Latest Offenders

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Met Police officer Wayne Couzens has been sentenced to a whole-life term for the murder of Sarah Everard, in a case that sparked national outrage and calls for more action to tackle violence against women.

Couzens admitted the kidnap, rape and murder of the 33-year-old marketing executive when he appeared in court several months ago.

But it was only during his sentencing that the full details of his crimes emerged.

Ms Everard was walking home from a friend's house in Clapham, south London, at about 21:30 BST on 3 March when she was abducted.

Couzens' choice of victim was random, but the attack was planned.

In his sentencing remarks, Lord Justice Fulford said there had been "significant planning and premeditation" by Couzens.

The police officer had "long planned to carry out a violent sexual assault on a yet-to-be-selected victim" who he intended to coerce into his custody, noted the judge.

Couzens spent at least a month travelling to London from Deal, Kent, where he lived, to research how best to carry out his crimes.

Several days before the attack, he booked a hire car, which he would use for the abduction, as well as a roll of self-adhesive film advertised as a carpet protector on Amazon.

After finishing a 12-hour shift at the US embassy that morning, Couzens, a parliamentary and diplomatic protection officer, went out "hunting" for a lone, young woman to kidnap and rape, the prosecution said.

The court heard how Couzens used the knowledge he had gained from working on Covid patrols in January and his Metropolitan Police-issue warrant card to trick his victim under the guise of a fake arrest for breaching coronavirus guidelines.

The 48-year-old, who had been a police officer since 2002, handcuffed her before bundling her into the car and driving away.

The abduction was witnessed by a couple travelling past in a car - but they believed they had seen an undercover police officer carrying out a legitimate arrest, so did not intervene.

The whole kidnapping took less than five minutes.

Sarah Everard's last known movements

Couzens then drove to Dover in Kent, where he transferred Ms Everard to his own car, before travelling to a remote rural area nearby.

It was there that he raped and murdered his victim - strangling her with his police belt.

By 02:31 Couzens had left the scene and was spotted at a service station buying drinks.

He visited the site where Ms Everard's body was dumped twice, leaving just before dawn.

The next day, as the search for her escalated, Couzens bought petrol, which he used to burn her body inside a fridge.

He also purchased two green rubble bags, which he used to dump the remains in a pond near an area of woodland he owned in Hoads Wood, Ashford.

A week after she disappeared, Ms Everard's body was found in a woodland stream, just metres from land owned by Couzens.

Meanwhile, Couzens returned to normal life, carrying out mundane activities like calling a vet about his dog.

Days later, he even took his wife and two children on a family trip to the woods where he had burnt his victim's body.

However, on the 8 March, the day he was due to return to work, he reported in sick.

The following day he was arrested at his home in Deal.

In a brief police interview, he told a false story about being threatened by an Eastern European gang, claiming they had demanded he deliver "another girl" after he had underpaid a prostitute a few weeks before. He then claimed he kidnapped Ms Everard, drove out of London and handed her over to three men in a van in a layby in Kent, while she was alive and uninjured.

But after Ms Everard's body was discovered in a pond just 130 metres from land owned by Couzens, he was charged.

Couzens has since been sacked by the Met, but the force is still facing questions over whether chances were missed to prevent his predatory behaviour.

After Ms Everard's murder, the police watchdog announced it was probing alleged failures by the Met to investigate two indecent exposure incidents linked to Couzens in February.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct is also investigating alleged failures by Kent Police to investigate a flashing incident linked to Couzens in 2015.

Couzens transferred to the Met in 2018, from the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, where he had worked since 2011.

Two years later he began working for the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command as an authorised firearms officer at diplomatic premises around central London.

In July, appearing by video link from Belmarsh high security jail, Couzens pleaded guilty to murder at the Old Bailey.

On Wednesday he appeared in court again - this time in person - for a two-day sentencing hearing.

There, he faced Ms Everard's mother, father and sister, who described to the court the torment of losing their loved one in such horrendous circumstances.

Her father, Jeremy, demanded that Couzens looked at him as he told the murderer he could never forgive him for taking away his daughter.

Her mother, Susan, said she was "tormented" at the thought of what her "precious little girl" had endured.

"I go through the sequence of events. I wonder when she realised she was in mortal danger," she told the court.

"Burning her body was the final insult. It meant we could never again see her sweet face and never say goodbye.

"Our lives will never be the same. We should be a family of five, but now we are four. Her death leaves a yawning chasm in our lives that cannot be filled."

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The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was assaulted by Havant man Daniel Cake, 42, after he went into the bedroom where she was asleep in the middle of the night before sexually assaulting her.

Portsmouth Crown Court heard how intoxicated opportunist Cake, of Blendworth Crescent, was then kicked off the bed by the girl as her boyfriend woke up.

The court heard a hullabaloo then erupted in the house where there had been a party the previous evening resulting in Cake being punched in the face by a man before he was thrown out.

Police were called resulting in Cake, who was in a healthy relationship at the time, being arrested.

Despite feeling disappointed by the sentence after Cake walked away from court with his freedom, the teenager is determined to do good following her ordeal.

She said: I want everyone to know what he is really like and for me to help other girls who have had things happen to them.

The girls mum said she was proud of how her daughter had handled the nightmare situation but said she was shocked at the lenient sentence. I cannot believe he walked, she said. He just has to be a good boy now for a while and thats it. I wanted him to be sent to prison.

