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A man from Marlborough has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison for a rape that he committed almost a decade ago.

Robert Miles, 37, of Rabley Wood View, Marlborough, was sentenced this morning (Monday) at Swindon Crown Court after being found guilty by jury at trial in September.

In 2014, Miles assaulted his victim in a private house. It took her five years to get the courage to report the crime to the police, and the events of that night have had a lasting effect on her.

In a victim impact statement she said: I have, at all time, low self-esteem. I feel my quality of life has been greatly impacted in many ways by what Robert has done to me.

Detective Constable Clare Sylvester-Wyness said: Its been a long and gruelling time for the aggrieved person in the case of Miles.

The trial has been set four times previously but has been rescheduled due to the covid pandemic and the barrister strike. I would like to thank her for her bravery and courage to seek justice.

We would urge anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault to come forward and tell someone, even if the offence took place some time ago. We understand it can be difficult.

You might not be completely sure what happened or how to talk about it, but we have trained officers and partner organisations that are here to listen and work together to support you in any way we can.

Importantly, your information could help us bring the offender to justice and make sure you, and other people in a similar situation, are kept safe.

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A National Crime Agency investigation found that Samuel Ward, 27, from Newmarket, Suffolk, approached victims on social media and offered to send large amounts of money in exchange for explicit images.

The investigation began with a report from a 17-year-old girl in Florida to U.S. law enforcement, who passed information onto the NCA.

She was contacted by two Instagram accounts in May 2020, offering a “weekly allowance” of $500 for sexual images and videos of her.

An additional message from one of the accounts said “well just to prove I have the funds”, and was accompanied by a doctored image of a bank account showing a balance of £98,606.80.

It then directed her to send increasingly explicit photos, but the user never revealed their true identity nor transferred any money to her.

NCA investigators identified Ward as the person controlling the two Instagram accounts, and discovered that he had proposed online ‘sugar daddy’ arrangements to a further 40 women and girls – 33 of whom were in the UK, with six in the U.S. and one in Ireland.

Many rejected the proposal, however officers identified 18 victims of his scam in total, including four aged under 18.

He approached multiple victims at a time on platforms including Instagram, Snapchat and Tinder from 2019 to 2021, employing the same method of offering money for explicit images and often sending them the same fake image of his account balance.

One 23-year-old victim was offered £3,000 by Ward in return for what he described as “non-explicit” images.

He mocked up an image of a transaction receipt showing £3,000 sent from his account to hers, and she began sending Ward the images and videos he requested.

However, upon checking her bank statement it displayed a payment for £3 sent by Ward. When she queried him on it, he replied, “3? I didn’t send 3, I sent £3,000”.

Another victim, aged 17 and known to Ward, reported to police that he had coerced and pressured her into sending a total of 57 indecent images between November 2019 and March 2020.

Chat logs on iMessage obtained by investigators revealed her nervousness to send the images, to which Ward responded with statements including, “I have needs” and “if u loved me u would have made some kind of effort”.

To counter her reluctance he offered £10,000 for ten photos. After sending him the images he demanded, she asked for the money and he sent her £1 to prove he would pay her, but never paid the full amount.

Following his arrest, NCA investigators reviewed Ward’s bank statements which showed he was in his overdraft for the entirety of his two-year offending period, and confirmed he had made the £3 and £1 payments.

Ward pleaded guilty to 19 charges in April 2023, including fraud, possession of an article for use in fraud, making indecent images of children and malicious communication.

He appeared at Peterborough Crown Court today [13 November] and a judge sentenced him to 30 months in prison and handed him a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Adam Priestley, NCA senior investigating officer, said: “Ward relentlessly targeted teenage girls and young women online with promises of payments he never intended on sending, nor had the means to do so.

“I would like to commend the victims who assisted our enquiries, including the 17-year-old from the U.S. who first reported Ward’s offending to the police. Her brave actions led to an international investigation that has seen Ward brought to justice, and identified many more victims of his abuse.

“At the NCA we are committed to catching offenders who pose a threat to vulnerable people in the UK, and this investigation shows how we work with partners around the world to tackle serious online criminality.

“We urge anyone who has been pressured or deceived into sending sexual images online to report it to the police. You are not alone, and there is always help available.”

The NCA’s CEOP Education programme supports parents, carers, children and professionals to ensure young people have safe and positive experiences online.

