Latest Offenders

Description

A paedophile who began sexually assaulting four young victims 30 years ago has now been jailed for more than 21 years.

Dean Nicholson, 56, targeted his victims, who were all known to him, between 1992 and 2004 in Huntingdonshire.

He was 26 when he began the abuse against his victims, one of whom was just six years old at the time. Others were slightly older, but all were under 16.

Often he would make his victims perform sexual acts on him or he would perform sexual acts on them. The offences finally came to light when the victims confided in others close to them.

Nicholson, of Station Road, Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon, was arrested and later charged with 22 offences.

He stood trial at Cambridge Crown Court in November but, on the fourth day, he pleaded guilty to 15 offences.

These included five counts of gross indecency with a child and eight counts of indecent assault. He also admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) against a separate adult victim in 1991.

Nicholson was sentenced at the same court on Friday (16 December) where he was handed 21 years and seven months in prison. He was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) to run indefinitely, which will monitor his future activity.

Sentencing, Judge Philip Grey said by the time Nicholson had pleaded guilty at his trial, two of his victims had already given evidence and the voices of all his victims were ‘heard loud and clear by the court’.

He told Nicholson that he had sexualised, abused and groomed his victims over many years and paid tribute to the victims for coming forward.

He described him as a ‘predatory paedophile’ who groomed his victims and, though he couldn’t bring himself to admit it, had done ‘horrific damage to many’ with his ‘perverted desire for sexual activity’.

Description

A Totterdown pensioner convicted of historical rapes of a child is likely to die in jail. Brian David, 78, of Wells Road, described allegations that he sexually abused a girl as "a load of bloody nonsense", Bristol Crown Court heard.

But a jury convicted the former RAF man of a plethora of sexual assaults on the girl when she was aged eight to 17. David was convicted of eight counts of indecent assault, three counts of rape and two counts of buggery.

The Recorder Mr James Bromige, sitting via video link, jailed him for 20 years. He told David: "You are not in good health, you have a diminished life expectancy and the prospect is you will die in prison."

David was told to register his whereabouts to police indefinitely. He was handed an indefinite restraining order banning him from both direct and indirect contact with the complainant.

Speaking behind a screen, the complainant said the abuse left her with anxiety and depression for which she has had counselling and therapy. She said she had been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder.

She told the court: "I smell his cigarette smoke every day. I don't feel like getting up, I don't eat properly, I don't sleep properly.

"He knows he is guilty. I want him to remember every day what he did to me. He ruined my life."

Nikke Coombe, prosecuting, said David forced the child to commit sex acts on him and he forced himself on her on multiple occasions. The court heard she was a vulnerable youngster who felt unable, at the time, to report him to her loved ones.

Virginia Cornwall, defending, urged the judge to impose a determinate sentence. She told the court: "There is no issue of dangerousness. The risk of further offending is minimal.

"Aged 78 he's unlikely to be released from this sentence. I ask for as short a sentence as meets your honour's public duty in the circumstances."

Description

A "prolific offender" who sexually assaulted a woman at a pub in Northwich has been banned from entering any licenced premises in the town for five years.

Craig Howman, of Stones Manor Lane, Hartford, appeared at Chester Magistrates’ Court on December 15 after pleading guilty to sexual assault and resisting a police officer in the execution of duty. The sex attack relates to an incident at a public house on Witton Street on May 25 this year.

The 31-year-old was jailed for 16 weeks and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for seven years. Howman was also handed a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order, which bans him from entering any licensed pubs, restaurants, clubs, bars or café’s in the CW8 or CW9 postcode areas.

He is also banned from being drunk in any public place in CW8 or CW9, and banned from carrying any open containers of alcohol in any public place within the Northwich postcode areas.

The order also prevents Howman from causing harassment, alarm or distress to any members of the public. This includes swearing in public or to the public, including the emergency services. In addition, he is also ordered to engage in drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

During the hearing the court heard that Howman had been into contact with officers 15 times in the past year alone, with the majority of offences related to alcohol.

Chief Inspector Darren Griffith, head of Northwich Local Policing Unit, said: “Howman is a prolific offender and his behaviour over the past year has been totally unacceptable. He often becomes abusive and disruptive towards innocent members of the public, causing unnecessary alarm and distress.

