Latest Offenders

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A Cheshire vicar and a woman he was having an affair with have been jailed for sexually abusing a child. Stephen Clapham, 61, was vicar at All Saints Church in Crewe and later in Church Lawton when he abused the child with Sally Shaw, 52, of Crewe.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the pair began an affair in 2016 when Clapham, of Middlewich, was vicar at All Saints Church in Crewe, and the affair continued when he moved to All Saints in Church Lawton. Clapham and Shaw engaged in sexual activity in the presence of a child, then incited the child to become involved in their sexual activity.

Indecent photographs of the child were also taken by Shaw and distributed to Clapham. The abuse came to light when the child made disclosures to staff at school.

In 2021 both Clapham and Shaw were arrested. Clapham largely gave no comment interviews, aside from commenting on the indecent photographs, though Shaw made full admissions.

Both pleaded guilty and were sentenced yesterday (April 20) to four years in prison each. Clapham and Shaw will stay on the sex offenders’ register for life.

A Sexual Harm Prevention Order was also ordered by the Court and will also be in place for life. Restraining orders against Shaw and Clapham were also imposed in order to protect the victim.

A statement from the Diocese of Chester reads: "Upon receiving information about these matters in October 2021, the Bishop of Chester suspended the Revd Steve Clapham from all ministerial positions, including as Vicar of All Saints’ Church, Church Lawton; Rural Dean of Congleton; and Diocesan Ecumenical Officer in the Diocese of Chester. Steve Clapham later resigned from these roles."

Senior Crown Prosecutor Sarah Egan said: “Clapham was a vicar and held a position of trust and authority in the local community. He has abused that trust.

"These two people have put their own warped sexual interests above that of the welfare of the victim. This behaviour is completely inexcusable, but they have now been brought to justice.

“Their guilty pleas have avoided a trial, which is a positive outcome for the victim, and both have demonstrated remorse for their actions. The victim has shown immense strength and courage in coming forward to report this sexual abuse.

"We hope the conclusion of this case allows the victim to move forward and look to the future. We would like to thank the victim, witnesses, and the police and prosecution team for all their assistance and support in this matter.

“We would like to remind the public that offences of this nature are taken extremely seriously, and will be prosecuted were the tests in the Code for Crown Prosecutors are met. We would like to encourage anyone who has been a victim of crime to come forward."

Bishop of Chester, the Rt Revd Mark Tanner, said: “My thoughts and prayers are with all who have been traumatised by these events, especially the victim of Steve Clapham’s actions. Their bravery and strength of character have helped to convict a perpetrator of child sexual abuse.

“I cannot begin to express my shame and anger for the betrayal and pain that this young person has endured. I am sincerely sorry for what they have experienced and continue to live through.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the police and all who have worked to bring justice in this case, including our own safeguarding team. It is essential that those suffering harm know that they can ask for help and that they will be taken seriously.

“Everyone has the right to expect the highest levels of integrity and character from clergy in the Diocese of Chester. The Diocese of Chester is committed to fostering a safeguarding culture where all forms of church-related abuse are identified, reported, and addressed promptly and decisively.”

Detective Constable Laura Bradshaw of Cheshire Police said: “Firstly, I would like to praise the courage that the victim has shown throughout this case. Clapham held a position of trust and he took advantage of his standing in the parish and abused the trust of his parishioners by committing these crimes.

“Thankfully, as a result of the bravery shown by the victim, Clapham has now been held accountable and both he and Shaw are now behind bars. I hope this conviction encourages others to come forward if they have been subjected to abuse no matter how long ago. We do listen and we will support you whether that’s in going to court or in finding the appropriate services to assist you.

“Whilst the victim will never be able to forget about what happened, I hope the fact that Clapham and Shaw are now in prison and facing the consequences of their actions will provide the victim with some closure and enable them to begin to move forward with their lives."

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A man who "preyed" on a 13-year-old girl's "vulnerability" before grooming and sexually abusing her has been jailed.

Scott Watson, of Town Square, Basildon, first met the victim outside a shop in Peterborough, on January 25 last year and they began talking.

The 27-year-old asked her age to which she told him she was 13. Cambridgeshire Police say he then began to compliment her body and the two exchanged phone numbers.

