Latest Offenders

Description

A former police sergeant has been described as having a high risk of "causing serious harm to children" after he was caught in an undercover sting. Paul Bucknall chatted sexually online to two undercover police officers posing as parents. Bucknall's messages included asking one of the officers if she would like to "share" a 10-year-old girl. The 52-year-old pled guilty to two charges under the Communications Act. Glasgow Sheriff Court heard the offences took place between September and December 2019 at a police station in the city and Bucknall's then home in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire.

'Psychologically detached condition'

He was ordered to do 225 hours of unpaid work and put under supervision, as well as being placed on the sex offenders register for two years. The first offender has also been restricted access to children under the age of 16. The charge states that Bucknall's messages were "grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character". Sheriff Allan McKay said: "I don't need to tell you these offences are serious. They are repeated and committed over a period of time. The location in which they were committed is also a concern to me. "Your background report indicates that you lacked insight into the effect of the offending and that you have adopted a psychologically detached condition. "The report says this condition presents as a high risk of causing serious harm to children and you have to address that." Bucknall will continue to be allowed access to computer equipment which must be available to access upon request. The hearing was earlier told he had joined the Chat Avenue website with the username "Purdeman50UK".

Undercover officer

He began communicating with an undercover officer named "Gemma" who stated she was the mother of a 10-year-old girl. Prosecutor Jennifer Sillars said: "Bucknall believed he was contacting the mother of the 10-year-old girl. "He expressed highly graphical sexual comments including he had no age limits and asking Gemma if she would like to share her in reference to the 10-year-old girl." Bucknall referred to himself as Paul and passed his own mobile number to the officer. The offences led to his home being raided after a warrant was granted. He was arrested and gave a "no comment" interview. Pamela Rodgers, defending, told the court Bucknall had lost his wife, two children and his granddaughter and had to resign from Police Scotland. Det Ch Insp Richard Banks, of the National Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: "We acknowledge the sentence of Paul Bucknall following his abhorrent offending. "He believed the internet would provide anonymity and allow him to undertake his offending undetected. This was not the case."

Description

A teacher has been jailed for grooming and having sex with a 14-year-old pupil she became "infatuated" with at the school where she worked.

Fatinah Hossain, 25, claimed she was pregnant after the schoolboy tried to end the relationship that had lasted several months.

She even offered to pay the boy to get him to drop the charges, police said.

After being released on bail last June, Hossain launched a campaign of harassment against the boy and his family in a bid to stop the police probe.

Using fake social media accounts, Hossain tried to manipulate other children with threats made against at least one other youngster to warn them off speaking to officers.

She also threatened the boy and his family using fake names and added she would pay him to 'drop the charges', according to Sussex Police.

After being charged and appearing before magistrates in October 2020, Hossain tried to set up a member of the victim's family by pretending to an underage teenager online.

She set up a string of fake social media accounts using different names - including one pretending to be a 14-year-old girl.

Hossain then sent messages to an adult member of the boy's family in a bid to try and get him sacked from his job and even made false reports to police to try and get him arrested.

This campaign continued until March this year when police were shown evidence the allegations were false.

Hossain was then charged with perverting the course of justice along with one count of sexual activity with the boy while in a position of trust.

She had been working as a teaching assistant and cover teacher at the school in Horsham, West Sussex.

At Brighton Crown Court this week Hossain was sent to prison for five years and four months and will be a registered sex offender indefinitely.

Judge Jeremy Gold told Hossain as he jailed her that she "embarked on quite a remarkable campaign of harassment" that was "relentless, wide-ranging and malicious" following the "persistent nature of penetrative [sexual] activity over time".

She has also been issued with a restraining order to last indefinitely, banning her from any contact with the teenage boy and several others, as well as stopping her from entering certain areas of Horsham.

Hossain, who lives in Horsham, will be on a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years after she is released from prison.

Detective Constable Leigh Rankin of Sussex Police said today (Fri) after the sentencing that Hossain spun a "web of lies and manipulation".

The detective added: "This was a prolonged and distressing campaign and we are glad that justice has now been done for the boy and the several other people who became entrapped in Hossain's web of lies and manipulation.

"Hossain was first arrested in June 2020 following a report that she had groomed and had sex with a 14-year-old boy from a school in Horsham where she was working as a study supervisor and cover teacher.

