Latest Offenders

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Steven Allan, of County Durham, suggested meeting what he thought was a schoolgirl at a bus station, fish shop and near a shop

Vigilantes snared a pervert who wanted to meet a 15-year-old girl for sexual activity.

Steven Allan thought he was talking to a schoolgirl on a dating app but it was actually a member of paedophile hunters Guardians of the North. The group had set up a fake profile on dating app Skout, posing as an 18-year-old called Chelsea.

Allan, pretending to be a 21-year-old called Lee, was told during an online chat that she was 15 but started using sexual language and asked to meet her the following day. Rachel Glover, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: "He asked to meet her at the bus station in Sunderland the next day and meet at the fish shop today. He also asked to meet at the green near B&M and she agreed to this. He continued to send sexual messages."

Another member of Guardians of the North, posing as a 27-year-old woman, then communicated with Allan and arranged to meet him. He was arrested when he attended and his mobile phone was seized and showed the chats he'd had with Chelsea.

When interviewed by police, he said he had used his brother's photograph and an image of genitals from the internet. He added: "I know it was wrong."

He added that he had not met a child before and that he had "been speaking to lots of girls" as he was lonely and apologised.

Allan, 40, of Station Road, Wingate, County Durham, pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child, attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sexual offence, all between July 25 and 27 2020.

Judge Edward Bindloss said he intended to pass a two year prison sentence but said had he done so Allan would have been released within days with no treatment, having served 11-and-a-half months on remand. He therefore imposed a three year community order with a sex offender treatment programme with rehabilitation. He was also made subject to sex offender registration and a sexual harm prevention order for five years.

Mark Styles, defending, said: "He seems to be functioning with a mild learning disability. He is keen to rehabilitate himself and participate in a programme to get treatment."

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A SEX attacker left a vulnerable 14-year-old girl in the snow after raping her in woods at night.

Spencer Smith, 19, preyed on his victim in Newmains, North Lanarkshire, on February 1, 2019.

The drunk schoolgirl left a hen do to meet Smith who led her into the woods known locally as The Bing.

She tried to kick him away but Smith pounced on her.

The pervert abandoned her in the snow without trainers before she was picked up by the police.

Smith - a first offender - was convicted at the High Court in Glasgow to a single charge of rape.

Smith - of Wishaw - was locked up and will be sentenced next month.

The court heard that the 14-year-old girl had a "fair bit to drink" at a hen do.

She told officers that she was "like dizzy and woozy."

The victim left nearby Robin's Bar to meet Smith and his friend before heading to the woodlands behind the pub around midnight.

In his closing speech, prosecutor John McElroy said: "Spencer Smith had sex with a drunk child.

"She said she 'tried to like get him off with kicking him'.

"When he left her in the snow, without her trainers and freezing we heard her call to 999.

"Officers met the victim at the bar who was "heavily under the influence of alcohol...and very upset.

"She was later found to be three times over the drink driving limit.Mr McElroy stated:

"Smith knew she was not consenting but persisted anyway, taking his sexual pleasure from an incapable child, under the significant influence of alcohol who was trying to kick him off.

"Smith told jurors in his evidence that the sex was entirely consensual.

The advocate depute put it to him that the police and toxicologist all spoke about alcohol and the effect it had on the girl.

He said: "If the jury take these things as true, they possibly cast your evidence in a different light."

Smith replied: "I suppose.

"After his conviction, Smith broke down in the dock as did members in the public gallery.

He was heard to say "absolute a joke" before being led into the cells.

Smith was put on the sex offenders register for a period of time which will be determined at the sentencing.

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A barrister who said 'I shouldn't laugh' after he raped his Tinder date shouted 'I didn't do it' from the dock as he was convicted of the attack and jailed.

Robin Jacobs, 39, was sentenced to four years in prison for carrying out the sexual attack for up to 30 seconds after the woman screamed at him to stop at his London flat in 2017, the Old Bailey heard.

The couple had been on two dates before the rape. After meeting for lunch at a date in September, the pair returned to Jacobs' flat and had consensual sex.

But Jacobs suddenly forced her to take part in a sex act, ignoring her screams to 'get out'.

He then told the woman, in her 30s, to 'come for a cuddle' and offered her paracetamol.

The lawyer, from Woodford, east London, has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), meaning he struggles to read social signals.

He denied raping the woman and said he would have stopped immediately if she had told him to.

As he was convicted for rape, Jacobs yelled 'I didn't do it. I was telling the truth. Oh my God.' from the dock.

After gaining his composure, he thanked the judge for imposing the 'lowest possible sentence' and left the dock pinching the bridge of his nose.

Judge John Hillen told him: 'It gives the court no pleasure to sentence anyone to terms of imprisonment and in this particular case, with a man of good character, of exemplary character, a high standing in his profession, to have to sentence you as I must, and as you know I must, to a term of imprisonment is a sad event.

