Latest Offenders

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A “depraved” sexual predator from Chorley who abused two young children under the age of ten has been jailed.

Damon Townsend, 35, raped his first victim when she was under the age of 10.

That victim said she is now scared to be around boys and men.

Townsend sexually assaulted his second victim when she was also under the age of 10 and told her to keep what he had done a secret.

While those offences were being investigated information came to light that Townsend might have pornographic images on his phone.

Townsend’s phone was seized and an examination discovered the device contained a number of indecent images of children and other prohibited images.

He was subsequently charged with a number of sexual offences and remanded into custody.

Townsend, now of no fixed address but formerly of Cornflower Close, Chorley, pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images of children, however denied any offences relating to the victims of his sexual abuse.

Following a trial at Preston Crown Court, Townsend was found guilty of raping a child under 13 and indecently assaulting a child under 13.

He was deemed to be a dangerous offender and given an immediate custodial sentence of 16 years with a further four years extended licence.

Townsend will have to go before the Parole Board who will assess whether he remains a risk to the public. It will only be after that assessment that Townsend could be released.

He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and was made subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

DC Louise Dutton, of South CID, said: “Townsend is a manipulative individual with an abhorrent and warped sexual interest in children.

“Not only did he target his victims because of their vulnerability, he also forced them to relive their harrowing ordeals by taking the case to trial.

She added: “I am glad this dangerous sexual predator has now been given a substantial custodial sentence. The associated court orders will also mean Townsend will be monitored by the authorities once he is eventually released from the custodial element of his sentence.

“I want to place on record my admiration at the bravery displayed by both victims during the criminal justice process and beyond.

“I know these offences have understandably had a significant and ongoing impact on them and I hope they can take some comfort in knowing that their abuser will be behind bars for some time.

“I hope the outcome of this case will encourage other victims of sexual abuse to come forward, knowing that they will be believed and we will do everything in our power to put the perpetrators before the courts.”

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Andrew Maund, of Hebburn, thought he was talking to two 14-year-olds but they were decoy profiles set up by paedophile hunters.

A pervert who engaged in sex chats with what he thought were two 14-year-old girls online has been spared prison.

Andrew Maund believed he was talking to genuine schoolgirls but he had been duped by vigilantes Guardians of the North. Newcastle Crown Court heard Maund, posing as "Steven", contacted both decoy profiles within three days in June 2020.

The first one, who was on the Meetme app purporting to be an 18-year-old called Lou, went on to say she was 14 but that didn't put him off. He said he would like to kiss her and asked what she was wearing, telling her she was sexy and asking for photographs in her bra, which she refused.

The second decoy profile, on dating app Badoo, also told Maund she was 14 and he said he wanted to kiss and cuddle her. When told she was home alone as her mum was at work, he said he would like to visit her.

He then outlined sexual acts he wanted to partake in with her, asked for pictures and sent a photograph of his genitals and made suggestive remarks about it.

Maund, 37, of St Rollox Street, Hebburn, South Tyneside, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted sexual communication with a child, one of attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity and possessing a small number of indecent images. He was sentenced to 21 months suspended for two years with rehabilitation and must do a sex offenders treatment programme. He will also be subject to a sexual harm prevention order and sex offender registration for ten years.

Robin Turton, defending, said: "He is remorseful and feels shame. He says he had difficulties at home and a sense of loneliness. He has now lost his job at Amazon."

Description

A Southampton man has been jailed for 10 years and three months for committing child sex offences.

George Gibbs, 55, of Harefield Road, Southampton, appeared at Southampton Crown Court today (Tuesday 4 October), having previously been found guilty of two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13.

The offences related to two girls and took place in Southampton between July 2018 and when it was reported to us on 27 September, 2020.

Since that first report was made to police, specialist officers conducted a thorough investigation which led to Gibbs’ arrest and him being subsequently charged.

Appearing at Southampton Crown Court for a sentencing hearing, George Gibbs was jailed for 10 years and three months.

T/DC Dawn Capper from the Child Abuse Investigation Team said: “Gibbs continually denied the offences, forcing his young victims to relive these traumatic experiences in the trial. To make matters worse, he refused to attend, with the verdict being reached in his absence.

