Latest Offenders

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A sex offender has been sent to prison more than two decades after he abused a girl under the age of ten.

David Wilson was locked up for two and a half years after pleading guilty to indecent assault.

Wilson, 47, was aged in his 20s when he committed the offence.

The victim read a statement to the court describing the years of physiological torment she had suffered since her ordeal.

Judge Graham Reeds QC told Wilson, of Spittal Hardwick Lane, Castleford, that he must go on the sex offender register for life.

He told Wilson that he had caused the victim "significant psychological harm."

The judge also praised the victim for her bravery and the dignity she had shown.

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He had 'extremely disturbing' chats and shared child rape videos and images on WhatsApp

A paedophile had sick online chats in which he fantasised about being a dad raping his own baby.

Kyle Griffiths, 23, took part in "extremely distributing" conversations with other perverts on WhatsApp.

And he also used the messaging service to share some of his vile collection of child rape videos.

Liverpool Crown Court heard his disgusting stash included clips of babies and toddlers being raped.

Police acting on information about the uploading of indecent images raided his home in Middleton Drive, Prescot, on July 6 last year.

His Samsung mobile phone was seized and found to contain 47 Category A indecent images - the most serious category showing child rape - including 13 videos.

Christopher Hopkins, prosecuting, said these files, along with 41 Category B and 28 Category C indecent images, plus 1,616 prohibited (cartoon) images of children, were all downloaded between October 2019 and July 2020.

Analysis of the phone showed Griffiths had also distributed Category A, B and C indecent images on WhatsApp.

The court heard he sent a Category A video, two Category B photos and a Category C photo to one person on April 2, then on April 5 sent two Category A photos and one Category C photo to a different person.

Mr Hopkins said: "I should also highlight a conversation which was sent by the defendant... I'm not going to read it out."

He added: "It's extremely disturbing. It's a conversation where the defendant sets out a narrative of raping a baby as if he were the father of the baby."

Mr Hopkins said: "There are other conversations which I'm not going to refer to, but I think it's fair to say that in summary the conversations with other users do talk about very young children."

One Category A video showed a baby aged between four to six months being raped and another a girl aged three or four being raped.

Griffiths admitted three counts of downloading, one count of possessing and three counts of distributing indecent photos of children, plus one count of possessing prohibited images of children.

Jeremy Rawson, defending, said his client, who had no previous convictions, had references from his mum and stepdad, sitting in the public gallery.

He said Griffiths was single, with no children and in full time work, having lost a previous job as a result of the police investigation, but gained another.

Mr Rawson said a pre-sentence report showed his "regret and remorse" and full acceptance of responsibility and his "sexual motivation".

He said: "I'm not going to rehearse in full the detail of the pre-sentence report, but your honour will be aware that he himself was subject to abuse of the type which he then went on to view and that's had a significant effect upon him.

"He's deeply ashamed, not just for the fact that the offence has been committed, but the fact his family have undergone the indignity of a search of their premises, they had their electronic items, laptops, iPads, phones, seized and searched."

Mr Rawson added: "They have taken some considerable time to come to terms with what has happened to him as a result of this.

"They stand by him, your honour can see they're sat at the back of the court today in support of him, and are anxious he's dealt with appropriately."

The lawyer said the report identified the substantial "immaturity" of Griffiths, who was 21 at the time, and that his remorse was "genuine".

He said Griffiths was undergoing therapy with child sex abuse prevention charity The Lucy Faithfull Foundation to address his issues.

Mr Rawson said sentencing guidelines suggested a starting point of three years in prison.

He urged the judge to reduce this because of his client's mitigation and full one third credit for his guilty plea to a sentence less than two years, which could then be suspended, so he could be rehabilitated in the community.

Judge Denis Watson, QC, said he bore in mind all that he had read in the report and the references about Griffiths, "which tells me you come from a good family, that you have been successful in obtaining work and there is genuine remorse and shame".

He also acknowledged that Griffiths had actively sought help and noted his age and immaturity.

