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Description

A convicted paedophile said "oops" when he was confronted about gaps in his internet history.

Jeffrey Wade was handed a 16 month sentence, suspended for two years, and had to sign the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years in October 2020, when he admitted three counts of downloading and one of possessing indecent images of children, and one count of possessing prohibited images of children. Wade was caught when he took an Amazon Kindle containing sick pictures to Cash Converters.

He had been "downloading and stockpiling" more than 4,000 child sex abuse photos and videos since 2016. His collection included images of babies and toddlers being molested and children as young as five or six being raped.

Wade, 37, took his Kindle to Cash Converters and received £15 for it. However, when staff came to wipe the device, they found the disturbing images and contacted the police, leading to him admitting to the crimes.

However, he walked free in October 2020 after a judge heard he was "motivated to put this behaviour behind him". As part of his suspended sentence, any device of Wade's that could access the internet had to display its internet history in its entirety.

Today (March 3), Wade appeared at Liverpool Crown Court via video link from HMP Liverpool to be sentenced, having committed breaches of the suspended sentence and the Sexual Harm Prevention Order he was subject to.

Prosecuting, Mr Blasbery told the court that Wade's offender manager paid him a routine visit at his East Prescot Road home in Dovecot on May 20, 2022. During the visit, the manager found a black Nokia device.

The device had a Virtual Private Network (VPN) downloaded. VPNs give an internet user an opportunity to encrypt their use of the internet, making it harder for third parties to track their online activity.

Wade's Nokia also showed use of search engine DuckDuckGo, which protects the privacy of internet users. Additionally, there were gaps in his internet history on Google Chrome.

When the officer mentioned this to Wade, he said "oops, yeah".

On May 26, an examination of the phone was conducted. This confirmed that two VPNs were installed, along with use of DuckDuckGo, while an expert said that Wade had to take "positive action" to install and activate these.

Wade, who suffers from mental health problems including schizophrenia, attended a police interview on August 5, 2022. It was put to him that he should not have any way of conducting secure internet browsing. He said "I understand, it won't happen again".

The device did not contain any illegal images and Wade said he used the VPN for downloading films. However, the use of it breached terms he was subject to.

This meant that he appeared on video link from prison, as the offence took place during the length of his initial suspended sentence.

Mr Recorder Leach QC was unable to pass sentence today. Wade will need to undergo a psychiatric assessment in order to ascertain the role his mental health problems played in his offending, as well as to decide whether he has a realistic problem of rehabilitation, before the judge sentences him.

As such, Wade will appear at Liverpool Crown Court in May.

Description

A convicted paedophile has been caged after he breached a sex-offender order when he was caught with undeclared devices and indecent images including cannibal-style fetish material.

Sheffield Crown Court heard on March 29 how Alastair Yeardley, aged 25, of Ravenfield, Rotherham, had originally been convicted and given a community order with treatment in April, 2021, for possessing indecent images of youngsters. He was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

However, police visited Yeardley’s home in January, this year, during routine checks and recovered an undeclared laptop and phone, and a computer tower analysis revealed he had indecent images and 129 prohibited images including cannibal-style fetish material.

Prosecuting barrister Matthew Burdon said: “He said he was struggling to manage his addiction to children. He had the fetish involving the consumption of one party by another.”

Yeardley disclosed a laptop to the officers and they also found a phone and both these devices had not previously been declared to the police as part of the required conditions of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The defendant pleaded guilty to breaching his SHPO by failing to declare a laptop and a phone in January, and he also admitted making five category C indecent images – the least serious category relating to downloaded indecent images of youngsters - between April, 2022 and January, 2023.

Yeardley also admitted possessing 129 prohibited images between April, 2022, and January, 2023, which had included the fetish material.

Mr Burdon said the prohibited images included fetish material such as a person being ‘chewed and swallowed’.

Defence barrister Jessica Butterell said Yeardley, who had alerted officers to the devices in his home during the police visit, had struggled once his previous treatment had stopped but he now recognises the triggers he needs to act upon.

