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Robert Mellish, 57, of Hillsley Road, Paulsgrove, was sentenced to 16 years in prison at Portsmouth Crown Court on Wednesday, October 2. He was found guilty of a number of offences, including rape, involving a boy under the age of 13 with police commending the victims “bravery and steadfastness”.

DC Emily Sargent of the Eastern Child Investigation Team said, “Whilst I know this result cannot remove the memories of what Mellish has done for the young victim or their family, I am pleased that justice has been served for them and that Mellish is now behind bars where he belongs.

The support of the young victim and their family has been invaluable in this case and I’d like to commend them for bravery and steadfastness throughout.”

Mellish was found guilty of the following charges at Portsmouth Crown Court by a jury on Monday, June 24:

Two counts of rape of a boy under 13, on no less than three occasions

Four counts of causing a child under 13 to watch / look at an image of sexual activity

One count of assault a boy under 13 by touching

Three counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child under 13

DS Lucy Gransden of the Eastern Child Investigation Team said “I would also like to thank everyone who has been involved in this case for their hard work, which has helped secure this conviction.

I hope this sentence will reassure other victims that we take every report of this nature extremely seriously and we will listen to you if you come forward and speak to us.”

The police have also highlighted that anyone who has concerns about child abuse can also report it anonymously by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their website.

Anyone who has experienced abuse in childhood, or is concerned about a child, can contact the NSPCC helpline, confidentially, on 0808 800 5000. Alternatively, you can email [email protected]. Children can contact Childline on 0800 1111.

The different types of support and services available to victims of sexual assault can be found on the Hampshire police website.

Record details

A former football coach and teacher who sexually abused two boys has been jailed.

John Staveley, 55, met one of his victims while working as a coach. The other was abused on a school trip while Staveley was working as a primary teacher.

The abuse began in the late 1990s, but Staveley was only arrested after the first victim reported what had happened to the NSPCC in 2020.

Detectives went on to gather witness statements and screenshots of social media messages to help convict Staveley.

He was found guilty of nine counts of gross indecency with a boy under 14, two of indecent assault on a boy under 16 and one count of causing or inciting a boy under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

Staveley, of Hale Hill Lane, was jailed for nine-and-a-half years at Sheffield Crown Court and placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

Det Con Mike Tilley, of South Yorkshire Police, said: "Staveley abused his position as a mentor and guide to young children in sports and educational settings.

"He should have been someone his victims were able to trust but instead he exploited them, took advantage of them and abused them for his own sexual gratification.

"I really want to commend his victims for coming forward and telling us about their harrowing and horrific experiences as children."

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A predator who took advantage of a teenage boy's infatuation with him has been jailed.

Matthew Helliwell, 36, preyed upon the young boy and sexually abused him on three occasions, Sheffield Crown Court heard on Friday, October 4. His victim - now an adult - bravely faced him in court as he told him: "I have got closure from people listening to me."

Helliwell, of Chesterfield, was found guilty of three counts of sexual activity with a child following a trial. It was said that he undertook a "meaningful" attempt on his own life in the court's cells following the jury's verdicts.

The victim took to the witness stand to read out his statement and said: "I reported this nearly four years ago. It had been delayed for some time. I have had to deal with this ever since it happened but it was amplified when my family found out. My mental health has been really suffering for two years...

"It all started when I was 13 to 14 years old. I was diagnosed with depression last year and have been given medication to help...I don't think anyone should have to go through this...There are moments where I forget about it and am my happy self again, then I have moments where I cry myself to sleep because I have to face him again.

"This experience has made me realise how strong I am. It made me feel I can take control of my life and move on. I got closure from people listening to me.

"The happy child I once was had to endure explicit sexual abuse and felt trapped because I had to keep it secret and I didn't realise what was happening. It has taken everything in my willpower to come to court today but I will no longer feel embarrassed because I was a child and he was a grown man."

Mitigating, Laura Marshall said Helliwell had no previous convictions on his record. She added there was a doctor's report given to the court. She told Recorder of Sheffield Judge Jeremy Richardson KC: "There are no real concerns - you know hat happened in the cells when he was remanded but the doctor has no real concerns."

The barrister said the delay in proceedings was of no fault of Helliwell, who was first interviewed in 2020 but then not ordered to appear at the magistrates' court until September 2022. She said: "You will see he has been making very good progress while in custody, making the best use of his time there the best he can. He is anxious to know his fate but he is realistic."

The court heard Helliwell's partner killed themselves last year.

