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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.

Record details

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.

Record details

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.

Record details

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.

Record details

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.

Record details

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).

Record details

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.

Record details

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.

Record details

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.

Record details

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.

Record details

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.

Record details

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.

Record details

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."

Record details

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.

Record details

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.