Latest Offenders

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A paedophile has been jailed for 21 years after two of his victims secretly taped his confession.

At Cardiff Crown Court a judge told Keith Edmonds, 86, he had no sympathy for the fact he would die in prison.

Edmonds, of Taff's Well, Rhondda Cynon Taf, did not realise one of his victims was recording him on a mobile phone when he apologised to them.

A jury found him guilty of 11 charges of sexual assault against four children under 13 between 2001 and 2015.

In the recording, Edmonds could be heard saying: "I'm sorry. I wish I could turn back the clock then I wouldn't have done it."

The tape was handed to police, but the father-of-two denied the charges, claiming he was tired and wanted to go to bed when he confessed.

He told the court: "I didn't do anything to them. I just told them what they wanted to hear so they would go away."

His four victims, now adults, told how they were left suffering from panic attacks, flashbacks and suicidal thoughts after years of abuse.

One told the court: "I was cheated out of a happy childhood. The constant dark cloud that has hung over me ever since has never diminished."

The court heard Edmonds has declining health and is under the care of a cardiologist.

Judge Michael Fitton KC told him: "I recognise that it is inevitable that you will die in prison. That is a matter that moves me to not a shred of sympathy for you.

"You are a man who is morally bankrupt and have shown no remorse. You ruined the childhood of four children, bringing shame, pain and emotional turmoil on them."

Edmonds was told he will spend two-thirds of his sentence in prison, meaning he will be 100 by the time he is eligible for parole.

He was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order and told to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Judge Fitton praised Edmonds' victims for their "commendable and extraordinary courage" in bringing him to justice.

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Following a thorough investigation by Hampshire Constabulary a 59 year-old man from Hayling Island has been jailed for 20 years after he admitted ten offences relating to the sexual assault of two children, who were under the age of two at the time of the offences.

Enquiries conducted on electronic devices seized during an ongoing investigation led to the arrest of Danny John Richards of Salterns Lane on Thursday 28 July 2022. He was subsequently charged.

Richards admitted the following offences at Portsmouth Crown Court on Thursday 13 October:

• Rape of a girl under 13 contrary to the Sexual Offences Act (SOA) 2003.
• Two offences of assaulting a girl under 13 by penetration contrary to the Sexual Offences Act (SOA) 2003.
• Two offences of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching contrary to the Sexual Offences Act (SOA) 2003
• Three offences of making an indecent photograph of a child.
• Two offences of taking an indecent photograph of a child.

He was sentenced to 20 years at the same court today (Friday 11 November). He will also be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and be placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for the rest of his life.

Detective Inspector Heather Noad said: “I hope today’s sentence goes some way in helping the victims and their loved ones begin to move forward with their lives after these appalling offences were committed. In this particular case Richards’ guilty pleas entered for all of the offences avoided the need for a trial.

“Our investigation started when the Internet Child Abuse Team (ICAT) received intelligence that indecent images of children had been uploaded to the internet from a specified IP address. A warrant was subsequently undertaken at an address on Salterns Lane on Hayling Island and a number of devices were seized. Ultimately indecent images of children (IIOC) were found on those devices, which directly led to and secured the charges against Richards.

"If you are concerned about offending of this nature please be reassured that we work incredibly hard to provide victims and their families with the support they need. We take all reports of sexual assault very seriously, and will do everything in our power to bring those responsible to justice.

"It is so important to us that people have the confidence to report any activity that could relate to offending like this to us, especially if this has happened to you or somebody you know. It is also important to us that survivors and their families are provided with the support they need, and we work in partnership with other organisations to ensure this happens."

Ashleigh Doy, CPS Wessex Senior Crown Prosecutor, said: “Richards subjected two innocent children to the most sickening crimes, all for his own sexual gratification.

“We take offending of this nature incredibly seriously and worked closely with police colleagues to build a strong case.

“This resulted in an entirely evidence-led prosecution, meaning Richards pleaded guilty at an early stage in the face of the overwhelming case against him.

“Our joint working and early engagement with police meant the case was prosecuted swiftly, so that justice could be delivered for everyone who has been deeply affected by this case.

