Latest Offenders

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A man who tried to meet a 13-year-old girl at Bexleyheath Station is back behind bars after police discovered he had stayed in a home where a minor resides. 

Thomas Smith, 29, of Oakhurst Avenue in Bexleyheath, was sentenced to two years in prison last March. 

He has since been released but on Thursday, May 1, he was sent back to prison for five weeks for failing to comply with sex offenders register notification requirements. 

Smith admitted having resided or stayed for at least 12 hours in a household where an under 19 resides and he failed to notify police. 

Last year Woolwich Crown Court heard how Smith had sent sexual messages and a photo of his penis to what he thought was a young girl over the court of a month. 

But when he turned up at the station to meet her he was greeted by a team of paedophile hunters who detained him and live streamed his arrest on Facebook. 

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A serial paedophile was given shrewd advice by a judge who told him to “read a book” instead of messaging underage girls.

Andrew Othen did not keep his bad habits at bay after he was spared jail a few years ago.

The 56-year-old has a chequered past with 25 previous convictions for child sex offences to his name.

He returned to the dock on May 1 after he breached a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) imposed on him in 2019.

Prosecuting, Rachel Standish said the “high risk” sex offender was secretly using an internet-enabled mobile phone and had eight different usernames on various applications.

She told Southampton Crown Court: “The defendant was also found to be using DuckDuckGo, a browser that offers anonymous searching and deletes browser history.

“He had spent 45 days on the messaging application Kik, where he was conversing with girls aged 13 and 14.

“The conversations were sexual, and he was bombarding them with sexual questions, asking to meet one of the girls.

“The crown say he was going to offend again.”

Gaylene Coles, defending on behalf of Othen, said he “knows what is about to happen” with a return to prison on the cards for the persistent offender.

She said: “He had a difficult upbringing and watched his mum die when he was 14.

“Thereafter he lived a lonely and isolated life.

“When he is released from prison, he finds it impossible to find work and does not know how to fill his time.”

Judge Nigel Peters KC interjected: “He can a read a book.”

Othen, of Alma Road, Southampton, previously pleaded guilty to two charges of breaching a SHPO.

“You are nearly 60 years old, and you are having to remain in prison”, judge Peters told Othen.

“These vile matters have to be investigated and continuing this behaviour while on licence and post-supervision is an aggravating feature in this case.

“You were dealing with people who you thought were vulnerable, and your only piece of mitigation is that you immediately admitted guilt.”

Othen was sentenced to 32 months in prison.

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A predator posed as a teenage boy to pressure young girls for explicit sexual images.

Kevin Wyeth used an account on a mobile phone to bully the girls, including making threats to locate them and rape them.

The 39-year-old caused the girls to engage in sexual activity in group chat messages.

Officers located him at a flat in Eastbourne, where a mobile phone was seized and examined.

Wyeth preyed on the fears of four victims to obtain indecent images and videos, which he stored on a mobile device.

The girls, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, have been provided with support from specially-trained officers.

One victim said: “He made me feel like I could not talk to anybody.”

Wyeth, formerly of Eastbourne but of no fixed address, was charged with 35 offences, and appeared for sentencing at Lewes Crown Court on Friday, 2 May.

The court imposed a 20-year sentence, which includes 15 years in prison, and an additional five years on licence as part of an extended sentence.

Wyeth was previously remanded in custody after a hearing before Brighton Magistrates’ Court on October 12 last year.

The offences were seven counts of distributing indecent images, ten counts of making indecent images, five counts of engaging in sexual communications with a child and one count of attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child, three counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, three counts of inciting girls under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity which includes one count of penetrative sexual activity, two counts of disclosing or threatening to disclose a private sexual photograph or film with intent to cause distress, and three counts of malicious communications.

Wyeth was previously jailed in 2018 and 2020 for similar offences of making indecent images and of engaging in sexual communications with a child, and was also jailed in 2023 for breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The court heard that officers visited his flat in March 2023, and he refused to provide a PIN access to a mobile phone.

