Latest Offenders

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A man from Stoke-on-Trent has been jailed for 20 years, with an additional four years on licence, after being convicted of child sexual offences.

Mark Roberts, 39, of Madison Street, Tunstall, was sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court today (Wednesday 13 April).

Allegations of abuse against a child were reported to the force and an investigation was launched.

He pleaded guilty to assaulting a girl under 13 by touching.

He was found guilty of the rape of a girl under 13 and sexual assault of a girl under 13.

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A 6ft 10in knifeman who attempted to rape a woman in the street late at night in the Midlands has been revealed. Matt Mellor admitted attempted rape during an appearance in court yesterday.

He also admitted having of a bladed weapon and also breaching a sexual harm prevention order he had been given after a previous offence. On February 26, he began stalking a young woman in Northampton.

He grabbed her on Wellingborough Road and dragged her to the ground. He proceeded to attempt to rape her at knifepoint.

The woman managed to attract the attention of local homeowners, who came out to help her as Mellor fled. He was arrested later that day.

Lead Investigator, Detective Constable Adam Kelly, said Matt Mellor is a very large man, about 6ft 10in in height, and his actions on that night would have been an absolutely terrifying experience for this woman who should have been able to walk wherever she liked without fear of such an attack. She showed tremendous bravery in fighting him off whilst shouting for help and I would like to thank her for her support and courage during our investigation.

I would also like to thank the local residents who quickly came to her aid that night and also to the local businesses in the area who have assisted us with our inquiries and the procurement of CCTV which helped us piece together this crime. To be able to take such a dangerous offender off the streets helps to make Northamptonshire a safer place for people to go about their daily business and I now expect it will be a long time before Mellor is released from prison, which is great news.

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One of the offences was reported to police in 2020 and a police investigation led to several other victims coming forward. A Bermondsey man who subjected six young girls to horrific sexual abuse has been found guilty of several offences spanning nearly twenty years. Robert Pearce, 54, was convicted of 23 offences at a trial at Croydon Crown Court that finished yesterday (Tuesday, April 12). Pearce abused six victims between the ages of seven and sixteen, over an eighteen-year period from 1999 and 2017. His convictions included five charges of rape and twelve of indecent assault. Police said he also used his position as a leader in a live action roleplay group to groom and abuse young girls who attended the events. PC Helen French, who led the investigation, said: Pearce took complete advantage of these young girls and his actions have undoubtedly had a significant impact on all of their lives. I want to commend their courage and bravery in speaking to police and providing the evidence which has proved vital to his conviction. I hope this prosecution shows that we take all allegations of sexual abuse extremely seriously, no matter how much time has passed. I would encourage anyone who has been a victim of such abuse to come forward and speak to us we have specialist officers who will listen and support you. One of the offences was reported to police in 2020 and a police investigation led to several other victims coming forward. Pearce will be sentenced on June 20.

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David Smith repeatedly exposed himself to one boy and seriously sexually assaulted another A former Tory councillor has been found guilty of a string of child sex offences. A jury has unanimously found David Smith guilty of 11 counts of inciting, or engaging in sexual activity with a child, over a decade ago. Teesside Crown Court heard harrowing evidence of the sexual abuse during the trial - the two victims were teenage boys when Smith targeted them. One boy was groomed and repeatedly sexually assaulted by Smith over a four-year period. The court heard he has been massively affected by the abuse; his former girlfriend said it had "destroyed their relationship" and he was "traumatised" by what had happened to him. The court heard how Smith gave the boy cash and bought him gifts; as well as taking him on trips to Edinburgh and to Liverpool. The victim said: He used to buy me all sorts - he must have spent 6,000 to 10,000 on me easy. "It was clothes, it was drugs, I used to smoke cannabis a lot and he used buy me it. He used to buy me it every day, at least 20 a day. After I smoked it I would just go to sleep and when I woke up, he would be touching me. Smith repeatedly exposed himself to the second victim - who was also a teenage boy at the time - before trying to persuade him to perform a sex act. The victim said he fled, telling the court: "He would flash me and as a kid I was shocked and didn't know where to put myself. "After a month and a half, it went from flashing at me to him asking me to touch him. It got to the point where he was getting closer to me and got more insistent." Smith, 33, of Rainsford Crescent in Middlesbrough, was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on May 16.

