Latest Offenders

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A sex attacker who molested and photographed a sleeping friend had his arm snapped in "retribution".

Lee Monaghan, now 48, targeted the woman, who was in her 20s, after she had earlier come to his aid.

She woke to find him sexually assaulting her, when he brazenly claimed he thought she had consented.

But after he confessed in texts the next day and begged for forgiveness, the victim's sister and others went to his home.

Monaghan suffered a broken arm, which both his own lawyer and a judge today remarked many people would say he "deserved".

Liverpool Crown Court heard the attack happened at Monaghan's home in Smollett Street, Bootle late one night in 2017.

Arthur Gibson, prosecuting, said the victim had come across Monaghan "arguing furiously" with another man.

She defused the situation and took Monaghan back to his home, before leaving, only to later return to check he was okay.

Mr Gibson said they chatted, drank a significant amount of alcohol and likely both took drugs, before the woman fell asleep on a settee.

The court heard he sexually assaulted her by pulling down her lower clothing, touching her and photographing her naked body.

The victim was totally unaware of this until police discovered the photos when they seized his mobile phone.

Mr Gibson said Monaghan committed a further more serious sexual assault, which caused her to wake up.

She demanded to know what he thought he was doing and Monaghan said he thought she wanted him to do it, even though she had been "fast asleep".

The angry and upset victim walked home but bumped into a friend and through tears said: "I told him I didn't want it but he done it anyway."

The following morning the crying woman rang another friend and said "I didn't want him to do it", adding: "Jugsy done things to me."

The friend went to her house and found her in the bath crying, saying "I didn't want him to do it" over and over again, so called her mum, who rang the police.

Mr Gibson said Monaghan effectively admitted what he had done in a series of texts from 9.30am, after first asking the victim if she was "alright".

She replied "are u messing after u touch me why I was asleep" adding "thats's called rape you do now that".

Monaghan replied: "I no. am so sorry plz forgive me x"

He then begged "plz av said am sorry", "let me come an c ye plz am so sorry", "soz sorry sorry **** plz am so sorry" and "plz don't hate me now x".

Mr Gibson said the victim's sister and a number of friends went to see Monaghan, who was physically assaulted.

He fled his home and went to a friend's house, where he was arrested, but first had to be taken to hospital due to his fractured arm.

When interviewed the next day, he admitted having a "little play with her below" but denied anything else, until confronted with the photos in a second interview in 2019, when he admitted putting his hand in her underwear but denied any further sexual assault.

Monaghan, of Linacre Road, Litherland, admitted assault by penetration on the opening day of a trial, having previously admitted sexual assault.

The court heard he had previous convictions for assault, but nothing for sexual offences.

Trevor Parry-Jones, defending, said Monaghan had a "big problem with alcohol" but had since attended drug and alcohol courses.

He said his client quit using any "hard drugs" and while he still smoked cannabis, also "greatly reduced his alcohol consumption".

Mr Parry-Jones said Monaghan's girlfriend sitting in the public gallery knew of his crimes but was prepared to help him.

He said: "Obviously they have great respect for each other and she will assist him and hopes he can come home."

The lawyer said Monaghan was "ashamed" and "horrified" by his actions, for which he had already been "punished".

He said Monaghan had to have his arm set at hospital following what was a "proper fracture" and a "proper beating".

Mr Parry-Jones added: "Many would say he deserved it."

He said following that "retribution" Monaghan was "fearful" and moved away from the area.

The barrister said Monaghan's dad died in 2015, his sister died in 2016, one of his brothers lives in America, and his other brother has cancer.

Urging the judge to spare him jail, he added that his mum was 84 and Monaghan "does everything for her".

Judge Trevor-Jones said the victim was a friend of Monaghan's but "nothing more than that" who had tried to help him.

He said Monaghan sexually assaulted her "as she lay there clearly quite defenceless and unaware".

The judge said the victim blamed herself, was left more reserved socially and it worsened her mental health issues.

Judge Trevor-Jones told Monaghan people "understandably angry" went to his home when "it seems you were then the subject of an assault".

He said he took account of these "violent consequences", but added: "Many will say you probably thoroughly deserved that."

The judge said from a starting point of 30 months he deducted six months because of the "considerable delay", some of which was of Monaghan's making, and the fact he had no previous relevant convictions.

Giving him credit for his guilty plea, he further reduced the sentence to 21 months, then deducted two months to take account of the "retribution", and a further one month for the effect of serving a prison term during the pandemic.

Jailing him for 18 months, he said a case involving "the sexual exploitation of a vulnerable woman who was asleep" demanded immediate custody.

Judge Trevor-Jones told him to sign the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years and made a four-year restraining order.

Speaking after the case, Detective Constable Julia Jennings said: "Monaghan consistently lied to police about what took place in his home in the early hours of that morning and has forced his victim to relive her ordeal by denying that he sexually assaulted her.

"I would like to pay credit to her as she has shown immense courage and strength throughout the whole of this investigation.

"Unfortunately because of the Covid pandemic this case has been repeatedly delayed so I am pleased that Monaghan has now been put before the courts and sentenced for his crime and I hope it now affords his victim the chance to get on with her life.

