Latest Offenders

Description

A paedophile who had indecent images of children has been jailed for a second time for failing to sign on the sex offenders register and hiding two phones from police.

Robert Kavanagh, of Birling Road Snodland, was jailed in 2018 for a year after possessing the illegal images.

On his release he was under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which restricted the 46-year-old from using devices which could access the internet.

But in October 2019 officers entered his home and found he had attempted to conceal two mobile phones, both of which were able to access the internet and store images.

Checks showed Kavanagh had used one of the phones on the day he was released. Neither of the devices were disclosed to police.

He was also required to sign on the sex offenders registers on an annual basis, but failed to do so in 2019 and 2021.

'He appears to have no understanding of the gravity of his actions...'

Additionally, the Snodland man moved to a different address and failed to notify police.

Kavanagh was charged with breaching the sexual harm prevention order and with four counts of failing to comply with a sex offender's notification requirement.

He pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court on Wednesday, October 13, and was sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment.

Natalie Armstrong, of Kent Police's west Kent offender management team, said: "Kavanagh has been given every opportunity to engage in rehabilitation and was subject to strict measures designed to reduce the risk of him reoffending.

"He has been unable to adhere to these restrictions and has demonstrated a clear determination to access the internet, including online chatrooms.

"He appears to have no understanding of the gravity of his actions and has repeatedly sought to obstruct police during our efforts to carry out checks and monitor his behaviour.

"Orders such as these are passed by the courts to help protect children from harm and as this case shows, Kent Police will do everything we can to ensure those who ignore them face the consequences of their actions."

Description

A sex offender who preyed on young women walking alone has been jailed after DNA evidence linked him to the crimes. Reyno Du Toit, from Derby, targeted five women in Nottingham's Park estate in October 2020. He exposed himself to three of them and grabbed two others. The 41-year-old was jailed for two years at Nottingham Crown Court after admitting two counts of sexual assault and three counts of exposure. Nottinghamshire Police said Du Toit, of Goodsmoor Road, Derby exposed himself to three women on the afternoon of 24 October in Rolleston Drive, Harlaxton Drive and Allington Road. Two days later he grabbed two women walking in Lenton Road and Rolleston Drive.

'Despicable offender'

Police said Du Toit was arrested in December after his car was linked to the scene of each offence. He was then confronted with "damning DNA evidence" from the clothes of one victim. "Unbeknown to Du Toit, he had left behind trace DNA evidence on his final victim when he groped her over her clothes," the force said. "The tiny-but-damning sample was retrieved from her jeans." Det Con Fiona McVey called Du Toit a "despicable offender who deliberately targeted lone young women as they walked near their homes". "His offending was clearly escalating in its seriousness and we worked exhaustively to track him down as soon as possible," she said. "Thanks to the work of a highly-motivated team of detectives, the evidence we were later able to confront him with was so detailed and so damning that he really had no choice but to admit to what to had done."

Description

Sheffield Crown Court heard on October 26 how Joshua Fearnley, aged 29, of Pollard Road, Southey Green, Sheffield, breached a court order relating to the woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, and he assaulted her during a time before and after he had raped her.

Fearnley also assaulted another woman and damaged her home while he was on bail waiting for the original offences to be resolved, according to the court.

Judge Rachael Harrison, who sentenced Fearnley to 10 years of custody, told him: “No sentence I pass on you will undo the damage you have done to your victims.
Joshua Fearnley, aged 29, of Pollard Road, Southey Green, Sheffield, who was found guilty of rape and assault and was sentenced to 10 years of custody
"They may view the sentences I pass as not doing justice to the harm you have done.”

Fearnley was found guilty of rape and he also pleaded guilty to breaching a court order in relation to the same victim and to two counts of assault by beating which happened at separate times before and after the rape.

Amanda Johnson, prosecuting, said there had been violence before the rape outside a nightclub and there was violence after the rape outside a hospital during an attempt to stop his victim reporting the offending.
Judge Harrison told Fearnley: “You prevented her from going into hospital to protect yourself. You knew you had raped her.”

