Latest Offenders

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A pervert targeted an underage girl for his own "sexual gratification" before plying her with cannabis to facilitate sex abuse, a judge has said.

"Despicable" Sami Brek, who was over 10 years older than his victim, tried to claim in court that the underage teenager was "throwing herself" at him. The 33-year-old is now starting a five year prison sentence after a jury found him guilty of two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a girl age 13 to 15.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the sex act was the "culmination of a pattern of grooming behaviour", with Recorder Dafydd Enoch KC telling Brek he had "no doubt" the pervert targeted the girl for his "own sexual gratification".

He said: "The suggestion that she was in some way throwing herself at you - as said in the pre-sentence report - I'm afraid I'm wholly unimpressed by it.

"Children can behave in an inappropriate way sometimes but more reason for you to treat them as what they are, which is a child. You knew that you were developing a sexual attraction for her."

David Ward, mitigating, says Brek, of Southfield Road, Middlesbrough, has now admitted his guilt. "He did maintain his innocence initially, he has now accepted his offending," he said.

His victim, however, still had to give evidence and go through the ordeal of a trial as his admission comes only after he was found guilty.

Mr Ward says Brek presents as a "pleasant and polite" man but is immature and had a very poor upbringing. Brek appeared at court via video link from HMP Durham to be sentenced for the two sex offences as well as supplying a controlled drug, cannabis.

Recorder Enoch KC added: "However she was behaving towards you whether she was apparently consenting or not what you should have had upmost in your mind at all times was that she was a child.

"This is not a case of fumbling teenagers, you were an adult."

"You facilitated your sexual abuse of her by plying her with cannabis that made her less able to resist you when you decided to make your advances towards her."

Brek was jailed for five years and a sexual harm prevention order was made for a period of 10 years. He will be placed on the sex offender's register indefinitely.

Cleveland Police Detective Constable Pulman said: “Sami Brek preyed on a teenage girl and groomed her, supplied her with drugs and engaged in sexual activity with her. He went on to deny the offences, which then put the victim through the ordeal of a full trial. The jury convicted him of all offences.

“I’d like to thank the victim in this case for her courage in reporting these crimes and being determined in continuing through the judicial process, resulting in today’s outcome.

“Thankfully, Brek can now no longer harm any other children and he will now spend a lengthy period behind bars for the horrendous offences he committed.”

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A man has been jailed for eight and a half years after being found guilty of the rape and attempted rape of a woman in Plymouth.

Daniel Pakeman, 29, of Prince Rock, Plymouth, will be on the sex offender register for life.

Investigating officer, Det Con Andrea Dominik, said after the case at Plymouth Crown Court that the victim had shown "immense bravery".

The offences took place in 2020 at a residential property in Plymouth.

Pakeman was jailed for eight and a half years for rape and six and a half years for attempted rape, to run concurrently.

Det Con Dominik said after the case: "Pakeman took the opportunity to commit these sexual offences which has caused a significant impact on the victim's life, her health and her relationships and will continue to do so for the rest of her life.

"The victim has shown immense bravery and commitment to the investigation and the court process.

"Her voice has been heard, and the result of the trial and sentencing shows that victims will be believed, and justice will be done."

Det Con Dominik acknowledged the criminal justice system can "sometimes be a difficult process for victims".

She said: "But there are support measures which can be put in place to support them throughout the whole journey.

"I hope this gives other people the courage to come forward."

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John William Renel, 68, was wearing a tweed jacket when he pinned the girl down and raped and indecently assaulted her in a locker room at Cundall Manor School near York, prosecutor Rupert Doswell told a jury at York Crown Court.

The victim, who can’t be named for legal reasons, didn’t report the matter to police until 2021, more than 20 years after the alleged sexual abuse.

She said that before the alleged rape at the fee-paying independent school, she and Renel were “joking about something” in the school kitchen when he picked her up and joked that he was going to “throw her in the bin”.

He then carried her out into the corridor and touched her on the thigh near an intimate part of her body, said Mr Doswell.

“He then took her into a side room – a changing room or locker room – where (pupils) hang their clothing,” added the prosecuting barrister.

“He put her down on the ground on her back. He was on top of her and she remembers him wearing a tweed jacket.”

She said she turned her head “to stare at the wall” as Renel allegedly raped her.

