Latest Offenders

Description

A MAN has been jailed for 19 years after being found guilty of historic child sex offences.

David Neil Cook, 62, was convicted of two counts of rape, one count of indecent assault and one count of indecency with a child following a trial at Winchester Crown Court. 

 The offences were committed between April 1991 and April 1993 and involved one female child victim.

The victim first disclosed the offences to police in 2019 and Cook was subsequently arrested and charged.

Cook, of Glebe Way, West Knighton, pleaded not guilty in an appearance at Bournemouth Crown Court last year and his case was sent to trial at Winchester Crown Court where he was found guilty of the four charges by a jury last October.

He appeared again at Winchester Crown Court for sentencing this month year where a judge sentenced him to a total of 19 years' imprisonment.

The victim, who has been described as showing 'immense courage', told the Echo that she made the report to police following 'years of anxiety'.

She said: "I was too young to realise what was going on, what he was making me do."

Despite what has been a very difficult time, the victim said she was glad that the case was over and was happy with the sentence given to Cook.

She said she doesn't want other victims of abuse to feel ashamed about what happened to them or to hide behind their abuse for years.

She said: "People shouldn't keep secrets, they should not be ashamed, and they will be believed."

Detective Constable Mandy Lawrence, of Dorset Police’s Child Abuse Investigation Team, said: “The victim showed immense courage in coming forward to report what happened to them to police.

“I am pleased that following our investigation, David Cook is now behind bars for his unacceptable behaviour.

“We will relentlessly tackle child sexual abuse by supporting victims, encouraging reporting and ensuring those who inflict abuse are brought to justice.

“I hope this case encourages others to find the strength to come forward to report any sexual abuse in the knowledge that they will be supported and a thorough investigation will be carried out.” 

Description

A MAN from Cheshire who sexually assaulted a sleeping child and shared indecent images he had taken online has been jailed for four years and four months. Craig Crowther, 31, was identified by National Crime Agency investigators as username craggy2014 who, on numerous occasions, discussed his sexual interest in children with who he believed were other paedophiles online. In May 2020, Crowther, of Tilstone Close, Northwich, told an undercover police officer posing as another user that he likes to get involved with children, and had access to a child who he had sexually abused. Frances Willmott, prosecuting in Chester Crown Court today, April 14, said he even shared indecent images of the child in order to get accepted into an online paedophile group. The court heard how on July 15, 2020, he had conversations with an undercover FBI officer and shared 10 images of children, even encouraging the officer, who he believed was another user, to take pictures of a child and send them to him. Crowther bragged he had taken a sexually explicit photo of a sleeping child who he had sexually assaulted and also admitted to videoing the child but then deleting it immediately, knowing it was wrong. Crowther was arrested in July 2021 where 56 indecent images of children were found on his phone between categories A and C, including some of him sexually assaulting a child. When NCA officers arrested Crowther, he made a number of comments including, my life is over, nobody knows, Ive been expecting you, I know what Ive done and what Ive been on and I got no sexual gratification from it. He was charged with three counts of assault of a child under 13 by touching, three counts of making indecent images of a child (ranging from category A-C), two counts of taking indecent images (category B and C) and two counts of distributing category C indecent images. Crowther pleaded guilty to all the charges on February 11 this year at Chester Magistrates Court. Defending, Brian Treadwell, told the court his client did express remorse for his actions and accepted full responsibility. Crowther was sentenced to four years and four months in prison at Chester Crown Court today, April 14. Once released, he will remain on licence for four years, as well as being subject to a lifetime sexual harm prevention order and placed on the sex offenders register for life. Sentencing, Judge Patrick Thompson said: You made it clear in conversations that you have an unhealthy interest in young children. He added that his explanations for his behaviour in his pre-sentence report were full of denial, one of those being that he only shared images online to catch out other paedophiles - a claim which the judge dismissed. It seems to me that you are not prepared to accept the reality that you are a paedophile, Judge Thompson told him. I am afraid children must be protected from men like you. NCA investigations manager Hazel Stewart said: Craig Crowthers crimes were despicable, and our intervention helped safeguard children. He was prepared to share explicit images of his victim to like-minded individuals online, bragging about his abuse to gain their respect. His actions were callous beyond belief and by his own admission, he knew exactly what he was doing. The NCA works to protect those affected by child sexual abuse and disrupt offenders who pose a sexual threat to children, ensuring they face justice.

