Latest Offenders

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A sex offender who repeatedly targeted a woman has been jailed for more than four years. Married grandfather Stephen Riley attacked his victim on several occasions as she slept - but it was years before she felt able to complain to police. Jailing the 64-year-old, Judge Tom Gilbart told him: This was quite shocking criminality by you. It was predatory behaviour which has had a significant impact. Riley, of Sandridge Close, Kearsley, appeared in the dock at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court after pleading guilty to assault by penetration and two counts of sexual assault just days before his trial was due to start. The court heard that the abuse began eight years ago when, on the first occasion, Riley sexually touched the woman after finding her asleep on a sofa. She then heard the defendant say, I always knew you were a slag, said Mr Edwards, who added that the woman pushed Riley away asking him, How could you do that? Following that incident, the defendant made repeated suggestive comments to her, said Mr Edwards. The woman did not inform anyone about the assault but the following year Riley sexually assaulted her once more and, on a third occasion, he again repeatedly touched her as she was sleeping. She describes the defendants conduct as relentless, said Mr Edwards. When confronted, Riley claimed he had been sleepwalking. The woman eventually complained to police and Riley was arrested but initially denied the allegations against him. Damian Zelazowksi, defending, said Riley, who suffers with physical health problems, claims he was drunk at the time he committed the offences. He has quite openly accepted that his behaviour was entirely wrong, said Mr Zelazowski. He cannot explain his behaviour but he shows a willingness to understand why he behaved in that manner. He deeply regrets the harm and upset that his actions have caused. Judge Gilbart sentenced Riley to four years and nine months in prison, placed him on the sex offenders register for life and barred him from working with children and vulnerable adults. He told Riley that his victims life had been seriously impacted all because of your selfish decision to satisfy your own sexual lust. You should be utterly ashamed of yourself, he added.

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AN offender has been jailed for breaching his sex offender register requirements. Robert Dooley admitted breaching the terms of the register, which contains the details of anyone convicted, cautioned or released from prison for sexual offence against children or adults. The 34-year-old committed the breach in Warrington on June 24 this year. According to court documents, he failed without reasonable excuse to comply with the notification requirements of the register by failing to register with authorities that he had a new address or was of no fixed abode. Dooley, whose address in court was given as no fixed abode, but of the Widnes area, was subsequently charged with failing to comply with notification requirements of the sex offender register. The defendant admitted the breach when he appeared before Chester Magistrates Court. Taking this guilty plea into account, magistrates jailed him for 26 weeks. In their reasoning, they remarked that the offence was so serious that only a custodial sentence could be justified, as well as the defendant having a flagrant disregard for court orders.

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A 51-year-old paedophile was lured to an address in Hull as part of a sting operation and found with condoms and Haribo sweets.

Chef Darren Johnstone, admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with teenage girls and pretended to be a 20-year-old. He was interviewed by Humberside Police for offences in 2018 and while under investigation he repeatedly tried to engage in sexual communication with more girls in 2020.

Grimsby Crown Court heard Johnstone who has "learning difficulties and low-level intelligence" did not realise the girls were decoys used by a paedophile hunter group called Elite Team. Michele Stuart-Lofthouse said the defendant was still under investigation for the 2018 offences when he was again arrested in 2020.

Johnstone also admitted possessing indecent images of children on his phone after it was seized on his initial arrest. She said a "decoy teenager" was set up by the paedophile hunter group who created a dating app.

Despite being told by the decoy teenager she was 14 years old, Johnstone sent a total of 605 messages, mostly of a sexual nature. He also sent images of his private area.

Ms Stuart-Lofthouse said: "The images were extremely sexual." The decoy agreed to meet him in Brisbane Street, Hull, where the paedophile gang waited for him.

He was arrested by police, who seized a quantity of condoms, Haribo sweets and 300 cash. The prosecutor said he could not offer an explanation for his behaviour, but admitted sending images.

"He said he had never had sexual relations or a girlfriend and had never spoken to a girl the way he did. He admitted talking to the 14-year-old girl and asking for sex," the prosecutor said.

While committing the second set of offences in 2020, Johnstone, of Cleethorpes, had described himself to a 13 year old girl, as a 20-year-old man. There were four separate occasions in which he sent images to the girls, which were in fact, decoys, used by the child protection group.

For Johnstone, Gordon Stables said: "The court is not dealing with a fully-functioning adult. The level of understanding is not there."

He said his client had attended a special school and when he was 16 years old took up a work placement at the St James' Hotel in Grimsby. He said: "They knew his limitations and he remained there for nearly 30 years."