'I accept that your laughing was involuntary and that you, in an uncharacteristic selfish state of mind, were bemused by her reaction.

'That bemusement was caused by your belief that she consented.

'I am satisfied on your evidence that you did genuinely believe that your victim would consent.

'That belief was unreasonable, wholly unreasonable in the circumstances.'

On the day of the assault the pair went for a pizza then went back to Jacobs' home nearby for sex.

At one stage Jacobs told the victim to wait there before attempting a sex act without consent, the court heard.

He carried on for 20-30 seconds until she screamed 'get out' at him, at which point he stopped.

As the complainant lay on the bed in front of him Jacobs said 'It's not funny, I shouldn't laugh'.

He then chuckled to himself.

In her account to police the woman said she told him to stop twice and he didn't, she then screamed 'get off' and he stopped but he didn't move away.

She said: 'At that point I was just face down on the bed. I didn't know what to do with myself - I was in quite a lot of pain.

'And then he told himself twice that it wasn't funny, that he shouldn't laugh, not to laugh, and then after the second time he did laugh.

'And then he saw that I hadn't moved and then he sort of moved me across and sat down and said 'come for a cuddle' and I said no.

'I would say that [he used] a huge amount of force. It felt like what you would describe as a stabbing pain.

'It just wasn't stopping. I was still in pain when I went into work on Monday.'

Jollyon Robertson, who prosecuted Jacobs in the retrial, summarised an impact statement written by the complainant in which she detailed how the rape has affected her.

She felt 'a degree of humiliation' when Jacobs laughed just after the incident, the court heard.

Mr Robertson said: 'She mentions that she has had some counselling. She has also been on medication. She was off work for a period of two months.

'She felt that she had no control over her life and how her trust of people has been affected.'

Stephen Rose, defending, said Jacobs did not deliberately try to humiliate the complainant but that his laughter was the result of his then undiagnosed ASD.

Mr Rose described Jacobs' actions as 'a momentary mistake'.

He said: 'This is not a defendant who will trouble the court again.

'He is struggling and I have no doubt will struggle to understand, principally for reasons associated with his disability, the outcome of this case.'

After the incident Jacobs texted a friend, Stewart Wallis, about the incident, calling the victim's response 'a bit of an overreaction'.

Jacobs also texted: 'I just hope there's no trouble as a result. I apologised repeatedly when she was here.

A few days later, Jacobs wrote: 'I haven't been nicked yet, so that's good.

'If the police are after you, do they leave a message or raid you at 5am?'

Jacobs claimed he was confused about what had happened and that he was trying to 'fit in' with his 'laddish' behaviour, which he uses to 'navigate social interactions'.

The prosecution had suggested Jacobs' ASD does not impact his understanding of consent and his reasonable belief of consent in this case.

Giving evidence during the first trial the barrister insisted he would have stopped having sex immediately if the woman told him.

'I thought she was absolutely fine,' he said. 'I thought she knew what I was doing.'

Stephen Rose, defending, said: 'It is suggested you were not interested in whether she consented.'

Jacobs replied: 'It's not true. I am not a cruel, aggressive person. That is not what I'm like. It wasn't something for my own gratification as the phrase goes. No.'

Jurors heard how the complainant claimed Jacobs had joked during their first sexual encounter: 'It has been a while since I've forced myself into a girl'.

The barrister said he did not remember making that comment.

He said he understood 'in the narrow sense' that consent to one sexual act did not mean consent to another.

'Yes it's true to say in a literal way that just because you are consenting to one thing doesn't mean you are consenting to everything,' he said.

'But at the same time you form an impression of someone's character and someone's boundaries based on the sort of things you have done so far and the sort of things you tried.

'Based on everything I considered those boundaries to be wider in this instance.'

Jacobs denied that it was 'very unusual' for a woman to agree to such a sex act on the second sexual encounter but said: 'I've done it on first dates.'

During the first trial Fiona Ryan, prosecuting, suggested his remark to the complainant to 'hold steady' before he performed the sex act was 'no sort of warning at all'.

Jacobs replied: 'It had been perfectly adequate when I had done it on previous occasions with other partners.

'I don't agree that there was no warning.

'I can't tell you five years on exactly what was going through her head...but I think she knew what I was going to do and she was alright with it until she was hurt.'

He told the jury in the second trial: 'There was no thrusting. It was over pretty much as soon as it started.

Asked by his barrister Stephen Rose, if he raped the woman, Jacobs replied: 'No.'

Jacobs said they were having sex and the woman suddenly shrieked at him to 'get out!'

In his closing speech to the jury Mr Rose told jurors: 'This is about a short relationship back in 2017, starting on Tinder between two mature adults both, it seems, looking for love.

