Latest Offenders

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Miles Chapman's prison sentence was suspended because he was 'for the first time engaging with the courses being offered'

A paedophile who was found with child abuse images has been spared jail after he demonstrated 'real motivation' to deal with his issues, a court has heard.

Miles Chapman, 29, of Castle View House, East Lane, Runcorn, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday (April 12) where prosecutor Brett Williamson told how a police officer with the sex offender management team paid a compliance visit to Chapman on December 17, 2021, and found his phone contained pictures of “concern”.

The sick collection had four Category A abuse images - the worst type, 13 at Category B, and 25 Category C, in addition to 31 prohibited computer-generated images (CGI), the Liverpool Echo reports.

They featured young girls in age ranges such as eight to 10 years or aged about 10 to 12 being abused. Chapman’s stash also breached a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) imposed for similar offences at crown court in Manchester several years ago when he was banned from having pictures of children under the age of 16 - whether indecent or otherwise

He gave “no comment” answers when interviewed by officers from Cheshire Police on August 25.

Chapman later pleaded guilty at the first opportunity at North Cheshire Magistrates’ Court in Warrington on March 14 last month to posessing indecent images, three counts of making indecent images, one of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), and one of possessing prohibited CGI.

Mr Williamson said Chapman’s criminal record showed a “long history of sexual interest in children” dating back to 2011, and convictions including making or possessing indecent images, failing to comply with community orders and the “notification requirements”, breaching a SHPO and detaining a child without lawful authority, for which he received a two-year community order.

In February 2022 he was sentenced to 16 months in prison with a further SHPO to last 10 years over indecent images.

Ben Stanley, defending, argued mitigation for Chapman’s guilty pleas and an offender management team report that said Chapman has been complying with his requirements since last leaving prison.

Mr Stanley said Chapman “spends a lot of time alone” and has “quite serious mental health issues”.

He said Chapman previously had “strategies for alleviating the negative feelings which are unhealthy”, but that now those “coping strategies have improved - he’s quick to distract himself with more positive activity” such as seeking support from friends.

He said the indecent image offences for which Chapman fell to be sentenced on Wednesday pre-dated his client’s most recent time in prison, which he said was Chapman’s “first significant taste of custody”, “gave him a real chance to reflect on his offences” and “instilled real motivation” to deal with his behaviour.

In addition, he said Chapman was diagnosed with autism at 18, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at 21, and suffers anxiety, having never held a job because he doesn't like going outside.

The defence barrister said Chapman had been referred for ADHD treatment and has been in touch with a group working with people with a “criminal background” and mental health issues, and would also be eligible for the Horizon sex offender programme.

Judge Simon Berkson sentenced Chapman to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, with rehabilitation, and said he’d avoided immediate custody because Chapman was “for the first time engaging with the courses being offered”.

Chapman must also complete the Horizon programme, complete a 35-day rehabilitation activity requirement and sign on the sex offender register for 10 years.

Collection, surcharge and deprivation orders - the latter for the phone - were made.

Judge Berkson said: “All your offending I’m to deal with occurred before you got your 16-month sentence and that sentence, having been imposed, is now having some positive effect upon you.”

The case, although a crown court case, took place at Chester Magistrates' Court.

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A 23-year-old man has admitted making and distributing indecent images of children.

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He appeared in the dock at Edinburgh Sheriff Court for sentencing last Wednesday, April 5, after previously pleading guilty to charges. Police had raided him home after a tip off.

An Edinburgh man who downloaded vile child abuse images depicting the rape of infants has been caged for three years and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Christopher Donaldson was caught with a horrific haul of images and films including images of children under the age of 12 months being sexually abused by adult men.

Donaldson, 34, also distributed some of the harrowing movies involving male and female children to fellow perverts he was in contact with online.

He appeared in the dock at Edinburgh Sheriff Court for sentencing last Wednesday, April 5, after previously pleading guilty to charges of possessing and distributing the material over a four week period in 2021.

Sheriff Alison Stirling jailed Donaldson for three years and placed him on the Sex Offenders Register for an indefinite period.

