Latest Offenders

Description

A Northampton man has been imprisoned for 15 years after using a room rental website to target a woman before raping her.

Ion Cojan, aged 37, of Worcester Close, appeared at Northampton Crown Court on Tuesday, November 8 after a jury found him guilty of raping a woman.

Andrew Fitch-Holland, prosecuting, said the victim was looking for a room to rent in Northampton and set up an account on a rental website, which contained her photo, name and age.

The court heard that Cojan contacted her to tell her he had a friend with a room to let. When the victim said she was no longer interested, Cojan told her she was “beautiful” and asked to meet on February 17, 2019.

Mr Fitch-Holland said Cojan picked the woman up from Northampton town centre in his car and she sat in the back seat, expecting to be taken for coffee as planned. However Cojan drove her to a secluded area by a lake, the court heard.

Mr Fitch-Holland said the assault went on for approximately 10 minutes before Cojan tried to pull the victim’s trousers down but she said no so he eventually stopped and drove her back into town. Cojan told the woman he would call her and they would have sex, blew her three kisses and drove off.

The victim walked home, feeling “disgusted” and “shocked” and then reported the rape to the police. In a statement, she said she cannot forget what happened to her and she does not trust men anymore.

Cojan was arrested and his mobile phone was seized; police discovered numerous searches for female users of a room rental website, which he was treating as a dating site.

Cojan has one previous conviction of sexual assault in 2009 when he pushed a woman onto a bed, held her throat and pulled her hair - preventing her from leaving. She was able to escape when he let go of her.

Rajiv Chopra, in mitigation, said Cojan is “genuinely remorseful” that he has “upset” the victim and wants to write an apology letter to her.

Addressing the judge, Mr Chopra said: “Please use your utmost discretion and leniency to give this young man a second chance.”

Her Honour Judge Lucking KC, sentencing, said: “You have a tendency to commit sexual offences against lone women by flattering them and then isolating them before subjecting them to sexual activity without consent.

“Your evidence at trial revealed your arrogance and misplaced sense of sexual entitlement.”

Cojan was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment with an extended licence period of five years. He was also placed on the Sex Offender’s Register indefinitely.

Description

 A PAEDOPHILE has been jailed after he downloaded indecent images of children within weeks of a suspended sentence lapsing for similar offending.

Stuart Keith Waghorne, who lived in Bournemouth at the time of his crimes, was caught with more than 3,000 images obtained across a four-month period last year.

This criminal behaviour started less than a month after a suspended sentenced he received back in 2019 had expired.

Judge William Mousley KC jailed the 50-year-old defendant for 21 months at a Bournemouth Crown Court Hearing on Friday, November 4.

Waghorne, now of Bramley Hill, Mere, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and breach of a sexual harm prevention order. 

 Prosecuting, Sophie Johns said the defendant, who has worked most of his life as a butcher, was arrested on December 14, 2021, after police received information about his suspected behaviour. An analysis of his phone was carried out by officers.

A large number of still of moving images were found – 2,342 category A (the most serious), 414 category B and 249 category C.

Ms Johns said the material, which was downloaded between August and December last year, included children as young as two, with visible destress expressed by the victims.

The images were found across two applications on the phone as well Waghorne’s email application, with the majority of the files still accessible. 

 Prosecuting, Sophie Johns said the defendant, who has worked most of his life as a butcher, was arrested on December 14, 2021, after police received information about his suspected behaviour. An analysis of his phone was carried out by officers.

A large number of still of moving images were found – 2,342 category A (the most serious), 414 category B and 249 category C.

Ms Johns said the material, which was downloaded between August and December last year, included children as young as two, with visible destress expressed by the victims.

The images were found across two applications on the phone as well Waghorne’s email application, with the majority of the files still accessible. 

 The court heard Waghorne received a suspended sentence in July 2019 for similar offences of possessing indecent images.

The offences which brought him back before the courts started just weeks after the suspended sentence had lapsed. 

 Mitigating, Rob Griffiths said his client’s actions all stemmed from the breakdown of his marriage, which he described as an “unpleasant break up”.

Mr Griffiths said the defendant had set about trying to restore his masculinity following the seperation. After starting out watching adult pornography, the offender ended up at the “taboo” which brought him before the courts.

