Latest Offenders

Description

A HIGH-RISK sex offender from west Cumbria is back behind bars after online monitoring software alerted police to his latest spate of offending.

Jonathon Fell, 27, whose previous offending earned him a 45-month jail term in 2021, is now under the terms of a strict sexual harm prevention order designed to restrict his online activity.

But at Carlisle’s Rickergate court, Fell, who has lived in Carlisle and west Cumbria, admitted eight new offences, including two allegations of downloading indecent child images and two of possessing child abuse images.

He also pleaded guilty to four allegations of flouting his sexual harm prevention order by accessing online platforms such as YouTube and Instagram.

Prosecutor George Shelley said the indecent child images involved were classified as Category B, the second most serious kind, and Category C, of which there were eight images.

In one online conversation, said Mr Shelley, Fell spoke to a person about the age of their child, asking for the age.

His original offending, the court heard, involved sexually abusive behaviour towards babies and other very young children.

He spent days looking for victims online, on one occasion giving nine-year-old boy detailed instructions on sexually interfering with his three-year-old sibling. After that conviction, police described Fell as “manipulative.”

He had lied to both them and other agencies about his online activities, they said. All eight of Fell’s latest offences were committed in the Cockermouth area.

“This defendant is a high-risk sex offender,” said Mr Shelley.

“His previous convictions of a sexual nature involved child contact and it is reassuring that the [police] e-safe monitoring software has flagged these matters up at a very early stage.”

Fell, of Mawsons Court, Cockermouth, asked his lawyer Duncan Campbell to apply for his release on bail. The court heard Fell had 11 previous sexual offences on his record.

Mr Campbell told magistrates it was not "inevitable" that Fell would be jailed for his offending when the case goes to the crown court.

The defendant no longer had access to his digital equipment as it was seized by the police.

“He was fully aware that the e-safe monitoring equipment was on his electronic equipment and that everything was monitored,” said Mr Campbell, suggesting Fell did not hide what he was doing.

Magistrates remanded Fell in custody.

He will be sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court on January 14 next year. In the meantime, probation staff will prepare a background report for the sentencing judge.

Description

A sex offender who transported an unconscious woman from Camden to Kent to rape her has been jailed.

Seyi Odeyemi, 23, offered to take the victim home for half the price of a taxi that she was trying to book while in Camden on September 3 last year, at around 10pm.

She agreed to the proposition and got into his car, but instead of taking her home he took her to a hotel near Northfleet, Gravesend.

By the time they arrived the woman appeared semi-conscious and was able to stand, but Odeyemi had to carry and drag her to a room.

Once inside, he raped the victim.

She woke up in the morning confused and not recognising Odeyemi.

After it was reported to police, Odeyemi was arrested days later on September 7.

Police established he breached the conditions of a sexual risk order he was under at the time by failing to make the victim of the order and failing to seek consent for sexual activity.

Odeyemi, of Adams Drive, Willesborough, Ashford, was charged with rape and breaching the order.

He pleaded not guilty and was convicted with both counts on August 14 after a trial at Maidstone Crown Court.

On Thursday (December 4), he received an extended sentence with a total of 10 years and six months' imprisonment.

On his release he is required to complete an additional five years on licence.

He will also have a sexual harm prevention order for 20 years and will have to sign the sex offenders' register indefinitely.

Description

A man from Gosport will serve time in prison following a number of 'horrifying' child sex offences.
Lee Matthews, aged 39, has been handed a 17 and a half year prison sentence after appearing at Portsmouth Crown Court for sentencing on Friday, November 22.

Matthews previously pleaded guilty to a number of offences including:

• Sexual assault by penetration of a child aged 13 or over
• Three counts of sexual assault
• Recording an image under clothing to observe another without consent (also known as ‘upskirting’)
• Production of an indecent image of a child on June 4, 2022
• Making indecent images of children on June 4, 2022

DC David Sloan, from the Child Abuse Investigation Team, said: “Lee Matthews is a dangerous individual who poses a clear threat to the wider public, particularly children.