A family member later noticed that the alleged victim, who was very young at the time of the alleged offences, had become withdrawn and in adult life she had developed post-traumatic stress disorder which led to counselling and therapy.

Mr Doswell said that about five months after the alleged victim’s first police interview, she contacted them again about the alleged incident in the school locker room.

She said she could remember that during the alleged rape, she felt as if Renel’s “body (was) crushing her” and that she was struggling to breathe.

According to the alleged victim, Renel “simply walked away” after the alleged incident, “leaving her on the ground”.

“She (told police) she had one further memory of another incident (at the school) when she was older,” said Mr Doswell.

She said that before this alleged incident, Renel again picked her up and dropped her on a bed in a dormitory.

He then laid down next to the victim, sexually assaulted her and then forced her hand onto an intimate part of his body.

“Her next memory is of the defendant’s face close up to her,” said Mr Doswell.

“She remembers feeling terrified. He was staring at her and scowling. He told her not to tell anyone, before leaving the room.”

Predatory child abuser

Renel, of Main Street, Sessay, near Thirsk, was brought in for questioning in 2021 but denied even knowing the girl.

He told police he had always taught in a tweed jacket but denied raping or sexually assaulting the girl.

He was charged with one count of rape and four counts of sexual assault against the girl. He denied all offences but was today found guilty on all counts.

Recorder Anthony Hawks moved straight to sentence and jailed Renel for 18 years.

Renel was also placed on the sex-offenders’ register for life and made subject to a sexual-harm prevention order for the protection of children. That order will also run indefinitely. 

In 1997, a few years after Renel left Cundall Manor, he was convicted of three counts of indecently assaulting a girl at another school in Keighley.

Detective Constable Alison Morris, of North Yorkshire Police’s Non-Recent Abuse Investigation Team, said: “John William Renel is a predatory child abuser who has caused unimaginable trauma to the courageous victim in this case.

“I truly hope the outcome at court along with the significant custodial sentence handed to her perpetrator, provides comfort, strength and hope for the future.”

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A mother-of-three who had sex with a teenage schoolboy on her sofa after previously taking his virginity when she was in her 20s has been jailed for three years.

Rachel Geraghty, now 41, of Allenton, Derby, had sex with the boy on two different occasions when he was 13 or 14, Derby Crown Court was told.

Geraghty took the victim's virginity after she invited him into her bedroom under the pretence they should watch a film together.

Then, two weeks later, she asked him to come round for tea and they had sex on the sofa. On that occasion, her four-year-old son walked in on them and the underage teen had to hurriedly pull up his trousers.

After pleading guilty, she was yesterday jailed for three years and placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for 10 years, as Judge Robert Egbuna told her: 'He was a child and he was vulnerable, and you were an adult.'

The court heard how Geraghty initially invited the boy into her bedroom 'under the pretence he should watch a film' with her.

She then began running her fingers up and down his neck before beginning to massage him 'in a sexual way'.

Geraghty then asked the boy to 'get on top' of her before 'manoeuvering' him into having sex with her.

Judge Egbuna said: 'You manoeuvred him in between your legs (and had sex with him).

'He says he felt like he had to do it but he was a child and you were an adult.

'In his own words he was "not particularly clued up" and you corrupted him. During the sex you placed your breasts in his face.'

After the attack, Geraghty told the schoolboy not to tell anyone about the incident.

But two weeks later she invited him back to her house for tea, before having sex with him on her sofa.

The judge told how Geraghty's four-year-old son entered the room while she was having sex with the teenager: 'At some point your four-year-old child came into the room. Although it is not suggested he saw what was happening, it caused (the victim) to pull his trousers up.'

Sarah Phelan, prosecuting, said both incidents took place when the victim was aged 13 or 14 and Geraghty was in her 20s.

The prosecutor said the complainant eventually told his mother what had occurred, and Geraghty also told a social worker, who instructed Geraghty to tell the police.

She was subsequently arrested on May 7 last year.

But during her interview, the court was told, Geraghty suggested it was the schoolboy who 'effectively instigated the matters'.

Ms Phelan read out a victim impact statement he made ahead of sentencing, in which he told how the incident had affected his upbringing and made him begin to 'resent women'

At sentencing, the judge said the victim 'has had problems with relationships, and he also said he's had mental health problems as a consequence, including having to go for anger management.'