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A child rapist from Yorkshire has been jailed after police found thousand of indecent images - including some involving animals. Officers found more than 30,000 images which linked Quintin Cocu to the abuse of a young girl. Sheffield Crown Court was told Cocu, of Sandall Stones Road, in Kirk Sandall, Doncaster, was caught by police with the images who were abe to link them to a youngster who he had molested for many years when she was a child. When officers visited her, she broke down in tears. The court was told the 50-year-old Cocu had 37,270 indecent images of children and 2,623 prohibited images as well as 281 extreme pornographic images involving mainly animals. Prosecuting barrister Richard Sheldon said some of the images had faces posted onto indecent activities and the police were able to link Cocu to his victim. Mr Sheldon added: She broke down in tears and she had been molested for many years. Cocu, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to raping a child aged under 13, assault by penetration of a child, sexual assault of a child aged under 13, sexual activity with a child, and causing a child to watch a sexual act. Mr Sheldon said that during Cocus four-year reign of abuse he got the complainant to perform oral sex upon him which constituted rape and he molested her body, made her touch him sexually and he showed her pornographic images. Police originally visited the defendants address after they became aware he had indecent images. Mr Sheldon said: "On October 5, 2019, the police were aware the defendant had indecent images in his possession at an address in Doncaster. Police raided Cocus address in January 2020 and seized his mobile phone, a computer tower and an external hard drive and found a massive catalogue of indecent images of youngsters, according to Mr Sheldon. Mr Sheldon said these included 5,287 category A images, 6,460 category B images and 25,523 category C images with category A being the most serious as well as 2,623 prohibited images and 281 extreme pornographic images. He added that following a closer examination of some of the images officers were able to link Cocu to the complainant, who cannot be identified for legal reasons. Abdul Latif Shakoor, defending, said Cocu is full of remorse and regret and he has referred himself to a group to address the issues that may have led to his offending. Mr Shakoor added: He is ashamed of himself and he badly regrets what has happened and he wishes to apologise to her and to all concerned and the court. Judge Graham Reeds QC sentenced Cocu during a second hearing on April 11. Cocu was sentenced to a total of a 12-year custodial term made up of one year for making indecent images consecutively to 10 years for the sex offences against a child and a one-year extension to his custodial licence on the grounds that the defendant is deemed to be a person of concern. Judge Richardson stressed Cocu will not be entitled to an early release and he can only be freed when the parole board believes it is safe to do so. Cocu was also made subject to the Sex Offenders Register for life and to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same term.

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A man who raped and sexually assaulted a woman while filming his crimes with a phone has been jailed. Hubert Greliak was caught after his victim reported sexual assault and theft in Ealing, West London, in January 2020. Officers arrested the 33-year-old and seized his phone, though he refused to reveal its pin code. A hard drive was analysed and found to contain evidence of a rape of the victim, and later Greliak was charged. He was bailed but breached his bail conditions but the Met managed to track him down and attach an electronic tag to him. Greliak was found guilty of rape and assault by penetration at Isleworth Crown Court in January having already admitted to theft and failure to comply when asked to reveal his phone's PIN. He was jailed for 18 years and will need to serve 13-and-a-half of that behind bars, and the rest on licence. Detective Inspector Julian Crabb, from the Met's West Area Command Unit Safeguarding Team, said: "We are absolutely committed to tackling all forms of violence against women and girls and are dedicated to achieving criminal justice outcomes for victim-survivors as we have in this case. "The victim bravely went through the ordeal of a trial and thanks to both her compelling evidence and the work of the investigation team, we were able to put this man behind bars for a long time. "Greliak is a dangerous and manipulative individual. He has showed no remorse or guilt for his disturbing and destructive actions. I sincerely hope the victim can begin to achieve closure and focus on the future. "Investigations into rape and sexual assault are often complex, and I am pleased the investigating officers' actions were commended by HH Judge Hammerton. I hope this gives survivors of sexual violence the confidence to come forward and report to police."