Anyone being pressured or threatened into sending sexual images or videos online should remove themselves immediately from the conversation, not respond further to any contact, and report the matter to police or a trusted adult.

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A murderer and serial sex attacker dubbed 'the Clifton Rapist' is back behind bars after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman whilst out on licence. Ronald Evans, now 82, is Britain's longest serving prisoner having been jailed for a string of rapes in Bristol between 1977 and 1979.

He had previously served 11 years for the murder and rape of a woman in 1963. He was released from jail under a lifetime licence in 2018 but has been on remand since his arrest and will be sentenced later this week after his conviction for molesting a woman at her home.

He was convicted at Harrow Crown Court, sitting at Hendon Magistrates of one count of sexual assault in a majority verdict of 11 to one. Appearing emotionless as the jury returned their verdicts after more than five hours deliberation he was cleared of two other counts of sex assault against a different woman

The jury in his week long retrial had been told of his previous sexual offences but his conviction for the horrific rape and murder of 21-year-old shop worker Kathleen Heathcote in 1963 was not disclosed to them. Evans admitted killing Heathcote in the Nottingham area after police found some of the victims possessions in his home.

He spent 11 years in prison before being released on a life license in 1975 and reoffending with the string of rapes on Clifton's downs in Bristol. Evans, dressed in a beige cardigan over his grey prison tracksuit and using a crutch to help him walk, told his trial he felt remorse for his previous offences but had been nothing but kind to his two latest alleged victims.

He denied three counts of sexual assault made by two separate women whom he met at a community centre in London, saying he was a reformed man who had changed his ways. Both women became tearful whilst giving their evidence in court.

The jury were told he had nine previous convictions - eight of indecent assault and one of rape - against women dating back to between 1977 and 1979. Evans terrorised the Clifton and Durdham Downs for around 20 months in the late 70s; targeting young women aged between 18 and 33 in sex attacks down dark alleyways of the city.

A honey-trap operation codenamed Argus was eventually enacted by police at the beginning of 1979 to ensnare Evans, with 11 brave young female officers acting as bait for the elusive criminal over a period of 11 weeks. Evans trial heard he was released from prison - after a total of 57 years inside - in November 2018.

The jury heard Evans began volunteering at a community centre and that, despite his old age, had maintained his inappropriate sexual desires.

After analysing his mobile phone, officers also found searches to Pornhub and sexualised conversations with friends. Why is this relevant? Ms Sales asked the jury in her opening. Well, the Crown say it is relevant because Mr Evans is a leopard that cannot change its spots.

Despite his age, he was and remains a sexual predator. The court heard Evans developed relationships with women at the local community centre; woman Ms Sales suggested were targeted by Evans as being vulnerable.

One of his alleged victims, whom Evans was cleared of assaulting told the court he told her: You can trust me; all these ladies love me. I am not trying to get in your knickers Not yet, anyway.

But the second woman who he was convicted of assaulting said he had introduced himself to her as a touchy-feely person. The court heard the second woman he targeted was lonely and wanted to make friends in the area when she befriended Evans, having again met him at the community centre.

In July last year, the woman agreed to go for a meal at a local pub with Evans, and later went back to his home with him. Evans told her he was getting spam emails with nude women on them, and began showing these emails to the increasingly uncomfortable woman.

He then began to touch her on the sofa, before she told him she wanted to go home. Hugging her as she was leaving, he grabbed her right buttock and said: Ooo can I touch your bum?.

The court heard the woman felt shocked and violated by Evans actions and messaged him the following day to say she was upset about what he had done. During a phone call later in the day, Evans said, This kind of talk will get me in trouble, before hanging up.

Ms Sales told the court Evans had targeted both women due to their physical disabilities and mental health issues. There were women with serious mental health issues that [went] to that [community] centre, she said.

That is where you went, to target them. On his previous sex convictions from Bristol, she added: They were all committed against women alone at night time.

Being a man in your 80s, you realised you had to change your tactics. You went to the community centre and seized your opportunity. A lot of people would think that a man in his 80s wouldnt have sexual desires, but its clear you maintained yours over the years.

You identified an opportunity. You are not a young man chasing women in their 30s anymore, you are an elderly man chasing vulnerable women. Are your sexual desires so out of control you cant control yourself?