Description

A pervert music teacher gave two underage girls drugs and sexually assaulted them in a tent at a Derbyshire music festival. Richard Barlow was also found to have indecent images of children after assaulting the girls at the Rock and Blues Festival at the Coney Grey Showground in Pentrich near Belper.

Nottinghamshire Live reported that one of his victims was left suicidal, depressed and anxious and another constantly relives the experience, Nottingham Crown Court heard. Barlow, 39, ran Instru-Tech Ltd in Mansfield prior to his arrest.

Sentencing him, Recorder Michael Auty QC said: "It seems that they did not take much of the cocaine. It had an immediate impact, particularly on one girl, who was unfamiliar with the drug and how to take it.

It certainly stupefied them for moments. You undressed them both and penetrated the vagina of each of them. I regard what you did as having elements of real wickedness to it."

The judge added that Barlow giving the girls the drug "is indicative of a process you must have given appreciative thought". He also said that the girls were vulnerable by way of their age".

Turning to the two victims, Recorder Auty said: "I hope you are able to make something of the life that lies ahead of you. You are two remarkable young women with bright futures and I wish you all the very best."

The date of the offence was not disclosed but Barlow, formerly of Mansfield but now of no fixed abode, was sentenced to a total of 15 years behind bars for eight offences relating to sexual activity with children and possession of indecent images.

Sarah Phelan, mitigating, said [Barlow] knows he is going to custody for a very long time".

The Rock and Blues festival at which the assaults occurred runs for one weekend a year and is held at the Coney Grey Showground in Pentrich, between Belper and Alfreton. The festival organisers have been approached for comment.

Richard Howe, Detective Constable at Nottinghamshire Police, said: Barlow exploited girls who were less than half his age. As we revealed during our investigation, he knew full well that what he was doing was wrong but carried on with his offending regardless.

His victims, who have shown enormous courage and dignity during this process, must live every day with the memory not only of what Barlow did to them, but also of the crown court trial he forced them to sit through as he attempted to defend the indefensible.

I am pleased that he has finally been exposed for what he is and hope this case also serves as a reminder to other men who think they can get away with abusing children. All it takes is one call to the police for them to be exposed and shamed for what they are.

Description

The dad of a vulnerable young woman with Down's Syndrome and the mental age of a six-year-old walked in on a perverted care worker exposing himself to her on a video call.

Wavertree man Peter Edge, 62, was the then director of a company offering respite care to adults with disabilities - giving parents and carers a much-needed break. The family of *Jane (not her real name), told the ECHO they had total trust in him.

Today, Preston Crown Court heard Edge, of Goswell Street, betrayed them in the most devastating way imaginable, raping and sexually assaulting her at the West Lancashire respite centre at a time when he knew it was empty. The abuse only came to light when her dad, to his horror, saw Edge had exposed his penis over the webcam while Jane was in the family home.

An investigation was launched and Lancashire Police discovered that Edge had sexually abused Jane on the very first day she was allowed out from her home after shielding from coronavirus as a vulnerable person.

The pervert was supposed to be taking her to a park to maintain social distancing boundaries, but knew the fact other staff and service users at the respite centre were there meant it would be empty. Her parents said Jane had to point out what happened to her to specially trained officers, a process which caused her stress and embarrassment.

Judge Heather Lloyd, passing sentence today, described Edge as a remorseless and manipulative offender who posed a significant danger to the public. She said: "It is a blessing that [Jane's dad] saw what you were doing. Had he not, who knows how long you would have gotten away with this criminal behaviour towards his daughter.

"She may have enjoyed the attention you were showing her... but she did not understand the gravity of what you had done to her."

During the hearing, Jane's mum bravely began to read a victim personal statement about the impact of Edge's crimes on the family - but became so emotional she asked prosecutor Richard Haworth to finish reading it out.

