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A man was branded "sinister" for bringing a friend into the nightclub toilets where he had just carried out a sexual attack against a woman. Student Onyedika Oriaku also claimed the sex in the toilet cubicle had been consensual and that his victim had initiated contact. However, a jury saw through his lies and he was convicted at trial of rape.

Reporting from Swansea Crown Court, WalesOnline heard prosecutor Ian Wright tell the judge that the rape took place at the Fiction nightclub in Swansea city centre in March this year. Oriaku and a group of other sunglass-wearing males were in the so-called VIP area of the club, and during the evening the defendant and a woman had been kissing.

The woman, who was described as "heavily intoxicated", later went to the toilet and the defendant followed her. In the toilets, Oriaku raped the woman in one of the cubicles.

The court heard that after the assault the defendant returned to his friends in the VIP area and then he and one of the group went to the female toilets where they were told "in no uncertain terms" to leave by two women present. During the trial the defendant maintained he had returned to the toilets in order to check on the welfare of the women as she had been "exhausted" by having sex with him.

The rape was subsequently reported to the police. In an statement from the victim that was read to the court the woman described the significant impact the attack has had on her mental health and on her life generally, and she said she was now very distrusting of men.

Onyedika Benedict Oriaku, of Victoria Terrace in Brynmill, Swansea, had previously been convicted by a jury of one count of rape when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has no previous convictions. James Hartson, defending Oriaku, said the defendant was a man of previously clean character who was a student in Swansea and had also been working in care sector.

Judge Geraint Walters told the defendant that, having watched CCTV footage from the club and having seen him giving evidence in the dock, he had come to conclusion that Oriaku "had a very high opinion of yourself, well beyond that which is deserved". He said while the woman may have been "disinhibited" by alcohol that did not give the defendant "the right to decide where it all ended", and he noted the student had then gone back to the friends and "gloated" about what he had done.

The judge described the defendant's account of why he returned to the toilets with another male as "fanciful beyond belief" and he described the return to the lavatories as "sinister". Judge Walters described that Oriaku did in the toilets as "truly shameful" and he noted he had shown no remorse for his actions.

Oriaku was sentenced to seven years in prison, and must serve two-thirds of that period before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community. The defendant will be a registered sex offender for the rest of his life.

Record details

An evil pensioner from Hornsey who travelled to Morocco to sexually abuse toddlers has been jailed. 

John Thorogood, 75, abused boys as young as one - then shared stories of the abuse with a like-minded sex offenders. 

Thorogood, of Middle Lane, Hornsey, was arrested in December 2021 after images were seized from a man who was convicted in the Netherlands. 

It emerged that Thorogood was part of a Europe-wide network whose networks travelled the world to abuse children. 

In August he pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child, one count of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and two counts of sexually assaulting a child. 

He also pleaded guilty to possessing more than 200,000 indecent images of children. 

Thorogood will be sentenced in mid-November. 

Christopher Behn, 68, from Colchester in Essex, was part of the same network of offenders. 

On Friday (November 3) at Chelmsford Crown Court he was sentenced to 11 years in prison and a further six years on licence for sexually assaulting young boys in Vietnam over a 10-year period.

Record details

A sexual predator was caught after he arranged to meet a 14-year-old girl for sex just metres away from a police station. 

Daniel Boyd, 31, sent grooming messages and photos of his penis to the ‘young girl’ before arranging to meet for sex. 

But when he arrived at Bromley South Station armed with condoms and lube, he found himself confronted by paedophile hunters who ran the decoy account he had been messaging. 

Boyd, of Dagonet Gardens in Bromley, appeared at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday (November 3) after he pleaded guilty to meeting a girl following grooming, engaging in sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause a child to look at an image of his penis. 

He was given a one-year prison sentence, suspended for two years meaning he won’t see the inside of a prison cell unless he offends again. 

The facts of the case were told to the court. 

On July 7 he started a Facebook conversation with what appeared to be a young girl, saying “Hey”. 

The girl explained that she was 14 and Boyd told her he was 31. 

He sent three photos of his penis to her, asked her to send sexual photos of herself and arranged to meet at Bromley South Station on July 18. 