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Mark Robinson had downloaded over 600 illegal images of children and had only been released from prison for similar crimes last year A paedophile who downloaded 680 indecent images and videos of children, and shared some of them with others, has been jailed. Mark Robinson, 40, was caught with 119 category A images - the most serious type; 105 category B and 456 category C illegal images of children. He shared 16 of them with other adults via the messenger service Kik and through Snapchat. On Tuesday, prosecutor Annelise Haugstad told Teesside Crown Court that Robinson had been released from prison for similar crimes last year, and under the terms of his sexual harm prevention order, he had a police protection officer checking his online devices. The court heard that in July 2020, the officer went to Robinson's workplace and seized his iPhone 7. The illegal images and videos were found on his phone, and showed children who had been drugged and some of whom "were in obvious distress". Police IT specialists also found that he had created aliases to use on social media accounts without notifying the police. Robinson had created profiles under the names "Callum 818" and "Callum Read". He had also installed software on his phone which encrypted the data stored. Robinson, of HMP Northumberland, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children; the distribution of indecent images of children; three counts of failing to comply with sex offender notification requirements and one breach of a sexual harm prevention order. The court heard that he has four convictions for 35 previous offences - all of them involved child sex crimes. In August 2020, Robinson was jailed for 40 months for making illegal images of children. Kelleigh Lodge, defending, told the court that her client had started an online sex offender treatment programme, but he was unable to continue this once he was jailed in 2020. Ms Lodge said that prison was "not a very pleasant experience" for Robinson, who "has certainly learnt his lesson and has tried to seek help for his offending". But Judge Jonathan Carroll told Robinson that his iPhone showed "a significant breach of the measures that control the risk you pose to the public and to children, in particular. You accessed the Kik messenger service and were in regular communication with other people with the same sexual obsessions towards children." The judge said that a pre-sentence report on Robinson had found that he is a "high risk" to children. Robinson was jailed for four-years and six-months.

Description

A Sunderland pensioner has been found with over 1,000 images of children being abused.

Police found the content, which included still pictures and videos on Terence Robert's devices, while he was at work.

Newcastle Crown Court heard two mobile phones were seized from the 71-year-old's address in July 2020 and police also found a cloud storage account.

Prosecutor Joe Culley said: "There were 291 category A images including 96 moving images, 214 category B images including 24 video and 560 category C images.

"The material depicts children between the ages one to 15-years-old."

Roberts, of Hewitt Avenue, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children.

He also admitted being in possession of a prohibited image of a child and possession of an extreme pornographic image.

Mr Culley added: "When he was interviewed on the 8th of July 2020, the defendant admitted possessing the images.

"He also admitted having shared and distributed them on social media although he wasn't charged with that.

"He used his mobile phones for accessing the images. He doesn't have any previous convictions."

The court heard the offending had began in April 2017, before he was caught over three years later when officers searched his home.

Vic Laffey, defending Roberts, who has since lost his job and long-term partner as a result, told the court: "As with all these cases it's a very unattractive case.

"These offences are nearly two years old, I'm not completely sure how it's taken that long for them to get into the court system.

"He pleaded guilty at the Magistrates court at the first opportunity and was fully co-operative with the police in interview.

"He fully understands the position he's placed himself in. It's had a dramatic effect on him and he is somebody more than prepared to work with the probation service."

Judge Stephen Earl said: "I take into account probation are willing to work with the defendant and I do take into account there is work to be done which is unlikely to be assessed in custody."

The judge sentenced Roberts to 16 months behind bars, suspended for two years, along with rehabilitation requirements and a four-month curfew.

He must also abide by a sexual harm prevention order and sign the sex offender's register, both lasting ten years.

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A teacher from London has been jailed for grooming and sexually abusing two children in the Middle East over an eight-year period. Paul Shinn, 49, taught at an English school in the United Arab Emirates from 2004 until March 2019, when he was dismissed from his post following allegations that he had sexually assaulted children. The school reported the allegations to the National Crime Agency, who arrested Shinn after he returned to the UK the following month. The investigation showed that Shinn had begun grooming two children from the ages of eight and nine, gaining their trust and encouraging them to spend time with him through the offer of gifts and trips. His campaign of abuse took place over eight years, during which Shinn sexually assaulted his victims on a number of occasions and took indecent photographs of them. He also attempted to sexualise them, by forcing them to watch sex scenes in films before moving on to pornography, as well as showing them condoms. Shinn was charged with six counts of child sexual abuse under section 72 of the Sexual Offences Act, which allows British nationals to be prosecuted in the UK for abuse committed overseas. On 28 January 2022, he was convicted by a jury at Kingston Crown Court of five counts, including sexual assault of a child under 13 (2011-2015), two counts of sexual activity with a child (2016-2019), and two counts of causing a child to watch a sexual act (2010-2017). The jury were unable to reach a decision on the sixth charge - sexual activity with a child over 13. He was sentenced today at the same court to a total of 10 years in prison, plus two years on licence. He is also made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, Ian Truby from the National Crime Agency said: Shinn positioned himself as a caring and trustworthy teacher in order to befriend children and their families. He then abused their trust in the most horrific way; through the systemic grooming and sexual assault of these children over a number of years. Shinn thought that he could run away from his crimes by returning to the UK. However, the NCA works closely with international partners to ensure British nationals who commit offences against victims overseas are brought to justice.