Following an investigation by the Online Child Abuse Team (OCAT), further offences involving four victims were identified.

The victims were all under the age of 13 a the time, and have all suffered ongoing fear and trauma as a result of Wyeth.

Parents described how Wyeth’s crimes had caused their daughters to have changed behaviour.

One parent described Wyeth as a “prolific child predator” and said he has caused “lasting emotional scars”.

“The trust we had in the online world has been shattered,” a parent said.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Gary Baker, from the OCAT team, said: “Wyeth preyed on the fears of the girls to commit his crimes.

“He has repeatedly committed similar offences, breached Sexual Harm Prevention Orders, and is a danger to children.

“His crimes have caused lasting harm to the victims, who all require ongoing support.

“We remain determined to catch offenders like Wyeth and to secure justice for victims who have been abused.

Description

A child sex offender has been jailed for 48 months after being found guilty of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

This followed an unannounced visit by officers from Cleveland Police’s Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT).

James Milton, 32, of Teesside, was arrested after he was discovered to have deleted key apps, including Snapchat, Dropbox, and Discord, from his devices – all of which were prohibited under the terms of his SHPO, imposed following a series of convictions for indecent images of children.

The breach came to light during a routine visit by officers on May 17, 2024, when they checked to see if Milton was adhering to the strict conditions of his order.

The officers found Milton had failed to register several aliases and usernames used online, another violation of his notification requirements.

A further search of his property uncovered two additional SD cards, which were seized for examination.

Though no indecent images were recovered, the police uncovered a deliberate effort to hide digital activity.

Milton had erased the apps that enabled him to access social media and cloud storage, in what officers believe was an attempt to conceal his online interactions.

Detective Constable Barnes, of POLIT, commented on the seriousness of the breach, he said: “Breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order is an extremely serious offence. Our officers work tirelessly to closely monitor those subject to restrictions so that any breaches like this are detected and dealt with swiftly.

"I hope this serves as a warning to offenders that we will take action.”

Milton was charged with breaching his SHPO and failing to comply with Notification Requirements.

Appearing at Teesside Magistrates’ Court on April 4, he pleaded guilty to all charges.

He was sentenced to 48 months in prison on May 6.

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A Fakenham man faces a possible jail sentence after admitting having thousands of images of the abuse of children aged as young as one.  

Stelian Radu, 34, pleaded guilty to making indecent images involving youngsters including 1,300 deemed to be category A, the most serious. 

Appearing at Norwich Magistrates’ Court he also admitted making 752 category B images and 692 category C.

Nichola Lamb, prosecuting, said the images involved children aged from babies to teens. 

Radu, of Warren Avenue, also pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited image of a child and 91 extreme pornographic images involving animals. 

He also admitted three charges of distributing indecent images of children including 19 category A images. 

Committing him to be sentenced at Norwich Crown Court, District Judge Paul Booty said the possible jail sentence was outside the jurisdiction of his powers.

He rejected strict bail conditions including measures to limit online activities, saying it was a “backdoor sexual harm prevention order” and that Radu had not reoffended since his arrest in December 2023.  

He was given unconditional bail until he is sentenced on June 9.

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Teenager who forced himself onto underage girl.

Put on the sex offender register for 10 years.

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A man in his 60s who made one of his victims feel “less than human” has been jailed for multiple sexual offences against boys.

Martin Daniels, aged 66, of North Walsham Road, Banningham, appeared at Norwich Crown Court on Friday 2 May 2025 after pleading guilty to 17 offences against three child victims.

The offences all took place in Norfolk between 1980 and 1994.

He was sentenced to a total of eight years in prison with an additional one year on licence.

One of the victims reported the abuse to police in February 2022.  An investigation was launched and Daniels was subsequently arrested and charged.

Statements from the victims read to the court detailed the impact of the abuse.

One of the victims spoke about how Daniels’ offending made him feel “less than human” and how the psychological effects of Daniels’ abuse had “forever altered” his life.

