Latest Offenders

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A man has been jailed for nine months and handed a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) after pressing his groin against a woman on a London Underground train.

Zane Donovan, 25, and of White Gardens, Dagenham, was sentenced to 41 weeks in prison and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years at Inner London Crown Court on Wednesday 22 June after pleading guilty to sexual assault.

He was also given a 5-year sexual harm prevention order, prohibiting him from attempting to speak to any female in a public place who is not known to him including on public transport.

At 6.30pm on Friday 25 March the victim, a pregnant woman, boarded a Victoria Line service at Green Park station and immediately felt a man pressing his groin against her from behind for around 20 seconds.

When she challenged him, he responded with How do you want me to stand, I got no space and left the train at Victoria station. Following CCTV enquiries, Donovan was arrested several days later.

British Transport Police (BTP) Detective Constable Brittany Armstrong said: This incident was particularly alarming and distressing for the victim, and Im pleased to see Donovan behind bars for such inappropriate behaviour.

Some people may not consider pressing a sexual offence, or serious enough to report especially in a crowded environment, however in the eyes of the law this is sexual assault and offenders will be caught and punished accordingly.

If you experience or witness this behaviour on the network, we urge you to alert an officer or report it by texting us on 61016. We will always take you seriously.

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A sex offender was told he had "no realistic prospects of rehabilitation" after being caught accessing indecent images of children online for a second time. Ryan Hall, of Hill Close in Penycae, was jailed after "reverting to his old ways".

Prosecuting, Alexandra Carrier, told Mold Crown Court how police enquires back in March 2021 found that an account that had uploaded an indecent image to the internet belonged to Hall. He was arrested and his home in Wrexham was searched where officers found two internal hard drives, an external hard drive, an iPhone and a computer desktop tower.

In a folder found on the tower, police discovered over a dozen indecent images of children. There were a total of 233 files that "indicated Hall had a sexual interest in children", according to Ms Carrier, but these were not charged.

The court was told how, in interview, the 22-year-old confirmed that the desktop tower was his, having built it himself. However, when probed about the images they found on the device, he answered no comment.

Hall was previously convicted in 2019 for making indecent photographs of children. The court also heard how, armed with a knife, he had previously lunged at a detective who had cornered him on a bus and was sentenced to 27 weeks at a young offenders' institute meaning he would have been under post-sentence supervision at the time he sought out these indecent images.

Defending, Henry Hills, told the court how his client was experiencing poor mental health - as well as abusing alcohol and cocaine - at the time these discoveries were made. Mr Hills said Hall had since tried to make steps that would lead him towards a "better life", mainly having started a new job in January this year as a chef.

However, the judge Rhys Rowlands felt that there was "no realistic prospects of rehabilitation", especially considering that this was Hall's second time in possession of such content. He said: "The reality of the situation is that this is a sex offender who, despite having the assistance of the probation service, has reverted to his old ways.

He continued: "The difficulty is that the courts can, and try, to draw back from custody in these cases if there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation when it's a first offence but this is Mr Hall's second time." The judge remained unconvinced that Hall wanted to change, telling his solicitor that it would be "asking an awful lot" of the courts to give Hall "another chance" after accessing this "filth".

When passing a 30-week jail sentence, he said: "The number of images recovered is somewhat modest by comparison to what is commonly seen by the courts. Nonetheless, these are serious matters as you were accessing the material over a not insignificant period of time. Of course, you have the previous conviction in 2019 for behaving in exactly the same fashion."

The judge ordered that Hall be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the next decade. An order to have all items that were seized by the police destroyed was also granted.

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A PERSISTENT online paedophile snared in a sting by a decoy posing as a 12-year-old girl has been jailed for 32 months.

Christopher Watts, 39, flouted a community order for attempting to communicate sexually with a child by repeatedly doing the same thing, Bradford Crown Court heard today.

Watts, of Range Lane, Halifax, pleaded guilty to making three attempts to communicate with under-age girls online and to twice breaching a 15-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Prosecutor Joe Culley said he committed offences between September and October, 2018, and again while under police investigation between December last year and March.

He was netted in 2018 by a woman working as a decoy for an online child protection group. She told him she was 12 but Watts messaged her for 11 days making vile suggestions, including saying he wanted her to have his baby.

He gave her his address when she said she wanted to send him a friendship bracelet.