He submitted psychiatric doctors reports which highlighted the defendant's "borderline understanding." Mr Stables said: "He could not understand that these decoys did not exist." He added the client thought he had been discharged following the first offences.

Recorder Alex Menary said it was "an exceptional case" and he was guided by the psychiatric reports on the level of Johnstone's intelligence. He said three years in prison would not provide adequate safety from the risk he posed.

He imposed a two-year community order in which he will attend 43 days of sex offender management and 55 rehabilitation days. He imposed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order to limit his access to the internet and ban any contact with children.

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A company director who volunteered at a leading private school has been jailed after being caught with a sickening horde of child abuse material.

David Rankine, who built-up a leading media firm, was given an extended three year sentence when he appeared in the dock at Perth Sheriff Court.

Rankine, 42, was well-known as a first aider who was often called in to offer treatment to young pupils at £14,000-a-year Dundee High School.

He jailed Rankine for eight months, with a further 24-months post-prison extended sentence, and placed him on the Sex Offenders Register for a decade.

Sheriff Duthie said: "Because of the gravity of the crime you committed a custodial sentence is the only appropriate disposal. You were part of the process of child abuse.

"People like you are creating a demand for material. You can properly be said to contribute to the pain and fear of children who are physically abused."

Rankine, one of the driving forces behind award-winning MTC Media, was caught with photos and videos featuring boys as young as four being sexually assaulted by adults.

Police descended on his Carnoustie home after a tip-off in early 2021 and seized a range of devices, including four laptops and two iPhones.

Analysists found around 750 illicit files, with about a third ranked as Category A for obscenity. Rankine resigned as a director at MTC Media weeks after his arrest.

The website-building company, which counts Scottish Water, Umbro UK and Brewdog among its clients, stressed he had not had an active role in the firm since 2018.

Rankine admitted possessing indecent images of children at his former home in Henry Cotton Place, Carnoustie, between 24 December 2008 and 21 January 2021.

Fiscal depute Alistair McDermid told the court: "Confidential information was received by Police Scotland that indecent images of children may have been held within a property.

"The accused answered the door and police were permitted access. A systematic search of the address was then commenced by four officers."

Four laptops, two iPhones, six hard-drives and a tablet device were seized and a preliminary examination discovered a series of illicit images.

The fiscal depute told the court 574 still images and 183 videos were found on the devices.

He said: "The male children depicted in these pictures and videos are between four and 16 years of age."

A spokesman for MTC Media confirmed that Rankine has not been a "director or employee" since March 2021.

The company began in 1999 but was relaunched by former Carnoustie High School pupil Rankine - as business development director - and two others five years later. The company now has a workforce of more than 100 people.

Rankine was a regular first aid volunteer at Dundee High School sports events. He administered first aid to boys of all ages at the Mayfield Sports Centre.

A spokesman for Dundee High School said: "We can confirm that first aid cover at our school sports fixtures is provided by St Andrew's First Aid, with whom Mr Rankine was a volunteer.

"We are not aware of any suggestion or evidence, at this stage, or any issue or concern regarding the conduct of Mr Rankine in his capacity as a volunteer."

He added: "The high school has strict child protection and safeguarding policies and procedures in place and as part of due diligence, require risk assessment and safeguarding protocols to be observed at all times."

A spokeswoman for St Andrew's First Aid added: "We have been aware of David Rankine's crimes and we have deep sympathy for those affected.

"While we cannot comment on any individual volunteers, we have the relevant safeguards and processes in place and take all matters pertaining to child protection extremely seriously."

A spokesman for MTC said: "We are all utterly shocked and appalled by the revelations around Mr Rankine. We condemn this in the strongest possible terms.

"Mr Rankine has not been involved in the business since 2018 and resigned as a director in March 2021. We were not aware of the reasons for the resignation as Mr Rankine refused to disclose this.

"However, given his lack of input into the business in recent years we were happy to accept. This was a tremendous shock to read this disturbing list of offences and our primary concern is first and foremost to our team and to anyone affected.

"We reached out to our team immediately to offer our support. We are glad to see that justice will be delivered appropriately for Mr Rankine's appalling crimes."

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A man who has been jailed.

Glenn Barker, 53, of Beeleigh Way, Caister-on-Sea, appeared at Norwich Crown Court to be sentenced having admitted sexual assault of a child under 13 on August 14, 2020.

