Latest Offenders

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A Yeovil pensioner has been jailed for 17 years for a string of sexual assaults on young boys spanning nearly 40 years.

Barry Dunthorn, 74, of Hendford Grove, was found guilty of nine counts of sexual assault on four male victims aged between 12 and 16 at the time the offences were committed.

Following a two week trial at Taunton Crown Court, Dunthorn was convicted of three indecent assaults on a male under 14 and three counts of indecent assault on a male under 16.

He was also found guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a child under 16, and one count of paying for the services of a child under 18.

The offences took place in South and East Somerset between 1981 and 2018.

The court heard how Dunthorn groomed his victims by encouraging them to commit sexual acts with him in exchange for cash payments and gifts.

The most recent offences relate to the sexual abuse of a 14-year-old victim, who was paid large cash sums in exchange for sexual activity over a 12 month period.

Following sentencing, HHJ Townsend paid tribute to the victims for their courage in disclosing the offences and for having to relive the abuse during the court process.

Investigating officer Andy Bath said: I would like to praise the bravery of the victims who reported the offences to the police and instigated an investigation.

After an initial report was made, a further three victims had the courage to come forward, all suffering similar traumatic events at the hands of the defendant.

He created the opportunity to arrange meetings in secret and paid sums of cash to the victims to keep quiet about what was happening.

He has shown absolutely no remorse for his actions and throughout the lengthy investigation and court trial he has denied his illegal activities.

Nevertheless, the jury found him guilty of nine indictments.

I very much hope that the victims will get some comfort in the knowledge that the man who had made them suffer abuse when they were children will now receive a custodial sentence for what he did.

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A former Filey man who raped a boy, incited a girl to engage in sexual activity and filmed himself having sex with a dog has been jailed for 18 years. Kyle Stephenson, 29, now of no fixed address, was sentenced at York Crown Court on Friday after what a detective described as one of the "most harrowing and disturbing" cases he had been involved with. Stephenson - described as "vile and manipulative" by police - had been due to stand trial this week but decided to plead guilty to the offences against the boy and the girl. Stephenson also admitted committing bestiality after police recovered conclusive video evidence. The Judge took this offence into consideration when passing sentence, which also subjected him to a life-time Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed him on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely. He also has to serve an extra year on licence. Stephenson was arrested on 31 January 2021 following a complaint made by the boy and he has remained in custody since being charged. The offences were committed between then and January 2020. The dog Stephenson abused has died from an illness. Detective Constable Steve Monty, of Scarborough CID, who led the investigation, said Stephenson is now facing the consequences of his depraved actions He said: This is one of the most harrowing and disturbing cases I have been involved in. My heart goes out to the brave young victims who have endured immense trauma caused by this vile and manipulative man. Their true courage, together with support from loved ones, will hopefully give them the strength to rebuild their lives and move forward from this dreadful experience. Det Con Monty added: As for Stephenson, he has rightfully been brought to justice and is now facing the full consequences of his depraved and disgusting actions. My message to victims of child abuse, no matter when it occurred, is that the police will support you in a highly professional and sensitive way throughout an investigation and court case. Please dont hesitate to seek our help or obtain support from specialist services that are readily available to victims.

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A rapist told his victim to "shut up" when she pleaded with him to stop during a series of sex attacks.

Matthew Jones assaulted and raped a woman, who cannot be identified, including an incident when he whipped her with a belt.

The 34-year-old left his victim with severe psychological damage, and she says she "still has many days she wishes she was dead".

Liverpool Crown Court heard Jones, of Dorset Road, Tuebrook, denied any wrongdoing and claimed the woman was lying to a jury.

But jurors, who saw photos of bruises to her back and thighs, found him guilty of four counts of rape and one of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Today it emerged the rapist, who still maintains his innocence, also has a history of violence against another woman - his ex-wife.

Describing the abuse, Judge Gary Woodhall said Jones punched his victim, threw things at her, and in one attack removed his belt and hit her with it, leaving her feeling "humiliated", with bruises the length of her back.

The judge said he raped the woman on one occasion when she was ill, "placing your hand on her throat".

He said: "She was crying and saying stop. You told her to shut up."

Judge Woodhall said the woman recalled two or three other occasions when he raped her in a similar way after overpowering her.

Gareth Roberts, prosecuting, summarised a victim statement from the woman, who he said now "struggles to lead a normal life".

Mr Roberts said she "constantly feels afraid and scared", has lost her faith in others, distrusts men, feels "unreasonable revulsion" to any man who looks like her attacker, suffers from panic attacks and has difficulty with any physical contact.

