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Description

A man attempted to abduct a 13-year-old girl after pulling up to her in his car and offering her money and drugs for sexual intercourse. He was caught after it was discovered he had coincidentally inappropriately propositioned his victim's mother.

Richard Hulme, 27, was driving round the streets of Abergavenny on July 7 last year and approaching lone women in an attempt to engage them in conversation. At some point he approached a 13-year-old and began speaking to her through his car window.

A sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court on Friday heard the defendant was aware he was speaking to an underage girl after the victim told him her age. Despite that, he asked the victim to come into his car and made sexualised comments about her appearance.

During the conversation, Hulme offered the girls money and drugs for sexual acts, with the intention of having sexual intercourse with her. He also lied about his age, and told the victim he was 17-years-old. The 13-year-old refused to do this, and it was later discovered the defendant had also approached the victim's mother on the same day.

Hulme, of Trem y Mynydd, Blaenavon, was arrested and denied the offences, claiming there was no sexual motive on his part, but he was found guilty of attempted abduction and attempting to incite a female child to engage in sexual activity. The court heard he was of previous good character.

In mitigation, defence barrister Hilary Roberts said his client had led a "productive life", had a good work record, and was in a relationship at the time of the offences, which has since ended. He said the defendant has the support of his family, but faces problems with his accommodation. Mr Roberts said "nothing physically happened" to the victim, and there was no threat of her being grabbed or forced into his car.

Sentencing, Judge Matthew Porter-Bryant said: "There is still some denial on your part on your intention, you harboured sexual intercourse... You were adopting a number of means and methods to encourage this 13-year-old to come with you."

Hulme was sentenced to four years imprisonment. He was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years, and sex offender notification requirements indefinitely.

Description

A man has been jailed for raping one 13-year-old girl and sexually assaulting a second after they had been plied with alcohol by a group of street drinkers. Clay Bamford met the two schoolgirls after they had gone back to his fathers flat with other youngsters who had been drinking near Exeter Cathedral.

He carried on drinking with the girls before raping one under a duvet on the floor and putting his hands inside the clothing of the other. She was so terrified that she thought about jumping to safety from a first floor balcony but instead chose to stay with her friend.

Bamford, who had recently been released from jail for a street attack in Exeter, was due up in court the very next day for exposing himself to a policeman. He was also on bail for attacking a fellow inmate while serving his previous sentence.

His assaults had appalling effects on the two girls. The rape victim tried to take her own life and is still receiving counselling almost two years later. The second says she still suffers nightmares and flashbacks.

The first girl said: I used to be happy, confident and not bothered by anything, Now I am empty and dark. I would like to see him suffer behind bars in the way he has made me suffer.

Bamford, aged 22, of King Arthurs Road, Exeter, denied rape and assault by penetration against one girl and sexual assault on the other. He was found guilty by a jury at Exeter Crown Court in December.

He was jailed for a total of nine years by Judge Stephen Climie at Exeter Crown Court. He ordered the sentence to run consecutively to the six year term which Bamford received for the prison attack very shortly after he carried out these offences. He was put on the sex offenders register for life and made subject to an order which restricts his future contact with under aged girls.

The judge told him: These two girls were vulnerable, at least psychologically, and certainly physically when it came to the prospect of what took place at your hands. It must have been apparent they were just 13 but despite that you took advantage of their age, their vulnerability and their use of alcohol.

Miss Heather Hope, prosecuting, said the attack happened in May 2022 when the girls had been drinking with people they met on the streets of Exeter. They went back to a flat occupied by Bamfords father Paul and he arrived to see his father and found the girls there.

The girl who was raped made it clear she did not want sex but Bamford carried on. She had disassociated herself and watched Tik-Tok videos during the actual rape.

Mr Joss Ticehurst, defending, said Bamford had not planned the sexual assaults or got the girls drunk but had been drawn into a situation which he came upon by chance at his fathers flat. He said: He was not a predator but took advantage of a situation in which he found himself.