Barker appeared at court on Friday (June 17) having also admitted two offences of indecent assault against another girl, aged between seven and nine, between June 2000 and June 2003.

Claire Matthews, prosecuting, said the victim in the offence committed in August 2020 was a young child who had been left "scared".

The court heard Barker had bribed his victims, neither of whom can be identified for legal reasons, with sweets and urged them to keep secret what had happened.

A statement from the mother of the victim assaulted in 2020 described how their lives were "turned upside down" as soon as the offence came to light.

She said the victim has changed since the assault and no longer liked to get changed in front of people, not even her father.

Barker, who also admitted possessing extreme pornographic images, was jailed for eight years by Recorder John Hardy.

He said: "You've pleaded guilty to offences which right-minded people would consider repulsive".

He said that people who behaved as he had done, sexually assaulting young children, and who are caught and prosecuted should expect to receive immediate sentences of imprisonment.

Danielle O'Donovan, mitigating, said this was a man who had pleaded guilty to "terrible acts" but insisted these were separate and individual acts which were "clearly against his own nature".

She told the court he was a "weak individual" who had taken "ugly steps" in his life and was "surprised and shocked" by his own behaviour.

But Miss O'Donovan said offences of this sort were very rarely admitted and described it as courageous for him to have admitted them.

She said he was capable of being a decent human being.

Barker was prevented from contacting both victims directly or indirectly indefinitely.

He was also ordered sign on the sex offenders register indefinitely and made the subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

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A PAEDOPHILE groomed a schoolgirl before going on to abuse her after asking her to wear lingerie while having underage sex. James Brum, 39, from Newport, was condemned as selfish and self-centred for having abused the girl. He had intercourse with her on seven occasions and told her after the first time: You really wanted it. The defendant would manipulate his victim and said to her that she was in his secret club. Brum would also ask the girl to send him nude photos of her, Cardiff Crown Court heard. Rachel Knight, prosecuting, said: The defendant groomed his victim. He bought lingerie for her to wear during their encounters. She would wear these at his request. You used her to satisfy your sexual urges The victims impact statement was read out in which she said: I have flashbacks to the events that happened. He targeted me specifically for his sexual desires. I feel uncomfortable around men now. Nothing will change what James Brum has done to me and hes had a huge impact on my future. He has stolen my childhood from me and he has stolen my virginity. Brum pleaded guilty to seven counts of sexual activity with a child, two of causing a child to engage in sexual activity and one of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. He was a man of previous good character with no convictions recorded against him. Gareth Williams, mitigating, asked the court to take into account his clients guilty pleas. His barrister said: The defendant hasnt contested matters at trial and admitted what the victim said was true. He didnt deny what was going on. The evidence was overwhelming. He is sorry for what happened. Judge Michael Fitton QC told Brum: This was an appalling campaign of sexual abuse. You are a profoundly selfish and self-centred man. You used that child to satisfy your own sexual urges. This is a classic case of grooming. Brum, of Llanthewy Road, Newport, was jailed for eight years. The defendant will have to serve two-thirds of that sentence in custody before being released on licence. He will have to register as a sex offender for life and was made the subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order. Brum must also pay a victims surcharge after his release from prison. After sentencing, the officer in charge of the case, Detective Sergeant Mike Patterson said: The victim in this case has been incredibly brave throughout. It is their courage and strength that has ultimately led to the conviction of Brum who will now be sentenced for these horrific crimes.

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A paedophile who was jailed after drugging a teenage boy and raping him has died in prison after applying for early release on compassionate grounds.

Terrence Eastwood was jailed for 19 years in 2017 following a trial at Preston Crown Court, where a jury heard how he gave the boy cocaine and tramadol before raping him on a caravan holiday.

The abuse continued over a number of years, with Eastwood keeping his victim quiet by buying him clothes and gifts. His victim later bravely spoke to a counsellor, who reported Eastwood to the police, reports LancsLive.

Eastwood was found guilty of rape and sexual assault and spent two years at Preston Prison Eastwood before being transferred to HMP Wymott near Leyland in 2019. The prison, next to HMP Garth, houses sex offenders.

He was diagnosed with lung cancer after reporting shortness of breath to the prison GP in May 2021. The 67-year-old then applied for early release on compassionate grounds, but died on October 2 before the application could progress.

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman carried out an independent investigation to determine if the care provided to Eastwood was in line with that he would have received in the community - as takes place with all deaths in prison. No non-clinical issues were found, but the ombudsman did make recommendations relating to referring prisoners with suspected cancer to specialist services, shielding and record keeping.

