Latest Offenders

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A retired Wiltshire police officer has admitted offences relating to indecent images of children.

Robert Gabbott, 64, also known as Bob, pleaded guilty to collecting and distributing hundreds of vile child abuse images when he appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court.

The married defendant, of Elizabeth Close, Melksham, was told to register as a sex offender within 72 hours of the hearing in late November.

The case was deemed too serious to be dealt with by magistrates, with the case sent to Swindon Crown Court. He will be sentenced in January 2023.

Gabbott – who is also a member of Wiltshire Freemasons and helped out marshal at the Melksham vaccination centre – accepted two charges of distributing indecent images of a child in categories A and B.

He also accepted three charges of making (collecting) indecent images of a child – including 200 in category A, 199 in category B and 457 in category C.

Category A images – which can be moving or still – involve penetrative sexual activity, category B involve non-penetrative sexual activity and category C includes images not falling within categories A or B.

The offences were dated between 18 September 2021 and 14 January 2022.

Gabbott was released on unconditional bail until sentencing.

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A paedophile caught viewing child sex abuse images was spared jail because of his own past as a victim.

Anthony Lowe, who has been prosecuted for possessing child sex abuse before, was handed a suspended sentence rather than being sent straight to prison.

The 51-year-old former prison warden had downloaded 85 category A images (penetration, bestiality or sadism), 19 category B and 46 category C images when he was busted on October 28 last year.

Judge Benjamin Nolan told him: ‘The most obvious way of dealing with you would be to send you immediately to prison.

‘However, I’ve read your psychiatric report which indicates that you have your demons as a result of being abused as a child.’

He came to this decision after Lowe’s defence lawyer also told Teesside Crown Court how her client had become ‘isolated and depressed’ during lockdown.

His partner was working in a care home and Lowe was left on his own for long periods of time.

‘This was a momentary relapse,’ the attorney said.

The court also heard how Lowe ‘has chronic PTSD after witnessing a work colleague die and an inmate committing suicide’.

His partner has now rearranged her working hours so she can be at home with him on the weekends.

Lowe, from Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, was handed a 12-month prison term, suspended for two-years.

He was ordered to attend an accredited sex offender treatment programme and 60 rehabilitation days.

He will also sign the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.

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A paedophile from Forest Gate has been found guilty of sexually assaulting girls aged under 13 at a swimming pool where he was an instructor.

Emmanuel Brown, 60, was convicted of three counts of sexual assault by touching on December 5 after a trial at Wood Green Crown Court.

The court heard how Brown ran lessons at the swimming pool in Northumberland Park and had done so since 1995.

Police received separate reports in June and July 2020 from girls, aged under 13 at the time of the assaults, who were taught by Brown.

This was followed by a third girl who also alleged that Brown sexually assaulted her during their lessons.

The abuse of the girls took place between 2010 and 2019.

Brown will be sentenced at the same court in February.

Det Con Andri Andreou, of the North Area Command Unit, called Brown "a dangerous sexual predator" who "poses a significant risk to young children".

Brown used his position of trust to carry out sustained sexual assaults on these three girls his behaviour is utterly deplorable."

The detective urged anyone else who may have been abused by Brown to speak to police.

Anyone who is a victim of sexual abuse or who has information about such offences is asked to call police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.

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A serial sex offender branded a “real and imminent danger” has been caged for sexually assaulting a woman in Dundee.

Remorseless Ian King forced himself on his victim at a premises in the city’s Lyon Street in November, last year.

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A sex offender breached a court order when he befriended a mum at a foodbank and posed for a selfie with her 11-year-old daughter.

David Scott, known as Ritchie, previously admitted to asking underage teenagers to send him naked pictures and served two years in prison following the offence in 2017.

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A convicted sex offender told police they would find his CV on a seized memory stick – before coming clean and explaining it contained sick child sex abuse images, a court heard.

Christopher Brown, 34, was also found to have flouted the terms of his sex offender notification requirements by spending the night in an – adult – woman’s bed, spending more than 12 hours living away from his registered home.

When police contacted the woman at the start of this year, she was unaware that the man with whom she had been sleeping was a three-times convicted sex offender. She had been seeing the man since October 2021. 

 Brown claimed to have been confused about what he could do under the terms of his notification requirements. He even produced a ‘schedule’ for detectives, trying as best he could to list the times and dates he had been at the woman’s home.

Prosecutor Alex Radley told Oxford Crown Court that during a first search of his home, Brown initially suggested that his curriculum vitae would be found on a memory stick that had not been registered with police.

Later, he confessed: “I’ll be honest. My CV isn’t on the memory stick. There’s stuff there I shouldn’t have.”

