Latest Offenders

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A registered sex offender who began sexual chats with what he thought was a 14-year-old boy has been jailed. Aaron Batchelor, 29, sent messages to the boy who was actually an undercover police officer.

Batchelor, of Wootton Avenue, Fletton, Peterborough, sent messages on Snapchat and WhatsApp between June 5 and July 3 of this year. He was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison at Cambridge Crown Court on Friday (December 20).

He admitted attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child and three counts of breaching, and two attempted breaches, of a sexual harm prevention order.

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A Doncaster paedophile has been jailed for four years after being pleading guilty to child sexual offences.

Harvey Cooper was apprehended on Monday 23 October after communicating with who he thought was a 12-year-old boy online and through social media.

Cooper had even gone as far as buying them a train ticket to they could meet.

Officers were waiting at Doncaster train station to arrest Cooper when he was arrived to meet the child.

Following his arrest, officers searched his address and seized 25 electronic devices.

PC Steph Armitage, of South Yorkshire Polices Internet Sexual Offences Team (ISOT) said: As the digital world continues to expand, with access to the internet at pretty much everyones fingertips and new social media platforms being introduced, this is a growing area of criminality that carries a large amount of risk, as the victims are the most vulnerable members of our communities children.

For obvious reasons, many of our investigations happen behind the scenes as we look to take some of South Yorkshires most dangerous predators, like Cooper, off our streets. We will continue to work tirelessly to keep children safe.

Appearing at court on Friday 22 December, Cooper, formerly of East Lane, was sentenced to four years for arranging / facilitating the commission of a child sex offence. He was also sentenced to 12 months for engaging in sexual communication with a child and two years for arranging to meet a boy under 16 years of age following grooming. Both of these sentences will run concurrently.

Cooper is also subject to a ten year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), a barring order and a victim surcharge.

Description

Stuart Perrett, 44, of Wesley Street in Old Cwmbran, Cwmbran was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years, at Newport Crown Court on December 20, where it was heard he had possessed and distributed thousands of pictures and videos of young children being raped.

Prosecutor Christopher Evans told the court that in many of the videos you could hear the child crying and see them try to pull away while adults forced cruel acts of sexual violence upon them.

The deeply shocking level of abuse that the children, some which are classed as babies, faced in the videos, is too gruesome and barbaric to write in this paper.

After receiving information that Perrett was engaging in paedophilic activity, an undercover police officer contacted him under an alias.

Perrett was living in the Llanmartin area of Newport at the time.

Police found 1,106 images on his iPhone, still and moving, of "extreme pornography" involving children and animals, dead and alive.

366 of these images were classed as category A, the most serious kind, with examples read to the court describing the violent rape of children as they were "screaming and crying".

Mr Evans, prosecuting, stressed the "pain and distress" of the children and babies, all aged between one and 10, in the videos and pictures Perrett was distributing.

Appearing on Perrett's behalf, Sol Hartley acknowledged the "highly unpleasant offending."

Mr Hartley told the court that because of Perrett's offending, "his completely normal life has fallen apart."

"This is a man who has worked for all of his life, but has lost his job because of this, and lost his family.

"He still has some contact with his wife," who was present in court, "and the only contact he has with his children is on FaceTime.

"Despite his mental health struggles, he is a man who can be managed within the community."

Upon sentencing, Judge David Wynn Morgan said: "It is bad enough to have images on your computer to look at. It is another thing altogether to send them to other people.

"It is sick, that if it wasn't for people like you children would not be exploited.

"The damage inflicted on these victims is terrifying, and so it is impossible to imagine how any child, however young, can recover from this.

"You were once a good father - you are now going to have to live with the destruction of these relationships for the rest of your life."

Judge David Wynn Morgan sentenced Perrett to two years in prison, suspended for two years, with 250 hours of unpaid work, 30 days of rehabilitation activities and 12 sessions of mental health treatment.

The judge warned Perrett that the time completing his unpaid work will not be easy.

"The extraordinary thing about our justice system is that no matter how bad a person is - they will never be as bad as a person who has done what you have done.

"They won't make life pleasant for you."

Perrett is also on the sex offenders register and is subject of a five-year sexual harm prevention order.

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Jordan Emms, 38, of Barrow, was locked up for three years at Preston Crown Court on December 16 after being found guilty of sexual assault by touching and causing/inciting a child to engage in sexual activity following a six-day trial in November.

The offences do not relate to his employment at Thwaites School, near Millom.