“By doing so, Gibbs has shown complete distain for his victims and not a shred of remorse.

“In contrast to his cowardice, these two victims have demonstrated such bravery throughout the investigation and I would like to commend them for their actions, which have made Southampton a safer place by removing a dangerous predator from the streets.

“If you or a loved one has experienced a similar situation, then I hope reading this encourages you to report what has happened to us. We will take your report seriously, support you every step of the way and do our best to ensure you receive justice.”

Description

A man who sexually abused a four-year-old girl while working as a childminding assistant has been jailed for 10 years.

The girl used dolls to illustrate to the jury how Stephen Walker, from Walton Cardiff, near Tewkesbury, abused her when taking her to the toilet.

The 56-year-old was found unanimously guilty of assaulting a child aged under thirteen.

The nursery has ceased trading as a result of the allegations.

Judge Ian Lawrie KC praised the young victim for the way she gave her "compelling evidence" via video link to Gloucester Crown Court on Friday.

He said she had been "clear and precise" and had spoken without hesitation as she told the jury what Walker had done to her on "lots of days" last year.

In his police interview Walker denied the allegations and said he did not take girls to the toilet "to prevent allegations such as this", but said the victim would often seek cuddles from him.

Prosecutor Tabby Macfarlane said the child had "complained to her mother that her 'middle hurt' - middle being the four-year-old's term for her genitals".

She told both her mother and her grandmother that Walker had hurt her while taking her to the toilet.

Charlotte Surley, defending, suggested that Walker did not touch the girl in the way that was alleged. She said he believed that what she had told people was a "misunderstanding".

'Compelling evidence'

The young victim was interviewed by officers at a special child-friendly location with support workers in attendance.

Mr Lawrie told Walker he had been convicted on the "compelling evidence of a four-year-old girl".

Walker is also barred from having any contact with children under the age of 18 for an indefinite period and will have to sign the sex offender's register for life.

Det Con David Escolme from Gloucestershire Police praised the victim and their family for showing "amazing strength and courage" during the trial.

Description

A woman sobbed as a court was told how she had taken videos of herself performing sex acts next to a child and shared them in a group chat set up for sick perverts.

Sitting in the docks of Hull Crown Court, wearing a black trouser suit with restraints attached, Sonia Chivers, 29, began crying as the prosecuting barrister listed details of her 'perverted' child sexual abuse offences. In the public gallery a 'support network' of family members, including her mother, were in attendance.

Along with the videos, she also took an indecent image of the child and shared it online. While she claimed she received no sexual gratification from sharing the content, she said she 'liked the attention' she got from other users on a platform called Kik where child abuse was being discussed.

She pleaded guilty to making and distributing 1 Category B video, making another Category B video, making and distributing 1 Category C image and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child. Richard Butters, prosecuting, told the court on January 16, 2020, an undercover police officer joined a Kik group chat where users discussed sexual abuse against children between the ages of zero and four. The officer engaged in a chat with the defendant.

She messaged that she was 'feeling horny' and said she might call the child into the room. She continued to describe sick things she wanted the child to do to her and claimed the child 'knew what to do as routine'.

She added she would film the acts next time. On December 5, 2020, Chivers was arrested, two videos and an image were recovered from her phone.

In one of the videos, Chivers was committing a sex act as a child's TV programme could be heard in the background, towards the end of the video, a child's head can be seen on video. In the other video, Chivers can be heard speaking to the child as she committed a sex act, Mr Butters told the court.

In the Category C image that was created and distributed, the child's head was cropped out but part of their genitalia was exposed. When Chivers was arrested, she admitted to the offences and said she felt disgusted by herself after she had taken the videos.

She has no previous convictions. Chiver's defence barrister, Richard Thompson, told the court it was impossible to mitigate why anyone who came from a loving family would go on to commit such criminal offences as Chivers did.

He said Chivers was experiencing loneliness and therefore engaged in attention-seeking behaviour. He added that she did face up to what she has done.

Mr Thompson reiterated that Chivers had no previous convictions, after the incident, she was released on bail and did not re-offend. She knew this day would come and tried her hardest to live her life.