The complainant stated she has been left struggling with anxiety and sleep and all her relationships with others have been affected.
James Manning, defending, said there had been consensual sex before the rape and the offence had been committed under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
Fearnley was also found guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm concerning a second woman and he admitted causng criminal damage at her home during this incident in January.

Judge Harrison said Fearnley had kicked, punched and slapped this woman and pulled her by her hair and damaged her property.
This complainant stated: “I have nightmares about the night this happened. I have visions of him coming back. I am on new medication in relation to night terrors and paranoia.”

Judge Harrison sentenced Fearnley to ten years of custody and ordered that he be made subject to the Sex Offenders Register.

Description

A barrister who sexually assaulted his colleague during a night out in Bristol has been disbarred. Kevin Farquharson, 45, groped the womans breasts and then asked her to lie to prevent his fiancee finding out, the Bar Tribunal and Adjudication Service heard. He repeatedly touched the woman's breasts and buttocks on the dance floor and at one point forcibly held her arms by her sides and told her to kiss him, it was told. The victim, referred to as A, asked him what the f*** he was doing and said he refused to stop. After he eventually stumbled back home at 4am, Farquharson was confronted by his furious partner, demanding to know what he had been up to. The following evening, Farquharson sent the woman a text message saying: Would you help me by responding to my text tomorrow by simply stating, We lost sight of you at about 1:45. You left after you had a run in with one of the bouncers. I hope you are feeling OK. The victim was only able to escape Farquharsons forceful advances when the staff at Kongs bar in Bristol city centre stepped in to help and had him removed from the venue on the night in September 2019. In March 2021, Farquharson was found guilty of sexual assault and was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to pay the victim 1,800 and was put on the sexual offenders list for seven years. Mark Ruffell, for the Bar Standards Board, said: This is a sad case from start to finish. On the one hand, we have a young lady who was great friends with the respondent, no doubt saw him most days in a professional context, and it is fair to say they were friends. For good reasons, as people do, they decided to go out, let their hair down on the evening and then sadly through drink the events took place. Mr Ruffell added that at one point he went against her back at the bar, touching her vaginal area over her clothes to the point where she had to wriggle free. One of the bartenders reportedly advised the victim to take shelter in the female toilets while security removed Farquharson. He texted a second colleague later that weekend, asking the colleague to tell his fiancee that he was with him should she call. The tribunal chair, Judge Witold Pawlak, found all the charges proved and ordered that Farquharson be disbarred, and pay 2,100 in costs.

Description

Disgraced ex-Police Constable Alexander Murphy found himself back in the dock. A disgraced police officer is now jobless and living off benefits after being convicted of sexually abusing a schoolgirl, a court heard. Alexander Murphy was placed on the Sex Offenders' Register earlier this year for attacking the teenager at a party after plying her and other underage girls with Dragon Soop and wine. Murphy, 49, was spared jail in July for touching the 15-year-old inappropriately after telling her that she was his "favourite" and "cute". But the former Police Scotland officer, who resigned following his conviction, found himself back in the dock at Hamilton Sheriff Court today. Murphy, of Strathaven, Lanarkshire, pleaded guilty to a charge under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, by failing to comply with the terms of the Sex Offenders Register. The court heard that, while he had informed police within three days that he had been placed on the register by the courts, he had failed to disclose a bank card. Convicted sex offenders have to provide the details of their internet accounts and bank cards to officers so their online activities can be monitored. Defence solicitor Andy Iles said: "He is unemployed and in receipt of Universal Credit. "He was previously a police officer but lost his job due to his previous conviction." The lawyer said Murphy had gone to his local police station to register as a sex offender following his conviction but forgot about the bank card. Prosecutor Morag McClintock said: "He said he used it once and completely forgot about it." Mr Iles added: "It was a genuine mistake, but he realises that is not a reasonable excuse [for failing to comply with the regulations] and he accepts that." Sheriff Small fined him 200, reduced from 300 as he admitted his guilt, and said: "I think this was a genuine mistake which is, of course, not a reasonable excuse. "I'm going to impose a financial penalty to make you realise the unacceptability of your carelessness effectively." The court heard Murphy needed time to pay the fine, agreeing to make payments of 20-per-month. Murphy, who served as a Police Constable in Livingston, West Lothian, and previously lived in Paisley, Renfrewshire, admitted sexually assaulting the girl, who cant be named for legal reasons. He also admitted committing a breach of the peace by supplying alcohol to underage girls and making inappropriate remarks to them, at a house party in Uddingston, Lanarkshire, on March 8, 2019.

