Latest Offenders

Description

A man has been jailed for 19 years after pleading guilty to a series of child sexual offences.

Richard Griffiths, 33, from Stafford, admitted four counts of raping a girl under 13, two counts of inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity, taking an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child under 13.

He also pleaded guilty to sexual penetration by a person with a living animal.

Four other charges will lie on file, the court said.

Griffiths was placed on the sex offenders register for life and given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Staffordshire Police said his crimes were reported to the force in November.

Det Sgt Sophie Boden, from the force’s child protection and exploitation team, described Griffiths as "truly a dangerous man" adding that the sentence would protect the community from him.

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A man who raped a teenage girl in a Hove park has been jailed for 11 years.

David Berbers, 21, of Byatt Walk in Richmond upon Thames, attacked his victim – a girl under the age of 16 – in St Ann’s Well Gardens on the evening of Sunday, 25 July, 2021.

He had arranged to meet her after the pair had been communicating on social media.

After suggesting they walk through the park, he raped her before fleeing the scene, leaving her to seek help from members of the public nearby.

She was supported by medical professionals and specialist police officers, while an urgent investigation was launched.

Berbers was identified through his Instagram account and the phone number he used to contact the victim, as well as a detailed description she provided.

Urgent enquiries were carried out and he was arrested in London three days later on 28 July, 2021.

He was subsequently charged with the rape of a girl under 16 in relation to the Hove incident.

Berbers was also charged with two counts of rape and attempted rape as part of separate Metropolitan Police investigations, and possession of extreme pornography.

At Kingston Crown Court on Monday, 4 December, a jury found him guilty of three counts of rape and one count of attempted rape. He pleaded guilty to possession of extreme pornography.

At the same court on Friday (16 February), Berbers was jailed for 11 years and given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

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A PREDATOR has been hauled back to court for offences relating to his obligation to sign the sex offender register.

Harjit Singh was ordered to abide by sex offender registration and notification requirements after being jailed for more than six years back in October 2016.

The attempted rapist who also sexually assaulted other victims, now aged 53 and of Runcorn, appeared before Warrington Magistrates’ Court recently to be sentenced.

This came after he admitted at an earlier hearing to failing to comply with his notification requirements.

Details of the failure to comply were outlined to the court by Michael O’Kane, representing the prosecution, who said that the offence was committed in Runcorn in August last year.

The defendant failed without reasonable excuse to complete his annual registration.

This was mandatory after he was convicted in September 2016 of a sole count of attempted rape and two charges each of sexual assault and failure to surrender to bail.

In July 2016, Singh followed a woman with Down’s Syndrome to her home in Hounslow, London, before attempting to rape her.

After a day out, she boarded a bus in Hounslow, on which the defendant was also a passenger.

When the victim got off the bus, Singh followed her into a block of flats, and while she took the lift, he took the stairs and ambushed her as she opened her front door.

Singh forcefully pushed her inside, forced her into a bedroom and attempted to rape her.

Unable to carry out the attack, he fell asleep, which gave the victim a chance to escape and alert her neighbours to what had happened.

The police were called and Singh was arrested at the scene and charged two days later.

In October 2016, he was sentenced to six years behind bars, on top of a three-month prison sentence in relation to two counts of sexual assault on two women following an incident in April 2015 at Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, London.

Singh had previously pleaded guilty to these offences but failed to appear for sentencing.

For his sex offender register offence, magistrates referenced that this is a serious offence that can only appropriately receive a custodial sentence.

They highlighted that he demonstrated a ‘wilful neglect’.

However, they took his guilty plea into account and concluded that because he was deemed to be a ‘real prospect for rehabilitation’, they could suspend the sentence.

Singh, of Allen Road in Runcorn, was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to pay costs to the Crown Prosecution Service of £120 and a surcharge to fund victim services of £154, with his sex offender register requirements continuing.

Speaking after he was jailed for the attempted rape, DC David Fall, of the Metropolitan Police, said: “I am pleased with the sentence that has been handed down, and even more satisfied that Singh will no longer be on the streets of London, where he clearly poses a risk to the public.

“Singh is a predator who targeted a lone and vulnerable woman in broad daylight, and he displayed a sense of arrogance as he carried out his attack without fear of being caught.

“The victim has been supported throughout the investigation by specialist officers and she has shown an immense level of bravery.

“I would like to place on record the courage she has shown throughout the investigation.”

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She had been at home when he persuaded her to leave in the night and join him in his Jaguar car.

