Latest Offenders

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A former Scout Leader from Warrington has been jailed after he was found guilty of a string of child sex charges.

Aaron Ashbrook was found guilty of eight offences - which include indecent assault on a boy under 14 and making indecent images of children - following a 4-day trial at Liverpool Crown Court which concluded on Friday 31 July.

The 59-year-old, who used to run a Scouts group in Warrington, returned to the court for sentencing today, Thursday 27 August, where he was jailed for 12 years.

The court heard how Ashbrook began abusing the victim in 1994 - when the victim was just 8 years old - and continued over a two-year period.

The victim bravely reported the abuse to Cheshire Police in May 2023, and an investigation was launched.

Officers arrested Ashbrook at his home on Windermere Avenue, Warrington.

Several electronic devices were seized at the address. Forensic examination of these devices revealed six indecent images and videos of children being sexually exploited, five of which were of category A (the most serious type).

Ashbrook was subsequently charged with the offences.

Sergeant Dani Byng said:

“What Ashbrook did was every parent’s worst nightmare.

“He was trusted to look after the victim, but instead of caring for him, he preyed on the victim’s vulnerability for his own perverse sexual gratification.

“The harm and distress Ashbrook’s actions have caused the victim is immeasurable, and it is a testament to the victim’s strength, bravery, and determination that we have been able bring Ashbrook to justice, 30 years since the offences occurred. I hope that the conclusion of this case will provide him with some closure and allow him to move forward.

“Sexual assault of children causes terrible distress to all involved, not least the victim themselves, and I urge anyone who has been the victim of a sexual assault – no matter how long ago the incident took place – to come forward and report it.

“We treat all reports of sexual offences extremely seriously, with the wishes and needs of the victim as our main priority, and any allegations will be thoroughly investigated.”

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Repeat Wrexham sex offender jailed again after undeclared phone found with 108 child abuse images

Andrew Williamson, 45, of Coopers Close, Wrexham, has been jailed for 28 months after admitting three offences of making indecent images of children and one breach of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

He appeared for sentence at Caernarfon Crown Court on Thursday.

Williamson is a registered sex offender with a long history of making indecent images and failing to comply with court orders. His SHPO requires him to register any internet-enabled device with police.

He was released in April 2026 after a two-year sentence imposed in January 2025 for making indecent images. He obtained a basic mobile phone, then asked probation if he could get a Samsung Galaxy. That request was refused.

Suspicion was raised when he contacted probation from a different number. That number belonged to a new phone. Police attended his home in June, seized the device and arrested him after finding pornographic searches. Analysis confirmed 108 indecent images of children: 47 category A (the most serious), 11 category B and 50 category C. The children shown were predominantly girls aged 8 to 12.

Prosecutor Joseph Lees said Williamson has seven previous convictions for 42 offences, 32 of them for making indecent images.

Alun Williams, defending, said:

“It's accepted that clearly the custody threshold has been crossed; it's a case of how long he gets.

“He's never been in a relationship and describes himself as lonely. He presents as a fairly sad individual.

“He now accepts he has a problem with this horrible interest in children and says he would like some help.

“His offending history is exclusively offences of this type, apart from two convictions of excess alcohol.”

Williamson believed alcohol had:

“contributed to this type of offending.” Williams added: “We've effectively got a vicious cycle of offending. Custody is inevitable; there's clearly no realistic prospect of rehabilitation.”

Judge Nicola Jones told him: “We've said this to you before; these offences involve real children who are being raped and tortured in the most appalling ways. It is not a victimless crime.”

She imposed an overall custodial term of 28 months.

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A 31-year-old man has been jailed after grooming and sexually assaulting a teenage girl.

Callum Jaxon, of no fixed abode but of the Merseyside area, appeared for sentencing at Caernarfon Crown Court today, Thursday 27 August, after previously admitting six offences.