"I also hope that this will encourage other victims to come forward and speak to us.

"We take issues such as this extremely seriously and specialist officers are on hand to offer support and guidance through the courts process."

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A PAEDOPHILE who preyed on a teenage girl with autism was jailed for six years by an Isle of Wight Crown Court judge.

Ashley Holness, of Carlton Road, Ryde, was told by Judge Susan Evans he had groomed his victim and his behaviour had been so appalling, it was likely the victim will suffer 'serious emotional damage'.

The head chef admitted seven counts of intentional sexual touching of a child, two of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and one of taking indecent photographs of a child, all against a girl aged under 16, between August 12 and December 23 last year.

An application to have Holness's sentenced reduced for pleading guilty at a later hearing, was rejected by the judge on the grounds he "knew full well what he had done" when he appeared before Island magistrates.

During his depraved acts against the young teen, Holness, 36, warned her to be quiet, and groomed her by rewarding her with cash, said John Farmer, prosecuting, at the Isle of Wight Crown Court on Tuesday.

Holness also made her undress so he could take photographs of her naked, the judge was told.

When arrested, police discovered the photographs on his mobile phone.

For Holness, Thomas Horder said: "There is very little I can say in mitigation that can take away from the serious nature of the offences.

"He makes no attempt to play down or cast out any aspect of the allegations made."

Referring to a letter his client wrote to the court, Mr Horder said Holness had showed remorse.

"It captures how sorry he is. He knows the impact his behaviour has had on the girl," said Mr Horder.

"At the time, he was dealing with his wife's illness, a bitter dispute with a neighbour, drinking alcohol, in a way he had never done before, and taking cannabis."

Character references for Holness were handed to the judge.

On top of his jail term, Holness was placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for life and made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Judge Evans said: "The victim was someone made all the more vulnerable because she has autism.

"I accept you developed depression and anxiety in the weeks leading up to your offending, but none of that provides any excuse for the shocking manner in which you behaved."

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A cyber pervert who was snared in an online sting told some pretending to be a 13-year-old girl she was a young woman now and ready for sex.

Paul Pickerill, 65, of Lockgate West, Windmill Hill, Runcorn, was sent down today at Chester Crown Court after appearing by videolink and having pleaded guilty previously in magistrates court to attempting to incite a child aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity and attempting to engage a child in sexual communication.

Philip Clemo, prosecuting, recounted how a volunteer with the paedophile hunter group Net Justice became involved with a conversation on March 11 with Pickerill via the Twoo social media website, where he was using the name Paul55StokeOnTrent.

They quickly switched to the encrypted chat app WhatsApp and the decoy - which was really an adult - told Pickerill she was 13.

Pickerill claimed he was younger than he really was, and said he was 55 years old.

When he asked if shed had her first period and she replied yeah, he said she was a young woman now and ready for sex, adding they could keep it a secret and use condoms and the morning-after pill.

Over a spell of nearly three weeks until March 30, cyber creep Pickerill made various sexual suggestions to the fake girl, and sent her pictures of his car and of him with his dog, plus indecent pictures of himself and a video clip of him performing a sex act on himself.

Pickerill, who asked for pictures of the girl and asked her to perform a sex act on herself, also referred to waiting for her grandmother to fall asleep, so he could slip into her bed while she was asleep.

When the "girl" told him she was a child, he retorted you wont be when we have sex, adding dont worry, Ill be gentle.

Net Justice held an intervention and Pickerill was arrested.

He made no comment during his interview with Cheshire police.

Pickerill had three non-relevant convictions for four offences from the 1970s and had never spent time behind bars before being remanded into custody to await sentencing.

Jeremy Rawson, appearing for the defence, pleaded mitigation for his clients prompt guilty pleas, which he said showed remorse, and he referred to the latest court of appeal case law for offences involving decoys, which ruled that sentences should be set to the sentencing starting point for the intended harm then adjusted downwards to reflect that an act did not occur and there was no real child.

He said a pre-sentence report suggested Pickerill could be managed via a non-custodial sentence.

Pickerill, who appeared via videolink from prison, also suffered depression and was hard of hearing, and no longer worked due to a road traffic collision in 2011, Mr Rawson said.

Judge Michael Leeming, presiding, cast doubt on Pickerills supposed remorse, noting how he sought to minimise his behaviour during his pre-sentence report probation interview.

Placing the cyber pervert on the sex offenders register for 10 years alongside a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, the judge said the offences were too serious for a suspended sentence, and sentenced Pickerill to one year and eight months in prison to be served immediately.

Sending him down, Judge Leeming said: You didnt seek to hide the fact you were far older than she was.

You lied about your age, you told her you were 55 - you were 65.

He added: Its clear you sought to minimise your behaviour throughout the probation officers report, telling her you had done nothing wrong and were only conversing through boredom and isolation., and had only pleaded guilty on legal advice.

Pickerill will also have to pay a victim surcharge.

Description

A PROLIFIC sexual offender travelled across the country from Hampshire in the hope of grooming what he thought was a 13-year-old girl, only to find out he had been stung by a vigilante group.

David Hodges made contact with what he thought was a youngster on Chat Avenue using the username Hubblebubble99, a court heard.

