Latest Offenders

Description

William Shotton, 86, of Berwick, was found guilty of sexual activity with a child following a trial A teenage boy was lured into a pensioner's home with the promise of a Christmas gift then subjected to a sex attack by the naked pervert. William Shotton left a note on his front door telling the the boy, who was under 16, he had something for him and asking him to knock. When the lad knocked, Shotton open the door while standing behind it and popping his head around. He invited him in but once inside, with the door shut, he saw Shotton was completely naked. Newcastle Crown Court heard the 86-year-old then sexually touched the boy over his clothing before he was able to escape. Now widower Shotton, never in trouble before, has been given a suspended prison sentence after a jury convicted him of sexual activity with a child, which he continues to deny. In a victim impact statement, the boy said: "On the day it happened I remember feeling so shocked it was almost as if i couldn't quite believe what had just happened. I felt ashamed and embarrassed, especially when I had to tell my parents. It was the first time since I was a small child I really cried. I felt I had let my parents down by being in that position. "I felt so guilty and directed all of this to the people who cared and were trying to help me. My school work was affected and I now find it difficult to trust other people. I now avoid the area of Berwick if I'm out and avoid going there." The court heard the offence happened in January 2020. The victim saw a note on Shotton's door suggesting he had a Christmas card and cash and he drew a heart at the bottom of it. Having been let in, the door was closed and the lad was standing in the passageway as Shotton went to get the promised items from another room. Sentencing him, Judge Paul Sloan QC said: "As you made your way there, he realised you were completely naked. On your return to the passageway you asked how old he was and he told you. Having handed over the card, he turned and went towards the front door. The locking mechanism was difficult to operate and he had trouble opening it. "You came up to him from behind and slipped your hand on to the back of his thigh and to his bottom, over his clothing and asked if he had ever w*****. You moved your other hand under his genitals and squeezed them over his clothing." The boy managed to get the door open and escape. Judge Sloan added: "There was a degree of planning, you having lured him into your home, placing him in an extremely vulnerable situation." Shotton, of West Street, Berwick, Northumberland, was sentenced to six months suspended for two years with a four month curfew. He was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and must register as a sex offender, both for seven years. Mark Styles, defending, says Shotton continues to deny the offence. He added: "He is not in the best of health and this has caused him a great deal of turmoil. It would be a crushing blow to send a man of his age and infirmity into a custodial environment. He would simply not cope." The court heard he had served in the army and had a good work ethic.

Description

A CONVICTED sex offender gained access to children by volunteering to play Santa at a Carlisle community church's Christmas party. Darren McGuinness, 48, who has a previous conviction for downloading images depicting the sexual abuse of children, also helped to organise a family Halloween party at the church hall. At Carlisles Rickergate Magistrates Court, McGuinness, of Fairfield Gardens, Carlisle, pleaded guilty to two allegations of breaching a sexual harm prevention order: one offence was committed on October 30 last year and the other on December 18 last year. Prosecutor Malcolm Isherwood said the defendants offences were a breach of an order made in May of 2011 which was meant to prevent him from having unsupervised access to any child. The sentence was part of his punishment for multiple offences of downloading child sex abuse images. The wording of the first charge stated: On Saturday, December 18, at Carlisle in the county of Cumbria, without reasonable excuse, [the defendant] did something, namely dressed up as Santa and handed out gifts to children inside a makeshift grotto at the Church Christmas party. At the time, said the charge, the defendant was aware this would bring him into contact with children that he was prohibited from doing this under the terms of the court order. The second charge states that he breached his court order by helping to organise and by attending a family Halloween party on October 30. As with the first charge, he was fully aware that children aged under 16 would be present at the party and that this was something he was prohibited from doing, the court heard. Mr Isherwood told the court: In the view of the crown, the defendant deliberately placed himself in a situation whereby he was going to come into contact with children under the age specified in the [court] order. He did so by attending a church and, while there, volunteering to work in the community kitchen without disclosing his conviction. He then offered to organise a family Halloween party at the church in October last year and in December he helped to organise and run a family Christmas party. "This included him playing the role of Santa in a grotto. Both of these activities would clearly bring him into contact with children. Having heard those facts, District Judge John Temperley said that he believed the courts sentencing powers were not sufficient and therefore the sentencing hearing should be at Carlisle Crown Court. You will get credit for your guilty pleas, the judge told McGuinness. The judge adjourned that hearing until May 13, when the defendant will be dealt with by a circuit judge at Carlisle Crown Court. In the meantime, the defendant was granted bail. Records show that the defendant has previously breached his sexual harm prevention order a number of times. In 2016, the News & Star reported that the defendant flouted his sexual harm prevention order by accessing the internet through his mobile phone when it had no police monitoring software. In 2020, the defendant was again before a court for breaching his order. He had been allowed to use a computer when he attended a unemployed persons support group in Carlisle city centre. The order was part of a sentence imposed for 11 offences of possessing child abuse images. After his last conviction for breaching the order, his defence lawyer told the court: He used the computer for entirely innocent purposes. The lawyer said the defendant, who was planning a caravan holiday in Blackpool for his birthday, had been unable to get work because as soon as he discloses his previous convictions" potential employers show that they are not willing to consider employing him.

