Latest Offenders

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A Nottinghamshire man has been jailed for 27 years for raping young girls.

Richard Stocks, from Sutton-in-Ashfield, repeatedly attacked his victims then instructed them to keep quiet, Nottinghamshire Police said.

However the 55-year-old was arrested after one of them defied his order to remain silent and told their mother what had happened in July 2021.

He was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday after admitting 12 counts of rape.

Stocks also pleaded guilty to a further charge of attempted rape, two of sexual assault and two of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

He was ordered to serve another year on extended licence on top of his 27-year custodial sentence.

Victims' bravery

Police said Stocks will have to serve at least two thirds of his sentence before he can be considered for parole and will remain on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

Detectives praised the bravery of Stocks' victims whose testimony about his behaviour and his distinctive physical characteristics helped to secure his convictions.

Det Con Kerry Stringfellow, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "Stocks is a devious and predatory sex offender who repeatedly preyed on young children.

"The nature of his offending was utterly horrific and has unsurprisingly had a very significant impact on his victims.

"But for their bravery in coming forward and telling us about what had happened, Stocks would have remained a danger to any children he came into contact with."

Description

A man who hid devices at his flat containing over a thousand indecent images of children has been jailed.

Warren David Manners, 45, of Sowerby Close, Eltham was jailed two years and eight months at Woolwich Crown Court on Thursday.

He had pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children, one count of possession of indecent images of children and three counts of breaching a sexual harm prevention order. 

Manners was already a registered sex offender having been convicted of possessing indecent images of children.

He had been issued with a sexual harm prevention order which prohibited him from being in possession of digital devices or devices that enable access to the internet without notifying a local unit.

On March 22, Met officers executed a search warrant at Manners’ address. 

Manners initially denied owning any phones, tablets, or laptops, but officers found a total of 32 digital devices hidden throughout his flat including a cupboard with multiple locks.

Officers also found hundreds of still photographs of children inside the flat. 

Officers established that 21 of the digital devices seized contained indecent images of children. 

Manners was charged and attended Bromley Magistrates’ Court on March 23. He pleaded guilty at his first hearing and was remanded in custody. 

Met detective James Cronin said: “Manners is by his own admission a paedophile who has repeatedly ignored court orders put in place to help him desist from his criminal behaviour.”

Description

A pervert who took indecent images of a 10-year-old girl in Swindon and molested a six-year-old more than a decade earlier has been put behind bars.

John Shannon, from Southampton, was jailed after pleading guilty to five offences including the sexual assault of a child under 13, taking and possessing indecent images of children and possession of an extreme pornographic image.

The 58-year-old was handed a prison sentence of five years and six months at Southampton Crown Court last week.

Shannon was caught out when National Crime Agency (NCA) investigators identified a woman who he had sexually assaulted in 2010.

The victim was just six years old at the time of the assault and was in Shannon’s care.

Shannon was arrested in September, 2022, and was released on conditional bail.

NCA investigators seized his phone and laptop, for analysis, and discovered child abuse material including a category A video, the most serious type, and 13 category C images of a man and a child.

The child, a 10-year-old girl, has since been identified and safeguarded.

The New Milton Advertiser and Lymington Times reported that some of these indecent images and videos were found to have been taken at an address in Swindon.

They added that the investigation found Shannon had attended a party at the address, and stayed the night, before recording the images on his mobile phone.

Investigators were able to prove Shannon was in the photos and had taken them himself, while records showed that he had travelled to the location where the pictures were taken.

Shannon was subsequently re-arrested in December, 2022, and charged with these additional offences.

As part of his sentence, Shannon will also be subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Graham Clare from the National Crime Agency said: “Shannon was a repeat offender who clearly has a sexual interest in young girls.

“Having felt he had gotten away with assaulting one child, he went on to take sexualised images of another 12 years later.

“I commend the young woman in this case who showed great bravery in speaking out against him and helping to ensure he was put behind bars.