Ms Butterell added: “His initial offending arose out of a time when he was taking cannabis and he was distressed and emotional. It started as a trigger to alleviate stress and he is now open and honest about his feelings and if it happens again he knows to seek help.”

Yeardley has also begun making a journal recording his thoughts and feelings which he says has ‘greatly assisted him’, according to Ms Butterell, and he wants to make a change and has sought counselling.

She added: “Thinking about the effect on those victims felt like a brick to his face and he became extremely emotional and remorseful.”

Judge Graham Reeds KC told Yeardley he had originally been given a chance with a community order with a sex-offender treatment programme to rehabilitate himself but this had failed.

He said: “Your treatment was a failure. In late 2022 you downloaded more indecent images of children including prohibited images and you breached your SHPO not just by making those downloads but also by obtaining devices that you failed to notify to police.”

Judge Reeds told Yeardley: “It’s now time to impose prison as an appropriate punishment to deter you from behaving in this way in the future.”

He sentenced Yeardley to 14 months of custody and he also imposed an additional five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Description

A man has been jailed for over three years for a string of offences relating to possession of indecent photos and other related crimes.

30 year old Richard Smith of the High Street in Lowestoft was jailed at Ipswich Crown Court on Friday 24 March after he pleaded guilty to possession of indecent photographs, namely 25 category A images and/or movies of children, 68 category B images and/or movies, of children and 64 category C images and/or movies, of children. He also pleaded guilty to making indecent photographs and possession of an extreme pornographic image and breach of SHPO (Sexual Harm Prevention Order)

Smith, was a known registered sex offender who was serving a suspended sentence following previous convictions for making indecent images of children. Officers became aware of a referral in October 2022 indicating his use of a Snapchat account with an indecent video of a child uploaded to the internet. Following further enquires made by officers, police attended his home address on 29 November 2022 and executed a warrant. He was arrested and subsequently charged. He also pleaded guilty to breach of SHPO (Secxual Harm Prevention Order)

For all of the offences he received a total custodial sentence of 42 months.

PC Nicola Flack from the Internet Child Abuse Investigation Team said: This was clear and blatant disregard by Smith with regards to his Sexual Harm Prevention Order. This order was put in place by the judicial system to protect the public from predators like Smith. We are very satisfied with this sentence which I hope goes some way to reassure the public of the police stance when it comes to subjects of such orders.

Internet crimes such as these are far from victimless and every image depicts the very real abuse a young child has suffered. We will do everything within our power to protect victims who are subjected to these potentially life changing acts of indecency purely for the gratification of others.

• Category A Images involving penetrative sexual activity, sexual activity with an animal or sadism.
• Category B Images involving non-penetrative sexual activity.
• Category C Indecent images not falling in categories A or B.

Description

A disgusting sex pest who grabbed a womans throat and groin in a Gosport street while refusing to let her walk past has been jailed.

Drunk Jamie Bicknell left the woman feeling scared and violated after grabbing her by the throat and hair before groping the victim between her legs, Portsmouth Crown Court heard. It happened when the 32-year-old refused to leave the female alone in Stoke Road, on February 2, 2021.

Bicknell had been asked to leave a nearby restaurant at around 9.50pm for his drunken behaviour after he ordered some food. He then approached a woman outside and began making lewd comments and asking her for sex.

The court heard how the woman tried to get past Bicknell before he grabbed her by the throat and continued talking to her. He then grabbed her hair before touching her sexually in the groin area. You refused to stop and were intent on sexual abuse. She was petrified, judge Timothy Mousley KC said. She was wearing her hair in a bun which you took hold of and then touched her in the area of her groin. Your hand remained there for a few seconds before she managed to escape.

CCTV footage showed that Bicknell had travelled by bus from his home on Gregson Avenue before walking to Stoke Road. He had a conversation with the bus driver during his journey - sharing his first name and discussing mutual friends - the details of which allowed police to identify and track him down.

