Latest Offenders

Description

A man exposed his genitals to schoolgirls and women in the street and from his own home as they walked past. He also filmed women while they were undressing in a changing room and of schoolgirls' reactions as he showed them his penis.

Jordan Scaffe, 28, formerly of Llantrisant, exposed himself on a number of occasions to victims including underage girls. He was confronted by a girl's aunty on one occasion, as he exposed his genitals through his shorts.

A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday heard Scaffe first exposed himself to a woman from a window of his then home in Belvoir Court on April 3. The victim said the defendant was naked and his penis erect. She looked away in shock but when she looked back she could see him bending over and looking directly at her. He then placed his hands on his hips and turned sideways to show his genitals.

On May 1, two 14-year-old schoolgirls and another girl were walking along the street when they saw Scaffe leaning back and placing his genitals on the outside of his shorts. The girls walked away but the defendant followed them for 20 yards. One of the girls called her mother and her aunty who lived nearby came to confront the offender.

She approached Scaffe and took a photograph of him, before saying "Is there any reason why you're exposing yourself in public?" He responded: "I'm not in a public place." When asked why he had flashed her niece, he said: "I didn't know it was out."

The defendant was later identified and arrested by police, who also seized his mobile phone. On the phone were videos stored in a folder entitled "secret". One of the films showed Scaffe filming himself standing in front of the window with an erect penis. He then filmed two girls under the age of 16 as they walked past his house. Prosecutor Peter Donison said the defendant continued to masturbate in clear view of the girls.

Photographs were also found on the phone of three different women in a changing room, who were unknowingly photographed while they were in a state of undress, some wearing underwear and some naked.

Scaffe, now of Pump Square, Bristol, pleaded guilty to six counts of exposure and three counts of voyeurism. The court heard he was of previous good character.

In a victim personal statement, the aunty who confronted the defendant said: "I fear the defendant will travel to my area and seek revenge for me reporting the matter. I feel afraid to walk on that road and will take a more indirect route... I am frightened by any noises I hear and it has affected my daily life."

In mitigation, Adam Sharp said his client wished to apologise to the victims in the case and felt "ashamed and remorseful". He described the defendant as a "dedicated family man" who developed depression after the death of his father at a young age. The barrister said Scaffe and his partner were under pressure due to his children's ill health, and "sought sanctuary" in using porn and steroids. He said his client had maintained employment and a stable home life until his arrest.

Sentencing, Judge Paul Hobson said: "This represents a huge invasion of privacy of the women you targeted. They are entitled to feel safe in changing rooms and feel safe without their privacy being invaded by people like you... You exposed yourself to women and girls, and did this for your own sexual gratification. It was not a one off but persistent behaviour by you over a period of time."

Scaffe was sentenced to a total of 14 months imprisonment. He was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, sex offender notification requirements and a restraining order, all to run for 10 years. A deprivation order was made in respect of the seized phone.

Description

A teenage girl has been praised for bravely speaking out to put a “dangerous” child predator who groomed her behind bars.

Johnathon Marren, of Cecilia Road in Ramsgate, committed multiple online sex offences after contacting the youngster on social media. He first started talking to the teenager online in December 2020 before beginning a weeks-long grooming campaign. Marren, 26, spoke to the child sexually, sent explicit photos and even sent a list of “rules” to try to control the victim. 
 
In January 2021, the victim, who is from Warwickshire, approached the police with the support of her family. After telling police what had happened, detectives were able to build a case against Marren and arrested him. When he was interviewed, Marren remained silent and only surrendered passwords to his electronic devices when he was warned it was an offence not to do so.

The 26-year-old was subsequently charged with attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, causing a child to view images of sexual activity, possessing indecent photographs and attempting to meet a girl following grooming. 

On Wednesday last week, Marren was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison in a hearing at Warwick Crown Court.

Det Con Emma Smith, of Warwickshire Police, said: “Marren is a dangerous predator who sought out a young girl in the hopes of completely controlling her.

“So appalling was his attitude, he believed he could even send a list of ‘rules’ that his victim must follow.

“He was quite happy to bombard a child with thousands of appalling messages but he had nothing to say for himself when my colleague and I brought him in for interview.

“All of us at Warwickshire Police are so proud of the girl for her courage. Thanks to her bravery, and the support of her family, we have been able to gather enough evidence to see the court take Marren off the streets.

