Latest Offenders

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A mother sexually abused a 14-year-old boy after teenagers used her "doss house" to drink and smoke cannabis.

Deborah Taylor, then 33, had a relationship with one of the kids, who was 14 and cannot be named for legal reasons; an abuse that went on for eight years during the 1990s and early 2000s.

A court heard they split for undisclosed reasons when the victim was in his 20s and he initially kept quiet about the abuse until, in January 2020, nearly two decades after the fling started, he went to the police.

Taylor, now 62, was arrested and jailed for two years after admitting indecent assault. A victim impact statement, read at Bolton Crown Court, heard the man was "robbed of a childhood".

Judge Martin Walsh told Taylor: "You effectively groomed the complainant into a sexual relationship. He was extremely vulnerable by virtue of the neglect he endured as a child. Unquestionably, you took advantage of him at that time. Although I do not deem you to be a risk to the public I cannot ignore the harm that was done by the offending. It was not isolated but rather occurred across a long period of time."

The victim, now in his 40s, continued: "Everyone would hang out with Deb because we could do what we wanted at her home. At the time I felt comfortable and stable there, I felt like everything was going good for me.

"Now I can't understand why she would be interested in a relationship with an under-18-year-old. I have spent the last few years regretting everything that happened to me. I was robbed of a childhood.

"I feel depressed and question myself all the time now. I was just a boy, and she knew it was wrong. I was vulnerable and she took full advantage of this. This has taken such a long time to get to this point. Now I feel I can finally move past it and put a lid on this nasty box. I am walking away with my head held high."

During the hearing, it emerged one of Taylor's own children was the same age as the lad she "effectively groomed". Taylor, now a grandmother, had previous convictions for assault, shoplifting and supplying cannabis, the court was also told.

She was issued with an indefinite restraining order banning her from contacting the victim and was ordered to sign the Sex Offender Register for 10 years.

Nicholas Clarke, prosecuting told the hearing: "The boy lived with his father whose parenting left much to be desired as he was usually in the pub.

"School attendance was sporadic and basic amenities were almost as sparse as the presence of his father at home. The complainant often had no heating and food was a rarity in the house and this inevitably led him to develop a habit for drinking and smoking cannabis.

"He and other children of his age would also often attend Deborah Taylor's address. According to them it was 'doss house.' When the complainant was 14, he was persuaded to stay the night by the defendant. This inevitably meant sleeping with her in her bed. This led to the pair developing a relationship with each other, acting as partners and having regular sexual intercourse.

"At the start of their relationship the defendant would have been 33 years old. She had five children at the time, one of which was the same age as the complainant. At the time, social services were aware that he was living at the house, but they did not realise that the only place he could have been sleeping was her bed.

"He said there was always food and heating available at the defendant's house and he had a sense of stability there. However, by being in the relationship he was deprived of his childhood, of making friends and exploring the world.

"In January 2020 the complainant reported the defendant to the police. She went for interview with Greater Manchester Police in February of that year and admitted to being in a relationship with him. She described it as a perfectly normal relationship and that he would come round to play with her son who was the same age. She never admitted to having sexual intercourse with him before the age of 18."

Taylor, from Bolton, Greater Manchester, changed her plea to guilty in June of this year. Her lawyer, Jon Close, said she felt "deep shame, disgust and anger" at the offence.

In mitigation, Mr Close said: "The defendant feels deep shame, disgust and anger at herself. She had a difficult childhood herself, left school at a young age, unable to read and write. She then went to a factory and shortly after that became pregnant and had five children.

"She then entered an utterly damaging relationship, which involved violence, manipulation and sexual abuse. The scars were writ large, and she still suffers from panic attacks today. The only explanation she can proffer for why these offences were committed was that she was alone and frighten and this new relationship made her feel safe. She is not the person now that she was then.

"For the last nine years she has been in a stable relationship with a supportive partner. Although she has never properly worked, she has done voluntary work with hospices, homelessness charities and the church."

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Officers attended the address, in Mansfield Woodhouse, to arrest 29-year-old Kyhl Sykes after reports he had sexually assaulted a girl.

They knocked on the door and shouted through the letterbox but Sykes, who was alone inside, didn’t answer.

When officers broke in through the front door they smelt gas.