A Cumberland Council spokesperson said: “We can confirm Jordan Emms was employed as Headteacher at Thwaites School.  He was appointed following confirmation of successful references and relevant checks.

“The safety and wellbeing of pupils is always a priority. As soon as we were made aware of the allegations against him, immediate steps were taken to suspend him from the school.

“We can confirm that these offences do not relate to his employment at Thwaites School.”

Records online show Emms was replaced as headteacher at the school in Hallthwaites, Millom, in August 2023.

Preston Crown Court heard the offences took place in Ulverston and related to incidents involving one victim.

His Honour Judge Gioserano also imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for seven years and ordered for Emms to be placed on the Sex Offenders Register.

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A judge has jailed a Grimsby man for four offences of rape of a child.

Danny McNaughton, 38, of Wellington Street, Grimsby, was found guilty by a unanimous jury for the offences of four counts of rape of a child and six counts of sexual activity with a child. The jury at Grimsby Crown Court also found him guilty of three counts of sexual assault of a child under 13.

Other offences included four counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child and causing a child to engage in sexual activity. The case was brought by the prosecution led by Richard Butters. Judge Gurdial Singh sentenced McNaughton to 14 years in prison. He was also put on the Sex Offender Register for life.

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A man has today been jailed for more than 10 years after he raped a child in Basingstoke.

Declan Westwell, 29, of no fixed abode, raped the teenage girl – who was not known to him – in the Oakridge area on Wednesday 8 May this year.

Following a fast-paced investigation, Westwell was identified and arrested. He was subsequently charged with raping a girl aged 13, and remanded in custody.

He denied the offence but was found guilty following a trial at Winchester Crown Court last month.

Westwell was jailed for a total of ten and a half years at Winchester Crown Court today (20 December).

DC Thomas Bailey, from the Child Abuse Investigation Team, said: “Declan Westwell used a false name and persona in order to coerce the girl – whom he had just met in a passing encounter. Despite knowing her age, he raped her, then warned her not to tell anyone what he had done.

“She later made a report to the police, and Westwell was taken into custody. He denied the offence, but was ultimately found guilty by a jury, who were unanimous in their decision.

“The sentence passed today includes an extended licence period of four years, recognising the danger which Westwell poses to the public. Once released, he will be on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Description

A 36-year-old man from Essex has been sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment with an extended licence period of four years for sexual offences against boys.

Darren Hornsby, of Spring Road in Clacton-on-Sea, was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court last Thursday, 5 December 2024. He was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for life and ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

Investigating in Essex

An investigation against Hornsby was launched by Essex Police in 2019 following intelligence regarding online activity involving indecent images at an address he was residing at.

On 28 February 2019, a search warrant was carried out at the premises. A number of electronic devices belonging to Hornsby were seized and found to contain indecent images of children:

• 68 category A images and 26 videos
• 172 category B images and 41 videos
• 250 category C images and 4 videos

A video was identified by Essex Police of a male child aged between five and seven years being sexually abused; only the hands of the abuser could be seen.

The OIC, Detective Constable Emma Edwards, suspected the abuser in this video was Hornsby. Due to this officers enlisted the help of a forensic hand expert, Dame Professor Sue Black, who carried out a comparison.

On 14 April 2021, Hornsby was charged with six counts of making indecent images of children, one count of taking indecent images of a child and one count of sexual assault with penetration of a boy under the age of 13.

Hornsby pleaded guilty to the six counts of making indecent images of children, however denied taking an indecent image of a child and the sexual assault.

Dame Professor Sue Black gave her evidence in court which assisted the jury to guilty pleas on both counts in less than an hour, heard in November 2024.

Offences in Suffolk

On 4 June 2023 a report was made to Suffolk Constabulary relating to sexual assaults on boys at an address in Trimley St Martin.

These offences took place on 1 and 2 June 2023 and involved two boys in their early teens.

Enquiries established that Hornsby had befriended the boys several months before and had invited them to the address in Trimley.

Hornsby was arrested, charged and remanded in relation to the sexual offences. He initially denied these but pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault on a male and two counts of inciting a boy aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity without consent, on the second day of trial.

Hornsby was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment for the offences in Essex and six years’ imprisonment for the offences in Suffolk. These are to be served consecutively, bringing his total jail term to 15 years, as well as four years on extended licence.

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A man made "unwanted sexual advances" to a vulnerable teenage girl, leaving her crying and in shock.

Father-of-five Shabajul Haque brazenly kissed and touched the girl during unpleasant encounters with her but he later tried to talk his way out of trouble and deny that it happened, Hull Crown Court heard.

