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Description

A convicted sex offender who preyed on a woman after a night out in Liverpool has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years.

Jordan Scott-Michael, also known as Jordan Callaghan, began talking to the woman after she left a McDonald's restaurant in the city-centre.

The 48-year-old went to a hotel with the victim, who was in her 30s, and raped and sexually assaulted her.

Scott-Michael, of Halton Lodge Avenue in Runcorn, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court after admitting rape, sexual assault and two counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Description

A Bishop’s Stortford man is beginning a prison sentence after being convicted of multiple child sex offences against the same child over a period of four years.

Colin James, 50, of Parsonage Lane, was charged in February with six offences: four counts of sexual activity with a child and two of sexual assault.

The offences, all of which were non-penetrative, happened between November 2018 and January 2023.

Following a five-day trial at St Albans Crown Court that started on August 27, James, who pleaded not guilty, was convicted by majority verdicts of 11-1 on five of the six charges he faced. He was cleared of one of the sexual assault allegations.

At a sentencing hearing at the same court on Friday (October 18), James was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison.

He was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order and an indefinite restraining order. Furthermore, he will be on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

James, who was living in London Road in Stortford at the time of the offences, is known to hundreds of train passengers at the town’s railway station as a member of Greater Anglia staff in the ticket office.

A spokesperson for the train operator said: “Immediately upon discovering these allegations, Greater Anglia removed Colin James from duty.

“He has not been at work since then, and his contract has been terminated.”

Description

James Thomas Hearn, of Bracken Lane, appeared at Southampton Crown Court yesterday (October 17) where he was sentenced to four years in a Young Offenders Institution.

The teenager previously pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child under 16, one multiple incident count of sexual activity with a child under 13 and one multiple incident count of sexual assault of a child under 13 at a hearing on September 12.

The court heard how police received a report on November 10, 2022, that Hearn, who was 16 at the time, was having sexual intercourse with a 12-year-old girl. 

Hearn then targeted a 13-year-old girl on social media in December last year. The court explained how he met with the young girl in the early hours of December, 14, 2023, at Redbridge train station, where he sexually assaulted her.  A short time later, he sexually assaulted her a second time close to his home address. The victim told her mum what had happened to her, and together they reported it to police.

Hearn began sending the victim threatening messages a couple of months later in March 2024.

Police Staff Investigator Rebecca Stevens and Detective Constable Gemma Boyle, of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Western Child Abuse Investigation Team, who led the investigations, said: “What happened to these girls at the hands of Hearn is far beyond what most of us will ever be able to comprehend, and we thank them sincerely for coming forward and reporting what happened to the police.

“Their courage and bravery means that Hearn will now spend time in prison for his abhorrent crimes, which these girls must live with for the rest of their lives. Nothing can ever take away what happened to them, but we do hope that this sentence goes some way to helping them move forward with their lives. 

“We also hope that the news of this sentence helps others who have suffered similar abuse to find the confidence to come forward and speak to the police knowing their voices will be heard and that there is support available.” 

Hearn was sentenced to four years in a Young Offenders Institution, given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely.  

Description

An Essex man who made payments to live stream and direct the sexual abuse of children in the Philippines has been jailed for 15 years.

Cesar Cordero Conejo, 39, from Ilford, was investigated by National Crime Agency officers, after being identified by international law enforcement agencies as a UK-based offender obtaining child sexual abuse material and livestreamed child sexual abuse from a Filipino woman.

Information regarding Conejo, from between September 2022 and February 2023, was provided to the UK. This included a number of message exchanges between him and the woman, which were provided by Homeland Security in the US.

In one message, she told Conejo that she is giving birth but doesn't have money to go to hospital, to which he replies: "well good luck ok, hope you have another girl." Later in the chat he asked her to get the children to carry out sex acts on each other.

In further messages, Conejo indicated that he wanted to travel to the Philippines to rape one of the children himself, saying that he'd pay the woman 100 dollars a day in return.