“Protecting the public, especially children, is the NCA’s top priority. We will continue to ensure those seeking to harm them are identified and jailed for their crimes.”

Description

A 46-year-old Cirencester man has been jailed for three years after he admitted numerous charges of possessing indecent images of children and attempting to engage in sexual activity with a child.

Robert Wills of West Market Place, who pleaded guilty to all ten charges, was caught in a police 'sting' operation to catch online paedophiles. 

Prosecutor Jack Barry told Gloucester Crown Court on Tuesday, May 2, that one officer posed as 'Izzy,' a 12-year-old girl in the Autumn of 2021.

“Wills, a convicted sex offender, was tempted and instigated an online conversation with Izzy and told her his name was Darren," said the prosecutor.

“Wills claimed that he had dated girls of her age many times before and added, ‘I’ve dated girls where we met up. I’ve also dated mums and had a relationship with their daughters at the same time. 

"He stated on one occasion that he was masturbating while watching child pornography featuring girls of her age and told her, ‘I wish I was with you doing these things’.

The court was told that the police made enquiries using the phone number he had used and his usernames on social media, during the conversation with the undercover officer. 

Police then attended Wills' home address, at which he was listed on the sex offenders’ register, on April 5 where he was arrested. 

His devices were seized and these contained 496 indecent images of a child in category A, the most serious, 406 images in category B and 410 images in category C. 

The court was told that Wills had been placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years following his conviction for possessing indecent images of children in March 2013. He had been sentenced at that time to a prison term of 24 months. 

In his police interview Wills claimed he knew all along that 'Izzy' was not who she said she was and was trying to catch her out.  He stated he resorted to this type of activity when he was 'in a dark place.'

Steven Young defending, said: “Wills still maintains he doesn’t have a sexual interest in contacting children in this way. 

“He says that he did not believe he was communicating with a child, but an adult, and was trying to catch them out.”

Wills pleaded guilty to all ten charges including three counts of possessing indecent images in categories A, B and C. 

As well as, one count of possessing 51 prohibited images of a child and one charge of extreme pornography with an animal and two charges of distributing indecent images of children, attempting to engage in sexual activity with a child. 

Wills also admitted failing to comply with the terms of being on the sex offenders’ register and possessing 17 grams of a class B drug, namely amphetamine.

Judge Rupert Lowe sentenced Wills to a three year prison term and ordered the destruction of all the digital devices containing the offending images and the drugs.

The judge subjected Wills to the terms of a sexual harm prevention order for life and indefinite sex offender registration. 

Description

A brazen pervert sexually assaulted a "terrified" woman while his girlfriend was in the same room.

Paul Gerry, who has a past conviction for sexually assaulting a teenager, touched the victim's breasts and cupped her genitals during a gathering at a house in Newcastle, all while his partner was just metres away. A court heard that the 47-year-old's victim was considerably younger than him, although she was an adult, and was left too frightened to shout out.

The following day, Gerry sent the victim messages asking her not to say anything and offering her "£40 or £50 cash", prosecutors said. However, his predatory behaviour was reported to the police and he was arrested,

Gerry, of Hallow Drive, in Throckley, has now been jailed for 12 months after a judge deemed that he hadn't learned his lesson following his conviction in 2015 for similar offending. Recorder Thomas Moran said: "You didn't learn from your past conviction. That or you're just unable to control your sexual urges, despite the fact a great deal of work has already been done with you on your three-year community order and sex offenders' programme from 2015."

Mr Recorder Moran added: "You do present a degree of risk and the prospect of rehabilitation doesn't seem to be particularly good. The appropriate punishment can only be met by custody."

Newcastle Crown Court was told that the victim was at an address in Newcastle with Gerry and others one evening in October last year when he began secretly touching her inappropriately. Jane Waugh, prosecuting, continued: "He put his hand under her top and over her bra and felt her breasts.