The barrister said the suspended sentence Waghorne received in 2019 did not contain any targeted programme to work on his sexual interest in children. He asked the judge to give his client a final chance, with there being a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

Judge Mousley KC said he had concluded only the only appropriate punishment in the case was immediate imprisonment.

Alongside the prison sentence, the judge extended the sexual harm prevention order to run for 10 years from the date of the hearing. Waghorne was placed on the sex offenders register for the same period of time. 

Description

A "dangerous" convicted sex offender who thought he was communicating with teenage girls had been exchanging messages with "decoys" from a paedophile hunter group, a court has heard.

Paul Stone, 50, sent sexual messages online and via WhatsApp to what he thought were two girls under 16.

In fact, they were members of a group of paedophile hunters, who passed the messages on to police, who arrested him.

Norwich Crown Court heard Stone, of Jewson Road, off Palmer Road in the city had been communicating with the decoys between September 1 and September 12, 2022.

Jamie Sawyer, prosecuting, said Stone, a registered sex offender who was being managed by Norfolk Constabulary's public protection unit, had encouraged the decoys to engage in sexual activity and sent pictures and videos of himself to them as well.

He said the "most troubling" aspect of the case involved his previous convictions, which included indecent images offences in 2012 and attempted sexual communication with a child from March this year.

Stone appeared for sentence on Wednesday (November 9) having previously admitted two counts of attempting to cause or incite a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity, against one victim between September 1 and September 12.

He had also pleaded guilty to another offence of attempting to cause or incite a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity, against another girl between the same dates.

In addition, Stone had pleaded guilty to failing to comply with notification requirements between March 31, 2022, and September 12, 2022, as well as three counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) between the same dates.

Passing an extended sentence of eight years and eight months made up of five years and eight months custody and three years on licence, Judge Alice Robinson said it had been "serious" offending.

Judge Robinson said it was a "particular concern" that he "fell into old habits" and as a result of his "continued and persistent sexual offending" regarded him as a "dangerous" offender who was a significant risk of serious harm to children as a result of sexual offending by him.

Michael Clare, mitigating, said the defendant admitted his offending from the outset and should be given "full credit" for his pleas.

Description

Shaun Wightman, 57, absconded from his trial in Sheffield before being caught in Scotland and eventually jailed for 16 years.

A paedophile who was found living with children after going on the run to Scotland during his trial has been jailed. Shaun Wightman, 57, had been on trial at Sheffield Crown Court last year but fled the Yorkshire city.

The beast had been charged with four counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, two counts of causing or inciting a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity and multiple charges relating to engaging in sexual activity in front of a child and taking indecent images of a child.

In his absence, Wightman was found guilty of eight of the charges against the girl, with whom he had been in a "position of trust". The court heard he was re-arrested on October 31, after intelligence led cops to a property in Scotland. 

Officers they found the sick sex offender hiding out with children and he was hauled back to court. Appearing in court on Friday, November 4, he was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Examiner Live reports that judge Jeremy Richardson said he was in "no doubt" the abuse "would have escalated had she become older before what you did to her was discovered." The judge told how jurors were forced to view sick images that Wightman had taken of the child after he disappeared on the second day of the trial.

The Recorder of Sheffield said: "Eventually, on the fourth day the decision had to be made by the court as to whether to proceed in your absence to the defence case, final speeches and summing up. On October 25, 2022 it was thought, as a result of evidence from the police, that you were in Scotland. You were arrested on October 31, 2022."

Wightman admitted a bail act offence relating to his failure to turn up for trial. Rodney Eric Ferm, Mitigating, told the court that the sentence would be the longest the sex offender has served, having no crimes on his record since 1995.

Mr Ferm said: "It is a long sentence which will be hard to bear when you haven't been in that kind of environment and at the age he is at. He is not in the best of health - he had a motorcycle accident many years ago, around 20 years since then, but he has been unable to work and one of the effects of this is his mental health issues which were accepted by the Department of Health and Social Security and it has led him on more than one occasion to contemplate suicide."

The lawyer urged the court "to measure the sentence against that background" as Wightman had been placed on suicide watch and was undergoing tests for cancer.

Sentencing Wightman Judge Richardson told the court: "You were arrested in Scotland by the police hiding in a house where there were children. You were a fugitive from justice. This case involves the cruel abuse of a girl." He handed him a total sentence of 16 years imprisonment.

Description

This is the face of a Hull dad found guilty of horrific sexual offences including rape.