Watts was confronted by members of the group who called the police.

In the second set of offences, he believed he was talking to two girls aged 14 when he engaged in sexualised online chat.

His barrister, Lydia Pearce, said he was lonely and alcohol had played a role in his offending. He suffered with anxiety, had a low IQ and would be vulnerable in prison.

Judge Andrew Hatton told Watts: You were determined to communicate with young children for your own sexual gratification.

He ordered that the Sexual Harm Prevention stay in force and said that Watts must sign on the sex offender register for life.

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A brave rape victim brought her terrifying ordeal to an end when she managed to punch her attacker in the face.

The woman, whose identity is protected, had fallen asleep on a sofa in a flat after a night out, and woke up to find Dean Graham raping her.

Her blow to his face stopped the attack, but Graham then pretended nothing had happened and asked her why she had hit him.

Graham, 42, of Kirkley Drive in Ponteland, denied rape and sexual assault but was convicted by a jury after a trial at Newcastle Crown Court.

Prosecutor David Comb told the court: "Mr Graham took advantage of the situation in which he found himself, for his own sexual gratification.

"When she went to sleep on the living room sofa, he approached."

The victim had been celebrating her birthday in December 2018 and had gone to a friends house in Newcastle to spend the night.

Mr Comb said she woke up when she realised what was happening to her and added: "At that stage she punched him in the face, which did succeed in causing him to stop.

"She was shocked and distressed and commenced a search for her mobile phone.

"As she did that, he followed her around, pretending nothing had happened and asking why she had punched him in the face."

Mr Recorder Tony Hawks sentenced Graham to six years and ten months behind bars and said he must register as a sex offender for life.

The court heard Graham had previous convictions for violence and disorder, but none for sexual offences.

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"He attempted to arrange for the most horrific abuse of vulnerable children thousands of miles away from him for his own gratification"

A Northern Ireland born comedian who paid criminals to sexually abuse children has been jailed.

Eamon Goodfellow, originally from Lurgan, Co Armagh, was sentenced to four years and nine months after he was convicted of paying for and directing the sexual abuse of children in the Philippines and Romania.

The 50-year-old, who had been living in St Albans in Hertfordshire, was arrested by National Crime Agency officers on June 14, 2018 and all of his electronic devices seized for analysis.

The NCA says a number of chat logs were recovered which showed Goodfellow discussing the abuse of children with facilitators, one of whom was based in the Philippines and the other in Romania.

In a statement issued on Thursday, they added: In the chats, Goodfellow was shown to be actively seeking children under 13-years-old. When a child at the right age was identified, he would direct the facilitators to perform certain sexual acts on the children with a view to live-streaming the offending.

Evidence showed that he sent payment to the facilitators to carry out the abuse. He was found guilty of two counts of attempting to cause the sexual exploitation of a child under 13 at St Albans Crown Court on 12 April following a six day trial.

He was sentenced today to four years and nine months in prison. Goodfellow is also subject to a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will remain on the sex offenders register for life.

The Daily Mirror reported previously how video clips of the the sex offenders comedy showed him joking about another young comedian being too ugly for child-molesting Moors murderers Myra Hindley and Ian Brady.

The reported added that he was a runner-up in the 2019 New Act of the Year Final and had performed at the Edinburgh fringe.

Speaking today, Martin Ludlow from the National Crime Agency said: Goodfellow made it very clear that he has sexual interest in young children in these chat logs.

He attempted to arrange for the most horrific abuse of vulnerable children thousands of miles away from him for his own gratification.

He was helped by facilitators whose motive is to make money. This kind of financially-driven offending is a key threat to the UK.

The NCA works with international law enforcement partners to safeguard children, as well as to identify and disrupt those willing to fund and carry out this abuse. The NCA has an excellent relationship with agencies in the Philippines and actively supports the work of the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Centre (PICACC).

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A sleazy shop worker who supplied booze to a 13-year-old girl sent her Instagram messages saying he loved her and wanted them to marry.

Vinit Kotadiya gave bottles of alcohol to the schoolgirl after meeting her at the East Lothian convenience store where he worked. The 23-year-old sent her perverted messages despite her repeatedly telling him her age.

Kotadiya, of the city's Meadowbank area, presented her with the gift of a rucksack containing 120 and bottles of vodka and Dragon Soop. But the victims mother became suspicious and police were called in after Kotadiyas offending was discovered.