Boyd made it clear that the meeting was to have sex and told her to book a hotel room as he couldn’t afford it. 

When he was confronted by paedophile hunters, Boyd said “this was stupid of me” and pleaded “I don’t want to go to jail”. 

By 8.40pm he found himself in police handcuffs. 

Defending his client in court, Tihomir Mak said Boyd was genuinely remorseful and had never been in trouble with the law before. 

He added that Boyd’s difficult childhood in Jamaica and poor mental health had contributed to his offending. 

Sentencing Boyd, Recorder Joshua Swirsky said: “You’re a man in your 30s who was proposing to have sex with a child of 14. 

“This sort of behaviour is condemned by most people in society and in my judgement amounts to very serious criminal conduct.” 

Recorder Swirsky decided that the best way of protecting the public from Boyd was to force him to engage in services to prevent future offending and to suspend his prison sentence. 

“It’s quite clear that in order to protect society there needs to be some intervention to help you with your behaviour to ensure there’s no repetition of this conduct,” he said. 

Boyd was ordered to attend a 60 day intervention programme, 45 days of rehabilitation and carry out 150 hours on unpaid work. 

He will also have to sign the sex offender’s register for 10 years. 

Record details

Pervert Neil Ogden has been jailed after he had a discussion with a like-minded individual about engaging in sexual abuse of children. And the 46-year-old downloaded and distributed indecent images of children.

He also had prohibited images and extreme pornography on his phone when it was seized by police. Now Ogden has been jailed for two years and two months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Prosecutor Antony Longworth said police, acting on intelligence of internet activity involving indecent images of children, went to Ogden's Cobridge address on January 25. He was arrested and his phone was analysed.

The examination found 46 still indecent images at category A - the most serious; 31 images at category B and 33 at category C. There were also two prohibited images and two extreme pornographic images. And there were 32 moving images at category A; five at category B; five at category C; and two moving extreme pornographic images.

Mr Longworth said the children being abused were aged between three and 14. He said: "The defendant had shared seven category A images with another individual. He used search terms indicating he has a sexual interest in children. He created folders for the storage of the images. He also engaged in a discussion about the sexual abuse of children.

"Between May 13 and May 27, 2022 this defendant and another discussed the physical development of children. The messages went on to describe how they wanted to engage in sexual abuse of those children. They also discussed having joint sexual activity with all the children together. It is clear that they exchanged images."

Ogden, of Sneyd Street, Cobridge, pleaded guilty to three charges of making indecent images of children; three charges of distributing indecent images of children; possessing prohibited images of children; possession of extreme pornographic images and publishing an obscene article.

Rob Holt, mitigating, said: "He acknowledges there is a problem. He has made some limited steps to try and address his behaviour. He has had some support from the liaison and diversion team and the mental health team."

He said the loss of Ogden's dad; the breakdown of his marriage and being on sick leave from work have impacted on his client. Mr Holt said: "He has had suicidal ideations."

He said Ogden may struggle to work as an HGV driver now he is on the sex offenders' register as the police would need to know his whereabouts. Mr Holt added: "He is unlikely to possess the skills to survive in the prison system. There is scope for work in the community, scope for a two year community order."

But Recorder Julian Taylor said offending was so serious it had to be marked with an immediate prison sentence. He said the discussion about sexual abuse with children was the most serious offence. Recorder Taylor said: "It was thoroughly disgusting. I do not accept you were manipulated."

The judge ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the phone. Ogden was placed on the sex offenders' register for 10 years and made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for the same period.

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A predator caught with a stash of sickening child abuse images groomed a teenage girl into having sex via Snapchat, a court heard.

Jordan Lowe preyed on the youngster on social media before arranging to meet her in "secretive conditions" at a secluded woodland. Teesside Crown Court heard during the meeting the pair engaged in intercourse until they were disturbed by a passerby.

On Thursday, the 24-year-old was sentenced to five-and-a-half-years in prison after being found guilty following trial of meeting a child following sexual grooming and sexual activity with a child. He had previously pleaded guilty to a further charge of making indecent images.

Addressing the defendant, Recorder Ata Dallas stated that he is 'satisfied Lowe led [name of teenager] along from the outset knowing perfectly well her age'. "At the time you were were awaiting a court appearance for indecent images of children," he added.