They met up again later that day and after this, Watson began communicating with her through Snapchat, WhatsApp and text messages and made numerous requests to meet him and perform sexual acts on each other.

The force says he also asked the victim to send him explicit photos.

In their messages, Watson made it clear he knew she was 13.

They once again met up on April 19 and visited several locations where Watson gave her alcohol and cannabis as well as another substance which made her unconscious.

Watson also asked her to have sex with him to which she refused.

On March 9, at Cambridge Crown Court, Watson was jailed for three years and four months, having admitted meeting a child following sexual grooming, sexual communication with a child and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Watson was also given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and must sign the Sex Offender’s Register.

DS Rebecca Welberry said: “Scott Watson shamefully preyed on the victim’s vulnerability to groom and abuse her.

“We will always support the strongest possible action for those who abuse children so I am pleased Watson is now behind bars.”

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A 28-year-old registered sex offender from Colchester who breached the terms of a suspended prison sentence order a few weeks after it was made has been jailed for 26 months.

Michael Vinson was given a two year jail term suspended for two years on June 16 last year after he had conversations over a period of a month with an undercover police officer who said he had two nieces aged seven and ten.

During their communication on the Kik messaging and chat app Vinson had said what he was interested in doing sexually and had asked for pictures and for the children’s underwear, Ipswich Crown Court was told.

However, the court heard there was no evidence Vinson had got on a train or bought a train ticket to meet the fictitious girls and he had also made an excuse to the undercover officer about why he couldn’t go to meet them.

Vinson, of Axial Close, Colchester, pleaded guilty at Ipswich Crown Court last year to attempting to arrange or facilitate the commission of a child sex offence in 2021.

He also admitted possessing two extreme pornographic still images and four videos depicting a person performing sex acts with an animal.

He was given a two-year prison sentence suspended for two years and ordered to 200 hours unpaid work.

He was also given a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement and ordered to take part in a sex offenders’ treatment programme.

He was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for ten years and ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for the same period.

On Thursday (April 20) Vinson admitted breaching the suspended sentence order by breaching the sexual harm prevention order and the sex offenders’ registration requirements by staying with a couple and their five-year-old daughter in Yorkshire between July 20-23 last year without telling them he was a registered sex offender and failing to notify the police of a change in his address after he’d been there for more than 12 hours.

Richard Kelly for Vinson said his client had become a social pariah since details of his court appearance last year were published last year and his mental health had deteriorated.

He said the impact of a prison sentence on Vinson would be significant.

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A Plymouth man has been jailed for 11 and a half years after he admitted a slew of of charges including sexual assault of a child. Peter Turner, originally of St Michael Avenue, Keyham, but now from Ringwood in Dorset, admitted the sexual assault on a girl aged under 13 which happened during 2020.

He also pleaded guilty to taking Category A - the most serious - images of a child, namely filming the sexual assault. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of voyeurism and a further sexual assault of a child under the age of 14.

Turner, 39, also pleaded guilty to taking indecent images of a child in March 2021, and three further counts of taking indecent images of a child in 2021. Having been remanded into custody following a hearing at Plymouth Crown Court last month where he pleaded guilty to nine charges, Turner was jailed by a judge at Plymouth Crown Court on Thursday.

At his sentencing, Crown Prosecution Service prosecutor Mary McCarthy explained that Turner had filmed the digital penetration of the child - who cannot be identified for legal reasons - on his mobile phone. Interrogation of the phone by investigators also revealed he had made searches for specific types of imagery related to the sexual abuse of children.

The court was told that after the girl revealed the abuse she had suffered, she told police she was warned by Turner that if she said anything "she would be taken away". The girl's mother, in a victim impact statement, wrote how the girl was "terrified of police" when they came to her home "because she was afraid that they would take her away because of what [Turner] had told her".

Speaking of her daughter, she said Turner "stole her innocence" and they had to install extra locks on the windows and doors "to help her feel safe".

Ms McCarthy noted that Turner had no previous convictions and told police he was under the influence of cocaine at the time. In mitigation, his advocate said his client had been hard working, covering a range of jobs from building tennis courts, working as a DJ and working as a chef. Judge Robert Linford, after retiring to consider his sentencing, returned to remind Turner he pleaded guilty on the second day of his trial.