The court heard how the womans world collapsed following the attack with her turning from someone who was outgoing and bubbly to being scared all the time and was now taking medication to treat anxiety. He invaded my personal space. It was truly disgusting. I felt violated, she said in a statement read out to the court.

Bicknell was found guilty by jurors of sexual assault following a retrial.

The court heard Bicknell, who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder, committed the offence during a difficult period with his partner which led to him turning to drink and looking for trouble when going out.

Bicknell was jailed for two and a half years and given an indefinite restraining order and sex offender notification requirements.

Police staff investigator Sophie Close said: Reporting sexual offences takes a huge amount of courage, and the victim in this case has shown such bravery by coming forward and working with police to bring Bicknell to justice.

This attack was terrifying for her. Bicknells actions were appalling and disgusting, and behaviour of this kind will never be tolerated. Our officers work hard to identify perpetrators of this type of behaviour, and we want to encourage anyone who has been affected, or has witnessed someone behaving in this way to please report it to police.

A police spokesman added: We carry out regular patrols in areas where problems have been identified to us and where there is high footfall in the Night Time Economy to challenge and prevent perpetrator behaviours, identify people who may be vulnerable, and to offer safeguarding advice.

Description

A dangerous 'sexual predator' has been jailed for 20 years for raping a teenager and a young woman.

Leon Austin, 31, raped the woman multiple times in August 2022 near Bristol and was arrested the next day.

While on bail, Austin, of no fixed address, was charged with raping a 17-year-old in 2018 in Gloucestershire.

The victim of the most recent attack said she still had days "crippled by an overwhelming fear to do anything, leave my room, have a shower or eat".

In August 2022, Austin gave a woman in her 20s a lift and made sexual advances to her during the journey, which she declined.

Austin stopped at a remote barn where he raped the woman. After the attack, she ran away and Austin drove from the scene.

The victim managed to flag down a passing motorist, called the police and Austin was arrested a couple of days later.

'Scared and intimidated'

The woman told Bristol Crown Court: "There have been times that I have to go to my mum because I am concerned what I might do to myself."

She said she had struggled to sleep or return to work because of the trauma caused.

"My friends struggle to understand what happened, they don't want to be around me because I am not my usually happy self. I am often difficult to be around," she said.

"My relationship and outlook on men in general has completely changed. I am so scared and intimidated of any man," she added.

The victim of the 2018 attack, now in her 20s, said she thought Austin was going to kill her.

She said: "I was in the middle of nowhere. Nowhere to go or anyone to turn to.

"I thought 'this is it' that night and have continued thinking that afterwards."

Austin pleaded guilty in January to five counts of rape - two relating to 2018 and three to 2022 - and one count of attempting to choke, suffocate or strangle with intent to commit rape.

Officer in the case DC Carl Spicer said: "Austin is sexual predator who targeted younger vulnerable and alone females, providing them with drink or drugs. He then ignored their wishes when they did not consent to sex."

"Both women have shown incredible levels of bravery and courage to report what happened to them and they should feel proud that by doing so has meant a dangerous man is behind bars."

Austin will need to serve five years on licence upon release.

Description

A BRAVE woman has spoken out after her rapist was jailed, urging other victims to find the courage to come forward.

Gary Baxter of Husseys Lane, Kington, was jailed for a single count of rape at Worcester Crown Court. The 46-year-old was jailed for three years and 10 months and ordered to sign the sex offender register until further order.

His victim gave evidence at his trial until he changed his plea to guilty and he was jailed on January 26 this year.

The woman, who has lifelong anonymity, is urging more women and men who are attacked across Worcestershire and Herefordshire to come forward.

In an exclusive interview, she described how she was raped in October 2020, calling her attacker 'controlling and manipulative'.

She added: "He took my car keys so I couldn't escape. Later he managed to rape me. I'm a physically strong woman but I was no match for him. "I was in shock. But I knew I was raped. After this I really wasn't sure If I wanted to report him.