“We are committed to bringing people to justice for serious crimes such as this and hope today’s result sends a clear message to other perpetrators.”

Anyone who has been a victim of child abuse, or has any information about this type of abuse, is encouraged to contact police on 101.

Alternatively, contact Child Line on 0800 11 11, or if you are an adult who has been affected, you can call the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000.

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A twisted RAF engineer left his three-month-old son with brain injuries that could last a lifetime.

Doctors told the baby’s family ‘several times’ that the child ‘may die’ and that the next 48 hours were crucial to his survival.

The child had been taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in September 2019 with a brain haemorrhage, detached retina and multiple broken ribs.

Despite causing the life-threatening injuries, Richard Hardwick – who has since been convicted of unrelated sex offences – will only have to spend the next 22 months in prison after the Crown Prosecution Service charged him with causing grievous bodily harm rather than a more serious assault charge.

A furious judge Recorder John Hardy KC told prosecutor Corinne Bramwell: “It should have been a section 18 [wounding with intent] if not an attempted murder.” He later said: “As a human being it sticks in my gut.”

The court heard Hardwick, who served in the RAF for two decades and was based at Benson, tried to pile the blame on everyone but himself, telling the police when he was arrested that his wife and a childminder were the main carers.

Jailing him for just three years and nine months at Oxford Crown Court on Friday afternoon – the maximum sentence once credit for his early guilty plea was deducted – Recorder Hardy said: “The single count on the indictment to which you have pleaded guilty compels me to sentence you to a term of imprisonment that members of the public would rightly regard as woefully inadequate for this horrific crime.

“I am at a loss to understand why other, more serious charges were not preferred against you.”

Ms Bramwell told the court that the boy was first admitted to hospital on September 2, 2019, with ‘very severe’ injuries that a doctor believed were caused by shaking or brute force.

On September 14, he was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital with what turned out to be a bleed on the brain that was ‘highly suggestive of shaking’. He had ‘approximately seven’ broken ribs, a detached retina and ‘significant’ bruising.

The child had ‘various significant educational issues as a result of the injuries he sustained’. At the age of two he was assessed to have the speech and language skills of a baby.

In a victim personal statement, from which parts were read to the court by the judge, a family member spoke of the terrible impact the defendant’s stringing out the court process had had. She described his offending as a ‘vile, unthinkable crime’.

Turning to the public gallery, where the boy’s relative was seated with a friend, Recorder Hardy said: “This court cannot let this case pass without observing that [the victim] has had the most outstanding love and care and attention from those who now look after him.”

The judge questioned why the Crown Prosecution Service had charged Hardwick with causing grievous bodily harm, which carries a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment.

Had a more serious charge been laid, the judge said he could have found Hardwick a ‘dangerous’ offender and imposed an extended sentence. That would have resulted in the defendant spending more of his sentence in custody before a lengthy period out on licence and supervised by the probation service.

The conditions for an extended sentence were ‘manifestly met’, Recorder Hardy said. He posed a ‘significant risk to members of the public’.

However, because he could not lawfully pass a jail sentence of more than four years once credit for the guilty plea was taken into account, the judge was unable to impose an extended sentence.

Mitigating, Julian Lynch said his client had recognised – albeit late – the ‘true gravity and appalling nature’ of what he had done. Hardwick had suffered a mental breakdown and struggled with ‘unplanned outbursts’.

Mr Lynch questioned the almost three-year delay in the police and Crown Prosecution Service charging his client with GBH.

Told that the defendant wished to apologise, Recorder Hardy said the defendant should keep any apology had had for his family ‘to himself’.

“No apology can possibly do anything to mitigate an offence of this nature,” he spat.

Hardwick, of HMP Northumberland, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to causing grievous bodily harm. He is currently serving a sentence, due to expire next year, for sexual offences – that case was not detailed by the prosecutor.

Following the hearing, the boy's relative said of the 'giggly' child: "He was absolutely adorable. Everybody fell in love with him." 

Asked whether she felt the child had received justice, she said: "No. He nearly killed a baby; there are drug dealers who get much longer sentences." 

