Latest Offenders

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A CONVICTED child rapist is back behind bars after he told police during a search of his home: I cant help myself.

Back in 2011 James Green was jailed for five years at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court for raping a girl under 13 and in 2019 the same court locked him up for ten months for downloading indecent images of children.

As part of that latest sentence he was also made subject of a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order which banned him from having unauthorised devices which could access the internet.

But Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday that West Yorkshire police officers were alerted in April last year to the downloading of sickening child abuse images and videos and their inquiries led to Green being arrested in August.

When his mobile phone was examined officers found more than 250 movie and still images in the worst category involving the sexual abuse of children under five years old.

About a fortnight later police officers made another check on Green at his home in Croft Place, Brighouse, and when they asked about any more phones he replied:Ive got another one. Theres things on it. I cant help myself.

This time officers found a Samsung mobile phone hidden under his mattress and there were a small number of indecent images on the device.

Green, 32, was released on police bail, but when a further monitoring check was carried out in October he had obtained another mobile phone without informing the public protection unit and it was found hidden in a plant pot.

Green pleaded guilty to a series of offences relating to his downloading of indecent images of children and persistent breaches of his SHPO and the Recorder of Bradford Judge Richard Mansell QC jailed him again for a total of 24 months.

The judge said his offending was aggravated by his previous convictions and he had committed serious and persistent breaches of the order.

Green will now have to register as a sex offender with the police for the next ten years and he is still subject to the existing SHPO which runs until 2029.

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A MAN who complained about living next door to a paedophile has been jailed - for being a paedophile.

Darren Higham previously claimed he was furious about living next door to the sex offender, but he is now behind bars for sexually abusing a child over a period of four years.

He subjected a child to horrific sexual abuse from the age of seven until she was around 11.

The abuse ranged from kissing and touching the child to forcing her to perform sex acts on him on more than one occasion.

Higham, of Chaffinch Close, Birchwood, appeared before Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to four counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 and inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The 53-year-olds sick offending came to light when he was spotted with the victim, said prosecutor David Watson.

Mr Watson said how the person who saw them felt like something wasnt right so contacted social services.

The victim later told her mum that she had been sexually abused by Higham for ages.

The child told the police how Higham, a self-employed musician, used to kiss her and put his penis on her and recalled on one occasion how he had touched her.

She also told them how he asked her not to tell anyone about the abuse as it would mean he would be sent to prison.

The court heard how the victim said this made her feel scared and sometimes she would pretend to be tired and fall asleep so he would stop.

When these allegations were put towards Higham, he self-harmed and was hospitalised but was later interviewed by police and admitted to the abuse.

He told officers that something triggered inside of him but he told them he had no sexual interest in children.

Mr Watson read out a statement from the victims mother who claimed the sexual abuse committed by Higham has had a massive impact.

The statement said that the victim sometimes feels unloved and is undergoing counseling and trauma therapy as a result.

Defending, Gary Lawrenson said that prior to these offences, Higham was a man of good character.

He told the court how Higham has shown genuine remorse and is willing to engage in any work with the probation services.

Mr Lawrenson said: He does not seek to minimise his actions in any way, shape or form.

And in a letter to the court, Higham said: There are no words to say how much devastation and remorse I feel. I stand before you with acceptance of any punishment that you deem fit.

Higham was handed a four-year prison sentence, issued with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years and is subject to a restraining order for 10 years.

Detective constable Chris Orme said: This young person showed great courage coming forward to report what had been happening.

This ultimately meant that Darren Higham could be put in front of the court, where he pleaded guilty to these awful crimes.

I hope the sentence brings some closure for the victim.

Cheshire Police is committed to protecting children and bringing to justice those who seek to harm them.

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A man dubbed one of Dundees most high-risk child sex offenders has been told he faces jail after being caught with multiple illicit laptops and phones even though police could not find any indecent images on them.

Serial offender Jamie Mullen, 37, appeared on indictment at the citys sheriff court.

