Latest Offenders

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A predator who abused a girl has been jailed for almost two decades.

Stephen Frame, 34, raped and sexually assaulted the girl numerous times.

The brave survivor came forward and reported the abuse to police in 2022, and the Force’s Safeguarding Department immediately launched an investigation.

Frame was swiftly arrested by police but denied the allegations against him.

In 2023, he was charged with a series of offences, including rape and sexual assault.

And in April, Frame, of South Eldon Street, South Shields, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court where a jury saw through his lies and convicted him of all counts of the sexual abuse.

On Tuesday (July 2), he appeared at the same court where he was sentenced to 17 years behind bars.

He will also spend the rest of his life on the Sex Offenders’ Register and was given a life-long Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and restraining order to further monitor his behaviour when he is released from prison.

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A 60-year-old man from Cheshire has been jailed for 30 years after being found guilty of a string of sex offences.

Eric Mottershead, of no fixed address but from Congleton, was found guilty of 29 of the 35 offences following a three-week trial in March.

The offences included rape, indecent assault, assault of a child under 13 by penetration, assault by penetration and taking indecent photos of a child.

Mottershead appeared at Chester Crown Court on Friday, July 5, to be sentenced to 30 years in prison and two years on an extended licence.

He was also given a restraining order and made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.

The offences related to four children between 2001 and 2007 in the Congleton area.

On September 8, 2020, one of the victims came forward to Cheshire Police reporting that they had been abused when they were a child by Mottershead.

Mottershead was subsequently arrested on September 16, 2020, his house was searched and a number of devices were seized. 

These proved pivotal to the case. They were later examined by the Digital Investigation Unit and numerous indecent images of children were recovered.

Investigating officer DC Lee Ferris, now a Sergeant, went on to discover a further three victims over the course of the investigation.  Each victim was approached, and each provided video evidence to Cheshire Police.

Over the course of a 12-month period, Sergeant Ferris interviewed Mottershead on four separate occasion and each time he strongly denied the offences that were put to him.  He claimed each victim had made it all up and colluded with each other to bring him down.  Evidence including the indecent images on his phones and computer devices proved that this was not the case.

In January 2022, the Crown Prosecution Service authorised the charges against Mottershead and he was released with bail conditions not to contact the victims. 

Due to the complexity of this case, a trial at Chester Crown Court did not take place until March 2024. 

During that time, Sergeant Ferris transferred from Cheshire Constabulary to Greater Manchester Police, but the officer refused to pass on the case to someone else and he remained in touch with each victim.  He worked closely with detectives from Macclesifeld LPU to get the case to Chester Crown Court.

Sergeant Ferris said: “I’d like to thank the victims for their bravery in coming forward and speaking out about the abuse they suffered.

“Mottershead is now paying the price for preying on them when they were children and carrying out horrific and degrading acts on them.

“I’m hoping that getting justice will help them in some way and encourages others who have been subjected to such abuse to come forward, no matter how long ago the abuse was. You will be taken seriously. You will be supported. And we will do everything we possibly can to get justice for you.”

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A VOLUNTARY online organisation who seek out sexual predators online have reacted to the sentencing of a paedophile who was jailed for committing online child sex offences.

Peter Davies was sentenced after pleading guilty to engaging in sexual communications with a child and attempting to cause / incite a child to engage in sexual activity between March 5 – 18 this year.

Preston Crown Court heard the 46-year-old, of NFA, believed he was sexually communicating with a 14-year-old girl, when he was instead talking to an adult decoy from ‘365 Hunters’.

It comes after Cumbria police secured his arrest on March 23 following a successful sting operation conducted by the voluntary group.  

In a 36-minute video shared to over 50,000 followers on Facebook, Davies told 365 Hunters he had been DBS checked having worked in schools fitting catering equipment.

The group also confronted Davies, who was wearing only a dressing gown and slippers outside his then home address in Dalton, about him asking the child for pictures of her in her school uniform.

Before his sentencing, magistrates were told Davies asked the child to engage in sexual activity of a non-penetrative nature and to provide sexual images of herself for his own sexual gratification over a period of two weeks.

Another court hearing was required on April 3 after Davies’ wife found he had children’s bras, underwear and a school uniform in his car.

On that occasion, Cumbria Constabulary lawyer Gemma Rogerson successfully applied for an interim sexual risk order to be put in place before his sentencing after she deemed Davies was at a ‘high risk’ of reoffending.