Fiscal depute Ross Price told the court police officers raided Donaldson’s home in the Stenhouse area of the capital following an anonymous tip off in October 2021.

The court was told the offender was at home with his partner when police arrived and that he had admitted he had downloaded the images.

Officers seized two mobile phones from the property and following a forensic examination the movies were found hidden on the devices.

Mr Price said the images showed male and female children aged between “under one-years-old and 15-years-old” being sexually abused by adult men.

The fiscal said Donaldson had been sent a total of 149 files through the Telegram messaging service and that he had then sent on 90 of the images to other perverts online.

Donaldson admitted to possessing and distributing indecent images of children between September 10 and October 5 2021.

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A man who raped a woman he met on a night out in Bath has been jailed.

Anthony Brown-Jones, 31, of Rugeley, Staffordshire, denied raping his victim in September 2020 at a holiday lodge but was found guilty following a trial at Bristol Crown Court.

Sentencing Brown-Jones to seven years and six months in prison, Judge Martin Picton said the attack was “animalistic” and “inhumane”.

Brown-Jones must serve two thirds of his custodial sentence before being considered for parole and will also be on the sex offenders’ register for life.

In a statement read out in court ahead of the sentencing hearing last week (Wednesday 5 April) his victim said: “[Brown-Jones] felt entitled to do what he wanted and I was not in a position to defend myself.

“I was drunk, I was unconscious. I would never have consented.

“This investigation has had a massive impact over the last two years on me and my family.

“I also know it is going to have a massive impact on him, because of what he has done and the sentence that will be passed.

“I am not an unkind or malicious person, but he needs to be punished and I would like to thank the jury for the decision that they have come to.”

Detective Constable Jon Oakey, the investigating officer, said: “This was a disgusting attack on a defenceless young woman who at the time was unable to consent to having sex.

“Together, with our partners, we have provided her with support but I don’t underestimate the impact the attack has had.

“While the victim does not remember the incident, it’s clear the trauma of knowing what happened is just as significant.

“I’d like to thank her for the support she has shown our investigation – it’s because of the strength and resilience she has shown that a dangerous rapist is now in prison.”

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A paedophile who is "petrified" of prison has been put behind bars after breaching a prevention order for the third time.

Lee Dominy was put on the sex offenders' register and made subject of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) after being jailed for 21 months in 2019 after being found with indecent images and extreme pornography. But the 33-year-old went on the breach the SHPO in November 2021 and received a caution, before breaching it a second time and receiving a community order.

Despite being under supervision, Dominy breached the SHPO for a third time in March last year, when police carried out a routine check of his home and found he had an un-registered email address and an un-registered username on an app.

Dominy, of Quayside Court, Blyth, was hauled back in front of a judge at Newcastle Crown Court to be sentenced for breaching a sexual harm prevention order and breaching notification requirements. He had pleaded guilty to the offences.

The court heard that in 2019, Dominy had been jailed for 21 months and made subject of a sexual harm prevention order for offences of possessing indecent images, possession of extreme pornography, and perverting the course of justice. In November 2021, he breached the SHPO - which remains in place until 2029 - and he was cautioned.

However, the caution did not deter him, and he breached the order a second time and was made subject of a community order. But on March 7 this year, he breached the order for a third time.

Michael Bunch, prosecuting, told the court the offences came to light following a routine home visit, saying: "He provided his mobile phone, that was registered, but checks revealed several email accounts, one of which was not registered." Mr Bunch said that officers also found an app which had an unregistered username attached to it.

He added: "Police continued their attendance at the address and asked for other devices, he denied having anything further. A search of the address revealed a number of USB sticks, a smart TV, and a tablet under his bed he claimed he had forgotten about. He was arrested and interviewed and made full admissions."

Richard Bloomfield, defending, said Dominy had forgotten he had some devices in his home as he had "not long woken up" when police arrived for the search and believed that the officers knew about some of the devices he owned. He said: "He is concerned about the prospect of imprisonment, he is petrified of custody...his mental health has not been good lately."