Kotadiya appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Wednesday and pled guilty to sending messages that were grossly offensive, or of an indecent, offensive or menacing character. He also admitted giving alcohol to the girl.

Fiscal depute Morgan Beattie said Kotadiya encountered the girl outside the Lifestyle Express shop in Bridge Street, Tranent. Ms Beattie said the pair continued to engage over the next month and Kotadiya gave her his Instagram details.

The court heard the girl followed Kotadiya on social media and shed told him her age. Ms Beattie said Kotadiya would arrange to meet the victim at the back of the store where he handed over alcohol.

In a message sent on February 14 last year, Kotadiya asked the girl to be my Valentine and she again told him she was 13. Kotadiya sent her back a message saying, I will wait for you.

Ms Beattie said the accused sent the girl messages saying he loves her and wants to marry her. During this time, Kotadiya gave the victim a rucksack containing alcohol and cash.

The prosecutor said: Over this time, the (girls) mum became concerned by (her daughters) activity and observed messages between her and her friends which confirmed the accused had been giving her gifts including alcohol.

Police were alerted and Kotadiyas mobile phone was seized and examined. Kotadiya, a first offender, admitted carrying out the offences in January and February last year.

Sheriff John Cook deferred sentence on Kotadiya until next month for reports. The sheriff said he would consider arguments at that hearing on whether Kotadiyas conviction required him to be added to the sex offenders register.

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A CONVICTED rapist who failed to return to prison after day release was found in Kendal.

Colin Hogben was serving his sentence at HMP Leyhill in South Gloucestershire, near Bristol.

The 73-year-old was allowed out on day release on June 23 but did not return.

It prompted Avon and Somerset police to launch a manhunt for the prisoner, telling the public not to approach him and to call 999 with any information.

According to court records, Hogben was found in Kendal - more than 200 miles from the open prison.

He was detained by police on June 25.

Police said he had a bus pass and access to money.

Warning people at the time of his disappearance, a police spokesperson said: "He was convicted of rape in 1994.

"If you know where he is now, call 999 immediately and give the reference 5222149339.

"Dont approach him. If you have any other information which could help to find him, ring 101 with the same reference."

Picked up by police, Hogben was hauled before Barrow's magistrates' court.

He admitted remaining unlawfully at large past the period of his temporary release.

Hogben is due to be sentenced for the offence at Carlisle Crown Court on July 29.

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A paedophile who sexually abused three girls has been jailed for seven years.

Derbyshire Police said one of Michael McCafferty's victims was less than five years old when the offending began in the 1990s.

The 74-year-old, of Church Lane in Selston, Nottinghamshire, was found guilty of four counts of indecent assault after a trial at Derby Crown Court.

He was jailed for seven years on Tuesday.

McCafferty was also found guilty of three counts of making indecent images of a child.

Det Con Gavin Owen, from Derbyshire Police, praised the victims for coming forward and securing a conviction against McCafferty, who will also serve one year on extended licence after his release.

"They showed great courage and remained steadfast throughout a lengthy investigation and trial," he said.

"I know how much today's sentencing means to them, particularly after McCafferty put them all through the secondary ordeal of a trial after denying the abuse that he inflicted upon them."

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A vile paedophile who abused three child victims before leading police on a high speed chase has been put behind bars for over 10 years.

Kenneth Harrison's abuse came to light after one of the children who he assaulted bravely spoke out and filed a report.

Officers attended Harrison's Darlington home to arrest him but instead he was spotted speeding off in a car from police. This sparked an 18 minute chase which saw Harrison drive through red lights and reach speeds up to 90mph without any lights on.

Harrison appeared at Teesside Crown Court via video link from HMP Durham, to be sentenced for offences of sexual assault of a child and one count of dangerous driving, he pleaded guilty to the charges in a previous hearing. Chronicle Live reports that the court heard Harrison's offending impacted three separate lives and he 'burst into tears' as the prison sentence was given.

At a hearing last week, prosecutor Robin Turton said Harrison carried out sexual offences against three children, and left one feeling 'targeted'. The court heard that Harrison also sexually assaulted a child while abroad and 'very drunk'.

Mr Turton said that after the crimes were reported to the police, they went to arrest him on March 11 this year. Harrison was seen driving a vehicle in Darlington, but 'drove away at speed' upon seeing the officers.