“This catalogue of horrifying offences will have a devastating impact on the victim, who despite Matthews’ devious attempts to dissuade her from speaking out was able to bravely report this to police.”

The offences all relate to a girl who was known to Matthews, and took place when the girl was under the age of 16 between July 17 and July 19 of last year.

Matthews had also tried to blackmail and bribe the victim into not disclosing the abuse, the court heard.

During the investigation, police officers also seized a mobile phone and a Samsung tablet from Matthews where they uncovered 70 category B images – one of which was a video – and 28 category C indecent images of a child.

Matthews, of Forton Road in Gosport, was given a 17 year and six month extended sentence, made up of 10 and a half years in prison and a 7 year extended licence period.

Further to his prison sentence, he was also handed an indefinite restraining order against the girl, an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and ordered to sign on to the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Passing sentence, His Honour Judge Ashworth remarked how Matthews took advantage of the girl and ‘exploited her trust’, and noted that he had a ‘morbid and sexualised desire’ towards the child.

The judge went on to say that Matthews’ actions would likely result in a mental violation that ‘outstrips and outlasts any physical harm’ caused to the girl.

DC Sloan added: “Because of her courage, Matthews will now spend a lengthy period of time in prison, and will also be subject to an extended period on licence after the Judge determined that he was a particularly dangerous man.

“I hope this case provides confidence to anyone else who is being abused that police are here to support you and ensure those responsible for causing serious harm to children are brought to justice.”

A spokesperson for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said: “We want to encourage anyone who has been affected by child sexual abuse to contact police on 101, where you can speak to an officer in confidence.

“We recognise that not everyone has the confidence to talk to police about what they have experienced. Please be reassured that there are other services available that can offer you specialist support to help you deal with the impact of abuse.”

Description

Two brothers have been found guilty of raping vulnerable girls as young as 13 in Rotherham 18 years ago.

Mark Evans, 36, and Robert Evans, 40, manipulated their victims and plied them with drugs and alcohol before luring them to locations where they attacked them, Sheffield Crown Court heard on Wednesday.

Two victims, aged 13 and 14 at the time of the offences, told the court how they were raped by both brothers on separate occasions. Another woman was raped by Mark Evans when she was 13.

The brothers will be sentenced on 16 January.

The pair were arrested in August 2020 as part of Operation Stovewood, set up after the Jay Report found at least 1,400 girls were abused, trafficked and groomed by gangs of men in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013.

The court heard that two of the victims had been plied with alcohol by the brothers on separate occasions before they were lured to different locations, including a barn and an alleyway, where they were raped.

The third victim was groomed by Mark Evans, who gave her drugs and alcohol before he raped her in an alleyway.

'Courageous testimonies'

National Crime Agency senior investigator Kim Boreham said: The victims bravely described how the brothers abused them in the worst ways, showing no remorse afterwards."

She said it was extremely difficult for the women to recall their abuse but that their "courageous testimonies" meant the brothers had faced justice.

Mark Wayne Evans, of Wharncliffe Hill, Rotherham, was found guilty of two counts of rape, one count of sexual activity with a child and one count of assault by penetration.

Robert George Evans, of Thompson Close, Rotherham, was found guilty of two counts of rape.

Description

A man who tried to rape a teenager as she slept in her home has been jailed for four years.

In October 2020, the girl awoke to find Aiden Battye on her bed, pulling her underwear down and attempting to rape her.

Battye, who was 17 at the time of the offence, was ordered to leave after the girl told her family what had happened.

An investigation was launched by officers from Darlington Safeguarding Team, and Battye, who is now 21, was charged with attempted rape.

He was also charged with a second count of sexual assault in relation to a separate incident involving another teenage girl.

He denied both charges but was found guilty of attempted rape following a week-long trial at Durham Crown Court in October.

A jury found him not guilty of the sexual assault.

In a victim impact statement, the attempted rape survivor said: “I feel my life changed when Aiden tried to rape me – I am a different person and not in a good way.

“There has not been a day where I don’t have thoughts about what happened to me, and this has caused me to feel depressed and experience suicidal thoughts.