Description

A paedophile caught with a collection of horrific child abuse images begged for help from the police after he was snared in an online sting.

Repeat sex offender Keiron Boyd, 37, last living on Cunliffe Close, Palacefields, Runcorn, was initially arrested after trying to groom a "14-year-old girl" via social media.

The girl, Darcy, was actually a decoy who led officers to discover the vile stash of videos and pictures on Boyds Samsung phone and Kindle Fire tablet.

Sarah Badrawy, prosecuting on Thursday at Chester Crown Court, said Boyd, who had breached sexual offences prevention orders (SOPO) six times in the past, was arrested and interviewed on July 5 after he made contact with the "girl" on Facebook.

The conversation moved to Messenger and text messages, and Boyd engaged the "girl" in sexually explicit conversation before inviting her to meet for sex.

He asked the decoy, who was posing as a schoolgirl, intimate questions and made graphic sexual suggestions, at one point saying he wanted to "tie her up".

Their interactions took place from June 25 to July 5, ending when the decoy reported Boyd to the police and provided screenshots.

While being arrested, Boyd told his mother he was sorry and had let her down - he had a problem and he had f***ed up and needed help.

In a police interview, Boyd broke down at the end and said: I need help, please help me, I need help with my attraction to children.

He indicated guilty pleas to attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, and attempting to meet a child following grooming in magistrates court on June 6.

Further charges followed as police made the grim discovery of the haul of abuse images on Boyds devices.

Ms Badrawy gave brief descriptions of types of disturbing content involved to the court, including abuse involving a baby aged 18 months, and young girls aged around four or five being raped. Boyds sick stash also featured bestiality videos.

He pleaded guilty at Chester Crown Court at the first opportunity to three counts of making indecent images of a child, one of possessing indecent child images, one of having prohibited images and possessing extreme pornographic images.

The charges related to: 22 Category A videos and eight images in the most serious category; five Category B videos and 36 images; nine Category videos and 35 images; seven extreme pornographic videos and 10 images; and one prohibited video and 84 images.

Ms Badrawy said Boyd had eight convictions for 25 offences including multiple SOPO breaches, indecent images, and criminal damage.

He has previously served time in prison.

Jeremy Rawson, defending, pleaded mitigation for his clients early guilty pleas citing them as showing remorse but conceded Boyd had an unenviable record, which places him in considerable difficulty.

He said the dad-of-two had obtained qualifications at college and had a strong work ethic and was working until his arrest when he confessed his crimes, and has worked while on remand in prison, taking on roles including sorting the prison laundry.

Mr Rawson said: He made full admissions and saw himself as quite clearly a man in need of great assistance.

That had been provided in the past by the probation service but unfortunately for him he didnt comply with as much of the rigorous work as required, and there was a cry for help after his arrest.

He added Boyds mother had terminated contact with her son after his latest crimes.

Judge Patrick Thompson said Boyd was a serious risk of harm to children and imposed an extended sentence, sending him down for five years plus three years on extended licence, meaning he could serve eight years if he offends after his release.

Boyd will have to serve two thirds of the custodial term before being considered for release by the parole board.

The judge approved a Sexual Harm Prevention Order - which have replaced SOPOs - to run indefinitely, and he placed Boyd on the sex offenders register for life.

During his sentencing remarks, Judge Thompson noted the offences happened against a background of [Boyd] having been before the court in the past on numerous occasions.

