Latest Offenders

Description

A highly dangerous sex offender has been banned from using dating apps for the next 15 years in order to protect potential victims.

Predatory paedophile John Johnstone was jailed for 30 months and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life at Dundee Sheriff Court. A highly restrictive Sexual Offences Prevention Order was also imposed on Johnstone for 15 years - including a ban on using social media networks and dating sites.

Johnstone - who built a secret den behind a fireplace in his home as the centre of his sex offending behaviour - was described as being "very high risk." He admitted that between 17 May and 28 July 2020 he intentionally caused a 14-year-old boy to look at sexual images by sending him child abuse material.

He admitted that between 21 May and 27 July 2020 he made the same boy participate in sexual activity by forcing him to send pictures of his genitals to Johnstone.

Sheriff Paul Brown told him: "This is an instance of serious sexual offending, against a background of a record of similar offending. There is a degree of overlap with the previous offence.

"However, it is clear to me that this is a distinct matter that carries a greater degree of culpability and harm. There is no alternative to custody. I also consider that to protect the public from serious sexual harm I have to impose a Sexual Offences Prevention Order."

The SOPO severely limits Johnstone's online activities and bans him from having any unsupervised cntact with anyone under the age of 18. Sheriff Brown banned Johnstone from using social networks until after his 60th birthday and banned him from taking up "any hobbies" which might bring him into contact with children.

Counsel Iain Smith, defending, said: "He is assessed as being at very high risk of further sexual offending. It is so high, in the social worker's conclusion, that it is indicative of a well-established pattern of behaviour that requires corrective intervention."

The dark web beast had previously been jailed for 40 months in 2021 after he filmed himself abusing a young girl, before sharing it with other paedophiles. In that case, Sheriff Alistair Carmichael described Johnstone as "a committed user and maker of indecent images of children."

Farm worker Johnstone built a secret den behind a fireplace to store his vile haul of child pornography and used the dark web to distribute material worldwide. Evil Johnstone bragged to social workers that he had done no "actual harm" to the girl because she had been asleep while he was abusing her.

Sheriff Carmichael also placed him on the Sex Offenders Register for life and made him the subject of a five-year SOPO. That has now been trebled in duration.

The sheriff said: "You went to some lengths to try and hide computers and changed sim cards regularly, presumably to try and evade detection for what you were doing. You were a user of the dark web and employed quite sophisticated software kit to facilitate that.

"It seems to me you are a committed user and maker of indecent images of children and I see no alternative to a custodial sentence."

Solicitor Sarah Russo, defending, said: "He tells me he deeply regrets his actions. It is his position in the report that he wasn't doing any actual harm to the child because they were sleeping."

Johnstone, 45, took photos of himself carrying out sex acts and posing with sex toys next to a sleeping four-year-old girl. He then put them on paedophile sites on the dark web and asked others to send similar material back to him in exchange.

The court heard how he scoured Facebook and other social media to collect more than 400 images of another young girl he knew and had a fixation with. The twisted labourer was also caught with extreme animal porn and thousands of child porn images, and he had superimposed a head shot of one child onto a woman's body in an explicit sexual image.

Detective Chief Inspector Richie Banks, of Police Scotland's National Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: "John Johnstone is a dangerous and predatory individual whose levels of hidden criminal activity over a number of years show he was not only a risk to children in Scotland, but worldwide.

"Online offenders may think they are anonymous, and they may not comprehend the terrible, devastating and lifelong impact their actions have on children.

"But there is no excuse for their actions. Online images of child abuse and exploitation are not virtual, they show the very real abuse of a real child."

Description

A pensioner who confessed to assaulting a schoolboy at least 74 times has been locked up for his horrific sex abuse. Robert Newman raped and sexually assaulted the young boy in what has been described as one of the most shocking cases of abuse seen by detectives.

The 74-year-old first met the youngster in the late 90s before befriending the boy and his family. He then arranged to take his victim on days out before attacking him at his home.

Newman, of Stockton Grove, Leamington, admitted 21 counts of indecent assault and six counts of rape. He was jailed for 15 years and two months at Warwick Crown Court last week.

A court heard how the sex offender met his victim in Rugby, with most of the cruel abuse taking place at Newman's home in the town after he had groomed the boy. On one occasion, he assaulted his victim during a trip to Flecknoe, Warwickshire.