Mr Roberts said the victim was left suicidal, adding: "She didn't want to live because of the memories of what happened to her."

The prosecutor said the woman has undergone counselling, which has helped, but "still has many days she wishes she was dead".

The court heard Jones has four previous convictions for five offences, including battery convictions for violence against his former wife.

Michael Scholes, defending, said a series of character references conflicted with the views of a probation officer in a pre-sentence report.

He said in his dealings with Jones he was "articulate, intelligent and courteous", and while his client still denied the offences, he accepted the jury's findings and understood that he would have to be punished.

Judge Woodhall said the victim referred to how Jones' abuse "changed her" and "she is unable to forget what you did to her".

He said Jones "complained" to the probation officer how the victim "has taken everything away from you".

But the judge added: "That's what she has described you did to her."

Judge Woodhall said Jones had character references from his mum, sister-in-laws, girlfriend, brothers, an aunt and nan.

He said they described him as "loving and caring" and "honourable and responsible and supportive and hard working".

The judge said these testimonials suggested his offences were "out of character", but noted one brother said Jones had suffered with anger issues from a young age and taken steps to combat it, while his nan outlined Jones' problems with his father and the loss of a brother as a child.

Judge Woodhall said however he behaved towards them, his previous convictions and latest offending showed he had behaved "entirely differently" with his victims.

He said his rape victim was "vulnerable" at the time of the attacks and concluded she suffered "severe psychological harm", while his mitigation was limited, except for his absence of previous sexual offences and his positive work record.

Judge Woodhall jailed Jones for nine and a half years, as a woman in the public gallery shook her head.

He said Jones would serve two thirds of this sentence - six years and four months - behind bars, before he is released on licence.

The judge ordered Jones to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life and made an indefinite restraining order to protect his victim.

Supporters including members of Jones' family sobbed as he was sent down, with one man shouting: "I love you - you didn't do it."

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A paedophile barricaded himself in his bedroom at his parents' home then kicked a police officer in the face.

Liam Perkins was caught sharing his disgusting collection of child rape photos with other perverts online.

But the 30-year-old was released under investigation and caused havoc at his family's home in St Helens.

The dad, now of Meredith Street, Garston, later broke his ex-girlfriend's front door in another violent outburst.

And he launched a foul-mouthed rant at a judge when he was finally jailed at Liverpool Crown Court.

Police acting on intelligence raided Perkins' then home in St Helens on March 18, 2020.

Cheryl Mottram, prosecuting, said officers seized his two Samsung mobile phones, which both contained indecent videos and photos.

There were 17 Category A - the most serious category showing child rape - 17 Category B and 89 Category C files, plus two animal porn pictures.

Analysis of the phones showed Perkins had used Kik Messenger to distribute six Category A, six Category B and 19 Category C files.

Ms Mottram said these were sent over a four-day period in March 2020.

In response to one Category A image sent by Perkins, another paedophile replied: "Damn man your stuff is great"

The court heard the age range of the children was from five to 15, with the majority aged nine to 13.

Ms Mottram said Perkins searched for "young baby porn pics", "very young", "young porn", "young feet" and "teen boy boy".

When interviewed, he gave a prepared statement and accepted the devices were his, but denied a sexual interest in children.

He was released under investigation, but at around 3.30am on January 2, police received a call from his mum, who said he was drunk and causing a disturbance at their property.

Ms Mottram said police found him in his bedroom, he was "very aggressive", "couldn't be reasoned with" and when taken to the ground he kicked out at an officer, causing the victim's nose to bleed.

When interviewed, he said he had a drinking problem and couldn't remember the attack.

He was released under investigation again, only to go to his ex-partner's home in St Helens on February 1.

She closed the front door on him and he repeatedly banged on the door, cracking a glass panel, before later telling police he had been drunk again.

Perkins admitted three counts of downloading, three counts of distributing and one count of possessing indecent images of children, plus possessing extreme porn, assaulting an emergency worker, resisting arrest and criminal damage.

He had three previous convictions for four offences, including public disorder and criminal damage in 2012 and theft in 2017.

Desmond Lennon, defending, said his client expressed remorse and "recognises the complete wrongness of his behaviour in terms of the sexual interest in children and also his violent behaviour".

He said his client's underlying problem was his use of alcohol and cocaine, before suggesting he was suitable for a sex offenders treatment programme and rehabilitation in the community.

