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A "sadistic" paedophile forced children to perform degrading sexual acts on camera and threatened to distribute the images if they did not send more.

One of his victims was left crying in pain while begging the pervert to stop.

Alexander Tindal, 31, of Bridgend, sexually abused more than 30 children online over a period of two-and-a-half years, and continued to exploit girls after he was first arrested. The "isolated" defendant pretended to be a teenage boy and approached his victims on Snapchat before asking them for intimate photos of themselves.

A sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court on Thursday heard Tindal forced one girl to send a photo of her little sister's genitalia to him, after threatening to disclose sexual images of her to friends, family and her school. When he was arrested by police, he was found with more than 23,000 indecent images of children, aged between 10 and 15-years-old.

Having been detained by police at his home in 2022, three devices were seized from the defendant as well as a mobile, a hard drive, and a desktop computer. During the examination of the devices, a thousands of indecent images were discovered and Tindal was found to have communicated with children and coerced them into performing sexual acts.

He was further arrested in September 2022, having been found to breach his bail conditions, after setting up further Snapchat accounts which he used to speak to child victims. After victims had been identified, they were visited by police and asked to provide a statement about their interactions with Tindal, who was found to have access to 19 Snapchat accounts under various names.

The first victim was 14-years-old when she was forced to perform sex acts.. She had sent the defendant close to 400 images, 45 of which were category A. The victim was first contacted by Tindal who claimed he was a 17-year-old boy, and encouraged her to send sexual images of herself. He became increasingly aggressive and threatened to distribute a video of a girl who looked like her to her, and would tell people it was her. When asked by the victim why he was doing this, he told her it was to "teach her a lesson".

In one message, she could be seen naked and crying in pain. She messaged Tindal saying "You're making me feel sick to my stomach. I so want to stop this, please I can't do this anymore". The defendant told her to carry on and she responded: "It hurts so f****** bad, I can't do this, please stop, I am f****** begging you." The abuse only came to a stop after the defendant was arrested.

The second victim was 13-years-old at the time of the abuse. Tindal was found with 100 category A images of the victim. When he became aware the victim had a six-year-old sister, he demanded pictures of her genitalia and threatened to "ruin her" if she did not. She subsequently sent the images.

In messages sent by Tindal to the victim, he said: "I am going to add your mother's number, I swear to f****** God, last chance you piece of s**, lie back and f*** yourself properly."

A further 19 victims were identified, with more who were unable to be identified. He used the images he had obtained to demand more extreme ones, or he would distribute the pictures, in some cases sending them to friends of victims.

A mother of one of the victims described her daughter as becoming "aggressive and angry". Another mother walked in on her daughter while she was performing a sexual act, and confronted Tindal but he taunted her and said the police would be unable to catch him.

The youngest victim was just 10-year-old. Another victim lived in Germany and explained to Tindal she had health issues, but he did not relent.

Tindal, of Hazel Tree Way, Brackla, later pleaded guilty to 24 counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, nine counts of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, 10 counts of threatening to disclose a private sexual photograph of film with intent to cause distress, six counts of possessing indecent images, two counts of possessing prohibited image, and two counts of possessing extreme pornographic images. The court heard he was of previous good character.

Defence barrister Adam Sharp said his client's best mitigation was his guilty plea, and was realistic the defendant would be receiving a "significant" term of imprisonment. He described Tindal as "socially isolated" and had been diagnosed with depression, and was previously hospitalised with a collapsed lung, which caused chest pain and shortness of breath. In 2021, he was hospitalised after taking an overdose of painkillers.

Sentencing, Judge Daniel Williams described the nature and scale of the defendant's offending as "truly horrifying", and his treatment of his victims as "pitiless". He added: "The control you extorted over the girls thrilled you as much as the sexual gratification you obtained."

A probation report deemed Tindal to be a "very high" risk of harm to children. Judge Williams added: "You sadistically committed time to degrade so many girls and continued that abuse while on bail, unperturbed by your arrest , is the clearest demonstration of the risk you pose.

Tindal was sentenced to a total of 11 years imprisonment, with an extended licence period of four years. He will serve two thirds of the custodial sentence before he can be considered for parole. The defendant was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and sex offender notification requirements indefinitely.

Following the hearing, detective constable Martin Charles of South Wales Police said: “This is one of the largest cases our team has worked on, and the strength of evidence gathered gave Tindal no other option but to plead guilty.