Newman's abuse then continued for four years when the boy was in his early teens. The convict admitted to sexually assaulting his young victim at least 74 times - although the exact number of times he carried out his abuse is likely to be higher, police said.

The paedophile was convicted following an investigation by Warwickshire Police. Investigating officer Detective Constable Liam Crouch, from CID at Rugby Police Station, said: "This is one of the most shocking cases of abuse I have seen.

"The victim of these horrendous offences was a child; he had every right to feel safe. Instead, he was subjected to the most abhorrent abuse.

"Newman groomed his victim and took sexual advantage of him over a prolonged period. The significant amount of time that passed since these offences occurred was no barrier to us investigating and bringing Newman to justice.

"As soon as these offences were reported we launched a thorough investigation that resulted in Newman receiving a significant custodial sentence. Warwickshire Police is committed to investigating sexual offences against children, regardless of the passage of time.

"The bravery of the victim meant that a serious sex offender has finally been brought to justice. Newman is likely to spend most of his remaining life behind bars and I hope this will bring some comfort to him."

Description

The encounter at his home was brief and the molester seemed visibly surprised by our visit.

We asked him a simple question what would he say to his victims?

His reply, we didnt get any. He spotted our snapper and then closed the door in our face.

Linda Williamson and Toni Harrison arent the least bit surprised by their abusers reaction.

I dont think hes sorry, not for a second. In my eyes, hes a monster, says Linda.

At his sentencing, the court was told that Doherty fully accepted Linda and Tonis accounts of what happened, although he denied any recollection of playing a diaper-changing game.

Not only did he apologize for the abuse, but Doherty also apologized for the long-term psychological damage his sickly actions caused.

His victims are grateful that he finally pleaded guilty, but they believe its all just a front.

I would never call anyone bad. But after seeing him in court, hes the scum of the earth. Its sad that people like him exist in our society, admits Linda.

Doherty has built a life of his own and is well known in a community that is unaware of his past.

Jonathan Doherty was shocked when he saw our photographer

It has also been revealed that he is also a member of the Apprentice Boys in Co Londonderry.

Sunday Life understands hes the chaplain of the Campsie Club but thats about to change.

The Loyal Order has now been informed of his catalog of sex crimes, which began when he was just 10 years old, and have been in touch with survivor Linda.

Everyone I spoke to said Jonathan denied being on the list (sex offender registry) and so they wanted to confirm what happened.

He was proud of that. Every year he would have been paraded. He was the chaplain and read from the Bible.

I dont want to beat up the Apprentice Boys. You acted quickly and cut ties with him.

Sunday Life contacted the Apprentice Boys and they said the wheels are already in motion to sack Doherty.

Actions are being taken. Our associations rules state that any single member who is convicted or placed on a sex offender list as a result of what you are referring to will be automatically disfellowshipped, a spokesman said.

Description

A mum realised her partner was a “high-risk” paedophile after Googling his name and finding a Press and Journal story about his past crimes.

Troy Sutherland was placed on the sex offender’s register for indefinitely and jailed for 39 months in 2017 after blackmailing children to send him nude pictures.

Description

A 41-year-old woman who sexually assaulted a man while he slept has been jailed for two years.

Tanya Lord, from Derrylodge Manor in Lurgan, County Armagh, had previously admitted to engaging in sexual activity without the man's consent at her house on 23 June 2020.

She was sentenced to two years in jail and two under supervised licence at Craigavon Crown Court.

A judge said there was "no distinction between male and female rape".

"The fact that a male is the victim doesn't make it any less serious than the rape of a female victim," added Judge Patrick Lynch.

He said neither he, nor the prosecution, could find any similar case anywhere in the UK.

The judge told the court the victim has had to undergo counselling, had been prescribed medication and had been left untrusting of people.

"I would not wish this on anyone," he said in a victim impact statement.

DNA

A prosecution barrister said the victim had been drinking all day when he met Lord after she had finished work.

They went back to her house and continued drinking, the court was told, and later went to bed together.

The court heard the victim knew Lord was a lesbian and there was therefore "a proper assumption and understandable assumption that there would be no sexual activity and none was forthcoming as regards consent in his part".

During the the night the victim had woke to find Lord on top of him.

"He pushed her off and she pretended to be asleep," the solicitor said.

He added that the victim got up and went downstairs "to process what had happened".

Lord's DNA was later found on her victim during an examination, the court was told.

"Factually this case involved a woman having sex with a man without his consent and there should be parity between male victims of sexual crime and female victims," the prosecution solicitor said.

