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A soldier has been kicked out of the Army after he had 'rough sex' with a woman and performed a sex act on her which he knew she 'absolutely hated'. Sapper Thomas Herrington, who was accused of pulling the woman around his bedroom by her hair and tying her to his bed with a dressing gown belt, said he had asked about her 'pain threshold'.

It was alleged he violently raped the woman when he was 18 years old, after he told a court martial she 'liked rough, kinky sex'. It was claimed the Army engineer targeted the woman while she was 'out cold' from drinking vodka at a party.

A military court dismissed two charges of rape. However, he was convicted of sexual assault by penetration after the woman told the court he horrified her by putting his thumb in her bottom. The woman told police: "It felt really malicious. He knew I didn't like it and he was talking like he was proud. That was really violating because of how much I hate that."

Spr Herrington claimed the woman liked being 'roughly-handled', that she previously sent him naked selfies on Snapchat and she sent him sexualised messages before the party. The soldier, now aged 20, said they had sex in the weeks prior to that night, claimed she had 'enjoyed' passionate sex that night and was 'stunned and confused' by the allegations.

But Spr Herrington, formerly of 1 Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment, has now been dismissed, as a judge told him boundaries during sex must be respected. Sentencing him, Judge Advocate Alistair McGrigor said: "It was an unwarranted and unwanted action that meant she consequently fled the room.

"Rough interactions has its own inherent danger. Boundaries must be respected - you knew because she had told you she agreed to rough sex but that did not include anal activity. It was abhorrent to her. This was a boundary you should have respected."

Spr Herrington's lawyer, James Hay, told the court a 'lengthy and onerous' community order would allow him to address his 'catastrophic error of judgement'. In a victim statement read to the court, the woman said that since the incident 'I am struggling to cope with the guilt and shame that I am left feeling'.

As well as being dismissed, the soldier, who recently failed a drugs test, was handed a three year community order, and 240 days of unpaid work. He will be on the sex offender register for five years. During the four day trial at Bulford Military Court, Wilts, a board heard the woman 'drank so much she passed out on one of the beds' at the party, before Spr Herrington was seen 'cradling' her and carrying her to his bedroom.

She claimed he gained pleasure out of her 'struggling', dragged her by the hair when she tried to escape, and pinned her down by his dressing gown belt in an attack so violent she said she thought he'd kill her. She said she eventually managed to 'wriggle away', escape the room without any clothes on, and return to the party crying 'I couldn't stop him, I couldn't move, I told him to stop'.

The woman described the alleged attack as 'the most unconsensual experience of my life'. Spr Herrington told the court sex that night had been consensual after the pair struck up a sexual relationship.

He said: "We had spoken about interests and liked rough, kinky sex. She said she liked choking, hair pulling, the odd bit of spanking and being roughly-handled." Spr Herrington said the woman was not drunk but 'happy and giddy' during their first sexual encounter that night.

Later, while at the party, the woman appeared to fall asleep and Spr Herrington carried her back to his room. He said: "I locked the door because we were going to have coitus, I didn't lock the door because I was going to have sex with an unconscious woman.

"I said 'are you OK?' and she said 'I'm fine'. I wanted to make sure she was responsive and that she was OK. I told her if you don't want to do this just tell me to stop.

"We had spoken about how I tend to get a bit more rough when drinking and I didn't know her pain threshold so I wanted to make sure she was OK. She was enjoying it, she was moaning."

Spr Herrington said suddenly the woman 'jolted forward', got up, and ran out of the room naked. He told the hearing he was 'completely stunned' and 'didn't know what I had done wrong'.

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A Worthing pensioner, who sexually abused a 'very young girl', will spend four years in jail. Sussex Police said Michael Lamb, 76, has been found guilty of sexual assault by touching on a child under the age of 13, and causing or inciting a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity. Investigating officer Detective Constable Cheyne Garrett said: The victim showed huge courage to come forward and report [this] which took place when she was a very young girl. The victim first approached officers in January 2020, police said. Lamb, of Melrose Avenue, Worthing, was arrested and was later charged. He stood trial at Lewes Crown Court earlier this year where a jury found him guilty of all charges, and he was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on May 5. Police confirmed that Lamb was imprisoned for four years and was put on the sex offenders register. The court also imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which forbids him from having unsupervised contact with children. This also prevents Lamb from residing or working with children and young people, or approaching or talking with children. DC Garrett added: Lamb denied the offences and has caused trauma to the victim and her family by making them go through a criminal trial. This case demonstrates that we take historic sexual abuse very seriously. The victim received support from specialist officers throughout the process. We were determined to get justice for the victim, and following a thorough investigation we are pleased with the jurys verdict.

