Latest Offenders

Description

A stalker sexually assaulted a woman in a hostel by groping her breast after he had repeatedly sent sexually explicit messages to her over a number of days. He later claimed he had no memory of the assault as he had taken £50 worth of cocaine and drunk 20 pints.

Clinton Davies, 55, carried out the assault against his victim at the hostel in Cardiff when he called her into his room on the pretense that he needed her help. Once she did so, he unzipped her hoodie and groped her breast over clothing.

A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday heard the victim had told the defendant she didn't want this to happen and wanted to leave. There was a knock at the door from a concerned man, but Davies told him "Go away, I'm busy".

Fortunately, the man entered the room and the victim was able to escape. The witness described the defendant breathing heavily, the belt on his trousers was undone and there was a sealed condom packet on the table. Davies turned to the man and said "This is going to cause trouble". When he was asked what he had done, he changed the subject.

Prosecutor Harry Baker said the defendant had got hold of her number and had been incessantly contacting her for days through calls, texts and voicemails. She had told him to stop contacting her but he carried on and left crude and sexually explicit messages. On one occasion he called her 20 times in one day.

The victim said she was worried he was going to persist in contacting her. She added: "Since the incident, it has left me distressed, upset, has affected my mental health and has left me feeling suicidal... I'm scared when I hear people knocking at my door, I'm on edge and I suffer from panic attacks."

Davies, originally from South Africa, was arrested and interviewed, claiming he had not touched the victim but had little recollection of the incident because he was under the influence of cocaine and alcohol. He later pleaded guilty to sexual assault and stalking. The court heard he had previous convictions for exposing himself in the USA and repeated offences of harassment. He is in breach of a suspended sentence.

In mitigation, Andrew Davies said his client had not touched the victim's naked breast, and he does not remember doing it. He said the defendant had previously done work in the community, and had carried out work in food banks.

Recorder Caroline Rees KC sentenced Davies to a total of 32 weeks imprisonment. She also made him subject to a restraining order for five years and sex offender notification requirements for seven years.

Description

Aiden Rollin had been "extremely sexually preoccupied" and forced himself on young girls to "quell and satisfy" his desires.

Rollin, from Beccles Road, Bradwell, near Great Yarmouth, appeared at Norwich Crown Court for sentencing having been convicted of nine sexual offences against four young victims between September 2017 and March 2020.

The court heard in an attack against one of the victims, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, he "covered her mouth and nose" with his hand before raping her and then attempting to sexually assault her.

Before Rollin was jailed for nine years on Friday, the court heard statements from three of his victims, one of whom described Rollin as a "monster" and a "demon" and hoped he "rotted in jail".

The victim, who was 15 at the time, said he had "destroyed", manipulated and broke me".

She said what Rollin did to her made her feel as if "I wanted to tear every single bit of skin off and tear my eyes out.

"I wanted to rip my heart out so I couldn't feel the pain.

She said: "Now you're going down for it because you're a monster."

The victim said he "became my demon", was everything she feared but now hoped he "rotted in jail".

Another victim, who was raped in August 2019, said she felt "haunted for life" by what Rollin had done to her and just wanted the nightmares and flashbacks to end.

Before jailing Rollin, Judge Andrew Shaw said it was "difficult to express how sad it was to read the impact of your behaviour on such young women".

Marc Brown, representing Rollin, said the defendant was "very young" when some of the offending occurred.

Mr Brown said Rollin was "still a young man" and an "immature man" who committed "the bulk of the offending" before he turned 18

Rollin was made the subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and also put on the sex offenders register for life.

Description

A man who used a young girl for his own sexual gratification, repeatedly raping her, remains in denial despite being convicted at trial recently.

Jamie Michael Shields was today (Monday, January 22) sentenced to a term of 18 years’ imprisonment for what a judge described as, “a multiplicity” of, “extremely serious offending.”

The 28-year-old defendant was initially charged with three counts of rape, offences he denied at a plea hearing at Durham Crown Court, last March.

A trial in the case was fixed for October, but a further two rape offences were added to the charge sheet and the trial was put back to December.

Following a three-day hearing, in the week before Christmas, Shields, of South View, Evenwood, was convicted on all five counts and remanded in custody pending sentence.

Claire Anderson, prosecuting, read an impact statement to the sentencing hearing provided for the court by the victim’s mother.