He added that to do otherwise would affirm the "myth that men are less affected by sexual assault than women".

A defence barrister said Lord, who suffers from a personality disorder and has poor mental health, had expressed "remorse for her offending and some victim awareness".

"She understands the position she had put herself in and she expresses, through me today, her remorse and her apologies to the victim for the unfortunate and regrettable incident," he said.

As he passed sentence, the judge said there was "a repeated myth that males are less susceptible" to the consequences of sex attacks.

He also imposed a seven-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order and ordered Lord to sign the sex offender's register for life.

Description

A girl was left shaken after a pervert who had been pestering her on a daily basis on her way to school gave her a post-it note offering £100 for sex.

For more than a month, Karl McDonald had been waiting for the teenager when she got off the Metro and kept giving her cannabis joints, which she took but then threw away. But things took a more sinister twist when the 44-year-old handed her a note saying "quick s*** Friday morning, £100," followed by his phone number.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the police then became involved and an undercover officer attended the station, in South Tyneside, the following morning and saw McDonald approach the victim again. He was arrested and had £100 in cash in his pocket.

Prosecutor Rachel Glover said: "The defendant was aware of her routine. He attended the Metro station every day for over a month, at a time when he knew she would be arriving and supplied her cannabis."

Miss Glover added: "A plain clothed officer attended the Metro station to locate the offender. The complainant was observed at the Metro station in school uniform.

"The officer followed the complainant and the male approached." Miss Glover said uniformed officers arrested McDonald and added: "£100 in notes were seized from his pocket on arrest."

Miss Glover said a pack of post-it notes were found in McDonald's home, which still had the indentation from the note he had given the teen the previous day. The court heard the victim was "visibly shaken" on the day.

McDonald admitted approaching the girl on "multiple days" and giving her cannabis but claimed the note was "just a joke".

McDonald, of Sheridan Road, South Shields, South Tyneside, later admitted attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and supplying cannabis. Judge Sarah Mallet sentenced him to four-and-a-half years behind bars. McDonald must sign the sex offenders register and abide by a sexual harm prevention order for life.

Robin Turton, defending, said McDonald's behaviour was "strange, intimidating, unwelcome, inappropriate and criminal". Mr Turton said McDonald has a good work record and was in employment at the time of the offences.

He added: "He is genuinely remorseful. He appreciates now how intimidating and frightening his approaches must
have been to her at the time. He has no explanation why he did what he did."

Description

A predator who told a woman he met online to sexually assault two young children has his sentence increased by more than two years.

Alan Nicholson, from High Harrington, Cumbria, had his case referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

In September 2021, Alan Nicholson (53) spoke to a woman online, called Louise, who he believed had two daughters, aged five years-old and a baby of four-months.

Their conversations revolved around serious acts of sexual abuse that Nicholson intended to carry out on Louise’s children.

However, Louise was an undercover police officer supporting Cumbria Constabulary’s Cyber and Digital Crime Unit.

Nicholson was found guilty on two counts of attempting to arrange/facilitate the commission of a child sex offence and received a three-year prison sentence.

He was also placed on the Sex Offender’s Register and given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.

Following the sentencing at the Crown Court at Carlisle on 16 December 2022, the case was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

Nicholson’s original sentence was found to be unduly lenient by the Court of Appeal on 9 March 2023 and was increased to 5 years 9 months.

Speaking after the hearing, the Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson KC MP, said:

Alan Nicholson believed he was successfully arranging to carry out vile acts on very young children. Thankfully the person he was talking to was an undercover police officer, whose diligent and commendable work led to his imprisonment.

I would like to praise all of those involved for catching Alan Nicholson and helping prevent anyone else come to harm. A longer prison sentence for this despicable crime shows such behaviour cannot and will not be tolerated.

Detective Sergeant James Bailey of Cumbria Constabulary’s Cyber and Digital Crime Unit said:

We welcome the increased sentence given out to Nicholson.

Our specialist officers work hard behind-the-scenes all-year-round to deter offending, catch criminals and safeguard victims.

We will not tolerate those carrying out such crimes and will continue to do what we can to target those offending in this way and bring them to justice.

Description

POLICE have released an image of a man imprisoned for raping a six-year-old girl when he was a teenager.

Bradley Holloway, of Rupert Square, Reading, has been sent to prison for six years after being found guilty of two counts of rape he committed when he was between the ages of 13 to 15.