The court heard the defendant - who is of previous good character - had 37 category A images -, 28 category B images and 41 category C images. However, in mitigation it was claimed Lowe has been bullied throughout his life due to his weight and suffers from a "poor self image".

The Middlesbrough court heard at the time of the offences all Lowe's friends were in stable relationships and he felt like the "odd one out". Lowe, previously of Ropers Terrace, Trimdon Grange, said he accepts responsibility for his behaviour and is motivated to make good use of his time in custody.

Sentencing, Recorder Dallas said the offences are so serious that only a custodial sentence of some length could possibly be justified. Alongside the prison sentence, Lowe was place on the Sex Offenders Register.

Following the sentencing hearing, Eve McDonnell of CPS North-east said: “Jordan Lowe made initial contact with the girl via Snapchat, through which he engaged her in increasingly sexualised conversations over a number of weeks. After manipulating her into sending him intimate pictures, Lowe went on to persuade the girl to meet him in secluded woodland where he then had sex with her.

“During the investigation of these offences, Lowe claimed that he had believed the girl to be 18-years-old. In truth, he had committed these acts in full knowledge of the girl’s age, telling her that he could not wait until she was 16-years-old and that no one must find out about what they had done.

“The Crown Prosecution Service has worked closely with police to build a robust case against Jordan Lowe. We sincerely hope that his young victim can take some measure of comfort from the sentence passed on him today.”

Record details

An offshore worker has appeared in court again for breaching his sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

Michael Wyatt appeared at Teesside Crown Court on Thursday for his latest breach. The court heard the Darlington man was placed on the Sex Offenders Register after being caught with indecent images of children, but has repeatedly failed to comply with requirements.

For his latest breach, he was told he must serve a 32-month prison sentence after he had contact with children - which he was prohibited from doing so.

The court heard the 37-year-old entered into a relationship with a woman but failed to tell her about his previous convictions. As a result he was invited to family events where there were children present. The court heard the woman was left "upset" when she found out about his crimes.

In a victim impact statement, she said: "This has really shattered my confidence and affected my anxiety. What right did he have to do this? I feel so sick and upset and dare I say abused.

"I thought I was a good judge of character but this completely derailed me."

Summarising the case, Judge Jonathan Carroll said it was the third time the offender has breached orders, he said: "In my judgement you knew at all times that you were under an obligation to comply with your Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and not to behave in this way.

"These offences are significantly aggravated by your previous convictions. The levels of distress you caused are profound and you're here for your third time breach."

In mitigation, the court heard Wyatt admitted two offences of breaching the SHPO. It was also claimed he has a 'strong work ethic' and has worked offshore for many years. On release from prison he has plans to go back to his employer.

Wyatt, of Brook Terrace, was handed a 32-month prison sentence and ordered to pay a victim surcharge.

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A man has been jailed after breaching his sexual harm prevention order by sexually communicating with what he believed to be a 13-year-old girl.

Daniel Thomas, 33, of Westbury, was caught following a Wiltshire Police investigation supported by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU).

Between May 4 and June 27 this year, Thomas – a Registered Sex Offender – was communicating through a social media platform with a teenager, who was actually a specially trained officer.

Thomas turned the conversation sexual and he was subsequently arrested on June 28 on suspicion of engaging in sexual communications with a child, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and causing a child to watch a sexual act, and for breaching his sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

He was subsequently charged and remanded into custody.

On Wednesday at Salisbury Crown Court, he was sentenced to four years and four months in prison, plus three years on extended licence.

PC Whittaker of the Management of Sexual or Violent Offenders (MOSOVO) unit said: “Thomas is a repeat offender who has persistently targeted children and attempted to engage them in sexual activity.

“Through actively managing his SHPO, we were able to monitor his behaviour and implement a decoy which allowed us to successfully bring this prosecution and protect children from him.”

Detective Inspector David Wells from the Online Investigations Team at SWROCU said: “The repeated attempts by Daniel Thomas to engage young children in sexual activity online show the high level of risk he posed, and the sentence handed down this week reflects that.

“This is challenging but vital work. Law enforcement agencies are across the internet determined to ensure offenders like him don’t succeed in abusing and exploiting children.  It is crucial parents and children themselves take steps to protect against the threat.”