"The defendant then unbuttoned her trousers and put his hands under her knickers and cupped her genitals. His girlfriend was present in the room. [The victim] was so scared, she couldn't talk or move."

The court heard that, when Gerry and the victim were later alone, he tried to kiss and hug her but she pushed him away. The following day he then sent her messages asking her not to tell anyone what had happened and offering her cash.

However, the woman later reported Gerry to the police and he was arrested. In a statement, she said: "This incident left me feeling closed in on myself emotionally and it's changed my life both physically and mentally. My mental health has deteriorated, where as before I had no issues."

Jennifer Coxon, defending, said Gerry was a carer for his elderly father and was remorseful. She added: "Mr Gerry has indicated that he's unable to make sense of what happened or why he did what he did that night. He doesn't usually drink on a regular basis and, while he hadn't consumed a large amount of alcohol, it had affected him considerably."

As well as the prison sentence, Gerry must sign the Sex Offenders' Register for 10 years.

Description

A 27-year-old Dunfermline man sent a picture of his penis and a video of himself carrying out a sex act to someone he thought was a 12-year-old girl.

James Waite asked the “child” – who was actually an adult decoy – if she “liked his willy”.

Description

A Southampton man has been jailed for 15 years after being convicted of rape and intentional strangulation following an incident in the Southampton area in September last year.

On Thursday 4 May, 30-year-old Jordan Thomas Campbell was sentenced, after previously being found guilty of rape and intentional strangulation during a trial at Southampton Crown Court on 27 February 2023.

The circumstances surrounding the incident is that Campbell and the victim were known to each other; with the woman coming to Jordan’s aid after seeing him injured in the Southampton area on the evening of Friday 16 September.

They left the area and visited his home address; with the woman concerned for his welfare.

As the woman went to leave the property, Jordan Campbell is said to have become verbally aggressive before assaulting her. He then proceeded to intentionally strangle her before raping her in a room inside the property.

The woman also sustained bruising to her face, neck and chest area as a result of the assault.

Campbell began to harass a woman; sending a barrage of messages, videos, voice messages as well as phone calls over a five-day period between September 17, 2022 and 22 September, 2022.

Campbell, of Westridge Road in Southampton, was later arrested and subsequently charged with rape, intentional strangulation, controlling and coercive behaviour and harassment.

In a victim impact statement, she states that the incident ‘made me feel like I lost control of who I am. Any dignity I had was gone’. She continues to say that she no longer feels ‘normal’, that she ‘doesn’t feel herself’ and that the incident has ‘impacted day-to-day’ how she is feeling and that she ‘cannot got on with her life’.

Jordan Thomas Campbell appearing at Southampton Crown Court on Thursday 4 May, was sentenced to 15 years years for rape – nine years custodial sentence and ordered to serve six years on extended licence. He was also sentenced to two years for the non-fatal strangulation offence and 12 months for harassment – these are to be served concurrently.

A restraining order was also granted against contact with the victim. Whilst he was also ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for an indefinite period of time.

Description

A man has been jailed for rapes he committed more than 10 years ago.

Leicestershire Police said Thomas Prince attacked two victims the first time he met them - overpowering one and giving the other alcohol so he could take advantage of her.

The victims, who did not know each other, were raped in June 2011 and December 2012.

Prince was sentenced to nine years and three months in prison at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.

The 26-year-old, of Western Road, Leicester, was found guilty of four counts of rape following a trial.

Officers said Prince's victims, who are now adults, independently reported the attacks in 2020.

'Degree of closure'

Det Con Rachael Lee said: "I'd like to commend them on the strength they showed in giving evidence during the trial.

"Since each of these horrific incidents occurred, they've been living their lives, continually traumatised about what had happened to them.

"To stand up in court and recount your ordeal in front of a jury takes an unbelievable amount of courage, but ultimately in this case it meant that Prince is now dealing the consequences of his crimes.

"I hope the outcome has provided them with a degree of closure."