The defendant’s devices were analysed and, in total, he had 804 images and videos in the worst category, 252 in category B and 43 category C videos. He had three ‘extreme’ pornographic videos.

Brown, of South Street, Banbury, admitted possession of indecent images and breaching sex offender notification requirements.

The court heard he was first put on the sex offender register in 2016, when he was given a suspended sentence for indecent exposure. The 10 week sentence was later activated after he failed to comply with the court order.

He had since been convicted of having indecent images of children and breach of a sexual harm prevention order. 

A probation officer, going through her pre-sentence report with the judge in court, said she was recommending an immediate prison sentence – to the slight surprise of the judge.

Brown had been given a number of previous chances to comply with the probation service, she said.

Mitigating, Gordana Austin said her client recognised his offences had been committed when he was ‘on his own, lonely’. From living on his own, he had moved back in with his parents.

He was said to have previously worked as a chef then cycled through agency jobs before being taken on as a handyman on constructions sites – a job that he enjoyed.

Recorder Paul Reid jailed the defendant for a total of two years. 

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A CONVICTED sex offender has avoided jail despite being caught with more than 100 prohibited images of children.

A court was told how Richard Todd kept 108 computer-generated images on a mobile phone.

The photos were discovered when police visited his property in Shirley Road to check on him due to his previous convictions.

The images had been computer generated and depicted adults and children, prosecutor Mark Ashley told the court.

Four of these were classed as category A images, the most severe type. 

 Having previously been convicted of sexual assault in 2008 and a further incident in April 2011, the 30-year-old is subject to a lifelong sexual harm prevention order.

The incident on November 9, 2020 came just nine months after serving another sentence for a previous offence.

Mitigating, Ed Wilde said Todd is “extremely distressed to find himself before the court again”.

He added that he has “accepted his guilt” and is “sincerely sorry”.

"Support is a thing that this man needs," he said.

"Mr Todd needs to learn how to live out here."

Todd pleaded guilty to possession of a prohibited image of a child last month. 

 Mr Wilde invited the judge to impose a suspended sentence as he said the matter is something that can be “dealt with by a sentence in the community”.

Recorder, James Watson KC, said Todd’s previous convictions “place the nature of [his] ongoing life in jeopardy.”

However, he told him: “I’m giving you this further opportunity to put this behaviour behind you”.

Todd was given a four-month jail sentence suspended for two years.

The judge also ordered the forfeiture of the mobile phone and made Todd subject to 55 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

A further sexual harm prevention order will run alongside the existing one for the next 10 years. 

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A paedophile found guilty of raping his victim at least 28 times and subjecting her to sexual abuse has been jailed.

Carl Purdy, 58, from Leeds, repeatedly raped the young girl when she was aged between seven and 13, often after driving her to lay-bys, police said.

Following his trial at Leeds Crown Court in October, he was also found guilty of indecently assaulting two other young girls.

On Monday, Purdy, of Ring Road, Beeston, was jailed for 25 years.

He was convicted on multiple counts of rape, sexual activity with a child, indecent assault and unlawful sexual intercourse with a child.

Purdy was charged in April 2021 after the first victim disclosed the abuse she had suffered to a health practitioner before contacting police herself.

Officers then identified the two further victims.

Speaking after the sentencing, Det Supt Lee Berry, head of crime and safeguarding for the Leeds district, said: "Purdy is a predatory paedophile who offended at the worst possible level against vulnerable young children and caused significant harm and trauma to those victims.

"It is important we recognise and commend the considerable courage the victims have shown in giving evidence at court after Purdy insisted on making them endure a trial despite the weight of evidence that saw him eventually convicted," he added.

Purdy was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order and placed on the sex offenders register for life.

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A dangerous pervert who raped a woman while she slept has been given a sentence totalling 14 years.

After committing the vile offence, Ashley Iddon, 29, then bombarded his victim with messages, some blaming her for his actions.

After we arrested him Iddon admitted what he had done to work colleagues, telling one ‘she made me do it’.

Iddon, of Well Orchard, Bamber Bridge, pleaded guilty to rape when he appeared in the dock at Preston Crown Court on the day he was due to stand trial.

Yesterday (December 5) Judge Heather Lloyd deemed Iddon to pose a significant risk to women and sentenced him to 11 years custody, with a three-year extended licence period. He was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life. An indefinite restraining order was also imposed.

Following sentence, the victim stated she was pleased she could finally move on from this and believed that Iddon has received the sentence he deserved. She said the whole thing has caused her distress for a number of years, so it is comforting for her to know it is finally over. She said her and her family can now live comfortably knowing Iddon is finally in prison.