Record details

The 'Somerset Gimp' has been banned from wearing a black fetish suit and "writhing on the ground" for five years.

Self-employed gardener Joshua Hunt, 32, has been made subject of a sexual risk order which prevents him from wearing any type of mask or face covering unless for medical reasons.

A district judge imposed the tough order following a hearing at Bristol Magistrates' Court.

It came just a week after Hunt was convicted of two offences under the Public Order Act of intentionally causing harassment, alarm or distress.

Last week's hearing heard how a man in an all-black gimp suit terrified two female motorists in May this year in Bleadon, near Weston-super-Mare.

It was the latest in a series of incidents in which a man dressed in skin-tight dark clothing was seen writhing around on the ground and stepping out in front of cars in remote locations across North Somerset since 2018.

Witnesses from one incident in October last year saw a man wearing a gimp suit who grabbed his penis over the top of his clothing and also "gyrated against the floor", The court previously heard.

Lawrence Wilcox, representing Avon and Somerset Police, told Friday's hearing that Hunt had been linked to 25 incidents in total.

"The evidence of the earlier incidents is based upon intelligence reports and the latter reports is more specific," he said.

"But, we say, if the court is satisfied that the intelligence of the earlier incidents were of a sexual nature and committed by the defendant; there is material within that bundle that relates to that of a sexual nature and the acceptance of necessity."

Peter Richardson, defending, said Hunt had taken a "pragmatic and practical approach" to the application.

"We are not contesting the application but that is not the same as agreeing with everything that is set out," he said.

The sexual risk order was imposed for five years and also means Hunt is on the sex offenders' register for the same period.

Among the restrictions, Hunt is banned from:

• Wearing any type of mask or face covering, including improvised mask or face coverings that cover all or part of the face, in any public place, including whilst in a vehicle in a public place, unless officially required for medical purposes or by law.
• Being in possession of any type of mask or face covering, including improvised masks or face coverings that cover all or part of the face, in a public place, including whilst in a vehicle in a public place, between the hours of 2100 and 0600 unless officially required for medical purposes or by law.
• Wearing or being in possession of black all-in-one garments or any combination of full-length black coloured top and black coloured bottom clothing which has the appearance of an all-in-one garment, in a public place, including in a vehicle in a public place between the hours of 2100 and 0600.
  
  
• Crawling, wriggling or writhing on the ground in a public place whilst wearing a full-body covering, clothing that appears like a full body covering and/or mask/full face covering.

There are also restrictions on his computer use and access to the internet.

Imposing the order, District Judge Joanna Dickens said: "I am satisfied that you have done a series of acts of a sexual nature.

"I have been informed what they are, and they certainly fall within the terms of the Act.

"They are clearly acts of a sexual nature with a sexual element to them.

"A sexual risk order is quite a serious order, and it has a lot of obligations of you and if you breach this order you can go to prison.

"I only make an order if I think it is necessary to protect the public from you and I do think it is necessary."

His trial last week heard that when Hunt was arrested in May this year, he told police: "I am not a gimp, I do not own a gimp suit.

"I am not in a gimp suit. I am not dangerous, I am a normal person, I have got a few problems."

He had also researched news and videos online about the Somerset Gimp who had been terrorising people late at night since 2018.

The farmer's son had previously been arrested on suspicion of causing a public nuisance in connection with a series of incidents in the Cleeve, Claverham and Yatton areas last year.

But due to insufficient evidence no further action was taken.

Record details

A pervert who subjected four children to "abhorrent" abuse has been jailed for more than two decades after they bravely spoke out to put him behind bars. John Fairhurst, 30, was found guilty of a string of sex offences after a trial at Bolton Crown Court.

Fairhurst was handed a 24 year custodial sentence, after which he will serve six years on licence. He was also made the subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and indefinite restraining order.

The court was told Fairhurst 'became aggressive' and took advantage of his four victims over a number of years, including sending intimate photos and requesting that they take part in degrading acts. The court heard that thanks to their bravery in speaking out, he was eventually arrested in October 2022.

In total, Fairhurst, of Dudley Avenue, Tonge Moor, Bolton, was convicted of 17 counts of sexual offences.