They included two counts of sexual assault, engaging in sexual communication with a child, sending a message to arrange to engage in sexual activity with a child, meeting a girl following grooming and engaging in sexual activity with a girl.

The offences against the 15-year-old victim took place in Holyhead between March and April last year.

Jaxon met the girl after speaking to her online, and on occasions, would collect her from school in his car.

He regularly discussed having sex with her and used sexualised language with her, despite knowing her age and vulnerability.

On one occasion when they met, he began intensely kissing her chest without her consent. Despite attempting to push him away, he did it again, leaving a bruise on her skin. Moments later, he engaged in sexual activity with the victim without her consent.

Days later, he asked the victim to remove all messages between them off her phone, warning he may get into trouble if she did not.

Jaxon was jailed for six years and a lifetime restraining order was put in place to protect the victim.

He must also register as a sex offender for life and was also made the subject of a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Leslie Ellis said:

“Jaxon groomed the victim and despite knowing her age and vulnerability, he continued to meet her to pursue her for his own sexual gratification.

“The victim was courageous in coming forward to give her account, which has resulted in Jaxon’s sentence today.

“We encourage all victims of sexual assault to come forward with the confidence that they will be heard and supported.

"Violence against women and girls will not be tolerated and remains a foremost priority for North Wales Police. We will continue to pursue those responsible and bring them to justice."

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A man has been jailed for more than seven years after sexually assaulting and engaging in sexual activity with a child.

Jamie Meakin, of Crewe, was handed a sentence of seven years and nine months on Monday 24 August 2026 at Chester Crown Court.

The 36-year-old had pleaded guilty to assaulting a girl by penetration and five counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl.

In January 2025, officers received reports that Meakin had been engaging in sexual activity with a child in the Crewe area.

The offences had occurred over many years, starting when the girl was 12 years old.

Meakin was subsequently arrested in relation to the offences and following a thorough investigation was charged and remanded in custody.

On top of his custodial sentence, Meakin is required to sign the Sex Offender Register indefinitely and is also subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Meakin also pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine after a quantity of cocaine worth approximately £760 was seized during a search of an address where he was staying.

DC Sallis said:

“Meakin was well aware of how old this child was, and he still chose to act on his perverse sexual desires by taking advantage of a young, vulnerable individual.

“He had no choice but to plead guilty to the offences, and the substantial custodial sentence handed to him reflects the severity of these crimes.

“We hope the conclusion of this case will now allow the victim to find some closure.”

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An offender from Canterbury has been sentenced to prison for the sexual abuse of two children.

Investigators were made aware that indecent images of children had been uploaded to the internet by an account that was associated to Luke Johnson. On Monday 13 October 2025, a warrant was conducted at a proetry in Canterbury.

Four mobile phones were seized from the house as well as a memory card. Johnson was not present but was arrested later the same day and released on bail whilst an investigation was launched.

Following a forensic review of the seized property, detectives found over 25 incident images and videos of children. Upon recovering the images, it became apparent that Johnson had been abusing the young victims, alongside creating images of them.

Johnson was further arrested for the offence of taking indecent images of children and sexual assault on 23 March 2026. He was later charged with 4 offences and remanded in custody until his sentencing.

He pled guilty to the charges and on Friday 21 August 2026, Johnson, 36, of Old Park Avenue, was sentenced to 6 years in prison. He will also be subject to a period of 4 years on licenced supervision, as well as a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the rest of his life.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Amber Pollitt said:

‘The indecent images recovered from Luke Johnson’s devices revealed the extent of the abuse he inflicted, however the swift identification of the victims by my team meant that safeguarding was put in place at the earliest opportunity.

‘Johnson showed no remorse for his actions throughout the entire court process, and thanks to the families’ support and the dedication of the investigating team, he has been brought to justice.’

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A convicted sex offender has been jailed after breaching a strict court order by meeting up with children.

Jason Baker, 36, flouted a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) by contacting two 15-year-old girls.

