Latest Offenders

Description

A convicted paedophile who was found with more than 250 indecent images of children, with a judge describing them as some of “the most disgusting images” he’s ever had the misfortune of viewing, has been jailed.

Phillip Belcher pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children, but only after initially taking the case to court when he was found with the photographs on his devices back in 2019, rendering him in breach of a suspended sentence and sexual harm prevention order.

He was jailed for the breaches but fell to be sentenced for the images after he tried to blame everyone else but himself for his actions.

Prosecuting at Preston Crown Court, Adam Lodge said Belcher, 33, had been convicted in Reading in July 2019 of making indecent images of children and had been made subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and suspended sentence.

However, in August 2019, during a routine check at his home in Church Meadows, Colne, police found Belcher to have devices which he had not informed the police about, including a Sony tablet and phone, which placed him in breach of his order, as well as an SD memory card.

On it, police found disturbing images of children only a few months old, as well as one of necrophilia.

Belcher tried to blame his partner and another member of his family for the images, saying they might have been the ones who viewed them.

His suspended sentence was activated, and he was jailed for 15 months.

Following his release in June 2020, Belcher was visited at home once again and a mobile phone was found which had been used to search for child sexual abuse on Google.

Judge Guy Mathieson said: “It was entirely your choice to span out these proceedings from 2021 until last year until you admitted your guilt before trial.

“At one stage you even blamed your partner.

“At 33, you might want to start to take some responsibility for your actions.

“The type of images you take some sexual gratification from are abhorrent. You are taking sexual delight in the abuse and torture of tiny children, babies in some cases.

“When it comes to your pre-sentence report you are blaming everyone else. You even say you may have come across the images by accident.

“You are a wholly unrepentant paedophile and you are not someone who wants to change or embrace change. You are quite happy with who you are.

“The images you have downloaded contain some of the most disgusting images I have ever had the misfortune to come across.”

Belcher, who has 15 convictions for 19 offences was jailed for two years, and told to sign the sex offender’s register for 10 years.

No variation was made to his sexual harm prevention order which will be in place for another six years.

Description

A 31-year-old man who drank himself into a stupor before knocking on a pensioners door and spontaneously sexually assaulting her is to have his jail sentence reviewed, after it was referred to the Attorney General under the unduly lenient sentence scheme.

Asadul Karim was jailed for nine months at Burnley Crown Court after being convicted at trial of sexual assault.

The court was told how on May 28, 2021, Karim, of Beveridge Mews in the Stepney Green area of London, was for some reason in Burnley and had found himself in an intoxicated state.

At around 9.45pm, he had knocked on the door of a 79-year-old womans house before entering and sexually assaulting her.

Karim was handed a nine month jail sentence and told to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years.

However, after a member of public asked for it to be reviewed under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme, his sentence is now under consideration by the office of Attorney General Victoria Prentis.

If the Attorney General deems his sentence to be 'unduly lenient', the case will be sent to the Court of Appeal, where his jail time could be extended.

If it is sent to the Court of Appeal under the scheme, the most senior judges in the land will then make a decision.

Karims sentence will either be increased, stay the same, or judges may refuse to hear the case.

Even if a case is passed on to the Court of Appeal it may not change the sentence.

A decision will be made in due course.

Description

A 91-YEAR-OLD man has been sentenced to ten years in jail for his sexual offences against a young girl almost two decades ago.

Eric Grant, 91 of Hall Barn Road, Isleham, appeared at Basildon Crown Court on Thursday, February 23, where he was jailed for his offences which took place between 2004 and 2005.

The victim was just 11 years-old at the time she was abused. The abuse took place in Essex and in Cambridgeshire.

The victim reported the abuse to Essex Police in March 2021.

Prior to speaking to police, she called Grant to confront him about what he did.

She recorded this call, where Grant implied that the acts were consensual. The victim then bravely used this as evidence when reporting to the police.

The investigation was picked up by Essex Police’s Quest Team, who dedicate themselves to investigating all non-recent child sexual abuse.