He told Turner: "These offences were absolutely abhorrent to all right thinking members of society", before reminding the 39-year-old that he initially denied them, resulting in the girl having to give evidence and be cross-examined in court. His late guilty plea did, at least, save others from giving evidence, Judge Linford noted.

Turner was told that he was an offender of particular concern due to the digital penetration of the girl and as such he would serve two thirds of his sentence before being considered for parole and would be subject to a one year licence.

He agreed Turner did deserve "minor credit" for his guilty plea, granting a five percent reduction in the total sentence. Taking into account the aggravating and mitigating factors he passed a total sentence of 11 and a half years with an additional one year licence period, minus time served. He also ordered Turner to be made subject of a 10 year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

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A County Durham dad has been put behind bars for carrying out the late night rape of a woman in Gateshead.

Jamie Plews carried out the serious offence against a woman and left her with confidence issues and battling night-terrors. Following the rape, a court heard Plews went on to attempt suicide after taking an overdose of tablets and was arrested after concerned members of the public saw him in the area of a viaduct.

Plews, of Crook, County Durham, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court to be sentenced for rape. He had pleaded guilty to the offence.

The court heard that the victim was raped by Plews late at night. Prosecutor, Daniel Penman, said that the woman "pushed" Plews away and told him to stop, but he "ignored her request" and continued. Mr Penman said the terrified woman had a "panic attack" as Plews left the scene.

Days later, concerned members of the public contacted police after Plews was seen at a viaduct. When police arrived, he told them he was there to "chill" rather than commit suicide but admitted carrying out a rape. He was then arrested and placed in a van where he became ill and informed officers he'd taken an overdose of paracetamol.

In a victim statement, the woman said she had "lost all confidence" and frequently suffers from night-terrors and panic attacks following the rape.

Sue Hirst, defending, said Plews, 29, had no previous convictions and is "genuinely devastated by what he's done and the hurt he's caused". She said Plews is a "devoted father" who said his intention was to take his own life when he travelled to the viaduct after taking a "significant quantity of tablets".

Ms Hirst added Plews made a "terrible mistake that he deeply regrets" and was someone who was a "hard working individual" with a strong work ethic.

Sentencing Plews, Recorder David Gordon said he had "expressed genuine remorse" and jailed him for three years and nine months. He will be on the sex offender's register indefinitely and an indefinite restraining order was also imposed.

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A Kettering paedophile who subjected a young girl to sickening sexual assaults has been jailed for almost 10 years.

Raymond Wykes carried out what was described as a campaign of abuse against his victim until she courageously revealed what had happened.

Yesterday a judge said she would be scarred for life by the actions of 46-year-old Wykes, who had claimed he was not sexually attracted to children.

Northampton Crown Court heard the delivery driver, of Headlands, was arrested in May last year after the sexual assaults were reported to police and that he made partial admissions when interviewed.

Prosecutor James Keeley said: "He stated that he got no sexual gratification from it...and was not sexually attracted to children."

Wykes later admitted 12 child sex offences, with the most serious being assaulting a child under the age of 13 by penetration.

Mr Keeley said the incidents had caused the victim severe psychological harm and read an impact statement from her, where she described suffering from depression, stress and anxiety.

Mitigating, Laura Blackband said Wykes, who had no previous convictions, deserved credit for his guilty pleas and that he had expressed real remorse for his actions.

She said: "He is someone who is willing to engage with professional insight."

Sentencing, His Honour Judge Rupert Mayo said Wykes had distorted attitudes and described some of his behaviour as chilling.

He said: "It has led to psychological harm that will scar her (the victim) for life."

Wykes was jailed for nine years and five months with an additional one year on licence.

He will have to serve two-thirds of his sentence in prison before he will be eligible for parole. Wykes will also be on the sex offender register and subject to a sexual harm prevention order for life.

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A Nottinghamshire teacher who shared sick child porn with other paedophiles and pretended to be a 13-year-old while chatting with them on social media has been locked up.

When police seized Stuart Street's iphone on October 12, 2021, 'he suggested, rather weakly, that it might have been hacked,' said Mark Achurch, prosecuting.

Analysis revealed images and videos of girls, aged between eight and 12, along with prohibited drawings of girls engaged in sexual activity.