“I hope this can serve as a message to other young people who might find themselves in this situation. We will listen and we will help.”

Description

A rapist who attacked a woman as her child slept in the next room has been handed a nine year sentence.

Matthew Nicholson, 36, ignored the woman's refusal to have sex when she repeatedly told him she did not want to. During the attack, the woman said she froze as Nicholson carried on after she told him to stop.

Sentencing, The Honorary Recorder of Preston, Judge Robert Altham, said Nicholson was a dangerous man and handed him an extended sentence of six years custody and three years on licence.

He said: "You knew her child was in the next room. Your victim knew she couldn't fight or cry out and you knew that. It is clear you exploited that situation to get what it was you wanted.

"You knew you had been raping her as you raped her and as she lay there with you next to her, crying. The next day she challenged you by message. In effect you admitted you had raped her by message and voice note, repeatedly apologising and telling her you should have listened to her when she said no.

"With that background it is surprising you ran a trial."

Judge Altham said: "You do pose a serious risk of causing harm to other (women) by the commission of further specified offences. That risk can only be managed by the oversight of your release by the Parole Board and an extended licence period.

"It is a most seriously aggravating feature that you did this knowing her child was only a wall's width away."

Nicholson has been ordered to sign on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely and been made the subject of a 12 year restraining order to protect his victim.

Description

A paedophile was caught with scores of videos featuring young girls who were unaware theyd been recorded in Aberdeen city centre, a court has heard.

Greig Dow, 41, admitted a series of charges concerning images and videos found on his devices when police raided his home in September 2019.

Description

A pervert repeatedly masturbated in front of a child and showed her pornography. His "perverse behaviour" has had a huge impact on the victim who described her "innocence being taken away".

David Vine, 47, of Bridgend, performed the sex act in front of the victim on a number of occasions, and even engaged in conversations with her as though nothing untoward was happening. He denied the offences, but was found guilty by a jury following a trial.

A sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court on Monday heard the defendant, previously of Mill Meadow, North Cornelly, also showed pornography to the youngster. When he was questioned at trial as to why he had done this, Vine was unable to provide an explanation.

In total, he was found guilty of four counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child. One of the counts represented multiple occasions when this occurred, with the jury finding the defendant had masturbated in front of the victim on at least five other occasions to the other counts.

The victim entered the witness box to read out her victim personal statement. She said: "I spend every waking moment trying to understand why he did what he did to me and why I deserved it. It wasn't as if I asked for it. Did I do something to make him think I wanted to, did I look too innocent? But that was it, I was innocent and very young.... I don't understand why he took my innocence and made me grow up too quickly."

As a result of the offences, the victim said her anxiety levels have risen, her sleep has been affected and had to take sleeping tablets. She said she's had to move house as a result of the defendant, which caused her to lose touch with friends and family.

In mitigation, defence barrister Tabitha Walker said her client had been living in a van and hotels since the trial. She said he had "difficulty" in accepting the verdicts of the jury but had "expressed remorse for any hurt or upset he has caused". Ms Walker said the defendant, who worked as a driver, was lightly convicted and had no previous convictions for sexual offences, and put forward a suspended sentence as an option open to the court.

Sentencing, Recorder Dyfed Thomas said: "You ought to be ashamed of yourself Mr Vine... Your victim questioned herself as to whether she was to blame. It was not her fault, it was your fault and yours alone. You selfishly indulged your own perverse behaviour for your own sexual gratification."

Vine was sentenced to a total of 33 months imprisonment. He was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and sex offender notification requirements for 15 years, and made subject to a restraining order indefinitely.

Description

A convicted sex offender who thought that he was exchanging messages with a 12-year-old girl got a nasty shock when he discovered that she did not actually exist and was really an undercover police officer.

Matthew Quinton, 27, asked the decoy girl whether she had had sex and made comments about his private parts, Hull Crown Court heard. When police arrived at his home in Baker Street, Hull, he tried and failed to get rid of an incriminating phone.

Quinton had already served a five-year jail sentence for sexual offences against children, but had not learned his lesson and has now been given another taste of prison. He admitted attempting to communicate sexually with a child, breaching a sexual harm prevention order and failing to comply with sex offender notification requirements.