"A sexual relationship continued for several months during which she continued to manipulate the boy's emotions, including claiming that she was pregnant after he had tried to end the relationship.

"Hossain was initially released on bail for further investigation. Following this the victim, his family and friends suffered a prolonged and complex campaign of behaviour against them in an attempt to derail the investigation and avoid justice."

DC Rankin said Hossain tried to manipulate other children and threatened at least one not to speak to police.

The officer said: "Using fake social media accounts Hossain attempted to manipulate other children, with threats being made against at least one other child should they speak to the police.

"Through fake names she made significant threats of harm to the boy and his family and said she'd pay him to 'drop the charges'.

"Hossain was charged with offences in October 2020 and was bailed by magistrates. She then created a number of fake social media accounts using different names including that of a 14-year-old girl.

"Using this particular account, she fabricated messages between her and an adult family member of the boy.

"She then used these fake accounts in an attempt to have the family member lose his job. She then went on to make multiple false reports to the police from further false accounts in an attempt to get the adult family member arrested.

"Hossain continued to attempt to make false reports to police until March 2021, when evidence was received to show that all the allegations against the family were falsified by her. This led to her being further charged and remanded until she was convicted."

Description

Simon Biss has been locked up twice before for grooming girls over the internet and then meeting them in person.

The 41-year-old has now been jailed for a third time.

He sent sexual messages via Snapchat to a girl called Emily who he believed was 12-years-old.

The convicted sex offender was actually speaking to a police-operated fake profile.

Prosecution barrister, Tim Moores, said that Biss told her she looked "gorgeous" and asked if she would "date much older men".

Biss even asked: "Can I see pictures of your body?"

Emily responded to his messages and said she was based in Scarborough.

Further messages from Biss, of North Ripley, Bransgore, said "I don't care that you're young," and "I could come to you".

Mr Moores added: "Police officers made enquiries and were able to determine that the profile being used [to speak with Emily] was linked to Mr Biss.

"They knew a fair amount about him and officers attended his address and arrested him."

During an interview, he made no comment when asked about his conversations with Emily.

Appearing before Southampton Crown Court, he was charged with attempting to cause or incite a female child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, engaging in sexual communication with a child, and breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

He pleaded guilty to the offences which happened between September and October 2020.

Biss has two previous matters relating to sexual grooming.

He was jailed for 18 months in 2006 and then again in 2010 for 32 months.

Mitigating, Chris Gaiger said "there is still the prospect of rehabilitation in the community".

He added: "He did stop the conversation and I do stress that is an important factor."

Biss was said to be terrified of going to prison.

Judge Christopher Parker QC said: "You do pose a significant risk of serious harm to young children."

He jailed him for 32 months.

Biss will become eligible for release after serving two-thirds of his sentence.

He will then spend eight years on an extended licence.

Furthermore, he has been made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order until further notice and must register as a sex offender indefinitely.

Description

A young woman has told of the devastating effect on her life of being sexually abused by a predator as a vulnerable 14-year-old.

James Betts, 23, targeted the victim and had sex with her when he was 18 and she was just 14. He also filmed part of the ordeal and showed it boastfully to his friends.

Betts, formerly of Bude but whose address was recently given as Pool, had been on trial this week and was eventually convicted by a majority jury of two counts of penetrative sex with a girl under 16, taking an indecent photo of a child and showing an indecent photo of a child.

Betts returned to Truro Crown Court on Friday (October 22) when a victim impact statement was read to the court.

The victim in the case described how she suffers extreme anxiety and has in the past self-harmed and tried to take her own life.

She said: The trauma never ends. Hes lived his life as I plod through each day as a young girl who cant live my best life.

Representing Betts, Piers Norsworthy said: He is a different man to the one who committed these offences. He hit rock bottom, was homeless and taking illegal drugs. Since then he has built himself back up and combatted his addiction and gained employment.

Mr Norsworthy added that the sex act video was never found and was not widely distributed.

Sentencing Betts, Judge Simon Carr said: The victim was just 14 when you met her and the offences occurred. She was obviously vulnerable and in the care system. She had to find new friends and was introduced to you and others.

She was keen to be accepted and you knew she was 14 because she told you. Yet you pursued her knowing you were four years older and sex was illegal.