'I have no doubt that for some, if not all, of you, there have been parts of this trial that you've found distasteful to sit and listen to in the formality of this sort of setting.

'Mr Jacobs, a barrister in the middle of his career, [was] diagnosed with ASD, a discovery with profound implications for his life and important implications for this trial.

'And he discovers that in the contact of being accused of rape.

'To discover that at his stage in life is nothing short of devastating.

'He faces undoubtedly a very serious allegation and...his future is ultimately in your hands.'

The barrister specialises in educational law and had continued to practice since the incident, the court heard.

However the conviction means that the barrister is likely to 'never' work in his legal profession again.

Robin Jacobs was jailed for four years and must register as a sex offender for life.

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A serial rapist who barged into a woman’s home and subjected her to acts of “deliberate degradation” has been jailed.

Joseph Silver, of Margate, targeted the woman and another victim over a month-long period in east Kent in 2020.

Silver, 34, was found guilty of three charges of rape and two of assault by penetration following a trial at Canterbury Crown Court.

He has now been jailed for 14 years after a judge ruled him "dangerous". He will serve two thirds of his sentence before being eligible for parole, and another four on licence.

Judge Simon James said Silver forced his way through his first victim’s door, then “grabbed her hair and ripped her clothing off" while ignoring her pleas for him to stop.

He branded Silver “self-centred” with no “insight into the pain and anguish he had caused,” to both women.

Silver maintained a “callous attitude” towards his victims while posing as a “high risk to others,” the judge added.

"My home used to be a safe place, but it is where I feel most anxious..."

His victims handed impact statements to the court, with one describing the pain she still suffers.

The woman said her life had been “turned upside down” and she is “constantly looking over my shoulder”.

“My home used to be a safe place, but it is where I feel most anxious," she said.

“Everything I once loved about myself I now let go - feeling attractive and confident isn’t possible now.

“Living through this has shown me I am strong but also it is OK to feel all kinds of emotions about myself.

“Throughout the trial my emotions and anxiety were all over the place. Not knowing if my evidence was enough for jurors to see the truth was so stressful.”

During his trial at the same court in October last year, Silver argued his victims had consented, then conspired to have him jailed.

Both women were in court to watch Silver convicted unanimously after five hours of deliberations.

Giving evidence, his first victim told jurors: “I was scared I thought I was going to pass out - he was squeezing so tightly.

“I just said 'please don’t do this' as I realised what was coming.”

His second victim recalled: “I told him ‘no, just get off me' - but he had sex with me.”

Martin Yale, prosecuting, said if Silver “wants something for his sexual gratification” he will “take it, whatever anyone else says or does to stop him”.

Silver had recently been released from prison on licence for an unrelated matter at the time of his offending, the court heard today.

He has 27 offences for 14 convictions, including violence alongside a weapons offence and an old sex offence.

Representing Silver, John Fitzgerald said he had an “unsettled upbringing” and the delay in bringing the sentencing hearing to court was not his fault.

The court heard Silver, previously of College Road, had been assessed as posing a high risk of committing further similar offences.

 

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Derek Clayton of Unsworth Way, Oldham, was handed a two-year suspended sentence at Minshull Street Crown Court on Monday, September 12, for 12 offences that breached a restraining order imposed on him in 2002.

The court heard that over a period of two weeks from May 14 to May 29, the 76-year-old had three boys under the age of 18 in his flat, including one that was just 12, and permitted them to smoke cannabis and cigarettes.

The police were alerted, and Clayton was arrested by GMPs Oldham Complex Safeguarding Team and charged with 12 breaches of his restraining order on July 15.

Addressing Clayton at the sentencing, Judge Mark Savill said: You are 76 years of age and to be sentenced by me for 12 offences that breached a restraining order imposed on you in 2002.

Over a lengthy period of time from the 70s, 80s, 90s and culminating in 2002, you were convicted of a number of sexual offences against young males.

"In 2002 you were made the subject of a restraining order indefinitely to which you have fell foul of and are to be sentenced for today.

In mitigation, defence barrister Robert Stewart called for Judge Savill to consider Claytons age, mobility, and ill health when imposing a sentence.

Judge Savill acknowledged the points in mitigation and noted that Clayton had not committed any sexual offences for at least 20 years.

Clayton was handed a suspended sentence of two years, an indefinite restraining order and ordered him to complete a 30-day rehabilitation requirement and 31 days of the Horizon programme.

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A DRUNK Carlisle hotel guest who groped an 18-year-old receptionist after clambering over a counter to reach her has been put on the Sex Offender Register.

Bradley Wright, 36, was staying at the hotel with his partner when his lewd behaviour led to him being arrested and charged with a sexual offence, Carlisles Rickergate court heard. He admitted sexual assault.