Nottingham Crown Court heard he took on the persona of a 13-year-old child in online chats and 'expressed the view - whether in character or not - that he would like to have sex with a child'.

On June 19 he sent category A movies and category C images to one user, and between March and October, 2021, he shared 14 items with seven different correspondents.

Matthew Smith, mitigating, said Street, of previous good character, initially denied the charges but changed his pleas in October last year and there was no need for a trial.

"Not only has he lost his good character he has lost his career," he said. "He has had to start again. To his credit he has got a job in the engineering field."

Mr Smith said Street has begun rehabilitation courses with the Lucy Faithfull Foundation.

"He recognises, albeit at a late stage, the trauma caused by these images," he said. "He has described it as a huge mistake."

Street, aged 26, of Mansfield Road, Edingley, near Southwell, admitted possessing and distributing category A and C images, and possessing prohibited and extreme pornography.

Recorder Stuart Sprawson told him: You engaged with others who had a mutual and similar interest in indecent images.

"You encouraged them to spread them among the community that engages in this type of criminal activity.

But for your arrest your offending may well have continued. Your career as a teacher should have brought into focus the seriousness of you offending.

The judge said that in a pre-sentence report Street denied deriving sexual gratification from the images, but he asked others for their experience and knowledge.

On Thursday, Street received a 17-month prison sentence. He was also made the subject of a ten-year sexual harm prevention order and placed on the sex offenders register for ten years.

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A man from Cheltenham has been sentenced to 16 year in prison after being found guilty of sexually abusing two young boys.

Craig Sykes, a 46-year-old resident of Cromwell Road, Oakley, was accused of several serious crimes against children, including sexual assault of a child under 13, causing a child to engage in sexual activity, oral rape of a child, indecent assault of a 13-year-old child, and child cruelty by willfully assaulting a boy between 1995 and 2005.

Despite denying the allegations, he was convicted by a jury on six counts last month. Following a trial that lasted five days, two other charges were dropped.

Detective Constable James Coll said: “This has been an emotional case and this sentence shows that we will not stand for the despicable crimes against children that Sykes committed.

"I would like to commend the victims for the courage and strength they have shown throughout this case. Their bravery in coming forward and seeing this through has helped put Sykes behind bars for a long time.

"We would encourage anyone that has been subject to sexual violence and rape to come forward, no matter how long ago it had happened, as Gloucestershire Constabulary will continually work tirelessly to ensure that victims of sexual offences are heard.

"Under UK law, victims of rape and sexual assault are granted full anonymity. We ask that no comments are made which would identify the victims in this case."

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A double rapist repaid the kindness of a stranger who invited him back to her Derby home by carrying out what a judge called “a campaign of sexual violence” on her over the next few days. Derby Crown Court heard how, on one occasion, Nathan Cole’s terrified victim was too frightened to call out in pain as her teenage grandson was asleep at the property.

At the time he was on bail for raping a previous victim just two months earlier, after she had let him stay on her sofa. In heartbreaking victim impact statements read to the court, both women told how they have attempted to take their own lives as a result of the horrific ordeals the 32-year-old subjected them to. And Cole stormed out of the video-link room at HMP Nottingham before finding out his fate. Shockingly, he still denies his brutal inhuman crimes.

Handing him a 20-year prison sentence in his absence, Recorder Simon King said: “He abused (the first victim) in possibly the most fundamental way in that he raped her and continues to deny that he did so. But the jury had no difficulty in convicting him and in my view he was very well aware of what he had done.

“(The second victim) took pity on him, believing he was homeless, invited him back to her home where she lived alone and she now regrets that extremely because what happened was he carried out a campaign of sexual violence and rape. She had invited a stranger into her own home and he abused her kindness.”

Stephen Kemp, prosecuting, said the first rape took place at the victim’s flat in Spondon in January last year. He said she had invited the defendant to stay over on the sofa but he entered her room, got into her bad and raped her.

The prosecutor said: “She describes how afterwards he was saying ‘what have I done?’ before asking her not to tell anyone. She called the police and he was arrested. When he was arrested he was heard to say ‘I am disgusting, I deserve to die’.”

In a victim impact statement she said: “I was screaming and begging for (him) to stop but (he) carried on. I don’t feel like the same person anymore, every time I shower I scrub and scrub myself because I feel dirty.”

