Search the database
clearly and quickly

Record details

A young girl molested by a devout churchgoer told police her abuser left her feeling “super sad and mad”.

Canterbury Crown Court heard Kenneth Marr befriended and groomed the child before taking advantage of her on two occasions.

Now, the agricultural worker is starting a six-and-a-half year jail term, having been found guilty of two offences of assault by penetration by majority verdicts of 10 to two.

Prosecutor Daniel Stevenson told the jury Marr, who met his victim in Ashford, claimed the girl had been "encouraged by others" to make up the allegations.

But the prosecutor said the 62-year-old had "an unhealthy sexual interest" in the youngster and "took the opportunity" to molest her. His DNA was also found in her underwear.

When spoken to by police, the child used a drawing to explain how she had been inappropriately touched and told officers Marr had "done something wrong", the court heard.

"She said that what he did to her made her feel super sad and mad," said Mr Stevenson.

When told that Marr had denied her accusations, she maintained he "was wrong", the jury was told.

"The Crown say that her response to the defendant's case was emphatic and clear, and that is because she is a truthful witness," added the prosecutor.

As well as denying the two offences of assault by penetration, Marr, of Weston Road, Congresbury, Bristol, also denied one of sexual assault and was acquitted by the same jury of that charge.

John Barker, defending, told the court that having spent many years working "in the fields" in Spain, Marr came back to the UK and was helped by the Church.

But on imposing an extended sentence of six-and-a-half years' imprisonment with a further one year added to any licence period, Judge Simon Taylor KC told him that he should have "taken the hand of Christian friendship offered and grown as a consequence".

He added: "It wasn't a one-off offence and something you had endeavoured to do through grooming, pretending to care and pretending to be a friend."

On his release from prison Marr will have to sign on the sex offender register indefinitely and will also be subject to a sexual harm prevention order.

Record details

A former teacher at Whitgift School was yesterday given a four-year prison sentence for abusing boys at the private school in the 1980s. The school could now face a class action legal case brought on behalf of three victims because of the abuse Dodd inflicted on them.

At a trial at Gloucester Crown Court in July, Paul Dodd, now 64, pleaded guilty to one offence of child cruelty and two of indecent assault during the time he was a history teacher and rugby coach at the school in South Croydon.

The boys abused were aged between 10 and 12.

Dodd moved to New Zealand in around 1988. His abuse at Whitgift came to light through a TV New Zealand documentary that was broadcast in 1995.

Two months ago, the Gloucester judge gave Dodd a suspended prison sentence of two years in addition to a rehabilitation programme, unpaid work and being placed on a sexual harm prevention order for seven years. The judge took into account that Dodd is sole carer for his wife, who has a chronic medical condition, and it was “for that reason alone” that his sentence was suspended.

But yesterday the Court of Appeal deemed that the sentence was too lenient, following an appeal through the Attorney General’s Office.

Lawyers acting for the victims of Dodds’ abuse had submitted that, “Survivors of abuse often face a life sentence in respect of the impact of their abuse, and it is only right that those that inflict these heinous acts should be punished appropriately, and this must include a prison term.”

Whitgift School is part of the Whitgift Foundation, together with Trinity School and Old Palace girls’ school, which in unrelated developments  it was revealed yesterday is facing closure in 2025.

Whitgift School is known for having peacocks strutting in its expansive grounds, very good sports teams and outstanding academic results. It all comes at a price, though. Fees for day boys at Whitgift are currently more than £22,000 per year. Full boarders are charged £43,629 per year.

Dino Nocivelli, for solicitors Leigh Day, acting on behalf of the victims, has confirmed that he will “continue with the civil cases against the school for the abuse inflicted by Dodd”.

Nocivelli has revealed, “It has come to our knowledge through a New Zealand documentary that Dodd was placed on a list prohibiting him from teaching after leaving Whitgift School, while apparently the Whitgift headmaster gave him a ‘glowing reference’ to take up a teaching role in New Zealand.”

Dodd joined the staff of Kings College, a prestigious boarding school in Auckland, in 1988. While there, Dodd admitted that he had been dismissed from Whitgift for hitting a child – for the second time – after having lost his temper.