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A "dangerous predator" has been jailed for 15 years for sexually assaulting a woman in her own home.

Monjur Khan, 32, forced his way into the property in Rotherham, in February, South Yorkshire Police said.

He then repeatedly punched the woman, who is in her 70s, before grabbing her by the throat, forcing her to the floor and assaulting her.

Khan was jailed on Thursday at Sheffield Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to attempted rape.

He also admitted two counts of attempted trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence.

Det Con Megan Byne said the assault took place despite the victim's "heroic" attempts to fend him off.

She said the investigation into the attack revealed Khan had been seen in the area earlier the same day "behaving either inappropriately or suspiciously".

"We had a number of instances where Khan was knocking on doors, asking for water or saying he was looking for someone. In some cases, he made his way into peoples' homes," she said."This is clearly dangerous predatory behaviour, which suggests Khan had been looking for a vulnerable victim to attack that day."

Khan, formerly of Doncaster Road, Rotherham, was told he must serve an additional five years on licence once released.

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Jack Bowker was spared jail after sending Snapchat messages to an account he thought belonged to a child

A man who sent messages to a '12-year-old girl' about taking her virginity did not believe he was a paedophile.

On Wednesday (November 9), Liverpool Magistrates' Court heard that, between July and November 2021, Jack Bowker, 29, engaged in sexual conversations over Snapchat with an account he thought belonged to a 12-year-old girl. The conversations began innocently but became sexual.

Prosecuting, Callum Bryce said Bowker sent messages about "spanking" the 12-year-old's backside, lying in bed with her and getting an erection, having oral sex and taking her virginity. Bowker also sent selfies to the account but did not send any explicit images.

The account posing as the girl was actually run by the police. After receiving a warrant, officers searched Bowker's home on November 9, 2021 and seized electronic equipment, but they did not arrest him.

He attended a police interview in April 2022 and admitted to sending the messages. Bowker, of Twickenham Drive, Leasowe, then pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

In mitigation, Colin Rawson pointed to his client's lack of previous convictions, that he made a prompt guilty plea and had been fully cooperative with police. Mr Rawson said Bowker "has difficulties engaging with other people" and he "rarely leaves his own address", making contact with people primarily through social media.

Mr Rawson said Bowker's conversations with the account began nicely but "sexual contact crept into the conversation". He said the age of the 'girl' was "mentioned on several occasions" and Bowker "has to recognise he is an offender".

Sentencing, District Judge Timothy Boswell told Bowker, that though he was not actually conversing with a child: "You didn't now that when you engaged in chats" and said his reason for sending the messages was "to obtain sexual gratification".

The judge added: "You do not regard yourself as a paedophile". He explained this can happen with some offenders of this nature, adding: "Some people struggle to accept the type of person their offending makes them". Judge Boswell told Bowker there was "work to be done to challenge your perception of yourself".

Addressing Bowker, he added: "You knew what you were doing". and handed him a six month sentence, suspended for 18 months.

Bowker was also given a seven year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, while he will also have to undergo a 30 day rehabilitation programme and perform 160 hours of unpaid work. The Sexual Harm Prevention Order requires Bowker to notify police of any device with internet access, while he is not allowed to delete or alter his internet history.

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A Northampton man has been imprisoned for 15 years after using a room rental website to target a woman before raping her.

Ion Cojan, aged 37, of Worcester Close, appeared at Northampton Crown Court on Tuesday, November 8 after a jury found him guilty of raping a woman.

Andrew Fitch-Holland, prosecuting, said the victim was looking for a room to rent in Northampton and set up an account on a rental website, which contained her photo, name and age.

The court heard that Cojan contacted her to tell her he had a friend with a room to let. When the victim said she was no longer interested, Cojan told her she was “beautiful” and asked to meet on February 17, 2019.

Mr Fitch-Holland said Cojan picked the woman up from Northampton town centre in his car and she sat in the back seat, expecting to be taken for coffee as planned. However Cojan drove her to a secluded area by a lake, the court heard.

Mr Fitch-Holland said the assault went on for approximately 10 minutes before Cojan tried to pull the victim’s trousers down but she said no so he eventually stopped and drove her back into town. Cojan told the woman he would call her and they would have sex, blew her three kisses and drove off.