Mr Kemp said two months later, while on bail, Cole and the second victim started talking in the smoking area outside accident and emergency at the Royal Derby Hospital and he told her he was homeless. He said she felt sorry for him and so invited him to stay overnight at her home.

The prosecutor said that night he raped her in her bed and then raped her twice more over the next two days. Mr Kemp said: “She told the defendant ‘no’ but she did not want to scream or shout as she did not want to wake her grandson and for him to find out what was happening to her. One one occasion he also bit her breasts and neck.”

In her victim impact statement, that woman, a mother and grandmother from Derby, told how she has tried to take her own life as a result of what happened to her. She said: “I was just trying to help him but this is what he did to me. I now feel like I live in a black hole. I have started drinking more to take away the memory of what happened to me. I cannot cope any more.”

Cole, of Stenson Road, denied any of the sexual activity happened and took his case to trial meaning both victims had to relive their ordeals giving evidence. A jury found him guilty of a number of counts of rape.

Roger Wilson, mitigating, said his client had never been in trouble for sexual offences before and had partly grown up in care.

Cole’s 20-year sentence is made up of 15 years custody plus a five-year extended sentence for dangerousness. It means he will not be eligible to apply for parole until two-thirds of the way through the custodial element, a period of 10 years.

Recorder King also handed the defendant a restraining order not to contact the first victim until further order and placed him on the sex offender register for life.

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A predator has been put behind bars for 13 years for raping a vulnerable teenage boy.

Paul Evennett took advantage of a "desperately vulnerable" teenage boy who was confused about his sexuality and went on to rape him after inviting him on a day trip to the seaside. The 55-year-old left the boy battling psychological issues and contemplating suicide.

Evennett, of Washington, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on Thursday to be sentenced for three counts of rape. He denied the offence but was found guilty following a trial.

The court heard that Evennett committed the offences in the Gateshead area in 2018 and had befriended the boy and his family. The boy was said to be "confused" about his sexuality and had suffered bullying in school and was "particularly vulnerable" due to his personal circumstances.

The court heard that on one day in 2018, Evennett invited the teen to the beach, and took him for a drive before buying him a McDonald's. Later, they went back to a home to watch films and it was there that Evennett raped him.

Following the incident, Evennett continued to send multiple messages to the victim, which put the teen under "intense pressure".

In a statement, the now-adult victim branded Evennett a "monster" and said at the time of the rape, he had been struggling with his life and sexuality but that Evennett had "pretended to be concerned for me and my welfare".

He said on the day of the rape offences, Evennett had been asking him "personal, uncomfortable questions". Following the rape, the victim struggled with school and dealt with flashbacks.

Speaking of the messages Evennett continued to send him, he said: "I was always being reminded by the monster who attacked me that he was still there." The statement added that when Evennett went to trial, it was the "darkest time" of the victim's life, and he even contemplated suicide.

Jane Waugh, defending, said Evennett was a father who was being supported by his family and was of previous good character. She said: "He is someone who has held down a good job as a manager at a local store. The offences happened on one day on one occasion, and he will live with this for the rest of his life." Ms Waugh added Evennett will make use of his time in prison.

Judge Amanda Rippon said Evennett "took advantage of a desperately vulnerable young man who was confused about his sexuality". She said the rape had a "devastating impact" on the victim.

Evennett was jailed for 13 years and will be on the sex offender's register for life. A lifetime sexual harm prevention order was also imposed.

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A man who spied on two children in a shop changing room and sexually assaulted a 12 year old girl has been jailed.

Luke Poland, 27, of Percy Street, Stratford was sentenced to 34 months in prison at Warwick Crown Court today (Wednesday 19 March).

He was also made subject of an indeifinte Sexual Harm Prevention Order and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely.

Poland had previously pleaded guilty to sexual assault, sexual activity in the presence of a child, exposure, voyeurism and intentionally attempting to cause or incite a girl aged 15 to engage in sexual activity.

In 2017, Poland sexually assaulted a 12 year-old girl at his home.

In 2019, he befriend a 14-year-old girl online by pretending to be the same age. After the girl sent him a photo of herself he replied with an explicit photo of himself.

In 2021, Poland exposed himself to a waitress as she served him at a restaurant in Stratford.

