Latest Offenders

Description

A paedophile turned up at a crematorium to meet an 11-year-old girl for sex. Nicholas Tarbard was in possession of a hunting knife, a screwdriver, two pairs of scissors, sex toys, and a condom as he waited for the child.

A court was told he thought he had been talking to three girls aged 11, 12, and 13 on social media. Tarbard had several conversations with each of them, many of a sexual nature, and he had requested inappropriate images of them. He had even sent indecent images of himself during the conversations.

But he had actually been snared by paedophile hunters. On Sunday July 18th 2021, Tarbard had arranged to meet up with who he thought to be the youngest girl, aged 11, at Macclesfield Crematorium. However, unbeknown to Tarbard, he had actually been speaking online to three adults acting as decoys.

As he was was waiting at the Crematorium he was confronted by the decoys who then called police. Tarbard, 35, of no fixed address, appeared at Chester Crown Court where he was sentenced to four years imprisonment and four years on licence after pleading guilty to four counts of attempting to engage sexual communication with child, attempt to arrange to facilitate child sex offence at an earlier hearing.

In a statement Cheshire Constabulary said: "When officers arrived at scene, they searched Tarbard who was in possession of a hunting knife, a screwdriver, two pairs of scissors, sex toys and a condom. During questioning, he answered no comment to everything posed to him by officers, even when shown messages that he had sent to the three different decoys.

"He was arrested and subsequently charged with arranging the commission of a child sex offence and possession of a bladed article in a public place. As well as being sentenced, he was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for an indefinite period and received a Sexual Harm Prevention Order also for an indefinite period."

Detective Constable Jamie Roberts, who led the investigation, said: Tarbard is an extremely dangerous individual who was intent on sexually assaulting young girls. Thanks to the work of the decoys, we were able to arrest and question Tarbard. Although he answered no comment to all of our questions, the evidence against him was damning.

I would like to thank the courts who have helped keep Tarbard off our streets with the sentence that was handed down to him today. Tarbard was talking to decoys but these could have easily been innocent children. I hope this case acts as a reminder for all parents and guardians to warn their children about the dangers of communicating with people online and to ensure that they are using the internet safely.

Description

A violent sex offender has had his prison sentence extended after he assaulted a vulnerable person and verbally abused a bus driver.

Zeshan Akhtar, aged 36, has had three months added to his seven-year prison sentence, which he was already serving for sexually assaulting a teenager.

The prisoner was produced at Wycombe Magistrates' Court on June 30 where he admitted to assaulting a vulnerable woman in Milton Keynes on March 10 last year.

Akhtar, of Gaddesden Crescent in Milton Keynes, also admitted to using abusive language and behaviour towards a bus driver on December 2, 2020. This older offence also took place in Milton Keynes,

The offender had initially denied the two charges but changed his plea at the hearing in June.

Sentencing him, the magistrates added three months to the lengthy sentence he is already serving.

Akhtar was sent down for seven years on May 5 after he was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault and one count of assault by penetration at Luton Crown Court.

The court heard how on August 16, 2021, in Bedford town centre, Akhtar approached a distressed teenage girl and attempted to kiss her.

When she tried to run away, Akhtar grabbed her and sexually assaulted her. Afterwards, he walked her home while holding her hand, and sexually assaulted her again just 160 yards from where she lived.

Akhtar had denied the charges against him but was found guilty by a jury following a trial at Luton Crown Court.

The investigating officer in the case, DC Katie Tavener, said: "No woman or girl should ever be made to feel scared and helpless.

"Akhtar took advantage of a situation to sexually assault a vulnerable young girl. When she said no, he ignored her, and no will always mean no.

"The victim showed true bravery by coming forward and reporting what had happened."

Description

AN SEX offender was jailed after a court how he sexually assaulted a particularly vulnerable victim at his home.

Robert Denny (pictured), of Bondfield Crescent, Wombwell, will serve 14 months in jail for preying on a girl who visited his house in July 2020.

Judge David Dixon told Sheffield Crown Court the victim had gone to Dennys house with her friends for what she thought it was going to be a celebratory event.

The judge added the victim had been wearing loose-fitting clothing because she had a fake tan on and Denny (37), seen an opportunity.

The judge said: You took advantage of her.

You preyed on this woman by touching her inappropriately.

You were squeezing her bottom in an inappropriate way.

You then took it further and picked her up and touched her bottom with two hands, and then ran your hand up to her breasts.