Grant was interviewed in July 2021 and refused to tell officers anything. Despite this, he was charged a few months later.

Following a trial at Basildon Crown Court, which began on December 12, 2022, Grant was found guilty and placed on the Sex Offenders Register whilst being remanded into custody ahead of his sentencing. He appeared at Basildon Crown Court again on Thursday where he was sentenced to ten years in prison.

He was also given a restraining order, preventing him from making any contact with the victim.

At the sentencing, the victim bravely spoke out in court, describing how Grant’s crimes have had a lasting effect on her including how it’s made her extremely protective of her own child.

His Honour Judge Hurst described Grant’s “cowardly defence” and criticised him for putting the victim through the difficult court process despite his recorded admissions.

Investigating Officer, Detective Sergeant Ed Massey said: “I want to commend the bravery of the victim in this case, who I know feels like a massive weight has now been lifted from her.

“I feel the sentence – and the fact that Grant is likely to spend the rest of his life in prison – reflects the devastating effects of his sexual abuse of a child, and the fact that he made the victim go through the difficult process of a crown court trial.

“I would also like to extend my thanks to the Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) from CARA (Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse) who supported the victim throughout the whole process, including several days of jury deliberations, and being by her side today as she read her Victim Personal Statement.”

Detective Sergeant Shirley Cole, from the Quest team, added: “The Quest team is made up of dedicated, specialist officers who work day-in, day-out to get justice for victims.  Our work shows that just because sexual abuse took place decades ago, it doesn’t mean that you have any less of a right to have someone who abused you held to account.  I would urge anyone who was abused as a child to come forward and report to us what happened to them.”

Support is there for anyone affected by rape and sexual abuse, and no victim or survivor is alone. Synergy Essex provides specialist support for victims and survivors of rape and sexual abuse of all ages and all genders across Essex, Thurrock and Southend.

Synergy Essex is a partnership of rape and sexual abuse centres in Essex: CARA (Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse), SERICC Rape and Sexual Abuse Specialist Service and Southend-on-Sea Rape Crisis (SOS Rape Crisis). Synergy Essex is independent from the police and provides support for victims and survivors throughout their journey.

Victims and survivors can self-refer, or be referred by a parent, partner, friend or professional and can access specialist emotional support, counselling and advocacy.  For victims and survivors who report to the police, Synergy Essex provides an Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) service, providing support throughout the criminal justice process.

For more information visit the Synergy Essex website.

Description

A man from east London has been jailed for online blackmail, drug supply offences and distribution of indecent images of a child.

George Austin-Bohan, 28, threatened to post pictures of a child online which he had obtained without their knowledge.

In 2018 and 2020 he demanded money from two women online, threatening to publish indecent images of a child on Instagram, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard.

He was also convicted of possessing with intent to supply class A drugs cocaine and MDMA.

In September 2022 a Misuse of Drugs Act search warrant was executed at a residential address in Tower Hamlets. Drugs with an estimated street value of £10,000 - £15,000 were seized along with over £7,000 in cash.

Austin-Bohan, from Tower Hamlets, was arrested at the scene.

He was sentenced to five years and three months imprisonment for three counts of blackmail Malicious communications Distribution of indecent images of children distribution and four drug supply counts.

He was also hit with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be required to sign the Sex Offender’s Register for 10 years.

His electronic devices were seized and upon forensic examination were found to contain digital evidence of the offences.

PC Lindsey England, investigating officer from the Met’s Central East Command said: “The offences committed in this case are vile and have been truly distressing for the victims. Austin-Bohan used multiple social media accounts in an attempt to conceal his identity and continued to deny his involvement throughout the investigation.

“There has been a considerable amount of investigative effort including vast digital forensic work involved in this case but without the victims’ bravery in coming forward Austin-Bohan could not have been brought to justice.

“I hope that the sentence handed down provides them with a sense of justice and I hope they can put these incidents behind them. Online sexual offences, both against children and adults are damaging in the extreme and I would urge people to report such crimes to police so that they can be investigated. Victims will be listened to and should know that there are many avenues of support available.”