NCA investigators arrested Conejo in July 2023 and conducted searches of his home, seizing a number of devices, including a laptop and phone. Forensic examination of the devices revealed they contained in excess of 12,500 indecent images of children, including 4,706 in the most severe category A.

Further chat records between him and various Filipino women dating back six years were also identified. One message stated: "Do you have PayPal darling. I wanted to see your daughter today."

Financial enquiries showed that he had sent a number of Filipino women a total of £1,300 over the course of six years. At least sixteen of these payments were linked to one woman who abused children known to her, for financial gain.

A number of child victims were rescued and safeguarded in the Philippines, including three in relation to this case.

These three children would have been aged between five and thirteen at the time of the offending. The imagery obtained from the Filipino woman included category A images (the most severe) involving penetration with a number of objects, and oral rape. The youngest rape victim was only 2-3 years old and was directed to perform sexual acts with others.

In custody, he was charged with causing or inciting the sexual exploitation of a child under the age of 13. He was later charged with further counts of causing or inciting the sexual exploitation of a child, offences relating to making indecent images of children, possessing indecent images of children and possessing an extreme pornographic image.

He pleaded guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 4 January and was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment at the same court today (17 October). He will also become a Registered Sex Offender for life and was given a 20-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

NCA Operations Manager Jen Cruickshank said: "This was a horrific case which is shocking on so many levels.

"Not only did Conejo orchestrate the most depraved abuse imaginable on vulnerable children, purely for his own sexual pleasure, he displayed his intentions to travel to the Philippines to carry out these attacks personally.

"He is a dangerous, high harm offender who posed a significant risk to children.

"The fact they were on the other side of the world probably hadn't escaped his attention, and no doubt made him think he'd avoid detection.

"However, the NCA has the capabilities and international reach to ensure that offenders like Conejo don't escape justice."

Description

A pervert travelled 300 miles to Newcastle after agreeing to pay a woman £100 to have sex with her 11-year-old daughter.

Jason Martin thought he was talking to a mother online who had advertised her daughter for sale when he eagerly enquired about a price. In fact it was a profile set up by an undercover police officer.

Having agreed to pay to have sex with the youngster, the 55-year-old travelled by train from his home in Kent to Newcastle. When confronted by police, he claimed he was just here to visit Barnard Castle, in County Durham. But he had a picture of the youngster as his home screen on his phone. Now he has been jailed for almost eight years.

Newcastle Crown Court heard it was in July this year that an undercover police officer set up a profile on a chat site using the name "Dau for sale", which prosecutors say was short for "daughter for sale". Martin made contact and said "Yes please, how old?".

He was told the child was 11 and that she was tall for her age and blonde. Martin asked for a price and expressed a willingness to travel to Newcastle from Kent, where he was living.

The conversation moved to WhatsApp and continued for four weeks. Nick Lane, prosecuting, said: "A price of £100 was agreed by the defendant for full sex.

"It was agreed he would book a hotel in central Newcastle. The officer sent a number of pictures of the child with her face blanked out.

"The defendant expressed some concern it was a set up." However he was not perturbed and there was a discussion about the mother of the child watching him having sex with her.

He was sent more pictures and the arrangement was changed for the mother to book the hotel for the meeting, which was planned for August 14 this year. On that day, Martin travelled from his home to Newcastle by train.

He was intercepted by plain clothes officers at the ticket barrier at Newcastle Central Station. He said "S*** how did you know what I looked like".

Description

A teenage peaodphile who persuaded a five-year-old boy to join him in a toilet then subjected him to a serious sexual assault.

Yonas Gebreab was only caught after the boy’s older sister became suspicious and confronted him.

The 19-year-old was jailed at Leeds Crown Court this week after admitting the serious sexual assault.

The court heard that Gebreab had taken the boy into the toilet in March last year, but was found by the older sibling.

When she asked what they were both doing, Gebreab said he was just helping the boy wash his hands, but she noticed their hands were dry.

