Latest Offenders

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'Dangerous' pervert Ian Robinson has been jailed after arranging to meet a '13-year-old girl' for sex.

The 60-year-old, a registered sex offender, was caught 'talking sexually' to a child's profile online.

Cheshire Police say that Robinson, of Congleton Road, Sandbach believed the person he was talking to was a 13-year-old girl.

The force says Robinson, who detectives have branded 'a dangerous offender', was arranging to meet for 'sexual intercourse'.

Now the defendant has been jailed for eight years.

On October 5, North West Regional Organised Crime Unit supported detectives from Cheshire Police's Online Child Abuse Investigations Team with their investigation into Robinson - who had travelled from his home into Liverpool where he thought he would be meeting his intended victim.

However the pervert was arrested on Edge Lane and taken into custody. Robinson, who has previously been convicted and jailed for a similar offence, was charged and remanded the following day.

He went on to plead guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to meet a girl under 16-years of age and attempting to arrange the commission of a child sex offence.

On November 4 he was handed the eight year jail term.

Detective Sergeant Mark Fletcher, of Cheshire Police, said: "Ian Robinson is a dangerous offender and has shown he will go to great lengths to offend against children.

The work of Cheshires police officers and the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit has put Robinson behind bars for some time with the associated protection it offers to the public.

This should be a lesson to anyone who is minded to offend in this way. You will be caught and sent to prison.

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A sex offender has been jailed for two and a half years for breaching the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Andrew Haire was handed the 10 year SHPO on 26 November 2020, as part of a sentence for making indecent images of children whilst living on the Isle of Wight, for which he also received a 20 month jail term.

The 42-year-old, of Stakes Road in Waterlooville, was subject to a number of prohibitions under the SHPO, including using any device that can access the internet unless he notifies a police officer from his local public protection unit that he possesses the item first.

The conditions also made clear that any device possessed by Haire must have the capacity to retain and display the internet history, or has been approved by police if the device was unable to retain the history.

After he was released from prison, Haire had to wear an electronic tag which was monitored and indicated he had been visiting libraries in Hampshire.

Police enquiries established that, on a number of occasions between 31 August and 12 October, Haire had been using a library card to access the internet.

Officers attended Haire’s address on 12 October where he was arrested, and officers searching his room located a library card in his name, along with writings detailing his fantasies of abusing children.

In interview, Haire revealed he had accessed computers at public libraries in Portsmouth, Havant and Waterlooville with the sole aim of accessing indecent images of children.

He was subsequently charged with breaching his SHPO, and he admitted the offence when he appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on 13 October this year.

Appearing at Portsmouth Crown Court today (Friday 12 November), Haire was jailed for 30 months.

PC Pamela Fisher, from the Eastern Offender Management Team, said: “Andrew Haire is a particularly dangerous individual who has clearly shown no sign of willingness to comply with the conditions imposed on him by the courts.

“Sexual Harm Prevention Orders are put in place to protect the public, and ensure that individuals do not re-offend. Where they choose to disregard them, they are rightly punished and I am pleased that Haire is now back behind bars.

“Haire admitted what he had been doing, and this was further evidenced by our enquiries and what was recovered from his bedroom.

“Despite his admissions to police, he had nonetheless attempted to access computers away from his address in public libraries, and we would urge anyone who uses this kind of facility and notices anyone behaving in a suspicious manner to report this to police.

“We invest significant resources into the protection of the public and the management of sex offenders, and it’s a duty we take very seriously.

“Officers will often make unannounced visits to offenders where they are subject to an intrusive investigative interview process. This helps us understand an offender’s routine, interests and behaviours so we can closely monitor them and keep the public safe.”

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Taylor Rowland, of Cramlington, branded himself a 'monstrous person' and 'despicable' after admitting carrying out the repeated sex attacks

A monstrous rapist who carried out repeated sex attacks and suggested ways for his victim to kill herself has been jailed for more than 17 years.

Taylor Rowland subjected his victim to a campaign of rape and used violence in some of the offences.

Newcastle Crown Court heard she said she thought he deliberately hurt her and believed he "enjoyed making me suffer".

We reported previously how Rowland, 28, of Cateran Way, Cramlington, Northumberland, had admitted eight counts of rape.

He has now been locked up for 17 years and eight months and made subject to an indefinite restraining order and indefinite sex offender registration by Judge Stephen Earl.