The victim walked home, feeling “disgusted” and “shocked” and then reported the rape to the police. In a statement, she said she cannot forget what happened to her and she does not trust men anymore.

Cojan was arrested and his mobile phone was seized; police discovered numerous searches for female users of a room rental website, which he was treating as a dating site.

Cojan has one previous conviction of sexual assault in 2009 when he pushed a woman onto a bed, held her throat and pulled her hair - preventing her from leaving. She was able to escape when he let go of her.

Rajiv Chopra, in mitigation, said Cojan is “genuinely remorseful” that he has “upset” the victim and wants to write an apology letter to her.

Addressing the judge, Mr Chopra said: “Please use your utmost discretion and leniency to give this young man a second chance.”

Her Honour Judge Lucking KC, sentencing, said: “You have a tendency to commit sexual offences against lone women by flattering them and then isolating them before subjecting them to sexual activity without consent.

“Your evidence at trial revealed your arrogance and misplaced sense of sexual entitlement.”

Cojan was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment with an extended licence period of five years. He was also placed on the Sex Offender’s Register indefinitely.

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 A PAEDOPHILE has been jailed after he downloaded indecent images of children within weeks of a suspended sentence lapsing for similar offending.

Stuart Keith Waghorne, who lived in Bournemouth at the time of his crimes, was caught with more than 3,000 images obtained across a four-month period last year.

This criminal behaviour started less than a month after a suspended sentenced he received back in 2019 had expired.

Judge William Mousley KC jailed the 50-year-old defendant for 21 months at a Bournemouth Crown Court Hearing on Friday, November 4.

Waghorne, now of Bramley Hill, Mere, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and breach of a sexual harm prevention order. 

 Prosecuting, Sophie Johns said the defendant, who has worked most of his life as a butcher, was arrested on December 14, 2021, after police received information about his suspected behaviour. An analysis of his phone was carried out by officers.

A large number of still of moving images were found – 2,342 category A (the most serious), 414 category B and 249 category C.

Ms Johns said the material, which was downloaded between August and December last year, included children as young as two, with visible destress expressed by the victims.

The images were found across two applications on the phone as well Waghorne’s email application, with the majority of the files still accessible. 

 Prosecuting, Sophie Johns said the defendant, who has worked most of his life as a butcher, was arrested on December 14, 2021, after police received information about his suspected behaviour. An analysis of his phone was carried out by officers.

A large number of still of moving images were found – 2,342 category A (the most serious), 414 category B and 249 category C.

Ms Johns said the material, which was downloaded between August and December last year, included children as young as two, with visible destress expressed by the victims.

The images were found across two applications on the phone as well Waghorne’s email application, with the majority of the files still accessible. 

 The court heard Waghorne received a suspended sentence in July 2019 for similar offences of possessing indecent images.

The offences which brought him back before the courts started just weeks after the suspended sentence had lapsed. 

 Mitigating, Rob Griffiths said his client’s actions all stemmed from the breakdown of his marriage, which he described as an “unpleasant break up”.

Mr Griffiths said the defendant had set about trying to restore his masculinity following the seperation. After starting out watching adult pornography, the offender ended up at the “taboo” which brought him before the courts.

The barrister said the suspended sentence Waghorne received in 2019 did not contain any targeted programme to work on his sexual interest in children. He asked the judge to give his client a final chance, with there being a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

Judge Mousley KC said he had concluded only the only appropriate punishment in the case was immediate imprisonment.

Alongside the prison sentence, the judge extended the sexual harm prevention order to run for 10 years from the date of the hearing. Waghorne was placed on the sex offenders register for the same period of time. 

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A "dangerous" convicted sex offender who thought he was communicating with teenage girls had been exchanging messages with "decoys" from a paedophile hunter group, a court has heard.

Paul Stone, 50, sent sexual messages online and via WhatsApp to what he thought were two girls under 16.

In fact, they were members of a group of paedophile hunters, who passed the messages on to police, who arrested him.