Detective Constable Phillipa Fairclough, of GMP's Bolton district said: “Firstly, I want to thank the victims in this case for their incredible bravery in coming forward and helping us with the investigation into Fairhurst’s crimes. Fairhurst’s acts over several years were abhorrent and I am glad that he is now behind bars. I hope that the sentence is able to bring some comfort to his victims.

"This was a highly emotive and complex investigation to work on and we are committed to putting sexual offenders behind bars. I want the public to know that we thoroughly investigate every report that comes into us.

"Detective Sergeant Kayleigh Wiggins from Greater Manchester Police, who was the senior investigating officer of this case, would like to thank all the victims for speaking out and the team within the child protection team at Bolton for their hard work and dedication.

Record details

A PERVERT caught with more than 240,000 indecent images of children and extreme pornography was jailed on Friday for 20 months.

Chi Wah Yau, 62, was found with the sick haul at his home in Glasgow's Possilpark on March 7 2022.

Police raided his home and seized a total of 24 discs and 11 hard drives as well as a computer tower unit.

A preliminary examination of the items found there were images of children and extreme porn.

Yau was arrested pending further examination of the devices.

Prosecutor Lauren Sangray stated there were 233,169 moving and still indecent images of children.

These were created between December 2003 and February 2022.

Miss Sangray said: "This was of sexual abuse and exploitation of female and male children between the ages of one and 16."

The fiscal depute added there were a further 8,364 still and moving images of "extreme porn."

Yau pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to possession of indecent images of children and extreme porn.

Susan Gibson, defending, told the sentencing: "He does want help to make sure he does not find himself in a situation like this."

Sheriff Gerard Bonnar said: "Having regard to authorities, punishment and general deterrents, the number contained and the length, there is no appropriate alternative to custody in my view."

Yau was also put on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

Record details

A Deliveroo delivery driver who climbed into a woman's bed and tried to kiss her while her boyfriend was passed out in the kitchen has been jailed for two years and eight months after admitting sexual assault. 

Fuad Haddad, 31, entered a house in Cardiff in the early hours of April 11, where the victim was spending the night with her boyfriend. 

Cardiff Crown Court heard the woman had ordered food via the Deliveroo App before cancelling the order. Despite this, Haddad attended her home to collect payment - when he arrived he found the front door open and let himself in.

Haddad made his way upstairs where he attempted to kiss the woman twice and touched her with his hand on her hip and pressed his body against hers. 

The woman asked Haddad to leave, and he apologised repeatedly but wouldn't leave until he was forcibly walked out of the house and pushed out the door.

Prosecutor Byron Broadstock said the woman was disorientated when he arrived and when she asked who he was Haddad said he had been with her boyfriend who was 'coming up in a minute'.

The police were called and Mr Broadstock said the defendant was later seen on CCTV footage approaching the address numerous times before leaving at 5.12am. 

Haddad, of South Luton Place, Adamsdown, was arrested on April 13 and admitted attending the address but he denied any sexual offence. 

He later pleaded guilty to sexual assault and trespassing on premises with intention of causing sexual offence. 

Haddad was sentenced to two years and eight months imprisonment. He was also made subject to sex offender notification requirements indefinitely. 

The court heard he had previous convictions for drug offences and an offence of battery. 

In a personal statement, the victim said her wellbeing had been 'detrimentally affected' by the incident. She added: 'I was sexually assaulted in a place I thought I was safe. 

'I have changed my habits, demeanour and appearance to try and process and cope with what happened. 

'I live in shared accommodation and should be able to feel safe in my house. I hope to go back to the woman I was before this day. 

'I am so anxious when I am alone or in my room. Now I check the door is locked and I also do this if I stay over someone else's house or when going on trips.'

She added: 'I kept thinking "Why does a delivery driver think he could walk in, see my partner passed out in the kitchen, walk upstairs, get into bed with me and sexually assault me".'

In mitigation, Hannah Williams said her client had been working as a Deliveroo driver for some time without any incidents and had 'misread the signals'. 

She said he fully accepts he should not have gone into the house, and described the offence as 'entirely out of character' and 'shocking' to his family members and members of his community. 