You would like to think that, Evans quipped back to Ms Sales, before saying he had forgot what he had said moments earlier. Following his arrest in August last year, Evans answered no comment to all questions put to him in police interview.

You have been interviewed many times in your life, Ms Sales continued. You are not new to the criminal justice system; you know how it works, you are a clever man.

The reason the questions were not answered was because you had not made up a story yet. Evans, who became increasingly frustrated with Ms Sales whilst giving evidence, insisted hed treated the two complainants with nothing but kindness, and even suggested one may have brought the charges against him after becoming angry that he had ended their friendship.

However, lawyers said that no matter the result, whether he was cleared or convicted of the fresh sexual allegations, Evans would always have been returned to jail because he had breached the conditions of his licence. Sentencing is due to take place Thursday, November 16.

Her Honour Judge Francis told the jury: Thank you for your time and consideration. We know we are asking a lot from you and you are stepping outside your comfort zone.

But without you, the jury, the criminal justice system would not work. You ensure people have a fair trial.

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A WOODLEY dance company owner paid a 15-year-old girl to send him sexual images of herself, a court has heard. 

Richard Still, director of Vibez Dance Ballroom and Latin School, pleaded guilty at Reading Crown Court on Monday (November 13) to four sexual offences against a child.

The 38-year-old dance champion admitted to asking a girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, to send him images that were sexual or erotic in nature in exchange for payments into her bank account.

He also pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual activity with a child.

Still was also charged with four other counts including making and possessing indecent images of a child and engaging in sexual communications with a child but the Crown Prosecution Service have agreed to drop these charges.

The dance teacher was due to be sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Monday (November 13) but the case was incorrectly sent to the court as a trial preparation hearing.

Instead, Still was re-arraigned and his sentencing has been adjourned until December 19 at the same court.

He remains on bail with the condition that he does not attend Vibez Dance Studio, based in Crockhamwell Road, Woodley, during opening hours, he only stay at his home address in Louden Square, Earley, and he cannot be with a child under the age of 18 without the supervision of an adult.

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A sexual predator who targeted underage girls and raped one of his victims while she was asleep has been jailed for 10-and-a-half years.

On Friday, a Bradford judge decided that Alex Honour, 25, still posed a risk to young girls and it was necessary to impose an extended licence period of four years after he concluded he was a "dangerous offender."

None of the Honours nine victims must be identified for legal reasons, but Judge Jonathan Rose heard details- in court of how the he cruelly manipulated and sexually abused them.

The judge said he was satisfied beyond any doubt that Honour, of Lentilfield Street, Ovenden, had identified and targeted young and vulnerable girls. He said the author of a pre-sentence report for Honour had noted the predatory element of his behaviour.

With that I agree, said Judge Rose.

Back in March this year Honour admitted a series of sexual offences, but some of his victims still had to give evidence during a trial which took place in August. Bradford Crown Court heard that Honour began offending when he was only 15 and his behaviour continued until he was about 20.

In one victim impact statement one of Honour's victims described how he made her feel worthless and another described being taken advantage of and used by him.

The court heard how Honour tried to get one underage girl to have sex with him in a cave, but Judge Rose said the most serious offence that he had been convicted of was the rape of another youngster while she was asleep. He said the girl was horrified to wake up to find Honour, who was then 20, having sexual intercourse with her.

Judge Rose handed out concurrent individual prison sentences for a series of offences including sexual assault, causing a child to engage in sexual activity and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

But he decided that the rape matter was the lead offence and increased that sentence to 10-and-a-half years to take account of the other offences.

Judge Rose said Honour would have to register as a sex offender for life and he also imposed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and an indefinite restraining order to prevent further offending and to stop him contacting any of his victim.

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A West Lavington man was caught with hundreds of vile child abuse images.

Mark Sainsbury pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing indecent images of children and appeared at Salisbury Crown Court for sentencing today (Monday).

The 59-year-old biker, of Homefield, had 442 photographs and movies on his laptop – including 13 that were categorised as being the most serious, involving penetration.

The defendant was handed a 24-month community order with the requirement to complete a Maps for Change sex offender programme and 100 hours of unpaid work.

Sainsbury must also register has a sex offender for five years and will be closely monitored with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order lasting the same period.

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POLICE have released the mugshot of a sex offender who breached the terms of a court order by deleting Facebook and WhatsApp from his phone and having a secret second phone.