The decoy, from the group Confronted and Caught, made clear she was 13.

Hodges told the account she made him feel “tingly” and she said she “doesn’t know how to kiss and has no experience.”

Hodges proceeded to say he thought about touching her on her breasts and between her legs.

He went on to send her pictures of his genitals and videos of him engaged in sexual activity.

In one of the pictures sent a letter could be seen which revealed his identity and his address in Portsmouth.

He went on to arrange a visit to Oldham last month when he was told the girl’s father was working a night shift.

While there he was stung by the vigilantes and reported to the police.

He was found to have two mobile phones, which he was banned from having without permission from previous sexual harm prevention orders.

When taken to Ashton Police Station he made a full confession and admitted having a sexual interest in children.

He appeared at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court to be sentenced for sexual communication with a child, grooming and two breaches of a sexual harm prevention order.

Prosecutor Peter Malone revealed his previous convictions for sexual offences.

He said: “At Portsmouth Crown Court in July 2017 he was convicted of possession of indecent images of children, extreme pornography and prohibited images of children.

“In Cardiff Crown Court in May 2018 he admitted attempting to meet a girl under 16 following sexual grooming.”

He said he was jailed for more than two years for the second offence.

Representing the 57-year-old, defence counsel William Donnelly said his client was realistic in accepting a jail sentence was inevitable.

He read from a letter which Hodges had written to the judge, in which he said: “I am here for the abhorrent thoughts and actions that I have.

“I do want help, I can’t continue like this.

“I do not see myself as the victim, other people are the victims, I apologise to them.”

Imposing a sentence, judge Sophie McKone said his intentions were obvious.

She said: “You are determined to have sexual activity with a child.

“Your attempts have been thwarted until now.

“It seems no court order or prison sentence can deter you from your ultimate goal to have sexual activity with a real child.”

She jailed him for 40 months, but also ruled that after his release he must be subject to an extended period of licence for two years.

Hodges, whose address was given as Western Parade in Swansea, was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for life.

Description

A man who sexually assaulted 18 women and girls in Swansea parks has been sentenced to three years in prison.

Oliver Smith, 27, rode around a popular Swansea park and nearby street on his bicycle wearing black or dark clothing with a hood pulled over his head causing "widespread terror", randomly touching women and girls.

Swansea Crown Court heard that he told police "he gets angry about females wearing Lycra". His 18 victims ranged in age from 12 to 45, and included lone joggers, university students, and mothers playing with their young children. A judge said he had no doubt the defendant was a dangerous offender, but said he was not able to make him subject to an extended sentence for public protection.

Swansea Crown Court heard most of the attacks took place around Swansea's Singleton and Brynmill parks, and nearby streets as well as the seafront prom.

Dean Pulling, prosecuting, said over the course of February 12 and 13 this year Smith attacked a series of women. He said Smith approached women from behind and "forcefully" grabbed their buttocks before riding off.

He said some of the victims were students heading for the nearby university, some were lone joggers, some were mothers who had taken their children to the park, and some were women out walking with friends enjoying some exercise in lockdown.

He said: "The offences were committed during lockdown and when the victims were taking permitted exercise or essential business, such as going to work or the shop.

"The fact they were assaulted at that time when there were heightened concerns regarding coronavirus and social distancing only served to increase the stress and fear that they felt at the time.

"The attacks that weekend received significant media publicity and these sexual assaults committed in public places, seemingly random attacks against women and girls, brought widespread fear and anger amongst females in Swansea."

He added: "He told police he gets angry about females wearing Lycra. He claimed he targeted females who had short jackets on and whose bottoms were visible. In his view it wasn't fair that men had to see that.

"He said he felt bad seeing some of his victims crying and felt that all females dressed to entice men."

Mr Pulling said one victim, a jogger, was assaulted twice within a short time - Smith first grabbed her bottom as she ran through Brynmill Park, and then again a few minutes later as she ran home through Singleton Park.

The court heard the defendant also sexually assaulted girls - one aged just 12 - in Bishopston on February 13, and tried to attack a 45-year-old woman walking home from the Bishopston Co-op store.

Police launched an investigation into the assaults, and on February 13 put out a press release to the media which included a CCTV image of a man on a bicycle they wanted to trace. A number of members of the public came forward with information, and these leads led police to an address on Sandy Lane in Parkmill on Gower, and to a converted garden shed where the defendant was living.

Mr Pulling said Smith initially denied carrying out the assault but later made admissions. He told officers he though it was "not fair" for women to "dress to entice men".

He added he masturbated every day, something which he says he found "exhausting", and that if he touched women he found he no longer needed to do that.

The court heard he also told police he had carried out other sexual assaults.

The court heard the attacks had left the victims feeling anxious, shocked, scared to go out, and "violated".

Oliver James Smith, of Glandrydan Avenue, Uplands, Swansea, had previously pleaded guilty to 11 counts of sexual sexual assault by touching - including one on a girl under 13 - and one count of attempted sexual assault. He asked for another seven sexual assaults to be taken into consideration. In total there were 18 victims.