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A man who was found to be in possession of thousands of images and hundreds of indecent videos including prohibited images of a child and extreme pornography has appeared before court.

Neil Copnell, 51, of Rosebery Street, Rotherham appeared before Sheffield Crown Court last week (24 May) for sentencing after pleading guilty to seven offences of making and possessing indecent images of various categories.

On 20 May 2021 officers attended Copnells home and arrested him. Following his arrest, officers and the specialised Digital Forensics Team carried out searches of his devices.

The searches revealed images and videos dating back from 2004 until 2021. Over 16,000 indecent images were found and 353 videos involving children as young as four years old.

Copnell was charged with making category A, B, C images, possession of prohibited images, possession of extreme image, and possession of B and C videos. He pleaded guilty to all charges on 22 April 2022.

Detective Constable Emma Blackburn from the Rotherham Protecting Vulnerable People Team said: The images and videos that Copnell had in his possession were extreme, graphic and sickening.

Those with images and videos in their possession often believe they are not harming anyone but behind each photograph and video is a victim.

We are committed to protecting victims and vulnerable people, but also ensuring that those like Copnell are put before the courts to ensure there is no risk to members of our community and monitoring can take place.

Copnell was sentenced to a two year community order, 43 days sex offender rehabilitation programme, 100 hours unpaid work and subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years.

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A 'MONSTER who sexually abused a young girl has been jailed 13 years. George Smith, 65, was handed the term with a four-year extended licence after he was found guilty of four sex offences. Smith, of Salmons Road, Odiham, took advantage of the victim, a girl under the age of 13, last year. The family of Smiths victim were at Winchester Crown Court to watch the abuser being sent to prison on Friday (May 27). Sentencing, Judge Andrew Barnett said that Smith's behaviour was not only shocking but quite unforgivable, adding that he carried out deviant and perverted behaviour towards that little girl. Smith pleaded not guilty to the offences but was convicted by a jury of rape of a child under 13, two counts of sexual assault on a child under 13 and causing/inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. In a victim impact statement, the mother said: Georges evil intentions and actions towards [the victim] are impossible to explain to anyone." She said that her daughters innocence has been taken away from her, the mother continued: Her braveness in speaking out against George means that that monster will no longer be able to hurt anymore girls. In mitigation, Adrienne Knight said that Smiths wife will be affected by his prison sentence as he is the sole earner. She continued: His health means he may never come out, certainly his health has deteriorated in recent years. It is going to make going to prison more onerous, I think, it is going to be more difficult for him because of his health. Ms Knight said that Smith was a landscaper gardener who was hard working and employed a number of people over the years. She added: When he comes out of prison that business will be gone, he will in effect be left with very little. Smith was found not guilty of possessing a prohibited image and an indecent image of a child his work computer, but in sentencing, Judge Barnett said: On that computer were a number of images some touching upon the concerning subject of young girls, it seems to me that is a pointer as to what was going on in your warped mind. The judge told Smith that he believed he posed a danger to the public which resulted in the extended licence. Smith was handed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order.