Darren Broadbent, 31, of Seafield Avenue, Hull, denied six sexual offences but he was convicted by a jury after a trial of five of them, including rape and offences of assault by penetration.

His victim was left suffering "mental torment" as well as nightmares, flashbacks and night terrors. The abuse had caused "catastrophic effects" on her and the "severe psychological harm" had badly affected her whole life through a "tidal wave" of suffering, Hull Crown Court heard.

Judge Mark Bury said that Broadbent committed the offences when he was much younger but the girl did not report any of them at the time. "She did not appreciate the severity of what you were doing," said Judge Bury.

"You, however, did have some idea because you told her on more than one occasion not to tell anybody. It would be your secret. She was anxious about whether she would be believed."

"The court can see how devastating your actions have been," said Judge Bury. "It has affected every aspect of her life. You took the case to trial and the court is now in a good position to see the harm that you have caused."

The "catastrophic effects" of Broadbent's behaviour on the girl had become clear. "She continues to have nightmares and night traumas," said Judge Bury.

"She has been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder. She has sadness. Now that you are going to be sent to jail, she will get some closure. Severe psychological harm has been occasioned. You did know you were doing wrong. These are serious offences, as you well know."

The girl said in a statement: "I have suffered with mental torture over the years, which has gradually got worse and worse. What Darren did to me was so wrong. What's happened should never have happened. I suffer with nightmares and night terrors."

She said that she would "wake up dripping with sweat" and this had been happening as long as she could remember. This was the lowest point of her life.

Sometimes she struggled to get out of bed and she struggled to sleep at night. She had suffered a "tidal wave" of effects. "This is not the life I should be living," she said.

"The nightmares, flashbacks and night sweats continue, along with intrusive thoughts. My family have given me so much support throughout this. He has taken too much from me and put me through too much hurt."

Charlotte Baines, mitigating, said that there had been no repeat of the offending. "He does not pose a high or significant risk to children at this particular time," said Miss Baines.

Broadbent had a lack of previous convictions, including for anything similar. He was married, had a daughter and had been working.

Broadbent was jailed for six years and must register as a sex offender for life.

Description

 A MAN raped a 15-year-old schoolgirl as she was being sick after she had been plied with alcohol.

Bradley Bullock, 26, from Newport, went on to sexually assault women and threatened to rape a nurse. 

 The defendant, who was sectioned at one point, claimed to have “met the devil in jail and said there was a conspiracy to kill his family”. 

 The defendant, who was sectioned at one point, claimed to have “met the devil in jail and said there was a conspiracy to kill his family”. 

 Matthew Cobbe, prosecuting, told Cardiff Crown Court: “The rape victim was 15 at the time of the offence.

“She was targeted and the defendant knew her age and realised there was an opportunity.

“He raped her as she was vomiting. It was humiliating.

“Alcohol was used to facilitate the offence and she was plied with drink.”

Byron Broadstock, representing Bullock, said in mitigation of the rape: “There is no criticism of the victim but she was drinking of her own free will.

“This was an opportunistic offence on Mr Bullock’s behalf.”

The court was told that the defendant had been sectioned and was “clearly mentally unwell” at the time of some of the offences.

Mr Broadstock added that his client had a “sad and tragic background”.

Bullock, formerly of Stelvio Park Court, Newport, was also being sentenced after he pleaded guilty to a burglary and robbery offence committed after the sexual offences. 

 Matthew Cobbe, prosecuting, told Cardiff Crown Court: “The rape victim was 15 at the time of the offence.

“She was targeted and the defendant knew her age and realised there was an opportunity.

“He raped her as she was vomiting. It was humiliating.

“Alcohol was used to facilitate the offence and she was plied with drink.”

Byron Broadstock, representing Bullock, said in mitigation of the rape: “There is no criticism of the victim but she was drinking of her own free will.

“This was an opportunistic offence on Mr Bullock’s behalf.”

The court was told that the defendant had been sectioned and was “clearly mentally unwell” at the time of some of the offences.

Mr Broadstock added that his client had a “sad and tragic background”.

Bullock, formerly of Stelvio Park Court, Newport, was also being sentenced after he pleaded guilty to a burglary and robbery offence committed after the sexual offences. 

Description

A man from Loughborough who admitted being “sexually attracted to babies and toddlers” has been jailed for 25 years, after he paid for the abuse of young children in Asia.