Jonathan Ward, aged 22, had denied the allegation against him throughout an investigation by South Yorkshire Police.

He went on trial for the offence at Sheffield Crown Court, but on the second day of the hearing changed his plea and admitted that he was guilty of sexual activity with a child.

Ward, of no fixed abode, was convicted of sexual activity with a child under 16 (penetration) and was locked up by a judge.

South Yorkshire Police said he had known his victim for over a year. After he took the opportunity to exploit the her, he left her petrified. She then retunred home.

Details of the offence emerged because the victim was brave enough to confide in a member of her family, whyich resulted in the start of a police investigation.

As part of the investigation DNA was recovered from the victim’s clothes and was matched to Ward.

He was sentenced on Tuesday, February 6, when he was sentenced to 10 months in prison, ordered to pay a £228 victim surcharge and placed on the sex offenders’ register for ten years. He was also given a restraining order, meaning he is not allowed contact with the victim for ten years.

Victims of sexual offences are granted anonymity for life.

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Former Coronation Street actress Imogen Boorman has been placed on the sex offenders register after admitting to a series of offences including public indecency and theft of alcohol.

The 52 year old mum-of-three, who played Vanessa Morgan in the popular ITV soap during the 1990s, was arrested last May following a drunken incident at the Picture House pub in Montrose, Scotland, where she resides.

Boorman, who also starred in Hellbound: Hellraiser II, Casualty and Lovejoy, pleaded guilty to seven charges in total and is set to be sentenced in April.

The court heard that Boorman entered the pub around 10pm and stripped naked after simply smiling when asked for her order. She then climbed onto the bar, lay down and began drinking directly from the beer taps.

It was reported that while lying on the bar, she took a man's hands and placed them on her bare chest, sexually assaulting him before spraying his face with a draught juice gun. Boorman then moved to the dining area of the pub where she attempted to pull down the same man's trousers in a sexual manner.

Four police officers were sent to a pub where a drunken woman was causing trouble. Two female officers tried to help her get dressed again. The court heard that when she got to the police station in Dundee, she hurt one of the officers by grabbing her arm, which caused scratches and redness.

Boorman had drunk or spilled alcohol worth 321.86. She admitted stealing alcohol from the bar, behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and public indecency. She also pleaded guilty to charges of assaulting and sexually assaulting the customer and resisting police and assaulting a PC, reports The Mirror.

Boorman's lawyer said she felt very embarrassed and sorry for what she had done. But he said she was now doing better and was being treated for a condition called complex PTSD.

The judge said he would decide what to do about Boorman on April 2. He told Boorman: "I can see you hung your head as that narrative was being read out. No doubt it tortures you to have to appear and listen to what was your behaviour back then. I'm very delighted to hear from your solicitor that you have made significant progress in addressing the alcohol issue that was no doubt behind these extraordinary, bizarre events."

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Christian Krishna Martoglio, aged 25, of Keppel Terrace, Plymouth, has been jailed for nine years and nine months at York Crown Court today (Friday 16 February 2024) for separate rape offences.

Following two investigations by North Yorkshire Police, Martoglio pleaded guilty to the rape of a woman, as well as pleading guilty to two counts of rape, five counts of sexual assault and one of actual bodily harm against a girl under the age of 16.

The rape of the woman happened at the victims North Yorkshire home in 2022 following a social occasion.

At the end of the evening guests were allocated separate rooms, but the victim awoke in the early hours of the morning to find Martoglio raping her.

Following an investigation by North Yorkshire Police, during which Martoglio twice denied the allegations against him, forensic tests proved otherwise.

These resulted him pleading guilty when he appeared at Teesside Crown Court.

Detective Constable Mark Nursey, of Hambleton and Richmond CID, who led this investigation, said: This was a traumatic experience for the victim who was very brave and strong throughout the investigation.

The suspect was interviewed twice and denied the offence on both occasions, but the forensic evidence left him with no option but to plead guilty.

This has at least spared the victim the trauma of re-living her ordeal by having to give evidence in court.

I hope she can now put this very difficult time in her life behind her, knowing that Martoglio is now behind bars.

The additional investigation uncovered that Martoglio took advantage of a vulnerable 15-year-old girl by subjecting her to series of sexual offences, rapes and an assault between January and August 2021, to which he pleaded guilty at York Crown Court in January 2024.

This has had a lasting impact on the victim who continues to have flashbacks relating to the terrible offences committed against her, and for which she has needed counselling to help recover from the trauma.