She had a supportive family and found employment. He claimed she had a strong support network to help her, some of whom were with her in court.

Judge Sophie McKone told Chivers what she has done was gross, sickening and perverted. She said Chivers received sexual pleasure from knowing the child was watching and even encouraged the child to watch.

Judge McKone accepts Chivers, of Driffield, was emotionally isolated at the time of the offences, while it may explain it, it does not excuse it. She sentenced Chivers to 40 months in prison, she is also subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and has been placed on the Sex Offender Register indefinitely.

After her prison sentence was read out, Chivers was taken away from the docks, but her loud weeping could continue to be heard in the courtroom from a distant room for minutes after she left.

Description

Pervert John Husband will never be able to return to work as an occupational therapist following his criminal conviction.

An occupational therapist who escaped jail despite being found in possession of 1.7m indecent images of children has been struck off.

John Husband, then 55, of Snow's Green Road, Shotley Bridge, County Durham, who had no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images, possession prohibited images of a child and possessing extreme pornography in November last year.

When he was arrested in June 2020 at his then-Newcastle address, police officers found horrifying images on 43 different devices - and of the 12 that were forensically examined, police found eight images of the most serious type, category A, 11 category B and 32,090 category C.

Now, the Health and Care Professions Tribunal Service has confirmed he has been struck off the medical register following a hearing of the HCPTS's Conduct and Competence Committee last week. Husband admitted the charges ahead of trial, and was given a 22-month jail sentence suspended for two years with a six month curfew and a sexual harm prevention order and sex offender registration for 10 years.

The tribunal considered the seriousness of his offending and the length of sentence in its deliberations. Following the hearing held between September 26 and 29, Husband was struck off. He had previously worked in acute mental health services in the city.

In its findings, the tribunal stated: "[Husband's] submissions do not adequately reflect an acknowledgment of the actual or potential effect of his behaviour on others. [He] qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 1993, and as part of his training and subsequent practice had undergone safeguarding training that would have alerted him to the consequences of this type of behaviour/ conduct. In addition, the Panel noted that the [he] had worked in acute mental health services."

The panel said they agreed with Judge Stephen Earl, who at Newcastle Crown Court last year said: " I am not certain that there is any more remorse than the fact that you have been captured."

Husband had not attended the hearing - he indicated via email in August that he would not be present nor would he require legal representation. The hearing was also due to consider whether Husband had a health condition impairing his fitness to practice - but did not do so after finding that his convictions in themselves were worthy of striking off.

The tribunal findings also highlighted how that, "by the nature of the work they do", occupational therapists came into contact with vulnerable individuals - and that Husband's behaviour "very serious particularly in view of the nature of the images involved, the number of the images involved and the fact that the behaviour continued for many years".

The tribunal also found: "There is a risk that the Registrant will repeat behaviour of the sort he indulged in. That risk would necessarily translate into a risk of harm to patients were the registrant to be able to return to practise as an Occupational Therapist."

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Update 2022-10-04

A man has been jailed after admitting a number of non-recent sexual offences on the Isle of Wight.

Graham Medway, aged 64 and formerly of the Freshwater area, appeared at Isle of Wight Magistrates Court on 30 August this year where he pleaded guilty to:

• Assault a girl under 13 by touching relating to an incident in Yarmouth, on 6 September 2014.
• Assault a girl under 13 by touching relating to an incident in Shanklin between 20 June 2013 and 22 June 2013.
• 2 counts of indecent exposure relating to incidents in Freshwater between 1 January 2017 and 24 September 2020.

This follows an investigation by the Operation Marmion team, who specialise in investigating non-recent child sex offences.

Appearing at Isle of Wight Crown Court today (4 October), Medway was given an 8 year extended sentence in prison. His Honour Judge Shepherd jailed him for 6 years but added a further two years on in acknowledgement of Medways dangerousness as an offender.

Detective Inspector Damian Glendenning said: We are grateful to all of the victims who have shown such bravery throughout this investigation. It is because of their courage that we have secured these convictions against Medway.