You bought her gifts and tobacco and took her to the cinema. Texts show you flirting with her.

Knowing her age and vulnerability you pursued her for sexual purposes and had full intercourse with her. You also had her perform oral sex and filmed the act on your phone.

You did it to relive the moment and boast and showed the footage to people known to her.

Judge Carr also noted how indecent images of children were found on Betts phone.

He was jailed for four and a half years and must sign the sex offenders register for life.

Description

A children's basketball coach talked about sexually abusing a baby and using it as his "f*** toy" during "depraved" online chats.

Stuart McNeil used to coach Cheshire Junior Jets as well as Warrington Collegiate and University of Chester basketball teams.

The 39-year-old, who was born with the spinal defect spina bifida, also carried the Paralympic Torch in 2012.

But he has now been outed as a paedophile who shared "horrific" child rape videos among the worst ever seen by one officer.

Liverpool Crown Court heard McNeil, of Baker Drive, Great Sutton, Ellesmere Port, used the messaging app Kik Messenger.

David Polglase, prosecuting, said: "Kik is a platform often favoured by those with an interest in the sexual abuse of children."

An undercover officer posed on Kik as a man living with his girlfriend, who was soon expecting their first child, in July 2019.

The officer joined a group on Kik called 'Babys', with 23 members, and ended up in a private conversation with McNeil.

Mr Polglase said: "The conversation quickly turned towards fantasies about sexually abusing the child of the couple when it was born."

McNeil asked the officer if he was going "to start early" with his child and said if he had a newborn baby, he would abuse them.

He sent a Category B indecent photo of a nine-month-old girl and asked the officer to send a photo of his baby when it was born.

On July 9, McNeil sent him a Category A film, involving a boy, aged seven, performing a sex act on another boy.

Mr Polglase said McNeil discussed how the officer "should start abusing the baby when it was born" and described the baby as a "f*** toy".

On July 22, McNeil shared a Category A video of a two-year-old child being raped in the 'Babys' group, then sent it directly to the officer.

The officer sent a photo of his supposed baby girl to McNeil, who asked whether he had abused her yet.

Mr Polglase said: "There was then discussion about meeting up so the baby could be abused together."

In a chat on July 24, McNeill said they could meet in a hotel near Liverpool or Chester and he would pay.

He later said he wouldn't be able to rape the baby because of his medical issues, but would sexually abuse her another way.

Mr Polglase said McNeil talked about getting into the hotel without raising suspicion and "hoping the child wouldn't cry".

He discussed other intentions too graphic to publish and twice encouraged the officer to abuse his baby.

McNeil also sent other images of children, aged between 12 months and 11-years-old, being raped.

Police raided his home on August 8, 2019 and seized his electronic devices.

Mr Polglase said: "Police were informed he was in Stockport with the England U15 basketball team. The police attended at the location and arrested him."

His sick collection featured 368 Category A images, including 56 videos; 329 Category B images, including 15 videos, and 604 Category C images, including 13 videos.

McNeil also had two extreme porn files and seven prohibited images of children.

Officers discovered he had been talking to others on Kik about abusing children and was in multiple groups.

Mr Polglase said in one conversation he spoke to a different undercover officer, posing as a 14-year-old girl.

McNeil asked for naked photos and images of this supposed girl rubbing herself.

He distributed videos involving the rape of babies "clearly in distress" and on 219 occasions shared other indecent photos.

Mr Polglase said: "The officer who examined these images described them as some of the worst he has seen in 18 years of this type of work."

McNeil, of previous good character, was twice interviewed by police, but remained silent.

He admitted three counts of downloading, one count of possessing and three counts of distributing indecent images, plus possessing prohibited images of children and extreme pornography.

McNeil also admitted two counts of intentionally encouraging an offence and two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Rick Holland, defending, accepted the material was "very disturbing".

He said McNeil lived an "isolated existence" and sought a "skewed solace in his communication and conversation with others".

Mr Holland said: "The defendant has really had no circle of friends to speak of, no associations, no hobbies really, nothing."

Judge Garrett Byrne said: "He must surely have known what he was doing was wrong. Those images are absolutely disgusting."

Mr Holland said: "They are outrageous, appalling and they are deeply sickening. He can recognise that now."