Description

A pervert has been brought to justice after putting a little girl through years of sexual abuse.

David Craig's horrific behaviour was uncovered when she opened up about her her ordeal at the creep's hands.

The 29-year-old repeatedly targeted his young victim from the age of eight as she watched cartoons, the Paisley Daily Express reports.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard that police were called a decade later and Craig was finally snared.

Procurator fiscal depute David McDonald explained: "At this time, she was in the living room watching cartoons.

"David Craig came in and sat beside her, she felt awkward and so picked up her covers and went and lay down at the opposite end of the couch and pretended to go to sleep."

Undeterred the pervert manoeuvred himself under the girl's covers and carried out a vile sex act at a property in Erskine.

Court heard the victim recalled similar incidents happening for a number of years.

Craig would also climb into the girl's bed and masturbate. And on multiple occasions over the years, Craig attempted to rape the youngster.

The court heard Craig was "fat" and during one sickening incident he lay on top of her so she could not move, then molested her.

Years later, she challenged Craig about the abuse.

Mr McDonald explained: "While on a night out she began receiving messages from the accused and he asked, 'ask anything if u wanna xx'

"He repeated this a number of times, attaching kissing emojis.

"She replied, 'See when we were younger why did you do all that stuff? Just be honest?'

"Craig replied, 'I love u x'

"She again replied, 'Tell me, so why did you do it?'

"And he responded, I love you. Can't believe am saying this but I get jealous when I see with new bfs x.'

"The victim revealed what was happening to someone and the police were contacted."

Defence agent Mr Barr told the court that at the time of the offences Craig "saw her as someone he could have a relationship with" but explained he suffers mentally.

Sheriff Eoin McGinty said: "These are serious offences over a period of time."

Sentence was deferred for the preparation of a criminal justice social work report and a restriction of liberty order assessment.

Craig's bail was continued and he will return to court for sentencing next month. He was placed on the Sex Offenders Register meantime.

Description

A MAN has been found guilty of exposing himself to a little girl while on a milk float and sexually assaulting another child. Convicted sex offender Edward Walton, 55, was found guilty on April 8 of six charges following a trial at Hove Crown Court. The first charge related to an incident between 2004 and 2006 when he exposed himself while on a milk float. He was found not guilty on a separate count of causing the child, aged about 11, to watch pornography. In respect of the second girl, he was convicted of three counts of sexual assault and two counts of causing her to watch pornography when she was aged nine or ten. Walton showed no emotion as the jury foreman read out the guilty verdicts, all of which were unanimous decisions. The offences took place between 2004 and 2015 at addresses where he was living in Littlehampton and Barnham respectively, police said after the trial. Following the conviction, Jack Talbot, defending, told the court Walton was currently serving a custodial sentence at HM Prison Littlehey, Cambridgeshire, for several serious sexual offences. At the end of the trial, the judge, the Recorder Mr Anthony Hawks, thanked the jury for its public duty. This was a difficult case, he said. Walton will be sentenced at Hove Crown Court on June 10.

Description

A paedophile caught in a sting by undercover police was jailed for five-and-a-half years today. Judge Rhys Rowlands told John Reynolds, 40, formerly of Flintshire: "This was repeated depraved behaviour on your part which has to attract an immediate custodial sentence."

He had been convicted after a trial of making, taking and distributing sexual images of children. Judge Rowlands at Mold crown court ordered Reynolds, who appeared on a video link from Berwyn jail at Wrexham, to register as a sex offender indefinitely and a sexual harm prevention order was made.

The judge said the jury had rejected his risible explanation for his behaviour. Defence barrister Simon Mills said Reynolds was of previous good character. Theres no evidence his distribution reached the wider paedophile community.

"Links to the images went to undercover police operatives, counsel added.

Reynolds had been hard-working, well-qualified and an expert in his particular industry.

Prosecutor Andrew Green said in the summer of 2019 police had posed online as paedophiles and had been in touch with Reynolds. When police went to his home he was away working in Europe.