"There comes a point when you have to say enough is enough and take additional action to protect the community and businesses in the area. I hope that this order provides reassurance to local residents and helps to deter Howman’s criminal behaviour once he is released from prison."

If Howman fails to comply with any of the conditions he could face a penalty of five years imprisonment. Anyone who encounters Howman breaching any of the above restrictions is urged to contact Cheshire Police on 101, or cheshire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/soh/seen-or-heard/, to report it.

Description

A convicted murderer and sex predator who was found with nearly 1,600 indecent images and videos of children has been returned to jail.

Michael McGrane, from Southport, was released and deported back to the UK in 2013 from Australia for sexual assault and murder. A court heard how the 60-year-old downloaded the vile content over a one-year period.

Prosecutor Kenneth Grant said the defendant had been linked to the offences after an investigation by the police's Online Child Abuse Investigation Team. They traced an IP address suspected of sharing indecent images of children, to his home address on Victoria Street.

Officers went to McGrane’s home where 15 desktop computers, two mobile phones, a laptop, and 250 hard drive disks were seized. Police found 1,585 category C images of children, including 208 prohibited images of children on the devices, the ECHO reports.

Liverpool Crown Court heard how 600 of those were videos, and one was one hour long. In his first interview on the day his electronics were seized, McGrane said to the best of his knowledge, there would be no indecent photos on the hard drives.

During his second interview on August 27, after all the electronics had been thoroughly examined by authorities, he claimed the devices were second hand.

Judge Brian Cummings KC said: “You, as a possessor of this material, form part of the market without which that material either wouldn’t exist in the first place or certainly would not exist on the industrial scale that we deal with in this court. It would not happen if it wasn’t for people like you, the consumer.”

Simon Christie, defending, told the court that McGrane has not committed any crimes since his arrest. Judge Cummings detailed that in December 2001 while living in Australia, McGrane was convicted of murder, and was given a life sentence.

In July 2003, he was also convicted of 13 offences, six of which involved the use of chloroform or some other stupefying drug to commit an indictable offence, and seven offences of indecent assault against adult females. Following his release in 2013, he was deported back to the UK, where a sexual offences notification order was imposed upon him.

This meant he had to check in quarterly with authorities and inform police of any change of address, places he regularly stays, or plans to travel abroad. On November 21, McGrane pleaded guilty to one count of making (downloading) indecent 1585 category C photographs of children, between June 10 2019 and 12 June 2020, and to possession of 208 prohibited images of children on June 11 2020.

He was sentenced to nine months imprisonment for both counts, and a sexual harm prevention order was also implemented for ten years, alongside the requirement that he be on the sex offenders list. Items related to the offence were also ordered to be destroyed, and a deprivation order prohibiting him from using any device capable of accessing the internet unless he informs the police was also implemented.

Description

A convicted sex offender staged an £8,000 burglary in a bedsit while the victim was in hospital. Jordan Chalmers, of no fixed address, raided the home in Tyseley in September.

The 26-year-old, who was wanted for recall to prison, pocketed cash and "high-value items" after discovering it was empty. Forensic officers were called after the victim returned from hospital to discover someone had gained entry to his room.

Despite there being no witnesses, forensic officers lifted a fingerprint from a toolbox.

The print was matched to Chalmers, who also took a number of knives from the room. He was detained on October 20 after failing to stop for traffic officers.

Chalmers initially denied the charge. But he pleaded guilty following further evidence in court and was jailed for 20 months.

A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: "A man has been jailed for stealing around £8,000-worth of items from a property in Tyseley. Jordan Chalmers committed the burglary in September this year and was jailed for 20 months at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday December 16 2022."

Description

A man from Plumstead has been jailed after he piled a teenager with alcohol and then subjected her to a prolonged sexual assault onboard a train to Rochester.

Police described the incident as a a truly sickening attack against a lone teenage girl by a disgusting predator who sought to violate her for his own sexual gain.

At 7.45pm on March 26, a 15-year-old girl was sat waiting for a train at Dover Priory station when she was approached by Maxim Rowan-Moy, 32, and of Eglinton Hill in Plumstead.

