Latest Offenders

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Timothy Morris raped a student in 2018 and was finally caught last year A Cambridge man has been jailed after he was found guilty of three counts of rape and another of sexual assault. Timothy Morris, 27, was found guilty of the crimes at Peterborough Crown Court on March 11. Morris was found to have attacked a student in his home in Coleridge Road in the early hours of January 5, 2018. Despite the woman repeatedly telling him no, he raped her in his bedroom. Although a full investigation was carried out, a suspect was not identified. However, three years later on February 23, 2021, Morris met a woman he had spoken to on a dating site. They went for a walk in Cambridge and he sexually assaulted her in Ditton Meadows. Cambridgeshire Police arrested him after the incident. When his DNA was taken it was found to be a match for the DNA recovered from the 2018 attack. Morris denied all the charges against him. However, he was found guilty of three counts of rape and one count of sexual assault by penetration at Peterborough Crown Court. He was sentenced to 11 years and two months in prison. He was also handed an indefinite restraining order against his victims and given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order. DC Chemu Evans said: I would like to commend the survivors in this case for supporting what has been a long and hard investigation. Morris was a predator who saw opportunities in vulnerable women. Despite being told no he continued and its a clear representation of his male sexual entitlement. Throughout the investigation or court case, he has shown little remorse for his actions or the disgusting crimes he has committed. The case shows the value of forensic evidence and the effectiveness of our Sexual Assault Referral Centre.

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A Telford man has been sentenced to six and half years in prison for rape.

Paul Kofi Manu Aboagyewaa of Hadley was charged with one count of rape in March following the rape of a female in Telford in December 2021.

The 58-year-old pleaded guilty to rape at Shrewsbury Crown Court on Thursday 10 March.

Aboagyewaa will also be added to the sex offenders register.

PC Billy Barrett of West Mercia Police said: “We welcome the sentence that has been handed to Aboagyewaa, and I would like to show my gratitude to everyone who came forward with information that assisted officers with the investigation.

“I would also like to commend and thank the victim for her bravery and cooperation during what I am sure has been a truly traumatic and harrowing ordeal for herself and her family.”

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A sexual predator has avoided immediate jail time after pleading guilty to a series of "vile" offences targeting lone women.

Abdul Nadher Kayum committed the acts in the Bow area over four weeks during 2021, from August 31 to September 28.

On each occasion, 19-year-old Kayum - who wore a mask during all the incidents - cycled up behind a woman before either exposing himself or sexually assaulting her.

He was reported to have masturbated during four of the incidents, either while cycling past the victim or hiding in a door entrance or a dark space, such as a lane.

Kayum also reportedly asked a number of victims to sexually pleasure him for money.

When the victim ran away, he would follow them for a substantial period of time, police said.

Det Con Janina Parol, from the Mets Central East basic command unit, said: "Kayum carried out vile sexual offences against women as they unassumingly went about their day-to-day business.

"He targeted lone women and instilled unnecessary fear in a community for a number of weeks.

"The Met is absolutely committed to bringing justice to victims of sexual assault, and to making women and girls feel safe in London.

"Our teams stop at nothing to investigate reports of sexual offences and to provide support to victims."

Police appealed to the public for information last October and Kayum came forward shortly after that and was charged.

On December 10, he pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault, five counts of indecent exposure and one count of outraging public decency.

Kayum was handed an 18-month jail term - suspended for two years - at Snaresbrook Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday, March 16).

The defendant was further issued with a sexual harm prevention order for five years, which prohibits him from approaching or communicating by words or gesture with any lone female in any street, footway or green space.

Kayum, of no fixed address, was also placed on the sexual offences register for 10 years.