The now 32-year-old was found guilty following a trial in December and was sentenced this week at Reading Crown Court.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court she has been left with post-traumatic stress disorder and had to sleep with the light on after her life was turned upside down by Holloway's abuse.

The Reading man committed sexual offences every Sunday and would 'offer to buy her toys' if she didn't tell anyone.

Judge Hassan Khan sentenced Holloway to six years' imprisonment for one count of rape and another six years to run concurrently for the second count.

He will serve at least half of the sentence before being released on licence. A sexual harm prevention order has also been made.

The court heard that Holloway is in the early stages of launching an appeal against his conviction.

Description

A sex offender from Weedon has fled to Thailand to avoid jail after committing sexual assault.

Paul Strong, aged 65, of High Street was found guilty following a trial. He was subsequently invited to attend Northampton Crown Court for his sentence hearing and he responded to court staff with abuse, making it clear he intends to never return to the UK or engage with the court process.

Strong was sentenced in his absence at Northampton Crown Court on Friday, March 10. He was unrepresented as he withdrew instructions from his defence barrister.

A victim, in her statement, said that - as a result of Strong’s actions - she was left unable to eat, sleep or function. She felt “on edge” all the time and suffered financially as she had to stop going into work for 10 weeks. She felt isolated from her close friends because she feared running into Strong in public and feels unable to trust anyone ever again.

“This is just his way of using emotional torture, trying to make my life hell,” she said.

Strong has previous convictions including possession of an offensive weapon and breach of a restraining order.

The court heard that, when interviewed, Strong accepted he had a problem with alcohol and he had post traumatic stress disorder, for which he was medicated.

Her Honour Judge Rebecca Crane sentenced Strong to three years total in prison.

He was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for seven years and a restraining order was imposed for 10 years.

Description

A CUNNING sexual predator has been given an 18-year extended prison sentence for abusing a child in the Bradford district.

David Hammond, 44, was convicted by a jury at Bradford Crown Court in November of the non-recent offending and today locked up on a video link to HMP Doncaster where he was remanded.

Hammond, of Crabtree Street, Halifax, was labelled ‘disgusting and wrong’ by his victim in a statement read out in court.

The victim spoke of their hatred for him and the nightmares and emotional trauma suffered since, describing him as ‘an awful disgusting man’ who had taken the smile off their face.

Hammond’s barrister, Ian Howard, said he was disabled and would find things very difficult in prison. He wasn’t getting any physiotherapy in custody and that had restricted his ability to move around.

Mr Howard said Hammond was no longer capable of independent living and that would curtail his ability to repeat such offending in the future.

But the trial judge, Recorder David Gordon, labelled Hammond ‘sexually predatory’ with ability and cunning.

He had denied any wrongdoing, giving evidence on oath before he was unanimously convicted by a jury that disbelieved him.

Recorder Gordon said Hammond had ‘a long-established sexual interest in children.’ His vulnerable victim had been left devastated psychologically and would bear the scars of the abuse for many years to come.

Hammond had shown no remorse, Recorder Gordon stated.

He conceded that his health was poor, with him having suffered at least one stroke, and appearing on the link in a wheelchair.

Recorder Gordon ruled that Hammond was a dangerous offender under the meaning of the law. There was a significant risk that he would cause serious harm to children in the future.

The contents of the probation report were ‘disturbing’ with the author assessing that his future risk was high.

Hammond’s sentence comprises a 13-year custodial term with a five-year licence period, equating to an 18-year extended prison sentence.

Recorder Gordon told him he will serve at least nine years behind bars before he can even be considered for parole and he may end up in prison for the entirely of the 13 years.

He must sign on the sex offender register for an indefinite period of time.

A Sexual Harm Prevention Order was made for life and a restraining order bans Hammond from contacting his victim in any way for an indefinite period.

Description

A judge commended a victim for her bravery and conduct as he sent her rapist to prison for five years.

Judge Simon Medland said “no sentence he imposed could make up for what happened” to the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, when she was raped by Asad Mirza while she slept on his sofa.

Mirza, 36, of Limbrick, Blackburn, was found guilty of rape at a trial in January and was sentenced at Preston Crown Court on Wednesday (March 8).

The sentencing hearing heard only brief details of the incident, which took place in November 2019, but Judge Medland said Mirza had a “flawed attitude towards appropriate sexual relationships” and thought he was “entitled to have sex” with his victim.