Mr Bloomfield added that Dominy would lose his accommodation if sent to prison and is currently "dealing with significant debt".

Sentencing Dominy, Recorder Anthony Hawks told him there was a "disturbing history" in his case, saying: "You have taken no notice of that order whatsoever. The time has come when it has got to be brought home to you."

Dominy was jailed for 16 months.

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A “DISGUSTING” paedophile who coerced what he believed to be a 12-year-old girl into sending naked images was found with more than a dozen photos of children being abused.

Daniel Ollett spent over a month talking to what he thought was a schoolgirl, sending photos of his erect penis and repeatedly soliciting sexual images from her.

Posing as a 17-year-old boy, the 32-year-old asked the girl for naked photos after adding her on Snapchat and encouraged her to engage in sexual activity.

But after sending her an image of himself wearing a mask, the contact stopped.

The girl was in fact an undercover police officer.

After being arrested at his home in Treviglio Close, Romsey, police found 13 indecent images of children being abused on Ollett's devices.

An extreme pornographic image was also found.

Ollett later pleaded guilty to attempting to cause/incite a female child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, three counts of making indecent images and one of possessing extreme pornography.

Prosecuting, Ed Wilde told Southampton Crown Court on Tuesday that until this incident in April 2021, Ollett had been a man of good character.

Defending, Edward Warren added that he’d been involved with alcohol and drugs at the time but has since set up his own carpentry business in Southampton.

“He appreciates the enormous damage that this has done to his family life.

“[This] represents to him a spectacular fall from where he was.”

He added that Ollett, who has no previous convictions, feels “a great deal of shame and remorse for what he has done”.

But judge, Christopher Parker KC said his actions were “simply disgusting”.

“Your attempted contact with this child followed your accessing of images of children being abused by adults.

“That is a cause of some concern when considering the risk that you pose to the public. It shows a degree of escalation.

“It is not possible for it to be suspended here in any event.”

Ollett was jailed for two years and nine months.

He was also given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and made subject to lifelong notification requirements.

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Raymond Nyiam, 31, from Edinburgh, who appeared at the High Court in Glasgow via a videolink, was convicted of raping the women while they were drunk and asleep or unconscious and incapable of giving consent.

He met both his victims at a nightclub and pounced later at houses in Edinburgh. One victim was eight years younger than Nyiam and the other 10.

The offences were committed on March 5, 2017 and on November 28 at addresses in Edinburgh while both victims were asleep after enjoying a night out in the city. In both cases, the women were attacked while they were vulnerable and Nyiam took advantage of his physical strength.

Judge Laura Drummond QC told Nyiam: You knew these women for less than 24 hours after meeting them in a nightclub and going home with them.

They have been significantly affected by your actions. Their lives have been affected in almost every aspect.

You have a propensity to be a danger to the public, but the assessment is that you are able to change.

Nyiam will be on licence and monitored in the community for three years after his release from prison.

He was also placed on the Sex Offenders' Register.

Solicitor advocate Euan Roy said his client had had a hedonistic lifestyle and an anti-social personality disorder and added He has expressed a willingness to engage in appropriate rehabilitative interventions.

Following the case, Detective Inspector Jonny Wright of Police Scotlands Public Protection Unit for the capital, said: Raymond Nyiam preyed on the two women following nights out in Edinburgh City Centre.

Both victims have shown tremendous bravery by coming forward to the police and ensuring that Nyiam has been held accountable for his actions.

Nyiam clearly thought he could get away with this despicable behaviour, however he was very wrong, and I hope this sends a clear message that nobody is above the law.

I would urge anyone who believes they have been the victim of a sexual crime to contact Police Scotland through 101.

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A brazen pervert who groped a woman in full view of CCTV cameras in the city centre McDonald's has been jailed.

Neil Shorter’s trail of inappropriate touching saw him twice target the same member of staff at Littlemore Hospital, where the 53-year-old was detained as part of a court order imposed for earlier sexual offending, and attempt to sexually assault a lone woman in a Didcot charity shop.