Jailing her for three years, Judge Robert Egbuna said: 'Children are meant to be protected, he was a child and he was vulnerable and you were an adult.'

Geraghty, who had no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child. She had family members in court to support her while the victim had his mother and siblings in court.

Amber Walker, mitigating, said her client had pleaded guilty, meaning her victim would not have to relive his ordeal by giving evidence at a trial.

She said: 'The consequences of this case will be felt deeply by her and others. She was at a difficult stage in her life at the time having just come out of a verbally abusive relationship.'

As well as the jail term, Judge Egbuna placed Geraghty on the sex offender register for 10 years and handed her a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.

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A former teacher who kept a "paedophile manual" has been jailed after a colleague reported concerns after seeing inappropriate images on his laptop.

Jamie Alexander Wheeler, 32, was jailed for four years and ten months when he appeared at York Crown Court on Tuesday (May 16). He had previously pleaded guilty to a catalogue of sex offending. The offences he admitted were possessing a paedophile manual, three counts of making indecent images of children, six counts of sexual touching, eight counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, two counts of taking an indecent photo of a child and two counts of meeting a child to engage in a sexual act.

The former teacher, previously of Riccall near Selby, but now of Leeds, was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders' Register indefinitely and made the subject of a 10-year sexual harm prevention order. The court heard how during his arrest, officers seized 33 electronic devices including laptops, phones and memory sticks. Forensic examination of the devices revealed over 26,000 indecent images of children including 4,721 category A images - the most serious.

Officers also discovered the manual which went into detail about how to groom children in the lead up to abusing them sexually.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Claire Hudson of York and Selby CID, said: “The images found on Wheeler’s devices depicted sickening and very distressing images of children being abused. Behind every image is a terrified child that has suffered in the worst possible way. By downloading these images he has helped fuel the horrific trade in child sexual abuse images, re-victimising every child in those photos and videos.

“While we did not identify any evidence that he was directly involved in the worst kind of sexual offending, we did identify direct offences of sexual touching and other grooming offences to which he thankfully pleaded guilty and spared the victims the trauma of giving evidence at court.

“When his offending was discovered, we worked with our partner agencies to ensure immediate safeguarding measures were put in place, including his suspension from his job and conditions imposed to prevent any contact with any children. I hope Wheeler uses his time in prison to take make use of the help available to prevent re-offending in the future.”

Description

Last month, William Walker pleaded guilty to one charge of attempted sexual communication with a child on dates between February 10 and 15, 2022.

The 60-year-old, originally from Killyleagh but now with an address in Blackpool, denied a second similar offence.

On Thursday (May 11), Walker was back at Downpatrick Crown Court where he had the second charge – which he initially denied – put to him again.

Walker was then charged with attempting to sexually communicate with a child on dates between February 10 and 23, 2022.

After the charge was put to him, Walker replied ‘guilty’.

Judge Geoffrey Miller KC noted that as Walker had now entered guilty pleas to both charges, a date for the plea hearing could be set.

A probation report will be compiled in England ahead of sentencing, which Judge Miller said would take place on June 22.

The former politician is already on the Sex Offenders Register due to his plea last month and he was released on continuing bail until June 22.

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A sex offender has been jailed after being caught by plain clothes British Transport Police officers assaulting a teenage girl on the London Underground.

Abdulrizak Ali Hersi, 32, and of Invicita Close, Limehouse, was found guilty of sexual assault at Inner London Crown Court on 5 May.

The judge sentenced him to 18 months in prison and a ten year Sexual Harm Prevention Order which prevents him from intentionally standing behind or next to any female he doesn’t know in a public place.

He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £187.

On 11 October shortly before 5pm, plain clothes officers on patrol on the Piccadilly Line observed Hersi board a train at Green Park and stand near the doors.

At the next stop a family got on the train and moments later Hersi sexually assaulted the 13-year-old daughter. Officers quickly intervened and took Hersi off the train at Leicester Square and arrested him.

Inspector Sharon Turner said: “Our plain clothes teams are specially trained in identifying dangerous sexual offenders like Hersi, who will do their level best to commit such crimes without notice.

“In this case, the victim and her family didn’t even realise what was happening until our officers quickly intervened.

