Latest Offenders

Description

He sent the girl a 55 second video clip of him touching himself and said, Do you want daddy, baby?

A retired Cammell Lairds worker engaged in filthy online conversations with a 13-year-old girl hoping they could meet up.

Colin Robinson, 75, encouraged the child to bunk off school, sent her an indecent video of himself and said he wanted to seduce her.

When told she lived in Manchester, he replied: "You are now in big trouble, its just down the M57."

But unknown to the Wirral grandad he was actually communicating with an undercover officer going by the name of Lucy, posing as the school girl.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that he has no previous sexual convictions and is now remorseful and ashamed, but Judge Gary Woodhall told bald Robinson: "Only a custodial sentence can be justified."

Robinson, of Borough Road, Seacombe, had pleaded guilty to five offences involving attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act, attempting to incite a child to engage in a sexual act and attempted sexual communication.

He had initially pleaded not guilty and had been due to stand trial in August but changed his pleas.

Paulus Barnes, prosecuting, told how the offences took place between September 12 and 18, 2019. The undercover officer set up a decoy profile on Kik Messenger using the handle Lulu Girly Girl and also set up Gmail and Skype accounts.

On September 12 that year she logged onto a free to use site called Chat To You. Mr Barnes said: "She received a private message from Aged Mariner, 66 years from Merseyside. She told him she was only 13 and he said 'Mmm that is so hot xxxYou are lovely'."

She accepted a friend request from him which also displayed the name Colin Robbo and he began sexualised conversations with her.

Mr Barnes said: "He wanted to seduce her.

"The officer told him she was still at school but off school. He asked her to touch herself and began instructing her to masturbate herself."

He made various other highly sexualised remarks and asked if he could call her. He said he had spent the weekend fishing and playing golf but had been thinking about her which had aroused him.

Robinson made similar comments in other conversations and told her what he wanted to do to her and asked her to miss school but when she said she could not travel to him he became aggressive and dominating.

The next day he apologised but continued telling her what he wanted to do sexually with her, said Mr Barnes.

He sent her a 55-second video clip of him touching himself and said: "Do you want daddy, baby?"

Robinson was identified and traced and interviewed on October 21 and confirmed he used the Chat To You site under the name Aged Mariner, but said he thought the site was for adults only.

Mr Barnes said: "He said if he had been chatting to someone 13 he would have told them to find someone of their own age."

He maintained he did not recall speaking to anyone aged 13 and when told he had been speaking to an undercover officer he said he had been entrapped.

The court heard that he has six previous convictions for 13 offences involving dishonesty, with the last one in 1978.

Judge Woodhall told Robinson: "You have expressed disgust at your behaviour and said you are ashamed. When interviewed you continued to deny sexual gratification. That is utter nonsense."

He said he accepted he has health problems, has no similar convictions and that the delay in the case reaching sentence was not entirely Robinson's fault.

But Judge Woodhall ruled that it was so serious there had to be an immediate jail sentence.

The judge said the chat conversations "from the outset were highly sexualised".

He said the grandad had encouraged her "to bunk off school" and "made reference to the fact she lived a short distance away down the motorway no doubt implying you could meet".

Zahra Baqri, defending, had told the court: "My client is utterly disgusted with his actions over those few day in 2019. He accepts he is at real risk of being sentenced to immediate imprisonment but I invite you to suspend the term."

She said: "He accessed dating applications on the computer in order to speak to adult women so his original use was legitimate.

"He accepts he did think and knew he was talking to a 13-year-old child and continued with these communications. He accepts that."

Ms Baqri pointed out that there was no real victim and no sexual activity took place between them.

She said: In his probation report he speaks about feeling confusion and shame.

"He had started employment at the age of 15 and worked for Cammell Lairds for 50 years. He has a strong close family including siblings, children and their offspring."

She added: "He unreservedly apologises for the humiliation and upset he has caused his family. He apologies for his vile and scandalous behaviour."

Robinson was jailed for two years.

He was also ordered to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years and will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same length of time.

Description

A paedophile used library computers to search for 'Harry Potter erotica' and 'fetish sites' which focused on children in their underwear.

Melissa Wilson, whose name was given in court listings as "Paul Wilson, also known as Melissa Wilson", managed to bypass security systems at Liverpool Central Library and Toxteth Library, later confessing to the crimes in a letter from her alter ego, Dan Thompson.

After creating library accounts the 34-year-old would attend "almost every other day" and used a Russian search engine "associated with accessing illegal files".

Liverpool Crown Court heard as well as looking up "Harry Potter erotica with a focus on Hermione Granger", Wilson searched "children porn" and "young girls modelling underwear".

In a letter from her alter ego she claimed she wanted to go back to prison because she felt 'accepted for who she is and who she wants to be'.

Nick Cockrell, prosecuting, explained Wilson's probation officer received the letter from Wilson's alter ego, Dan Thompson, detailing how she had bypassed library security systems.

Mr Cockrell said: "Merseyside Police received information Miss Wilson had been using computers at Liverpool City Libraries and Toxteth Libraries."

Mr Cockrell explained Wilson accessed the computers between July 10 and October 23 in 2019 on 86 days, "multiple times a week".

Wilson went on a chat forum which doesn't require the user to register and on which "illegal images of children are shared".

He explained the investigating officer went on the website during his investigation and a child sex abuse image "remained visible for 10 minutes before a moderator removed it".

Wilson also used a Russian search engine which had been "associated with accessing illegal files".

Mr Cockrell said there were times when Wilson would use the library computers to search for jobs but said there seemed to be a "lot more activity centring around the chat site".

Judge David Swinnerton explained one site which was accessed was a "sort of children's underwear fetish site" on which children between the ages of three and five were pictured in underwear.

