

"You were convicted by the jury of 12 counts charging serious sexual, violent offending.

"What is clear is that you have no remorse whatsoever for what you did and no insight into the undoubtedly serious harm you caused."

The judge described the offending as "at times, very depraved," adding: "I am keenly aware that you are now going to spend a long time in prison, a long way from your family in Romania.

"It won't be easy for you but a sentence of immediate imprisonment, as has been conceded, is quite inevitable."

Lacatus received a 16-year prison sentence, after which he placed his face in his hands and sighed audibly.

He is subject to a restraining order protecting the victim and must register as a sex offender indefinitely.