Detective Constable Abigail Garford, from the Safeguarding Investigation Team at Harrogate, said:

I have immense respect for the victim and for her bravery throughout the investigation.

Her strength and resilience have resulted in Martoglio being convicted of the horrendous crimes he committed against her.

She will also help prevent others becoming victims to him in the future.

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A man who manipulated, blackmail and traumatised a 12-year-old for his own twisted pleasure has been jailed for multiple child sex abuse crimes.

James Michael David Webber, 39, of Hollygarth Lane, Beal, near Selby, was sentenced to 13 years in prison at York Crown Court today (Friday).

He had previously been found guilty of seven offences including blackmail; two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity; three counts of possession of indecent images of children; and possession of extreme pornography.

The court heard how, in May 2020, Webber manipulated and blackmailed a 12-year-old child to send explicit images of herself to him via SnapChat.

He threatened to harm her family as he claimed he could see where she lived as her location was visible through the app.

When the victim refused to send him further images, Webber callously distributed these images to others.

This caused significant harm to the victims mental health and wellbeing, the impact of which she will likely have to deal with for years.

Police praised the childs incredible courage to come forward and contact them.

No remorse

Webber was located from his IP address.

Devices seized from Webber also located 97 Category A pictures the worst kind of indecent images and videos of children; 149 Category B and 144 Category C indecent images of children; and four extreme pornography images and videos.

The court heard how Webber was continuing to create SnapChat accounts just days before his arrest.

He deleted the SnapChat app from his phone as police arrived less than a minute before he was taken into custody for questioning.

DC Jenna Hallewell, the officer in charge of the investigation, said a key component of his conviction was the evidence extracted from Webbers devices by North Yorkshire Polices Digital Forensic Team.

Webber denied the offences, showing no remorse for the twisted and vindictive behaviour against his victim that still impacts on her to this day, she said.

Id like to pay tribute to the victim and her bravery in coming forward which has been incredible. Her courage means that Webber is no longer free to target and victimise children for his own pleasure.

It is important that victims of such crimes come forward to assist police in locating perpetrators to put a stop to online abuse against children.

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A registered Luton sex offender who downloaded indecent images of children and blamed his ‘dead friend’ for committing the crimes has been sent to prison for three and a half years.

Raj Brett, 39, was found guilty of breaching a sexual harm prevention order after he was found to have unauthorised electronic devices and indecent images of children.

Brett had been subject to the order which banned him from owning devices used to access the internet without permission from the police. But he had become increasingly uncooperative and aggressive towards staff from Bedfordshire Police’s Offender Management Unit (OMU) and investigators became concerned he would soon reoffend.

Over six months investigators tried to engage with Brett who had become “completely unresponsive to attempts to contact him”. Police located Brett in Suffolk and he was arrested for an additional breach of his notification order.

During a routine visit in November 2020, Brett, of High Town, Luton, refused them entry, raising suspicions among OMU staff. After obtaining a warrant, officers forced entry into the property and found a laptop and phone. Neither had been declared by Brett.
A forensic examination of the laptop revealed two indecent images of children and evidence that Brett had tried to cover his tracks by using multiple hard drives and software to clear his internet history.

During police questioning, Brett laughed when confronted about the images found and claimed one of the hard drives was left at his home two days ago by a friend. When questioned further about his friend, Brett claimed he had since died.

Brett, who refused to attend the hearing, was jailed for three and a half years at Luton Crown Court yesterday (February 15). He will also remain on the sex offenders register and be subject to a sexual harm prevention order when released.

Investigating officer Deborah Simpson said: “It is clear that Brett has absolutely no regard for the police, nor the court and the measures put in place to prevent his vile reoffending.

“He is a persistent sex offender who consistently sought to operate in the shadows. Brett no doubt would have continued to access indecent content for his own disturbing sexual gratification.

“I would like to thank the court for imposing a custodial sentence, which I hope sends a strong message to those that refuse to adhere to strict orders that aim to keep our community safe.”

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A 66-year-old man from Winchester has been jailed for 15 years for child sex offences.

Following a ten-day trial, Terence Peter Price, of Romsey Road was convicted of 13 counts at Southampton Crown Court on Friday 26 January.

He was sentenced yesterday (Thursday 15 February) and will serve at least ten years behind bars.

Price will also be subject to a restraining order and must serve an extended year on licence upon his eventual release from prison

The 13 offences, for which he has been imprisoned, took place in Hedge End between April 2016 and April 2021.

