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Description

A paedophile who sexually abused two schoolgirls, robbing them of their childhood, has been jailed for 25 years.

Brian Clark, now 83, was handed the sentence after his brave victims came forward to report his non-recent offending.

Frightened and confused, both victims stayed quiet and attempted to move forward with their lives.

But the impact of Clark’s abuse continued to haunt them throughout their adult life and in 2019, specialist officers from Northumbria Police’s Safeguarding Department were contacted.

Officers launched an investigation and arrested Clark, of Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.

He was later charged with 13 offences, including nine counts of rape, gross indecency, and indecent assault.

Clark denied all offences and the case was sent to trial.

Appearing at Newcastle Crown Court last month he was found guilty of all charges. On July 17, at the same court, a judge heard heartbreaking statements from both victims.

The judge sentenced Clark to 25 years behind bars. He must also sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

Detective Sergeant Jaclyn Younger, who led the investigation, said: “Brian Clark groomed his victims and thought he would die a free man, never believing they would speak out about the abuse.

Description

Michael Lai aged 61 collected vile pornography which showed children as young as nine being subjected to horrific abuse. 

He appeared at the Old Bailey Friday 4th August and pleaded guilty to three charges of possessing indecent images of children. 

When National Crime Agency officers raided Michael’s home on Castlemaine Avenue, Croydon, in November 2019 he confessed that he’d been downloading indecent images. 

He also told officers that a computer tower and three hard drives in his home belonged to his brother William, prosecutor Alice Holloway said.

An inspection of the devices revealed that they contained indecent images of children dating back to January 2015. 

A total of 35,101 images were attributed to Michael.

He added: “You must understand that those are images of real children being abused, children who will have to live knowing that those images are out there for the rest of their lives.” 

Judge Medland explained that the brothers had not been charged until March 2023 and that he was obliged to take that three-year delay into consideration when sentencing them. 

He said: “In coming to that decision I want nobody to think that this court doesn’t take this offence very seriously. It is disgusting and offensive and it must stop.

Michael will be on the sex offenders register for ten years and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order.  He was fined £2,500.

Description

William Lai aged 67 collected vile pornography which showed children as young as nine being subjected to horrific abuse. 

He appeared at the Old Bailey and  pleaded guilty to three charges of possessing indecent images of children. 

When National Crime Agency officers raided his brother Michael’s home on Castlemaine Avenue, Croydon, in November 2019 Michael confessed that he’d been downloading indecent images.

Michael told officers that a computer tower and three hard drives in his home belonged to his brother William, prosecutor Alice Holloway said. 

An inspection of the devices revealed that they contained indecent images of children dating back to January 2015. 

11,863 images were attributed to William. 

He added: “You must understand that those are images of real children being abused, children who will have to live knowing that those images are out there for the rest of their lives.” 

Judge Medland explained that the brothers had not been charged until March 2023 and that he was obliged to take that three-year delay into consideration when sentencing them. 

He said: “In coming to that decision I want nobody to think that this court doesn’t take this offence very seriously. It is disgusting and offensive and it must stop.

Judge Medland added that he could not understand why police took over three years to charge the Lai brothers after the raid. 

William, of Pheasant Field Drive in Derby, was given a 20-month prison sentence suspended for two years, while Michael was given a two-year prison sentence also suspended for two years. 

The brothers will both be on the sex offenders register for ten years and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order. 

William was given a £1,500 fine.

Description

A Warwick man has admitted multiple online sex offences including attempting to engage a child in sexual communication.

Between May and June this year, Mark Stewart, of Kempton Drive, used an online messaging platform to send suggestive messages believing he was talking to the profile of a girl under the age of 13.

His actions alerted the Online Investigations Team at the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU) who made a referral to Warwickshire Police and on 29 June, Stewart was arrested at his home.

A search was carried out and several items were seized by officers including his mobile phone with subsequent forensic analysis revealing Stewart had been involved in multiple conversations of a sexual nature.

The 32-year-old was also found to have shared images of himself, requested images from the profile of the girl, and asked them to perform a sexual act.