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A SHOP worker has been jailed after she groomed a teenager into having sex with her. Ellee Nicoll bought the girl presents, gave her money, called her pretty and paid other compliments before they declared their love for each other and engaged in sexual activity. It was heard the now 25-year-old Walcot woman cultivated the relationship, engaging in months of sexting with the teen, and decided to watch a lesbian film with her to normalise what [she] wanted to happen. It was not until the girls mother became concerned at how close the pair were and told the teenager what grooming may look like that the penny dropped, leading to her feeling sick about what had happened. Sentencing her to immediate prison, Judge Jason Taylor QC said that alarm bells should have been ringing loud and clear in your mind, but you were seemingly tone death. He acknowledged the victims mental health struggles and said that Nicoll must have realised what her grooming meant to her. She was jailed for two years and two months. Opening the case at Swindon Crown Court on Thursday (May 26), prosecutor Andrew Houston said that Nicoll, who works at a Swindon Co-Op, initially became friends with the girl, and that the victim looked up to her like a big sister. But the relationship quickly changed, he said, with the victim making the first move to turn the conversation to sexting, and also sending her pictures of her naked and in underwear. It was claimed that Nicoll sent pictures back, although this was disputed by the defence. As time went on, messages recovered showed heavy sexual flirtation between the two, and associates of the defendant realised that the pair were touchy feely and that they would smack each other on the bottom. Mr Houston said that Nicolls mother had warned her to stay away from the schoolgirl, but she ignored the warnings. Events came to a head one night where the girls mother offered Nicoll a place to stay when she had a family disagreement, and not realising the closeness of the girls, said they could share a bed. He told the court that they watched a lesbian film in bed, they then agreed to do stuff to each other. In the following days, Nicoll described it as the best night of her life, and the victim said she had no regrets. Mitigating, Gareth James said the offending was out of character and that it has had a devastating effect on her already. She does seem to be a defendant who can properly and accurately be described as a vulnerable defendant herself and perhaps immature, and perhaps didnt think through the consequences of her actions, having effectively fallen for feelings she shouldnt have had, Mr James said. He added that it has had a significant adverse impact on his clients mental health and she is voluntarily working to address this. He pleaded with Judge Taylor to impose a suspended sentence. He said: Given the undoubted effect already upon Miss Nicoll and her concerns for her future problems and the work she has already undertaken on a voluntary basis, [this] demonstrates very clearly there is a significant prospect of rehabilitation. Sentencing, Judge Taylor acknowledged that Nicoll did not set out to groom the girl, but that grooming occurred nonetheless. When she sent you naked images of herself, the appropriate thing to do was gently say it is not appropriate. You didnt. You had become so desensitised from her age it didnt give you pause for thought in the cold hard light of day. No regrets for [the victim] turned to embarrassment, and by the time she was interviewed by police, she felt sick. Sometimes teenagers just need to be protected from themselves. Judge Taylor continued: Whilst female offending of this type is more unusual, it is no less serious. There is still a child victim who will be affected by what you did. Experience of the courts has shown this time and time again. For that reason, even if the sentence had been within the range of being suspendable, I would have reluctantly said appropriate punishment could only be achieved by immediate imprisonment. Having pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child and sexual communication with a child, Nicoll, of Concord Walk, Walcot, was jailed for two years and two months. A sexual harm prevention order was made for 10 years, as was a restraining order preventing her from contacting the victim.

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A paedophile who subjected a girl to two years of 'grossly' abusing her also threatened to rape her after saying she was his 'ideal woman.

Leonard Roberts "grotesquely" subjected her to numerous different types of abuse during "totally outrageous" behaviour, HullLive reports. When his victim revealed what she had gone through, Roberts told police that "he was a piece of s*** and deserved to die", Hull Crown Court heard.

Roberts, of Gypsey Road, Bridlington, East Yorkshire, admitted 11 sexual offences, including two of sexual assault, four of sexual activity with a child and others of penetrative sexual activity with a child, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and causing a child to watch a sex act.

Charlotte Baines, prosecuting, said that on April 26, the girl revealed to members of her family details of the sexual abuse that she had suffered from Roberts over the previous two years. Roberts told police: "Whatever she said, I have done it." He repeated this five or six times.

The girl said that the abuse had "got worse over time" and he repeatedly sexually and intimately touched her. "This made her feel very, very uncomfortable," said Miss Baines. Roberts committed a sex act in front of the girl and watched pornography in her presence. "He made threats of sexual violence towards her and threatened to rape her," said Miss Baines. "He told her that she was his ideal woman."

Roberts, 41, told the girl: "You deserve to be raped." The girl felt scared. When Roberts was arrested, he told police that "he was a piece of s*** and deserved to die" and that he was "in desperate need of love, affection and stimulation".

The girl said in a statement that it had been very difficult to cope with what had happened. "I have been trying to hide what he did for so long," she said.

"He told me that he was doing what he did to me because he fell in love with me. It has affected my mood. I have lost interest in all the things I liked doing. I am depressed all the time. I feel happy that it is over. I wish this had never happened."