She said it "became apparent there may be other people out there who are victims of Prince", and urged anyone with any information to contact the force.

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This is the face of a monster paedophile every parent should see after a family's 'two years of hell.' So 'disturbing' were Edwin Darby's police confessions, one officer reportedly had to stop the interview.

Though the 67-year-old was jailed for 54 months and ordered to sign the sex offenders register, the victim's mum fumed he could be out in just over two years and "doesn't have a neon sign on him." She wants everyone to know his name and face in the hope that he's never able to hurt anyone else.

Darby, of Northampton, admitted two counts of assault by touching on a girl under 13. His mugshot, released by West Midlands Police, can now be revealed following the sentencing at Birmingham Crown Court on May 5.

Details of the lorry driver's sickening crimes emerged after the mum's children reported Darby had 'moonied' in front of them, she said. After opening up an honest conversation over 'private areas', one of her children made a harrowing disclosure.

"The way she said it so innocently and blasé, so matter of fact, I was like, 'no this can't be'," recalled the mum, who cannot be named for legal reasons. West Midlands Police was alerted, with the mother and daughter interviewed at the station.

"I was told he [Darby] had made some disclosures to police," she added. "The police officer at the time said he had to stop the police interview because he was so disturbed."

As Darby was jailed, he was also handed a sexual harm prevention order and ordered to sign the sex offenders register. A restraining order was imposed and the trucker will, or may be, barred from working with children and or vulnerable adults upon his release, the court said.

The victim's mum added: "This person's a monster. I don't want him to be able to hurt anyone else, ever," said the mum. "Ok so he's on the sex offenders register, ok so he's got a sexual harm prevention order, but he hasn't got a neon sign on him.

"He could carry on and live his life and nobody would be any wiser. He could put himself in situations and befriend people and they will be in danger again. I couldn't live with myself if something happened to anyone else.

"I can't settle. He has the ability to befriend people very quickly, very easily." She hopes by telling her story, other victims of sexual abuse will feel more comfortable in coming forward to police.

Description

An entrenched paedophile was caught by undercover police sending sick sexual videos to what he thought were 12-year-old girls. Daniel Keenor used encrypted chat sites to share movies of very young children being abused by adults.

The 46-year-old also suggested meeting up with the girls to have sex and give them drugs. What he did not know was that the 'children' were undercover police officers.

Cops went to his house in Paignton and arrested him. Keenor is a registered sex offender with a long history of similar offending.

Exeter Crown Court was told he had previously completed a sex offender programmes to change his deviant behaviour but it had not worked. He admitted 18 offences relating to the sharing and possession of indecent images and to attempting to engage children in sexual communication and activity.

Recorder Mathew Turner said he posed a risk of offending again. He jailed him for seven years and nine months and added an extra sentence of two years and nine months to be served on licence.

Police started their investigation into his online activities in 2022. He made contact with a succession of undercover officers posing as children or parents. A feature of all Keenor's offending was his use of sites such as Wikr, WhatsApp and Kik to chat and send images.

In June of last year he contacted what he thought was the father of a 12-year-old on a fetish website and quickly diverted the chat to an encrypted platform. He discussed having sex with the child and plying her with drugs. He then sent the 'father' 109 indecent movies of children. Some were in the most serious category and included infants as young as two years old.

Keenor also made contact with what he thought was the mother of a 10-year-old and suggested meeting her to have sex. He shared further movies.

In December he sent a friend request to an undercover officer posing as a 12-year-old girl called Ruby. He asked for sexual images of her and sent some of a penis and other extreme images involving animals.

His offending continued into 2023 when he shared further images and encouraged the fictional child to "get naked" and engage in sexual activity.

Keenor was jailed for two years in 2013 for distributing indecent images and given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order to control his behaviour. He went on to breach that order several times and commit similar offences.

A pre-sentence report by probation described him as entrenched and persistent in his behaviour. Recorder Turner said the defendant's offending started after the break-up of a relationship and his risk increased due to leading an isolated life.

