Latest Offenders

Description

A serial sex offender claimed his young victims "laughed at him" when he exposed himself to them as they walked home from school.

Peter Steinitz spotted the girls near to a McDonald's then began to follow them around as he performed a sex act on himself. The pensioner has now amassed convictions for 20 separate sexual offences.

Liverpool Crown Court heard today, Thursday, that the three friends were walking near to a south Liverpool McDonald's in January this year when they saw the defendant with his trousers down and exposing himself to them. Stuart Mills, prosecuting, described how they continued to a nearby park but were followed by Steinitz, who began masturbating.

The pervert carried on with his vile behaviour as he watched them in a play area. One of the youngsters then phoned her mum, who advised them to return to school.

Stenitz, of Dingle Lane, again tailed them there. While their school was closed by the time they had arrived back, the girls were able to report what had happened to a teacher who subsequently called the police.

They had managed to take a picture of the flasher as he followed them, which led to the 67-year-old being identified as the culprit. Under interview, Steinitz claimed he could not remember the incident - but later said his victims were "watching him and laughing at him".

The teacher described her pupils as being "upset and distressed" following the ordeal. Meanwhile, one of the schoolgirls told officers that she was "disgusted, sad and scared".

Steinitz has a total of 48 previous convictions for 114 offences, including 19 for sexual offences. Eight of these have been for exposure, with one for outraging public decency and two for gross indecency with a child.

A sexual offences protection order also bans him from "loitering in the vicinity" of public parks. Rachel Oakdene, defending, told the court: "Custody after custody after custody does not seem to abate his offending, and the facts very much speak for themselves.

"He does not have any formal diagnosis, but he believes he does have dementia. It may be coupled with his substance misuse. He is an isolated individual. At the time of the offences, he had recently had two family bereavements.

"Happily, it does not appear there has been any significant long-term impact on these young ladies. They have been able to put this unpleasant incident behind them."

Steinitz admitted outraging public decency and breaching a sexual offences prevention order. He was jailed for 32 months.

Sentencing, Judge David Hale said: "This is a very serious offence of outraging public decency. They have undoubtedly been affected by what happened."

Description

A man who was convicted of violent offences and serious sexual assaults has been jailed for 10 years.

James Christopher Armour, 57, was convicted following a trial at the High Court in Stirling on Thursday, 23 March 2023.

He was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow today, Wednesday, 31 May, 2023.

The offences were committed in the Fife area between 1983 and 1989.

Description

A former firefighter raped a girl over a three year period

Kevin Jones, of Norman Road, Runcorn, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Friday, January 27 where he pleaded guilty to six sexual offences, including three counts of rape of a girl under 16. All of the abuse happened over a three year period when the schoolgirl was aged between 13 and 16 years old.

The court heard the 49-year-old committed the offences up until Monday, September 19 2022.

Jones returned to court on Wednesday, May 31, where he was sentenced to 10 years in prison plus five years on licence.

Detective Constable Michaela Flynn from Cheshire Police, who led the investigation, said: “Firstly, I would like to recognise the bravery and determination that the victim has shown throughout this investigation. What Jones put her through was truly horrifying, he systematically abused her over a three-year period in order to fulfil his own sexual gratification.

“The sentence handed to Jones reflects the severity of his crime and I hope that his conviction will encourage other victims to come forward. We treat all reports of sexual offences extremely seriously and we will always do our best to ensure offenders are brought to justice.”

Description

A SOUTHAMPTON paedophile was caught twice with indecent images of children as young as six.

Liam Davey, 27, had more than 70 images after police seized his devices on two separate occasions, a court was told.

He was first arrested in January 2021 when police visiting his home in Meggeson Avenue found 31 category A images - the most severe kind - 15 category B and 10 category C.

But after being arrested, charged and appearing in court, he was found with more images when police visited him in May this year.

Prosecuting, Keeley Harvey said Davey took officers to another property where more images were found.

He was further charged with possession of 10 category A images, including four movies, three category B, and eight category C.

Of these, 10 or 12 had been saved with some depicting children as young as six or seven.

Ms Harvey added that Davey would not save the images of children that age, but that “those over the age of 12 were, in his view, okay because they were experimenting with their body”.

The court was also told how he had been “distributing and sharing” images which showed children in “pain and distress”.

Davey pleaded guilty to six counts of making indecent images of children which he said came from a website where others had shared them with him.