The lawyer quoted McNeil as saying he wanted "to apologise to everyone, my family, my friends, for everything I have put them through and the victims in the images I downloaded".

He said his client added: "Some people will never forgive me, but I am genuinely sorry."

Mr Holland suggested it was an "exceptional case" and urged the judge to spare McNeil jail.

He said McNeil had no feeling from the waist down since birth, the kidney condition hydronephrosis, bowel problems and bladder stones.

The lawyer said: "He is physically and emotionally vulnerable."

Judge Byrne said the offences took place over eight years, but most were from 2018 onwards.

He told McNeil: "You began to fantasise about sexually abusing the purported child when it was born and you sent explicit messages expressing your depraved desires."

The judge said of "great concern" was his apparent "complete inability to empathise" with a child he described as a "f*** toy".

He said "more sinister" was McNeil discussing meeting to abuse the child, however, no actual arrangement was made and he didn't have a fixed intention to do it.

Judge Byrne said in a letter McNeil's sister and brother-in-law made the point "you had worked in a school for 10 years and in basketball for 20 years, all without any complaint being made against you".

However, Judge Byrne said the videos were "horrific" and referring to one clip said: "I'm not even going to describe it."

He said his case was not exceptional and while prison would be difficult for him, every image was a victim of sexual abuse and he fuelled the market for it.

Judge Byrne said: "What was done to them is deeply appalling."

He said McNeil was "an offender of particular concern" and jailed him for two and a half years, with an extended year on licence.

McNeil must serve at least half of the term behind bars, before he can apply to the Parole Board.

He must comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for six years and sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Description

A dangerous sex offender who repeatedly abused two girls and a boy was jailed for 19 years.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that it was unlikely John Woodward, a 74-year-old granddad, will live long enough to complete his custodial term.

He has to serve two thirds of it before he can apply for parole and the judge imposed an extended licence of four years after ruling that he is an offender of particular concern.

His two female victims, sitting in the public gallery for the hearing, wept and hugged each other after Woodward, who appeared via video link, was sentenced.

In an impact statement one of them told how she used to take scalding hot baths in order to feel clean because of what he had done to her.

Her mental health had been affected and she had been unable to follow business plans she had hoped to carry out.

The male victim also told how he has been left suffering from anxiety and depression.

He had not realised at the time that what Woodward was doing to him was wrong but later appreciated how bad it was.

Woodward, of Brookdale, Widnes, had been convicted of 16 sexual offences against the three victims after a trial and Liverpool Crown Court heard that he still maintains his innocence.

Judge Gary Woodhall said that his offending spanned 27 years and he had exploited their vulnerability and had groomed them and used bribes of money, alcohol and cigarettes.

Despite knowing that concerns had been raised about sexual abuse involving the third victim and the authorities notified he continued abusing her regardless.

It was only when her mental health broke down that his offending behaviour, which began when she was 13, came to the attention of the police.

She has since been diagnosed with complex post traumatic stress disorder because of his abuse.

He told Woodward, I am satisfied you are dangerous and will pose such a risk in the future.

Charlotte Kenny, prosecuting, said that his offending against the first victim took place when she was aged between six and 15 and it occurred against the boy when he was aged 14 and 15, sometimes after showing him pornography.

Miss Kenny said that the offences against the other girl happened on multiple occasions including when he gave her whisky and pulled down her trousers.

On another day he put his hand down her trousers and later gave her vodka and 20 before walking off.

And on a further occasion while kissing her breasts he shockingly said, s**g me for 50.

Miss Kenny said: She has expressed her desire to rebuild her life and aims to move away so she is not going to be reminded of what has happened to her.

But she has expressed her sadness at having to do that. She said he has stolen her childhood, her education and her mental health."

Maria Masselis, defending, said that there was a low risk of the defendant re-offending. She said he has suffered testicular cancer and a head injury.

He has poor mental health and carried out serious self-harming.

She said that his wife is supporting him but she is suffering from cancer and he is concerned how she will cope without him.

Miss Masselis said that the pandemic means that his time in prison will be more difficult than would otherwise be the case and she added that because of his age and health he was unlikely to complete the custodial sentence imposed on him.

The judge ordered Woodward to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life and imposed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a restraining order not to contact his victims.