Rachel Scott, mitigating, said that Roberts had never challenged the girl's account of what happened. "This behaviour is unexplainable and it's disgraceful," said Miss Scott. "He is deeply sorry for his actions and for what he has done and he knows how much he has hurt her. He is truly, truly remorseful.

"He appreciates that he needs serious help. He feels that he doesn't even deserve the help that he has been offered. He wishes that, if he could turn back the clock, he would never have these thoughts."

Roberts had no previous convictions and had previously worked as a factory worker before up that job to become a full-time carer for his parents. Judge Mark Bury told Roberts that he behaved "grotesquely" towards the girl. "You grossly abused her over a two-year period," said the judge.

"You threatened to rape her. On one occasion, you said she deserved to be raped. Can you imagine how that would make a young girl feel? It's grossly inappropriate. She wants you to know how much you have hurt her. This went on regularly many times over two years. There were many types of abuse. There was verbal abuse that you uttered towards her, really horrible things that you said to her. You were told to stop but you carried on.

"It's clear to me that you are ashamed of your behaviour. There is great remorse, as well there might be for these totally outrageous acts of sexual abuse."

Roberts was jailed for eight years and will have to register as a sex offender for life.

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A pervert with previous for having indecent images of children made suspicious searches on secret devices he failed to tell police about.

David Carey was subject to strict restrictions on his internet activity after being caught with child abuse images in 2017. As a result of that conviction, he was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order, which included a condition he had to notify police about any internet enabled device he was using.

But he breached that order seven times in December last year by using computers at Whitley Bay Library without telling police. He came to the attention of staff when he asked about some children's audio books and told them he was using their computers as the police were involved with him and had removed his devices.

A further breach was revealed on December 14 when police responded to a 999 call by him. He was found by a PC sitting on a bench and as the officer approached him she noticed him putting a pink iPod in his pocket.

A search of his home revealed another iPod and neither of them had been registered with police. Jemima Stephenson, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: "There was a search history on both devices indicating he may have been trying to access child pornography. The searches included 'extreme incest', 'eight-year-old young' and 'extreme young'."

The court heard Carey, 39, of Langdale Close, Longbenton, North Tyneside has 14 previous convictions. In April 2017 he was convicted of 13 offences relating to indecent or prohibited images of children and in December last year - days before the latest offences - he was convicted of breaching the sexual harm prevention order after refusing to provide a passcode for a phone.

For the latest offences, he pleaded guilty to two breaches of the sexual harm prevention order and was sentenced to 18 months suspended for two years and must do a sex offenders treatment programme. Judge Penny Moreland told him: "I'm not sure if you have grasped, when you search for indecent images, you are looking for pictures of real children who are the victims of sexual abuse in order for you to gain pleasure from it."

Joe Culley, defending, said Carey had completed a sex offenders treatment programme as part of his sentence in 2017. He added that his mother died last year, which had a "profound effect" on him.

Mr Culley said: "He lives an extremely isolated existence and a persecuted existence. Those who live near him know of his offending history and his home has been targeted and he has sought to move away. He has family in other areas who have disowned him. He has a referral for an autism assessment."

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A soldier has been jailed after being convicted of the rape and sexual assault of a child under 13.

Shane Percival, 27, a lance corporal with the Royal Anglian Regiment, appeared at Norwich Crown Court having been found guilty of rape and sexual assault .

It followed a trial in March this year after which Percival, of Lynford Drive, Eaton, was found guilty of the offences.

They happened between December 2011 and August 2013, when Percival was aged between 16 and the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was aged between nine and 10.

Before Percival, who was stationed at Woolwich Barracks and in Cyprus, was sentenced the victim read out a statement in court.

She said: "I was 15 when I told my teacher what Shane did to me.

"My whole world fell apart.

"I had kept this hidden since I was a little girl.

"I did this because it would break my family's hearts and it did."

The victim described how her mental health suffered as a result and how she turned to self-harm and made attempts to take her own life.

The victim said: "Luckily my attempts were unsuccessful."

She added: "I didn't want to live but I'm now stronger than ever."

Duncan O'Donnell, prosecuting, read a statement on behalf of the victim's mother who said she was "so proud of her" for how she has come through the ordeal.

Mr O'Donnell said the victim impact statements describe the effects of what had happened to her and insisted there was "substantial psychological harm".