He initially provided a no comment interview, but appearing at Warwick Crown Court on Thursday (3 August), pleaded guilty to:

• Two counts of making an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child
• One count of attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child
• One count of attempting to cause/incite a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity

He will be sentenced at the same court on 18 September.

Description

A paedophile tried to hide a mobile phone containing indecent images of children in the sunroof of his car.

When officers arrived at Roy Seymour-Morris' house on March 27, he was at the gym, but as he pulled up officers noticed him put his hand towards the sunroof - where he put a phone.

The visit followed Seymour-Morris’ IP address being found to be used to upload illicit images of children.

The phone was seized and found to contain three Category A videos, the most severe, and three Category C indecent images.

Seymour-Morris, 62, was also in breach of one of the conditions of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) handed down after he was convicted of indecent image offences at Guildford Crown Court in April 2018. 

He had failed to let officers know of a new phone so they could instal monitoring software.

On August 3, at Peterborough Crown Court, Seymour-Morris, of Sandbank, Wisbech St Mary, was jailed for one year and eight months after pleading guilty to distributing an indecent photograph of a child, breaching an SHPO and two counts of making indecent photographs of a child.

DC Claire Cummings said: “Seymour-Morris knew what he was doing was illegal so I am glad he has faced justice.” 

Description

A victim of a paedophile bus driver who abused three children has spoken of her relief after he was finally convicted two decades on.

Naomi Gibson bravely spoke out to police when she was assaulted by predator Craig Wallace in a van during a family trip to the football when she was just 11.

But there was not enough evidence to convict the fiend at the time and he went on to rape two other youngsters.

Now 31, mum-of two Naomi says she is haunted by the fact her abuser was not stopped from harming others and is waiving her right to anonymity in a bid to help other victims find the courage to come forward.

She told the Record: “I was the first. I was the test subject for him and the fact this continued so long and he was free for a 20 year period is heartbreaking.

“I just feel so sorry for the other girls. If only I was listened to I might have been able to save them from this.

“But I hope other victims of abuse will be encouraged to know that you are strong enough and you can get justice, even after so long.”

Jurors convicted Wallace, now 41, of abusing three children over a period of 15 years at the High Court in Glasgow on Friday.

He had denied the three charges during trial but was convicted of lewd and libidinous conduct towards Naomi in her dad's van in Hamilton, Lanarkshire.

Wallace was further found guilty of raping a second girl at a house in the town.

He was finally convicted of the sexual assault, attempted rape and rape of a final child in Douglas, Lanarkshire.

Prosecutors stated the charges - all with unanimous verdicts - spanned between 2003 and 2018.

Wallace was a close friend of Naomi’s dad and known to her before the attack as ‘uncle Craig’.

He would accompany the family on trips to watch youth football matches at Hamilton Palace grounds and, in 2003, he took his chance when alone in Naomi’s dad’s van to subject her to 45 minutes of terror.

After asking her inappropriate questions, Wallace asked to see a scar on her chest before sexually assaulting her.

Brazen Wallace continued to stroke her thigh on the way home with Naomi’s dad sitting just inches away in the van.

Naomi, of Strathaven, South Lanarkshire, said: “People of his nature tend to have a fear factor about what they’re doing. He doesn’t have that.

“If you walked past him in the street you would probably smile at him because he has a very trusting face but if you take that extra five minutes to actually look into his eyes you can see he’s sheer evil.

“He told me it was just our secret but as soon as I went home I told my mum everything that happened.

“My mum and Dad spoke and asked me what I wanted to do and we went to the police. I spoke to them a few days later.

“The police were amazing. I still remember the police officer who went above and beyond for me and was absolutely amazing, but there wasn’t enough evidence. They needed more.

“He was a bus driver, which is so scary because you get the kids on the buses coming home from school and young women coming back from nights out.”

Naomi says her family was targeted and intimidated by supporters of Wallace in the year that followed and their property vandalised.

They were even moved to a safe house by police.

Wallace, of East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, had been on bail for the duration of his trial.

Adjourning sentencing until next month, judge Lord Armstrong told him: “You will be detained in custody meantime.”