However, the judge said aggravating features of the case included the "extreme youth" of the children, the detail of Griffiths' conversation and the fact he distributed Category A images to two different people.

Judge Watson said although there was a prospect of rehabilitation, the distribution of those images was the "dominant factor" in him deciding the only appropriate punishment was immediate custody.

Griffiths started breathing heavily in the dock as he was jailed for 18 months.

The judge ordered Griffiths to comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and sign on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

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Matthew Peter Wood sent a young girl intimate images as well as videos showing him touching himself.

Using Facebook Messenger, the 19-year-old of Old Redbridge Road, asked the girl called Sophie to send him naked photos.

However, Wood was speaking with a decoy account using the name of a fictional person which had been set up to snare paedophiles.

Prosecution barrister, Jonathan Underhill, told how Wood was later confronted by a group of paedophile hunters who travelled to Southampton.

He initially denied the accusations against him and claimed his phone had been hacked.

However, he was then shown screenshots of his interactions with Sophie and admitted to what he had done.

Appearing before Southampton Crown Court he was charged with intentionally attempting to communicate with a person under 16 who he did not reasonably believe to be 16 or over, the communication being intended to encourage her to make a communication that was sexual. He was also charged with intentionally attempting to cause a child to look at an image of himself engaging in sexual activity.

He pleaded guilty to the offences which happened between April and July last year at an earlier hearing.

Defending, Mark Florida-James, said his client has had depression since he was 12 years old when his girlfriend at the time died.

Mr Florida-James said: “Put quite bluntly Mr Wood is still a young man. He is terrified of what might happen to him.”

At sentencing, Judge Peter Henry, said “I make it clear also that I have concerns about the ways of these so-called paedophile hunters because there is a narrow line between people who really are doing it for virtuous reasons and those who do it for recognition on Facebook."

He jailed him for six months, suspended for two years. Wood must complete 60 rehabilitation activity days and 120 hours of unpaid work.

Furthermore, he has been made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for seven years and must register as a sex offender for the same period.

He warned: “Had this been a real child, you would be going down those steps behind you.”

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The general manager of a tipi hire company has admitted committing fraud and sex offences ahead of a trial for further voyeurism charges.

Gareth Fearnley Edwards, 40, pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by abuse of position at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on June 29.

Edwards was the general manager of Big Chief Tipis, based in Bolton, where he falsified freelancers' invoices before paying the fees to himself, heard the court.

The manager, of Willand Close in Breightmet, also pleaded guilty to one count of recording a person doing a private act and one count of making an indecent picture of a child at a plea and trial preparation hearing in Bolton Crown Court today (July 5).

He pleaded not guilty to two counts of attempts to possess indecent pictures of a child, another count of recording a person doing a private act and another count of making an indecent picture of a child.

Edwards will go on trial for the offences he denies.

The case has been adjourned until the trial is scheduled to begin on June 6, 2022.

Edwards has been released on bail.

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An abuser convicted of a catalogue of sex crimes against a Loughborough schoolgirl is facing a "significant" prison sentence.

Darren Looby was found guilty of 18 offences, at the end of a three week trial at Leicester Crown Court.

The 39-year-old defendant denied the offences.

The court heard that Looby, of Chilwell, Nottingham, began abusing the a girl in Loughborough when she was 11-years-old.

Two members of the jury were discharged during the trial, leaving remaining 10 jurors to bring in 18 guilty verdicts, all with a majority of 9 - 1.

They deliberated for nine and a half hours.

Looby was convicted of:

- Six counts of sexual activity with a child

- Four counts of rape

- Four counts of sexual assault of a child under 13

- Two counts of rape of a child under 13

- Two counts of assault of a child under 13 by penetration

His crimes started in 2011 and continued until 2018 when the victim now in her early 20's left the town to attend university.

She contacted police in November 2018 and said the abuse she suffered at the hands of Looby eventually became normal and expected. She added she was scared about what he would do if she told anyone about what had happened.