I cant believe he was not jailed. We feel let down by the justice system. What kind of a message does that send out?

My daughter doesnt want to be a victim over this and is helping others who have been through similar things. She has gone on to have success in what she is doing.

Speaking of the impact the incident had on the family, the mum said: It was horrific to have that call from my daughter telling me what happened. I never thought such a thing would happen to us.

It is disgusting what he did. She was sound asleep and defenceless. He said he didnt remember doing it but how can anyone not remember doing such a thing?

It was the biggest shock of her life. Hopefully what she went through will help others talk about experiences that have happened to them.

Judge Timothy Mousley QC described the act as appalling and shocking.

After his arrest, Cake told police he had consumed up to 12 beers, smoked cannabis and possibly taken cocaine.

He could not recall the incident whatsoever, prosecutor Charles Digby said.

The girl, in a statement read out to court, said she felt dirty after the incident, which involved her having to undergo a police medical examination.

She also revealed how her life had been turned upside down with her now paranoid in certain situations. Before I was very sociable and would go out on my own but now I have to have someone with me all the time, she said.

The teenager said she now worries when a man comes near me with the incident having a massive impact on her life.

She added: What did I ever do to him?

Jason Halsey, defending, called the incident shocking, humiliating and embarrassing before adding: It is inexplicable. He is a man of good character with no previous at 42 years.

There is no previous sexually deviant behaviour.

The barrister said Cake could easily be thrown in prison but he told the court the defendant was remorseful.

Cake was also described as a great father.

Judge Mousley added: People that know you say it was out of character. Why you committed the crime is a mystery.

Cake admitted a single count of sexual assault on a female aged 16 or over.

Despite the charge having a maximum sentence of 10 years jail, the judge concluded there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

Cake was then given a sentence of 16 months jail suspended for two years.

He was also told to complete 35 rehabilitation days and was handed a 10-year restraining order and sexual harm prevention order. He must also sign the Sex Offenders Register for the same period.

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One of Stoke-on-Trent's worst repeat sexual predators has been locked up after sending sick pictures to '13-year-old Ruby'.

Autistic Michael Horn has spent the last nine years of his life appearing in courts for breaking orders aimed at keeping children safe from his perverted ways.

And the 29-year-old's latest crime saw him having sexual chats with 'children' online.

Now Horn - who has over 20 previous convictions for various sexual offences - has been handed a nine-year extended sentence which is made up of four years in custody with five years on licence.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard Horn was released from prison on licence in October last year, and was granted permission to have an internet-enabled mobile phone on June 8 this year.

Just days later he breached his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) by chatting to underage girls as far away as America on apps.

He would frequently lie about his age, often saying he was only 14 or 18.

But he was caught out after striking up a conversation with a '13-year-old Ruby' who turned out to be an undercover law enforcement officer.

Another incident saw Horn contact a '16-year-old American girl' on teen dating app MyLOL.

He asked her if she would 'like to see his penis' and requested naked pictures, as well as asking if she would like to meet up for sex.

Prosecutor Tariq Bin Shakoor said: The SHPO was put in place in September 2012 for 10 years and made following his convictions for a variety of sexual offences.

The defendant was released in October 2020. He was given permission to use a mobile phone.

On June 21 this year officers visited him to check he was complying with the SHPO.

He was asked if he needed to tell them anything. He was nervous.

The defendant, in a private room, then told the police he had breached the order."

Horn, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and two charges of breaching his SHPO.

Hamish Noble, mitigating, said: He understands that its wrong. He is autistic and says it has held him back in life.

He understands that he needs to be punished and be rehabilitated for the future. He doesnt deny that he presents a risk.

The bottom line is he knows he needs help and he does not seek to lay the blame at anyones door.

He sees other peoples lives and can see how he would like to be.

Sentencing Horn, Judge David Fletcher told him: There is a continuation of a pattern of behaviour which is being exhibited by you.

Since the first conviction when you were 20 you have been made the subject of a SHPO.

Over the years that have followed you have found yourself in breach of it on several occasions. You are no stranger to the court system.

You find yourself now a young man who is completely divorced and separated from family members and has no friends.

I am satisfied that you do present a risk. It is necessary to propose an extended sentence to protect the public.

Horn was also made the subject of a new SHPO which will remain in place until the court says otherwise.

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A Catholic priest let altar boys smoke cannabis and drink alcohol so he could sexually abuse them.

One of Father Thomas MacCarte's victims thought the priest was "cool" for letting them hang out in his room.

But there was "another side" to MacCarte, who preyed on children at Bishop Eton Monastery in Woolton Road, Childwall.

Liverpool Crown Court heard the pervert made one teenage boy watch gay porn, before twice performing a sex act on him.

However, when one victim's dad complained about MacCarte to the church, the priest was simply moved away to Scotland.

MacCarte, now 70 and of St Mary's Monastery, Hatton Road, Perth, denied five counts of indecent assault.

A six-day trial heard how MacCarte was born in Glasgow and in the 1980s and early 1990s lived and worked at Bishop Eton.

Robert Wyn Jones, prosecuting, said it was there he met the two altar boys - Boy A and Boy B.

Mr Wyn Jones said MacCarte "drank too much" and sometimes walked home to the monastery drunk.

The court heard Boy A had thought MacCarte was "cool" and said he didn't lecture boys about sex or lust.