As a result, His Honour Judge Darren Preston jailed Davies for 28 months on July 4.

He was also made the subject of a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

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We are welcoming the sentencing of a Wirral man to 10 years in prison for the rape of a woman in 2022. 
 
James Alldis, 50, of Wilton Road, Tranmere, will also serve a further five years on an extended licence and be placed on the Sex Offender Register for life. 

He was sentenced on Friday, 5 July at Liverpool Crown Court. The offence took place at a location in Wirral in 2022.
 
Speaking after the sentencing of Alldis, Detective Inspector Carla Cross from our specialist Unity team said: "Alldis is a dangerous and predatory sex offender who will now serve a lengthy sentence, as well as being closely monitored upon his release.
 
"His victim has shown immense strength, courage and patience to get to this point, and we will continue to support her as she looks to move forward. Hopefully this outcome aids the process of her recovery in some way.
 
"Alldis showed absolutely no remorse for his actions, which undoubtedly added to the harm caused to his victim.
 
"We understand how difficult it can be to come forward and report serious sexual offences, so I want to take this opportunity to encourage anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence or is concerned for the safety of someone they knows. Please be assured that we have a team of dedicated staff who will expertly and compassionately deal with your reports and we will do everything we can to bring offenders to justice.
 
“We take all such reports extremely seriously, and work with partner organisations, who are there to support victims every step of the way."

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A sex offender has found himself in court once again - this time for failing to tell police about a change of address.

Barry Parker was given a lengthy prison sentence in the mid-1990s for a sexual offence and is on the sex offenders register. But the 66-year-old has committed breaches of his order on several occasions in the past and has once again been hauled back into court.

On Wednesday, Parker, of Byker Bridge House, Byker, appeared at Newcastle Magistrates' Court facing a charge of failing to comply with notification requirements. He pleaded guilty to the single offence, which dates back to March 22 this year.

The court heard that in January 1996, Parker had been jailed for seven years for sexual offending - the details of which were not given during proceedings. As well as his prison sentence, he was also put on the sex offenders register, meaning he must comply with certain conditions - one of which is notifying police of a change of address.

But Parker breached the order this year when he moved address and failed to notify police. Stephen Davies, prosecuting, said: "It became apparent with [police] that he was no longer living at his registered address. Police were notified that he was living at Byker Bridge House and failed to register the change of address. He was arrested and interviewed and explained he was evicted and failed to notify police of his new address."

The court was told that following his 1996 conviction, Parker had committed order breaches in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2016. His breaches had resulted in either prison time or financial penalties.

Michael Crowe, defending, told the court Parker is in "poor physical health" and has memory issues. He said: "The best part of 30 years ago [Parker] was convicted of something he's always maintained his innocence for. He has some breaches over a period of 29 years and it is right to say he has been required to report to police on hundreds of occasions. By and large, he has managed to comply with that."

Mr Crowe said Parker had been living in temporary accommodation but was attacked by another resident and he "defended himself". He was then evicted and moved to Byker Bridge House after spending a short time living on the streets. Mr Crowe added there was "nothing sinister" in not notifying the authorities of the address change, saying: "He says because of the circumstances in which he moved, he was in some state of distress and [notifying police] simply slipped his mind."

Magistrates fined Parker £120 and ordered him to pay a £48 surcharge and £85 costs.

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A 38-year-old man has been jailed for 12 years for a series of sexual and violent offences in the Lanarkshire and Stirlingshire areas.

David Cooper was sentenced today, Friday, 5 July, 2024, at the High Court in Glasgow after previously being convicted on Friday, 10 May.

The offences were committed against four women over a 20-year period between 2002 and 2022.

He has also been sentenced to non-harassment orders against the four women.

Detective Inspector Cheryl Gebbie said: “David Cooper is a dangerous individual who has committed a variety of serious crimes against his victims, subjecting them to sexual abuse and violence.

“We acknowledge how difficult this have been for Cooper’s victims and their families. We hope that his conviction and sentencing will bring them some comfort and our thoughts remain with them.

“We would like to take this opportunity to reach out to any victims of sexual and physical violence to please report it to police. This type of behaviour will not be tolerated and we will continue to work closely with our partner agencies to support victims involved.”

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We can confirm that a Wirral man has been sentenced to three years in prison for sexual offences at Liverpool Crown Court today, Friday 5 July.
 
Kyle Moore, 21, from Eastham, was found guilty in June of two counts of sexual activity with a child aged 13-15.
 
The offences took place in 2023.
 