Gerard Cullen, for Smith, said it was apparent from a number of conferences he had held with his client that the defendant demonstrated "very bizarre ideology and thinking". He said Smith "suffers from very rigid thinking, very off ideas about how females should dress in public".

The advocate said the defendant's mother had been concerned about her son's mental health and his interest in conspiracy theories for a considerable length of time, and had encouraged him to get help - but Smith had refused to co-operate.

Judge Geraint Walters said Smith had carried out what could only be described as a "campaign" of sexual offending.

"It really has to be described as a campaign of sexual offending, which caused widespread terror at the time to women in and around the Swansea area," he said.

He said he agreed with a pre-sentence report that Smith was a dangerous offender but the nature of the sentence he was able to impose did not allow him to pass an extended sentence.

Giving the defendant a one-third discount for his guilty pleas the judge sentenced the defendant to three years in prison for each offence, the sentences to all run concurrently making an overall sentence of three years. Smith will serve up to half that period in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community. He will be a registered sex offender for the rest of his life.

Speaking after sentence South Wales Police detective inspector Gareth Jones said: "Oliver Smith's offending has caused his victims significant fear and distress, and I hope this sentencing brings them some comfort and shoes the seriousness of his actions.

"Everyone has the right to go about their life without being harassed or assaulted.

"I praise these women and teenagers for coming forward and speaking to police. South Wales Police will not tolerate sexual abuse in any form, and we will do all we can do to bring perpetrators to justice."

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A BOLTON man has been jailed for three years after he admitted sexually abusing a young girl.

Andrew Walsh, 55, who was known to his victims family, sneaked into the girls bedroom and touched her while he thought she was asleep.

Bolton Crown Court heard similar abuse occurred over a two-year period.

David Toal, prosecuting, said Walshs crimes were uncovered when his 11-year-old victim told a friend what had been happening in June 2019.

Phone messages describing the abuse were then shown to the victims mother, who confronted Walsh about the allegations, he told the court.

He said he didnt remember doing it but that he was sorry.

A day later she confronted him again and secretly recorded their conversation in which he admitted the offences and blamed them on his heavy drinking.

He also asked her not to get the police involved but Walsh, of Hughes Street, Bolton, was arrested on June 8.

The girl told police that Walsh came into her room and touched her over her pyjamas while performing a sex act on himself.

When she woke up he offered to get her some biscuits with the victim telling officers the same thing had happened every month for two years.

She also said he had taken the girls mobile phone, put it in the waistband of his shorts and asked her to grab it.

Mr Toal added that Walsh, who pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault on a child under 13, had no previous convictions.

Michael Goldwater, defending, said Walsh had lost his job as a breakdown recovery driver after the allegations became public.

He now lived at home with his elderly parents. Mr Goldwater told the court.

Above all he is very sorry for this, added Mr Goldwater. He can barely understand it but accepts it is a result of his excessive consumption of alcohol.

The drink caused him to behave in ways that he did not otherwise imagine he was capable.

Sentencing Walsh, Judge John Edwards, said: You were drinking heavily which doubtless numbed your inhibitions to indulge yourself in this dreadful way.

It has left your victim anxious and confused at a pivotal time of her life and any child should be completely safe in their bedroom

"It should be a place of happiness.

Description

A Metropolitan Police officer from Fleet, Hampshire who tried to send “highly sexualised” messages to what he thought was a 13-year-old girl has been jailed after he was caught in an undercover sting.

Detective Constable Mark Collins, 58, admitted one count of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and six counts of attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child.

He has been jailed for more than two years.

The Old Bailey heard Collins, from Fleet, in Hampshire, thought he was talking to a 13-year-old girl when he sent pictures of his privates over the Kik Messenger app while he was on holiday in Malta.

He also commented on her “body developing” and talked about “naughty urges” and “being horny” in November 2019 in conversations that he said should be deleted.

But Collins, who joined the force in 1991, was in fact communicating with an undercover officer and was arrested at work in Bromley police station on November 26.

The court heard some of the messages were sent when Collins’s shift pattern suggests he was on duty, but prosecutor David Povall said it could not be proved to the criminal standard.

Jailing him for two years and four months on Friday, Judge Mark Lucraft QC described the messages as being of a “highly sexualised nature”.

“It is clear many of the messages you sent are explicit, setting out what you were imagining, your sexual feelings towards her naked body,” the judge told Collins.

“It is clear from the content and tone that the messages were sent for the purposes of obtaining sexual gratification.”

Collins, who resigned from the Met after his arrest, was found to have committed gross misconduct at a disciplinary hearing last week and the force said he would have been sacked if he were still a serving officer.

Karen Robinson, defending, said the father-of-two’s offending had “no connection to his role or his duties as a police officer”.

“It is, for someone who held his position, a spectacular fall from grace,” she said.

“He must live with the shame and indignity his conduct has brought upon himself and others.”

Description

A couple who subjected two children to an "abhorrent campaign of abuse" have been jailed for 22 years.

Rachel Burrows, 30, and Kevin Prewitt, 37, were sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court for their "inhuman and sadistic" acts over more than a year involving the two children, both under the age of 10.

Police were called to Prewitt's Myrtle Road home in Lowestoft in April 2020 when a 10-second indecent film and messages on his phone were discovered.