National Crime Agency investigators identified that Ian Wynter, 59, targeted financially vulnerable individuals in countries such as the Philippines and Indonesia. He would give them explicit direction and pay them to live stream themselves carrying out the abuse.

Wynter was arrested by the NCA in January 2020 after flying into Gatwick Airport from Shanghai, China, where he had been living and working.

Officers seized a number of electronic devices, including phones, a laptop and an external hard drive from him at the airport, as well as from his UK home in Loughborough.

They recovered thousands of online chat logs which showed Wynter speaking with offenders based all over the world.

In the chats, Wynter describes himself as a “paedophile” who is “sexually attracted to babies and toddlers”. As well as discussing raping them among other horrific ‘fantasies’, he also advised others on how to carry out abuse without getting caught.

While on a trip to Thailand in 2020, he engaged in an online conversation with another paedophile about potentially finding a local child to abuse.

The chat logs and financial records showed that Wynter had paid a man in the Philippines to abuse a two-year-old boy for him via video call, on multiple occasions in 2019. Video recordings of these calls made by Wynter show him directing the abuse throughout, as well as requesting specific sexual acts in the chat box.

Additional messages show the man telling Wynter he is in financial difficulty and needs money for “milk and diapers”. Wynter later passed on the contact details of the Filipino facilitator to another online user, who he said was willing to pay “$125 up front for a show”.

The facilitator has since been sentenced to 15 years in prison in the Philippines and local authorities safeguarded the child.

Wynter also paid another male facilitator in Indonesia for several video calls of him abusing two-year-old boy in 2018. In this case, the man said the money would help pay for his diploma.

17,000 indecent images of children (6,000 in category A) were stored across Wynter’s devices, many of which he had also shared online. Within these was a naked image of a child that he had taken himself.

In June this year, Wynter pleaded guilty to 13 charges including multiple counts of encouraging the sexual assault & rape of a child under 13 and the possession and distribution of indecent images of children.

He was sentenced today (09/11/2022) at Leicester Crown Court to 25 years in prison.

He will also be subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and has been placed on the Sex Offender Register.

Tony Smith from the National Crime Agency said:

“Ian Wynter is a prolific sexual offender who caused very young children to suffer the most horrendous abuse at the hands of willing facilitators, giving them specific direction and financial reward.

“Wynter spoke with thousands of other predators online with whom he openly discussed his horrific sexual fantasies, and offered advice on carrying out abuse while avoiding detection.

“This case is a key example of how predatory sexual offenders are using online platforms to target vulnerable children overseas, as well as to connect with other like-minded individuals. Wynter’s sentence reflects the gravity of his worldwide offending and our commitment to bring him to justice.

“The NCA works with law enforcement partners across the globe to ensure we are identifying and disrupting offenders, and safeguarding children, wherever they are.”

Bethany Raine, CPS Specialist Prosecutor, said:

“Wynter demonstrated sickening depravity by paying adults to sexually abuse children in video calls and exploiting innocent children in other parts of the world.

“This conviction sends a clear message that the CPS, working alongside the NCA and international partners, will work to bring to justice those who sexually abuse and exploit children, wherever that abuse takes place.

“Working with our international partners we have also been able to help the Filipino courts jail one of the abusers Wynter encouraged in his appalling search for sexual gratification.”

Description

A man who preyed on a sleeping woman on the Night Tube stroking her leg has been jailed for a year after being found guilty of sexual assault.

Michal Piczak, 31, will spend one year in jail and a decade on the sex offenders register after a woman awoke on the Night Tube to discover him stroking her.

The attack came in the early hours of September 29 2019, the victim was travelling home on-board a Victoria line night service when she fell asleep.

As the Tube approached Walthamstow Central Underground station she awoke to Piczak stroking her legs and kicked out to get him away from her.

Pointing out Piczak to station staff she shouted: “Stop him, he’s been touching me”.

A British Transport Police officer at the station rushed to the scene and Piczak was promptly arrested on suspicion of sexual assault.

CCTV footage captures Piczak’s actions as he reached over the Tube’s aisle to touch the sleeping victim before moving next to her and stroking her legs.

Detective Constable Ibrar Ahmed, investigating officer in the case, said: “Piczak is a sordid sex offender who targeted a lone woman as she slept and subjected her to a prolonged sexual assault.