As well as a three-year prison sentence, Moore was also handed a seven-year Restraining Order from contacting the victim.
 
Speaking following the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Rebecca Igglesden said: "Moore is a sex offender who preyed on his young and vulnerable victim and we welcome that today he has been dealt with by the courts.

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This is the mugshot of a special constable from Bolton who raped a teenage girl inside his car months after being released from prison.

Stephen Godridge groomed his victim over Snapchat before sexually abusing her. The 31-year-old had only been released from prison months beforehand, after he had exploited two other youngsters in hauntingly similar circumstances.

In a hearing on Thursday (July 4) at Liverpool Crown Court, prosecutor Trevor Parry-Jones said Godridge was a 'sophisticated, predatory paedophile whose intent was to satisfy his predilection for sexual activity with teenage girls'. He told the court that Godridge had 'sought out underage girls using Snapchat', while purporting to be 23-years-old, reports the Liverpool Echo.

The court heard that Godridge, of Southfield Street in Bolton, sent the 14-year-old complainant a friend request on the platform before persuading her to send him pictures of herself in her underwear. He then drove to Liverpool from his home in Bolton in order to collect her in his car, after which he took her to Manchester to watch him play football.

Having returned to Merseyside during hours of darkness, Godridge took his victim to a car park at Breckside Park in Anfield where he sexually assaulted and raped her in the back seat as she "told him to stop throughout". She had taken pictures of the inside of his vehicle during the journey due to her "concern and apprehension" using her mobile phone.

his ultimately led to his arrest after automatic number plate recognition technology confirmed that he had visited the area. Under interview, Godridge claimed that he "believed that she was not underage" and alleged the teenager had told him that she was 17 before they engaged in consensual sex.

Godridge was said to have "perfected his method over many years prior", having received 57 months behind bars at Preston Crown Court in 2019 after being convicted of two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child.

In "exactly the same modus operandi" on this occasion, he befriended two 15-year-old girls separately on Snapchat while purporting to be aged 19 and 22 then sent them lewd images of himself and had sex with them in his car in secluded locations.

Reports from the time detailed how Godridge, who was also handed a sexual harm prevention order banning him from having contact with girls under the age of 16, previously served as a special constable with Greater Manchester Police before he was suspended from duty after being arrested in October 2016.

He later resigned from his role with the force and was released from his sentence four months prior to his latest offending.

Godridge was found guilty of two counts of rape, sexual assault, two charges of assault by penetration and breaching a sexual harm prevention order by a jury following a trial. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool, he was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 10 years and eight months this morning, Friday.

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A serial sex offender, obsessed with young boys, sobbed as he was led to the cells after a judge jailed him for his latest sordid offence.

Stuart Mallen was caught in a “sting” by a paedophile vigilante group when he attempted to meet up in a Blackpool car park with a youngster he believed was 15.

The 45-year-old was sitting in his vehicle waiting for his victim with a tube of lubricant on his lap, Preston Crown Court was told.

Jailing him for 20 months, Judge Ian Unsworth told him: “You are a predatory paedophile with a sexual attraction to young boys.

“It is to your good fortune that it didn’t involve a real child.”

Mallen, of Salisbury Avenue, Knott End, pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child.

He also admitted three counts of making indecent images of children after police found he had a stash of 36 obscene photographs and videos of youngsters on his devices.

The court heard that in February Mallen made contact online with what he thought was a 15-year-old boy. In fact it was a fake profile set up by paedophile hunters intent on snaring sex offenders.

Messages between Mallen and the “boy” showed that the conversation “was short-lived but had quickly escalated to one of a sexual nature.”

Mallen then sent a photograph of his private parts and they arranged to meet up in Blackpool.

Judge Unsworth told him: “You drove to a car park where you were detained by a paedophile hunter group. It was a sting.”

He said that while a container of lubricant had been found on his lap in the car “the prosecution have chosen not to charge you with what may have happened in that meeting.

“So I don’t sentence you for that, but it is a feature the court can have regard to when it considers the case.”

The court heard Mallen had previously been found guilty of sexual offences involving children – once when he was working in primary schools.

In 2007 he received a police caution after he was found in possession of indecent material involving a child and also using an internet site to view images of youngsters.

He had been working in a school at the time and police launched an investigation into his behaviour after concerns were raised.

Then in 2008 Mallen appeared in Wolverhampton Crown Court for a list of offences involving children including eight of meeting or communicating with a child under the age of 16 following sexual grooming. He faced four charges of sexual activity with a child and two of engaging in a sex act in the presence of a child.