After the guilty verdicts were announced Judge Keith Raynor thanked the jurors for their "public service" and said the defendant would be receiving a "significant prison sentence."

He adjourned the case for the preparation of a pre-sentence report to assess the "issue of dangerousness."

Looby was remanded into custody to await sentencing on Friday August 13.

Afterwards, the officer in the case, Det Con Emma Burrows, from the forces Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: Looby felt he had a degree of control over his victim and that he would be able to get away with his crimes because she wouldnt tell anyone.

But, after moving away to study at university, the victim was finally able to tell police about what happened and this is what led to him being brought to justice.

"I hope the outcome of the trial can provide some relief to move on with life.

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He claimed he only breached sex offender rules because he was 'running scared'

A convicted rapist claimed he only breached the rules of the Sex Offenders Register because he was "running scared".

Alan Badley once raped a woman in her own home and threatened to show a video of the attack to people on his estate.

The then 20-year-old thug headbutted and repeatedly punched the victim during a vicious three-hour ordeal in April 2008.

She only escaped when she persuaded him she was going to buy cigarettes and fled covered in blood to a neighbour's home.

Badley, from Woodchurch in Birkenhead, was found guilty of rape after a trial and jailed for seven years in December 2008.

The young dad - with three children to three different women - was also told to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Liverpool Crown Court today heard he has kept breaching its rules, including failing to notify police when he moves address.

Simon Duncan, prosecuting, said the now 33-year-old told police he was living in Rice Lane, Wallasey, on September 7, 2020.

But when an offender manager visited him on April 19, they "found the flat had been trashed and there was nobody present".

Badley wasn't questioned about this until his arrest on June 3, when he claimed he left the flat in March and started buying cheap cars to live in.

Mr Duncan said: "He told the police he had formed a relationship with another occupant at the flat who was married. He was threatened by her partner and left for a few days."

Judge Gary Woodhall said: "That is consistent with what officers found at the scene, with some graffiti and the like."

The court heard Badley was also arrested by police in Caernarfon, North Wales on March 19, after a call from a member of the public.

Officers found him sitting in the driver's seat of a car, with the engine running, and a woman sitting in the passenger seat.

They could smell alcohol and cannabis and he admitted having "a few drinks of vodka" and handed over a cannabis grinder.

Badley failed a roadside breath test and later gave a reading of 40mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

He was previously banned from the road for dangerous driving in 2003 and never took an extended retest to regain his licence.

Yet Badley told police he drove to North Wales to "chill out" and after parking up, was asked to move his car.

Judge Woodhall said Badley had crashed into a wall and the car was "still wedged against it when the police arrived".

While on bail over that incident, and still wanted over breaching his notification requirements, Badley drove again on June 3.

Police saw him at the wheel of a Ford Fiesta on false plates on the M53 and stopped the car in Birkenhead at around 8.40am.

Badley later admitted failing to comply with his notification requirements, two counts of driving while disqualified, two counts of driving without insurance, fraudulently altering a vehicle registration mark, being in charge of a vehicle while above the alcohol limit, and breach of bail.

The court heard his criminal record includes four previous breaches of notification requirements.

One is from July 2017, when he was jailed for three years for offences which also included assault causing actual bodily harm and harassment with violence, after repeatedly beating a former partner in the North East.

Durham Crown Court heard during a four-month relationship he threatened to slit her throat and persuaded her to have her pet dog put down.

Badley was last convicted of breaching his notification requirements following a period of homelessness last summer.

On December 14 he was handed 26 weeks in jail, suspended for 18 months.

The court today heard Badley's current girlfriend was sitting in the public gallery and had written a letter to the judge.

Bernice Campbell, defending, said all of the offences were linked to her client's "chaotic life".

She said: "He was released from prison, no fixed address, he initially met his current partner, though they did have a break in the middle, and she put him on the right tracks.

"He got accommodation and unfortunately that didn't work out, and neither did the relationship at that time.

"He's a man who has had a history of things that have upset his adult life, such as abuse when he was much younger, and he's at the moment currently waiting to be reviewed in regard to PTSD."

