Latest Offenders

Description

A man who sexually abused a young girl in Cheshire in the 1990s has been jailed. Gerard King, of Bury, previously lived in the Wilmslow area and Chester Crown Court heard how he systematically abused the victim for three years.

The victim had previously reported the offences to professional agencies on several occasions. But she had 'never received the support' to take the case further - but eventually came forward again to police in 2020.

A detective constable at Cheshire Police stated that King put her through 'horrifying' experiences. King also made the victim recall the events during a 'distressing' trial.

Detective Constable Lee Ferris, who led the investigation said: Firstly, I would like to recognise the bravery and determination that the victim has shown throughout this investigation. She had previously reported the offences, on several occasions, to numerous professional agencies, but had never built up the courage or received the support she needed to take the case further.

When she came forward to police in 2020 we provided her with the specialist help and support she need to ensure that she was able to tell her story. What King put her through was truly horrifying, he systematically abused her over a three year period in order to fulfil his own sexual gratification.

Not only that, but he also made her endure a trial and recount what he had done, which was extremely distressing. But thanks to her courage, he is now facing the consequences of his actions.

"The sentence handed to King reflects the severity of his crime and I hope that his conviction will encourage other victims to come forward. As this case demonstrates, we treat all reports of historic sexual offences seriously and we will always do our best to ensure offenders are brought to justice.

King was found guilty of one count of rape of a child and seven counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14 following a five day trial at Chester Crown Court, which concluded on Monday (April 25).

The 59-year-old returned to court the following day (April 26) where he was sentenced to 15 years in prison, plus one year on extended licence. King was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Description

A "devious" sex offender was branded a "danger to children" after being found with indecent images for the fourth time. Tristan Richard Hughes, of Henllan in Denbigh, is again behind bars after he was found with a stash of images of young girls.

The 32-year-old was charged with breaching his sexual harm prevention order. He was also charged with making and distributing indecent images of children.

It came after his family had told police he was hiding secret devices. At Mold Crown Court on Thursday, Judge Niclas Parry jailed him for three years.

Prosecuting, Jemma Gordan, told the court how Hughes, who has been diagnosed with autism, is currently under the eye of the authorities through a sexual harm prevention order. This bans him, amongst other requirements, from having access to electronic devices that they do not know about.

The court heard how, in November 2021, North Wales Police were contacted by Hughes' own sister to state that her brother wasn't following the terms of the order. When police officers came to Hughes' home address in Denbigh the same day, they were met by his sister who said that Hughes had disclosed to her that he had a phone and a laptop the authorities did not know about.

When he was later interviewed, he admitted to breaching the order by having the devices. However, he maintained that police would not find anything on the computers that breached his order.

Ms Gordan said that the laptop and mobile phone were then forensically analysed and his lies were soon exposed. Both were found to contain dozens of indecent images of young girls, roughly aged between the ages of seven and 12.

Previously, Hughes had been handed a suspended sentence in 2013 for making and possessing indecent images of children. However, in November 2015, he was jailed for 21 months after the then Llandrillo College student was found with more indecent images on his mobile phones.

His last court appearance, the prosecutor said, came in October 2020. Hughes was dealt with for a further charge relating to creating indecent images and was handed a two year suspended sentence.

The defence, Simon Kileen, said that Hughes is "terrified" at the prospect of returning to jail, having already served a sentence behind bars. However, he and his family understand that there would be "absolutely no alternative" for the judge.

Mr Kileen also told the court how Hughes' autism diagnosis plays a "major role" in his day-to-day thinking as well as the actions he chooses to take. He submitted that this was a factor the judge should account for when sentencing.

Judge Parry, passing a sentence of three years in total, branded Hughes a "devious" offender who was "a danger to children". He was said to have wasted the "remarkable opportunities" that the court afforded him.

The judge said: "Quite simply, you have run out of chances. You are devious and you will lie to your family and those who want to help you - all because of this desire that you have to satisfy your admitted attraction to young children.