The programme included an interview with a young man who alleged that he had been sexually propositioned by Dodd when he was a 16-year-old at the school, and it also found that because of his assault on the 10-year-old at Whitgift, Dodd was placed on “List 99” by the Department for Education in the UK, making him unsuitable for teaching children.

Yesterday, Appeal Court judges Lord Justice William Davis, Mr Justice Jacobs and Mr Justice Griffiths concluded Dodds’ sentencing judge in July should have imposed a total sentence of four years.

Victims had described their anxiety, nightmares and depression after the offending in personal statements, the AGO said.

Despite the restrictions placed on Dodd after his sentencing in July, he is at liberty, and following the Court of Appeal sentence, he was given until 4pm today to surrender himself to a police station.

Record details

Jack Harrison, 22, of Beeches Road, Chelmsford appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday, 13 October after pleading guilty to multiple sexual offences.

Harrison was arrested in June 2021 after Essex Police received a report from a survivor of sexual abuse that they had been sexually assaulted.

Following his arrest, Harrison refused to provide the PIN for his phone, delaying the process of officers gathering evidence. Despite this, evidence was obtained and Harrison was charged on 30 May 2022 with two counts of sexual assault by penetration and one count of sexual assault by touching.

During a pre-trial hearing on 26 July 2023, Harrison pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault by penetration and one count of sexual assault by touching. He pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual assault by penetration.

He appeared in court on Friday (13 October) where he was sentenced to two years in prison. He was also made to sign onto the Sex Offenders Register and issued with a five-year restraining order.

Detective Constable Hughes, investigating officer in the case said “In the early stages of the investigation, Harrison refused to admit what he did and even attempted to prolong the investigation process by refusing to provide his PIN."

Record details

Sick John Butler was eventually arrested for a third time and kept on remand in HMP Leeds, eventually admitting nine counts of possessing indecent images.

Leeds Crown Court heard that police were informed that vile images were being downloaded at an address at Potternewton Crescent, Chapel Allerton, in July of 2021.

Officers went to the address that was being rented by his partner and arrested Butler, seizing a laptop, memory cards, USB sticks and a Raspberry Pi computer. Analysis found nearly 3,000 abuse images, including 219 category A – the worst kind. There was also 256 category B and 2,427 category C.

They included videos and images of children as young as one. Prosecutor Ella Embleton said there was a “determined and systematic search” for images, and he had attempted to cover his tracks by using a Tor browser.

The 58-year-old denied the devices were his and said he had no sexual interest in children. Having been bailed, the officers returned to his home in August of last year after another tip-off.

They seized more devices and found another 2,331 images – 223 category A, 131 category B and 1,977 category C. He had made similar searches but again denied the offending.

Officers had to terminate his police interview early because he became aggressive. Like previously, he was bailed but officers went to his home again in May of this year and seized a laptop on which they found 21 images – three in category A, seven in B and 11 in C. He was once again “volatile and aggressive” with police.

Butler, of Sackville Street, Sheepscar, has 22 previous convictions for 77 offences, including an indecent assault on a seven-year-old in 1984 for which he was jailed for three months.

Mitigating, Giles Grant said Butler was now “engaging with shame” having finally admitted his guilty pleas. He said: “It’s a hard step and a huge step and perhaps progress for this defendant.”

Judge Ray Singh jailed him for 25 months and said: “These children were extremely young and you continued unrelentingly.”

Butler was put on the sex offender register for life and given a lifelong sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) to limit his internet use.

Record details

A sex offender has been jailed for 11 years for non-recent sex offences against a child.

Ben Quinton-Taylor was sentenced after admitting assault by penetration on 6 October 2023 at Canterbury Crown Court.

The charge was brought after a woman reported that between 2009 and 2011 he had sexually assaulted her as a child inside a property in Gillingham. The victim was of primary school age at the time.

Kent Police started the investigation in September 2019 after the allegations were made and he was arrested in February 2020 and following a thorough investigation he was charged in June 2022.

Quinton-Taylor, 47, of High Street, Canterbury, also admitted criminal damage and two counts of controlling and coercive behaviour. These charges were brought following allegations by two further victims relating to separate offences.

As well as being jailed he was handed restraining orders preventing him from contacting all three victims. He was also added to the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

A Sexual Harm Prevention Order was also imposed, which seeks to prevent him from reoffending.