At Swansea Crown Court last week, Judge Paul Thomas KC jailed Luke Rogers for 16 months, running concurrently for each of the two breaches.

The court heard that Rogers had been convicted in 2020 for two offences of sexual activity with a girl under the age of 16. He was jailed for 15 months, and was made the subject of a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, and had to register as a sex offender for the same period of time.

As part of the terms of these orders, Rogers had to notify the police within three days of buying any device capable of accessing the internet, and was not allowed to delete files, applications, data, or internet history from his devices.

At a hearing on September 20, Swansea Crown Court was told that Rogers attended Haverfordwest Police Station on August 29. During that meeting, he admitted that he had deleted the Facebook app from his phone as he had been “getting hassle” from another man. He had also deleted WhatsApp.

The court heard that he had done a factory reset on the phone.

“It was found that he had last used WhatsApp on August 23, and that he had deliberately deleted the application ahead of the meeting,” prosecutor Hannah George told the court on September 20.

The police were granted a search warrant, and a second phone was found at Rogers’ address. It was confirmed by both his partner – who provided officers with both of the defendant’s phone numbers – and his grandmother that it belonged to Rogers.

He was interviewed at Haverfordwest Police Station, and admitted two breaches of the order.

Rogers said he had bought the second phone three weeks earlier, and that he had reset his other phone because “WhatsApp was not working”.

The court heard that Rogers, 37, of Wolfscastle, had 16 previous convictions for 33 offences – of which seven were sexual in nature.

He also “has a history of failing to comply with the notification requirements,” Ms George told the court.

Stephan Alfred, who represented Rogers at the hearing in September, said that Rogers had not received any support in the form of a sexual offenders treatment programme.

He admitted there was “a cycle here in terms of breaches” by Rogers.

The case was adjourned for the preparation of a pre-sentence report, and Rogers was sentenced on Wednesday, November 8.

Judge Thomas also ordered the defendant must also pay a £156 surcharge, and a forfeiture and destruction order was made regarding one of the phones seized.

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A grandfather who looked at child abuse online says his debilitating stroke was karma.

Jason King appeared at Salisbury Crown Court on Friday (10 November) to be sentenced for three counts of the possession of incident images of children.

The 57-year-old, of Bramble Drive, Westbury, was caught with abhorrent sex abuse pictures and videos featuring boys and girls – many of them as young as seven.

Police attended his home address after receiving information from a internet service provider, seizing three laptops and a mobile phone.

During examination of the devices, 205 category A images – showing the most severe child abuse – were located. As were 399 category b images and 1371 category C.

In interview, he told officers that he had been watching pornography but claimed it was legal and that why would not find any child-related material.

The court heard that the defendant has a previous conviction for indecent assault on a child aged under 14 dating back to 1992.

Judge Angela Morris interjected ahead of defence barrister Kellie Evener opening her mitigation.

She said: “What I find most concerning about this, in your clients case, is the denial of any sexual interest in children, because it doesn’t wash, to put it in blunt terms.”

Responding, Ms Evener said: “Mr King clearly still has some difficulties in what he has preferences for, if I can put it like that.”

She said that her client “accepts where his habits lie” and has “taken it upon himself” to undertake a course to address his offending behaviour, which he has completed successfully.

Ms Evener added that King has “high levels of remorse”, which were “assessed as a genuine” in a pre-sentence report (PSR).

“He is not only a husband and a father, he is a grandfather; there are going to be consequences, far-reaching consequences.”

The court heard that King described his debilitating stroke – for which he now requires a wheelchair to get around – “karma” in the PSR.

Judge Morris said that “the notion that this was anything other than indecent images of children is frankly propitious”, but accepted he had made “efforts to try to address some of your offending behaviour”.

She said his previous sexual offence is “of concern to this court” and added that there is “there is something of a link between them”.

Judge Morris imposed a 22-month prison sentence and suspended it for two years. He was ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years, alongside a Sexual Harm Prevention Order – which prohibits him from having contact with children.

She told him to complete 50 rehbilitation activity days with the probation service.

Adding: “Make no mistake about it, the only reason I have not sent you to prison today is because of your stroke and your immobility… this is your one chance.”

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A rape victim has today revealed the devastating impact the sick attack had on her life

The woman has bravely opened her heart to talk about how sick sex offender Karl Paul Newson, from Northumberland, has had a massive impact on her life after his devastating attack. It took Newson's victim a year to find the courage to tell anyone what had happened to her.