Mr Ticehurst said Bamford had a very difficult childhood in which he was taken into care at the age of 13 months. He has no history of sexual offending other than the offence of exposure which happened as a response to being stopped by a male police officer.

Description

A man who subjected a teenage girl to multiple sexual assaults nearly 20 years ago has been jailed.

Christopher North, now aged 58, was living in the Newark area when he repeatedly targeted the same girl.

North, who has previous convictions for offences including assault and false imprisonment, was reported to Nottinghamshire Police in May 2022 when his victim found the courage to come forward.

The woman, now an adult, gave a detailed account to police of multiple sexual assaults that took place at different locations.

When North was arrested and interviewed by officers, he denied any sexual activity with the girl and answered no comment to most of the questions put to him.

He maintained his innocence until he finally pleaded guilty to multiple counts of sexual activity with a child. 

Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court today (Friday), North, formerly of Bagshaw Street, Pleasley, was jailed for 11 years and will spend an additional four years on extended licence.

He was also added to the sex offenders’ register for life.

Description

A SMILING sex offender who forced a young girl to jump on his genitals has been jailed.

Christopher Frapple manipulated the vulnerable child into performing sexual acts on himself over a period of up to five years.

The 49-year-old was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on February 23 for two counts of inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and one count of engaging in sexual activity in front of a child.

The abuse went undiscovered until February 9, 2023, when the girl told her father she did not like Frapple and revealed what had happened.

Prosecuting, Ellie Fargin, told the court that the girl confessed that the defendant kept asking her to kick him in the testicles and would show her his bits.

On another occasion, Frapple wrapped a piece of string around his penis and asked the girl to pull on it.

The girls father said in a statement to the court that she has been affected substantially, through stress, fear and anxiety.

He added that both he and his daughter are fearful of the dark and going out to places that were once safe.

Frapple has seven previous convictions for 14 offences, including two indecent exposures in 2010.

He exposed his genitals to a female walking her a dog in public and also put his hand on his penis in public and asked a female if it looked big.

Mitigating, Nick Robinson, said the defendant pleaded guilty to all offences, although not at the earliest opportunity.

He added that probation identified the need to rehabilitate Frapple in order to protect the public.

Judge Susan Evans KC said: You took [the child] to your flat with one thing in mind, to sexually abuse a nine year old child.

She added that the defendant has a clear sexual interest in children and poses a serious risk.

Frapple, of Gillingham, was handed a five year and ten month sentence.

He was given a ten-year restraining order, a 20 year sexual offences prevention order and will be on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Description

A man from Halewood has been sentenced to 22 years in prison with a further year on extended licence for 20 counts of sexual offences against a child.

Michael Smith, 64, from Halewood, was jailed today, Friday 1 March, after he was found guilty of the offences following a trial held in January at Liverpool Crown Court.

The investigation was carried out after we received a report in 2020 of multiple sexual offences against a child, which had spanned a several-year period.

Smith was also handed a Restraining Order and placed on the Sex Offender Register for life.

Description

A sick predator approached young children playing in the street and offered them cash to bite and hit him and kick him in the groin before sexually assaulting them.

Liverpool Crown Court heard on Wednesday how Gary Campbell withdrew 1,000 in cash in a premeditated plot to lure children as young as six into carrying out his vile fantasies.

The offences dated back to July 24 and 30 last year a court heard and involved four young children aged between six and nine.

Prosecuting, Trevor Parry-Jones said Campbell, of Dolton, had travelled down from his home in Devon to visit a friend in Warrington. After withdrawing the large sum of cash, the defendant headed to an area of Padgate on July 24, 2023.

CCTV footage recovered from Cheshire Police showed the defendant parking his car nearby to a subway.

He then walked two minutes to a suburban area, described by Mr Parry-Jones as somewhere that children would frequently play, that was nearby to a school and play area and loitered in the area before approaching two children under the age of ten.

Campbell asked the children for help in finding some money which he had already hidden and when the children found the money, he would then reward them with a 20 note.

When one of the children returned home and their mother found them to be carrying cash, she grew concerned and contacted the police.