Mr Lennon said Perkins would "inevitably" lose his job and likely his home if jailed, but was "sorry and ashamed for his behaviour, understands belatedly perhaps that it was entirely wrong, and would welcome the chance to make amends".

Judge Gary Woodhall said the Kik Messenger conversations showed Perkins was "fully aware" what he was sharing online, with the child abuse images showing girls and boys aged five to 15.

The judge noted Perkins' parents had been reluctant about him moving back into their home, before the January 2 incident.

He said Perkins "smashed furniture" at their address, but they hadn't pressed any criminal charges.

Judge Woodhall added: "They believe you're in need of professional help."

He said: "You had barricaded yourself in your bedroom so that the officers had to force their way into your bedroom."

The judge said Perkins was "attempting to push them down the stairs", threatened to kick them, then when taken down, kicked an officer in the face "full force".

He said the officers had to use incapacitant spray to calm him down and arrest him.

Judge Woodhall said the incident at his ex-partner's house saw Perkins injure his own hand.

He said after Perkins realised she had called the police, he sent her messages calling her a "grass" and a "rat".

The judge said Perkins had expressed remorse in a pre-sentence report and was no longer able to see his daughter because of his crimes.

Judge Woodhall said Perkins admitted he was attracted to young teens, under the influence of cocaine and alcohol when viewing the images, and had tried to get help.

However, he said the offences were too serious for anything other than prison and jailed him for two years and one month in total.

He made a five-year restraining order to protect his ex-girlfriend and told Perkins to sign on the Sex Offenders Register and comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.

Perkins yelled from the dock: "Bulls***! You let a guy walk with 32,000 images the other day!"

He paused to shout "love you dad" to his father sitting in the public gallery, before continuing to rant: "As for that five-year-old, I've never seen pictures like that, f***ing k***head!

"They sent it, I didn't, f***ing k***."

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A sex offender who contacted a teenage girl on social media while out of prison on licence has been jailed.

Warrington man David Fowler was jailed for nine years in 2015 after pleading guilty to four counts of inciting a 15-year-old girl to engage in sexual intercourse.

On Tuesday Fowler , 30, of no fixed address, appeared at Chester Crown Court when he was jailed for 22 months for breaching the terms of a Sexual Offence Prevention Order.

The 22-month sentence will sit alongside the rest of Fowler's prison sentence from 2015.

Chester Crown Court heard that Fowler had contacted a 15-year-old girl on social media, which breached the terms of the Sexual Offence Prevention Order handed down to him in 2015.

In 2015 Warrington Crown Court heard how Fowler had set up a Facebook account in the name 'Chris Johnson' which he used to send explicit messages to a teenage girl.

The court heard that Fowler had used social media to groom teenager girls. Judge Nicholas Woodward, who jailed the Warrington man for nine years, described him as a "predator".

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A convicted sex offender who was jailed for 12 years has had his time in prison almost doubled after new victims came forward. Barry Radford was jailed in 2019 for offences against four teenage boys. After his conviction, two more victims reported they had been abused by the 54-year-old, Northumbria Police said. Radford, from Whickham, admitted 12 more offences including four counts of rape and was jailed at Newcastle Crown Court for a further 11 years. The new offences also included six counts of sexual assault and two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, police said. Det Ch Insp Graeme Dodds praised the bravery of all the victims. He said: "[Radford's] a dangerous and predatory offender who preyed upon teenage boys. The victims have been so courageous. It is due to their bravery that Radford has been held to account for his horrific actions and he will remain in prison for a significantly longer period of time."

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A Portsmouth man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for sexually abusing a child and being found in possession of thousands of indecent images.

Stephen Newell, 48, of St Mary's Road, London, came to officers' attention as a Portsmouth resident when an online account linked to him uploaded an indecent image of a child to the internet earlier this year.

Our Internet Child Abuse Team subsequently carried out an investigation, which led to the seizure of a number of devices, including a laptop and mobile phones that had inappropriate content on them.

Our investigation revealed that Newell had also sexually abused a boy under the age of 13.

Newell was arrested in February this year and subsequently charged with two counts of taking indecent photographs of a child, one count of making indecent photographs of children, three counts of distributing/showing indecent photographs/indecent pseudo-photographs of a child/children, one count of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, two counts of assault of a child under 13 by penetration and three counts of sexual assault of a child under 13.

He pleaded guilty to all charges and appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court today (Friday 16 July) where he was sentenced to 14 years in prison.