The judge said they "can't say the defendant viewed that particular image" but she did click on the link.

Mr Cockrell said on the search there was reference to a username "c**face" and 13 photographs of two young girls aged between three and five who were either in their pyjamas or topless.

On July 10 Wilson searched for "Harry Potter erotica with a focus on Hermione Granger", "Lolicon", which refers to an attraction to prepubescent girls, Mr Cockrell explained.

Mr Cockrell explained she had also used Facebook Messenger, an American chat site and a UK chat forum as well as a chat room designed specifically for teens.

The court heard Wilson was charged for breaching her Sexual Harm Prevention Order in February 2021, which she later admitted in court.

Her first offence was in April 2008 for indecent images of children and was given a community order which she then breached twice in the same year and was jailed again having more indecent images of children.

Wilson then consistently breached court orders in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

In August 2015 she was jailed four years with an extended four years on licence for threats to kill, possession of prohibited images and breaching notification requirements.

In total Wilson had six previous convictions for 39 offences.

Mike O'Brien, defending, said there was "no excuse for her behaviour" and said she accepted the "persistent" breaches.

He said at the time of the offences she "wasn't welcome or accepted in her local community" and she "felt a sense of hopelessness".

He explained Wilson had applied for training courses and voluntary work but would "hit a brick wall" at the interviews which Mr O'Brien said was most likely due to her previous convictions.

He said: "A letter from Dan Thompson, her alter ego, explains initially she committed these offences in order to be returned to prison."

Mr O'Brien added: "She feels safer and happier in that environment."

He said she has been diagnosed with gender dysphoria and "identifies as a female even though she was born as a male".

He said she felt accepted in prison by the guards, doesn't feel isolated and is able to get help when she needs it.

Mr O'Brien said: "Even the inmates accept her for who she is and who she wants to be."

He added Wilson, who is serving her sentence at HMP Altcourse, suffers from asperger's and multiple personality disorder.

Judge Swinnerton, sentencing, said: "You have a lengthy and growing criminal record which revolves around your interest in indecent images of children and your repeated breaches of the orders which try to prevent you from accessing such images of children."

The judge said: "Some of the search terms you were using revolved around what I would describe as fetish sites of children in their underwear."

The judge added she "quite deliberately" accessed chatrooms despite a clause in the Sexual Harm Prevention Order which specified she could not.

The judge said he also took account of the delay which was "no fault of yours" and "will impact upon the earliest time on which you can apply for parole".

Judge Swinnerton said: "I understand for various reasons life on the outside must be difficult for you.

"I understand that it would be difficult for you to get a job."

The judge added that "a lot of that is down to you" for persistently breaching court orders and that if it didn't change "you're not going to find a constructive role".

Judge Swinnerton added that she would "waste a lot of your life behind bars" if she didn't stop offending.

Wilson was jailed for 32 months, although she will continue to serve a sentence after being recalled until June 23 2022.

She must sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and was ordered to adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life.

Description

A predatory paedophile who subjected three children to sexual abuse has been jailed.

Paul Berry's crimes date back to the 1980s when he indecently assaulted a young girl.

Then, in the mid 2000s, Berry, from Gateshead, began abusing two young boys when he would make sexual advances towards them and sexually assault them.

The victims all bravely came forward in 2019 to report the abuse and an investigation was launched by Northumbria Police's Safeguarding unit.

Berry , 60, was arrested and denied all the allegations but a jury found him guilty of 12 counts of sexual assault at Newcastle Crown Court in March.

On Friday, May 14, at the same court, he was sentenced to 14 years behind bars.

Detective Constable Stefan Noakes, leading the investigation, welcomed the sentence and praised the bravery of the victims throughout this case.

Det Con Noakes said: "This has been such a long process for these victims but now thankfully they are getting the justice they deserve.

"Berry thought he was able to get away with his crimes by lying his way throughout this investigation but the jury saw through his deceit and he now faces the consequences of his actions.

"He made the victims endure further trauma by taking the case to trial but their strength and determination has been incredible and I hope now they can close off this awful chapter of their lives and move forward knowing Berry is behind bars where he belongs."

Berry, of Pattinson Gardens, Felling, has also been handed an indefinite Serious Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) which places restrictions on him when he is released from prison and he will have to sign the sex offenders register for life.

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A terrified boy sexually abused at a hellish children's home would sleep outside in the cold to escape his tormentor.

Edward Stanton raped and molested youngsters in his care at the infamous St Vincent's home in Formby from 1976 to 1995.

The former house master was jailed for 13 years in 1996 for sexual offences committed against seven boys, aged between 10 and 13.

The 69-year-old was back in the dock at Liverpool Crown Court today after being found guilty of two more sex attacks last month.

They related to a 13-year-old boy, who he twice indecently assaulted in the early 1980s, leaving the victim with psychological scars he bears to this day.

Stanton, formerly of Kirkdale, but now of Earle Road, Wavertree, had claimed someone else was responsible for the abuse.

The court heard the first attack took place when the boy returned from a period of home leave and Stanton pretended to search him for cigarettes, then put his hand down his trousers and touched his genitals.

A terrified boy sexually abused at a hellish children's home would sleep outside in the cold to escape his tormentor.

Edward Stanton raped and molested youngsters in his care at the infamous St Vincent's home in Formby from 1976 to 1995.

The former house master was jailed for 13 years in 1996 for sexual offences committed against seven boys, aged between 10 and 13.

The 69-year-old was back in the dock at Liverpool Crown Court today after being found guilty of two more sex attacks last month.

They related to a 13-year-old boy, who he twice indecently assaulted in the early 1980s, leaving the victim with psychological scars he bears to this day.