Jailing him for seven years Judge Richardson told him: "These were individual and single acts. He was an adolescent boy when these crimes occurred. At the time you were in your early 30s...It appears that he had an infatuation or certain feelings for you. As a consequence, you took advantage of that situation.

"His feelings were reciprocated and this involved the sexual abuse...I have read the psychiatric report against you and I find you made a very real suicide attempt at this court when you were convicted..."

The judge said there was an "element of grooming" and a "breach of trust" committed by Helliwell against his victim. He added: "Although your sexual misconduct was repeated, it was not repeated many times...This was not one of those cases where there is sexual abuse going on for months on end. There were three separate, individual occasions."

The judge made Helliwell the subject of a restraining order prohibiting him from contacting his victim for 10 years, and notification requirements indefinitely.

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A "controlling, manipulative and physically abusive" man subjected a woman to a "sexual mauling" after luring her to a secluded area. The victim told a court the incident had left her feeling "helpless" and on medication.

Grant Young, 33, was convicted of sexual assault following a trial at Cardiff Crown Court. During the incident, he pinned down his victim and attempted to kiss and hug her.

A sentencing hearing on Tuesday heard the defendant was heavily intoxicated at the time of the sexual assault, and had thrown a bottle of Desperados he had been drinking. Sentencing, Judge Simon Mills Esq said: "The incident concluded with you mauling her in a sexual way. That part of the incident was short lived but you manipulated her into being in your company... She was scared of you."

In a victim personal statement read to the court by prosecutor Ieuan Bennett, the victim said: "My anxiety is still through the roof... I struggle with sleeping and sweat through the night which is linked to my PTSD. I constantly feel I have to fight when I am sleeping. I get scared in the dark.

"I feel tense and my back will spasm and I won't be able to move, I feel helpless. I am on medication because I suffer tremors and panic attacks. I still feel the effect of the abuse from him to this day."

Young, of HMP Cardiff, has 32 previous convictions of offences related violence and drugs. He was reprimanded by Judge Mills after shaking his head in the dock, and was told: "You need to stop living for yourself and listen to what somebody else has to say about you." In mitigation, Peter Donnison said his client had not committed "the most serious sexual offence" and had not touched the victim's breasts or naked skin.

Concluding his sentencing remarks, Judge Mills said: "You are controlling, manipulative and physically abusive towards women.... You are a devious and thoroughly manipulative individual with a quick temper and not without a level of intelligence which can give you a faade of plausibility."

Young was sentenced to one year's imprisonment. He was made subject to a restraining order for 10 years and sex offender notification requirements for 10 years.

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A man from Keighley has been sentenced to more than 3 years in jail after he was convicted of 13 indecent images of children offences.

Keith Marsh, 62 of Caister Grove, was found guilty of all 13 charges after a week trial.

The charges were:

• 8 charges of making an indecent photo of a child
• Possession a prohibited image of a child
• Possession of an extreme pornographic image
• Fraudulently evade any duty/prohibition/restriction
• Distribute an indecent photo of a child
• Improper importation of indecent article

On Friday 4 October he was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court to 40 months in prison, made to sign the sex offenders register for life and given a sexual harm prevention order for life.

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A former primary school teacher and scout leader has been jailed after having a sexual conversation with what he thought was a 13-year-old girl.  

Samuel Robinson, 27, made contact with the person, who turned out to be a decoy from an online child activist group, through social media chat platforms between April 7 and April 11, 2023. 

The decoy repeatedly told Robinson they were 13 but he continued with the sexual conversation. 

Robinson was arrested after the activist group visited his home on the evening of April 11. 

His electronic devices were seized, and examination of his Snapchat account found he had also communicated with a 15-year-old girl between May 2021 and June 2022. 

The conversation was sexual, and Robinson offered to send inappropriate pictures of himself. 

Robinson, of Butt Lane, Milton, appeared at Cambridge Crown Court on Wednesday (October 2) and was sentenced to two years and 10 months in prison.  

He entered guilty pleas to engaging in sexual communication with a child, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause a girl to engage in sexual activity. 

DC Caroline Murphy from Cambridgeshire Police has clarified the offences had no connection with Robinson’s teaching or his role as a scout leader. 

She said: “Robinson was well aware of the obligation we all have to protecting young people so to contact what he believed were children in this way and engage them in grossly inappropriate conversation was appalling. 

“This case shows the seriousness with which we take protecting children from harm.” 

Record details

A predator subjected a vulnerable woman with the mental age of a young child to an "appalling" sex attack after luring her away from her family in a pub.