She said her daughter found the whole ordeal traumatic, causing her mental health difficulties, for which she has sought help from a specialist agency.

It has led to her daughter being in “a low mood”, missing a lot of schooling and becoming “increasingly distressed”, leading to behavioural issues.

She is now said to also have trust issues with men.

The court heard it had left her mother feeling as if the life of her once “happy little girl” was “in ruins”.

Miss Anderson said the defendant has four convictions for four offences, but all were of a dissimilar nature.

She added that an aggravating feature of the offences was Shields having told the victim not to say anything about his actions or she would get into trouble.

Derek Duffy, representing Shields, told the court: ”There’s very little that can be said on his behalf.

“He does not accept that this has taken place.”

Judge James Adkin told Shields: “You were convicted on abundant evidence of a number of offences.

“You used her (the victim) for your own sexual gratification.”

Judge Adkin said there has been some “significant impact” on the “vulnerable victim”.

He told Shields: “There was a multiplicity of offences all aggravating the criminality.

“It’s extremely serious offending.”

Imposing the 18-year sentence Judge Adkin told the defendant he must serve at least two-thirds before he will be eligible for release on parole.

He made Shields subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and registration as a sex offender, both to run for life.

A restraining order also prohibits him from contacting or approaching the victim, also for life.

Description

A man sneaked into a woman's house in the dead of night and raped her in her bed, a court has heard. The victim said her attacker seemed to "believe he was entitled to my body" and she said her home now feels like a "crime scene".

Ian Wright, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court the rape occurred in June last year after the victim had gone to bed at around 11pm. After listening to the radio for a while the woman fell asleep only to wake some time later to find Edwards in her room. The court heard the woman, who is in her 60s, "froze in terror" as the intruder got into bed beside her. The 42-year-old defendant then raped the woman, telling her: "I am going to shoot my load".

The court heard the victim subsequently confided in a friend about what had happened and the matter was reported to police. When arrested the defendant said he had "nothing to worry about" as the sex had been consensual and in his interview he again claimed the woman had consented.

In a statement read to the court the victim described the huge psychological impact of the offence. She said Edwards "believed he was entitled to my body" and the attack had triggered her post-traumatic stress disorder and left her worried that any male she sees could be a rapist. The woman said she struggles to sleep and sees her attacker's face whenever she goes to bed and she said her house is now a "crime scene" and "will never feel homely again".

Matthew Edwards, of Penrallt Street, Machynlleth, Powys, had previously pleaded guilty to rape when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has convictions from Gwynedd Magistrates' Court for harassment in 2004 and for common assault – kicking and spitting in the face of an ex-partner – in 2005 and convictions for battery from Montgomery Magistrates' Court in 2011. In 2023 he was convicted of stalking at Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion Magistrates' Court.

Ian Ibrahim, for Edwards, said the defendant "deeply regrets" what he did. He said his client had worked in a variety of jobs over the years including gardening, construction, and factory work and he said the custodial sentence he was now facing would be by far the longest he has served. The barrister said Edwards lives in a small community where everybody knows each other and his conviction has resulted in an "astronomical" social fall.

Judge Geraint Walters said it was clear from the defendant's antecedent record that he had "something of an obsessional personality". He said he had read a letter the defendant had written to the court and he accepted his remorse was genuine. With a 10% discount for his guilty plea Edwards was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison. He will be a registered sex offender for the rest of his life.

Description

He was sentenced to 10 years for the rape offences with a concurrent four-year term for the other offences. He was also given a one-year extended licence period.

King was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life and made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life.

The family were disappointed with the length of the sentence and the officer in the case, Detective Constable Oliver Hunter, submitted a request to the reviewing lawyer for the sentence to be appealed under the Unduly Lenient Sentences scheme.

This was assessed and supported by the Crown Prosecution and an application by the Attorney General was heard at the Court of Appeal on Friday.

Kings original sentence was quashed and a new sentence of 20 years, including a one-year extended licence, was imposed. The sex offender conditions placed on him remain unchanged.

The offences, which took place over a six-month period, came to light in December 2022 when the victim disclosed the abuse to a friend.

Officers from Leeds District Safeguarding Unit supported the victim during video-recorded interviews and carried out extensive enquiries including securing forensic evidence.

Description

A man from Swindon has pleaded guilty to being a ‘Global Moderator’ on a dark website dedicated to the sharing of child sexual abuse content.