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The ex karate instructor was labelled a 'monster' after raping a woman and schoolgirl A former karate instructor who raped a schoolgirl and a woman was today labelled a "monster". David Bottomley said he led a life of "public service" - working at a YMCA and as a coastguard and a prison security officer. But the 58-year-old was exposed in court as a "violent and abusive" rapist and paedophile. Bottomley, who ran martial arts classes and also worked as a doorman in Southport, was today jailed for 14 years. That was after one of his victims called him a "monster" and a top judge branded him "dishonest and devious". Liverpool Crown Court heard Bottomley first abused a woman, when he committed a historic sex offence against her, which would today be classed as rape. Robert Dudley, prosecuting, said in another incident he used a karate kick on the woman's jaw while wearing steel toe capped boots. The first victim did not tell anyone about what happened until other allegations against Bottomley emerged in 2017. That was when his second victim - at the time of the abuse a schoolgirl and now an adult - watched an episode of BBC Crimewatch. Mr Dudley said when the presenter asked a question about knowing anyone who was sexually abused as a child or an abuser who has contact with children, "it triggered something in her". She wrote a letter to her mum, whom she had never told before, and it was decided that she should contact the police. When interviewed by officers, she disclosed Bottomley raped her when she was about 12. The first victim then also made a complaint to the police. Bottomley, of Hoole Lane, Banks, denied any wrongdoing, which meant his victims had to give evidence at a trial in January. He was convicted of the historic sex offence and of assault causing actual bodily harm against the first woman. She today said Bottomley "permanently destroyed" her trust in people and made her feel "damaged, spoiled and degraded". In a victim statement read by Mr Dudley, she told her abuser: "You're a bully and a coward. Some people might say you're an animal, but that would be an insult to animals... You're a monster and what nightmares are made of." Bottomley was found guilty of rape, indecency with a child and two counts of indecent assault against the schoolgirl. In a victim statement, she said what Bottomley did to her would stay with her until the day she dies. Bottomley was acquitted of two other sex assaults on the schoolgirl and of three sex offences on two other girls. When the verdicts were returned, he collapsed in the dock and was helped by security staff, until he was taken away by ambulance to hospital. Judge David Aubrey, QC, ordered a medical report on the defendant, who he was told had a history of minor strokes. However, Patrick Williamson, defending, today confirmed his client actually suffered from salivary gland cancer, which caused symptoms including facial numbness similar to a stroke, when he had a carotid tumour removed in 2017. He said: "In respect of the episode at the conclusion of the trial, that was diagnosed as a dissociative episode brought on by stress and anxiety. But it was not fortunately related in any way to the question of a stroke or a TIA [transient ischaemic attack]." Mr Williamson said Bottomley, of previous good character, was supported by his girlfriend, sitting in the public gallery. He said his work history was "in essence of public service", initially volunteering with Sefton Coast and Countryside Service, then working and volunteering at Southport YMCA, before he worked for five years for the Coastguard, in search and rescue teams, when he witnessed 13 deaths. Mr Williamson said his client later joined the Prison Service as a security guard at HMP Kirkham. However, he was diagnosed with "complex PTSD" due to what he saw as a coastguard, "witnessing both adults and children who had died as a result of misadventure at sea". The lawyer said it would be Bottomley's first time in jail. He said: "His reaction on receiving the verdicts is perhaps indicative of the predicament he finds himself in and the future that is held for him." Judge Aubrey said he was satisfied Bottomley was a "violent and abusive" man, whose sex attack on the woman left her feeling sick, violated and humiliated. He said on another occasion he kicked her in the jaw. Judge Aubrey said: "You had steel toe cap boots on. She described it as being excruciatingly painful and thought you had broken her jaw." The judge said Bottomley raped and abused the schoolgirl - manipulating her by giving her money afterwards. He said: "You have left your victims scarred for life and in effect have imposed a life sentence upon each." Judge Aubrey told Bottomley: "You have shown no remorse whatsoever." He said the victims had to "relive their ordeals" at his hands because he pleaded not guilty. Judge Aubrey said: "However, the trial has allowed me to assess you. It's apparent in my judgement your evidence you had rehearsed in detail, in order to seek to tailor a dishonest and devious account, to the evidence. Not only did you manipulate your victims, you then sought to manipulate the evidence." Judge Aubrey jailed Bottomley for four years in respect of the woman. He imposed a consecutive 10 years, with an extended one year on licence as an "offender of particular concern", in respect of the schoolgirl. The combined effect of these two types of sentences means Bottomley must spend at least eight years and eight months behind bars before he can apply for parole. Judge Aubrey told him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life. Bottomley's girlfriend told two companions "come on let's go" and left court, moaning: "Utter joke."