Mr Wyn Jones said he also let Boy A and some of his friends visit his accommodation in the monastery to smoke cannabis and drink alcohol there.

However, he said: "There was another side to Father MacCarte. He was very tactile. He would stroke his hair in a way that was far too affectionate. He would talk about sex and mutual masturbation."

The court heard one time Boy A helped MacCarte get home after the priest had drunk too much.

Mr Wyn Jones said: "They were walking along Woolton Road, which has a few houses overlooking it at that point. It was pretty deserted.

"Father MacCarte was wearing a cassock and he grabbed Boy A by the head and forced his head under his cassock to the area of his penis.

"He was clothed but Boy A remembers smelling the stale urine and pulled his head away."

The jury heard when Boy A visited MacCarte in his room, the priest would question him about masturbation, saying "I bet you do it".

Mr Wyn Jones said: "He remembers Father MacCarte would urinate in the sink in his room and wave his penis about when he had finished."

He said MacCarte would also give Boy A money.

The court heard Boy B turned to Father MacCarte for support when he was undergoing psychological problems and drinking heavily.

Mr Wyn Jones said MacCarte "spoke kindly to him and gave him alcohol", just as he had Boy A.

He said: "Father MacCarte would show him pornography while he was drunk, in particular gay pornography.

"Boy B recalls while he was drunk Father MacCarte took Boy B's lower clothing off and performed oral sex upon him."

The court heard he did this twice and MacCarte wanted Boy B to do the same to him, but that didn't happen.

Mr Wyn Jones said: "This was happening to Boy B when he was vulnerable and needed support.

"It only came to an end when Father MacCarte was sent away by the church."

The court heard that happened after Boy B told his dad "sexual things" had happened with the priest.

The jury was told the boy's dad complained to Bishop Eton, then the parish priest.

Mr Wyn Jones said: "It was agreed that the matter would be dealt with by the church internally and Father MacCarte was moved away to Scotland with the promise that he would be sent on a course.

"These things were dealt with rather differently back then."

The court heard the abuse took its toll on Boy A, who received counselling but "has always struggled to come to terms with it".

Mr Wyn Jones said Boy A had discussed what happened to him with various people and one night, after a discussion with a friend about sexual abuse within the Catholic Church, became upset.

This led to Boy B learning that Boy A had been abused by MacCarte, having "thought it was just him".

Both victims went to the police and reported what happened to them in 2019.

When arrested and interviewed, MacCarte agreed he had worked at the church and told police he recalled the two boys.

However, he denied sexually abusing them and said he couldn't remember why he had been moved from Liverpool to Perth.

MacCarte told the jury the incidents hadn't happened and his victims weren't telling the truth.

However, jurors heard evidence from Boy B's dad and from his mum about the complaint the dad made and how the church reacted to it at the time.

They also heard evidence from a friend of Boy A, who said years previously Boy A confided in him that he had been abused by a priest at Bishop Eton.

The jury also heard from a friend of Boy B, who recalled how Boy B was very confused about MacCarte's behaviour, so he agreed to go with him to the priest's accommodation.

This witness described how MacCarte sat too close to him and stroked his hair, which made him feel uncomfortable, so he told the priest to stop and he and Boy B left.

MacCarte was found guilty of three counts of indecent assault by a majority of 11-1 and acquitted of two further counts of indecent assault.

Judge Gary Woodhall remanded him on bail until his sentencing next month.

A previous version of this article repeated an error, made in court, about the precise circumstances in which a complaint about MacCarte was made to the parish priest.

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His actions were called "nothing short of horrific"

A Sheffield paedophile has been jailed for his sick attacks on a child.

Kevin Yeardley pleaded guilty to six offences, including sexual activity with a child under 16, sexual assault of a child under 13 and causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

The 64-year-old's offences were described as "nothing short of horrific" by investigating officers from South Yorkshire Police.

His offences were committed between 1999 and 2005 to one victim.

Yeardley pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nine years in prison at Sheffield Crown Court on September 28.

He has also been placed on the sex offenders register.

Temporary Detective Sergeant Susi Taylor said: This mans actions were nothing short of horrific, he has rightly been served a substantial custodial sentence for his crimes.

The distress his actions have caused will no doubt have a long-term impact; those involved are being supported by specialist services to help them attempt to come to terms with what has happened.

It is absolutely vital that any victim of child sexual abuse feels they can speak out and seek help.

I want to reassure the public that South Yorkshire Police is committed to investigating all reports and we have specially trained officers and partner agencies who can offer support and advice.

In some cases, it takes a relative, family member, friend or loved one to take those first steps so my message is to everyone, if you have concerns, speak to us.

Your actions could help safeguard or protect someone who is vulnerable, and they could also bring offenders to justice.

If you would like to speak out to someone, you can call 101 for support and advice today.

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An A&E nurse caught with baby rape videos was spared jail after a judge heard of his "positive good character".

John Wadeson worked at Aintree hospital's emergency department in Fazakerley until he was exposed as a paedophile.

The 30-year-old had previously helped victims of the Manchester Arena bombing while on placement at Bolton hospital.

But the whole time he was downloading a sick collection of indecent images of little children and disturbing extreme porn.

Liverpool Crown Court heard police raided Wadeson's home in Borron Close, Newton-le-Willows, at around 8.30am, on June 10, 2020.

Paul Blasbery, prosecuting, said: "Mr Wadeson was present at the address with his partner. Police officers cautioned and arrested both males."

