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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.

Description

A registered sex offender from Tunbridge Wells has been caught using a fake online profile during attempts to groom and abuse a child.

Peter Johnson has now been jailed after he ignored previous measures imposed by the courts to prevent him from reoffending and targeted a teenage girl over several days.

Johnson, formerly known as Peter Austen, had been convicted in 2017 of possessing indecent images of children. For these offences, he received a suspended sentence and was added to the sex offender register for 10 years.

Alias

In October 2023, officers from Kent Police’s Offender Management Unit discovered Johnson had been using the social media platform Snapchat and was posting under an alias of Matt Harper.  

He had been contacting another user who told him she was only 13 and sent her a series of explicit images over several days, which included videos of himself.

Under the guise of Matt Harper, he had also sent voice messages, and images of himself fully clothed.

Unbeknown to Johnson, the child did not exist – her profile was part of a fictitious account. Some of the images he had sent showed his face and officers were able to recognise him as being Peter Johnson.

He was arrested on 15 November at his home near Liptraps Lane.

A phone was seized and checks led to the discovery of an illegal image of a child, in the most serious category.

Johnson, 37, was charged with engaging in sexual communication with a child, causing a child to engage in a sexual act, causing a child to view an image of sexual activity, making an indecent image of a child and failing to comply with sex offender notification requirements.

He pleaded guilty and on 10 October 2024 Johnson was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court to three years’ imprisonment, having already served almost a year on remand.

When he has served his sentence, Johnson will be subject to a 12-year sexual harm prevention order and will have to comply with sex offender notification requirements, for life.

Description

A mother was shocked to find out her partner was a convicted sex offender.

Karl Everiss had assured the woman he had no previous convictions and had never even been arrested before she let him meet her children. She had no idea he had been to prison for sexual activity with a child until the police came to her and broke the news.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Everiss was jailed for four years in July 2017 for four counts of sexual activity with a child. He was also given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.

In September this year, police carried out a home visit on him and found he had been using an alias of "silver fox" on Facebook, a name he had not registered with police as he was supposed to.

Following that, police made further inquiries and discovered Everiss had been in a relationship with a woman in Ashington. They went to her home and she said she had been in a relationship with him for around 12 months and that he had been staying there two or three times a week.

She also confirmed that her children had been present on some of the occasions he had been there. His contact with the children put him in breach of his sexual harm prevention order.

Albany Kidd, prosecuting, told the court: "She said after three months she let him meet the children after asking him if he had any previous convictions. He told her he was of good character and had never been arrested and was not that kind of person.

"Her children don't permanently reside there but they had been present on numerous occasions at the same time as the defendant, although they have never been left alone with him. However he did stay overnight while they were there."

The woman said Everiss was asleep upstairs and when police went up, they found him lying on the floor and he appeared to be trying to hide.

Everiss, 53, of Juliet Street, Ashington, who has 28 previous convictions, including two previous failures to comply with the sex offender notification requirements, pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to comply with the sex offender notification requirements and failing to comply with the sexual harm prevention order.

Jailing him for two years, Judge Tim Gittins said: "It's clear from what she had to say that she had started that relationship with you and allowed you to meet her children only on the understanding you were of good character. So there was a degree of deceit and manipulation by you.

"There is no evidence of harm here, beyond, no doubt, the awful sense of the reality hitting (the woman) and her children when it transpired what your true character was, when the police notified her of the circumstances of your previous conviction."

Helen Towers, defending, said: "His greatest mitigation is his early guilty plea, entered at the first opportunity." She added: "He didn't have a huge amount of contact with the children and there's no allegation of any untoward behaviour."

Description

A mother was shocked to find out her partner was a convicted sex offender.

Karl Everiss had assured the woman he had no previous convictions and had never even been arrested before she let him meet her children. She had no idea he had been to prison for sexual activity with a child until the police came to her and broke the news.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Everiss was jailed for four years in July 2017 for four counts of sexual activity with a child. He was also given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.

In September this year, police carried out a home visit on him and found he had been using an alias of "silver fox" on Facebook, a name he had not registered with police as he was supposed to.

Following that, police made further inquiries and discovered Everiss had been in a relationship with a woman in Ashington. They went to her home and she said she had been in a relationship with him for around 12 months and that he had been staying there two or three times a week.

She also confirmed that her children had been present on some of the occasions he had been there. His contact with the children put him in breach of his sexual harm prevention order.

Albany Kidd, prosecuting, told the court: "She said after three months she let him meet the children after asking him if he had any previous convictions. He told her he was of good character and had never been arrested and was not that kind of person.

"Her children don't permanently reside there but they had been present on numerous occasions at the same time as the defendant, although they have never been left alone with him. However he did stay overnight while they were there."

The woman said Everiss was asleep upstairs and when police went up, they found him lying on the floor and he appeared to be trying to hide.