Prosecutor George Shelley showed the court CCTV footage of the incident on August 27, showing how the receptionist at the Carlisle hotel sitting at her desk behind a counter, which was also equipped with plastic covid screens.

The receptionist was working alone at her desk when Wright looking unusually animated approached her and began chatting.

He was drunk, and making suggestive comments towards her, said Mr Shelley. The CCTV footage captured the moments when Wright clambered over the counter, past the Perspex screens, and tried to embrace the teenager.

He touched her hip and right thigh as he pinned her to her chair and kissed her on the face, said Mr Shelley. The receptionist was seen trying to push Wright away and then ordering him to leave her desk area.

She had booked the defendant and his partner into a room the previous day, said Mr Shelley. She reported the incident to her manager who, having viewed the CCTV footage, contacted the police.

When police later arrested Wright and put him into a van ready for the journey to the police station, he became aggressive, threatening to urinate in it. He then did so. The vehicle could not then be used until it had been cleaned.

The defendant, who also admitted causing criminal damage to a police vehicle, had a record which consisted of 30 previous offences, including two offences against the person and two against property.

The court was then given a summary of a statement made by the 18-year-old victim after she was sexually assaulted. She said that she already suffered from anxiety, and what happened had heightened this.

She had been unable to sleep properly, and felt physical symptoms linked to increased anxiety, including her legs shaking and her chest tightening. I have not returned to work because I cant face it, she said.

Jeff Smith, defending, said Wright had come to Carlisle for a break with his partner, who was in court to support him. Mr Smith said: He did what he knows he should not have done: he had drunk vodka I imagine a significant amount of vodka.

Regarding what you have just seen {the CCTV], Mr Wright cant recall any of it in detail. Seeing that, I imagine, creates in him a great deal of disgust. I imagine his partner at the back of court feels similarly.

He meant no harm. But he was drunk very drunk.

Mr Smith said Wright, of Boundary Walk, Liverpool, recently returned to work as a scaffolder and his life was taking on a form that was attractive to him. "But he is disgusted with his behaviour, added the lawyer.

Magistrates noted that the defendant committed the offence while he was drunk and that he had clambered over the desk past covid screens to assault the teenager. They imposed a 12-month community order, with 200 hours unpaid work.

Wright must pay his victim 500 compensation, as well as 85 costs and a 114 victim surcharge. For the criminal damage offence, he was told to payn150 compensation to Cumbria Police.

Because he is now convicted of a sex offence and serving a 12-month community order, Wright will be on the Sex Offender Register for five years, said magistrates. He must report to his local police station within three days and provide his personal details.

The defendant was told he can settle his 749 debt to the court at a rate of 100 per month. A DRUNK Carlisle hotel guest who groped an 18-year-old receptionist after clambering over a counter to reach her has been put on the Sex Offender Register.

Bradley Wright, 36, was staying at the hotel with his partner when his lewd behaviour led to him being arrested and charged with a sexual offence, Carlisles Rickergate court heard. He admitted sexual assault.

Prosecutor George Shelley showed the court CCTV footage of the incident on August 27, showing how the receptionist at the Carlisle hotel sitting at her desk behind a counter, which was also equipped with plastic covid screens.

The receptionist was working alone at her desk when Wright looking unusually animated approached her and began chatting.

He was drunk, and making suggestive comments towards her, said Mr Shelley. The CCTV footage captured the moments when Wright clambered over the counter, past the Perspex screens, and tried to embrace the teenager.

He touched her hip and right thigh as he pinned her to her chair and kissed her on the face, said Mr Shelley. The receptionist was seen trying to push Wright away and then ordering him to leave her desk area.

She had booked the defendant and his partner into a room the previous day, said Mr Shelley. She reported the incident to her manager who, having viewed the CCTV footage, contacted the police.

When police later arrested Wright and put him into a van ready for the journey to the police station, he became aggressive, threatening to urinate in it. He then did so. The vehicle could not then be used until it had been cleaned.

The defendant, who also admitted causing criminal damage to a police vehicle, had a record which consisted of 30 previous offences, including two offences against the person and two against property.

The court was then given a summary of a statement made by the 18-year-old victim after she was sexually assaulted. She said that she already suffered from anxiety, and what happened had heightened this.

She had been unable to sleep properly, and felt physical symptoms linked to increased anxiety, including her legs shaking and her chest tightening. I have not returned to work because I cant face it, she said.

Jeff Smith, defending, said Wright had come to Carlisle for a break with his partner, who was in court to support him. Mr Smith said: He did what he knows he should not have done: he had drunk vodka I imagine a significant amount of vodka.