Officer in charge of the case, DC Stephen Hill said: "The sexual abuse of children causes unfathomable damage, and I hope that this sentence provides some justice for the victim, who will continue to receive support from partner services.

"We take all reports of sexual assault extremely seriously, and will do everything in our power to bring those responsible to justice.

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A man who sexually abused three children two decades ago has been jailed for 11 years.

Stuart Newbold was sentenced for nine crimes against his victims between 1997 and 2000.

All three, who are now adults, were said to have "suffered immensely" by his actions, Leicester Crown Court heard.

They contacted the police in 2018 to report the abuse that took place in North West Leicestershire.

Newbold, of Mary Close, Ibstock, near Coalville, was told he will have to serve two-thirds of his 11 year jail term.

He was also placed on a sexual harm prevention order for 15 years and his details will be held on a sex offender register for life.

Sentencing, Judge Ebrahim Mooncey said: "Three victims were all abused by you when they were very young.

"Correspondingly, you were younger too: teens, possibly just into your 20's.

"You're 39 now. The sentencing has to reflect those factors.

"The victims have been severely affected adversely by what they experienced from you."

Judge Mooncey said the female victim was aged between nine and 10. The two boys were both under 14 when they were abused.

He said he accepted the defendant suffered from mild autism as well as "certain mental issues" and experienced a difficult upbringing.

He added: "Although you had developmental difficulties, I've no doubt you knew at the time that what you'd done to these three children was wrong.

"You had the assistance of an intermediary throughout the trial. We heard from a psychologist that you may not now recall these matters.

"There is no suggestion of any new offending and I can treat you as being effectively of good character."

Newbold denied the charges against him, but was convicted at a recent trial at Leicester Crown Court of the following offences:

Four counts of inciting a boy under 14 to commit an act of gross indecency

Three counts of indecent assault on a boy under 14 years

Two counts of indecent assault on a girl under 14 years

Andreas O'Shea, mitigating, said: "We're dealing with offences that happened 20-plus years ago and there's no indication of anything inappropriate since this and there's no evidence of anything else coming to light.

"He went on to live an exemplary life."

Mr O'Shea said a psychologist assessed the defendant as having "the emotional age of a 16-year-old."

He said the defendant's wife, also diagnosed with autism, was "an innocent party" who would suffer if he was incarcerated.

The barrister said he accepted the "unsavory nature" of the offences should be marked but 20 years of "unblemished conduct since" should also be taken into account.

The defendant's mother-in-law told the judge Newbold was "an absolute gentleman" who was protective, supportive and caring towards her daughter, despite the couple both having combined learning difficulties.

Afterwards, officer in the case, Detective Constable Andy Day, said: I hope the fact that Newbold is now serving a custodial sentence will provide a degree of closure to the three victims and allow them to move on their lives.

I hope todays sentencing will also encourage anyone who has been a victim of child sexual abuse to come forward and report matters to police.

"It is never too late to speak out.

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An already convicted sex offender from Exeter has avoided a prison sentence after he was caught with hundreds of child sexual images including many showing the rape or torture of young children

Robert Graham Barter, 37 of Stemson Avenue, Pinhoe, Exeter appeared at Exeter Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images of children and for breaching a previous sexual offences prevention order dating back to 2011

The court was told that Barter had collected the images of over a five year period.

Police analysed the images and found 101 images in category A, 677 images in category B, and 274 images in category C.

Barter was also convicted of a sexual offence in 2011

The judge handed Barter a 32 week prison sentence which was suspended for two years.

He was placed under a curfew for four weeks and a sexual Harm Prevention Order, including prohibition against using any device capable of accessing the internet was also imposed.

Barter is also required to register as a sex offender for an indefinite period.

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This is the 24-year-old man who escaped a jail sentence after grooming an underage girl before going on to sexually abuse her.

Winchester Crown Court heard the victim was left 'ashamed' and 'sick to her stomach' after predator Shane Kieron Illsley persisted even when she told him to stop.

The Bramley man sent her explicit messages to the girl then told her to delete them, saying that if anyone found out he could go to prison.

He then sexually abused her on two occasions and persisted when she told him to stop. On the second occasion, the court heard, the victim did not ask him to stop as she knew that he would not listen.

There was outrage from the public gallery in court on Friday when Judge Jane Miller QC handed Illsley a suspended prison sentence.

The 24-year-old told the girl, who was below the legal age of consent, that she was perfect and beautiful, prosecutor Andy Houston told Winchester Crown Court on Friday.

There was a grooming process, he continued. Various suggestive messages were exchanged, they referred to masturbation and ejaculation.