In her report ombudsman Lisa Burrell said: "The prison GP saw Mr Eastwood on 1 July. He noted that while in hospital, Mr Eastwood had a chest X-ray.

"The results showed a partial collapse of his left lung and possible evidence of a malignant growth in his lung. The prison GP made a two week wait referral to the oncology team at Royal Preston Hospital.

"On 20 July, Mr Eastwood attended Royal Preston Hospital for his two-week wait referral. He was admitted to hospital as an inpatient and underwent a series of tests.

"The results showed that Mr Eastwood had developed lung cancer. Hospital staff considered that the cancer may have spread to other areas in his body and that palliative care was the only treatment option open to him. Mr Eastwood was discharged from hospital and went back to the prison on 29 July.

"Mr Eastwood was added to the prisons palliative care register and referred to St Catherines Hospice for support with his prescribed medications and care. His care plans were updated, and healthcare staff continued to review him regularly.

"The prison started a compassionate release application on his behalf. Mr Eastwood died before the application was completed.

"On 6 September, the prison GP saw Mr Eastwood. They discussed his wishes in respect of resuscitation. Mr Eastwood said that he did not want to be resuscitated in the event his heart or breathing stopped. He signed a do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DNACPR) order on his behalf.

"On 1 October, Healthcare Assistant (HCA), saw Mr Eastwood. Mr Eastwood told him that he had been suffering from shortness of breath and that he had blood in his phlegm when he coughed. He also said that he was struggling to keep fluids down when he drank. The HCA referred Mr Eastwood for an urgent GP review.

"A prison GP saw Mr Eastwood later the same day. He took his observations and noted that his oxygen saturation level and temperature were low.

"Mr Eastwood was taken to Royal Preston Hospital by emergency ambulance and was admitted as an inpatient. Mr Eastwoods condition continued to deteriorate in hospital and at 10am on 2 October 2021, it was confirmed that Mr Eastwood had died."

In September 2021, just after Terrence Eastwood was diagnosed with cancer, his son Darren was given a suspended sentence after it was discovered he had continued to claim his dad's benefits while he was in prison. Darren, who was 42 at the time, splashed out on holidays, takeaways and shopping trips using 20,000 set aside for care needs by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council.

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A FORMER headmaster and parish councillor who drove an express train through his victims childhood has been locked up after sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy. Keith Tait, 77, a former headteacher at an Essex school, hid behind his standing in society as he repeatedly abused a child. Following a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court, he was convicted of five counts of indecent assault. Tait, of North Mill Place, Halstead, represented the Shelley ward on Ongar Town Council for 36 years from 1977 until 2013 and was involved with various charities. The abuse was carried out against the teenager in the 1980s. At the same court, Judge Timothy Walker said the victim had been hitchhiking when he was picked up by a passing Tait. Your grooming of him began, he said. His mother expressed concern about the disparity in age between you and him, but was reassured when she discerned you were a teacher. The court was told Tait gave his victim driving lessons and took him to a caravan in Great Yarmouth, where further abuse was carried out. Judge Walker said Tait warned the victim if he spoke out about the abuse, he would be in trouble and would be disqualified from driving. In a written statement read to the court, Taits victim, from Colchester, said he had struggled with writing even the first paragraph and on one occasion was almost physically sick. He is an evil opportunist who was lucky to find me - a confused, uncertain, emotionally weakened boy, he said. The court heard Tait had won over the victims mother, damaging their relationship for the rest of her life. He said Taits silver tongue had charmed her, adding: My greatest regret, and it is one which has never left me, is my failure to bridge the chasm between us. The victim said he had felt too guilty and disgusted to speak out. I was a child and children dont think as adults do, he added. He said Taits ability to manipulate may have been put to better use as a politician or negotiator, but instead he used it to get what he wanted. Unfortunately what he wanted was me, he said. He drove an express train through my childhood. Jennifer Dempster QC, mitigating, said given Taits age and health difficulties, which include arthritis, prison would be a particularly harsh place for him. She said a lengthy police investigation and, later, court proceedings, had been hanging over him for nine years. That has brought about, over that extended period, particularly anxious times for him and his wife," she said. The court heard Tait is the main carer for his unwell wife, with his imprisonment set to have an enormous impact on her. Judge Walker said Taits abuse had a lifelong impact on his victim, adding: You abused your position within society to facilitate your offending. He sentenced Tait to six and a half years imprisonment. He will remain on the sex offender register for life and is banned from working with children.