At the time of the first incident, the victim was just ten years of age.

Price’s crimes came to light when they were first reported to police in June 2021.

Detective Constable Mark Gallagher, of the Criminal Investigation Department said: “It took a lot of courage and bravery for the victim to come forward and make these disclosures to us.

“I have nothing but the greatest admiration for her. She fully supported our investigation and with the strength of the evidence against him Price’s account was rejected by the jury.

“I am so pleased for her that justice has now been served in this case.

“Price abused her for his own sexual gratification, without a moment’s thought for the child and the long-lasting effects his crimes would have on her.

“While I know this result won’t rid her of the memories of what he did to her, I truly hope it allows her to move forward with her life, safe in the knowledge that because of her coming forward he can no longer harm any other children.

“I also hope this sentence will reassure other victims that they will be listened to when reporting similar incidents to us.

“We encourage other victims to come forward and speak to us. We take allegations of this nature extremely seriously and work hard to bring offenders to justice.

“This should also be a very clear message to other offenders out there that we will always work tirelessly to ensure you are brought to justice.

“I would also like to thank everyone who assisted in getting this conviction, including the jury who ensured a dangerous offender is no longer free to harm anyone else.”

Description

A predatory offender who targeted a sleeping woman on the London underground has been jailed. The defendant led the victim-survivor off a tube before sexually assaulting her on a street in West Ham.

The sentence comes as the Met reaffirms its commitment to tackling violence against women and girls in the capital and bringing predatory offenders to justice.

Salman Yousaf, 43 (10.03.80), of Woodgrange Road, E7, has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years, after a week-long trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court found he was guilty of sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault.

On 29 April 2023 the woman was alone in the early hours on the London Underground after a night out with friends. Yousaf found her asleep in an empty carriage and sexually assaulted her in nearby Durban Road, E15.

The victim-survivor of this ordeal has pleaded for people to speak to police if they have suffered sexual assault. She said: “If anything like this happens to you do not be afraid to come forward, you will start your healing process once you see justice has been served. I am happy to know that he will be off the streets for a long time and unable to hurt anyone else.”

Dedicated Met officers found Yousaf by tracking him by CCTV from the night of the attack and pieced together his previous movements. Police found out Yousaf frequently used Forest Gate Railway Station. Using an image of Yousaf from the CCTV officers went to the station and spoke with staff and identified him leading to his arrest.

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A former Leuchars soldier has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register after he sent a picture of his private parts to an ex-partners young sister.

Ex-squaddie Josh Reed, who has now left the armed forces, committed the offence while stationed at Leuchars base in February 2021.

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A former Trowbridge school teacher has been sentenced to four years imprisonment for non-recent child sex offences.

Robert Kalton, 88, of Ashby Road, Burton upon Trent, was sentenced at Salisbury Crown Court today (15/02).

The former teacher and church choirmaster of St Augustine's Roman Catholic School pleaded guilty to four counts of gross indecency with a boy under the age of 14 and two counts of gross indecency with a man over the age of 16 at a previous hearing at Salisbury Crown Court on November 24.

At the hearing today Kalton was sentenced to four years for one count of indecent assault on a boy under 14. On three further counts of indecent assault on a boy under 14 he received sentences of 20 weeks, two years, and two years respectively. On two counts of indecent assault on a man aged 16 or over he received one year and one year respectively. The six sentences will run concurrently.

He is also on the sex offenders register for life.

The court heard that at the time the investigation commenced Kalton was already serving a four year prison sentence for similar offending. In total Kalton has been convicted of 32 sexual offences against at least six young boys. His offending spanned a period of two decades and he operated in various locations across the UK.

The victim in this case came to police in December 2019 and reported that Kalton, who was a Maths teacher at a Catholic secondary school in Trowbridge, had abused him multiple times over a 5 year period when he was aged between 11 and 16 years old, with these offences dating back to the 1970s.

In a statement released by his victim to the court, the former pupil said: "Robert Kalton was a teacher. He was also a religious man. As such he had power and respect. He occupied a position of trust, and he abused that trust in the worst way possible. School is a place where you spend a large proportion of your childhood. It is a place where you should feel safe. Instead, I was made to dread and fear going to school."

Detective Sergeant Rachel Winter of Wiltshire Police said: Robert Kalton is a sexual predator who used his position of authority as a teacher and member of the Catholic church to systematically abuse young boys. He stole his victims childhoods and changed their lives forever. They have lived with what happened to them for many years, and undoubtedly the crimes committed have affected them ever since.