Regarding what you have just seen {the CCTV], Mr Wright cant recall any of it in detail. Seeing that, I imagine, creates in him a great deal of disgust. I imagine his partner at the back of court feels similarly.

He meant no harm. But he was drunk very drunk.

Mr Smith said Wright, of Boundary Walk, Liverpool, recently returned to work as a scaffolder and his life was taking on a form that was attractive to him. "But he is disgusted with his behaviour, added the lawyer.

Magistrates noted that the defendant committed the offence while he was drunk and that he had clambered over the desk past covid screens to assault the teenager. They imposed a 12-month community order, with 200 hours unpaid work.

Wright must pay his victim 500 compensation, as well as 85 costs and a 114 victim surcharge. For the criminal damage offence, he was told to payn150 compensation to Cumbria Police.

Because he is now convicted of a sex offence and serving a 12-month community order, Wright will be on the Sex Offender Register for five years, said magistrates. He must report to his local police station within three days and provide his personal details.

The defendant was told he can settle his 749 debt to the court at a rate of 100 per month.

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A man convicted of downloading indecent images of children last year flouted a Sexual Harm Prevention Order by installing software to mask his internet history, a court heard.

Those breaches of the order have resulted in Edward James Tomlinson receiving his first full custodial sentence in his mid-seventies.

In March last year he received a ten-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, at Durham Crown Court after admitting three counts of making indecent images of children, plus possessing prohibited images of children and extreme pornography.

As part of the sentence he was made subject of restrictions relating to his use of the internet, under the terms of a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

But the 74-year-old defendant, of Luke Avenue, Cassop, near Durham, was back before the court today (Tuesday September 13) after recently admitting three counts of breaching the SHPO.

Anthony Pettengell, prosecuting, said following his conviction last year the defendant was subject of monitoring visits by the police public protection unit.

A device installed on his computer equipment revealed use of pc cleaner software to remove evidence of downloaded material.

Mr Pettengell said it led to Tomlinsons devices being seized and examined, revealing the use of the cleaner at least three times, while a privacy browser had also been installed, covering up any search history.

In interview he also revealed use of virtual private network, even though the examination of his devices had not uncovered its presence.

He told police it was to screen films and watch tv channels, while he accepted using the privacy browser as he did not like to receive spam adverts.

When asked, he could give no explanation for use of the cleaner, other than him clicking on something allowing it to run.

Mr Pettengell said the police analysis of his devices showed there had been no evidence of further indecent images having been downloaded in the 18 days between the last use of the pc cleaner and the police attending the defendant's home.

Shaun Dryden, in mitigation, said the defendant did everything required of him by way of the other elements of last years court order.

They included attending 56 of 59 probation appointments and observing an electronically-monitored 7pm to 7am home curfew, while Mr Dryden added that the suspended sentence expired earlier this week.

He told the court the defendant was aware monitoring software was in place on his computer and claimed he did not deliberately use software to hide his browsing history.

Mr Dryden added that the defendant no longer has any computer devices due to his concern what may happen.

But Judge James Adkin told Mr Dryden: The problem is he was told that breaching the SHPO would lead to prison.

He said the defendants explanations for the breaches, are not going to wash.

The perfectly reasonable inference of having all this software is that he has had access to indecent images.

Having three separate tools to hide your browsing history is a persistent breach of the order.

The judge told Tomlinson the clear inference was that, "he still maintains an interest in looking at indecent images of children.

He imposed an eight-month sentence for the breach and activated six months of the suspended sentence, to make a total sentence of 14 months.

On his release Tomlinson will remain subject of registration as a sex offender and the terms of the SHPO until March 2031.

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A pervert caught with indecent images of children blamed his addiction to pornography for his vile stash.

Nathan Stephen's sickening collection featured infants and children aged up to 16 years and he had distributed one of them to someone who later told him she was a child herself, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

When confronted by police on October 14 2020, he asked: "Is this about the girl I was speaking to because I didn't realise she was 15 until later".

Various devices were seized and he was found to be in possession of 43 of the most serious, category A, images, 52 category B and 73 category C. He also had 2,876 prohibited images and seven extreme pornography images.

There had also been more than 14,000 keyword search terms used which are associated with indecent images. When interviewed, Stephen said he was speaking online to a female in America and he started sending cartoon pornography. He said she initially said she was 19.

He then sent her one indecent image of a girl aged around 10 being abused and she told him she was a child. Stephen told police he didn't believe he had a sexual attraction to children and claimed he was just addicted to pornography.

The 25-year-old, of Brighton Road, Gateshead, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images, distributing one category A image, possessing prohibited images and possessing extreme pornography. He was sentenced to two years suspended for two years with a four month curfew. He must also sign the sex offenders register for ten years and was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order.

Tony Cornberg, defending, said Stephen has mental health issues and has voluntarily signed up to the "Stop it Now" programme to tackle his offending.