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The offences were carried out against a boy and a girl A man convicted of sexually abusing children has been jailed for a total of nine years, and added to the sex offenders register for life. Peter Crane, 65, of Billington Road, Leighton Buzzard, was convicted by a jury at Luton Crown Court on 21 January, of the offences against a boy and a girl which took place in the 1970s and 80s. PC Matt McCarthy, from Bedfordshire Polices Protecting Vulnerable People team, said: Crane to this day refutes the overwhelming evidence against him including strong and brave testimony from the victims who were incredibly young when the abuse began, and have had to live with the consequences into adulthood. "As well as the emotional impact of his offending, he has continued to put his victims through a further ordeal of a trial. No matter how much time has passed, we will always fully investigate and seek to prosecute any sexual offenders and would encourage anyone who has experienced abuse to come forward, regardless of when it happened. As well as the nine-year jail term, Crane will remain on licence for a further year following the sentence and will be registered as a sex offender for life. It is never too late to report sexual abuse. To report a crime, or seek advice, call Bedfordshire Police's non-emergency, 24/7 number: 101. If you have a hearing or speech impairment, use our textphone service on 18001 101. If you are concerned about a child, you can also contact the NSPCC to speak to a professional practitioner, speak to the children's social care team at your local council or contact Crimestoppers confidentially and anonymously. If someone is in immediate danger, always call 999. The force has specialist teams dedicated to supporting victims and works with a range of other agencies to provide support. Bedfordshire Victim Care Services offers a comprehensive range of support to victims of crime, even if it has not been reported to the police. To find out more, visit Bedfordshire VCS.

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A former council leader has been handed an 18-month community order for sexual offences against children. Sean Coughlan, 65, from Willenhall, Walsall, admitted attempting to cause a female aged 13 or over to engage in a penetrative sexual activity. The ex Walsall councillor also pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. He was charged after an operation by a paedophile hunter group saw a video of him being confronted shared online. The offences happened between August and December 2021. At the sentencing hearing on Thursday, Judge Michael Chambers said the former councillor had suffered a "great fall from grace". Wolverhampton Crown Court heard Coughlan had set up a secret Facebook page, posting intimate pictures and encouraging what he thought was a 14-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity. "In reality, there was no child. This was a vigilante purporting to perform a public duty," the judge said. 'Element of grooming' A 30-minute video was posted online by the paedophile hunter group, which resulted in him being arrested and charged by West Midlands Police, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. "There was an element of grooming and clearly a disparity in age. There was an intention of penetrative sexual activity, but there was no harm as there was no child," Judge Chambers said. In mitigation the court heard he had no previous criminal convictions, and had served his community well. "But what you wrote in your letter to the court is right," continued the judge. "That regardless of the hundreds you have helped, your behaviour of late is what you'll be remembered for. You have suffered a great fall from grace." He had been remanded in custody since his arrest in December. Coughlan resigned as a Walsall councillor days after the paedophile sting film had been posted, and had initially denied the charges, but changed his plea last month. At Thursday's sentencing hearing he was also made subject to a five-year sexual harm prevention order. Coughlan was elected as a councillor for Walsall borough in 1995, representing the ward of Willenhall South. During his career, he became deputy leader and then leader of both the Labour group and the authority, of which he was in charge between 2016 and 2018. During court proceedings he was suspended from the Labour Party and the Walsall Council Labour group.