The boy then told her what had happened. The police were contacted and Gebreab, of Bayswater Row, Harehills, was arrested.

He confessed the sex attack to police. Forensic evidence also supported the case against him. He has no previous convictions.

Mitigating, Timothy Jacobs said there was “remorse on his part” and there was “significant immaturity”, given that he was only 18 at the time of the offence.

He said that Gebreab was also vulnerable and was partially deaf with learning difficulties. He said that given the victim’s young age “the passage of time might lessen the impact” on the child’s life.

A report into Gebreab found that he was “emotionally and sexually underdeveloped”.

The judge, Recorder Edward Legard told him: “You forced him [the boy] into a degrading sexual act in order to satisfy a perverted seuxal urge.

“Your actions will have profound consequences for the victim and others in his family.

“This kind of offending inevitably causes untold damage and distress.

“What you did was unforgivable. You took advantage of a very young child. No doubt given his tender years, he would have trusted you implicitly.”

He sentenced Gebreab to three years’ detention in a young offender institute. He was put on the sex offender register for life and given a life-long sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

Description

A teenage peaodphile who persuaded a five-year-old boy to join him in a toilet then subjected him to a serious sexual assault.

Yonas Gebreab was only caught after the boy’s older sister became suspicious and confronted him.

The 19-year-old was jailed at Leeds Crown Court this week after admitting the serious sexual assault.

The court heard that Gebreab had taken the boy into the toilet in March last year, but was found by the older sibling.

When she asked what they were both doing, Gebreab said he was just helping the boy wash his hands, but she noticed their hands were dry.

The boy then told her what had happened. The police were contacted and Gebreab, of Bayswater Row, Harehills, was arrested.

He confessed the sex attack to police. Forensic evidence also supported the case against him. He has no previous convictions.

Mitigating, Timothy Jacobs said there was “remorse on his part” and there was “significant immaturity”, given that he was only 18 at the time of the offence.

He said that Gebreab was also vulnerable and was partially deaf with learning difficulties. He said that given the victim’s young age “the passage of time might lessen the impact” on the child’s life.

A report into Gebreab found that he was “emotionally and sexually underdeveloped”.

The judge, Recorder Edward Legard told him: “You forced him [the boy] into a degrading sexual act in order to satisfy a perverted seuxal urge.

“Your actions will have profound consequences for the victim and others in his family.

“This kind of offending inevitably causes untold damage and distress.

“What you did was unforgivable. You took advantage of a very young child. No doubt given his tender years, he would have trusted you implicitly.”

He sentenced Gebreab to three years’ detention in a young offender institute. He was put on the sex offender register for life and given a life-long sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

Description

A West Lothian who told jurors that he wouldn’t abuse women because it would be like “scaring away the prey” has been jailed.

Tendayi Magadu, 51, made the hunting reference when he told prosecution lawyer Shanti Maguire that he wouldn’t harm females. However, jurors at the High Court in Edinburgh heard evidence that showed Magadu raping two women, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

The court heard how the sex offender made a recording with his mobile phone of the rape of one his victims. He also made a recording of his victim “doing a private act” with also the intention of obtaining personal “sexual gratification” or her “humiliation”.

Magadu, of Broxburn, denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him by the Crown. He gave evidence in his own defence.

During proceedings, jurors heard how Magadu verbally abused his victims, calling one of the women “used goods”. When Ms Maguire asked him about the abuse, Magadu denied any wrongdoing.

He said: “Why would I do that? That would be like scaring away the prey.”

Magadu was convicted on Thursday afternoon of raping two women in the West Lothian town. These sexual assaults took place between August 2010 and November 2019. He was also convicted on voyeurism charges by making recordings of one of the woman, who is now aged 42.

Magadu also raped another woman, who is now aged 46. Magadu was brought to justice after police learned of his activities.

Jurors saw the recording that he made of him raping the woman. The court heard that at the time of the assault, the female, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was asleep and was incapable of providing consent to her attacker.