He said: "He drove at excess speed during the pursuit which lasted 18 minutes, he drove in excess of 90mph in a 40mph zone and went through red lights. He was eventually arrested when he alighted at his address and later denied any sexual offending."

Chris Baker, defending, said Harrison had 'expressed deep regret with what happened' and said there was 'remorse'. He added that he entered guilty pleas as he did not want the victims to be put through the trial process.

Mr Baker said: "It is his first custodial sentence and has described difficulties with mental health during his incarceration. He has depression and suicidal thoughts, he wants to undertake all the help that is provided by the prison.

"He knows he's done something utterly appalling."

Sentencing Harrison, Judge Chris Smith said: "Your actions have created three separate victims which will impact three separate lives. You have expressed remorse, which I'm satisfied means it's appropriate to give you full credit for your guilty pleas."

Harrison was given a prison sentence of 10 years and eight months and will be on the sex offender's register for life. Because of the time he will spend in custody, he was banned from driving for eight years and four months and must sit an extended re-test.

With his head in his hands, Harrison burst into tears after the lengthy sentence was passed.

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A Northumberland man who unwittingly had explicit online conversations about child sex abuse with an undercover cop has been jailed.

Benjamin Parr thought he was having the sickening exchange with an internet user called Dan, but was actually the subject of a covert police sting.

Prosecutor Rachael Glover told Newcastle Crown Court Parr had struck up a conversation with the officer over the website Kik, in a group police believed was linked to child abuse, and they began to exchange private messages.

During four days of vile chat, Parr confessed he "loved things he shouldn't like," said he needed a child who was "trained" and boasted that his "eyes had only recently been opened" when he was sent an image of a girl aged seven or eight, and he liked it.

Parr sent three videos and one picture of child abuse, featuring victims aged between five and 13, as well as a bestiality video to 'Dan' during the conversations in April last year.

And when police raided his home, they seized a mobile phone containing a total of 21 indecent images, both still and moving, across all three categories of seriousness and featuring children aged between seven and 12.

Parr, 27, of Woodlands Road in Ashington, admitted three charges of making indecent images of children, distributing indecent images of children and possessing extreme pornography.

In sentencing him to 16 months behind bars, Judge Edward Binloss told him: "You and Dan started communicating over Kik, then on private messages.

"There were four days of explicit conversations with this undercover police officer about child abuse and about your sexualised fantasies with children.

Parr must sign the sex offenders register and abide by a sexual harm prevention order for ten years.

John Crawford, mitigating, said Parr has split from his partner and lost his job.

He had added his client would co-operate with the probation service, saying: "Work can be done with him, and he is willing to do it."

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A PEEPING Tom was back breaching a court order limiting his internet use just weeks after he was handed a lifeline by an Oxford judge.

Night prowler Carl Ford, 29, was given the sexual harm prevention order in December last year at Chelmsford Crown Court for 17 charges, including going out at night and secretly filming women through their windows.

In March, an Oxford judge gave the Didcot man just 14 days imprisonment for breaching that order by failing to register a PlayStation video console, a laptop and memory card with the police.

On Wednesday, Ford was back before the same judge who had taken a lenient view in the spring.

Prosecutor Alice Aubrey-Fletcher told the court Ford had deleted a dating app, called Badoo, in breach of his sexual harm prevention order and used his flatmates iPad to watch pornography.

Judge Michael Gledhill QC heard that an investigator from Thames Valley Polices public protection department, which is responsible for monitoring sex offenders, visited Fords flat on May 25.

The defendant was out, but was told about the police visit by his flatmate.

Ms Aubrey-Fletcher said: During the visit, the defendants phone was inspected. On the phone was found a photograph of an adult woman in her underwear. The defendant told the investigator the photograph came from a dating app called Badoo.

That app had been deleted from the phone, however, in breach of the order. Ford claimed he had deleted the dating app to hide it from his ex-partner as he didnt want it to upset her.

He admitted using his flatmates tablet computer, initially claiming he used it to watch Netflix TV shows. However, when he was told the device, which had not been registered with the police, would be analysed by forensic specialists, he confessed to using it to watch pornography online.

The pornography was similar in nature to the voyeuristic images that were behind his original offences, the prosecutor said.

Mitigating, Derek Barry echoed what he said in his clients defence in March. Ford had a terrible childhood, being physically abused at the hands of his father who was described as a high-risk persistent sexual offender well-known to the police.