He said he had no doubt Keenor posed a significant risk of committing similar offences in the future and an extended sentence was merited.

Keenor, of Rosemary Gardens, must serve two thirds of his seven years and three month sentence before the parole board considers whether he is safe to release. He will be subject to an extended licence period for the full 10 years.

Description

A man has been jailed for child sex offences committed on the Lincolnshire coast over a period of nearly two years. Kevin Clarke, 38, of Gresley Close, Leicester was given six years in prison at Leicester Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to nine charges.

Clarke was sentenced for offences of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and engaging in sexual communication with a child. He was also sentenced for making and possessing illegal images of children, including 269 images in category A, and two in the extreme category.

The charges relate to offences that happened in Skegness, between January 1, 2021 and October 28, 2022. DC Michelle Adamson, of Lincolnshire Police PVP, said: "Clarke had built a relationship with the victim knowing, when the relationship began, she was just 14 years old.

"Getting this man convicted means he will not be able to offend against any other child or young person."

Description

A paedophile was ensnared when he sent a picture of his car's registration plates over Snapchat after recording a girl flashing him on webcam.

Charlie White was caught confessing to wanting "late night fun" with a 12-year-old child during an online sting. Once he was rumbled, the 20-year-old admitted to having a stash of indecent images on his phone - including a video showing him begging a teenager to lift up her top.

Liverpool Crown Court heard on Thursday, that he first contacted a Snapchat profile which, unbeknown to him, was being operated by undercover police on January 10 this year. White - operating on an account with the name "User127" - told the decoy, which was positing as a 12-year-old girl, that he was "looking for a friendly person to chat to".

David Watson, prosecuting, described how he said he was "looking for a friendly person to chat to". The following day, the defendant messaged saying he was "looking for a younger girl" and that "maybe they could have fun".

White, of Domville in Whiston, then sent a picture of his penis alongside the message "I hope we can have fun". When he was told the girl's supposed age, he replied: "I'm fine with it if you want to.

"It's up to you. It could be fun."

Giving a fake name of Josh, White asked for lewd pictures of the youngster and told her she was "cute" before requesting that she take a selfie in the bathroom. On January 13, he stated that he worked in a nightclub in St Helens while she gave her location as being in Exeter.

Contact continued the next day, when the pervert sent a photograph exposing himself with the caption: "Hope you like it. Maybe you can send too, I'd love to see your body."

White confessed to wanting to meet up with the schoolgirl and sent a picture showing his face, saying: "If it's ok with you, it's completely fine with me. You're stunning."

He said he wanted "late night fun" and went on to make a further request for indecent images after asking "how school was going". Despite being told he was making her "feel uncomfortable", White sent another photo of his genitals followed by six videos of him performing a sex act - telling her she should "give it a go".

Officers were able to identify him as the offender after he sent a picture of his car showing the registration plate. An Apple iPhone was seized upon his arrest at his home on March 8 and was found to contact a number of indecent pictures and videos.

Under interview, White stated that he had been trying to "relieve stress". While he denied having a sexual interest in children, he did say "he thought he needed help" and confessed that further materials would be found on the device.

When police examined the phone further, they discovered a recording of a video call captured on January 14. This showed White chatting with an unidentified girl, estimated to be aged between 12 and 14.

During the 24-second clip, he is seen to type in a chat box asking for a "flash" - at which point the youngster lifts up her top. The sex offender then messaged asking for more but the girl refused to show him her body any further.

White replied "worth a try" before she turned off the camera. He has no previous convictions.

Peter White, defending, told the court: "I accept there is little mitigation other than Mr White's prompt guilty plea and cooperation with the police. It does appear he was in difficult circumstances, but he accepts that is no justification for his behaviour.

"He is still a young man himself. He is still quite immature.

"He is an intelligent young man, a fairly polite and educated young person. This issue has shown its ugly head.