When arrested and quizzed about his offending, Rowland made full admissions and described himself as a "monstrous person" and said his behaviour had been "despicable".

The victim said some of the rapes were violent, including holding her down and punching her.

Alec Burns, prosecuting, said: "This is a campaign of rape. She said he was enjoying making her suffer."

Mr Burns added: "He suggested ways to kill herself - jumping from the Tyne Bridge and telling her to make sure she did it over the road."

When interviewed by police, he said he was "deeply ashamed" of what he had done and admitted incidents which the victim had not mentioned.

Mr Burns said: "He described himself as a monstrous person, having hurt her no end and her not deserving it.

"Looking back he said he realised how despicable he had been, that he had been monstrous and she deserved none of it."

The victim read an impact statement in court outlining the effect the offending has had and saying she didn't think she would ever "truly heal".

Gavin Doig, defending, said: "He fully accepts how monstrously he behaved towards her.

"The defendant showed unusual candour with the police. It's most unusual for a defendant to make such a clean breast of his offending.

"He suffers from a personality disorder and has done since mid adolescence. He has a narcissistic personality disorder and puts his needs ahead of everything else.

"He has come to court prepared for a lengthy period of custody having bravely admitted his responsibility and fronted up about his behaviour.

"He has grown up now and has to pay the price for his behaviour in the past and is ready to do that."

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A paedophile who called himself 'Papa Bear' on the app he used to distribute child rape images was found with kids' underwear in his home.

Anthony Contento, from Birkdale, admitted to distributing the worst kind of child abuse images of children as young as four across the Randochat app earlier this year.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that despite avoiding jail for similar offences in 2019, and being offered support to improve his behaviour, he went on to offend again.

Police raided his house on Welbeck Road in September this year and found children's underwear and more than 130 disturbing pictures and videos on his phone.

They also discovered Contento had been using the RandoChat app to distribute images of child rape.

The court heard the 54-year-old was using the name 'Papa Bear' and conversing with another account, sending a range of child abuse images including the most serious Category A images.

Prosecuting, Mark Stephenson said that Contento denied to police that anything incriminating would be found at his house after officers forced the door in.

Mr Stephenson said: "He said he did not think anything would be found and said that he had learned his lesson previously.

"Some items of children's underwear were recovered in the house as well but the charges are really built on the contents of the phone."

Mr Stephenson said police found a range of indecent pictures and videos, ranging from Category C to the most serious Category A, and that they involved "some very young children, four to six years old".

It was while searching his phone that officers also found Contento was using the RandoChat app to distribute images of child rape.

Despite the evidence against him, Mr Stephenson said Contento continued to deny that he had a sexual interest in children.

To that assertion, Judge Stuart Driver, QC, replied: "The defendant says in the pre-sentencing report that he has no sexual interest in children.

"I do not know if he actually believes that but no one else does."

Kate Morley, defending, said it was "extremely disappointing and alarming" that Contento had not followed a programme aimed at deterring reoffending after his 2019 conviction, which saw him handed a suspended sentence.

Ms Morley said: "He was given an opportunity on the last occasion.

"Had he completed the Horizon programme perhaps he would not be here today."

She said the only substantial mitigation for Contento was that he had pleaded guilty to the crime early but that he realised a jail term was likely to be the only outcome of today's hearing.

Contento was sentenced for ten counts, including possession of 135 images of child abuse.

Judge Driver said Contento was in denial about his sexual interest in young children and had reoffended shortly after a previous sexual harm prevention order placed upon him had lapsed.

He said: "Within a few months of the order coming to an end you committed these offences.

"It shows you to be a determined and persistent offender who enjoys making, watching and distributing images of young children being raped."

Contento was sentenced to three years in prison for the charge of distributing the Category A child abuse images.

He was sentenced to two years for making and possessing Category A, B and C child abuse images and distributing Category B and C images.

He was sentenced to 18 months for possession of extreme pornography and breach of a separate sexual harm prevention order.

He will serve his sentences concurrently, meaning he will be eligible for release on licence after 18 months.

He was also made the subject of another sexual harm prevention order which can only be lifted if a judge orders it.

Contento must also pay a statutory surcharge.

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A child rapist who sexually abused three girls over the course of more than a decade has had his sentence increased on appeal.

Christopher Appleby was convicted at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court of despicable crimes involving three victims.