Jailing Percival for five years and two months, Judge Alice Robinson said the victim "undoubtedly suffered psychological harm as a result of these offences".

Michael Clare, mitigating, provided to the court a number of character references on behalf of the defendant.

Mr Clare said Percival who was 16 when the offences were committed, was "clearly was at some point a damaged boy".

Percival was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for six years.

He was also put on the sex offenders register indefinitely and banned from contacting the victim directly or indirectly for six years.

A British Army spokesman said: "The army takes such convictions very seriously and where there is a sentence of imprisonment, there is a strong likelihood that the individual will be discharged."

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A 26-year-old Stowmarket man who was found to have downloaded more than 2,000 indecent images and movies of children after he took his mobile phone into a shop in Ipswich has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Staff at the Vodafone shop in the town contacted the police after spotting indecent images on Luke Crightons phone when he took it into the shop for an upgrade, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Following his arrest, Crighton told officers: I know Ive done wrong. Im trying to stop and get help. How long will I go to prison for?

Crighton, of Eve Balfour Way, Stowmarket, admitted six offences of making indecent images and videos of children and two offences of producing two indecent videos of children.

Juliet Donovan, prosecuting, said that in addition to Crightons phone police had seized other devices from him and when they were analysed they were found to contain 495 still indecent images of children and 140 movies in the most serious level A category, 319 still images and 28 movies in category B and 1,147 images and 44 movies in the lowest level C category.

Police also discovered two category C indecent movies of children that Crighton had filmed himself.

Sentencing Crighton, Judge Emma Peters described what hed done as a disgusting addiction" and described the indecent images and videos as vile.

She gave Crighton a 16-month prison sentence suspended for two years and ordered him to do 180 hours of unpaid work.

She also ordered him to take part in a sex offenders treatment programme and gave him a 30 day rehabilitation activity requirement.

Crighton, who has a ten-month-old baby, was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for ten years and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for the same period.

He was also ordered to pay 380 costs.

Claire Matthews, for Crighton, said he realised he was in jeopardy of an immediate custodial sentence.

She said he had made admissions to the police from the outset and had been open with his family about what hed done.

Miss Matthews said Crighton came from a good law-abiding family who did not understand or condone his behaviour.

She said Crighton had moved back home with his parents and his family was now ensuring he didnt re-offend.

Miss Matthews said Crighton had completed eight two-hour group work sessions to address his offending behaviour.

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A convicted gangland killer and rapist smashed a can of lager into his girlfriend's face because she didn't want to drink.

Stephen Rice, who has served prison sentences for an underworld shooting manslaughter in Newcastle city centre, wounding with intent and rape, had been released on licence when he attacked his partner. A court heard she lived in the flat above his in Gateshead and they had begun a relationship after growing close when she initially went round to complain about noise.

In April last year she was at home and could hear him downstairs in his flat smashing things up. He then went to her flat at 7am with a badly injured finger which was bleeding. She wrapped a towel around it and offered to call an ambulance but he refused.

Alec Burns, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: "He had brought four cans of lager with him and he started accusing her of seeing other men. She swore she had not and got upset. Because she would not drink, he smashed a full can of lager in her face. He then got upset and said 'look what you've made me do' and began to cry."

When interviewed by police, Rice, 55, of Redheugh Court, Gateshead, claimed she had hit herself with the can but he later went on to plead guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Jailing him for 14 months, Recorder Carl Gumsley said: "This was a nasty offence against somebody you were professing to have a meaningful and, one assumes, loving relationship and it happened in her home.

"You have an appalling and most troubling record - you have convictions for some of the most serious offences of violence."

Ian Brook, defending, said: "There was disharmony borne out of his jealousy. There's some remorse expressed in the report.

"He met her as she had complained about the racket in is flat and they entered a relationship which was somewhat volatile. He was a career criminal. She was aware of the manslaughter conviction and the rapes. He was required to disclose to anyone he wanted to have a relationship with that he had those convictions.

"The complainant and defendant were kindred spirits. They both had mental health issues and drank to excess and had drug issues. He was released for the rape convictions in June 2018 and he says he turned a corner."