Mr Green said Reynolds was asked to bring an iPhone to a police station on his return to Britain but he claimed it had been lost.

Description

Case brought by the Counter Terrorism Policing North West unit A 19-year-old man who posted extreme right-wing and racist material online and who made indecent photographs or 'pseudo-photographs' of a child has been jailed for two years. Thomas Leech, of Derby Drive, Preston, pleaded guilty to seven charges, including three counts of publishing a statement intending members of the public to be directly or indirectly encouraged or otherwise induced to commit, prepare, or instigate acts of terrorism contrary to the Terrorism Act 2006. He also pleaded guilty to four other offences not covered by terrorism legislation. These were: Publishing or distributing written material which was threatening, abusive or insulting intending thereby to stir up racial hatred, or having regard to all the circumstances racial hatred was likely to be stirred up; publishing or distributing written material which was threatening, intending thereby to stir up religious hatred; making 211 indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child and making four indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child. He was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court today, where he was also given a 12 month extended licence period to be applied on completion of his prison sentence, plus 10 years on the sex offenders register, a 10 year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a 10-year notification requirement under Part Four of the Terrorism Act 2008. On February 28, 2020, a report was made to police identifying an online user posting hateful and racist comments and demonstrating support of an extreme right-wing ideology. An investigation was conducted by Counter Terrorism Policing North West (CTPNW) and, aided by Counter Terrorism Command, identified the online user to be Leech. Further research identified many more online postings by Leech, including comments of an anti-Semitic and racist nature. Leech was arrested at his home address in November 2020 but, after being released on bail, posted more material online. During the examination of Leech's digital devices, a number of offences were discovered including indecent images of children and in February, 2021 he was further arrested on suspicion of making indecent images of children. In December, 2021, he pleaded guilty to seven offences. Detective Superintendent Will Chatterton, head of CTPNW investigations, said: "Leech's comments and behaviour online was despicable and a thorough investigation was able to identify these posts and evidence them before the courts. "CTPNW will always take complaints of this nature very seriously and exercise full powers to bring offenders to justice."

