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Description

A 20-year-old man has been given an extended seven-year sentence and deemed a risk to the public after engaging in sexual activity with a child.

Tyrese Smith, of Grove Road, Romford, will serve a four year and eight month sentence in a young offenders’ institution, before he is subject to an extended period on licence of two years and four months.

This sentence follows his guilty pleas to all charges Essex Police secured against him, including three counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child.

He also admitted other charges secured by the Metropolitan Police in relation to sexual communications with a child and possession of indecent images of children.

Officers from the Child Abuse Investigations Team (CAIT), along with support from the Adult Sexual Abuse Investigation Team (ASAIT) and Grays Local Investigations Team had launched enquiries after concerns were raised over reported sexual activity between Smith and a child in the Tilbury area last year.

This also followed reports Smith had breached bail conditions imposed by the Met.
Smith was arrested on November 27 last year.

He was heard to make a significant comment when fleeing the victim’s address just hours before, voicing his fear he would be jailed for his offending.

Smith answered no comment to all questions asked of him in interview, but later admitted all charges at Basildon Crown Court.

Appearing at court for sentence on Wednesday February 28, he was also made the subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and requirements as a Registered Sex Offender, which will monitor his use of electronic devices and prohibit contact with children.

An indefinite restraining order will strictly prohibit further contact with the victim.

Description

A convicted sex offender who lived in a tent in woods got himself in hot water after he repeatedly failed to register his details with the police – because it was too far to walk.

Daniel Waddington was desperate to "remove" himself from society completely and lived "four miles from anywhere else". But he often could not be bothered "to tell the police where he was actually living".

He claimed that the reason that he sometimes did not go to the police station was because it was an hour to walk there and an hour to walk back, Hull Crown Court heard. Waddington, 29, of Lansdowne Road, Bridlington, admitted failing to comply with his notification requirements as a convicted sex offender and breaching a community order.

Michele Stuart-Lofthouse, prosecuting, said that Waddington had been convicted in March 2021 of three offences of making indecent images of children and he had been given a three-year community order, 30 days' rehabilitation and a 90-day sex offender treatment programme.

Waddington had been given a five-year sexual harm prevention order and had been ordered to register as a sex offender for five years. The offences involved him searching for "jailbait teens" and "school girls", as well as "young teen porn".

Waddington was homeless at the time of his conviction, but he had to tell police every seven days where he was living and where he could be found. He failed to do so on February 15 and 22 last year and, after that, his compliance was "sporadic" and he failed to notify his details on March 21 and 28 last year.

Waddington again failed to do so on April 10. He later told police that he understood the requirements but he had been homeless and this made it difficult to attend because he did not have transport and it was a long way for him to walk from where he was living, especially as he had a bad knee at the time.

Waddington admitted that he had received text messages from the police, but he had ignored them. He had breached the community order three times, missing appointments on August 22 and on September 12 and 18. "He has failed to attend since," said Miss Stuart-Lofthouse.

His overall compliance was "poor" and he had shown a lack of motivation, despite attempts by the probation service to be flexible. Waddington had attended only 86 of 140 appointments.

Harry Bradford, mitigating, said that the breaches were accepted by Waddington and they had been like a "Damocles sword" hanging over him. At the time, Waddington was homeless and suffering problems.

"He had removed himself from society as far as he could to get away," said Mr Bradford. "He lived in a wooded area in a tent four miles from anywhere else.

"To walk to the police station was an hour there and an hour back. Essentially, he buried his head in the sand. He was turning down support from professionals and he had removed himself as far as he could from society.

"Inch by inch, he has clawed his way back into society as best he can. He has stable accommodation for the first time in a long time. The person who did those breaches is not the same person who sits at the back of court.

"He had terrible compliance previously. He is trying to get his life back together. He is in a position to be engaging more with the probation service."

Waddington was given a 15-month suspended prison sentence and 15 days' rehabilitation. The sexual harm prevention order and the notification requirements will continue. Judge Tahir Khan KC told Waddington: "You haven't knuckled down and done the work you should have done."