I want the public to be reassured that we take all sexual offence and child sex abuse allegations incredibly seriously. We encourage people to continue reporting information to the police about this type of offending so we can target perpetrators and safeguard vulnerable people.

If you have been affected by child sexual abuse you can contact police on 101 and speak to a police officer in confidence.

2021/01/08

A "loitering" stranger raped a three-year-old girl in broad daylight in a wooded area at a country park after she had run ahead of her family on a day out.

Graham Medway approached and attacked the young girl on August 31, 2020, a bank holiday Monday, at Fort Victoria Country Park on the Isle of Wight.

She had run ahead from her family, which she often did when playing, as they walked down a path after visiting the beach. The family would have a system that the girl would respond to when she could not be seen, but she did not on this occasion sparking concern.

Isle of Wight Crown Court heard on Friday (January 8) that the girl's mother lost track of her daughter as they went down the undulating footpath, during which time Medway abducted and attacked the child by orally raping her after taking her into a "secluded" part of the woodland.

Over a period of about eight minutes, the anxious mother searched frantically for her daughter, only locating her after dog walkers directed her back to the fort area as they had seen a girl matching her description going towards there.

The dog walkers had also seen Medway with the little girl emerging from some bushes, with the attacker appearing to be bending down and telling her off.

The young girl was found by the fort, with prosecutor David Richards noting that the mother noticed her daughter had wet herself.

She then told her mother: "That man put his willy in my mouth."

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That statement was then repeated to other family members, and to police officers when they were called to the popular Yarmouth park that day.

Medway was located by Hampshire Constabulary later that night, and he was arrested and later charged.

The 62-year-old paedophile was jailed for nine years, with an extended licence period of five years, at the court in Newport on Friday.

Mr Richards told the court that people who knew Medway saw him near the toilet block at the country park at around 1.40pm on the bank holiday Monday, which was a very sunny day.

The family of the young girl had been on a day out on that same day, initially going to the beach at Yarmouth before heading for a walk at the country park, where they had arrived at around 2.30pm.

In court, the child, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was described as an "energetic" and "confident little girl" who would approach people to talk to.

The incident took place in woodland at Fort Victoria Country Park.

Medway abducted her and put his erect penis into her mouth - an act that in police interview he would repeatedly deny having committed, forcing officers to gather further evidence including forensic evidence and getting the child to give an interview and recall what had happened.

DNA matching that of the young girl was found on the inside of Medway's boxer waistband. Only when presented with that evidence did Medway admit to what he had done, entering a guilty plea in October.

While passing sentence, Judge Roger Hetherington said that Medway had been "hanging around in the area" after apparently deciding not to go fishing on his boat.

He added: "I have little doubt that you were loitering in the park area waiting for just this sort of opportunity."

During the hearing, Mr Richards read out two victim impact statements from the girl's mother, within which she mentioned the trauma and devastation the incident had caused on her daughter and the family.

She said in part that she "simply cannot describe the full impact this had had on each and every one of us".

The mother said how initially after the attack there was a "noticeable change" in how the child acted, with her becoming more aggressive towards her family and at pre-school. She would often bite and punch people.

Another, more recent statement said that this behaviour had settled down since and become more consistent, but the girl still had "ups and downs".

The mother said that herself and the child's father were concerned about how the incident would affect her in the future, once she gets older.

In one section, she said: "It absolutely breaks our hearts to think about the time we are going to have to tell our daughter about this horrendous thing that had happened to her."

She added that what the family had experienced should "never happen to another child ever again".

The mother described how taking their three-year-old daughter to a sexual health clinic to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases is "something no family should have to deal with."

Within her statements, the mother said that the incident had also had a lasting impact on herself and the girl's father, who were now anxious in their daily life.

Among other things, they have reinforced security at their home, become wary of lone men around their family, and struggeld to eat and sleep since the incident happened.

Also noted was how the ordeal had changed their perception of the island itself, which they had previously viewed as a safe place.

She also said: "As a result of this man's actions in the few seconds she was out of our sight, we have to carry overwhelming guilt that we failed to protect her. This will be with us for the rest of our lives."