"Would I be believed? It's his word against mine. Some rapes are so violent the woman has physical injuries. I didn't. What evidence would there be to 'show' I was raped? Why didn't I fight more? These and many other questions were running through my mind. But I knew a crime had been committed against me.

"After the two days I went to the sexual assault referral clinic SARC to check me over and gather evidence while I was still deciding what to do. The nurses there are very supportive. They talked through all the options to help me make an informed decision. I agreed to an examination and samples. I was under no pressure to report to the police. It was here I felt the full magnitude of what had happened to me. I was so scared and traumatised but I decided I didn't want him to get away with it.

"So I decided to report to the police. The police were, for the most part, professional and sensitive while they interviewed me. I gave my evidence and was referred to many agencies to support me emotionally and to support me through the criminal justice system. One of the agencies I couldn't have done without was the Rape Crisis Centre or The Sexual Violence service. I was assigned an advocate who supported me all the way through the criminal justice system.

"Many survivors decide not to report their abuse for their own reasons. If this is you I do hope you reach out and get support.

"Whatever the outcome of reporting it is a very empowering process to speak out against your abuser. To stand up and fight. When all control is taken from you, this can help you take some control back. I'm speaking now because I wish you to know you are not to blame. They made the choice to rape you. It's not a loss of control on their part. There's nothing you said or did to deserve it. You are not weak. You are not a victim You are a survivor. You will be happy again."

The judge further ordered he may be placed on the barring list by the disclosure and barring service with restraining orders applied for until further notice. A victim surcharge of 190 was also imposed.

Description

A FORMER supermarket worker was arrested outside a Carlisle hotel as he attempted to meet a person he believed was a 14-year-old boy he had been having sexualised online conversations with.

Business graduate John Robert Reynolds, 43, suffered what a judge said was a 'spectacular fall from grace' after the encounter.

The defendant pleaded guilty to an allegation of attempting to communicate sexually with a child after an alternative charge, that he tried to arrange the commission of a child sex offence, was abandoned by the prosecution.

Brendan Burke, prosecuting at Carlisle Crown Court, said the defendant came to Carlisle on July 27 last year and was staying at the Halston Hotel in Warwick Road for reasons related to his then employment.

At the time, he had activated a Grindr profile for himself, through which he initiated contact with somebody who cleared identified himself as a 14-year-old boy. The defendants response to that was to state simply: Thats young.

The defendant sent [the boy] an intimate picture of himself early in the conversation, said Mr Burke. But Reynolds was unwittingly communicating with an undercover police officer.

The conversation had quickly become sexualised, said Mr Burke. The defendant said he was looking for fun with a guy.

"He went on to ask [the boy] to send pics; that request was made and remade again throughout their conversation.

The undercover officer told Reynolds he liked boys but had not actually done anything. The defendant asked the boy what he wanted to try. Encouraged by the defendant, they arranged to meet in Carlisle city centre.

When the boy asked the defendant what he wanted to do, he replied: Whatever you want; well see what happens. Reynolds also asked the boy if he wanted to go to the hotel where he was staying, saying it was nice.

They agreed to meet outside the Hallmark Hotel near Carlisle railway station, and that was where police arrested Reynolds at 8.40pm.

When challenged, the defendant said he believed the person he was communicating with was actually 18, given that this was the minimum age for anybody using Grindr.

Jacob Dyer, defending, said there was no actual child involved but Reynolds accepted he should not have engaged in such communication. This offence followed the breakdown of his marriage, said the barrister.

It was a period of upheaval for him, a very emotional time. He had left his job, he was struggling to cope, struggling to sleep. He was using alcohol and sleeping tablets in order to cope and he also started using dating apps.

He wasnt in a good place emotionally.

A man of good previous character, Reynolds was a business management graduate and had worked for many years at the Booths supermarket. Mr Dyer added: He is very much ashamed of his conduct.