"I am thankful for the other police forces across the UK and abroad who supported the investigation as well as our Digital Forensic Unit in identifying victims ensuring we can safeguard them from further harm. Most of all, I am grateful for the bravery shown by Tindal’s victims across the UK for talking to the Police and helping to put him where he belongs beyond harm’s way.

“Alex Tindal’s crimes are of the most sinister and predatory offences seen as most of the victims’ families were completely unaware of the abuse being perpetrated. The online world is an integral part of a child’s life but is often hidden from close family and those who would intervene to help a child if they fell victim to this particular type of crime."

Record details

Now known as Damien Gibbons

An East Sussex man has been convicted of attempted sexual communication with a child online.

Following a three-day trial from Monday 18 December at Guildford Crown Court, Damien Gibbons, formerly known as Damien Cotgreave, 48, of High Street, Hailsham, was found guilty of attempted online sexual communication with a child.

At the time of his arrest in February 2020 for this offence, he was a Sussex Police officer.

He was later charged with the offence in the name of Cotgreave in April 2021.
He was given a one-year suspended prison sentence and a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) which severely restricts his access to children and computers.

The prosecution, authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service, followed an investigation by the Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT) of Sussex Police which began when information was received from a member of the public in February 2020.

POLIT crime investigator Michelle Shepherd said: "Cotgreave thought he was talking to a 13-year old girl, and engaged in very explicit sexual conversation, but he was in fact talking to an adult member of the public who reported their concerns to the police, and we immediately took action to arrest him and ensure no actual child could come to harm.

"We will always take action on such reports and anyone who has suspicions about this type of activity should contact the police immediately.

At the time of his arrest in February 2020, Cotgreave was a Detective Constable in Sussex Police but was suspended when he was arrested. At a separate public misconduct hearing in January 2021, he was found to have committed multiple breaches of professional standards, on evidence separate to this current prosecution, and he would have been dismissed from the force had he not already resigned.

As a result of this finding, he has been placed on the College of Policing Barred and Advisory list which will prevent his re-entry into law enforcement. The internal disciplinary investigation culminating in the misconduct hearing, resulted from information that came to light during this criminal investigation by POLIT.

Record details

A tattooist who paid a teenage girl for sex in his tattoo parlour has been jailed. He gave her a tattoo in exchange for sexual favours and later told police he was "killing two birds with one stone".

Adrian Edwards, 57, of Newport, was found guilty of two counts of paying a child for sex, and not guilty of one count. He claimed there was no monetary agreement between him and the then 16-year-old victim, and she was 18-years-old when they first slept together.

But this was disbelieved by a jury following a trial at Newport Crown Court in September, which heard Edwards had intercourse and oral sex with the girl on a number of occasions. Their first sexual encounter took place at the defendant's tattoo parlour in Caerphilly, after the victim "pestered" him for a tattoo and told him "I'll do anything".

During his remarks at a sentencing hearing on Thursday, Recorder Dyfed Thomas said: ""You took advantage of that child Mr Edwards, as she was a child at the ages of 16 and 17 for your own sexual gratification. You promised payment of money and had sexual activity with her which was alleged and found guilty by a jury. You knew as an older man with money she would go along with what you suggested."

In his opening of the case to the jury, prosecutor James Wilson described the encounter as a "cold transaction". He added: "(The defendant) took her into the piercing room, locked the doors, and started to touch her. He bent her over the piercing bed and put his penis inside her. Afterwards he laughed and asked her what tattoo she wanted."

The court was told Edwards paid the victim for sex regularly, and she used the cash to buy alcohol and hair extensions amongst other things. They continued to meet with each other after the defendant began working at one of the tattoo parlours he opened in Cardiff.

Mr Wilson said Edwards continued paying the complainant for sex after she turned 18-years-old, but the jury were only concerned with the events prior to her 18th birthday. The victim contacted the police in 2019 and was interviewed about her allegations towards the defendant.

Edwards, of Caerleon Road, Newport, was invited to a voluntary interview with police which he attended. He claimed the girl asked him for money on a number of occasions before they had sex, and he had given £100. He told police: "She was all over me, she would come up, stroke me and kiss me, all kinds of things. I thought 'She obviously wants more money'.

The defendant described their relationship as "completely clinical". He described himself having a "high sex drive" and admitted to using prostitutes in the past. It was alleged he told police that sex between himself and the complainant was "consensual" and he paid her some of the time, and added: "No words were exchanged, it was an understanding.