 

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Sex offender John Bentley has 'lost everything' after being released from jail with no support. The 45-year-old was placed on the register after being convicted of possessing indecent images of children on September 3, 2020 and making indecent images of children on March 11 this year.

Prosecutor Emma Thompson told North Staffordshire Justice Centre the defendant was released from prison 'with no support; on August 11 for an allegation of assault.

He was then given a place at Hanley's Macari Centre but failed to tell police about his new address.

Miss Thompson said: "Due to him being on the sex offenders' register, the defendant had three days to notify the police of an address but he failed to do that. He failed to notify them of his address within three days.

The defendant, of The Macari Centre, Hanley, was arrested. He said he was released but had nowhere to stay before he found a bed at The Macari Centre. He said he had no excuse and simply forgot to register his address, adding 'it will not happen again'.

The court heard the defendant previously breached the notification requirements earlier this year by failing to sign his annual registration.

Steve Hennessy, mitigating, said the defendant was on remand for six months on an allegation of assault and was then acquitted at trial. He was released and was homeless.

Mr Hennessy said: "He had lost everything. It took him a day or two to find the Macari Centre. The court may have sympathy for someone released from custody with no assistance.

"He was located at The Macari Centre without difficulty. He was not trying to avoid the authorities at all.

"The previous breach was the annual registration. There is no suggestion of the commission of further substantive offences."

Magistrates adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report to be prepared on Bentley. He will be sentenced on October 4 and his bail was extended.

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A Fife man who terrorised a woman for almost a decade and twice put her life in danger by choking her is behind bars.

Ricky Smith admitted touching the woman’s private parts to check if she had been having sex and twice injuring her by throttling her.

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A Wakefield man has been jailed for more than six years for historic child sex offences against two victims.

Malcolm Shipman, aged 64, of no fixed address, Wakefield, appeared at Teesside Crown Court today (Tuesday, 13 September) for sentencing after being found guilty at an earlier hearing.

Shipman, who is a former manager of the Snooty Fox pub in Wakefield, was sentenced for four counts of indecency with a child.

The offences occurred between 1988 and 1997.

He was sentenced to six years, five months in prison and ordered to sign on the sex offenders register.

Detective Inspector Paul Oldham, of Wakefield District Crime Safeguarding, said:

The investigating officers and I welcome this sentence today. The bravery shown by the victims to report this man for the truly horrendous offences carried out against them as children, must be recognised and not underestimated.

Their courage has resulted in the successful prosecution of Shipman, ensuring the safeguarding of future possible victims.

I would like to reassure others who are suffering, have suffered or those who have any information of similar offences that we have specially trained officers who will treat victims with compassion and will work tirelessly to bring perpetrators to justice.

You can report crime or contact us online at Contact us | West Yorkshire Police. You can also contact us by calling 101. You should always call 999 in an emergency.

There is more information about what happens when you report sexual offences and the support available on our website at: Serious Sexual Assaults Campaign | West Yorkshire Police

In a statement issued by the victims following the sentencing, they said:

We are now adults, but we were those two little girls who we feel have finally been given a voice and have got justice for the horrible childhood we had to endure.

We both never dared speak out about what this man did to us as children, we had hoped to never have to and just wanted to get on with our lives, but you never forget the past as much as you try.

We have done this to stop him hurting anyone else and to finally tell the truth and get justice for what happened to us.

It has been the most painful experience going through this trial and there is still a lot of healing to do, as hard as this has been he had to be held accountable for his own sick choices against vulnerable children.

We encourage anyone who has been through anything like this to please come forward, it is not easy, but it is the right thing to do.

The fear of speaking out and him getting away with it keeps you prisoner long after the abuse. We urge others not to be scared and come forward to show strength in numbers to these predators and that there will be consequences, no matter how long it takes.

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The former headteacher at Newcastle's prestigious Royal Grammar School has been banned from teaching over sexual misconduct claims.

John Fern, who held the top job at the Jesmond private school from 2017 to 2019, came before a professional conduct panel of the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) after pupils from a school he previously taught at made allegations against him. The 47-year-old was accused of kissing two students at the boarding school, and discussing his own sexual activity with others.

He also put his hand inside a pupil's clothing, it was claimed. The allegations, which were all denied by Mr Fern, came to light after one pupil made a report of historical sexual activity with the teacher to police in 2019.

Officers also spoke to another pupil, but neither wanted to support a prosecution against Mr Fern and no further action was taken in the criminal investigation. Mr Fern was on sick leave from his role at RGS and did not return to the school.

A spokeswoman said: "These allegations relate to an entirely different school and took place 20 years ago. They were brought to our attention after being reported to police in early summer 2019.