Description

Cassius Povey, 29, was a sexual predator who controlled and manipulated schoolgirls to repeatedly sexually abuse them A serial sexual predator and Leicester musician who preyed on schoolgirl fans after befriending them on Facebook has today been jailed for 17 years. Cassius Povey, who was a well known figure on Leicester's live music scene, has been locked up for a catalogue of 19 crimes against nine young girls - five of whom he raped. One victim became pregnant at just 14 and had an abortion without telling her parents. Another was tied to a bed and hit with a cane. Povey also sat and watched one distraught child take and overdose before making her vomit - and then raped her as she lay on a bed semi-conscious and confused. Eight of the victims were aged between 14 and 15. The ninth was 19-years-old when he raped her in a park. Leicester Crown Court was told he had "no respect" for his troubled and vulnerable victims. He was motivated purely by self-gratification as he "controlled and manipulated" them to satisfy his desires. Povey won his victims trust with outpourings of affection and repeatedly telling them how "beautiful and amazing" they were. He told two of his victims after he committed violent assaults that he suffered from schizophrenia and that he could not control the actions of his "evil twin." The offences were committed when he was between 17 and 22. The court heard that he was finally "outed" by a former victim, who exposed his wrongdoing on Facebook. He attempted a public apology, but the police were notified of the social media comments and investigated. Povey formerly lived in a bedsit in the Aylestone Road area of Leicester - before fleeing to live Elsenham Road, Grimsby, where he was arrested in July 2020. He was convicted at a recent trial of eight offences of rape, which he had denied. He had already pleaded guilty to nine counts of sexual activity with a child, one of travelling to meet a child after grooming and one offence of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity, between 2010 and 2016. 'You were arrogant and showed no remorse' Sentencing, Judge Robert Brown said: "The victims were vulnerable females and eight of them were under 16 at the time of these offences, all with mental health problems and difficult relationships at home with parents. You were a prominent and popular local musician and they liked you. "You gained their trust and they unloaded their problems on to you and you displayed sympathy, before abusing them. Alcohol and drugs were used in some cases. "I find you arrogant, you showed no remorse during your trial and maintained all your sexual encounters were with the victims' consent. You might express remorse now, but you didn't then. You've been in denial. I find you to be manipulative and cunning. "These girls were mostly naive with no sexual experience, many being virgins. You plied them with alcohol and introduced a number of them to drugs with the aim of controlling them. "You targeted them by befriending them through Facebook and social media and it wasn't difficult because they were fans of your music - you had a significant following. Mr Povey, you're a predator who used emotional manipulation against them all. "You pretended to two of them you had schizophrenia to exert control over them to satisfy yourself sexually. It was a life-style for you. You had no respect for any of your victims - it was all for self-gratification. You were exposed on social media by one of the victims, who displayed courage and others shared their stories too." Serena Gates, mitigating, said the defendant had no previous convictions and he had not offended for the last six years. She said he was a "young adult" at the time and his upbringing lacked proper guidance. Povey was said to have suffered from depression and anxiety since 2013. He had mild autism and an unspecified borderline personality disorder - but did not have a severe mental illness, the court was told. He wrote a letter of remorse to the judge, who said he presented as a "dangerous" offender who posed a risk of future harm. He added a three year licence period extension to the 17 year prison sentence. Survivors 'showed incredible strength' Afterwards, officer in case, DC Kev Sharkey from the police's Signal team, said: "While this sentence will not change the experiences these young girls went through, I hope the fact that Povey will be behind bars for such a significant amount of time, offers some comfort. "The sentencing today has been at the end of a long court process and all the survivors have shown incredible strength, patience and dignity throughout. Their evidence has strengthened the case against Povey, making sure he serves the time behind bars that he deserves." The officer said he believed there may still be other victims of Povey who have not yet come forward. The CPS issued a statement saying Povey was known to socialise at the citys Clock Tower, a popular place for young people who followed indie music meet up. He was said to have used his status as an older person and a guitarist in a band to impress them and appear like someone they should admire. Once he got to know them, he groomed them and exploited their vulnerability. In some cases, he went on to have consenting relationships with his victims after he had raped them. In others, he raped them while in a relationship. Matthew Thomas from the CPS said: Cassius Povey preyed relentlessly on young, vulnerable girls, taking advantage of their vulnerability. He knew his lifestyle as a musician, with a wide circle of friends, would be appealing and he exploited this. "Despite appearing friendly and even empathetic, he had no thought for the well-being of his victims, taking what he wanted from them regardless of the impact on their young lives. His age and status put him in a position of trust to these young people, which he abused, ruthlessly grooming them and taking steps to convince them that he was not abusing them. We set out to demonstrate that in all these instances there was no consent, regardless of what happened between them beforehand or afterwards. These survivors have had to revisit some of the darkest times in their lives. "Poveys actions had a profound impact on them and I am grateful that they have come forward, explained the awful reality of what happened to them and that we have been able to show Cassius Povey for what he is a serious sexual predator. Today's sentence reflects the level of manipulation and abuse these survivors suffered at Cassius Povey's hands.

Description

This is the face of a former Derbyshire police community support officer who secretly filmed children aged as young as three naked in the changing rooms of a local swimming pool. Derby Crown Court heard how James Land had also been collecting vile child abuse films and images for almost 20 years.

The 43-year-old, who worked in the cyber crime unit at Derbyshire police headquarters at Ripley, was found hiding knickers belonging to girls as young as 13 under his bed. And as well as filming the children, the defendant also secretly videoed an adult woman engaged in sexual activity.

Jailing him for a total of 27 months, Judge Nirmal Shant QC said: "An aggravating feature was that you were carrying out this (indecent images) activty for 19 years. And it is quite plain you specifically targeted very young children (with the filming).

"You used your presence (in the changing rooms) to record young children and that has caused a great deal of distress for the families."

As well as the jail term, Judge Shant handed him a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and ordered him to be on the sex offender register, also for 10 years.

At the time he was arrested, in May last years, one of Land's roles was to "engage with children who were suspected of committing low level computer misuse offences".

As part of that role, which he held from 2017 until his arrest last year, was "involved in safeguarding advice to adults and was involved in providing talks to schools on online safety" his sentencing hearing was told. The 43-year-old father-of-one, who was suspended by the force following his arrest, has since quit his role at force HQ in Ripley.

Sarah Slater, prosecuting, said officers became aware that an internet address linked to Land had been accessing indecent image of children and so his then address in The Hill was raided. She said from it were taken a number of electronic devices, including his police laptop.

The prosecutor said: "When the police downloaded and reviewed a hard drive, they located a number of images and a video of young children in various states of undress within a swimming pool changing room. They were able to identify this as Queen's Park Leisure Centre, in Chesterfield and the video was dated from 2015.

"The police then obtained records from the swimming lessons being held at the pool to allow them to identify some of the children involved. They were able to identify five of the children involved but two remain unidentified.

"This video was made in the changing area and without the knowledge of those filmed. It is four minutes 17 seconds long and the defendant also then made two screenshot images from the video."