The pair were in a relationship and prosecutor Joanne Eley told the court police attended both homes and seized mobile phones and tablets and other items used in the images and videos.

Officers also found a Skype conversation between the pair from January 2020 until the beginning of the coronavirus lockdown discussing their plans, while examination of the videos found the victims "sobbing and whimpering."

A psychological report found the victims were both likely to develop complex PTSD.

The duo had previously admitted serious charges of sexual abuse of a child, including rape, while Prewitt also admitted three offences of making indecent images of children, and two offences of inciting or causing child exploitation.

Burrows, of Harris Avenue, Lowestoft, also admitted multiple serious sex abuse of a child charges, three offences of taking indecent images of children and an offence of inciting or causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

Burrows, of Harris Avenue, Lowestoft, also admitted multiple serious sex abuse of a child charges, three offences of taking indecent images of children and an offence of inciting or causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

Representing Prewitt, Laura Kenyon told the court he was engaging with services since being in custody, while Justin Rivett, for Burrows, said his client had a low IQ and she was "besotted" with Prewitt, but was "remorseful" for her actions.

Sentencing the pair to 22 years in custody, judge Rupert Overbury said: "What the pair of you did was beyond depraved and despicable. It was inhuman and sadistic.

"If your families have any sense they will disown you both because neither of you deserve a place in society until you have paid a high price for your actions."

Description

A married man who raped two boys as a teenager collapsed in the dock when jailed today.

John Merritt, 60, of Leathers Lane, Halewood, denied sexually abusing the children more than four decades ago.

But at the age of 14 or 15, when going by the name Walter Merritt, he raped his victims in Belle Vale and Netherley.

Merritt offered chocolate to Boy A, before inviting him into his house and raping him in a bathroom and a nearby field.

He also raped Boy B in the bathroom, pouncing after his mum invited the disadvantaged little boy in for tea and cake.

Boy B described how the abuse "destroyed" his life and even landed him in jail, after he stole to buy drugs to block out the horror.

Liverpool Crown Court heard the now dad-of-four carried out the attacks in the 1970s.

Stephen McNally, prosecuting, said they came to light when Boy A made a formal complaint to the police in 2016.

He previously told his sister about the abuse 30 years earlier and also mentioned it in a letter to police in 2014, but hadn't taken it further at that stage.

When interviewed, Boy A told police he believed it happened to others and mentioned Boy B, who was traced by officers and interviewed in 2018.

Mr McNally said Boy B wasn't told who provided his name, but both men "independently provided accounts which bore a number of similarities".

Boy A said Merritt passed him in the street, offered him chocolate and invited him into his home, before raping him in the bathroom. He said Merritt also raped him at another location and in a field in Netherley.

Boy B said he went to Merritt's home because Merritt's mum was nice to him and fed him, when times were hard in his family and he was "largely left to fend for himself".

Mr McNally said: "He said that Mrs Merritt offered him tea, biscuits and cake, which he didn't get at home."

The court heard Merritt followed him into the bathroom, locked the door and raped him on two occasions.

Merritt was convicted of three counts of a sexual offence which would now be classed as rape after a trial in March.

In a victim statement, Boy A - who attended the sentencing - said the abuse "destroyed his life".

Mr McNally said: "He describes how he turned to drugs because he 'needed not to remember'."

Boy A didn't wish to make a victim statement, but in evidence described how the abuse affected his "personal relationships" and he also turned to drugs.

The trial heard Merritt was convicted of wounding aged 15 in 1976, when he threw a bike cog at a girl's face, leading to him being put in care. His family later moved to Speke.

Mr McNally said in 1980 he was convicted of possessing a weapon, "a stick with a chain" when "part of a Teddy Boy outfit".

Merritt was most recently convicted of a racially aggravated public order offence in 2015.

The court heard he had character references from his wife, adult son and two adult daughters.

Louise McCloskey, defending, said her client "acknowledged" the jury's verdict, but maintained his innocence.

She said Merritt was "only a child" at the time and expert evidence, including an intermediary's report, detailed his "educational difficulties and learning difficulties, as well as significant physical difficulties".

The judge, Recorder Ian Harris, accepted there had to be a significant reduction in the sentence, because of Merritt's age at the time and his "characteristics".

Ms McCloskey said Merritt was assessed as being "a low risk of re-offending" and hadn't committed any crimes since.

She said: "The man before the court, 60 years of age, is a very different one from the teenager that committed these offences."

Ms McCloskey said the Probation Service recommended a community-based sentence, so Merritt could undergo work to rehabilitate him.

She said his family thought "very highly of him" and he was a "great support" to his wife and 12-year-old son, who has health difficulties.

Ms McCloskey said: "The defendant was convicted of these offences - not his family. Since this case was first publicised, his family have been subject to the most despicable abuse and general intimidation."

She added: "His family are guilty of nothing and should not be treated as such.

"They themselves perhaps your honour could be considered victims of the offences."

Recorder Harris said Merritt, when 14 or 15, raped Boy A up to five times, when the child was nine or 10, and raped Boy B twice, when the victim was eight or nine.

He said Merritt "befriended" then groomed and isolated the boys, which involved "significant planning".