Another spoke about how Daniels' actions impacted every aspect of their life, from forming loving relationships, to making friends, and to progressing in their career.

The statement went on to describe how Daniels had manipulated them into trusting him and believing he cared about them.

Another spoke directly to Daniels saying:

“The damage you’ve caused spreads like tentacles through so many aspects of our lives.

“You made me suspicious of people and cynical beyond my years.

“I hope one day you’re able to reflect on your actions. There was no excuse, there could be no consent.”

Detective Constable Joseph McLoughlin said:

“I would like to thank the three victims in this case who have had the immense courage to come forward after so many years.

“Daniels’ offending was truly shocking and some of the worst abuse imaginable.

“Due to their bravery a prolific sexual offender is now behind bars.

“Daniels’ offending robbed them of their childhoods and has caused unbelievable suffering for them and their families.

“While today will not undo the pain of the past, I hope the sentence Daniels has received will bring some sense of justice for the victims and their loved ones.

“To anyone else who has suffered sexual abuse please do come forward and report it to us, no matter when it happened. You will be supported."

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A man from Sefton has been jailed today, Friday 2 May, after pleading guilty to 27 child sex offences targeting underage children across the country.

Michael Lymath, of no fixed address but formerly from Southport, was sentenced to 20 years in prison at Liverpool Crown Court today, plus eight years extended licence period which is additional time during which the offender is supervised in the community after their release. He had pleaded guilty to the catalogue of sex offences against underage girls at a previous court hearing.

In December last year detectives arrested and charged 43-year-old Lymath following a report from a child victim that they had been offered payment for images. A search of Lymath’s home address was conducted where numerous exhibits were seized, Lymath was initially charged with the reported offence along with Possession of cannabis, Possession of cocaine and Possession of an offensive weapon in a private place.

Lymath was remanded into custody by the courts while detectives continued investigating the full scope of Lymath’s offending, which resulted in him being convicted of 27 offences which he committed across the UK between 2020 and until his arrest in December 2024.  The long list of additional charges included Rape of a girl under the age of 13, Cause/incite a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity, Engage in sexual communication with a child, Attempt to cause/incite a girl to engage in sexual activity, two counts of Cause a child to watch/look at an image of sexual activity, Possession of cannabis, Possession of cocaine and Possession of an offensive weapon in a private place.

The court heard that Lymath would prey on underage children on social media under various guise’s that included pretending he was a 17-year-old boy and message them.

Following a complex investigation detectives discovered that he had been in contact with several victims from across the UK. Lymath had groomed children online and had met them in person where he engaged in sexual activity.

He had also lured multiple victims to send explicit images of themselves by offering them payment.

Detective Constable Rory Quigley said: “This sentence follows a lengthy and complex investigation to bring Lymath before the courts so that he pays for his crimes.

“He was a prolific sexual predator – targeting young and vulnerable children for his own sexual gratification, thinking he could get away with it.

“He manipulated his vulnerable young victims and sent them explicit videos to watch. In one instance he told child victim that he knew where they lived to manipulate them into sending him sexually explicit images which were categorised A, B and C.”

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A Swindon man recently given a suspended sentence for indecently exposing himself in front of his neighbours has been jailed following a further incident.

James Hortop, 40, of Dennis Street, Swindon, came to police attention three times within five weeks and was arrested twice in relation to exposure offences. He was originally sentenced to 26 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, in a hearing on April 7.

He was arrested a third time on April 30 for a further incident of exposure after walking onto a garage forecourt wearing nothing but a dressing gown, with his genitals exposed. He proceeded to masturbate in view of two females.

Today at Swindon Magistrates’ Court he was sentenced to a total of fifteen months’ imprisonment.

Previous restraining orders and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order remain in place and Hortop is now subject to Sex Offender registration requirements for an extra seven years, making fourteen years in total.

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A man has today been jailed for 11 years for child sex offences in Portsmouth.