It was heard the defendant and his victim had spent some time together before the offence took place and were happy in each other’s company.

However, on the night in question she had been asleep when Mirza decided to have sex with her without her consent.

Judge Medland said: “You were not entitled to do what you did as if it was your right.

“She gave comprehensive and clear evidence to the jury and the impact on her has been substantial.

“You were reckless as to whether she consented or not. She was asleep and the abuse of trust is palpable in this case.”

Mirza was jailed for five years, handed a restraining order until further order in respect of his victim, and will need to sign the sex offender’s register for life.

Addressing the victim, who had bravely attended court for the sentence hearing, Judge Medland added: “No sentence I impose can make up for what happened to you. I commend you on your conduct.

“I can only hope that this will at last have brought some closure to you and you are able to put this away in the back of your mind and get on with the rest of your life.”

Description

A ‘PERSISTENT and prolific offender’ has been jailed for 28 months for his latest crime spree – which included sexually assaulting a woman neighbour, indecent exposure, shoplifting, and screaming racist abuse at a black police officer.

Lewis Trenchard, formerly of Buckshaft Road, Cinderford, but now of Worcester Street, Gloucester, already had 70 offences on his record before committing his most recent spate of crimes in Sedbury and Cheltenham, Gloucester Crown Court was told.

The 23-year-old pleaded guilty to charges of sexual assault, assault by beating, criminal damage, exposure, theft and using threatening and offensive behaviour with intent to harass or alarm.

Prosecutor Rhianna Fricker said on April 10 2021, Trenchard answered the door to police at an address in Buttington Road, Sedbury.

Ms Fricker said: “He appeared to be very drunk and disorderly. He was taken into custody.”

He started shouting racial slurs at the officers.

The offences began on January 18 2021 when Trenchard was living in Cheltenham.

A woman resident of another flat in the building was at home when Trenchard, who was drunk, started going in and out of her home at a time when Covid restrictions banned people mixing indoors.

During the incident he held her against the sofa and thrust his hips into her. His groin made contact with her hips.

After he was removed from the flat, police received a calls from about Trenchard running into traffic.

Trenchard got onto the bonnet of a car but another man tackled and removed him.

Ms Fricker said the indecent exposure offence followed shortly afterwards and again involved the woman Trenchard had earlier assaulted

“She was sitting near her home with friends and saw the road altercation. Trenchard then joined her and exposed his penis a number of times, making her feel very uncomfortable. He then kicked out at the window of her flat and smashed it. He laughed at the damage he had done and then approached the same woman and touched her breasts with his hand.

Later that day he was found in a nearby shop he was found to have goods concealed in his clothing.

Ms Fricker said Trenchard’s past convictions, beginning in 2015, included 39 thefts, four offences of criminal damage, two of battery, an assault causing actual bodily harm, burglary, two of robbery and one of being drunk and disorderly.

Thomas Griffiths, defending, conceded “This is a particularly unpleasant set of offences and an unhappy record of previous convictions.”

Mr Griffiths said Trenchard had been abusing alcohol and drugs from an early age as a result of events in his troubled childhood.

Trenchard had been in custody on remand awaiting sentence since May last year so had already served the equivalent of a 20 month jail term, said Mr Griffiths.

He asked the judge to consider passing a sentence which would allow Trenchard to leave prison immediately and take up an offer of a fresh start at Bridgend.

Trenchard was anxious to be at liberty as soon as possible to support his mother, who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, he added. Trenchard would never forgive himself if he could not be there for his mother in her final days, he said.

“He does not wish to drink alcohol again - he knows now that he cannot have just one drink because it spirals to ten and then to new offending.”

Judge Lowe sentenced Trenchard to a total of 28 months, telling him that although it would not mean his immediate release he would be out of prison in the near future.

Trenchard’s personal problems and background did not excuse his trail of offending but did put it in context, said the judge.

“I am very sorry your mother is ill and I very much hope you will be released in time to go and see her.”

As well as the jail term the judge made a two year restraining order barring Trenchard from contacing the sex assault victim in any way

He also ordered Trenchard to pay £264.64 compensation for the damage to the flat.

Description

A paedophile who arranged to meet who he thought was a 14-year-old boy for sex has been jailed.

William Grassby was handed the two year term at Sheffield Crown Court today (Thursday 9 March) after admitting to multiple offences relating to sexual communications with children.

Grassby was identified through two sting operations one led by the police, and the other by members of the public.