Rice was convicted of manslaughter and jailed for eight years after he shot dead a rival during a gunfight in a crowded Bigg Market bar only days before Christmas in 1995. That involved a shoot-out in Maceys bar, where Rice was already carrying a pistol when rival Frankie Kelly, 28, opened fire as revellers tried to take cover. Rice pulled his own gun from his waistband, pulled the trigger and shot Mr Kelly in the chest.

He was back inside for six-and-a-half years in 2006 for his part in a conspiracy to spread cocaine through the city.

In 2011 he was jailed for 11 years for a sustained attack on a mother in her own Newcastle home. He struck the victim from behind with a weightlifting bar. Rice then landed more blows before raping her.

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A SEX offender has been jailed for more than 13 years for crimes in the New Forest including the rape of a child under 13.

Steven Oxborrow (33), of Wilverley Road in Wootton, near New Milton, had been a "liked and trusted" local childrens martial arts instructor and entertainer.

But on multiple occasions over seven years, between January 2005 and June 2012, he abused three youngsters in the Wootton and New Milton area.

As reported in the A&T, he was convicted by a Southampton Crown Court jury in April of one count of rape of a child under 13 and five counts of sexual activity with a child under 13.

He was also found guilty of three counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, two counts of making indecent photographs of a child, and one count of possession of an indecent image of a child.

Yesterday (Thursday) he was sentenced by a judge at the same court to 13-and-a-half years behind bars, plus a further year on licence.

He was also made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, with all three victims being granted restraining orders against Oxborrow for life, ensuring that he cannot contact them.

He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

DC Donna Kay from Hampshire Constabularys Amberstone Unit, said: Firstly, I would like to commend the bravery and courage of the three victims in reporting the abuse in the first instance, with each one showing maturity beyond their years and playing a vital role in securing justice.

They were just children when Steven Oxborrow decided to take away their innocence with the victims fearful at the time of abuse of getting themselves, and a man that they liked and trusted, into trouble.

Oxborrow demonstrated that he was a very dangerous human being in grooming his victims and their parents into a false sense of security as a supposed respected person within the community who would not cause anyone any harm.

As we now know, this cant be further from the truth. We hope that todays sentencing can provide the victims with a sense of closure and comfort that he can no longer harm them."

Oxborrow's offending was uncovered when one of the victims came forward when they were 12 years old, after a concerned parent found inappropriate messages between the pair on a family computer.

Officers uncovered a further victim of Oxborrow and later found indecent images of children on his computer.

The trial jury also heard how a third victim reported being sexually abused by him when taking part in martial art classes.

DC Kay added: We want to show you that no matter the circumstances, Hampshire Constabulary are committed to supporting survivors of rape and sexual assault and we will do everything we can to identify offenders and put them in front of a court.

If youve been a victim, please report rape or sexual assault as soon as possible. Even if youre not 100 per cent sure, wed sooner hear from you so that we can make sure youre safe.

Operation Amberstone was set up in 2016 by Hampshire Constabulary as a dedicated team investigating serious sexual assaults and rape, including specially trained officers assigned to support victims.

A Hampshire police spokesperson said: "If youre not ready to talk to the police just yet, thats okay.

"You can speak to a number of organisations in confidence and what you tell them won't be shared with the police unless you ask for it to be."

For more information please visit www.hampshire.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/rsa/rape-and-sexual-assault/support-for-victims-of-rape-and-sexual-assault/

The outcome prompted a statement by the NSPCC, which said: The abuse experienced by Oxborrows victims will have had a profound impact upon their lives, and we hope they are now receiving the support they need to find some peace following the ordeals they were put through.

It is never too late to report child abuse. If you've experienced abuse, recently or in the past, or you're worried about someone who has, you can contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or [email protected].

"The NSPCC Helpline is staffed by trained professionals who can provide expert advice and support. Children can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or via Childline.org.uk.