Norwich Crown Court heard Stone, of Jewson Road, off Palmer Road in the city had been communicating with the decoys between September 1 and September 12, 2022.

Jamie Sawyer, prosecuting, said Stone, a registered sex offender who was being managed by Norfolk Constabulary's public protection unit, had encouraged the decoys to engage in sexual activity and sent pictures and videos of himself to them as well.

He said the "most troubling" aspect of the case involved his previous convictions, which included indecent images offences in 2012 and attempted sexual communication with a child from March this year.

Stone appeared for sentence on Wednesday (November 9) having previously admitted two counts of attempting to cause or incite a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity, against one victim between September 1 and September 12.

He had also pleaded guilty to another offence of attempting to cause or incite a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity, against another girl between the same dates.

In addition, Stone had pleaded guilty to failing to comply with notification requirements between March 31, 2022, and September 12, 2022, as well as three counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) between the same dates.

Passing an extended sentence of eight years and eight months made up of five years and eight months custody and three years on licence, Judge Alice Robinson said it had been "serious" offending.

Judge Robinson said it was a "particular concern" that he "fell into old habits" and as a result of his "continued and persistent sexual offending" regarded him as a "dangerous" offender who was a significant risk of serious harm to children as a result of sexual offending by him.

Michael Clare, mitigating, said the defendant admitted his offending from the outset and should be given "full credit" for his pleas.

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Shaun Wightman, 57, absconded from his trial in Sheffield before being caught in Scotland and eventually jailed for 16 years.

A paedophile who was found living with children after going on the run to Scotland during his trial has been jailed. Shaun Wightman, 57, had been on trial at Sheffield Crown Court last year but fled the Yorkshire city.

The beast had been charged with four counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, two counts of causing or inciting a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity and multiple charges relating to engaging in sexual activity in front of a child and taking indecent images of a child.

In his absence, Wightman was found guilty of eight of the charges against the girl, with whom he had been in a "position of trust". The court heard he was re-arrested on October 31, after intelligence led cops to a property in Scotland. 

Officers they found the sick sex offender hiding out with children and he was hauled back to court. Appearing in court on Friday, November 4, he was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Examiner Live reports that judge Jeremy Richardson said he was in "no doubt" the abuse "would have escalated had she become older before what you did to her was discovered." The judge told how jurors were forced to view sick images that Wightman had taken of the child after he disappeared on the second day of the trial.

The Recorder of Sheffield said: "Eventually, on the fourth day the decision had to be made by the court as to whether to proceed in your absence to the defence case, final speeches and summing up. On October 25, 2022 it was thought, as a result of evidence from the police, that you were in Scotland. You were arrested on October 31, 2022."

Wightman admitted a bail act offence relating to his failure to turn up for trial. Rodney Eric Ferm, Mitigating, told the court that the sentence would be the longest the sex offender has served, having no crimes on his record since 1995.

Mr Ferm said: "It is a long sentence which will be hard to bear when you haven't been in that kind of environment and at the age he is at. He is not in the best of health - he had a motorcycle accident many years ago, around 20 years since then, but he has been unable to work and one of the effects of this is his mental health issues which were accepted by the Department of Health and Social Security and it has led him on more than one occasion to contemplate suicide."

The lawyer urged the court "to measure the sentence against that background" as Wightman had been placed on suicide watch and was undergoing tests for cancer.

Sentencing Wightman Judge Richardson told the court: "You were arrested in Scotland by the police hiding in a house where there were children. You were a fugitive from justice. This case involves the cruel abuse of a girl." He handed him a total sentence of 16 years imprisonment.

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This is the face of a Hull dad found guilty of horrific sexual offences including rape.

Darren Broadbent, 31, of Seafield Avenue, Hull, denied six sexual offences but he was convicted by a jury after a trial of five of them, including rape and offences of assault by penetration.

His victim was left suffering "mental torment" as well as nightmares, flashbacks and night terrors. The abuse had caused "catastrophic effects" on her and the "severe psychological harm" had badly affected her whole life through a "tidal wave" of suffering, Hull Crown Court heard.