He said: Its clear to me you have an unhealthy interest in children and its a sexual interest.

Ive read with care the pre-sentence report in your case.

The assessment is that you pose a high risk of serious harm to children particularly females aged 12 to 14.

He added: Its clear you pose a significant risk to children.

I hope whats been said on your behalf is true and you are open to seeking help for a very serious problem or you will serve longer and longer prison sentences.

Children are the most vulnerable and must be protected.

Description

A predatory pensioner took vile sexual photographs of a vulnerable schoolgirl.

Roy Rogers' behaviour came to light after one of his victims, a girl who has learning difficulties, told a teacher he had taken naked pictures of her.

Jonathan Rogers, prosecuting, said: "She was concerned and upset and she also disclosed text messages between her and Rogers.

Mr Rogers told Liverpool Crown Court the girl begged Roy Rogers to return the indecent images he had taken of her in a text exchange.

Rogers, 71, of Croyde Road, Speke, refused saying they are special to me and said she had the best t**s in all of Liverpool".

He told his victim that he was "her boyfriend" and went on to say he loved her.

When interviewed the victim said Rogers took a photograph of her when she was naked and while she was wearing a bikini.

Rogers was arrested and various images were found on his mobile phone including a picture of the girls breasts with his hand pulling up the front of her top to expose them.

The sick predator also used Samsung Galaxy Wearable software to turn some of the images into watch faces to be used on a Samsung smart watch.

When interviewed he claimed he had banter with the girl, who he knew had learning difficulties.

In a later interview he said he became infatuated with her and he accepted it was a sexual infatuation".

The girls mum told in an impact statement how her daughter had become very quiet following the offences and the family have trust issues.

Jailing Rogers for three years the judge, Recorder Ian Harris, described him as a predator.

The defendant had pleaded guilty to 12 offences involving engaging in sexual communication, making indecent images, sexual activity, taking indecent images and possessing such images.

Paul Becker, defending, said Rogers has no previous convictions and has health problems. He said it was a serious case but pointed out the physical contact was "minimal".

He said Rogers had pleaded guilty and urged the judge not to jail him so he could take advantage of probation courses which would help protect the public in future.

Recorder Harris ordered the pensioner to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and also imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a restraining order, both indefinite.

Description

A pervert sexually assaulted a vulnerable woman.

Nicholas Gillinder appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today for sentencing after pleading guilty to three offences which involved sexual activity with a vulnerable woman.

The court heard that Gillinder, 51, exchanged a series of sexually explicit messages with the victim, who was in her twenties but who had a mental age of just 13 because of her autism and learning difficulties.

He also touched her inappropriately on a number of occasions.

Gillinder, of Hart Street, Southport, worked in the care sector.

Jonathan Rogers, prosecuting, said: "The victim in this case is classed as a vulnerable adult, who doesn't leave home unless accompanied by an appropriate adult, and has little or no comprehension of sexual matters.

"He [Gillinder] would send her messages saying how much he liked her and asking if she would go to bed with him.

"At the time his marriage wasn't good, which made the victim feel sorry for him.

"He would kiss and cuddle her and in the messages would say things like 'you've got nice boobs' and 'can I feel your bum'."

Mr Rogers said Gillinder reportedly said he "just foolishly fell for her" while he was in the police van after his arrest.

The victim was assessed as having suffered "substantial psychological harm" as a result of Gillinder's actions. This included gaining a significant amount of weight and having "vivid nightmares" about the defendant.

Mr Rogers added: "The victim felt betrayed by what the defendant had done. His offences compounded the complexity of her day to day life."

Arthur Gibson, defending, said: "At the time these offences were committed, his marriage was dying, if not dead.

"He did get too close to this young lady, was not thinking straight and formed an attraction to her, and the rest is history.

"She did not appreciate the underlying significance of flirtatious banter. He thought irrationally that she was responding to his overtures in the same way he was making them."

Judge David Potter told Gillinder: "You well knew she functioned at a much younger age cognitively.