"It is to your family's credit that they saw the danger and alerted the authorities. They didn't do that to get you in trouble, they did that to stop you from getting yourself into further trouble down the line."

The judge ordered that the existing sexual harm prevention order, which will run up to 2030 at present, should remain in place. His secret devices were ordered to be destroyed.

Description

A Forfar child sex offender was snared by a paedophile-hunter who pretended to be a 13-year-old girl.

Antony O’Hare, 53, had indecent images of children on his Samsung phone, as well as engaging in sexual conversations with what he believed – and had been told – was a young teenage girl.

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Description

AN MAN convicted of sexually assaulting two underage girls in Ardrossan has been jailed for four months.

Ben Anderson was found guilty of five charges following a trial in February and the 23-year-old appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week for sentencing.

Anderson, of Macadam Place, Ayr sexually assaulted a young female, who was then aged 12, at an address in Clyde Terrace, Ardrossan, on July 16, 2021 by holding her hand and cuddling her.

He also repeatedly made sexual remarks towards her and the court found that this offence was committed intentionally and for the purposes of obtaining sexual gratification or of humiliating, distressing or alarming the girl.

At the same address and on the same date, Anderson assaulted a 14-year-old girl by preventing her from leaving a room within the home and threatening her with violence.

He was also found to have sexually assaulted her by touching her face, attempting to kiss her on the neck, placing his arms around her and touching her buttocks.

A further guilty charge followed for communicating indecently with the 14-year-old by repeatedly making sexual remarks towards her.

Finally, Anderson was convicted of acting in an aggressive manner, shouting and swearing at the two girls and another, aged 13.

A not guilty verdict was returned for a charge of breaching a bail order granted in March 2021 which required Anderson to remain within his home each day between the hours of 7pm and 7am.

Defence solicitor Ian Gillies told Thursday’s hearing that his client had ten months left of a separate prison sentence for assault in Ayr, having been in custody since October last year.

Sheriff Sheena Fraser said her sentencing options were “limited somewhat”, but said Anderson “presents a high risk of reoffending”.

Mr Gillies told the court: “There was some alcohol involved so his memory of what happened may not be the best.

“For someone of his age and with his difficulties I would be asking your lordship not to extend his time in custody.

“He is quite keen to get his head down, get this matter resolved and get back into the community.”

Sheriff Fraser said: “You were found guilty of sexual offences involving young children, offences which clearly caused them significant distress.

“In the circumstances I consider a custodial sentence is the only appropriate sentence here.”

Anderson was sentenced to four months in prison. He will also be subject to the sexual offender notification requirements for seven years.

Description

A sex offender who assaulted a woman while she was incapacitated by her medication has failed to overturn the prison sentence handed to them after admitting to the crime.

Gender-fluid Laura Miller was jailed for 23 months for sexually assaulting their victim, who was incapable of consenting, on several occasions.

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Description

Josh Stratford, 24, of Streetly, was caught out after police investigators picked up intelligence that photographs had been transmitted via online picture transfer website Dropbox.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard that following a search of the defendant's home 158 category A images (the worst); 266 category B images and 758 category C images were discovered on some of the defendant's electronic devices. The collection included images of a female as young as four.

Prosecuting barrister Miss Amanda O'Mara said the defendant failed to hand over pass codes for four other devices and made "no comment" in his police interviews, but the officers estimated that he accessed 141,000 other images using the dark web and private networks over a four-year period.

The veterinary student, of Inglewood Grove, Streetly, in Walsall, previously pleaded guilty to three counts relating to possessing indecent photographs on May 18 last year.

Mitigating barrister Mr Callum Church said: "It is thoroughly unacceptable and there is no justification or explanation."

He added that Stratford had since attended courses with child protection charity the Lucy Faithfull Foundation.

Recorder Abigail Nixon told him his behaviour had been "perverted". She added: "This will affect your future and the rest of your life."

She sentenced him to eight months in jail, suspended for 12 months. He must carry out 100 hours of unpaid work, attend up to 35 activity days to address mental health issues, and pay costs of 425 within three months. He was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and the sex offenders' register for 10 years.