Magadu removed her clothing and raped her. When she awoke, he pushed her on her bod and restrained her before continuing the attack. He then made two further recordings of her performing private acts violating voyeurism laws.

The court also heard evidence that on an occasion between August and November 2010, Magadu raped another woman whilst she was “intoxicated”.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges. In her closing speech to jurors, Ms Maguire urged them to return guilty verdicts in the case.

She said that Magadu’s decription of women as “prey” was indicative and insightful of his wider attitudes towards females. Ms Maguire added: “It may have been an analogy but what an analogy it was.”

She also said: “The Crown have led a clear, powerful and compelling body of evidence against the accused.

“I invite you to find the accused guilty of each of the charges on the indictment.”

After conviction, it emerged that Magadu had convictions for road traffic offences and had served a prison sentence for attempting to pervert the course of justice. Defence solicitor advocate Brian Gilfedder asked judge Lady Poole to continue his client’s bail ahead of a sentence hearing next month.

Lady Poole deferred sentence to obtain a report on Magadu’s background. She also placed him on the Sex Offenders Register. She told Magadu: “You will be remanded in custody meantime.”

Lady Poole then thanked them for their service in a case which was not “easy” or “pleasant” to serve as jurors. She also thanked them for their service which she described as being of “real value” to the public interest.

Magadu will be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on November 15 2024.

Description

A man jailed for sex crimes against two girls has been convicted of raping a third, following a National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation.

Aftab Hussain, 45, admitted raping a 15-year-old child in Rotherham two decades ago, today (16 October) at Sheffield Crown Court.

Hussain is already serving a 24-year jail sentence for twice raping a girl and indecently assaulting another, following evidence gathering by officers from Operation Stovewood – the NCA’s investigation into historic allegations of sexual abuse in Rotherham.

Operation Stovewood officers launched their third investigation after identifying another woman who may have been a victim of sexual abuse by Hussain.

Specially-trained officers spoke with the woman, who told them that Hussain raped her in a park in Rotherham.

She recounted how Hussain, having spotted her sat alone in the park, harassed her, repeatedly asking her to follow him into a secluded area. She recognised Hussain as a man who had been violent towards a friend and repeatedly refused to accompany him but he became threatening, demanding that she join him or he was “gonna have her”.

The girl again refused but Hussain grabbed her, pulling her onto her feet, before taking her to a spot beside a canal where he raped her.

Afterwards Hussain left the girl on her own beside the canal.

She reported the incident when Operation Stovewood officers spoke with her in 2019.

NCA lead investigating officer, Mitch Leach, said: “The NCA has ensured that the women Hussain raped and assaulted when they were children have had their stories of horrific abuse heard in court.

“Hussain’s victims have shown enormous courage by recounting what he did to them, and now another woman who bravely spoke out after years suffering in silence has finally seen her abuser face justice.

“I urge anyone who was abused as a child to please report it to the police. Specially trained officers are ready and waiting to help.”

Adults can report sexual abuse suffered as a child by calling police on 101, or reporting it in person at a police station.

Hussain was sentenced to a further eight years’ imprisonment for the offence, to be served concurrent with his existing sentence.

The NCA's Operation Stovewood remains the single biggest investigation of its kind, looking at allegations of abuse in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013. NCA officers have identified more than 1,100 victims, and to date 38 people – including Hussain - have been convicted.

Description

A man, convicted of serious stalking offences against a Watford woman he barely knew, was sentenced to eight years and three months imprisonment at Wood Green Crown Court on Thursday (10 October).

Karl Chads, age 41, from Charlwood Street in London was also placed on the sex offenders register for life and has a stringent indefinite restraining order banning him from various stations in Watford and Canary Wharf, as well as contacting former and present employees of a company.

He was sentenced to a 99 month custodial sentence with an extended licence due to being categorised as 'dangerous' by the judge.

Chads was arrested on 18 December 2023 and charged with stalking with fear of violence against two victims a woman and her partner. He was also charged with burglary on 17 December 2023, criminal damage on 18 December 2023 and trespassing with the intent to commit a relevant sexual offence between 17 and 18 December 2023. He was found guilty following a nine-day trial on Thursday 13 June, 2024.