Description

Updated photo as previous was NOT correct. A Royal Navy sailor, who worked on HMS Prince of Wales, has been jailed for five years after raping a female colleague while she slept. Leading Seaman Sam Avery was convicted at Bulford Military Court, in Wiltshire. He has also been dismissed from Her Majesty's Services with disgrace. The female sailor woke to find Avery having sex with her, his hands on her waist and her pants pulled down to her knees. The woman, who cannot be named, had turned down two of his previous advances but agreed to let him stay the night in her bed before falling asleep. She said the attack "came out of nowhere" as there was not even a friendly hug or kiss between the two. The only sexual contact between them was the advances she had rejected earlier. Avery, who worked refuelling stealth fighters on aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, denied a single charge of rape and claimed to have no memory of having sex with her. He said, if anything did happen, it must have been consensual. Jailing him, Judge Robert Hill told Avery he had betrayed the trust of the woman who had agreed to let him sleep in her room. Judge Hill said: "You and your victim had been contacting for some time on a social network. You had not met until the night of this offence. You were both out in Portsmouth, and you went back to [her address] with her. "There came a time when both you and she went to bed. She took you on trust. There had been nothing sexual leading up to this. "She firmly rebuffed you twice - there was no doubt she was not up for sex. "She was drunk and asleep when you started to have sex with her. She trusted you and you knew you were being trusted." During the trial, the panel heard the woman had gone to a pub in Portsmouth with friends before making her way back to her address. Prosecutor William Peters said the pair knew of each other through social media but she did not know Averys name as he messaged her using a group account. During the course of her evening at the pub, she had been exchanging messages with Avery, of 207 Squadron RAF Marham, Norfolk, which is a joint RAF and Navy unit for the F35 Lightning stealth fighter. After bumping into him, she invited him back to her room for a drink and was happy to let him sleep in her bed. Mr Peters said: "He made two efforts to touch her intimately but she rebuffed his advances and pushed him away. "She then woke to find him on top of her with his penis inside her vagina, her pants had been pulled just below her knees, and his hand was around her waist." In a police interview shown to the court, the woman said she was shocked by the alleged attack, saying: "He [touched] me on my waist area and I grabbed his hand and went no and then he stopped. "And then about five minutes later he proceeded to do it again and I grabbed his hand and said no I told you not to and then he stopped again. "I drifted off to sleep [and] was awoken by him inside of me. I said what are you doing, have you realised what you have just done? "And he grunted. I remember trying to process what the hell had just happened - it was shock as well because there was no intention what so ever. Not even a friendly hug. There was no kissing. "There was no sexual gesture when we were in that room at all. I was in shock because it just came out of nowhere. "After I asked him what he was doing, I remember the bed shaking as he was masturbating." In the interview, the woman said Avery was making pleasure noises and grunting as the alleged rape took place. The court heard Averys DNA was found inside her. In the police interview, she said Avery messaged her the day after the incident asking about what had happened and if she was okay. She added: "I replied saying I am traumatised by me waking up to you inside of me'. "He said are you sure? I put yes I am sure. Then he said are you okay? I said no I am not okay after what you did to me, you did not have consent. "He read that message and never replied."

Description

A Plymouth dad ogled vile images of children - including some the same age as his own daughter, a court heard.

Twisted Leigh Bell, aged 35, downloaded more than 100 images of kids, including more than 40 being abused by adults.

He used the messaging app Kik to ask a 13-year-old girl for an explicit video - though he said that it may have been someone posing as a teenager. 

Bell confessed his secret in front of his mother and stepfather when police executed a warrant at his home, Plymouth Crown Court heard.

He was also caught with an extreme pornographic image, involving an adult and a dog.

A judge handed him a community order, saying effective treatment was the best way of tackling his problem and protecting children in the future.

The court heard that Bell had already spoken to counsellors on the phone.

Judge William Mousley said: "In the images, some of the children are as young as five. In your police interview you admitted viewing more than 1,000 images, some of them involving even younger children.

"You admitted sending images and you admitted receiving them."

But the judge added Bell had shown remorse and admitted more than the police had found evidence of on some of his 27 devices.

Judge Mousley said that the defendant was a "realistic prospect of rehabilitation" and so could be handed a community order rather than a prison term under sentencing guidelines.

He also said that his stepmother would suffer from a lack of care if Bell was in jail.