The 56-year-old was found guilty of the offences some of which date back to the 1990s following a six day trial, and jailed for 15 years at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Now he will be locked up for longer after his sentence was referred by the Solicitor General, Alex Chalk QC MP.

The Court of Appeal found his original sentence to be 'unduly lenient' and increased it to 21 years imprisonment followed by five years on licence.

Speaking after the hearing, Mr Chalk said: "It is never too late for justice to be served and Applebys actions were despicable.

"I am glad the Court of Appeal saw fit to increase his sentence today and I hope it brings some comfort to the brave victims."

Appleby of Leveson Road, Hanford, had been found guilty of four charges of rape, two charges of sexual assault, two charges of indecent assault, two charges of indecency with a child and attempting to cause a person to engage in sexual activity without consent.

During the original sentencing hearing, a statement from that victim was read out.

She said: I hope he remains behind bars forever. I long to forget about this part of my life forever and live safely with my partner and children without the thought of this man being on the loose anymore.

In a statement from another of Applebys victims, she said the thought of being in the same room as him makes her skin crawl.

She said: All I can really say is this has finally brought some closure.

You took away the last of my childhood and severed a friendship.

It upsets me that it didnt end with me, of course you thought you could do it again.

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A convicted sex offender who travelled more than 150 miles to prey on a young girl in West Sussex has now been given a long sentence.

Gary Fenn, 50, of Saxon Road, Saxmundham, Suffolk, appeared in custody at Hove Crown Court on Friday 5 November and was given a nine-year extended sentence, comprising five years imprisonment and four extended period on prison release licence.

He had been convicted of sexual assaulting the girl, who was under 13, and of two breaches of Sex Offender Registration Notification requirements.

He will also continue to be a registered sex offender for life and was given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) to last indefinitely, severely restricting his access to children and digital communication devices.

Detective Constable Emily Turner of the West Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit said; "In June this year Fenn, already registered sex offender, previously been convicted of offences involving indecent images of children, used a dating website to get to know a woman and travelled to Southwick in Sussex to meet her.

"He used this opportunity to meet and sexually touch her young daughter. However the girl quickly escaped the situation and informed her mother who then contacted the police.

"We swiftly investigated and arrested Fenn who was then charged on the authority of the CPS. He has been in custody ever since his arrest."

In sentencing him, Judge Shani Barnes said: "We cannot underestimate the damage caused to the family by Fenn taking this opportunity to offend."

Emily Turner added: "The bravery of this young lady in standing up against what she knew to be wrong and by supporting this prosecution has undoubtedly kept other children safe from this predatory paedophile who has previous convictions for sexual offending."

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Ian Malcolm Cookson invited a former friend out for social drinks.

The two then returned to the woman’s home in Eastleigh where Cookson attacked her, pinned her down and raped her.

The 55-year-old of Powell Crescent, Totton, even bit her leaving her bruised.

Prosecution barrister, Mary Aspinall-Miles read a summary of the woman’s victim personal statement which said: “She has felt totally broken. She has become depressed and attempted suicide three times.”

The statement went on to say how Cookson’s victim had been left feeling completely worthless and become frightened of living in her house.

Ms Aspinall-Miles said: “She had a previous problem with drink but since this incident, it has become out of control.”

She had “effectively self-medicated with alcohol”.

Furthermore: “Last year she ended up in hospital with an overdose.

“The aggravating features, in any event, are the place of the offence. It was in her own home and there was a high degree of force.

“This victim was essentially vulnerable, and he knew it,” Ms Aspinall-Miles added.

Appearing at Southampton Crown Court, Cookson stood to be sentenced for rape, assault by penetration and sexual assault.

He was found guilty of all three offences following a trial earlier in the year at the same court.

In mitigation, Gemma White, argued that Cookson was effectively of good character.

She said that he had led a family life, worked, and was a productive member of society.

Ms White added that his victim did not present as a vulnerable woman and that Cookson demonstrated vulnerabilities of his own.

She said that the passing of his mother had had a “significant impact on him but also his wider family who are going to have to deal with that loss without the support of Mr Cookson”.

Judge Gary Burrell QC deemed the offences which happened on August 1 in 2019, as serious and that they were aggravated by the fact that the defendant had been drinking alcohol.

He was jailed for a total of five-years.

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A police officer targeted crime victims with sex texts and naked selfies after investigating cases.