"He wants to accept any help so that it doesn't rear its ugly head again. He tells me he wishes to seek employment when his case is over.

"He wants to make something of his life and be a positive member of society. Hitherto, Mr White has been of previous good character."

White - who was supported by his mum, sister and partner in the public gallery - admitted inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, taking indecent images, attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to cause a child to watch sexual activity, attempting sexual communications with a child, two counts of possession of indecent images and three counts of making indecent images. He was jailed for two years.

Sentencing, Recorder Richard Pratt KC said: "The level of coercion demonstrates, in my view, a serious sexual problem. It is to your credit that, not only did you plead guilty, but you indicated there may be further images on your phones.

"I have had regard to your age, your immaturity and the fact that you have no previous convictions at all. Your persistent denials do not bode well."

White was also handed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order. He will be required to sign the sex offenders' register for the same period.

Description

A PAEDOPHILE was snared as he tried to meet who he thought was a 14-year-old boy in Carmarthenshire.

On March 7 of this year, Emyr Anthony initiated contact online with who he thought was a teenage boy – but was in fact a decoy account.

The decoy replied the following day and the conversation moved to WhatsApp, where the decoy told Anthony he was 14, prosecutor Alycia Carpanini told Swansea Crown Court.

Anthony replied: ‘Yeah that’s okay, as long as you’re okay with my age’. He is 59.

Ms Carpanini said the defendant told the decoy he “likes kissing, cuddling, masturbating and sucking”, and “would go slowly” with the decoy. He also asked for a “sexy photograph”.

Anthony’s messages continued in a sexual nature, talking about masturbation and telling the decoy they would “work up slowly to penetration”.

They arranged to meet that day in Cross Hands. When the defendant arrived at the meeting spot, he was arrested by police.

He answered no comment in his interview that day, but at Magistrates’ Court admitted the offences.

Anthony, of Hawthorn Avenue in Gorseinon, has two previous convictions – in 2000 and 2011 – for 35 offences.

The court heard these convictions related to having indecent images of children, and Anthony had been subject to a sexual harm prevention order, which expired in 2021.

“Clearly the mitigation in this case is limited,” David Singh, representing Anthony, admitted.

He said the author of a pre-sentence report had said Anthony was “at a loss” to explain the reason behind his offending.

“I’m not here to lecture you but it seems to me the interest you have shown sexually is an unhealthy and paedophilic interest in young boys,” Judge Huw Rees told the defendant.

Mr Singh said his client would benefit from professional intervention and support to address his offending, as he had not received that in the past.

Anthony was jailed for two years for arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence, and was handed a six-month sentence, running concurrently, for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

He was told he must register as a sex offender for 10 years, and was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for the same period of time.

A joint operation by Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit and Dyfed-Powys Police had resulted in the arrest and prosecution of Anthony.

Detective Inspector Mathew Davies, of Tarian, said: “This is excellent joint working between Tarian and Dyfed-Powys Police. The focus of the operation was to target high-harm offenders, whilst safeguarding and protecting children.

“At Tarian, we have specialist officers who work tirelessly to protect children online as well as target those perpetrators, such as Anthony.

“It is our absolute priority to protect and keep children safe in our communities.

“If anyone has been a victim of child sexual abuse, I urge you to report it to your local police force via 101. We will always follow up allegations of abuse, no matter when they occurred.

"Victims can talk in confidence to experienced investigators and we can also help them get access to a range of other support services.

“If you have concerns about your use of the internet or inappropriate thoughts or behaviour about children or if you are worried about how someone you know behaves around children or are worried about their use of the internet then the Lucy Faithfull Foundation provide a free, anonymous and confidential Stop It Now! helpline on 0808 1000 900 for advice, support and information.”

Description

A serial sex offender has been jailed after he went off the polices radar for almost two weeks before being tracked down to Totnes.