Mr Houston added that the defendant indicated he wanted to progress things, before he then touched her sexually.

Defending, Adrienne Knight said that Illsley was embarrassed by what he has done.

He had initially denied the charges but later changed his plea to guilty.

Ms Knight said this was because he [could not] take the embarrassment of admitting what had happened to his family.

This morning, he still started getting really upset and crying because he cant face admitting to it, she continued.

He is so terrified by coming to court and the prospect of prison that he will do everything in his power to not be before the courts again.

He doesnt feel that he is a sex offender, but he knows that is now his label.

He was never going to hurt her. He wasnt trying to groom her, he wasnt using it as an excuse to have sex with her.

However, Judge Miller disagreed with Ms Knight, saying: I hope you know full well the extent of the offences you have committed. You knew that this was all entirely inappropriate.

I cannot accept the messages were not grooming, and you used the messages to your own purpose.

[The victim] said she felt stick to her stomach. She of course ended up blaming herself for letting it happen, where it was nothing to do with her and all you.

Judge Miller told Illsley that she would be sending him to prison for a total of ten months, suspended for two years., which caused his family members and friends in the public gallery to let out cries.

They could even still be heard in the courtroom after they had left the public gallery.

But the judge angrily addressed the remaining members: May I suggest that some of you wait and hear what I am about to do.

She suspended the prison sentence for two years, in which time he must also complete 200 hours of unpaid work.

It is a great pity that your friends and family are not able to be as composed as you Mr Illsley.

The judge said: This is a chance that you are getting. Please dont throw that away. Please dont let us see you here again.

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A pensioner who subjected a boy and girl to sexual abuse over a decade has been jailed for 11 years.

David Gardner, 65, of Alderley, Skelmersdale, molested a boy and girl between 2000 and 2010.

He was found guilty of sexual activity with a child and causing and inciting sexual activity with a child. He had pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images of children.

Gardner was jailed for 11 years during a hearing at Preston Crown Court on July 2.

Police have now revealed more disturbing details about the case.

A spokesman for the force said that Gardner made one of his victims watch videos of older men raping children.

Although the victims were too young to fully understand what the defendant was doing to them, one did question what he was doing. In response, Gardner said it was all just fun.

When Gardner was arrested, officers seized his electronic devices, they found thousands of images of indecent images of children, as well as extreme pornography.

DC Dawn Croucher, of West Lancs CID, said: First and foremost I want to praise the victims in this case for the bravery they have shown in coming forward and disclosing the horrendous offences Gardner committed against them.

Gardner is a despicable individual who abused children to satisfy his own perverted sexual interests. Although no sentence will ever reflect the damage a defendant has caused, I am pleased Gardner will now spend a considerable amount of time behind bars.

I would encourage anyone who has been the victim of sexual offending no matter how long ago it occurred to contact Lancashire Police. You will be listened to and we will do all we can to bring the perpetrator to justice.

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A man who travelled to try to meet someone he thought was a teenage girl for sex in Crawley after online contact, has now been given a prison sentence.

Richard White, 44, unemployed, of Timberlands, Storrington, was sentenced to 26 months imprisonment at Lewes Crown Court on Thursday 1 July, having pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to attempting to arrange a child sexual offence.

He will be a registered sex offender for ten years and was given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, also for ten years, severely restricting his access to children and computers, both to last until further court notice.

The prosecution, authorised by the CPS, followed an intelligence-led investigation by the Sussex Police Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT), working closely with the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU).

Communications devices were seized when POLIT officers arrested White in a car park at Crawley in December 2019.

Detective Sergeant Lisa Heaton from SEROCU, said: "This was a successful operation where the extensive and strong collaboration between Sussex Police's Online Investigation Team and the South East Regional Crime Organised Unit ensured White was brought to justice. It also shows the lengths of depravity that White would go to in an attempt to conduct child sex abuse. Law enforcement operates across the internet, and we will relentlessly seek to bring to justice individuals who use the web to facilitate the abuse of children."

POLIT Detective Inspector Andy Harbour said; "This arrest followed a proactive, intelligence-led investigation, part of our continuing priority to protect children from sexual exploitation from those who seek to do them harm."

"If you have been a victim of child sexual abuse, or have information about anyone else who has, please contact us either online or by calling 101. We will always follow up allegations of abuse, no matter when they occurred. Victims can talk in confidence to experienced Investigators and we can also help them get access to a range of other support services."

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A PAEDOPHILE who posed as a young girl online was found with 550 child abuse images.