Wallace was put on the sex offenders list.

Naomi said: “It was a long time coming. I don’t even think it has sunk in properly yet that he is finally behind bars.

“It is very freeing to know it’s over after all this time. I feel lucky really that what happened to me didn’t develop any further but heartbroken that he has gone on to progress his offending with the other girls.

“If he gets out I believe he is going to do this again and again."

Description

A PAEDOPHILE cried in the dock as the court heard how he encouraged a ‘teen’ to perform a sex act on herself and asked for pictures of her boobs.

Daniel Razak believed he was talking with a 13-year-old girl when he ‘quickly’ turned the conversation sexual.

But it was actually an undercover police officer from the child sex abuse unit whose role is to identify offenders with sexual interests in children.

Razak, of Mendip Avenue, Orford, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child, attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to cause a child to watch sexual activity and possession of cannabis.

Prosecuting, Alaric Walmsley said that last year, Cheshire Police received information that between September 5 and September 8, the defendant had engaged in sexual conversation with who he believed with a 13-year-old girl on Kik Messenger.

Mr Walmsley told the court how the defendant quickly sexualised the conversation with ‘Poppy’ – who was actually an undercover police officer that had selected a ‘teen chat mode’.

The 33-year-old sent Poppy, who he told he was 19, pornographic images and encouraged her to perform a sex act on herself.

He also added her on Snapchat.

After four days, the pair stopped communicating and Razak was arrested at a later date.

His Samsung phone was seized, and although no pictures of videos of child sex abuse were found, Razak’s search history showed terms such as ‘jail bait girl’ and ‘jail bait girl Twitter’.

The pornographic images he had sent to Poppy were also found on his phone, and cannabis was found on his living room table.

During a police interview, Razak, who is a dad, told officers he did not ‘fully understand’ why he had behaved in this way and that he did not believe he was attracted to children.

Mr Walmsley said that Razak has no previous convictions.

Defending, Simon Christie said how his client ‘had the sense’ to stop communicating with Poppy.

He said: “Those conversations started on September 5 and stopped on September 8, long before he could have known of any police interest.”

The court heard how Razak is ‘deeply remorseful’ for his behaviour and feels shame.

Mr Christie also said how is client is a man of previous good character who works full time and supports his family.

Concluding, judge Robert Trevor-Jones said: “You initiated the contact with her and quickly sexualised the conversation.

“These are serious matters.

“I do accept you are exhibiting a significant degree of remorse.”

Razak was handed a 20-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months.

He must also complete up to 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 160 hours of unpaid work.

The court also ordered Razak to sign the sex offender register for 10 years and he is also subjected to a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.

Description

A teenager launched a series of terrifying attacks on women. Joshua Lovering from Cwmbran told one of his three victims: "We're going to have sex if you want it or not."

Cardiff Crown Court heard that Joshua Lovering was 19 when he targeted an 18-year-old woman after she had drunk five to six pints of cider in Pontypool park. He made arrangements to spend the night with her at the Gateway Hotel in Newport. Prosecutor Ruth Smith said that when Lovering went to the shops, he asked if he should buy condoms, but the victim replied: "No." When he returned, Lovering became "rough and physical" and pushed the victim onto the bed and tried to put his hand up her top.

When the victim told him to stop, Lovering became annoyed and put his hand to her mouth and a pillow over her face. She screamed for help and managed to run away, but he put his hand under her top again and snapped her bra. She tried to leave the room but he stood in front of her, grabbing her.

Lovering produced a knife and held it to the victim's chin, warning: "If you don't [stop] f****** screaming I am going to use it. We're going to have sex if you want it or not." The victim told Lovering she wanted to have a cigarette, so he allowed her to go outside but continually texted her. She managed to run to a nearby petrol station and the police were called. Lovering was arrested and told police he had a knife because he was "fascinating with sharp things".

In her personal statement this victim said: "The incident has hurt me and betrayed me. He did an awful thing to me. How can I trust people the same way I did before the incident?"