Being arrested and spending six days remanded in custody had a profound impact on Reynolds, who as a consequence had a breakdown and spent four weeks in hospital. But he had now stopped drinking and was taking antidepressant medication.

Reynolds had clearly expressed remorse and would respond to rehabilitation.

Judge Guy Mathieson told Reynolds: You have no previous convictions, and a good work history. What a spectacular fall from grace to have you stood before this court today.

The judge accepted that Reynolds was suffering a significant emotional crisis and that a combination of factors led to his offending. But I reject entirely that you ever misunderstood the nature of these conversations with this person, said the judge.

You could not have missed the fact that this person was telling you that they were under age.

Yet there had been a persistent attempt to communicate sexually. Theres absolutely no doubt that you went out to meet what you thought would be an under age boy outside Carlisle railway station.

The judge described that behaviour as 'horrendous'. Accepting that the defendant learned a lesson from his brief time in custody, Judge Mathieson said Reynolds should understand how close he had come to custody.

He imposed 12 months jail, suspended for two years, ordering that the defendant must complete an accredited treatment programme.

Reynolds, of St Winifreds Park, Halton, Lancashire, will be on the Sex Offender Register for a decade and subject to a five year sexual harm prevention order.

He must also complete 20 rehabilitation activity days.

Description

A sex offender caught out trying to sexually groom a 13-year-old girl over the internet was slammed by a judge for reusing to admit he was attracted to children. Steven Ogilvie struck up a conversation with a young profile on the Chat Avenue site and talked about being naked in the shower as well as going to a nudist beach.

But in fact he was talking to an undercover police officer. The 55-year-old, from Chester Road North, Sutton Coldfield, admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child but was spared a prison sentence, partly because it happened in 2018 and he had not repeated the behaviour since. At Birmingham Crown Court he was sentenced to a three-year community order.

Ogilvie had told probation officers he was not attracted to children and had not intended to speak to a child. But Judge Richard Bond told him: "I totally reject what you say, of course you are attracted to children what else were you doing?

"Adults mainly go onto such websites for one reason alone; to attain some form of sexual satisfaction talking to underage children. You probably can't even admit to yourself you are attracted to children but when you hear the circumstances of this case you clearly are."

Ogilvie had started talking to the decoy profile on January 9, 2018. Oliver Wellings, prosecuting, said of the Chat Avenue website: "It is a chat facility for teenagers looking for online conversations. It is not just the target audience but also predatory paedophiles who congregate on such sites."

Ogilvie began asking the 'girl' about her background before he switched the topic to dating and 'phone sex'. He made jokes about being old enough to be her father before suggesting they should shower naked together and go to a nudist beach.

Mr Wellings added: "It would appear at that point, by this stage it had been going on for some days, the defendant got cold feet and became concerned. He began asking her for photos trying to establish whether she was real."

He told the court Ogilvie had previously been caught out by so-called paedophile-hunters for almost identical behaviour before the offence was created in law. Ben Close, defending, emphasised the latest offence spanned three days and happened five years ago. He said: "It is encouraging to see in the pre-sentence report he has remained faithful to his plea.

"He describes a challenging time in his life involving a separation, loneliness, mental health difficulties. The picture painted is an all-too-familiar one of someone who spent too much time at home on their computer seeking an outlet and falling back into abusing the internet in the way he did."

Ogilvie must be assed for a sexual offenders' treatment programme, complete 60 days of rehabilitation activity and adhere to police notification requirements for five years. Judge Bond told him: "It is you who turns the conversation away from innocuous matters. It becomes highly sexualised at your instigation.

"When you say you are not attracted to children, why are you talking about being in the shower with a 13-year-old girl? That's because that's what you wanted in your dreams."

Description

A man who repeatedly breached the requirements of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order and Criminal Behaviour Order has been sentenced to a year in prison.

Rikki Bedford, 27, was convicted of sexual assault on 4 March 2020 at Kingston Crown Court and sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment, as well as being placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years. He was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO), to run concurrently.