The barrister also said Haddad was a part time carer for his uncle.

Sentencing, Judge Wayne Beard said: 'The impact on the complainant is set out in her personal statement and shows the significance of this offence to her. 

'She is profoundly affected by your actions which have changed her demeanour, appearance and behaviour with others and at home. 

'The effects cannot be underestimated, you have changed this young woman's life completely by your offending. 

'She was clearly asleep and you took advantage of a person who was completely vulnerable at that point in time.'

Record details

A teenage predator who caused prolonged psychological trauma to his child victims has been jailed.

Richard Box, from Arbroath, raped a student and abused three under-age girls as part of a horrific course of conduct.

Record details

A school employee, said to have been, “struggling with a sex addiction”, believed he was engaging in online communication with young girls while he was overseeing children in a classroom.

Mark Andrew Woodhead was supposed to be dealing with youngsters with behavioural issues in his job role, but at the same time he was on social media platforms ‘chatting’ in sexualised terms to females who purported to be either 14 or under 14.

Durham Crown Court heard was told he even sent the two ‘girls’ he believed he was chatting to intimate images of himself while he was supposed to be supervising the youngsters in his charge.

He then tried to solicit images from the 'girls' he believed he was communicating with, in return.

In reality, however, the ‘girls’ were actually undercover officers seeking to catch paedophiles operating on social media platforms.

Robin Turton, prosecuting, said when the defendant was arrested over his online activities in May this year he claimed it was, “just a fantasy and nothing was going to come of it”.

The court heard that the day after his arrest he resigned from his position at the school.

Examination of his phone revealed indecent images of children, some taken by Woodhead, and some which he distributed to like-minded individuals.

When formally cautioned and interviewed he initially made no comment.

But when later questioned he told police he had been struggling with a sex addiction for 30 years which had “got out of hand”, despite claiming he was not attracted to children.

The 48-year-old defendant, of Devonshire Road, Belmont, Durham, admitted two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, plus other charges of taking, making and distributing indecent images of children.

Tony Davis, in mitigation, said Woodhead had engaged with an organisation known as “Stop it Now” to address his addiction, and supplied letters from that agency and the defendant’s wife to the court.

“Plainly, this defendant had struggled with a 30-year addiction to pornography.

“That is something that inevitably will not take a short time to overcome.

“It’s plainly a deep-rooted illness, which has manifested itself in the behaviour that is before the court.

“He bitterly now regrets his actions and entered his guilty pleas at the first opportunity, having made those admissions in his second police interview.

“But he’s a man who has obviously taken steps to address his behaviour.”

Mr Davis said the defendant had, of his own volition, also reached out to seek assistance from a therapist in Yorkshire, which he said began the day after his arrest.

“Immediately upon arrest he resigned from his position at the school.

“He understands, given his conviction and admissions to police, that he will never be able to work with children again and that will have a severely restricting effect on his life going forward.”

Mr Davis said the addiction suffered by the defendant covered, “a panoply of sexual behaviour, not merely in terms of underage girls, and for a period he was addicted to sites involving trans people.”

He urged Judge Jo Kidd that a sentence could be passed to enable the defendant to continue his rehabilitation in the community.

But Judge Kidd said the offences committed in April and May this year were an extension of Woodhead's actions from 2018 of making and distributing indecent images of children.

“It’s clear to me your sexual interest in children spans at least a period of five years and you gained serious sexual gratification surrounded by children while engaging in this communication and viewing child pornography while at work.

“You told the author of the pre-sentence report that you don’t have a sexual interest in children.

“Well, you clearly do.

“You tell me through your counsel that it’s an illness.

“I don’t accept that submission. You were significantly interested in viewing images of children.

“That was a deliberate act on your behalf as an individual working with children to gratify your sexual interest.

“It’s unfortunate you only reached out to that foundation after your arrest as you clearly took no measures prior to it to address your interest and urges in children beforehand.”

Imposing an immediate 30-month prison sentence, she also made Woodhead subject of registration as a sex offender and restrictions under the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, both indefinitely.

His name will also be entered on the barring list of those forbidden from ever working with children.

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AN ISLE of Wight man has been jailed after belatedly admitting sexual assaults against a woman during “a prolonged and sustained campaign of trying to elicit sex from her”.