Mitigating, Bridget O’Hagen told Southampton Crown Court that Davey is a “young man who has never had police involvement at all”.

She added that his actions could have stemmed from a childhood incident, currently under investigation by police.

Ms O’Hagen said there are also plans to go to his GP due to suspicions he may have autism.

“He is unlikely to come back before the court in any way shape or form going forward.

“There is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.”

Davey was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment suspended for two years and made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for five years.

He must attend 35 rehabilitation activity requirement days, carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and register as a sex offender.

Judge, Nicholas Rowland, said the second set of offences had been committed whilst “under investigation and potentially on court bail as well”.

He added that it is because of people like Davey that “those children around the world are repeatedly abused in this dreadful fashion.

“It is a very thinly balanced decision. Just and it is only just, am I able to suspend the sentence.”

Description

Police caught a convicted sex offender naked on his bed while he was busy exchanging sexual messages with an undercover police officer who was pretending to be a 12-year-old boy.

Ian McIntyre "couldn't help" himself and brazenly made contact with the decoy boy even though he was already under investigation for doing exactly the same thing very recently.

He failed to learn his lesson from his arrest and was already on the sex offenders' register after an earlier conviction in 2017, Hull Crown Court heard.

McIntyre, 56, formerly of Anlaby, admitted five offences involving attempting to cause a boy under 13 to engage in sexual activity and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. A jury had been sworn in for a trial but no evidence had been heard before he changed his pleas on the second day.

Paul Genney, prosecuting, said that McIntyre thought that he was talking online to two 12-year-old boys but they did not exist and really he was exchanging messages with decoys set up by undercover police.

McIntyre contacted the first fake boy on gay dating app Grindr and on Snapchat and told him that he was aged 36. He encouraged the fake boy to commit a sex act and sent him intimate pictures and video of himself.

McIntyre told the boy that he loved him and wanted to kiss him all over and to be sexually intimate with him. He incited him to sexual activity and suggested meeting up at swimming baths in Albert Avenue, Hull, where they would share the same cubicle, although no formal arrangement was made.

He was arrested in December 2019 but claimed that he had been "framed" by a man that he named.

McIntyre was released pending further investigations but did the same again between May and June 2020 with another decoy boy that he thought was 12. They met on Grindr and McIntyre again pretended that he was aged 36.

He encouraged the fake boy to engage in sexual activity and sent him pictures and videos. When police arrested McIntyre in August 2020, he was lying naked on a bed upstairs at his Anlaby home, using his phone to communicate with the non-existent boy, who was really an undercover police officer.

He denied everything and again claimed that he had been "set up and framed" by the same man. Police contacted the man, who had, in reality, not seen him for years

McIntyre had a previous conviction in March 2017 for making one indecent picture of a boy but he had been cleared at a trial of sexually assaulting another boy. He was on the sex offenders' register at the time of the latest offences.

Stephen Robinson, mitigating, said that McIntyre finally admitted the most recent offences when a further piece of evidence emerged after the trial started.

"No harm resulted," said Mr Robinson. "No harm was ever going to result because these were two undercover police officers. There was discussion about meeting but there were no concrete plans ever to do that.

"There was talk of the swimming baths and meeting there but no concrete suggestion of it and no specific time, date or place. The previous conviction aggravates the situation but it was a more minor offence in the spectrum of sexual offending."

McIntyre had worked since the age of 16, including for a long time as an HGV driver. He had previously been married for about 20 years and had two adult sons. He later had other relationships but "sought solace in contacting people on the internet" after that.

"He became obsessed with that," said Mr Robinson. The vast majority of it was with people of the correct age. He "behaved very badly" by contacting the fake 12-year-old boys.

Judge Mark Bury said of the first decoy boy: "He was an undercover police officer employed to catch out people such as you, who have a clear sexual interest in underage children." McIntyre was arrested after the first incident.

"You did exactly the same again," said Judge Bury. "You weren't to know that the person at the other end of the communication was a police officer.

"You were released under investigation and you couldn't help yourself and you did exactly what you had done before you were arrested."

McIntyre, who has recently had a care/of address at a lodges park in Brandesburton, near Beverley, was jailed for eight years. He was given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and must register as a sex offender indefinitely.

Description

A registered sex offender has been sent back to jail after indecent images of children were found during a visit to his Barndey home.

Martin Fry, 58, of Manor Close in Bardney, has been sentenced to five years and 10 months for six counts of making indecent images of children and breaching prevention orders.