She was particularly vulnerable.

Judge Dixon said the ordeal had had a huge impact on the victim.

Denny was convicted of three counts of sexual assault.

He was sentenced to 12 months for one offence, a further two months for the second and a concurrent sentence of one month for the third.

Judge Dixon also issued a sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order banning Denny from contacting the victim.

Description

A paedophile from Cambridgeshire has been sentenced after he messaged girls under the age of 16 until he was caught by a decoy when four 'children' turned out to be adults. The 45-year-old had previously been convicted for making indecent images of children and was placed on the Sex Offenders Register.

Neil Higgins, of no fixed address from Peterborough, was caught by police through a decoy after the paedophile believed he had been messaging four young girls on messaging apps between September 17 and October 13 2020. In his messages to the 'young girls' Higgins had requested photos of them in their underwear, asked to meet up with them and asked them to perform sexual acts on themselves.

Higgins was previously convicted in 2014 for making indecent images of children and was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for five years. He came off the register in September 2019 but offended again just a year later.

On October 13, Higgins was linked to the decoy messages after those he had spoken to called the police. Further investigations revealed Higgins had messaged approximately 200 other people, 11 of these indicating they were under the age of 16.

Of the 15 'children' Higgins messaged, the 11 above plus the four decoys, officers established that he caused or incited two of them to engage in sexual activity. He asked 12 profiles for pictures, and told 13 of the profiles that they were ‘sexy’.

At the time of the offences, a search was carried out at his home in Peterborough where numerous items were seized, including a small amount of cannabis. In a police interview, Higgins admitted to sending the messages but stated he never intended to do any of the things he talked about in them – such as meeting the ‘girls’ in person or having sex with them.

Higgins claimed people who wanted to do that were ‘sick in the head’ and said he was not like that. He also told officers he was in a ‘dark place mentally’ which had driven him to offend again.

He was subsequently charged with possessing cannabis, four counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and two counts of attempting to cause or incite a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity. On May 4 at Cambridge Crown Court admitted to the offences.

On Tuesday, July 19 Higgins was sentenced at Peterborough Crown Court. Judge Sean Enright told him he had shown a ‘determined and sustained effort to meet young girls for sex’ and had also shown no remorse for his crimes.

He was handed four years and six months in prison, with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) to run indefinitely and monitor any future offending. Mark Escott, from the force’s Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT), said: “We will do all we can to bring those to justice who use the internet in this way - to groom and try to meet children under 16. Higgins’ behaviour was shocking and inappropriate.

“Phones and social media mean children can be vulnerable to those who prey on their innocence and exploit their trust. I would urge parents to speak to their children about online safety and consider exactly who they are communicating with.

“Protecting young people from harm is one of our top priorities and we will continue to work tirelessly to keep our communities safe.”

Description

A MAN who "poses a risk to children" had more than 23,000 indecent images.

Officers raided Ross McNaughton's home seizing a tablet, computer, laptops and a camera.

Forensic examinations took place which revealed he had thousands of files showing youngsters being abused.

Of the photos, 608 were deemed category A - the most serious.

Meanwhile, 969 were considered category B, and 21,426 were category C.

However, a forensic examiner found no evidence they had been distributed.

McNaughton told police that no one else used the tablet and that he was sexually aroused by the images.

PC Sarah Tickner from the Internet Child Abuse Team led the investigation.

She said: McNaughton had an extremely large collection of indecent images stored on one of his devices and some children depicted were babies.

"He clearly poses a risk to children."

The defendant of Kings Road, Basingstoke, admitted three charges of possessing indecent images of children and to breaching a sexual risk order.

An NSPCC spokesperson said: The ease with which McNaughton appears to have amassed this enormous collection of indecent images shows the disturbing accessibility of this kind of content online.

Children continue to be put unacceptably at risk by the online world. The Government must prioritise the Online Safety Bill and deliver this crucial piece of legislation without further delay to ensure tech firms stop preventable harm to children.

Appearing at Winchester Crown Court this week he was jailed for 30 months.

PC Tickner added: "I am glad to see that he is now behind bars. He will have strict conditions imposed upon him when he is released from prison.

I hope this investigation highlights our commitment to keeping children in our community safe and that we will do everything we can to ensure offenders are put before the courts.

Description

A Coventry rapist has been jailed for 13 years after his teenage victim revealed a catalogue of offences described as sickening by the police. Carlos Cope, 24, had been in a relationship with the woman but his behaviour became controlling to the point where he was managing her finances and questioning who she was seeing.