The victim, who has obvious and profound learning difficulties, was taken around the back of a pub where bins were stored and, in shocking scenes caught on CCTV, he subjected her to a sex attack.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the victim's family have been left disgusted and devastated by Newton's actions. Now he has been jailed for more than 11 years after admitting sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder impeding choice.

Anne Richardson, prosecuting, told the court: "She has learning difficulties, which are obvious to anyone who encountered her." Experts say the victim has the mental age of a young child and she does not have the capacity to consent to sexual activity.

On the evening of the attack, her family took her to a pub to allow her to enjoy a social setting while under their care and supervision. She was dancing and Miss Richardson said: "It would appear that the defendant was watching her dance and the complainant started to speak to him.

"A doorman in the pub noticed the defendant and the complainant walking round the corner, which he thought was unusual. At about 9.30pm her family noticed that she was missing from the pub, and frantically began to search for her.

"She eventually returned to the pub and told her family that she had been sexually assaulted. CCTV was examined and showed that the complainant and the defendant had walked together from the pub and round the corner, to where the bins were."

Once there, Newton sexually assaulted her in various ways and had sex with her. The entirety of the sexual offending was captured by the CCTV.

Miss Richardson added: "Once at the pub door, the defendant briefly stated to the complainant’s family that it was his fault that she was outside, before leaving, and the complainant told her family what had happened, albeit she said that the defendant had told her not to say anything,

"She told her family that the defendant had suggested taking her outside for a cigarette, taking her hand, and although she had asked him if she could go back to her parents several times, he refused. The police were called immediately, and CCTV was viewed."

Newton, 61 of Elsdon Avenue, Seaton Delaval, Northumberland, who said he had consumed ten pints of alcohol, repeatedly denied sexual activity when quizzed by police, even when faced with DNA evidence. However he eventually pleaded guilty.

As he was sentenced, the victim's dad said in an impact statement: "Since the assault I've noticed how withdrawn she is. She's very wary of communicating with others, which is sad to see.

"As a family we are disgusted with what that man has done to our daughter. She is extremely vulnerable and we feel he preyed on her to take her away from her family when he could to abuse her. It's had a great impact on our family."

He branded Newton's initial denials of what he had done as "cruel and thoughtless" and added: "That man has tainted our trust in people.

"The fact he has sexually abused (the victim), who clearly has learning difficulties shows what he is capable of. I will never forgive what he has done to my daughter and he should be held accountable for his actions."

Passing sentence, Judge Amanda Rippon said: "I've seen a lot but I've rarely seen something as shameful as this. Your impact on that young woman is significant and I suspect, sadly, will be lifelong."

Regarding the victim's family, the judge added: "I know they will feel they let her down. They didn't.

"They took her somewhere safe, that should have been safe. Unfortunately on that night, instead of being met by love and kindness of people in the pub she met a predator, someone who was prepared to put his sexual gratification above all else."

Newton was jailed for 11 years and three months, of which he will serve two-thirds before he can be released. He must also sign the sex offenders register for life and was given an indefinite restraining order.

Ian Cook, defending, said the only mitigation was Newton's guilty plea. He added: "I concede these are appalling offences. He is quite rightly shameful of his conduct on this occasion and has demonstrated some remorse."

Record details

Alan Cunningham (08/01/1961) pleaded guilty in June 2023 to four counts of sexual activity with a girl under 13 and possessing indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child.

Cunningham was also made to sign the sex offenders register indefinitely today (Friday 4 October 2024) at Liverpool Crown Court.

Cunningham was already serving a three year prison sentence for other child sex offences. He will now spend another 15 years in prison and a further four years on extended licence. 

In May 2019, Cunningham began sexually assaulting a nine-year-old child and forced her to send him indecent photographs of herself.

His behaviour continued until March 2023 when the mother of a the child noticed inappropriate text messages from Cunningham to her daughter.

Text messages were sent by Cunningham to the victim with comments such as “Where are my kisses at the end of messages” and “you could have took me to the bath too”.

Following examination, a number of category C images were found on the device seized from Cunningham, with him requesting that the victim send nude pictures in return for money.

His conviction follows an investigation led by the Wigan Complex Safeguarding Team and Detective Sergeant Vicki Flemming.

Record details

A SICK pervert thought he was meeting a 14-year-old girl in a park, but instead he was detained by a paedophile hunting group run by Widnes residents.