A court heard how the 60-year-old deliberately targeted the two children again a few days later on Friday, July 28, approaching them on the street and asking them to kick him in the groin, bite and hit him in return for cash.

He then asked the children to urinate in a chocolate milk bottle which he put in his jacket.

Mr Parry-Jones added, He said he would set them a maths test and if they get it right, he would give them the money. The money was stuck in their waistbands.

Campbell took the money from their waistbands, looking at their genitals as he did before he proceeded to take indecent images of the children.

On a separate occasion on July 30, the defendant returned to the same area near to the subway and approached another pair of children, both aged under 10.

He used an alias name, Peter, and sexually assaulted both children, forcing the other child to watch the sexual acts as they took place. Campbell then paid each child more than 100 in cash each.

Cheshire Police officers when initially contacted on July 24 by one of the childrens parents in relation to the incident when Campbell first offered the two children money, had retraced the steps taken and scoured CCTV from the area which identified the defendant walking around the area each day from July 24 to 30.

AMPR CCTV also showed the defendant driving from Devon to Warrington.

The defendant was arrested on August 25 at his home in Devon and confirmed he had been in the Warrington area visiting his friend and helping to decorate his house, Mr Parry-Jones added.

The defendant was bailed before being arrested again on September 23, 2023. He was found in position of 27 indecent images on his mobile phone and his computer and other devices were taken by police.

He denied being in the Padgate area when questioned or talking to the children involved.

Appearing for sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday (February 28) Campbell pleaded guilty to six counts of causing/inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, eight counts of sexually assaulting a child, four counts of paying for the sexual services of a child, one count of possession of indecent images of children, one count of taking an indecent image of a child, and two counts of causing a child to look at/watch images/videos of sexual activity

The victim impact statements of the parents of some of the children involved were read to the court and expressed the extent of the damage caused to the lives of the children targeted by Campbell.

A statement by one parent read by Mr Parry-Jones began, I want Gary Campbell to know that before my little boy met you, he was an outgoing child. Now he has no confidence at all.

I had to deal with social services in my home. I had to listen to all the horrendous things that had been done by a stranger.

If I could spend everyday holding him or hugging him I would. You have taken his childhood away from him and you had no right to do that.

I should not have to explain to a seven-year-old what a paedophile is.

A second statement from another parent echoed the harrowing effects the incident had on her son and her family.

She added: I was absolutely heartbroken when I found out of the incident.

I constantly think that something is going to trigger him at some point.

I am now unhealthily anxious when he goes out. I cannot shake the feeling that something is going to happen to him.

The last victim impact statement from a third parent began, It makes me sick that some one would do something so horrendous to my son. He has been traumatised by what has happened to him.

This whole ordeal has broken us as a family. We had only just started letting him out when this had happened.

Defending, Jeremy Rawson told the court his client has genuine regret and remorse following his offending and has been in a dark place for several years.

Mr Rawson explained how his client has blackouts and states he does not recall the events he is being sentenced for.

Honour judge Katherine Pierpoint addressed the defendant before sentencing.

She said: There were children playing in that area and you deliberately targeted them.

This was deliberate, pre-planned and predatory behaviour designed to entrap young children.

This is a prime example of grooming behaviour.

The police should be commended for their investigation into this matter.

I have considered with care the carefully prepared and emotional heartfelt statements of the mothers of these boys.

I hope you understand the widespread devastating effect you had had on these families and these boys.

The only person to blame here is you. These four boys have been brave and courageous speaking out and their families should be proud of them.

In my judgement you clearly have a sexual interest in children.

Judge Pierpoint served Campbell a 9-year immediate sentence for the offences with an extra five years on licence of which he will serve two thirds of before being considered for release on licence.

He will also be signed onto the sex offenders register for the rest of his life.

Following the sentencing, DC Danielle Taylor of Cheshire Police provided the following statement: This has been a complex and lengthy investigation which uncovered Campbell's horrific behaviour towards the most vulnerable members of society.

It became apparent throughout the investigation that Campbell was a devious sexual predator whose offending saw him prey on young boys, who he targeted whilst they were innocently playing outside.