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A "dangerous" Blyth paedophile sexually assaulted a child in front of their parent and was later found in possession of their underwear.

Jamie Topham, who has a "significant history of sexual offending", sexually assaulted the child in September, last year, while the youngster's parent was in the same room. When the stunned parent saw what was happening, they took a photograph for evidence and later reported him to police.

When the 42-year-old was arrested, police found three indecent images on his mobile phone, which he'd taken himself. The child's underwear was also found in his room.

Topham, of Gladstone Street, Blyth, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court, via link from HMP Durham, to be sentenced for sexual assault of a child under the age of 13, breach of a sexual offence prevention order, and taking indecent images of children. He pleaded guilty to the charges.

The court heard that Topham had previous convictions for child sex offences and had been given a three year community order after being found in possession of hundreds of indecent images. He was later found in possession of more images and was given a suspended sentence and made subject of a 10 year sexual offence prevention order - which was active at the time of his offending last year.

Annie Richardson, prosecuting, said Topham had become acquainted with a family, who had no idea about his sexual offence history and convictions.

At some point in September, last year, Topham had drank up to seven cans of lager and was with members of the family. The court heard he was "somewhat drunk". Ms Richardson said that Topham then put his arm around a child, which the parent - who was in the same room - found "unusual".

Topham then sexually assaulted the child, leading the shocked parent to quickly take a photograph of what was happening for evidence. Topham was then kicked out of the house and was arrested that night.

Ms Richardson said: "His room was searched and child's underwear was found, which belonged to the child. Police also seized his mobile phone and examined it." Officers discovered three indecent images of children, which Topham had taken himself on the phone.

Mr Fish, defending Topham, said: "The defendant is realistic and accepts that he will receive an immediate custodial sentence. He has demonstrated a significant level of insight and acknowledges he has a problem. He is not a defendant who is in denial." Mr Fish added that Topham has "a lot of distorted thinking and attitudes".

Sentencing Topham, Judge Adams, said he had a "significant history of sexual offending". He said: "You admit a sexual attraction to children and in my view you are clearly dangerous."

The judge gave Topham an extended prison sentence 98 months - 50 months custodial with an extension period of 48 months. An indefinite sexual harm prevention order was also made and he will be on the sex offender's register indefinitely.

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A malign paedophile filmed his sexual abuse of underage boys on spy cams hidden in his house of horrors then uploaded the footage to the internet.

Bernard More, 57, gave the films titles that hinted at their sick content. One of the films uploaded to a Russia-based pornographic site contained the words teen boy spy cam while another was spy cam: hes at it again.

His twisted behaviour was unmasked late last year when Australian police stumbled across the videos online. The films had been uploaded by someone whose website username contained Mores date of birth, Oxford Crown Court heard.

The antipodean authorities traced the site user back to Buckinghamshire-based More then tipped off Thames Valley Police.

Oxfordshire detectives interviewed the younger two of the defendants victims on November 16, all of whom are now in their teens and cannot be identified for legal reasons. The older two boys did not wish to be interviewed.

The officers then arrested More and searched his property on December 1, less than a month after the tip off from Australian police.

They seized a Dell computer, 12 USB sticks, a memory card and a clutch of home CCTV cameras that had been installed in the living room, bathroom and bedrooms of his Princes Risborough home.

Those devices contained thousands of videos and images that More had recorded of himself sexually assaulting the four boys, the youngest of whom was just 11 when the abuse started.

In one of the videos, the defendant could be heard calling one boy then just 12-years-old a filthy pig as he encouraged the youngster to perform a sex act on himself.

Prosecutor Charles Ward-Jackson told Oxford Crown Court on Wednesday afternoon that in one piece of footage a boy was overheard telling More to put a video on a popular pornography website. The defendant says he will, Mr Ward-Jackson added.

Judge Maria Lamb was told that the boys were encouraged to perform sexual acts on themselves, with each other and on the defendant. They were given beer to drink and in some of the footage appeared drunk. In other clips they were asleep while More molested them.