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Alexander Rafferty was jailed for six years and handed an Order for Lifelong Restriction at the High Court in Glasgow after being found guilty of horrific sex attacks on three women. A serial rapist who once cheated death after plunging from the top tier of Celtic Park has been handed a life sentence. Alexander Rafferty put three women through horrendous ordeals, including two who were effectively strangers. The 56 -year-old told one of the victims: "I will show you what f*****g rape is." He also made a woman stare terrified into his eyes as he attacked her. Lady Rae imposed an Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR) at the High Court in Glasgow. Rafferty returned to the dock having been convicted last August of three rape charges. He must also serve a minimum six years behind bars. Rafferty made headlines in 1999 when he tumbled from the Jock Stein stand at Parkhead during a powderkeg Celtic and Rangers clash. He remarkably only suffered a broken nose following the horror fall. Rafferty was captured on TV waving and giving a thumbs up as he was stretchered out the ground. But the rapist showed no emotion as he was led handcuffed back to the cells. The crimes happened between August 2018 and April 2020 at a flat in the city's Wyndford and at the predator's home in Royston. The first victim had been in a relationship with Rafferty. The woman - who has since passed away - told police how Rafferty once flew into a rage because she was not getting ready fast enough prior to a night out. Recalling a sex attack, she said Rafferty vowed to show her what "f*****g rape is". She added: "He ripped off my clothes. He was choking me and I could hardly breathe. "I could not get the words out, he was choking me that much." Rafferty got chatting to the next victim in Glasgow city centre in late January 2020 and she went back to his flat. He went on to threaten her, demanded she take off her clothes and refused to let her leave. After Rafferty raped her, the terrified woman dialled 999 - but ended up too scared to speak on the phone. The final victim was abused in a similar way after Rafferty again took her back to his home. She ended up attacking Rafferty with a screwdriver to get him away. The woman fled from the flat, ran away and managed to flag down a passing police officer. Prosecutor David Logan said at the trial construction worker Rafferty had been "predatory, opportunistic and sexually abusive" with his victims. Iain McSporran QC, defending, told the hearing yesterday: "It will be apparent (from pre-sentencing reports) that he maintains an emphatic denial of his guilt. "He feels that he is being punished for maintaining the denial and is being expected to admit to something that is not true." Lady Rae said Rafferty was a "callous individual" who has shown "no remorse". Sentencing, the judge also said: "All of the rapes were violent and degrading. "What is so disturbing is that some of the evidence suggested you were enjoying what you were doing. "In one case, you insisted that a victim looked into your eyes while she was being raped." She stated Rafferty will not be freed until he is deemed "no longer a serious risk to the public".

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A rapist has been jailed after his victim reported the attack to her local Boots pharmacy.

Northumbria Police praised the quick-thinking and incredible bravery of the woman after she was attacked in 2019.

Michael Henderson visited the victim at her home on June 14, raping her in a bedroom.

Too frightened to report Henderson to police, she visited a Boots pharmacy the following day in West Denton in Newcastle.

The woman felt safe to report the attack, knowing Boots are part of the Safe Spaces scheme, where businesses offer safe spaces for people experiencing domestic abuse and sexual violence.

Specially trained staff were able to make the victim feel safe and with her consent, they called Northumbria Police and reported the attack.Henderson, 39, was questioned by officers where he denied rape. He was convicted of the offence in December 2021, at Newcastle Crown Court.He was sentenced at the same court to six years in prison on Friday, March 11.

Detective Constable Victoria Threadgold, who led the investigation, praised the smart thinking and bravery of the victim reporting it at a Safe Space and hopes it will encourage other victims to do the same.Det Con Threadgold said: "This victim has suffered the most awful sexual violence and I can't commend her enough for coming forward to report to a Safe Space. It is with thanks to her quick-thinking and incredible bravery that Henderson is now behind bars and hopefully, she can begin rebuilding her life. "I also really want to praise the staff at the Boots pharmacy where the victim initially reported the rape. It is testament to their specialist training, empathy and support that she has had the strength to speak out."The charity UK Says No More is working with Boots UK, Morrisons, Superdrug and Well pharmacies, TSB banks and independent pharmacies across the UK to provide Safe Spaces in their consultation rooms for people experiencing domestic abuse and sexual violence. Det Con Threadgold added: "We understand often victims of these awful crimes can be reluctant to report to police, but safeguarding is everyone's business and by having these excellent third-party reporting schemes in place can really help bring more victims forward. Safe Spaces really can help save lives. They are so vitally important to have in our communities."

Henderson of Bamburgh Walk, Gosforth will also have to sign the sex offenders register for life and has been handed an indefinite restraining order.

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A serial sex offender who was obsessed with chatting online to teenage girls has finally been jailed after brazenly ignoring suspended prison sentences.

Three-times-married Alun Friend had an "addiction to these chat lines" and had an "inherent weakness" in him for the seedy internet encounters. He bought a laptop to use for starting online chats with young girls just a few days after being released from a spell in custody, Hull Crown Court heard.

Friend, 59, of Alfred Street, Hull, admitted two offences of attempting to breach a sexual harm prevention order between May 10 and 12.

Emma Hughes, prosecuting, said that Friend was a registered sex offender and he had been given an eight-month suspended prison sentence at Grimsby Crown Court in 2016 for attempting to meet a girl under 16 following sexual grooming. He had been given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order that day and had to register indefinitely as a sex offender.