As they entered, Sykes struck a match which caused a backdraft.

The kitchen door exploded open in front of police who swiftly exited the property in fear for their safety.

Neighbouring properties were evacuated before Sykes was arrested and the house was made safe.

Sykes suffered burns to his face and hands during the incident which happened on February 16. Fortunately, no-one else was injured.

The day before, Sykes had engaged in sexual activity with a girl and his offending was reported to police.

At Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday, August 10, prosecutor Steven Bailey said Sykes had groomed the girl and built up her trust before abusing her.

The court heard Sykes had also taken photographs of the girl, when she didn’t know what was happening, and had sent pictures and messages to her which caused her to feel worried and confused.

He also searched for pictures of young girls on the Internet and was found in possession of 20 indecent Category C images of a child.

Sykes, of Mansfield Woodhouse, pleaded guilty to charges of arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered, two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a girl and a further count of making indecent photographs of a child.

Victoria Rose, defending Sykes, told the court he had suffered with his mental health and a personality disorder and was extremely remorseful for his actions.

Jailing Sykes for a total of six-and-a-half years, Judge Stuart Rafferty KC, said: “You abused this girl and treated her as an object. You began to groom her and encouraged her to have feelings about you by telling her you had feelings for her, in a wholly improper way.”

In respect of the arson, Judge Rafferty told Sykes: “Fortunately for you, the police arrived before the house began to fill with gas.

"It’s perfectly obvious from their radio communications and shouting through the letterbox that you were in no doubt the police were coming into the house.

“You utterly selfishly struck the match. The backdraft could easily have been a fireball had time gone on. If the police had come about half-an-hour later you would have blown them, the house, yourself, and other people to kingdom come.”

Sykes received four-and-a-half years in prison for the sexual activity offences and two years, to be served consecutively, for the arson offence. He was handed a three-month concurrent sentence for the possession of indecent images.

He was also made subject of a 10-year restraining order and will be a notifying sex offender for life.

Detective Inspector Craig Hall, of Nottinghamshire Police, said “Sykes is a dangerous sexual offender, and I am pleased he is now behind bars where he can no longer pose a risk to children.

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A convicted paedophile failed to tell police about his new phone. Shane Upton from Cardiff was already under a suspended prison sentence after sharing indecent images and attempting to incite a girl aged under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The 34-year-old, of Pen-Y-Lan Road in Roath, was put under a sexual harm prevention order last November which meant he had to inform police within three days if he purchased a mobile phone which had internet access. In June this year he bought one from CEX.

Prosecutor Emma Harris told Cardiff Crown Court: "On June 5 he got in contact with his probation officer and indicated he had a new phone and a new phone number. The probation officer was concerned he may have breached the sexual harm prevention order."

Ten days later a police officer visited Upton's home and examined the phone, finding it was connected to the internet. Upton later pleaded guilty to breaching the order, which had been made last November alongside a 17-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months. That came after he had been convicted of three counts of distributing and three counts of possessing indecent images of children as well as the attempted incitement of sexual activity.

Ms Harris said that when Upton was arrested for the breach, he claimed he "did not think about disclosing ownership of the phone as he did not have contact details to pass the information on". His lawyer Adam Sharp told the court it would be "unjust" to activate the suspended sentence for such a breach.

The judge, Recorder Greg Bull KC, agreed. "He told his probation officer of the purchase," said the judge. "I'm happy to accept this was a stupid error on his part in not understanding the order."

Mr Sharp added that his client previously had a long-term drinking issue but has benefited from an alcohol abstinence order. Recorder Bull then told Upton he would be making a 12-month community order with 25 hours of unpaid work. Upton, who receives Universal Credit, must also pay prosecution costs of £420 at a rate of £20 a month.

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A man has been sentenced after being convicted of sexual offences against a girl in Leeds committed more than 20 years ago.

Daniel Richardson (previously known as Bedford) , 38, of Leeds Road, Lofthouse, was found guilty at trial at Leeds Crown Court of two charges of indecent assault.

He was sentenced today (Thursday, 10 August) to six years in prison

The offences were committed from 2003 onwards for a number of years against one victim.