Later in the interview, he told police he was "disgusted with himself" but didn't see what he was doing was wrong as "it was like a prostitute". He added: "It was killing two birds with one stone, passion and helping her out with money."

Edwards has a number of previous convictions including theft by an employee in 1984, tattooing a person under 18 in 2016, and other offences including matters of dishonesty, driving offences, theft and handling stolen goods.

In mitigation, defence barrister Julia Cox referred to her client's character and the work he had done with sporting bodies. She said: "He'd been involved with charitable organisations and involved with reputable sporting bodies not only towards his socialisation but his positive impact on others. He travelled the country taking part in darts tournaments and organised events on their behalf working closely with the national bodies."

Ms Cox also referred to the defendant's ill health, having suffered a stroke at a young age and has diabetes. She said the victim would have been able to legally consent to sex as she was not under the age of consent.

Sentencing, Recorder Thomas said the defendant continued to deny the offences, and minimised his actions by claiming the victim was over 18 at the time of the offences. It was said Edwards did not accept his actions would have caused harm, and referred tothe victim as a "liar and untrustworthy".

The judge added: "It's clear from reading the (pre sentence) report you think of yourself as the victim in this case. There's no remorse that has been expressed that would have been a mitigating feature but it's singularly absent in this case....

Edwards was sentenced to 28 months imprisonment. He was also made subject to a restraining order for 10 years.

Record details

A "sadistic" paedophile forced children to perform degrading sexual acts on camera and threatened to distribute the images if they did not send more. One of his victims was left crying in pain while begging the pervert to stop.

Alexander Tindal, 31, of Bridgend, sexually abused more than 30 children online over a period of two-and-a-half years, and continued to exploit girls after he was first arrested. The "isolated" defendant pretended to be a teenage boy and approached his victims on Snapchat before asking them for intimate photos of themselves.

A sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court on Thursday heard Tindal forced one girl to send a photo of her little sister's genitalia to him, after threatening to disclose sexual images of her to friends, family and her school. When he was arrested by police, he was found with more than 23,000 indecent images of children, aged between 10 and 15-years-old.

Having been detained by police at his home in 2022, three devices were seized from the defendant as well as a mobile, a hard drive, and a desktop computer. During the examination of the devices, a thousands of indecent images were discovered and Tindal was found to have communicated with children and coerced them into performing sexual acts.

He was further arrested in September 2022, having been found to breach his bail conditions, after setting up further Snapchat accounts which he used to speak to child victims. After victims had been identified, they were visited by police and asked to provide a statement about their interactions with Tindal, who was found to have access to 19 Snapchat accounts under various names.

The first victim was 14-years-old when she was forced to perform sex acts.. She had sent the defendant close to 400 images, 45 of which were category A. The victim was first contacted by Tindal who claimed he was a 17-year-old boy, and encouraged her to send sexual images of herself. He became increasingly aggressive and threatened to distribute a video of a girl who looked like her to her, and would tell people it was her. When asked by the victim why he was doing this, he told her it was to "teach her a lesson".

In one message, she could be seen naked and crying in pain. She messaged Tindal saying "You're making me feel sick to my stomach. I so want to stop this, please I can't do this anymore". The defendant told her to carry on and she responded: "It hurts so f****** bad, I can't do this, please stop, I am f****** begging you." The abuse only came to a stop after the defendant was arrested.

The second victim was 13-years-old at the time of the abuse. Tindal was found with 100 category A images of the victim. When he became aware the victim had a six-year-old sister, he demanded pictures of her genitalia and threatened to "ruin her" if she did not. She subsequently sent the images.

In messages sent by Tindal to the victim, he said: "I am going to add your mother's number, I swear to f****** God, last chance you piece of s**, lie back and f*** yourself properly."

A further 19 victims were identified, with more who were unable to be identified. He used the images he had obtained to demand more extreme ones, or he would distribute the pictures, in some cases sending them to friends of victims.

A mother of one of the victims described her daughter as becoming "aggressive and angry". Another mother walked in on her daughter while she was performing a sexual act, and confronted Tindal but he taunted her and said the police would be unable to catch him.

The youngest victim was just 10-year-old. Another victim lived in Germany and explained to Tindal she had health issues, but he did not relent.