The charity shop offence was committed on the same day as his lunge towards a female student’s legs in the McDonald’s restaurant in Cornmarket.

Those final sexual assaults or attempted sexual assaults, which were committed on November 30 last year, came just days after he was discharged from Littlemore Hospital.

This was after a doctor questioned whether the defendant was in fact suffering from the mental health problems that had resulted in him receiving a hospital order at Truro Crown Court the previous year.

Jailing the Oxford man for 18 months on Wednesday (April 5), Judge Ian Pringle KC said: “Many would say that I ought to take a course of action today which would result in you getting some help – some treatment.

“You’ve got two previous convictions where you got help or treatment. Certainly, when at the hospital you were being helped and treated.

“And it’s made no difference to you.

“I not only want to do something which will cease your behaviour in the future – this sort of behaviour – but I also have a duty to protect the public and I’ve come to the conclusion that only a prison sentence in your case is appropriate.”

Earlier, prosecutor Matthew Knight told Oxford Crown Court that the first of Shorter’s three victims was assaulted at Littlemore Hospital, where she worked as a member of the care staff.

He made her and other members of staff uncomfortable. He would ‘look them up and down’, often licking his lips while doing so, and made lewd and ‘suggestive’ comments.

On April 27 last year, the woman was required to conduct checks on him before he was allowed out of the hospital on ‘escorted leave’. As she did so, Shorter grabbed the woman’s bottom, Mr Knight said.

Two months later, on June 26, he ignored her warning that it was out of bounds and walked into a sports equipment cupboard – brushing past the victim’s body in what he later accepted was a sexual assault.

On November 30, around a week after he was discharged from hospital, he was caught on CCTV staring at a woman in the Cornmarket McDonald’s before walking behind her and making a grab for her leg.

Later the same day, he was in a charity shop in Didcot. Video footage from inside the store showed him ‘targeting females by his gaze’ before, eventually, making a grab for a lone woman while no one else was present.

Shorter, of Woodstock Road, Oxford, pleaded guilty at the magistrates’ court to three counts of sexual assault and one of attempted sexual assault. He was last before the courts in Truro in 2021 for sexually assaulting a woman in Falmouth.

Mitigating, Gareth James asked the judge to impose a suspended prison sentence with requirements to work with the probation service in the community, saying it would protect the public ‘far more effectively’ than sending his client to prison.

He said Shorter had ‘evident difficulties in his thinking’, as shown by his sexual behaviour. It appeared Shorter was suffering from some form of early onset dementia and was an alcoholic.

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A sexual predator has been jailed again for sexually assaulting a very young girl at a property in Harrogate.

Steven Anthony Jennings, 52, was already serving a 15-year jail sentence for similar offences against two other girls.

Now he’s been handed a further two years’ prison time for the new offences which pre-dated the old ones, but only came to light relatively recently when the victim went to police more than a decade after they occurred.

Daniel Penman, prosecuting at York Crown Court, said that Jennings, who was in his early 30s at the time, sexually assaulted the girl twice between 2005 and 2007.

The girl said she “froze” but such was her young age she didn’t think anything wrong had occurred at the time. She didn’t report the matters at the time and Jennings “got on with life as normal”.

Mr Penman added:

“It took her until 2019 until she felt able to [tell] her partner about these offences and, through that, felt able to report this to police.”

Jennings, who was living in Harrogate before he was given the 15-year sentence at Teesside Crown Court in 2017, was questioned about the offences at Moorlands Prison in Doncaster in May last year when he was coming to the end of his existing jail term.

He initially denied the allegations but ultimately admitted two counts of sexually assaulting a child under 13 years of age. A third allegation was dropped by the prosecution and allowed to lie on court file.

He appeared for sentence today knowing a consecutive jail sentence was all but inevitable.

‘Lost all innocence’

In a statement read out in court, the victim said Jennings’s “cruel” offences had affected her “mentally, physically and emotionally for years”.

She said her self-esteem and mental health were so badly affected that by her mid-teens she was “ready to die”.

She said she used to “cry myself to sleep every night” following the abuse and that she had “lost all innocence”.