He asked where she was travelling to before they boarded a train and sat next to one another.

On the train, Rowan-Moy offered her a bottle of vodka to drink before moving closer to her and sexually assaulting her.

The victim got up out of her seat and attempted to move away from him, but he pursued her down the carriage and sat next to her again.

He then continued to sexually assault her, violently attempting to pull her closer to him and persistently touching her inappropriately.

A while later, a group of passengers boarded the train and were concerned for her welfare.

Rowan-Moy then got up from where he was sat to look for his belongings.

A train guard entered the carriage and stayed with the girl to Rochester station, where staff alerted police.

When police arrested Rowan-Moy at the station, he pretended that he knew the victim.

Maxim Rowan-Moy appeared at Inner London Crown Court on November 28 where he pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault, one count of assault, and a public order offence for threatening behaviour.

On December 13 he was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment and handed a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order as well as being ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

Detective Constable Terry Botten, investigating officer in the case, said: "This was a truly sickening attack against a lone teenage girl by a disgusting predator who sought to violate her for his own sexual gain.

"She has shown immense bravery in supporting this investigation and Im pleased to see this vile and evidently very dangerous offender behind bars as a result.

"I want to assure women and girls that we are absolutely dedicated to tackling sexual offenders on the railway network and bringing them to justice.

"If you experience or witness a sexual offence on the network, I urge you to report it to 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40. In an emergency, always dial 999."

Description

The victims of a former councillor and teacher who sexually abused them as children worried they wouldn't be believed because of his influence. A judge told Anthony Hampton the character he portrayed throughout his life was "a façade."

The 75-year-old ex Vale of Glamorgan councillor was convicted of indecently assaulting two boys in the 1990s, following a trial at Newport Crown Court. He repeatedly rubbed his penis on one of the boy's shoulders before masturbating in his presence, forcing the boy to masturbate him and masturbating the victim.

The second victim was repeatedly touched on the leg near his groin by Hampton. The victims reported the abuse to the police when adults and the former teacher was convicted of 12 counts of indecent assault. The defendant, of Watkiss Way, Cardiff Bay, continues to claim his innocence despite the guilty verdicts.

At a sentencing hearing on Tuesday, victim personal statements were read out by prosecutor Roger Griffiths on behalf of the victims. The first victim said: "As a child growing up I believe his abuse made me a quiet kid, I was withdrawn. The impact of what I experienced made me question my sexuality due to the nature of the abuse he put me through...

"I struggled with the impact of that and struggled to understand why it was me it was happening to, why I was so different and why he abused me. When I came forward and the matter was reported to the police I was extremely fearful I would not be believed and bringing the matter to the attention of the police was upsetting.

"At the time of the abuse he was a serving teacher and serving as a councillor in the Barry area. I feared because of his position and being an influential person in the Vale of Glamorgan, I worried I wouldn't be believed.... It was the worst experience of my life and I was embarrassed and ashamed about what happened to me."

The second victim said he feared emotional attachment, had low self esteem, depression, body dysmorphia, a distrust of others and suffered from bed wetting as a result of the abuse. He said as a result of the body dysmorphia, he used hormones which damaged his heart and left his body disfigured.

The victim said he tried to take his own life with a drugs overdose and had been abusing drugs and alcohol but had been clean for 18 months. He said: "My mental suffered and I thought I wouldn't be believed...

"I've questioned why he did what he did to me and what right he had to do it. He didn't have any right, I was a child and he was an adult. Hampton said the accusations against him were abhorrent but what he did was abhorrent. I'm pleased the jury have seen him for what he is even though he doesn't have the guts to admit what he has done."

In mitigation, Christopher Rees said his client's reputation was ruined and he had lost his good character. he said the defendant was in ill health and his wife was reliant on him for care.

Sentencing, Judge Richard Williams said: "The character you portrayed to the outside world has been a facade. There is no remorse on your part."

Hampton was sentenced to a total of seven years imprisonment. He was also made subject to sex offender notification requirements indefinitely.

Description

A Summertown pensioner amassed a library of child sex abuse material over a decade – and shared one image with a ‘like-minded’ pervert online.