David Taylor bombarded two women who reported domestic abuse and a female who'd been sexually assaulted with filth.

The 37-year-old also boasted how he wanted to use his handcuffs on one of the women and act out a scene from Fifty Shades of Grey.

The Police Constable made contact with his first victim just an hour after he had dealt with her complaint.

He started inundating her with indecent messages, pictures and videos.

Taylor told the sex attack victim how he wanted to arrest her, cuff her to a bed and have sex with her.

And he sent naked photos and videos of himself in the shower to a woman whose ex had threatened to kidnap her daughter.

Now he has now been placed on the Sex Offenders' Register and warned he could be jailed over the breach of trust after a police probe into his conduct.

The details emerged yesterday when Taylor appeared in the dock at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court.

He pled guilty to four of the 13 charges he faced at the pre-trial hearing, admitting targeting three vulnerable women between 2011 and 2018.

Taylor admitted sending indecent images to a sex assault victim and then stalking her, communicating indecently with a domestic abuse victim, and sending indecent images to another domestic abuse survivor.

Prosecutor Peter Moyes said Taylor's first victim, who was 39 at the time in 2011, contacted police due to an issue between her and her ex husband.

Taylor advised her that it was a civil matter and gave her advice.

But just an hour later he began texting her, sending her "flirty" and "sexually explicit" messages.

The court heard she replied in a "non-flirty" way as she does not like confrontation.

The woman stopped replying and deleted his number from her phone.

But the messages came to light in 2019 as part of a probe into Taylor's crimes.

Taylor targeted his second victim after she was sexually assaulted in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, in 2016.

The court heard Taylor was assigned as the Reporting Officer in the case of the young woman, who was just 20.

In 2017, he contacted her through Snapchat and identified himself to her as "PC David Taylor".

He sent her messages about her court case and told her how he wanted to protect her.

Over the course of three months he sent her topless photos of himself, told her she looked beautiful when he attended her home while working on her case, and sent her sexual messages.

He also sent her messages captioned "wish you were here".

He also viewed her Snapchat story and then messaged her about where she was because her location was displayed, causing her to turn off the setting on her account.

Mr Moyes added: "He referred to arresting her, cuffing her to the bed and having sex with her.

"He would also refer to Fifty Shades of Grey. He sent her naked pictures of him.

"She deleted him. She felt it was disgusting and that she should not be contacted in that way.

"She felt the accused was in a position of authority over her and was scared to block him.

"She never explicitly told the accused to stop contacting her."

His last victim went to Kilmarnock police office to report her ex for threatening to kidnap her daughter.

Taylor began texting her and she suspected it was her ex pretending to be a police officer.

He sent her a picture of his face, then continued to send her messages, calling her "gorgeous".

Taylor also sent her a number of naked pictures and videos of himself in the shower.

The inquiry into Taylor started when the woman was arrested for an offence and her lawyer told prosecutors about the messages.

She was advised to contact police and officers began to investigate Taylor, of Glasgow.

Sheriff Alistair Watson warned Taylor to prepare himself for a jail term as he adjourned the case until next month for background reports to be prepared.

Chief Superintendent Andrew McDowall from Police Scotland's Professional Standards Department said: "The conduct of David Taylor was appalling. He breached the trust of the female victims he engaged with, and the trust of the wider public.

"I thank the victims for bravely reporting his deplorable actions, allowing officers to make an arrest and protect other women from this behaviour.

"We will respond to all reports of sexual crime irrespective of who the offender is. We will carry out detailed and thorough investigations and will be responsive to the needs of each victim.

"David Taylor was immediately suspended from duty once the circumstances came to light and had no further interaction with the public as a police officer.

"Had he remained a serving officer, he would have been reported to the Assistant Chief Constable, Professionalism and Assurance, to progress gross misconduct proceedings, the outcome of which can include dismissal without notice."

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A paedophile molested a "lost" and vulnerable boy who was in care because he had already been sexually abused.

Serial sex offender Alan Healey has multiple convictions involving exposing himself in front of children in public.

The 53-year-old, of Upper Pitt Street in Liverpool city centre, was last jailed after following a boy onto a bus.

But it has now emerged he targeted his first victim - aged just nine - when he was 17 and 18 in the late 1980s.

Judge David Swinnerton said: "You made things worse for him at a time when you had fooled him into thinking you would help him and make things better."