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A North East man has been handed a life sentence after being found guilty of rape and sexual assault against three children.

Ian Tague, 41, from Gateshead, has been jailed for a minimum of 20 years after being sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on Friday (May 12).

Tague had been charged with 25 counts of rape and sexual assault against three children.

He had been found guilty by a jury last May at the same court and remanded in custody.

He must serve a minimum of 20 years behind bars before being considered for parole, and was made to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and prevented from ever contacting his victims.

Sergeant Nicola Wade of Northumbria Police’s Child and Adult Protection Unit said: “Tague is a monster – there’s no other word for him. He is a danger to children and I am so thankful to the exceptionally brave victim  who spoke out against him.

“Thanks to their bravery, we were able to identify other victims, who then bravely spoke out themselves, and build a strong case against vile Tague.

“Tague has undoubtedly robbed them of their innocence but I hope they grow up knowing that what happened to them was never their fault, they did not deserve it and that they have shown incredible resilience.

"Thanks to them, Tague has been exposed for the predator he is, removed from society and will forever more be known as a vile paedophile.

“I truly hope this sentence gives the survivors and their families a sense of justice and comfort and they can begin to look to the future.

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Online predator Michael Hancock tried to meet a 12-year-old at the Metrocentre and told her to pose as his niece if they saw anyone they knew.

The paedophile, who has previously worked "with youths and in hospitals", thought he was talking to a real child when he sent images of his genitals and turned the conversation sexual but, fortunately, it was actually an undercover police officer.

Newcastle Crown Court the officer had set up a profile online purporting to be an 18-year-old from Tyne and Wear, with which Hancock began to communicate in October 2021. He was soon told the girl was in fact 12 and he said he was 57.

The conversation quickly moved to Snapchat and turned sexual. Hancock sent a photograph of his legs in the bath and then his groin area. The profile replied with a message written on a child's arm saying "show me" and Hancock sent images of his penis.

Ian Cook, prosecuting, said: "He said he would buy gifts for her and she should not let her family know about the conversation and he arranged to meet her at the Metrocentre. He said if they saw anyone they knew they should say they were uncle and niece.

"He said they should be careful because if he was caught he would be called a paedo." He then went on to ask further intimate questions and discussed his sexual habits.

Mr Cook said: "He said he wanted to kiss her all night and hold her close. He arranged to meet her at the Metrocentre but was intercepted by police and arrested."

Hancock, 59, of Edinburgh Road, Jarrow, pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and was sentenced to eight months suspended for two years with a four-month curfew. He will also be subject to a sexual harm prevention order and will have to sign the sex offenders register for the next ten years.

Judge Julie Clemitson told him: "You believed that girl to be somewhat vulnerable and in the care system, yet rather than take actions any responsible adult would have done, which was immediately desist in talking to that child and even report the profile, you instead chose to continue to chat.

"You did so in a way which has the hallmarks of a predator, frankly. You slowly, over a period of time, gained that child's trust by talking in a non-sexual way, offering to take her out and buy her gifts, then slowly but surely you introduced a sexual element to the conversation.

"You spoke about meeting at the Metrocentre and agreed a cover story should anyone ask who you were. You engaged in chat about various sexual practices and sent images of your penis to that, what you believed to be, 12-year-old child.

"It's clear you have a sexual interest in young girls, however much you protest to the probation officer that you do not. Your behaviour was predatory.

"The seriousness of this kind of offending should not be underestimated. Just because there was not a real child doesn't mean this kind of offending doesn't lead to serious consequences. Children suffer day in and day out because of online paedophiles like yourself."

Sam Faulks, defending, said: "He has been a working man who has contributed to society by his taxes and toil. He has previous good character and he cares for his elderly uncle and if he is locked up he will not have that additional assistance from his nephew."

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Bernard Grace lived a solitary life.

The 72-year-old was bound to his wheelchair following a leg amputation, and so his only source of communication with the outside world was through his Apple MacBook Air.

His family, including his eight children, were estranged from him and live miles away in Scotland.

And so his sordid secret remained hidden.

Meanwhile, in October 2020, the National Crime Agency was investigating a series of suspicious payments made to various Filipino women, including one woman who was under investigation for sex trafficking offences.

Up to 600 payments had been made to the women, from a Halifax bank account, totalling nearly £21,000.