Campbell failed to account for his actions on interview and has not shown any remorse throughout this investigation.

Thanks to the overwhelming evidence that we had against him, he has today received a custodial sentence.

All of the young victims have been so brave and should be commended for how they have dealt with the whole police investigation. I would like to pass on my sincere thanks to their parents who have supported the investigation from the outset. I am also grateful to the CPS for their assistance with this case.

I am confident that this sentence passed today will show the public that Cheshire Police take all reports of sexual offending seriously and that we will do everything we can to bring offenders to justice.

I hope Campbell uses his time in prison to reflect on the devastating effect that his actions have had."

Description

A magnet fishing YouTuber has been jailed after carrying out a string of vile child sexual offences. Karl Ball used social media to groom a 14-year-old girl before giving her a 'special cake' which he performed a sex act over, the court heard.

The 35-year-old ex-soldier used sexualised language and sent various messages referring to sexual intercourse and what he would do to the child. He also sent sexually explicit photos and encouraged the victim to send naked photos of herself, although she refused to send him any explicit photos, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.

The CPS said that when he met the child, Ball, touched her inappropriately and sexually assaulted her before giving her what he called a "special cake." The victim ate some of the cake when she got home but found it tasted strange and when she told the defendant, he admitted what he had done.

The victim felt disgusted by this and put the cake in the bin. His offending came to light after the victims parents saw the messages on her phone and reported the matter to the police.

The police found Balls DNA on the "special cake" after remnants of it were retrieved from the bin and forensically analysed. Ball pleaded guilty to two counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child, two counts of sexual assault on a female and two counts of causing or inciting a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity. It followed a hearing at Dudley Magistrates Court in May last year.

Ball, from Simmons Drive, Quinton, who ran a YouTube channel about magnet fishing, was sentenced to 32 months imprisonment at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday, Wednesday, February 28. He was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for a decade, and a restraining order for 10 years barring him from contacting the child and her family.

Speaking after the case, Cagin Husnu, of the CPS, said: The crimes committed by Karl Ball in this case are abhorrent." He added 'the fact that his offending culminated in him giving her a special cake is simply repulsive'.

His statement continued: "No one in our society, let alone children, should be treated in such a degrading manner and it is our aim to ensure that we work collaboratively with the police to ensure that offenders are held accountable for their crimes.

It comes after Ball admitted possessing a prohibited firearm and possessing ammunition without a firearms certificate. He was proud to show off a "loaded shotgun he had pulled out of a canal in Birmingham" to his magnet fishing mates. But his discovery backfired on him when he was reported to the police by one of them after failing to hand it in. He was sentenced to two years suspended for two years and ordered to do 200 hours unpaid work in November 2022.

Description

A paedophile breached a court order after downloading and using Snapchat which he used to speak to a 15-year-old girl. He later claimed he didn't know using the social media app was a breach of his conditions.

Kyle Smith, 31, of Cardiff, was previously sentenced to four years imprisonment after being convicted of seven acts of causing a child to engage in penetrative sexual activity. He coerced his victim into sending him photos and threatened to show the pictures to her family if she did not agree to meet him.

A sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court on Thursday heard the defendant had committed a number of breaches by failing to comply with notification requirements. There were further breaches in relation to calls and messages to underage children.

Prosecutor James Evans said Smith was made subject to conditions which prevented him from using apps or software which did not retain history. On October 26 last year, a report was made to police by a 15-year-old girl who said the defendant had communicated with her on Snapchat.

Police attended Smith's home and arrested him, and seized two mobile phones and a tablet. He told officers he had been using Snapchat since 2021 and said he did not know it was a breach to use it. Mr Evans said this was not accepted by the prosecution.

Smith, of Hansen Street, Butetown, later pleaded guilty to breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. As well as his previous sexual offending, the defendant has convictions for affray, assaulting police officers, harassment and burglary.

Judge Matthew Porter-Bryant sentenced Smith to a total of 20 months imprisonment. He will serve half the sentence in custody before he is released to serve the remainder on licence.