Officers seized a Lenovo computer, an iPad and a Samsung Galaxy mobile phone, containing 142 child sex abuse images.

They included 56 Category A indecent images - the most serious category showing child rape - of which 11 were videos.

Mr Blasbery said the Category A files showed children as young as babies aged between newborn and 12 months.

There were 35 Category B images - including eight videos - involving boys just four to six-years-old.

A further 51 Category C photos included pictures of boys aged as young as three to four.

Police also found 35 extreme porn images, including two videos, and 11 prohibited - cartoon - images of children.

Wadeson was interviewed that day, when he denied any wrongdoing, saying he had "no idea" how any indecent images were linked to him.

He was interviewed again on May 29 this year, when he confirmed he had a Kik Messenger account "but got rid of it when he met his partner".

Wadeson said the computer belonged to both of them, but confirmed the iPad and Samsung devices were his.

The nurse confessed he knew there were indecent images on the phone, but said "he couldn't remember viewing them".

However, Wadeson accepted he must have downloaded them and also admitted watching extreme porn videos, which he said others likely sent him on the messaging app Telegram.

Mr Blasbery told the court: "He said there was a period of time when indecent images of children were on his mind, he did accept responsibility for everything and his partner had no idea what was going on and was not aware of what he was watching - he was solely responsible."

Wadeson admitted three counts of downloading and one of possessing indecent images of children, plus possessing prohibited images of children and extreme porn, all between September 2016 and June 2020.

Ben Berkson, defending, urged the judge to spare his client jail, who he said had no previous convictions and "many aspects of positive good character".

He said Wadeson was supported by his husband, who provided a character reference, and others sitting in the public gallery.

Mr Berkson said: "This course of conduct is described as shocking and out of character by those closest to him and by the defendant himself."

He said Wadeson struggled from an early age with his mental health and self-harming, and had a past diagnosis of psychosis.

The lawyer added: "A particularly dark point as a child was the death of his foster brother, which has had a profound impact on this defendant."

He said: "As a gay man he experienced bullying at school generally and had difficulty with his sexuality growing up, due to fear of homophobic abuse.

"Notwithstanding those difficulties, he qualified as a nurse in 2017 and began working in the A&E department at Aintree hospital.

"But immediately prior to that he was part of a nursing training placement at Bolton hospital. As part of that he actually helped the victims of the Manchester bombing."

Judge Andrew Menary, QC, told Wadeson his collection was "not as big as many that this court encounters" but the Category A files were "of the worst kind, plainly".

He said: "You realise now, if you didn't realise before, that this sort of activity has very real victims."

The judge added: "It feeds and encourages this sort of trade in appalling misery for the children involved.

"The impact on them, here and abroad, cannot be overstated, and though your activity is very remote from that, nonetheless, as I say, it plays a part in the continuation of this particular trade."

He said sentencing guidelines indicated a starting point of 12 months in jail, but told Wadeson: "I'm not going to send you to prison today".

Judge Menary said the reason for that wasn't because the offences weren't serious, but because he had to follow a guideline on the imposition of community and custodial sentences.

He told Wadeson this meant he had to consider whether there were "reasons to believe that you would be punished sufficiently and assisted in terms of preventing further risk to the public by some other means of dealing with you".

The judge said: "I could send you immediately to prison today. I have no doubt that is the sort of sentence many members of the public would demand.

"But that could not be for a significant period and inevitably you would be released back into the community, with no or little support.

"So I hope enlightened members of the public will understand why I am taking the course I am."

The judge said Wadeson had "already suffered a significant amount" by losing his career in nursing.

He said: "You have gained employment within a family business, but that loss is by itself a very significant punishment for you.

"I am impressed by the commitment shown by your husband in supporting you and I bear in mind all that's said in the reference he has written."

Giving Wadeson one third credit for his guilty pleas, Judge Menary handed him eight months in prison, suspended for 12 months.

He must complete a 60-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement, including a Horizon sex offenders treatment programme, and pay £500 court costs.

Wadeson must also comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years and sign on the Sex Offenders Register for a decade.

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A paedophile who played sick games with a young girl had the smile wiped off his face at court.

Michael Carr repeatedly sexually abused the child when she was aged between six and 11 and he was aged 17 to 23.

He indecently assaulted the girl, who had to take off clothes if she lost at cards and was made to dance for him in her underwear.

The 57-year-old, of Station Road, Maghull, smiled and grinned when he appeared at Liverpool Crown Court for sentencing via video link.

He was supported in the public gallery by family members, one of whom stormed out when the impact of the abuse on the victim was described, while Carr shook his head.

However, Carr stopped smiling when he was jailed for eight years and told he must serve two thirds of the sentence behind bars.

During a trial in August, a jury heard how one game Carr played with the girl involved her running up to him, when he would pick her up and lift her in the air.

However, one time he made her take her underwear off and indecently assaulted her when he held her aloft.

Sarah Holt, prosecuting, said Carr would make the girl open and close her legs, before touching her genitalia.

She said he also played card games with her such as snap, which involved items of clothing being removed.

He would take the girl for walks to an area known locally as "The Boards" and to "The Ralla", where she liked to make dens.

Ms Holt said once she had made a den and was excited and wanted to show him, but he exposed himself to her.

He then took the girl's hand and placed it on his penis, telling her to stroke it and asking: "Does that feel nice?"