Judge Mark Bury said that Broadbent committed the offences when he was much younger but the girl did not report any of them at the time. "She did not appreciate the severity of what you were doing," said Judge Bury.

"You, however, did have some idea because you told her on more than one occasion not to tell anybody. It would be your secret. She was anxious about whether she would be believed."

"The court can see how devastating your actions have been," said Judge Bury. "It has affected every aspect of her life. You took the case to trial and the court is now in a good position to see the harm that you have caused."

The "catastrophic effects" of Broadbent's behaviour on the girl had become clear. "She continues to have nightmares and night traumas," said Judge Bury.

"She has been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder. She has sadness. Now that you are going to be sent to jail, she will get some closure. Severe psychological harm has been occasioned. You did know you were doing wrong. These are serious offences, as you well know."

The girl said in a statement: "I have suffered with mental torture over the years, which has gradually got worse and worse. What Darren did to me was so wrong. What's happened should never have happened. I suffer with nightmares and night terrors."

She said that she would "wake up dripping with sweat" and this had been happening as long as she could remember. This was the lowest point of her life.

Sometimes she struggled to get out of bed and she struggled to sleep at night. She had suffered a "tidal wave" of effects. "This is not the life I should be living," she said.

"The nightmares, flashbacks and night sweats continue, along with intrusive thoughts. My family have given me so much support throughout this. He has taken too much from me and put me through too much hurt."

Charlotte Baines, mitigating, said that there had been no repeat of the offending. "He does not pose a high or significant risk to children at this particular time," said Miss Baines.

Broadbent had a lack of previous convictions, including for anything similar. He was married, had a daughter and had been working.

Broadbent was jailed for six years and must register as a sex offender for life.

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 A MAN raped a 15-year-old schoolgirl as she was being sick after she had been plied with alcohol.

Bradley Bullock, 26, from Newport, went on to sexually assault women and threatened to rape a nurse. 

 The defendant, who was sectioned at one point, claimed to have “met the devil in jail and said there was a conspiracy to kill his family”. 

 The defendant, who was sectioned at one point, claimed to have “met the devil in jail and said there was a conspiracy to kill his family”. 

 Matthew Cobbe, prosecuting, told Cardiff Crown Court: “The rape victim was 15 at the time of the offence.

“She was targeted and the defendant knew her age and realised there was an opportunity.

“He raped her as she was vomiting. It was humiliating.

“Alcohol was used to facilitate the offence and she was plied with drink.”

Byron Broadstock, representing Bullock, said in mitigation of the rape: “There is no criticism of the victim but she was drinking of her own free will.

“This was an opportunistic offence on Mr Bullock’s behalf.”

The court was told that the defendant had been sectioned and was “clearly mentally unwell” at the time of some of the offences.

Mr Broadstock added that his client had a “sad and tragic background”.

Bullock, formerly of Stelvio Park Court, Newport, was also being sentenced after he pleaded guilty to a burglary and robbery offence committed after the sexual offences. 

 Matthew Cobbe, prosecuting, told Cardiff Crown Court: “The rape victim was 15 at the time of the offence.

“She was targeted and the defendant knew her age and realised there was an opportunity.

“He raped her as she was vomiting. It was humiliating.

“Alcohol was used to facilitate the offence and she was plied with drink.”

Byron Broadstock, representing Bullock, said in mitigation of the rape: “There is no criticism of the victim but she was drinking of her own free will.

“This was an opportunistic offence on Mr Bullock’s behalf.”

The court was told that the defendant had been sectioned and was “clearly mentally unwell” at the time of some of the offences.

Mr Broadstock added that his client had a “sad and tragic background”.

Bullock, formerly of Stelvio Park Court, Newport, was also being sentenced after he pleaded guilty to a burglary and robbery offence committed after the sexual offences. 

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A man from Loughborough who admitted being “sexually attracted to babies and toddlers” has been jailed for 25 years, after he paid for the abuse of young children in Asia.

National Crime Agency investigators identified that Ian Wynter, 59, targeted financially vulnerable individuals in countries such as the Philippines and Indonesia. He would give them explicit direction and pay them to live stream themselves carrying out the abuse.