Description

A man found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman in Crewe has been jailed for eight years.

Brandon Bentley appeared at Chester Crown Court on Friday 23 February where he was sentenced to eight years in prison.

He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register and handed an indefinite restraining order against the victim.

The 26-year-old, who at the time lived at an address in Crewe, had previously been found guilty two counts of sexual assault, attempt rape, and digital penetration.

During the trial the court heard how Bentley had asked the victim if she wanted to go out with him on the evening of Sunday 14 November 2021.

They sat in his car until the early hours of the morning before the victim became tired and asked to go home.

She got out of the car and headed towards her front door but Bentley followed her. She tried to close the door, but he pushed his way through, grabbed her and tried to kiss her.

Bentley then pushed the victim onto the bed, and as she pleaded with him to stop, he sexually assaulted her.

Before leaving the address, Bentley pushed the victim against the wall and sexually assaulted her again.

Following questioning, he was charged with attempt rape, two counts of sexual assault, and causing a female to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity.

Description

A FORMER soldier has been found guilty of raping a woman who he met on an online swingers’ dating site.

Ezra Robinson went on to have a two-year relationship with the woman and they had a child together.

He went on to force himself on her while she slept after the relationship had turned sour.

He was able to use the Fabswingers website – where he met his victim – despite already having a conviction for a previous rape and being on the sex offenders’ register.

He is a body builder who was working on a building site and the victim was unable to stop him when he had sex with her against her will.

He threatened to kill her if she went to the police but she summoned up the courage to report him.

Former Royal Engineer Robinson, who served in mine and explosive clearing operations in Afghanistan, has been told to expect a jail term of at least seven years after a judge at Exeter Crown Court ordered the probation to assess whether he poses a danger to the public.

Judge Stephen Climie adjourned sentence until April and remanded him in custody.

He told him: “You have been found guilty of offences that warrant significant custodial terms.”

Robinson, aged 31, originally from Moretonhampstead but of Lamb Park, Drewsteignton, denied rape but was found guilty by a jury at Exeter Crown Court. He was also convicted of coercive and controlling behaviour. He will be sentenced in April.

The jury reached their verdicts without being told that he was a convicted rapist, although they were told that he had previously been jailed for a “serious sexual offence”.

Judge Climie explained that decision to the jury after they had returned their verdict.

He said: “You were told he had a conviction for a serious sexual offence. It was rape but there is an inevitable prejudice that attaches to that word.

“One of the factors we have to look at when someone is convicted of rape more than once is what is called dangerousness, which has a very specific legal definition. This is probably a case where there needs to be a report.”

The judge said a finding of dangerousness would lead to an extended period of licence which would be added on to any sentence he may serve. He also said a probation report would look at Robinson’s mental health issues.

During a ten-day trial, Miss Kelly Scrivener, prosecuting, said Robinson met the woman after contacting her through the Fabswingers website. The date went well and they went on to form a relationship.

She found him attractive at first and described him as being “the energy in the room”, but the relationship turned sour. On their final meeting he forced her to have sex. He told her he had a conviction for a sexual offence but tried to minimise it.

Robinson said all sexual contact with the woman was consensual and denied ever forcing her to have sex with him or using or threatening violence. He said he had been in the army for nearly five years and had previously been married.

He said he was working as a plant operator at a building site in Ivybridge at the time of his arrest.

Description

THE dad of a boy convicted of murdering Brianna Ghey in Culcheth has admitted charges that make him a sex offender.

Kyle Ratcliffe, of Leigh, was charged with two counts of exposure and one of taking an indecent photograph of a child.

He admitted all three charges before Manchester Crown Court this morning, Thursday and was subsequently jailed for 15 months.

They involved him performing a sex act on himself while driving his Maserati car after observing two teenage girls.

He also took a photo of a child getting changed at a water park in Delamere, near Northwich, last summer.

The particulars of the exposure charges stated that the 36-year-old twice intentionally exposed his genitals intending that someone would see them and be caused alarm or distress.