Bell, of Citadel Road in the city centre, pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child aged under 16 between January and November 2019. 

He also admitted three counts of possession of indecent images of children in all three categories between the same dates. He had 109 pictures, including 43 in the most serious category showing children being abused.

Bell finally pleaded guilty to having an extreme pornographic image.

Sam Castlehouse, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said police received intelligence that an indecent image of a child had been accessed at an IP address linked to Bell's home.

He said police executed a warrant and seized 27 different devices, including tablets, phones and hard drives.

Mr Castlehouse said that Bell's mother had been at the address and he confessed to her that he had been looking at images of children.

The barrister said that he had also asked a 13-year-old girl to send him an explicit video of herself, though he told police that he doubted she was a real teenager.

Chris Cuddihee, for Bell, said his client had a daughter the same age as some of the children he had been viewing.

He added: "One of the first things he told me was that these could have been his daughter. He just never stopped to think about it."

The court heard that he was no longer with the mother of the child and was not allowed to see the teenage girl.

The barrister added that Bell had moved to Plymouth when he was 16 and had struggled to forge new relationships or friendships.

Mr Cuddihee said the defendant had not worked for two years.

He added that in the two years since his arrest he had contacted a charity which helps sex offenders six to eight times on the phone. 

Mr Cuddihee said that Bell had started using Kik for banter on football, music and women but had been drawn into pornography.

The barrister said the defendant, who has no previous convictions, was sent the image of the dog as part of a mass download.

Judge Mousley handed Bell a three-year community order with a sex offender treatment programme and probation's Rehabilitation Activity Requirement supervision course.

Bell must be on the Sex Offender Register for five years and was made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for a decade.

That will allow the police to monitor his use of the internet. 

Description

A sex offender from Peterborough has been jailed after he set up a Facebook account using a fake name, in breach of a court order. Anthony Bullman, 26, was placed on the Sex Offenders Register in 2020 for three years following a conviction in court. One of the orders conditions stated he had to inform police of any alias names he was using. However, officers from the forces Public Protection Unit (PPU), which manages registered sex offenders, discovered he had set up a Facebook account last week (13 October) using the name Charles Beckwith. Bullman, of Eastfield Road, Peterborough, was arrested and pleaded guilty the following day (14 October) to failing to comply with his notification requirements at Peterborough Magistrates Court. He was sentenced to six months in prison and handed a sexual harm prevention order for five years. PC Zoe Rogers said: This was a clear breach of his notification requirements, which are in place to protect children and prevent him from reoffending.

Description

A former ballet tutor at a dance school in west London has been sentenced for thirteen counts of sexual assault.

Yat-Sen Chang, 49 (16.10.71) of Theatre Kiel, Germany, was found guilty of the offences on Tuesday, 11 May after a two-week trial at Isleworth Crown Court.

On Wednesday, 20 October he was sentenced at the same court to nine years in prison.

This case concerns allegations of sexual assault made by four victims, victim [A], victim [B], victim [C] and victim [D].

At the time of the offences, Chang was a ballet tutor at a dance school in west London.

In 2016, police were contacted by victim [A] and victim [B] who alleged seven sexual offences against Chang over a two-year period.

Following this, victim [C] and victim [D] came forward and alleged seven sexual offences against Chang over a three-year period.

This referred to instances of sexual assault that occurred during private ballet tuition lessons held by Chang with each of the victims.

Following these allegations, an investigation was launched by officers from the West Area Child Abuse Unit.

Chang was arrested on 14 April 2016 on suspicion of sexual assault and was further interviewed on 27 August 2020. He denied all allegations against him.

Chang was charged twice, first on 12 December 2019 and again on 10 November 2020, for a total of 14 counts of sexual assault on four females. These charges related to incidents that occurred between 1 December 2009 and 10 April 2016 at a dance school in west London, his private residence and a London ballet school.

After a trial that lasted just over two weeks, Chang was found unanimously guilty of twelve counts of sexual assault on a female, and guilty of one count of sexual assault by penetration of a female. He was acquitted of one count.

Detective Constable Helen Larson, of the West Area Child Abuse Unit, said: "Chang abused his position of trust and power to prey on his young victims when they were most vulnerable. The sentencing today has put a dangerous and predatory individual behind bars, and I am sure that this has prevented further offences taking place.