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AN immature offender who made racially-aggravated threats about a support worker in accommodation where he was living, admitted speaking before he thinks, a court heard. The offensive remarks proved costly for Wayne Fenwick after he was convicted of racially aggravated harassment and witness intimidation following a recent trial before magistrates. Durham Crown Court heard it put the 22-year-old defendant in breach of a suspended prison sentence for the second time, having been told by a judge that all bets would be off, if he committed a further offence. On his return to the court for sentence, Fenwick was told by Judge Ray Singh he had reached the end of the line after all the chances he had been given to keep out of trouble. The judge imposed a total 16-month prison sentence on Fenwick. Kate Barnes, prosecuting, said his latest offences took place on April 20, the day after his release from police custody following other allegations against him. Miss Barnes said police were informed that he had threatened a staff member at the accommodation he was living at that time, while in drink. Officers were shown to the room, where Fenwick made a racially aggravated remark about the staff member, who was originally from West Africa. He threatened to stab the man, telling police he knew where he lived, and then made abusive remarks to the officers who had come to arrest him. Miss Barnes said when interviewed later, Fenwick made mostly no comment replies, but did tell officers: I dont think before I speak. The support worker about whom the threats were made told police he did not feel immediately at risk as he did not believe Fenwick did know where he lived. Miss Barnes said Fenwick, most recently of Hutton Terrace, Willington, has six convictions for 15 offences on his record. She said they include sex offences relating to an underage girl and two assaults on an emergency worker, for which he received a total 16-month sentence, suspended for two years, in May last year. Christopher Bevan, for Fenwick, told the court: He realises the chances of not receiving a custodial sentence today are immensely thin. He tells me, and my assessment of him will bear this out, that hes deeply immature and he accepts what he said and did was deeply unpleasant and offensive. He further adds that he didnt mean to cause any physical harm but at the time he thought he was acting big and hard. Mr Bevan said an updated probation offender managers report described him as, not dangerous in the sense of intending harm, but capable of risky behaviour. Jailing him, Judge Singh told Fenwick: Im afraid you have now come to the end of the line as to the court allowing you further opportunities to show you can behave yourself. You committed these further offences knowing what the ramifications would be. You appear to have no respect for authority or fellow human beings. The 16-month sentence imposed includes ten months from the suspended sentence, with six months added for the latest offences.

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A former football coach who groomed a boy with a promise of trials at professional clubs has been jailed for another ten years over child sexual abuse. Kevan Tudor was already serving a nine-year sentence for sex offences.

The 61-year-old, who had lived in Birmingham, was previously found guilty of arranging or facilitating child prostitution and two counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child in May 2016. He was one of ten men jailed for their part in the historical exploitation and abuse of two teenage boys in 2002 to 2003 and 2009 to 2010.

After seeing a newspaper article about Tudors conviction, another individual came forward to West Midlands Police in 2017. He reported being abused by Tudor when he was just 12 in the early 1980s.

After suffering mentally since his abuse, he did not feel strong enough to support an investigation and the case was filed. However, in 2019 he felt stronger and, having spent his life plagued by doubt that anyone would believe him, he approached police again.

The force's investigation stalled during the covid pandemic as prison visits were not allowed in the lockdown and officers were unable to interview Tudor. Also many people police needed to speak to for evidence gathering were elderly and also isolating.

But the breakthrough came from an original handwritten football club statistic book from 1980 to 1986 with all teams, matches, goals and coach records meticulously kept by the-then team manager of the club where Tudor coached.

From this police traced many of the team, now men in their 50s, secured witness accounts and identified further people who had suffered abuse. Police followed the trail of Tudors career into private coaching and found another survivor, with no knowledge of the others, who he had abused from the age of ten.

Investigating officer Det Con Lisa Monahan said: Tudor groomed the boy and his family into believing he could be a famous goalkeeper, with promises of football scouts and trials at top-flight clubs.

Those dreams were used to secure complete freedom of access to the young boy with coaching sessions many times a week, where he was made to perform sexual acts on Tudor until he was 14.

Now in his 50s, he emotively describes the time, as a teenager, when he realised that he was not good enough at football to be professional and never was.

Tudor, previously from Birmingham, was charged with 15 counts of indecent assault on a boy under 16 years of age and two counts of gross indecency against a boy under 14 years of age, against five victims, police said.

He admitted the charges at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday, July 8. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison - reduced by five years due to an early guilty plea.