The order was imposed in 2017 when he was given a four-year jail sentence for a sexual offence on a girl under 13.

He breached the notification requirements of the order and received a two-year community order in June 2025.

However, in September that year, he also met up with the two girls near to where they lived in Soham on multiple occasions and offered them drugs.

Police were informed and Baker, of no fixed address, was arrested.

He was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison at Cambridge Crown Court on Tuesday (25 August) after admitting three counts of breaching a SHPO, two of supplying class A drugs and one of making an indecent image of a child.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Paul Evans, said:

“Baker is a dangerous and predatory individual and is clearly a risk to young girls.

“I would like to thank the victims for their bravery and courage in coming forward in this case. A thank you must also go to officers from the child sexual exploitation hub, who played a vital role in supporting the victims.

“Sexual harm prevention orders and notification requirements are there to manage risk and safeguard the public. Breaching them is a serious offence, and we will take robust action against anyone who fails to comply.

“I would encourage anyone who has concerns about someone’s behaviour, particularly where children may be at risk, to report it to us so we can take action.”

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Work by specialist officers have ensured a man is now behind bars for raping a woman in Southend.

Detectives from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate identified Abdul Omer through carrying out enquiries with local agencies and studying CCTV following the attack in Great Eastern Avenue.

A woman in her 50s reported being assaulted by a man she didn’t know on the evening of 23 August last year.

The woman told officers her attacker had said his name was ‘Akky’. And it was through enquiries in the Southend area that officers established ‘Akky’ was Omer.

Through our investigation detectives established the thirty-one year-old was living at an address in Chelmsford.

They then alerted the Neighbourhood Policing Team and, after he was spotted by the Chelmsford City Council CCTV team, they arrested him the following day.

Omer, of St Fabians Drive, Chelmsford, was then charged with rape. He admitted the offence at Basildon Crown Court on 5 January 2026.

At the same court today (Wednesday 26 August) he was sentenced to 12 years in prison with a fure

Detective Chief Inspector Greg Wood, who led the investigation, said:

“I want to praise the bravery shown by the woman in this case. She has shown tremendous courage in reporting what had happened and trusting us to get her justice.

“Abdul Omer was identified through excellent detective work – speaking to people and following lines of enquiry – and ultimately he was left with no option but to admit what he had done.

“His arrest highlights the excellent teamwork across different parts of Essex Police, and the fantastic partnership work the local authority.

“Tackling violence against women and girls is a key priority for Essex Police and we will continue to work to support victims and bring those responsible to justice.”

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Mark Thornton, 60, of Lambley Avenue, Tynemouth, avoided an immediate prison sentence after admitting further breaches of the court orders imposed following child-sex offences.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Thornton was jailed in 2016, made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and required to comply with sex offender notification rules after he was caught by paedophile hunters using a decoy profile while trying to meet a child for sexual activity. The same group later caught him a second time. He has ten previous convictions, including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and attempting to meet a child for sexual activity. He has also breached the sexual harm prevention order on four earlier occasions.

On 8 May this year, risk management officers found Facebook, TikTok, Telegram and X on his phone, in breach of the order. On Facebook and TikTok he was using aliases that had not been registered with police, a further breach. Eight days later, police found a tablet computer and a bank card that he had also failed to register as required.

Thornton pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching the sexual harm prevention order and one count of breaching his notification requirements. Judge Michael Robinson said Thornton became irritated when spoken to by probation and complained he was viewed as “once a sex offender always a sex offender”. The judge added that Thornton is assessed as posing a high risk of serious harm to children.

Antonia Adie, defending, said Thornton had forgotten about the tablet and failed to register the bank card, but had registered the account. She said: “It’s not persistent or serious in respect of him going out and buying the devices. There’s no suggestion he committed the substantive offences he did nine or ten years ago.” She added that his last conviction was in 2020 and that he has shown “he is capable of complying with the order and being managed in the community and staying out of trouble”. That period, she said, coincided with him meeting his now 81-year-old civil partner, who is terminally ill.