Carr asked the girl to dance to music, then said he wanted to see her dance in her knickers, because "he could see her better like that".

Ms Holt said he also told the child to lie down for a "hug", but "put himself against her and pulled her shorts down".

The court heard he would kiss her on the cheek or turn her face towards him, so he could kiss her on the lips.

Ms Holt said there was also an occasion when the girl was older when he approached her from behind, put his hand on her back and tried to pull her bra strap, but she told him "no, I don't like it" and told him to leave.

The abuse came to light in 2019, when the woman contacted police and told officers Carr had abused her when she was a young child.

When interviewed by police, Carr denied ever touching his victim sexually and said the allegations were "disgusting".

However, he accepted that as an adult she had confronted him several times and accused him of being a paedophile.

Ms Holt told the jury: "He said that he hadnt reported this as he didn't want to cause any hassle."

Carr, who had no previous convictions, was found guilty of seven counts of indecent assault.

In a victim statement, the woman described how she had been forced to live with the impact of the abuse on a daily basis.

The woman said she suffered from "bad anxiety" and "severe panic attacks", when she struggles to breathe, which can be "triggered by the slightest things" and particularly certain smells and playing cards.

She described self-harming, suffering from eating disorders, "vivid nightmares", feelings of vulnerability and fear, and how "I've often thought what's the point of being here anymore".

The woman said: "When I'm close with partners, I see Michael's face looking back at me."

The victim, who has undergone counselling, said: "I'm happy that after 40 years Michael is facing the consequences of his actions and justice is being served. However, this will never change the devastation he has left behind."

Brendan Carville, defending, said: "The defendant of course still denies the offences and I'm not able to comment in any way at all on the findings of the jury."

He said Carr hadn't been in trouble since these offences, which showed he could rehabilitate himself, and that at the age of 59 he would find his first time in prison "devastating".

Judge David Swinnerton told Carr: "You're 59 years of age. You've got no previous convictions, but what that reveals is to some extent you've been living a lie for the last 30 years, because people have treated you as a man of good character."

He said Carr had "sexualised" typical childhood games, such as when he threw her up and indecently assaulted her.

The judge said when playing snap, who lost "had to take a piece of clothing off".

He added: "You played that with that young child."

The victim first told her mum years previously Carr had touched her and it was "wrong", but at the time didn't feel able to disclose the abuse in full.

Judge Swinnerton said the victim also talked to a friend about the abuse over the years, who described her breaking down in tears.

He said: "Though this was a long time ago Mr Carr, and though it's difficult for any man to face the first custodial sentence of his life at the age of 59 as Mr Carville said, you've had a devastating effect on the life of your victim for the last 30-odd years, and that's a continuing and ongoing impact, and serious impact on her."

Judge Swinnerton told Carr to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

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A teenage girl fought off a man who tried to rape her before he later claimed she 'came onto him'.

Gary Mulligan took advantage of and sexually assaulted his vulnerable victim when she was drunk.

Liverpool Crown Court heard he came as close to raping her as possible, without actually doing so.

But the cowardly predator later suggested it was him who had resisted the advances of the child.

Mulligan, 51, of Riddell Way, Juniper Grove, St Helens, targeted the girl one night in 2005.

She confided in her best friend at the time but didn't feel able to make a complaint to the police until November 2018.

Peter Killen, prosecuting, said Mulligan denied any wrongdoing when interviewed by officers and said the girl came onto him, but he resisted.

The dad and businessman maintained this claim during a five-day trial, when his traumatised victim had to go through the ordeal of giving evidence.

Mulligan was unanimously found guilty by a jury of attempted rape, causing a child to look at an image of sexual activity, two counts of sexual assault and two counts of assault by penetration.

Judge Robert Trevor-Jones today told Mulligan: "You took advantage of her drinking. You didn't ply her with alcohol, but she was drunk and you took advantage when she had dozed off."

He said the girl had been watching a horror film with Mulligan, but after she fell asleep he put on a pornographic film, and when she woke she was "astonished".

The judge said: "You made a series of sexual advances towards her. She was protesting and distressed."

The court heard Mulligan tried to rape the "vulnerable" girl, then sexually assaulted her, before the "scared" child fled.

Judge Trevor-Jones said in a victim personal statement the now adult woman outlined how she had "a lack of self-worth" and has ongoing therapy because of the "enduring impact" of the abuse.

He said the attempted rape caused "severe psychological harm" and occurred during a sustained attack.

Judge Trevor-Jones said: "It was an attempt, but the complete offence was only prevented by her resistance."

David Polglase, defending, highlighted his client's previous good character and said he hadn't offended before or since this incident.

He said Mulligan had a logistics firm involving the transport of medical supplies and had worked his way through the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Polglase said Mulligan was the sole carer for his 80-year-old mum and had spoken to his son about fulfilling this role in his absence.

He said Mulligan had never been to prison before and asked the judge to take into account serving a jail sentence during the pandemic.

The judge accepted Mulligan was of previous good character and that this incident could be seen as something of an "aberration".

He said he took this into account in his favour, along with the impact of serving a prison sentence in the current climate.

Judge Trevor-Jones jailed Mulligan for 11 and a half years and told him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Mulligan will have to spend two thirds of the sentence - seven years and eight months - behind bars, before he is released on licence.

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A 51-year-old man from Runcorn has been jailed after being convicted for a string of historical child sex abuse offences from the late 1980s.