"You ignored your common sense and became infatuated. You began texting her and sending her Snapchat messages which were sexual in nature.

"Her responses were not well-informed but you took them, childish as they were, as encouragement.

"It was not right for a man of your age to engage with a female of limited capacity. You were a trusted person and you abused the trust that she had in you."

Judge Potter sentenced Gillinder to 21 months in jail, of which he will serve half before being released on licence. He was also placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years, and given a restraining order for the same amount of time.

Description

A child rapist is 'likely to die in jail' after his victim found justice 35-years after he raped and abused her.

Barry Lake, 70, from Newton-le-Willows was charged with 10 counts of rape of a child and two charges of gross indecency with a child last month.

The charges related to the historical abuse of his victim over a four year period in the 1980s.

Originally from Pembroke Dock in Wales, Lake had denied all 12 charges relating to the offences between January 1986 and January 1989.

Lake was first questioned by Dyfed-Powys Police in April 2020 in what would become an intensive and complex investigation.

Investigating officer DC Claire Lewis said: Lake denied all charges, putting his victim through the ordeal of a trial.

As they have done throughout the investigation, they [the victim] showed great courage and dignity in the face of adversity to help us convict their abuser.

This was a long and intensive investigation with a lot of work to achieve this outcome today.

This sentence shows that it doesnt matter how long ago a victim has suffered sexual abuse, we as police are here to listen and take seriously any person who has suffered any form of sexual abuse albeit a day or 35 years after.

Please do not be scared to come forward, we are here to listen to you.

Once again, I would like to commend the victim for their bravery for coming forward and achieving this outcome today.

The pensioner, who after being found guilty of all 12 charges, appeared at Swansea Crown Court on Friday, October 22.

He was sentenced to 20 years in prison for historical rape and abuse of a child and will also serve another year on licence upon his release.

He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offender Register indefinitely and made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Description

Paedophile Simon David Tovey, who was again caught with illegal images of children on his mobile phone.

The 45-year-old was arrested in July after his offender manager carried out a spot check on his Samsung handset.

Tovey admitted two counts of downloading indecent images of children at Leicester Crown Court.

He also pleaded guilty to five counts of breaching a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) by deleting text messages and images as well as hiding his internet history by installing an application which enabled private viewing, in July this year.

Tovey, formerly of the Dawn Centre, Conduit Street, Highfields, Leicester, was given a community order in 2014, for 10 offences of possessing indecent images of children and was placed on a five year SHPO, so his computer and phone use could be monitored by the authorities.

He was back in court in 2019 and jailed for two-and-a-half years, for three counts of possessing indecent images of children, one offence of possessing extreme pornography and three counts of breaching the SHPO - which was extended to run indefinitely.

Description

A court has heard how the wife of a man who was caught sending sexual messages to two 13-year-old girls is now in charge of the password to their family laptop. Philip Horsburgh, of Kenton Road, Wokingham, was spared jail despite also sending a picture of his penis to the girls. The 72-year-old made online contact with the underage girls -- who were not real and whose personas were created by undercover police officers -- in the summer of 2019. He was made aware of the girls ages but continued to message them and told one of them to touch herself sexually, a court heard. Horsburgh also sent a picture of himself touching himself to one of the girls. However, the Wokingham man did not attempt to meet the girls and the contact ceased. His defence counsel Mr Walker said that since the incidents, his wife has changed the password on their family laptop and he is only allowed to use it under her supervision. The court heard how Horsburgh has been taking part in rehabilitative courses since the summer 2019 incidents. His barrister said: He wants to show everyone else he will not behave like this again. Sentencing, Her Honour Judge Real said: This was a massive shock to your family but they have put in place measures so you do not go down this route again. With this in mind, Judge Real handed Horsburgh a 20-month prison sentence suspended for two years. The 72-year-old will also have to take part in 40 rehabilitation activity requirement days and will be on the sex offenders register for ten years. He was sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Monday, October 25 for two counts of attempting to incite a girl aged 13-15 in sexual activity, attempting to engage in sexual activity in the presence of a child, and two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