The court heard how Chads, despite having only met the female victim face to face three times, bombarded the woman with unwanted texts, phone calls and voicemails from October 2023. He sent her gifts and handwritten letters in the post. Then went on to break into her property.

Chads quickly took over every part of her life leaving her terrified in her own home and at work, said Detective Constable Honeybell, from the Local Crime Unit. We are pleased he received a substantial sentence and is not able to torment her or any other women further. He is a very dangerous man who has made the most serious of threats, against a woman and her partner both of whom he hardly knew. His obsessive behaviour was unwanted and unwarranted. He made it clear that nothing was going to stop him from getting his victim, despite barely knowing her.

She explained: Chads became increasingly fixated on the victim, spiralling into more erratic and frightening behaviour. Despite the woman ignoring previous messages and making it clear she did not want him contacting her, he continued to barrage her with unwanted contact, declaring his love for her and posting about her on social media over a prolonged period. He continued to spiral, sending unwanted gifts and flowers with handwritten love letters, despite the victim not giving him her address.

Not content with tormenting her, Chads then turned his sights on his victims partner, threatening to blow his head off and making violent sexual threats to harm the victim in front of him.

On 17 December, she received a call from an unknown number, Chads was breathing down the phone. At 9.45pm that evening, Chads broke into her home through a bathroom window and stole her journal. DC Honeybell said:

Fortunately she was not at home at the time otherwise he may have followed through with his threats. Safeguarding measures were immediately put in place. However, not content with his earlier actions, he returned to her address, hours later, breaking two glass panels in the front door and reaching into the property, taking her clothing and throwing it across the garden. Police caught Chads again forcing his way into her property, he was found with seven condoms in his pocket.

I hope the sentence in this case brings some closure to what has been a terrifying experience for the victim. This result serves as testament that the police and criminal justice system do take these offences seriously and we will do everything in our power to bring those responsible to justice. I would like to issue a personal plea that anyone who has lived, or is living through experiences like this, makes contact with us. Taking that first step can be hard, but we are here to help, you will be listened to and we will protect you. Violence against Women and Girls is a priority for Herts Police.

Stalking is fixated, obsessive, unwanted and repeated behaviour. If you are experiencing stalking, whether from a stranger, or someone known to you, please report it. DC Honeybell added: Stalking can affect every part of your life and can lead to even more serious offences. We are here to help and for domestic cases we have a Domestic Abuse Investigation and Safeguarding Unit.

Description

A "risk-taking" voyeur covertly filmed two women in the bath or showering on separate occasions, in one case after entering the victim’s home as a trespasser.

But when Paul Shields tried to repeat the act, the second woman being filmed, with whom he had an “infatuation”, realised a camera phone was being pointed at her from above the bathroom door.

Durham Crown Court was told she shouted at the intruder and the defendant fled, retreating by the way he entered her home, via a landing window and across roofing.

The woman, who had previously been subject of inappropriate remarks by Shields and the recipient of unwanted presents, one of them a vibrator, informed police and the defendant was arrested later that day.

When interviewed, he said he had seen the woman’s bathroom light going on, at 6.20am that day, February 24, and “on impulse” climbed onto her garage roof and into her home, setting his phone to record.

But when she shouted, he said he, “came to his senses” and left.

He told police he had not viewed any footage he might have captured of the woman in the shower and deleted it from his phone, adding that he was “appalled” at what he had done.

Philip Morley, prosecuting, said subsequent police inquiries revealed this had not been an isolated incident.

It emerged that four months earlier he had also sneaked into the same woman's home and did something similar, but on that occasion without being spotted.

Police discovered it by seizing his mobile phone and finding a video of the same woman in the shower.

She confirmed she was completely unaware any footage had been taken on that occasion, in October last year, which was also at about 6.25am.