She said: "[Her dad] was absolutely devastated when he saw Edge expose his genitals to Jane and in that moment everything changed for Jane and us. She could no longer go to [the respite centre] for overnight stays or meet with her friends, she lost her entire care network and social life, and this was totally devastating and hard for us to explain to her."

The court heard initially the parents had no idea of the full extent of Edge's offending against their "beautiful and amazing" daughter until a detective came round to explain Jane had reported being sexually assaulted. Her mum said: "I felt physically sick. [Her dad] cried and that really upset me because as he never cries, he very rarely shows his emotions. I found it hard to process what Jane had been through and didn't know how to deal with it."

The family have since struggled to find new respite care for Jane, and lost her grandad before he could see justice. Her mum told the court: "I find it hard to digest that the person I trusted with Jane violated her in the sickest way. It's hard to believe anyone could take advantage of Jane, let alone when the perpetrator is someone I'd also thought of as a friend, someone I allowed into my home and more importantly into Jane's life to care for her and protect her whilst she wasn't with me."

Edge accepted two lesser charges, but denied raping Jane and her family were forced to endure a trial - a process which Jane's mum described as a "horrendous ordeal".

Edge claimed he felt "disgusted" with himself after acting inappropriately with her, but denied he had raped her. A jury saw through his lies and convicted him of rape, sexual assault and other offences.

Jane's mum told the court: "On the day Edge gave evidence [Jane's dad] couldn't even be in court as he was too angry and upset and he couldn't listen to what that man had to say. I did sit through his evidence. There are no words to explain how it made me feel.

"I was in complete disbelief and disgusted to hear that he had sexual urges towards my beautiful daughter. It was utterly disgusting to sit a few feet away from him and having to listen. It didn't feel like it was my Jane that was being talked about. I felt like I was watching someone else's trial except, every time Jane's name was mentioned, it hit me hard it was my daughter who was being talked about and it made it real again."

Lloyd Morgan, defending Edge, told the court that a the legal definition of dangerousness, a significant risk of future harm, was not met. He highlighted that the Probation Service classed Edge as a low risk of reoffending, and said the inevitable long prison sentence and restrictions imposed after his release would be enough to protect the public.

Mr Morgan also said the Probation Service believed Edge had displayed remorse and a desire to understand why he committed the offences. However Judge Lloyd said she could not understand how he could show remorse when he still maintained his innocence of the most serious charges.

However Judge Lloyd said she disagreed, meaning Edge would find himself spending a considerably longer time behind bars. She handed down an extended sentence of 15 years in prison, with an additional two years on licence.

The sentence means instead of being automatically released on licence at the half-way stage, Edge must serve a minimum of two thirds - 10 years - behind bars before a Parole Board can consider him for early release.

Speaking after the hearing, Detective Constable Kerry Briggs said: "Peter Edge is an offender who abused his position of trust as a carer to subject his vulnerable victim to abhorrent abuse whilst he should have been providing care.

"I would first and foremost like to commend her for her courage in speaking out and facing her abuser through the court process, and both her and her family for conducting themselves with such dignity throughout this process in the face of repeated lies and attempts by Edge to use this ladys vulnerability to try and conceal what he had done.

"The victim is a happy go-lucky individual and its heart-breaking to think that someone who she trusted took advantage of her in this way. We have worked tirelessly to secure this conviction in very difficult circumstances and I hope that this significant sentence keeps the public safe from his disgusting sick behaviour along with giving others the courage who may have suffered similar abuse to come forward."

Solicitor Kevin Donoghue, who is representing Jane and her family in a civil case against the care company, added: "My clients parents were totally taken in by Peter Edge and his company. They were convinced he had their daughters best interests at heart.

"Edge used the cover of helping her professionally to commit repeated acts of the most serious sexual abuse. He then fought the criminal charges, resulting in a Crown Court trial which compounded my clients distress. Understandably, the victim and her parents are utterly devastated."

Description

A man has been jailed after he was found guilty of a serious sexual offence against a child under five years old

At his trial on 31st January 2022, David Shaw formerly of Winsford but more recently Crewe was found guilty of committing a serious sexual offence against a young person known to him.