Austin Newman, prosecuting, said that the latest offences came to light when, during an unrelated investigation, police were given evidence of messages and emails sent by Quinton to a woman about a young girl. It was on a phone that was not registered with the police as part of his notification requirements.

Information was also passed to the police that Quinton had been communicating with a fake decoy 12-year-old girl, who was really an undercover police officer. Messages had been exchanged.

"They were clearly sexual in nature," said Mr Newman. Quinton asked the fake girl: "You had sex yet?" and he made comments about his private parts. He asked about her underwear and suggested sending pictures to her.

"She had repeatedly stated that she was 12 years of age," said Mr Newman. Quinton used a number of identities and profiles that had not been notified to the police as part of his order.

The police went to his Baker Street home and arrested him. He asked to use the toilet and, while he was there, tried to get rid of his mobile phone.

Police searched the bathroom and found the phone, which had not been registered. He denied that it belonged to him and denied having a phone of any description.

'Not learning your lesson'

Quinton had been jailed for five years in April 2018 for sexual activity with a girl under 16, sexually assaulting a male, attempting to cause a boy to engage in sexual activity and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. He had been given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

He had convictions for 21 previous offences in total. He had been jailed for 18 weeks in March last year for breaching the sexual harm prevention order.

Benjamin Donnell, mitigating, said that Quinton had come to terms with the fact that he had a sexual interest in children, but he hoped to tackle his problems by doing a "healthy sex" programme while in prison. He intended to have age-appropriate relationships in the future. There was no actual victim in the latest offences.

Judge Mark Bury told Quinton: "Only a sentence of immediate custody can be justified. Breach of a sexual harm prevention order is a serious offence.

"You have a previous conviction for breaching the sexual harm prevention order. You are not, at the moment, learning your lesson. There was no harm, in fact, caused because there was no 12-year-old child."

Quinton was jailed for three years and was given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order. The phone that was seized will be forfeited.

Description

A 28-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison after he raped two women earlier this year.

Lewis Stewart, of no fixed abode, Torbay, was found guilty of three counts of rape at his trial and pleaded guilty to possession of drugs and breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Last week, he was sentenced to life at Exeter Crown Court, where Judge Climie told him he would serve a minimum of 18 years.

The court heard during the trial that Stewart had been on a night out in Torquay Town Centre on 21 January when he targeted two vulnerable women - he was captured on CCTV following and watching them.

He got in a taxi with them back to an address where he subjected them to rape, boasting about his actions to them the following day.

On arrest officers seized Stewart’s phone, where they found a photo of one of the victims in a vulnerable state. He was also in possession of drugs with evidence of dealing found on the phone.

Following a nine-day trial a jury unanimously found him guilty of three counts of rape.

Investigating officer, DS Parsons said: “Stewart presents a real risk to the public and this is reflected in the sentence he has been given by the courts.

“His crimes have had a detrimental effect on his victims and their families, and I praise their bravery and courage to come forward and report what happened to them.

“To repeat the words of the sentencing judge, ‘Stewart is a highly sophisticated and manipulative offender which is evident in his controlling and coercive behaviour towards the opposite sex’.

“I hope the outcome will help the victims find an element of closure and that it sends a clear message that offences of this type will be investigated, and offenders bought to justice.”

Superintendent Nicky Seager said: “As the Force Lead for Rape and Sexual Offences I am incredibly proud of this latest sentencing result clearly demonstrating that Devon and Cornwall Police are committed to protecting our communities and providing victims with a quality service and support.

“This very serious case is an example of a suspect focused investigation where Lewis Stewart’s actions were subject to scrutiny and not the victims who stood trial. The success demonstrates an effective prosecution team ethos by police colleagues working closely with CPS South West dedicated Lawyers.

“I want to reassure any victims of this horrendous crime type that we are working jointly to transform and improve the way we respond to and investigate rape.

“This investigation is evident that relatively swift justice can be achieved and will shape the criminal justice landscape for more victims of these heinous crimes."

Mark Major of the CPS said: “I welcome the conviction of Lewis Stewart who committed appalling offences against vulnerable females.

“I would like to commend and thank the victims for their strength in coming forward to support this prosecution and in telling what happened them."

Description

A PENSIONER is now banned from travelling alone on buses at certain times of the day after inappropriately touching a girl.

Malcolm Leather was the subject of a police CCTV appeal for information earlier this year following the disturbing incident.