Colin Stear, 67, of Plymouth Street, Southsea, was charged with three counts of assaulting a boy under 13 by touching and two counts of causing or inciting a boy under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

This related to non-recent sexual offences against two victims between 2004 and 2018 in Portsmouth. 

Stear denied the offences but was convicted following a trial. He was sentenced today (2 May) at Portsmouth Crown Court to 11 years in prison, with a three-year extension to his licence period.

He was also handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

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A calculating sex offender, who assaulted six people over an 11-year period, has admitted his crimes. Nigel Frith, of Woolavington, pleaded guilty to 14 counts of sexual assault by touching against four children and two adults.

The 56-year-old was sentenced at Taunton Crown Court to a prison sentence of 34 months. The court heard that Frith's offending took place between 2012 and 2023.

Frith would touch, kiss and make sexual suggestions towards children as young as 10 through to adults in their 20s and 30s.

As well as his jail sentence, Frith has been given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order. He has also been added to the sex offenders' register.

Each of his victims wrote a personal statement which was read out at the sentencing hearing on Wednesday, April 30. One victim said: “When this happened, I was a child. I didn’t know what sexual assault was.

“When I saw [Frith], I felt uncomfortable. I saw him once outside a local shop working, he looked so unaffected by everything that had happened with me. I was frustrated he didn’t seem to understand the impact of his actions, and yet I was having to change my life to avoid feeling on edge.”

Another said: “When I think back to what happened, I feel angry. Angry at the thought he could do that and think he could do it again and get away with it.

“At the time, I shrugged it off. I remember he didn’t seem bothered by what he was doing. Even when I called him out, he shrugged it off.

“I was shocked and confused that he had done this to me. I found it incredibly invasive that he would do this to anyone.”

A third victim said: “It used to make me feel violated when I saw you. I felt that you were invading my personal space… your presence made me feel uncomfortable.

“There were so many emotions at once, it was overwhelming. I would make any excuse just to get away as quickly as possible.

“The past few months have been really difficult for me. I used to feel I had let myself down, even though it wasn’t my fault.”

Investigating officer, DC Martyn Jackson, said: “I have to commend the strength of the victims in coming forward about these horrendous crimes.

“Frith’s actions are disgraceful and left his victims feeling degraded and violated. The way he touched these girls and women, invaded their personal space and made them feel angry and terrified, is unacceptable.

“His pattern of offending shows there was thought to his actions. He knew the impact he was having on these women and girls and he violated them in a place where they should feel safe.”

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A convicted sex offender has been jailed after he failed to declare he was using an online alias and had bought an internet enabled games console.

Gary Bushnall was found in possession of an Xbox with an online account attached and initially tried to claim it belonged to his daughter.

The 52-year-old also failed to disclose he was using an alias name, BEELZEBUB#3589, within three days of creating it, Teesside Crown Court heard.

He was made subject of a suspended prison sentence last summer after previous breaches of the terms of his sexual harm prevention order and notification requirements which were imposed in 2020.

Bushnall, of Leven Road, Norton, Stockton, pleaded guilty to breaching the terms of sexual harm prevention order and the condition of his sex offender registration requirements following his arrest on April 2.

Michele Turner, mitigating, said her client had admitted the offences at the earliest opportunity.

The defendant told the probation service that he had bought the Xbox to alleviate his boredom.

Following his arrest, he pleaded guilty to two charges of cause/incite a girl to engage in sex act and one of attempt to cause a child to watch a sex act.

Judge Richard Bennett said he accepted that was case as the defendant had limited contact with his family and friends following his conviction.

He said: “There were no child abuse images or search terms found on the devices or was there any evidence you used it to contact children.

“That said, you remain a high risk to children which is why you are subject to the court orders.”

Judge Bennett sentenced the defendant to a total of 12 months in custody for the latest breaches of the court orders and for the breach of his suspended sentence.

