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A NEWPORT child rapist left his young victim "depressed, torn and broken" after assaulting her at her family home.

Frantisek Mirga, 39 and of Corporation Road, Newport, appeared before Cardiff Crown Court earlier today to be sentenced.

He had been convicted of raping a girl under the age of 16.

The offence took place on November 13, 2022.

Mirga, originally from Czechia, had been drinking vodka and was given accommodation at a friend’s house on account of his not being able to drive.

He was staying in the living room of the house.

When the victim, who was aged 15 at the time, came downstairs for a drink of water, Mirga invited her into the living room where he raped her.

Two victim impact statements were read to the court, detailing the harrowing effect Mirga's actions had had on the young girl.

The first, dated February 24, read: "I’m living in fear. Absolutely horrified for what is going to happen. I don’t trust any man. I feel completely embarrassed.

"I’m not myself. Everything is different now. One day I could be fine and then everything grows on me and negative thoughts enter my mind.

"I cry every day. When I’m alone I zone out. I’m depressed, torn and broken. I feel weak."

The victim mentioned suffering flashbacks.

"The sadness wins," she said.

"Every day is a nightmare. I’m not me anymore."

A second impact statement, dated June 3, explained how Mirga's victim "has no way of coping".

She spoke of having "so much anger and sadness" and waking up with flashbacks which terrify her.

Mirga has the following previous convictions – though none are related to the offence he was being sentenced for today:

• Handling stolen goods – June, 2015
• Public order offence – September, 2012
• Theft – October, 2002
• Illegally entering a private property – September, 2004

The first two offences listed above took place in the UK, with the final two taking place when Mirga was living in Czechia.

Mitigation on Mirga's behalf "will be pithy", his barrister explained.

The defendant's partner and sister were described as having health issues.

Mirga himself was said to be remorseful "in that he understands UK law is different to that in Czechia".

The court also heard that Mirga has two female grandchildren, both of a young age.

Judge David Morgan, summing up, said: "It was your intent all along to take advantage of your victim should the opportunity arise.

"You had already sent inappropriate messages.

"You knew your victim was 15 and that the UK age of consent is 16.

"There is a 22-year age disparity between you.

"The assault took place at the victim’s home where she is entitled to feel safe."

He said there Mirga posed a “significant risk to members of the public, young girls in particular”.

Mirga was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for the charge of raping a girl under the age of 16.

He is to serve seven of those years in custody, with the three remaining years on license.

A restraining order was also put in place “until further notice”, meaning Mirga was prohibited from communicating with his victims, entering any premises occupied by her or going within 100 metres of such premises.

A sexual harm prevention order was also put in place “until further notice”.

Under this, Mirga is prohibited from living in the same household as any female under the age of 16. He is also prohibited from entering any such household without the express permission of any parent or guardian (with knowledge of his conviction) or the approval of social services.

Mirga must also register as a sex offender.

Description

A vile sex offender used the online alias 'Daddy Dominant Little Girls' to target children all over the world. Benjamin Lancaster claimed to be in polyamorous relationship and would scour the internet for victims.

He would give them a list of rules they had to abide by - including times to go to bed; what they could wear; who they could go out with; and which sexual acts they would partake in.

Lancaster, 33, would target extremely vulnerable children promise them a better life, cops said. He made them call him 'Daddy'.

He used the nickname 'Daddy Dominant Little Girls'. His sickening crimes were discovered when a carer of one of the children checked her online logs and uncovered indecent images and videos.

Lancaster was arrested in October 2021. Analysis of his phone and devices revealed he was communicating inappropriately with children all over the world.

Detectives suspect there may be other victims and have urged them to come forward after he was jailed. Lancaster, of Charles Street, Swinton, Salford, has been locked up for 10 years and six months at Manchester Crown Court for rape; possession of indecent images; and arranging/facilitating travel for sexual purposes in relation to two under-16 victims.

He will be on the sex offender register for life and has been made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order.

Det Con Emma Puckering, of Greater Manchester Police's Salford Connect Team, said: "Lancaster is going to be behind bars, and away from children, for many years to come. We would like to commend the strength and bravery of the victims and their support systems, who have supported the prosecution to conclusion.

"We know that the sentencing will never erase what they experienced at the hands of Lancaster, but we hope that it signifies the beginning of the rest of their lives, allowing them to start to heal and come to terms with what's happened."