Stanton, formerly of Kirkdale, but now of Earle Road, Wavertree, had claimed someone else was responsible for the abuse.

The court heard the first attack took place when the boy returned from a period of home leave and Stanton pretended to search him for cigarettes, then put his hand down his trousers and touched his genitals.

"He describes the defendant as controlling and frightening. He was terrified. He felt he had nowhere to run. He often absconded and would sleep in the cold and felt that was safer than being at St Vincent's."

The prosecutor said the now adult suffered from attacks of depression and anxiety with which he struggled to cope.

He had an "emotional breakdown" when he self-harmed and was admitted to a psychiatric hospital, where he starved himself.

Mr Polglase said the victim also suffered nightmares and night terrors "where he calls out for his mum".

The court heard Stanton was jailed for 16 months in February 2013 for possessing indecent images of children and for two years in July 2016 for similar offences.

Mr Polglase said he was then jailed for two years in January 2018 for breaching his Sexual Offences Prevention Order and possessing further indecent images.

The court heard these images depicted both boys and girls being sexually abused.

Arthur Gibson, defending, accepted his client "undoubtedly" caused the victim psychological harm, but said the boy also had other issues not connected to Stanton.

He acknowledged that the victim was "forced to give evidence", but suggested if Stanton had also been sentenced for this abuse in 1996, it probably wouldn't have increased the sentence he received then any further.

Judge Robert Trevor-Jones told Stanton: "Of course in having a trial you forced the victim to undergo again a renewed ordeal by attending court and giving evidence and of course being branded a liar in the process."

The judge said Stanton "completely breached" his pastoral responsibilities as a house master at St Vincent's by targeting the vulnerable child and molesting him.

He said: "The short term impact upon him was to instill him with fear and panic about being in the institution.

"It led to him beginning a regular pattern of absconding and it seems some minor offending, which continued until he was told he need not return at St Vincent's."

Judge Trevor-Jones said the boy was left with a continuing impact of his "terrifying ordeal" until he confided in his wife and reported the abuse in 2017, which led to Stanton's arrest in April 2018.

Referring to the other seven boys he had abused at St Vincent's, some of whom he raped, the judge said: "Your predatory conduct there was out of control."

Judge Trevor-Jones told Stanton his three convictions for indecent images of children revealed "how entrenched your perverted attitudes are".

He said: "You still maintain your innocence of these two assaults. You accept you're sexually attracted to young children and you've undertaken several sexual offending programmes over the time, but clearly with very little impact."

The judge noted Stanton's health problems, including insulin dependence, kidney disease and high blood pressure, but said he had caused his victim "ongoing psychological damage".

He jailed him for three and a half years and told him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

The ECHO has previously reported how dozens of children's lives were destroyed by paedophiles who worked at St Vincent's and also St Aidan's in Widnes, and documented the brave victims' fight for justice.

The now closed homes, both run by Liverpool charity the Nugent Care Society, formerly Catholic Social Services, were intended to give troubled boys care, education and safety .

But the reality was prison-like regimes of beatings and sexual abuse likened by one survivor to the film Scum, about the infamous Borstal young offenders institute.

In St Vincent's, principal Alan Langshaw and lab technician Stanton were launching vile attacks on boys in their care, while at St Aidan's head master Terence Hoskin and teacher Colin Dick were also convicted of abuse.

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AN ex-BBC producer condemned as a dangerous paedophile tried to con a private schools headteacher into allowing him to film schoolgirls at a Christmas concert.

Serial sex offender Peter Croasdale attempted to hoodwink Monmouths Haberdashers to allow him to record a carol service.

The 58-year-old gave the school a bogus name and tried to charge the then head Jennifer Phillips 450 to film a performance.

Croasdale was jailed for more than four years in 2009 for sexually abusing a young girl, taking an indecent photograph of a child, voyeurism and possessing indecent photographs of children.

When police arrested the ex-Radio 4 producer for his recent crimes in Monmouthshire, they caught him with disturbing child abuse images on his computer.

Prosecutor Claire Pickthall told Cardiff Crown Court how Croasdale had been negotiating a business deal with the school after posing as a Peter Alan.

She said: They were hoodwinked by this man who is intelligent. He deliberately hid his identity.

But his deception was soon uncovered and the police were called.

He pleaded guilty to fraud, possessing indecent images of children and possessing extreme pornography involving bestiality.

There were 15 category A indecent images of a child, which portray rape, 28 at category B and 63 at category C on his computer.

The offences were committed between January 16, 2016 and January 15, 2021.

Tom Roberts, mitigating, said there was a prospect his client could be rehabilitated.

Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke told Croasdale: You simply dont want to face up to the risks you pose to children.

She classed him as a dangerous offender and sentenced him to an extended sentence of four years.

Croasdale, now of Woodgate Street, Bolton, will have to serve two years in jail and an extended licence period of two years following his release.

He was handed a suspended prison sentence in March after he was caught leading a secret life in Gwent.

A court heard previously he had left his home in the North of England to move in with teacher Lesley Bagshaw in Monmouth.

As a result of his 2009 conviction, Croasdale must register as a sex offender and be the subject of a sexual offences prevention order for life.

Mr Fryer said he was in breach of both and started living with Ms Bagshaw last year although he had first began staying with her in 2017.

He told the court: It was a calculated and deliberate breach. He was living a double life unknown to the police.

On January 15 this year, officers went to an address in Monmouth where they found the defendant living under the alias of Peter Alan.

Lesley Bagshaws home was searched. She had known the defendant since sixth form.

Croasdale pleaded guilty to being in breach of both orders.

The judge then, Recorder Simon Mills, jailed the defendant for 18 months, suspended for two years.