Detective Sergeant Emma Maltas, of Leeds District Safeguarding Team, said: The victim has shown immense bravery in coming forward as an adult to report the horrific offences committed against her as a child. This mans actions have had a significant impact on her childhood and still do now, and I hope his conviction helps her as she continues to try and process this trauma.
Richardson has subjected the victim to years of sexual abuse. He is now rightly behind bars and will have conditions on him following his release.
I hope that this conviction helps demonstrate that if you have been a victim of sexual abuse then it is never too late to report it to the police. You will be listened to, you will be supported and we will try and get justice for you.

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A paedophile has been locked up again just months after he was released from prison. Justin Barrs, 25, was convicted of making indecent images of children five years ago and again in 2020.

But after being released back into the community on January 26, he has been jailed once again after he was found to have breached the conditions of his release. As part of the conditions, Barrs was made to present his mobile phone to Thorpe Wood Police Station, in Peterborough, the day after he moved to the county from Suffolk on April 4.

When officers examined his phone, they found Varrs had created three usernames for online chat sites and had deleted the social media site Snapchat from his phone. He admitted he had been part of an online group for 13 to 19-year-olds.

When he was discovered, he told the police: "I'm an idiot."

Barrs, of Essendyke, Bretton, was sent back to prison after being charged with three counts of failing to comply with notification requirements for the Sex Offenders Register and breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). On August 3, at Peterborough Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to three years and four months in jail.

DC Jon Edwards said: "Protecting children and vulnerable people from harm is one of our top priorities and I am very pleased Barrs' breaches of his release conditions were discovered so he could be brought back before the courts. I would urge parents and carers to talk to their children about the dangers of phones, social media and the importance of online safety."

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A photographer accused of sex offences involving 12 women has been found guilty of five of the charges at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.

Simon ‘Sid’ Scott, 44, stood accused of a catalogue of sexual assault and indecent behaviour charges – involving women aged between 16 and 20 – the crimes taking place during photo shoots in Aberdeen and Glasgow.

A lengthy police investigation into Scott’s crimes involved officers sifting through thousands of his photographs – 150,000 of which were found to contain eroticism or nudity.

Scott’s lawyer previously claimed his client was the victim of a “witch-hunt”.

A jury of nine women and six men took just under six hours to find the professional photographer guilty by majority of five charges.

Not proven verdicts were returned to the remaining seven charges.

Scott, of Sunnyside Road, Aberdeen, sat motionless as the verdicts were read out.

Fiscal depute Lynne MacVicar had urged jurors to convict Scott, describing him as a “manipulative”, “opportunistic” and “predatory” sex offender.

She added: “The Crown’s position is that there is an underlying theme of exploiting situations often in a wholly calculating way.”

His defence counsel advocate David Taylor had asked that bail should be continued and said: “This is clearly serious and a custodial disposal may still be at the forefront of the court’s mind”.

Sheriff Morag McLaughlin made Scott subject to the sex offenders register and deferred sentence until September 1 in order for a criminal justice social work report and a restriction of liberty order assessment to be carried out.

The 44-year-old was released on bail.

Scott was found guilty of the following charges:

• Sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman during a Christmas Eve photo-shoot at City Dance Moves, Aberdeen, in 2015
• Sexually assaulting a 20-year-old woman between 2015 to 2016, at the Jurys Inn Hotel in Aberdeen.
• Sexually assaulting a 19-year-old girl during a photo-shoot in a bedroom at the CitizenM hotel, in Glasgow’s Renfrew Street, in December 2015
• Sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman in her Aberdeen home in April 2016
• Sexually assaulting a 17-year-old schoolgirl at Glasgow’s CitizenM Hotel in February 2017.

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A Wakefield paedophile who targeted a five-year-old boy was finally brought to court 37 years after committing his crimes but received just a community order.

Cowardly Jason Tasker was convicted after a recent trial at Leeds Crown Court of two counts of indecency with a child and one of indecent assault, and appeared again this week for sentencing.

But Judge Robin Mairs admitted that Tasker, who was just 14 himself when he assaulted the youngster, had to be dealt with by way of the more relaxed laws at the time he committed the offences in the mid 1980s.

He conceded that Tasker, who is now 51, may not have even been prosecuted at all back in the day and even less likely to be sent into custody.