Description

A judge has highlighted the bravery of a sexual abuse survivor who had to go through two trials before finally seeing her attacker jailed for eight years.

The woman, who must not be identified for legal reasons, read out a powerful victim personal statement during the sentencing hearing at Bradford Crown Court on Wednesday and described the profound effects of the crimes committed against her by sick Shahid Mehmood.

Mehmood, of Addison Avenue in Bradford, was found guilty after his second trial of causing or inciting a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity and five counts of sexual activity with a child. He was acquitted of one charge of sexual assault.

The woman told the court Mehmood’s offending had taken away her innocence as a child and she was still suffering flashbacks and nightmares of the abuse years later. She added: “I thought it was my fault and now I know that is completely false."

She said Mehmood had never accepted any responsibility and instead he had lied putting her through the added stress of having to come to court and relive the events.

Despite being found guilty of a catalogue of evil sex offences, Recorder Ben Nolan KC noted that Mehmood, 52, still maintained his innocence. He said Mehmood, who had no previous convictions, had been interviewed by police back in January 2019 and flatly denied the offences.

“Your denials have persisted to this day,” said the judge.

“It is now over four years since your arrest. There has been significant delay caused in part by the pandemic but in part caused by your own denials. The effect on (the complainant) has clearly been profound. She’s read her victim personal statement this morning very bravely and with great dignity.”

Recorder Nolan jailed Mehmood for eight years and also imposed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Mehmood, who will serve at least two thirds of his jail term, will have to register as a sex offender with the police for the rest of his life and he must comply with an indefinite restraining order.

Description

A pervert who sent indecent pictures of himself to paedophile hunters has been jailed for 18 months.

Neil Peters, 64, believed he was talking to girls aged 13 and 14 after being fooled by decoys from groups called Dank Dragons and Improved Maximum Exposure.

He started up conversations on a dating site but turned the chat towards sex.

Shamed Peters told one girl called 'Tia' he would 'marry her in a heartbeat' and be 'honoured' to be her boyfriend despite being repeatedly told she was 13.

He sent her indecent photos but warned they should keep the sordid chat secret or they would both 'get into trouble'.

Peters told the other girl called 'Lucy' she was 'gorgeous' and demanded topless photos.

He then arranged to meet but was confronted by vigilantes who streamed it on Facebook.

Peters, of Larkhall, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court and admitted communicating indecently with both girls in August last year.

He also pled guilty to attempting to meet one to engage in sexual activity.

Sheriff John Speir jailed first offender Peters and placed him on the sex offenders' register for 10 years.

Depute fiscal Chloe O'Hara said: "The accused messaged Lucy and asked if she lived near to Morrisons in Anniesland as he would visit her.

"Lucy told the accused she would be at Morrisons in her school uniform and he said he would meet her outside and asked if she could wear stockings instead of tights as he preferred them.

"The accused said he would come in a white Audi and she was to wait for him outside Morrisons.

"The witness along with other members of the group attended at Morrisons the following day and they pulled up to the accused's car and contacted the police.

"Whilst awaiting police arrival, the group broadcast a live stream of the sting on Facebook."

Sheriff Speir told Peters a custodial sentence was 'inevitable'.

Description

A registered sex offender well known to police thought he was preying on a vulnerable child when he was actually sending sexual text messages to a police decoy.

Steven Baker, 57, has found himself behind bars again for breaching several conditions of his sexual harm prevention order when he engaged in a conversation via text messages with someone he believed to be a 12-year-old girl.

After a lengthy engagement with the undercover officer Baker was arrested at his home in Ely, Cardiff, in June by officers from South Wales Police and the regional organised crime unit Tarian. Baker pleaded guilty to the charge of engaging in sexual communications with a child at the earliest opportunity, a sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court heard on Wednesday.

He was sentenced to 22 months in prison, half of which he will serve behind bars. Following the sentencing detective inspector Mathew Davies, of Tarian, said Baker’s case “shows we are monitoring offenders to remove the most dangerous individuals from society who continue to offend”.

DI Davies said: “There is considerable work being undertaken to identify those offenders looking to exploit children online and preying on the most vulnerable in society." He added: “It is another notable result for Tarian and South Wales Police to identify this offender attempting to target vulnerable children. By working closely with South Wales Police we were able promptly to detain Baker to prevent him for committing further offences. It is paramount that we safeguard children and the most vulnerable within our communities and working closely with all southern Wales forces we will continue to target those offenders looking to exploit children."