Ms Campbell said Badley had abused alcohol, cannabis and heroin, but was now on methadone in prison and trying "to get on the straight and narrow", while also receiving medication for depression, anxiety and borderline personality disorder.

She said the latest breach of his notification requirements wasn't deliberate and a result of him "running scared because of threats to his life".

Ms Campbell added that Badley's partner was willing to support him and give him a home when he is next released from jail.

The lawyer said: "She will stand by him. She sees through perhaps what many don't."

Judge Woodhall adjourned the hearing just before a lunchtime break at 1pm, stating he would pass sentence after 2pm.

Badley, appearing on a video link from HMP Altcourse, said: "Do I have to come back for that your honour?"

"You do," the judge replied, to which Badley moaned: "What a joke."

Judge Woodhall jailed him for 20 months in total, including four months of his suspended prison sentence.

He also banned him from the road for two years and 10 months.

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A youngster left troubled after being molested by a Thornbury man found courage, with maturity, to report his abuser.

And as a result that abuser is now in prison.

The boy was aged 10 or 11 when Jeremy Farrow sexually abused him, Bristol Crown Court heard.

After Farrow told him not to say anything the child said nothing, but after some years he emailed his mum describing what Farrow had subjected him to.

Police were called in and Farrow was arrested.

Farrow, 53, of Castle Court, pleaded guilty to: causing a child aged under-13 to engage in sexual activity; engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child aged under-16 and breach of a Sexual Offence Prevention Order. (SOPO)

The Recorder of Bristol His Honour Judge Peter Blair QC jailed him for seven-and-a-half years.

The judge told him: "You told him to keep quiet and that's what he did until it all became too much.

"You have caused severe, psychological harm to that young man."

Farrow was barred from working with children and was told to comply with sex offender notification, indefinitely.

James Tucker, prosecuting via video link, said the boy changed from being "bright and diligent" to a cannabis smoker whose academic work declined.

There came a time when he emailed his mum, describing how Farrow abused him.

The court heard Farrow committed a sex act in front of the boy, and got the boy to carry out a sex act on him.

As a result the complainant found relationships difficult and acted improperly at school, the court heard.

But as years passed he came to realise the abuse and its toll on him and no longer kept it bottled.

Tabitha Macfarlane, defending, said her client had his own issues to deal with, including a catastrophic brain injury.

She told the court Farrow, who has breached his SOPO on several occasions, wanted to make a fresh start in jail and hoped to take courses including a sex offender programme.

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A sex offender who initially avoided a jail term is in prison after judges said his first sentence was too low.

Ionut Voicu, 36, admitted engaging in sexual communications with what he thought was a 13-year-old girl, with the intention of having sex with her.

He found he was messaging an undercover police officer when he sought to meet the girl for sex and was then arrested.

Voicu, of Massington Park, Taunton, Somerset, has now been jailed for three years and four months.

He had initially been made subject of a community order for three years on the condition he attended an offender treatment programme and did 40 hours of unpaid work.

'Appalled'

But his sentence was increased last Thursday after the Solicitor General, Lucy Frazer, intervened and referred it to the Court of Appeal.

She said: "I was appalled by Voicu's intentions and it was only thanks to the vigilance of our police that his criminality did not extend further.

"I welcome the decision of the Court of Appeal to increase his sentence to properly reflect the severity of his actions."

Voicu will also be subject of a sexual harm prevention order for five years, which he was originally given as part of his sentence after admitting eight offences on 14 May at Taunton Crown Court.

They included five counts of causing a child to watch or look at an image of sexual activity, two counts of having sexual communication with a child and another of attempting to arrange or facilitate a child sex offence.

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A paedophile who had images of a man having sex with a dog also shared a sickening video of a five-year-old girl being raped.

Among his criminal content Alan Bainbridge kept 501 images of children being sexually abused.

Liverpool Crown Court heard the 62-year-old also amassed 52 images of bestiality involving dogs.

