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Description

A former Tory councillor ‘wanted to sexually abuse’ a teen boy, a court heard.

William Horley pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, and was sentenced at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on 12 February.

The 47-year-old defendant, who was a parish councillor for Chiseldon and Lawn in recent years, spoke to a profile on Grindr – which had been set up by a paedophile hunter.

Between 12 and 19 March 2024, he spoke about the sexual activity he would have with the boy and the sexual acts he wanted to carry out. He also sent the profile a nude photo of himself.

Horley, of Orchard Road, Marlborough, was sentenced to an 18-month community order with the requirement to carry out 40 days of rehabilitation activity. He was also fined £3,000.

The defendant was ordered to register as a sex offender for five years.

Description

A sex offender who was found by officers in a child’s bed after gaining the trust of the victim’s family has been jailed.

Jake Booth of Pembury Grove in Tonbridge was already banned from communicating with children when he met the teenage girl online and started living in her home.

The 22-year-old created an internet chat group for motorbike enthusiasts and used the forum to contact the child.

From there, their conversations moved to Snapchat and Booth made arrangements to meet the girl and her parents.

After gaining the confidence of the family, he convinced them they were simply close friends so he was allowed to stay in their home.

But, unbeknown to the family, Booth was the subject of a sexual harm prevention order following previous convictions for making indecent images of children in 2022.

This 10-year order included strict measures to protect children and meant he was prohibited from having any unsupervised contact or communication with anyone under 16.

On April 11, 2024, Booth was arrested and found in the child’s bed by officers.

He was charged with 14 offences relating to breaches of a sexual harm prevention order and sex offender notification requirements.

Booth pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court and on January 31 and he was sentenced to three years in prison.

Description

A sex offender from North Somerset has been sentenced to four years in prison, with a further four years to be served on licence, following an investigation by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU).

Bex McCullgh, 25, from Backwell, was arrested in October 2024 after travelling from her home to Bristol to meet who she thought was a young boy. Instead, she was arrested by officers from the SWROCU, charged, and remanded in custody.

She pleaded guilty at Bristol Crown Court on Monday (10 February) to arranging or facilitating commission of a child sex offence, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, and attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

The judge handed McCullgh an extended sentence of eight years, comprising four years custody and four years on extended licence. She will have to serve a minimum of two-thirds of her sentence before applying for release.

McCullgh was also made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and added to the Sex Offender Register both indefinitely.

Description

A man who followed a woman through Long Eaton before attempting to rape her has been jailed.

Paul Jinks stalked the woman as she walked home from a night out in in July 2024.

As she reached Darwin Road, he grabbed her from behind and put his hand over her mouth, telling her not to shout.

The woman attempted to break free and fight him but fell on the floor. Jinks then picked her up and dragged her backwards to a secluded grassy area where he hit her in the face and sexually assaulted her before attempting to rape her.

The woman’s cries for help were heard by the residents of a nearby house who yelled at Jinks to leave her alone and ran out on to the street to help.

Jinks then fled the scene, running through a nearby garden as he escaped. The homeowner called police after seeing him on their property. Officers attended the scene and found blood stains on a broken bin Jinks had climbed on as he ran away.

CCTV footage from the area showed Jinks had followed the woman for some time before the attack. He was also seen following at least two other women before the incident.

The blood was tested and found to belong to Paul Jinks, who was believed to be living in the Cambridgeshire area on a traveller’s encampment. Officers in Cambridgeshire were asked to help with arrest attempts and the 21-year-old was arrested on 24 July, ten days after the attack.

He was subsequently charged with attempted rape.

Jinks, of no fixed address, admitted the offence and appeared at Nottingham Crown Court for sentence on 7 February when he was jailed for eight years and nine months with an extended licence period of six years. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

In a victim impact statement, the woman described the effect the incident has had on her: “Since this has happened I don’t feel like I will ever be able to go out on my own again, at least not anytime soon.

“I feel like I would be terrified doing this and constantly looking behind my shoulder wondering who may appear behind me.

“I have heard about these things happening but I never thought that this would happen to me.”