Saunders Custody ImageBrett Saunders, 50, came to the attention of the National Crime Agency as part of an investigation into the hidden site, which had over 2,000 members and is only accessible using Tor.

The NCA focused on a moderator with the username ‘Wetty’, who was heavily involved in running the site. Wetty took responsibility for enforcing the site’s rules and responding to user enquiries, providing advice around personal security and how to evade law enforcement detection.

Saunders was identified as the man behind the account and further enquiries revealed he had previous convictions relating to the sexual exploitation of children.

NCA officers arrested Saunders at his home in Freshbrook in August 2022. A number of his devices were seized, including his laptop which he had hidden under a sofa cushion, and a phone and hard drive found by special search officers concealed in an air vent.

The website was open on his laptop and Saunders was logged into his account. When interviewed, he confirmed to officers that he held the rank of Global Moderator and had himself uploaded indecent images of children to the site.

He also admitted he had a sexual interest in children, particularly girls aged 8-12.

Investigators recovered data relating to his account, including over 3,000 posts made by him and private messages he sent to other users, which evidenced that his contribution was key to ensuring the site continued to function.

These also made it clear that Saunders had quickly risen through the ranks due to his commitment and encouragement of others to discuss and distribute images and videos of child sexual abuse.

When congratulated by another user on his promotion to Global Moderator he said:

“Thank you… I must say it came as a bit of a shock to me! Not sure what I did to deserve the honor, but whatever it was I will try to keep doing it to the best of my abilities!”

The site was run on a points-based system where users gained ‘reputation points’ for adhering to the rules and sharing abuse material. It had an initial guest portal, where new users had to gain at least 10 reputation points before they were admitted entry to the main site.

Saunders was in charge of running the guest portal and was responsible for issuing or deducting reputation points, as well as ultimately deciding who would be allowed through.

Saunders uploaded a total of 115 images and videos of abuse to the site. He posted two such images of a young girl as part of a discussion around the legalisation of pre-teen marriage, along with the caption:

“If only it were possible. I would wish for it if I found a magic lamp….and for her to stay about this age (10-12) forever (and me my age)!!”

A further 65,000 files relating to indecent images of children were recovered from his devices.

In the days after his arrest, Saunders was charged by Wiltshire Police for breaching the sexual harm prevention order that had been placed on him by the force when he was released from prison for his previous offending.

He was remanded in custody and later sentenced to two years and eight months in prison for the breach.

Last year, he was charged with a further nine counts, including arranging/facilitating the sexual exploitation of a child under 13, participating in the criminal activities of an organised crime group, distributing and making indecent images of children in categories A-C, and possessing a prohibited image of a child.

On Friday (19 January) at Swindon Magistrates Court he pleaded guilty to all nine counts. He will be sentenced at Swindon Crown Court on 5 March 2024.

Description

A man has been jailed for more than 13 years for a string of sexual offences against children.

Timothy Hayes of Sutton-on-Sea, Mablethorpe was convicted of 10 offences, including six counts of rape of a child and various forms of assault against a child, when he appeared at Lincoln Crown Court in November.

The 50-year-old had pleaded guilty to his crimes when he appeared before court officials last year.

And on Friday, 19 January, Hayes was sentenced to 13 years and four months behind bars at the same court.

He was placed on the Sex Offender Register indefinitely and was also given a Sexual Harm Protection Order indefinitely.

Description

A 62-year-old man has been jailed for non-recent child sex offences that took place in Daventry.

Kevin Marriott, previously of Coalville, Leicestershire, sexually assaulted a girl under six at an address in Daventry a number of years ago.

Following the offence, he told her not to tell anyone.

However in 2021, the woman in question bravely contacted police to tell them what had happened to her as a child.

An investigation was launched and Marriott was charged with one count of indecent assault on a girl under 16, and one count of assaulting a girl under 16 by penetration.   

After pleading not guilty to the offences and taking the case to a three-day trial at Northampton Crown Court last November, Marriott was found unanimously guilty by the jury.

He returned to the same court last week (January 15) where he was sentenced to seven years - six years to serve in prison and one on licence. He will also be on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

Description

A MAN was caught with vile videos of young girls being raped just weeks after he was given a suspended prison sentence for assaulting an ex-girlfriend.