Friend had also been given a six-month suspended prison sentence in July 2020 for breaching the orders. He was also given a two-year suspended prison sentence and a seven-year sexual harm prevention order at Teesside Crown Court in April last year for attempting to meet a child under 16.

Friend was released at the time from a spell in custody but had no family support and bought a laptop within days.

The latest offences came to light when Friend started talking online to two fake teenage girls aged 13, supposedly from Derby and Lincoln, who were really undercover police officers. The conversations became sexual and Friend told the decoy girls that he wanted to meet them.

"He accepted that some of the conversations were sexual and he did know the potential consequences of speaking to these girls," said Miss Hughes. "He said that his need for chats outweighed the risks."

Steven Garth, mitigating, said that Friend had previously been given suspended prison sentences and had never been jailed before but he had breached the latest suspended sentence that had been made only a few weeks before the new offences.

"It's difficult to pinpoint the exact motivation for these offences," said Mr Garth. "It appears there is clearly some sort of inherent weakness in him. His need to chat outweighed the risks he was taking in making these communications."

Reasons included loneliness, sexual frustration, lack of a support network around him and his "desire above everything to chat on these chat lines", the court heard.

Unemployed Friend had been in custody for between seven and eight months. He had been living with his third wife previously but they had separated, with divorce proceedings starting.

He had a 19-year-old daughter from a previous relationship but he did not see her at all, the court heard.

Judge Peter Kelson QC said that Friend had previously been given every chance possible with a suspended prison sentence in 2016 but he now had to be jailed because of the breaches of the orders. The two-year suspended sentence was activated, with a consecutive one year for the new offences, making a total prison sentence of three years.

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A 50-year old paedophile who falsely imprisoned a young girl has been jailed for 15 years. David Tomlinson, of Calgary Crescent, Winshill, detained the girl against her will at a property in Burton, a court heard.

Tomlinson pleaded guilty to false imprisonment, sexual activity with a child and taking an indecent photograph of a child. He was sentenced at Stafford Crown Court on Wednesday, March 16.

He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. The offences took place, and were reported, in April 2021.

Following an investigation by officers from the child protection and exploitation team, Tomlinson was arrested the next morning. Detective Inspector Kathryn Tomkins, of the Staffordshire Police's child protection and exploitation team, said: "I would like to thank the victim and their family for showing great strength and courage in providing evidence in the case.

"Tomlinson is a truly dangerous man who has now been brought to justice, and others are protected as a result. I am also immensely proud of Detective Constable Cave, who led the investigation, and all of the officers that worked tirelessly on this case in extremely challenging circumstances."

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A sex offender who breached his sexual harm prevention order has been jailed. Stephen Pennington, 34, of Gorton Street, Blackpool, was sentenced at Preston Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday, March 16). Pennington was jailed in 2009 after raping a child. As part of his sentence, he was handed a sexual harm prevention order, preventing him from contacting anyone under the age of 18. Between September and December last year, Pennington was in a relationship with a woman. During this relationship he was in contact with her children, breaching the order. He also gave his name as Stephen Johnson, a name not registered with police, again breaching his order. Pennington went missing and was wanted by police. He was later arrested in the resort in December. He was charged and following a hearing at court, sentenced to three years and six months in prison. Det Sgt Sam Johnson, of Blackpool Police, said: While there is no suggestion Pennington harmed or abused the children he was in contact with, he knew his actions were in breach of his order. He even gave a false name to cover his tracks. He duped the woman involved, staying with her family, in clear breach of his sexual harm prevention order. We continue to manage registered sexual offenders and I hope this serves as a reminder to those individuals we will always monitor your behaviour. If you breach your order you could face a custodial sentence.