Description

Christopher Kofi Taylor (26/12/1975) of Dorothy Street, Salford on Tuesday 5 March 2024 was sentenced to life imprisonment at Manchester Crown Court for four counts of rape of a female under 16, trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence, and section 47 assault after pleading guilty.

He will serve a minimum of 11 years and four months.

Officers were called to an address in Trafford just after 6am on Monday 23 August 2021, to reports a 15-year-old had been attacked in an isolated incident.

Description

A serial paedophile who was previously found in possession of a bottle of chloroform and roll of tape in his bag breached a court order after he was seen near a children's park. He was caught by a probation officer who had dealt with him on many occasions.

Christian John, 48, was made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) banning him from being within 50 metres of a children's park. He was previously jailed for child sex offences, and was described as a "predator" by a judge.

A sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court on Tuesday heard a senior probation officer was walking near Roath Park recreation fields in Cardiff last year. As she was walking along Ninian Road, the officer became aware of two men shouting and recognised a man sitting on a bench as the defendant.

Prosecutor Megan Jones said the officer had dealings with John, also known as John Davies, over many years and was aware of the SHPO he was subject to. She also saw the defendant was drinking alcohol, which had been a factor in his previous offences. She reported the matter to the police and John was arrested.

The defendant, of Mackintosh Place, Roath, later pleaded guilty to breach of a SHPO. The court heard he has 31 previous convictions for 47 offences, including 13 previous breaches of sexual offence orders.

• February 1996
  John is given a three-year probation order for indecently assaulting a boy.
• July 1996
  He breaches that order and is sent to a young offender institution for 18 months.
• February 1998
  The defendant is jailed for 21 months for grabbing a child, pulling him towards a wooded area and telling him: I want to shag you.
• April 2004
  John is jailed for 30 months for breaching a sexual offender order after being caught with a bottle of chloroform, syringe, roll of sticky tape, 10in knife, and camera in his bag.
• October 2006
  He is given a 12-month community order for breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) by going within 15m of a school.
• September 2007
  The defendant is jailed for 12 months for breaching the SHPO four times by being in a play area and having alcohol.
• May 2008
  John is jailed for three months for another breach and possessing an offensive weapon.
• August 2008
  He is given a community order for breaching a restraining order.
• October 2008
  The defendant is jailed for 22 months for a further breach, this time being drunk and watching children in a park.
• January 2011
  John approaches a young child and whispers in his ear in a public place. He is caught with a knife and a camera.
• May 2011
  He is jailed for 75 days for four counts of making indecent images of children.
• March 2012
  He is jailed for two years for sexual assault after grabbing a boys wrist and trying to kiss him.
• September 2015
  He is jailed for two years for approaching an eight-year-old boy in the Mill Road park in Ely and saying: You come with me now.
  Judge Eleri Rees imposes a new order preventing him from going within 50m of any public recreational area in Cardiff as defined by a list of more than 300 areas.
• July 2017
  He is jailed for six months for breaching the SHPO in Roath Park.
• February 2018
  The order is amended to allow him nearer specific parks to help the Probation Service to find him accommodation.
• June 2018
  He is jailed for two years for loitering in Roath Park on a bike.
• August 2019
  John is sentenced to 16 months imprisonment after loitering at park in Tonyrefail, where children were playing rugby sevens

Description

A man from Crewe has been jailed after he admitted engaging in sexual activity with children.

Andrew Cork appeared at Chester Crown Court on Friday 1 March where he was sentenced to 11-years in prison.

The 53-year-old, of Verdin Court, Leighton, had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of engaging in sexual communications with a child, two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity (no penetration) and one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

He also admitted one count of possession of indecent images of children and three counts of making indecent images of children.

The case against Cork began in May 2022 when officers from Norfolk Police contacted Cheshire Police to report that a man had been engaging in sexual communications with a 9-year-old child in Norfolk.

The man had been using a mobile telephone number which placed him in the Crewe area.