Everiss, 53, of Juliet Street, Ashington, who has 28 previous convictions, including two previous failures to comply with the sex offender notification requirements, pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to comply with the sex offender notification requirements and failing to comply with the sexual harm prevention order.

Jailing him for two years, Judge Tim Gittins said: "It's clear from what she had to say that she had started that relationship with you and allowed you to meet her children only on the understanding you were of good character. So there was a degree of deceit and manipulation by you.

"There is no evidence of harm here, beyond, no doubt, the awful sense of the reality hitting (the woman) and her children when it transpired what your true character was, when the police notified her of the circumstances of your previous conviction."

Helen Towers, defending, said: "His greatest mitigation is his early guilty plea, entered at the first opportunity." She added: "He didn't have a huge amount of contact with the children and there's no allegation of any untoward behaviour."

Description

A man who repeatedly abused a young girl, treating her, in her words, as, “a sex toy”, was today (Tuesday, October 15) sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment.

Allan Spacey committed the offences on a victim who a judge said he knew was, “young, naïve and vulnerable”, at the time.

But Durham Crown Court heard that despite being convicted of the offending, following a trial in August, the 68-year-old defendant of The Crescent, High Etherley, near Bishop Auckland, remains in denial.

The court was told the victim felt alone in the world and self-harmed as well as attempting to take her own life twice, in the wake of the abuse.

But she eventually disclosed what had happened to her at Spacey’s hands and it led to the defendant being charged with six counts of sexual assault, one accounting for multiple offences.

Emma Dowling, prosecuting, said after the police became involved, Spacey sent the girl numerous messages.

He went on trial at the court on August 19 and, following a week-long hearing, was found guilty on all six counts by the jury, including some of sexual assault on a girl under 13.

Today’s sentencing hearing was read an impact statement by the victim who said she still struggles to believe what Spacey did to her and what he took from her, having put her, “through hell.”

Labelling her abuser as, "weak and pathetic", she said: “I want to protect other young girls and show them what Alan Spacey is.”

She said she was, “young and naïve” at the time and that Spacey knew how vulnerable she was.

“How can you blame a child for her own sexual assault,” she stated, and she said she fears the effects of Spacey's abuse will live with her for the rest of her life.

But she said his “sick perversions” have made her strong, and, following his conviction, she now feels, “on her way to better days.”

The court heard Spacey has 12 convictions for 38 past offences, but those are relatively old and unrelated to the present matter.

Robert Mochrie, in mitigation, said there was little he could say on his client’s behalf, as, “unhappily he still denies this was the correct verdict.”

But he said the defendant accepts, in the light of that verdict, that the judge must perform her public duty and pass an appropriate sentence.

“He is, of course, 68 and any sentence will take him into old age.

“As there are multiple offences, I ask you take into account totality.”

Mr Mochrie added: “As he will be an elderly gentleman when released you might be able to temper sentence slightly to take account of that.”

Judge Sarah Mallett quoted the victim in describing the defendant having treated her, “like a sex toy,” and having put her, “through hell”.

The judge told Spacey: “You knew how young, naïve and vulnerable she was.

“At the time she was self-harming and tried to commit suicide twice.

“Despite everything she has endured, however, she has matured and is an impressive young woman.”

The judge said the defendant has had, “a strong work ethic”, through his life and she bore in mind his age, but she noted, “there was an absence of guilty pleas in this case.”

Imposing the 15-year sentence, Judge Mallett said Spacey would have to serve at least two-thirds before he can be considered for release by the Parole Board.

Upon completion of the sentence, he will also have to serve an additional year the subject of licence supervision.

Other aspects of the sentence mean he will be barred from ever working with children and will not be allowed unsupervised contact with anyone under 18, by way of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Spacey will also be subject to notification requirements by way of registration as a sex offender, again indefinitely.

A lifetime restraining order prevents him for ever contacting or approaching his victim.

Description

A man from Wallsend who used social media platforms to send explicit messages to and request indecent images from children has been sentenced following a National Crime Agency investigation.

Daniel Lee, 29, used multiple social media platforms to send more than 60,000 messages across 2,405 conversations to acquire indecent images of children through conversations with victims.

NCA officers recovered a total of 97 Category A, 94 Category B and 215 Category C images and videos from his device.

Nine UK male and female child victims were identified, aged between 13 and 16 at the time of his offending.

In one chat, a 14-year-old victim told Lee her age but he continued to engage in sexually explicit messaging via social media and using voice notes.

In another, Lee asked the age of his victim and continued to ask for indecent images after he was told she was 15.

Lee also deliberately used a false profile image on his accounts, telling one 14-year-old victim that he was 16 and sending her £20 during the course of the conversation to encourage sexually explicit messages. Lee swapped more than 4000 messages with this victim alone.

When searching Lee's phone, officers found that Lee had also messaged a number of accounts asking if they were selling sexual content. Numerous messages indicated he wanted to pay for images, videos or live 'sessions' but had no money to pay.