Cope began using her money to buy drugs and checking her phone to see who shed been in contact with. The situation came to a head in June last year when Cope became violent towards the young woman and her sister.

He punched her and dragged her along the floor by her hair. Although police were called, she decided not to take the matter further.

However, the following month Cope, of Westminster Road, Spon End, launched his most brutal and disturbing attack. After checking her texts, he punched, her, bit her arms and smashed a lamp on her head repeatedly. In the wake of this the victim disclosed what had happened to West Midlands Polices specialist domestic abuse team.

Detective Constable Jonathan Barker, from West Midlands Polices Public Protection Unit, said: The details of the attack are too sickening to share. It is enough to say the young woman was defiled in the most humiliating way.

I applaud her bravery in bringing this prosecution and ensuring that other women are safe from Cope for some years to come.

Cope was found guilty of rape and assault after a week-long trial and sentenced at Warwick Crown Court on Friday (July 15) where he was also given a restraining order preventing him from contacting the victim or her sister. He will also remain on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

In the wake of Copes sentencing, West Midlands Police has urged anyone who is a victim of domestic abuse or coercive control to come forward.

A force spokesman said: If you are a victim of coercive control or domestic abuse, we have specially trained officers who can help you. We work with a number of other agencies and charities who can support you.

Description

A CONVICTED sex offender who is banned from being drunk and touching people has been jailed again.

Jimmy Artell, now of Fearnhead, Warrington, was handed a criminal behaviour order in August last year by the courts following a drunken crime spree.

The 41-year-old was also jailed for 44 weeks at Chester Crown Court after admitting sexual assault, assault by beating, failing to comply with the sex offenders register and criminal damage.

The charges relate a number of offences in the Ellesmere Port and Chester areas, prominently involving abusive and threatening language and making unwanted advances towards people.

Through his five-year criminal behaviour order, Artell is prohibited from being drunk in any public place in England and Wales and from being in possession of an open container of alcohol in a public place.

He is also banned from having physical contact with any person while intoxicated, except for a legitimate purpose or with their consent.

But he is now behind bars again for flouting the order by being drunk in Ellesmere Port on July 13, as well as for failing to comply with his supervision requirements after being released from custody.

Appearing before Chester Magistrates Court on Friday, Artell, of Valiant Close, was sentenced to six weeks in prison.

District judge Nicholas Sanders took the defendants guilty pleas into account, however he remarked that Artell has a flagrant disregard for court orders.

Speaking when the criminal behaviour order was imposed last year, Inspector Paul Fegan, of Cheshire Police, said: Over the past few years, we have dealt with a variety of different incidents involving Artell, including inappropriate touching, all of which appear to stem from his addiction to alcohol.

Hopefully, now that this order is in place, which requires him to actively engage with the services that are available to help him, he will be able to start moving forward with his life.

Description

A Northampton sex offender is back in prison after being caught deleting messages on his phone sent to kids as young as 10.

Police knocked on John Richards door in April this year as part of a routine check following his release from jail.

Officers found the 43-year-old apparently deleting data on his mobile phone.

Later inspection of the device found messages and indecent images of children.

An investigation by PC Gemma Glover and DS Ollie McNally, ending in a 20-hour shift, identified Richards contacts including another registered sex offender from outside the county who has since been recalled to prison.

Richards was sentenced to three years at Northampton Crown Court on Thursday (July 14) after being convicted of three attempted breaches of a sexual harm prevention order, two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and one count of making an indecent photograph.

Richards offender manager, PC Dani Wilton of the Northamptonshire Police management of sexual or violent offenders (MOSOVO) team, said: Richards is a high-risk sex offender and so I am really pleased to see him back behind bars, away from children.

This was a brilliant result for the MOSOVO team and I hope it shows the Forces proactivity and dynamic approach to the management of registered sex offenders.

Protecting children and vulnerable people from harm is why we come to work. This team has such a passion for safeguarding and I hope it shows through cases like this.

Description

A 54-year-old woman exposed her breasts and pleasured herself as she sat on a bench in broad daylight outside a supermarket, a court heard.

Beverley Dean was spotted performing the sex act on herself by two office workers. The eyewitnesses saw her touch her genitals under her skirt as she sat on the river bank near the Waitrose store in Northwich in Cheshire.