Philip Cook, of Davenport Row, Halton Lodge, was found guilty by jurors on August 26 of nine counts of indecent assault of a child.

The charges reflected an escalation of worsening crimes from touching to activity characterised as rape by prosecuting barrister Cheryl Mottram on Thursday at Liverpool Crown Court as Cook was sentenced.

Ms Mottram recounted details of the vile abuse, which was perpetuated against a young boy under the age of 12 and included sex acts and simulated sexual intercourse.

The offences took place in Liverpool in the late 1980s when Cook was an adult teenager.

Matters came to light when Cooks victim began to confide in people close to him, resulting in counselling sessions, and then the involvement of Merseyside Police.

His victim, now an adult, read a powerful impact statement in which he asserted his identity as a survivor of child sexual abuse.

He said: I never wanted to believe that you were that word - a paedophile, because that meant I was abused and you were my abuser.

You were someone I liked, I trusted and wanted to spend time with and play the game.

I was too young to realise I was being groomed, too young to know you were taking advantage of me.

You were old enough to know what you were doing was wrong and you shouldnt have been doing it.

You were not my friend who was playing a game.

The abuse survivor spoke of the devastating impact on his life and how it took him years to realise its not my fault, adding that he had prayed for his abuser and will one day forgive him.

Jo Maxwell, defending, said Cook was of hitherto or prior good character with no previous convictions or offences committed since the late 1980s.

She said that in the significant period of time since the abuse took place, adding: He has spent the last 10 years or thereabouts running a well-respected animal rescue service.

Ms Maxwell said this related to cat rescue.

She said Cook had experienced an unstable childhood and traumatic formative years followed by a spell living in hostels when he left home, and later worked until he was 30 when ill health got the better of him and hes been unable to work fully since then.

Cook, who was involved in a serious road traffic collision in 1988 that left him with a damaged leg, appeared in the dock walking with the aid of a stick.

Judge David Potter, presiding, jailed Cook for nine years with a year on extended licence, and placed him on the sex offenders register for life.

He said he was satisfied Cook was not in the opinion of this court a dangerous offender and classed his level of future risk as at most medium, but said Cook had committed serious sexual offences that he dressed up as a game, which constituted grooming.

In sentencing Cook, Judge Potter referred to the defendants continual denials.

He said: When interviewed by the police, you consistently denied and maintained that denial that you had done nothing wrong towards (the victim).

The jury was satisfied that you were not telling the truth and convicted you on all of the counts on the indictment.

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A 64-year-old man has been sentenced to 21 years in prison after sexually abusing two young boys.

Michael Smith, of The High Street, Dereham was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court yesterday(Monday 27 September 2021), after being convicted of 17 child sex offences at an earlier hearing.

The offences took place between 2014 and 2016, when the young boys, both aged in their early teens, were at a school for complex needs in Norfolk. Some of the offences continued into 2018 against one of the boys after he had left the school.

Smith was handed a 28-year sentence, made up of 21 years in prison and a further seven years on licence.

He was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) indefinitely and must also sign on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Natalie Riseborough from the Safeguarding and Investigations Team, said: "I welcome yesterday’s sentence as it reflects the seriousness of Smith’s crimes.

"We see this pattern all too often, when abusers befriend the victims and their families in order to facilitate the abuse and avoid suspicion. The strength these boys have shown in acknowledging Smith’s actions as wrong, and speaking out about it, is immeasurable.

"Smith had been a figure of authority in their lives and was in a position of trust. He used this to commit terrible crimes that are likely to live with these victims forever.

"Whilst nothing will take their pain away, we hope that yesterday’s sentence provides some comfort to the victims and their families. Their courage has not only broken the cycle of abuse these boys faced but it has also prevented others becoming victims.

"We remain committed to bringing all sex offenders to justice in order to prevent future offending and will listen to anyone who has been the victim of sexual abuse, whether this is ongoing or non-recent.”

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Michael Slater groomed his vulnerable young victim making her feel disgusted at herself, a court heard

Prosecution barrister, Catherine Donnelly, told how the teen now feels anxious around older men.

In a victim personal statement read out in court, she said: “I hope one day I get over the disgust I have in myself.”

The girl who cannot be named for legal reasons said how Slater’s abuse and the fallout surrounding its revelation had impacted some of her relationships.

She described this as like having “one of her arms chopped off”.

Appearing before Southampton Crown Court, Slater, 37, of the Compass, was charged with two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

He pleaded guilty to one of the charges and denied the other.

But following a trial at Southampton Crown Court earlier this year, he was found guilty.

Ms Donnelly told the court how Slater has 12 previous convictions to 12 offences.

These include dishonesty, criminal damage and being drunk and disorderly.

However, he has no previous convictions for sexual offences.

Defending, Alejandra Tascon, said her client suffered from ADHD, emotionally unstable personality disorder and sexual dysfunction issues.

She added that Slater had been drinking alcohol and smoking cannabis at the time of the offences and “should have known better”.

She also argued that Slater had been sexually and physically abused from a young age.

For the offences which happened between March 2020 and January 2021, Judge Nicholas Rowland jailed him for a total of five years.

He must register as a sex offender for life and was given a ten-year sexual harm prevention order.

Slater has also been given a five-year restraining order not to contact his victim.

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A purely evil and dangerous sexual predator who repeatedly raped a young girl has been jailed.