At Chester Crown Court he was sentenced to three years and six months imprisonment

A sexual harm prevention order was put in place to prevent him from engaging in a particular activity which includes:

- Having any unsupervised access to any child aged under 16

- Must not live in the same household as a child aged under 16 without written approval from childrens social services

- Conditions not to have any contact with the victim

Description

A double amputee pensioner spared prison for sex chats with who he thought was a 12-year-old girl has been jailed for having a secret phone.

As we reported in 2019, Raymond Straughan invited the "child", who turned out to be a decoy Facebook profile set up by vigilantes, to his home to meet his cats and said he wanted her to move in so they could have sex every night. He was given a suspended sentence for that and a sexual harm prevention order which meant he had to declare any internet enabled devices to police.

On March 11 last year, risk management officers attended 70-year-old Straughan's home and he was asked to provide all devices capable of being used to go online. Matthew Hopkins, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court : "The defendant gave officers a Samsung mobile phone and he confirmed it was his only internet enabled device. Officers became suspicious because the phone appeared to be in factory default state.

"He was asked if he was sure that was his only internet enabled device and he again confirmed it was." Police went back a few days later and noticed a different mobile phone on a coffee table near Straughan. He initially lied that it was his wife's phone and she backed him up at first but then admitted it was his.

While there was no illegal material found on the phone he had failed to declare, in breach of the sexual harm prevention order, there was some "sexualised conversation" with adults. Mr Hopkins said: "He said he couldn't offer an explanation for what he had done."

Straughan, of Barford Court, Harlow Green, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to breaching the sexual harm prevention order and breaching the suspended sentence. Jailing him for eight months, Judge Christopher Prince said: "You were trying to conceal your online behaviour and the pre-sentence report says this clearly raises concerns about your motivations."

The judge said it was "concerning" he had lied about the second phone and added: "This was a quite deliberate breach of the sexual harm prevention order."

Kelly Sharif, defending, said: "He has seen the error of his ways with regard to not notifying the police about the phone. He tells me he is sorry for this. He has since had police out three times to check his devices and there have been no issues."

It was in late 2018 and early 2019 that Straughan made contact with a girl called Lucy on social media and, despite her apparently tender age, quickly turned the conversation sexual. In the first contact, he asked if she was a virgin and if she wished to explore her body before telling her he wanted to make love to her and that it was allowed because she was classed as an adult from the age of 12.

Fortunately, Lucy was a fake profile set up by an online paedophile hunting group called Stop, rather than a real child. When Straughan was told she wanted to be a vet, he suggested she visit his home to see his pets, before saying he would take her swimming and that they could go to a hotel.

He arranged to meet up with her but pulled out two days beforehand. However, vigilantes turned up at his address and he was driven out, with damage being caused to his home and neighbours being told he was a paedophile.

He was sentenced to nine months suspended for two years and told he must sign the sex offenders register for ten years and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the same period.

Description

A MET Police detective has been found guilty of trying to meet a 13-year-old girl for sex when he was "on duty working from home". DC Francois Olwage, 52, travelled 75 miles to meet "Caitlin", who was actually an undercover officer after grooming the person online. Police found two condoms, a bottle of lubricant and a packet of Tadalafil erectile dysfunction tablets in his bag when they arrested him in a McDonalds in Basingstoke, Hampshire. A box of Ferrero Rocher chocolates was also found, thought to be a present for the "girl", and he was about to buy a McFlurry for her. Paedo Olwage had been on-duty and working from home when he made the journey from his home in Stevenage, Herts, in October. The Met Police counter-terrorism officer went to meet the "girl" after revealing sex acts he wanted to perform on her during two weeks of explicit messaging. The undercover officer called the girl Smile Bear on online chat forum Lycos, before they moved onto Whatsapp and called her Caitlin. Olwage, a serving police officer of 19 years, had booked a hotel room for the meeting. Winchester crown court found him guilty of three child sex offences. Met Detective Chief Superintendent Donna Smith said last year his arrest followed a comprehensive investigation by Hertfordshire Police. Olwage told the jury he never believed Smile Bear was a 13-year-old girl and that he thought it was an adult playing out a fantasy. The sex offender also denied any sexual interest in children. He was today found guilty of attempted sexual communication with a child, attempting to cause/incite a girl aged 13 to engage in sexual activity, and attempting to meet a girl under the age of 16 following grooming. He admitted improperly exercising his police powers and privileges to receive the "benefit of sexual gratification" when the trial started. Judge Jane Miller QC ordered the jury to find him not guilty of arranging/facilitating the commission of a child sex offence. He will be remanded in custody and sentenced this month. The Sun approached the Met Police for comment.