Miss Slater said police contacted the parents and guardians of those children they suspected might be in the video and they were all able to confirm they were. She said sexually-explicit images and videos were also found of an adult woman which were all taken and filmed without her consent.

The prosecutor said: "The indecent images show children as young as two or three, both females and male and some of them are visibly distressed in the photos. There was also an image of him exposing his (private parts) while on Derbyshire Constabulary premises."

Miss Slater read out two victim impacts statements made by parents of the children the defendant filmed.

One said: "To know he was a police officer in out community has thoroughly damaged our faith and trust of those who are expected to look after us and our children."

Land, now of, Abergele, Conwy, in North Wales Land pleaded guilty to counts of voyeurism and to possessing 365 indecent images of the most serious category A between October 24, 2012 and May 20 last year.

They typically show adults raping and sexually abusing children. He admitted to possessing 262 category B and 686 category C. He also pleaded guilty to possession of 179 prohibited images of children.

Darron Whitehead, mitigating, said his client pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity at the crown court and has no previous convictions.

He said: "On behalf of Mr Land I offer to this court and all of the victims in this case an unreserved apology for what he's done, the offence he has caused and the impact it has had on them.

"None of the recordings or the received images have been shared to others in a wider circle. His marriage had broken down and he is no longer in contact with his son.

"In this very room are his mother and father and two aunties all of whom he feels he has betrayed their values. He also feels he has betrayed the trust of the police force."

Description

A SEXUAL predator from Southampton has been jailed for a total of eight-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to offences against children. Richard Baker, 50, of Smythe Road, was arrested after using a messaging app to contact someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl. He tried to win her trust by giving her "advice" on how to stay safe around men and sending her selfies and photos of his dogs. But he then started sending explicit pornography and expressing a desire to hug her, saying it was up to her if it were an "undressed hug". They agreed to meet in Fareham on January 18 - but the girl was not real. When he arrived he was arrested with a camcorder in his possession. In a prepared statement he gave at the time Baker said he was "trying to explain and warn the girl about how boys can be". But he later confessed to sending the messages and trying to meet up with a child for sex. On February 14 Baker pleaded guilty to arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence and attempting to cause a child to watch an image of sexual activity. He also pleaded guilty to four counts of indecent assault against a girl aged 13-15 when he was in his early twenties. Baker was jailed at Portsmouth Crown Court and will be put on the sex offenders' register for life. Under an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order he will also be banned from having unsupervised contact with children or going within five metres of school grounds. If he breaches the order he will be arrested and sent back to prison. Officers from Hampshire Constabulary investigated the case with support from the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU). DS Heather Hudson, of Hampshire Constabulary, said: By taking Baker off the streets, we have removed a dangerous predator from our community. With young people having ready access to the internet and mobile phones, it is more important than ever that parents stay vigilant and educate their children about how to keep safe online." DS Hudson said the messages sent by Baker illustrated the tactics sexual predators were willing to use to win a childs trust. She added: "I hope this sentence demonstrates the lengths we go to in order to keep children safe from sexual exploitation and abuse, and also might encourage any survivors of child sexual abuse to speak to us. You will be heard, you will be taken seriously and you will be supported in whatever decisions you wish to make.

Description

A sick predator who raped a teenage girl, subjected a young man to a violent sexual assault, and kept footage of children using a bathroom has today (Fri) been jailed for more than ten years.

Bradford man Damien Smith, 35, will now have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life and will also be subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

The citys crown court heard how Smith subjected the young man to a "violent and shocking" sexual assault in 2017, but he was not prosecuted until his later offending against a teenage girl came to light.

Neither of Smith's victims can be identified due to legal reasons, but Judge Colin Burn said his offending was something they will never forget. Judge Burn said the picture presented was of Smith being "a predatory person" and his best piece of mitigation was his guilty pleas to all of his crimes.

He said the teenage girl had bravely reported Smith's repeated abuse of her and when he was arrested, police found indecent images of children on his phone along with recordings of youngsters using a bathroom. Smith, who is currently in custody at HMP Leeds, pleaded guilty to a series of offences including rape of a child, sexual assault, voyeurism and possession of indecent images of children.

In her victim impact statement the girl bravely said: "I feel a lot of anger towards Damien for what he has put me through." Barrister Fiona Clancy, for Smith, said he accepted absolutely that his behaviour was unacceptable and he was disgusted with himself.

"He is remorseful. He is ashamed," said Miss Clancy. "He wishes to serve his time and be punished for this offending."