He had met a 14-year-old boy online and developed a sexual relationship with him. He travelled to Plymouth where he took the victim back to his hotel room and spent the night with him, during which there was sexual activity.

He was given a community order for three years and also made the subject of a 10-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order which banned him from being alone with children.

Judge Unsworth said that in a pre-sentence report to the court in this case a probation officer said Mallen had admitted he was “attracted, and sexually so, to teenage boys.”

He told him: “Your offending to date shows you act on that when the opportunity arises.”

The judge said his past record had to be taken into account when sentencing him and whether or not the court could step back from an immediate custodial sentence in this case.

“In my judgement it is a serious case of its kind. I accept that you are remorseful.”

Judge Unsworth sentenced Mallen to 12 months in prison for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child under 16.

He gave him 20 months for possessing 19 Category A indecent photos and videos, 12 months for nine Category B images and video and eight months for having eight Category C pictures.

The judge ordered all the sentences to be served concurrently, meaning a total of 20 months.

“I am required to consider whether I can draw back from a sentence of immediate imprisonment. I have carefully considered the various matters and in my judgement only a sentence of immediate custody can possibly be appropriate in this case.”

Mallen broke down in tears and was sobbing uncontrollably as he was led from the dock.

The judge ordered the devices he had used to access child pornography to be destroyed.

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A ‘HIGH RISK’ sex offender has been jailed after he went off the police’s radar and downloaded horrific child abuse movies on his phone.

Bradley Lulham is a registered sex offender because he was jailed for seven and a half years for raping two small boys a decade ago. It meant he had a legal obligation to tell the police where he was living.

He failed to do so on two separate occasions and was arrested living at a secret address after police went to investigate the downloading of a child rape video clip to its IP address.

They found Lulham had been living there for seven months while he was officially registered as residing in Dawlish. They also found child images and movies on his phone. 

Lulham, 30, previously known as Daines-Degroot, of Devon View, Dawlish, admitted twice failing to comply with the terms of the sex offenders’ register and three offences possessing indecent images of children. He was jailed for 16 months by Judge James Adkin at Exeter Crown Court.

He told Lulham: ‘There was a long period of non-compliance and potential for harm because the police could not track a known sex offender. There were moving images portraying very young children.

‘There is a serious and imminent risk of further image offences and a serious and imminent risk of further contact offences.’

Mr Lewis Aldous said Lulham first broke the terms of the sex offenders’ register in 2021 when he moved back to his mother’s house in Dawlish without telling the police and for a second time in 2023 when he lived with a vulnerable woman in Brixham and downloaded the new abuse images.

He had more than 300 images of which three were movies showing very serious abuse of a boy aged under five.

His previous conviction was for raping two young boys at a caravan park in Dawlish, for which he was jailed for seven years and six months

Mr Martin Salloway, defending, said Fulham has problems with his physical and mental health and it would be more in the public interest for him to tackle his issues in the community.

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A 47-year-old man from Winsford has been jailed after breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) by possessing nappies.

Gary McVeigh, of Delamere Street, was sentenced to two years and four months in prison at Chester Crown Court today, Friday 5 July.

McVeigh was previously convicted of possessing and making indecent images of children in August 2016 and sentenced to two years imprisonment.

He was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order with a number of conditions, one of which prohibited McVeigh from possessing any nappies.

On 21 May 2024, officers attended McVeigh’s address as part of the routine checks made to monitor registered sex offenders.

During the visit, McVeigh was arrested for breaching his SHPO after officers became aware of three unregistered devices that McVeigh had hidden.

Following an inspection of his bedroom, officers then found a large quantity of soiled nappies, as well as a quantity of unused nappies. He was again arrested on suspicion of breaching his SHPO.

McVeigh was charged with three sexual harm breaches. He later pleaded guilty to the offences.

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A sex offender has been sent back to prison after persistently failing to register with the police.

Prosecutor Brogan Riley told Bradford Crown Court that Daniel Maddison had been placed on the sex offender’s register for life after being convicted of sexual offences with a 13-year-old girl in 2014 when he was 18.

He was sent to a young offender institution for three years and two months and was also made the subject of a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Maddison, now 28, originally from Bradford, was released from prison on November 11 last year after breaching his SHPO.

He then did not make contact with the police to advise them of his address, which put him in further breach.