Now thanks to her bravery Newson, 27, has been jailed for more than eight years after a jury found him guilty of rape. And today his victim, whose identity is protected by law, has told how she ended up missing out on her life because of Newson's vile actions.

She said: "I was getting in trouble as a result of what he did. It's ruined a big part of my life. I don't go out, all my curtains are always closed and I don't answer the door."

But it was not until the following year that she was able to tell her mum.

"I waited a while then reported it," she said. "Me and my mam were having a chat and it just came out. I just told her, it was a relief and I went to the police the next day. It did help massively."

But Newson, of Morven Terrace, Ashington, denied the offence, meaning his victim had to go through a trial before seeing him convicted.

A jury at Newcastle Crown Court found him guilty of one count of rape. And last month he was jailed for eight-and-a-half years, given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention order, and an indefinite Restraining Order..

Det Con John Harland, of Northumbria Police’s Safeguarding Department, led the investigation.

He has today praised the victim for helping to put Newson behind bars, and urged others suffering in silence to come forward.

He said: “Firstly, and most importantly, I’d like to offer my thanks to the victim for her bravery and courage throughout the entirety of this case.

“Coming forward, having to re-live those experiences and contribute as part of a trial and court proceedings was not easy, however her bravery and desire for justice ultimately won.

“I want to thank her for her dignity and her compassion for others and wholeheartedly hope that this sentence gives her a sense of peace. This case shows that it is never too late to speak up and that justice is possible, no matter how much time has passed.

“If you’ve been suffering in silence, now is the time to speak up – justice can and will be served.”

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Fans of TikTok musician Anthony Q Lion are furious after they discovered their idol had failed to mention his rape conviction as he asked them for thousands of donations in his final performance. The neo soul singer, whose real name is Anthony Ekpenyong, masqueraded as a doting father and husband, but was harbouring a dark secret he kept hidden from his 337,000 followers.

In fact the 37-year-old from Chadwell Heath in East London had been found guilty of raping a woman who begged him to stop 107 times, and for forcing his fingers inside her without consent. Last Wednesday (November 1), on the eve of his seven year sentence, he bowed out to thousands of adoring fans who sent him 134,800 TikTok gifts which can range from 1p to £400 each.

Seething fans, who were not given a clear reason why he was leaving, claim this may have earned Ekpenyong thousands of pounds. MyLondon has also seen evidence of fans sending Lion Gifts, which cost app users around £325 each to purchase. Other fans have shared their anger, telling MyLondon they felt 'betrayed' and 'fooled' after giving the singer emotional support.

One fan told MyLondon: "He had a big following on TikTok and was sent a lot of gifts the night he said he was leaving. But he did not tell anyone why. He is a sick person."

Another fan told us: "He was a massive star on TikTok for singing and everyone in the community is very angry. A lot used to gift him big £400 gifts."

Another TikTok star also shared her concern after Ekpenyong slid into her DMs while his wife was pregnant, telling her 'You are a great person. Would be great to be friends sis'.

Rapist Ekpenyong was only able to rake in the cash because he was bailed ahead of his sentencing at Snaresbrook Crown Court last Thursday (November 2). After his conviction at a temporary Nightingale Court at the Barbican on September 26 this year, MyLondon understands the unusual step was taken to let him walk free due to the lack of a custody suite at the facility.

This was acknowledged by Judge Noel Casey, who said: "It would not normally happen for someone convicted of an offence of this kind." When MyLondon spoke to Ekpenyong's victim, she said it was "strange" her attacker had been allowed back into the community while waiting for his sentence.

Ekpenyong denied the rape, and put his victim through a trial where he falsely claimed her pleas to stop were actually just her begging to end their association. But when jurors were presented with an audio recording of the assault, taken by the panicking victim as she struggled under his bodyweight, they decided Ekpenyong was lying and found him guilty.

'People are going to say stuff about you'

Allowed home for over a month before he was jailed for seven years on Thursday, Ekpenyong made full use of his freedom to keep posting videos on TikTok. On the day of his conviction he shared a video, telling fans: "I really really really do appreciate everything you've done, and your support is priceless. There's no doubt I will always remember you... Thank you for all you have done."