They took place in Salford in November last year shortly before his sons murder trial was due to start.

He appeared before Manchester Magistrates Court on January 19 in relation to the three charges, where he confirmed his name and personal details.

No plea was entered, with the case sent to Manchester Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing today, Thursday.

Kyle Ratcliffe is the father of Eddie Ratcliffe, who was jailed for life for the murder of Birchwood teen Brianna Ghey in Culcheth Linear Park.

He was remanded in custody until his plea hearing date, therefore missing his sons sentencing hearing.

Appearing in court today, the defendant entered guilty pleas to all three charges, with judge John Potter proceeding to sentence.

Reporting restrictions were in place preventing the link between him and his son from being published in the event that a trial would be needed.

They were removed following his guilty pleas, however, reporting restrictions remain ensuring the victims of the exposure and photo-taking charge remain anonymous.

Description

Peter Casey, a 55-year-old resident from Cleveland Gardens, Deane, Bolton, faced Bolton Magistrates Court after failing to comply with his annual sex offender registration for two consecutive years, citing memory issues as his defense. Despite a criminal history that includes a conviction for multiple counts of indecent assault in 2003 and possession of a bladed article, Casey was given a 12-month conditional discharge by the court, highlighting the necessity of adherence to registration obligations.

History of Non-Compliance and Legal Proceedings

In September 2022, Casey was due to renew his registration on the sex offenders register but failed to do so until October 4, thus breaching the mandatory requirement. The prosecution, led by James Gore, detailed how efforts to remind Casey of his obligations went unanswered, with Casey later admitting to forgetting the critical deadline. His defense, presented by Adam Whittaker, emphasized Casey's significant memory problems, even recounting an instance where Casey needed to be reminded of his court date multiple times within a short period.

Conditional Discharge and Court's Warning
Karen Martin, Chair of the bench, decided on a conditional discharge for Casey, stressing the importance of his future compliance with the sex offender registration process. This leniency comes despite Casey's previous conviction for possession of a bladed article, for which he received a suspended sentence in the prior year. The court's decision underscores the balancing act between addressing Casey's claimed health issues and the need to ensure public safety and adherence to legal requirements.

Implications for Future Compliance

The case raises questions about the challenges faced by individuals with health issues in complying with legal obligations and the measures that might be necessary to ensure compliance without compromising public safety. Martin's warning to Casey serves as a reminder of the consequences of future failures to comply with the registration requirements, indicating that leniency shown in this instance may not be extended in the future. This case thus not only addresses Casey's individual circumstances but also highlights broader issues related to the enforcement of sex offender registration requirements and the intersection of health issues with legal compliance.

Description

A Gravesend bar manager has been sentenced to seven years in jail after a jury convicted him of sex offences against a woman.

During the evening of 2 October 2020, MD Wahiduzzaman Akanda was at his place of work where he pressured the victim into drinking alcohol. She repeatedly refused but he made her drink a mix of cocktails and shots, to the point that she was sick.

The 39-year-old then followed her into the female toilets where he sexually assaulted her in spite of her telling him to stop. She was heard crying by another person who attempted to check on her welfare, but Akanda told them that she was fine and this person left.

When Akanda left the toilet, the victim locked herself in a cubicle and called police before leaving the premises. Akanda was located and arrested on the following day.

He was charged with two sexual assaults but pleaded not guilty at Maidstone Crown Court and following a trial he was found guilty. On Wednesday 28 February 2024, Akanda, formally of Railway Street, Gillingham, was jailed.

Description

Actor Daniel Frogson has been given a suspended prison sentence for viewing hundreds of indecent images of children.

The 21-year-old, who appeared in fantasy series His Dark Materials, viewed the images over a three-year period, starting when he was 17.

Some of the images were category A, the most severe category of abuse.

Frogson, from Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to four charges at Nottingham Crown Court.

These were:

• Making 165 category A indecent photographs of a child
• Making 88 category B indecent photographs of a child
• Making 592 category C indecent photographs of a child
• Possessing three prohibited images of a child

The offences were all committed between 1 December 2019 and 13 January 2023.