"The victim in this case has shown immense courage throughout the investigation and legal proceedings. It is their perseverance which has resulted in the conviction.

"This case also highlights that no matter the length of time that has passed, the public should feel reassured that we will thoroughly investigate non-recent offences and support and work with victims throughout.

Description

A dangerous man from Taunton has been jailed for nine years after pleading guilty to 19 separate charges including having sexual activity with a child.

Ayden Reader, 22, from Taunton, is now starting a stretch behind bars after his 'sickening' behaviour which left his victim feeling guilty and ashamed.

As well as pleading guilty to having sexual activity with a child, Reader also pleaded guilty to taking, making, possessing, and distributing thousands of indecent images. Taunton Crown Court heard how he had connected with a teen girl on social media in 2021 and began to message her.

It was reported to police and officers seized Readers electronic devices where they discovered 882 category A images (the most serious), 950 category B images and 2,543 category C images.

The victim made a statement where they said: "What Ayden has done to me and the way he has treated me has made me less believing of people. When I am anxious, I feel sick, I struggle to sleep and cant cope in public places without feeling overwhelmed. It made me re-live what happened and made me feel guilty and shame.

I am worried that if he would be released from prison, that he might message me again and, if this happens, it will be like a circle for me and never-ending.

While under investigation, officers secured an Interim Sexual Harm Prevention Order for Reader which led him to reside in Kent while enquiries continued. A Kent Paedophile Online Team investigation was launched after receiving intelligence that he was accessing and sharing child abuse images while living in the county.

While being investigated by the Avon and Somerset and Kent Police forces, Reader began messaging young girls on social media, breaching the terms of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He also accessed devices he had not declared or made available to police.

Officers from Kent Police seized various devices, where they found 830 category A images, 973 category B images and 610 category C images. Kent Police worked alongside Avon and Somerset Police to bring charges against the 22-year-old.

Reader was charged by Avon and Somerset Police with:

• One count of sexual activity with a child
• One count of causing a child to engage in sexual activity
• One count of taking indecent images
• Six counts of making indecent images

He was charged by Kent Police with:

• Three counts of making indecent images of children
• One count of being in possession of prohibited image of children
• One count of distributing indecent images of children
• One count of possessing extreme pornography
• Four counts of breaching his Interim Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO)

During the hearing on Friday, February 2, the judge also granted an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order for Reader and an indefinite restraining order banning him from contacting the victim for life.

The officer in the Avon and Somerset case, DC Melanie Downton, said: I would like to first commend the incredibly bravery shown by the victim in this case. She has shown incredible resilience and courage in come forward and supporting our investigation. I am pleased we could get this positive result for her and her family.

We have worked in partnership with Kent Police to bring this dangerous offender to justice. I hope this sentence will give other sexual offence victims the courage to come forward and report what has happened to them.

We have a dedicated child protection team who have a wealth of experience and knowledge in investigating offences of this nature. The team will do their upmost to listen and help victims and provide them with the support they need.

DC Downton also urged children and their parents to have open and honest conversations about social media.

She said: While social media can be a great tool for connecting with school friends and sharing content, it is also a dangerous tool when used by someone with malicious intent. We urge parents to speak with their children about social media and how to stay safe.

Description

A paedophile teacher has been jailed after raping 12-year-old schoolgirl in a hotel and spending 500 on her in a toy shop.

Simon Murch, from Sheffield, met his victim online after she told him she was aged 18, when in fact she was aged 12, a court heard.

The 55-year-old asked her to send explicit photos and they arranged to meet at The Tollgate Hotel in Blurton, Stoke-on-Trent.

Prosecutors say he would have known instantly that the girl was underage when he picked her up in his car a short distance from her home.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard she stayed in the car while he booked the room before they went inside and engaged in sexual activity. He then indulged her with 500 worth of toys at Smyths.

Murch was arrested after the girl reported his actions to another schoolteacher. He has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years with an extended licence period of one year.

Prosecutor Tim Harrington told the court the defendant contacted his victim on WhatsApp last year after their communication began on a website.

He said: 'He asked if she wanted him to be her sugar daddy. She told him she was 18 and doing her A-levels. He asked her to send pictures of her private area. She sent videos of herself performing a sex act.

'They arranged to meet in Stoke-on-Trent. He booked a room at The Tollgate Hotel. At that stage he may not have known her true age.'