Description

A Kirklees man has been given a 23-year extended sentence after pleading guilty to a series of serious sex offences against young victims.

Wayne Tracey, 37, from Huddersfield was jailed at Leeds Crown Court on Monday, April 25 after admitting a total of seven sex offences, including multiple rapes, in the Kirklees area.

His offending was described as truly dreadful by Kirklees Police officers following the conclusion of the case.

Tracey pleaded guilty to four offences of rape, two sexual assaults and inciting a young girl to engage in sexual activity. The offending took place against two young female victims between 2015 to 2020 in the Huddersfield area.

The 37-year-old was sentenced to a total of 17 years in prison with an extra six years on licence, resulting in a 23-year-extended sentence. He will also have to sign on the child sex offenders register.

DS Talha Laher, of Kirklees District Police, said: We welcome the strong sentence given to Tracey for what was a truly dreadful set of serious sexual offences committed against two young victims. He clearly poses a danger to young females and this gravity of his offending is reflected in the length of the criminal sentence he has been given.

"The victims and their families have shown great courage in reporting these wicked offences and I want to thank them for coming to us, supporting the prosecution, and in helping us take this man off the streets. Victims can be assured that specialist officers will always listen and fully investigate any reports of sexual offending and we continue to urge victims to come forwards.

Description

A CONVICTED rapist has been jailed after he subjected a young girl to horrific abuse in a separate case.

Paedophile Gad Evans, 55, from Newport, has been locked up for nine years following his guilty pleas to a raft of offences.

They were committed in Caerphilly county between 2007 and 2011.

He also admitted five counts of sexual assault of a child under 13.

Jeffrey Jones, representing Evans, asked for his client to be given credit for his guilty pleas.

Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke told the defendant he would have to serve two-thirds of his nine-year sentence in prison.

Evans must register as a sex offender indefinitely and was banned from working with children for life.

Following sentence, Detective Constable Alison Perry, the officer in the case, said: We would not have been able to bring Gad Evans before the courts to face justice without the courageous testimony of his victim.

The bravery and resilience that she has shown throughout the investigation has been truly inspirational.

Taking the first step to speak out about the horrific abuse they have endured is hard and we understand that is can be difficult for victims to make that initial call.

We take all allegations of sexual assault, particularly against children, very seriously.

"If a report is made to us, our officers will investigate them thoroughly.

I want to reassure anyone considering doing so that there is a whole range of support out there; not only from Gwent Police but from partner agencies who can help you through the entire process.

There are support services available for victims of sexual abuse, both non-recent and current and for both adults and children.

"This help is also accessible to all genders.

Sexual abuse can be reported to us via 101, or to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Description

A MAN responsible for, a catalogue of depravity has received a 25-year extended prison sentence for the prolonged sexual abuse of two boys.

Darren John Wood subjected the victims to dreadful and awful ordeals to satisfy his lust, while heavily intoxicated.

Durham Crown Court heard the abuse left his victims traumatised, leading to at least one self-harming and suffering addiction problems, with the psychological effects persisting into adulthood for both.

The, now 48-year-old defendant, of Saxon Green, Escomb, near Bishop Auckland, was accused of a total of 14 serious sexual assaults, including oral and anal rapes of the boys.

He claimed the offences never took place and maintained those denials at his trial earlier this year.

But, on the sixth day of the hearing, following lengthy deliberation, the jury returned guilty verdicts on all 14 charges.

Wood was remanded in custody pending preparation of a background report on him by the Probation Service, as well as to enable victim statements to be gathered from the victims.

Those statements were read to the court, relating the psychological impact both victims have suffered since the offences were committed.

Andrew Finlay, in mitigation, told the court that his client, has not come to terms with the jurys verdicts, but added that he would comply with the extensive programme of rehabilitative work planned for him in custody.

Mr Finlay said: It may help him come to terms with the outcome of the case.

He added that the defendant has no previous convictions for, offences of this magnitude, nor of this nature.

Judge James Adkin told Wood he was convicted of what was, a catalogue of depravity, causing, significant impact to both victims.