Ms Monahan added: These men were abused by Tudor as boys trying to follow their dreams of being footballers. They were threatened into silence with being dropped from the teams they played for. Tudor was in a position of trust and so cruelly abused his power over boys at such a vulnerable age.

The torment from this does not end when the physical abuse stops and I hope that these men can take some comfort from the knowledge that they are believed.

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A convicted rapist who carried out a sickening attack in a graveyard has been rapped by a court over a 6,000 drugs stash.

Leslie Ryder was previously locked up in 2005 after dragging a teenage student teacher off the street and raping her in the grounds of St Michael in the Hamlet Church in Dingle. He was hauled back before Liverpool Crown Court today, Wednesday, after he was caught harvesting cannabis by police for a third time in six years.

The court heard that plain clothes officers were on patrol on Windfield Green in Garston shortly after 10.15am on January 18 last year when they encountered the 41-year-old, who "smelled strongly of cannabis". Ryder was stopped and searched, during which a wrap of cocaine and a quantity of the class B drug was found upon him.

He was also in possession of a phone which displayed a message reading "are you bagging it now?". The addict had replied: "No, tomorrow."

This led to a raid on his home on the same street, during which cannabis was discovered in a shoe box, a gift bag, a plastic tub and two boxes. A set of scales was also recovered inside.

The stash weighed a total of 414.37g and came with an estimated street value of up to 6,215. Ryder had bypassed an electricity meter in setting up the grow.

After his arrest, he "maintained that he didn't sell drugs" and claimed the text had been from his cousin in relation to a drill. The defendant added he had grown the cannabis for his own personal use, having been "heavily reliant on it since the age of 12".

But Ryder has now "stopped using entirely". No grow was located inside the flat, but the substances found equated to a yield of around seven plants.

He has 14 previous convictions for 34 offences dating back to 1996, including two for production of cannabis in April 2015 and May 2021. Most seriously, he was locked up for seven years in the mid-2000s after being convicted of rape.

The 19-year-old victim was walking home late at night when she was attacked by Ryder, who was described as a "petty thief who lay in wait for a woman to pass by". He threatened the woman with a knife and told her: "Don't scream, just walk with me."

His own heavily pregnant girlfriend was at home just weeks away from giving birth to his child at the time of the incident, and he fled to her apartment afterwards. But he was ensnared after DNA evidence linked him to the appalling crime.

Then aged 24, the sex offender was jailed for only four years and four months originally. But this was later extended by the Court of Appeal after the sentence was deemed to have been "unduly lenient".

Presiding over the appeal, Lord Justice Gage said: "This was a very serious offence of rape occurring in an attack late at night. Ryder threatened the woman with a knife and subjected her to conduct that the trial judge described as sexual indignities."

She ultimately quit her university course as a result as she was too upset to sit her exams.

Ryder, now of Strathmore Road in Tuebrook, has spent the past month in custody and appeared via video link to HMP Liverpool. He admitted production of cannabis, possession of cannabis and possession of cocaine and was handed a two-year community order with 100 hours of unpaid work and a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 20 days.

Sentencing, Judge Louise Brandon said: "This is now your third time before the courts for producing cannabis. You admitted growing cannabis in order to manage the problem you had at the time.

"It is accepted that you were producing cannabis for your own benefit. I know you were heavily addicted and you have now stopped using despite your heavy addiction.

"You have stable accommodation which you will likely lose if you were to receive a custodial sentence. You now wish to live a life which is not involved in criminal offences.

"You have the support of your family, who are keen to see you rehabilitated. You are very lucky to have their support, given all you have put them through. I encourage you to continue with this motivation and continue making positive progress."

Ryder must also serve a six-month drug treatment programme and pay a victim surcharge. Forfeiture and destruction of the drugs and paraphernalia was ordered.