Officers from the Essex Police Online Investigation Team (POLIT) raided the address of Scott Chapman in Hume Close, Tilbury back on December 4, 2019.

The team, which investigates online child abuse, had received intelligence that the internet at the address had been used to view indecent images of children.

Following searches there and at another address, officers seized a mobile phone which could be attributed to Chapman on which they found more than 550 indecent images of children.

They also found several social media applications on which Chapman had posed as a young girl or sent indecent images to others.

The 24-year-old was charged with three counts of making indecent images of children and three counts of distributing indecent images of children.

He admitted the offences and at Basildon Crown Court and was jailed for seven years.

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He had warned officers he would 'he would commit suicide before he reached prison' A 76-year-old man who had threatened to take his own life before he reached prison slashed his neck with a craft blade in court. Leslie Marrs produced the blade and slashed the right side of his neck moments after Judge Stuart Driver, QC, had warned the dock officer about the defendant. Judge Driver had had just warned the dock officer before that Marrs had told probation that he would commit suicide before he reached prison." The judge added: "He needs to be handled with particular care today." However seconds later Marrs, who was appearing off-bail, produced a craft blade from his suit and twice slashed his neck, before the dock officer wrestled the weapon from him. The officer then pressed paper towels to the wound while urgently calling for assistance for the former soldier and the court was cleared of most of those present which included the shocked mum of Marrs teenage victim. Security staff arrived to administer first aid and paramedics and an ambulance rushed to Liverpool Crown Court to attend to him in the cells. Marrs, of Dunkeld Close, Kensington, Liverpool, had just been sentenced to 32 months imprisonment after admitting sexual assault and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life. Anya Horwood, prosecuting, had told the court that the incident came to light when the victim, who was in her mid-teens, confided in her youth worker that some months earlier she had been sexually assaulted by Marrs who had also previously made inappropriate remarks. When interviewed Marrs claimed that they had been discussing pubic hair and in that context touched her vaginal area. A photograph of his penis was found on his mobile phone and he admitted the girl, who was vulnerable, might have seen it but he had not shown it to her. In an impact statement the victims mum told how the girl had suffered nightmares and self-harmed after the assault and had displayed out of character challenging behaviour. She said she realised now that Marrs had been grooming her daughter. I believe he knew exactly what he was doing. The court heard that he has previous convictions but none for sexual offences. Paul Lewis, defending, said that Marrs has chronic lung issues and heart problems and some mental health problems relating to his Army service. Sentencing Marrs earlier today ( Monday) the judge said that he had caused significant psychological harm to his victim and described her mums statement as moving. After Marr sliced his neck the court was closed for a while to allow for it to be thoroughly cleaned. Marrs was taken to hospital for treatment and no injuries were sustained to officers during the incident.

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This is the face of a Derbyshire rapist who took advantage of a young woman - paralytic on drink and drugs - to sexually attack her.

A judge told Simon Sowden what he did to the brave victim was "a horrific incident" for her.

In her own victim impact statement she told how she did not even want to look at herself in the mirror because of what the 32-year-old did to her.

She and her family showed huge courage to come to Derby Crown Court earlier this week to see Sowden jailed for 10 years and nine months.

But her attacker could not even begin to muster the same courage, choosing instead to turn away from the public gallery and shield his face from her during the hearing.

Now, after consulting with the victim, Derbyshire police has released a custody photograph of Sowden.

Sarah Phelan, prosecuting, said the sex attack happened in the early hours of the morning one day in April 2019.

She said Sowden met the victim in a pub in Chesterfield and the two of them drank heavily and took cocaine.

Miss Phelan said: "He took advantage of her when she was heavily intoxicated, took her back to his flat under the guise of protecting her when she was paralytic through drink and drugs and was not capable of consenting.

"Two taxis refused to take them and it was only a third taxi, driven by a female, who was prepared to take them.

"They arrived at his flat and she recalls taking her false eyelashes off.

"She said she then recalls feeling she was being (touched sexually) and then felt him inside her and could hear him moaning and breathing.

"She got to the bathroom, grabbed her things and left.

"There is CCTV of her trying to flag down an ambulance."

Miss Phelan said the victim rushed home and told her mother she had been raped and the police were called.

She said the defendant was arrested at around 9.45am in a van in Chesterfield and answered "no comment" to questions he was asked in two police interviews.

Sowden, of Chatsworth Road, Chesterfield, pleaded guilty to rape, assault by penetration and sexual assault but only on the day his trial was due to begin.