Jennings was jailed in October 2017 for the offences against the two other girls, which occurred between about 2008 and 2011. 

The sentence was imposed after Jennings admitting rape and sexual activity with a child in relation to one of the victims, and one count of indecent assault against the other girl. 

The victims were two pre-teenage girls, who were abused by Jennings when he was in his mid-to-late 30s.

He sexually assaulted one of the girls outdoors while he was in a relationship with a woman, said Mr Penman.

Jennings plied the other victim with alcopops and played games “like truth or dare” with her. He ultimately raped the girl, who was too young to consent to sex, on “numerous occasions”.

Defence barrister Hussain Rukhshanda said Jennings was remorseful for his actions.

Judge Simon Hickey said the sexual abuse of the new victim had had a “horrendous” effect on her and that her impact statement made for “sobering reading”.

He told Jennings: 

“She said that’s a burden she carried from a young age due to your selfish actions.”

Jennings was jailed for two years and placed on the sex-offenders’ register for a further 10 years. 

He was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order, which will run for an indefinite period, to limit his contact with under-age girls. It also bans him from contacting any of the three victims. 

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One of two courageous victims who were abused by a jailed sex-offender has told how his abuser smashed a child’s trust into pieces.

Following a trial at Sheffield Crown Court, Louis Maidment, formerly of Hinde House Lane, Sheffield, was found guilty of four counts of raping a child aged under 13 and one count of inciting a child aged under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and on April 4 he was sentenced to nine years of custody.

In July 2019, the abuse was reported to the police and 28-year-old Maidment was questioned and despite denying the offences he was later found guilty of all five charges laid against him.

In a victim impact statement read in court, one of the victims said: “As a child I have gravitated towards those who I have needed support from as and when I needed it. What happened to me, made me question this and how I could keep myself safe.

“The whole thing has made me question my self-worth right to adulthood. I just hope I can gain some closure now from this and move forward.”

The second victim added: “Due to the events that transpired with Maidment I have suffered immensely for years. I find it’s very difficult for me to form meaningful connections with people. I can’t trust anybody anymore and see them as potential threats.

“He controlled, humiliated, and harmed me physically and mentally. I hope he learns that his actions have consequences and that no one should ever have to be subjected to that abuse.”

South Yorkshire Police also stated that one of the two victims who suffered sexual abuse at the hands of Louis Maidment also stated: “He took a child’s trust and smashed it into pieces.”

Detective Sergeant Susannah Taylor, who led the investigation, said: “These victims had their childhood stripped away from them due to Maidment’s actions and on top of the sexual abuse he put them through, he also used physical violence to further scare them.

“I am pleased to see Maidment has been jailed for his appalling actions, and I hope his victims can begin to move forward now he is behind bars.”

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A Bradford paedophile has been jailed for over a decade after years of raping a child.

On Thursday, April 6, 35-year-old David Smith was charged with multiple counts of non-recent rape against a female. The Allerton man was jailed by the Crown Prosecution Service’s Rape & Serious Sexual Offences Unit, for eleven and a half years after admitting to multiple counts of rape against a child.

He was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will also be required to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life. The offending took place on several occasions between 2003 and 2009 during the victim’s childhood, who reported the crimes as an adult.

Sentencing Smith, Recorder Jason Pitter acknowledged the mitigation put forward by his defence team but also highlighted the devastating impact of the "horrible" abuse on the victim and her family.

Detective Sergeant Roshan Pitteea, of Bradford Safeguarding Unit said: "Smith committed multiple rapes against his victim when she was a child and the impact on her has been profound. I welcome the lengthy sentence handed down today.

"We hope this sends a strong message to any other victims of non-recent abuse to come forward and report this to the police. We will listen to you, and we will investigate. We will do all we can to seek justice for you." 

Roshan added: "I hope the sentence today brings the victim some comfort and closure for her and her family. I commend her bravery in coming forward to report the abuse and her resolve throughout the investigation and court process.