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A convicted sex offender grabbed a 17-year-old from behind and slashed his throat on a bus in a brutal attack. The boy's horrified 16-year-old girlfriend tried to stop Hamid Akhonzada as he 'held his head back and drew a bladed article described as a steak knife across the throat', a court heard. Akhonzada was described as having a 'major psychotic disorder' and said he 'heard the voices in his head telling him to stab somebody'. The 26-year-old launched the horrific attack on a bus in Runcorn on May 8 last year, the Liverpool Echo reports. Dafydd Roberts, prosecuting at Chester Crown Court on Friday (July 8), said Akhonzada was sitting behind the young couple when he grabbed the teenager by the hair and pulled out the weapon. The boy tried to fight back as Akhonzada attacked him. The defendant punched him three or four times as they struggled in the baggage hold before fleeing when the bus stopped. Police officers arrived to find the boy holding a face mask to his neck as it soaked up the blood. Mr Roberts said the teenager received glue and butterfly stitches to treat six or seven 'scratches' to his neck, described as 'cuts' by Judge Michael Leeming. He had also suffered a defence wound to his little finger, cuts to the eye area, sore ribs and a grazed knee. The 16-year-old girl was also slightly injured. Afghan refugee Akhonzada was arrested on May 14 in Croydon, London, where he had previously lived until being moved by officials to Runcorn. Three days later, he beat a prison guard unconscious at HMP Altcourse. Akhonzada called for attention from the prison guard, Michael Bennett, drawing him to his cell before punching him. Akhonzada pursued him around the pool tables in the open part of the wing, punching him again and knocking him out cold for two minutes. CCTV shown to the court showed part of the attack and the inmate then retreat to his cell upon the arrival of a female prison officer who locked him inside. Mr Bennett described his ordeal as an 'explosion of blood' followed by 'everything being a blur'. The prison officer suffered 'bumps and bruises' in the assault, which had the lasting effect of exacerbating his existing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The earlier attack on the bus also had a lasting impact on the 17-year-old, who said he suffered sleeplessness, 'flashbacks and night terrors', nervousness going out, aversion to using buses, and reduced socialising. After being confirmed as fit to plead, Akhonzada admitted Section 18 wounding with intent, having a bladed article in public, and assaulting an emergency worker. Mr Roberts said Akhonzada had 10 previous convictions for 23 offences including two for common assault and assaulting a constable in 2016, assault occasioning actual bodily harm in 2017, and common assault and sexual assault in 2018 leading to a prison sentence. Judge Leeming read details of a pre-sentence report in which Akhonzada had told a probation officer that 'he left the house with a knife because he wanted to stab somebody' but also that 'it was only on the bus that he heard the voices in his head telling him to stab somebody'. Kevin Slack, defending, said Akhonzada was diagnosed with schizophrenia after he arrived in the UK having fled Afghanistan aged 16 after a series of traumas. These included his father being murdered, witnessing someone being killed as a child, and the death of his brother in police custody after his brother was detained by a 'corrupt' police chief for having a relationship with his daughter. The court heard this led the rogue officer to arrest Akhonzada on 'trumped up terrorism charges' before locking him up and beating him for two months, before demanding that Akhonzada marry his daughter who had been left 'physically and mentally impaired' due to a punishment beating from her father for having extra-marital sex. Mr Slack said an immigration tribunal found 'credible evidence' the police chief had violently assaulted his own daughter. After arriving in Croydon, Akhonzada was soon sectioned under the Mental Health Act and placed on medication with mental health support. Following his violent turn in 2016-17 the Home Office launched efforts to deport him, also drawing on his later offences in a bid to eject him from the country, but an immigration tribunal granted him leave to remain because he wouldnt receive the necessary mental health services in his homeland and would face 'grave danger'. An official decision was taken to move Akhonzada to Runcorn, but medical care for his 'major psychotic disorder' did not continue with the move north. Mr Slack said: The defendant had been relocated to the Runcorn area. Im instructed that was as part of an official relocation rather than any desire or choice of the defendant himself, but what is clear is that following the relocation the defendant was not picked up by mental health services in this area. Mr Slack said nor was there any recommendation for continued medication when he was released from a 2019 prison sentence, which he described as a 'mistake' that wont be 'made again'. An updated psychiatric report said he was now responding well to medication, and Mr Slack said Akhonzada had said he didnt think the boy he slashed on the bus was real, adding that having seen the videos he wished to apologise to him and to the prison officer. Judge Leeming acknowledged the seriousness of his condition but countered that convicted sex offender Akhonzada had sought to 'self-medicate' with cannabis and spice instead of seeking help. He said the knifeman had a 'compulsion' for violence as he jailed him for four years, with four years on extended licence due to dangerousness. Akhonzada, , of Liskeard Close, Brookvale, Runcorn, will have to serve 32 months behind bars before being considered for parole. The judge said the knife-wielding attacker had been staring at his victim and friend at the Palacefields bus stop before boarding and the girl had smiled at him 'to break the ice' but this did not deter him, and the attack took place a couple of minutes later during the journey. During his sentencing remarks, Judge Leeming noted Akhonzadas traumatic childhood and mental illness - which included feeling 'special' and 'close to God', but recounted how Akhonzada grabbed his teenage victims hair, pulled his head back and started 'hacking at his neck and throat with the knife' in keeping with a longer term pattern of violence. He said: Your record for violence and sexual assault is a statutory aggravating factor. Theres an established pattern here of violent and aggressive behaviour. The timing and location in the attacks are both relevant, in the first instance on public transport in the presence of other members of the public. The footage clearly shows how shocked the other passengers were on the bus, and it took place in a confined space at the back of the bus. Recalling the assault on the prison officer he said: He was unconscious for about two minutes. Its important that you should understand that Michael Bennett was simply doing his job, an already difficult job made more difficult by your behaviour. He was simply responding to your call to make sure your needs were attended to. He sustained bumps and bruises to his face and cuts to the inside of his mouth. Akhonzada, who was assisted by a Farsi interpreter for the hearing, must also pay a statutory surcharge.