In addition to the pictures that he took himself or distributed online, the defendant had a cache of more than 23,500 indecent images of unknown children including 513 in the most serious category.

Sending him down for 13 years and four months, Judge Lamb told bearded More: You were an utterly malign influence in their lives. You used each of them for your own sexual gratification.

She imposed an extended sentence, meaning that the defendant will spend two-thirds of his sentence behind bars until the Parole Board will consider whether he can be released. He must serve an extended three years on licence.

Had you not been caught when you were I have no doubt you would have continued in your behaviour, the judge told More, who kept his head bowed during the sentencing remarks.

Unless the risk you represent is addressed, you will continue to be a danger to young boys.

More, of Cannon Place, Princes Risborough, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to 33 counts. They included sexual activity with a child, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and offences of making, having and distributing indecent images of a child.

David Jones, defending, acknowledged there was little that could be said in mitigating his clients case. More entered his plea at the earliest opportunity despite making no comment during his police interview. The defendant was said to be remorseful.

Judge Lamb ordered that More would spend the rest of his life on the sex offender register. He will be subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order limiting his access to young boys.

At the end of the nearly two-hour sentencing hearing, she praised the police for the swift and comprehensive investigation that resulted in More being brought to justice.

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A man from Stoke-on-Trent has been jailed for 20 years, with an additional four years on licence, after being convicted of child sexual offences.

Mark Roberts, 39, of Madison Street, Tunstall, was sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court today (Wednesday 13 April).

Allegations of abuse against a child were reported to the force and an investigation was launched.

He pleaded guilty to assaulting a girl under 13 by touching.

He was found guilty of the rape of a girl under 13 and sexual assault of a girl under 13.

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A 6ft 10in knifeman who attempted to rape a woman in the street late at night in the Midlands has been revealed. Matt Mellor admitted attempted rape during an appearance in court yesterday.

He also admitted having of a bladed weapon and also breaching a sexual harm prevention order he had been given after a previous offence. On February 26, he began stalking a young woman in Northampton.

He grabbed her on Wellingborough Road and dragged her to the ground. He proceeded to attempt to rape her at knifepoint.

The woman managed to attract the attention of local homeowners, who came out to help her as Mellor fled. He was arrested later that day.

Lead Investigator, Detective Constable Adam Kelly, said Matt Mellor is a very large man, about 6ft 10in in height, and his actions on that night would have been an absolutely terrifying experience for this woman who should have been able to walk wherever she liked without fear of such an attack. She showed tremendous bravery in fighting him off whilst shouting for help and I would like to thank her for her support and courage during our investigation.

I would also like to thank the local residents who quickly came to her aid that night and also to the local businesses in the area who have assisted us with our inquiries and the procurement of CCTV which helped us piece together this crime. To be able to take such a dangerous offender off the streets helps to make Northamptonshire a safer place for people to go about their daily business and I now expect it will be a long time before Mellor is released from prison, which is great news.

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One of the offences was reported to police in 2020 and a police investigation led to several other victims coming forward.

A Bermondsey man who subjected six young girls to horrific sexual abuse has been found guilty of several offences spanning nearly twenty years.

Robert Pearce, 54, was convicted of 23 offences at a trial at Croydon Crown Court that finished yesterday (Tuesday, April 12).

Pearce abused six victims between the ages of seven and sixteen, over an eighteen-year period from 1999 and 2017. His convictions included five charges of rape and twelve of indecent assault.

Police said he also used his position as a leader in a live action roleplay group to groom and abuse young girls who attended the events.

PC Helen French, who led the investigation, said: Pearce took complete advantage of these young girls and his actions have undoubtedly had a significant impact on all of their lives.

I want to commend their courage and bravery in speaking to police and providing the evidence which has proved vital to his conviction.

I hope this prosecution shows that we take all allegations of sexual abuse extremely seriously, no matter how much time has passed. I would encourage anyone who has been a victim of such abuse to come forward and speak to us we have specialist officers who will listen and support you.