Description

A sex offender has been jailed for a string of crimes relating to children after posing as a Sheffield doctor.

Andrew Dalby was arrested by officers from Hertfordshire Constabulary, following an operation to identify offenders targeting vulnerable children online.

The 42-year-old from Gleadless, Sheffield, was jailed for more than six years after admitting sexual offences relating to children, after an operation looking into offenders in chat rooms and on social media.

Between October 20, 2022, and December 10. 2022, officers from the Child Online Safeguarding Team (COST) monitored Dalby chatting to what he thought was a 14-year-old boy, whilst claiming to be a 30-year-old doctor working in the Sheffield area.

As the conversations progressed, Dalby offered to meet the ‘boy’ offering him a health check. The nature of the chat then became sexual with Dalby booking a hotel room in St Albans so they could spend the night together.

Dalby travelled to St Albans where he was arrested by officers at the hotel he had booked. A search of his car revealed he had brought items including condoms and medical equipment. He was charged and remanded to prison whilst the investigation continued.

Checks on his phone and computer revealed further victims in Hull, Great Yarmouth, Birmingham and South Wales, who were spoken to by specialist COST officers.

Dalby admitted 10 charges. They were attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child; arranging the commission of a child sex offence; three charges of causing a child to engage in sexual activity; four charges of sexual communication with a child; one charge of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Dalby was remanded to prison and appeared at St Albans Crown Court on May 26, 2023. He was jailed for six years, nine months.

Det Sgt Jim Miller from the COST team said: “This was a very successful operation which has removed a dangerous sexual predator off the streets.

“However, I am mindful that there could still be other victims that we are not aware of, and I am keen to hear from anyone who believes they may have been a victim of Andrew Dalby or who knows of anyone who may have been targeted by him. You will be fully supported by specially trained officers.”

Description

A registered sex offender watched images of children being abused on his phone, even though he knew monitoring software was installed on it.

Sick Pryderi Tomos, of no fixed address but formerly of Waunfawr in Gwynedd, viewed footage of girls as young as six being abused.

Tomos, 35, was jailed in 2017, after he was caught with children’s underwear in his bed and hundreds of indecent photographs and movies on his computers. He was released in October 2021 and software was installed on his mobile phone on February 16, 2022 as part of his bail conditions, prosecutor Laura Knightly told Caernarfon Crown Court today.

Despite knowing that his online activity was being tracked, Tomos still watched indecent videos online. The court was told he had accessed "numerous" videos in February showing young girls engaging in sexual activity with grown men

One video was almost an hour long and that some clips had been viewed "more than once" by Tomos. The tracking software showed Tomos had accessed indecent material on 19 separate occasions in a period that spanned just over 24 hours, Ms Knightly said.

Police arrested Tomos and seized two mobile phones. When interviewed, he claimed to have just watched porn that only featured adults.

A forensic analysis found he had watched videos featuring childre and he had also taken and saved screenshots from the footage. The images were mainly of young girls, aged between six and 15 years old, Ms Knightly said.

Defending, John Wyn Williams, said that his client "knows full well" what awaited him in court. Tomos was suffering from "identifiable mental health issues" and admitted his guilt as soon as the court allowed it.

"He is crying out for help," Mr Williams said. "From mental health services and probation, but for the time being I accept that it will have to be prison."

Imposing an extended jail term of five years and seven months, Judge Nicola Saffman said: "I have to consider the age and vulnerability of the children in these videos who were raped and abused, some as young as five and some sleeping.

"One of these videos includes a child that was raped for a period of 38 minutes. The children in these videos are real children, there are real victims here. People like you who watch these depraved videos are, in effect, part of a market whereby this rape and filming takes place."

Judge Saffman ordered that the devices seized by the police are destroyed. She reminded the court that Tomos is already listed as a sex offender for life from previous court convictions.

Description

A teenager sent sexual messages to a 15-year-old girl in care and asked her to send naked photos of herself. He later got caught by a decoy who pretended to be a 14-year-old.

Joshua Tatchell, 19, of Bridgend, contacted his victim on Instagram and Snapchat in March 2022. The conversations started on friendly terms but he went on to demand photographs of her privates and her bottom.

A sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court on Wednesday heard Tatchell expressed "annoyance and short temperedness" when the victim refused. He also sent indecent images of himself and videos of himself masturbating.