"Mr Fern was on sick leave and, under guidance from the Local Authority Safeguarding Officer, did not return to RGS. The matter was investigated by police and no charges were brought but Mr Fern resigned in November 2019.

"He was subsequently referred to the Teaching Regulation Agency, whose formal decision has just been published. We were prevented from making any reference to the matter until the police concluded their investigation and the TRA completed its disciplinary processes.

"We were shocked and saddened to learn of the allegations and the impact they have had on the individuals concerned. Although this matter does not relate to RGS and there was no cause for concern during Mr Fern’s time here, all schools need to hear about such incidents and examine what, if anything, they can learn from them.

"While there can never be room for complacency, RGS has a range of robust and effective mechanisms in place that allow students, parents or staff to raise any issue they may be concerned about. We are proud of the open culture of our school, in which reporting safeguarding concerns is welcomed and issues acted upon promptly and decisively."

The TRA report explains how the pupil, referred to as Pupil A, made the report to police saying the sexual activity "had not negatively affected him in the long term". But he said he felt compelled to report Mr Fern to the police when he heard he had become a headteacher.

The report says: "He was concerned that Mr Fern was in a senior trusted role and had the potential to misuse that position. Pupil A did not want to support a prosecution as he did not feel that the sexual activity between Mr Fern and himself warranted any criminal sanction. His purpose in reporting this matter was to ensure the future protection of pupils."

After being contacted by police Mr Fern informed the chair of governors at RGS and resigned after being told there would be a formal disciplinary hearing. The panel found Mr Fern guilty of unacceptable professional conduct.

The report says: "Mr Fern's actions included serious sexual misconduct with more than one pupil, including some non-consensual acts. Mr Fern's behaviour was further aggravated by the significant breach of trust between that of a teacher and pupil.

"The panel is satisfied that the conduct of Mr Fern amounted to misconduct of a serious nature which fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession."

The panel made a recommendation to the Secretary of State that Mr Fern be issued with a "prohibition order" which would ban him from teaching with immediate effect. Sarah Buxcey, on behalf of the Secretary of State, agreed that Mr Fern should be banned from teaching indefinitely and he now cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England.

She said: "Mr Fern breached the trust of pupils in his care, the misconduct happened over a period of time, with more than one pupil. Mr Fern’s actions mean that he presents a risk to the safety and wellbeing of pupils in the future."

Parents of children at RGS were informed of what had happened by a letter sent out this week. RGS claims to be the North East's leading Independent School.

Parents pay fees of just over £12,000 a year for junior school pupils and more than £15,000 for senior students. In 2018, five students were expelled from the school amid concerns about bullying.

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Former hotel worker Luke James had not told the girl's mother - who he met online - that he was a convicted sex offender A convicted sex offender showed a young girl a video on his phone of an animated singing penis. Luke James had met the girl's mum on a dating website and went to a park with the family but had not disclosed his previous conviction for sexually assaulting a teenager. As part of the suspended sentence for that assault he is banned from having any contact with females under 16 unless their parent or guardian knows about his past. David Singh, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court that in April this year James met a woman who had young daughters on an online dating site. The woman and her children subsequently met the defendant at a park. But the court heard one of the daughters later told her mum James had shown her a video of "bums of willies" on his phone. Concerned at what had happened the woman searched for the defendant's name online and found out about his previous conviction. In November last year James was given a suspended prison sentence and made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) for sexually assaulting a teenage girl in Tenby. This offence had seen him pulling a teenager's top away from her chest and making comments about her not wearing a bra before kissing her neck and putting his arms around her. The court heard that after the mum found out about James' past she alerted the police and told them about the her daughter and the video. The prosecutor said the 30-year-old defendant was arrested and police found a video of an "animated penis signing a song" on his phone. James told officers he thought it was only unsupervised contact with girls that he was prohibited from having. Luke William James, formerly of Knowling Mead, Tenby, Pembrokeshire but now of Winch Lane, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, had previously pleaded guilty to breaching a SHPO when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has one previous conviction for one offence, namely sexual assault by touching. For that offence the former hotel worker was sentenced to 16 months in prison suspended for 24 months, and was ordered to undergo the Horizon sex offenders programme and to complete a rehabilitation course and 250 hours of unpaid work. The defendant was also put on the sex offenders register for 10 years, and was made the subject of a SHPO which is designed to control his access to girls. Dyfed Thomas, for James, told the court that the main part of the sentence imposed last November had been the Horizon programme but that the defendant had yet to start the course as he had been assessed as needing one-to-one sessions rather than the usual group sessions. The barrister said following his previous conviction James had "moved to a new area and tried to make new friends", and said while the author of the pre-sentence report raised concerns about how candid his client was being, there was remorse on James' part. Mr Thomas also acknowledged that concerns had been raised about the defendant's "extensive messaging of woman of all ages" but he said no criminal offences had been committed. Judge Huw Rees said the background to the offending was of concern - he noted the Probation Service had begun breach proceedings against the defendant prior to his arrest as he was not turning up for appointments, he was "evasive" about his internet use, and was "messaging multiple woman in a sexual manner". He noted a report into James had identified a "high level of sexual pre-occupation", and he added that in his view the defendant had been lucky to get a suspended prison sentence last November. With a discount for his guilty plea, James was sentenced to six months in prison for breaching the SHPO, and the judge activated 12 months of the previously imposed suspended sentence to run consecutively making an overall sentence of 18 months in prison. The defendant will serve up to half that period in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.