He was ordered to complete a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement and made the subject of a three-month curfew.

Judge Lloyd-Clarke demanded an explanation from the prosecution as to why the matters were not dealt with together.

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Hashim Hussain who targeted vulnerable teenage girls in order to sexually abuse them has been jailed.

Hashim Hussain, 24, has been convicted of a string of 'despicable and sickening' sex offences against young girls in Bury.

Hashim Hussain was sentenced to four years behind bars after he filmed a group of men engaging in sexual activity with two other girls, aged 16 and 17, on two separate occasions.

The offending took place between August 2016 and August 2017.

The court heard how Hussain would regularly meet up with a group of teenage girls in Openshaw Park, in Bury, and buy vodka for them before heading to the home of one of the girls.

Hashim's phone was seized by police after he was arrested in relation to driving offences in October 2017.

Detectives found a video showing 'a young, intoxicated female' being sexually contacted by a man, while he was cheered on by others people in a park.

The court heard a girl could be heard on the footage asking whether she was being recorded but was told “it's just a torch”.

Another video showed a young female holding onto a kitchen counter with both hands while an older male had sex with her from behind.

number of other males can be seen gathered around them, the court heard.

Hashim was identified as the cameraman due to a 'distinctive watch' he was wearing which was caught in the footage.

He was arrested at Manchester Airport in July 2019 after getting off a flight from Pakistan and replied 'no comment' to all questions asked by police.

Hashim, also of South Cross Street, Bury, was also convicted of two counts of taking an indecent image of a child, and two counts of possessing an indecent image of a child, after the four-week trial.

You were playing your part in this abuse by filming.” said the judge.

Description

Remorseless Muhammad Hussain who targeted vulnerable teenage girls in order to sexually abuse them has been jailed.

Muhammad Hussain, 20, has been convicted of a string of 'despicable and sickening' sex offences against young girls in Bury.

Muhammad Hussain was sentenced to six years and two months in prison after a jury found him guilty of raping a 14-year-old girl and sexually assaulting another girl, also aged 14.

The offending took place between August 2016 and August 2017.

The court heard how Hussain would regularly meet up with a group of teenage girls in Openshaw Park, in Bury, and buy vodka for them before heading to the home of one of the girls.

Muhammad was just 16 himself when he raped his 'extremely vulnerable' victim in August 2016.

Prosecutor Henry Blackshaw said the girl, who was known to social services and deemed at 'high risk of child sexual exploitation', invited Muhammad to a house party at her friend's house.

Alcohol was being consumed and the pair kissed before they were encouraged to go upstairs together.

Once in an upstairs bedroom, the girl initially engaged in consensual sexual intercourse with Muhammad.

But the court heard she then repeatedly asked him to slow down as it was 'hurting her'.

However, Muhammad pushed her head down into the pillow and carried on having sex with her.

The girl then started crying and told him to get off her, said Mr Blackshaw.

When she managed to move away from him and started to get dressed, the court heard Muhammad called the girl a f****** bitch and told her finish me off.

She left the room but, feeling under pressure, returned and asked Muhammad what she had to do.

He threatened to tell her on-off boyfriend that they had had sex if she did not comply.

Muhammad later contacted the victim to apologise and 'begged her to send pictures of her bottom', which she refused to do.

On another occasion, between March and May 2017, Muhammad filmed the girl and her friend performing oral sex on him.

The court heard the victim wanted 'to shut the incident out' and it was eight months before she told a social worker she had been raped.

She was interviewed by police in February 2018 as part of an operation - codenamed Burgos - into child sexual exploitation in Bury.

On another occasion, in August 2017, the girl and a friend - aged 14 - were in Openshaw Park with Muhammad Hashim and another man when Muhammad approached the friend and put his hand down her leggings.

The court heard he then 'yanked up her underwear' and grabbed her bottom with such force it caused pain and left 'a number of fingernail shaped impressions'.

When interviewed by police, Muhammad admitted having sex with the first victim, but claimed it had been 'consensual'.

He denied using his phone to record the girl and her friend performing oral sex on him, or sexually assaulting the girl in Openshaw Park.

Hashim's phone was seized by police after he was arrested in relation to driving offences in October 2017.

Detectives found a video showing 'a young, intoxicated female' being sexually contacted by a man, while he was cheered on by others people in a park.

The court heard a girl could be heard on the footage asking whether she was being recorded but was told it's just a torch.

Another video showed a young female holding onto a kitchen counter with both hands while an older male had sex with her from behind.

number of other males can be seen gathered around them, the court heard.

Hashim was identified as the cameraman due to a 'distinctive watch' he was wearing which was caught in the footage.

He was arrested at Manchester Airport in July 2019 after getting off a flight from Pakistan and replied 'no comment' to all questions asked by police.

Following a trial, Muhammad, of South Cross Street, Bury, was found guilty of two counts of rape, as well as one count of taking an indecent image and another count of sexual assault.

Sentencing Muhammad, Recorder Jeremy Lasker said he had taken advantage of the extremely vulnerable victim and given no indication of regret of remorse.

He added: What started as consensual sexual activity between the two of you became something very different.

She may have initially consented to penetration but when she asked you to stop because it was hurting her, you simply ignored her and carried on regardless.

It was a clear example of you putting your own sexual gratification before giving and real or genuine consideration to the feelings of others.

Description

An "outstanding" primary school headteacher caught sexting and arranging to meet someone he thought was a 14 year old boy was this afternoon (Friday) jailed for four and a half years at Lincoln Crown Court.

James Shawley, who was head of St Bartholomew's Primary School at West Pinchbeck, near Spalding, from 2016 until being suspended following his arrest in December 2019, was caught in a sting operation when he contacted a covert police officer posing as a 14 year old.