“Other changes in my personality are an inability to focus, probably because I cannot get these events out of my head. A physical effect is that every day since the attack I have showered for up to an hour a day – I scrub myself to the point of making my skin raw. I know it’s not about being clean, I just want to scrub the memory of it off my skin.

“I have struggled with my own guilt; I had thoughts that it was my fault. Him being found guilty has helped me to believe that other than my immediate family, there are people – in this case, the jury – who also believe me.” 

Today, Battye, of Darlington, appeared at Teesside Crown Court where he was jailed for four years and placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

He was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and restraining order.

Description

A convicted sex offender who assaulted a child in Gillingham has been handed a further prison sentence.

Ben Hanger, 34, of St Agnes Gardens, Sheerness, was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on Wednesday 4 December to four years in jail after he admitted sexual assault against a girl under 13 and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity. He was also ordered to serve an additional five years on licence.

He abused the young girl at a property between 2016 and 2017 and the offences were reported to Kent Police in 2021.

He was arrested at HMP Elmley, where he is serving a 15-year extended sentence after he was convicted following a trial in December 2022. He was jailed after he attempted to kidnap a schoolgirl in January 2021.

This additional sentencing will be added to his total years to serve.

Description

A ‘dangerous’ child sex offender has been found guilty following a three-year-long investigation.

Dominic Scribbins, aged 39 from Plymouth, was found guilty by a jury of 16 offences following a seven-day trial at Bristol Crown Court on Friday 29 November. He was found guilty of the following:

• Eight counts of indecent assault
• Three counts of sexual assault of a child under 13
• Two counts of assault of a child under 13 by penetration
• And one count each of assault by penetration, sexual assault and engaging in sexual
• activity in the presence of a child.

The court heard how between 2003 and 2019, Scribbins had sexually and indecently assaulted several young girls in the Bristol and Dorset area, who were between the ages of four and 14 at the time of the incidents.

Officers first started investigating the case in 2021 when one of the victims came forward and reported non-recent sexual assaults by Scribbins. Following this, other victims came forward to make their own reports.

Following an extensive investigation, Scribbins was arrested on 11 November 2021 and later charged on 31 May last year.

Officer in the case Detective Sergeant Lucy Bryant said: “It has been three years since the victims in this case came forward to the police and I thank them for their bravery and resilience in supporting a prosecution.

“Because of their courage, a dangerous child sex offender has been taken off the streets and, following his sentencing in January 2025, will hopefully be in prison for many years to come.

“Sexual offences against such young and vulnerable members of our society are among the most despicable. Children should be able to trust adults and know they are safe in their company, but Scribbins brought about only pain and upset for his victims.

“No matter when the abuse happened, if something has happened to you then please report it to us, you will be believed and supported. We are committed to doing whatever is needed to achieve justice for the victims, while also providing and signposting them to safeguarding and support services.”

Scribbins was found not guilty of one count of sexual assault of a children under 13.

He was remanded into custody and will appear at Bristol Crown Court for sentencing on Monday 13 January next year.

Description

A “lonely” young man working in the North East, well away from home, sought companionship via a social media dating and friends site for adults, a court heard.

But when Jarrod Hofmann’s post on Wink was responded to by someone claiming to be a 14-year-old girl, he made the misguided error of continuing the conversation, soon moving on to sexual matters.

Durham Crown Court was told Hofmann was unaware, however, that the person purporting to be 14-year-old “Mollie” was, in fact, a decoy profile put up by the paedophile-hunting Child Online Safety Team (COST).

Elisha Marsay, prosecuting, told the court that Hoffman, aged 21 at the time, soon suggested switching the conversation onto WhatsApp.

Over the course of the following 18 days, in March last year, he repeatedly tried to persuade ‘Mollie’ to send him intimate images of herself and told her he would instruct her how to perform a sex act upon herself.

Miss Marsay said the defendant also discussed meeting ‘Mollie’, making travel arrangements so she could spend a night with him.