Description

Darren Harkins was in fact speaking to an undercover police officer A man didn't realise who he was really speaking to when trying to arrange "genuine family fun" on a sexual fetish forum. He said age was "just a number" to him when arranging to have sex with a child. Darren Harkins, of High Street in Glyn Ceiriog, appeared in the dock at Mold Crown Court on Thursday. He was charged with attempting to incite a girl aged under 13 to engage in penetrative sexual activity. The 48-year-old Denbighshire man thought he was speaking to a depraved mother offering up her own nine-year-old daughter for that abuse. In However, the messages were coming from someone completely different. Prosecutor Simon Rogers said that, in reality, there was no child being put at risk as Harkins had in fact been spotted online by an undercover police officer. She made initial contact with him on the website that catered for those with an interest in BDSM - which the court heard stands for bondage, dominance, submission and sadomasochism. Officers from the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit were tasked online in order to identify those that expressed a sexual interest in children, Mr Rogers said. It wasn't long before they were onto Harkins. The court heard that Harkins had set up his own discussion board online. He said he was "looking for the impossible" and seeking out "genuine family fun". In July 2020, an officer posed as a mum replying to Harkins' post online. He responded and had their chat move onto another social media site because he worried about having the discussion openly online. In the conversations that followed, Harkins took little issue with the woman offering up her primary school-aged daughter for sex. He told the "mum" that age is "just a number" to him. Harkins - who said that he was "turned on by incest" - also sent videos of himself having sex to the woman. He would then ask that these were shown to the child to demonstrate "what he'd do to her". Harkins sent over a dozen videos in the weeks that followed to the undercover officer. They consisted of the 49-year-old performing sex acts upon himself and making reference to the child "wanting to play" with his genitals. In further text messages, Mr Rogers told the court, the pair had started to make arrangements to meet at a hotel one afternoon in Gloucester. He made suggestions that, should the child enjoy the encounter, they could "do this every month or so". Harkins told the officer that he'd "never done anything like this before". He continued to show signs of worry that he'd fallen into "some sort of trap" saying he was "scared" that upon meeting them there would in fact be "big cops there to take [him] down" instead. North Wales Police carried out a warrant in October 2020 at Harkins' Denbighshire home. Here, they found the phone he had been using to chat with the undercover officer hidden behind a desk drawer in his study. Mark Connor, defending, said that Harkins was "deeply ashamed" but "well aware" of the seriousness of the offence. He knew that jail was the judge's "only realistic option" for punishment, said Mr Connor. He added that his client was not driven by a "desire to abuse children" but was a man with a general sex addiction. He said this caused him to "push the boundaries" when seeking "more extreme forms" of sexual activity with consenting adults. Judge Niclas Parry said that, after hearing everything, he was unconvinced that Harkins was not a danger to children. He expressed that "mercifully" no actual child was put in harm's way in this case. Jailing Harkins for three years and four months, Judge Parry said: "You indicated by your depraved conduct that you were prepared to use a child aged only nine for sexual gratification. What makes this a particularly serious matter is that you were prepared to use the child's equally depraved mother to assist." The court ordered that Harkins' online activity be monitored for life. He was banned from having unsupervised contact with any child under the age of 16 without relevant parents and social services being aware of his convictions.

Description

Lewis Fisher, 28, who is from Hartlepool, initially denied the offence to police after they were quickly alerted.

But forensic tests on swabs taken from the girl eventually provided DNA evidence to prosecute him, Teesside Crown Court was told.