Record details

A child sex offender who travelled from London to Strood to abuse a teenage boy has been jailed.

Titoo Tahir of Chamberlayne Road, London, first spoke to the victim through social media where he made him believe he was between 15 and 17 years old.

On 11 September 2021 the 38-year-old met his victim at Strood Train Station before they both walked to a disused warehouse.

While inside the building Tahir sexually abused the boy and threatened to hurt his family if the teenager did not comply with his demands.

He also made him meet him the following day where he made the boy go back to the building where he committed further sexual offences against him. During the incidents Tahir also gave the boy cash and told him to keep quiet.

A few days later his victim was able to disclose what had happened to him and Kent Police was called on 16 September.

Officers commenced an investigation and linked Tahir to the offences. He was already in prison within The Metropolitan Police area having committed similar offences.

Following enquiries, including obtaining DNA, mobile phone and CCTV evidence, Tahir was charged with seven sexual offences including three counts of inciting a boy aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity.

He admitted all seven charges and was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday 18 October.

He was jailed for six and a half years and was ordered to remain on licence for an additional four years upon release.

He was previously jailed on 15 October for similar offences committed in Bromley where he was sentenced to four years and one month in jail. He will serve both sentences concurrently.

The judge also handed him an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and he was added to the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

Record details

A sex offender from Canterbury has been jailed for sending sexually explicit messages to a child he thought was just 14 years old.

Nigel Stewart targeted his victim over several weeks, during which he also sent graphic images and requests for the child to perform sex acts.

Stewart, of Gordon Road, commenced conversations with his victim on 13 September 2022, and was made aware of her age on numerous occasions. An investigation by Kent Police’s Paedophile Online Investigation Team secured evidence demonstrating he had intentionally sent indecent messages to an underage girl.

Unbeknown to Stewart, he had been interacting with a fictitious profile and on 18 October, officers carried out a search at his home address. He was arrested and a mobile phone was seized from the scene.

Following a lengthy and complex investigation, the suspect was charged and appeared before Canterbury Crown Court on 8 August 2023, where he pleaded guilty to attempting sexual communication with a child and attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

Sentenced

Stewart, aged 55, was sentenced to two years and 11 months’ imprisonment at the same court on Tuesday 10 October. He is also subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the next 10 years.

Detective Inspector Robert Grieve said:

'Stewart aggressively pursued what he thought was a 14-year-old girl, bombarding them with indecent messages.

'Had Stewart successfully made contact with a real child, his actions would have had a long-lasting emotional and psychological impact on them.

'Custodial sentences like this are necessary to prevent people like him from potentially inflicting serious harm on children.'

Record details

Jack Usher was arrested and charged after detectives from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate investigated the incident on 13 May this year.

The 18-year-old admitted attempted rape at Canterbury Crown Court in July and was jailed for six years and nine months at the same court on Tuesday 17 October.

He will serve an extended six-year licence period after that term and has been placed on the Sex Offender Register indefinitely.

The victim was walking along a woodland path near Dunes Road, Greatstone, shortly after 5pm on 13 May when she encountered Usher, who was not known to her.

He ran up behind her and repeatedly hit her to the head, knocking her to the ground.

He told the woman he was going to rape her and attempted to drag her towards some bushes.

The victim managed to push him away and leave the area before contacting police.

An investigation was launched which saw an extensive review of all CCTV in the area, leading to Usher being identified as a suspect.

He was arrested at his home in Marsh Crescent, New Romney on 18 May and was charged the following day.

Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Ross Gurden said: ‘This attack would have been terrifying for the victim and I would like to praise her courage in supporting our investigation and this prosecution.

‘I hope the quick arrest and charge of this suspect, as well as the jail term now imposed, reassures the local community, who must have found the incident very concerning.

‘Tackling violence against women and girls is Kent Police’s top priority and an important part of that is tracking down and bringing to justice offenders like Jack Usher.’

Record details

A “sly, manipulative” child abuser from Fife, who asked a schoolgirl to change into his Rangers top before grabbing her wrists and raping her, has been jailed.

Steven Banks went on to rape, sexually assault and attempt to rape another girl over a period of more than two years, beginning when he was 30 and she was only 10.