Ford, of Buckthorn Crescent, Didcot, pleaded guilty to breaching his sexual harm prevention order. He had three previous convictions for breaching the order and was given what the prosecutor termed a lifeline 14 day sentence in March.

On Wednesday, Judge Gledhill jailed him for 28 months.

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A MAN who ignored a womans pleas to stop, during a rape ordeal, later boasted: She wouldnt give us it, so I took it anyway, when challenged about the incident.

The comment would come back to haunt Robert Jeavons, as it formed part of the evidence against him as the case of rape came to court.

Appearing at a Durham Crown Court plea hearing in March, the 34-year-old defendant denied three counts of rape alleged against him.

A trial was set, with a three-day time estimate, to be staged at the court, in September this year.

But on the day the victim appeared for her pre-trial recording of her evidence, last month, Jeavons changed his plea to guilty, relating to one of the alleged incidents.

The plea was accepted by the Crown and the other two alleged rape charges were left to lie on the file.

Giving her impact statement at the sentencing hearing at court, the rape victim addressed Jeavons and said: Its not okay what you have done to us.

You have destroyed my life. I will never forgive you for what you have done.

She said she now struggles to sleep, but when she does, she suffers nightmares recalling the ordeal.

But she pledged that despite the effects, mentally and physically, of the incident. she can and will attempt to get on with her life.

Robin Turton, prosecuting, said the defendant, living at an address in Norfolk Street, Sunderland, recently, has a single unrelated caution on his record for sexual activity with a child under 16, dating from 2008.

Ian West, in mitigation, said that previous incident was when Jeavons was aged only 21, at the time.

He said by pleading to the current offence when he did, it was well in advance of the full scheduled trial and saved three days of the courts time.

Judge James Adkin said it was still only on the day the victim was to give her evidence in the case but he agreed to give Jeavons 15 per cent discount on his sentence to mark the guilty plea.

He said the defendant had intercourse with the woman despite her telling him to stop, but, later, effectively confessed.

Imposing a total sentence of 61 months imprisonment, five years and one month, he also made Jeavons subject to a lifetime restraining order, prohibiting any attempt to contact or approach the victim.

The defendant will also be subject to notification as a sex offender, also for life.

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A MAN has been jailed for more than three years for offences of sexual activity and voyeurism against two young girls.

Christian Charles Turner, 30, of Little London Road, Horam, was sentenced at Hove Crown Court to a total of three years and four months, having previously pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity against a girl aged 13.

He also pleaded guilty to six counts of voyeurism involving another girl, then aged 11 and 12.

He also admitted making a series of nearly 4,000 indecent images of children, all taken from the internet and none believed to be of local children, found on his two mobile phones when officers arrested him last year.

Turner will be a registered sex offender for life and the court also gave him a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which will severely restrict his access to children and digital devices.

Detective Constable Sean Stapley of the East Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit, said: "Our investigation started when we were contacted by a family last autumn with concerns that their daughter had raised about Turner's behaviour.

"It became clear that he had systematically ingratiated himself with the two families, gaining their confidence to a point at which he was able to commit the offences.

"Thanks to their willingness to be ready to give evidence, justice has now been done and a predatory child sex offender has been exposed and punished and steps have been put in place to manage him on release."

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Former PE teacher Michael Quinlan, of zc, was handed a suspended 22-month sentence for three counts of indecent assault on a boy under the age of 14 and indecent assault on a male person.

He had previously pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The jury found the defendant not guilty of another count of indecent assault on a male.

Quinlan, now 73, has been put on the sex offenders register for life.

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Maxwells attorneys had pushed for leniency after 60-year-old was convicted in US in December of five of the six charges she faced

Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced on Tuesday to 20 years in prison in her New York sex-trafficking case for procuring teen girls for Jeffrey Epstein for him to abuse. Maxwell, 60, has maintained her innocence.

Epstein, a convicted sex offender and financier whose elite associates once included Prince Andrew and Bill Clinton, was captured by federal authorities in July 2019, on sex-trafficking counts. He killed himself in a New York City federal jail just over one month after his arrest.

Maxwells attorneys had pushed for leniency in sentencing, saying that she should receive well below the 20 years recommended by federal probation officials. Prosecutors pushed for a sentence of 30 to 55 years in prison.