In a second attack Lovering entered a woman's home without permission and pushed her onto her sofa. He then tried to pull her leggings off but the victim was able to bite him, scratch his face and kick him. The defendant penetrated her with his thumb through her leggings.

The victim struggled with the defendant and made a call via the phone app Siri to get help. He managed to rip the phone from her and tried to rip her clothes off, causing her to fall over and suffer bruises. It was only when the victim managed to pick up a glass jar and threaten Lovering with it that he left.

Lovering attacked a third woman at a Travelodge hotel in Cardiff city centre. The court heard he locked the "extremely vulnerable" woman in a hotel room and demanded she had sex with him. He used his strength to take her phone and threatened her with a knife in a 20-minute ordeal which left her crying and shaking with fear.

In her statement this victim said: "Since this incident happened I have been panicky and stressed. When he held a knife up to me and locked me in the room I honestly thought he was going to put the knife through me and seriously hurt me, I was scared for my life.

"He was much bigger and stronger than me. He stood in front of the hotel room door for five minutes but it felt like forever. I was scared to call out for help in case he suddenly used the knife on me."

The victim said she has been suffering nightmares and on one occasion punched a wall while dreaming that she was fighting the defendant off. She added: "He's a dangerous person and a danger to women. I have never been so scared of anybody in my life as Joshua."

Lovering, now 20, pleaded guilty to assault by penetration, affray, sexual assault, and threatening a person with a knife in a private place. The defendant, of HMP Parc in Bridgend, has previous convictions including sexual assault and possession of a knife in a public place. His latest offences put him in breach of a suspended sentence order.

In mitigation, defence barrister Jefffey Jones said his client was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and has low social skills. He conceded the defendant faced "serious matters" but he feels remorse and is "clearly a vulnerable person."

Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke took into account Lovering's disorder and his youth but said she was satisfied he was a dangerous offender and posed a risk of serious harm. She imposed an extended sentence of 12 years in custody and an extended licence period of four years. He must serve at least two thirds of the custodial period before he can be considered for release. The judge also imposed restraining orders to protect the three victims and a 16-year sexual harm prevention order.

Description

A man has been jailed for a string of historic sex offences against a young boy which left his victim “frightened and confused”.

Gary Woolgar, 51, committed the offences on the child and preyed on him over the space of four years, including when he was under 13 years old.

Woolgar, a heating engineer from Lancing, denied the sexual offences but was found guilty at trial.

He also admitted to being in possession of cocaine and cannabis.

Sussex Police Detective Constable Katherine Wilkins said: “This was a complex investigation that involved working closely with partner agencies.

“Woolgar preyed on the boy, and the abuse has had an ongoing impact upon him.

“I would like to thank the victim who showed great courage to come forward and report what happened to him, and to all the witnesses who provided evidence to ensure this offender was convicted.

“This case demonstrates that we take reports of sexual offences seriously and throughout we provided support to the victim with specially-trained officers.

“We are determined to get justice for victims of sexual abuse.”

Woolgar was found guilty of multiple counts of engaging in penetrative and non-penetrative sexual activity with a boy as well as two counts of sexual activity with a child and sexual assault by touching a boy under 13.

The crimes took place between 2013 and 2017.

The victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, described how the abuse left him frightened and confused and continues to impact his anxiety and stress.

At a hearing on August 3, Woolgar was jailed for 15 years. He will also be a registered sex offender for life and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order was imposed.

Description

A sexual predator with a “Jekyll and Hyde personality” used his position as a respected cricket coach to make advances on women, a court has heard.

David Taylor, of Upland Crescent, Truro was before Truro Crown Court this morning (Friday) for sentencing after a jury found him guilty of sexual assaults on three women.

However, this was not the first time that Taylor had been before a court for such offences.

In 2021 he was also convicted of touching a woman and a teenager without consent, but was given a suspended sentence at that time.

Today, however, Judge Simon Carr said that prison was the only option for Taylor, telling the 61-year-old that it was doubtful what good the rehabilitation activities did as: “You show no remorse or understanding of the harm you have inflicted.”

He sentenced Taylor to a total of 21 months in prison, of which he must serve half before being released on licence, as well as sign the sexual offenders’ register.