Description

A man whose "appalling" crimes included raping a 14-year-old girl has been jailed. Jay Louis Benjamin Connor, 20, of Kingswood Road, Tadworth, was sentenced to nine years imprisonment with a further five years on extended licence after being found guilty of multiple sexual offences, including six counts of rape, following a six-week trial at Guildford Crown Court. Connor was arrested on October 30 2019 in Epsom Downs car park after officers found him in his car with a young girl and noticed that he was behaving suspiciously. The girl, who was under the age of 16, subsequently told officers that she had been raped by Connor and he was arrested and taken into custody. Further enquiries revealed that Connor was already known to Surrey Police, who led the investigation, and was currently under investigation in relation to other allegations of sexual offences, the earliest of which dated back to 2018. What police described as a "complex" investigation involving seven complainants coming forward to make allegations against Connor took place over a three-year period. "Even after being arrested on suspicion of rape and sexual assault, Connor continued to meet further victims. With almost all the victims, Connor would make up lies about his past and his health in order to manipulate them into engaging in sexual activity with him," a police statement after his sentencing described. Throughout the trial, Connor reportedly claimed that all victims were lying. He was eventually found guilty of six counts of rape of a female 14 years of age or over, two counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of sexual assault by penetration. In addition to his sentence, the Tadworth man was given a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life. One of his victims, who was just 15 at the time, spoke out after he was sentenced. "I cant trust boys/men and I cant see how I will be able to have a normal relationship as I cant bear to be physically touched and I dont know when it is okay to believe nice things that someone may say to me. I dont want to be attractive or to even look the same or similar as I did at that time. I dont ever want any man to look at me in the same way that he felt he could use me, without any respect for me as a human being," they said. "I cant cope if I get catcalled. I crumble and have a panic attack. I just cant lead a normal life like every other teenager. I am not sure how to make you fully understand the devastating effect he has had on my life. I did survive the ordeal but the scars that remain are very deep and I need to feel safe again," they added. Another victim, who was 14 when Connor raped her in Priory Park in Reigate, said she wanted to use her experience to help others. "I did not expect anything like this to ever happen to me," she said, adding: "I have never felt so small and lonely, not knowing what to think or feel. The whole range of emotions I have gone through have been confusing, upsetting, unnerving and very difficult to cope with. I can now see that Jay had a plan and knew exactly what he was doing. Everyone should know that saying no, means NO. I will always have this experience with me, however I refuse to be a forever victim. I want to speak up and do whats right for myself and others."

Description

Age at conviction could not be found. A paedophile sandwich maker has been locked up for having sex with a teen schoolgirl and later chatting up her friend on Instagram. Predatory Ryan Peet had been working at a Subway shop in 2018 when he met his first victim and added her to Snapchat. Sheffield Crown Court heard pervert Peet must have known her age having seen her wearing her school uniform on a number of occasions - but that did nothing to deter him. Prosecutor Ian West told the court that Peet treated the underage girl to a McDonalds in Rotherham and later had sex with her in his Doncaster flat. On one occasion he took her to the zoo the following day. The court heard they had sex on 10 occasions including when he would meet her at a petrol station and take her to a secluded area near a driving range. Peets offending came to light when his victims family became aware of the relationship between the pair and a formal complaint was made to the police. Mr West also told the court that he and his first victim stopped meeting and communicating when he turned his attention to her friend and began messaging her on Instagram. She refused to send explicit pictures despite Peet asking her to do so. Peet was also arrested in January 2021 when police raided his home and seized a mobile phone and a laptop. During a forensic search of the phone detectives found 441 indecent images of children. Peet, of Rosedale Close, Sheffield, admitted sexual activity with a child, sexual communication with a child and three counts of making indecent images. Enter your postcode to see crimes reported in your area The Recorder Jonathan Sandiford told Peet that he had acted in a predatory fashion and preyed on young girls because it made him feel powerful and in control. He said: In my judgment there are similarities in the way in which you groomed your first victim. There are similarities with that behaviour or at least the purpose of that behaviour. The common feature that occurs is they were all children, they were all under the age of 16 and some of them were under 13 years of age. You targeted them for your own sexual gratification. Peet was handed a nine-year extended sentence - made up of a six-year custodial sentence and a three-year licence period.