But the pervert to whom Nicholas Moth sent the category A indecent image was, in fact, an undercover police officer trawling the net for would-be sex offenders.

And last week, the 69-year-old broke down in tears in the dock as he was sent to prison for two years and eight months.

Sending him down, Judge Michael Gledhill KC told Moth: “It is a tragedy that a man of 69, of previous good character, with a good reputation and an impeccable work record should find himself in the dock of this crown court today.

“It is inconceivable to any right-minded person how somebody of your background and intelligence could have this perverted sexual view of children.”

He added: “[Your counsel] eloquently tells me you were living in a fantasy world.

“I don’t accept that you were at all. This is what you wanted to do.

“From August 2010 until May 2021, so over 10 years, you were accumulating a library of child sex images; each of the children depicted being abused sexually by others.

“You knew perfectly well that by being a customer of such photographs you were directly involved in those children being abused and others going to be abused.”

Julian Lynch, prosecuting, told Oxford Crown Court that Moth was arrested after his ‘fantasy’ conversations with others online came to light.

Following his arrest in 2021 Moth’s devices had been analysed. In total, he had almost 900 indecent images and films, including 192 in the worst category.

Moth, of Victoria Road, Oxford, pleaded guilty to making – or possession – of indecent images and extreme pornographic material and distribution of a category A image.

Mitigating, Lucy Tapper said her client had become more and more isolated, entering an ‘emotional spiral’ and had ‘barely left the house in seven years’.

Asking for the judge to suspend any custodial sentence, she said Moth married and his wife was dependent upon him.

The defendant was remorseful and ‘deeply ashamed’, she added. “He knows that what he’s done is fully deserving of punishment and he is at risk of going to prison.”

Since his arrest he had ‘totally ceased’ his former activities, sought support and limited his internet use.

Judge Gledhill said a prison sentence was ‘inevitable’. Although acknowledging the impact on Moth’s wife, he told the defendant: “Every day of your sentence, I hope when you ponder on what you have done you realise the one who say you love is the one who will pay the most penalty.”

Moth must abide by a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and will be a registered sex offender for life.

Description

A paedophile who sexually assaulted three people has been jailed for 14 years, more than 20 years after the offences were committed.

Steven Smith, 48, of Grantham, was found guilty of sexual assault offences on two women and a boy in the 1990s in both Arlesey, Bedfordshire and another part of the country. Smith received a 14-year custodial sentence at St Albans Crown Court on Tuesday, December 13 and will be on the sex offender’s register for life.

Bedfordshire Police are encouraging victims of sexual assault to come forward, no matter when the incidents took place.

Detective Constable Hayley Carroll from Bedfordshire Police’s Internet Child Investigation Team said: "We are all incredibly pleased with this outcome. It serves as an empowering reminder to all members of our community – victims and non-victims – that it is never too late to report a crime.

"Our hope is that this result serves as encouragement to everyone, emphasising how powerful the process of reporting can be - for both recent and non-recent offences.

"Sexual assault is an abhorrent crime, and child victims are very often affected into their future, and it can impact their development and growth both mentally and physically.

"All three of the victims are extremely pleased and relieved that they can now move forward with some closure regarding this chapter of their lives."

Description

A paedophile who was found in possession of vile child abuse images was also sending sexual messages to what he believed was a 10-year-old girl.

Razvan Valeriu Nastase began messaging what he believed was a child on social media and said he "wasn't bothered" when he was told by the girl she was very young. But what the 34-year-old pervert didn't know, was that he was actually speaking to an "undercover operative" who was pretending to be a child.

When police went to Nastase's home to arrest him, his electronic devices were seized and examined and over 880 images and videos of child sexual abuse were discovered. This week, he appeared at Newcastle Crown Court to be sentenced for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and three counts of making indecent images. He had pleaded guilty to the charges, which dated back to October and July 2020.

The court heard that an "undercover operative" called Ken, created a fake account on social media pretending to be a 10-year-old girl and that Nastase, using the name of 'Andre', soon sent the decoy a message. Rachael Glover, prosecuting, said: "The defendant's message read: 'Nice to meet you, you're very cute, I like you.' When the [decoy] said they were 10-years-old, the defendant said he was not bothered. The defendant continued the conversation and sent sexual messages to what he believed was a 10-year-old child."