Description

A Newcastle pervert caught with more than 1,000 sex abuse images of children as young as two was an elected councillor.

David Besag was last week given a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, after admitting to child porn offences. The 50-year-old, of Glenthorn Road in Jesmond, had previously been a Liberal Democrat councillor in the city’s Walkergate ward from 2004 to 2010.

The party said that Besag, who stood as a Lib Dem candidate as recently as 2018, was no longer a member and “would never have been selected” to stand for office if his crimes had been known at the time. Besag, a self-confessed porn addict, avoided a stint in jail after pleading guilty to three counts of making indecent images of a child, one of possessing a prohibited image of a child, and one of possessing extreme porn.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that police uncovered 34 images and 23 videos of the most serious category A, 17 photos and 10 videos of category B, and 1,031 pictures and 39 videos of category C, after seizing Besag’s laptop, mobile phone, computer tower, and a hard drive. The collection involved children aged between two and 17.

There were also four prohibited images of a child and 200 extreme porn videos and five extreme porn pictures on Besag's devices, the latter involving animals and adult males. Besag downloaded the pictures and videos over an 18-year period from 2002 to 2020, which includes his six-year spell on the city council.

A Newcastle Lib Dem spokesperson said: "He was a hard-working elected member during his time as a councillor for Walkergate. It goes without saying that if we had the slightest inkling of the criminal behaviour that has now come to light then he would never have been selected as a candidate or stayed as a party member. Our thoughts are with the children and families affected. He is no longer a member of the party."

The ex-councillor was first elected in the Walkergate ward when the Lib Dems took control of the council in 2004 and was returned by voters for a second time in 2006. Besag, who has no previous convictions, claimed he had only been downloading the indecent material since 2012 and had no sexual interest in children, although he was addicted to adult porn.

The court heard he also suffered from post traumatic stress disorder and dyspraxia. As well as the suspended sentence, Besag was made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for seven years and must sign the Sex Offenders' Register for the same period.

Description

A man who stole the childhood of a girl, abusing her for over 10 years, before moving onto a younger victim has been jailed for his sickening actions.

Christian Wood, 43, received an extended sentence of 13 years at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday (24 February) to serve 10 years in prison and three years on licence - for the abuse he inflicted on two young girls for over a decade.

Wood was found guilty of sexual assault of a child under 13, three counts of sexual activity with a child, assault by penetration and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity by a jury on 3 February following a one-week trial.

The court heard how Wood groomed one of his victims over a period of years, touching her inappropriately, before engaging in sexual activity with her. As she got older, Wood moved on to another younger victim, subjecting her to online grooming and asking her for sexual favours.

Woods abuse was reported to the police after the victims both found the courage to speak to someone they trusted.

One of the victims personal impact statements, read in court, explains how Woods actions ruined her life. It said: I have lost my childhood. My memories have been overtaken by the sickening abuse I experienced, the abuse you put me through. I dont remember the good times. You damaged my mental health, my mood, and my motivation.

I have made several attempts to end my life because of the abuse and trauma I was subjected to.

You abused your power of trust and because of that I now have severe trust issues. This has impacted my ability to form different types of relationships, including family and friends. I am constantly on edge, searching for the negatives, risks and threats in all situations. Things I once used to enjoy have now become triggers and reminders of the disgusting abuse that you put me through.

The relationship that has been destroyed the most is the one with myself.

Investigating Officer PC David Beck said: At the heart of this investigation are two victims who have had their childhood stolen and lives affected forever.

Woods offending was sinister and manipulative, distancing his victims from family and loved ones one of the victims recalled how he alienated her from her father.

No child should experience what Woods two victims have suffered, no child should suffer abuse. Their bravery and courage throughout this investigation has been incredible. They have showed that they have a voice and theyre no longer afraid.

Wood showed no remorse for his actions, and even after inflicting abuse on the victims for years, still pleaded not guilty and subjected them to relive every experience at trial.