Description

A teenager who sexually abused three young girls will spend longer locked up after his sentence was increased.

Dominic Legg, of Hartlepool, carried out a series of sexual assaults and rapes on his victims over a four-year period leaving them suffering from the traumatic effects of his abuse, Teesside Crown Court heard in November.

The 19-year-old was sentenced to five years and nine months at a young offenders’ institute but will now spend eight years in custody after a Court of Appeal challenge.

Detective Inspector Lou Sproson from Hartlepool CID said: “I am pleased that Legg’s sentence has been increased to reflect the nature and severity of his offending. This is welcomed by the officers who investigated the case and by the victims and their families.

His victims ranged in age from under ten to 15 years old and took place when he was underage, with the abuse starting when he was around 12.

In victim impact statements, the three young victims and their families outlined the devastating effect that Legg’s sexual abuse had on them.

One wrote: “What Dominic Legg did to me physically and mentally broke me. This has had a massive impact on my life and I will hate myself forever for not doing anything sooner.

“I was a vulnerable little girl.”

Another victim wrote: “I have had to go through therapy because of what happened to me. I could not even speak the words of what Dominic did to me.

“I fear every day that it will happen to me again and find it hard to adjust to normal life.”

He was found guilty of 13 charges against the three victims including counts of rape, sexual assault, and engaging in sexual activity with a child after trial.

Legg, of Harrow Street, will remain on the sex offenders’ register for life and he was also given indefinite restraining orders preventing him from contacting the victims.

Description

A "dangerous" paedophile who boasted online about molesting a girl after threatening her into performing sex acts has been jailed for eight years.

Ian Campbell, 34, told his young victim she had to follow his orders otherwise he would publish indecent photographs of her online, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

He was caught after bragging in a chatroom and saying he wished he had raped the girl to what he thought was another abuser, but it was actually an undercover police officer.

Campbell, from Kettering, Northamptonshire, admitted nine offences against two girls, which were committed when he lived in the North East.

Campbell, who has previous convictions for possessing indecent images of children, began abusing the first girl when she was eight years old, prosecutor Andrew Finlay said.

He took indecent pictures of her which he then threatened to release online unless she did what he said, the court heard.

In March 2021, Campbell contacted what he thought was a paedophile on the app Kik, Mr Finlay said.

He went on to tell the person, who was an undercover police officer, about the abuse he had carried out in graphic detail, the court heard.

'High risk to children'

Campbell said he wished he had been "brave enough" to rape the girl but had only stopped short of that because he feared any physical "damage" he would cause to her would be noticed by other people, the court was told.

He also admitted sexually assaulting a second girl when she was seven years old.

His first victim declined to make a victim impact statement as she did "not want to drag things up" and wanted to "put matters behind her", Mr Finlay said.

The second victim said the abuse made her feel sick and she had suffered "waves" of depression and anxiety in the aftermath.

Campbell, of Mill Road, must sign the sex offender register for life after admitting offences including assaulting a child under 13 by penetration and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Judge Penny Moreland concluded Campbell was a "dangerous offender" who posed a "high risk of serious harm" to children.

He will have to serve four years on extended licence upon his release and can only be released partway through the eight-year incarceration if approved by the Parole Board, the judge said.

Description

More than 110,000 indecent images of children were discovered on a rape suspect’s mobile phone following a thorough and complex investigation by our specialist officers.

On Tuesday 11 February Daniel Taylor was jailed for 20 years after admitting numerous serious sexual offences.

In April 2022 we received reports of rape and sexual assault involving two victims.

Forty-two year-old Taylor, of Outing Close, Southend, was arrested and questioned. He initially denied all the allegations put to him and refused to hand over the pin to his phone.

Tenacious officers used forensic techniques to access the phone and were able to download the contents after months of work.

overwhelming evidence

It was clear why Taylor did not want to allow access to his phone as officers discovered 110,718 indecent images (including Category A, B and C) and videos of children, alongside evidence linking him to the rape allegations.

He was charged with 15 offences including five counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, two counts of indecent assault, three counts of possession of indecent images of children, one count of making indecent images of children and one count of distributing indecent images of children.