Their investigations led them to Grace’s door in Wythenshawe.

Executing a search warrant, they found his laptop and conducted a thorough examination. It revealed horrific and depraved abuse.

Officers poured through thousands of Skype messages within 23 chats. In each chat, Filipino women were directed and manipulated by Grace to live stream the sexual abuse of children.

Months later, in March 2021, the brazen paedophile was found sitting at his computer doing the same thing when his offender manager walked in.

Admitting numerous offences of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence, as well as making indecent images, Grace has finally been jailed.

Vile messages uncovered

Manchester Crown Court heard that Grace spoke to the women, most of which he had met on Facebook, before moving the conversation over to Skype so they could video call.

"These women were endeavouring to make ends meet, to better themselves and the lives of their children in relation to education," prosecutor Rosalind Scott-Bell said.

In one chat, Grace told the woman, who had a five-year-old daughter, he would send money to her if she performed an indecent act. He sent an inappropriate picture to the woman and told her to show it to her child - and sent £15.

In another conversation, a woman asked if he would pay her rent. Grace said he wanted a picture of her nine-year-old daughter. He sent two payments totalling £35.

The court was told of another chat with over 1,000 messages between August and September 2019. He offered money to a woman in return for the woman's children to perform indecent acts.

Grace sent the cash via PayPal and an indecent image of himself. The court heard he 'encouraged' the woman to set up a live stream of the abuse of the woman's daughter - and offered money in return for 'live shows'.

He sent that woman £173. Grace, the court heard, 'persisted' when women initially refused to carry out his sick wishes. He bombarded one woman with up to 5,000 messages, asking her to send inappropriate images of her child.

A number of indecent images of children were also found on Grace's computer. NCA officials were granted access to his bank account as they built a case against him.

It later transpired that he was receiving disability benefits into that same account.

Arrest and interview

Grace was arrested and interviewed, telling officers he did not have access to children and stating that he had never been to the Philippines before.

He also said he worked as a coach driver for 20 years, but had to stop working after suffering kidney failure and a leg amputation. He accepted he had transported children as part of his job.

“The defendant told officers that he didn’t have an in-depth knowledge of the internet. He said he would spend four hours a day talking on Facebook,” Ms Scott-Bell said.

“He didn’t use any social media, and would focus on looking for relationships. He admitted exposing himself over webcam.”

When cops asked him about speaking to underage children, he said: “Not in that way, if somebody talks to me, I’ll talk to them.”

He also admitted touching his genitals over webcam and claimed he had received the ‘unsolicited’ images.

When officers asked why he made his demands, he said: "Just to push it, you know what they are like in the Philippines. You know sex over there doesn't mean nothing to them, they have sex when they're 11."

Between 2015 and 2021, Grace sent more than £20,800.

When his offender manager visited in 2021 - following his arrest - he was sat using a computer and appeared to be 'liaising' with women in the Philippines about the sexual abuse of children.

“These children were vulnerable due to poverty,” the prosecutor concluded.

His barrister, Simon Blakeborough, said Grace has a number of health problems including chronic renal failure. "There is a suggestion he will not survive after a period of incarceration," he added.

Sentencing an emotional Grace, Recorder Anthony Donohue said: "What you did involved the exploitation of vulnerable and impoverished individuals in the Philippines. It's staggering that over a period of time you sent £20,800 in payments for sexual services involving the exploitation and attempted exploitation of children."

Grace, of Stoneacre Road, Wythenshawe, was jailed for eight years. He pleaded guilty to 11 charges of arranging/facilitating the commission of a child sex offence; and two offences making indecent images of a child.

He was made the subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, restricting his use of the internet. He will be on the Sex Offender Register for life.

'Bernard Grace caused them immense suffering through sexual abuse, which can have a devastating and long-lasting impact on people’s lives'

An NSPCC spokesperson said: “Despite being on the other side of the world from these children, Bernard Grace caused them immense suffering through sexual abuse, which can have a devastating and long-lasting impact on people’s lives. These offences were horrific and we hope the victims in this case are receiving all the support they need.

“It is of the utmost importance that tech firms are regulated to prevent these types of transactions happening. Online companies need to prioritise the safety of children and be aware how their platforms can be used to harm young people.