He is a vile human being who will now spend years in prison. I hope the sentencing of Wood provides the victims with some sort of closure and helps them rebuild their lives.

The victims impact statement continued: This is me gaining my power and voice back. I am going to learn how to deal with this. I am free. I am going to thrive, and you are going to rot.

Wood, formerly of Havant, Hampshire, was also handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Description

A paedophile who repeatedly abused a girl has been jailed. Dylan Alfie Cullen, 19, was locked up for more than nine years after admitting to a number of sexual offences against a child.

The Met Police was called in March 2022 to an address in Kingston after the girls family called the force. Cullen was arrested and taken into custody but declined to answer any questions when interviewed.

Cullen carried out his offending over an 18-month period, Met Police said. The girl he abused was known to him.

Cullen was charged and pleaded guilty on October 28 to the rape of a child under 13, two counts of sexual assault and two counts of encouraging a child to engage in sexual activity. All the offences relate to one female child.

Cullen, from Kingston, appeared at Harrow Crown Court on Thursday (February 23) for sentencing. He was jailed for nine and a half years with a further year to be served on licence.

Police praise 'strength' of victim and family

Detective Constable Annabel Leslie-Miller, of the Met Police, said: This has been an extremely challenging investigation but the successful outcome has only been possible thanks to the strength the girl and her family have shown throughout this process. I hope now that Cullen has been convicted and sentenced, they can begin to move on with their lives.

"I also hope it encourages anyone who has been the victim of sexual abuse to come forward and speak to police. We have specially trained officers who can support you and investigate what has happened."

Description

Cambridge paedophile Peter Jarvis told police he was 'disgusting' after admitting he was a paedophile. The 48-year-old sexually assaulted a teenage girl three times in June and July 2022.

He was arrested and initially denied the offence when interview. However he eventually admitted the offences before pleading guilty to three counts of sexual assault on a girl.

Jarvis, of Sawston, Cambridge, was sentenced to four years in prison at a hearing at Huntingdon Law Courts on Tuesday (February 21). He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely and handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) to run until further notice, which means he will be closely monitored by officers.

DC Terry Bandoo, of Cambridgeshire Police, said: Jarvis abuse has had a huge impact on the victim. I am pleased he is now behind bars and once he is released he will be very closely monitored by specialist officers.

"Anyone who is concerned someone may have been convicted of a sex offence, and could be posing a risk to a child, can apply for disclosure information through Sarahs Law.

"Anyone who looks out for the welfare of a child can make an enquiry. This can include parents, carers, guardians, extended family, friends and neighbours."

Description

A MONSTROUS predator has been locked up for a sickening sexual attack on a young woman as she screamed for help.

Evil sex fiend Gyulhan Hyusein was repeatedly told ‘no’ by the victim, but he cruelly ignored her and assaulted her sexually a number of times.

The 25-year-old pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault and appeared to be sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday, February 23.

He was put behind bars for 10 years through a sentence which has been welcomed by police who branded the defendant a sexual predator and praised the victim for her bravery.

The court heard how the victim, a woman in her late teens, was walking to her partner’s home at around 3am on Sunday, October 16, last year following a night out with friends.

As the woman walked along Orford Lane, she was approached by Hyusein who put his arm around her and his hand down her back.

The victim pushed him away and told him ‘no’.

However, Hyusein continued his attack, putting his hand down her trousers and touching her inappropriately.

Once again, the woman pushed him away and told him ‘no’. She then attempted to walk away from him.

Hyusein followed the woman, and as she entered Orford Avenue he again put his hands down her trousers and touched her inappropriately.

As the woman screamed for help, he dragged her into an alleyway and pushed her against a wall, where he continued to touch the woman inappropriately with his fingers.

The victim continued to push Hyusein away and attempted to call for help, but he grabbed her phone and threw it away.

Hyusein eventually retreated and the victim sought refuge at a nearby house, while police were called to the scene.

The predator was arrested just hours after the attack after officers reviewing CCTV footage in a control room spotted him on live CCTV cameras in Warrington town centre.