Judge Carr said that what made the case unusual was that Taylor was a highly respected cricket coach in Cornwall, saying: “One of the striking features of this case was those that were abused, despite that abuse, still spoke highly of you as a coach; of the difference you had made to theirs and others’ careers and the promotion of women’s cricket in Cornwall.

“You clearly have a genuine Jekyll and Hyde personality. On the one side you are a brilliant coach, going out of your way on a voluntary basis to assist people both near and far with their careers.

“On the other hand you are sexual predator, who uses your position within that cricket fraternity to abuse women.”

The judge said he suspected many of Taylor’s family and friends still could not accept what he did, as they had only seen one side of his character, before adding: “But anybody who saw that trial before me and those three young women giving evidence so powerfully and obviously truthfully will have seen another side.

“Each of them, independently, when asked why they didn’t speak at the time, spoke of not just a fear of being believed because of your status but the fact they would lose the one thing they valued most – being able to play cricket without people talking behind their back.

“You used that power to abuse them for your own sexual gratification and amusement.”

The trial had heard evidence of unwanted kissing and sexual touching from Taylor on the women, including while other people were nearby, and Judge Carr said he wanted to remove any idea that the offences could “in some way be described as minor”, adding: “The psychological effect has been significant.”

Earlier the court had heard two victim impact statements read out, one of which said Taylor has still not acknowledged his behaviour or offered any apology.

The other said she felt a range of emotions, from relief and anxiousness to sadness and guilty.

She said that she had felt fortunate to have someone giving quality coaching in a sport she loved, but added: “Though that cannot be taken away, it’s been tarnished at the realisation that it came as a victim of sexual assault.”

The woman said she had felt anxiety each time she went into Truro city centre, in case she saw Taylor, and would not allow herself to be in situations where she was alone with men.

She said it was important to her that sexual assault was given “a larger dialogue” and that she wanted to see measures put in place for people to be able to enjoy sport regardless of their age, gender or ethnicity.

Jason Beal, representing Taylor, said his client “remained in denial about what has happened.”

He pointed to character references during the trial, which included positive things said about him even by witnesses for the prosecution, adding: “He’s a hardworking man, even though there has been a drop in his status in recent years, he’s continued to work hard.”

Description

A CONVICTED rapist has been jailed after he went on to sexually assault a woman in her own home.

Mark Holmes, 38, from Newport jumped on his victim, put his hand over her mouth before he carried out two sex attacks on her.

He further “humiliated” her by verbally abusing her during her ordeal.

Holmes was found guilty of two counts of assault by penetration by a jury following a trial in May.

The offences were committed in the summer of 2021.

Holmes’ previous rape conviction was in 2002 when he was a boy.

The defendant raped a 15-year-old girl on his 17th birthday and was sentenced to an 18-month detention and training order at Cardiff Crown Court.

Owen Williams, prosecuting, read out the victim impact statement of the woman who was assaulted two years ago.

She said: “I feel like a stranger in my own home.

“I have been frightened to go out of my own front door.

“I live in fear day in day out.

“This has had a profound effect on my emotional wellbeing.

“What did I do to deserve this?”

Susan Ferrier representing Holmes said there was little she could say in mitigation.

She told Cardiff Crown Court: “He continues to maintain he wasn’t responsible for the offending.”

Miss Ferrier added: “There is another side to this man who is capable of being kind-hearted and caring.”

The judge, Recorder Mark Cotter KC, told Holmes: “You jumped on your victim, you overpowered her and you put your hand over her mouth.

“The fact that you have a previous conviction for an extremely serious offence, although that was committed many years ago, is troubling.”

The defendant was jailed for eight years and six months and will have to serve two-thirds of that sentence before being released on licence.

Holmes has to register as a sex offender for life.

Description

A 64-YEAR-OLD Bradford man has been jailed for 12 years after a string of sexual assaults on young children.

Brian Wylie, of Clayton Road, Clayton, appeared via video link at Bradford Crown Court to be sentenced for a total of five charges, including indecent assault and gross indecency of a child under the age of 14, and sexual assault of a child under the age of 13.