Paedophile Lee Griffiths, 38, from Blaina was jailed after Newport Crown Court heard he had watched child abuse films on a cracked iPad.

The victims were aged between eight and 12 and he had sent a message to a contact online that he wanted “dirtier” material.

The defendant had also told that person: “Jail time would be worth it”.

Speaking about one of the movies, prosecutor Christopher Evans said: “There was pain visible on the face of one girl.”

Griffiths pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of indecent images of children.

He had five category A images – the most serious kind – and these included three videos and two photographs.

There were three category B images, one video and two photographs, and two category C images with both being films.

Griffiths also admitted being in breach of a suspended jail sentence by committing the offences.

The defendant had been handed a prison sentence of eight weeks, suspended for two years, in March 2022 after he was convicted of the battery of an ex-partner.

He had no previous convictions for any sex offences.

Paul Hewitt representing Griffiths said: “There is no evidence of him search for the images – he was sent them.

“The defendant can work with probation on a sex offender programme.

“He is someone who can be rehabilitated.”

Judge Carl Harrison told Griffiths: “You had images of children being raped and you are also in breach of a suspended sentence.

“Only a custodial sentence can be justified.”

He sent him to prison for 58 weeks.

The defendant will have to register as a sex offender for the next 10 years and was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order until 2034.

Griffiths will have to pay a £156 victim surcharge following his release.

Description

A Swindon man molested a teenage boy while managing a restaurant.

61-year-old Carl Brown was running Jack’s, in Victoria Road, Old Town, when he sexually assaulted the youngster at the establishment in 2022.

The defendant was found guilty at his trial at Swindon Magistrates’ Court in September 2023, before returning for sentencing on 4 January this year.

At a previous hearing, prosecutor Asha Seenauth said he grabbed the boy’s penis and put his finger into his bottom over his clothing.

Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order, which includes 30 rehabilitation activity days and 150 hours of unpaid work.

He was told to pay £300 compensation to the victim, and pay £620 costs and a £95 surcharge.

Brown, of Highworth Road, must register as a sex offender for five years.

Description

A high-risk sex offender has been booted off the Falkland Islands and back onto Scotland’s streets.

Sheep shearer Roland Wedgwood-Orekoya was jailed in the South Atlantic for a terrifying attack on a teenage girl he lured to his home.

But the 32-year-old has now landed in Britain – with a warning he presents a danger to women.

Police chiefs went to court in Glasgow last week to make sure he signs the sex offender register.

Wedgwood-Orekoya – known as Seyi – has travelled the world working on farms and has strong connections to Aberdeenshire.

But in 2021 he arrived on the Falklands, taking jobs as a shearer and in the fishing industry.

In April 2022 he struck up a conversation with his victim as they queued at a late-night burger van in capital Port Stanley.

The girl was drunk but made clear she wasn’t interested in him. But, according to the court, Wedgwood-Orekoya “clearly intended luring her back to [his] accommodation in order to have sex with her”. He offered to share his stash of cannabis if she went to his digs.

When they arrived, though, he stripped naked and tried to force himself on her, tearing off some of her clothes and leaving her bruised in the “sustained assault”.

She escaped after punching the predator. Wedgwood-Orekoya denied sexual assault but was found guilty.

A probation report said his “transient lifestyle”, flitting between countries to shear sheep, added to the danger he poses.

Sentencing him to 18 months’ jail, judge Malcolm Simmons told him: “You have been assessed as being a high risk of harm to the public, namely females, especially those to whom you are s exually attracted. There was clearly a level of violence in the way you
manhandled your victim.

“This was clearly a frightening event for her.

“What occurred was not a momentary touching but a sustained assault.

“She was living at home with her parents, having recently left school. You are a man in your thirties.

“You specifically targeted a particularly vulnerable victim, a young girl who you knew had been drinking. You continue to deny the offence. You have shown no remorse.”

Last week, Police Scotland took legal proceedings at Glasgow Sheriff Court to reduce the risk he poses to women.

The force secured an order to ensure Wedgwood-Orekoya signs the register till 2032.

It means he will have to notify the police of any change of address or name. He will also be subject to frequent monitoring.

Description

A convicted sex offender who left the United Kingdom and went abroad later returned illegally to this country in an inflatable boat along with 50 other people, including his wife and children.