The pervert denied five counts of indecent assault, but was found guilty after a trial at Liverpool Crown Court.

Judge Swinnerton said he attacked the "particularly vulnerable" boy at a children's home in south Liverpool, where Healey was himself living at the time.

The judge said: "You kissed him when you were 17. That kissing happened on a number of occasions. It was kissing when you put your tongue into his mouth, when you encouraged him to do the same to you.

"That took place in your bedroom in the children's home where you were living and he was visiting... He lived in a children's home, a different one down the road...

"You took advantage of him being there to befriend him, to groom him, to give him gifts, to form that relationship with him, and then to sexually assault him."

The judge said the abuse progressed to Healey putting his hand down the boy's trousers and touching his penis over his boxer shorts.

The victim told police he had already been sexually abused by two men before he went into care and was attacked by Healey, and that he was also molested by another man afterwards in a foster home.

Peter Killen, defending, said: "It's right to say his extremely traumatic childhood was not entirely down to Mr Healey, but Mr Healey simply did of course exacerbate the situation."

Judge Swinnerton told Healey: "It is impossible to extract the damage you caused him, physically, mentally, from the damage he has had from other sources, because he had a very difficult and disturbed childhood. As did you, that is why you were both in the care system.

"But at a time when he was a lost nine-year-old boy, looking for comfort and assistance, that enabled you to groom him because under the pretence of offering him friendship, comfort, being an adult person experienced in the care system, who could help him because he was having issues with being bullied and so on, you used that position as a chance to abuse him."

Mr Killen said Healey was himself physically and sexually abused in his childhood.

Judge Swinnerton accepted "no doubt" Healey had also been "damaged" by this.

However, he told Healey: "You perpetuated that, you repeated it against someone else, and you damaged him."

The judge said the abuse had a "devastating" impact, which was outlined in a victim impact statement, read by Lee Bonner, prosecuting.

The now adult man said he was "completely taken in" by Healey because the predator showed him the attention he was lacking in his life at the time.

The victim said he believed the abuse was a "major contributor" to him later turning to illegal drugs, adding: "I was so angry with Mr Healey and the world around me."

The man said he was previously prescribed antidepressants and was again after a "relapse" ahead of the trial, though the verdicts were "a massive weight lifted off my shoulders" because "at last people have believed me".

Healey was convicted of indecent exposure to boys on five occasions in 1996; of gross indecency with a child in 1997; of indecent exposure again in 1999; and then of inciting two boys to engage in sexual activity in 2010.

The court heard at that time he was working as a car park attendant at a sports centre.

He persuaded the two boys to give him their phone numbers, then sent texts inciting them to take part in sexual activity with him, in breach of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

In May 2017 he was jailed for 21 months after following a 14-year-old schoolboy onto a bus and pleasuring himself while asking the child's name.

Mr Killen told the court his client had made "progress" since then, hadn't committed any new offences, and under the care of a psychologist was motivated to change.

He said: "They had been progressing to a particular type of therapy, which it was hoped would help Mr Healey address his own childhood trauma, that being seen as the pathway to reducing risk in this case."

Urging the judge to spare him jail, he said that progress would be halted if he was jailed and added: "The defendant's risk is reducing."

However, Judge Swinnerton said he was concerned by Healey's "remarkable lack of insight", despite work done with him over three decades.

He said when Healey was interviewed about the victim he abused in the 1980s, he told police: "I'm not like that, I wouldn't do that."

Judge Swinnerton said: "The jury heard about some of your previous convictions and I'm afraid you are like that, Mr Healey, in the sense you are a sexual offender against boys.

"It troubles me that you lack insight because you told the jury 'I'm not sexually interested in boys, I do not know why I behave in that way'.

"But you clearly are and were sexually interested in boys."

Judge Swinnerton jailed Healey for four years.

He told him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register and comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life.

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A paedophile who sexually abused a young girl was jailed for 16 years today (December 9).

Omar Hasan, 26, was given an extended sentence of a further five years by Judge Caroline Wigin, which means he could be recalled to prison at any time up until 2042.

He had been convicted by a jury at St Albans Crown Court of oral rape of a girl under 13, attempted rape of a girl under 13, exposure, sexual assault of a child under 13, causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and causing a child to watch a sex act.

Hasan, who had previously lived in Luton and Borehamwood, groomed the girl in Borehamwood when she was aged six or just seven, by giving her chocolates and showing her pornography on his mobile phone.