“His jail term sends out a clear message to anyone who exhibits this type of behaviour on the railway – we will catch you and bring you to justice without exception.”

Piczak of Station Road, Walthamstow, appeared at Inner London Crown Court on 28 October where he pleaded not guilty to sexual assault.

A jury found him guilty at trial and he was sentenced by a judge to one-year imprisonment, and to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years.

Description

Police found a sickening stash of child abuse images at the home of an IT expert working for a firm providing services to the UK Government.

They discovered the vile collection when they seized for than 30 devices from the loft at Hugh Macpherson's Barrhead house.

Now fears have been raised that the 37-year-old had access to sensitive information while his employer carried out work for the state, the Daily Record reports.

Macpherson worked for Glasgow-based Iomart designing data storage systems at the time and pled guilty to possessing indecent images of children and bestiality between June 2018 and March 2021, including some in the most extreme category.

Yesterday at Paisley Sheriff Court, he was placed on a Community Payback Order and on the sex offenders register for three years.

Sheriff Eoin McGinty ordered him to be supervised by social workers and attend a programme which helps reform sex offenders.

One source close to the case said: "Given how skilled he is with IT and the level of expertise he has, it's actually incredible they found anything at all. You'd have thought that he'd have made sure to cover his tracks properly. We think he completely forgot they were there.

Description

A man and a woman from Southampton and Swanmore have been sentenced to a total of 27 years in prison for the false imprisonment of a man in Waterlooville.

Sean David Perry, 37, of St Marys Road, Southampton, and Caprice Martine Buddle, 25, of Brook Close, Swanmore, appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court on Friday (4 November) for sentencing. Perry pleaded guilty to the charges against him on the first day of his trial, while Buddle was found guilty by a jury in May.

Perry was sentenced to 17 years in prison for conspiracy to rob, false imprisonment, conspiracy to commit fraud, assault by penetration and causing actual bodily harm.

Buddle was sentenced to 10 years for conspiracy to rob, false imprisonment, conspiracy to commit fraud and possession of a Class A drug.

The court heard how the victim, a man in his 30s, started talking to Buddle online in the spring of 2019. The victim met up with Buddle in person a number of times.

On May 5, Buddle lured the victim to an address on Thrush Walk in Waterlooville, where he was later confronted by two men who spent hours physically, verbally and sexually abusing him.

During this time, the victim was hit with a stool, kicked, and forced to drink cleaning fluid. He was made to hand over his phone, wallet, bank cards and pin numbers.

The jury heard how the victim was then blindfolded, put into the back of a vehicle and driven around for some time before being left at the side of a road. Recognising where he was, he was able to run home and call police.

Based on initial information, officers were able to locate Buddle at an address in Havant, where they arrested her that day.

Perry was arrested several days later and a lengthy and complex investigation involving DNA, CCTV, phone and bank card analysis, led to the pair being charged. They pleaded not guilty, however a jury found them guilty of all offences after less than an hour and a half of deliberation.

A 26-year-old man from London, 38-year-old man from Fareham and 27-year-old man from Winchester were also arrested in connection with this incident and have since been released from police custody with no further action being taken against them.

Detective Constable Emily Dummer, of Hampshire Constabularys Eastern Operation Amberstone team, said: The victim in this case was subjected to a harrowing and traumatic ordeal which lasted over several hours. While nothing will ever be able to take that away, I am pleased that Perry and Buddle will now face the consequences of their despicable actions and spend a significant amount of time in prison for what they have done.

I would like to commend the victims incredible courage throughout the investigation and court process, without which we would not have been able to secure this outcome. As a result of his bravery, Perry and Buddle are now in a place where they will not be able to inflict such horrific abuse to anyone else.

We hope that this sentence sends a strong message to the public that we will do all in our power to protect and support victims of abuse, while relentlessly pursuing offenders.

For advice about how to keep yourself safe when communicating with people online and via social media, visit the Get Safe Online website: https://www.getsafeonline.org/

If you have experienced anything similar or become the victim of such a crime, please get in touch with us via 101 or online. Always call 999 in an emergency.

If you do not feel comfortable speaking to us, there are other independent support agencies out there that can help.

Description

Craig Slezas, 33, was caged on Tuesday after being convicted of sexually assaulting four women during an eight year long campaign of offending.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how three of his victims were subjected to rape.

Slezas, of Castle Street, Crail, had denied a string of charges during a trial. However, he was convicted of a total of 11 other offences committed between January 2008 and January 2016.