Shaun Dodds, prosecuting, read a victim impact statement on her behalf in which she said: I cant trust anyone, I dont feel safe. I feel traumatised and it will be for ever.

She also felt as though her claims were initially disbelieved and that she was being punished for something that was not my fault.

Michele Turner, defending, told the court: He does now have an understanding of the impact of what he has done

There are understandably features which quite rightly left the court concerned about.

He accepts that his family have to serve any sentence with him.

Judge Chris Smith said Fishers victim had a degree of vulnerability because of previous problems and was taken advantage of by him.

Passing sentence, Judge Smith told him: When you were arrested you denied doing the offence but the scientific evidence supported her and you had the good sense to plead guilty.

The impact upon her has been very substantial partly because she went through a period of being disbelieved.

Fisher, who is a carer and is from Kesteven Road, was jailed for five years.

He will also be monitored for life by a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and be a registered sex offender for life after he pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child.

Description

Ryan Davies tried to hide his secret phone's identity so police thought it was a gaming console

A "devious" man went to great lengths to hide dating apps and social media he wasn't supposed to have without police approval. His blatant lies were exposed after a police tip off.

Ryan Davies, of Victoria Road in Wrexham, found himself back before a judge at Mold Crown Court on Thursday afternoon. He had admitted before the Magistrates Court to breaching one of the terms in his sexual harm prevention order.

The 22-year-old was made subject to the order after being convicted in October 2019, having sent videos of himself masturbating to a teenage girl. As part of his punishment, along with a spell of custody, he was banned from having social media accounts without notifying the police.

The court heard from prosecutor Andrew Green that the former teaching assistant was visited by the police on January 17 last year at his home address. There, he denied having any form of social media when quizzed about the subject - which later turned out to be a lie.

In fact, the court heard Davies had secret Instagram and Snapchat accounts. Police were given a tip off about these accounts the following month.

The police went back to Davies' home in Wrexham, armed with this information. He denied any knowledge of the two accounts but was a swiftly arrested after an iPhone was found in the passenger footwell of his car.

The smartphone was forensically analysed and officers found the accounts - one of which had been used since October 2020. The court heard that the phone was set up in a way that, were officers to look for devices connected to the internet, it would display as a PlayStation 4.

The police also found Davies had a TikTok account along with profiles on dating apps Bumble and Grindr. Sexual content was also discovered in the device's gallery of pictures and videos.

His web history also proved "unsettling", the court heard. The prosecutor said searches were conducted for "barely legal gay teen porn" amongst others.

Elen Owen, defending, said that Davies was "clearly a socially isolated young man". He took a "huge risk" by hiding this device from the authorities at at time when he was otherwise "turning his life around".

She said: "He tells me today that he knew what he was doing was wrong. What he's done is access various apps and, when one is 22, that is the way they live their lives these days - online."

Ms Owen also told the court that Davies did eventually tell the police about the phone before his arrest. She added that, had he not opened up about it then, the police may never have found its hiding spot.

Judge Niclas Parry said that the court faced a "stark choice" when dealing with him. However, he felt convinced to narrowly suspend the jail sentence.

He said: "You're a slippery, devious and dishonest man. That all makes it very difficult to work with you on an order that's been made because you are a high risk of harm to young children.

"However, you had the good sense to plead guilty. The device was not used commit a further crime and this is the first breach of that order."

The judge granted an order for Davies' secret phone to be destroyed after his year-long custodial sentence was suspended for 18 months. During that time, he must finish 120 hours of unpaid work as well as completing a 20-day rehabilitation activity.