“The NSPCC is committed to doing all it can to ensure a strong and robust Online Safety Bill is passed through Parliament to force tech companies to do everything possible to protect children and prevent crimes such as this.”

Following Friday’s hearing (May 12) at Manchester Crown Court, NCA operations manager Graham Clare said: "Bernard Grace was an unrelenting offender, whose actions led to several children being abused in the most horrific and depraved manner for his own sexual gratification.

"He may have thought he'd avoid detection by arranging for abuse to take place against vulnerable children on the other side of the globe, but the NCA has the capabilities to investigate online and internationally.

"We work with overseas partners to tackle the abhorrent abuse of children, and actively target offenders who pay for it to be live streamed. There is no bigger priority for us than protecting children, wherever they may be.

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A 66-year-old Cullompton man has been jailed for raping a child more than 20 years ago. Keith Barons, a retired housing association manager, gave the girl alcohol before subjecting her to a terrifying ordeal.

He was aged in his early 40s at the time and the child 12 or 13 years old, Exeter Crown Court was told. She lived with the trauma of what he did to her for years before going to the police in 2019.

When questioned Barons denied doing anything wrong and claimed she was making up the story. But just before the case was due to go to trial he confessed and now says he is ashamed and sorry for what he did.

The judge said the actions of the former Sanctuary Housing manager had been "wicked" and that he had repeatedly lied when confronted with the truth. Recorder Don Tait also praised the courage of the victim who read a statement in court describing the psychological price she has had to pay.

"What you did to that young girl has had an awful effect on her life," he told the defendant. "She had the courage to read her own victim statement and what a huge amount of courage that must have taken for her. When she told you she would never forgive you she looked you in the eye."

Barons, of Court Drive admitted rape of a child and indecent assault and was jailed for 13 years.

Prosecutor Miss Heather Hope said the rape happened after he gave the girl vodka. She could remember feeling "groggy" and freezing in terror while Barons undressed and raped her. On another occasion Barons groped the child by touching her breast.

In her statement the victim said not a day had past since where thoughts of what happened resurfaced. When she did go to the police her "tortuous journey" was made worse by delays caused by his denials and the barristers strike.

Mr Simon Burns, defending, said Barons would regret his actions for the rest of his life. He read a letter in which he apologised. The defendant is hard-working family man with no previous convictions. The court was read positive references from friends.

Recorder Tait said Barons had denied and then tried to plea bargain his way out of responsibility. "You may express remorse now but for years you lied and lied. She was the one who had to suffer. She has had a long wait to see justice being done and I'm sorry the system let her down to that extent.

"No one listening to her personal statement could not be moved by it. In my experienced you are one of the bravest young women I've heard. You suffered for many many years for what this man did to you and finally had the courage to go to the police.

"Thank you for having the strength and courage to read your victim statement." 

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A trade union boss who was convicted of a series of sexual assaults on a woman dodged a jail sentence today. A court heard that Unison regional organiser Gerry Crawley was wearing a dress and French knickers when he performed a sex act in front of the shocked woman

He squeezed the same woman's bottom as they chatted with football fans in a packed bar ahead of the Scottish Cup final. Married Crawley, 60, whose union duties involve representing police and fire service workers, was found guilty of sexually assaulting the woman on various occasions between January 2016 and July 2018.

Sheriff Thomas Millar also convicted him of performing a sex act in front of the woman at her home in 2018. After studying background reports, the sheriff put him under social work supervision for 12 months.

He will be on the sex offenders’ register for the same period. Crawley, a former Labour councillor, of East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, had denied both charges.

Describing the incident at her home, the woman, now aged 37, said Crawley visited when she was alone. She told Hamilton Sheriff Court: "He asked to see my pants. I was wearing leggings and he said he would show me his pants instead.

"He had white French knickers on. They were laced and partially see through. "He asked if I would touch them and I said no. He asked again and I touched the side of them, hoping he would then go."

But, the woman said, Crawley didn't leave and instead carried out a sex act, leaving her "shocked, frightened and panicked". She told prosecutor John Coogan: "I was standing against the banister in the hall. I couldn't go anywhere.

"Then he went to the toilet before leaving quite quickly." Asked if she reported the incident at the time, the woman replied: "No. I thought it was something I could compartmentalise, put in a box and not think about."