He was arrested on June 11 and, after initially giving “no comment” answers during an interview, revealed that he was living with a new partner.

He is currently in custody at HMP Doncaster.

The court heard that he had 12 previous convictions for 20 offences of which eight were for failure to comply with notification requirements. The most recent was for an indecent communication.

Miss Riley said that demonstrated that Maddison had a history of non-compliance with custodial sentences.

Mitigating, Lauren Smith said Maddison took full responsibility for the offences and apologised.

She said mental health issues including depression and anxiety had made it difficult for him to cope on being released from custody, causing him to “put his head in the sand”.

She said there had been no repetition of his previous behaviour since being released from custody, and no suggestion that children were living at his address that he was staying at.

Mr Recorder Sam Green said Maddison’s previous “horrid offending” meant that he had to notify the police of his address in order to register as a sex offender.

He said: “This clearly involved a long period of non-compliance [meaning] you have a sex offender off the police radar and at risk of committing further sexual offences.

“In my judgment this offence is seriously aggravated by your previous substantial non-compliance, which has landed you in prison previously. You got out and failed to comply with [notification requirements] again.

“Serial non-compliance cannot be overlooked.”

He sentenced Maddison to 12 months in prison.

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A serial sex offender has been jailed for 11-and-a-half years after he targeted two young girls during separate incidents of sexual abuse and caused them serious emotional damage.

James Staves let his "sexual interest" in children "overwhelm" him during the "grave" offences and the victims were caused "profound and long-lasting" pain and anguish, Hull Crown Court heard.

Staves, 66, formerly of Dalwood Close, Bransholme, Hull, but recently of Southwood Avenue, Cottingham, admitted raping a girl under 13 as well as two offences of sexually assaulting another girl under 13 and another offence of inciting her to engage in sexual activity.

Graham O'Sullivan, prosecuting, said that Staves sexually abused one of the girls and raped her after taking off her clothes and kissing her on her neck and face.

Staves left the second girl scared after he touched her intimately. He asked her: "Do you want me to stop, then?" and she replied: "Yes, I don't like it."

Staves tried to stop the girl reporting what had happened to her but she did so anyway. He was arrested but, during police interview, he made no comment to all questions.

David Godfrey, mitigating, said that there were "concerning aspects" in a pre-sentence report about Staves. "He did express to me genuine shame at what he had done and bitter regret at his actions," said Mr Godfrey.

They were "grave" offences because of the shattering effect of them and the pain caused. "With these sorts of offences, defendants do often chance their hand and have a trial," said Mr Godfrey.

"He fell on his sword quite late in the day but he wants to say sorry." Staves suffered from medical difficulties and he had problems with his mobility and heart. He suffered a stroke in 2019 and this had a significant effect on him.

"Custody is going to be extremely hard for him," said Mr Godfrey. "He hasn't been in that environment before. He acknowledges that he is the author of his downfall through his own actions.

"He knows that what he did was wrong. He is working through the process of that now. He is sorry." Staves had no previous convictions.

Judge Alexander Menary said that the rape had a "profound and long-lasting effect" on the victim and she had to cope with being wrongly accused of telling "horrific lies" against Staves.

There were "serious echoes" of what happened to her in the later offences against the second girl. "You let your sexual interest in children overwhelm you again," said Judge Menary.

The second girl was forced to pre-record evidence that would have been used in a scheduled trial. "That is to your shame," said Judge Menary. A trial was not, in the end, needed after Staves pleaded guilty.

"You are going to be a much older man by the time you are released," said Judge Menary.

Staves will be on extended licence of one year after his release from prison. He will have to register as a sex offender for life.

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A sex offender has been jailed after bragging to a friend on WhatsApp about an encounter he told police had not happened.

Chiziem Omisa, now aged 25, sexually assaulted a young woman in May 2019 after meeting her online and showering her with flirtatious and flattering messages.

The woman, who repeatedly asked him to stop, initially decided against calling the police but was identified by officers during a forensic examination of Omisa’s mobile phone.

The device had been seized when Omisa was arrested in connection with another alleged offence, and revealed a torrent of messages to her.

When detectives tracked the woman down, she recalled how Omisa – using an assumed name – had met up with and assaulted her at his student accommodation in Nottingham after finding her profile on Instagram.

She explained how Omisa had then pressured her to keep silent – even suggesting that she could be kicked out of her university if she took the matter further.

Damning evidence

Omisa was arrested again and denied any sexual contact with the woman.