Tindal, of Hazel Tree Way, Brackla, later pleaded guilty to 24 counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, nine counts of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, 10 counts of threatening to disclose a private sexual photograph of film with intent to cause distress, six counts of possessing indecent images, two counts of possessing prohibited image, and two counts of possessing extreme pornographic images. The court heard he was of previous good character.

Defence barrister Adam Sharp said his client's best mitigation was his guilty plea, and was realistic the defendant would be receiving a "significant" term of imprisonment. He described Tindal as "socially isolated" and had been diagnosed with depression, and was previously hospitalised with a collapsed lung, which caused chest pain and shortness of breath. In 2021, he was hospitalised after taking an overdose of painkillers.

Sentencing, Judge Daniel Williams described the nature and scale of the defendant's offending as "truly horrifying", and his treatment of his victims as "pitiless". He added: "The control you extorted over the girls thrilled you as much as the sexual gratification you obtained."

A probation report deemed Tindal to be a "very high" risk of harm to children. Judge Williams added: "You sadistically committed time to degrade so many girls and continued that abuse while on bail, unperturbed by your arrest , is the clearest demonstration of the risk you pose.

Tindal was sentenced to a total of 11 years imprisonment, with an extended licence period of four years. He will serve two thirds of the custodial sentence before he can be considered for parole. The defendant was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and sex offender notification requirements indefinitely.

Following the hearing, detective constable Martin Charles of South Wales Police said: “This is one of the largest cases our team has worked on, and the strength of evidence gathered gave Tindal no other option but to plead guilty.

"I am thankful for the other police forces across the UK and abroad who supported the investigation as well as our Digital Forensic Unit in identifying victims ensuring we can safeguard them from further harm. Most of all, I am grateful for the bravery shown by Tindal’s victims across the UK for talking to the Police and helping to put him where he belongs beyond harm’s way.

“Alex Tindal’s crimes are of the most sinister and predatory offences seen as most of the victims’ families were completely unaware of the abuse being perpetrated. The online world is an integral part of a child’s life but is often hidden from close family and those who would intervene to help a child if they fell victim to this particular type of crime."

Record details

A doctor who watched a five-year-old girl drugged and raped was spared jail. James Burrow was initially 'perplexed' when his 10-year-old son opened the door to police executing a search warrant on their 1.25million semi-detached home in gated Sayers Court, Ealing, on November 15 2022, Isleworth Crown Court heard on Thursday (December 21).

The 46-year-old consultant anaesthetist at Charing Cross Hospital in Hammersmith alerted detectives to his IP address after downloading illegal child abuse images. When police seized his devices, including a computer tower from under his desk in the study of his West London newbuild, they discovered the illegal content.

The stash included 20 Category A images, the worst kind, 10 Category B, 112 Category C, 97 prohibited images, and 1,781 extreme porn images, which were mostly of humans having sex with horses, court documents show.

Prosecutor Phillip Allman said: "In particular in one video the child is approximately five-years-old and appeared to be drugged, struggling to keep her eyes open and sit up, before she is anally raped."

When Dr Burrow was arrested, he made no comment in his interview but later pleaded guilty to all the charges at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on October 1 this year. A social services investigation issued no further action, but the dad-of-one has been only allowed supervised contact with his son to date, Mr Allman told the court.

Defence barrister Jose Olivares-Chandler said: "After this case he was allowed to continue working. As long as he did not care for children... but he chose to resign anyway to save embarrassment for his hospital."

The GMC has said this is not the case. As is normal procedure after any criminal case, the GMC referred the doctor to an Interim Orders Tribunal in 2022 due to the seriousness of the allegations against him. He was put on an interim suspension during the investigation. Now that he has been found guilty, the case has been referred to an independent Medical Practitioners Tribunal. It is at this point that the doctor would have likely been sacked, had he not quit already.

In mitigation, Mr Olivares-Chandler explained his client's struggling 11-year marriage had driven him to access the 'porn', but his wife was now supporting him. He said the offence was 'out of character' for Burrow, and that it will 'stay with him for the rest of his life'.

A suited Burrow smiled as judge Richard Inyundo sentenced him to 40 weeks for the Cat A images, and 20 weeks, 11 weeks, 11 weeks, and 28 weeks, all concurrent, for the remaining charges of Cat B, Cat C, prohibited images, and extreme pornography respectively, suspended for 18 months.

Judge Inyundo warned: "If you commit any criminal offence within the next 18 months for which you are convicted you also stand to go to prison for 40 weeks for this order itself."