"The victims showed extreme bravery and courage in reporting the incident and helping us to bring Chang to justice. I hope that the result today brings them some closure so they can begin to move on with their lives.

"It remains a top priority for the Met to tackle and prevent instances of sexual assault, putting offenders behind bars and bringing justice to the victims. I encourage anyone who has been a victim or witnessed a sexual assault to contact police. We have specially trained officers who will give advice and take all allegations seriously. You will be supported."

Description

A convicted paedophile repeatedly met up with three little girls in a Wirral cemetery despite being banned from such contact with any child.

Michael Mooney, 52, was jailed for nine years in 2005 for child sex abuse and an order made to keep him away from youngsters was renewed in April 2012 - but a court has heard he has now persistently breached it by meeting up with the girls.

The devastated mum of one of the girls told a judge about the impact Mooney had on her daughter and their family.

While Mooney did not molest the children Judge David Potter said: As to your ultimate intent I cannot exclude it was for sexual gratification. There is clearly evidence of grooming behaviour.

Mooney, of Old Chester Road, Rock Ferry, who admitted breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, was jailed for three years and four months and ordered to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Rebecca Smith, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court on Friday that his breach of the order came to light after a 10 year old girl told her social worker about a man she had regularly encountered in Bebington cemetery.

She told of occasions when she, along with another 10 year old girl and an eight year old friend, were playing in the cemetery, which is attached to a park, and had encounters with Mooney in May and June this year.

It began when he asked if he could stroke the dog which two of them had with them and he then followed them and stared at them.

A few days later they made a den and Mooney, who told them he was 26, approached asking about it and within days they met him again.

He was exercising doing press-ups and the girls asked if he could spin them around by their legs while they held onto a branch which he did.

On a later occasion two of them took a small tent to the cemetery and Mooney asked if he could join them in the tent.

When asked if he had a girlfriend he said he had one who was 14 years old and they had touched body parts. He spent five to 10 minutes in the tent with them, said Miss Smith.

On another occasion they met him by some local shops and they asked him for some money which he gave them and was spent on sweets.

About five days later they met him again and after asking for money he said the cash was stashed on him and told them to search him and to "pat him down".

They asked if it was in his boxer shorts and he flicked the waistband and gave them 5, which was not the first time he had given them money, said Miss Smith.

After this encounter, a social worker told the 10-year-olds mum what she had been told by her daughter.

The mum and other members of the community confronted him and detained him until the police arrived.

The mum told the judge the incidents had a massive impact on my whole family. I feel I have failed my daughter although I know that is not the case.

She said: She has changed from being a happy child to being angry, she was never like this before.

Staring at Mooney she said he had been waiting in the cemetery preying on my daughter and other children. He is a child predator.

The court heard that when interviewed Mooney said he went to the park to exercise and the children had approached him and it was an unavoidable situation.

John Weate, defending, said Mooney had taken the decision not to challenge anything the children had said, although there were discrepancies, as he did to want to put them at risk of having to give evidence. He accepts his involvement with these children.

He had complied with the terms of his licence and SHPO for a considerable time. He had lived an isolated life since his release and suffered from anxiety and depression.

He used to go to a gym to keep fit but the pandemic brought that to an end and so we went to the park to keep exercising which is where he came into contact with the children.

Mr Weate said that Mooney has already been punished by having his home vandalised since his arrest and when he is eventually released he will have to find new accommodation.

Mr Weate said: He has passed on his apologies for what has happened and understands he has to be punished."

In sentencing Judge Potter said: "I have heard you are sorry. I consider you are more sorry for about your own position than the impact your offending has caused.

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A Scarborough man who sent 'sexual' images to who he believed to be a 13-year-old girl has been handed a suspended sentence after being snared by police.

John Gilbert, 53, was involved in online chats with a teenager he believed to be 13-years-old between September 2 and September 14.

But he was actually communicating with a fake account that had been set up by police officers from North Yorkshire Police.

York Magistrates' Court heard Gilbert sent sexual images to the account, engaged in "sexualised chat" and made arrangements to meet the girl.

He was arrested on September 16 and a search warrant was executed at his home.

Key evidence proving Gilbert had been involved in the online child sexual abuse activity through various dating and messaging applications was obtained from his smart phone by the Digital Forensic Unit.