However he was undone be a series of crude WhatsApp messages – sent to a friend on the day of the incident from his phone – boasting of an encounter with the victim.

Because Omisa had already admitted to being with the woman at the time, this single social media exchange proved to be a crucial bit of evidence,

Omisa later pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault by penetration.

He also pleaded guilty to stalking two other young women he met while on bail for the Nottingham offence, and to perverting the course of justice.

Appearing at St Albans Crown Court on Thursday 27 June, Omisa, of Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, was jailed for four years and four months.

Restraining order and restrictions

He was also handed a restraining order forbidding any future contact with his victims, and made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order that will closely restrict his behaviour once he is released.

Specifically, Omisa will have to make all his electronic devices available for inspection by police, register all social media accounts with officers, and refrain from sending any unsolicited friend requests to women via social media.

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A VOYEUR pervert took photos under toilet doors of men urinating in public toilets in Warrington.

Axel Savage also snapped adult men performing sex acts on themselves in the toilet block.

These were found after police received intelligence that the 30-year-old was sharing vile images of children being sexually abused.

He was subsequently charged with voyeurism, possessing indecent images of children, two counts of making them and four of distributing them.

At his sentencing hearing at Liverpool Crown Court this morning, Wednesday, prosecutor Kenneth Grant informed the court how Cheshire Police received information that an email address attributed to the defendant was associated with a Snapchat account.

This account was being used to upload category A – the most severe category involving child rape – indecent images of children in September 2022.

The IP address was associated with the account of Savage, and following police enquiries, officers attended his home address after being granted a warrant.

A number of electronic devices were seized from the property, including the defendant’s mobile phone, and he was interviewed that same day, answering no comment to questions put to him.

He did however provide his pin code and passwords, with a forensic examination of the devices revealing the presence of indecent images of children.

In total, Savage admitted being in possession of nine sickening images, of which two were graded category A and seven classed as category B.

It was found that two images were distributed multiple times using WhatsApp between the defendant and his partner.

The search also found 282 photos taken in a public toilet in the town, the location of which was not disclosed in court, but taken on two dates between January 30 and February 3 last year.

They involved adult men urinating in the toilet, taken above and under doors, while others were of them performing sex acts on themselves in the toilet block.

Savage was interviewed again by police in relation to the voyeurism material and again answered no comment to all questions put to him.

Offering mitigation on behalf of his client, Jim Smith spoke of how a number of glowing references had been prepared by his family and partner, who was there to support him in the courtroom, as well as a letter written by himself to the court.

“He knows what he did is illegal, he is ashamed of what he is done, and he knows it has put him at risk of an immediate custodial sentence, Mr Smith said.

He highlighted how this was an ‘unusual’ distribution case as it was in a ‘closed circuit intended only for the eyes of his partner’.

“This does not minimise the impact of that which perpetuates misery for countless individuals who suffer from exploitation,” Mr Smith added.

“This is a gentleman with no previous convictions, and character references speak of someone who is kind, hard-working, friendly, loving and supportive of family members.

He added that the defendant works in the pharmaceutical industry, provides value to the community, is capable of rehabilitation and will not reoffend.

Referencing the indecent images of children, judge David Swinnerton said: “Those who view such images rarely stop to think about that they represent. Each one reflects a child being abused.

“People like you that look at them perpetuate a market in them, such that people are encouraged to create such images, and encouraged to abuse children in the real world somewhere.

“That is why they are taken seriously and are not just pictures. It is made worse for you because you distributed them.

“It is general practice that those who distribute them go to prison, as it extends the market for such images.”

On the voyeurism images, Judge Swinnerton commented: “The court is not naïve as to what goes on in certain toilet blocks, but they are public toilets.

“Anyone could have gone in there, and ordinary members of the public are entitled to use the facility without fear of being photographed, despite what other people are doing in there.”

He concluded: “The real question is whether or not I am prepared to suspend the sentence.

“Do be aware that ordinarily I do not suspend the sentence for those who distribute this type of material, but I have already commented how your case is different.

“Taking into account everything else I have heard about you, I can and will suspend the sentence.

Savage, of Fordington Road in Hood Manor, was sentenced to 20 months in prison suspended for two years.

He must also complete 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days, including the Horizon sex offence treatment programme, and 150 hours of unpaid work.

In addition, he must abide by the terms of a sexual harm prevention order and sign the sex offender register, both for a period of 10 years.

Judge Swinnerton approved an order to deprive the defendant of the electronic devices seized when police executed a warrant at his home.