Making reference to a report detailing Slezas’s background, Lord Arthurson said: “You have not demonstrated any insight into your offending nor have you shown any remorse to the complainers. During your interview you engaged in what could be best described as victim blaming.

“The only appropriate disposal in this case is the imposition of a significant custodial sentence. I am very concerned about the risk you pose to the public and especially to women.”

Slezas had faced a total of 24 charges but several were withdrawn by the Crown. He was acquitted of two offences following the jury's verdict last month - sentence had been deferred for the court to obtain reports.

One of the women told the court of how she felt disgusted by the behaviour of Slezas, who worked as a greenkeeper at the Fairmont Hotel’s course in St Andrews.

Describing how he raped her, the woman told the court that Slezas ignored her requests not to have sex whilst at a house in Fife.

She told prosecutor Peter Ferguson KC: “I told him I wasn’t in the mood. He kept on trying but I said I wasn’t interested. I just froze He asked me why I was crying. I just cried.”

One of Slezas’ victims was a teenage girl who he molested in a car in St Andrews when she was aged 14. He went on to have unlawful under age sex with the girl at Craigtoun Park, in a vehicle parked at a layby near Dairsie and at a beach.

Slezas later shouted and swore at her and sexually assaulted and raped her at a house in Ansthruther on two occasions.

He also abducted another woman at a house in Crail when he locked the door preventing her from leaving, and assaulted her by seizing her by the body and grabbing her bag. He subjected her to a further assault and rape at a house in Cupar.

Slezas committed a further rape on another woman at a house in Fort William in the Highlands in January 2014. His final crime was committed in January 2016 when he abducted a woman in a car in Methil as he shouted and acted aggressively, refusing to stop and driving erratically resulting in her hitting the dashboard.

Slezas observed court proceedings via video link. Defence advocate Neil Murray KC said Slezas was “effectively” the sole carer for his mother.

Mr Murray also told the court that his client had learning difficulties. He added: “He does not seek to produce any sort of explanation for his behaviour. The lack of serious insight maybe the result of his intellectual difficulties.”

Lord Arthurson also placed Slezas on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Description

 A PERVERTED Penrith man who sexually assaulted two schoolgirls was prosecuted after one of his victims secretly recorded his offending. 

When police began to investigate 56-year-old John Lawrence Kernan because of his most recent abuse, another victim came forward and disclosed that the defendant also sexually assaulted her when she was a child.

Kernan was himself 16-years-old when he committed that earlier offence. 

The defendant, of Scaws Drive, Penrith, pleaded guilty to four offences: one historical count of gross indecency with a child; and three more recent sexual assaults on a different schoolgirl. Both victims were under 13.  

At Carlisle Crown Court, prosecutor Gerard Rogerson outlined the background to the case.

He said that the offences came to light when the victim of the most recent sexual abuse told her mother that she had recorded an incident involving Kernan, when he claimed that what did was just 'playfighting'.

But the girl was deeply 'uncomfortable' with what happened and so decided to gather evidence by covertly recording her next encounter with Kernan, using her iPad.

She then asked her mother to look at the video she had recorded. “I showed my mum and said look at this video,” the girl told police. When her mother saw the video, what it showed left her feeling “sick to the stomach.”

The girl said she had previously spoken to only one other person about what happened – a friend at school. The victim said she had not known how to tell Kernan to stop the abuse but said: “I knew what was going on.”

The prosecutor then read to the court from a victim impact statement which was made by the child's mother.

The woman said that both she and her daughter had suffered 'significant emotional and psychological impacts' as a result of Kernan's abuse.

"She describes her daughter has having gone through a roller coaster of emotions and trauma," said Mr Rogerson.  The woman said he was heart-breaking to see her child - formerly happy-go-lucky - change so much.

The girl now suffered regular breakdowns, and her sleep was haunted by nightmares.

The woman and her daughter felt vulnerable when they went to Carlisle, fearful that they might see Kernan.

They avoided certain areas because of their fear of seeing him. "He took advantage of an innocent child for his own needs," the woman said.

She added that the abuse had a devastating impact and that the images she had seen on her daughter’s video recording played over and over in her head, leaving her unable to sleep and causing her mental health to spiral.

When he was interviewed by the police, Kernan claimed he had done nothing wrong, but conceded that it 'looked bad.' The court heard that in conversations with members of his family, the defendant had made incriminating admissions.