He had previously served a six-year prison sentence for abducting and sexually assaulting a young girl. He was also sentenced to for four years for possession and making indecent images of children.

During a routine visit to his home in July 2020, officers discovered he was breaching his Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) and notification requirements as a sex offender.

His desktop computer and other digital devices were seized and examined. A forensic examination revealed 4,874 indecent images of children.

It was also found he had been deleting his Internet search history and using a web browser that masked his online activity.

Fry was arrested subsequently arrested for the breach of his prevention order as well as making indecent images of children.

He pled guilty to the offences in Lincoln Crown Court on Wednesday, April 26 and has now been sentenced.

He will remain on the sex offenders’ list for life, and will have a SOPO for life.

DC Nicola Paradowski, who led the investigation, said: "I am glad that the judge recognised the seriousness of Fry's offending and not only deemed him a dangerous offender, but also went outside the parameters of sentencing guidelines.

“The viewing, possessing, and distributing indecent images of children is not a victimless crime. Behind every video or photograph is a child who is or has been the victim of child sexual abuse.

“Police work tirelessly to actively monitor registered sex offenders and violent offenders in the county. This includes holding regular visits, examining digital devices, and seeking orders designed to protect the public from harm and to prevent further offending.

“I hope this case sends a clear message that we in the Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT) will thoroughly investigate and take action when we suspect these offences are being committed.”

Description

A paedophile from Kidderminster has been jailed over a string of sex offences. Lee Greenhill, aged 46, of St Cecilia Close, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to six separate offences.

They included attempting to engage in sexual communication with children, possessing indecent images of children and possession of images portraying sexual acts with an animal. Greenhill was arrested on January 17 of this year after West Mercia Police received information he had engaged with two girls on the internet, both under 16.

During the conversations, Greenhill used photos of other young men and pretended that he was a rich businessman, West Mercia Police said. He showed the children photos of luxury yachts and cars telling the children that he would take them on them.

The conversations included that Greenhill intended to have sexual intercourse with the children and included the sending of explicit pictures and videos to them. Following his arrest, examinations were carried out on all his devices, which provided further evidence.

Greenhill was charged on January 18, despite denying the offences during his police interview. He later pleaded guilty to:

• Three counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child
• Possession of indecent images of children
• Attempting to cause a child to look at images of sexual activity
• Distributing an indecent photograph of a child
• Possession of images portraying sexual acts with an animal
• Breaching a sexual harm prevention order

Alongside his prison sentence, Greenhill has also been added to the sex offenders’ register for life. He was shamed as he posed in his mugshot wearing a Wolverhampton Wanderers football shirt.

Detective Sergeant Dave Meyer, from the Online Child Sexual Exploitation Team at West Mercia Police, said: "I’m pleased that Greenhill will now face the consequences for his actions, and will rightly be identified as a sex offender for life. There is no doubt that he poses a threat to young people and without our intervention may have gone on to groom others online, escalating his behaviour towards contact offending, something we work day-in and day-out to prevent.

"This case is testament to the fact that our close relationships with partners in regional organised crime units, children’s services and the charitable sector are paying dividends in our fight to protect children online."

Description

A Scarborough sex offender who breached a strict court order designed to curb his contact with children has been jailed for 12 months.

Matthew Dunning, 28, from Scarborough, was ordered to sign on the sex-offenders’ register for life in 2016 after he was convicted of sexually abusing a teenage girl.

As part of his notification requirements as a registered sex offender, Dunning had to inform police if he was living or staying at any household with children.

However, he breached that order in 2018 and did so again earlier this year when he was found to have been staying with a woman and her children for three weeks.

Dunning, of Pavilion Square, ultimately admitted the breach and appeared for sentence at York Crown Court.

Prosecutor Celine Kart said that Dunning was supposed to notify police within three days if he was living or staying at a household with children.

The woman with whom he had been staying provided police with a statement confirming he had been staying at her house and that she wasn’t told about his previous convictions for sexual offences, nor about his notification requirements.

In 2016, Dunning was jailed for three years and eight months and placed on the sex-offenders’ register for two offences of sexual activity with an under-age teen girl in a Ryedale park.

He had sent text messages to the girl to arrange a meeting and asking her if she would have sex with him.

She told him she didn’t want sex but travelled with a friend to meet him at a park in Thornton-le-Dale, where Dunning lived at the time.