Darren Shillito, of Victoria Park in Dover, was convicted of three counts of rape after a trial at Canterbury Crown Court.

The 40-year-old was today jailed for 18 years and wont be eligible for early release until the parole board deem him safe.

The victims mum told how she has lost her happy smiling little girl, who has since suffered suicidal thoughts.

She said: The whole situation has devastated our family - there are no words to explain.

My little girl, my miracle baby who had to endure the relentless horrors, I have lost my happy smiling little girl.

This man is a dangerous sexual predator capable of pure evil.

'These allegations were before the jury and they were sure, as am I, that she gave a reliable account of what happened.'

Shillito could be seen with his head in his hands as the statement was read, then called out inaudibly as his sentence was discussed.

Cutting him short, Judge Catherine Brown said: If you continue to mutter and call out you will be taken to the cells and this hearing will continue without you.

You maintained and still maintain this abuse did not occur.

These allegations were before the jury and they were sure, as am I, that she gave a reliable account of what happened.

She added Shillito was remorseless for his actions and, after deeming him dangerous, ruled he will be prohibited from being alone with children after his release.

The defendant had no previous convictions at the time of the jurys verdict - he had a good work record...

Simon Taylor QC explained Shillito still contested the guilty verdict, adding: The mitigation Im able to advance will focus on the principle of totality.

The defendant had no previous convictions at the time of the jurys verdict - he had a good work record.

Supported by his family in court, Shillito shouted Im not guilty mum as he was led to the cells.

Shillito was convicted in July of three counts of raping a girl under 13 and sexual assault, with the jury undecided on a further count of sexual assault.

He will serve a year on licence following his release, be subjected to notification requirements and a life-long Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

"Shillito appears unrepentant about these serious crimes and his repeated denials have further worsened the ordeal his victim has been through..."

After sentencing Det Sgt Daniel Hall, of the Kent Police's vulnerability investigation team, said: "This was a very troubling case and I would like to praise the courage of the young victim and her family who have supported the investigation.

"Shillito appears unrepentant about these serious crimes and his repeated denials have further worsened the ordeal his victim has been through.

"I am pleased our investigation led to these guilty verdicts and the resulting sentence will see this dangerous man jailed for a considerable amount of time.

"I urge anyone who is being sexually abused or suspects someone they know is being mistreated to contact police as soon as possible. We will safeguard anyone at risk and work to bring abusers before the courts."

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A drunken pervert was caught loitering at a bus station where he has a history of leering at schoolgirls.

Kim Rampley has been on the Sex Offenders Register since 2002 and was jailed in 2006 for sexually assaulting a girl.

Since then he has harassed women and children at bus stops and train stations across Merseyside and Cheshire.

Liverpool Crown Court heard the 68-year-old was hit with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) in June 2015.

But he breached this on August 21 this year, when he "loitered" at Warrington Bus Station while drunk.

Simon Duncan, prosecuting, said a PCSO attended the bus interchange at around 1pm, after receiving a call from security about "a heavily intoxicated male loitering there, having been refused permission to travel".

Mr Duncan said: "He observed the defendant for some 10 minutes, staggering around, clearly heavily drunk, having soiled his trousers with urine."

Police were called to the scene and arrested Rampley, who wasn't interviewed because of his drunken state.

Rampley, of Grange Avenue, Latchford, Warrington, admitted breaching his SHPO and a suspended sentence.

Mr Duncan said Rampley had an "extensive history" of non-compliance with court orders, drunkenness and sexual offences including exposure, outraging public decency and indecent assaults.

Rampley, formerly of Frank Street, Widnes, was jailed for eight months in May 2006 for sexually assaulting a girl under 15.

He was given a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) - the old version of the SHPO - which banned him from approaching females on public transport or at stations.

Within an hour of being released from prison for that sentence, he targeted five females.

He was spotted by police blowing kisses and staring at two frightened 17-year-olds on a bus to Warrington, then pestered and called out to two 13-year-old girls in school uniform at the bus station.

Rampley then approached a woman at the town's nearby railway station and stared at her and pointed at her breasts.

For those breaches he was jailed for two years in October 2007.

In 2010 he was jailed for three years for trying to start a sexual conversation with a teenage girl on a train from Liverpool Lime Street Station.

In April 2012 he was jailed for three years for trying to engage three teenage girls in sexually explicit conversations at Sandbach train station.

Mr Duncan said he counted Rampley had breached both types of the order 11 times in total.

He said Rampley was handed 26 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, in March 2020 for breaching his SHPO in "circumstances almost identical at Warrington Bus Station, when drunk".

Rampley was given a community order in February for another breach "that involved exactly the same circumstances, at exactly the same bus station".

Kate Morley, defending, said: "The simple solution to the problem of Mr Rampley is to keep him in prison."

She said this was perhaps "the only realistic option" and her client didn't seek to persuade the judge to spare him jail.

Ms Morley said Rampley's recent breaches were for "public nuisance rather than sexual nuisance", he was a "chronic alcoholic" and "at 68 it's unlikely that's going to change".

She told the court he was "not a well man" but rather than get medical treatment, he had decided to "take his chances".

The lawyer said: "The sad fact is drinking alcohol is his only real pleasure in life.

"He has no family to speak of. He was extremely close to his mother, he described her as his rock. She passed away in 1995 and he lost his way in life."

Ms Morley said she didn't want to embarrass Rampley, but after 1995 he had his "one and only sexual relationship" and when that ended, he turned to drink "as a coping mechanism".