Judge Burn sentenced Smith to a total of 10-and-a-half years in jail and explained he would have to serve two-thirds of the term before he could apply for release.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Inspector Julie Deacon, of Bradford Safeguarding Unit, described Smith as "a danger to children".

"I would like to praise the bravery and courage from his victims in coming forward and reporting his crimes to police," said Det Insp Deacon.

"Thanks to a thorough investigation by Bradford District Safeguarding Unit and partner agencies, it left Smith with no choice but to plead guilty to the offences.

"This guilty plea has spared his victims a trial. I hope that knowing he is behind bars for a long time will bring them some closure as they try to move forward with their lives. West Yorkshire Police take all reports of this nature seriously and anyone who is a victim of a sexual assault can rest assured we will do all we can to bring the perpetrators to justice."

Description

A Catholic priest has been locked up after being found guilty of sexually abusing six boys in his care. Father Patrick Smythe was locked up for seven and a half years after a jury reached unanimous guilty verdicts after a trial at Leeds Crown Court. Jurors heard how Smythe, 79, preyed on three of his victims during swimming trips to the former Leeds International Pool.Smythe also targeted boys in his care while on a retreat at a hostel in North Yorkshire. A judge who sentenced Smythe told the pensioner he had told a "pack of lies" to the court during the trial.Judge Simon Batiste said: "The offences involved six different complainants who were at the time of the offences aged between 12 and 16. "You are a Catholic priest. "During the trial you denied any criminal wrongdoing whatsoever. "You took an oath on the Bible - the book that you have purported to have used to preach from for many years - and then told a series of falsehoods and lies that the jury have seen through. "In short, your account in relation to these matters is a pack of lies." Smythe, 79, of Manor Square, Otley, was found guilty of six counts of indecent assault and one of attempted indecent assault. The offences were committed around four decades ago. Three of the victims provided statements to court describing the lifelong suffering the abuse had caused them. One described how it led to him abusing alcohol from an early age. He said: "I never felt able to discuss the issue with my family because of the shame and anxiety and fear it caused me to feel. "I hope that as a result of the trial, after 45 years, I can finally move on with my life in a more positive direction." Another victim described Smythe as "a beast". He said: "He used the church to get within touching distance of young boys." A third victim said the abuse caused him to lose faith in the Catholic church and that he feared he would never see Smythe be brought to justice. He said: "I told myself that if he was never judged in this life then he will get his judgement before God when he meets his maker." Smythe showed no emotion as he sat in the court dock during the hearing. In addition to the prison sentence, he was told he must go on the sex offender register for life. Susannah Proctor, mitigating for Smythe, said: "He has given his life to the church. The church are his family. "I have no doubt that from today the church will withdraw that support for him. "That is something of his own making." Judge Batiste paid tribute to the victims as he imposed the sentence upon Smythe. He said: "For some of these boys it is evident that the impact of your abuse was significant and has lived with them until the present day. "I pay tribute to the six victims in this case who have shown great bravery and fortitude to give evidence against you." After the case, Detective Inspector Vicky Alexander, of Leeds District Safeguarding Unit, said: Smythe abused his position of trust to systematically exploit the victims as children over a number of years. His actions will have had a lasting impact on the victims lives, and we commend the considerable courage they have shown by coming forward as adults to report the offences and support the prosecution that has seen him brought to justice. We will always treat sexual offences of this nature very seriously and we have specialist safeguarding officers who will support victims throughout the investigation and court process. This was a lengthy and complex investigation which saw safeguarding officers from Leeds and Wakefield painstakingly building up a detailed evidential picture which has resulted in Smythe being convicted. We hope it will provide some degree of comfort to the victims to know that he has now had to answer for his actions.