Shawley denied four charges but was found guilty by a jury earlier today at the end of a three day trial.

He was placed on the sex offenders register for life and barred from working with children for life. Shawley was also given a 15 year sexual harm prevention order.

Shawley was described in court as an outstanding headteacher who had raised standards at St Bartholomew's as well as two other schools where he was previously assistant head.

The court heard that he continued to be paid his salary while he was suspended and that only ended today when he was found guilty.

As well as teaching he was a qualified FA coach and was coach of Spalding Under 11s. He previously coached Bourne Town Juniors.

Judge Catarina Sjolin Knight, passing sentence, said she regarded Shawley's defence case as "wholly implausible".

She said that as a headteacher and football coach Shawley knew more than most people the importance of protecting children.

The judge told him "You have lost your good character, your career and your hobby. That is all down to you. Your life when you come out of prison will be very different."

Marion Smullen, in mitigation, said the contact was with a fictitious boy rather than an actual 14 year old.

"The defendant has been an outstanding teacher for the 22 years he has been in the profession.

"He was assistant head at two schools then became head at St Bartholomew's. On every single occasion he bought those schools up to being outstanding.

"His other passion is football and coaching football. By this conviction he has lost his career and his passion in life. He won't be able to do either again."

She said Shawley sold his home to privately fund his defence case and is currently living with his mother.

During trial the jury was told that Shawley sent sexually explicit messages to the "boy" before arranging to meet him at a cinema in Huntingdon with the intention of having sex with him.

Shawley told the jury that he clicked on the "boy's" profile on a dating site thinking it was someone over 18.

He admitted that during chat the "boy" said that he was 14.

Shawley said "I thought he was an adult pretending to be younger. I didn't believe he was 14. I didn't believe anybody of 14 on an adult app would declare their age so soon in the conversation.

"I thought it was a wind-up.

Shawley (45), formerly of Hereward Street, Bourne, and now living in Sheffield, denied two charges of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and further charges of attempting to engage in sexual activity with a child and attempting to facilitate or arrange a child sex offence. The charges related to dates between December 8 and 23, 2019.

The jury deliberated for just over 90 minutes before returning guilty verdicts on each charge.

Detective Inspector Paul Coleman has welcomed the sentence.

He said I am really pleased that this has been brought to a successful conclusion, especially given the impact that this has had on the school and the local community. I would like to sincerely thank the officers involved in this case whose sheer diligence has led to todays result.

In this case, thankfully, no children were harmed by Shawleys actions. However child exploitation and online grooming does affect children in our county, with devastating consequences.

Description

He used an app to secretly film another woman in a bathroom but his partner found out

A shocked girlfriend discovered a disgusting toilet video of another woman that her pervert boyfriend filmed on his phone.

Aiden Peel downloaded a Secret Camera Recorder app before placing his mobile in a bathroom to capture an unsuspecting victim.

The 24-year-old recorded the woman going to the toilet, undressing until she was naked to take a shower, then towelling herself dry.

But the sick voyeur also inadvertently filmed himself setting up the covert device on a sink and returning afterwards to collect it.

Peel later claimed that he downloaded the app after being "inspired" by a YouTube video and thinking it would be good for "pranks".

However, he kept the footage for five or six weeks, until it was "discovered by chance" by his girlfriend after he had been on a night out.

Peel, of Mersey Road, Aigburth, was found guilty of voyeurism after a trial at Liverpool Crown Court in April this year.

During the trial, the jury heard Peel was "heavily intoxicated" after the night out and his now ex-partner said she hadn't ever seen him like that before.

The judge, Recorder Ian Unsworth, QC, today said: "He couldn't speak, he was crawling on the floor and she was concerned as to what he had consumed.

"She therefore wanted to speak to his friends to see who he had been out with. Of course, as the jury heard, there was other activity on his phone, which was concerning enough for her, but of course I don't sentence the defendant for that."

His ex told the jury she discovered upsetting information, but then also came across the app, which attracted her attention and had taken one video.

When she realised it was a secret recording of the victim she became "confused, upset and clearly distressed" and rang a friend to tell her what had happened, before deciding to call police.

Recorder Unsworth said officers spoke to the girlfriend and the victim herself, before Peel, who had no previous convictions, was arrested and interviewed.

The judge said: "He maintained throughout the trial and as he maintains now in the pre-sentence report that was a prank that had gone wrong."

He added: "That assertion was rejected by the jury.

"This is from these facts a serious case, an alarming one but also an unusual one."

The court heard the app used the front-facing camera of his phone but the screen was blank, so to anyone present the device would have appeared inactive while it recorded the 16-minute clip.

Stella Hayden, prosecuting, said the woman Peel filmed didn't want to have her victim personal statement read out in court.

Recorder Unsworth said: "It appears to have had a profound effect upon her."

Ms Hayden said it involved a significant degree of planning, as shown by him downloading the app, which wasn't available on Google Play and had to be sought out online.

The court heard there was no evidence the video had been ever shared with anyone else, or that anyone else had ever seen it.

David Polglase, defending, said: "There is no evidence of what would otherwise be a grave aggravating feature of distribution and dissemination onwards."

He said his client was still "very young" and the Probation Service said it was willing to work with him on his "lack of insight, distorted thinking and behaviour".

Mr Polglase said Peel lived with a new partner's grandparents and the judge could see what "he does for them and what he does for his own parents".

He said Peel was due to become a dad "very shortly" and "there would be an impact on those other people if he were to go to custody".

The lawyer said Peel would be unable to care for his pregnant girlfriend and their unborn child, while his job would also be at risk.

He urged the judge to spare him jail so that he could undergo rehabilitation.

Recorder Unsworth agreed there was no evidence the clip was shared.