In November 2022, the victim told her foster carer that Tatchell had asked her to meet up and the police were called. But Tatchell went on to contact a decoy pretending to be a 14-year-old girl this year.

The defendant attempted to solicit indecent images from the decoy and again showed a shortness of temper in persisting with requests.

Tatchell, of Pleasant View, Heol y Felin, later pleaded guilty to engaging and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to commission/facilitate a child sex offence.

Recorder Dyfed Thomas sentenced Tatchell to 32 months imprisonment. He made him subject to sex offender notification requirements and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order indefinitely.

Description

A paedophile sent pornographic images to who be believed to be a 13-year-old girl and said he wanted to meet up with her. He was in fact speaking to an undercover police officer.

Mark Appleby, 53, of Monmouth, made contact with a profile named "Maisie" on the Kik messenger service in November 2022. The decoy told the defendant she was 13-years-old but he continued chatting to her.

A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday heard Appleby sent sexually explicit images to Maisie and told her he wanted to have oral sex with her. Prosecutor Paul Hewitt said the decoy told the defendant she lived in Southampton, and he told her he would come down to watch her play football and go shopping.

He went on to ask Maisie about her privates and wanted to spend the night with her in a hotel. The defendant also told her he would bring a sex toy, and spoke to her on the phone, which involved an undercover officer pretending to be a 13-year-old.

A number of dates were arranged for Appleby and Maisie to meet but in January this year, police attended the defendant's house and found the mobile phone which had been used to message the decoy. He told police he had been engaging in a "fantasy" and he was not attracted to children,

Appleby, of Cornwallis Way, Rockfield, pleaded not guilty to engaging in sexual communication with a child, causing/inciting a child to look at sexual activity, and attempting to facilitate/commission a child sex offence. He was found guilty by a jury following a trial in June. The court heard he was of previous good character.

In mitigation, Nigel Fryer said his client was no estranged from his adult children as a result of the offences, but continues to have some kind of support from his mother and sister. Mr Fryer added: "His life henceforth is going to be radically different before the discovery of his offences and has lost his reputation."

Sentencing, Judge Daniel Williams said: "In a phone call you made it clear your intention was to meet up with her and engage in sexual activity. There was significant planning and a significant disparity in age."

Appleby was sentenced to three years and six months imprisonment. He was made subject to sex offender notification requirements indefinitely and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for eight years.

Description

Detectives are seeking a man convicted of raping a woman in east London after he was sentenced in his absence.

William White, 24 (09.08.98) of Paragon Road, Hackney was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Tuesday, 1 August to five-and-a-half years' imprisonment for one count of rape and one count of sexual assault by touching.

White failed to appear at the hearing and is now wanted by police. Detectives are keen to hear from anyone who knows where he is.

White was found guilty on Friday, 19 May after a nine day trial, which saw the victim-survivor bravely attend court to give evidence in front of her attacker.

White will be placed on the Sex Offender Register for life and will be managed by specialist officers when he is released from prison.

Detective Constable Jamie Merrill, the investigating officer, said: “White subjected the victim to a horrifying ordeal when she was asleep and vulnerable.

“Throughout the trial he attempted to mislead the court about his actions, but the 12 men and women of the jury correctly identified his dishonesty and convicted him unanimously of rape.

“Significant resources are being brought to bear to apprehend White so he can face justice. I urge anybody with information about White’s whereabouts to contact police immediately.”

On 17 January 2020, the victim attended White’s address in Hackney with a friend for a social gathering. She described for the court how she had trusted White, having already known him through friends.

The victim fell asleep at the address and later woke to find White raping her. She reported the incident to police on 19 January 2020.

White was arrested by detectives two days later and an extensive investigation was carried out across London and the south-east. He was charged with the offence on 20 December 2021.

DC Merrill added: “I hope that today’s sentence will bring a small measure of peace to the victim and a sense that justice has been served.”

White had also been charged with a further count of rape in relation to a second victim. He was found not guilty of that offence.

PC Rita Stepanoviene, a specialist officer who worked on the case supporting the victim-survivor, added: “I wish to thank this young lady and her close friend who came forward to provide the crucial evidence needed to convict White.

"They have both been incredibly brave, and by coming forward they have undoubtedly protected others from being targeted by this dangerous individual.