The 69-year-old was identified and brought to justice after being sentenced at Warrington Magistrates’ Court.

Prosecutor Yvonne Dobson informed the court how the defendant was charged with assault of a girl under 13 by touching.

At sometime between 3pm and 3.30pm on Friday, February 17, a 12-year-old girl was travelling on the number three bus between Warrington Bus Station and the Manchester Road bus stop next to Beresford Street.

During the journey, an unknown man inappropriately touched her leg with his hand.

As stated in the charge to which he indicated a guilty plea, Leather intentionally touched the girl, with the touching being sexual.

Cheshire Police officers investigating the incident subsequently issued CCTV images of a suspect they wanted to speak to.

They said at the time that the incident was believed to be isolated and that they had been conducting a number of enquiries to trace the person responsible.

PC John Riley said: “I want to be clear that we are doing all we can to locate the person responsible and do believe this to be an isolated incident.

“We have a number of enquiries ongoing and as part of these we are now appealing for assistance to identify the man in the CCTV as we believe he may have vital information to assist us with our investigation.

“I would also appeal to the man himself to please come forward.”

After pleading guilty, Leather, of Samuel Street in Sankey Bridges, was sentenced by deputy district judge Angharad Davies to an 18-month community order.

This includes 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days, while he must also pay a fine of £120, costs to the Crown Prosecution Service of £120 and a surcharge to fund victim services of £114.

In addition, he must sign the sex offender register for the next five years and abide by a sexual harm prevention order for the same period.

One prohibition in the latter bans him from travelling alone on public transport, namely buses and trains, between the hours of 7.30am and 9.30am, and from 2.30pm to 4.30pm.

The order states that travelling within these times, Leather must be accompanied at all times by a support worker or other adult expressly approved by social services.

Description

A sex offender has been jailed after he joined a notorious Exmouth paedophile in a plan to abuse a 14-year-old boy.

Benjamin Holt joined in group chats online with former theatre manager Gareth Weeks and the boy in which they discussed their perverted sexual fantasies.

Holt asked the boy to commit sexual acts on himself and was in the process of setting up a meeting at which they were to have sex but the intended victim realised that he was in danger and backed out.

Police found the messages after arresting 55-year-old Weeks in Exmouth for having sex with another 14-year-old who he met on the gay dating site Grindr. He was jailed for 15 years in 2020.

Holt had also downloaded a video of a boy aged about nine having sex with a dog. Police found it on his phone alongside another clip of bestiality involving an adult woman.

He was already a registered sex offender, having previously been jailed for downloading images of boys when he was still in his teens. His most recent conviction was for a similar offence in 2012.

Holt, aged 37, of Old Market Close, Exeter, admitted inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, making, by downloading, an indecent image of a child, and possession of extreme pornography.

He was jailed for three years and four months with a two year, eight month extended licence and put on the sex offenders’ register for life. He was also banned from contact with children for 15 by a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The judge told him: “This was not a fantasy, you meant this thing to happen. It was only the boy’s withdrawal from the group chat that thwarted your intention. You have a very strong sexual interest in young boys.

“You have spoken very openly in the probation report about your strong desire to meet and to try to abuse young children.”

Miss Emily Pitts, prosecuting, said Holt was identified as a result of a police inquiry into more serious offences of abuse that uncovered his group chats, in which he discussed having different sorts of sex with the boy. The images were found when his devices were seized by police.

Miss Rachel Smith, defending, said Holt recognises he has a problem and wants help to address it. She said that these offences arose out of meeting Gareth Weeks and said his influence was ‘catastrophic.

In the earlier case, Weeks, of Bassetts Gardens, Exmouth, admitted two counts of sexual activity with a child, meeting a child following grooming, inciting a child to sexual activity, arranging or facilitating a child sex offence, breach of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, and making, taking and distributing indecent images of children.

He was jailed for 15 years with a six year extended licence and certified as a dangerous offender by Judge Timothy Rose.

He had been a stage manager who worked with major showbiz stars at theatres all over Britain and boasted to friends about having known celebrities including Little Britain’s Matt Lucas and David Walliams.

He was jailed for child sex offences in 1993 and 2012 but was still able to join an amateur theatre in Devon as a volunteer. He was still helping to organise shows until his arrest.