Medway, from Freshwater, pleaded guilty to one count of raping a child under the age of 13 when he previously appeared in court on October 26.

During mitigation, defence counsel Elizabeth Bussey-Jones said that her client, a married man, had no previous convictions aside from a conditional discharge for theft when he was 15.

She added that he wanted to apologise to the victim and her family, but knew it would provide no comfort.

Ms Bussey-Jones said of the defendant: "He literally does not know how to put his appalling behaviour into words."

The defence barrister also said that Medway wanted to apologise to his own family and the "shame" that had been brought to them simply by being related to him.

He was handed an extended sentence of 14 years, nine of which will be custodial and the rest on licence. He will have to serve two thirds of his custodial sentence before he can be considered for parole. A sexual harm prevention order was also made.

Description

A hypnotherapist has been jailed for more than two years after forcing a woman to engage in sexual activity while she was ‘under his spell’.

Ian Roper, 58, ‘commanded’ his victim to remove her clothing while making her think she was sitting on a hot sun bed and rubbing sun cream on her body, Bradford Crown Court heard.

When the woman woke up, Roper attempted to ‘put her under again’ so she wouldn’t know what had happened to her.

He pleaded guilty at the trial despite initially claiming the allegations were false to the police and he was handed a 29 month sentence by the judge.

Officers also found five indecent images of children and one prohibited image of a child on Roper’s laptop.

He pleaded guilty to the possession of indecent images.

Recorder David Gordon told Roper his interests had been motivated by ‘selfish and sexual’ desires.

The judge also said Roper would have to register as a sex offender for the next 10 years and enforced a restraining order against him.

Recorder Gordon further imposed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, which includes a ban on Roper working as a hypnotherapist.

Addressing Roper, he told him his offending was a very clear breach of trust and said he had engaged in a sustained assault on a complainant who had been vulnerable.

He said: ‘It is clear from her victim impact statement that she has suffered no serious physical injury, but she has suffered severe psychological harm.’

Description

A registered sex offender who groped a horrified teenage girl on a train at night has been jailed.

Matthew Lewis, of Sittingbourne, attacked his victim after she and a friend boarded the service at Margate station.

The 55-year-old, who has 251 previous offences for 95 convictions, was locked up at Canterbury Crown Court on Thursday, where prosecutors laid out their case.

The court was told Lewis approached the girls in June last year and persistently made inappropriate comments towards both, asking to take them for a drink and suggesting they run away with him.

He continued despite both girls insisting that they were only 16.

“The girls removed themselves from their location towards other passengers and Mr Lewis sat next to them,” said Anoushka Twining, prosecuting."

She added Lewis then put her hand on the victim's leg and sexually assaulted her.

Noticing the girls looking uncomfortable, a man who was sat nearby challenged Lewis’ behaviour and a group of passengers invited the girls to sit with them further down the carriage.

The girls moved away and got off the train at Rainham, but Lewis followed.

The pair pointed him out to staff and police soon arrived and arrested him.

The court heard Lewis was in breach of a criminal behaviour order issued in 2019 at the time of the assault.

It meant Lewis would be committing a criminal offence if he was drunk on a train, or had an open alcohol container in public, outside of a licensed premises.

Lewis’ victim attended Thursday’s sentencing hearing, where she described the aftermath of his “repellent and frightening” actions, before seeing him jailed for three years.

The court heard Lewis has a “truly appalling” criminal record, with one past conviction for exposure.

Judge Mark Weekes also sentenced Lewis for various other behaviour order breaches and failing to comply with notification requirements.

The court heard Lewis was discovered intoxicated at Faversham station on July 1, and Margate station on August 7.

He was “asleep or unconscious lying next to a bottle of wine” on a train with vomit on his jumper, the prosecutor explained.

When a member of staff tried to escort him out of the station he threatened to punch them.

Lewis was released from HMP Elmley in April and gave the police an incorrect address, placing him in breach of notification requirements.

He was soon arrested and found to be in possession of amphetamines.

“Lewis is a dangerous individual who subjected a young girl to extremely unacceptable sexual behaviour, and I’m pleased to see him behind bars..."