In 2022, he attempted to entice a 15-year-old girl into his car in Coventry.

Then in January this year, police were called to a shop in The Parade, Leamington following reports from a member of staff that a man had used his phone to film two young girls in the changing room.

Following a public CCTV appeal Poland was identified as the offender and arrested by police.

Detective Constable Simon Harvey from Leamington CID, who investigated the incident in Parade, Leamington, said: “Poland has a concerning sexual interest in children and is quite willing to act on his disturbing fantasies. He quite clearly poses a danger to young girls and deserves to be in prison.

“I would like to thank the members of the public who responded to our CCTV appeal; the information they provided helped us to bring Poland to justice.”

Detective Constable Matt Cowley, who investigated the other offences, said: “I would like to praise the bravery of all Poland’s victims. Their support resulted in the conviction of an offender whose predatory behaviour was clearly becoming increasingly dangerous.

“Hopefully, the outcome will give other victims of sexual offences the confidence to come forward in the knowledge that they will be listened to and supported, and that police will do everything in their power to bring dangerous offenders to justice.”

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AN ABERYSTWYTH teacher and former mayor who started a sexual relationship with one of his teenage students after they exchanged messages on Instagram has avoided jail.

Calvin Charles Kingsbury – known as Charlie Kingsbury – appeared before Swansea Crown Court on 19 April 2023.

Kingsbury, who served as Aberystwyth’s mayor in 2020/21 and represented Penparcau on Aberystwyth Town Council from 2017, had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to charges of abusing a position of trust, inciting sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 17, and sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 17 in Aberystwyth on 27 March last year.

The 29-year-old, formerly of 8 Clos Non, Llanbadarn, was a teacher at an Aberystwyth school and was married at the time of the offences.

The court heard that the student followed him on Instagram and Kingsbury sent her a message to say that he would have to remove her as a follower and they would speak about the issue at school.

The following day, after a lesson, Kingsbury spoke to the pupil and said he had concerns about how it might look if they followed each other on social media.

But also said that it would be okay if they kept it a secret.

He instructed her that if they messaged each other they should delete those messages after each conversation.

At Swansea Crown Court, prosecution barrister Alycia Carpanini said that after this point the messages from Kingsbury “turned flirtatious”.

He told the girl that her hair was “immaculate” and that he was surprised to learn that she was still a virgin.

Miss Carpanini told the court: “He said that he could not promise anything because he was still married. The defendant asked whether she (the victim) was seeing anyone else.”

Following further messages between the two, the court heard the girl intended to visit Kingsbury’s home.

He had told her to wear a hat so that she would not be seen and entered the property via the rear of the house.

Miss Carpanini told the court: “They started kissing. He was biting her lip and she was biting his. He told her that he did not have any condoms. The defendant told her they could do everything apart from vaginal sex.”

They then left for a downstairs study which had a mattress in it and both partially undressed.

In the study the court heard that the pair performed sex acts on each other.

When the student had left the property, Kingsbury sent her a message saying that she would need to be more cautious with regards to getting to his home.

Since the incident Kingsbury has left his job, and the area, and no longer works in education, the court heard.
According to a victim impact statement read out in court, the victim has “always been an anxious person”, and that “when everything was happening, I was anxious about keeping it a secret”.

She said that, when she ended the relationship, she did so because of the impact it was having on her education.

“Nobody was calling him a bad person but I realise now that what he did was wrong," she added.

In mitigation, defence barrister Dan Jones said Kingsbury had “no previous convictions whatsoever” and made “full admissions” regarding his offending when interviewed.

“He can never be a teacher again, that goes without saying,” Mr Jones said.

“It’s his own fault, he knows that.”

Summing up the case, Judge Catherine Richards told Kingsbury: “Over a very short period of time you and she entered into a relationship. You knew it was wrong. There was significant planning. You were giving instructions to her. I accept that you are remorseful. You admitted your guilt from the outset.”

“You are not a danger to the public. You have no history of appearances before this court and there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.”

Kingsbury was sentenced to 12 months in prison, a sentence which will be suspended for 18 months.

He must also complete 30 days of a rehabilitation requirement order and 180 hours of unpaid work. He must also sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for a period of 10 years and an order was imposed preventing him from making any contact with the victim for a period of three years.