Description

A paedophile climbed up a ladder and into a bedroom to sexually assault two sleeping little girls. Convicted sex offender Luke McHugh was supposed to be locked into his secure accommodation on Knowsleys Longmeadow Road and prevented from leaving without supervision. Yet the 20-year-old tampered with a window and escaped in the dead of night to launch his attack on a house in the local area in July last year. Liverpool Crown Court heard today he was only stopped from sexually assaulting two girls in the house after their dad heard him get in. Nardeen Nemat, prosecuting, said McHugh planned his attack for days, using loud music and a request for quiet time from his support workers to sneak out of his room and spy on the house where his victims lived. He was caught on CCTV lurking outside the home on numerous days leading up to the attack after seeing toys through the windows. Finally, he climbed into the back garden of the house, found a ladder and placed it against the wall under the bedroom window. Hot weather meant it had been left ajar and McHugh climbed in before being disturbed by the girls dad. He then fled and went back to his accommodation without being apprehended. The girls parents were initially unsure about the motivation for the break-in, believing it could be a burglary. However, police investigations later uncovered CCTV of a man later identified as McHugh visiting the house on numerous occasions before the attack. When police arrested him in August they found a range of disturbing items in his bedroom in his accommodation unit. They included childrens toys and underwear, as well as nappies, condoms and sexual lubricant. He was in the unit after trying to incite an eight-year-old girl he was chatting to over the internet to send him pictures of herself naked. He also has convictions for possession of indecent images of children. Ms Nemat said his previous convictions and the extensive planning that went into the break in pointed towards McHugh having the intention to commit a serious sexual assault. She also referenced probation reports which pointed to McHughs fixation on sexual activity. Ms Nemat said: The defendant is quite clearly obsessed with having his [sexual] needs met. He also has a deep rooted fascination with and sexual attraction towards children. The girls mum spoke today of the familys difficulty in coming to terms with what had happened to them. She said that while McHughs ultimate aim had been avoided, she and the wider family had been left traumatised by what had happened. She said it was his intention to make our wonderful precious girls his victims. This really is any parents nightmare - and our nightmare continues. The woman said she was now scared of the dark and worried about how to explain the attack to her children in the future. Jonathan Duffy, defending, said McHughs age and, particularly, his complex mental health conditions, including ADHD and autism, represented a significant impediment to his understanding of his offending. However, he said McHugh understood a lengthy prison sentence awaited him. Mr Duffy said: He accepts that and he understands he needs help and probably treatment and he will take any opportunity he can in prison to avail himself of those opportunities. The judge, Robert Trevor-Jones, said McHugh had carried out his attack in a calculated and predatory way, specifically scoping out the house in the days before the attack. Referring to the girls mothers statement to the court, he said the incident was every parents worst nightmare and it was only the girls father that stopped him from going further. Judge Trevor-Jones said: Some noise luckily awoke the father who opened the door only to see your silhouette in the childrens room and to shout out. That caused you to flee. Even more fortunate of course was the fact that neither child woke up to witness a stranger in their bedroom and that the fathers actions avoided the girls being violated and traumatised. Judge Trevor-Jones said he was confident McHugh intended to commit a serious sexual assault on the children. McHugh, of Longmeadow Road, was detained for a total of ten years, the maximum term available for trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence. The judge extended his initial sentence of six years and eight months to take account of McHughs dangerousness. He will serve two thirds behind bars before being assessed for parole.

Description

A young pervert found with almost 2,000 sick child abuse images admitted to police he'd had a sexual interest in them since the age of 12. Derby Crown Court heard how police raided the Derbyshire home of Alexander Mellors and seized a number of electronic devices.

On them were images and films of the most serious category which typically show adults abusing young victims in the most disturbing way. The 23-year-old, who the court was told has no friends or social circle, shook in fear in the dock this week as he was spared an immediate term of imprisonment.

Handing him a three-year community order, Judge Shaun Smith QC said: "What you did was bad and the reason it was bad is because the children you were looking at in these pictures are real children being abused by men. And if people continue looking at them then the people can think they can carry on doing it.

"I don't wish to embarrass (you) but (you) have got no friends and (you've) had peer group issues throughout (your) life and (you) have effectively and metaphorically locked (yourself) in (your) bedroom. You present as a pathetic character and I don't mean that in a horrible way.

"I mean you have suffered and as a result of that now you feel the only thing you can do is to go on your computer and, to quote you, 'go down this rabbit hole' and carrying on looking."

Kevin Jones, prosecuting, said police raided the Sandiacre home of Mellors on December 3, last year. He said: "Police officers had information there may be someone downloading indecent images of children and so they executed a warrant.

"Seized was a USB stick, an Apple phone, a PC power, an Xbox and an HP laptop and within them were found a number of indecent images of children. In total there were 304 x category A images (the most serious) and 25 movies; 332 category B images and seven films; 999 category C images and seven movies and 191 prohibited images (of children).

"Mr Mellors was interviewed and he was quite candid. He said he had a sexual interest in children but had only downloaded the prohibited images. He said he'd had such an interest since the age of 12. He is a man of good character."

Mellors, of Victoria Road, pleaded guilty to possession of prohibited images of children and three counts of possessing indecent images of children. His mother and father were in the public gallery to support their son.

Addressing his defence barrister, Joe Harvey, Judge Smith said: "I am not sending him to prison, if I do it will be a short sentence and he will get absolutely no assistance."

Joe Harvey, mitigating, replied: "It is assistance he is absolutely desperate for, he is a young man that presents as younger than his age."