The court heard Lewis pleaded guilty to sexual assault, breaching criminal behaviour orders, failing to comply with notification requirements and possession of a Class B drug at the lower court.

Judge Mark Weekes told Lewis, who appeared remotely from HMP Elmley: “You made it virtually your mission in life to disobey those terms [of the criminal behaviour orders].”

He branded the sexual assault a “frightening and repellent” act towards a brave girl, with his actions having a “profound effect” on her.

The judge called Lewis’s criminal record “truly appalling”, adding: “You were drunk and you were seen to be slurring your words.

“As a result of that, you approached two young girls, and one of them you sexually assaulted in a most unpleasant fashion. You were stroking her right leg in an upward direction.”

Lewis, of Deerton Street, suffers “particularly acute” difficulties with alcohol which causes “disorderly and chaotic” behaviour,” Phil Rowley said in mitigation.

He added Lewis wished to “apologise profusely” to his victim.

BTP Detective Constable Stephen Gadd, said: “Lewis is a dangerous individual who subjected a young girl to extremely unacceptable sexual behaviour, and I’m pleased to see him behind bars.

“His actions left the victim and her friend feeling hugely distressed, and I want to thank them for bravely reporting the incident and supporting our investigation. No one should experience such vile behaviour as they travel."

Lewis was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

Description

A man from Hereford has been jailed for life for rape.

34-year-old Andrew Cooke-Edwards, of Aylestone Hill, was sentenced at Worcester Crown Court today (Monday 3 October).

He will serve a minimum of nine years and nine months in prison.

Around 1pm on 19 November 2020, he attacked a 23-year-old woman on the river bank in Hereford.

He threatened to kill the woman unless she handed over her mobile phone. She did so but Cooke-Edwards orally and vaginally raped her. She was later found by members of the public.

Later that day, Cooke-Edwards was arrested and later charged with two counts of rape, making threats to kill and robbery.

He subsequently pleaded guilty.

Detective Constable Lawrence Smith said: This was a shocking attack on an innocent young girl.

We greatly admire her courage for helping to bring her attacker to justice and hope that this sentence might allow her to move on with her life.

We strive to prosecute anyone responsible for a sexual crime and urge anyone with any concerns about an incident, whether recently or in the past, to please get in touch.

You will be offered our full support and we will do everything we can to help you.

Anyone with any concerns about a sexual crime can report it by visiting https://www.westmercia.police.uk/contact/af/contact-us/ or calling 101. Always dial 999 in an emergency.

You can also get help from the West Mercia Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre.

Description

A twisted Birmingham Uber driver sexually assaulted a teenage student after 'trapping' her in his car during a nine-minute terror journey. The 19-year-old victim was on her way to work when she was molested by the father-of-three, who had persuaded her to sit in the front seat.

Deeq Mursal, 38, had picked up the young woman at 5.40am on December 9 2018 to take her to her early shift at a hotel. She had wanted to get in the back of his taxi but the defendant instructed her to get in the front, in breach of his training.

She thought nothing of it at the time and agreed, Birmingham Crown Court was told. But over the next nine minutes she was sexually assaulted by the perverted Uber driver, before he eventually dropped her near her work - out of sight of CCTV.

Mursal, of Cromwell Street, Nechells, has now been jailed for two years after after previously being found guilty of sexual assault. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years.

In passing sentence, Judge Paul Farrer QC said he believed the attack was planned from the moment he picked the victim up. "I have no doubt that even at this early stage you had decided you were going to assault her," he said.

"You pulled away and almost immediately placed your hand on her inner leg and ran it up her inner thigh-to her groin, despite her repeated protests."

The judge said Mursal continued to sexually assault her during the nine minute journey and that he had taken a "circuitous" route to the destination. He had also deliberately driven in the wrong direction.

The court was told the defendant at one point asked the victim to go to a hotel with him. He had also grabbed her hand and tried to get her to touch him, but she managed to pull away.

The judge continued: "As this was taking place it was dark and there were no other people and cars about and as the victim told the jury, no one knew where she was. In those circumstances she was understandably terrified.