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A Lanarkshire paedophile who destroyed the lives of three young children when he sexually assaulted them has been jailed for 32 years.

William Dolan, 56, attacked one of his victims when she was just three years old and also abused a 10-year-old boy and a teenage school girl in sick sex crime spree in Newcastle.

After years of escaping punishment for his appalling acts, the pervert, now living in Wishaw, will finally be brought to justice, the Chronicle Live reports.

The jury at Newcastle Crown Court found Dolan guilty of a number of offences including rape and indecent assault which he refuses to confess to.

One of the survivors, who was just three at the time, said in an impact statement: The sexual abuse I suffered as a child has affected me severely. No child should go through what I did when I was a toddler.

He has ruined my life, its been a living nightmare. Your childhood is supposed to be the happiest time in your life but mine was torture. I felt ashamed and dirty.

The older female victim said: Ive struggled to move on with my life since I was a victim of sexual abuse. This has hung over me. Ive lived every day in the hope justice would be served. Im happy I found the strength to report this to the police.

I often have flashbacks to what he did. Theres not a day goes buy I dont think about what he did to me.

He preyed on vulnerable children who could not protect themselves. He is manipulative and devious and I hate him for what he has done.

The male victim said in his victim impact statement: My childhood was a living nightmare which still makes me angry and sad now. I cant forgive him for what he did.

The demons of my childhood and sexual abuse are still with me but I feel I will finally be able to move on after he is sentenced.

Dolan, of Stewarton Street, Wishaw, was found guilty of one count of rape and six counts of indecent assault in Newcastle, and was jailed for 32 years by Judge Christopher Prince.

He was told he must serve at least 21 years of that behind bars and will be on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

He continues to completely and absolutely and vigorously deny any wrongdoing. The court heard his wife is standing by him and he has COPD and hip and stomach problems.

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A 52-year-old Yeovil man has been jailed for the depraved sexual abuse of a girl which started when she was just 13. Paul Morgan carried out 'an extensive campaign' of grooming and manipulation on the young victim.

He exploited her young age and vulnerable background and threatened to kill himself for sympathy. When suspicions were raised he lied and said she was to blame. He even forced her to apologise.

Morgan admitted abusing the child on multiple occasions.. He had sex with her more than 50 times when she was aged between 13 and 16, Taunton Crown Court heard. The victim said in a statement that her childhood had been destroyed by his deviant and obsessive behaviour.

Morgan has been jailed for seven years. The defendant, of Muchelney Way, pleaded guilty to six offences of sexual activity with a child and one of sexual communication with a child.

Prosecutor Miss Mary McCarthy said Morgan manipulated the child and groomed her so that he could have sex with her on a regular basis. He was 47 when the abuse started.

He began by sending her messages with sexual comments. He 'normalised' his behaviour sending hundreds of messages and progressing to full sexual contact.

"He was the driver of all that happened," said Miss McCarthy. The abuse happened over a period of two and a half years. When sexualised photos of the child were found on his phone he said she was to blame. When the girl told him the abuse had to end he started to scream, cry and threatened to take his own life, said the prosecutor.

The girl tried to get on with her life but revealed the truth in April 2021. The victim, who was in court to see her abuser jailed, says she suffers severe anxiety and flashbacks as a result of the abuse.

"Her teenage years were destroyed," said Miss McCarthy.

Mr Harry Ahuja, defending, said Morgan fully accepts the consequences of his actions and is sorry. His family remain supportive and references 'talk about these offences being wholly out of character'. His elderly father has dementia and he also helps look after his mother and worries he will never see them again.

Mr Ahuja said there was no further evidence of an unhealthy sexual interest in children. "He wants to move on with his life when he gets out of prison," he added.

Judge Paul Cook said: "You groomed her and manipulated her feelings. You drove how matters progressed. There was significant grooming and a significant disparity in age. It was an extensive campaign of sexual abuse over a significant period."

He said Morgan was hard working and had no previous convictions. The defendant was granted a third credit for his guilty pleas reducing the sentence to seven years, some of which he will serve on licence.

He must sign the sex offenders register and was made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life.