Judge Robinson said he had intended to send Thornton to prison, but instead imposed 18 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, with programme requirements and £150 costs after hearing about the partner’s condition. He told Thornton: “It’s an act of mercy on my part which I do not expect to be thrown back in my face. Stay away from chatrooms and the like, comply with the restrictions and stay out of trouble.”

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A man who manipulated and raped a teenage girl has been jailed for eight years.

Kato Tsang, 45-years-old, of Bridge Street in Brigg, North Lincolnshire, who identifies himself as Chinese, was found guilty of raping a girl under 16-years-old following a seven-day trial that concluded at Grimsby Crown Court on Tuesday, 28 July 2026.

He was subsequently bailed by the courts to await sentencing which took place yesterday (Tuesday, 25 August 2026), where he was also handed a lifelong Restraining Order and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order valid for 20 years.

An investigation was launched by our Protecting Vulnerable People Unit in May 2022, after a teenager came forward disclosing she had been raped by a man she knew, naming him as Kato Tsang.

Officers were immediately deployed to arrest Tsang and transported him to custody where he was interviewed.

When questioned, Tsang offered a pre-prepared statement claiming he was not responsible and had not committed the offence. After this, he answered no comment to the rest of the questions asked.

Tsang was subsequently conditionally bailed pending further investigation whilst detectives got to work gathering evidence and obtaining a victim impact statement from the teenager.

Following a lengthy and complex investigation, he was then charged in September 2025 with rape of a girl under 16-years-old.

Leading the investigation was Detective Constable Becky McInnis from our Child Sexual Exploitation Team, who said:

“Our investigation uncovered how Tsang would manipulate and ploy the teenager with alcohol and behave in an over-familiar manner towards her, with CCTV enquiries from the day of the incident showing Tsang touching her numerous times and putting his arm around her, invading her personal space.

“He then offered to take her home but not before he took her to a secluded location where he raped her.

“It took a lot of courage for the teenager to tell someone she trusted what had happened to her, before then taking that next brave step and reporting it to the police with the support of her parents. For this, I commend her immensely.

“This has been a complex and lengthy investigation with the woman being forced to sit through the gruelling ordeal of a trial to relive what happened to her as a teenager all over again after Tsang’s refusal to admit what he had done and lack of accountability.

“The events of that night will undoubtedly stay with the woman for the rest of her life, and no amount of justice will erase the physical and mental harm Tsang has inflicted, but I hope knowing he is behind bars for a very long time will bring some kind of relief.

“We take all reports of rape and other sexual offences extremely seriously and continue to seek justice for those who have suffered at the hands of predators like Tsang.”

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Chester man jailed for historic indecent assault of teenage girl

David Evans, 50, of Wrexham Road, Eccleston, Chester, has been jailed for three years after admitting a historic indecent assault on a teenage girl.

Evans was sentenced at Mold Crown Court on Tuesday. He had previously pleaded guilty to one count of indecent assault.

Prosecutor Laura Knightly said Evans collected the girl in his vehicle in Flintshire and drove her to a layby, where he suggested she perform a sex act on him. She did so.

His guilty plea was accepted on an agreed basis. Evans admitted driving the girl to the layby and engaging in a sexual act with her, but said the act was “consensual” and did not involve “force or coercion.” He also accepted he “was aware she was underage at the time.”

In a victim statement, the girl said she came forward after coming to terms with how “wrong” the act had been. After carrying the “weight of this in silence,” she contacted police “because the truth matters.”

“I hope he realises the impact of his actions,” she said.

Defending, Siôn ap Mihangel pointed to a Probation Service pre-sentence report and said guilty pleas in cases of this kind are unusual because of the stigma involved.