He continued to deny the charges, but the overwhelming evidence left him with little option and when he appeared at Basildon Crown Court on Monday 2 September 2024 he admitted to 12 offences with one charge of rape and two charges of indecent assault left to lie on file.

And at the same court he was sentenced to 20 years in prison, but will remain on licence for 24 years. He was also placed on the sex offender’s register for life and is subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life.

Description

David Valentine (57) of Hambledon Road, Denmead appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court on Friday 7 February, following a Hampshire and Isle of Wight investigation into child sex offences.

Valentine previously appeared at the same court on Monday 2 December where, following a six-day trial, a jury found him guilty of indecent assault, assault of a child under 13 by penetration and two counts of assault by penetration.

During the trial, the court heard how Valentine had sexually assaulted one girl in Havant on multiple occasions between 2012 and 2021, when she was between the ages of 6 and 13.

The court also heard how he had sexually assaulted another girl in Hedge End in 2003, when she was between 10-11 years old.

Valentine appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court on Friday 7 February, where he was sentenced to 9 years imprisonment, with a four-year extension to his license period.

At sentencing, the judge made comment that Valentine was “particularly remorseless” and that he had “demolished [the victims’] sense of safety and privacy.”

The judge also noted that he had “objectified their bodies” and classified him as dangerous.

The officer in charge of the cases, Police Staff Investigator Samantha Nother from the Eastern Child Abuse Investigation Team said, ““It am very pleased to see David Valentine face justice. The deceit and lack of remorse only reinforces how dangerous David Valentine is.  

“I feel it is important to emphasise the fact that the case against him was only possible due to the strength of the young victim to come forward to her family about the abuse she had recently suffered, and the courage of the initial victim to revisit the details of the abuse in her past.

“It is because of their inspirational bravery that we have been able to hold him to account for his actions and for him to receive a significant and appropriate custodial sentence.

“We are aware that every case of abuse is unique and impacts people differently and we work with each victim with this in mind. Whether victims come forward at the time of the abuse or years later, we will always take their disclosures seriously and without judgement.”

Description

Thomas Dodds, 56, attacked his victim as she rested in bed after feeling unwell and vomiting earlier in the evening.

Specialist officers from the Force’s Safeguarding Department immediately launched an investigation after a friend of the victim swiftly reported the offence.

Dodds, of Thames Road, Hebburn, was arrested the same evening and denied the offence.

He was charged with rape and following a four-week long trial at Newcastle Crown Court in December, Dodds of Thames Road, Hebburn, was found guilty by a jury.

He appeared at the same court on Wednesday, where he was sentenced to eight years and six months behind bars.

Dodds has also been made subject to a 12-year sexual harm prevention order and placed on the sex offender’s register.

Leading on the investigation was Detective Constable Amy Burridge, of Northumbria’s Rape Investigation Team.

Description

A triple rapist from Perth is back behind bars after police caught him using a bank account illegally.

Graeme Bell was jailed in 2014 for a series of sexual attacks and robberies in the city centre.

Description

A Welsh dad has been jailed after his conviction for the serious sexual abuse of a schoolgirl.

Mahmut Icer, of Bryn Street in Ruabon, appeared at Mold Crown Court on Thursday.

The 43-year-old had previously been convicted by a jury of eight counts including causing or inciting a girl under 16 to engage in sexual activity and penetrative sexual activity with a girl under 16.

In his summary of the case, Judge Rhys Rowlands said that over about 18 months beginning in 2018, Icer had groomed the girl by giving her gifts and money totalling £2,800.

He got the child to send him indecent videos and images of herself, sending images and videos of himself performing sex acts to her in return.

During the period of the offending, he had sex with the girl in Wrexham - then "repeatedly" travelled into England where he would meet her in a hotel for sex.

When the girl told him she wanted it to stop, he threatened to show others the images she'd sent to him.

Ffion Tomos, prosecuting, read a victim impact statement from the girl.

Ms Tomos read: "She describes how she hates herself for letting it happen - she felt trapped and manipulated.