Description

A paedophile messaged a 12-year-old girl and asked her if she wanted to see his penis before asking her to be his girlfriend. He later attempted to meet up with a 14-year-old at a motorway services but was met by members of a paedophile group who had been using a decoy.

David Havard, 31, of Bridgend, began messaging the real girl on December 27 last year via TikTok and she initially blocked him. Undeterred by this he proceeded to contact her on Facebook and asked if she wanted to see his genitals and his "erect penis".

A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court heard the girl was "frightened" and told the defendant "no" but he persisted in messaging her and asked: "Do you want to be my girlfriend?" She pointed out she was only 12 years old, called Havard "a paedophile", and told him she was going to report the offence to the police. She told her family about what had been happening who alerted the police.

By this time Havard was already in police custody having been arrested after trying to meet someone he believed to be young girls at Sarn motorway services on the M4. Prosecutor Jeffrey Jones said the defendant began speaking to a decoy account run by paedophiles on an over-18 website.

The decoy told the defendant she was 14 years old but he began speaking about sex and sent photos of his penis. He said he wanted to have sex with her and arranged to meet her with her 11-year-old friend. He invited her to sleep in his bed and explained in graphic detail what he would like to do to her. Havard also asked her to send photos of her bare chest.

The defendant was arrested and initially denied the offences and claimed he had not contacted the real victim and he had not sent pictures of his penis. He also claimed he "couldn't remember" sending pictures to the decoy.

Havard, of Oak Street, Aberkenfig, later pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual communication with a child, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, and attempting to meet a child following grooming. The court heard he had received a caution after leaving a letter for a child outside her home which contained sexual messages and a conviction for outraging public decency after masturbating on a public bus.

In mitigation Helen Randall said there were initial concerns about her client's fitness to plea but after a psychiatric report found he was fit to plea he pleaded guilty to the offences. She said the defendant had a "difficult and abusive upbringing" and had poor mental and psychiatric health as well as learning difficulties.

Sentencing, the Recorder of Cardiff Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said there was a "significant risk" of Havard committing "contact sexual offences" in the future. She sentenced the defendant to four years imprisonment with an extended licence period of two years. He will serve two-thirds of the custodial period before he can be considered for release. Havard was made subject to sex offender notification requirements and a sexual harm prevention order for life.

Description

A teenage sex pest was "bang out of order" when he sent "wholly inappropriate" intimate videos of himself to a young girl as well as highly "sexualised" messages that left her father sickened and shocked.

The girl's father discovered the disgusting videos and a whole host of messages after carrying out routine checks of his daughter's phone to make sure that she was not being put at risk. He alerted the police, who found that Dillon North had seemingly been in contact with his daughter for weeks, Hull Crown Court heard

North, 19, of Petersfield Close, Bransholme, Hull, admitted engaging in sexual communication with a child between February 13 and 28 last year. Jazmine Lee, prosecuting, said that the teenage girl's father regularly checked her phone to make sure that she was safe while using it.

On February 27 last year, he discovered a series of conversations between his daughter and North. The chats were almost all on Snapchat and they included images and videos. He took screenshots and recorded the videos. "He reported that to the police," said Miss Lee.

The girl later told police that she was in contact with North most days and that he had asked how old she was. She told him her age, which was under 16, and he gave his age.

"They continued to have conversations," said Miss Lee. "At first, they would send pictures of just their faces and the food they were eating but she later shared a video of herself in her underwear sitting on a bed."

She sent that video in response to him sending one of him committing a sex act. He used explicit language in the video. "She did not send any other videos of that nature," said Miss Lee.

North sent several more videos of him involved in sexual behaviour and using explicit words. "He asked her on three occasions to meet with him," said Miss Lee. "She said 'No' because of her age and he accepted that."

The girl claimed that the contact between them was for a few weeks but North insisted that it was for only a few days. He made no comment during police interview.

Marc Luxford, mitigating, said that North had no previous convictions and pleaded guilty. He had previously been an apprentice electrician. North told the court when asked about his behaviour: "It was disgusting and awful."

Judge Mark Bury said that the way that North spoke to the girl was "bang out of order" and he needed to understand that this was not the way to behave to females. "If you are caught again, you will go to prison," said Judge Bury.

"You got into a situation where you were sending sexualised texts which were totally inappropriate. They were inappropriate regarding how old she was."