He failed to comply with the requirements of his SHPO on three previous occasions, in November 2020, May 2021 and November 2021.

On Friday 7 October 2022, Bedford was released from prison having been on remand for another matter in which he was found not guilty. The requirement of his release meant that he had to register at a police station within three days, which he failed to do.

On 14 October 2022 he was arrested by the Metropolitan Police and taken into custody, where he assaulted one officer and racially abused another.

PC Laura Pammer, who investigated the case, said: “Rikki Bedford has repeatedly breached the requirements of his order and has continued to offend after being released from prison. The severity of these breaches has resulted in him being sent back to prison for another year.

“I hope that this case reassures our local communities that we ensure that any requirements placed on offenders are strictly adhered to.”

Description

A sex pest who assaulted four teenagers as a female and struggled with police as a male, has been jailed.

Luke Spencer was a 20-year-old woman known as Krista when the offender seized and kissed a teenage girl at Glenrothes bus station, slapped anothers buttocks in Dunfermline and groped two more youngsters after drinking with them.

Description

A 'cruel' man who preyed upon a woman during a night out and raped her has been jailed. Rory Miles, 32, was convicted last month of sexually assaulting a woman at an address in Dunmow.

He had assaulted her following a night out in late 2018 before she was able to get away from him and call for help. She was supported by specialist officers from our Adult Sexual Abuse Investigation Team and an investigation into the attack was carried out.

It led to Miles, of Harris Green, Dunmow, being charged with rape. He was found guilty of one of the five charges he faced. Three others will remain on file as no verdict was reached.

At Chelmsford Crown Court today (Monday 27 March), he was sentenced to four years in prison and put on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Jon Nottage said: "Firstly I would like to commend the woman involved in this case for her strength and dignity throughout this process and I hope that this verdict will bring some comfort.

"I would like to also extend my thanks to various agencies, witnesses, along with the womans family and friends who supported her from the moment it was reported. Rory Miles was today convicted for the rape of this woman and sentenced to four years in prison.

"Miles is a cruel man, on the night he preyed on a woman who believed she would be safe in his company. He did not admit his guilt at any point and maintained everything that happened on the night was consensual and instigated by the woman.

"The Jury expertly navigated through the evidence and found him guilty of rape, and today, he now faces his foreseeable future behind bars.

"To anyone out there who has experienced sexual violence of any form, I know that coming forward is a huge and difficult decision with many worries and concerns. I would urge you to come forward and speak to us, we can take things at your own pace and put you in touch with many great agencies that are out there that can offer you additional support."

Support is there for anyone affected by rape and sexual abuse, and no victim or survivor is alone. Synergy Essex provides specialist support for victims and survivors of rape and sexual abuse of all ages and all genders across Essex, Thurrock and Southend.

Description

A child sex offender from West Yorkshire has been jailed for four-and-a-half years after he was caught out by a paedophile hunter group for the second time.

Back in 2017, Scott Jones was given a three-year community order and told to undertake a sex offender programme after he admitted online sex chats with two “decoy” girls aged 14 and 11.

At the same hearing at Leeds Crown Court Jones was also made the subject of a five-year sexual harm prevention order and a requirement to register as a sex offender with the police for the same period of time.

But Bradford Crown Court heard today (Tues) that within 24 hours of the protective orders expiring, Jones was again involved in sexualised online chat with another 13-year-old “decoy”.

Jones, 28, was told the girl’s age, but he asked if she would have sex with him.

Another member of the Secrets n Lies hunter group also posed as the 13-year-old’s younger sister and Jones encouraged the older girl to touch her 11-year-old sister.

Prosecutor Laura McBride said another group, Yorkshire Predator Hunters UK, became involved and they attended at Jones’ home.

The police were called after he admitted talking to two “girls” aged 13 and 11 online and he was arrested.

When officers analysed a Samsung tablet device found at his address they recovered five Category A indecent images of children and 19 Category C indecent images.