DC Rebecca Pugh, of South CID, said: “Iddon is a dangerous man who has warped and appalling attitudes towards women. That is demonstrated by his attempts to justify his abhorrent actions to work colleagues by blaming the victim.
“I am pleased with the sentence handed down by the court which reflects the seriousness of Iddon’s offending. Even after he is released, Iddon will continue to be monitored by the relevant authorities.

“We are committed to protecting women and girls from all forms of abuse and violence. I hope this case and its outcome will encourage other victims to come forward, knowing they will be listened to and believed and that we will do everything in our power to put their abuser before the courts.”

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Maxime Owona smashed his way into a woman's home, before pinning her down, threatening her and then raping her.

A ‘despicable’ rapist who pinned a woman down and threatened to rape her after smashing his way into her Warwickshire home has been jailed. Maxime Owona broke into the woman’s home in the Tile Hill area of Coventry in April this year, first smashing a window, and forced himself onto the woman, after he awoke her in bed.

The 33-year-old, who knew the woman, pinned her down and threatened her, making her fear for her safety, unless she agreed to his demands. He then raped her.

But after the sickening attack described by police as a ‘horrific ordeal’ the woman managed to alert a relative whole Owona was still in her home. They called the police and the attacker was arrested at the home shortly afterwards.

 DC Evie Griffiths, from West Midlands Police ’s public protection unit, said: "This was a traumatic ordeal for the woman who was left fearing for her safety in the place she should feel most safe - her home. She managed to contact a relative who alerted us to the attack.

“And we were able to swiftly arrest Owona - who initially gave us a false name. This was a despicable crime and he's now been put behind bars for a long time.”

Owona of no fixed address, was convicted of rape and trespass following a trial at Warwick Crown Court. He was put behind bars for 15 years last Monday (November 28). He will also be on the sex offender's register for life and also given a restraining order not to contact the woman.

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He has been described as one of the most evil ever.

Keith Phillips, 64, raped and sexually abused five children over several decades. (Image: NYP)

A prolific rapist raped committed a staggering 68 offences against five children in a horrific reign of terror that lasted several decades.

Keith Phillips, of Huntington in York, sexually abused and raped five children, leaving them with "irreparable damage". Phillips, 64, was convicted of five counts of rape, nine counts of indecent assault , sexual assault of a girl under 13 and sexual activity with a child following an extensive investigation by North Yorkshire Police.

Phillips, who expressed no remorse as he appeared at York Crown Court, was found guilty of 68 offences by a jury. Following the sentence, the judge described him as one of the most evil defendants he had ever encountered.

After a sentencing hearing, where Phillips was jailed for 28 years, the police's Detective Constable Alyson Thompson expressed joy that paedophile Keith Phillips had been brought to justice, saying: The judge described Phillips as one of the most evil offenders hed ever dealt with, and I would echo that. His lack of remorse after decades of unimaginable abuse shows the true extent of his wickedness.

Its difficult to comprehend the magnitude of Phillips offending and the irreparable damage he has done to his victims lives. I have nothing but praise and respect for their immense courage coming forward its helped us build a case that has put an atrocious individual behind bars, potentially for the rest of his life. He will be 82 years old before he is eligible for parole

Det Constable Thompson urged anyone who has suffered recent or non-recent abuse to come forward and seek support. He said: We have support services and specially-trained offices to help people consider their options and work through what has happened to them. We are here to help, regardless of how long ago the offences happened.

Phillips will spend the next 28 years in prison plus an extended licence period.

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A brutal "predator" has been jailed for raping a woman who awoke naked in a strange flat to find him sexually assaulting her. The victim had no memory of anything between leaving a pub where Steven Walker, 43, was believed to have approached her and the moment she woke up.

He was arrested at his flat in Quinton Lane, Birmingham, after the woman's friends encouraged her to report her ordeal to police. The West Midlands force also obtained CCTV showing him leading her out of the pub on a Saturday night in November 2019.

Walker admitted having sex with the victim through the night after he was detained, the force said.

At Birmingham Crown Court last month, he was jailed for nine years and six months for three counts of rape. He will also be placed on the sex offender register for life.

West Midlands Police said it was "really pleased to see that justice has been served against a dangerous predator who took advantage of a woman in a vulnerable condition who was not in a position to give consent". 

At Birmingham Crown Court last month, he was jailed for nine years and six months for three counts of rape. He will also be placed on the sex offender register for life.

West Midlands Police said it was "really pleased to see that justice has been served against a dangerous predator who took advantage of a woman in a vulnerable condition who was not in a position to give consent". 