The friend went for a bike ride and while she was gone, Dunning had full sex with the girl and got her to perform a sexual act.

Dunning received the notification requirements as part of his sentence for those offences and was also made subject to a sexual-harm prevention order.

Defence counsel Charlotte Noddings said Dunn never had any unsupervised contact with the children at the woman’s home, but that the risk was there.

She added that Dunn, a father-of-three, was an isolated figure who had problems with alcohol and anxiety.

He had worked on building sites but was currently off sick due to alcohol abuse and depression.

Recorder Dapinder Singh KC said that Dunning had “deliberately concealed” his criminal record from the woman and deliberately breached the order.

He also cited “some concerning comments” in a probation report which stated that Dunning “lacked awareness and understanding of the consequences of (his) offending” and that he still posed a risk of harm to children.

He told Dunning: “This offending is so serious, and your circumstances are so (serious)…I just cannot see how this sentence could not be an immediate custodial term.”

Dunning was jailed for 12 months but will only serve half of that sentence behind bars before being released on prison licence.

He will remain on the sex-offenders’ register for life.

Description

Following an investigation by Thames Valley Police’s Child Abuse Investigation Unit, a man has been sentenced to prison for a number of child sex offences in Oxford.

William Swandle, aged 65, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault of a child by penetration and two further counts of sexual assault of a child in a hearing at Oxford Crown Court on 27 April.

Returning to the same court for sentencing on Friday (26/5), Swandle was jailed for a total of eight years with an additional year to serve on licence.

The offences all occurred over a two-year period in Abingdon against a single female victim aged under 13.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Sarah Tibble of the Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: “The young victim in this case has suffered the most horrendous of crimes, which nobody should have to experience.

“She has been incredibly brave in coming forward and reporting this to the police, and I want to commend her and her family for doing so.

“Swandle has now been sentenced to a significant prison sentence, which reflects the seriousness of his crimes.

“I hope that the victim and her family feel justice has been served.

“Thames Valley Police is committed to bringing offenders such as Swandle to justice. We will always listen to and support victims of such abhorrent crimes and put offenders before the courts to face the consequences of their actions.”

Description

A sleazy postman who hounded four women during his rounds has avoided a jail sentence. Irfan William delivered letters in Glasgow's southside, where he took advantage to harass his victims with unwanted advances.

The 49-year-old was reported to the Royal Mail twice - but it was only after he forced himself on one woman that police were alerted. William pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to three charges of stalking and one sexual assault.

The crimes spanned between January 2015 and March 2022. On Tuesday, Sheriff Paul Reid ordered William to do 180 hours of unpaid work and put him under supervision for three years.

William was also tagged for five months keeping him indoors between 7pm and 7am. A non-harassment order against the victims was granted for three years and William remains on the sex offender register.

The sheriff told him: “As far as these matters are concerned, I can advise you that if you appeared before me with a conviction, I would have had no hesitation sending you to prison.”

The earlier hearing was told how William pestered one woman after learning she had given evidence in a court case. He would also knock on her door to make deliveries to attract her attention rather than simply put them through the letterbox.

Creepy William would also go to a cafe in Glasgow's Govanhill where this victim often spent time. Prosecutor Jeremy O’Neill said: “He would buy coffee, sit at the table and stare at her."

The woman eventually stopped going there believing William's behaviour was "predatory". Mr O'Neill went on: "She said that William's actions were definitely a contributing factor in deciding to move house as that is how much he scared her."

The court heard how William pounced on another woman at her home in the city's Battlefield after asking could he come in for a cigarette. He said he had also brought lunch - the victim allowed him in.

After showing that he had brought her pizza and juice, William claimed that he “did not know if he was imposing.” William then asked personal questions about her sex life and if she was married. He told her: "You are my distraction."

William made remarks about the woman's appearance before grabbing her around the stomach and rubbing her arm. Fiscal Mr O'Neill said: “She felt frozen with fear…she walked towards the front door.

“William grabbed her shoulders from behind but she continued to walk and broke free from him. He opened his arms and embraced the woman with a hug. He put his hand on her face and forcefully kissed her cheek.”

A third woman was probed about her relationships. The postie, of Newton Mearns, Renfrewshire, would also insist on chapping the door claiming it was "difficult to push letters through".

This spooked victim had to pretend she had a husband - she even got an ex-partner to answer one time to avoid William. The court heard of the other victim who William spoke to about literature stating to her: "You are always buying books."