"I would like to thank her Independent Sexual Violence Advisor from West Yorkshire Victim Support for supporting her every step of the way." Recorder Pitter commended the victim for her bravery, having listened to her victim impact statement, which was read out in court by prosecuting counsel Mr Soheil Khan K.C.

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A serial sex offender has been jailed after preying on women in Fife during a decade-long reign of terror.

John Weir, who also goes by the name John Krogan, was previously convicted of a number of sexual offences, including rape.

The 29-year-old carried out the horrendous crimes spanning a decade on a number of women in Fife between 2010 and 2020 - the first assault taking place when he was just a teenager.

Yesterday, the beast was jailed for eight years at the High Court in Aberdeen.

Detective Sergeant Lauren O’Neil said: “Weir carried out these crimes over a number of years and he will now face the consequence of his despicable actions in prison.

“I hope this sentencing gives the victims who came forward some comfort and allows them to move forward.

“We take reports of such offences seriously, regardless of how much time has passed and work to support victims. I would encourage anyone who has been impacted by this type of crime to report it.”

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A baby-faced teenager who targeted and groomed four young girls after chatting to them on social media has been locked up for four years and 10 months.

Manipulative and controlling Kai Hutchinson took advantage of the girls and left them suffering serious psychological problems because of his sexual behaviour towards them, Hull Crown Court heard. Hutchinson, 18, of Pembroke Grove, off Preston Road, east Hull, admitted five offences of sexual activity with a child and three of sexual communication with a child.

David Godfrey, prosecuting, said that Hutchinson chatted with four young girls through Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook. He had contact with the first girl, aged 14 at the time, on Snapchat for about a month before they met in person.

"He was aware that she was 14 at the time," said Mr Godfrey. They had sex at least 10 times and the sexual activity continued. "She felt a degree of pressure to do so," said Mr Godfrey.

The girl described Hutchinson as "a bit controlling" but the relationship eventually came to an end. He sent intimate images of himself to her and asked her for explicit pictures. "She sent pictures," said Mr Godfrey.

The second girl, aged 12 at the time, was contacted by Hutchinson on Instagram. "The contact became more explicit," said Mr Godfrey.

Hutchinson sent her intimate pictures of himself and "bombarded" her with messages. He pressured her for explicit pictures but she did not send him any. "Eventually, she told her mum," said Mr Godfrey.

Hutchinson had contact with the third girl on Facebook and she told him that she was 13. "They met up on a number of occasions," said Mr Godfrey. They had sex on at least 10 occasions but the girl described the relationship as "toxic".

He had manipulated her into sexual activity. "She wasn't wanting to upset him," said Mr Godfrey.

The fourth girl, now 15, had contact via Snapchat. Hutchinson was aware that she was 14 at the time. He sent intimate images of himself to her.

"He persisted," said Mr Godfrey. "She did not send any images."

The first girl said in a statement that the incidents affected her new relationship with her next boyfriend. She did not want to get out of bed and cried all the time. The second girl said that the incidents changed her mentally. "I feel empty and feel low and anxious," she said. "I have been struggling to concentrate at school."

The third girl said: "My life has never been the same since this happened. I have lost my appetite. My mind is constantly thinking about what happened. I feel anxious going out in public." The fourth girl had not given a victim statement.

Dale Brook, mitigating, said that Hutchinson had no previous convictions. "He has never previously been in any trouble at all," said Mr Brook. Hutchinson had been remanded in custody in an adult prison for a few months.

"They are very serious offences," said Mr Brook. The sexual offences were "wholly inappropriate and illegal" even if the ongoing "toxic" relationships were consensual. Hutchinson was immature and he had been assessed as being a low risk of reoffending.

"There was a degree of manipulation," said Mr Brook. "These were not threats in the usual sense."

As well as being sent to a young offenders' institution for four years and 10 months, Hutchinson was given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and must register as a sex offender indefinitely.

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A pensioner who admitted carrying out more than 30 historic sex offences after preying on children has been locked up. Gary Cooper will be approaching 100-years-old before he will be eligible to apply for parole.