The judge said although he has no past convictions of a sexual nature, the offences he previously committed showed, a capacity to commit violence and intimidation."

He said he was satisfied the defendant poses a significant risk of committing further specified serious offences.

Judge Adkin, therefore, made him subject to an extended determinate sentence of 25 years in custody, with a five-year licence period upon his release.

Wood must serve at last 16-and-a-half years behind bars before he can be considered for parole but may have to spend the full 25 years in custody.

He was also made subject of registration as a sex offender and the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, both for life.

Lifetime restraining orders were also put in place preventing future contact or approaches to his victims.

Description

Four men, including two from Bath and one from Radstock, have been convicted of child sex offences following a five-week trial at Bristol Crown Court.

On Tuesday 19th April, the four men were sentenced over a total of 45 offences which took place between 1996 and 2003.

Their crimes were committed against two girls between the ages of seven and 15.

The convictions follow a police investigation which began in 2016 following a disclosure by one of the victims.

The subsequent enquiries led officers to conduct numerous enquiries throughout the UK and the review of significant amounts of historical records held by social care, education establishments, digital media, previous investigations and complaints to other forces.

Grant McGill, 41, of Radstock, was jailed for 16 years for 35 offences of indecent assault and indecency with a child. He was handed a further eight-week sentence after absconding during the trial.

Brian Parker, 48, of Wrexham, was convicted of eight offences of indecent assault, indecency with a child and possession of indecent images of children. He was handed a nine-year jail term with an extended licence period of three years.

Derek McBride, 62, of Lansdown, Bath, was jailed for two years and six months for four offences of indecency with a child and indecent assault. Having admitted the offences in interview, he received a reduction in sentence for his early guilty plea.

Tim Dale, 42, of Twerton, Bath, was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years, for two offences of indecent assault.

Lead investigating officer Detective Sergeant Neil Wood said: These men acted independently of each other but all identified and took advantage of two young girls who were extremely vulnerable because of their age and personal circumstances. Their offending was predatory and abhorrent.

The two victims have shown immense patience with what has been a long and complex investigation and demonstrated significant bravery both in disclosing what had happened and giving evidence in court.

These sentences reflect the seriousness of the offences they committed, but also the significant and long lasting impact that it has had on these survivors.

Victim Impact Statements from both women were read to the court.

One addressed the effect that it had had on her, saying: If I see men with children I feel certain those children are being hurt and I feel powerless to stop it. If I hear children crying from another house, my imagination goes through the roof.

She thanked the jury for hearing me and helping me begin this road to recovery.

The second woman told the men: What you have done will never be okay, it will never be fixed. This isnt something that sorry makes all better.

Our lives are forever impacted by your actions and your choices toward us. I can only be thankful that you cant hurt anyone now and I hope that this experience and outcome has taught you something valuable that your actions have consequences and you have no control over us. We are now stronger than we have ever been.

In sentencing, His Honour Judge Mark Horton commented that the men had all targeted young girls who they knew to be vulnerable and unlikely to report the abuse or get support from anyone who should have been there to protect them.

He said both women would be living with lifelong feelings of betrayal.

He found Parker to be a dangerous offender who was predatory, calculated and manipulative and had shown no remorse whatsoever.

Finding him to pose a significant risk of physical, sexual and emotional harm to young people, he directed that he should not be released from prison until assessed by a parole board as no longer being a risk.

HHJ Horton also commended DS Wood for his dedication and exceptional contribution to a complex investigation.

If you have been affected by sexual abuse or know someone who has, you can find out how to report it on the dedicated information page on the Avon and Somerset Police website.

If you would prefer not to speak to officers, the page also has details of support organisations that you can contact in confidence who will provide help and support.

Description

Four men, including two from Bath and one from Radstock, have been convicted of child sex offences following a five-week trial at Bristol Crown Court.

On Tuesday 19th April, the four men were sentenced over a total of 45 offences which took place between 1996 and 2003.

Their crimes were committed against two girls between the ages of seven and 15.