He told a relative that he had ruined his life. Mr Rogerson added that Kernan was a man of previous good character.

Mark Shepherd, mitigating, said the defendant had himself been exposed as a child to inappropriate sexual material in the form of pornography. “He regrets clearly what he has done and is remorseful,” said the lawyer.

Mr Shepherd said there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

But Judge Richard Archer noted that the defendant appeared to have learned little during the intervening years between his first offence – which involved inappropriate sexual contact on three occasions with the victim - and the more recent offences.

While it would be possible to suspend the sentence he would impose, said the judge, there should be an element of deterrence in sentences for such sexual offending against children who are aged under 13.

Referring to that deterrent element, the judge said this means sending a message to future offenders and to the public at large that those who commit such offences against young children will be appropriately punished.

Addressing Kernan directly, the judge said: “For that reason, I regret to say to you that I have concluded that appropriate punishment in your case can only be achieved by an immediate custodial sentence.”

Judge Archer jailed the defendant for 16 months.

Kernan will be on the Sex Offender Register for a decade, and he will also be subjected to a sexual harm prevention order which will bar him from having unsupervised contact with any child or staying at any home where a child is resident.

Description

A masked sex offender performed a sex act near a girl, 10 as she sat in her mum's car. The youngster had just been picked up from school and was waiting while her mum popped into the shops.

Gwion Griffiths, 32, appeared to be "waving" at the girl from a flat window in Dolgellau, Gwynedd, last December as he carried out the act. Griffiths, who had earlier pleaded guilty to exposure was jailed today Caernarfon Magistrates for 24 weeks a a danger to the public.

Prosecutor Sion ap Mihangel said the girl, who cannot be named to protect her identity, had been collected from school and driven to Dolgellau town centre. The girl was sitting on a booster seat on the front passenger seat while her mother left her for "five minutes or so" to pop to the shops, Mr ap Mihangel said. 

The girl saw Griffiths in a flat across the road from a shop. She noticed a Christmas tree and a male who "appeared to be waving at her".

But, the prosecutor said: "He was wearing a mask and a jumper" and was snaked from the waist down. She could see he was shaking his p**** or "p" as the girl put it. In other words he was performing a sex act, the prosecutor said.

The court heard the mother came back to the car and the girl told her "to just drive". "She had her hands up to her face as if she was blocking her vision.

"She told her mum she had seen a man in a window. He was holding his w**** and swinging it around," the prosecutor told the court. The court heard the woman and her husband discussed the incident and decided to tell the police.

Griffiths was traced and initially denied the offence of exposure. But he admitted his guilt shortly before his trial, meaning that his victim did not have to give evidence.

In fact, Mr ap Mihangel said the girl had been "totally unaware" that there was a possibility that she may have had to testify, with her parents revealing she had tried to blank out the entire incident. The prosecution had been told that a late guilty plea was likely.

Today the court also heard that Griffiths had moved from another Gwynedd town following a conviction in March last year for an almost identical offence. He received an eight-month jail term, suspended for 24 months, for that crime.

Carla Forfar, defending Griffiths, said the latest offence in Dolgellau had been "a chance matter". "He was in his flat. He had not sought out his victim. He has seen a chance and has overcome his inhibitions," she said.

He had been "playing with his p**** and would appear" to have performed a sex act. She said Griffiths, of Smithfield Street, Dolgellau, is isolated and the sort of person who stays in his flat most of the time.

Over the summer he managed to hold down a job in the hospitality industry. But he would very much like to get help. "He's not without saving," she added.

Earlier, the defence solicitor had argued that Griffiths had been "crying out for some help" and applied for an adjournment for a psychiatric assessment to be carried out. But the magistrates rejected that application.

Magistrates chairman Sarah Foskett imposed the immediate prison term, saying: "The reason it's not suspended is the risk and danger to the public." She told Griffiths his name would be placed on the Sex Offenders' Register, and he would have to register with the police, for the seven years.

He was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the next five years. On his release from prison he must pay a £128 surcharge.

Description

A sex offender who was twice caught with sickening images of children has been warned that he is now a "marked man" because of his "perverted" behaviour.

He narrowly avoided being sent to prison, even though he later assaulted a policeman after becoming aggressive towards him and had a knife with him, Hull Crown Court heard. Norman Winduss, 34, of Boothferry Road, Hull, denied six offences of making indecent pictures of children and another of possessing an extreme pornographic image but he was convicted by a jury after a trial.