However, he said: "But for this accidental finding it isn't clear as to when that material would ever have been deleted.

"Mr Peel's assertion at trial that he had simply forgotten that the material was there is something that I am unable to accept."

The judge said there was "a significant degree of planning".

He said: "In terms of his remorse, it isn't easy to discern given the defendant's stance.

"He's clearly sorry as he expressed to the jury that the victim was captured in the way that she was, that as much appears to be genuine, but he of course still maintains his innocence."

Recorder Unsworth said Peel was assessed as a "medium risk of harm" and his lawyer invited him to consider there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation and the impact on others.

He said: "In my view this was a gross invasion of the privacy of the victim."

The judge added: "In my judgement this was a cunning, deliberate and pre planned act.

"But for the accidental discovery of this material there is no indication as to when that video would ever have been deleted.

"I reject your assertion that you had forgotten about it and by the very nature of the jury's verdict, you did obtain that for your own sexual gratification."

Recorder Unsworth jailed Peel for nine months, made a five-year restraining order to protect his victim, and told him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

Peel turned to his new girlfriend and family as he was sent down and said: "I love you."

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A fairground security guard slapped and groped the bottoms of two teenage girls in "sinister" attacks.

Former doorman Paul Long worked at a temporary funfair when it came to Birkenhead Road in Seacombe.

But the "large and physically imposing" 59-year-old preyed on two children in separate incidents on the same evening.

He slapped the bottom of a 15-year-old girl while giving her first aid, then laughed in her face and followed after her.

Liverpool Crown Court heard he then trapped a second girl, 14, on a Waltzer ride and grabbed her bottom, before squaring up to her dad when he arrived.

Long was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault after a trial, when the girls had to go through the ordeal of giving evidence and reliving the attacks.

Judge Brian Cummings, QC, today said the factual basis upon which he would sentence Long was "one I am myself sure of, having heard the evidence".

He said Long "took advantage" of the access to children he had as a funfair security guard to commit the crimes.

Judge Cummings added: "I also note that you are a large and physically imposing man."

Long, now 61, of Huddleston Close, Woodchurch, Birkenhead, struck twice on Thursday, March 28, 2019.

Judge Cummings said the first girl "cut her foot quite badly getting off one of the rides" and was told to go and see Long, who she asked for a plaster.

The cut continued to bleed so she went back for a second plaster, this time alone, when she accepted Long's offer to help by putting it on her foot.

The judge said: "You then slapped her on the bottom and started laughing."

The girl walked back to a group of friends, but Long followed after her, stopping if she looked at him, and only left when she reached her friends.

Judge Cummings said: "It was rather sinister."

The second girl went on the Waltzers with her male cousin, but when they sat down in a car, Long got in and sat between them for no apparent reason.

Judge Cummings said she felt "uncomfortable" and wanted to get off, but he wouldn't let her and the ride started.

The judge told Long she was "struggling to breathe and nearly started crying", but he asked her age and when she said 14, "you expressed surprise and said you would kiss her if she were older".

The pervert asked if she wanted him to kiss her before grabbing her bottom, when her cousin saw she was crying.

Long held a safety bar down "to prevent her getting away" - during which time the judge said she was "trapped in" - but the girl managed to squeeze out and the two children ran off.

"Very upset and hyperventilating", she called her dad, who drove immediately to the fair.

Judge Cummings said: "You approached in an aggressive manner. You had the effrontery to get in his face so to speak and push him back."

The judge said "surprisingly" Long didn't face a separate charge over that "physical confrontation", but it was an aggravating feature.

He said: "It highlights, I'm afraid, your complete absence of remorse."

Judge Cummings said Long denied any wrongdoing in his police interviews and at trial.

He told him: "You said the witnesses were all lying. They weren't - you were."

David Birrell, prosecuting, said the girls described the impact of the attacks in video interviews in the autumn of 2019.

The first girl said she had "pushed it to the back of her mind".

However, she said: "I do get a bit wary when I'm walking around, when I'm on my own. I'll have people walk me home."

The second girl said the attack made her feel "crap", adding: "I don't like going out. I go out with my mum and dad, but I have only been out twice."

Long has 10 previous convictions for 13 offences, mainly for dishonesty in his youth.

He was last convicted in January 2017 of causing death by careless driving, when he had tried to help a drunk man.

Long pulled over after seeing Aso Azzizi collapsed outside The Crown pub in Birkenhead, at around 2am, on January 31, 2015.

He checked the 30-year-old was okay, who started walking off down Conway Street, and got back in his Ford Mondeo, parked on the other side of the road.

Long decided to do a U-turn, but "didn't look properly" in his mirrors to check it was safe and failed to indicate.

Renault Megane driver Kieran Platt - speeding at around 60mph in the 30mph zone - came up behind and clipped the front of the Mondeo.

The impact sent the Megane spinning to the opposite side of the road, where it hit Mr Azzizi, throwing him into metal railings.

Platt, then 21, from Prenton, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and was jailed for four years.

Long received a community order with unpaid work for the lesser offence.

John Weate, defending, said that case had "a lasting effect" on Long.

He told the court his client continued to deny the sex attacks.

Mr Weate said there were "troubles" in Long's family background, which led to his offending as a youth.

He said Long then worked until 2017 without any convictions and as part of his job in the security industry, stopped many illegal activities.

The lawyer said: "He's a man who can become very emotional at times.

"He's suffered difficulties through the break-up of relationships, there's been estrangements from his children, who are now adults, albeit he has a close and loving relationship with one of his sons."

Mr Weate said despite "strain" on his current relationship of nearly a decade, his partner had remained "supportive".