The convictions follow a police investigation which began in 2016 following a disclosure by one of the victims.

The subsequent enquiries led officers to conduct numerous enquiries throughout the UK and the review of significant amounts of historical records held by social care, education establishments, digital media, previous investigations and complaints to other forces.

Grant McGill, 41, of Radstock, was jailed for 16 years for 35 offences of indecent assault and indecency with a child. He was handed a further eight-week sentence after absconding during the trial.

Brian Parker, 48, of Wrexham, was convicted of eight offences of indecent assault, indecency with a child and possession of indecent images of children. He was handed a nine-year jail term with an extended licence period of three years.

Derek McBride, 62, of Lansdown, Bath, was jailed for two years and six months for four offences of indecency with a child and indecent assault. Having admitted the offences in interview, he received a reduction in sentence for his early guilty plea.

Tim Dale, 42, of Twerton, Bath, was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years, for two offences of indecent assault.

Lead investigating officer Detective Sergeant Neil Wood said: These men acted independently of each other but all identified and took advantage of two young girls who were extremely vulnerable because of their age and personal circumstances. Their offending was predatory and abhorrent.

The two victims have shown immense patience with what has been a long and complex investigation and demonstrated significant bravery both in disclosing what had happened and giving evidence in court.

These sentences reflect the seriousness of the offences they committed, but also the significant and long lasting impact that it has had on these survivors.

Victim Impact Statements from both women were read to the court.

One addressed the effect that it had had on her, saying: If I see men with children I feel certain those children are being hurt and I feel powerless to stop it. If I hear children crying from another house, my imagination goes through the roof.

She thanked the jury for hearing me and helping me begin this road to recovery.

The second woman told the men: What you have done will never be okay, it will never be fixed. This isnt something that sorry makes all better.

Our lives are forever impacted by your actions and your choices toward us. I can only be thankful that you cant hurt anyone now and I hope that this experience and outcome has taught you something valuable that your actions have consequences and you have no control over us. We are now stronger than we have ever been.

In sentencing, His Honour Judge Mark Horton commented that the men had all targeted young girls who they knew to be vulnerable and unlikely to report the abuse or get support from anyone who should have been there to protect them.

He said both women would be living with lifelong feelings of betrayal.

He found Parker to be a dangerous offender who was predatory, calculated and manipulative and had shown no remorse whatsoever.

Finding him to pose a significant risk of physical, sexual and emotional harm to young people, he directed that he should not be released from prison until assessed by a parole board as no longer being a risk.

HHJ Horton also commended DS Wood for his dedication and exceptional contribution to a complex investigation.

If you have been affected by sexual abuse or know someone who has, you can find out how to report it on the dedicated information page on the Avon and Somerset Police website.

If you would prefer not to speak to officers, the page also has details of support organisations that you can contact in confidence who will provide help and support.

Description

A sex offender who left his victim in debt after conning her out of more than 2,000 is back behind bars.

Geoffrey Ball told a string of lies to the woman - who he struck up a relationship with when she was working at a petrol station - to get cash sums from her, which he claimed he would pay back.

His deceit included saying his sister was seriously ill with Covid and he needed 300 to visit her and he needed 100 to secure a puppy for the woman, which never materialised. He pleaded guilty to five charges of fraud when he appeared before Teesside Magistrates' Court via video link from Acklington Prison.

Ball, 50, who was placed on a sex offenders' register in 2010 for touching and grabbing a woman on a train, also pleaded guilty to breaching the conditions by not telling officers he had moved out of his Teesside home.

In December 2018 Ball, who at that time had 35 aliases, was sentenced to three years and ten months in prison. Teesside Crown Court heard he used one woman to fund his drinking and gambling, tricked another out of 3,410 by saying he had cancer and told a third woman he knew a solicitor who could stop her children being taken away.

Lynne Dalton, prosecuting at the magistrates' court, said Ball used the alias of Peter Marsh when he struck up a relationship with a woman who was working in a petrol station in Wales in May last year.