Description

A CONVICTED child rapist is back behind bars after he told police during a search of his home: I cant help myself. Back in 2011 James Green was jailed for five years at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court for raping a girl under 13 and in 2019 the same court locked him up for ten months for downloading indecent images of children. As part of that latest sentence he was also made subject of a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order which banned him from having unauthorised devices which could access the internet. But Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday that West Yorkshire police officers were alerted in April last year to the downloading of sickening child abuse images and videos and their inquiries led to Green being arrested in August. When his mobile phone was examined officers found more than 250 movie and still images in the worst category involving the sexual abuse of children under five years old. About a fortnight later police officers made another check on Green at his home in Croft Place, Brighouse, and when they asked about any more phones he replied:Ive got another one. Theres things on it. I cant help myself. This time officers found a Samsung mobile phone hidden under his mattress and there were a small number of indecent images on the device. Green, 32, was released on police bail, but when a further monitoring check was carried out in October he had obtained another mobile phone without informing the public protection unit and it was found hidden in a plant pot. Green pleaded guilty to a series of offences relating to his downloading of indecent images of children and persistent breaches of his SHPO and the Recorder of Bradford Judge Richard Mansell QC jailed him again for a total of 24 months. The judge said his offending was aggravated by his previous convictions and he had committed serious and persistent breaches of the order. Green will now have to register as a sex offender with the police for the next ten years and he is still subject to the existing SHPO which runs until 2029.

Description

A MAN who complained about living next door to a paedophile has been jailed - for being a paedophile. Darren Higham previously claimed he was furious about living next door to the sex offender, but he is now behind bars for sexually abusing a child over a period of four years. He subjected a child to horrific sexual abuse from the age of seven until she was around 11. The abuse ranged from kissing and touching the child to forcing her to perform sex acts on him on more than one occasion. Higham, of Chaffinch Close, Birchwood, appeared before Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to four counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 and inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity. The 53-year-olds sick offending came to light when he was spotted with the victim, said prosecutor David Watson. Mr Watson said how the person who saw them felt like something wasnt right so contacted social services. The victim later told her mum that she had been sexually abused by Higham for ages. The child told the police how Higham, a self-employed musician, used to kiss her and put his penis on her and recalled on one occasion how he had touched her. She also told them how he asked her not to tell anyone about the abuse as it would mean he would be sent to prison. The court heard how the victim said this made her feel scared and sometimes she would pretend to be tired and fall asleep so he would stop. When these allegations were put towards Higham, he self-harmed and was hospitalised but was later interviewed by police and admitted to the abuse. He told officers that something triggered inside of him but he told them he had no sexual interest in children. Mr Watson read out a statement from the victims mother who claimed the sexual abuse committed by Higham has had a massive impact. The statement said that the victim sometimes feels unloved and is undergoing counseling and trauma therapy as a result. Defending, Gary Lawrenson said that prior to these offences, Higham was a man of good character. He told the court how Higham has shown genuine remorse and is willing to engage in any work with the probation services. Mr Lawrenson said: He does not seek to minimise his actions in any way, shape or form. And in a letter to the court, Higham said: There are no words to say how much devastation and remorse I feel. I stand before you with acceptance of any punishment that you deem fit. Higham was handed a four-year prison sentence, issued with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years and is subject to a restraining order for 10 years. Detective constable Chris Orme said: This young person showed great courage coming forward to report what had been happening. This ultimately meant that Darren Higham could be put in front of the court, where he pleaded guilty to these awful crimes. I hope the sentence brings some closure for the victim. Cheshire Police is committed to protecting children and bringing to justice those who seek to harm them.

Description

Read More

Description

A "dangerous" Blyth paedophile sexually assaulted a child in front of their parent and was later found in possession of their underwear.

Jamie Topham, who has a "significant history of sexual offending", sexually assaulted the child in September, last year, while the youngster's parent was in the same room. When the stunned parent saw what was happening, they took a photograph for evidence and later reported him to police.

When the 42-year-old was arrested, police found three indecent images on his mobile phone, which he'd taken himself. The child's underwear was also found in his room.

Topham, of Gladstone Street, Blyth, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court, via link from HMP Durham, to be sentenced for sexual assault of a child under the age of 13, breach of a sexual offence prevention order, and taking indecent images of children. He pleaded guilty to the charges.

The court heard that Topham had previous convictions for child sex offences and had been given a three year community order after being found in possession of hundreds of indecent images. He was later found in possession of more images and was given a suspended sentence and made subject of a 10 year sexual offence prevention order - which was active at the time of his offending last year.

Annie Richardson, prosecuting, said Topham had become acquainted with a family, who had no idea about his sexual offence history and convictions.