One of the offences was reported to police in 2020 and a police investigation led to several other victims coming forward.

Pearce will be sentenced on June 20.

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David Smith repeatedly exposed himself to one boy and seriously sexually assaulted another

A former Tory councillor has been found guilty of a string of child sex offences.

A jury has unanimously found David Smith guilty of 11 counts of inciting, or engaging in sexual activity with a child, over a decade ago. Teesside Crown Court heard harrowing evidence of the sexual abuse during the trial - the two victims were teenage boys when Smith targeted them.

One boy was groomed and repeatedly sexually assaulted by Smith over a four-year period. The court heard he has been massively affected by the abuse; his former girlfriend said it had "destroyed their relationship" and he was "traumatised" by what had happened to him.

The court heard how Smith gave the boy cash and bought him gifts; as well as taking him on trips to Edinburgh and to Liverpool. The victim said: He used to buy me all sorts - he must have spent 6,000 to 10,000 on me easy.

"It was clothes, it was drugs, I used to smoke cannabis a lot and he used buy me it. He used to buy me it every day, at least 20 a day. After I smoked it I would just go to sleep and when I woke up, he would be touching me.

Smith repeatedly exposed himself to the second victim - who was also a teenage boy at the time - before trying to persuade him to perform a sex act. The victim said he fled, telling the court: "He would flash me and as a kid I was shocked and didn't know where to put myself.

"After a month and a half, it went from flashing at me to him asking me to touch him. It got to the point where he was getting closer to me and got more insistent."

Smith, 33, of Rainsford Crescent in Middlesbrough, was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on May 16.

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A child rapist from Yorkshire has been jailed after police found thousand of indecent images - including some involving animals.

Officers found more than 30,000 images which linked Quintin Cocu to the abuse of a young girl.

Sheffield Crown Court was told Cocu, of Sandall Stones Road, in Kirk Sandall, Doncaster, was caught by police with the images who were abe to link them to a youngster who he had molested for many years when she was a child.

When officers visited her, she broke down in tears.

The court was told the 50-year-old Cocu had 37,270 indecent images of children and 2,623 prohibited images as well as 281 extreme pornographic images involving mainly animals.

Prosecuting barrister Richard Sheldon said some of the images had faces posted onto indecent activities and the police were able to link Cocu to his victim.

Mr Sheldon added: She broke down in tears and she had been molested for many years.

Cocu, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to raping a child aged under 13, assault by penetration of a child, sexual assault of a child aged under 13, sexual activity with a child, and causing a child to watch a sexual act.

Mr Sheldon said that during Cocus four-year reign of abuse he got the complainant to perform oral sex upon him which constituted rape and he molested her body, made her touch him sexually and he showed her pornographic images.

Police originally visited the defendants address after they became aware he had indecent images.

Mr Sheldon said: "On October 5, 2019, the police were aware the defendant had indecent images in his possession at an address in Doncaster.

Police raided Cocus address in January 2020 and seized his mobile phone, a computer tower and an external hard drive and found a massive catalogue of indecent images of youngsters, according to Mr Sheldon.

Mr Sheldon said these included 5,287 category A images, 6,460 category B images and 25,523 category C images with category A being the most serious as well as 2,623 prohibited images and 281 extreme pornographic images.

He added that following a closer examination of some of the images officers were able to link Cocu to the complainant, who cannot be identified for legal reasons.

Abdul Latif Shakoor, defending, said Cocu is full of remorse and regret and he has referred himself to a group to address the issues that may have led to his offending.

Mr Shakoor added: He is ashamed of himself and he badly regrets what has happened and he wishes to apologise to her and to all concerned and the court.

Judge Graham Reeds QC sentenced Cocu during a second hearing on April 11.

Cocu was sentenced to a total of a 12-year custodial term made up of one year for making indecent images consecutively to 10 years for the sex offences against a child and a one-year extension to his custodial licence on the grounds that the defendant is deemed to be a person of concern.