Over the next two months he asked her for several sums of money, including 600 to buy building materials so he could do some work on her house, 220 for a locksmith to repair her door, 300 to visit his sister in Cornwall who was ill on a ventilator with Covid, 300 to travel to Ireland to retrieve his stolen car and 100 to secure a puppy for her. He admitted all five of these fraud offences.

However, the victim claimed in total she gave him 2,460. Ms Dalton said Ball also told the woman his son was a solicitor and could help her with a neighbour dispute she was having, but then said his son had died and was in floods of tears.

Ms Dalton said in her statement the victim said Ball struck up a conversation with her in the petrol station where she worked and asked for her number, then began ringing her every day and started to stay at her home.

She said: "He had the gift of the gab, was a sweet-talker and really charming. She was flattered and enjoyed speaking to him. It was all very convincing. She said she was emotionally blackmailed into giving him money."

Ms Dalton said in her statement the woman said: "He told me he would pay the money back and that he was worth a fortune. He said he earned 120,000 a year."

Ball said he had lost his bank card and needed money to visit his sister, then the following week he needed money to go to Ireland to pick up his stolen car. He said he had sold the car and the money he was going to pay her back with was destroyed in a fire. After about two months the victim contacted the police.

Reading from the statement the prosecutor said: "Looking back it seems so far fetched, but at the time I believed him."

She said: "I don't trust anyone anymore. I am so devastated I could let this happen, I didn't think I could be deceived like this.

"I feel violated having fallen victim to fraud and feel people will think worse of me because of that. I have not told any of my friends or family about the incident, I feel ashamed and they will think I am stupid for letting this happen to me."

Nick Woodhouse, defending, said the breach of the conditions on the sex offenders register was because Ball felt he had no option but to leave his Teesside home because some people knew he had information about an incident in Stockton which he had tried to tell the police.

He said: "He didn't target (the victim), he got talking to her. He accepts the money hadn't been paid back."

Mr Woodhouse said Ball had admitted the offences at the earliest opportunity. He said he is also suffering from some health problems, including high blood pressure.

Ball was jailed for 36 weeks and ordered to pay 1,520 in compensation.

Description

Macaulay Brown has been sentenced to 11 years and 6 months behind bars after being found guilty of a number of sexual offences.

The 26-year-old, from Therfield near Royston, was arrested on October 18 2018, following an incident at an address in Hitchin.

The victim told officers she was awoken by Brown touching her and then raping her while he believed she was still asleep.

Another victim then came forward alleging that Brown had sexually assaulted her under similar circumstances at a house in Cambridge in December 2017.

The victim had spent the evening at her home address in Bassingbourn with a number of friends, one of them being Brown.

The victim went to bed and woke up to find Brown sexually assaulting her.

Brown denied both offences but was found guilty of one count of rape and one count of sexual assault at Cambridge Crown Court on Wednesday, March 16.

He appeared for sentencing at Cambridge Crown Court this morning (April 25), where he was sentenced to 11 years and 6 months in prison.

Both Hertfordshire Constabulary and Cambridgeshire Constabulary have specially trained officers who, in the event of a sexual offence, will provide practical and emotional support throughout the investigation and court process.

Survivors of sexual violence can have confidence that the police and other partner agencies will support them throughout the investigation and criminal justice process.

DC Caroline Niwaz said: I hope Brown uses his time in prison to reflect on his actions, which have understandably had a lasting impact on his victims.

I would like to commend them for their bravery in coming forward and supporting a conviction.

I hope this prison sentence gives them some sense of closure and justice.

I would like to take this opportunity to encourage anyone who believes they may have been a victim of any form of sexual abuse to report it to police.

Please be assured that we will always treat you with the utmost sensitivity and respect.

Anyone in Hertfordshire who has experienced sexual abuse or sexual violence can contact the Herts Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) for practical and emotional support.

The centre can arrange face-to-face support, sexual health referrals, and provide forensic medical examinations for those who want them.

This service is open to everyone men, women and young people, no matter how long ago the abuse occurred.