She appeared to be filming herself, but police found no footage on her mobile phone. Dean then stood up from the bench and exposed her breasts through her unbuttoned blouse, the court was told.

When police were called to the scene, officers discovered sex toys and lubricant in her handbag. Dean is now facing a jail term after admitting a charge of outraging public decency.

She wept at Chester Magistrates' Court as she was told the charge carries a maximum sentence of six months in prison. The court heard how the incident happened at around 3.30pm on February 25 this year.

Dean had sat down on a bench overlooking the River Dane. She was seen by two women from CRS Consultants which has an office on the other side of the river.

Miss Shannen Carey, prosecuting, told the court: "The defendant is seen to put her fingers in her mouth and then proceed to put them between her legs. She appeared to be masturbating.

"She had her mobile phone in her right hand and appeared to be filming herself or taking photos of herself performing the act. She stopped to smoke a cigarette and then continued to suck on her fingers and placed them between her legs.

"After she did this she stood up from the bench and both breasts were exposed. Her blouse was unbuttoned and her coat was hanging off her shoulders.

"Officers were called and the defendant was arrested. Her property was searched and an assortment of sex toys and lubricants were found in the defendants bag."

Miss Carey said there were no sentencing guidelines for that offence in particular, but said that the Crown Prosecution Service suggested looking at the guidelines for exposure as a reference point.

It is aggravated that it was in a public place and there was the risk of the presence of children," the prosecutor said.

Dean, from Rudheath in Northwich, had no previous convictions before this offence. Defence solicitor Shane ONeill, said: "This is a matter that will need the intervention of the probation service. There is a guilty plea at the earliest opportunity and there are no previous convictions.

"We need to know what is happening within her life as she is getting to an age and committing this offence. There was some suggestion that she was filming herself.

"But when the police took her phone there was nothing on it. The officer looked at it and said there was nothing recorded on it.

"There was no room for any children to go past. We are not disputing that children may have been in the area but what she said is that there weren't any children in the area. She accepts responsibility for what she did."

The magistrates adjourned the hearing for probation reports to be prepared. Chairman James Fawson said: "The bench are going to need to know more about you and in order for that to happen the probation service will prepare a report.

"Between now and your next court appearance, the things that need to happen are that you stay in regular contact with your legal representative and fully cooperate with the probation service. That way, the next bench can sentence you fairly and with confidence."

Dean was granted unconditional bail until the sentencing hearing on August 12.

Description

A CONVICTED paedophile who hoarded more than 900 indecent images of children has been jailed for just over two years.

David Henderson, 30, of Exmouth Place, Bolton, Bradford, was caught with 931 images on a mobile phone he had been hiding from the police.

Just over 400 of the images, both still and moving, were at Category A, the highest level of seriousness.

Henderson has earlier pleaded guilty to six offences of the possession of indecent images of a child, as well as breaching a Sexual Offences Protection Order which was imposed in 2015 for similar offences.

Prosecutor Heather Gilmore outlined how police had initially received intelligence connecting Henderson's IP address with a Twitter account which had shared a Category B indecent image.

Further intelligence linked him to a Snapchat account where more indecent images were shared.

But a search of his home in September 2020, found nothing. A second search almost a year later resulted in a handful of images being found on a device, but it wasnt until a further search in May 2022, that a hidden mobile phone was discovered.

A forensic examination uncovered 403 Category A images, 424 Category B images, and 104 Category C images.

Ms Gilmore said there was a high number of images and that they were of girls between the ages of four to 13. There were also searches on the phone consistent with looking for images related to familial sex abuse.

Hendersons barrister, Camille Morland, said that Henderson was an intelligent and able man, but that things deteriorated for him during lockdown once he was furloughed. He relapsed and committed these offences, she added.

Judge Colin Burn said that the used of a hidden phone was in full disregard of the order made in 2015 and that this as both deliberate and devious.

His actions have undoubtedly led to harm he added, sentencing him to 26 months imprisonment.

He must also comply with notification requirements for the next ten years. A new Sexual Harm Prevention Order was also made.

The court had also heard that Henderson was convicted in October 2015 of four counts of distributing indecent images and six of making indecent images more than 12,000 images in total.

He was also convicted of possessing 2,500 prohibited images and possessing six extreme pornographic images.

He was sentenced to a three-year community order, an indefinite sexual offences prevention order and ordered to register as a sex offender for five years.