Judge Richardson stressed Cocu will not be entitled to an early release and he can only be freed when the parole board believes it is safe to do so.

Cocu was also made subject to the Sex Offenders Register for life and to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same term.

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A man who raped and sexually assaulted a woman while filming his crimes with a phone has been jailed.

Hubert Greliak was caught after his victim reported sexual assault and theft in Ealing, West London, in January 2020.

Officers arrested the 33-year-old and seized his phone, though he refused to reveal its pin code.

A hard drive was analysed and found to contain evidence of a rape of the victim, and later Greliak was charged.

He was bailed but breached his bail conditions but the Met managed to track him down and attach an electronic tag to him.

Greliak was found guilty of rape and assault by penetration at Isleworth Crown Court in January having already admitted to theft and failure to comply when asked to reveal his phone's PIN.

He was jailed for 18 years and will need to serve 13-and-a-half of that behind bars, and the rest on licence.

Detective Inspector Julian Crabb, from the Met's West Area Command Unit Safeguarding Team, said: "We are absolutely committed to tackling all forms of violence against women and girls and are dedicated to achieving criminal justice outcomes for victim-survivors as we have in this case.

"The victim bravely went through the ordeal of a trial and thanks to both her compelling evidence and the work of the investigation team, we were able to put this man behind bars for a long time.

"Greliak is a dangerous and manipulative individual. He has showed no remorse or guilt for his disturbing and destructive actions. I sincerely hope the victim can begin to achieve closure and focus on the future.

"Investigations into rape and sexual assault are often complex, and I am pleased the investigating officers' actions were commended by HH Judge Hammerton. I hope this gives survivors of sexual violence the confidence to come forward and report to police."

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Mark Robinson had downloaded over 600 illegal images of children and had only been released from prison for similar crimes last year

A paedophile who downloaded 680 indecent images and videos of children, and shared some of them with others, has been jailed.

Mark Robinson, 40, was caught with 119 category A images - the most serious type; 105 category B and 456 category C illegal images of children. He shared 16 of them with other adults via the messenger service Kik and through Snapchat.

On Tuesday, prosecutor Annelise Haugstad told Teesside Crown Court that Robinson had been released from prison for similar crimes last year, and under the terms of his sexual harm prevention order, he had a police protection officer checking his online devices.

The court heard that in July 2020, the officer went to Robinson's workplace and seized his iPhone 7. The illegal images and videos were found on his phone, and showed children who had been drugged and some of whom "were in obvious distress".

Police IT specialists also found that he had created aliases to use on social media accounts without notifying the police. Robinson had created profiles under the names "Callum 818" and "Callum Read". He had also installed software on his phone which encrypted the data stored.

Robinson, of HMP Northumberland, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children; the distribution of indecent images of children; three counts of failing to comply with sex offender notification requirements and one breach of a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard that he has four convictions for 35 previous offences - all of them involved child sex crimes. In August 2020, Robinson was jailed for 40 months for making illegal images of children.

Kelleigh Lodge, defending, told the court that her client had started an online sex offender treatment programme, but he was unable to continue this once he was jailed in 2020. Ms Lodge said that prison was "not a very pleasant experience" for Robinson, who "has certainly learnt his lesson and has tried to seek help for his offending".

But Judge Jonathan Carroll told Robinson that his iPhone showed "a significant breach of the measures that control the risk you pose to the public and to children, in particular. You accessed the Kik messenger service and were in regular communication with other people with the same sexual obsessions towards children."

The judge said that a pre-sentence report on Robinson had found that he is a "high risk" to children. Robinson was jailed for four-years and six-months.

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A Sunderland pensioner has been found with over 1,000 images of children being abused.

Police found the content, which included still pictures and videos on Terence Robert's devices, while he was at work.

Newcastle Crown Court heard two mobile phones were seized from the 71-year-old's address in July 2020 and police also found a cloud storage account.