Record details

A man who pleasured himself in public went on to urinate in a police van after he was arrested.

Artur Wieladek exposed and touched himself in a sexual way in Totton Precinct.

A court heard people, including children, were around at the time.

The 42-year-old had been drinking and was spotted by a member of the public facing the public toilets and leaning on railings.

Prosecuting, Anisa Alrubaie said he touched himself for around ten seconds before he got dressed again and walked over to a bench.

But after being arrested, he urinated "all over the floor" of the police van, Ms Alrubaie added.

The van had to be professionally cleaned before it could be used again.

Wieladek, of Osborne Road, Southampton later pleaded guilty to criminal damage and outraging public decency.

At a previous hearing at Southampton Magistrates’ Court, Wieladek argued he was urinating and had not been pleasuring himself.

But the magistrates found the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had proved its case.

The prosecutor added: “It was early on a Saturday morning and there were people around.

“Those people could have been badly affected by the incident including children.”

She said onlookers were “concerned that the defendant’s behaviour could escalate”.

Mitigating, Barry Keel said his client, a forklift driver in Lymington, is focussing on “being a constructive member of the community”.

“I know he has had some difficult conversations with his wife about being in court and the nature of the allegations.

“He is sorry for what happened and simply wants to put this behind him and get on with his life.”

Mr Keel said his client was “unable to put forward any real explanation as to why he acted the way he did” on the day of the incident in June last year.

Magistrate Gillian Norris said she would follow the recommendation by the probation service and give Wieladek, who has a previous conviction for a motoring offence in 2021, a 12-month community order.

He must complete 80 hours of unpaid work, 15 rehabilitation days and pay £85 court costs plus a £95 surcharge.

Record details

A Fife paedophile found with dozens of child abuse images – including girls as young as four being raped – has been placed on curfew.

Michael Bowie previously admitted downloading indecent images of children over a 19 month period, as well as distributing or showing the images over 11 months.

Record details

A pervert caught with sex abuse pictures on a mobile hidden under his pillow claimed he did not know the phone was there because he 'had not changed his bedsheets in a year'. Sex offender Kieran Slater has been locked up just weeks after walking free from court in another case.

The 26-year-old avoided jail when he was handed a suspended sentence in August after admitting child sex offences. He was made subject to a court order which he then breached, forcing him back before the same judge.

Now, he has been jailed for two-and-a-half years. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard how Slater received a suspended sentence on August 30 after admitting downloading and distributing indecent images of children.

He was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order at the time. But he breached the order by installing Snapchat and failing to give police his user name, StokeonTrentLive reports.

Police found a mobile phone containing indecent images of children under his pillow. In his interview with officers, the convict claimed he had not changed his bedsheets for 12 months and did not know the phone was there.

Anis Ali, defending, said the sexual harm prevention order was in its infancy. He said Slater had resigned himself to receiving a custodial sentence.

Slater is 'relatively immature', Mr Ali added. The defendant, of Hallfield Grove, Tunstall, admitted making indecent images of children, failing to comply with the notification requirements of the sex offenders register, and three charges of breaching his sexual harm prevention order.

He was also in breach of the earlier suspended sentence. Sentencing, Judge Graeme Smith said: "It is very disappointing to see you back in front of me a couple of months after I sentenced you.

"It is clear that the police had given you very clear instructions and you decided to go outside the instructions." Slater was told he remains on the sex offenders register and will be subject to the sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.

Record details

A HORDLE man who sexually assaulted a woman on their first date was branded a “considerable risk” to women by a judge as he jailed him for more than three years.

Steven Christian (25), of The Pines, caused his victim “severe psychological harm” resulting in panic attacks and nightmares after the incident in Burley on 1st July.

Southampton Crown Court heard how Christian had been exchanging texts with the woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, ahead of their first meeting at a picnic spot.

The victim, who suffers from anxiety, had told Christian she felt comfortable meeting at the spot as it was familiar and safe.

Prosecutor Simon Walter told the court Christian had been “sweet and understanding” about this, his victim later told police.

After walking for a while, the pair sat down and Christian repeatedly attempted to kiss the victim, the court heard.

She continually rejected his “persistent” actions, but eventually gave him a kiss in the hope he would leave her alone.