"The woman has said she can now move on with her life knowing she helped prevent this happening to anyone else. We work hard at West Midlands Police to ensure women and girls can feel safe when they are out on a night out.

"This includes working with agencies to ensure people can get home safely or by working with night time venues, where staff are informed of what signs to look out for. We will always believe victims and would urge anyone who is a victim of this type of crime to have the courage to come forward.

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A British Army soldier has been sacked from the forces for sexually assaulting a teenage colleague by groping her breast and sliding his hand up her skirt while shouting 'I'm so hard' in her ear.

Lance Corporal Storm Elliott, who was in training to be a Royal Military Police officer, had been found guilty of twice touching the female soldier inappropriately during a night out clubbing.

Witnesses told a military court the 22-year-old pestered the young woman on the dancefloor and continued to grope her even after she rejected his advances.

He was described as a 'lovesick puppy', persisting even after she told him not to kiss her and pushed his hand away when he touched her breast.

LCpl Elliot had claimed the touching was consensual, but after a two day trial a board decided the attention was unwanted and he had grabbed the young woman's crotch.

At his sentencing, LCpl Elliott was discharged from the forces and placed on a three-year service community order.

The teenage victim had told his trial she had been worried about reporting the incidents because 'he was an RMP [Royal Military Police officer] and no one was going to believe it'.

She told Bulford Military Court, Wilts: 'I could feel him touching my breast in a way I didn't want him to.

'It wasn't very long because I stopped him from doing it. I was confused as to why he'd done it.

'I felt something under my dress on my underwear. I pushed his hand away. I walked straight to [my friend] and said I needed to leave.'

LCpl Elliott had become enamoured with the female soldier after the two met at the Popworld nightclub in Portsmouth, Hants, where he was on a night out from his base at the nearby Defence School of Policing and Guarding.

She continued: 'He came up to me and said I looked gorgeous. He shouted in my ear because the music was loud.'

The court heard LCpl Elliott had shouted comments in her ear - and kept trying to kiss the young woman despite being told 'no'.

She said: 'He was pushing his top half of his body towards me to kiss me. I couldn't get back any further. He asked for a kiss and I said no. He just kept on trying.'

One of the woman's friends even referred to LCpl Elliott as a 'lovesick puppy' - telling the court she had thought him 'a little strange' because he introduced himself as 'Lance Corporal Elliott'.

The victim told the trial she had been scared to tell officers about the incident due to LCpl Elliott's more senior position in the Army.

She said: 'The way I saw it was that he was an RMP [Royal Military Police officer] and no one was going to believe it.'

Judge Advocate General Alan Large told LCpl Elliot the offences were 'serious enough to warrant dismissal'.

He said: 'You were drunk and found the victim attractive. On the dancefloor you touched her on her breast when it was clear she did not want your attention.

'There are two offences - not just one. Alcohol may explain a person's behaviour, but it does not excuse it. There are two offences and clearly one of them more serious - serious enough to warrant dismissal.'

LCpl Elliott was also placed on a three year service community order - requiring him to complete 35 sessions of an accredited sexual offender behaviour programme and 30 days rehabilitation activity.

He will also be on the sex offenders register for five years.

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An Aberdeenshire man who chatted with what he believed were five underage girls has been added to the sex offenders register.

Michael Burr was caught out by vigilante paedophile hunters who posed as young teenagers on fake Facebook accounts.

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A convicted sex offender was caught deleting his internet history on his mobile phone within hours of getting it back from police.

Serial offender Ronald Harcourt was jailed in 2019 for more than two years after he was caught with a tablet computer hidden in a wash house.

He had been given an extended ten-year sentence in 2014 after it was revealed he was part of a worldwide ring exchanging child abuse images.

Harcourt, who shared indecent images with other paedophiles, had a collection of almost 4,000 images on his phone.

As a result of his latest offence, the 60-year-old, who was recalled on licence following his arrest, was sentenced to another eight months in prison.

Nigel Soppitt, prosecuting, said the defendant had deleted the browser history on his mobile phone shortly after getting it back.

Harcourt, of Raithwaite House, Helmsley Drive, Guisborough, pleaded guilty to breaching his sexual harm prevention order following his arrest on May 5 last year.

Simon Walker, mitigating, told the court that it could not be ascertained what he had deleted but reminded the judge of the short period of time his client had been in possession of his mobile phone.

Judge Jonathan Carroll said: “Having deleted your search history on the same day you received it back there was very little time for you to have committed any further offending.

“It still leaves the question what it was that you were so keen to erase.”