Prosecutor Joe Culley said: "There were 291 category A images including 96 moving images, 214 category B images including 24 video and 560 category C images.

"The material depicts children between the ages one to 15-years-old."

Roberts, of Hewitt Avenue, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children.

He also admitted being in possession of a prohibited image of a child and possession of an extreme pornographic image.

Mr Culley added: "When he was interviewed on the 8th of July 2020, the defendant admitted possessing the images.

"He also admitted having shared and distributed them on social media although he wasn't charged with that.

"He used his mobile phones for accessing the images. He doesn't have any previous convictions."

The court heard the offending had began in April 2017, before he was caught over three years later when officers searched his home.

Vic Laffey, defending Roberts, who has since lost his job and long-term partner as a result, told the court: "As with all these cases it's a very unattractive case.

"These offences are nearly two years old, I'm not completely sure how it's taken that long for them to get into the court system.

"He pleaded guilty at the Magistrates court at the first opportunity and was fully co-operative with the police in interview.

"He fully understands the position he's placed himself in. It's had a dramatic effect on him and he is somebody more than prepared to work with the probation service."

Judge Stephen Earl said: "I take into account probation are willing to work with the defendant and I do take into account there is work to be done which is unlikely to be assessed in custody."

The judge sentenced Roberts to 16 months behind bars, suspended for two years, along with rehabilitation requirements and a four-month curfew.

He must also abide by a sexual harm prevention order and sign the sex offender's register, both lasting ten years.

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A teacher from London has been jailed for grooming and sexually abusing two children in the Middle East over an eight-year period.

Paul Shinn, 49, taught at an English school in the United Arab Emirates from 2004 until March 2019, when he was dismissed from his post following allegations that he had sexually assaulted children.

The school reported the allegations to the National Crime Agency, who arrested Shinn after he returned to the UK the following month.

The investigation showed that Shinn had begun grooming two children from the ages of eight and nine, gaining their trust and encouraging them to spend time with him through the offer of gifts and trips.

His campaign of abuse took place over eight years, during which Shinn sexually assaulted his victims on a number of occasions and took indecent photographs of them.

He also attempted to sexualise them, by forcing them to watch sex scenes in films before moving on to pornography, as well as showing them condoms.

Shinn was charged with six counts of child sexual abuse under section 72 of the Sexual Offences Act, which allows British nationals to be prosecuted in the UK for abuse committed overseas.

On 28 January 2022, he was convicted by a jury at Kingston Crown Court of five counts, including sexual assault of a child under 13 (2011-2015), two counts of sexual activity with a child (2016-2019), and two counts of causing a child to watch a sexual act (2010-2017).

The jury were unable to reach a decision on the sixth charge - sexual activity with a child over 13.

He was sentenced today at the same court to a total of 10 years in prison, plus two years on licence.

He is also made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order,

Ian Truby from the National Crime Agency said: Shinn positioned himself as a caring and trustworthy teacher in order to befriend children and their families.

He then abused their trust in the most horrific way; through the systemic grooming and sexual assault of these children over a number of years.

Shinn thought that he could run away from his crimes by returning to the UK. However, the NCA works closely with international partners to ensure British nationals who commit offences against victims overseas are brought to justice.

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The ex karate instructor was labelled a 'monster' after raping a woman and schoolgirl

A former karate instructor who raped a schoolgirl and a woman was today labelled a "monster".

David Bottomley said he led a life of "public service" - working at a YMCA and as a coastguard and a prison security officer. But the 58-year-old was exposed in court as a "violent and abusive" rapist and paedophile.

Bottomley, who ran martial arts classes and also worked as a doorman in Southport, was today jailed for 14 years. That was after one of his victims called him a "monster" and a top judge branded him "dishonest and devious".

Liverpool Crown Court heard Bottomley first abused a woman, when he committed a historic sex offence against her, which would today be classed as rape. Robert Dudley, prosecuting, said in another incident he used a karate kick on the woman's jaw while wearing steel toe capped boots.