He said Long was considered a "low risk of further offences" and argued it would be of benefit to society if he was rehabilitated, rather than jailed.

Judge Cumming said there was a "breach of trust" as Long's job was to ensure the safety of visitors to the fair.

He said he was "the very person that the victims in this case should have been able to turn to if sexually assaulted in the fairground, not the person committing these assaults".

The judge jailed Long for eight months, who looked at his girlfriend in the public gallery and shook his head.

Long must sign the Sex Offenders Register and comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.

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Mark Jacobson, of Washington Parade, Bootle was also made to sign the sex offender's list and hit with a restraining order

A monster who raped a child and forced them to watch sexual acts has been jailed for 16 years.

Mark Jacobson, 44, of Washington Parade, Bootle, was found guilty of 16 counts of serious child sex offences.

These include two counts of rape, two counts of attempted rape and multiple counts of sexual activity with a child, causing a child to watch a sexual act and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

Today, at Liverpool Crown Court, he was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Jacobson was also given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) and was issued with a restraining order and sex offender notification requirement.

Detective Constable Lucy Emmett said: Jacobson is a dangerous individual and he will now spend a significant amount of time behind bars where he can no longer pose a risk to children.

Merseyside Police is committed to protecting children from sexual exploitation and those who seek to do them harm.

I would urge anyone who has been a victim of child abuse, or thinks a child is being abused, to contact police immediately, where a report can be made in confidence.

Similarly if you have suffered a sexual offence and can find the courage to come forward, we will take your report extremely seriously and investigate it thoroughly.

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A man has been jailed for more than 13 years after kidnapping and threatening to kill a 19-year-old woman in a park.

Jeremy Blake Simmons, 20, attacked a woman at about 2.15am on August 4, 2020 as she walked along Leigh Road in Eastleigh.

Simmons told his victim he had a gun, before he began punching and kicking her to stop her from screaming.

He then dragged her into the recreation ground which is alongside the road.

Prosecution barrister, Christopher Wing, said how the woman was left feeling anxious, depressed and suffering nightmares following the attack.

The court heard Simmons, of no fixed address, said he had been trying to rob the woman, who was completely oblivious to his presence.

Before the attack started, the victim was able to call 999 meaning the whole ordeal was heard over the phone.

A CCTV operator alerted the police, who subsequently rescued the "distraught" victim.

Simmons previously pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing actual bodily harm, one count of threats to kill and one count of kidnap at Southampton Crown Court on September 9, 2020.

Following a three-day trial at Southampton Crown Court, on Wednesday, March 10, Simmons was also found guilty of kidnap with intent to commit a sexual offence.

He also pleaded guilty to a separate incident of robbery and four counts of fraud, in which Simmons stole a handbag from a woman who had been separated from her friends in East Park, Southampton.

Defending, Elisabeth Bussey-Jones said her client's life had spiralled out of control following the death of his mother in 2019.

She argued he had been subject to severe abuse and neglect as a child.

However, Judge Christopher Park QC branded him a danger to the public and gave him an extended sentence following the two attacks.

He was jailed for a total of 13 years and four months at Southampton Crown Court on Wednesday (May 12).

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Sean Owens from Hampshire Constabulary’s Amberstone team, said: “This was a truly harrowing and unprovoked attack on a vulnerable woman late at night.

"At a time where she should feel safe walking home within her local community, she was subjected to a serious assault.

"I would like to commend the victim for her courage that she has shown throughout the whole investigation.

"This was no doubt an awful ordeal which she was faced to re-live; but we must praise her for doing so, as it is not always easy to do so.

"I would also like to say thank you to the CCTV operator who alerted police to the attack – undoubtedly their quick thinking ensured that the victim was not subjected to a more severe and violent attack."

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The "danger to women" pretended to comfort the child just after she had been sick then raped her

A predatory paedophile raped a little girl who had just been sick when he was pretending to comfort her.

Philip Jones was branded a "danger to women" after he made thousands of searches on internet rape sites, then spiked a victim's drink.

The former soldier was caught by a doorman at a Wirral pub putting powder into a woman's drink so he could sexually assault her in 2013.

Jones, who also downloaded child sex abuse images, was jailed for five years, with an extended three years on licence, in 2014.

Last December he was sent back to prison for hiding a mobile phone from police, after secretly working as a maintenance man in family homes.

But today it emerged that the 59-year-old had also raped and molested a little girl prior to his arrest in 2013.

That abuse only came to light when the child revealed last May that she had been living with the trauma for nearly a decade.

She sat with her mum holding her hand at Liverpool Crown Court this afternoon, when Jones was produced on a video link from prison.

Eric Lamb, prosecuting, said: "She explained that she wanted to disclose the offending for several years and she felt the burden of carrying the secret.

"The defendant told her she must not say anything to her mother and she was scared of being reprimanded so chose to say nothing.

"But it had been on her mind for many years and she said she wanted to 'get this off my chest'."

The court heard the girl was "confused" when first sexually assaulted by Jones and on a second occasion she had just vomited.

Jones pretended to comfort the child but raped her, when she cried and said he was hurting her, so he stopped.

Mr Lamb said Jones also raped her on another occasion and in a fourth incident he performed a sex act on her.

When interviewed last July, he gave a prepared statement and denied any of the abuse.

However, after several court hearings, Jones pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and two counts of sexual assault.

The girl said at first she didn't want to write a victim statement and just wanted to concentrate on her education.

Summarising a statement, Mr Lamb said she worried about "everyone at school" finding out what happened.

He said if the girl smelled the same body wash that Jones wore, memories of her abuse came flooding back.

Sometimes if stressed she said it would "pop into her mind" and she would start crying.

The girl said: "It makes me feel really sad."

The victim added she was "confused and scared" because Jones told her not to tell anyone.