As part of the community order, Mellors will have to attend 30 rehabilitation sessions and a 42-day sex offender rehabilitation programme. He was also ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid work and was handed a five-year sexual harm prevention order.

The defendant will be on the sex offender register, also for five years. Judge Smith said: "You don't want to go to prison do you?"

A visibly upset Mellors replied from the dock: "No."

Judge Smith said: "Of course you don't, keep out of trouble, stop looking at these images and you won't. Don't cause your parents any more hassle."

Description

A 21-year-old from Somerset has been jailed for underage sexual activity with schoolgirls. Zach Peploe was aged 17, 18 and 19, when he targeted five girls aged between 12 and 14.

He pestered some of the young girls on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat and sent them naked sexualised videos of himself. He told others they were beautiful and he loved them before having sex at his house or in his car.

Taunton Crown Court was told his vulnerable victims were all upset following their encounters with him. They now suffer flashbacks, anxiety and find it hard to trust men. One self-harmed and another tried overdosing due to the trauma.

Peploe, of Huntspill Road, Highbridge, has been jailed for three years and ten months. A probation report said he had shown little remorse, was immature and came from a difficult background.

The defendant pleaded guilty to nine offences against five victims. The offences included engaging in sexual activity with a child and causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The offences included groping a 14-year-old's breasts after she fell asleep in his car when he was aged 17. Another victim was aged just 12 when he sent her videos of himself masturbating. He was 18 when he "begged her" for naked pictures on Instagram, told her she was beautiful and sent her sexually explicit messages, said prosecutor Ms Nikki Coombe. The victim said the contact "made her feel sick".

A distressed third victim told her teacher she had sex with Peploe when she was 14 and he was 18. She had felt pressured into doing it.

Peploe carried on offending after being released under police investigation. He targeted two more girls. One 14-year-old consented to sex with him at his house having felt too frightened to say no. When she told him how old she was he said "cool" and bragged about how many times he had had sex. He also had sex with another girl when she was 13 and 14 and he was 19.

When police investigated his phone they found he had been contacting hundreds of girls a month on Facebook and trying to chat.

Mr Harry Ahuja, defending, said Peploe was a 'vulnerable young man' himself. He had a borderline personality disorder and did not come from a stable background. He had been making good progress since his arrest. He said Peploe never lied about his age to the girls or forced the victims into sex or sexual activity.

Judge Paul Cook made restraining orders not to contact victims and Peploe was given a 10-year sexual offences behaviour order to manage his risk once he is back in the community.

Peploe must also sign the sex offender register for an indefinite period.

Description

A man has been jailed for 13 years after being found guilty of raping a woman he met in a nightclub in Kingston. Taulant Krasniqi 25 (21.11.96) of Cottingham Road, Feltham was sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on Tuesday, 5 April. He was found guilty at the same court on 25 January of rape having pleaded guilty to voyeurism and theft earlier in proceedings. These all relate to incidents that took place on Sunday, 12 November 2017. On that morning, Krasniqi went to a nightclub in Kingston where he approached a woman in her 20s on the dancefloor. The woman went home with Krasniqi but went to sleep in her bedroom. She woke briefly to see Krasniqi sitting at the foot of her bed with her phone in his hand, but when she awoke he was gone. It was only when one of the womans friends contacted her later that day to say she had been sent a video on Snapchat from an unknown person showing the woman lying naked in bed and an empty condom wrapper. The woman called police as she had not consented to having sex with Krasniqi and an investigation was launched. Krasniqi was identified and arrested; he claimed the sexual intercourse was consensual. His phone was seized as part of the investigation on being examined videos were found showing Krasniqi having sex with the woman. Throughout the videos the woman is not engaging, demonstrating she was not in a position to consent. Messages from Krasniqis phone also showed he had spoken to friends stating he had taken items from the room, including an Oyster Card and iPod. Krasniqi was charged and subsequently pleaded guilty at court. Detective Inspector Julian Crabb said: Krasniqi knew that the woman he had gone home with was in no position to consent to sexual activity yet he took advantage of this situation and raped her. He also filmed to woman without her knowledge and shared this on social media. His behaviour is truly abhorrent and I am pleased that he has been handed a lengthy prison sentence which reflects the gravity of his offending. I would also like to commend the woman who Krasniqi attacked she has shown immense courage to report this to police and support this investigation and I hope this sentencing allows her the opportunity to begin to move on with her life. Anyone who reports a sexual offence to police will be offered the support of a specially trained officer to help them through the investigative process in this case, PC Sheena Woodward worked tirelessly and has been invaluable in helping to secure this conviction.