The 79-year-old, from Stafford, abused five children over a 15-year period, 'destroying' their childhoods. One of his victims branded Cooper 'pure evil' after revealing how they have found it 'difficult to carry on'.

The cruel sex offender admitted 11 counts of rape, 20 counts of indecent assault and three counts of indecency with a child. Cooper, of Within Lane, Stafford, was jailed for 27 years yesterday (April 5).

He must serve at least two-thirds of his sentence - which is a total of 18 years - before he is eligible for release. Taunton Crown Court heard how the convict groomed his victims and abused them between the 1980s and early 2000s in Taunton, Somerset.

A two-year investigation was launched by Avon and Somerset Police when one victim stepped forward in 2021. Other victims then reported their abuse to police.

One of those abused at the hands of Cooper said: "What happened has ruined my life. I can say that for many years, I have suffered from nightmares as a result of being sexually abused by Cooper. My childhood was awful. I was angry when I was young and I am still angry now."

Another victim said they were 'angry', adding: "He destroyed my childhood and that has had such an impact on my life as an adult. I am so angry that he did this to me.

"I want him and the court to know how much hurt and distress this has caused me throughout my life." A third victim said in a statement: "As a victim of sexual abuse, you try to deal with it, but it just never goes away.

"It is always there. Throughout the police investigation, it has been so difficult to carry on. It never goes away. I just want justice to be done, justice for me and for all of [his victims].

"We need closure so we can all move forward. Gary is just pure evil. What he did was disgusting." DC Harvey Ahern, who was the officer in the case, said his team scoured through hundreds of documents to compile their case.

He said: "This was a difficult and complex investigation resulting in hundreds of evidential documents being collated and numerous interviews being carried out. I wish to commend the bravery and resilience of the victims and witnesses who have remained strong and dedicated throughout the investigation and court process.

"This result would not have been possible without their courage and kind faith in us as a service, and I hope this conviction encourages other victims of sexual abuse to come forward."

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A Scarborough paedophile has been jailed for breaching a strict court order banning him deleting evidence of his internet use.

John Palethorpe, 52, was on prison licence and subject to a sexual-harm prevention order after serving a sentence for online sex offences when police called round at his home on a routine inspection visit, York Crown Court heard.

They found that Palethorpe had deleted chat or messenger apps on his phone, as well as “several Youtube histories”, all of which were in breach of the order, said prosecutor Brooke Morrison.

He also failed to notify police that he had set up new internet accounts, she added.

Palethorpe, of Mount View Close, Scarborough, admitted breaching the sexual-harm order and the notification requirements and appeared for sentence on Wednesday, April 5.

Ms Morrison said Palethorpe had previous convictions including attempted sexual communication with a 12-year-old girl, attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity and attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act, which resulted in a jail sentence in December 2020 and the imposition of the sexual-harm order and notification requirements.

On that occasion, Palethorpe was snared by online “paedophile hunters” posing as children.

Palethorpe, who is married, tried to teach the ‘girl’ how to perform a sexual act on herself and told ‘her’ he wanted to meet her.

Police monitoring officers kept a check on Palethorpe’s internet activities after he was released from jail on licence.

They made an unannounced visit to Palethorpe’s home last year and found that he had deleted the KIK messenger app, a Google chat app and “several Youtube histories”.

Officers also found two internet accounts, one under an alias, which Palethorpe hadn’t notified them about, which was in breach of his notification requirements.

In a pre-sentence report by the Probation Service, Palethorpe was described as a “high-risk offender”.

His solicitor advocate David Camidge said Palethorpe was gripped by “substance and alcohol misuse” at the time of the offences.

He was now seeking help for his problems with mental-health and substance-abuse agencies in Scarborough.

Judge Simon Hickey said he had noted a probation officer’s assertion that Palethorpe had engaged in “confessing and avoiding, trying to downplay these offences”.

He told Palethorpe: “Appropriate punishment can only be achieved by immediate custody because in my judgement you present a danger to the public.”

Palethorpe was handed a 10-month jail sentence.

He will serve half of that sentence behind bars before being released on prison licence.