Mr Morley said in her statement to police, the shocked victim said she was “sickened” after the discovery of the previous footage, of which she had been unaware.

She said she was worried what his motives were as to what he may have done with that footage.

The victim said she was also concerned how many times he had trespassed into her home to carry out, “such a disgusting and intrusive act”.

Mr Morley said examination of the defendant’s computer hard drive revealed there had been a second victim.

A folder was found with another woman’s first name on, followed by five stars.

It was found to contain 20 videos of another woman in the bath or shower.

That victim was identified, and, when informed, she was horrified to be told of the police discovery.

When interviewed about the package of footage from the computer folder the defendant gave police a prepared statement confessing to having, “an interest in voyeurism”, but he initially claimed the footage was taken with the victim’s consent.

Mr Morley said given the woman’s shocked reaction, “that was clearly not the case at all”.

In her victim statement she said she felt "devastated" any man could have done this and feared it would have a huge impact on her mental health, but she added that despite the “great shock”, she would, “fight it”.

The 55-year-old defendant, of Blencathra Way, Chester-le-Street, admitted one count of trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence and 21 of voyeurism, offences committed in Bowburn and Darlington.

Robin Turton, for Shields, said he has nothing similar on his record, and the only other matters were unrelated and of some age.

Mr Turton said the defendant has struggled for most of his life with his mental health and since committing the offences, assessments have pinpointed potential disorders, including ADHD, which may have played a part in his offending.

The defendant has also sought assistance from a charity dealing with sex offenders to address his offending, work he is keen to continue, outlining the remorse he feels.

Despite his issues, Mr Turton said the defendant has held down a good job, which would be at risk if he was to be jailed.

He added: “This is a man for whom there’s a realistic prospect of rehabilitation with the appropriate support network, so he can put this behind him.

“I would argue that notwithstanding these shameful offences, he is someone who can be sentenced in a constructive way rather than with a custodial sentence.”

But Recorder Andrew Dallas said the defendant had admitted 21 separate cases of voyeuristic activity, which he described as, “extraordinary and worrying behaviour”, which both his unwary victims found, “extremely upsetting and shocking”.

Recorder Dallas told the defendant he displayed, “extraordinary risk taking”, on more than one occasion, “to satisfy your sexual interest in voyeurism”.

The Recorder said it was “concerning” the level of risk the defendant was prepared to take in such circumstances and after being arrested it soon emerged it was not, “a one-off.”

He told Shields: “I take  the view it’s too serious for anything other than an immediate custodial sentence.”

Imposing a three-year sentence, he made Shields subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and restraining orders relating to both women, indefinitely.

Shields will also be subject to notification as a sex offender, also for life.

Forfeiture and destruction was also ordered for the seized phone and the computer hard drive on which the offending material was recovered by police.

Description

A teenager caught with indecent images of children has been spared prison.

Leon Dunlavy was arrested on August 22 last year following the police receiving intelligence about what he had been doing. When quizzed, he said he may have seen indecent images through pop-ups redirecting him but said he would click off them.

Newcastle Crown Court heard he also said he was on Discord and that people "may have sent him links to indecent images but they were not at his request and he didn't save them". His devices were then checked and on one phone there was no illegal material but there was evidence of him using search terms associated people searching for child abuse images.

On a second phone, two of the most serious, category A images and one category C image was found. On a cloud storage device, 45 category A videos, 27 category B videos and 12 category C videos were discovered, along with two extreme pornography videos featuring bestiality. The ages of the children were estimated to be between four and 14.

Dunlavy, 17 at the time of the offences and now 19, of Chestnut Avenue, Cowgate, Newcastle, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and one of possessing extreme pornography. He said he was only interested in the images of older teens and was disgusted by some of the material showing younger children.

He was sentenced to a two year community order with 120 hours unpaid work. He will also have to sign the sex offenders register for five years and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order.

Jonathan Cousins, defending, said: "This is a very young man who leads a very sheltered life, is heavily reliant on the support of his family, considerably isolated and not a mature offender."