He was today jailed after a judge heard how police found chats in which he was "discussing sexual abuse of children".

Robert Wyn-Jones, prosecuting, said on May 12 last year "as a result of intelligence" police searched Bainbridge's Warrington home during which a "number of devices" were seized.

He was arrested on suspicion of possessing, making and distributing indecent images of children.

Bainbridge answered no comment in interview. The devices underwent a forensic examination.

Officers found between January 8 and May 13 last year Bainbridge kept 151 category A images, which involve children being raped.

He also kept 87 category B images and 263 category C images.

Mr Wyn-Jones said the majority of the pictures involved girls around eight-years-old.

Bainbridge also had 52 images of bestiality involving dogs.

Mr Wyn-Jones explained Bainbridge had used "various chat forums" on which he was "discussing sexual abuse of children".

In one chat Bainbridge shared two sickening child rape videos, one of which involved a five-year-old girl and the other which involved a girl of "about three".

In a police interview Bainbridge admitted having a sexual interest in children and that he had sent images to other people.

Bainbridge is of effective previous good character, the court heard.

Kyra Badman, defending, said he was "open" with the author of a pre-sentence report which she said was "perhaps indicative of his willingness to engage with the probation service and his motivation to change".

She said he has sought help from the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, Samaritans, and local mental health services and he is "keen to change his ways".

Ms Badman said he has recently retired "really because of the shame of his employer finding out about these offences".

She said his marriage had broken down as a result of his offences and he had become "socially isolated", which has caused him to struggle with his mental health.

Alan Bainbridge, of Doward Street, Widnes, admitted possession of indecent images of a child, three counts of making indecent images, distributing indecent images of a child and possession of extreme pornographic images.

The judge, Recorder Eric Lamb, sentencing, said: "By your age you should know much better than to behave in the way you have done, bringing yourself before the court."

Recorder Lamb said: "The pre-sentence report sets out the many difficulties you have had in your life which result in you now finding yourself isolated and in poor mental health, but expressing yourself you are determined to overcome your previous way of behaving with help from the Lucy Faithfull Foundation."

The judge accepted Bainbridge's genuine remorse but said "appropriate punishment can only be achieved by immediate custody".

Bainbridge was jailed for two years, which was reduced to one year and 10 months due to the "onerous" conditions in prisons as a result of the pandemic.

He ordered to comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years and must sign the Sex Offenders Register for the same period.

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A woman's supposed friend punched and kicked her when she refused to perform a sex act on him.

Mohammad Keneshlou told his victim he was "sad" and tried to hug and kiss her after an evening drinking.

The woman told him to stop, said she was married and even rang her husband to make clear she wasn't interested.

But 28-year-old Keneshlou, of Rocky Lane, Anfield, exposed himself and then pushed the woman's head towards him.

Liverpool Crown Court today heard she only escaped after biting him on the hand and screaming to alert neighbours.

Nicola Daley, prosecuting, said Keneshlou and the woman went for a walk to a park in Liverpool one evening in 2019.

They then went to her accommodation, where they had some drinks, before going to her room.

Ms Daley said the victim accepted that when Keneshlou said he was sad and lay down on her bed, she lay down next to him.

However, when he tried to kiss her and rub his clothed genital region against her she told him to stop and pushed him away.

The court heard she rang her husband to tell him she loved him, because she wanted Keneshlou to realise she was serious.

Ms Daley said Keneshlou pulled her back onto the bed and tried to hug and kiss her, then exposed himself.

She said: "He was pleading with her to give him oral sex. She refused and he initially tried to push her head towards his penis, but then she refused again and so he punched her to the face."

The woman again refused and he punched her again and kicked her, as she tried to fight back and screamed.

Neighbours responded to her cries, she ran out of her room and police were called, before she was taken to hospital with swelling and bruising to her eyes, cheek and lips.

Ms Daley said the victim now suffers with anxiety, struggles to sleep and is "fearful of being in the company of other men".