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A paedophile hunter groups victim, who sent pictures of himself wearing ladies underwear, has been jailed for four years. Michael Hall, 53, sent the 13-year-old girl sexually-explicit messages instructing her to use fruit as a sex toy. Having met the girl on 18+ website Loveoo, he made repeated requests for her to send pictures of herself in her underwear or a swimsuit. The former Berkshire man, who has since moved to France, also sent explicit images of himself using a sex toy. Despite attempts to meet up, he was said to have got cold feet. Ahead of a surprise meeting in Reading, he told her she was too young and he was scared of going to prison. The girl with whom Hall thought was speaking was, in fact, a member of a so-called paedophile hunter group called the Geordie Chasers. The group confronted him outside Reading railway station in mid-2018 after he travelled to meet the girl. Hall had denied a slew of child sex offences, telling police that he believed the girl was an adult. However, jurors at Oxford Crown Court earlier this week returned unanimous guilty verdicts to seven charges, including attempted sexual communication with a child, attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act and attempting to meet a child after sexual activity. Sending him down for four years, Judge Ian Pringle QC said: Your defence that you knew all along that the person with whom you were texting was a woman aged between 18 and 24 was flatly rejected by the jury. By their verdicts they found you did, indeed, believe she was 13 years of age.

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A registered sex offender who was caught with more than 2,000 indecent images of children on a hidden mobile phone has been sent back to prison. David Martin Nappin, 38, was released on licence following a previous prison sentence on July 30, 2020. As part of the previous sentence, Nappin the subject of a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, limiting his contact with children and use of the internet. He was also made subject to a notification requirement. Those requirements meant that he had to make any device capable of accessing the internet to the police or a probation officer on request. On November 10, 2020, officers from the East (MOSOVO) Management of Sexual and Violent Offender Team were contacted by the manager of the probation hostel in Blackburn where Nappin was living to say that an unregistered phone had been discovered in the defendants room. Nappin was arrested, charged and recalled to prison while the investigation progressed. Nappin had also sent the hostel manager a message on his registered mobile phone which read: you'll find something, the stuff that got me in trouble last time. Officers from the MOSOVO unit attended Nappins place of work the same day arrested him and seized his registered and unregistered mobile phones. On the unregistered mobile phone, experts found 2209 illegal files. Of those 802 were Category A the most serious examples of child sexual abuse - 491 were Category B and 898 were Category C. There were also eight prohibited images and to extreme pornographic images. Robert Richards, from the East MOSOVO Team, said: Following an investigation by Lancashire Police, registered sex offender David Nappin was convicted of possessing over 2209 indecent images of children, including 802 of the most serious category A photographs and videos. The images in this case were described as harrowing, and Nappin by his own admission, not only wishes to view indecent images, but to also act on those desires, and presents a very high risk of serious harm to female children under 10.

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A man has been convicted of multiple sexual offences against a young child.

Simon John Hayden-Reno, 28, was convicted after a trial at Croydon Crown Court on Wednesday, May 25 of one count of rape of a girl under 13.

Hayden-Reno, of Cudham Drive in New Addington, had previously pleaded guilty to 13 further sexual offences.

These are:

• Three counts of assault a girl under 13 by penetration;
• Six counts of making an indecent photograph of a child;
• Three counts of inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity;
• One count of assault of a girl under 13 by touching.

He was found not guilty of a second count of rape of a girl under 13.

He will be sentenced later in the year on a date to be arranged.

The offences took place from 2017 to 2018 mainly at a residential premises in New Addington.

Hayden-Reno was known to his victim, but not related to her, and took advantage of any time that he was alone with her.

On October 4, 2018 the victim, who was under ten-years-old, told her mum what had been happening and this was reported to police.

An immediate investigation began by detectives from the South Area Child Abuse Investigation Team.

Hayden-Reno was arrested on Sunday, October 7, 2018 and interviewed, but he denied the allegation.

The young victim was supported by specialist officers and other professional agencies who supported her and her family.

The young age and vulnerability of the victim meant that police had to conduct a rigorous investigation to carefully amass the necessary evidence.

Numerous statements were taken and it was during a forensic search of Hayden – Reno’s phone that the indecent images of children were uncovered.

On Wednesday, May 5, Hayden-Reno was charged with the offences.

Detective Constable Heidi Lee, the investigating officer, said: “Firstly I want to pay tribute to the very young victim and her family.

"It took a great deal of courage for this child to come forward and talk about the abuse she had suffered.

"But thanks to her, and her family’s bravery, this man has been convicted.

"I would like to encourage anyone who has been a victim of sexual crime to come forward and speak to police; they will be supported and their voice too can be heard.

“As for Hayden-Reno he has vilely taken advantage of his proximity to a very young girl to exploit her.

"He is a sexual predator and I am glad he has been convicted, he now faces a very long time in prison and it is thoroughly deserved.”