He said: I have to look at sentence through the prism of what would have happened to a 14-year-old at the time. The maximum sentence that could have been imposed upon him at that time was four months (jail).

Its not a 14-year-old boy who sits before me but a 51-year-old man who has lived an unblemished life since then.

He handed Tasker, of Syndale Road, Normanton, a two-year community order, 20 rehabilitation days and put on the sex offender register for five years. He also ordered him to pay 1,750 prosecution costs.

The trial heard that Tasker had just turned 14 when he took the boy to his bedroom and assaulted him, before masturbating in front of him.

The victim eventually came forward and told police in 2016. He said Taskers assaults affected every aspect of my life and that he sought solace in recreational drugs to escape the pain and anxiety.

In an impact statement read out by prosecutor Julian Jones on behalf of the victim, he said: When I was only five-year-old I suffered am horrific violation of trust and innocence at the hands of Jason Tasker. As a small vulnerable child I was left with the burden of guilt, believing I had committed a terrible act. Without understanding, I believed I had done something wrong.

I lived in fear that people would discover my terrible secret. My childhood was consumed by anxiety, guilt and the overwhelming weight of keeping this secret hidden.

I will never get my time back or know know what it was to live as a normal person because of what he did to me. The defendants actions have left me with permanent scars. The pain and trauma of my past will always be a part of me.

He described Taskers constant denials as cowardly actions and added: Given the opportunity to accept and admit what he did to me, Tasker lied to me, lied to the police and lied to the court and ensured we were put through the painful experience of a trial by jury. He tried to cover his tracks.

Judge Mairs said that sentences of this kind were legally among the most difficult. He said: It was clear to anyone who saw his (the victims) evidence at trial, the impact is still live and still affecting him.

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A man has been found guilty of raping two teenagers on the same night in a Dundee car park.

Thomas Millar raped one of the girls in the back seat of a car and the other both inside and outside the vehicle.

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A sex offender who once tried to meet a young girl for sexual activity has been hauled back before the courts for breaching an order.

David Walls, 43, was handed a 28-month prison sentence at Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to three counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Prosecutor Jenny Haigh told the court that Walls is a registered sex offender and on March 15, 2017, he was convicted after grooming a girl and attempting to meet her. She said the pair chatted over the internet and he offered her cigarettes and suggested meeting up for sexual activity.

However, Ms Haigh said the girl did not attend the meeting as she knew "it was wrong". Following the conviction, the defendant was made to comply with notification requirements but breached these in July.

The court heard police obtained a warrant and attended his home address however, it was clear he had not been living at the home. Officers then attended his brother's property and apprehended Walls after he tried to flee.

Ms Haigh said his phone was then searched. She added: "It was quite clear the defendant had been using the laptop and iPad at his brother's home. It was clear he had been staying there."

The prosecutor said the search revealed that he had been using Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook under alias names. She said the defendant has six convictions for 16 offences and has previously breached the order.

In mitigation, however, the court heard Walls admitted the offences and "with hindsight knows he needs to change his behaviour".

Walls of Rugby Street, Hartlepool was handed a 28-month prison sentence.

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A PAEDOPHILE has been locked up by the courts for his depraved online sex chats with someone he believed to be a child.

Simon Bright believed he was communicating in a sexual manner with a 12-year-old girl.

The 50-year-old engaged in disgusting communications with her, telling the girl how he wanted to be her boyfriend and take a shower with her.

But he was actually talking to an adult operating a decoy profile in a bid to root out online offenders with a sexual interest in children.

After being caught, Bright was charged with attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child and attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

The case of the prosecution was outlined by Max Saffman, who explained to Chester Crown Court on Tuesday, July 25, how the offences occurred over a four-day period between August 25 and 28 last year.

The defendant admitted, through his guilty plea to the charge, intentionally attempting to communicate with a 12-year-old girl for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification.

He asked the ‘girl’ if she had a boyfriend and if she would like him to be her boyfriend, as well as telling her he wished he could join her in the shower.

Bright also asked her for photographs, asked her if she fancied him and asked her to talk sexually with him.

In addition, the defendant encouraged the ‘child’ to perform a sex act on herself and photograph herself doing so to send to him.

Bright, of Poplars Avenue in Orford, pleaded guilty to both charges and was sentenced by judge Simon Berkson to 28 months in prison.