The prosecutor said: "She has described moving away from Liverpool to try and put the matter behind her, but has indicated that continuing anxiety has made it difficult for her to work and the relationship with her husband has deteriorated.

"She describes being scared of being attacked both when at home and when out in public."

Keneshlou, who was arrested at around 10.25pm, had scratches to his arms and an injury to his thumb consistent with the victim fighting against him.

Ms Daley said he was "clearly under the influence of alcohol" and had vomited next to the woman's bed.

When interviewed, Keneshlou said he had felt "sorry" for the woman and described her as "unattractive".

He said she told him she was "lonely", and she instigated kissing before reaching for his penis, so he pushed her away.

Keneshlou was set to stand trial after denying attempted rape, sexual assault and assault causing actual bodily harm.

Prosecutors dropped the attempted rape charge, which was ordered to lie on the file, after he admitted the other charges shortly before the trial.

Keneshlou, who has no previous convictions, had multiple character references, including a testimonial from Reverend David Gavin of Christ Church in Anfield, who was sitting in the public gallery today.

Ben Jones, defending, said theses references showed a "very decent human being who goes out of his way to assist those who are even less fortunate than him".

He said Keneshlou had sought to demonstrate remorse "albeit with some minimisation", had undergone counselling with Reverend Gavin, and it had been his "sole experience" drinking alcohol.

Mr Jones said Keneshlou feared prison because of a "traumatising" experience in custody abroad and suggested he was a "good man", who if spared jail could continue his "good works" for others.

As Keneshlou cried in the dock, his lawyer said: "He wants me to emphasise that he seeks if not prays every day for forgiveness from the victim of his offending.

"He recognises the damage that he's done to her, he recognises the impact upon her and it, I seek to assure the court, has affected him deeply as well."

Judge Anil Murray told Keneshlou: "This must have been a thoroughly terrifying experience for the complainant.

"She screamed for help and bit you on the hand to get away."

He said the impact included her losing more than 10kg in weight, feeling unable to go out shopping or trust anyone, and leaving the city.

The judge said it was "a very bad example" of sexual assault, with physical and psychological injuries, against a "vulnerable" woman.

Referring to a pre-sentence report, which found he likely "held negative attitudes towards women", the judge said: "You say you're remorseful, however you only accepted limited responsibility and you put the blame on your victim."

He added: "I've read about your background, I note that you come from Iran and that you were tortured and that you came to the UK as an asylum seeker. I note that you have anxiety, depression and PTSD."

However, the judge said a psychiatrist found Keneshlou being "emotionally unstable" and his mental health issues didn't lessen his culpability and that his account to the doctor of what happened was "not consistent with guilt to these offences".

Keneshlou sobbed as Judge Murray jailed him for two years and eight months, imposed a five-year restraining order to protect the woman, and told him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.

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A CHILD rapist who sexually abused three young girls over more than 20 years has been jailed for 22 years.

Dennis Johnson, aged 58, of Manchester Road, Westhoughton, appeared from jail via a video link to the Nightingale Court at the University of Bolton Stadium was sentenced to 22 years and six months in prison plus an additional year on licence by Judge Graeme Smith.

Following a trial he was found guilty of committing 21 separate offences including rape, sexual assault, causing actual bodily harm and witness intimidation.

Johnson, who committed his offences in the Wigan area, was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for life.

His vile offences came to light in September 2018 when police were contacted by social services to say that a pre-teenage girl had disclosed that Johnson had been touching her.

Then, a short time after the disclosure, it was revealed that Johnson had also abused two other girls between 1991 and 2004. The abuse started when they were as young as aged four and lasted until they were in their mid teens.

The girls were repeatedly sexually assaulted by Johnson and he raped one of them multiple times.

The court heard that Johnson also sexually abused a young boy in the 1990s, forcing the child to commit a sex act on him.

"Their trauma is real, deep, and long-lasting. It is impossible to hear the statements made by those you abused without feeling deeply moved," Judge Smith told Johnson.