He appeared at York Magistrates' Court on Friday (October 15) for sentencing after pleading guilty to three offences of being an adult attempting to meet a girl under 16 years of age following grooming; attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause a child aged 13 to 15 to watch/look at an image of sexual activity on September 17.

Gilbert was sentenced to six months' imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Police Constable Francesca Diffey, of the Online Abuse and Exploitation Team based at Scarborough, led the investigation which secured the conviction.

Said PC Diffey: "It is clear from the investigation that Gilbert has an active sexual interest in children and that he presents a very real danger to society, said PC Diffey.

"Through the work of the police, we were able to intervene before he preyed on young victims.

"We have also ensured that Gilbert has been made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and he is on the Sex Offenders Register.

"This means he will be closely managed by strict public protection measures."

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A sex offender was today jailed for historic sex offences spanning over a period of 30 years.

Anthony Duckers, of Black Horse Close in Newton, Wirral, was found guilty of five counts of indecent assault after a trial at Liverpool Crown Court.

The 64-year-old committed the offences between the 1970s and early 2000s.

He was jailed today for 16 years and handed a restraining order for life.

He was also given a sexual harm prevention order for life.

Detective Constable Kevin Thomas said: I am pleased that Duckers will now spend a number of years behind bars as a consequence of his actions.

I hope that todays proceedings will allow his victims to now move on with their lives and encourage anyone who has been subjected to a sexual offence to come forward and report it.

Time should never be a barrier to obtaining justice.

"Merseyside Police takes every report of sexual offences extremely seriously, whether or not they are recent, and has dedicated officers within the forces Unity Team who are specially trained to both thoroughly investigate allegations and make sure that those reporting them are properly supported.

"I would like to take this opportunity to 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 reports are properly and thoroughly investigated."

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A woman has described how part of her has been "destroyed" and she fears she will never recover following historic sexual abuse by a dangerous offender.

The woman was one of three young girls subjected to abuse by Kevin Pritchard, 65, between the 1970s and 90s.

Norwich Crown Court heard that during a 14-year period Pritchard, of Falkland Close, Hellesdon, repeatedly abused the three victims, who were under 12 at the time. He was given a 17 year sentence.

Duncan O'Donnell, prosecuting, said Pritchard had told each of his victims to keep it a secret.

Pritchard, who was between 20 and 30 when the offences were being committed, was arrested last year and admitted the offending stating he did not know why he had done it and had "probably been drinking".

He appeared at court on Monday (October 18) for sentence having previously admitted 15 offences, including gross indecency with a girl under 14 and indecent assault of a girl under 14.

Before Pritchard was sentenced, Mr O'Donnell read out a statement on behalf of one of the victims, describing how the abuse she had suffered left her wanting to take her own life.

Description

Thomas Martin, 30, set up a Snapchat profile with the name 'TomLock11' and came across a 15-year-old girl asking for someone to buy her tobacco. He agreed but in return for a picture of her boobs, she did so and sent his account to her friend as she also wanted tobacco.

Once he had indecent images of the two girls, Martin used them to pressure the girls into sending more, by threatening to show the images publicly if they didn't comply.

Russell Pyne, prosecuting, told Winchester Crown Court that Martin, of Launcelot Court, Andover, also sent images of his penis and made his victims watch him masturbate.

Mr Pyne said: "(One of the victim's) asked him to delete what he had. The defendant replied saying that he wouldn't but also would post them on four social media sites, Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram."

The other girl said that she would go to the police, but he threatened her saying "he would ruin her life more than she could ruin his". He sent an indecent image of the girl to her friend.

The blackmail came to end after one of the victim's stepmother saw the girl attempting to take an indecent photograph.

Martin was arrested and his phone was examined which was found to contain indecent images – one of Category A, deemed to be the worst by police, 10 of Category B and two Category C.

One of the victim's said: "The experience I went through definitely ruined my life for a while. It was demeaning, I was scared that people would find out what happened. I didn't know who Tom Lock was or if he knew who I was."

The other victim said she felt violated after what happened and left her having panic attacks.

Martin previously pleaded guilty to two counts of blackmail between May 1 and October 21, 2019, disclosing private sexual photographs with intent to cause distress and three charges of making an indecent photograph of a child.