To contact Herts SARC, call the 24/7 helpline on 0808 178 4448, email, or visit Herts SARC.

Description

A FATHER with a compulsion to have sex with young girls has been jailed after being snared by a group of so-called paedophile hunters.

Tony Jones, 55, of Southchurch Road, Southend was caught having sexualised conversations with an adult who was posing as a child.

He was jailed at Basildon Crown Court yesterday.

Prosecuting, Jose Olivares-Chandler, said: It started on January 10 this year, when a decoy was messaged by the defendant and it quickly descended into sexual communications.

The girl identified herself as being 14 and he had also been speaking with a girl who identified herself as 12 in a sexualised manner online.

On January 21 the police had a call from a decoy to say they had detained him at his home and police arrived and he was arrested after evidence was handed over to the officers.

He had two previous convictions for abduction of a child aged 15 dating back to 2006. He gave her a mobile phone and arranged to remove her from foster care twice.

Mitigating, David Baird, told the court Jones didnt know where his offending came from and suffers health issues.

He said: He regrets what he did and is highly remorseful. Most of his chats online were with adults and not sexualised at all.

There were no threats and no attempt to disguise his identity. There was no meeting and he did not travel to go and meet these people.

The previous convictions are some time ago and hes lived with isolation, loneliness and even boredom in the pandemic lockdowns. He also lost his mother in November which would have impacted his behaviour.

Sentencing Jones, Judge Samantha Cohen, said: This was aggressive, manipulative, deviant sexual behaviour and fortunately both of them were adults.

You seek to minimise your actions in the presentence report by saying you are not sexually attracted to children, and this is self delusional and impossible to believe.

Its clear to me you have a compulsion to have sex with young girls and you acted in a predatory manner.

Jones admitted two counts of arranging or facilitating commission of a child sex offence and attempting to incite a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual.

He was sentenced to seven years in prison and five years on an extended licence.

Description

A SWINDON paedophile described as a monster for abusing friendships with women to sexually assault their young daughters and take indecent pictures of them has been jailed for 50 months.

Prosecutor Anjal Gohil told Gloucester Crown Court Shaun Couling of The Green, Highworth, had become friendly wth a number of mothers in the Cotswolds town and that enabled him to get access to their daughters.

The first victim was aged 11 and was the daughter of a woman friend and when he was in their home he got hold of the young girls breasts and bounced them up and down and warned her not to say anything to anybody, the prosecutor said.

On the second occasion he put his hand down her pants and touched her private parts, but did not penetrate her. She knows that on that occasion Couling had been drinking and he accepted in his police interview that he had probably been inebriated at the time.

The second victim was another girl who was photographed in the familys pool and had been wearing a white top that had become see-through. His photograph concentrated on the girls breasts and not her face.

"On August 28 2021 Couling sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl who was another friends daughter. The girl expressed an unwillingness to spend time in his company, but eventually agreed.

He plied her with gin while he stroked her legs in a sexual manner while they were sitting on a sofa together. This lasted for about half an hour and only stopped when the girls mother arrived home early.

Couling basically abused the trust of his friends, the mothers of the young victims. He told both girls not to tell anybody about his sexual abuse with them.

The court was told that following his arrest his digital devices were anaylised and Couling was found to be in possessing of large quantity of indecent images of children. There were 171 images of Category A (deemed the most severe), 237 category B and 1,070 images of category C.

In a statement the mother of the 54-year-old's first victim said: My world has turned upside down. I didnt believe it at first.

My emotions go from being angry to feeling utter gilt that I didnt protect my little girl. I hope to wake up from this nightmare soon.

My home is not the sacred place it once was. Family times no longer happen as my daughter shuts herself in her room. I dont know what to say or do.

I have felt so alone during this process. There appears to be no light at the end of the tunnel.

My daughter is brave, but she will not talk to me. I know deep down this situation is not my fault. Im scared she will go off the rails if she doesnt open up to somebody.

The mother then spoke directly to her daughter and said: I am sorry I have let you down as a mother. I will always protect you. Im so sorry I let a monster come into our home. I will go to my grave blaming myself for what happened.