The first victim did not tell anyone about what happened until other allegations against Bottomley emerged in 2017. That was when his second victim - at the time of the abuse a schoolgirl and now an adult - watched an episode of BBC Crimewatch.

Mr Dudley said when the presenter asked a question about knowing anyone who was sexually abused as a child or an abuser who has contact with children, "it triggered something in her". She wrote a letter to her mum, whom she had never told before, and it was decided that she should contact the police.

When interviewed by officers, she disclosed Bottomley raped her when she was about 12. The first victim then also made a complaint to the police.

Bottomley, of Hoole Lane, Banks, denied any wrongdoing, which meant his victims had to give evidence at a trial in January. He was convicted of the historic sex offence and of assault causing actual bodily harm against the first woman.

She today said Bottomley "permanently destroyed" her trust in people and made her feel "damaged, spoiled and degraded". In a victim statement read by Mr Dudley, she told her abuser: "You're a bully and a coward. Some people might say you're an animal, but that would be an insult to animals... You're a monster and what nightmares are made of."

Bottomley was found guilty of rape, indecency with a child and two counts of indecent assault against the schoolgirl. In a victim statement, she said what Bottomley did to her would stay with her until the day she dies.

Bottomley was acquitted of two other sex assaults on the schoolgirl and of three sex offences on two other girls. When the verdicts were returned, he collapsed in the dock and was helped by security staff, until he was taken away by ambulance to hospital.

Judge David Aubrey, QC, ordered a medical report on the defendant, who he was told had a history of minor strokes. However, Patrick Williamson, defending, today confirmed his client actually suffered from salivary gland cancer, which caused symptoms including facial numbness similar to a stroke, when he had a carotid tumour removed in 2017.

He said: "In respect of the episode at the conclusion of the trial, that was diagnosed as a dissociative episode brought on by stress and anxiety. But it was not fortunately related in any way to the question of a stroke or a TIA [transient ischaemic attack]."

Mr Williamson said Bottomley, of previous good character, was supported by his girlfriend, sitting in the public gallery. He said his work history was "in essence of public service", initially volunteering with Sefton Coast and Countryside Service, then working and volunteering at Southport YMCA, before he worked for five years for the Coastguard, in search and rescue teams, when he witnessed 13 deaths.

Mr Williamson said his client later joined the Prison Service as a security guard at HMP Kirkham. However, he was diagnosed with "complex PTSD" due to what he saw as a coastguard, "witnessing both adults and children who had died as a result of misadventure at sea".

The lawyer said it would be Bottomley's first time in jail. He said: "His reaction on receiving the verdicts is perhaps indicative of the predicament he finds himself in and the future that is held for him."

Judge Aubrey said he was satisfied Bottomley was a "violent and abusive" man, whose sex attack on the woman left her feeling sick, violated and humiliated. He said on another occasion he kicked her in the jaw.

Judge Aubrey said: "You had steel toe cap boots on. She described it as being excruciatingly painful and thought you had broken her jaw."

The judge said Bottomley raped and abused the schoolgirl - manipulating her by giving her money afterwards. He said: "You have left your victims scarred for life and in effect have imposed a life sentence upon each."

Judge Aubrey told Bottomley: "You have shown no remorse whatsoever." He said the victims had to "relive their ordeals" at his hands because he pleaded not guilty.

Judge Aubrey said: "However, the trial has allowed me to assess you. It's apparent in my judgement your evidence you had rehearsed in detail, in order to seek to tailor a dishonest and devious account, to the evidence. Not only did you manipulate your victims, you then sought to manipulate the evidence."

Judge Aubrey jailed Bottomley for four years in respect of the woman. He imposed a consecutive 10 years, with an extended one year on licence as an "offender of particular concern", in respect of the schoolgirl.

The combined effect of these two types of sentences means Bottomley must spend at least eight years and eight months behind bars before he can apply for parole. Judge Aubrey told him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Bottomley's girlfriend told two companions "come on let's go" and left court, moaning: "Utter joke."