"It has affected negatively on her work at school and her studies. She talks about how this defendant took her innocence and provided her with a false perception of what love is and what a relationship should be."

Ms Tomos also read from a statement provided by the girl's mother, in which she said: "She describes how [she] changed and became a different child.

"She lost a lot of weight and seemed very low in confidence.

"Her grades at school have slipped and her mother also confirm the negative effect the court process has had on her, having to relive what she'd gone through."

Simon Rogers, defending, told the court that the defendant came over from Turkey in 2001 and is the father to two children. "This period of imprisonment will be extremely difficult for this defendant, being away from his children," he said. "Perhaps more importantly it will be extremely difficult for them."

Judge Rowlands told Icer: "You were convicted by the jury of eight counts which involved the serious sexual abuse of a girl. "Having read the pre-sentence report and observed you during the trial, I see absolutely no evidence of remorse on your part, or indeed any understanding of just how wrong your behaviour was.

"Quite the opposite - in as much as you continued to blame the victim, suggesting you were misled by her.

"You cultivated her friendship and gave her both gifts and money with a view to your being able to have a sexual relationship with her.

"This was completely wrong and it went as far as you having sexual intercourse with her, this happening on more than one occasion with your repeatedly travelling and booking hotel rooms in order to do so.

"It was all sordid and I have no doubt you knew full well what you were doing was illegal.

"Your behaviour affected the victim's school work, caused her to feel depressed and lose confidence."

Judge Rowlands sentenced on the two 'lead offences' - those being the first and last time Icer had sex with the victim - to reflect his overall culpability.

He imposed a five year custodial sentence in respect of the first and a seven-and-a-half year sentence in respect of the second, to run concurrently.

That makes a total jail term of seven-and-a-half years.

No separate penalty was imposed in respect of the other six counts.

Icer must register as a sex offender indefinitely and has been made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order.

He was also made the subject of a restraining order prohibiting him from contacting the victim for five years and was placed on a barring list preventing him from working with children and vulnerable adults.

Description

A SEX offender found guilty of historic abuse involving five young girls in Ayr has been jailed.

Brian McCulloch was given an extended custodial sentence after being convicted by a jury in December of 11 charges of historic child sexual abuse, dating from 2005 to 2022.

The 50-year-old, previously of Catrine, had denied the allegations, with jury members hearing the abuse left one victim suffering nightmares while another told of being assaulted in Ayr’s former Odeon cinema while watching a Harry Potter film. 

The court listened to recorded police interviews with young females, with cross-examination completed during a pre-recorded commission hearing held remotely in the same court. 

One of the women gave evidence in person, stating “that’s incorrect”, "again that's incorrect" and "that's a lie" when McCulloch's denials were put to her. 

One girl told police McCulloch assaulted her on numerous occasions into her early teens, saying: "He sexually abused me, obviously I couldn't consent."

She added: "I didn't understand."

The witness claimed that McCulloch said if she told her family "they wouldn't believe you, not love you anymore and think you're dirty", adding, "so I just never told anyone".

A second teenage witness told police she had been indecently assaulted while she was of primary school age.

She said: "He would stick his hand on my bum then rub it, and just be a weirdo."

"It just didn't feel right," she added. "One time I asked 'what are you doing' and he said 'it doesn't matter'."

The jury heard a recorded interview during which the youngest complainer told police: "I didn't like him. He touched my full body and I didn't like it."

Another complainer told officers: "I remember him running his hands up and down my body, His hands were rough like sandpaper, he was a bit rough, he wasn't gentle. It was as if he was feeling me. I wish he wasn't alive."

Taking the stand in his defence McCulloch branded the accusations "rubbish".

He said: "I cannot think of one reason why the allegations have been made. The allegations have really affected my life."

He was found guilty of all charges when verdicts were returned late last year following a trial at Ayr Sheriff Court.

When he returned to court last week defence solicitor Tony Currie said: "Your lordship will remember this case well, the matter proceeded to trial and he was convicted of all charges.

"At 50-years-old he is appreciative absolutely of the position he finds himself in.