The second victims mother said: I feel betrayed. This has caused me to question my own judgement in that as a mother I got it so wrong.

"My daughter now has an obsession of locking all the doors and windows. She has also been suffering from nightmares. She still thinks that Couling placed cameras around the house.

The third victims mother said she felt that she didnt protect her daughter enough in front of Couling and that her daughter has never worn the clothing that she wore in the pool after she was shown the photographs obtained from Coulings phone by the police.

Joe Maloney defending said: You cant lock people up forever. Couling may have an interest in young girls, but he has admitted his guilt to these charges.

He has listened to my legal advice that because of the strength of evidence he pleaded guilty, saving the young victims given evidence at his trial.

He was acquitted by a jury in a trial of a similar nature a long time ago. This charge shouldnt be taken into account for this sentencing as he was found not guilty at this trial.

Couling doesnt wish to minimise his offending and he accepts he will be receiving a custodial sentence today. He is embarrassed by what he has done. There are measures that can be imposed to stop this happening in the future.

Judge Ian Lawrie QC interjected: Sometimes people are reluctant to concede their frailty. The court normally looks for somebody who recognises their wrong doing and is prepared to work with other bodies to make sure it never happens again.

His pre-sentence report makes no acknowledgment of this. He has spent a lot of time minimising his involvement. The report is effectively an attempt at damage limitation.

Couling pleaded guilty to two charges of sexual assault of a girl under 13 in the Cotswolds area, The sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl on August 28 2021. He also pleaded guilty to possessing 1478 indecent images of categories A, B and C.

In sentencing Couling, Judge Lawrie pointed out that because he was acquitted of a very similar offence in Hampshire in the past that he must be considered of good character for this sentencing hearing. But he added that the alleged offence there was identical in every circumstance and therefore he considered the defendant as dangerous in the legal definition.

Judge Lawrie told Couling: You have been before the courts before for a similar offending for which you were acquitted by a jury. As I have explained you are dangerous and your primary mitigation is that you pleaded guilty and that you didnt subject your victims in giving evidence at trial.

"You need to be sentenced for a variety of sex offences. The pattern was the same in that you gained access to the girls because you were friends with their mothers.

"One of the young victims gave an account of two sexual assaults while you were in the girls bedroom and touched her private parts. Even though she said no, you ignored her and carried on anyway.

You also told her not to tell anybody about what had been going on. It is clear from the text on her phone that you wanted to take things further. Luckily that never happened as she told her father what you had done.

I think you targeted both victims and exploited your arrangements with the girls parents.

"You assaulted the second girl by plying her with gin in a bid to try and weaken her defences. It was clear what you were trying to do as you stroked the girls legs in a sexual manner for about half an hour.

The girl felt pressured to take the gin and your activity only came to a halt because the girls mother arrived home early.

Your explanation has little credit and you still fail to recognise what you did was wrong. Your actions showed signs of grooming.

You still maintain you didnt take the picture of the semi-nude girl in the swimming pool on your phone. You didnt think it was inappropriate.

I believe all your actions were because you have a fixation for young girls and were doing all this for your own sexual gratification.

Despite your guilty pleas, you still have not confronted your offending. It is clear from the victim impact statement that both the victims are likely to suffer from long-term psychological impact.

The judge sentenced Couling to a custodial term of four years and two months and extended his term on parole for an additional three years, which means he could be recalled to prison anytime until June 2029.

Judge Lawrie concluded: I have extended the sentence because I believe you pose a risk to young children in the future.

The judge placed Couling on the sex offenders register for life and made him subject to the terms of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

After the hearing, Detective Constable Ross Webb from the Gloucestershire Police Indecent Images Unit said: The sentencing of Shaun Couling is welcomed and shows how hard we work to bring justice for victims.

It doesnt bring closure to his young but brave victims however it does allow them to close one door. Unfortunately they will never forget the horrible crimes that Couling subjected them to.

I ask that that people respect the privacy and anonymity of Coulings victims and their families by not speculating about who they may be.