Gary Taylor, aged 63, formerly of Salisbury and the Isle of Wight, but now of no fixed address, was required to tell police about his movements because he has a history of sexual assaults on vulnerable lone females and is a registered sex offender.

Taylor was categorised as a dangerous offender when he was jailed for a total of eight years and four months in 2015 for sexually assaulting an 18-year-old woman who had mental health issues.

He approached her while she was sitting on a bench in June 2014 and offered her a cigarette and whisky before taking a spot her to a bridge at Summerlock Approach where he was sleeping rough.

He went on to sexually assault her, leaving her traumatised. She told police Taylor was rank and she had told him to leave her alone. She later said she felt sick and terrified.

He also has convictions for sexually assaulting lone females on trains and was already on the register when he committed the offence in Salisbury.

Taylor admitted failing to comply with the sex offenders register.

He left his home on the Isle of Wight without informing the authorities on February 11 this year and did not turn up again until February 22, when he presented himself at Torquay police station but refused to complete the necessary forms.

He was eventually arrested in Totnes the next day and had apparently been living rough in Devon. He claimed he wanted to be arrested so he could get treatment for a hip condition.

Taylor has been jailed for nine months by Judge David Evans at Exeter Crown Court.

He told him: This was a deliberate failure to comply, in particular by leaving the Isle of Wight and going off elsewhere. It caused more than a little upset and concern because you went a significant distance from where the authorities had tabs on you.

Miss Caroline Bolt, prosecuting, said Taylor is on the register for life and required to notify police if he was away from his home address for more than three days.

He left home without telling the police in February before turning up in Devon, where he failed to re-register correctly at Torquay Police station on February 22 and being arrested in Totnes the next day.

Taylor was not represented but told the judge he had been confused by the law. He said he went to the police station in the hope of being arrested but had been turned away.

He said: I went to get arrested because I needed treatment for a broken hip but it was not until the next day that I got picked up for something else.

Description

A Glastonbury sex offender has been jailed for 10 years. Stuart Marchmont, 38, was found guilty of 13 online sexual offences after a trial in February.

He incited a girl, aged 12 at the time, from another part of the country to engage in sexual activity via an online platform. Following an investigation, agencies including Avon and Somerset Police and the South West, South East and Tarian Regional Organised Crime Units (ROCUs) identified that Marchmont was from Avon and Somerset.

He continued to try to contact five underage children. However, he was actually messaging specialist ROCU officers who target offenders operating online to exploit and abuse children.

Marchmont, formerly of Park Farm Road, was handed a 10-year sentence at Taunton Crown Court last Wednesday (April 26). The sentence was for one count of inciting a child under 13 to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity and 10 counts of attempting to engage or incite sexual activity with the children who did not actually exist.

Further offences also came to light upon his arrest in 2021. He was subsequently sentenced for one count each of causing non-penetrative sexual activity with a 15-year-old and making indecent images of the same child.

Alongside his prison sentence, Marchmont received an indefinite sexual harm prevention order. This will ensure he is monitored upon his future release and will be on the sexual offenders’ register.

Officer in the case Detective Constable Duncan Sandle said: “This was a lengthy and complex investigation, involving some brilliant collaborative work between several different policing organisations, into the actions of a persistent sexual predator.

“We are continually looking to prevent such offending and protect those vulnerable children these offenders prey on. This court result reflects the harm that Marchmont has caused the two children he did contact.

“Online child sexual exploitation is a horrendous crime that sex offenders, such as Marchmont, seek to carry out behind false profiles, for their own sexual gratification. But however hard they try to hide their offending, law-enforcement agencies will leave no stone unturned to put the likes of Marchmont in prison to protect the lives of other innocent children.”

Detective Inspector David Wells from the SWROCU’s Online Investigations Team said: “Marchmont clearly posed a serious risk to children, persistently attempting to get young girls to engage in sexual activity online.

“As this case shows, law enforcement agencies are across the internet determined to ensure they don’t succeed. It is vital parents and children themselves take steps to protect against the threat.”