Haque, 46, of Pendrill Street, off Beverley Road, Hull, admitted two offences of sexually assaulting the girl on March 29, 2022.

The court heard that the teenage girl had mild learning difficulties. Haque kissed her on her cheek and, on another occasion, followed her, kissed her and ran his hand along her thigh while they were out of sight from any other people.

She told her mother and another person what had happened and the matter was reported to the police. The girl had been left crying and shaking afterwards.

Charlotte Baines, mitigating, said that Haque had five children, aged between 17 and two years old. He worked late afternoons and evenings. He had no previous convictions. Haque was helped during the court hearing by a Bengali interpreter.

Judge Alexander Menary told Haque: "You made unwanted sexual advances towards her. You admitted your offending at an earlier hearing." Haque later tried, however, in a probation service interview, to dispute the offences.

"You maintain these offences did not take place," said Judge Menary.

This was due to an unwillingness to face up to what he had done and was "from a position of shame rather than a blanket denial", said Judge Menary.

Haque was given 60 hours' unpaid work and 25 days' rehabilitation. He must register as a sex offender for five years.

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Child abuse videos were found after an Angus man’s partner tried to remind him about a Covid test before a festival visit.

Luke Walker’s former partner discovered a secret mobile phone that contained discussions in a group chat about abuse material.

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A "dangerous" child pervert was tracked down to his home in Bradford by a paedophile hunter group after having sexually explosive chats with a decoy posing as a 13-year-old girl.

Fitness instructor Mario Palumbo, of Smiddles Lane, was intrigued by a fake Facebook profile of a teenage girl, that a member of the Child Safety Online Team had set up and began messaging the account in September. Palumbo began to send sexualised messages to the decoy along with naked images of himself and described her as “absolutely adorable”.

Bradford Crown Court heard on Thursday (December 19) that at the time the 33-year-old was still on prison licence after being jailed for four years at Sheffield Crown Court in 2020 for a serious offence of making threats to kill. Palumbo had also been given an extended licence period of three years in 2020 having been assessed as a dangerous offender.

Judge Sophie McKone was told that Palumbo, who had no previous convictions for sex offences, claimed he was just 26 during his sexualised chat with the decoy and he suggested the girl would have to pretend to be his daughter or niece if they went out shopping together.

Prosecutor David McGonigal said the defendant called the decoy “sexy” and “beautiful” and sent her images of lacy underwear she might want to wear. Mr McGonigal said members of the group were able to locate Palumbo’s address in Bradford and when they went to his home he tried to escape via the back door.

When he was apprehended, Palumbo told them: "I know what I’ve done is wrong. Please don’t contact the police because I’m on licence." Palumbo, who appeared in court via a video link, pleaded guilty in October to two offences relating to attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

His barrister John Bottomley told the court that his tearful client was upset and ashamed of his actions and recognised that he had committed a serious offence.

Judge McKone jailed Palumbo for 40 months and also imposed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order to restrict his future contact with under 16s and his use of the internet. He will also have to register as a sex offender for 10 years.

The judge said Palumbo had hoped or believed he was contacting a 13-year-old girl and his actions demonstrated that he had a sexual interest in children.

“You were full aware that you were dealing with a child, certainly in your mind,” she told Palumbo. Judge McKone said the child did not exist but Palumbo believed that she did and in his mind he was contacting her in a sexually graphic way to satisfy his own sexual gratification.

Description

A violent rapist who “poses a very real danger to women” has been jailed for almost 20 years.

Last year, police officers received a report from a victim that John Cooper, of Whitehill Lane, Gravesend, had raped, sexually assaulted and physically attacked her multiple times.

The 29-year-old was immediately arrested and taken into custody before being charged with rape, sexual assault, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and intentional strangulation.

He was remanded in custody and while detectives were completing their inquiries, they found a second woman who said the suspect had put her through a similar ordeal in 2018.

Cooper was produced from prison on May 23, interviewed, and received further charges of rape, sexual assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He pleaded not guilty, however, was convicted following two separate trials at Woolwich Crown Court.

The sex offender was jailed today (December 20) for 18 years, of which he will have to serve at least two thirds before applying for parole.

When he is released from prison, Cooper will have to serve an additional seven years on licence and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order and have to sign the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Daniel Burnett said: “Cooper is a violent sexual offender who poses a very real danger to women.

“He brutally attacked two victims and subjected them both to an appalling ordeal for his own sexual gratification. He sought to deny he had committed these crimes but is now deservedly serving a very long prison sentence.