The dad-of-one then posted a series of videos titled 'In My Daughter's Eyes' where he sang about his young girl. In his final post last week, before leaving for 'personal reasons', he invited fans to a swan song livestream, writing: "Today is my last day streaming in TikTok so come join me with some live music one more time."

Videos of the livestream, seen by MyLondon, show Ekpenyong, sitting with his wife and holding his daughter, telling thousands of fans 'Life is going to throw things at you that are going to question who you are. People are going to say stuff about you that's going to question... You're gonna doubt yourself, or you may doubt yourself because of what people say'.

Ekpenyong then launched into a rendition of 'He Lives In You' from The Lion King, causing his livestream to race to TikTok's Weekly Number 1 with over 134,000 gifts flooding his account in minutes. The video clearly shows Ekpenyong thanking fans who make the biggest gifts, but it remains unclear exactly how much money he earned.

After the performance, some admirers uploaded their own videos sharing theories about why he left, suggesting trolling, weight loss issues, and that he was just on holiday. After MyLondon broke the news of his sentence, fans twigged their hero was a rapist and joined a live stream discussion on Wednesday night (November 8), where some called for him to return their hard-earned cash.

Ekpenyong has previously raised £780 for a new Sony FX3 Cinema Camera on GoFundMe, and still directs TikTok followers to his Amazon Wishlist containing around £1,500 worth of equipment. His TikTok shop, and links to his PayPal and Cash App, were also accessible to MyLondon via the app over a week after he was sent to prison.

The predator has previously partnered with TikTok, appearing on the tiktoklive_uk channel in June this year when he said he wanted to 'help get people through their day' and 'empower people'. At the time he had been arrested and charged with three counts of rape and one count of assault by digital penetration. MyLondon understands TikTok was not aware of the charges at the time.

Fans have also called for his account to be banned by the platform, but MyLondon understands there are no plans to remove his profile unless posts are found to be in violation of community guidelines.

'It made me feel like a piece of meat'

Ekpenyong raped a woman who met him for consensual sex at his home, but changed her mind when he left the bedroom to grab a sex toy and she noticed another woman's clothes. Prosecutor Benjamin Aina KC counted 107 times when the victim asked Ekpenyong to stop, and described her screams of 'Ouch' and 'No', caught on the audio recording, as he pinned her down and raped her.

"It made me feel like a piece of meat. Like a helpless lamb caught in a barbed wire. It made me extremely angry, he made me feel that way." the victim told the court. "This man raping me does not define me, but it will show who he is at his core." The woman also said the rape had left her "broken in pieces", isolated, and powerless, with her security and identity lost.

Defence barrister Soroya Lawrence said the rape was a "complete aberration on what was before a thoughtful and caring man" and occurred "in the heat of the moment".

Judge Casey said Ekpenyong went on 'despite her pleading and despite her protestations' using his physical power to keep her in place. The judge, who sat on the trial, also told Ekpenyong his evidence in the witness box 'flew in the face' of the audio evidence captured by his victim.

TikTok was approached for comment.

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A sex offender has been locked up for two years after specialist police officers found thousands of messages threatening to leak private photos of a woman. 

Andrew Wood, 33, from Hartlepool came under investigation after a routine unannounced visit by police. The attending officer was suspicious that he’d been deleting items from his phone.

The device was seized and forensically examined and it was discovered he’d sent many thousands of messages to a woman threatening to share private photos and videos with her friends and family and also informing her he had placed photos of her child online for other sex offenders to view.

Wood was immediately arrested, then charged and remanded in custody until his court appearance for sentencing today.

The specialist officers who monitor convicted sex offenders, including Wood, have welcomed the two-year sentence given to him, as his actions breached the terms of his SHPO (sexual harm prevention order).

Detective Constable Malissa Haines from the Sex Offender Management Unit said: “Wood caused his victim serious mental harm by bombarding her with over 16, 000 unwanted calls, messages and emails over an 18-month period.

“These communications came with threats to disclose intimate private images. “I would like to thank the lady for being strong enough to report these vile crimes and for bravely supporting our enquiries. “I hope Wood’s imprisonment and restraining order provide her with a degree of comfort.”

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A Melksham man has been jailed for attacking a teenage girl in the street in the dead of night.

Scott Davis accosted the stranger as she walked home from a party on New Years Day 2022, putting on a knight in shining armour act and claiming he wanted to protect her from sick men.