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Sex offender was convicted in his absence and is believed to be in hiding in Turkey A child rapist fled the country before being convicted of historic sexual offence at his trial and remains at large. Martin Gill, from St Helens, is believed to be in hiding in Turkey after jetting off three days before he was due to be tried for his sickening crimes at Liverpool Crown Court. The now 36-year-old committed his campaign of sexual abuse in the early noughties, when he himself was a youth. He indecently assaulted his victim when she was aged as young as 10 and performed sex acts on her. Gill then raped the younger girl when she was roughly 13. A statement read out to the court on her behalf described how she "didn't want to live anymore" as a result of his actions and had attempted to take her own life. The statement added: "I have nightmares which take me back to being a young, vulnerable child." Gill's escape from the UK came after an earlier trial was postponed when he tested positive for Covid-19. Defending, Colin Witcher said: "The defence has made enquiries of Mr Gill, and there has been no response or engagement. "Given his absence, there is very little I can say in positive mitigation on his behalf. He has not engaged with the process." Gill, of Waring Avenue, admitted six counts of sexual assault but was found guilty of a further four of the same charge plus two of rape by a jury. He was sentenced to eight years in prison in his absence today, Tuesday. Sentencing, Judge Robert Trevor-Jones said: "The defendant abused his victim from a very early age, gradually escalating his activity. It was sustained abuse. "He threatened her not to tell anyone, and those threats were clearly successful. The victim buried memories of the abuse until recently when she resurfaced feelings of fear, isolation and pain. "There is clear and enduring serious emotional and psychological trauma." Gill will also be required to sign the sex offenders' register for life.

Description

Sam Picone, 24, from Caerphilly, worked with vulnerable students at a high school and volunteered at a club for gymnasts aged between six and 14.

He had been watching indecent images involving children aged between four and 14 as well as extreme pornography showing sex between adults and animals.

Georgina Buckley, prosecuting, told Cardiff Crown Court: This case relates to images found on the defendants telephone.

A search warrant was executed at his parents address on February 16 and the police were told he had moved out of the address and was likely on his way to work.

The defendant was working as a teaching assistant in a comprehensive school in the Cardiff area and it is understood that his role involved working directly with vulnerable children.

The police caught up with him at school and when confronted with the allegations he told them he had seen indecent images online on his mobile phone but had not saved them.

He then handed his mobile phone to the police and gave them access.

Miss Buckley added: Following his arrest he told the police about a section within the Snapchat app labelled For My Eyes Only.

It is relevant that within this section was a number of images that appeared to relate to the gymnastics club of which the defendant volunteered.

None of these images were indecent but were considered by the police as inappropriate It is understood the defendant volunteered at a local gymnastic club in his spare time and the children who attend there are aged between six and 14 years of age.

Picone pleaded guilty to making 13 category A images, the most serious kind, three category B and four category C images.

Both the school and club were not named at Cardiff Crown Court.

Picone also admitted possession of an extreme pornographic image.

The court was told that the defendant, represented by Ben Waters, had no previous convictions.

Judge Niclas Parry told Picone: What you need to understand, and Im sure that you do, is that everything you were viewing was actually happening to these children and these dreadful and disgraceful things happen because people are viewing them.

He added: There is significant mitigation. First of all youve pleaded guilty immediately.

Secondly, youve never been in trouble before.

Thirdly, youve lost everything your job, the career that youve trained for and the voluntary work that youve trained for.

Picone, of Maes Y Drudwen, Caerphilly, was sentenced to a three-year community order.

The defendant was made the subject of a 30-day rehabilitation activity order and he must complete the Horizon sex offender programme and carry out 80 hours of unpaid work.

He will have to register as a sex offender for the next five years and was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for the same period.