The woman also told of an incident in a bar in Battlefield, Glasgow, on the day of the Celtic-Aberdeen Scottish Cup final in 2017. She said: "Gerry had tickets and we went for a drink before walking to Hampden.

"The bar was very busy with Aberdeen fans. Gerry put his hand down the back of my pants. "I was talking to an Aberdeen fan. I think I asked Gerry to stop but it must have gone on for five minutes or so.

"He was touching and squeezing my bottom. I was shocked because it was a public place." The woman also alleged during her evidence that Crawley acted inappropriately towards her on two other occasions, once in a house and once in a taxi.

The woman claimed Crawley touched her private parts while in a taxi with other passengers including her husband, and later texted her to ask if she had liked it. She told the court the incident had left her feeling “dirty and embarrassed”.

Questioned by defence advocate Patricia Bailey, the witness denied having a romantic relationship with Crawley in which she was the “dominant” partner. She rejected a defence suggestion that they had an arrangement where Crawley would visit her home regularly to clean while wearing women’s clothing.

The woman said: “It happened once. I thought it would be a useful outlet for him. Mostly he just wanted to talk about pants.” Ms Bailey also put it to the witness that she and Crawley would touch each other’s pants and private parts, and this was consensual behaviour.

She replied: “No. That’s absolutely wrong.” Giving evidence, Crawley insisted none of the assaults happened.

He said: "We had a relationship involving consensual touching etc etc. I would touch her underwear and her bottom."It was always after I had been round at her house cleaning. I would be dressed up in ladies' clothing. It happened on dozens of occasions."

Crawley claimed he had asked the woman's permission before putting his hand inside her jeans in the pub on the day of the cup final. But the court also heard from Crawley's daughter that he had confessed to having an "inappropriate" relationship with the woman.

Finding him guilty, Sheriff Millar said it appeared the woman had "accommodated your interests" to a certain extent. But the sheriff added: "She said she was not comfortable and I accept there were other incidents that went beyond what she was prepared to consent to."

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A pensioner from Derby with a history of child sex offences has pleaded guilty to another 17 of them. Lionel Winson admitted trying to contact underage girls over the internet and possessing vile child abuse images.

The 78-year-old also failed to tell the police he was using social media as he was required to do under the terms of an order placed on him for past offending. In 2009, the Normanton paedophile was jailed for trying to contact a 13-year-old girl who was really a police officer. Now he faces an anxious month-long wait to find out his fate for his more recent offending.

Handing him bail at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court on Monday, May 15, the chair of the bench said: “We are sending your case to crown court as the offences are so serious that our powers here at magistrates are insufficient. The crown court needs a recent pre-sentence report and you must report to St Mary’s Wharf police station within three days of today.

“You are aware of the conditions (of your bail) and if you breach any of them you can be brought back to court.” In 2014 Winson, of Douglas Street, was handed a sexual harm prevention order at Derby Crown Court for carrying out similar offences to the ones he this week pleaded guilty to.

Under the terms of the order, he must tell the police who are monitoring him of any social media accounts he has set up along with the relevant passwords. But he failed to do this on accounts including WhatsApp, Kik and Snapchat.

The defendant pleaded guilty to four charges of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child in relation to four victims. He also pleaded guilty to charges of breaching a sexual harm prevention order, attempting to breach a sexual harm prevention order, failing to comply with the requirements of the sex offender register and one count of making indecent images of children.

Winson was jailed for three years and three months in 2009 for a 2007 offence of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and possession of indecent images. On that occasion, he groomed a girl he believed to be aged 13 but who turned out to be a police officer posing as a young teen and who met him at St Pancras railway station in London.

In 2011 he breached the lifetime order he was handed and he did the same in 2015 when he hid electronic devices he should have told the police about but didn’t at his then address in Sedgefield Green, Mickleover. The defendant will be sentenced at Derby Crown Court on June 19.

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A MAN from Deganwy has been jailed after he used social networking platforms to groom a person he thought was a 14-year-old girl.

Eric Hughes, 40, of Tan-y-Fron, was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment at Caernarfon Crown Court today (May 15).

He was also made subject to sex offenders register notification requirements, and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), both for 10 years.

Prosecuting, Elen Owen told the court that, on April 6 and 7, 2022, Hughes sent sexualised messages on both Facebook and WhatsApp to a member of a group called “Child Online Safety Team”.