The investigation was undertaken by the Online Child Abuse Investigation Team (OCAIT) at Cheshire Police and following further enquiries officers identified Cork as the suspect.

A warrant was conducted at his home on Thursday 14 July and Cork was arrested. Several electronic devices were also seized, including a laptop and two mobile phones.

During questioning Cork admitted that he had been engaging in sexually explicit communications with the child in Norfolk, he also told officers that there were indecent images of children on his devices although he denied being sexually attracted to children.

Cork was subsequently released on bail while further enquiries were undertaken, including analysis of all his electronic devices.

During the analyses officers discovered over 300 indecent images of children and more than 60 sexually explicit videos of children. Officers also discovered that he had also been engaging in sexual communications with an 11-year-old child in Birmingham.

Cork was later charged in relation to all the offences.

Description

Mark Richard Phillips of Forton Road was sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court on Friday 1 March.

The court heard that Phillips, who was subject to a SHPO, was arrested in August 2023 after concerns were raised about unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16 at his business premises on Forton Road, the Nurd Shop.

He suggested that as the door to the premises was open it was a public space, but the court saw his actions that had been reported to police were clearly a serious breach of his SHPO.

Offender Manager Mathew Lawn who investigated the case said: ”Thankfully no children were harmed by Phillips’ actions, however it was clear that by organising events for young children in his business premises which was clearly a breach of his SHPO, that he had no intention of following the conditions of the order.

“Police were alerted by concerned parents after their children reported suspicious comments and behaviours from Phillips when he was the only adult present.

“I’m pleased that the court has taken this breach so seriously. It brings reassurance for the local community and sends a clear message that anyone found to breaching the conditions of an order they are subject to will face a significant custodial sentence”.

Description

A "predatory sex offender" who raped and abused young girls has been jailed for 28 years.

Ian Neasham, 65, from Londonderry, North Yorkshire, conducted an "appalling catalogue of abuse" against three victims over an 11-year period.

He was convicted of 24 offences, including nine counts of rape, at Teesside Crown Court.

On Monday, he was told he must serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before being considered for parole.

Neasham's offences, which began in the 1990s, came to light in November 2020 when one of his victims confided in someone they trusted, which resulted in his arrest.

North Yorkshire Police said this resulted in two further victims coming forward.

Neasham's youngest victim was 10 at the time the abuse began.

Victim interviews, disclosures made to counsellors and searches of Neasham's home and digital devices enabled the force to bring 25 charges against him.

Neasham denied all the offences and was cleared of one count of indecent assault, but convicted of nine counts of rape, seven of indecent assault and two counts of sexual activity with a child.

He was also convicted of two counts of taking indecent photographs of a child, three counts of possession of indecent photographs of a child and one count of possessing an extreme pornographic image.

In impact statements given during sentencing, his victims recalled how Neasham's behaviour had affected them.

One said Neasham "took advantage" of the trust she had for him and had meant her childhood was filled with "abuse and anger".

The victim recalled how she needed to tell someone what was happening but feared he would follow through with his threats to kill her if she did.

"I lost my innocence because of what he did to me," she said.

Another victim said her behaviour at home and school was affected by the ordeal.

"I felt angry, frustrated, and upset, like no-one cared and no-one could see why or what was happening to me," she said.

"I felt alone through it all, and I couldn't talk to anyone about it because of the threats he had made.

"He took my innocence and ruined my childhood. I felt petrified whenever I was around him."

A third victim described feeling "dirty and physically sick at times", during the abuse.

"I was terrified of him and what he would say about me or do to me because he was a violent man," she said.

"I was scared he would hurt me or someone else."

Speaking after the sentencing, Det Con Gillian Gowling said: "Neasham is a predatory sex offender who was responsible for an appalling catalogue of abuse against vulnerable victims who he believed he could control, intimidate, and silence from speaking out about his despicable crimes."

She praised the victims' bravery and determination and said they had shown "incredible courage and strength".