Referring to Boy A, Recorder Harris said: "It's quite clear there has been a lifelong impact upon him."

The judge said Boy B, who screamed and shouted out during the rapes, was left with "lifelong psychological harm".

He said Boy B told the court: "I needed not to remember what this man did to me as a kid, so I took drugs, which made me not think about what had been done to me by him.

"He ruined my whole life. All my relationships failed with me being insecure with what happened to me. I stole to fund my drug habit, which put me in jail... one big, vicious cycle."

Recorder Harris said a pre-sentence report referred to Merritt's "dysfunctional sexual interests" as a teen and how the rapes allowed him to "exert power and control over the victims".

The judge noted his learning difficulties and said Merritt suffered from physical problems, including abnormally short arms, as a result of his mum receiving thalidomide treatment when pregnant, which Merritt said led to him and his family being "marginalised and verbally abused" when living in Netherley.

He said the report suggested "optimistically and unrealistically" that he could be spared jail, but if Merritt had been an adult at the time of the abuse, he would have faced more than 16 years in prison.

Recorder Harris jailed him for eight years, at which point Merritt collapsed, hitting a wooden rail as he fell.

When helped up by a dock officer, he claimed "I just fainted a bit", then muttered: "It's my back as well."

He will serve at least six years in prison, before he is released on licence.

Merritt, who must sign the Sex Offenders Register for life, waved to his crying wife and adult son as he was sent down.

Speaking after the case, Detective Constable Julia Jennings said: "The actions of Merritt have clearly had a long lasting and devastating impact on his victims, who have been forced to relive their ordeals through his trial.

"I would like to pay tribute to their courage and strength in coming forward to speak up against Merritt and I hope that today's sentencing will finally give them the closure they have waited so long for.

"Time is never a barrier to investigating a crime and bringing someone to justice and I would encourage anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse to come forward. We have specially trained officers who can support you through the investigation process."

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Previously Lee Lewitt, now goes by Jago Lee

Update July 2022

A PAEDOPHILE paramedic and ex-RAF serviceman caught with nearly 10,000 child abuse images hid his dark past from his new girlfriend.

Jago Lee, 38, was caught out by Gwent Police after he failed to tell them he was staying overnight at his partners address.

He was ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years following his conviction for making indecent images of children and possession of extreme pornography.

The defendant had been handed an 18-month suspended prison sentence at Truro Crown Court for these offences in March 2021.

Lee had left his home in Cornwall and settled in the Gwent area.

A paramedic and ex-RAF serviceman has avoided prison despite being caught with nearly 10,000 sick child abuse images. Lee Lewitt, 37, had material showing the rape of infants as young as 12 months old and humans having sex with animals.

Lewitt, of Summercourt, appeared at Truro Crown Court where he admitted three charges of possession indecent images of children and possession 10 extreme pornographic images.

Prosecuting the case, Michael Brown described how intelligence was gained regarding Lewitts use of a cloud storage device to store indecent images.

Police searched Lewitts home and seized a number of devices. An interrogation of an iPhone showed a huge number of indecent images, both still and moving, some of the images showing children as young as 12 months old being abused. They were amassed between November 2018 and May 2020.

In total Lewitt was found to have 2,721 Category A images, 1,456 Category B, 3,529 Category C and 10 extreme pornographic images showing humans having sex with animals.

In his first interview Lewitt said he was addicted to adult pornography and must have accessed the indecent images by mistake. However, in his second interview he made full admissions.

Representing Lewitt, Chris Spencer told the court how he works as a paramedic and was formerly in the RAF, completing three tours of Iraq. Mr Spencer added Lewitts experiences left him receiving treatment for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and that he accepts his career is now finished.

Sentencing dad-of-three Lewitt, Judge Simon Carr said he had downloaded a significant number of child abuse images.

Judge Carr said: I appreciate you are an intelligent man so you should be able to appreciate the enormity of what youve done.

Let me spell it out for you. Every day tens of thousands of children are raped for the enjoyment of people like you. The people raping the children dont do it because of a sexual interest, they do it because its a business.

Many hold people like you just as responsible, I certainly do.

Judge Carr went on to state that Lewitts good character, the fact hes showed remorse and sought treatment since his offending and realistic chance of rehabilitation meant he could suspend what would otherwise be an immediate custodial sentence.

Lewitt was given an 18-month sentence suspended for two years. He must also complete relevant treatment programme and 100 hours of unpaid work. Lewitt was made subject of a sexual harm prevention order.

Description

A paedophile football coach catfished a girl on Snapchat by pretending to be a 17-year-old boy.

Ian Kaufman, 48, sent the 16-year-old pictures he had taken from the internet so he could groom her.

The vile pervert would then use software to save videos and pictures she sent him on Snapchat.

When police raided his home they discovered Kaufman kept other sick images of child sex abuse and cartoons of children being raped.

Liverpool Crown Court today heard one of the disgusting images involved a girl as young as two-year-old.

Ken Grant, prosecuting, explained police raided Kaufman's home after receiving "information about the uploading of an indecent image of a child to the internet using the Kik Messenger service."

As officers searched Kaufman told them he had a concealed mobile phone in his bedroom, which was seized along with various other items.