Wynter was arrested by the NCA in January 2020 after flying into Gatwick Airport from Shanghai, China, where he had been living and working.

Officers seized a number of electronic devices, including phones, a laptop and an external hard drive from him at the airport, as well as from his UK home in Loughborough.

They recovered thousands of online chat logs which showed Wynter speaking with offenders based all over the world.

In the chats, Wynter describes himself as a “paedophile” who is “sexually attracted to babies and toddlers”. As well as discussing raping them among other horrific ‘fantasies’, he also advised others on how to carry out abuse without getting caught.

While on a trip to Thailand in 2020, he engaged in an online conversation with another paedophile about potentially finding a local child to abuse.

The chat logs and financial records showed that Wynter had paid a man in the Philippines to abuse a two-year-old boy for him via video call, on multiple occasions in 2019. Video recordings of these calls made by Wynter show him directing the abuse throughout, as well as requesting specific sexual acts in the chat box.

Additional messages show the man telling Wynter he is in financial difficulty and needs money for “milk and diapers”. Wynter later passed on the contact details of the Filipino facilitator to another online user, who he said was willing to pay “$125 up front for a show”.

The facilitator has since been sentenced to 15 years in prison in the Philippines and local authorities safeguarded the child.

Wynter also paid another male facilitator in Indonesia for several video calls of him abusing two-year-old boy in 2018. In this case, the man said the money would help pay for his diploma.

17,000 indecent images of children (6,000 in category A) were stored across Wynter’s devices, many of which he had also shared online. Within these was a naked image of a child that he had taken himself.

In June this year, Wynter pleaded guilty to 13 charges including multiple counts of encouraging the sexual assault & rape of a child under 13 and the possession and distribution of indecent images of children.

He was sentenced today (09/11/2022) at Leicester Crown Court to 25 years in prison.

He will also be subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and has been placed on the Sex Offender Register.

Tony Smith from the National Crime Agency said:

“Ian Wynter is a prolific sexual offender who caused very young children to suffer the most horrendous abuse at the hands of willing facilitators, giving them specific direction and financial reward.

“Wynter spoke with thousands of other predators online with whom he openly discussed his horrific sexual fantasies, and offered advice on carrying out abuse while avoiding detection.

“This case is a key example of how predatory sexual offenders are using online platforms to target vulnerable children overseas, as well as to connect with other like-minded individuals. Wynter’s sentence reflects the gravity of his worldwide offending and our commitment to bring him to justice.

“The NCA works with law enforcement partners across the globe to ensure we are identifying and disrupting offenders, and safeguarding children, wherever they are.”

Bethany Raine, CPS Specialist Prosecutor, said:

“Wynter demonstrated sickening depravity by paying adults to sexually abuse children in video calls and exploiting innocent children in other parts of the world.

“This conviction sends a clear message that the CPS, working alongside the NCA and international partners, will work to bring to justice those who sexually abuse and exploit children, wherever that abuse takes place.

“Working with our international partners we have also been able to help the Filipino courts jail one of the abusers Wynter encouraged in his appalling search for sexual gratification.”

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A man who preyed on a sleeping woman on the Night Tube stroking her leg has been jailed for a year after being found guilty of sexual assault.

Michal Piczak, 31, will spend one year in jail and a decade on the sex offenders register after a woman awoke on the Night Tube to discover him stroking her.

The attack came in the early hours of September 29 2019, the victim was travelling home on-board a Victoria line night service when she fell asleep.

As the Tube approached Walthamstow Central Underground station she awoke to Piczak stroking her legs and kicked out to get him away from her.

Pointing out Piczak to station staff she shouted: “Stop him, he’s been touching me”.

A British Transport Police officer at the station rushed to the scene and Piczak was promptly arrested on suspicion of sexual assault.

CCTV footage captures Piczak’s actions as he reached over the Tube’s aisle to touch the sleeping victim before moving next to her and stroking her legs.

Detective Constable Ibrar Ahmed, investigating officer in the case, said: “Piczak is a sordid sex offender who targeted a lone woman as she slept and subjected her to a prolonged sexual assault.