"They have suffered in silence for many years, but I hope they can finally start to move forward and rebuild their lives knowing that Neasham is now rightfully behind bars where he belongs."

Neasham's prison sentence will be followed by a four-year extended licence and he has been placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Description

A man has been jailed for multiple sex offences committed against women, girls and boys.

Grant Wedlake, 32, of Felton, North Somerset, was found guilty of 12 offences in February, including the rape of a child under the age of 13.

He was also convicted for the possession and distribution of an indecent image and possession of extreme pornographic images.

He was sentenced to 21 years in prison at Bristol Crown Court on Friday.

First reported to Avon and Somerset Police in 2022, the offences, which date back to 2005 and were committed over a 16 year period, include multiple counts of sexual assault of a child under the age of 13, multiple counts of rape of a child under 13 and multiple other counts of rape.

In a statement read out in court, one of Wedlake's victims described feeling "guilty and ashamed" and said his actions had sent their "life off track."

'Road to recovery'

They said: "I hope that one day he will realise the effect he has had and feel bad about it himself, because at the moment I don't think he does."

Another one of his victims said their "main feeling towards him is one of sadness."

"I would like to say this to him: It is sad that you have chosen this path in life - to hurt, to manipulate and to intimidate.

"It's sad but you now have time and opportunity to change things, learn about yourself and to use this time to educate yourself about the effect someone like you has on their victims, family, friends and community."

They said every day was a "step along the road to recovery" and they hope "to be able to start to enjoy my life again."

'Ruined my childhood"

A third victim said they had "lived in secret" with what Wedlake had done to them, that he made them "feel that no one would believe" them and he had "not only ruined" their childhood but their "entire life".

"I will never forgive Grant for what he did to me," they added.

Investigating officer Ellen Rye, from Avon and Somerset Police, said: "Wedlake is a dangerous and manipulative man and I would like to take the opportunity again to praise the victims in this case for coming forward."

'We will listen'

"I know that his offending has had a profound impact on each of them and I hope that they can move forward, re-build their lives and finally take the opportunity to focus on themselves.

She urged anyone who is a recent or non-recent victim of sexual assault or rape to get in touch with the force.

"We will listen," she added.

Description

A youth justice worker engaged in a sexual relationship with a teenager she was overseeing while he was going through proceedings for, "very serious offending", a court was told.

Jade Newbould today (Tuesday, March 5) received a 12-month prison sentence at Newcastle Crown Court for what a judge described as the highly "inappropriate and unprofessional" conduct, in breach of the trust placed in those performing her role.

The now 29-year-old woman, of previous good character, admitted five counts of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust, at a plea hearing in December.

She returned to the court for sentencing hearing today, following preparation of a background report by the Probation Service, and backed by character testimonials presented for the hearing.

Emma Dowling, prosecuting, said at the time of her offending, Newbould was a youth justice worker employed by an outside agency and working, on a one-to-one basis, with young people charged with criminal offences.

Miss Dowling said the defendant embarked in a sexual relationship with a male teenager who was on bail ahead of trial at the crown court for, very serious offending.

Her offending took place during 25-hours-a-week activity with the child, permitted under the auspices of his bail conditions.

Despite her efforts to keep their relationship covert, the nature of it came to the attention of others who reported their suspicions to police, which led to Newboulds arrest.

When the allegation was put to her, she made no reply other than to deny the inappropriate relationship.

She was bailed and further interviewed several months later, but still made no comment, and Miss Dowling said the youth involved declined to assist the police inquiry or make any complaint.

But analysis of items recovered from her home and particularly of her phone messaging, plus chat logs to prison after the youth was sentenced, enabled the police to bring the charges.

Miss Dowling said although those working in the position of the defendant were told in no uncertain terms only to communicate with the youths they were dealing with on their work phone, the defendant used her own phone to exchange more than 17,000 messages with the teenager over a two-month period.

The prosecutor said among them, there were, clearly numerous conversations of a sexual nature.