Members of COST confronted Hoffman at his home, at the time, in Annfield Plain, near Stanley, on March 26, 2023, and police were summoned to the address to arrest the defendant, who was found sitting on the stairs while the paedophile hunters waited at the door.

Following his arrest, Hofmann made no comment in police interviews in March and August last year.

But, by the time the case came before magistrates in Newton Aycliffe, on September 3 this year, the 23-year-old defendant, now living back with his family in Brockworth, Gloucestershire, pleaded guilty to all four charges put to him.

He admitted attempting to incite a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity, attempting to possess an indecent image of a child, attempted sexual communication with a child and attempting to meet a girl under 16 following grooming.

The offences were all classed as “attempts” as no actual child was involved, unknown to Hofmann.

Stephen Ferns, in mitigation, said the defendant, who has no previous convictions, was, at the time of the offences, working for National Express based in the North East and felt, “lonely and isolated”.

Mr Ferns said Hofmann was not “actively seeking” a relationship with an underage girl, and accessed an adult site, "seeking a relationship with an adult".

He said the opportunity of it being a child then, “presented itself”.

“He fully accepts knowing the age and continuing the conversation on WhatsApp.

“He was isolated and lonely and had recently moved to a new area and had not had a relationship for four years.

“He had not set out looking for a relationship with a child, but he fully accepts he pursued it when it was presented to him.

“He told the Probation Service he has no sexual interest in children, but it was the case that he became interested in this female when the situation presented itself and he did then have a sexual interest in this child.

“What he told the probation report author was said out of fear, shame and confusion.”

Mr Ferns said the defendant now accepts he needs to address his unhealthy interest.

The lawyer said, following his arrest, Hofmann lost his employment with National Express and moved back to his family home in Gloucestershire.

He has since found new employment, working initially in the haulage industry as a driver.

Mr Ferns said if the defendant was given the opportunity of a non-custodial sentence, he could work with the Probation Service to continue his rehabilitation.

Judge Nathan Adams said, having, “carefully considered” the sentence he should pass, that he was just persuaded to step back from passing an immediate prison sentence.

The judge said, however, that imposing restrictions on the defendant to prevent a repeat of his behaviour were, “entirely necessary” in this case.

Imposing a three-year community order, as a direct alternative to prison, Judge Adams said the defendant must complete 150-hours’ unpaid work, and attend 40 rehabilitation activity days, plus 40 sessions of an accredited programme, both overseen by the Probation Service.

He was also made subject of both a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, including a prohibition on any unsupervised contact with children aged under 18, and the requirement to register as a sex offender, each to run for the next ten years.

Judge Adams told Hoffman he was “making it plain” he must comply with the orders in full and commit no further offences, or risk receiving a first term of imprisonment.

Description

A Fife pensioner upskirted six teenage girls in a Fife Tesco in a single day.

Bruce Clark, 77, of Limekilns, appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court to plead guilty to five voyeurism offences  – one involving two girls – which took place at the Winterthur Lane store in Dunfermline on November 5 this year.

Description

A man who arranged to meet and rape two children in a Derbyshire town – sending explicit photos to who he thought was their mother – has been jailed.

Christopher Hackett had been speaking to the ‘mother’ of the two children online, arranging to meet up at a hotel in Alfreton so he could have sex with her 12-year-old ‘daughter’ and eight-year-old ‘son’. He sent explicit photos and described what he wanted to do to the children.

However, the person Hackett was actually speaking to was actually a police officer, and when he arrived at the hotel for the meeting, he was instead arrested.

The 37-year-old had taken a number of items to the hotel, including sweets, bottles of fizzy drinks and a bottle of lubrication.

Following his arrest, his mobile phone was seized and examined and found to contain thousands of indecent images and videos of children.

He was later charged with attempted sexual communication with a child, arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence and possession of indecent images.

Hackett, of Town Lane, Rotherham, admitted the offences and appeared at Derby Crown Court on November 12, where he was jailed for seven and a half years – with an extended four-year licence period for dangerousness. He was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.

Description

A pervert sent horrific videos of animals being sexually abused to a "teenage girl" he was chatting to online.