Following sentencing, DC Laura Sandbach, who led the investigation, said: “Gyulhan Hyusein is a sexual predator.

“He attacked an innocent woman who was simply walking home, despite repeatedly being told to stop.

“This was an absolutely terrifying experience for the victim, and I would like to praise her for the courage and bravery that she has shown.

“While she will never be able to forget what Hyusein did to her that night, I hope the fact that he is now behind bars where he belongs will provide her with some closure.

“I would also like to thank the eagle-eyed officer who spotted Hyusein walking in Warrington town centre on live CCTV cameras as they were reviewing the footage from the attack.

“Thanks to their diligence, we were able to remove Hyusein from the streets of Warrington, and he is now facing the consequences of his actions in the form of a 10-year prison sentence.”

In addition to his custodial sentence, Hyusein, of Longford Street in Orford, has been ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for life.

He was also handed a lifetime restraining order preventing him from contacting the victim.

DS Joe Davies added: “I would like to commend DC Sandbach for her dedication and commitment throughout this investigation.

“No-one should have to experience what Gyulhan Hyusein’s victim has gone through.

“I hope this case and the sentence that he has received encourages other victims of sexual offences to come forward and report what has happened to them.

“We treat all reports of sexual offences extremely seriously, and any allegation will be thoroughly investigated, with the wishes and needs of the victim as our main priority.”

Description

A sex offender, who was previously snared by paedophile hunters, has been hauled before a court just months after being released from prison.

Matthew Hodgkiss, was jailed in July 2021 after asking who be believed was a 14-year-old girl for sexual pictures. He was ordered to sign the sex offenders register and abide by a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.

However, Teesside Magistrates' Court heard this week that the 45-year-old, who was released from prison in August, last year, was found to have breached the prevention order and failed to comply with the sex offenders register when police visited his home address.

Tyler Plunkett, prosecuting, said: "On January 11 police attended the defendant's address to carry out their regular reviews." He said looking at his mobile phone officers found a new Instagram account, which had a username he had failed to register.

Mr Plunkett said police also found that he had applied to both Facebook and Instagram for accounts, then deleted them. He said the defendant said he had wanted them to communicate with other people.

Mr Plunkett said: "When asked why he had deleted them, he said it was because he didn't want the police to know he was using them."

Nick Ayres, mitigating, said: "The defendant was very candid in his interview to answering questions to the police, probably to his detriment. It was a deliberate breach."

Hodgkiss was initially snared by Guardians of the North when he started engaging in sexual conversation with a decoy, posing as a 14-year-old girl in June 2020. The court heard at the time he had asked her to carry out an indecent act and send him images of her genitals.

They began to contact each other over WhatsApp and Hodgkiss encouraged her to carry out an indecent act and send him photographs of her breasts and "lower down". The decoy tracked Hodgkiss to an address in Stockton, police attended and arrested him.

He was ordered to serve 26 months behind bars. Hodgkiss, of Hartington Road, Stockton pleaded guilty to both the breach of the sexual harm prevention order and failing to comply with the sex offenders register.

Hodgkiss was granted unconditional bail and the case was adjourned for sentencing at Teesside Crown Court on March 21.

Description

A 34-year-old sex offender who posed a ‘serious danger’ to young girls has been captured by police.

Ryan Bufton was a wanted man after failing to comply with his sex offender notification requirements following his release from prison.

With his whereabouts unknown, a police search was launched and an appeal issued warning that he should not to be approached.

The public were asked to report any immediate sightings to 999 and Lancashire Police believed he might have travelled to the Blackpool area.

“Just to update you, Bufton was arrested in Lincolnshire yesterday.

“Thank you to everybody who shared and supported our appeal.”

He was jailed for three and a half years in 2017 after preying on a 15-year-old runaway who he plied with alcohol and took advantage of in a woodland area.

Bufton was arrested and pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child aged under 16.

He also has previous convictions for sex offences dating back to his own teenage years.