Calling the woman by her name, he also asked her about her husband. Mr O'Neill said: "He told her that he would bring round books and coffee and discuss literature but the woman asked him not to do so."

Two of the women contacted Royal Mail after what happened to them. However, William was only arrested after the final incident when he kissed that victim.

Douglas McAllister, defending, told the court that the dad-of-two lost his latest job at Amazon following his conviction. The lawyer added: “He fully accepts the distress and discomfort that his behaviour caused to those involved.

“He has also expressed sincere regret towards his actions on the vulnerable young woman.”

Description

A MAN has been jailed for more than 10 years for rape, sexual assault and indecent exposure.

Paul Andrew John Marsh, 57, formerly of Thornton Terrace, Halifax was sentenced last Friday at Bradford Crown Court to 11 years after a jury found him guilty of multiple offences against a woman. 

The offences were non-recent and the Calderdale Safeguarding Team began an investigation when the victim came forward to report them.

Marsh was arrested and subsequently charged with offences including rape, sexual assault, and indecent exposure. Following a trial at Bradford Crown Court, which concluded last Friday, was found guilty. 

The 57-year-old has also been placed on the sex offender register for life and been given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order to remain in place indefinitely, alongside his 11-year custodial sentence.

Detective Constable Rosie Harrison, of Calderdale Safeguarding Team, said: “We are pleased with the substantial custodial sentence handed to Marsh which reflects the seriousness of his offending."

She added: “I would personally encourage any victims of unreported sexual offences or abuse, whether recent or non-recent to come forward and contact the police.

"All reports are treated with the upmost sensitivity and confidentiality.

"We will thoroughly investigate any reports and bring those responsible to justice.”

Description

A paedophile from Arlesey has been jailed after being found to have possessed and distributed indecent images of children.

Registered sex offender Terence Thatcher, 56, of Bury Mead, was arrested in February this year after Bedfordshire Police carried out a warrant at his home address.

Officers seized a mobile phone containing more than 1,100 indecent images of children, along with two prohibited and five extremely pornographic images.

There was also evidence of chat streams that showed Thatcher had shared these images with other users.

Part of Thatcher’s sexual harm prevention order when he was released from prison in 2019 was that he needed to notify his offender manager that he had a new phone, which he had not done.

On investigation, the phone was also logged into various social media accounts that he had not sought permission to use, resulting in a further breach of the conditions of his order.

Investigation Officer Emma Shipton from Bedfordshire Police’s Internet Child Abuse Investigation Team said: “Viewing, possessing and distributing indecent images of children is by no means a victimless crime.

“It causes and propagates real harm to the children concerned, as they are abused and exploited in such a vile and appalling way, and people like Thatcher share this disgusting abuse online for other individuals to view.”

Thatcher was sentenced on Friday, May 19 to a total of two years and eight months in prison, with an additional three years on licence, after pleading guilty to making, distributing and possessing indent images of children, possessing prohibited and pornographic images and for breaching his sexual harm prevention order.

He has also been handed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Description

Victims of a bed-hopping sexual predator who walked free after targeting five women have spoken of their horror.

Steven Puttock crept into two of his victims’ bedrooms and assaulted them while they slept as he carried out a series of vile sex attacks over a 14-month period.

But last week a sheriff told the 25-year-old, from Kilsyth, North Lanarkshire, that jailing him wouldn’t help him or his victims.

He was instead sentenced to a “top-end community disposal” and ordered to pay each of the women £500 compensation.

One victim, who was assaulted in her own home after Puttock crept into her bed, told the Record: “We’re the victims, not him.

“To pay us £500 for what he has done to us all doesn’t cut it.

“He’s free to get on with his life but we’re going to be affected by this for the rest of ours.”

The electrician admitted assaulting the five women at houses in Cumbernauld and Kilsyth between January 2020 and March the following year, with one victim being targeted on three occasions and another twice.

Airdire Sheriff Court heard they were all considered friends and “like family” to him.

Puttock had a girlfriend at the time and apologised via text and Facebook messages to two of the women, using exactly the same words to both.

Sheriff Joseph Hughes said the pervert told a psychologist his offending “would likely have escalated to a more serious level” if he had continued down the same path.

He was assessed as at a medium risk of re-offending, but the sheriff told the first offender: “A custodial sentence will not in itself assist you in addressing your offending.

“Sentencing you to a modest period in prison will not help either the victims or society at large.”