Kevin Clark, 63, sent the videos of a woman having sex with a horse and a dog, after the online user said she "liked animals." Clark used the name "John Smyth" on a chat service, when he had the conversation with a girl - who he though was 15 - in April 2022.

He asked her if she wanted to see a video of underage siblings having sex, before telling her that adults posted pornographic pictures of animals on the site and "she was too young to see that and she should leave." Clark said that he was "excited" to see what would be posted.

He then asked the child if she wanted a photo of his private parts; and told her that he was "thinking about her with a dog." Teesside Crown Court has heard that the "child" has never been traced and may have been a teenage girl or an adult decoy, looking for sex offenders online.

Police arrested Clark on May 31, 2023, after receiving intelligence that he had illegal photos of children. They found videos and images of children being sexually abused, on his mobile phone. He had also downloaded 20 photos showing animals being sexually abused.

Clark later pleaded guilty to the distribution of indecent images; three counts of making indecent images; attempting sexual communications with a child; attempting to cause a child to watch a sex act; and to the possession of extreme pornography featuring animals.

In mitigation Nigel Soppitt told the court that Clark had been isolated and grieving the death of his mother, when he committed the offences. "His relationship ended and he had no one to turn to at all during his grieving. Not a single member of his family is alive.

"He resorted to chat rooms and the darker recesses of the internet. He says he engaged in some sort of odd fantasy."

Judge Paul Reid told Clark, "...at 63, most of us have suffered bereavements and traumas, and we do not resort to this utterly disgusting behaviour." He jailed Clark, of Wales Street in Darlington, for 32-months.

He must sign the sex offender' register for the next ten years.

Description

A "predatory" cheerleading coach repeatedly abused a 13-year-old girl. Rosanna Awan inappropriately touched the youngster and abused her position of trust with the child.

The offences by Awan, now 34, took place when she was in her 20s. Awan repeatedly inappropriately touched the girl. The abuse emerged when the victim reported it to Leicestershire Police in 2019.

Awan stood trial at Leicester Crown Court in October 2024, where she was found guilty of four counts of sexual activity with a child and a single charge of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. She returned to court yesterday (Wednesday, December 4) where she was handed a 10-year jail sentence.

Detective Constable Catherine Anderson, who led the investigation, said after sentencing: "This case involved a person in a position of trust taking advantage of a person in their care, and Awan's behaviour towards her young victim was predatory.

"I'm so pleased the victim came forward to report her behaviour, recognising it for what it was many years later. I'd urge anyone in the same position to come forward. We will take your reports seriously and investigate thoroughly."

Alongside the jail sentence, Awan was also made the subject of a 10-year restraining order and a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order. She will be a registered sex offender for life.

Description

Teacher sent naked Snapchat photos to 15-year-old said 'I bet all the boys fancy me'

A supply teacher who sent naked pictures and videos of herself to a 15-year-old boy on Snapchat has been jailed.

Natalie Arroyo, 33, groomed the teen by sending him the images and telling him she wanted to have sex with him. She also told him she would leave her husband, and sent him a clip of herself performing a sex act.

A court heard how the underage boy was in a “vulnerable” state when Arroyo began contact with him. She began sending the inappropriate texts when she was working as a progress coach and a supply teacher.

Arroyo's conversation with the boy on Snapchat was "innocent" at first but she introduced a sexual element to the conversation and became flirtatious, a sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court heard on Tuesday.

She told the victim: "I bet all the boys fancy me. I don't blame them – I have really big boobs." Arroyo then sent pictures of her breasts in a bra and asked the victim to send a picture of his penis, which he did.

She later asked the boy to come and meet her for sex and said she would pick him up and could go back to her house. The defendant sent photos of her bottom half in underwear and told him "I touched myself while thinking about you."

The victim asked her to stop sending photos as he was out shopping with his mother and aunt and she responded: "It's so fun to tease you." Arroyo continued to send messages of a sexual nature, told the victim he could "do whatever he wanted to her", and said she "didn't have a gag reflex" and wanted to perform oral sex upon him, Wales Online reports.