"We hope this case shows we will always take reports of this nature incredibly seriously. We would urge any others who may have been subject to these types of offences to come forward and speak to us - at the very least so that we can make sure you are supported."

Description

A Brighton man who sexually assaulted six women in public spaces in Brighton has been given a thirteen year sentence.

Hanok Zeray, 32, of Ringmer Road in Brighton, targeted lone women around Brighton city centre on multiple occasions in 2022.

An investigation was launched after a woman reported being raped in the Old Steine in Brighton on 16 April. She was supported by specialist officers and Hanok Zeray was arrested the following day on suspicion of rape.

He was released under investigation while evidence was collected to pursue a charge.

On Sunday, 22 May, two women reported being sexually assaulted in London Road and Southover Street in the early hours of the morning.

The Southover Street victim was chased by a stranger – later identified as Zeray – but managed to escape by locking herself in her flat.

Enquiries were underway to identify a suspect when, on 23 October, a third woman reported being sexually assaulted by a stranger in Elm Grove.

He harassed her persistently, but she was able to film him on her mobile phone and capture the sexual assault on film.

Officers identified Zeray from the footage and he was arrested shortly after.

He was charged with rape and three counts of sexual assault and remanded in custody.

While remanded, Zeray was charged with three additional counts of sexual assault after three more women came forward to report being attacked.

One on the 22 May in London Road, one in Gladstone Place on 19 June and a third on 23 October – five minutes before Zeray was filmed assaulting the woman in Elm Grove.

At Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 24 February, Zeray pleaded guilty to all six counts of sexual assault and not guilty to rape. The rape charge was later discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service.

At Lewes Crown Court on Friday, 21 July, Zeray was sentenced to eight years and three months in prison, with an extended licence period of five years.

Detective Constable Amy Pemberton-Hill said: “Hanok Zeray was a committed offender who presented a clear danger to lone women and girls.

“I would like to thank all these women for reporting his crimes to police and supporting the investigation through to prosecution.

“The streets of Brighton and Hove are a safer place as a result.”

Superintendent Adele Tucknott, Sussex Police’s lead for violence against women and girls, said: “The behaviour shown by Hanok Zeray will not be tolerated in Sussex – from the persistent harassment of women through to the sexual assaults for which he has been jailed.

“Women and girls should be safe to walk the streets alone at any time of day or night without being targeted by predatory men.

“We have a range of measures to keep people safe at night and it is so important that any incidents are reported so we can take positive action.

Description

A government worker sexually assaulted a sleeping woman by tickling her feet and touching and kissing her breasts.

Martin Sharp pled guilty to the sexual assault when he appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

Description

A rapist who crept into bed and sexually assaulted his flatmate as she slept has been jailed for 14 years.

Andrew White, 33, was found to have choked the woman, in her 30s, after she woke up in the middle of the attack at the address they shared in Lambeth and tried to pull away.

Police rushed on June 18, last year after the victim reported the rape and are now looking for any other potential survivors of White to come forward.

The victim alleges she had been asleep when she awoke to find White behind her. His genitals were exposed and her trousers had been pulled down.

When she moved away from him White then put his hands around her neck in a choke hold.

On arrest officers searched White and found him in possession of cannabis.

He was taken into custody where he strenuously denied the allegations.

Detectives gathered witness testimony, video and forensic evidence that would ultimately prove White’s guilt.

DC Mariama Connell said: “The victim lived in the same address as White but was not in any sort of relationship with him. She was asleep and White saw this as an opportunity to attack her for his own sexual gratification.

“I know she continues to live with the impact of what happened to this day. It is my hope that knowing White has received a significant custodial term will provide her some small measure of comfort.

“In the pre-sentencing report White was assessed as someone who posed a high risk of significant harm to adult women. As a result we believe it may be possible that there are more victims of White who have yet to come forward.

“I urge any potential victims to make contact with us immediately. We will listen to you, we will act and we will do everything we can to bring you justice.”

White, of Walworth Road SE1, was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on Monday.

He had been convicted at a hearing in May of one count of rape, one count of non-fatal strangulation and possession of a class B drug at an earlier hearing.

Description

A PAEDOPHILE has been handed a 20-year jail sentence after blackmailing a 13-year-old girl into sending him naked photographs and a 15-year-old girl into touching him.