“His jail term sends out a clear message to anyone who exhibits this type of behaviour on the railway – we will catch you and bring you to justice without exception.”

Piczak of Station Road, Walthamstow, appeared at Inner London Crown Court on 28 October where he pleaded not guilty to sexual assault.

A jury found him guilty at trial and he was sentenced by a judge to one-year imprisonment, and to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years.

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Police found a sickening stash of child abuse images at the home of an IT expert working for a firm providing services to the UK Government.

They discovered the vile collection when they seized for than 30 devices from the loft at Hugh Macpherson's Barrhead house.

Now fears have been raised that the 37-year-old had access to sensitive information while his employer carried out work for the state, the Daily Record reports.

Macpherson worked for Glasgow-based Iomart designing data storage systems at the time and pled guilty to possessing indecent images of children and bestiality between June 2018 and March 2021, including some in the most extreme category.

Yesterday at Paisley Sheriff Court, he was placed on a Community Payback Order and on the sex offenders register for three years.

Sheriff Eoin McGinty ordered him to be supervised by social workers and attend a programme which helps reform sex offenders.

One source close to the case said: "Given how skilled he is with IT and the level of expertise he has, it's actually incredible they found anything at all. You'd have thought that he'd have made sure to cover his tracks properly. We think he completely forgot they were there.

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A man and a woman from Southampton and Swanmore have been sentenced to a total of 27 years in prison for the false imprisonment of a man in Waterlooville.

Sean David Perry, 37, of St Marys Road, Southampton, and Caprice Martine Buddle, 25, of Brook Close, Swanmore, appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court on Friday (4 November) for sentencing. Perry pleaded guilty to the charges against him on the first day of his trial, while Buddle was found guilty by a jury in May.

Perry was sentenced to 17 years in prison for conspiracy to rob, false imprisonment, conspiracy to commit fraud, assault by penetration and causing actual bodily harm.

Buddle was sentenced to 10 years for conspiracy to rob, false imprisonment, conspiracy to commit fraud and possession of a Class A drug.

The court heard how the victim, a man in his 30s, started talking to Buddle online in the spring of 2019. The victim met up with Buddle in person a number of times.

On May 5, Buddle lured the victim to an address on Thrush Walk in Waterlooville, where he was later confronted by two men who spent hours physically, verbally and sexually abusing him.

During this time, the victim was hit with a stool, kicked, and forced to drink cleaning fluid. He was made to hand over his phone, wallet, bank cards and pin numbers.

The jury heard how the victim was then blindfolded, put into the back of a vehicle and driven around for some time before being left at the side of a road. Recognising where he was, he was able to run home and call police.

Based on initial information, officers were able to locate Buddle at an address in Havant, where they arrested her that day.

Perry was arrested several days later and a lengthy and complex investigation involving DNA, CCTV, phone and bank card analysis, led to the pair being charged. They pleaded not guilty, however a jury found them guilty of all offences after less than an hour and a half of deliberation.

A 26-year-old man from London, 38-year-old man from Fareham and 27-year-old man from Winchester were also arrested in connection with this incident and have since been released from police custody with no further action being taken against them.

Detective Constable Emily Dummer, of Hampshire Constabularys Eastern Operation Amberstone team, said: The victim in this case was subjected to a harrowing and traumatic ordeal which lasted over several hours. While nothing will ever be able to take that away, I am pleased that Perry and Buddle will now face the consequences of their despicable actions and spend a significant amount of time in prison for what they have done.

I would like to commend the victims incredible courage throughout the investigation and court process, without which we would not have been able to secure this outcome. As a result of his bravery, Perry and Buddle are now in a place where they will not be able to inflict such horrific abuse to anyone else.

We hope that this sentence sends a strong message to the public that we will do all in our power to protect and support victims of abuse, while relentlessly pursuing offenders.

For advice about how to keep yourself safe when communicating with people online and via social media, visit the Get Safe Online website: https://www.getsafeonline.org/

If you have experienced anything similar or become the victim of such a crime, please get in touch with us via 101 or online. Always call 999 in an emergency.

If you do not feel comfortable speaking to us, there are other independent support agencies out there that can help.