"None the less she stood up to you and you eventually dropped her off but you did so a short distance away from the hotel, no doubt to evade being captured on CCTV. This was a sustained attack upon a young vulnerable woman who trusted you to transport her safely to her place of work."

Referring to her victim impact statement he said: "As a result of your behaviour she has changed her behaviour and no longer uses taxis when she is alone. You targeted a loan woman in the early hours of the morning in circumstances in which she was effectively trapped in your taxi."

Simon Hanns, defending, said Mursal was of good character and had previously fled Somalia because of persecution. He still maintained his innocence and so could not get any credit for remorse.

He said he had a wife and three children, including one who was severely disabled. He had also lost his job as an Uber driver.

Description

An Aberdeen man sent sexual Snapchat messages to a schoolgirl asking the teenager for a kiss and checking if she would keep it a secret.

Greig Alexander Robertson even admitted to the 15-year-old girl in one of the messages that his unlawful behaviour was possibly wrong.

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Description

This social media predator targeted seven young girls in a series of sex offences.

David John Milligan was in his 40s but posed as a younger man when engaging in sexualised chats with children as young as 12 on Snapchat. A court heard he asked for and sometimes received indecent images from the youngsters and sent them pictures and videos of his genitals.

The pervert's disgraceful behaviour only came to light when police seized his devices as part of an investigation into him having indecent images of children. They then discovered he had also been in touch with girls aged between 12 and 15 online.

One victim, who was 14, said Milligan added her on Snapchat and appeared friendly and she thought he was about 17. He then started asking about her underwear and turned the chat sexual and told her what he wanted to do to her.

Milligan, living in Newcastle at the time but now of Townhead Road, Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute, Scotland pleaded guilty to a total of 18 offences, including sexual communication with a child, inciting a child to engage in a sexual act, causing a child to watch a sexual act and three attempted offences in relation to victims who did not provide statements. He also admitted possessing 424 category A indecent images, 524 category B, 5,653 category C. He also had 35 prohibited images and 55 extreme pornography images featuring animals.

Judge Sarah Mallett jailed him for six years and told he must sign the sex offenders register and be subject to a sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order, all indefinitely.

Description

A man who raped and sexually abused children has been jailed for 15 years. Cameron Richards, of no fixed abode, but from Plymouth, appeared at Plymouth Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to eight sexual offences which involved three children.

The offences included two counts of rape, one count of attempted rape, one count of oral rape and four counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. None of the children can be identified for legal reasons.

Prosecutor Rachel Drake told the court 35-year-old Richards had pleaded guilty to offences which included him abusing the children in a number of different locations including at his place of work and on expeditions. All of his victims were under the age of ten when the offences began.

Some of the victims, along with their family and supporters, sat in the public gallery, evidently deeply distressed as Ms Drake read out the different charges in details.

Ms Drake also read out Victim Impact Statements from the mother of one of the victims as well as one of Richards' victims. The mother said the assaults on her child had caused huge damage and that their child had repeatedly stated they wanted to kill themselves. One of the victims said that they were left feeling like it was somehow their fault and that they feared that "no-one would believe me". They added that because of the abuse they had "lost out on my childhood" and was "worried about how I will develop relationships in the future".

Richards' advocate Michael Green admitted his mitigation was "limited", stating that nothing his client could say through him would provide any comfort to the victims, adding that his client pleaded guilty to "horrendous offences". He said Richards knew he would be jailed for a long time and had "recognised that he deserves such a sentence".

Sentencing Richards, Mr Recorder Richard Stead noted that he had no previous convictions, but that he began his offending as far back as 2007 and continued for many years. He said Richards had numerous opportunities to stop the abuse, but instead continued regardless of the "psychological and physical damage you caused" to the children which he said would be "deep and long lasting."

At this point in proceedings there was an outburst from several people in the public gallery, with angry and upset shouts of "I hope you f****** kill yourself", "I hope you f****** die you dirty f****** b***ard". A number had stepped forwards towards Richards who was swiftly removed from the dock and taken back down to the cells as court staff called for calm. A number of people were made to leave the courtroom and proceedings only restarted after assurances were drawn that there would be no further outbursts from the public gallery.