The abuse happened on four occasions. The last time he was caught by another adult and the police were called.

In a victim personal statement the victim's mother said Hasan had ruined her life. "I felt numb for months afterwards," she said.

"It has been mental torture. I did not sleep for months.”

Judge Wigin told him: “You have been found guilty by a jury, yet it is clear that you continue to deny your offending and show utterly no remorse.

“You targeted this child from the very outset. You showed her pornography on your phone and sought to blame it on others.“

“You targeted this child from the very outset. You showed her pornography on your phone and sought to blame it on others.“

“However, it must be acknowledged that child victims of sexual abuse are never able to forget what happened to them, and it’s something they have no choice but to live with for the rest of their lives.

“Hasan is a dangerous paedophile who manipulated his way into a position from which he could groom the young victim. He has blamed everyone but himself for his actions. Now he is behind bars and will always be subject to restrictions aimed to help safeguard young people.

“We pledge to always investigate every report we receive, pursuing predators and securing justice for victims.”

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A judge has jailed a "manipulative" Derbyshire sex offender for 24 years after he was found guilty of abusing girls.

Cruel Mark Reap bought gifts to try to persuade his victims to keep quiet but his offences came to light when one told her teacher.

Reap, 45, targeted his victims on multiple occasions between 2012 and 2018.

Reap, formerly of Bath Street, Ilkeston, was arrested in January 2019, but he continued to deny the offences, saying that both girls had made up stories.

Reap eventually pleaded guilty to seven separate offences at the start of his trial at Nottingham Crown Court on August 2.

The offences included five counts of rape and two of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

He appeared again at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday, October 8, and was sentenced to 24 years in prison.

Reap was added to the Sex Offender Register for life and has been made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order that will tightly control his behaviour when he is released.

Detective Inspector Craig Hall, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Reap is a manipulative sex offender who repeatedly raped and sexually abused two young girls – causing them considerable physical and emotional pain.

“By failing to take responsibility for his actions and accusing his victims of lying he caused needless additional distress and has rightly been handed a very lengthy custodial sentence.

“Detectives in Nottinghamshire Police’s public protection teams work every day to investigate cases of rape and sexual abuse and it is thanks to their hard work and tenacity that people like Reap are held to account and their victims are offered the support they need.

"Had it not been for their very thorough investigation and attention to detail Reap may very well have evaded justice

“So if you have been the victim of sexual assault we want to hear from you. It doesn’t matter that an offence happened many years ago; what matters is that it happened at all.

“If you make an allegation we will listen carefully to you, we will investigate and we do everything we can to get justice for you.”

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A man has been jailed for a total of 22 years having been found guilty of multiple child sex offences.

Mark Bolton, 55, (5.12.65) of New Malden was sentenced on Friday, 5 November, at Kingston Crown Court, having been convicted on 2 September after a trial at the same court.

He was found guilty of five counts of raping a child, two counts of attempted rape of a child, seven counts of sexual assault of a child, one count of assault by penetration of a child and one count of sexual activity with a child.

In addition he was found guilty of two counts of causing a child to engage in or watch sexual activity and one count each of taking indecent photographs of a child and voyeurism.

Mark Bolton, previously known as Dermot Bolton, committed the offences over a period of nine years against two girls under the age of 13. Bolton was known to the children and their relatives.

Police were alerted to Bolton’s offending after one of the victims spoke to a member of staff at their school. The school contacted the child’s mother, who in turn called police on 1 December 2020.

An urgent police investigation was launched and Bolton was arrested by Met officers the same day.

Detective Constable Katy Waddington who led the investigation by the Met’s South West BCU said: “The details of this case were some of the most distressing I have heard in six years investigating child abuse.

“Mark Bolton sexually abused the children having groomed them and ultimately secure their continued silence. He used covert hidden cameras and his knowledge of IT to further his sexual interest in children all the while positioning himself as a respectable family man.

“I continue to be in awe of victims who come forward to face their abusers, even more so in cases where the abuse was by someone they trusted. There are not enough words to describe the bravery and dignity shown. I hope the children and their relatives will find some peace moving forward, and the lengthy prison sentence will reassure them as they begin to rebuild their lives.”

In addition to a 22-year prison sentence, Bolton was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

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A PAEDOPHILE known as Baby Harry for his tendency to wear nappies, has been jailed.