“This court will know that it is unusual that a defendant pleads guilty to crimes of this nature — ordinarily because of the stigma attached, defendants feel a jury should decide and that involves the individual having to relive the incident in court in front of the public,” he said. “That’s not happened in this case; he had the good sense to plead guilty.”

Mr ap Mihangel said Evans had significant mental health difficulties in his youth and was not diagnosed with borderline personality disorder until he was 34. Those difficulties were “not an excuse,” he said, but the court should take them into account. He argued a suspended sentence could be considered and said probation had found a community disposal could be an option.

“This is an historical offence,” he added, “going back some time. He is registered with his GP and has re-engaged with mental health services.”

Mr Recorder John Philpotts imposed three years’ imprisonment after credit for the guilty plea. He refused to suspend the term.

“I am afraid in my judgement, this offence is simply too serious to be suspended,” he said. “It gives the court no pleasure, but that must be served immediately. One factor I have to bear in mind is the deterrence to others.”

Evans must also register as a sex offender.

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“I am relieved that finally I have been strong enough to speak out, and I have been believed.”

An abuser who raped and assaulted a woman leaving her feeling “fearful and worthless” has been jailed for 17 years.

Mark Stephenson repeatedly raped the woman over several years when he was heavily under the influence of drink and drugs.

The 36-year-old also tried to control the woman’s life by restricting her access to friends, monitoring her phone and social media use, abused her both physically and verbally, damaged her house, and monitored what she could say to her family.

Stephenson, formerly of Blackhall Colliery, was arrested after the woman bravely told police what had happened.

He was charged with a number of offences, including rape and engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour, which he denied.

However, following an eight-day trial, a jury found him guilty of two counts of rape, one of engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour, and child neglect.

He also admitted harassment by breaching a restraining order after sending the woman text messages and phone calls, which was in breach of a restraining order that had been previously imposed to prevent him from contacting her.

Stephenson appeared at Durham Crown Court on Monday, August 10, where he was jailed for 17 years and handed a restraining order and Sexual Harm Prevention Order, both for 15 years.

In a victim impact statement which was read out in court, the woman said she was relieved she had spoken out and been believed.

“Speaking out about what has happened to me has been one of the hardest things I have ever had to do,” she said.

“I am now starting the long process of finding myself again, finding who I am, finding what I want for me, and rebuilding my life. Mark has taken everything from me – I will never be the same person because of him. My life has changed forever.

“He made me feel worthless, and made me feel like he was the only person who would ever want me or love me. I felt trapped, that was my life, and there was no other way.

“The violence and sexual violence that I experienced have left emotional scars that I will never be able to repair. I have experienced a life of abuse – I am scared to move on, scared to create a new life, and scared to trust someone new.”

Investigative Officer Rebecca Carey, from Durham Constabulary’s East Safeguarding Team, led the investigation. She said:

“First and foremost, I want to commend the woman for having the bravery to come forward and disclose what had been happening to police.

“It takes a great deal of courage to speak out against an abuser. But by standing up to Stephenson and having her voice heard, she has helped to take a dangerous and violent man off the streets, who poses a clear risk to women and girls.

“I hope that she is able to take some form of closure from this outcome and is able to move forward with rebuilding her life.”

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Jordan Richards, a 35-year-old from Kidderminster, was jailed for 21 years after pleading guilty mid-trial to 36 non-recent child sex offences against the same child.

Richards originally pleaded not guilty at Swansea Crown Court. The court started to hear about the abuse, including 31 counts of rape and the production of over 600 indecent images of the survivor, that occurred in the Ammanford area between 2012 and 2016. He changed his plea on the second day of the trial and admitted his guilt for every offence.