Wylie was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment in total with a three-year extended licence period.

He was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order until further notice and must register as a sex offender indefinitely.

Prosecutor David McGonigal outlined how the 64-year-old had admitted three historic offences.

One victim was so young they didn’t know what he was asking them to do was wrong, the prosecutor told the court.

He had faced a trial on further charges, and had been found guilty in March of two counts of sexual assault of a child.

His three victims were said to have suffered long-lasting trauma as a result of the attacks, including incidents of self-harm and struggling with an eating disorder.

Judge Colin Burn said in sentencing: “The effect of your offending has been long lasting.

“They have caused significant emotional disorientation to children and therefore also trauma which is likely to be long-lasting.”

Of his first victim, the Judge said: “In cases of this type it is relatively unusual for an offender of your type to come forward in this way and to make those admissions.”

Allan Armbrister, for Wylie, referred to issues that the defendant raised when his pre-sentence report was being compiled, but he did not go into further detail.

The Judge however did refer to post traumatic stress disorder or psychological damage – and that it can be “no excuse for sexual offending of this sort” and “can be little or no mitigation for ruining the lives of others”.

West Yorkshire Police states on its policies that any person reporting historic sexual abuse to the police will be treated seriously. The matter will be thoroughly investigated and historic offences could still result in the conviction of an offender.

Description

Harry Blake was a follower of neo-Nazi and Satanic ideologies, the Old Bailey heard.

A neo-Nazi paedophile who previously avoided a prison term has been jailed after committing further offences.

Harry Blake, from south-west London, was given a suspended sentence in 2020 after admitting 14 terror charges.

On Thursday, the 21-year-old was sentenced to three years and two months in jail after pleading guilty to a counter-terror order breach, as well as making an indecent image of a child.

Passing sentence, an Old Bailey judge said he posed a "significant risk".

Blake also pleaded guilty to possessing extreme pornography, and breaching a crime prevention order and the terms of his suspended prison sentence.

Previously known as Harry Vaughan, he is the son of a House of Lords clerk and achieved high grades at his prestigious grammar school.

'Toxic online community'

After he was arrested again last year, detectives found a laptop and a mobile phone that he was barred from owning.

Material recovered from the devices showed Blake's "continued interest" in right-wing extremism, prosecutor Dan Pawson-Pounds told the court.

Mr Pawson-Pounds said Blake had searched online for the banned terrorist groups Sonnenkrieg Division and Atomwaffen Division. He also had a book in which Adolf Hitler is revered as a god.

Blake's phone contained videos of the "violent forcing" of a sex act on women, and a film of a young boy being sexually abused by a man.

In mitigation, defence barrister Arthur Kendrick said Blake had been exposed to a "toxic online community" at a young age, and, while the views instilled in him may take time to diminish, there were some "green shoots" of change.

In 2020, Blake admitted 12 counts of possessing documents useful to a terrorist, one count of encouraging terrorism and one of disseminating terrorist publications. He also admitted having videos of young boys being raped.The judge decided against sending Blake to prison, despite concluding he was dangerous. Expert evidence had stated Blake's ideology was a "hybrid" of neo-Nazism and a violent form of Satanism.

On Thursday, Judge Sarah Munro KC said that when he was sentenced in 2020, Blake had "falsely asserted" that his "mindset had changed" since committing his initial crimes.
As well as sentencing him to a 38-month prison term, she made him the subject of a five-year serious crime prevention order.

Description

A YORK paedophile who corrupted a young girl over three years and got her to send him sexual videos of herself has been jailed.

The child was just 10 when Billy James Woodfine first contacted her online, said Anne Richardson, prosecuting.

He sent her hundreds of sexual messages and continued to keep in contact after police got a tip-off that he was downloading child sexual abuse, raided his home, arrested him and released him with a bail condition not to contact her.

A social worker told police the West Midlands girl was so entrenched in exploitation by Woodfine that she believed sexual abuse was normal, said Mrs Richardson.

He used WhatsApp, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok, York Crown Court heard.