Puttock was sentenced to three years of supervision, 300 hours unpaid work and a 12-month electronic tagging order .

Five-year non-harassment orders were made for each victim and his name will be on the sex offenders’ register for the same period.

One victim, who was groped in her bed in January 2020, said: “He thought he could randomly sneak into other people’s beds and cause this massive impact on their lives and he gets community service?

“I moved house after this. I kept having nightmares thinking people were in my room.

“Why is he allowed to be in the community when he is a danger to the community?

“Litter picking and painting fences? How is that going to stop him from reoffending?

“I don’t see how he’s not going to be a danger to women after this? I don’t care about his money.”

Another victim told how Puttock was like “a brother” to her when he crept into her bed and put his hands inside her clothing in November 2020.

She said: “He knew exactly what he was doing and his intentions.

“It happened so quickly. The next day I was distraught. I knew if I told my mum and dad they would erupt.”

The victim said she didn’t go to police until a year later because she was worried about the impact on her family.

She said: “I could barely cope. I would check car parks to make sure his car wasn’t there.

“He then messaged me and said he was sorry for everything he had done.

“This sentence makes us think ‘is that it?’ You would have expected more for five victims.

“I only hope this will change how he treats women in the future because I don’t want anyone else to go through this.”

A third victim told how brazen Puttock put his hand down her trousers on two occasions in a room full of her family and friends in October 2020.

She said: “It made me feel sick to the pit of my stomach. He’s just a horrible, horrible human. I can’t explain the anger.

“He thought he got away with it the first time so could do it again.”

Defence agent Ross Brown said Puttock had been abusing alcohol and cocaine at the time of the offences.

He said Puttock was in “highly-skilled employment” and had found a new relationship.

Description

A judge hit out at the evil of young women being sent unsolicited ‘d*** pics’ as she dealt with a man guilty of vile sex chats with what he thought were underage girls.

William Sykes, 54, greeted the younger of the two ‘decoy’ social media accounts – allegedly belonging to a 12-year-old girl – with the words ‘hi sexy’ and sent an older ‘girl’, who was apparently 14, a picture of his appendage in late 2020.

Learning of the filthy photography prompted the judge hearing the case, Recorder Samantha Presland, to ponder out loud: “Do you think that mobile phones having cameras on them is a curse?”

She added, sarcastically, that an ‘unsolicited d*** pic’ of the type sent by the defendant was what every woman wanted to see.

Later, she said it was ‘purely luck no one was on the receiving end of this’, as the 'girls' were in fact adult 'paedophile hunters'. 

The type of material the defendant was sending and inviting ‘kills’ young women’s self-esteem and makes them feel like ‘objects’, she added.

Sentencing, Recorder Presland said: “It’s a very, very serious offence, Mr Sykes. I cannot understate that.”

Prosecutor Matthew Knight said Sykes met the older ‘girl’ on a web app before moving the conversation on to WhatsApp.

“The conversation included what certainly to an adult would appear to be references to content of a sexual nature and it culminates, in short, in Mr Sykes sending a picture of his penis to the decoy,” he said.

In the messages, Sykes described the girl as ‘very pretty’ and seemed to acknowledge that he ‘may get into trouble’ by sending and asking for explicit material.

The ‘girl’ was, in fact, a grown-up working with so-called paedophile hunter group The Ghosts.

A second group, called Elite Solo Decoys, was responsible for the second decoy account with which Sykes exchanged messages. The girl – claiming to be a 12-year-old – was called ‘sexy’ by the defendant.

Sykes, a long-term alcoholic with learning difficulties, was confronted by the ‘hunters’ in a video that was live-streamed.

Mr Knight conceded of the defendant’s behaviour in the video: “Mr Sykes presents with some difficulties in understanding what is being said.”

He was arrested and, when he appeared before the magistrates’ court in March, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted sexual communication with a child.

Mitigating, Bethan Chichester said her client had been drinking up to 24 cans of strong alcohol a day at the time of the offending. He had since managed to cut down his daily consumption to five or six cans.

He was given 12 months’ imprisonment suspended for a year and a half and must abide by a 10 year sexual harm prevention order. Sykes, of Blackbird Leys Road, Oxford, will be on the sex offender register for a decade.

Description

A violent stalker has admitted sexually assaulting two women in Perth city centre.

Creepy Barrie Cameron forced himself on his first victim as she walked home after a night out with friends.