“I would like to commend the two victims who showed immense courage in reporting their attacker to the police. They have ensured other women are not in danger from this vile individual.”

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An Isle of Wight paedophile has been jailed after flouting his court order again by deleting Snapchat messages and explicit photos of an American schoolgirl from his phone and computer.

Paul Norman, of The Rogers in Shanklin, attended the IW Crown Court for sentencing after previously admitting breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The court heard how the 65-year-old is a registered sex offender who was convicted of sex offences in 2006 and 2022 – the most recent after he was caught with extreme obscene images of young children and bestiality.

Upon being handed a two-year suspended sentence, part of Norman’s order dictated that he could not delete the history on his electronic devices.

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Police are appealing for any possible victims who may not have contacted police to come forward after a man was convicted of child sex offences.

Mustafa Mehmet was found guilty of repeatedly raping a young girl after exploiting a relationship with her mother in Hackney.

Mehmet, 34, (14.02.90), of Malden Court, N4 was unanimously found guilty of rape of a child, causing a child to engage in sexual activity, causing a child to watch a sexual act and assault (ABH) on Friday, 6 December at Wood Green Crown Court.

He has been remanded in custody and sentencing will be at the same court on Friday, 31 January 2025.

The sexual assaults and abuse took place over a three-year period from the mid-2000s and started when the child was eight years old.

Detectives from Central East’s Child Abuse Investigation Team have been working to identify possible further victims of Mehmet and encourage anyone who has been a victim of Mehmet to come forward and report to the police.

Mehmet exploited his friendship with the victim’s mother, allowing him to gain access to the child to conduct a prolonged campaign of abuse and sexual assault.

An investigation was launched after the victim reported the offences in 2019, leading to Mehmet being charge in January 2024. Local officers supported the victim throughout the investigation and trial, acknowledging the bravery it took to make the first steps in reporting the crime in the first place.

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A former teacher who sexually abused a pupil during the 1980s has been jailed.

Simon Montgomery taught at Dulwich College Preparatory School, now Dulwich Cranbrook in Coursehorn, Cranbrook.

The former science teacher and boarding school housemaster exploited his position to repeatedly assault a young boy under his care.

The 70-year-old, of Littlefield Road, Rainham, began grooming his victim by instructing him to stay behind after lessons, before showing him explicit magazines.

This moved on to repeated instances of sexual abuse in both the classroom and at a nearby sports facility.

His sentence comes after the allegations were reported to the police in December 2022. Montgomery was arrested and later confessed to officers during interviews, confirming the victim’s name before being asked.

He was charged with two counts of indecent assault and gross indecency with a child and a further charge was added of making indecent images of a child in connection to material found on one of his digital devices.

Montgomery pleaded guilty and at Maidstone Crown Court today (December 19) was sentenced to three years and four months in prison and made subject to a sexual harm prevention order.

Passing sentence, Judge Oliver Saxby KC praised the bravery of the victim in coming forward to reveal to the police what he had endured.

"He summoned the courage to report what you’d done – with all this involves. The feeling of shame – misplaced but real. The feeling of disgust – brought into sharp focus by having to remember it all again.

"And the feeling of life being suspended whilst the case has made its slow way through the court system.

"He said this in his interview: ‘Whatever age you are, you should have to stand up and be counted’.

"The court echoes this sentiment."

During the sentencing hearing it was revealed that although Montgomery has no previous convictions, he was cautioned in 2006 for three offences of sexual activity with a child in respect of children he had taught.

Now a convicted sex offender, the disgraced former teacher will have to sign on the sex offender register for life and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for 15 years.

He will also be subject to regulations barring him from working with children.

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Terence Walters, from Billingham, bought the young girl gifts including vapes as well as money after sexually assaulting her with a massage device.

The 53-year-old used the device on her leg and back despite multiple pleas for him to stop during the assault last year.

He was also found to have asked the girl about her underwear and showed a nude photo of his former partner, the court heard.

After the child bravely reported the abuse to police, Walters was arrested, and evidence was gathered by detectives that led to him being charged.

Following a trial at Teesside Crown Court in October 2024, Walter was found guilty by a jury.

On Tuesday 17 December Walters returned to Teesside Crown Court to be sentenced by Judge Jonathan Carroll. He was told he will serve 13 years in prison for three counts of sexual assault by penetration, non-penetrative sexual assault with a child and sexual communication with a child.

Walters will also be on the sex offenders register and be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) indefinitely.