In 2019, Bushnall contacted a teenager called Amber without realising she was in fact a decoy working with the online paedophile hunter group Confronted and Caught.

He struck up highly-sexualised conversation despite the decoy telling him he was talking to a 13-year-old.

At the time, a judge heard how Bushnall sent the decoy a video of himself performing a sex act.

For those offences, a judge sentenced to four months in custody, suspended for two years.

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A sex offender who lured a teenage Kirklees victim to meet him and then contacted her friends has been jailed for more than three years.  

Kevin Walton (50) of Holme Close,  Wellingborough was jailed at Leeds Crown Court on Monday 28 April for three years, nine months for multiple offences against four young girls.

Walton was convicted of two offences of causing a female aged 13 or over to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity, and three offences of causing a child aged 13- 15 to look at an image of sexual activity.

He was also jailed for meeting a child aged under 16 following grooming, three offences of sexual communication with a child and three offences of causing a child under 13 to look at imagery of sexual activity.

The offending took place from late summer 2024 after Walton contacted the victim via social media while posing as a 19 year old.

He then met the victim in October and committed the contact sexual offences he was convicted of. 

The 50-year-old also made contact with three of the victim’s friends and subjected them to offending in which he sent them sexual imagery.

Reports of the offences were made to police in late 2024 leading to a full investigation by dedicated Kirklees child safeguarding detectives.

Walton was identified and then arrested in December 2024 before later being charged.

Detective Inspector Paul Greatorex of the Kirklees District Child Safeguarding Unit, said: “"We wish to thank the victims for coming forward and disclosing what has happened.  

“Their bravery and courage means that Walton, who is a dangerous individual and has used social media to mask his true identity, has been held accountable for his predatory behaviour.

“On release from prison he will also be subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention order which makes it a further criminal offence for him to again try and contact children.”

He added: “We continue to urge all victims of sexual offences to come forwards.  All reports are investigated with the needs of the victim at the heart of everything we do.”  

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Work by specialist detectives has ensured a former Essex Police officer has been jailed for four and-a-half years after admitting a series of online child sexual offences.

Former PC Mark Ling, 38, formerly of Ipswich, had pleaded guilty to eight counts of sexual communications with a child and one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity at Ipswich Crown Court on 18 January.

A reporting restriction was put in place to prevent details of the guilty pleas to be published as there were other ongoing, related matters.

In relation to these matters, he was later charged with a further four counts of sexual communication with a child. He admitted to two of those charges at the same court on 4 February and the other two on 10 February.

The charges all relate to an investigation into the online interactions between Ling and underage girls.

Detectives went through the painstaking task of identifying the girls involved, locating them, and speaking to them securing evidence which left Ling with no option but to admit his guilt.

Today (Thursday 1 May), he was sentenced to four and-a-half years in prison.

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A 53-year-old man has been jailed after a jury at Northampton Crown Court found him guilty of sexually assaulting a vulnerable man.

Jason Mustoe, of The Medway in Daventry, was sentenced to three years and four months in prison, which was extended by a further two years on licence due to him being a dangerous offender.

He was also made subject of a four-year restraining order preventing him from contacting his victim as well as being issued with an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Mustoe was found guilty of one count of sexual assault on a male on January 13 this year, following a four-day trial at the county’s crown court. He returned to the same court at the end of March to be sentenced.

The court heard that on July 27, 2024, Mustoe had sexually touched the vulnerable man, who he had befriended, and when told to stop, continued knowing that his actions were unwanted and unrequited.

The victim told Mustoe that his inappropriate behaviour made him feel uncomfortable, but despite apologising, Mustoe continued to make sexual advances towards the younger male, who made his excuses and left.

Once in a place of safety, the victim confided in a friend, who encouraged him to report it to Northamptonshire Police. Mustoe was arrested and subsequently charged in connection with the incident.

On July 30, Mustoe was remanded in custody after he entered no plea at Northampton Magistrates’ Court and his case was committed to the county’s crown court for trial.