Christopher Peach, of Queens Court, East Cowes, appeared before a judge at the Isle of Wight Crown Court on Thursday, October 26.

The 61-year-old had initially denied the charges but went on to change his plea in August – admitting two counts of sexual assault against a woman.

The court heard the first offence happened on November 22, 2019, and the second between May 1, 2020, and September 30, 2020.

A statement, read out in court, revealed how the victim’s behaviours around men had drastically changed since the incidents.

She said she relived them daily, and had awful dreams about being attacked, causing her to become socially withdrawn and scared to leave the house.

The victim said it was a prolonged and sustained campaign of trying to elicit sex from her, using her fragile mental state against her, and the mental and emotional scars were still raw.

The court heard on the first occasion, Peach grabbed the victim’s breast, and on the second, he pinned her to the floor and forcibly kissed her.

Peach was handed an 18-month prison term and made subject of a ten-year restraining order.

He was ordered to pay £149 surcharge and was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for ten years.

Record details

A serial sex offender openly engaged in "lewd and disgusting" behaviour in front of women in Swansea city centre, a court has heard. Richard Pugh performed a sex act in front of the females and "stared intently" at them as they walked to a car park after work.

Pugh has a long history of sexual offending including indecent assaults and exposure, and is currently subject to a sexual harm prevention order banning him from following women, entering female toilets, and approaching within five metres of a woman in any public car park. He was identified as carrying out his latest offending after plain-clothes police officers were deployed to the area and recognised him.

Sending the 47-year-old defendant back to prison a judge at Swansea Crown Court told him that not only had he demeaned the women involved in the incidents but had also demeaned himself as a man and as a human being.

Alycia Carpanini, prosecuting, said that at around 6pm on August 10 this year two women were walking passed St David's Priory church hall in Swansea city centre en route to their parked cars when they saw a male - later identified as Pugh - sitting on the floor. As the pair passed they saw the defendant had his hand down his trousers and was masturbating while "staring intently" at them. The two women hurried in their way. The court heard that the next day one of the women was following the same route to her car when she saw Pugh again - he tried to speak to her but she ignored him and walked on.

The prosecutor said on August 14 the same woman was again walking passed the church at a little after 5pm when she Pugh once again with hands down his trousers masturbating and "mumbling". The matter was reported to the police and two police officers in plain clothes were sent to the area. They saw a man matching the defendant's description and identified him as Pugh. The court heard the defendant was arrested at his home address on August 16 and the following day the two women from the August 10 incident positively identified him. In his interview Pugh gave a prepared statement in which he denied the allegations.

Richard Barrie Pugh, aged 47, of The Strand, Swansea city centre, had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of outraging public decency and two counts of breaching a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has 19 previous convictions for 39 offences including multiple counts of indecent exposure with intent to insult any female, indecent assault, and sexual assault. He also has 12 previous breaches of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) that was imposed in Mold Crown Court in 2016. The court heard that under the conditions of the SHPO he is prohibited from following women, entering female toilets, and approaching within five metres of a woman in any public car park.

Andrew Evans, for Pugh, said the best mitigation he could put forward was the defendant's guilty pleas. He said Pugh had been released from his last custodial sentence in June this year and placed in a hostel on The Strand in Swansea by the Probation Service. He said following his arrest the defendant was recalled back to prison to serve the remainder of the previously imposed custodial sentence and is not due to be released until 2026.

Judge Huw Rees told Pugh he had engaged in "lewd, disgusting and persistent behaviour" in the city centre, and he said by his behaviour the defendant had degraded other people and - though Pugh may be slow to realise it - had degraded himself as a man and as a human being. The judge said the sentence he was going to impose had to start immediately and would therefore run concurrently with the defendant's period on recall meaning the new sentence would not increase the length of time of Pugh's incarceration, a situation the judge said was, in his view, "unfortunate".

With a one-third discount for his guilty pleas Pugh was sentenced to 16 months in prison comprising eight months for the outraging public decency offences and 16 months for the breaches of the SHPO to run concurrently. The SHPO will continue and Pugh was put on the sex offenders register for the next 10 years. Pugh is already subject to an indefinite sexual registration.