Steven Smith was talking to a number of teenage ‘girls’, telling them he would like to kiss, cuddle, and date them, before he was caught by Widnes Parents Against Predators.

He even encouraged them to perform sex acts on themselves.

The 52-year-old dad appeared before Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to a catalogue of child sex offences, including three counts of attempted sexual communication with a child, two counts of attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity, arranging the commission of a child sex offence, possessing indecent images of children and making indecent images of children.

Prosecuting, Shannon Stewart said how Smith’s offending came to light in May of last year when officers were notified by members of Widnes Parents Against Predators that they had detained a man who had arranged to meet who he thought was 14-year-old girl at a park in Cronton.

Smith, of Rylands Drive, Orford, was arrested and when officers seized his devices, they discovered he had been talking to a number of young ‘girls’ online.

Ms Stewart said how one of girls was called Imogen but officers have not been able to identify if she was a real child or a decoy.

Liverpool Crown Court was told how Imogen told the defendant that she was 14 and despite this, he turned the nature of the conversation sexual.

He asked for pictures of Imogen and encouraged her to perform sex acts on herself.

Smith told her that he wanted to watch TV, eat curry, and snuggle with her.

He asked her if she would like to kiss him and said that this would be ‘special’ and ‘feel electric’.

The court heard how Smith told Imogen that he may have got her a gift for her 15th birthday because he ‘liked her’.

This communication lasted from April 2022 to December 2022 and only stopped when Imogen stopped responding.

Another 14-year-old ‘girl’ who Smith believed he was talking to was called Molly, but this was actually a decoy account operated by Widnes Parents Against Predators.

Smith first contacted Molly in April 2023. She told him she was 14 and he said that was fine before calling her stunning and asking her to send a picture of herself.

The paedophile asked Molly about meeting up and suggested they should go for a walk and kiss and cuddle.

He said that although she was too young for sex, he would like to caress her and run his hands over her body.

Ms Stewart said how Smith also encouraged Molly to perform sex ats on herself.

In May 2023, Smith told Molly that he was working in St Helens and that he could come and meet her, so the pair arranged to meet at a park in Cronton.

But here, Smith was met by the paedophile hunting group and was detained.

From March 2023 to May 2023, Smith was talking to another decoy account which was posing as a 14-year-old girl called Megan.

Megan told Smith her age and said she was in school.

Smith sexualised the conversation and said he would like to have a curry with Megan and get a kiss from her for his birthday.

He said they could go on a date to McDonald’s and asked if he met her would she wear a skirt.

Smith asked Megan to send a picture of her bed and when she did he said it was big and that there would be room in it for kisses and cuddles.

He also sent voice notes, in one he said they could go for a walk in a park and that he would kiss her and grab her bottom.

Smith has no previous convictions.

Defending, Jim Smith said how his client has a ‘high level of regret’ for the commission of the offences.

He said that since his arrest, Smith has carried out extensive work to rehabilitate himself including self referring himself for psychological therapy and attending sex addicts anonymous – where he has now become a sponsor.

Mr Smith said how the defendant suffers from anxiety and depression and that he has lost his marriage, career, and home since he committed the offences.

Judge David Potter handed Smith three years and four months behind bars.

He also issued him with a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and ordered him to sign the sex offenders register.

Record details

A convicted sex offender subjected a child to a campaign of sickening abuse 'enabled' by his partner. Former couple Alan Townley and Patricia Jones have been locked up after the brave victim came forward.

Chester Crown Court heard Townley, 61, and Jones, 58, were in a relationship. She was aware he was a convicted sex offender, Cheshire Police said, but 'facilitated access' to the child, 'enabling the offences to take place'.

A trial heard Townley flirted with the child, touching them inappropriately. Townley went on to rape and sexually assault the child on multiple occasions.

When the victim tried to stop him, Townley hit them. The abuse came to light years later when the victim spoke out about their ordeal. Townley and Jones were then arrested and charged.

Townley, of Elton Road, Sandbach, Cheshire, was sentenced to 17 years, plus eight years on extended licence. He was found guilty of 12 counts - including rape of a child under 13; sexual assault of a child under 13; causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity; and actual bodily harm. Jones, 58, of Glastonbury Drive, Middlewich, was sentenced to three years for facilitating the offences, Cheshire Police said.

Detective Constable Stacey Thompson, who led the investigation, said: "Firstly, I would like to commend the bravery of the victim in this case, who not only came forward to report what had happened to them, but also endured the process of a trial after Townley refused to take accountability for his horrifying actions.