Maxwell, a former British socialite, was convicted on 29 December of five of the six charges she faced. The jury came to their decision after 40 hours of deliberations spanning six days.

In addition to sex trafficking, Maxwell was convicted of conspiracy to entice individuals under the age of 17 to travel in interstate commerce with intent to engage in illegal sexual activity, conspiracy to transport individuals under the age of 17 to travel in interstate commerce with intent to engage in illegal sexual activity; transportation of an individual under the age of 17 with intent to engage in illegal sexual activity; and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of individuals under the age of 18.

Maxwell was escorted into the courtroom in ankle shackles and throughout the three-hour proceeding, had an unsettled demeanor. She repeatedly touched her hair, sometimes tucking it behind her ears, scratched her neck and sipped water throughout the proceeding.

The former media heiress wore drab gray-blue jail scrubs, and a white undershirt. She turned to look at her three siblings who were seated behind her in court Isabel, Christine, and Kevin multiple times.

But Maxwell did not offer much in the way of an apology for her actions. When Maxwell stood at a Plexiglass-enclosed lectern to speak, she said: I empathize deeply with all of the victims in this case. I also acknowledge that I have been convicted of helping Jeffrey Epstein commit these crimes, said Maxwell, whose statement marked the first time she has publicly addressed these allegations.

And despite the many helpful and positive things I have done in my life and will continue to do I know that my association with Epstein and this case will forever and permanently stain me.

Maxwell attempted to pin the blame on Epstein.

Jeffrey Epstein should have been here before all of you, he should have stood before you all those years ago, he should have stood before you in 2005, again in 2009, and again in 2019, Maxwell continued, adding shortly thereafter, I am sorry for the pain that you experienced

There were four accusers in the trial: Jane, Kate and Carolyn, who did not use their full names during proceedings, as well as Annie Farmer.

Jane said that she was 14 in 1994 when Epstein began to sexually abuse her and that sometimes Maxwell was present when he did so. Sometimes, Maxwell participated in this abuse, Jane testified. There were hands everywhere, Jane said of an incident with Epstein and Maxwell. This abuse also took place when she was 15 and 16.

Kate said that she first met Maxwell in Paris around 1994, at 17. Maxwell asked Kate to tea at her London townhouse shortly thereafter, and then introduced the teen to Epstein at a subsequent meeting.

A few weeks later, Maxwell telephoned Kate, and told her: Jeffrey was meant to get a massage but the massage therapist had canceled. Could I do her a favor and come over because I had strong hands.

Kate told jurors that Maxwell led her upstairs, where Epstein was in a robe. Maxwell shut the door, leaving Kate alone with Epstein. He initiated sexual contact with Kate. She saw him several times annually over the next few years.

Carolyn testified that she fell into Maxwell and Epsteins abusive world around the early 2000s, when she was 14, at his Palm Beach mansion.

Carolyn said she traveled to Epsteins house over 100 times between ages 14 and 18, and recalled a physical encounter with Maxwell while getting a massage table ready.

I was getting fully nude, and she came in and felt my boobs and my hips and my buttocks and said that I had a great body for Mr Epstein and his friends. She just said that I had a good body type, Carolyn testified.

Farmer testified that Maxwell gave her a nude massage when she was aged just 16 at Epsteins sprawling New Mexico estate. She met Epstein in late 1995, when she went to visit her sister, Maria, in New York City. Maria was an artistic painter for Epstein.

Maxwells case was thrown into potential disarray shortly after the verdict. One of the jurors, Scotty David, gave interviews after the trial where he talked about experiencing sexual abuse as a child.

David said that he told his fellow panelists about this so that they could see facts from a victims point of view. These statements spurred questions, as potential jurors were queried about any history of abuse during the selection process.

The questionnaire for prospective jurors asked: Have you or a friend ever been the victim of sexual harassment, sexual abuse or sexual assault? The prosecution and defense both asked Judge Alison Nathan to investigate; Maxwells lawyers asked for a new trial, claiming David should never have sat on the jury.

Nathan called David to testify publicly on 8 March about this omission. David claimed that he was distracted while rushing through the questionnaire, calling his omission an honest mistake.

Nathan rejected Maxwells request for a new trial based on Davids error, saying she thought his answer was truthful and would not have been stricken for cause even if he had answered each question on the questionnaire accurately.