During the chats, Nastase, of Simonside Terrace, Heaton, claimed to be 16-years-old, and sent three images of himself, two of which he was topless in. In another message he told the decoy they were "so beautiful, I can't get enough of you". He also said it would be "our little secret" as he continued to ask for pictures in return. The court was told that Nastase asked to see the decoy in a onesie and told her not to be shy.

Ms Glover said that when police identified Nastase, they went to his home and arrested him. His room was then searched and devices were seized and examined by experts. The court heard that 159 category A images, 130 of which were videos and depicted children as young as four, were found, alongside 162 category B images and 568 category C images. In interview Nastase, who had no previous convictions, gave no comment.

Sophie Allinson, defending, said: "He is a man who has no previous convictions but has lost his good character in the most shameful and appalling way. He was feeling down and lonely. The offences were committed in 2020 and no further offences of any nature have been committed since. He has and can live a law abiding lifestyle."

Sentencing Nastase, Judge Amanda Rippon said: "You engaged in chat with what you thought was a 10-year-old girl. If it had been a little girl and not a person masquerading as one, the potential offending is difficult to contemplate given your interest in sexual activity with children as young as four. It is depraved and disgusting."

Nastase was given a two year prison sentence, suspended for two years and must undertake 35 rehabilitation days and 150 hours unpaid work. A 10 year sexual harm prevention order was imposed and he will be on the sex offender's register for 10 years.

Description

Clifford Taylor, 40, of Penarth, also has a previous conviction for blackmailing a man he had sex with by threatening to send compromising images to his wife

A former yacht club manager sent a video of himself masturbating to a nine-year-old boy. He also asked the young boy for naked photographs.

Clifford Taylor, 40, was convicted of two counts of sexually communicating with a child, following a trial at Cardiff Crown Court. He denied the offences and continues to maintain his innocence despite the verdicts.

A sentencing hearing on Monday heard the former RNLI volunteer and former general manager at Penarth Yacht Club had a previous conviction for blackmail, after he extorted €12,000 from a man he had sex with by threatening to send intimate photos and videos to his wife.

Sentencing, Recorder Greg Bull KC said: "I am wholly satisfied you knew full well from the moment you began communicating with him he was a child. The photographs that were exchanged to you from him made it perfectly plain, the body of a nine-year-old boy would have wholly different to an adult man.

"You still lied to the jury and yourself about the appreciation of what you've done. You have no empathy with the child.... You show signs of being a sexual predator. You used sex to entrap another man, an adult in a compromising situation you then used to blackmail him."

The court also heard Taylor told the boy not to tell his mother about their conversations in March 2020. The victim now requires counselling as a result of the offences.

In mitigation, the court was told the defendant, of Esplanade, Penarth, is originally from Ireland and was isolated during the Covid pandemic. He acknowledged his alcohol intake during this period was excessive.

Taylor was sentenced to a total of 30 months imprisonment. He was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and sex offender notification requirements indefinitely.

Description

An extended sentence has been imposed on a man who carried out sexually-motivated offences in Folkestone and Hythe.

Connor Baker followed an 18-year-old woman along a path near the Royal Military Canal, Hythe on Sunday 11 July 2021, before putting his hands around her waist.

The victim managed to get free of his grip and ran to Rampart Road, where she was seen by a group of her friends as they drove past.

They then drove to join another group of friends at Hythe Green. Baker was seen by the group, who asked him to explain his actions.

He became aggressive and swung an asp-type weapon at the group before leaving the area. Police arrived and Baker was later identified as a suspect.

Further offences

Further to that incident, Baker knocked on the front door of a woman who was not known to him in Folkestone on Friday 12 November 2021.

He managed to get into the property and grabbed the woman, trying to kiss her. She got him out of her home but he climbed upon a conservatory and looked in an upstairs window, damaging the victim's property in the process.

The incident was reported to police and Baker was arrested at the scene, after jumping into a nearby garden. He was later charged with a number of offences.

Court

Following a trial at Canterbury Crown Court, Baker was found guilty of assault with intent to commit a sexual offence and possession of an offensive weapon in relation to the first incident; and trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence, sexual assault, and damaging property in relation to the second incident.