"What Townley subjected them to is truly horrifying, systematically abusing them in order to fulfil his own sexual gratification. What makes this case worse is the fact that Jones knowingly allowed Townley to have access to the victim, despite being well aware that he was a convicted sex offender. Putting her relationship above the safety and welfare of a child.

"The sentences handed to Townley and Jones reflect the severity of their crime and I hope that his conviction will encourage other victims to come forward.

"As this case demonstrates, we treat all reports of historic sexual offences seriously, with the wishes and needs of the victim as our main priority, and any allegations will be thoroughly investigated."

Record details

A sick sex abuser who offered his young victim money to send him pictures of her wearing just her knickers has been jailed.

When police arrested 31-year-old Liam Bacon they examined his mobile phones and found 49 indecent images of children including one of the girl, which she had been pressured into sending him.

The teenager, who must not be identified for legal reasons, said Bacon’s offending against her had caused her serious anxiety and she still suffered “night terrors” when she tried to sleep.

Bradford Crown Court heard on Thursday that the girl had been forced to give evidence through before Bacon's trial, but on the day of he pleaded guilty to charges of sexual assault and making indecent images of children.

Prosecutor Gareth Henderson-Moore told the court Bacon had sexually assaulted the girl in 2022, and then went on to ask her if she wanted to make some money by doing some bikini modelling in the woods. The girl refused and thought it was “weird”, but during further exchanges Bacon offered her £15 for “naked bum” photos and £30 for images of her in her knickers.

Again the girl refused, but after Bacon began to threaten her she eventually sent him photos of “sex faces” and he paid £35 into her bank account. After more threats she sent a photograph of herself in her underwear and he later paid £30 into her account after she left him a pair of her knickers.

Bacon, of Micklemoss Drive, Queensbury, had no previous convictions for sexual offending, but he will now have to register as a sex offender with police for the rest of his life. He was jailed for 34 months and told he must also comply with a five-year restraining order which bans him from contacting the complainant and he must also comply with the terms of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Record details

A registered paedophile has been jailed after he tampered with a monitoring device and hid a hard drive from police.

Rhys Mateer was previously convicted at Maidstone Crown Court in 2020 of engaging in sexual communication with a child.

He received a suspended sentence that came with strict sex offender notification requirements (SONR).

This included telling police within three days if he used an alias online or received new bank cards.

He was also issued with a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO). It allowed officers access to any device capable of storing digital images.

Mateer was subject to unannounced visits from police to check he was complying.

On June 15, two constables arrived at his home and found he had tampered with monitoring software installed on his mobile phone.

He had used an application that prevented from keeping his browsing history.

Further checks found he had been using an alias on his gaming console without notifying the police.

He also had a laptop and an external hard drive, both of which hadn't been declared.

Mateer, formerly from Minster, was arrested and further searches located a bank card he had not declared, a tablet and a mobile phone in his car.

He was charged and pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court to five counts of breaching his SHPO and two counts of breaching his SONR.

Yesterday (October 3), the 27-year-old was sentenced to two years and seven months’ imprisonment.

This included four months for breaching a suspended sentence. On his release from prison, he will be subject to a further SHPO indefinitely.

PC James Harris said: “The conditions that come with these court orders are an opportunity for sex offenders to show they are attempting to reform their ways and can be trusted to not reoffend whilst living in the community.

“Our unannounced visit to this particular individual identified several breaches and he was immediately arrested.

“He is now serving a prison sentence and will be subject to further checks on his conduct when he is eventually released.”

Record details

The 48-year-old had previously been handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) in 2020.

Bowes pleaded guilty to three counts of breaching his SHPO, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to arrange or facilitate the commission of a child sex offence.

He was then jailed for three years at Sheffield Crown Court last Wednesday (Sept 25).

Investigations officer Fiona Booth, who was the officer in charge of this case, said: "Bowes believed he was speaking to a 14-year-old child, and yet he continued to make inappropriate sexual advances.

"A thorough search of his devices led to his crimes being exposed and in comments made prior to his arrest, he was heard saying 'I was only messing about', which shows how little responsibility he took for his actions.

"Bowes posed a high level of risk and we are pleased he has been given an immediate three-year custodial sentence.

"We will continue investigating the crimes of sex offenders like Bowes to stop them in their tracks and to keep children safe from online sexual predators."

Record details

A former PhD student has been jailed for conspiring to commit female genital mutilation (FGM) against a young girl in the first conviction of its kind in England and Wales.