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Jahn Shahid Ghani (30/03/1973) of Whitworth Road, Rochdale has been charged with 17 offences including rape, sexual activity with a child, causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

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An ex-firefighter has avoided jail after downloading over a MILLION indecent images of children he even admitted to police he had been doing it since 1998. Bill Platt, 59, was found to be in possession of an enormous amount of the vile pictures and videos of children, aged from babies up to 16-years-old. Police had gleaned information that Platt, of Worsley, was downloading indecent images of children, and conducted a search at his house on June 24 2019. He was arrested and handed over the PIN codes to his various devices, Manchester Crown Court heard. He was asked about his computer and he said: Im downloading indecent images of children, and said it had been going on since 1998 and said he was relieved, prosecutor Roger Brown said. They confiscated 24 devices. There are so many images its been impossible to say which ones have images on. There were examinations of the devices, the total number of category A images was 15,690, the total number of category B images was 15,753 and the total number of category C images was 837,729. Category A images are said to be the worst type of indecent images, of which there were 1,024 videos. It was said that the police reviewed over 25 million images from the devices. A total of 11 million images were identified, and another million were not checked. In total there were 12 million images, which was the biggest number Mr Brown said he had ever come across. In his police interview, Platt spoke about the ages of the children in the images depicted to be aged from babies to children aged 16. One video was 21 minutes long. He had also taken some non-sexual images of children getting onto a bus, which the prosecutor said was a worrying change of tactic. Officers also found 976 .22 bullets in a box in Platts house. He had previously had a gun licence, but gave this up and had left the ammunition in the house. Platt was said to be a man of previous good character. Mitigating, Nicholas Hammond said that his client had retired as a firefighter before setting up a business as a photographer. The defendant had the good sense to plead guilty at the first opportunity before the lower court, he said. The majority of his working life he had contributed well to society. He worked to the benefit of the public and had an exemplary record. He contributed well and assisted the public, often putting his own life in jeopardy. Since his arrest he has addressed his behaviour to some extent by availing himself of Safer Lives. He has gone to seek help to address his behaviour. This has been hanging over him for a three year period. He added that Platt previously held a gun licence, but didnt renew it and the ammunition was left in his house. Sentencing, Recorder Alex Leach QC said there was an enormous number of images that were found. This was a substantial collection of sickening images depicting the rape and sexual abuse of children, he said. I am told you have been tackling the root of your offending, that your partner stands by you and the probation service feel they can assist you and that you are a good candidate for rehabilitation. I have received a letter from Safer Lives and the probation service who say you do pose a realistic prospect of rehabilitation. A short custodial sentence would not accomplish these aims. Platt, of Gambleside Close, was handed 20 months imprisonment which was suspended for two years, 25 days of rehabilitation activity requirements and 200 hours of unpaid work. He earlier pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of indecent images. He was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years which includes terms that will ban his from using the internet without informing the police and ban him from downloading any software which hides his internet history. He must also sign the notification requirements on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

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A former Scottish government security guard who raped one woman and sexually assaulted another as they slept has been jailed for eight years. Khalid Alsrooji, 35, attacked his victims at flats in Edinburgh after meeting them on nights out. Both women woke to find themselves partially undressed with Alsrooji attempting to have sex with them. One victim was later found to have traces of drugs in her blood although she said she had not taken any. The 23-year-old woman told the High Court in Edinburgh she did not remember leaving a city venue before the attack. She said: "My next memory is waking up on a couch facing the wall in an unknown flat." She said she told her attacker: "No, stop." The woman told the court: "I didn't have enough energy to move or do anything about it. I couldn't move or open my eyes." Her ordeal was reported to police after she went to hospital following the assault. Common features Alsrooji, of Robertson Gait in Edinburgh, had denied the offences but was found guilty of raping one woman and sexually assaulting another with intent to rape her. Judge Lord Weir said Alsrooji, who had previously held jobs as a Scottish government guard and a nightclub doorman, had taken advantage of his victims when they were in vulnerable circumstances. The judge told him: "You were found guilty after trial of two serious charges involving different complainers on different occasions, in circumstances which disclosed common features." Lord Weir said that on both occasions the women were not previously known to father-of-one Alsrooji. Defence solicitor advocate Krista Johnston said that Sudanese-born Alsrooji continued to maintain his innocence, but was assessed as posing a medium risk of further offending. He was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

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A three year jail sentence has been served on Studley man Andrew Underwood. Underwood, of the covers, Studley, pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault on February 18, 2022.

The court heard he worked as a sports massage therapist where the assaults took place.

He was jailed at Warwick crown court on Wednesday march 16, ordered to pay a 170 victim surcharge and placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.