The then 47-year-old had been messaging the first decoy, who he believed to be 14, over the course of a week before arranging to meet him for sex at Meadowhall, Sheffield.

Grassby also befriended an undercover police officer, posing as a 12-year-old boy, on social media. He began to send multiple sexual messages to the boy, asking about his sexual interests and arranging to meet up and have sex.

Following his arrest, Grassbys electronic devices were seized which divulged his engagement in multiple sexual communications with suspected children.

He was charged with two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, and one count of attempting to meet a boy under the age of 16 following grooming. He entered a guilty plea on 16 February before being jailed today.

Investigating officer Sarah Anderson said: Grassby is an incredibly depraved individual with abhorrent intentions towards children.

Grassby knew of both the childrens ages, and we have screenshots of messages where hes arranging to meet with them out of the view of CCTV.

This is obviously incredibly concerning for parents and carers of young children, particularly those who are on social media. If you have suspicions about who your child is speaking to online, I would urge you to contact us.

Grassby, formerly of Spring Close View, has also been issued a 10-year sexual harm prevention order. He will also remain on the sex offenders' register for a decade.

Description

A PAEDOPHILE has been locked up after sending a disgusting sexualised photo to someone he believed to be a child.

Phillip Collins engaged in sick sex chats online and even discussed arrangements to meet up with the young girl.

However, the 42-year-old was in fact communicating with an adult posing online to catch digital child sex offenders.

He was later charged with attempted sexual communications with a child and arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.

Collins appeared to be sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday, February 21, where he was told that only immediate imprisonment was appropriate.

The court heard how the disgusting sex chats were exchanged between January 3 and January 10, 2022.

The Padgate based defendant, being an adult and for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification, intentionally attempted to communicate with ‘Miyah’.

He believed this person to be a girl under 16, but it was in fact an adult using a decoy profile.

The court heard how Collins encouraged the girl to perform sex acts on herself, discussed sex with her, sent flirtatious messages and sent a photo of his penis.

As the chats progressed, the defendant was charged with intentionally arranging or facilitating a meet-up which would involve the commission of a child sex offence.

Collins, of Marsh Street in Padgate, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.

He was also handed a sexual harm prevention order for a period of 10 years and ordered to abide by sex offender registration and notification requirements for the same period of time.

Description

A teenager has told how his childhood was ruined after he suffered years of physical and sexual abuse at the hands of a predatory Derbyshire sex offender.

Michael Sutton hit the teenager with a belt as well as sexually assaulting him on repeated occasions over an eight-year period from 2012 to 2020.

The abuse came to light when the 32-year-old was arrested for an offence of taking a child without lawful authority after an incident involving another teenager in Nottinghamshire in February 2021.

In a victim personal statement, explaining the effect Sutton’s abuse had on him, the teenager said: “I don’t feel like I can trust anyone and I have felt like this since he started doing what he did to me. I am always wary around new people and I know that is because of him.

“At first I thought what he was doing to me was normal because I was so young. It was only when I got older that I started to realise it was wrong. Even then, I didn’t feel like I could tell anyone because I felt like no-one would believe me.

“I will never be able to forgive him for what he did to me, he ruined my childhood. I’ll never be able to forget what he did to me and this really upsets me.”

Sutton, of Killamarsh, admitted assault, sexual assault, child cruelty and taking a child without lawful authority. He appeared at Nottingham Crown Court for sentencing on January 25, where he was jailed for a total of four and a half years.

He was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a restraining order for ten years, preventing him from having any contact with the victim.

Detective Constable Naomi Davies, of the child investigation team, said: “The survivor in this case suffered years of abuse at the hands of Sutton, a predatory sex offender.

“At a time when they should have been carefree and enjoying spending time with their friends and all the usual childhood fun, they were instead left feeling traumatised and hurt by Sutton’s evil actions.

“The physical and sexual abuse may have stopped but the nightmare never ends for the survivor, who will have to deal with the psychological effects of what happened to them for years to come.

“I’m pleased Sutton is now behind bars for his crimes where he belongs.

“The bravery this young person showed in coming forward and telling police about the abuse they suffered is incredible and I’d like to commend them for that, as well as their dignity throughout the legal process.

“If anyone out there is suffering or has suffered sexual abuse of any kind, please don’t suffer in silence. We will listen and support you throughout the whole process without any judgement. Our specially trained officers are on hand to help you, no matter when the abuse took place.”