The judge added that the evidence heard during the trial "paints a comprehensive picture of you as a violent, controlling man with no regard to the effects of your actions on others."

During the trial Johnson tried to claim was innocent and his accusers and their families had conspired against him for financial reasons, fabicating evidence and influencing witnesses.

"You not only denied all of the allegations against you, but you effectively created your own alternative narrative, in which you were the victim," said Judge Smith.

"In fact, the evidence against you was overwhelming, and the allegations made by you against the very people you had abused have, I am sure, only increased the trauma they have suffered."

Speaking following the sentencing DC Karen Dewhurst said: "The sexual exploitation of children is abhorrent and Johnson's despicable abuse spanned years.

"I want to commend the bravery of all four of Johnson's victims, their courage and support throughout this investigation and has been crucial in helping to secure a significant conviction.

"Although today's sentence will never reverse the abuse Johnson inflicted, I hope it does help in providing a sense of closure for his victims knowing that he will be behind bars for over 22 years.

"Child sexual exploitation takes place in many forms and GMP is committed to ensuring all those responsible for such grotesque abuse face the appropriate justice." If you have been the victim of such crimes or feel you know someone who is a victim then please get in touch with police. All reports will be treated with the respect and sensitivity they deserve and we will work closely with you to ensure justice prevails."

And and NSPCC spokesman aid: This was a sustained and sickening campaign of abuse which spanned decades, and the bravery of Johnsons victims in speaking up cannot be understated.

Child sexual abuse can devastate lives with its impact lasting long into adulthood and we would urge anyone who has been sexually abused, no matter when it happened or who the perpetrator was, to seek support and help ensure predators like Johnson can be brought to justice.

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A pensioner who subjected a young girl to a campaign of rape which left her traumatised for life has been jailed for 23 years.

John Gillis, 81, arrogantly thought he had got away with the despicable abuse he carried out many years ago.

But justice has finally caught up with him and he is now likely to die in prison as he was told he must serve two-thirds of the 23 years behind bars.

As Gillis, known as Jack, was locked up at Newcastle Crown Court, his victim said he will have to carry the shame of being a paedophile "for the rest of your pathetic life".

The woman, who was just seven at the time, said: "He was like a beast on the prowl and I was his prey.

"I felt worthless and have tried to commit suicide several times as I felt I couldn't live with the shame of what he did."

She added: "Jack, where you are today, because of your arrogance, you believed yourself invincible but you have been proved wrong and justice has been met.

"You have to carry the brand paedophile for the rest of your life.

"May you languish in prison for the rest of your pathetic life

Gillis, of Plessey Road, Blyth, Northumberland, was convicted after a trial in May of six counts of rape, three of them when the victim was under 13, and two of indecent assault.

Judge Tim Gittins told him: "You vilely abused her, raping her repeatedly despite the obvious distress and pain you knew you were causing her."

When the victim tried to tell Gillis' mother what he had done, when she was 15, she was dismissed and denounced as a liar, the court heard.

Judge Gittins said Gillis did everything he could to create the impression she was making it up.

He added: "You arrogantly dismissed her complaint and, frankly, dismissed her as a human being.

"There has been no shame from you, no contrition.

"Even when cornered in cross-examination, you still sought to blame her, telling the court she was coming on to you."

Judge Gittins said the truth is now out as a result of the victim's courage.

He added: "You were a paedophile and a serial rapist of her and she is a survivor but at an almost catastrophic cost to almost every aspect of her life.

"You sought to say she was vindictive when in fact it was the other way around.

"You were clearly a dangerous offender as a young adult."

As well as the prison sentence, Gillis will be on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Phil Gibbs, defending, said: "He may well spend the rest of his life in prison. He is an elderly man.

"It's a difficult age to find himself in prison. Every day will be difficult.

"He has always been active and his first few weeks of enforced idleness has been a punishment for him."

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A "monster" paedophile who molested girls as young as five years old is among the criminals jailed by the courts across the South West over the last month.

Despite the challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic over the last 18 months, the courts are still striving to dispense justice and has remained committed to putting criminals behind bars.