"I always find the [social work] reporting process in these cases can be difficult, on the one hand he went to trial and maintains his innocence, and he is equally accepting of the verdict of the jury. The consequence is he is a man who is prepared to accept the inevitable.

"He is a man with no previous convictions and no cases outstanding. Throughout his adult life he has been in full time employment.

"The report speaks of anger, frustration and other emotions attributed and presentation in the reporting process.

"Sadly as is all too common in these cases, as a direct consequence of the verdict then [press] reporting of the verdict he has been subject to abuse and violent threats since the last calling of the case.

"He will comply with any disposal considered in the circumstances and has been subject to [sex offender] notification requirements since the verdict."

Sheriff Desmond Leslie said: "This was a trial of some duration and you will appreciate the jury took a significant period of time to consider their verdict - the only distinction on the charges was whether the verdict was unanimous or by majority.

"You fully appreciate the serious nature of these offences and what the disposal is likely to be and inevitably that will be custodial.

"You will be sentenced to a period of four years, three years in custody and one additional year in the community in an extended sentence."

The sheriff granted non-harassment orders forbidding any contact with the victims for five years.

McCulloch was told he would remain on the sex offenders register for an indefinite period before being handcuffed and led down to custody.

Description

A sex offender drunkenly groped a schoolgirl after 'targeting' her on the back seat of a bus, a court was told.

Gary Ashley Wynn ignored other empty seats after getting on the bus in County Durham and made his way to the rear of the vehicle where the girl was with a friend going home from school at 4.10pm on December 11.

Durham Crown Court was told the 49-year-old defendant, who has previous sexual offences on his record, deliberately sat close to the girl, between her and her friend.

Paul Cleasby, prosecuting, said Wynn engaged the girl in conversation as he drank from a can of beer, before placing his hand on the inside of her right thigh.

The incident was captured on the in-vehicle CCTV, showing the defendant leaning towards the girl with his hand moving in her direction.

Mr Cleasby said the girl, who was agitated and distressed, moved towards the front of the bus with her friend, who alerted the driver to what had happened.

The driver contacted the police, while the defendant got off the bus at the next stop, before urinating in public outside.

He was arrested and when interviewed told officers he had been drinking and could not recall touching the girl, claiming he did not think he had done so.

But, at a plea hearing at the court, last month, Wynn, 49, of no fixed address, admitted a charge of sexual assault.

A victim statement was read to the court in which the girl said she was initially angry, then unhappy when "the man" touched her.

She was worried she might have to give evidence at a trial but was relieved to be told the defendant had pleaded guilty.

But she said she had been worried about possibly seeing him in public.

It led to her initially becoming wary of men and even male teachers at school.

She has since refused to get on a bus alone.

The girl added that as time has gone on she has felt a little more assured, knowing the defendant was in custody.

She also thanked people who assisted her at the time, including her friend and the bus driver, who took immediate action.

The court was told the defendant has previous convictions for sexual assault on his record, most recently receiving a 16-month sentence in April 2023, for a similar incident involving a vulnerable female with learning difficulties, also on a bus.

He was also made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) after an offence of exposure, in 2021.

Jonny Walker, for Wynn, told the court there was little mitigation he could put forward on the defendant's behalf, other than the fact he "quite properly" admitted the charge at the plea hearing, enabling the victim to be informed to offer reassurance there would not be a trial.

"He would wish, through me, to apologise.

"He's genuinely apologetic for his actions and has insight into his offending.

"He recognises what he did was extremely wrong.

"It was clearly degrading and humiliating to the victim."

Mr Walker said while in custody the defendant has taken steps to engage with the drug and alcohol services as well as the education team and others who can assist him before he regains his liberty.

"He is actively taking steps to remedy those poor decision-making incidents which have troubled him over the last few years."

Judge Advocate Tom Mitchell told Wynn: "You are 49 with 16 convictions for 26 offences, some of which are of great relevance, including several for breaching SHPOs, and one conviction for knife possession.

"I have read the assessment of the Probation Service.

"It makes difficult reading.

"This was predatory behaviour, targeting a child in public, while you were intoxicated, all aggravating features of the case.

"I agree with the author of the report that you pose a high risk of causing serious harm to the public, children and particularly lone children."