He admitted later offences of assaulting a police officer as an emergency worker and possessing a spring-lock knife as an offensive weapon. Recorder Anthony Hawks said that police found indecent images of children, including in the most serious Category A, during a search after going to the home of Winduss in January 2020.

More indecent images were discovered during a second visit in December 2020 after it was found that he had access to a second phone. There were "far more" Category A images in the second raid than the first one.

"What makes your position worse is that you would not accept your guilt and insisted on having a jury trial," said Recorder Hawks. "That was your right." Winduss had been convicted by the jury on the "plainest possible evidence".

Police searched the home of Winduss in June this year. He had "no business" having the offensive weapon. "You became aggressive and assaulted a police officer, who was simply carrying out his duties," said Recorder Hawks.

"The police are entitled to go about their lawful business searching premises and the like without being harassed and assaulted by people like you. You have been in some trouble with the police in the past.

"There is some light at the end of the tunnel because the probation officers think that you may be developing some insight into your perverted behaviour. You are lucky that she takes the view that you can be safely managed in the community.

"You are now a marked man. If you do anything like this again, you are going to go to prison for a significant length of time."

Description

A former labourer who posed as young girls to two self-styled paedophile hunters was caught and confronted live on Facebook.

Father-of-one Regan Lee sent a picture of his genitals to one decoy, posing as a 13-year-old girl named Blossom, as well as talking to another purporting to be a 12-year-old girl named Sophie.

Lee was later confronted by the vigilante group, which was streamed live on Facebook. The 25-year-old, who was 24 at the time, was arrested in Sutton-in-Ashfield and bailed, but then went on the run for several months before being caught by police.

Lee, of Manor Court Road, Bolsover, has previously lived in Chesterfield. He later said that he did not have a sexual interest in children, but that excuse was later dismissed as "ridiculous" by a judge, who went on to give him a two-and-a-half-year jail term.

Derby Crown Court heard that on Friday, November 4, Lee first sent a message to 'Blossom' saying "Hi" on April 23, and early in the conversation, she said she was 13 and from Northampton. After asking for photos of her face and body, to which he responded "wow, just wow", Lee said he found it "cute" when the decoy said she was "shy" and that "if you were older, I would kiss you".

The conversation continued over days to the point where Lee asked for sexual photographs, and sent one of his own genitals. These requests were refused by the decoy, to which Lee responded "no one is in the house with you so no one will know". During the conversation, he also attempted to incite the decoy to masturbate.

Lee messaged 'Sophie' on April 24, again starting the conversation with "Hi". The conversations were similar in nature to those with Blossom, prosecutors said, before he was confronted by the group a few days later and said to the vigilantes that while he didn't groom children, he was "disgusted with himself".

Lee, who has a young daughter, gave no comment in a police interview but later pleaded guilty at the first opportunity to two counts of attempted sexual communication with a child, and another of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity. He also pleaded guilty to one count of possession of cannabis which was found upon arrest, but not guilty to a count of assaulting an emergency worker, for which the prosecution offered no evidence.

Chris Brewin, mitigating, said: "There is some suggestion of trauma, with a fractured family background. A series of events were behind the commission of these offences. He was last in prison in 2017 and he decided he would try and make a new life for himself. He got work as a labourer but his motorbike was stolen, so he lost his job and was evicted. He found himself at the YMCA.

"He is ashamed. He describes his own behaviour as quite horrific. I can only express his willingness to engage with the probation service. If it has to be an immediate prison sentence he will serve it and do his best to avoid getting into any trouble of any kind again."

Sentencing Lee, Recorder Adrian Reynolds said that it would have been "inappropriate" to suspend the prison sentence handed down due to the nature of the offences. He said: "What you said about not having a sexual interest in young girls is ridiculous and I can only assume it is your sense of shame that makes you hide from what you have done."

Lee was handed a sentence of two years and three months for the count of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, with a concurrent 12-month sentence for the other two counts. He was also given a consecutive three-month sentence for going on the run, meaning his total sentence was two-and-a-half years in prison.

He will serve half in custody, and the rest on licence, but is the subject of a sexual harm prevention order and must sign the sex offender register for the next 10 years. The items he used to communicate with the decoys are also to be destroyed.