He was also made the subject of sex offender registration and notification requirements for 10 years and a sexual harm prevention order for the same length of time.

In addition, the court approved an order for the forfeiture and destruction of his mobile phone seized by police.

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A former Durham cricket coach has admitted sexually assaulting a teenage player after being convicted of similar offences on four previous occasions.

Michael Strange, 63, appeared via videolink from prison for a 10-minute hearing at Sunderland Magistrates’ Court and admitted a single indecent assault charge on a 14-year-old in the Tyne and Wear area in the late 1990s.

Stephanie Cook, prosecuting, outlined that the offence was that Strange touched the boy while he was acting as a cricket coach.

Magistrates sent the case to Newcastle Crown Court on September 7 because their sentencing powers were not sufficient for the seriousness of the offence.

It was understood that Strange’s prison sentence for his previous offending was coming to an end soon, but that he would still be behind bars when this latest case was dealt with at crown court.

No details can be published which identify the victim in this case.

Investigators have now been in contact with the cricket authorities about Strange’s offending.

A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “We can confirm we have spoken with the English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and shared appropriate information.

“In doing so, we protected the right that all complainants and victims of sexual offences have to life-long anonymity, meaning they should not be named or identified in any way.”

Another victim, who was also abused by Strange when he was 14, has called on the ECB to hold an inquiry.

He said previously: “At the time, Strange was a trustworthy coach, a proven coach, someone who young cricketers did look up to, very knowledgeable.

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A disgraced former police officer who sexually assaulted a lone teenager as she walked home alone at midnight has been jailed for two and a half years.

James White, a former officer for Greater Manchester Police (GMP), admitted he had drunk four bottles of wine before getting in his car for a drive on 25 June, before carrying out an attack that was "the stuff of nightmares".The 39-year-old said he had not gone out to prowl for a lone female but when he spotted the teenager in a remote location in Darwen, Lancashire, he stopped the car and assaulted her.

Eve Salter, prosecuting, told the court the girl heard footsteps running up behind her. When White caught up he put his hands over her eyes, saying: "I don't want to hurt you".

He dragged her to the ground, causing grazes and bruises to her arm, torso and hip, before removing one of his hands from her eyes and putting it on her leg.The brave teenager took out her mobile phone and called her mum on Facetime. She tried to strike her attacker with the phone as the call connected, but White tried to knock it out of her hand.

She was able to take a photo of her attacker, who was wearing a distinctive t-shirt, before White ran away into the darkness, spooked by the girl's call for help.

The youngster was collected by her step-dad and reported the attack to the police.She said: "I don't know how to feel about the attack. I am just glad to be alive as I feared the worst was about to happen."The court heard White was dismissed from his role with GMP, serving the Bolton area, after he was convicted of four offences relating to the sexual harassment of female colleagues.

Tom Worsfold, defending, said his client recognised the court would have little sympathy for him and deserved to feel the shame he feels.

His step father, who has visited him in HMP Durham, said White told him he felt "he was torn between two different people - one good, one bad - and the bad one was winning"."There is a sense of tragedy that this person who was once a police officer in a position of responsibility could fall so low", Mr Worsfold said.

Sentencing, Judge Altham said: "What must have made this attack so frightening is that a 16-year-old who was on her own was targeted on the street.

"It is the stuff of nightmares for a stranger to wrestle you to the ground with the intention of sexual assault.

"If this was a planned attack where he has prowled for a victim before attacking her in this way, it is troubling, but it is equally troubling if all it takes is the sight of a lone female for him to run up behind her and assault her in this way.

"This young woman had to fight him off in the course of a violent attack. A man who can attack a young woman in this way - particularly with his background, is dangerous."

He sentenced White, of Suddellside Road, Darwen, to two years and six months for sexual assault with 10 months to run concurrently for ABH.

The judge also placed White on the Sex Offenders Register for 15 years, saying: "He will remain a danger to women for a significant period of time."

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A predator took advantage of a young girl’s “vulnerability”, growing in his bravado as he committed a series of increasingly serious sexual offences against her, a court was told.

Allen March was said to have been aware that the girl had been the victim of online grooming and was at a low in her life.