The group member was posing as a 14-year-old girl, to whom Hughes sent a Facebook friend request, which was then accepted.

After initial conversations, the group member told Hughes she was a 14-year-old girl from Newcastle; Hughes, 39 at the time, said he was aged 30 in response.

He then sent a picture of himself to her, adding: “I bet you look amazing in uniform”, with her telling him she was a school pupil.

The girl reiterated she was 14, with the group member sending Hughes a picture of a young girl; after which, Hughes continued making explicit sexual comments to her.

When the girl asked him if she would “get into trouble”, Hughes replied: “not if you don’t tell”.

A further exchange of messages later involved Hughes suggested “phone sex”, the meaning of which he explained explicitly to the girl after she told him she did not know what that was.

She declined, and Hughes sent her an apology the next morning, before further sexual messages followed from him.

The group’s administrators, and later the police, were then contacted, and Hughes was arrested on April 8, 2022.

In two police interviews, in both April and June 2022, he denied any responsibility or wrongdoing.

Hughes had also breached a five-year SHPO issued to him in March 2019 through his actions – one of the prohibitions of this order stopped him from joining, using or subscribing to any social media site.

He had also received a conditional caution in 2020 relating to an earlier breach of the SHPO.

Defending, Sarah Yates stressed that there was “no child involved” in Hughes’ offending, and that “no harm was caused”.

She described him as having a “very strong work ethic”, having held a job for about two decades.

Sentencing, Recorder Wyn Lloyd-Jones said Hughes was “incredibly lucky” not to have been jailed for the offences which landed him a SHPO in March 2019.

He also accused of Hughes of telling “blatant lies” to police in not taking responsibility for his actions.

Recorder Lloyd-Jones told Hughes: “What you did, and what came to light, exposed your intentions and your thoughts.

“You did this, there is no doubt whatsoever, for your own selfish sexual gratification.

“I can’t close my eyes to the fact that you were given a conditional caution in 2020 for a breach of the SHPO.

“You have re-offended despite treatment. You were given a chance; you threw it away. You behaviour hasn’t changed despite the work done with you.

“Other people are suffering because of your selfishness.

“If you breach that SHPO, you know exactly what will happen. The sentence will not be as short next time.”

Hughes will also pay a statutory surcharge, within three months of his release from prison.

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A ‘disgusting’ Leigh Park paedophile has been jailed for 12 years for raping a girl and taking photos of his sordid attacks despite being on the radar of social services.

Alfred Weller carried out sex attacks on the helpless child under 13 over a period of years for his own warped sexual gratification, Portsmouth Crown Court heard. It was told the ‘canny’ 30-year-old took dozens of pictures of the humiliated victim during his depraved assaults. Weller, of Spinner Drive, was sentenced for the ‘sustained’ sexual assaults before a police investigation snared the predator resulting in his arrest in December 2022.

Judge Richard Shepherd told disgraced Weller: ‘You raped and abused a young girl. Not only did you rape her but you took photos of the abuse including the rape. It was over a prolonged period of time. The number of images of the young girl ran into the dozens.’

The court heard Weller had 44 Category A indecent images of his victim - the most extreme classification. He also had 51 Category B and 67 Category C of the child.

The police probe also revealed 215 Category A indecent images, 221 Category B and 324 Category C images of other children.

Prosecutor Barry McElduff said Weller was known to social services with his ‘background a concern’ that had been previously flagged. But the barrister said the defendant still ‘found a way to abuse’ the victim.

He was arrested in December over the sexual abuse, with the girl telling officers: ‘He’s been doing it for years.’

Police investigations led to recordings being discovered before they were able to piece together and ‘confidently conclude’ Weller was responsible for the abuse.

The judge branded Weller ‘canny’ and ‘disgusting’ for carrying out the ‘prolonged sexual abuse’ that took place where the child was supposed to be safe but ‘was anything but (safe)’.

Weller was convicted of rape, five counts of sexual assault, and six charges of having indecent images of a child.

Judge Shepherd took into account Weller’s own ‘difficulties and vulnerabilities’ with him ‘immature for his chronological age’ before jailing him for 12 years. He will serve two-thirds in jail before being released on licence.

Weller will have to comply with sex offender notification requirements and a sexual harm prevention order for the rest of his life.