Mr Recorder Stead continued his sentencing, saying Richards had "no regard" for the children he abused, despite him knowing he was doing wrong, but carried on for his "own sexual gratification". He said the offences clearly showed Richards had planned the abuse, in terms of the timing and locations and that there was "evidence of grooming behaviour". He added: "All have lost their childhoods and will carry with them the psychological impact of what you did to them."

Mr Recorder Stead said he would consider the totality of his offending in sentencing and jailed the 35-year-old for 15 years. He said this had been reduced due to his early guilty plea which under the sentencing guidelines meant he was obliged to any sentence he gave by 25 percent. He said it would be "at least" ten years before Richards' release from prison could be referred to parole board and that he would remain on a conditional licence and supervision on release.

Mr Recorder Stead said would make Richards subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order until further notice and that he would remain on the Sex Offenders' Register for life, which included a necessity to alert police to where he was living as well as if he moved.

Det Con Natasha Elliott-Smith from the Plymouth Public Protection Unit, said: "I am pleased to hear that Cameron Richards has today been given a 15-year custodial sentence. Mr Richards groomed his vulnerable victims and created opportunities to sexually abuse them; these offences started when the victims were all under the age of 10.

"This case was instigated by one of the complainants being brave enough to talk to a friend which led to a safeguarding referral being made by her school. A police investigation was launched where two further victims were identified. Through the support of specialist trained officers from the Public Protection Unit, the complainants were all able to provide compelling victim testimonies and this no doubt influenced the defendant's guilty plea.

"This investigation highlights the importance of listening to the worries of children and acting on concerns raised by young people. I would like to thank the victims for their incredible bravery in coming forward and the victims families who have provided ongoing support to them throughout the investigation; I hope this sentencing can begin to offer some closure for you all.

"This case once again shows the Polices commitment to supporting victims of sexual abuse, to thoroughly investigate offending of this deplorable nature, to protect the vulnerable in our society and bring offenders to justice."

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A ROOFER who sexually attacked a woman in her own home when he visited her has been jailed.

Ryan Cameron, 26, pretended he had called for a taxi when the woman asked him to leave, said Andrew Espley, prosecuting.

But he was lying and he then sexually assaulted her, pulling her to her bedroom during it.

When she repeatedly protested, telling him "no" and to go home, he replied: "Ssh, you know you want it".

Afterwards, he accused the woman of lying until she attended a courthouse to give evidence in a courthouse against him, York Crown Court heard.

"This young woman trusted you to come into her home. That was an invitation but it was limited," Judge Simon Hickey told Cameron.

Cameron had attacked her in her own bedroom where "any woman must be entitled to feel safe".

"It can only be an immediate custodial sentence."

He jailed Cameron for 27 months and made him subject to a restraining order banning him from contacting the woman indefinitely.

Cameron will also have to register as a sex offender for 10 years.

The woman told York Crown Court that Cameron had made life difficult for her since the sexual assault which she was still coming to terms with.

She believed he was punishing her for telling police about what he had done.

"He has turned my life upside down and made it complete chaos," she said in a victim impact statement.

She had been prescribed anti-depressants and was having counselling.

Cameron had initially denied sexually assaulting her and had made out she was a liar until she went to court to pre-record her evidence and be cross-examined by his barrister, said the woman's statement.

It is common now for complainants in sexual cases to pre-record their evidence and be cross-examined by the defendant's barrister on video. The video is then shown to the jury in the defendant's trial, which may be many months later.

Mr Espley said Cameron had not visited the woman for several months before the evening when he sexually assaulted her.

At the end of the evening, she asked him to leave so she could go to bed.

He claimed he had ordered a taxi and was waiting for it, but turned on a film and settled down on the settee.

He then began the sexual assault, during which he had used force on her.

Afterwards, he had rolled himself a cigarette and really called a taxi, which had arrived quickly.

Defence solicitor advocate Graham Parkin said Cameron apologised for his actions and their impact.

He had not been convicted of any offence before or afterwards. His parents were standing by him.

The judge said the offence was out of character but there was little chance that Cameron would be rehabilitated until he recognised what he had done.