Description

A man raped a woman in a Liverpool bar while she was out enjoying herself with a friend.

Bruno Nunes Da Silva, 27, wept in court as Judge Louise Brandon told him women had a "right to go out and enjoy themselves" without being harassed and subjected to such behaviour.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that the young chef, had come over from his home in Dublin to watch Liverpool FC play at Anfield and later embarked on a night out in the city.

During the evening of September 16 this year he ended up in the Black Rabbit bar, on Fleet Street and made eye contact with a young woman who was dancing there with friends.

Robert Wyn Jones, prosecuting, said Silva ended up dancing with the woman and he kissed her briefly and she did not mind and kissed him back.

But she decided she was not interested in him and moved away to sit with her friend on a bench at the side of the club.

CCTV showed that the defendant walked over to her, unzipped his trousers and pushed the tip of his penis into her mouth, which was at his waist height.

The shocked young woman pushed him away by his hips and she grabbed her drink and moved away.

The victim ran outside where she collapsed to the ground crying and vomiting and was joined by her friends who comforted her, said Mr Wyn Jones.

One of her male friends saw Da Silva outside the club and he detained him and then handed him over to door staff who passed him onto the police when they arrived.

Da Silva, of Frederick North Lane, Dublin, pleaded guilty to rape and was jailed for three years and ordered to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Judge Brandon accepted that he was genuinely remorseful, but told the defendant she had a duty to protect young women.

She said that they had the right to go out and enjoy themselves without being harassed and subjected to such behaviour.

The CCTV footage also showed that her friend was also visibly shocked, raising her hand to her mouth.

The victim ran outside where she collapsed to the ground crying and vomiting and was joined by her friends who comforted her, said Mr Wyn Jones.

One of her male friends saw Da Silva outside the club and he detained him and then handed him over to door staff who passed him onto the police when they arrived.

Da Silva, of Frederick North Lane, Dublin, pleaded guilty to rape and was jailed for three years and ordered to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Judge Brandon accepted that he was genuinely remorseful, but told the defendant she had a duty to protect young women.

She said that they had the right to go out and enjoy themselves without being harassed and subjected to such behaviour.

Louise McCloskey, defending, said that it had been a stupid drunken act.

She said that the defendant has no convictions either here, Ireland or his homeland of Brazil.

He had moved from South America to Ireland where he learnt English and began working as a chef.

He came over to the city to watch Liverpool FC play and during his night out had a lot to drink.

She said it was clear from his demeanour he is genuinely remorseful and had not been thinking about the consequences of his actions.

"It was a momentary lack in his consequential thinking.

Description

A woman who was raped and strangled in a Liverpool park feared she would never see her kids again.

Tadas Trakselis strangled the sex worker unconscious then raped her and stole the money he paid her.

The victim feared she was going to die and never see her children again before she passed out.

Liverpool Crown Court heard the 25-year-old had punched and beat her after he couldn't get an erection.

Then when she came to and saw him walking off, he mockingly said: "There's dangerous people out there."

The victim was working on Sheil Road, near Newsham Park in Anfield, late on August 22 last year.

Martine Snowdon, prosecuting, said: "She was approached by the defendant, who asked her how much it would be for oral sex. They agreed a price, he gave her 30 and they made their way to some bushes in Newsham Park."

Ms Snowdon said the woman, in her 40s, provided a condom for Trakselis but "he was unable to get an erection".

The victim described drunken Trakselis as being "a bit off", which made her feel uncomfortable, which she told him.

Ms Snowdon said: "It was at that point he grabbed hold of her by the throat and he pushed her to the ground.

"She described how she fought back, though she knew that she shouldn't fight back.

"She then described passing out and waking up, coming to, with the defendant throttling her."