She told the court: Its the prosecutions case that she knew she could not initiate sexual relations with him, but she said it appears the defendant, encouraged him to make the advances to her.

Miss Dowling said Newboulds messaging progressed from being flirtatious to discussing sexual touching.

After they engaged in kissing the young person told her they should, keep it between themselves.

In response Newbould told him: You dont need to tell me that, Im risking more than you.

But she told him they were a perfect match and they discussed having oral sex, some of which was said to have taken place during visits to the cinema where she would take him after his court hearing finished for the day.

Miss Dowling said the defendant discussed with her young client that he could go to her house for sexual activity and mentioned contraception methods they should use.

She would pick him up and take him there, where the defendant referred to them, being at it like rabbits.

Newbould even told the youth she loved him and had his first name tattooed on her stomach.

Following one encounter she told him it was the best job she had ever had as she, got to have sex with a young person.

Miss Dowling said following the young offender's imprisonment after his conviction, Newbould would visit him in custody and transfer money to his prison account, even though her professional dealings with him should, by then, have effectively stopped.

She left her employment a month after the youths imprisonment, aware inquiries were by then taking place into her activities with him.

Miss Dowling added: The prosecution submits there was a significant degree of planning and grooming behaviour, thousands of messages, flirting and gaining his trust, even before any sexual activity took place.

Brian Hegarty, for Newbould, told the court: Can I acknowledge from her how wrong her actions were and she clearly accepts that.

She looks back on her actions with shame and embarrassment and she has distanced herself from this relationship and conceded what it was.

Shes now in a position where she has lost a lot as a consequence of her offending.

Shes lost a career she was in and lost her good name.

Describing her as, a useful and productive member of society, Mr Hegarty said Newbould has had the prospect of custody hanging over her since she was first arrested and interviewed.

Mr Hegarty said the defendant suffered some upheaval in her life in her teenage years and was at an emotional low ebb at the time she first encountered the young person involved in these events.

She was in a depressed state through her life experience and was vulnerable to the flattery of the young person involved.

There was an abundance of messages, thats abundantly clear, and its correct to say there should have been no personal contact between the young person using the private mobile phone of the defendant.

Mr Hegarty said there was no evidence of her, hatching a plan or engineering a situation where she could prey on the young person concerned.

He said the young offender involved, played an active role between the parties.

Mr Hegarty said there was no evidence of that young person coming across as, emotionally immature.

But Mr Hegarty said since the offences were committed the defendant has, moved on considerably and has found herself in new line of work where she has progressed well and is highly thought of by those employing her.

Judge Tim Gittins told Newbould, of Orchard Way, Bedlington, that it was natural she should foster a working relationship with her young client.

But he said, that should remain professional, distant and objective, knowing, "the significant emotional and psychological pressure" the young person she was dealing with would have been feeling, approaching trial for a serious matter.

Its clear that relatively quickly you began to use your own mobile device rather than your work mobile.

The large number of messages, more than 17,000, demonstrate the extent of that unprofessional and inappropriate contact, regularly highly sexual in content and its clear you engaged in planning sexual activity, which occurred.

All the information demonstrates a determination to prolong and persist in the inappropriate relationship.

A moment's rational thought in your professional life should have told you it was wholly inappropriate given the age of the victim, the disparity in ages and the nature of your professional contact with him.

Despite accepting the probation report opinion that she represents a low-risk of future similar offending, Judge Gittins said people with a responsibility for children and young people should realise only an immediate term of custody can be justified given the nature of the offending.

Imposing the 12-month prison sentence, he also made Newbould the subject of registration as a sex offender for ten years.

She will also be barred for life from working with young or vulnerable people.

Description

A pervert will spend the next two years in prison following a Teesside sex attack.

George Reeves, 26, appeared at Bradford Crown Court on Friday to be sentenced following an assault on a woman in Stockton. The Whitby man pleaded not guilty to "assault by penetration" but was convicted following a trial.