Prosecutor Andrew Kendall said the defendant sent pictures of her bare breasts. She asked the boy if he "had any kinks" and said she "liked to be dominated". Arroyo also asked the victim when they were going to meet and said she would "leave her husband for him".

The teenager told Arroyo he didn't want to have sex with her but she tried to convince him otherwise. She sent the boy a picture of her genitals and asked him to come and see her as her husband was at work. He said he didn't want to and the defendant responded by sending a video of herself performing a sex act. A couple of days later Arroyo sent a message to the boy saying it was "best to forget about the messages".

The offences came to light after the victim disclosed the abuse to another adult and the defendant was arrested. She was interviewed and initially denied having contact with the boy but after a break she accepted she had sent the messages but claimed she thought the boy was 16.

Arroyo, of Shady Road, Gelli, Rhondda, later pleaded guilty to two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and engaging in sexual communication with a child. The court heard she was of previous good character.

In a victim personal statement read to the court by Mr Kendall, the teenager said: "I have suffered with anxiety and suffered a breakdown. I stopped wanting to go out with friends and felt upset about the situation as I've become known as the boy this has happened to. Children have come up to me and asked about it and they think it's funny and something to laugh about. I felt I was at fault at first and had no-one to talk about it with. I trusted her... I feel betrayed and taken advantage of. I didn't know how to stop it."

In mitigation Ruth Smith said her client had faced huge adversity in her life having had difficulty in her childhood, abusive relationships, and experienced bullying at school. As an adult she suffered miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies and has PTSD, anxiety, and depression. She also has a young son with her husband who, in a reference to the court, described her offences as a "moment of madness".

Judge Eugene Egan said he disagreed with this description. He said: "You have blamed the boy in the past, you had an unimpressive interview with probation, and you are unable to grasp the enormity of what you did. You have a 'woe is me' attitude. You knew [the victim] was vulnerable and you exploited that... You deployed guile and cunning to manipulate that boy."

Arroyo was sentenced to a total of three years and four months' imprisonment. She was also made subject to sex offender notification requirements and a restraining order indefinitely.

Description

A MAN has been jailed for 27 years after being found guilty of sexually abusing children.

Marc Bear, aged 38, and from Launceston, was also given a year on extended licence, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

He appeared at Truro Crown Court on Friday December 5, where HHJ Judge Carr told him that he would be a risk to children for the rest of his life.

Following a trial which concluded in November, the jury found Bear guilty of the following 16 offences against children: ten counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault, two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and two counts of causing a person to engage in sexual activity

They also found Bear not guilty of two offences of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, one count of rape and one count of sexual assault.

Following conviction, the judge granted Bear bail in order to prepare for a custodial sentence, however he absconded and was located the following day in Somerset. The judge told him it was clear he had planned to abscond, saying: “that told me everything I need to know about your character”.

Investigating Officer, Detective Constable Tim Barbery from the Public Protection Unit said: “This was a highly disturbing case where the offender has exploited the vulnerability of young people for his own sexual gratification, and I welcome the sentence handed down by the judge.

“This has been a protracted investigation due to the nature of the offences and the strength and bravery shown by the victims in support of the police case has been crucial.

“I hope the outcome given today provides them with a small element of closure so that they can begin to move forward.”

Description

A man from Stroud has been jailed after pleading guilty to four charges relating to online sexual offences against children.

Taran Jay Woodward, aged 24, appeared at Gloucester Crown Court yesterday (Tuesday 3 December) and was sentenced to five years and four months in prison.

He had previously pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, intentionally causing a female under 13 to engage in sexual activity and two counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The charges relate to offences committed against two girls on the social media app Snapchat and online game Roblox in May 2022.

Woodward had been arrested and charged as part of an investigation by Gloucestershire Constabulary's Child Exploitation Team.

His offending was identified after the parents of the children he targeted discovered the offences and reported what happened to their local police forces. 

Intelligence checks were made and Woodward was identified and arrested. He answered no comment in interview.