He committed his first offence in 1999, at the age of 46.

Ms Morley said: "Mr Rampley is embarrassed by his criminal record and he wants the court to know he has good intentions for the future."

The court heard Rampley wouldn't lose his home while in jail and has stopped drinking and is considering medical treatment.

Ms Morley said when he is next released his lawyers may have to consider asking for his SHPO to be amended, because his public nuisance breaches, as opposed to sexual offence breaches, were not what was intended when the order was made.

The judge, Recorder Ian Unsworth, QC, told Rampley: "You must be under no illusion that the SHPO in respect of which you have come before this court remains in place and when you're released from custody, you're still subject to it."

He said the pervert had a "terrible" record for non-compliance and an "extremely poor record" of convictions.

The judge jailed Rampley for 30 weeks - nearly seven months - in total.

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Manipulative Farzad Shabani's despicable behaviour exposed in powerful court speech by the student he left devastated

A rapist continued his attack through the tears of a student before waging a campaign of manipulation to prevent her from seeking justice.

Farzad Shabani fought through her efforts to push him away then shamelessly became angry at her devastation following the assault.

He then tried to convince her the assault was her fault before putting her through the ordeal of hearing him lie through a trial.

Shabani carried out his attack in the early hours of the morning at a university halls of residence in Liverpool.

Nicola Daley, prosecuting, said: "He had sexual intercourse with her at a time that she was not consenting... even when she was telling him to stop and pushed him away with her arms he carried on regardless."

Ms Daley added: "She described how the defendant didn't even seem to notice when she was crying when the sexual intercourse was continuing. She indicated how the defendant appeared to get cross with her for being upset afterwards."

In a brave statement to Liverpool Crown Court, the student told how she pushed her family away because she was too ashamed to tell them, while she said Shabani "gaslighted and manipulated" her, adding: "He convinced me that I deserved it, that it was my fault."

The 30-year-old's crime had a severe impact psychologically and physically, with the court hearing she initially existed solely in "survival mode".

She said: "I considered dropping out of university and I think a lot of people expected me to.

"There were days I could not get out of bed because I did not want to face anyone."

In the aftermath, Shabani launched a vindictive social media campaign that included the creation of a fake Instagram profile through which he sought to provoke the student in an attempt to make her write responses he could use to undermine her.

Meanwhile she became paranoid and scared, fearing he would have her followed.

Her powerful speech told of the strength she had mustered to report her attacker to police and reach the realisation she was not to blame: "I still felt almost guilty for telling my truth... It took a while for me to come to terms with the fact he had put himself in this position and what had happened to me was his fault despite what he had conditioned my mind to believe."

Peter Killen, defending, told the court: "Any offence of this type always inflicts serious harm on any victim... The sole mitigating factor is the defendant is a man of previous good character."

Passing sentence, Judge Brian Cummings, QC, described Shabani's attack and following behaviour as "appalling".

He told the court : "I make it clear that I sentence you on the basis of [the student's] evidence. The jury plainly accepted it. So do I.

"The factual basis on which I sentence you is one of which I am sure."

The judge continued: "You have shown an utter disregard for anyone but yourself.

"You have presented as manipulative and controlling and for having an inflated regard for your own personal dignity yet none for anyone else's."

Shabani, of Rectory Road, in the Crumpsall area of Manchester, was sentenced to six and a half years in jail and made the subject of a restraining order for life.

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A CONVICTED paedophile who admitted to repeatedly visiting a house while children were present - breaching a court order - has avoided a jail sentence.

Robert Nutbeam was jailed in July 2018 after he was caught by 'paedophile hunters' attempting to meet a boy under the age of 16 for sexual purposes. He admitted the offence and was jailed at Southampton Crown Court.

A sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) was put in place, but earlier this year police were told that Nutbeam, of Andover Road, Winchester, had broken a requirement. The order prevents him from entering and remaining in a household where a male under the age of 16 is present.

The 36-year-old appeared at Winchester Crown Court on Thursday after he pleaded guilty to breaching the SHPO on three occasions - July 8, July 27 and August 3, this year.

The court was told that Nutbeam had been helping a woman with DIY, but her son and his friend – both aged under 16 – were present.

Prosecutor William Saunders said: “The communication was normal and didn’t cause any concern”.

Mr Saunders said the offending came to light after concerns were raised by another child. He added: "It was one of the parents of other children that contacted the police.”

The woman told police that she was “aware that Robert was a registered sex offender” and that she never left him alone with the children.

She added: “If I would have known about the court order or restrictions placed on Robert I would never have let him in my home.”

Mr Saunders argued that it was “a deliberate breach”, adding that there were “questions as to where this was leading”.

In mitigation, Russell Pyne said that Nutbeam self-referred to the Winchester Wellbeing Centre for support, but his case was closed last year due to Covid.

He continued: “Certainly it shows he was keen to have support for the various difficulties that he has.”

Mr Pyne said that Nutbeam was briefly remanded into custody which gave him an “opportunity to reflect on what he has done”.

In sentencing, Mr Recorder Malcolm Gibney said that he believed that the breaches were “deliberate” but said there was “a level of naivety” from Nutbeam.

He added: “You know what you are doing, you are intelligent and perfectly capable of understanding the contents of the order.”

Nutbeam was handed an 18-month community order, 100 hours unpaid work and 10 rehabilitation days.