Mr Harrington continued: 'He asked if she was on the pill. He picked her up in his car a short distance from her house.

'As soon as they met he would have known she was underage. He went in to book the room on his own. She stayed in the car. He did not want to cause alarm to anybody. It would have been plain to anybody she would have been underage. There is an element of significant planning.

'They went into the hotel. He took off her clothes. They had full intercourse. After they had full sex he took her to Smyths toy shop where he spent 500 on her.'

The court heard the victim told a teacher that she had a sugar daddy. Her parents and the police were then informed.

Murch, of Parkside Road, Hillsborough, Sheffield, pleaded guilty to rape of a child under 13.

Alisdair Williamson KC, mitigating, said Murch's mum had died shortly before his offending and his sister had taken her own life. Mr Williamson said: 'He was in a state of emotional turmoil.'

He said the victim represented herself to be aged 18 at all times. Mr Williamson added: 'She continued to represent herself as 18 after the hotel and he believed her to be 18.

'When he went to the toy shop after with the victim he was told that was to buy presents for the victim's younger sister.

'It is devastating for the victim. It has ruined his life as well. He has learned a salutary lesson and will respond properly to the courses that may be available to him in custody.

'His life is in ashes. He must rebuild himself. He apologises to the victim and her family, through me.'

Judge Graeme Smith said: 'Because of problems in your relationship with your partner you began communicating with adult females over the internet, exchanging photos and images and meeting some for sex. One was this victim.

'You asked if she wanted you to be her sugar daddy. You sent her money and you exchanged pornographic images with her.

'It would have been plain when you met her that she was significantly younger than 18. You simply carried on. As a teacher you should have been alert to the risks. When you met her it was plain she was not an adult.'

Murch must serve two-thirds of the custodial sentence before he can be considered for release by the parole board. He was placed on the sex offenders' register for life and was made the subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Speaking after the case, Detective Constable Jordan Kirkland, from Staffordshire Police's Child Protection and Exploitation Team (CPET), said: 'I'd like to commend the survivor in this case and her family for their immense bravery in coming forward and telling us what Murch did.

'We are committed to working with our partners to robustly target those engaged in child sexual abuse and supporting survivors as much as possible.

'I want this case to serve as a reminder to anyone who may be a victim of sexual abuse, no matter how recent, that getting in touch with us is the first step to securing justice. Specialist officers can speak to you in confidence and stop those responsible.'

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Matthew Clarke gained the 14-year-old's trust before regularly meeting up with her at hotels around Devon, a court heard.

He emotionally manipulated his victim by saying he was depressed and used encrypted chat to keep their relationship a secret. After his arrest police found images on his phone of the pair having sex.

Clarke, 28, of Bank Lane in Brixham, has been jailed for four years for multiple offences of sexual activity with a child.

The judge told Clarke: "You embarked on a sexual relationship, a relationship you knew was not only unlawful but you must have appreciated had a potentially devastating impact on the victim. These offences were in part as a result of a degree of grooming."

Exeter Crown Court was told the pair met at a party where people who liked animals dressed in furry costumes. The teenager's parents attended with her and there was no sexual element to it.

Clarke was in a relationship with someone else but told the girl he was unhappy and only she could help him. The relationship turned sexual and Clarke would book them a room at the Premier Inn and other hotels.

He became more demanding about sex and also said he wanted to take pictures and video. He would emotionally manipulate the girl by becoming upset in order to get her to do what he wanted.

Clarke also told his victim she would get into trouble if the truth came out. The victim eventually confided in a friend and Clarke's manipulative and controlling behaviour came to light.

The victim said in a statement Clarke's behaviour had a devastating impact and feared nothing would make it right.

Clarke pleaded guilty to four charges of sexual activity with a child; one offence of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and three of making indecent images.

Detective Constable Natasha Elliott-Smith said afterwards: Through support of specialist trained officers, the complainant was able to provide a compelling victim testimony and this no doubt influenced the defendant's guilty plea.

I would like to thank the victim for their bravery in coming forward. I would also like to thank their family and friends who have provided ongoing support to them and assisted greatly with the police investigation. We hope this sentencing can begin to offer some closure for you.

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.

Mr Paul Dentith, defending, said probation had requested he be given a community order and complete a sex offender programme. Clarke has no previous convictions, is ashamed of his behaviour and has mental health conditions.

He was made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order until further notice and must sign the sex offender register for life.