At his sentencing, Judge Sara Dodd described Bufton as posing a ‘serious danger’ to young girls and sentenced him to 40 months in prison, with an extra three years on licence.

Description

A 51-year-old man from Wirral has been jailed for sex offences after indecent images and messages he sent to a teenage girl were found on his phone.

Karl Waterhouse of Audlem Avenue, Oxton was sentenced to 18 months at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday 22 February) after pleading guilty to causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, sexual communication with a child and possessing a number of Category C indecent photographs of a child.

In December 2021 indecent photos of a teenage girl and messages of a sexual nature were found on Waterhouse’s phone dating back to December 2019.

Waterhouse was also issued a restraining order for five years and a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.

Detective Inspector Philip Ryan said: “For years Waterhouse groomed his victim by sending her messages and storing disturbing images on his personal phone. 

“His deplorable behaviour caused great psychological harm to his victim and we welcome the sentences given out by the court.

“I hope this result gives his victim some sort of closure and allows them to move on with their lives knowing he cannot harm them or anyone else.

“Merseyside Police is completely committed to protecting children from sexual abuse and those who seek to do them harm.  I would like to take this opportunity to reassure anyone who has suffered a sexual offence that if you can find the courage to come forward please speak to us as soon as you can. Our specially trained officers will treat you with sensitivity and compassion.”

Description

A Kennington man, who posed as a minicab driver to rape a woman who fell asleep in his car months after carrying out a violent attack on another woman near his home, was sentenced to 19 years in prison today (Thursday, February 24).

The court was told how 38-year-old Michael Mehari stalked the streets of Kennington to attack vulnerable women on their way home from a night out.

The first attack took place on Sunday, December 29, 2019, as the victim, in her twenties, was making her way home from a night out with friends. She was hit on the head before being dragged into a secluded pathway in the Kennington Park Road area.

He remained at large before striking again in the early hours of March 20 last year. The court heard the second victim, also in her twenties, had ordered an Uber to King Cross and she got into Mehari’s car, believing it was her taxi. She dozed off in the back of the vehicle and awoke to find Mehari attacking her.

He had taken her to a quiet side street in Kennington. She confronted him, left the vehicle and reported the incident to transport staff at a nearby tube station who called police.

An investigation was launched and enquiries led to the arrest of Mehari. A DNA sample, taken in custody, linked him to both the 2019 and 2022 attacks.

Detective Constable Tristan Jones of the Met’s Central South Command said: “Mehari is a dangerous opportunist who actively sought lone women.

“Identifying and apprehending those who commit violence against women and girls is a priority to which we are absolutely committed.

“I applaud the bravery of the victims in this case. I sincerely hope that the sentence handed to Mehari provides them with a degree of closure and a sense that justice has been done.

“I urge anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault to contact police or a support agency. Please don’t suffer in silence.”

Mehari must serve at least two thirds of his prison sentence before being considered for release. He will also be subject to sex offender notifications for life.

Description

An Edinburgh man appeared in court after sending explicit videos to '13-year-old Josh' on social media site dedicated to street hockey and tried to arrange a meeting.

A predator used a street hockey Facebook group to groom a ‘schoolboy’ who turned out to be anundercover cop.

Spirit Traum was the administrator of a social media group dedicated to the sport and was contacted by ‘13-year-old Josh’ who wished to join.

Traum, 22, started sending explicit photos and videos of himself to ‘Josh’ along with obscene messages.

But the youngster was actually a police officer tasked with catching perverts online by using fake accounts, as the Daily Record reports.

Police swooped on Traum hours after he tried to arrange to meet ‘Josh’ near his Edinburgh address.

Traum appeared at the city’s sheriff court on Tuesday and pled guilty to attempting to communicate indecently with an older child.

He also admitted attempting to meet someone he believed was an older child with the intention of engaging in unlawful sexual activity.

Fiscal depute Alan Wickham said the officer posing as Josh sent a request to join a Facebook group on street hockey where Traum was one of the administrators.