Durham Crown Court heard that the first inkling she received of his unwanted attention was when he sent her a message commenting on her body and breasts, which his victim now believes was the defendant seeing, “what he could get away with”.

March moved on to touching offences before he raped the girl for the first time prior to her 13th birthday.

Joe Cully, prosecuting, said the defendant's abuse of the girl continued for several years, before his victim finally gained the courage to speak up about his activities, having feared for a long time that she would not be believed.

The 58-year-old defendant, of Orchard Street, Crook, was charged with 18 sexual offences, including five of rape.

Despite his denials and claims that his victim was lying, he was convicted of all 18 offences following a week-long trial at the court in May.

The former taxi driver appeared back before the court via video link from nearby Durham Prison for today’s sentencing hearing.

Mr Cully said that important evidence emerged during the trial of March having sent a photograph of his private parts to another child and to a 17-year-old female passenger in his taxi.

The abuse victim’s impact statement was read to the court in which she said she was a “really vulnerable kid” when she first encountered March.

She said she suffered from low-esteem and had self-harmed as a result of his actions, which had badly affected her education.

In addition, she said she has suffered nightmares and flashbacks, and is nervous in the presence of men, refusing to answer the door to male delivery drivers or go alone in taxis or on public transport.

Chris Baker, for March, said he had no previous convictions, but added: “He has had his trial and knows there is no mitigation that can be put forward.”

Mr Baker said the defendant has his own health issues and “physical ailments” which he will have to endure during his, “very lengthy imprisonment.”

Judge James Adkin told March that he began grooming the girl from a young age and his complimentary message about her physique would appear to have been, “testing the water”.

The judge said some of the evidence heard about the sexual abuse of the victim, during the trial, was, “harrowing to listen to.”

Judge Adkin told March: “It’s said you’re previously of good character, but the more serious the offending, the less weight that holds.”

Sentencing him as, “an offender of particular concern”, he imposed the 23-year prison sentence with a one-year licence extension.

The result is that March will have to serve at least two-thirds of the 23 years, almost 16 years, before he will be eligible for release on licence.

He was made subject of a restraining order, relating to the victim, and registration as a sex offender, both for life, while he will also have to abide by the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 30 years.

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A man who raped schoolgirl five months before she was sexually assaulted and murdered by her older brother has been jailed.

Jamie Starrs, 20, attacked the vulnerable Amber Gibson while she was asleep or unconscious at a property in Bothwell, South Lanarkshire, in June 2021.

The innocent 16-year-old was later sexually assaulted and killed by her brother Connor Gibson, 19, in November 2021 but a statement she gave to police before her death proved crucial in bringing her rapist to justice. 

Starrs denied any wrongdoing and went on trial at the High Court in Lanark. However, Jurors took two hours to convict him of raping Amber and also raping a second teenager just two weeks earlier.

Starrs was jailed for ten-and-a-half years and two years of supervision upon release. Sentencing the double rapist, who appeared via video link from custody, Judge Thomas Welsh said: 'You have been convicted of appalling crimes against two innocent teenage girls and you have been assessed as being of very high risk of sexual violence on release.

'I am required to take into account your age and difficult upbringing - however, the crimes remain serious and grave, and I will impose an extended sentence.'

He said that he would have ordered 11 years to be served in custody but reduced this to ten-and-a-half years behind bars to take into account the time that Starrs has spent on remand.

The 20-year-old was also found guilty of a breach of bail conditions, and of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

He has been placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Giving a plea in mitigation, Michael Meehan KC, representing Starrs, highlighted that as he is under 25 the sentence must take into account sentencing guidelines which reflect that a younger person will have a lower level of maturity than an older person.

He said a report identified that Starrs shows 'cognitive and emotional immaturity'.

The lawyer had also urged the judge to consider his client's adverse childhood experiences when sentencing.

He told the court that Starrs was removed from parental care at the age of three and developed addiction issues from the age of nine. 

Mr Meehan said: 'He has a traumatic background from a young age which perhaps gives some degree of explanation.' 

Detective Constable Ross McCaig previously told the jury he had taken a statement from Amber after the sickening assault had been reported.

Her statement said: 'I was under the covers but when I went to get up I felt I didn't have clothes on my bottom half, my trousers were next to me on top of the covers.