On Friday 9 December 2022, the 24-year-old, formerly of Appledore Crescent, Folkestone, was given a nine-year sentence and ordered to serve an extra four years on licence.

Description

Michael Dent and Jack Dent-Bradley left their victim "living a life of hell" and suffering depression as the pair were sentenced for their crimes at Durham Crown Court

A father and son have been jailed for carrying out horrendous sexual abuse of a vulnerable child.

Michael Dent, 37, and Jack Dent-Bradley, 19, have both been put behind bars following their trial at Durham Crown Court.

The relatives separately sexually abused the child and their crimes left the victim battling PTSD and depression in later life.

Sentencing the pair, Judge James Adkin handed Michael Dent an extended prison sentence of 14 years, 13 of which will be custodial.

An indefinite restraining order and indefinite sexual harm prevention order were also imposed and he will be on the sex offender's register indefinitely.

Sentencing Dent-Bradley, who carried out his offences when he was a child himself, Judge Adkin said his offences were "extremely cruel, persistent and damaging", and jailed him for 66 months.

He was also made subject of an indefinite restraining order and indefinite sexual harm prevention order. He will be on the sex offender's register indefinitely.

Dent-Bradley carried out his offences when he was between the ages of 10 and 14-years-old, the court heard.

The court was told the father and son, both of Witton Gilbert, County Durham, carried out sexual offences against the same child, but separately.

Liam O'Brien, prosecuting, said: "Each defendant took advantage by abusing [the child] sexually, albeit separately from one another."

An impact statement was read out to the court by the now-adult victim, and explained how they had "suffered for so long" and will "never forgive you both".

The victim added: "You took advantage of me and made my life hell."

Tony Davis, defending Dent-Bradley, said he suffers from ADHD and was a child himself when he carried out the offences, saying he suffered "significant neglect" as a child himself and had a "lack of care in early development".

He added: "He is still an immature 19-year-old, which must be the result of early abuse he suffered...he has had an exceptional amount of trauma in his own existence."

Lewis Kerr, defending Michael Dent, said he has mental health issues, ADHD and a low IQ. He added: "He doesn't have anything in way of mitigation in the credible sense.

Description

A top chef shook his head and smirked as he was finally brought to justice for sexually abusing young girls.

Peter Wright, who has worked in some of the city's most highly-regarded restaurants and been hired to cater for private clients abroad, "poisoned" his two victims - leaving them "devastated". Despite this, he has shown an "utter disregard" for his vile crimes and "does not seem to care" for the impact on their lives.

A trial at Liverpool Crown Court previously heard that the now 31-year-old, of Old Swan, repeatedly targeted them when they were aged as young as 12 during the noughties. Wright, who was also a juvenile at the time, also tried to rape one of the girls on one occasion.

Natalie Cornwall, prosecuting, on Friday read out statements to the court on behalf of the complainants describing the extent of the effect his actions had upon them. One said she had suffered nightmares and wet the bed as, adding: "I don't feel like I have a normal childhood.

"There is a huge void that can never be filled. It's hard to accept my life is never going to be normal because of what he did to me."

The other victim outlined she had self-harmed and attempted suicide due to Wright's abuse, saying: "I felt like I was overwhelmed with pressure and pain. I withdrew more and more and distanced myself from everybody.

"It feels like the poison he has caused is never ending. He has an utter disregard for the devastation he had caused - he does not seem to care."

Wright appeared to be shaking his head and smiling as the statements were aired and said "I don't think so" at one stage, which saw the dad reprimanded by the judge. Andrew Jebb stated in defence of his 6ft7 client: "He himself was a child at the time of the offences.

"He is a very talented chef. He has worked here in Liverpool for some very esteemed establishments.

"He has travelled on a private client basis to Ireland to provide private dining. There are very positive aspects to this defendant.

"Obviously what he did as a teenager was appalling behaviour and he is about to be punished for it. He is now a positive, hard-working member of society."

Wright was convicted of attempted rape and eight counts of sexual assault by a jury. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool, he was jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Sentencing, Judge Anil Murray said: "I have to bear in mind you were a child at the time and I take into account your immaturity at the time. In recent times there are positive aspects to your character.