Burrow, who left court peering over a surgical mask, was also handed a 10 year sexual harm prevention order and is subject to notification requirements for the same period. He was also ordered to complete 40 days of rehabilitation activity requirement and do 125 hours of unpaid work. He must pay 330 in costs in 28 days.

Record details

A serial sex offender has today (Thursday 21 December 2023) been sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment at York Crown Court for twice subjecting a young girl to indecent assault in Northallerton during the 1990s.

John William Marshall (pictured below), 68, of Fairfax Avenue, Harrogate, was sentenced after being found guilty at a trial held in August.

He has also been made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

The bravery of the victim has ensured that Marshall faced justice for his crimes, despite the number of years that have passed.

The victim made contact with North Yorkshire Police in 2019 following publicity surrounding the conviction of Marshall for possession of more than 24,000 indecent images of children, for which he served a custodial sentence and made subject to a SHPO which was due to expire.

Marshall had previously been described publicly by a judge as a “dangerous paedophile”.

The court heard that Marshall had befriended the victim’s family, offering help with their newly acquired computer.

He was subsequently trusted to look after the girl when her parents went shopping.

It was during these times that Marshall sexually assaulted her.

The victim’s parents reported it to police and social services at the time, but no further criminal action was taken due to a series of complications.

Now an adult, the victim’s life had been overshadowed by the thought that she was not believed.

Record details

A man has been jailed for 14 years for committing multiple sex offences against a child.

Jon Paul Dorling, 49, of Bishops Road, Gaywood, King's Lynn, appeared at Norwich Crown Court.

The court heard that between January 2017 and August 2019, Dorling engaged in sexual intercourse with a vulnerable child who had been in secure care due to being at risk of criminal sexual exploitation.

Dorling connected with the teenage victim on social media after befriending one of her relatives and started messaging her despite knowing her age.

Dorling told the victim that he loved her while also belittling and controlling her and she said she would lie to people around her to protect him.

Dorling was arrested in August 2020 and questioned at Kings Lynn Police Investigation Centre after the victim disclosed what had happened.

The victim said the incidents happened in the suspect's house and bedroom and was able to describe the layout and duvet cover on his bed.

Messages and social media searches were also used as evidence.

The victim's court statement said Dorling had damaged her relationships with her family, isolated her at school, changed the way she viewed relationships with men and friends into adulthood and still caused her depression and flashbacks.

Dorling was sentenced for seven counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of sexual touching after pleading not guilty at an earlier hearing.

He was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.

The victim said: With guilty verdicts at the end of this trial, I finally feel like my voice has been heard and I hope the sentence given reflects the enormity of Jons offending against me.

Det Sgt Matt Hendry said: This sentence goes some way to reflect the gravity of offending committed by Dorling and the effect that it has had on the victim.

"I would like to take the opportunity to praise the victim for her bravery in giving evidence and describing exactly what has happened to her at such a young age.

Record details

A Calne man was caught with a huge collection of child and animal abuse images.

Luke Frewin denied four sex offences but on 3 December, just a few days before his trial at Swindon Crown Court, he changed his pleas to guilty.

The 27-year-old father admitted possessing 750 indecent images of children, including 239 described as being in category A – involving penetration.

He also admitted possessing 57 extreme images involving sexual activity with animals.

On 14 December, at the same court, Frewin was sentenced to 15-month prison sentence suspended for two years and was told to complete 60 rehabilitation days.

The defendant, of Ebor Paddock, Calne, was also ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years. A Sexual Harm Prevention Order was imposed to run alongside it.

Record details

A man who pleaded guilty to filming a teenager undressing in a changing room has been spared jail.

Liam Warlow, 27, had attempted to record footage of the school girl with his phone under the divider of a cubicle in the unisex changing area of LC Swansea waterpark, south Wales, when she spotted the phone and kicked it from his hand, a court heard.

“Most people would expect me to send you to prison,” Judge Geraint Walters told him after he pleaded guilty to observing a private act for sexual gratification.

Warlow was given a six-month sentence suspended for two years on Dec 20. Judge Walters also ordered him to undertake a 43-day programme to address his issues around filming in public for sexual excitement and to attend 45 days of “general rehabilitation”.

CCTV footage shows Warlow loitering in the doorway of a cubicle in the changing rooms before the incident. He had finished getting dressed when he spotted the girl and then entered the cubicle next to her.