Description

A sex offender who committed a series of historic sex offences in Staffordshire dating back decades has been convicted. Dean Hearson, of Brown Edge, a village in the county, was put on trial charged with 15 counts of indecent assault on a male and four counts of indecency with a child.

The offences were reported to Staffordshire Police in 2018, but dated back to the 1990s and early 2000s. Once reported the Staffordshire force’s Rape and Serious Sexual Offences team launched an investigation.

The 55-year-old was found guilty of the 19 charges at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Wednesday (October 16). He has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life and given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Description

A former Bedfordshire Police officer who targeted vulnerable teenage girls over social media for sexual gratification has been jailed for over three years today (Wednesday 16 October).

Elliot Wright, aged 29 from Henlow, Bedfordshire, was working as an officer in the collaborated Roads Policing Unit when he arranged to meet a teenage girl who was at risk after finishing a shift on 21 March this year.

The girl, from Hertfordshire, was subject to a deprivation of liberty order for her own safety. Staff at her care home contacted police when they saw her getting into a car, and officers were able to track down Wright’s vehicle near his home in Bedfordshire a short time later and arrested him.

The victim told officers Wright had asked her to delete his messages before he was stopped. Following his arrest by Hertfordshire Constabulary officers, detectives traced potential further victims on his social media including a 16-year-old girl who he had paid in return for sexual images.

An investigation into Wright, led by Hertfordshire Constabulary, showed he had been aware she was vulnerable and often needed money to buy food. He offered her £3 on one occasion for images.

He was soon charged and was immediately suspended by Bedfordshire Police at the time of his arrest. He had his vetting removed and was dismissed from the force in July.

Wright pleaded guilty to three counts of inciting the sexual exploitation of a child, arranging the sexual exploitation of a child, abduction of a child in care, paying for the sexual services of a child and perverting the course of justice. A further charge of misconduct in a public office, which he denied, was ordered to lay on his file.

He was sentenced by a High Court judge to a total of 42 months at St Albans Crown Court, and will serve half his sentence in prison and the second half on licence. Wright was also granted an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Description

A paedophile from Nottingham exchanged sexual messages with a 12-year-old girl “because he was sitting at home bored”. Pervert Richard Bull asked the girl for photos of her breasts.

But ‘Dani’ was really an undercover police officer posing as a young girl to snare like-minded sex offenders like the Bestwood 62-year-old. Jailing him for three years and four months, Judge James Sampson said: “You thought you were talking to a real 12-year-old and you were trying to get that child to engage in abusive, sexual, activity.

“In the event, there was no child because this was a police officer posing as a child decoy. The custody threshold has been crossed by some margin and I have no option other than to send you to prison.”

Stephen Kemp, prosecuting, said an undercover police officer created a fake profile for a 12-year-old girl called Dani and began posting on a social media site. He said Bull began talking to her online on July 4, last year, and their conversations soon moved to WhatsApp.

The prosecutor said: “Over a period of time, Mr Bull was asking for photos of her in her underwear and photos of her breasts." The prosecutor said Bull also asked the 'teen' if he could be her "virtual boyfriend".

"He sent her an image of himself, but it is right to say it was not a sexual image," said Mr Kemp. Mr Kemp said the communication stopped on July 20, last year and Bull, of The Mount, was arrested on July 27.

He pleaded guilty to attempting to cause or incite a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and attempting to engage a child under 13 to engage in sexual communication. He has two previous convictions for unrelated offences from many years ago which the judge discounted when he sentenced him.

Mark Hemmings, mitigating, said the fact that ‘Dani’ was an undercover police officer meant that there was no actual victim and that his client had pleaded guilty to the two offences. He said: “He is 62, nearly 63 and he is not in good health.

“He has been out of work through sickness for a considerable time and Mr Bull says these offences began because he was sitting at home bored and got into this wrong element of behaviour.”

As well as the jail sentence, Judge Sampson handed the defendant a lifetime sexual harm prevention order and placed him on the sex offender register, also for life.