"You have got a good work record and looked after your brother when he was ill. While you deny the offences, they were committed at a time when you were an adolescent, which is a period of rapid change.

"You fail to take responsibility for your actions and there is no remorse. You have been shaking your head during the sentencing process."

Wright was also told to sign the sex offenders' register indefinitely. Judge Murray imposed a restraining order preventing him from contacting his victims for life.

Description

A bus driver repeatedly raped and sexually as well as physically abused five teenage girls - and left them feeling suicidal. The majority of the girls were underage when he preyed on them, a court heard.

Lee Williams, 32, of Cardiff, groomed his victims by buying them jewellery, cuddly toys and food while lying about his age. Once in a relationship with the victims, he raped them and subjected them to further degrading sexual acts which left them injured and crying.

Addressing a sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday, prosecutor Roger Griffiths said: “We say the defendant sexually abused these children to satisfy his desire for sexual activity with children under the age of consent. He took advantage of their immaturity and in some cases vulnerability in order to carry out these offences.”

Williams began abusing the first victim when she was 15 years old after they had met when he was driving a bus. He told her he “liked younger girls” and raped her a number of times. After being raped, she was physically sick. In a victim personal statement, the first victim said she was bullied at school and suffering from depression, which Williams took advantage of.

She said: “He raped me, plied me with drugs and would make it seem like it was my fault. I wondered if I had done something wrong to make him treat me like this... He was also a feeder and plied me with takeaways. I put on four stone in eight months.” The victim said she tried to take her own life due to the abuse.

The second victim was over the age of consent when Williams raped her. She met him through the first victim and he started buying her gifts. He then raped and strangled her numerous times. On one occasion he strangled her until she lost consciousness while he was raping her. He also raped her while she was asleep and sexually assaulted her, which caused her injuries. Without her consent, he placed her on a dating website and tried to force her into having a threesome.

In her victim personal statement, she said Williams would drive to remote locations and would point a toy BB gun at her.

She added: “He saw I was vulnerable and took advantage of it. He took my bank card and transferred money to himself. He isolated me and I couldn’t do anything without him. That’s when the abuse started. I felt the only way out was to take my own life.”

The victim was frightened when he strangled her and “thought he was going to kill her”. The third victim came into contact with Williams when she was 14 years old. They had sex after her 15th birthday. He went on to rape her and turned his attention to his fourth victim. A court heard he abused the latter two victims in a van.

He told the third victim to delete pictures and to lie about their relationship. She said: “I was unhappy because of what Lee was doing to me.” The court was told that she now suffers flashbacks and nightmares.

The fourth victim was told by Williams to “keep quiet” or they would get into trouble. She later told police :“I don’t like my body because I know he has touched it... I don’t like being around men anymore.”

The fifth victim was 13 years old when the abuse began, after Williams contacted her on Snapchat and told her he was 18. He took her to McDonald’s and pressured her into having sex. They met further times and had sex and he offered her amphetamines and cannabis. The defendant later sexually assaulted her and raped her, despite her telling him to get off, before telling her: “You’ll get used to it in time.”

Williams also told the girl to wear school uniform and that he wanted to have sex with an 11-year-old. As well as being physically abusive - which included punching her in the stomach - he sent her messages saying “I just raped you.”

She said: “I would like to know why he did what he did to me. I will never know.”

Williams, of Brynheulog, Pentwyn, was arrested and later pleaded guilty to 12 counts of rape, 14 counts of sexual activity with a child, and two counts of assault by penetration. He had previously been convicted of benefit fraud and possession of class B drugs.

In mitigation, the court heard the defendant acknowledged his behaviour and was willing to engage in rehabilitative work. Defence barrister Christopher Rees said his client’s best mitigation was his early guilty plea.

Sentencing, the Recorder of Cardiff Judge Tracey Lloyd said: “Your behaviour has caused significant trauma to them all, some of your victims have felt guilty but they have nothing to be guilty about. The guilt and the responsibility all lie with you.”

Williams was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of nine years and four months. He was made subject to sex offender notification requirements, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and restraining order in respect of all his victims indefinitely.