Warlow is then seen running out of the leisure centre after being discovered attempting to film the girl undressing.

He told police he had dropped his phone which had “managed to start recording by itself”, Swansea Crown Court heard.

Despite this Judge Walters said it was “perfectly obvious” what Warlow was doing.

He said: “Having set eyes upon her, you quite purposefully, and with a fair degree of determination, hung about in the changing area - including viewing her through a mirror at one stage - until she entered a cubicle.

‘The phone was plainly recording’

“You entered the adjoining cubicle, and while there you used your phone to film her. She said the phone was plainly recording and she could see herself on it.”

Upon his arrest, Warlow told the police he could not remember the code to access the “private area” of his phone, but the judge said his claim was not plausible.

Warlow has previous convictions for burglary and cannabis possession from 2013.

Judge Walters added: “Your conduct that day has, for a considerable period of time, blighted you. And it will.

“You will be on the sex offenders register. You’ve lost your partner, by the looks of it. No doubt in any future relationship you have, you will end up coming under the scrutiny of social services.”

Warlow will be placed on the sex offenders register and subject to a sexual harm prevention order for seven years.

Record details

Nathan Waddell engaged in “at least 19 conversations” over a six-week period on the messenger app, Telegram, with analysis of his devices showing he even sent videos to multiple people involved in a single chat.

He had also stored almost 1,000 images in a personal “library”, involving children as young as two being abused in the most horrific way, Leeds Crown Court heard.

Judge Simon Batiste jailed him for two years this week and told him: “The message must go out that if you distribute such vile images, then custody will follow that. Some were of very young children. It makes it more serious that you distributed them.”

Prosecutor Charlotte Noddings said the National Crime Agency alerted West Yorkshire Police in August 2022 about images being uploaded by an account that was eventually traced back to Waddell.

They arrested him three months later on November 29 at his former in Leeds, seizing an iPhone, Apple MacBook and a USB stick. On them they found 148 video and images in Category A – depicting the most serious abuse. There were also over 200 Category B and 570 Category C.

They also retrieved 600 images classed as Category Six – which are not illegal images but contain children and could indicate a sexual interest in children, Miss Noddings said.

Following his arrest, 30-year-old Waddell was candid with police, admitting what he had done. He admitted two counts of distributing indecent images, and three counts of possessing indecent images. He has no previous convictions.

Mitigating, Laurence Dilworth said Waddell, now of Rundle Place, Pocklington, East Yorkshire, had experienced mental health problems, lost his job, became withdrawn and isolated and “turned to pornography”.

He added: “He had a sexual attraction to children but has taken steps to address that by engaging with a children’s charity to prevent sexual abuse. He is ashamed of his actions and has taken steps to address his offending behaviour.”

In addition to his jail sentence, Waddell was put on the sex offender register for 10 years, and given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) to restrict his internet use.

Record details

A sex offender from Ipswich who targeted teenagers as they walked home has been jailed for more than two decades – despite refusing to show up to his sentencing hearing.

At Ipswich Crown Court Today, Judge Emma Peters sentenced Adiley Pires, 25 of Kensington Road, in his absence, after a conviction on two counts of attempted rape, one count of sexual assault, and common assault.

Following a nine-day trial, Pires was found guilty on all counts on October 26.

The charges related to two separate incidents in 2021 and 2022.

During the first incident, which took place between 3.10am and 3.20am on October 17, 2021, Pires chased his victim – who was 18 at the time – into the courtyard of an apartment block in College Street.

The victim had been walking down the waterfront in the direction of Stoke Bridge, when Pires approached her, tried to make conversation, and touched her bottom.

It was after she told Pires to leave her alone that he proceeded to chase her.

Once in the courtyard, Pires pushed the victim into a flower planter and attempted to lift up her dress, the court was told.

She screamed as loud as she could and got the attention of residents, who shouted at Pires, before he ran away.

CCTV footage from Cardinal Park on the night of the incident showed him watching her as she left a nightclub, before following her to the waterfront.

The club put out an appeal, and he was arrested on October 23.

Detectives sought advice for charging him with attempted rape, but a review of evidence gathered at the time led to the Crown Prosecution Service determining that more was needed.

As a result, Pires was bailed, forced to surrender his passport, and ordered to adhere to a curfew.

It would also require him to present himself to any police officer attending his home address to conduct checks.

The second incident took place in Tower Mill Street at 11.40pm on December 8, 2022.