Description

Police are hunting for a registered sex offender who could be in the Potteries. Today Staffordshire Police have issued a public appeal as officers look to track down 27-year-old Perry Wheatley.

The force has issued a photograph and description of Wheatley as officers have appealed for anyone who knows his whereabouts to get in touch. A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said: "He is a registered sex offender and wanted for breaching his sex offender notification requirements. He has connections in Stoke-on-Trent and Tamworth."

He is described as a white man who is of slim build and 5ft 8ins tall. Anyone who has seen him - or knows where he is - is being asked to contact Staffordshire Police.

Those with information can contact the force via Facebook, Twitter, or by calling 101. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Description

A taxi driver subjected a young woman to a terrifying sex attack in her own street after he found her outside a takeaway and asked if she needed a cab home. The victim had been on a night out with friends in Ashby town centre when Asif Hussain struck.

The 23 year old victim said she thought she was "going to be raped" by her 44-year-old attacker, who was jailed for 15 months by Derby Crown Court. Hussain, whose cab was registered with Leicester City Council, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault on the day of his planned trial.

The sentencing hearing was told Hussain left his victim "hysterical from sobbing" and hyperventilating from shock and fear after the attack in November 2019, report DerbyshireLive. Mark Achurch, prosecuting, said Hussain had agree of a fee of 20 after seeing his victim standing outside a takeaway and had asked if she need a cab home.

He then dropped off one of the woman's friends in Derby before driving to the victim's home, near Swadlincote. It was just as she was about to leave the vehicle that Hussain struck.

Mr Achurch said: "She went to leave the vehicle and he forcibly grabbed her by the face."

He added: "She was saying 'no' on several occasions and described him making 'sexual moans' while he continued while she was frozen in fear. She opened the door and ran into her home where he mother described her as being 'hysterical from sobbing, hyperventilating' and she told her mother he tried to rape her."

Mr Achurch said DNA from the victim's clothing was linked to the defendant and to his red Toyota Prius. A victim impact statement was read out in court in which the young woman said she "no longer feels safe on my own street" as a result of her ordeal at Hussain's hands.

Handing down his sentence to the married father-of-one for 15 months, Judge Shaun Smith QC said: "This is about a 23-year-old woman who got into a (then) 41-year-old man's taxi and trusted that taxi driver to take her home, be polite, take her money and go to another job. The public are entitled to know that when they get into a taxi they will not be assaulted in this or any other way and the public must be protected.

The judge added: "She thought she was going to be raped or seriously hurt and felt effectively powerless, she said and that's because you wanted to satisfy your own sexual desires. I would be failing in my public duty if I did not send you to prison."

Hussain, of Vicarage Road, in Sandwell, West Midlands, has no previous convictions or cautions, the court was told. In mitigation, Mohammed Latif, representing the defendant, said that his client had since been disowned by his former wife, who he had been with for almost two decades - but was now remarried and has a nine-month old infant with his new partner.

"He has disgraced himself in his community, among his work colleagues and within his own family," said Mr Latif. "It is plain that the defendant feels completely embarrassed by his conduct, fully accepts his responsibility for it and the impact it has had on her."

Hussain stopped working as a taxi driver after his arrest and was instead a delivery driver, added Mr Latif. Judge Smith also ordered Hussain to be placed on the sex offender register for a period of 10 years.

Description

A pervert attacked a woman, sexually assaulted her and stole her possessions on a busy city centre street.

Cole Thomas headbutted and throttled his victim before groping her during a shocking incident outside St Johns Shopping Centre. The 22-year-old then made vile threats to rape her and her family.

Liverpool Crown Court heard on Monday, that the incident occurred shortly before midday on November 9 last year. Thomas, from Aigburth, "began shouting at" the complainant before grabbing her fingers and headbutting her.

She pushed him away, but he responded by "grabbing her round the throat and digging his fingers into her neck". The defendant continued to be "verbally abusive", calling her "disgusting" and saying that her mum was a "paedo".

Thomas, of Mossley Hill Drive, then told her: "I hope you get raped. I will rape your mum and siblings while I'm at it."

He then began "stroking her face" and grabbed her breasts over her clothing as she was pinned up against a wall. The sex offender "suggested she was enjoying it" and added: "How does it feel to be touched without consent?"

Thomas, who appeared in court via video link to HMP Styal with two of his fingers in a bandage, took her purse from her handbag - causing the bag to rip - stole three bank cards and ripped up her train ticket before leaving. Police attended the scene and found the victim "very distressed and crying", while her assailant was located nearby and arrested.