The boat was intercepted as it entered UK territorial waters and he ended up being brought from Kent to Hull to live in a hotel. Fingerprint checks revealed his previous conviction, Hull Crown Court heard.

Talib Rasul, 47, of Beverley Road, Hull, admitted attempting to enter the United Kingdom without a valid entry clearance on May 17.

Ben Hammersley, prosecuting, said that Rasul, an Iraqi national, was arrested after trying to enter the UK along with 50 others on an inflatable boat that set off from the French coast.

It was intercepted by the UK authorities before it reached this country's territorial waters. He was taken to a holding facility in Kent and was transferred to a hotel in Hull.

During interview on July 4, he made no comment to questions. Checks on him revealed that he had previously entered the UK before October 2003. He had been convicted of a sexual offence, indecent assault, in February 2005. The offence was committed in October 2003.

"It was suspected that the defendant must have left the UK of his own volition some time after his conviction," said Mr Hammersley.

"During this time, he was not known to the Home Office and there was no record of entry clearance so the defendant must have been here illegally."

The 50 others on the boat included members of Rasul's family. "He wasn't driving the boat," said Mr Hammersley.

"There is no evidence of him engaging in criminal activity or attempting to do so. He was clearly making a genuine asylum claim."

Oliver Shipley, mitigating, said that, at the time, Rasul immediately raised an asylum claim and that was still ongoing. "He is an asylum seeker," said Mr Shipley.

"A trial was listed. I made it clear that it would never have been a trial. Bail was granted, with a reporting condition, on August 14. He has been reporting to Clough Road police station every day since then.

"He isn't a flight risk. He is here with his wife of 17 years. He lives here with his four children."

Judge Megan Rhys told Rasul: "You were on an inflatable boat which contained 51 people. That boat was intercepted as it entered United Kingdom territorial waters. You were one of the 51 people who were on board.

"Fingerprint checks showed that you had previously entered the United Kingdom without clearance. It's of note that you were the only person on that boat who has been prosecuted.

"You came here with your wife and children. An asylum application was made shortly after you arrived and, as a result of that application, arrangements have been made leading to you and your family being housed in temporary accommodation in Hull."

Rasul spent six weeks in custody on remand before he was given bail. "An immediate custodial sentence would have a harmful impact on your wife and children," said Judge Rhys.

Rasul was given a six-month suspended prison sentence but with no requirements.

Description

A Teesside paedophile who 'preyed upon and exploited the vulnerability of children' has been jailed.

Kaye Little, also known as Kia Little, of High Street in Boosbeck, East Cleveland, was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court for offences including sexual activity with a child, malicious communications and the possession/distribution of indecent images of children. The pervert was living in Boosbeck at the time of the offending, which took place between 2015 and 2019. The two male child victims were living in Leeds and were contacted by Little over the internet, reports Yorkshire Live.

The 46-year-old came to the attention of Leeds Children Vulnerable to Exploitation Team officers in 2019 after being identified as a suspect for malicious communication reports.

Subsequent enquiries by the West Yorkshire Police officers led to her becoming a suspect for sexual offences committed against the two males who officers had identified during the investigation. She was arrested in 2019 and was subsequently charged in April 2022. Following a trial in August last year, Little was found guilty by jury for 13 offences.

On Friday she was sentenced to six years for the offences. However, this was extended by three years due to the danger which the court felt Little poses. She received a further nine-months sentence to run concurrently for an offence against an adult male in Cleveland, which was investigated by a separate force.

Leading the investigation, Det Con Khi Smith, formerly of the Leeds Children Vulnerable to Exploitation Team, said: "I am pleased with the sentence handed to Little today for the abhorrent offences she committed. I want to thank the victims not only for their bravery in coming forward to report the offences, but also for their strength throughout the lengthy criminal justice process.

"They were put through the daunting experience of a criminal trial and have shown so much courage and dignity throughout. I hope they can begin to move on with their lives, knowing a level of justice has been served. Little preyed upon and exploited the vulnerability of these children and I hope this serves as a stark reminder that offending of this nature will not be tolerated. Anyone who has suffered similar offences, whether recent or not, is urged to come forward and report them to police.

"You will be listened to, taken seriously and supported by specially trained officers throughout and will also be referred to further help and support if needed. We will do all we can to secure justice for any victim."

Description

20-year-old David Shipway admitted charges of attempting sexual communication with a child and inciting a child to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity.