The charge states the woman - who cannot be named for legal reasons - "did not consent and the defendant did not reasonably believe that she was consenting." Reeves, of Rosedale Close, listened on videolink from Durham Prison as the case was outlined by prosecutor Ian West.

He appeared to be sobbing as the offence details were heard in court and was handed a two-year prison sentence. The defendant was also made subject of sex offender notification requirements for ten years and ordered to pay a victim surcharge.

Description

THE face of a young man jailed for jailed for assaulting a 14-year-old vulnerable girl with the mental capacity of an 11-year-old has been revealed in an official police photograph.

Benjamin Brookes, of Brunswick Place in Banbury, was found guilty of three counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity after a week-long trial at Oxford Crown Court.

The 26-year-old was found not guilty of one count of sexual activity with a child.

He was jailed for three and a half years at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday, February 29.

Description

A MAN from North Yorkshire who was found guilty of rape and sexual assault against a young girl has been jailed for 16 years.

Harrogate man Carl Darren Briggs, 43, was also given two-year extended period on licence and he has been placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register.

North Yorkshire Police say Briggs’ crimes were reported to them in June 2021 after the victim confided in family members and he was arrested shortly after.

He was the subject of an extensive investigation by North Yorkshire Police, with evidence presented to York Crown Court during a three-day trial.

The jury heard how the victim only realised that Briggs’ actions were wrong after learning about the human body in school.

Prior to the court case, the brave victim said in her victim personal statement: “I no longer feel good about myself, do not like the way I look, or feel nice in anything I wear. I feel different, cannot explain to my friends why I do not want to be around them, or why I cry without anything being said to me.

“I just want to feel happy about myself, and my family to be happy, but it will not be because everything has changed. I have changed since this terrible ordeal, and I feel that I will never be the same person again.”

In her own statement, the victim’s mother describes how she cannot sleep at night, how she lies awake going over and over in her mind about what happened and how she feels like she “missed everything”.

She said: “This is a living nightmare that I will deal with for the rest of my life.”

Led by North Yorkshire Police’s Criminal Investigation Department, evidence was gathered from victim interviews and statements, disclosures made to counsellors, and examination of digital devices.

This work culminated in three charges being brought against Briggs: Two counts of rape of a child under 13 years Sexual assault on a child under 13 years by touching He denied all charges but was found guilty of these offences by a jury and sentenced on Friday (March 1).

Description

A CONVICTED sex offender has been jailed for breaching the requirements of the sex offender’s register.

Christopher Boardwell was placed on the register in 2015 following convictions of sexual offences involving a child.

Chris Hopkins, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday (February 29) how a requirement of the registration was to notify the police of any changes including financially.

Boardwell, of Hollybank Caravan Park, Rixton, breached this by opening a new bank account with Monzo in which his monthly wage was paid into and not registering this new account with the police.

This meant the police were not able to carry out financial checks or monitor his accounts if they needed to.

“The defendant was arrested and made no communication in the interview,” Mr Hopkins said.

Boardwell was brought before the courts in 2015 after being convicted of trying to convince a female under the age of 13 to engage in penetrative activity, the court heard.

The offence took place in 2012 and involved the defendant communicating with a girl as young as 12 on an online chat room and attempting to encourage them to carry out sexual acts.

He was handed a sentence of 18-months suspended for two years.

Mr Hopkins explained how in 2017 the defendant was sentenced to a further stay in prison after breaching the order.

And in November 2020, Boardwell also breached the requirements of registration by failing to inform police of his new address and was sentenced to another 14-month custodial term.

Defending, Gareth Roberts said: “He is 42 years of age. He has pleaded to this offence in lower court on January 25 on his first appearance.

“He knows and realises offences like this are also serious. When he was in prison for his last breach, his bank account was closed down. He opened the account after and said he did inform the police of the account and the police said ‘leave it with us’.

“He accepts he should have followed process and gone down to the station to properly register it.

“He wants to start again and rebuild his life.”

Concluding the sentencing, honour judge David Porter served the defendant an immediate sentence of eight-months.

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.