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A church volunteer messaged a teenage girl on social media about the size of her breasts.

Raymond Bown, 66, from Mickleover, Derbyshire, also made comments about slapping the 15-year-old on the backside.

Sentencing him at Derby Crown Court, Judge Jonathan Bennett told Bown that a man of his age "should have known far, far, better" and that his contact with her was "very unwise", reports DerbyshireLive.

"Particularly for someone who does volunteer work at the church and for your involvement with a football team," he said.

"What you did was quite lewd and quite disgraceful."

Mark Achurch, prosecuting, said the offence took place in September 2021 when Bown made contact with the teenager.

Police were then informed about the messages and an investigation began.

Bown pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual communication with a child.

Regarding the specific sentence, the judge said: "This is a relatively new offence and there are guidelines for it going from a community order to one year’s custody, but your hitherto previous good character allows me to step outside the guidelines so it will be a financial penalty.

"As a result of the offence you will be subjected to notification requirements (to sign on the sex offender register) for five years."

He added: "The offence may well bar you from working with children but that will be down to the DBS where you will have the opportunity to make representations.

"You will also be the subject of a restraining order not to contact the victim directly or indirectly which includes social media which is the means you used to contact this young woman."

Judge Bennett fined Bown £500, ordered him to pay £1,500 prosecution costs and a £50 victim surcharge.

He offered to pay the full amount in four months through his barrister, Catherine Picardo. If he does not pay the £500 fine within that time he could be sent to prison for 28 days.

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A sex offender who altered innocent pictures of other people to make them obscene or sexual has been jailed.

Adam John Stephenson, 38, used computer software on one photo to make it look as if two men were touching a child sexually, said David Hewitt, prosecuting.

Police also found evidence Stephenson had been a voyeur for 11 months and found many photos on his phone, each featuring a woman who was unaware that the picture had been taken.

The last had been taken the day before he was arrested.

Some of the voyeurism photos had been altered digitally in a sexual manner.

Stephenson, of Farro Drive, Rawcliffe, York, pleaded guilty to two charges of making indecent photographs, two of making pseudoimages of children and one of voyeurism.

Judge Simon Hickey told York Crown Court: In my judgement the only proper punishment that can be meted out in this case is an immediate prison sentence.

He jailed Stephenson for two years, put him on the sex offenders' register for 10 years and barred him from working with children or vulnerable adults.

You still pose a risk to certain members of the public, he told Stephenson.

The judge made the 38-year-old subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, including banning him from taking photos of children, having devices capable of taking covert photos, a ban on having internet capable devices or online storage without the knowledge of the police and using computer wiping software or software that concealed his identity online.

Mr Hewitt said police went to Stephensons home after receiving a tip-off on April 13, 2021.

They arrested Stephenson who said he couldnt believe it and protested his innocence and expressed shock at having been arrested, said the barrister.

He initially claimed he had received unsavoury photos via WhatsApp which he had deleted as well as leaving the WhatsApp group.

He had also joined Tumblr in order to access pornography but some images had appeared to contain young girls and he had deleted them.

Interviewed again after police had analysed his phone, he said nothing.

Mr Hewitt said police found search terms for child sex images which Stephenson had used on an adult pornography website, 21 sexual images of children of the least serious category and one video and three images of the middle category of sexual images of children.

They had also found that he had downloaded Adobe Photoshop which he had used to alter pictures to make them more sexual.

For Stephenson, Nicholas Wragg said: He is entirely remorseful in respect of his behaviour and the harm he has caused, seeking general therapy for some years and then focussed sexual therapy in more recent time.

He had suffered from generic anxiety and health issues all his life.

Mr Wragg said that for months prior to being arrested, Stephenson had suffered from insomnia.

He had escaped into the internet and offended in the way he has, said Mr Wragg.

He had been very close to his father whose death in 2018 had profoundedly affected the defendant and exacerbated his mental health. His partner had left him after Stephensons sexual crimes were discovered.

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A former security guard at Levens Diageo complex was caught by fellow workers after sending a sexually explicit message to a 14-year-old girl.

David Andersons colleagues had become concerned about the 56-year-olds behaviour on his phone to someone they suspected was a young female, Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court heard.