Judge Mitchell said it was fortunate that the victim received prompt assistance, including from her friend and the bus driver.

"You put her in a dreadful position by your actions that day.

"What you did was degrading and humiliating on someone who was particularly vulnerable due to her circumstances, aggravated by the fact you were drunk and by your previous convictions."

Imposing an 18-month prison sentence, the judge said there was "no question" of it being suspended, given the defendant's actions and record.

He told Wynn: "I do consider you to be a real risk and I do hope in the future that risk can be managed."

The judge extended the defendant's SHPO to ten years, while for the same period he will also be subject of notification requirements as a sex offender.

Description

A PROLIFIC registered child sex offender has been locked up once again for breaching the terms of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) just a matter of weeks after he was released from prison.

Nathan Parker, of HMP Preston, received a five-year custodial sentence in March 2020 for similar offending before being recalled for breaching his SHPO, Preston Crown Court heard.

His Honour Judge Richard Gioserano said the 31-year-old was jailed until September 23, 2024, before eventually being released.

However, within weeks, the court heard Parker had breached the terms of his SHPO and notification requirements once again.

Prosecuting the case, Kiera Shaw said the defendant told his offender manager, DC Chadwick, he was of no fixed abode and that he didn't have any mobile phone in his possession on September 25 last year.

Ms Shaw said the defendant then asked the officer if he could visit his mother’s address on Ennerdale, Dalton, between October 2 and October 6, which was agreed, as long as it wasn’t for a long-term basis.

Nevertheless, the defendant was seen living at the Dalton address permanently after a member of the public reported matters to the police on November 1, the court heard.

As a result, DC Chadwick and another officer attended the address where they witnessed Parker using a mobile phone whilst sat on the sofa.

DC Chadwick described Parker as having a ‘look of terror and panic’ on his face when he saw them.

Ms Shaw said officers obtained entry to the property and asked the defendant where the mobile phone was to which the defendant replied: ‘What phone?’

The court was told the defendant then threw a black mobile phone out of the window.

Ms Shaw said: “When officers arrested the defendant, he said ‘oh no, not again’ before collapsing on the floor and curling up into a foetal position.”

Examination of the electronic device revealed Parker had in his possession one prohibited image of a child, three category A indecent images of children and a further three category C images.

The court heard he had eight previous convictions for 29 offences.

In mitigation, Claire Larton said: “His guilty plea at the first opportunity is his best form of mitigation.

“He is someone who clearly finds it difficult to cope in the community. He is very stressed, anxious and panicky at times.

“He has struggled with accommodation and there is clearly a lack of structure there. He is now getting some support in custody and tells me prison is the best place for him at the moment.

“He is working in custody and is involved in letter writing for other prisoners on his wing.

“He wishes to explore the possibility of being diagnosed with autism in order to support him in the future.”

Judge Gioserano imposed a 32-month prison sentence for the six offences.

Before determining the length of jail term, he told the defendant: “Nothing that has been done with you so far has put a stop to this.

“Many will think I should step away from the guidelines and impose a sentence that is longer than the last time, but that is not the way sentencing operates.

“There will come a time when the judge does not feel the need to apply the sentencing guidelines.”

Parker is still subject to an indefinite SHPO and notification requirements.

Description

A convicted Maidstone sex offender has been jailed for multiple breaches of an order designed to curb his behaviour.

Owen Payne had previously received a suspended prison sentence for attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and was also made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) that required him to notify police of any internet-enabled devices he had access to.

In September 2024 during a routine check of his home in Cornwallis Avenue, patrols seized three mobile phones, a tablet, a gaming device and a computer. None of the devices nor any of Payne’s 16 online aliases had been reported to police under the terms of his SHPO.

Further searches of the address led to the seizure of nine bladed weapons including knives and swords.

Payne, 24, was subsequently charged with breaching a SHPO, failing to comply with notification requirements and multiple counts of possessing an illegal weapon in a private place. He pleaded guilty to all offences and was sentenced to two years and eight months’ imprisonment at Maidstone Crown Court on Tuesday 4 February 2025.