In an interview, Mr Grant explained, Kaufman "stated he set up the Kik account and that the name was JJDingle1".

Kaufman denied uploading any indecent images of children but admitted to speaking to a 16-year-old from Scotland on Snapchat, claiming he didn't know it was an offence.

Mr Grant said: "He admitted he had told her he was 17 and admitted he had sent her images taken from the internet of a male penis."

The 16-year-old girl from Scotland had sent Kaufman a video of herself "using a sex toy" and "fondling her breasts".

He said: "All these images were recorded by the defendant from Snapchat using an application called Mobizen."

The court heard that the software allows the user to keep videos from the social media platform even after they are deleted from Snapchat.

Mr Grant said: "He believed the Scottish girl sent them to him around February 2020 and didn't ask her for them but was in an online relationship and it was in the context of that relationship in which she sent him those videos."

He said: "He had sent her money on two occasions and also sent her a necklace.

"He did this because he felt sorry for her and she had needed help financially."

Mr Grant explained that while searching his devices officers discovered Kaufman had kept other indecent images of children and had an image of bestiality.

In a second interview Kaufman denied using Twitter to access indecent images of children, Mr Grant explained.

Among the images were eight category A videos, two category B pictures and 37 category C images.

Kaufman has no previous convictions.

Des Lennon, defending, explained that despite a difficult upbringing Kaufman went on to work as a "football coach in the community", adding there were "no complaints about his conduct" and it was "quite startling these matters have come to light in recent times".

Mr Lennon said there had been "issues within his marriage" and he was "searching for sexual gratification online".

He said: "This is a complete aberration as far as he is concerned."

Mr Lennon said Kaufman accepted the behaviour was "unacceptable" and "inexcusable".

He said: "The defendant is utterly sorry and ashamed for what he has done and is genuinely remorseful."

Mr Lennon said Kaufman had made efforts "of his own volition" such as reaching out to the Lucy Faithful Foundation and completing 12 modules.

He said Kaufman suffers from cerebral palsy and epilepsy and had been the victim of "unspeakable acts" as a child.

Mr Lennon explained Kaufman volunteered information about the girl to police, which is why they were able to trace her.

He added Kaufman suffers from mental health difficulties and had tried to take his life four times since April last year.

He said: "Once this issue came into the public domain he was vilified by members of his local community and as a consequence had to move out."

Mr Lennon explained that he had since been "living in his car outside the city" and suggested he would be "terribly vulnerable" if he was sent to prison.

Kaufman, formerly of East Dam Wood Road, Speke, admitted possession of category A, B and C images, possessing an image of extreme pornography, attempting to take indecent photographs of a child and making indecent images of a child.

Judge David Swinnerton, sentencing, explained Kaufman had sent the girl 50, a necklace and photographs of a boy who he pretended was him.

The judge said Kaufman claimed he hadn't asked for the videos, but admitted using screen capturing software to save them.

Judge Swinnerton said that whether he had asked or not "she still sent them because of your deceit and your lies, which I regard as grooming".

The judge said there were 10 videos of the girl, some of which were eight minutes long, adding it was unclear if the girl was aware he was saving the videos.

Judge Swinnerton said he was in "no doubt" Kaufman "kept them for your sexual pleasure".

The judge ruled that capturing the videos and keeping them was "clearly production".

Judge Swinnerton said: "You encouraged her while she was filming herself with highly sexualised comments."

The judge ruled that his grooming was an aggravating feature but also took into account Kaufman's disabilities, his early admissions and difficult childhood.

Kaufman was jailed for two years and eight months.

He must sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same period.

Description

A FORMER scoutmaster jailed for abusing young boys is back behind bars after attempting to hide computer equipment from police.

In March 2016 Ian Beeby, formerly of Edditch Grove, Bolton, was jailed for five years after admitting abusing four boys in the 1980s, including one occasion on a Lake District camping trip.

Beeby, who admitted sexually assaulting the cub scouts and downloading indecent images of children, told one child: Its the sort of thing that scouts do.

In 2017 he had an extra two years and eight months added to his sentence after another victim, who he groomed and befriended as he walked past his home on the way to school, read about the previous conviction in the Bolton News and came forward.

Beeby had abused him, from the age of 10, up to three times a week, for two years.

Beeby was released on licence from prison and in March last year came back to the Bolton area, living in a flat in Black Horse Street, Blackrod.

Victoria Lewis, prosecuting, told Bolton Crown Court how Beeby, was allocated an offender manager and, under the terms of a sexual harm prevention order, had to register any device capable of accessing the internet and make it available for inspection when required.

On April 3 last year he presented the officer with a Google phone which he claimed was in only device and in June he revealed he also had a laptop. These then had eSafe software added to monitor his access to the internet.

But on September 22 the software identified a Scandisk USB being connected to the phone. It was found to contain 10 indecent images which Beeby claimed had been on a laptop he had stored prior to his prison sentence and had deleted them as soon as he saw them.

On October 21 a check on the internet router at Beebys home revealed a Raspberry Pi mini computer, which the defendant had not declared, had been connected to it. When handing it over Beeby slipped an SD card out of the device, secreted it in his pocket and disposed of it.