Despite many courts operating remotely and the justice system only now starting to get back to functioning on an in-person basis, those committing the most serious crimes are still being dealt with and being sentenced to jail terms.

Crimes have continued to be punished across Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire over the last month, with some of the most significant including a paedophile from Bath who was convicted of molesting multiple girls between five and 14 years old.

Among the other most disturbing crimes for which people have been handed prison sentences include a former Army driver who hailed neo-Nazis as 'saints' and released a video of him strumming a guitar to footage of the Christchurch mosque shooting, and a healthcare assistant who was jailed after entering into a sexual relationship with a patient detained under the Mental Health Act.

Here are the criminals put behind bars by the courts across Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire in June.

Stewart Geen, 53, of Bath, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court after admitting seven counts of serious offences involving girls aged between five and 14.

They included multiple counts of rape, sexual assault and sexual activity.

As well as the 21-year jail term and five year licence extension, Geen was placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely.

During sentencing, Judge Julian Lambert said: "There is no question but that you knew what you were doing was wrong and wicked in the extreme.

"You chose your own corrupt sexual pleasure and thought nothing of the ruination of young lives.

"You are truly a monster steeped in corruption."

Dean Morrice, of Pithay Court, Paulton, built a collection of chemicals used in homemade explosives as well as a cache of terrorism manuals and instructions for a 3D-printed gun.

The 34-year-old made a video of himself strumming his guitar to footage of the Christchurch mosque shooting, glorified figures from the Third Reich and hailed neo-Nazi terrorists as saints.

Morrice, who participated in far-right forums and set up two channels of his own, was found guilty on ten counts:

- Three counts of dissemination of terrorist publication

- One count of encouraging terrorism

- Four counts of possession of a document or record for terrorist purposes

- Two counts of having an explosive substance

He was sentenced to 23 years in prison, with the last five to be served on licence.

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AN Angus chip shop boss has been placed on the sex offenders register after demanding a schoolboy perform a sex act on him.

David Crabb, who runs Trinity Fish Bar and Restaurant in Brechin, pled guilty to telling a teenager to get on his knees and perform a sex act.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was also subjected to a slew of homophobic comments by 64-year-old Crabb the fortnight before.

He said that Crabb would make comments.

Hes been placed on the sex offenders register for six months and Im happy with that.

The teenager explained Crabb had also addressed him as a little p **** .

Crabb, the businesss director and catering manager, was sentenced at Forfar Sheriff Court last week, having pled guilty to a pair of charges against the schoolboy.

Crabb, the businesss director and catering manager, was sentenced at Forfar Sheriff Court last week, having pled guilty to a pair of charges against the schoolboy.

He admitted that on various occasions between July 15 and July 31 2020 he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner by repeatedly making homophobic remarks towards the boy.

He also pled guilty to communicating indecently with the teenager and asking him to get on his knees and perform the sex act on August 2 2020.

Crabb, who lives a stones throw from his business on Trinity Road, was placed on the sex offenders register for six months.

He was also made subject to a community payback order which requires him to carry out unpaid work.

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A man has been convicted of rape and sentenced to five years in prison after a trial at Shrewsbury Crown Court.

James Ratcliff, aged 36, of Shawfield Close, Sutton Hill, Telford, was found guilty by the jury on Tuesday 4 May and sentenced on Friday 2 July. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register.

The offence took place on 24 November 2018 in Oakengates, Telford. The victim was walking away from a nightclub with a friend when Ratcliff approached her. After talking to her briefly he led her away from her friend and into an alleyway where he raped her.

A report was made to the police and Ratcliff was arrested a short while after the offence took place.

Following the conviction, Detective Sergeant Jon Taylor said: “We welcome this conviction and I hope it offers some comfort to the victim who bravely came forward so we could investigate the offence fully.

“Despite these types of incident being rare, I hope this conviction will provide reassurance to all our communities that we will always investigate sexual offences and do everything we can to bring offenders to justice.