The 39-year-old first approached the 15-year-old in the A350 Beanacre Road underpass at around 5am claiming to be an ex-firefighter and said he wanted to make sure she got home safely.

He kept going on about other men [being a danger], I was agreeing with what he was saying; it wasnt wrong. I was feeling like reassured, the victim told detective Sarah Greenman in interview.

But things took a turn when Davis wouldnt allow her to walk away from him in the Murray Walk area of Melksham. The girl said she felt scared and didnt know what was going to happen.

In the Forest Road area, the former rugby player took her down an unknown lane where he launched a sex attack lasting approximately two minutes. Davis grabbed her around the waist, pulled her closer and kissed her on the lips.

Youve got a good figure, he told the girl whilst proceeding to put his hands down her trousers and squeezing her buttocks. He raised her leg and held it up with one hand.

I tried to leave, but I couldnt really move because of how tight he was holding me around my waist, she told police. I was scared, I didnt know what to do.

After the assault, Davis repeatedly told the girl his full name and asked her to add him on Instagram giving her the username Scotty Bear.

The defendant, of Portman Road, said it was a case of mistaken identity and did not give evidence at his trial at Salisbury Crown Court in September where he was convicted by a jury.

On Friday (10 November), Judge Angela Morris jailed him for two years and ordered him to register as a sex offender for ten years. Hell serve half the sentence behind bars.

He was also slapped with a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Davis will effectively swap prison places with his sister Stacey, who was jailed for leaving her one-year-old baby boy at home to die in a heatwave. She could be released as early as next month.

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A sex offender arranged to babysit a young girl during sickening online chats with her mum.

Graham Burton, who was out on licence from a previous prison sentence for sex offences, discussed travelling to the mum's house by taxi to he could get access to the child. Newcastle Crown Court heard it remains unclear whether an actual mother was behind the vile exchange but Burton was sent pictures of a little girl, who appeared to be aged between five and seven, during the discussion.

Prosecutor Emma Dowling said the conversation took place on a social media app and told the court: "The person presented online as an adult female. The defendant entered into a sexual conversation with the profile.

"The sexual conversation with the adult also included the suggestion he would be interested in engaging in sexual activity with her daughter. He offered to babysit for the child. There was discussions about him getting a taxi over to the address."

The court heard Burton described the activities he planned to have with both the mum and daughter in graphic detail. Miss Dowling added: "He asked for sexual images of the child. The photographs sent were non sexual, showing a young girl aged between five and seven."

Judge Tim Gittins told him: "In chats with that person you planned to engage in sexual assaults upon that young child under the pretence of babysitting. The harm, had the act taken place, would have been substantial.

"I am quite certain you present as a substantial and serious, ongoing risk to young children of causing serious harm to them."

The court heard the details of the shocking arrangement were found when police visited his home in May to carry out a routine check due to his sex offender status. Burton, who has three previous convictions relating to attempted online child sex offences and having indecent images, handed over his Samsung mobile and officers found he had been involved in conversations using alias names, which he is banned from doing.

A further inspection of the phone showed he had been talking to a profile of a 12-year-old girl, had a brief conversation about meeting up and had been sent images by her which were sexual and non sexual. It is unclear whether it was an actual 12-year-old girl running the profile.

He had also had sexual conversation with a 16-year-old girl's profile, which was relatively short. And as well the arrangement to babysit, Miss Dowling said there was further "deeply unpleasant" conversations Burton had had with adults, about committing sex acts with children.

Burton, 60, of High Street East, Sunderland, admitted breach of a sexual harm prevention order, attempting to have sexual communication with a child, arranging the commission of a child sex offence and possessing five category C images of child abuse, which were also found on his phone. He was jailed for four years with a four-year extended licence and a lifelong sexual harm prevention order and sex offender registration

Lorraine Mustard, defending, said this is Burton's fourth conviction for similar offending and added: "He would like some help. In his own mind he would not harm a child."

Record details

A social care worker has been jailed after preying on vulnerable children he was being paid to help.

Manipulative Graham Burgess (left) groomed a teenage victim and then sexually abused her, watched another teen girl get changed, and drew explicit pictures in front of a young boy.

The 58-year-old targeted youngsters in his role as a child care manager within a care team at Renfrewshire Council.

Burgess had responsibility for 20 to 25 children at one time, with his role involving him preparing reports for the Children’s Reporter, liaising with other agencies, supporting the child and agreeing a care plan to meet the child’s needs.