'I saw that the guy Jamie was asleep in the bed with me, it was light enough to say that it was him. He then got up from under the covers and he was completely naked and he put on a red tracksuit and pulled out a blue windbreaker style jacket and I managed to put my trousers on underneath the covers. I told Jamie I was leaving.'

Later in a homeless unit in Blantyre, Amber became 'quiet' when discussion turned to a TikTok user being falsely accused of rape and she revealed it had 'happened to her'. A teenage boy told staff and police were called in before Amber told them she had been raped by Starrs.

She told officers: 'The reason I think I was raped was that I woke up in a bed with no clothes on my bottom half with a boy I had only met naked under the covers. I can't remember hugging him or kissing him at all.'

Commenting on the sentencing of Starrs, Detective Inspector Lorraine Wilson, of Lanarkshire division's rape investigation unit, said: 'Jamie Starrs subjected two women to violent sexual attacks and he is now facing the consequences of his despicable actions.

'The victims showed great strength in coming forward and reporting what happened to them. Despite one of the women having died before she was able to see justice being done, her evidence was key in securing his conviction.

'Our thoughts remain with the other victim in this case and I hope this sentence will bring her some comfort and closure.

The sentencing comes a fortnight after Connor Gibson, 20, was convicted of strangling his sister in woodland in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, in November 2021.

The predator had brought Amber to Cadzow Glen on the night of November 26, 2021, to carry out his brutal attack. 

He removed her clothes and assaulted her with the intent of raping the vulnerable teen, before strangling and beating her, and leaving her for dead in the woods.

Amber was reported missing on the evening of Friday, November 26 and her body was discovered in Cadzow Glen at about 10.10am on November 28.

But in a revolting twist of fate, her body was abused by the man who first found her, Stephen Corrigan. The 45-year-old was found guilty of attempting to defeat the ends of justice and breach of the peace by intimately touching and concealing Amber's body after discovering it, instead of contacting the emergency services.

The head of major crimes at Police Scotland said time should be spent remembering Amber Gibson rather than the two men who have been convicted.

Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Livingstone said: 'I'd like to actually give them as little thought as possible, to be honest with you.

'There's not any other words that spring to mind that I would describe them [as] other than depraved.

'I actually think that more time should be spent remembering Amber.' The senior officer said he hoped the convictions 'bring some degree of comfort' to the people who knew and cared for Amber.

He added: 'The actions of both Corrigan and Gibson leave them both beneath contempt.

'This was a challenging and complex investigation involving a range of specialist officers from within Police Scotland working closely with our partners in forensic services, all of whom I would pay tribute to for their professionalism and dedication whilst carrying out their work.'

Gibson will be sentenced on September 4 for a crime Judge Lord Mulholland described as 'depraved', while Corrigan will also be sentenced next month.

The day before Gibson was arrested on December 1, he posted a chilling tribute on Facebook to his sister, writing 'fly high' and 'I love you ginger midget'. 

'Amber, you will fly high for the rest of time. We will all miss you. Especially me. I love you ginger midget. GBFN (goodbye for now) X,' wrote Gibson. 

Gibson will be sentenced on September 4 for a crime Judge Lord Mulholland described as 'depraved', while Corrigan will also be sentenced next month. 

Meanwhile, Gibson's dad, Peter Gibson, was jailed for raping a woman back in April, before his son was found guilty. Reporting of the father's case was delayed until the end of his son's murder trial.

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A man who raped a woman in Congleton in 2021 has been jailed for more than five years.

Daniel Shaw, 32, of Burslem, was previously found guilty after trial of one count of rape.

He appeared in Chester Crown Court on Monday 7 August where he was sentenced to five years and six months.

The court heard in April 2022, a woman informed police she had been raped by Shaw in December 2021 in Congleton, following a night out.

She had managed to record the incident on her phone.

Shaw was arrested on 9 April 2022 on suspicion of rape and was subsequently charged.

When he was shown the video of the incident in interview, Shaw confirmed it was him in the footage but could not recall what took place and said he was drunk at the time.

He denied raping the victim but was found guilty on Monday 26 June after a six-day trial.

As well as a custodial sentence, Shaw was made subject to an indefinite restraining order, and notification requirements for life.