Mr Wickham said: “Josh was pretending to be interested in learning the game.”

Traum began sending explicit images to Josh over the course of seven days, the court heard, and stated he was the person in the photos, including one where he was naked and tied up.

Mr Wickham said Josh told the accused he was 13 and “regularly reminded” him of his age during their conversations.

Trauma asked the ‘teenager’ if he was “smooth or hairy”, later adding: “I like boys smooth.”

Mr Wickham said Traum continued to send explicit images and videos and asked for nudes of Josh to be sent in return.

The prosecutor said: “It was suggested by the accused that they meet. The accused stated he wanted to meet Josh to play hockey but went on to state, ‘You might get f****ed after’.”

Police detained Traum at his home in the city’s Fountainbridge area on September 28 2021, and he was taken to Dalkeith police station.

Description

35-year-old Joshua Pelling, a highly predatory paedophile turned drug dealer from Sandown, has been sentenced to 8 years in prison for over 20 sexual offences and possession of Class B drugs with intent to supply.

Pelling, previously of Avenue Road, admitted the 21 sexual charges – which included inciting a 10-year-old girl to engage in penetrative sexual activity and indecent images of children – back on 31st October last year.

The court heard back then graphic details of Pelling’s paedophilic offending, which dated between April 2015 and March 2019. It was detailed how some of the girls were asked to complete sexual tasks and send sexual images or videos of themselves. The victims included real girls in Dorset, Lancashire, Humberside and across the pond in America.

The 35-year-old was given bail but soon found himself back before the courts. On 20th December, Pelling admitted possession of a Class B drug with intent to supply and to a breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) after officers raided his Sandown home and found a large quantity of cannabis worth around £3,100. They also found a phone logged into Discord that held a username not registered with the Police.

Pelling was remanded in custody at HMP Lewes to appear at the Isle of Wight Crown Court for sentencing today (Thursday) – well aware that he would most likely receive a lengthy prison sentence.

Standing before the court in an all grey tracksuit earlier this afternoon, Pelling uttered practically inaudible remarks of ‘yes’ to all of the 23 charges put to him.

Prosecutor, Barry McElduff, told the court that the offences were committed on Omegle, LiveMe and TikTok and that Pelling had tried his best to evade the authorities by connecting to his neighbour’s internet routers instead of his own. Police wrongly arrested 1 person after an email trail led back to their address rather than Pelling’s – that individual was subsequently released from custody.

He was finally caught by Hampshire Constabulary’s Internet Child Abuse Team (ICAT) after they received information from a number of agencies – including the FBI in America.

Pelling posed under numerous aliases on all 3 sites in attempts to conceal his identity including ‘Kitty Rain’, ‘Unicorn Strikeforce’ and ‘Unsub’, to name just a few. He would pretend to be a young girl – like those he was talking with. He would then blackmail the victims by threatening to expose the explicit content he had secured if the children didn’t give in to his continued demands.

Mr McElduff added that it was ‘serious, targeted and strategic offending’ and that Pelling took advantage of children.

Defending, Jim Osborne said that his client fully sympathised with the children that his actions had affected.

Recorder Malcolm Gibney said that the children were persuaded by Pelling to engage in a games-like dare and that the offences were of a nature that any right-thinking person would find disgusting and wholly unacceptable.

Joshua Pelling received a sentence of 8 years in prison with a further 2 years to be served thereafter on extended licence.

Detective Constable Martin Timmis, who led the investigation, said:

“The level of depravity that Pelling reached to torment these poor children for his own sick gratification is utterly despicable.

“The tasks that these girls were forced to perform were shocking and degrading, and has understandably traumatised them.

“Pelling is evil and twisted and belongs in prison. The lives of children have been shattered by his actions, and an innocent man was brought into custody as a result of Pelling’s warped deflection tactics.

“These young girls have shown immense bravery by reporting this abuse to the authorities, and I am grateful to our partners including our overseas counterparts in America who have pulled together to safeguard these children, and put a stop to vile Pelling’s horrific cycle of offending.”