In a statement read out to the court on her behalf, she described how she had been "overwhelmed by the incident". She said: "It was the most frightening time of my life. He had no issue assaulting me in public and taking my property as if it was his. I don't leave the house as I'm scared.

"I don't know how to live anymore. I can't even look at myself in the mirror. I'm not the person I used to be. I'm unable to build up the courage to go out of the house.

"He has ruined my life in more ways than you could imagine. I'm stuck in a pattern of being unable to move on and put it behind me."

Defending, Jim Smith stated that his client suffers from conditions including ADHD and bipolar disorder - adding that the attack was "not sexually motivated". He added: "He is someone with no substantial criminal history and who has never had experience of a custodial environment.

"He deeply regrets the harm and distress she has suffered. He wishes to contribute to society and he is still a very young man."

Thomas admitted sexual assault and theft and was jailed for 30 months. He was also handed an indefinite restraining order and a 10-year notification requirement.

Sentencing, Recorder Eric Lamb said: "She was left feeling overwhelmed. She has found it frightening.

"It has resulted in panic and left her struggling to live her normal life. She summed it up, 'I'm not the person I used to be'.

"That's as a direct result of your conduct towards her. The impact of your behaviour towards her has been devastating for her."

Thomas was also told to pay a victim surcharge.

Description

A sleazy sex offender sent a 15-year-old girl a suggestive picture of himself relaxing in the bath - with bubbles covering up his private parts in a brazen bid to tempt her.

Manipulative and devious Ben Green hoped that the girl would be sufficiently interested in seeing even more of him that she would ask for him to wash away more and more of the bubbles in later pictures. He also made it very clear to the teenager that there was an intimate picture of him that she could access if she wanted, Hull Crown Court heard.

Green, 32, of Eleanor Avenue, Bridlington, admitted sexual communication with a child between May 1 and July 29, 2020. Andrew Stranex, prosecuting, said that the 15-year-old girl was a friend of a female that Green knew. Visits were made over a significant period of time.

Problems later arose between the two females. Green began communicating with the girl on social media and it "strayed into sexualised chat" over a lengthy period.

"He began to speak to her in a more sexualised way towards her," said Mr Stranex. Green sent the girl a picture of him in a bath, with his private parts covered by bubble bath - she was invited to say whether he should show more of himself.

He also made it clear that an intimate naked picture of him was available for her to view on a site where he knew that she could see if she wanted. "He knew that she was able to access it," said Mr Stranex.

Matters came to light in July 2020 when the girl was with her aunt and became upset. The teenager told her aunt what had happened.

Green was trapped when text messages pretending to be from the girl were sent to him. They confirmed the sort of conversations that he was willing to engage in with the girl and that he was interested in young people and in developing a relationship with someone young.

Green had no previous convictions. No mitigation was requested for him after the judge indicated the sentence that he had in mind.

Recorder Anthony Hawks told Green: "You are not, in my judgement, a man of good character because men of good character do not involve themselves in sexual communications with young girls. You chose to engage in sexualised conversations with her, making available pictures of you.

"What you think you were doing in what you were sending that 15-year-old girl is beyond imagination, other than it shows you have a sexual interest in young girls. Recorder Hawks said that, if Green were jailed, it would be for a short period of time and "it would achieve nothing".

He said that his role was to impose a sentence that would "ensure that this sort of behaviour never happens again". Green was given 30 days' rehabilitation and a probation service sex offenders' programme.

He was ordered to register as a sex offender for five years. Recorder Hawks warned Green that he faced being jailed if he committed further offences or did not cooperate with the requirements of the order.

Description

A MAN has been jailed for attempting to meet what he thought were two young girls for sex after grooming them online.

Martin Garrigan, 32, of Barton Road, Bognor, was arrested by Sussex Police officers in September 2020 in Hotham Park, near his home.

Garrigan had been waiting to meet what he thought were two teenage girls, but had been talking online to adults posing as the children.

He pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communication with children at Lewes Crown Court on June 30.

Garrigan was given a four year sentence and will also be a registered sex offender for life.

He was given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) to last indefinitely, severely restricting his access to children and to digital communications devices.

Detective Constable Jordan Holmes of Sussex Police said: "Garrigan was blatantly seeking to meet young girls for sex and may well have persisted in this and other ways but fortunately we received information from members of the public and his activities were rapidly ended."