Swindon Magistrates’ Court were told on Wednesday (17 January) that the defendant, of Ladyfield Road, was arrested by police when paedophile hunters attended his home.

During conversations with a person posing as a 14-year-old girl online, he used sexual language and asked her to share explicit sexual photographs. He also sent her a photograph of his penis.

Kate Prince, prosecuting, said she believes the case to be in the category 1A, the most serious – and suggested that it should be sent to a crown court for sentencing.

Defence solicitor Mark Glendenning said his client has mental health issues and problems recognising the difference between appropriate and inappropriate behaviours.

A pre-sentence report was ordered and the case was sent to Swindon Crown Court for sentencing on 16 February. He was released on unconditional bail.

He was told to register as a sex offender within 72 hours. The lengthy of the registration will be determined by the sentence given next month.

Description

A retired priest who sexually abused two schoolchildren at his home in the 1980s has been jailed for 32 months.

Edward Phillips-Smith, 73, exploited his position as chaplain at St Peter's Collegiate School, Wolverhampton, to groom the young pupils.

In a statement read to Oxford Crown Court, one of his victims described his actions as "selfish, exploitative" and "perverted".

Sentencing, Judge Pringle said: "You as a teacher were in a position of absolute trust with that young boy and you abused that trust".

The court heard Phillips-Smith, who subsequently moved to Essex and had been known to the children as Father Eddie, would run after-school clubs.

Seen as "more relaxed" than other teachers, the priest would tickle children to make them laugh.

Prosecutor Fern Russell said: "He was fun to be with, the children would sit on his knee."

She described how he invited the two victims to his home in Brewood, Staffordshire in the early 1980s.

The court heard the boys went to his room during a thunderstorm and ended up in the defendant's bed.

In the middle of the night Phillips-Smith woke the boys up and encouraged them to perform a sex act on him.

Victim Will - not his real name - said in a victim statement read out in court the priest's actions were “selfish, exploitative [and] perverted”.

Speaking of the devastating impact on his life and relationships in the decades since, he said: "I fear I will never be free of the shadow he cast over me as an innocent child looking for acceptance.

"He called himself Father but he’s no man of God."

Speaking for the defence Lucy Tapper said the former priest had expressed "sincere regret" and there had been no repeat of the event, despite Phillips-Smith coming into contact with children in the course of his daily life.

Phillips-Smith, of Hadleigh Road, Frinton-on-Sea, pleaded guilty to one count of indecent assault and two counts of indecency with a child.

He was handed a sentence of 32 months for the assault, and 16 months for the counts of indecency, to run concurrently.

He was also given a lifelong sexual harm prevention order limiting his communication with either of the two victims.

On sentencing, Judge Pringle told the defendant: "You were widely loved by the pupils at that school. You were fun. You were not as strict as some of the other masters.

"The boys loved being with you because you made them laugh and you'd sit on their knee and you would tickle them."

The effect and "mental anguish" on Will was clear from his statement, the judge added.

"What is interesting, in what you did as far as [Will] is concerned – after that episode that I’ve described you ‘dropped him like a stone’. You weren’t interested in him any more because he didn’t play the game," he said.

'Red flags'

Staffordshire Police began investigating in February 2023 and arrested Phillip-Smith in May.

Det Const Gemma Grimshaw from the force's rape and sexual offences team thanked those who came forward for their "exceptional bravery".

“I hope this serves as a message to any survivors of child sexual offences that they will be listened to, supported by specialist officers and spoken to in confidence," she added.

Lichfield Diocese said it had handed the priest's file to police after identifying several "red flags" during a past cases review, external, carried out between 2019 and 2022.

A diocesan spokesperson said: "The crimes committed show serious unacceptable behaviour for any priest, from whom we expect the highest standards of personal and professional conduct especially on behalf of children and vulnerable people in their care.

"While safeguarding expectations and processes have improved very significantly over the decades, we are very aware that the hurt caused to survivors of abuse does not go away."

The spokesperson urged anyone affected to contact its safeguarding team, external.

They added Phillips-Smith had moved on to three further posts in the south of England before retiring.

A spokesperson from Three Spires Trust, which now runs St Peter's Collegiate Academy, said they were very sorry to hear about the historical case.

"Our thoughts are with all those involved," the spokesperson added.

"The safeguarding and protection of children is our key priority."