Dean Yates, of Oxford Road, Reading, was sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Monday (July 31) to nine charges: making an indecent photograph of a child, two counts of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl, two counts of assault on a female, two counts of causing/inciting a 15-year-old girl into sexual activity, and two counts of causing a female to engage in sexual activity.

Judge Emma Nott sentenced the 34-year-old to a 20-year extended sentence with a 15-year custodial sentence due to the seriousness of the offences.

The incidents happened in 2019 when Yates was about 30 years old. The court heard that Yates would hack into young girls’ social media accounts to obtain private photographs of them to blackmail them into sending more.

He would pretend to be younger than he was when speaking to the girls online – using his real name and an alias.

The first set of charges relate to a girl aged 13, Yates had hacked into a 15-year-old boy's account and pretended to be him to persuade the girl to send him private photographs.

He then blackmailed the girl using the original photographs, forcing her to send more. 

Speaking to the police, the girl said: “I sent him a picture because I thought it would make him go away. 

“Then he messaged saying if I didn’t send him more he was going to send the picture to my mum and dad and put it on social media.

“So I sent him a few more photos. He said he would send them to my friends and I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to send him more as I thought it would get worse.”

The 15-year-old boy whose account it actually was ended up being arrested and interviewed by police before it transpired that he had been hacked.

Following this, Yates was arrested and a second girl was interviewed about her interactions with the defendant.

She revealed that Yates had hacked her account and obtained her private photographs and blackmailed her using an alias.

He then forced her to meet up with him and engage in sexual activity while pretending that he too was being blackmailed by ‘the alias’ account. 

In a victim impact statement read out to the court, the 15-year-old girl said she feels ‘fear and distress’ when thinking about Yates and said she was ‘too young’ to deal with things at the time.

Yates will also be made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Description

A sex predator was caught and arrested on the M5 after police traced his car. Nicholas Ashby, 41, sexually assaulted a woman and attempted to rape another woman as they walked home.

The first incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, September 25 2022, when the victim was walking home alone after a night out with friends. As she walked along Bear Street, near the entrance of Barnstaple Cemetery, she noticed a car pull into a lay-by ahead of her, reports Devon Live.

Once she had passed the vehicle, she was approached by an unknown man who sexually assaulted her and put his arm across her neck causing her to momentarily pass out. When she woke, the offender returned to his vehicle.

The woman hid behind a nearby vehicle; fearful that the offender would return. It was here that the victim instinctively noted down as much detail as she could of the man and his car on her phone - an act which was commended in court.

Once at home, the police were alerted, and an investigation was launched by Barnstaple CID, while a Sexual Offences Liaison Officer was allocated to support the victim. Immediate enquiries were carried out to identify the suspect based on information the victim had given and a public media appeal was issued.

The following week, in the early hours of Sunday 2 October 2022, a woman was attacked on Beaufort Walk while walking home. The victim had been on her phone to a friend when her battery suddenly died. A short time after, she was approached from behind by a man who threatened her with a craft knife, telling her that if she made a sound, he would hurt her. Ashby pinned her to the floor, marking her with the blade and continued to attack her before running from the scene.

The victim managed to get to her home address and alert police. Specially trained officers and an ambulance crew attended.

Both cases were linked, and detectives from the Major Crime Investigation Team progressed fast-track enquiries. CCTV analysis of both incidents identified a black Mercedes E class estate which was seen driving through and around the area on both nights of the attacks.

Officers received information from the forensics team stating that the DNA taken from Nicholas Ashby matched the profile to that of the DNA identified on the victim’s clothing and his arrest was sought.

His car was tracked to the M5 where traffic officers were waiting for him. Ashby was arrested on January 5 while out driving in his car and even though he provided ‘no comment’ during police interviews, he was charged and remanded for both attacks.

Footage released by Devon and Cornwall Police, which you can watch at the top of this article, shows the moment Ashby was pulled over and arrested by police. The video shows Ashby exiting his car, when a police officer says: "Okay, just to let you know, okay, you're under arrest on suspicion of rape, okay?".

The footage then shows a handcuffed Ashby being put into the back of a police car.

Ashby had previously pleaded guilty in May 2023 to the sexual assault of a woman in Barnstaple in September 2022 and the attempted rape of another woman in Barnstaple in October 2022.

With an overwhelmingly strong case presented by the prosecution team, Nicholas Ashby pleaded guilty in May 2023. Ashby was told he would serve a minimum of seven years and 11 months.