Most children in care have experienced trauma or loss and his post involved supporting kids and their carers, doing activities with the youngsters and sometimes arranging contact with the child and other family members.

He also was a duty worker in the team and would be asked to respond if there was a crisis or a worker was on holiday.

In 2015, while playing pool at a community centre in Paisley with a boy he was assigned to, he drew explicit pictures on a whiteboard, leaving the child “freaked out”.

After learning what had happened, the boy’s parents asked for Burgess to be banned from seeing him, and told his school he was not allowed to visit him.

In 2017 he barged into one teenage girl’s bedroom while she was getting changed – after she told him she was undressing and not to enter the room.

She ran to her gran after the incident and told her she no longer wanted Burgess to be her case worker.

He also preyed on a another teenager when she was aged between 15 and 17, grooming her before sexually assaulting her.

The court heard he convinced her to store his personal mobile phone number in her phone as ‘Art and Music Therapy’ and changed his profile picture to Vincent Van Gogh.

He told her that she should do that so her classmates did not know she had a case worker when she attended college.

He bombarded her with WhatsApp messages, texting her throughout the day on a daily basis, saying he was checking in and was “liking the banter”.

He regularly sent her funny videos, joking with her and saying he was getting to know her.

After giving her presents of arts and crafts items, a candle, a book and i-Pod, he cuddled her after arriving at her home, where she was alone, then said “someone’s excited” while looking at his crotch.

She noticed he was aroused by the interaction, leaving her panicked and feeling ‘like jelly’, before he put his hand around her neck, pulled her towards him and kissed her.

He later sexually assaulted her in the back of his car, after pulling over on a secluded road and convincing her to get into the back of the vehicle.

On another occasion, he grabbed her hand and made her touch his privates.

On Tuesday, Burgess was sentenced at Paisley Sheriff Court after having earlier been convicted of six offences relating to his conduct.

He was jailed for four years and 10 months, given a three year and two month extended sentence, which will see him supervised upon his release from prison, and he was also placed on the sex offenders’ register.

A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: “We are deeply sorry for the harms caused by this individual and cooperated fully with the police investigation. The individual is no longer an employee of Renfrewshire Council.”

Record details

A man who tried to contact girls he thought were aged 12 and 13 for sex was today jailed for six years. Neil Doherty was in fact communicating online with undercover police officers.

The defendant, of Lothians Park, St Asaph, had denied seven offences but was convicted after a trial. Caernarfon Crown Court heard the offences happened between January 17, 2021 and May 28, 2021.

Prosecutor Nicolas Williams said the crimes relate to Doherty communicating with police decoys whom he believed were 12 and 13-year-old girls and arranging to meet two of them for sex. Specific details of the offences were not outlined in court today.

The court heard he has a criminal record including a conviction for robbery in 1985 for which he was jailed for five years. Anna Price, defending, said it was a sad case in that although her client has previous convictions there are none for sexual offences until now.

She said: "Fortunately there were no children - these were attempts rather than the full offence. It's not a case where the defendant has been apprehended en route to meeting a child."

She added that Doherty has alcohol issues and heart and back problems. The judge Mr Recorder Wyn Lloyd Jones told the defendant: "It saddens me to have to sentence someone of your age for so many offences of a serious nature."

He said Doherty claimed he believed he was messaging an adult in "role play". But the judge said: "I am entirely satisfied that you committed these offences for your own selfish sexual gratification.

"You believed you were communicating with young girls. (But) the people you were actually communicating with were police undercover operatives.

"If there had been real children you would have been grooming real children - and really vulnerable children." The judge noted Doherty's relationship with his partner had broken down.

He had been feeling low at the time of the offences and was drinking nine to ten pints a day. He lives with his elderly mother, 87, and is a father and grandfather.

His family probably think a great deal of him and the proceedings must be hard for them. He jailed Doherty for six years for two counts of attempting to incite a female under 13 to engage in sexual activity which was penetrative.

 He faced three counts of attempting to cause a female under 16 to engage in sexual communication and was given four, nine and four month concurrent sentences respectively. And he was sentenced to four years imprisonment for two counts of arranging to meet a child for a child sex offence, also to run concurrently to the main sentence.

The judge also gave the defendant a sexual harm prevention order to last indefinitely. His phone which was used for the offences will be forfeited and destroyed.