Jones, of Poulton Road, Seacombe, and formerly of Trafalgar Road, Birkenhead, has previous convictions including wounding in 1990.

He became a HGV driver after leaving the Army and in 1996, for a sexual offence now classed as rape, he was jailed for three and a half years.

Jones targeted the 24-year-old woman at The Tap in Charing Cross, Birkenhead in February 2013, using nitrazapam - prescribed for insomnia and related to date rape drug Rohypnol.

When the then 52-year-old's computer was seized and examined, 183 indecent images of children were found, along with extreme porn.

He had searched the internet using the term "date rape" on 52 occasions and visited a rape site 23,500 times.

Jones admitted administering noxious substances for facilitating sexual activity and 15 offences involving downloading and possessing indecent images and extreme porn.

He was jailed for 20 months in December for failing to comply with the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Register and breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO).

Police raided his home on November 4, when they found a secret phone hidden behind a kitchen cupboard.

He has since been recalled on the licence of his 2014 sentence, which isn't due to expire until June 2022.

Rebecca Smith, defending, today said Jones accepted he would receive a long prison sentence.

She said: "He understands the difficulties, embarrassment, the distress and the misery his offending has caused."

Ms Smith added: "He knows now that his behaviour on these occasions was selfish and he hadn't considered the wider impact of his behaviour."

The barrister said Jones had undertaken courses to address his offending, recognised the "demons" he had to live with and apologised to his victim.

Judge David Swinnerton said the girl had been "scared" to disclose the "disgraceful abuse" committed against her.

The judge said Jones now said he recognised the distress he caused and apologised, but in all the courses he had attended due to his earlier sexual offending, he didn't disclose these crimes and when the child did, he initially denied them, "so your remorse doesn't appear to have been very strong at that point".

He said the girl described her distress at remembering the pain of the abuse and added: "I have no doubt that as a memory that will not go away, no matter how well she manages to cope with it."

Judge Swinnerton said one rape was when the girl was "particularly vulnerable" after being ill.

He said: "You acted as a predatory paedophile when the opportunity presented itself to you."

Judge Swinnerton jailed him for 13 and a half years, with an extended five years on licence.

Jones must serve at least nine years behind bars before he can apply for parole and will only be released then if he is no longer considered to be a risk.

He must sign on the Sex Offenders Register and comply with a SHPO for life.

Judge Swinnerton turned to the girl after Jones was sent down and said: "Thank you for your bravery in coming forward and in coming [to court] today."

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Robert Oakley exposed himself to two women out walking their dogs on separate occasions, a court heard.

The 51-year-old, of Lyons Street, Southampton, followed his victims before pleasuring himself in front of them in Frog Lane, Fordingbridge.

Both were left “badly frightened”.

Oakley still denies two charges of indecent exposure he was accused of, however, following a three day trial at Southampton Crown Court, he was found guilty.

Prosecuting, Siobhan Linsley said the offences were aggravated by his antecedence.

Defending, Gaylene Coles said that her client had suffered a number of traumatic events as a child.

She mentioned that he had issues with alcoholism in the past.

During sentencing, Judge Gary Burrell QC said that Oakley “seemed quite belligerent and arrogant” during his trial.

He said: “This sort of offence can sometimes lead to contact offences.

“You badly frightened both of these women. One was quite robust about it but the other was clearly frightened and scared by your behaviour. She was upset.”

He added: “You have exposed yourself to women before, but these offences are still aggravating factors.

“They were alone and where no one was around, and they were therefore vulnerable.”

For the offences which happened on January 25 and 28 last year, he was jailed for six months and made the subject of a five-year restraining order against one of his victims.

He must sign on as a sex offender for seven years.

Commenting on an earlier occasion, PC Sarah Taylor said: “We would like to thank those women who came forward and told us what happened to them. Being subjected to something like this can be very distressing and shocking, sometimes leaving a victim unsure of what to do or how to report this kind of thing to us. We absolutely want to receive your call and bring offenders like Oakley to justice. If it’s happening now, always call 999. These incidents rightly concerned the community in Fordingbridge at the time and we’re pleased to be able to say now that we were able to put a stop to this, with the community’s help.”

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Appearing at Salisbury Crown Court for a plea and case management hearing today (May 7), Nicholas John Wells, of Eyres Way, Salisbury, admitted to a charge of Section 2 Assault by penetration.

The court heard how he sexually assaulted a woman in her 30s just after midnight on May, 19 2019 in Hudson’s Field.

Shortly after the incident an e-fit drawing of the suspect was released, and the appeal was renewed in May 2020, a year after the assault.

However a breakthrough came in the form of developments in DNA evidence sampling technology which meant that Wells, a suspect in the case, was matched to samples taken from the victim. He was subsequently charged and remanded in custody.

DC Hannah Milburn, the Wiltshire Police officer leading the investigation for CID South, said: “We are very pleased with today’s result which means that Wells’ victim will not have to endure having to revisit her horrific ordeal by being involved in a court trial.

“I’m sure that the public will be reassured that a dangerous sex offender has been taken off the streets and will face justice for his crimes.”

Her sentiments were echoed by DI Dean Garvin who said: “This was a horrific crime.

“Nicholas Wells attacked a young lady and sexually assaulted her. I would like to pay testimony to her courage, both in reporting this and throughout the process.

“This has been a long and complex investigation.

“DC Hannah Milburn never gave up on her efforts to bring the victim justice. I want people to know that we never give up on these cases, even if they take years, we will continue to work on them and try to solve them.

“The offenders should live with that. They should always look over their shoulder. That is what they do to their victims.”

Wells is due to appear before Salisbury Crown Court on July 2 for sentencing.