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A dangerous offender has been jailed for sexually assaulting a woman after he broke into her home in Lancaster. The incident occurred at an address in Morley Road at around 11pm on September 9, 2021. Jack Burns, from Lancaster, of no fixed abode, broke into the victims property before sexually assaulting her as she lay in bed. The 24-year-old was sentenced at Preston Crown Court on Monday (April 11). He was handed a seven-year sentence after previously pleading guilty to sexual assault and burglary. Burns was jailed for five years and given an extended licence period of a further two-years after a judge ruled him to be a dangerous offender. He will also be placed on the sex offenders register for life. Det Sgt Hana Alayli-Moore, of Lancashire Constabulary, said: I am satisfied with Burns sentence and hope it sends a message that we will not tolerate this type of crime in Lancashire. Anybody who wants to report a sexual offence the the police can do so by calling 101 or 999 in an emergency.

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A MAN who sexually assaulted a teenage girl in a holiday caravan has been jailed for seven years. Kevin Paul Horne, a builder and decorator of Cross-In-Hand, Heathfield, was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on Friday, April 1. The 42-year-old was convicted of two counts of sexual activity with a child at the Winchelsea Sands Holiday Village in the summer of 2020. Horne will be a registered sex offender and was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, severely restricting his access to children under 18, both for life. Detective Constable Lyndsey Jamison of the East Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit said: "Horne, who knew the girl, committed the two serious sexual offences against her late one evening while he was staying at the Village. "The victim gave evidence in court which significantly helped in convicting Horne. "We will always investigate such reports and seek to achieve justice for victims wherever possible."

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A Great Oakley paedophile who drove to Milton Keynes thinking he would sexually abuse three children has been branded a dangerous predator.

Allan Robins, 69, was jailed for five years and seven months last month, as first reported by the Northants Telegraph.

He bragged about having sex with a young girl during a week-long online chat, telling a woman what he wanted to do to her children, aged as young as two.

Robins drove 40 miles to the Buckinghamshire town with condoms after arranging to meet them but it was a police sting.

Today (April 12) detective sergeant Helena Congreve, from Northamptonshire Police's POLIT Team, said: I welcome the sentence handed out to Allan Robins as he has shown himself to be a dangerous predator who was willing to meet a child as young as two in order to sexually abuse them.

I hope this case shows the proactivity with which we treat child sex offences that we will not wait for cases to come to us but that we will use various tactics to catch people like Allan Robins and bring them to justice.

Northampton Crown Court heard Robins, formerly of Pound Close, was using online chat room Chatiw when he began speaking to Lucy on December 13 last year.

He said he liked young girls and was having sex with one. Lucy told him about her three children a two-year-old girl, a seven-year-old boy and an autistic nine-year-old girl. None of the children were real.

Prosecuting, Micaila Williams said: It's plain Robins is interested in the nine-year-old girl, asking if she has had sex yet."

The paedophile suggested a meeting and asked for Lucys phone number before calling her.

He asked her when she was next in Milton Keynes and offered to drive over to meet them on December 20.

The court heard that, when asked what he wanted to do, he described a lewd act with the children aged two and seven.

Ms Williams added: "[He said he] would like to have full sex with the nine-year-old and offered to bring condoms."

He drove to a pre-arranged location in Milton Keynes and texted Lucy to say he was there and had decamped from his motorhome.

Police, who had been running the sting under the code name Operation Jenson, then swooped in and arrested him.

The court heard he made comments suggesting he had been set up and had been a 'bloody idiot'.