Emad Kaky, 47, from Swansea, arranged for the child to travel from the UK to Iraq where he had organised for her to be subjected to FGM and forced into marriage.

Before the crimes could be carried out, Kaky’s plans were uncovered by a witness who arranged for the victim to travel back to the UK and reported him to the police.

Kaky was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit FGM and forced marriage, which he denied. He was convicted on 9 September after a ten-day trial at Nottingham Crown Court and was today sentenced to four and a half years’ imprisonment.

Janine McKinney, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS East Midlands, said: “Today, Emad Kaky has faced the consequences of his actions in trying to get a young, innocent girl subjected to female genital mutilation and to be forced into a marriage not of her choosing.

“Had he succeeded in his plans, this child would have suffered unimaginable physical and mental harm.

“During the trial we presented evidence that the defendant considered this behaviour to be normal. The law is clear that there is no place for this unacceptable practice in society and the Crown Prosecution Service, police and other law enforcement agencies will work together to bring perpetrators to justice.

“This has been a landmark prosecution, not just because it is the first conviction of its kind, but for the message it sends to people who may be vulnerable to this horrific form of abuse. Where there is evidence that people have plotted to commit these offences, they face prosecution, whether or not they succeed.”

Building the Case

Before the trial, the defence team put forward a legal argument for dismissal, so the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had to show that FGM is a criminal offence in Iraq.

We also had to demonstrate that, as part of the conspiracy to commit FGM, Kaky had committed an act in England and Wales, where they have jurisdiction to prosecute.

Instructing a legal expert in the law of Iraq, our prosecutors were able to point to an area of the Iraqi penal code which outlined it as an offence – resulting in the defence dropping their argument and the case being able to proceed.

Proving that Kaky had committed an act in England and Wales as part of the conspiracy, prosecutors presented evidence that showed he had booked and paid for the trip to Iraq while living in Nottingham.

Messages retrieved from his phone showed Kaky clearly intended for the victim to be subjected to FGM and forced into marriage. He went on to defend his actions when a witness challenged him, calling FGM and forced marriage “normal”.

To further help the jury understand what FGM involves, the prosecution secured evidence from a cultural expert, who gave evidence about the practices and the physical and psychological harm it can inflict on victims.

It is the first time a person in England and Wales has been convicted of conspiring to commit FGM.

During the sentencing, the prosecution made submissions that, although the plan ultimately failed, the case should be sentenced on the basis of the harm that Kaky intended to do to the victim by arranging for FGM to take place.

Record details

A man who raped a child when she was still in infant classes has been jailed for four years and nince months.

Reece McNair, now 28, sexually abused the little girl on numerous occasions when he was 16 years old. The child, who can not be named for leal reasons, kept the abuse secret for around a decade but later disclosed what had happened to her to an NHS worker she was seeing to support her with her mental health.

McNair, of Bulkhead Drive, Fleetwood, was arrested and confessed he had abused the girl. He later pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, attempted rape and four counts of sexual assault.

The girl and her mother set out how the abuse had affected them for many years before the youngster disclosed what had happened to her.

She said: "I don't remember a time when my body felt clean. I have had my childhood stolen from me. I can't remember good things from my childhood, only bad.

"He has truly torn my life apart and I will never be able to live a normal life again. I just want my brain to shut off and stop feeling things."

Her mother said she will never forget the day she was called into CAMHS (child and adolescent mental health services) and told what had happened to her daughter. She said her daughter had displayed signs of distress and missed out educationally due to her trauma.

"No-one wants to believe they missed something as significant as their child being sexually abused", she said. "That cuts deep. Her struggles did not go unnoticed but unfortunately she felt unable to share what happened to her."

Her daughter has a fear of men as a result of what happened to her and was frightened of Father Christmas, and speaking to male police officers and teachers.

McNair wrote a letter to the court, "to say how sorry I am for the pain and heartbreak I have caused her and her family".

He said: "I deserve to be punished and it will never happen again."

The court heard he was 16 at the time he committed the offences and has since been diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. A psychiatric report stated he would be vulnerable in prison and find his sentence traumatic.

Judge Gioserano said: "She was but a child. It was not her fault, it was your fault. You took her childhood and no sentence, however long, can give her that back.

"It goes without saying that I am sentencing you as an adult for offences you committed when you were not yet an adult. I must take into account all that this means by way of reduced culpability."

He also considered the guidelines for sentencing people with mental or developmental disorders but said: "Although you were young yourself and suffering from a disorder which reduces your culpability further, you still knew full well that what you were doing was very wrong."