Richards appeared for sentencing in Swansea Crown Court on Friday, 21st August 2026. The total offences included:

• 3x Assault by penetration of a female aged 15 or 16 years old.
• 10x Oral Rape of a female aged 15 years old.
• 10x Oral Rape of a female aged 16 years old.
• 10x Rape of a female aged 17 years old.
• 1x Vaginal Rape of a female aged 16 or 17 years old.
• 1x Engage in sexual activity in the presence of a child aged 13 to 15 years old.
• Producing 600+ Indecent Images of Children

The judge regarded Richards offending as ‘cruel and isolating’. He described the way that the indecent images taken underlined the pleasure Richards took in ‘his lustful and filthy attitude towards the survivor’. He recognised the ‘profound and lasting effect it’s had on them and their family’ before passing his sentence.

Richards was given an extended custodial sentence of 25 years, consisting of 21-year imprisonment and an extension period of 4 years. He will also have an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, an indefinite restraining order against the survivor of his abuse and must make notifications under the Sexual Offenders Act for life.

Detective Sergeant Carl Pocock, of Dyfed-Powys Police, said:

“I’d like to take the opportunity to highlight the bravery of the survivor of this abuse. Richards subjected them to abhorrent sexual abuse through fear and control. It takes immense courage to overcome that and come forward to give evidence. It’s thanks to their resilience through the investigation that Jordan Richards will spend a significant amount of time in prison. I truly hope that this result gives them a sense of justice and peace and enables them to move forward with their life.

“I’d also like to thank the investigating officer, DC Morgan, and all specialist staff at our Digital Forensic Unit. Their efforts in securing and presenting the key evidence in this case undoubtedly led to the eventual guilty plea.

“I hope this conviction encourages other survivors, who have yet to come forward, that justice can be served despite the time that may have passed. Our specialist officers will work alongside Independent Sexual violence advisors from New Pathways to compassionately support you through the process."

The survivor of the case welcomed the sentencing of Richards and wished to share the following:

“I would like to say that I am pleased with the outcome of today’s sentencing. The investigation has been long and has without doubt has been very heavy on myself. I want to thank Dyfed-Powys Police for all the time, dedication and support they have provided me throughout the process and importantly making me feel safe.

"I would also like to give extra thanks and show my appreciation to Detective Constable Phil Morgan who has been my case worker and has shown determination and hard work throughout, along with Detective Sergeant Carl Pocock who has also worked so hard in securing today’s result.

"I also want to say a special thank you to New Pathways who have been there every step of the way and continue to support me afterwards.

"This case hasn’t been easy at all but I would encourage people that are yet to come forward to report it as you will be listened to and supported.

"We are not victims, we are survivors.”

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An ‘abominable’ individual has been sentenced to nine years behind bars for arranging the commission of the rape of a child, arranging the commission of oral rape of a child, and being in possession of indecent images of a child, following his appearance at Hull Crown Court on Monday, 24 August 2026.

Daniel O’Flynn, 37-years-old, of Great Union Street in Hull, pleaded guilty to all the offences in February 2026 and remained on remand until he was sentenced this week.

Following his nine-year sentence, O’Flynn will also be required to remain in custody for a further three years due to being deemed a dangerous offender. He will be on the Sex Offenders Register for life and has been handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Our Police Online Investigation Team (POLIT) first launched an investigation in November 2025 working alongside colleagues from the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit, where O’Flynn was flagged as sending multiple extreme pornographic and perverse messages via an unregulated porn site.

He would send hundreds of sexually explicit messages to a decoy profile, who he believed to be a registered sex offender with a one-year-old child whom they were offering to O’Flynn to act upon his deviancies.

The online conversations with the decoy continued over the course of a week, where O’Flynn arranged to meet the decoy for the purpose of abusing their child. O’Flynn would also often request indecent images and would send photos and videos whilst he performed sexual acts on himself. At the point where O’Flynn had arranged to meet the decoy, he was subsequently arrested by officers at Hull Paragon Train Station a few days after he first started up the conversation with the decoy.

O’Flynn was asked to hand over his phone upon his arrest, of which he refused and would not give officers his pin number saying he didn’t know it. This was a breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which was already in place in connection with a separate incident.