In relation to the Pi device the defendant stated that he knew he shouldnt have had the device and that he had been stupid to have purchased it, said Miss Lewis.

Beeby was also found to have accessed Facebook in breach of his SHPO although he denied creating asocial media account for himself.

Appearing via a video link from Whatton prison in Nottinghamshire, Beeby pleaded guilty to five counts of breaching his sexual harm prevention order.

Joshua Bowker, defending, said Beeby, a former electronic engineer, had not been open with his offender manager due to a combination of complacency and fear of being recalled to prison.

If he had his time again he would have been much more open, he added.

But, sentencing Beeby to 21 months in prison, Judge John Edwards told him: I am afraid I take the view that you have an entrenched and unhealthy interest for pre-pubescent boys and, as a computer programmer, you knew exactly what you were doing here.

In committing these breaches you are seriously culpable and you display, in my judgement, flagrant contempt for the court order made five years ago.

It is not only contemptuous of the court but it risks harm to the particular section of the public who the order was intended to protect.

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Matthew Millen caught a train to Southampton so he could have sex with a young girl called Grace.

The 44-year-old had even planned to make a video recording.

However, Grace was in fact an undercover police officer and Millen was arrested at McDonald’s in Westquay Shopping Centre.

Millen of Hall Park Avenue, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex was convicted of attempting to pay for the sexual services of a child following a trial at Southampton Crown Court.

In December he was jailed for just three years.

But earlier this year, the former Bank of England cyber-security expert had his case referred to the Attorney General under the Unduly Lenient Scheme.

Upon review, the Court of Appeal has now increased his sentence to seven years imprisonment.

After a joint hearing at the Court of Appeal concerning three other paedophiles as well as Millen, the new Attorney General, Rt Hon Michael Ellis QC MP, said: I was shocked and appalled by the wicked intentions of these men and it was only thanks to the vigilance of the police and others that their criminality did not extend further. I welcome the decisions of the Court of Appeal in what is a landmark case for the court."

A jury had found him unanimously guilty after being presented with "compelling evidence".

He had argued he was a paedophile hunter and had been trying to catch Grace's father.

Millen will be subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and will have to register as a sex offender for life.

Description

A child rapist spent his life on Liverpool's streets having committed horrific acts of sexual abuse against a young girl.

David Whiteside raped the child nine times and committed five other sexually abusive acts against her in Kirkby.

The 36-year-old then denied his crimes in court, forcing the woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, to relive his monstrous actions in a trial.

His victim said she couldn't even go into Liverpool city centre, where she knew he begged on the streets, out of fears of bumping into him.

Paul Becker, prosecuting at Liverpool Crown Court, read two victim person statements from Whiteside's victim to the court.

The woman said it was only when she learnt about sex education at school that she "realised what David had been doing".

She said: "I hope he suffers like he has made me suffer.

"I wake up in the night with terrors, crying, remembering what he did."

The woman said disgusting Whiteside would tell her "You know you want it" as he raped her.

She said she was a shy child but Whiteside's horrific abuse "made me withdraw into myself even more" adding "I didn't have an ounce of confidence at all".

She said: "I won't even go into Liverpool city centre where David lives on the streets and begs for a living because I'm scared of bumping into him."

After his trial she she was "angry David did all those things" and that he "forced" her to "go through the ordeal again"

Whiteside, of Prescot Road, Old Swan, was found guilty after a trial of nine counts of rape of a child, four counts of sexually assaulting a girl with no penetration and one count of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

Carmel Wilde, defending, said: "Although the defendant hasn't particularly led a good life since, his previous convictions are relatively low level."

She explained Whiteside had "difficulties in his home life" which led to his "misuse of drugs and alcohol".

Ms Wilde said: "Clearly the defendant was found guilty after a trial. Your honour will see he maintains his innocence although he accepts the jury's decision."

She said Whiteside was "keen to engage with probation" and confirmed he had already signed up for a number of programmes while in custody.

Judge Garrett Byrne, sentencing, said here had been a "devastating and long lasting effect" on Whiteside's victim.

The judge noted that Whiteside "singled her out" and also "threatened her".

Judge Byrne said Whiteside had "no relevant previous convictions" adding "on the other hand you have not led an unblemished life".

The judge said Whiteside was an offender of "particular concern" and jailed him for 13 years and nine months with an extended one year on licence.

This type of sentence means he will spend at least half of the custodial term - around six years and 10 months - behind bars.

Whiteside will then only be released before the end of his sentence if a parole board considers he is no longer a risk.

A restraining order preventing Whiteside from contacting his victim was imposed for life.

He must also sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same amount of time.

Description

A Staffordshire man who was convicted of multiple sex offences has been jailed for 29 years.

Leon Justin Pegg, 47, of Tamworth was found guilty of 24 sexual offences.

His sentence included an 11-year jail term for one count of rape and eight years each for two counts of attempted rape.

Pegg, who was also found guilty of making and distributing indecent photographs of a child, was sentenced at Stafford Crown Court on Friday.

The 47-year-old was also placed on the sex offenders register for life.

The defendant was convicted following an investigation by Staffordshire Police after allegations were made in 2018.