The court heard he told her to "hush" and kept strangling her.

Ms Snowdon said: "At that point she thought she was going to die and she passed out again."

When the victim came around, she found her lower clothing had been pulled down and the money taken from her pocket.

She then saw Trakselis walking off, who said: "There's dangerous people out there."

Ms Snowdon said the victim called a male friend and told him she "had the s*** kicked out of her".

He came to the scene, called the emergency services and took photos of her injuries, which included multiple grazes and bruising to her neck, chest, mouth, jaw, back, shoulders, hips, pelvis and genital area.

A doctor said the injuries to her neck were consistent with strangulation and DNA evidence on her identified Trakselis, whose phone was found nearby by the woman's friend.

Trakselis, of Townsend Lane, Tuebrook, gave a no comment interview but later admitted rape, assault causing actual bodily harm and theft.

He has one conviction in the UK for theft from a car in 2018 and was previously jailed for six years for assault in Lithuania.

The woman said she had suffered violence from men in the past but what happened that night was "something else".

Ms Snowdon said: "In her words she thought she was going to die, she was thinking about her children in that moment and thinking she wouldn't see them again and thinking who could tell them the reason and how they would take it."

The woman who felt "numb and violated", is now reluctant to go out at night and has suffered nightmares.

Ms Snowdon said: "She indicates she will survive as she always has done, but doesn't wish for any other woman to go through what she went through."

Jeremy Hawthorne, defending, said Trakselis' guilty pleas, giving him 25% credit off his sentence, were "pretty much his sole mitigation".

He said: "He's been in the UK for about five years. He's a Lithuanian as the court knows by origin. While he's been here he's been involved in factory and building work, done a little bit of charity work.

"He's someone who had made what, up until now, was a constructive use of the right to come and work in Britain."

Mr Hawthorne said friends of Trakselis sitting in the public gallery had provided a letter in which they said the attack was inconsistent with the man they knew.

However, he said: "It does not disguise the fact this was a terrible offence."

Judge David Aubrey, QC, told Trakselis: "You became agitated and subsequently extremely violent firstly in consequence of the fact that you were unable to obtain an erection.

"What you then subsequently did was grab her by the throat and push her violently to the ground.

"It's quite apparent you began to throttle her and continued to strangle her after you had told her to be quiet.

"When she was endeavouring to fight back, she lost consciousness."

He said a doctor found the woman's injuries were consistent with her being "beaten, punched and strangled".

Judge Aubrey said: "It was during the period of unconsciousness that she was raped."

He referred to the victim being "particularly vulnerable", the "extreme nature" of the attack and the "attitude to sex workers" displayed by Trakselis in a pre-sentence report as he concluded the rapist was "dangerous", as defined in law.

The judge told him that after the rape, "you further humiliated her by stealing some money from her".

He said: "It's to the victim's credit that she had the courage to come forward in order to make the complaint that she has."

Judge Aubrey jailed Trakselis for nine years, with an extended three years on licence.

This type of sentence means Trakselis must serve at least two thirds of the custodial term - six years - behind bars.

He will only be released before the end of the nine years if the Parole Board no longer considers him to be a risk.

Judge Aubrey told Trakselis to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Speaking after the case, Detective Inspector Lisa Milligan from Merseyside Police's Unity team, the specialist rape and serious assault unit, said: "This was an utterly despicable attack and we welcome that Trakselis is now behind bars.

"While no sentence can repair the pain and suffering Trakselis has caused to his victim, I hope that he will reflect on his disgraceful actions while serving this significant jail time.

"I would like to commend the victim for the incredible bravery and courage she has shown in coming forward to report the crime, and for her strength throughout the investigation.

"I hope that this sentence today will reassure anyone who has suffered a sexual offence that, if you can find the courage to come forward and speak to us, we will deal with you sensitively and make sure that your report is properly and thoroughly investigated.

"Specialist police officers from our Unity team work side-by-side with a number of partners including Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs) and the Red Umbrella Project. These organisations work with victims from the moment the police make the referral through to the court case and beyond."