When police searched his home they a Scout scarf, baby rattle, sex toys and viagra in a bedroom cabinet.

When interviewed he admitted he had spoken to Lucy online but claimed he was trying to uncover the actions of a paedophile.

Ms Williams said: "He said he had been horrified by what he had heard online and went to the location to find the people and report them to the police."

The paedophile denied he had a sexual interest in children but later admitted three charges of arranging or facilitating a child sex offence.

Robins will serve half of his sentence behind bars before being released on licence.

He will be on the register for sex offenders and subject to a sexual harm prevention order for life.

Description

An MP has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy at a house in Staffordshire in 2008. Imran Ahmad Khan, 48, was convicted at Southwark Crown Court. The court heard the MP for Wakefield in West Yorkshire forced the boy to drink gin and tonic at a party before dragging the teenager upstairs, pushing him onto a bed and then asking him to watch pornography before the attack. The victim, now 29, told a jury he felt "scared, vulnerable, numb, shocked and surprised" after Khan touched his feet and legs. He said the MP came within "a hair's breadth" of his privates as he tried to sleep in a top bunkbed. He ran to his parents and a police report was made at the time, but no further action was taken because the youngster did not want to make a formal complaint. But he told jurors "it all came flooding back" when Khan stood as a Conservative in the December 2019 general election. He said he was not "taken very seriously" when he made the allegation to the Conservative Party press office days before Khan was elected as MP for Wakefield in the December 2019 general election. He made a complaint to the police days after Khan helped Prime Minister Boris Johnson win a large Commons majority by taking Wakefield. Khan was sent a questionnaire by Staffordshire Police rather than being interviewed under caution at the station because of "COVID protocols in place at the time". The MP, who is gay and Muslim, denied sexual assault and claimed he only touched the Catholic teenager's elbow when he "became extremely upset" after a conversation about his confused sexuality. Khan, then 34, said he was trying to be "kind" and "helpful" but the teenager became upset and "bolted" when the topic of pornography was raised. The MP, who has been expelled from the Conservative Party, was found guilty by a jury after five hours of deliberations. The judge, Mr Justice Baker, will sentence Khan at a later date. Releasing Khan on bail, he told him: "You have been convicted by a jury of this offence of sexual assault and you will have to be sentenced in due course. "I make it clear that all sentencing options, including immediate custody, are being considered by the court." The firm representing Khan, Janes Solicitors, said the MP "maintains his innocence" and "will be appealing as soon as possible". Labour called for Khan's immediate resignation as an MP, with a spokesperson saying: "Imran Ahmad Khan should immediately resign so a by-election can take place and the people of Wakefield can get the representation they deserve." Tory MP Crispin Blunt said he was "utterly appalled and distraught at the dreadful miscarriage of justice that has befallen my friend and colleague". In a statement, he said: "His conviction today is nothing short of an international scandal, with dreadful wider implications for millions of LGBT+ Muslims around the world."

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A convicted rapist armed himself with an axe and went seeking revenge after being attacked in a Bellshill street.

Richard Wotherspoon was seen "banging furiously" on a door with the weapon.

His lawyer claimed he has been targeted numerous times since being jailed 16 years ago for a sex attack.

Wotherspoon, 32, described as a prisoner, admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner in Dean Street on July 6.

Hamilton Sheriff Court heard this week that five people attacked him days after he was released from prison after serving a sentence for domestic abuse.

Neil Thomson, prosecuting, said: "Police officers found Wotherspoon in Dean Street with a head injury and suspected hed been assaulted, but he did not provide them with any information.

"He was taken to hospital but wouldn't stay there despite being advised he needed further treatment.

"Later that evening Wotherspoon and another man were seen in the same street with an axe and a hammer.

"A witness challenged Wotherspoon who was banging furiously on the door of a flat with the axe. He told the witness 'I have no issue with you. I'm going to kill him'.

"There was no answer at the door after repeated knocking and shouting, and the accused and the other person then left."

Defence agent Diarmid Bruce said Wotherspoon suffered a broken finger and needed stitches in his mouth after being hit with a shovel during the attack earlier that evening.

The lawyer told Sheriff Liam Murphy: "His High Court conviction from 2006 still causes him difficulty in the local area.

"He is taunted and targeted because of it and has been assaulted numerous times.

"Individuals use it as an excuse to cause him difficulties."

The sheriff jailed Wotherspoon for 18 months, backdated to July.