However, Mr Walter explained, Christian then proceeded to sexually assault the woman by placing his hands on her breasts.

He then repeatedly tried to put her hands on his genital area.

Despite the victim continually asking him to stop, Christian then pulled down his trousers and underwear, exposing himself.

The court heard he then began pleasuring himself.

Mr Walter added: “At this point the victim was literally shouting ‘no’ at him.

“He eventually stopped and abruptly left, acting as if nothing had happened.”

He later sent her a message in which he said he was “really sorry” and added: “I messed up, I’m sorry for letting you down.”

The victim contacted police and, after his arrest, Christian told officers any sexual contact had been consensual.

Reading an impact statement to the court, the victim said the incident had taken “a major toll” on her mental health.

She had been suffering with panic attacks and sleepless nights and was forced to take time off from work.

She said: “I was left feeling frightened and unsafe [and] I am fearful of being taken advantage of.

“I felt exploited, vulnerable and used. I am easily startled and on high alert. I am unable to go to the Forest, even in the company of my family.

“It will take me a long time to trust others again.”

The court heard Christian has one previous conviction for the rape of a woman, which happened in 2018.

He was then sentenced to five years in a young offenders institution and added to the Sex Offender’s Register indefinitely.

He was on licence at the time of the sexual assaults, the court heard.

Defending, Laura Duff said her client expressed “the deepest remorse” for the incident and now understood that thinking he could persuade the victim to engage with him in sexual activity was wrong.

She said he was prepared to get help for this behaviour.

He had a strong support network, with his parents present in court, she said, and a job he could return to if he was given a community order instead of a custodial sentence.

Judge Peter Henry sentenced Christian to 38 months in custody with an extended five-year period, meaning he will be kept under supervision after his release.

He told him: “I have no doubt you pose a considerable risk to women.

“An extended prison sentence is required to adequately protect women from the danger you pose.

“You say you were overwhelmed with desire and that you couldn’t help yourself – I suspect that is a recurring theme with you.”

He added the victim had been deceived by his “insincere conduct” and added: “What happened was very far from sweet and understanding.

“Just imagine the fear and disgust and the sense of violation felt by the victim when you were doing the repugnant and self-centred act in front of her.

“This is undoubtably a case where there is severe psychological harm caused by you, which is aggravated by the fact you were still on licence for a previous conviction, and your targeting of a particularly vulnerable victim.”

Record details

A 31 year-old man from Portsmouth has been sentenced to 4 years in prison after a woman reported she was raped at her address in Waterlooville.

Jack Thomas Heasman of Byron Road in Buckland admitted to raping a 22 year-old woman at the victim’s home on Saturday 15 November 2020.

After pleading guilty at Winchester Crown Court on Friday 13 October, he was sentenced to 4 years imprisonment and was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.

DS Harry Wilson said “I hope that this result reassures our community that we take these allegations very seriously, and that this behaviour will not be tolerated.

“We would like to commend the victim for her bravery throughout the investigation and to thank her for having the courage to report this to us.

We will relentlessly pursue offenders to secure justice for their victims and want to reassure anyone who reports incidents of serious sexual assault and rape to us that they will be believed”.

Record details

A man has pleaded guilty to raping a 13-year-old girl in Rotherham in the early 2000s.

The CPS prosecuted Mohammed Imran Ali Akhtar, 42, as part of Operation Stovewood, a major National Crime Agency investigation into child sexual abuse and exploitation which took place in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, between 1997 and 2013.

Akhtar appeared in Sheffield Crown Court today (17 October 2023) where he pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault which he committed between August 2001 and July 2002. 

On multiple occasions during this period, Akhtar picked the victim up in his car and drove her to different locations before raping her.

The defendant groomed the young victim, providing her with alcohol and drugs each time they met.

At the time, the victim was led to believe she was in a relationship with Akhtar, who would threaten to drive her to unknown locations and leave her stranded if she did not comply with his demands for sex.

On one occasion, when she did refuse to engage in sexual activity, she recalled having to walk for hours after she was kicked out of the car by Akhtar in the early hours of the morning.

Akhtar is currently serving a 23-year prison sentence having been convicted in 2018 of sexual offences under a separate sub-operation investigated under Operation Stovewood.