The analysis of this mobile phone linked O’Flynn to the offences and revealed that he was also in possession of indecent images of children.

During interview, O’Flynn claimed that he was the one trying to catch paedophiles, and that anything on his phone was only there to catch them. He stated some of the images and videos of himself were AI generated and that he didn’t do any of it despite the staggering amount of evidence of the videos being recovered from other devices found in his room.

Detective Constable Amy Gee leading the investigation from our Police Online Investigation Department said:

“O’Flynn is an abominable individual whose online presence showed utterly vile language, behaviour, photos, and videos.

“He specifically sought out who he believed to be a registered sex offender who was offering their child for O’Flynn to abuse all for his own atrocious sexual intentions.

“Whilst this incident involved a decoy, I hope the sentencing will provide a sense of justice, knowing a sexual predator like O’Flynn is off our streets.

“This result has seen an extremely dangerous man put behind bars. O’Flynn’s depraved actions have no place in our society, and we welcome the sentence and the orders that have been imposed on him to ensure close monitoring once he is released, and to prevent any further offending in the future.”

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A ‘pervert’ who attempted to engage in sexual activity and exploit who he thought was a 12-year-old girl, but was in fact a decoy, has been sentenced to six years in prison, given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely following his appearance at Hull Crown Court last week (Friday, 21 August 2026).

Mohammed Ahmed, 27-years-old, of Park Grove in Hull was found guilty following a week-long trial at Hull Crown Court that concluded on Friday, 10 July 2026 to attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child and attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

Detectives from our Police Online Investigation Team (POLIT) received a referral from colleagues in the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit to state that communication had commenced between Ahmed and who he believed to be a12-year-old girl, but was in fact a decoy, in June 2024.

Ahmed was sending sexual messages to the decoy profile, asking her to be his girlfriend and telling her that when they meet, he will take her somewhere private in his car.

Ahmed was subsequently arrested at his home address in July 2024 on suspicion of engaging in sexual communications with a child, and several mobile phones were seized, including the mobile phones used to engage with the decoy, to be forensically examined.

Detective Constable Sam Harrington, leading the investigation from POLIT said:

“Ahmed is a perverted individual, and a sexual predator, and I’m pleased he is now behind bars and unable to continue with his attempts to target vulnerable people.

“Whilst this investigation involved a decoy child, I hope the sentence sends a clear message to anyone attempting to commit these types of offences, that it is never acceptable to prey on the vulnerable and we will bring you to justice for your crimes.”

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Clitheroe sex offender jailed after indecent images found on laptop

Richard De’Andrade, 56, of Duck Street, Clitheroe, has been jailed after police found indecent images of children on a laptop seized during monitoring of a sexual harm prevention order.

De’Andrade was already subject to that order after a 2016 suspended sentence at Leeds Crown Court for making indecent images.

On 19 February last year, officers attended his home and seized a laptop. Forensic examination found one category A image, one category B image and 23 category C images of children.

Prosecuting at Preston Crown Court, Paul Brookwell said the images were in thumbnail form, which meant De’Andrade had previously viewed them in full. Police also recovered a USB stick concealed under a tray that had not been made available for inspection, breaching the existing order. Analysis of the USB found no offending material.

De’Andrade admitted the offences. Defending, Bob Elias offered little mitigation, describing the offences as “unpleasant,” and asked the court to consider the defendant’s ill health and that he is awaiting a heart operation.

Sentencing, Judge Michael Maher said: “You are a person with considerable technical ability and experience in the field of cyber security and computing.

“It may be a relatively small number of images, but people like you create a demand for this filth, so you contribute to the continued harm of the children depicted.”

De’Andrade was sentenced to 16 months in prison. The previous sexual harm prevention order was quashed and replaced with a new 15-year order. He will also be subject to sex offender notification requirements for 15 years. A deprivation order was made for the laptop and USB stick.