He approached a 17-year-old girl from behind after she entered a towpath on Yarmouth Road.

He then grabbed her and pulled her to the ground, before covering her mouth, and trying to get her leggings off.

The court heard how the victim tried to fight Pires off – eventually calling for help and getting the attention of nearby residents.

He then ran off.

After the attack, officers conducted a CCTV investigation, and Pires was flagged as a suspect due to the similarity to the 2021 incident.

He was also a positive match for being present in the relevant locations at the time of the attack.

Pires was arrested on December 15 and later charged.

For the 2021 incident, Pires stood accused of one count of attempted rape and one count of sexual assault; and one count of attempted rape and one count of assault by beating for the 2022 attack.

Pires admitted the charge of assault by beating but denied the three other offences.

Throughout his trial, he denied the attacks were sexually motivated.

The jury dismissed these claims and found him guilty of all charges.

He was sentenced to 15 years in prison, with an extended licence of six years, for a total of 21 years, and was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

Detective Inspector James Cassedy, the senior investigating officer for the case, described Pires is a predator.

“He preyed on lone females who were simply trying to walk home after a night out and our streets are now undeniably safer with him locked up,” he said.

“In both cases, he tracked the victims’ movements and followed them to a point that he presumably thought was isolated enough for him to attack them.

“What he hadn’t accounted for was that both of these individuals would fight back and call for help. I want to pay tribute to their bravery – not just whilst being attacked, but in then sitting down and speaking with our officers afterwards and doing all they could to help us catch him.

“I also want to thank the members of the public who came to their assistance in both cases. Not only did they help to scare Pires off, they also took care of the victims and waited with them until the police arrived.

“Targeting perpetrators of sexual assault and violence against women and girls is a priority for Suffolk Constabulary – we will not tolerate it and will continue to do work tirelessly to bring offenders to justice.”

Record details

A dangerous sexual predator has been jailed for a campaign of sexual offending against a girl whom he treated like an object. Zack Hosking, 26, repeatedly had sex with the 15-year-old after grooming her with gifts.

Hosking, formerly of Camborne but more recently of Plymouth, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence after pleading guilty to nine sexual activity with a child charges and two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. All of the offences took place in Camborne in 2020.

Prosecuting the case, Mary McCarthy told the court how Hosking met his victim when she was very young, before drifting away and getting back in touch when she was 15. Hosking started sending flirtatious messages and pressuring her for sexual activity. Ms McCarthy said: "He bought her presents and said he loved her to gain control."

Ms McCarthy then told the court about the offending, how Hosking got the victim to masturbate him and send him sexual videos. Then, on one occasion, Hosking bought her alcohol and chocolate and asked her if she was ready to lose her virginity. The victim wasn't keen but went along with it to make him happy. It was painful but Hosking told her it was normal before leaving after it had finished.

More sexual intercourse followed over the next few days and Hosking cruelly told his victim to get emergency contraception and "get on the pill". Hosking, over the following months, aggressively demanded the complainant meet him in various locations for sex, which she reluctantly agreed to.

In a victim impact statement, the complainant said she finds it hard to trust men and has had breakdowns when surrounded by men at work.

Representing Hosking, Jason Beal said: "His pleas are a public acceptance that she tod the truth about what happened. His acceptance is a recognition that what he did was wrong. He doesn't engage in victim blaming."

Mr Beal went on to point out how Hosking lost his mother, father and stepfather in quick succession.

Sentencing Hosking, Judge Simon Carr described the offending as "the systematic sexual abuse of a child". He said: "You renewed contact when she was 15. You were 23. You quickly sexualised the conversation and you knew perfectly well what you were doing.

"You complimented her and bought her jewellery and underwear. This was all carried out for one reason. To groom her for sexual activity and this took place on a number of occasions. You treated her like an object, not a human being, and the language you used towards her was truly dreadful."

Hosking was jailed for eight years and made subject of a sexual harm prevention order.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Shortern said: "I welcome the sentence in this case and I would like to thank the victim in this case for her incredible strength and courage in bringing this dangerous offender to justice.

“We take child sexual exploitation offences extremely seriously due to the profound and lasting effect these offences have on victims. I hope this case demonstrates how seriously the police take this type of offending and helps people to find the courage to come forward in the future.”

Record details

A PROLIFIC sex offender set up sick private chat rooms to exchange footage with other perverts of him sexually assaulting 10 children - raping one of the youngsters dozens of times.