Harry Simmonds, of Harvey Close, East Cowes, appeared before the Isle of Wight Crown Court today (Tuesday).

At a previous hearing at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court, the 22-year-old admitted two counts of breaching a sexual risk order imposed in December, 2020.

Back in September, Charles Nightingale, prosecuting, told the court Simmonds breached the order by contacting a girl aged under 18 between February 24 and March 1, 2021.

He pleaded guilty to that offence in September, having already started communications with a second girl, who was 16.

The court heard at first, he asked for her boyfriend's contact details, but went on to send her pictures of himself in a nappy, with a sign saying he was a paedophile.

The girl reported it to the police, and after his police interview Simmonds immediately messaged her again under a pseudonym.

One Snapchat message said he was going to rape her.

The court heard Simmonds had previously moved from the Island to Dorset, without informing his offender manager.

His case was sent up to the Isle of Wight Crown Court, with Mr Nightingale stating he was a current and ongoing risk to young people.

Appearing at the Isle of Wight Crown Court today, Simmonds behaviour was described as utterly weird and disturbing by Judge Advocate Robert Hill.

Oscar Vincent, defending, said it was clear from pre-sentence reports that Simmonds was a young man who suffered significant trauma during his formative years.

He said he had been subjected to emotional, physical and sexual abuse, had a dysfunctional upbringing and disrupted education.

Mr Vincent said it came as no surprise Simmonds was unable to manage an indepedent adult lifestyle.

He said Simmonds' actions stemmed from traumatic experiences, and behaviour like wearing nappies afforded a degree of comfort and security for him.

Simmonds, who has a number of previous convictions, and is awaiting sentencing for separate matter of sending obscene messages to a Dorset Echo news reporter, was jailed for 18 months, to spend half out on licence. He has already spent some time in custody, awaiting sentence.

He was also ordered to pay a surcharge of £156, and a notification requirement was attached to his current sexual risk order, which runs until 2025.

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A BASINGSTOKE man who was snared by paedophile hunters after he encouraged teenagers to engage in sexual activity has been jailed for over five years.

Kasey Rolfe, 40, of Holyrood Court, contacted what he believed to be three teenage girls on Facebook Messenger and rapidly moved the conversation towards a sexual manner.

On August 14 this year he messaged a 13-year-old girl from Liverpool and asked her questions, before asking for an indecent image of her. On the same day he also spoke to another girl, 14, from Cardiff.

Speaking at Winchester Crown Court today (Monday), prosecutor Jane Terry said: “He began speaking to her the following day telling her that she is stunning and wished that she was older so he could take her out.”

Rolfe promised the girl that he would take her out when she was 16. He then tried to call her but was instead sent a picture of her posing – he replied with a photograph.

The court was told that Rolfe also messaged another 14-year-old girl from Romford on August 3, he did not receive a response until August 15.

On each occasion Rolfe was not actually talking to a child as the account was being operated by a paedophile hunter or an child online protection group.

On August 18 an arrangement was made for Rolfe to meet up with a woman in Basingstoke for a “sexual encounter” with the adult but was in fact met by some of the teams.

He was detained, both the team and Rolfe called the police, he said he was “being pinned against the wall” and denied having any contact with underage girls. The whole encounter was live-streamed on the internet.

Rolfe previously pleaded guilty to cause a child to watch/look at an image of sexual activity, three counts of attempt to engage in sexual communication with a child, and a further three charges of attempting to cause/incite a girl to engage in sexual activity.

In mitigation, Gemma White said: “He was detained for over an hour in an intimidating and aggressive way by a group of individuals that in my submission were acting outside of the law.”

She added that the fact that it was live-streamed “has had a significant impact not just Mr Rolfe but on other people including his children”.

The court was told that Rolfe has a history of substance misuse but since being in custody has been on a detox.

In sentencing, Mr Recorder D Tait said: “These engagements were clearly sexual and involved various sexual suggestions to people that you thought were under 16 years of age.”

The judge added “there is no doubt you were seeking sexual contact towards girls under the age of 16”.

Rolfe was jailed for five years and four months, he will also be subjected to notification requirements for life.

Description

A paedophile caught with thousands of sick images and videos of child abuse has been locked up.

Former company director Glyn Griffiths, 55, used 22 different online messenger platforms to download the vile material which featured children as young as two months old being abused.

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