Police forensic experts found the sexual videos she made of herself, a message in his phone which read I love raping children and evidence he had been talking sexually online to a girl in the USA and two other girls.

Judge Simon Hickey told Woodfine that his sexual messages and communication with the West Midlands girl, getting her to send him sexual videos of herself and sending her sexual images was exactly the type of offending that corrupts youngsters of her age and her isolation".

Woodfine, now 22, of Danebury Drive, Acomb, pleaded guilty to three charges of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, three of having indecent images of children found on his internet devices during the police raid and one each of sexual communication with a child and having a prohibited image of a child.

He was jailed for five years. He was also put on the sex offenders' register for life, made subject to a lifetime sexual harm prevention order that enables police to monitor his online and social media activities and prohibits him from contacting the West Midlands girl and other children, and barred from working with children or vulnerable adults.

For Woodfine, Kevin Blount said his crimes had begun about the time he moved out from his parents home. He had had a difficult childhood, during which he had been abused in a non-sexual way, and had struggled to maintain relationships in the physical world.

He has formed most of his relationships from social media and online, said the solicitor advocate. He has shown to be an isolated individual.

Since being remanded in prison, he had sought help in tackling his offending behaviour.

Mrs Richardson said police raided Woodfines home on January 12 this year and interviewed him more than once during the Spring. He claimed he didnt have a sexual interest in children.

He was bailed on condition he didnt contact the West Midlands girl but her family were monitoring her phone and on May 17, saw the pair were still in contact.

Description

A Big Issue seller who was caught spying on a young woman as she used the toilet at a prestigious department store has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register.

Benjamin-Cornel Teglas hid inside a cubicle at the women’s toilets and peered under the partition after the 22-year-old victim had entered the stall next to him at the John Lewis store in Edinburgh.

The shocked woman was said to have been “frozen and alarmed” and after shouting at the pervert she ran from the toilet area and informed staff.

The 20-year-old offender was later picked up by police officers who had viewed CCTV in a bid to identify the culprit following the incident on May 27 this year.

Teglas pleaded guilty to observing the woman doing a private act when he appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court with the aid of a Romanian interpreter last month and he returned to the dock for sentencing on Thursday.

Defending lawyer Mary Moultrie said her client was a first offender and he “fully accepts responsibility for his actions”.

Ms Moultrie said Teglas was working full time selling the Big Issue and though he has a non-analogous outstanding matter in Romania he is planning on returning to Scotland to live.

Sheriff Peter McCormack said: “You pleaded guilty a a trial diet to a serious sexual offence whereby you entered the ladies toilets at John Lewis in Edinburgh on May 27.

“CCTV showed you were loitering for around 18 minutes and in the course of that period you looked under a partition greatly to the alarm of a young woman there. The offence meets the custody threshold but I note your age and you have no previous convictions.”

Sheriff McCormack sentenced Teglas to an alternative to a custody and ordered him to carry out 135 hours of unpaid work in the community.

Teglas, of the capital’s Wester Hailes, was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for five years.

Previously fiscal depute India McLean told the court the victim and her sister were shopping in the John Lewis store when they decided to go to the toilet area at around 2.20pm on May 27 this year.

Ms McLean said Teglas had earlier been spotted loitering around the area and was seen to be “checking around to see if anyone was there” before entering the female toilet.

The court heard the victim then “unknowingly” took the cubicle next to the one Teglas was in and locked the door behind her.

The fiscal depute said: “She then looked down and seen Mr Teglas with his head under her cubicle.

“She was initially frozen and alarmed and has then shouted ‘what do you think you are doing?’

“Mr Teglas held her eye contact and stared at her for a few seconds before removing his head back into his own cubicle.”

The woman fled the toilet area and Teglas was said to have “eventually peered out from his own cubicle and has then made off from the toilet”.

Teglas pleaded guilty to observing a woman doing a private act by occupying a cubicle of a woman’s toilet area and placing his head through the gap under the cubicle and look into the cubicle occupied by her at John Lewis, St James Quarter, Edinburgh, on May 27 this year.