Lee was arrested at his home in August 2022. On arrest, he told NCA officers "I hold my hands up to it, I should never have done it". He went on to provide a no comment interview.

He was charged with 45 offences including inciting a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity involving penetration, sexual communication with a child and making and distributing indecent images of children. He pleaded guilty to all the offences at Newcastle Crown Court in July 2024.

Lee was jailed for four years and five months at the same court today. He will be subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be on the sex offenders register for life.

Danielle Pownall from the National Crime Agency said: "The NCA is committed to protecting children and bringing those who seek this material out to justice.

"Daniel Lee was a prolific offender, targeting children on social media sites and soliciting illegal images from them for his own gratification.

"We uncovered tens of thousands of messages on Lee's device, both to his victims and to other accounts to request sexual content. He preyed on vulnerable children to continue his offending."

Bethany Raine, Specialist Prosecutor for the CPS, said: "Daniel Lee made a number of different accounts with false personas, for the predatory purpose of targeting children online and obtaining sexual images of them.

"His offending has affected dozens of children, who were manipulated and exploited, all for his own sexual gratification.

"The CPS will continue to work closely with law enforcement partners to relentlessly pursue justice for victims and prosecuting those who engage in online child sexual abuse."

Description

A BASILDON man, who has been described as a "monster," has been jailed for sexually assaulting a child multiple times.

Harrison Hawkins, 37, of Kings Road, Steeple View, Basildon, was sentenced to a total of four years and six months in prison.

At the same court in May, Hawkins admitted three counts of sexual assault on a child under 13, two counts of taking indecent images of a child, and one count of possession of extreme pornographic material.

Officers launched an investigation in June 2020 after receiving reports of indecent images of a child on Hawkins' phone.

Then, allegations of sexual abuse were put to Hawkins in November 2021 after the victim bravely told officers from our Child Abuse Investigation Team (CAIT) about further incidents.

Hawkins was interviewed about these allegations and replied "no comment" when questioned.

He was subsequently charged and pleaded not guilty to all charges but changed his plea to guilty midway through the trial.

Today he was sentenced to four years and six months behind bars for sexual assault of a child and 24 months behind bars for two further counts of sexual assault on a child.

He was also jailed for nine months for each count of taking indecent images of a child and three months for possession of an extreme pornographic image.

All the sentences will run concurrently.

Hawkins was also given a 10-year restraining order and a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

The court ordered forfeiture and destruction of devices connected to the images and to pay a victim surcharge of £120.

He has been placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Det Con Ian Burgess, who led the investigation, said: “Today’s sentence reflects the gravity of Hawkins’ offending.

“I want to pay tribute to the victim and her family who has been through an awful ordeal. They have displayed immense courage and dignity throughout.

“I hope today’s result brings some closure for them.”

A mum, who remains anonymous, has praised the police after her daughter's abuser was jailed.

She added: “We have been believed and I would say to anyone else who finds themselves in this position to go to the police and report it. You will be listened to and treated with respect.

“It feels like a black cloud has been lifted from over our heads and we can start to rebuild our lives.

“He was like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He appeared charming, friendly, and seemed so shy.

“But I know it was all an act and he is, in fact, a monster.

“We have got a life ahead of us and that is thanks to the justice Essex Police helped us achieve.

“The officer is our hero. I’m so thankful to him. He saved our lives.”

Description

A convicted paedophile ordered to stay away from an ex partner phoned her nearly 250 times in a single day, and tried to get around his court order by sending her messages within bank transfers.

Robert Pratt would deposit nominal sums into her account, often just one pence, with an accompanying reference such as “ring me”.

The 31-year-old admitted breaching a non-molestation order and a restraining order and was jailed at Leeds Crown Court.

He also admitted failing to adhere to the sex offender register by failing to tell the police that he had been living at a shared property after being released from prison.

Pratt, of Manygates Lane, Wakefield, was jailed in 2016 for having sex with a 13-year-old girl. He was given the court orders last year to keep him away from his ex partner.

Prosecutor Carmel Pearson said that Pratt sent 31 WhatsApp messages to the woman in one day, and phones her 51 times.

The next day he tried to call 249 items and sent 72 WhatsApp messages.

Mitigating, Matthew Stewart said that Pratt accepted that jail was “inevitable”. He said he had no issues with drugs or alcohol.

He said that his father was ill and that Pratt had no contact with his own three children due to the nature of his convictions.

Judge Mushtaq Khokhar jailed Lumb for 18 months.

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A Dunfermline takeaway boss who made indecent sexual remarks to two teenage girls has been put on the sex offenders register.

Eddie Yan Kin NG, 47, manager at Chinese restaurant Rice Delight in Linburn Road, told a 15-year-old she “could be naked” if she wanted and asked a 13-year-old to call him “Uncle Eddie”.