At some point in September, last year, Topham had drank up to seven cans of lager and was with members of the family. The court heard he was "somewhat drunk". Ms Richardson said that Topham then put his arm around a child, which the parent - who was in the same room - found "unusual".

Topham then sexually assaulted the child, leading the shocked parent to quickly take a photograph of what was happening for evidence. Topham was then kicked out of the house and was arrested that night.

Ms Richardson said: "His room was searched and child's underwear was found, which belonged to the child. Police also seized his mobile phone and examined it." Officers discovered three indecent images of children, which Topham had taken himself on the phone.

Mr Fish, defending Topham, said: "The defendant is realistic and accepts that he will receive an immediate custodial sentence. He has demonstrated a significant level of insight and acknowledges he has a problem. He is not a defendant who is in denial." Mr Fish added that Topham has "a lot of distorted thinking and attitudes".

Sentencing Topham, Judge Adams, said he had a "significant history of sexual offending". He said: "You admit a sexual attraction to children and in my view you are clearly dangerous."

The judge gave Topham an extended prison sentence 98 months - 50 months custodial with an extension period of 48 months. An indefinite sexual harm prevention order was also made and he will be on the sex offender's register indefinitely.

Description

A malign paedophile filmed his sexual abuse of underage boys on spy cams hidden in his house of horrors then uploaded the footage to the internet. Bernard More, 57, gave the films titles that hinted at their sick content. One of the films uploaded to a Russia-based pornographic site contained the words teen boy spy cam while another was spy cam: hes at it again. His twisted behaviour was unmasked late last year when Australian police stumbled across the videos online. The films had been uploaded by someone whose website username contained Mores date of birth, Oxford Crown Court heard. The antipodean authorities traced the site user back to Buckinghamshire-based More then tipped off Thames Valley Police. Oxfordshire detectives interviewed the younger two of the defendants victims on November 16, all of whom are now in their teens and cannot be identified for legal reasons. The older two boys did not wish to be interviewed. The officers then arrested More and searched his property on December 1, less than a month after the tip off from Australian police. They seized a Dell computer, 12 USB sticks, a memory card and a clutch of home CCTV cameras that had been installed in the living room, bathroom and bedrooms of his Princes Risborough home. Those devices contained thousands of videos and images that More had recorded of himself sexually assaulting the four boys, the youngest of whom was just 11 when the abuse started. In one of the videos, the defendant could be heard calling one boy then just 12-years-old a filthy pig as he encouraged the youngster to perform a sex act on himself. Prosecutor Charles Ward-Jackson told Oxford Crown Court on Wednesday afternoon that in one piece of footage a boy was overheard telling More to put a video on a popular pornography website. The defendant says he will, Mr Ward-Jackson added. Judge Maria Lamb was told that the boys were encouraged to perform sexual acts on themselves, with each other and on the defendant. They were given beer to drink and in some of the footage appeared drunk. In other clips they were asleep while More molested them. In addition to the pictures that he took himself or distributed online, the defendant had a cache of more than 23,500 indecent images of unknown children including 513 in the most serious category. Sending him down for 13 years and four months, Judge Lamb told bearded More: You were an utterly malign influence in their lives. You used each of them for your own sexual gratification. She imposed an extended sentence, meaning that the defendant will spend two-thirds of his sentence behind bars until the Parole Board will consider whether he can be released. He must serve an extended three years on licence. Had you not been caught when you were I have no doubt you would have continued in your behaviour, the judge told More, who kept his head bowed during the sentencing remarks. Unless the risk you represent is addressed, you will continue to be a danger to young boys. More, of Cannon Place, Princes Risborough, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to 33 counts. They included sexual activity with a child, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and offences of making, having and distributing indecent images of a child. David Jones, defending, acknowledged there was little that could be said in mitigating his clients case. More entered his plea at the earliest opportunity despite making no comment during his police interview. The defendant was said to be remorseful. Judge Lamb ordered that More would spend the rest of his life on the sex offender register. He will be subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order limiting his access to young boys. At the end of the nearly two-hour sentencing hearing, she praised the police for the swift and comprehensive investigation that resulted in More being brought to justice.