The videos that North sent were "wholly inappropriate" but the girl had the "good sense" not to meet North when he asked her to do so. "It must be understood that offending like this does cause distress," said Judge Bury.

"It has affected her. If there was any repetition of this behaviour, a judge would send you to prison." North was given 30 days' rehabilitation as part of a two-year community order. He must register as a sex offender for five years.

Description

A man who groped a woman at a Trowbridge pub has avoided a prison sentence.

Joshua Reid appeared before Salisbury Magistrates’ Court on Monday (11 September), having pleaded guilty to sexual assault at a hearing in June.

The 26-year-old defendant, who failed to attend the court for sentencing on 24 July, also admitted a charge of failing to surrender.

At a previous hearing, prosecutor Victoria Hill said that he slapped the buttocks of a woman and groped her breasts in a pub garden in Trowbridge in the summer of 2022.

The magistrates imposed an onerous three-year community order, which has the requirement to attend 20 rehabilitation activity days with the probation service.

Reid must also complete 12 days of mental health treatment with Turning Point and complete a 34-day sex offender programme.

The was told to pay the victim £600 compensation and was slapped with a restraining order – prohibiting contact with the woman for one year. He will also register as a sex offender for fives years.

Reid, of Milton Cottages, off New Road in Bromham, near Devizes, was slapped with a £50 fine for the failing to surrender offence.

Description

A man has been jailed after pleading guilty to sexual activity with a child and other sexual offences.

Jason Newman, 35, of Castle Road, Great Bedwyn, admitted to one count of sexual assault of a child under 13, one count of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and two counts of producing a category B indecent image of a child.

He was sentenced at Swindon Crown Court yesterday (14/09) to three years and five months imprisonment.

He will also be required to sign on to the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely and be subject to a sexual harm prevention order.

Newman’s offences came to light in July 2021, when an email address linked to Newman was found to have uploaded indecent images of children onto the internet.

Newman was arrested and bailed, and in the ensuing investigation further offences were discovered, including sexual assault of a child.

Newman was further arrested in August 2021 and was bailed again. After initially indicating he would plead not guilty, he changed his plea and was sentenced yesterday.

Description

Anthony Insall, aged 49 from Yarm, has pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children, both Category A images and Category C images, at Teesside Magistrates’ Court today, Friday 15th September 2023 and will be sentenced on 11th October 2023.

Investigating Officer, Detective Constable Barnes from the Paedophile Online Investigation Team said: “Anthony Insall searched for indecent images and content on the internet. He was found to have accessed the child abuse material over, at least, a 15-month period.

“The behaviour committed by Insall, and those who commit crime of a similar nature, is entirely abhorrent and causes significant harm to vulnerable children.

“Whilst this is an online offence, there are real victims out there living with the scars of abuse in this cycle of suffering. People who commit crimes of this nature are not invisible and we will ensure we do everything possible to bring them to justice.”

Description

Officers have paid tribute to the bravery of a victim in a rape case that went to trial but resulted in a guilty verdict last week.

On Friday (15 September) a jury at Gloucester Crown Court found Matthew Dickens, 25 and of Greet Road, Winchcombe, guilty of two counts of rape against the same woman in an incident in 2020.

Dickens met the woman following contact with her via a messaging app. After meeting the victim and one of her friends, they went to a bar. Later, Dickens went to the woman’s home with her. She could not recall how she became undressed but recounted how Dickens then went on to rape her twice and hold her throat.

Detective Constable Rob Brown, officer-in-charge of the case, said: “Dickens subjected the victim to a terrifying ordeal that will deeply impact her for the rest of her life.

“He then compounded his crimes by pleading not guilty and claiming this was a consensual act, meaning the victim had to go through the trial process.

“I want to commend her bravery and determination to carry on supporting the case when it would have been understandable if she had decided not to put herself through it.

“Thankfully it took the jury less than two hours to decide on his guilt and I hope that provides some level of validation for her courage.

“In the process a dangerous individual has now been convicted at court and, potentially, prevented from wrecking other people’s lives.

“My message to anyone else who is a rape victim who is worried about coming forward is that you will be believed and that the criminal justice system is beginning to change, so please do report what has happened to you. We are transforming the way that the CPS and police handle rape and sexual assault cases, and are working together to ensure that victims are supported throughout the prosecution process.”

Dickens will be sentenced at a later date.