Benjamin Young preyed on the youngsters during a near two-year campaign of horror abuse.

The 42-year-old cook was finally snared days before Christmas last year after the National Crime Agency discovered he had sent photos to a fellow paedophile in Denmark.

It led to his home being raided and police seizing two mobile phones which stored almost 20,000 indecent images and videos.

The High Court in Glasgow heard yesterday how one child alone had been raped 26 times.

First offender Young - via his KC Ronnie Renucci - pleaded guilty to a total of 32 charges.

These included rape, multiple sexual assault as well as the possession, taking and distribution of indecent images.

A judge told Young he had plumbed “the depths of depravity”.

A full risk assessment was instructed to be carried out which could eventually lead to Young made the subject of an Order for Lifelong Restriction.

The offences occurred between January 2021 and December 2022 mainly in Argyll and Bute.

Prosecutor Kath Harper said: “This case involves extensive and prolonged sexual offending by Young against 10 children - all aged under 13 years - and one adult.”

Young also pleaded guilty yesterday to sexually assaulting a woman while she was sleeping. He further recorded her in a “voyeuristic manner”.

Family of a number of the young victims were at court yesterday to see Young admit his guilt.

Lord Arthurson remanded him in custody and adjourned the case until March 19 next year in Edinburgh.

The judge said there are some case where “words can be inadequate” to describe what was heard.

Lord Arthurson told Young: “Your offending has plumbed the depths of depravity.

“You are plainly a calculating and committed paedophile.

“I think it can be safely said that this is one of the worst types of this sort of case to come before the court.”

Detective Inspector Adrian Ure, National Child Abuse Investigation Unit, Police Scotland added: “Benjamin Young is a sexual predator who manipulated and abused defenceless young children for his own sexual gratification.

“The nature of his offending, which included multiple serious sexual assaults, was truly horrific and through a long and complex investigation we were able to uncover the significant extent of his criminal behaviour, which also expanded across the dark web.

“He was directly responsible for creating and sharing unspeakable content which contributed to the wider demand and process of child sexual abuse across the world.

“Although what Young has done will no doubt have lasting impacts, we hope this conviction will serve as a warning to others who are involved in this kind of criminality.”

Young showed no emotion as he was led handcuffed to the cells.

Record details

A woman who used ‘careful deception’ to manipulate her victim into thinking she was a man in order to have sex with her has been jailed for more than 10 years.

Blade Silvano made a fake profile on dating website PlentyOfFish in 2016 and posted pictures of herself looking like a man, a judge told Cambridge Crown Court on Wednesday.

After meeting a woman on the site and convincing her she was meeting a man, Silvano twice had sex with her using a strap-on sex toy while wearing an oversized T-shirt.

Over the course of 18 months, she misled her victim by claiming she was a British military officer and sending pictures of her appearing to wet shave.

The victim ‘saw a future’ with her and the couple even discussed getting married.

Describing the deception as ‘unspeakably cruel’, Judge Philip Grey said the victim had tried on wedding dresses with her sister and she was left ‘horrified’ when she discovered Silvano’s true identity on Facebook.

During a trial at the same court last May, Silvano told the jury she had never met the victim and the relationship was built on fantasy and online roleplay – an account the judge described as ‘remarkable and at times laughable’.

She was found guilty of two counts of assault by penetration at the end of the trial, and today was sentenced to 10 years and six months imprisonment.

Silvano, of Bishop’s Castle in Shropshire, has also been placed on the sex offender’s register indefinitely.

Judge Grey said it was not a case of gender dysphoria, but a ‘calculated’ series of ‘deceit and lies’ in order to achieve sexual gratification.

He continued: ‘You managed your appearance carefully to look like a man.

‘You deliberately set out to deceive her (and) did so in the most reprehensible way.

‘She was convinced she was having sex with a man. You achieved this with a series of careful deceptions. Her consent is null and void.’

The judge added: ‘This was a fantasy you were playing out for your own selfish enjoyment.

‘You continued to string her along and that was unspeakably cruel. Your lying was constant.’

Record details

A sex offender army veteran who recently dodged court after news of his crime made him “upset” sparked a police armed response after telling officers he had guns.

Ryan Byrne became agitated after police turned up at his door to serve a court warrant after he failed to appear in the dock to answer for the 2018 sexual assault he committed on a 19-year-old girl student.