Frogson, who was nominated for a Children's Bafta for his starring role in CBBC series Joe All Alone in 2018, was given an eight-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years.

He was also placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years, ordered to attend a sex offender rehabilitation programme, and 15 other rehabilitation sessions.

Nottinghamshire Live, which attended the sentencing hearing, reported that Frogson was living in Nuthall in Nottinghamshire when an IP address there was suspected of downloading child abuse images in early 2023.

Police then seized two devices and found the images when they were examined.

Frogson's most recent address was given to the court as Malthouse Close in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire.

His other acting work includes a role in 2023's The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, which also starred Jim Broadbent and Penelope Wilton.

Description

A Pembrokeshire social worker trawled pornographic websites, arranging to have sex with a 13-year-old girl in a hotel room and saying he would bring underwear, alcopop and lubricant.

Richard Dale Ford, 51, now of Princess Way Road, Hackney, has been sentenced to five years in prison for a string of sexual offences.

The court heard that Ford, who had worked as an adults social worker had changed his name by deed poll.

Social Care Wales confirmed to the Western Telegraph that he was known to them as Dale Richard Barker and is currently subject to an interim suspension order.

On his arrest, Ford was found to be in possession of more than 900 indecent images of children, 254 which were of the most serious class A category. Of these he had shared or distributed 19 images.

Ford used two websites to facilitate child sexual abuse. He said that he had a sexual interest in young children and "blossoming girls and young girls that need training up".

Unbeknown to him, he was talking to undercover police officers.

He said that he was looking to groom a girl of nine or 10 and asked how he could arrange "play dates" to meet and have sexual intercourse with young girls.

In conversations with who he thought was the abusive mother of a 13-year-old girl, to whom he sent 19 indecent images, Ford fantasised about sex with her daughter.

He discussed booking a hotel room and carrying out sexual acts with the child while the mother watched and even had a conversation with the teen where he discussed sexual matters.

During this second chat Ford revealed that he had sexually touched a teenage girl.

When he was arrested in September 2022 police seized devices from his home and found 910 indecent images. 254 of these were in the class A category, with 123 of them being class B and 533 class C.

Fords revelations that he had sexually abused a young girl led to a separate police investigation. Officers were able to locate his victim, a teenager, who disclosed three sexual offences that Ford had committed against her.

In all three incidents, Ford had intentionally groped or fondled her over her clothing.

In a victim impact statement, read out in court by her mother, the girl said.

I cant believe you did thisIt has changed my life.

She said that she could not use public transport without feeling anxious and scared, worrying that any man nearby will touch her and that she had lost a lot of trust. She didnt like being on her own in public at night.

Sometimes I cry at night, she said. Sometimes I have panic attacks too. How can someone be so sick in the head that they can do this? You knew I was vulnerable and you used that against me. I cant believe you did this.

In Fords defence, his counsel said that he was remorseful and had sought help, enrolling on a Safer Lives course and seeking professional help. He had pleaded guilty to all offences and had no previous convictions.

Ford was sentenced for arranging the commission of a child sexual offence, attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act, possession of 910 indecent images, distribution of 19 of these images, and for the three sexual offences on the teenage girl.

Judge Her Honour Catherine Richards sentenced him to a total of five years in prison. He will spend half of this in custody and the other half on licence.

He was put on the sex offenders register for life. A further hearing later this week will finalise the terms of a restraining order and a sexual harm prevention order.

A spokesperson for Social Care Wales said: We can confirm that Richard Ford, who was previously known to us as Dale Richard Barker, is currently subject to an interim suspension order, which prohibits him from working in a registered social care role in Wales.

A Pembrokeshire County Council spokesperson added: We are aware that an individual formerly employed by the council has been sentenced for several child sex offences.

These offences were not committed by the individual in the course of their employment with the council, and as with any investigation into child sexual abuse, the local authority cooperated with the criminal investigation, and took all steps to ensure that any children impacted by such offences are identified and supported.