Jones, now of West View Terrace, Pellon, Halifax, pleaded guilty to charges of attempted sexual communication with a child, attempting to incite or cause a child to engage in sexual activity and possession of indecent images of children.

Barrister Soheil Khan, for Jones, said his client had been “disowned” by members of his family following his conviction in 2017 and had found himself in a spiral of depression.

Recorder David Gordon noted that the latest offending had started the day after the previous five-year orders had expired.

“I’m bound to say I do not consider it to be a coincidence that you waited precisely for the expiry of the sexual harm prevention order and your obligation to register as a sex offender to commit the present offences,” he told Jones.

He said Jones’ previous conviction was a serious aggravating factor and he had failed to respond to warnings in the past.

“You participated previously in the Horizon programme for sex offenders and clearly that has, in spite of appearances, not been of any benefit to you,” said Recorder Gordon.

The judge made a new indefinite sexual harm prevention order, which restricts Jones’ internet use, and he will also have to register as a sex offender again for an indefinite period.

He told Jones he would serve two-thirds of his prison sentence before being released on licence.

Description

A 60-year-old man carried a BB gun and handcuffs with him when he went to meet who he thought was a 14-year-old schoolgirl - but insisted to cops he "only wanted a cuddle". 

The disgusting pervert told her their relationship was a secret, called himself her "daddy", and said he wanted to take a bath with her and wash her, Teesside Crown Court heard. 

He tried to argue that he carried the gun due to a vermin problem in his home, while the handcuffs were in case "there was trouble when he was out".

Groenewood, of Portman Street in central Middlesbrough, had no idea that the person he was talking to - who was called "Scarlett" on the website, was actually a decoy, set up by a pedophile-hunting group. 

He was then intercepted by police when he went to meet her at Middlesbrough train station, on January 13, 2022.

During police questioning, when he was asked if he was sexually attracted to children, Groenewood replied: "A little bit."

The court also heard he had messaged the same online vigilante group in another conversation, in which he thought he was talking to "Holly", whose age on her profile was 13.

He suggested they have sex, and asked the supposed 13-year-old what "they were going to do together under the covers".

Groenewood pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting sexual communication with a child and to attempting to meet a child following grooming. 

He has been jailed for 30 months, made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years, and must comply with sex offender police notifications for the same period of time.

Description

A convicted paedophile was caught with more than 8,000 indecent images of children as young as three.

Gary Bowden was found with pictures and videos on multiple devices when police raided his home.

The 32-year-old failed to tell officers about a new phone despite being subject to a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) he was given for a previous offence.

Officers who searched his devices found a total of 8,465 indecent images including 1,926 category A images – the most serious type.

Prosecuting, Leigh Hart said the photos depicted children as young as three being abused.

Bowden of Mescott Meadows, Hedge End, gave no comment during his police interview.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent photographs of children as well as breaching an SHPO for owning the phone.

The defendant, who has four previous convictions for 24 offences - including making or distributing indecent images - appeared at Southampton Crown Court on Friday for sentencing.

Mitigating, Keely Harvey said her client had been “very open and honest” and had “indicated his guilty plea very early on”.

“He always accepted that these images would be found.”

She said he was surprised by the number of images that were found adding that her client “needs some help”.

Judge Brian Forster KC, said: “It is a bad case because of the number of class A images.

“This case must be seen against the background of your previous offending.

“This was a deliberate breach. You were fully aware of the terms of your order.

“There is no doubt that the possession of these images falls within the most serious category."

Bowden, who was produced from custody, was given a total of 24 months in prison as well as an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

He must also abide by notification requirements for the next 10 years.

A further order was made for the forfeiture and destruction of his phone and devices.

Judge Forster added: “I hope he can get through this and make more of his life in future.”

Description

Victims of a sexual predator who posed as a photographer and set up hidden cameras in changing rooms to film hundreds of aspiring young models said they felt utterly violated as their abuser was jailed.

David Glover, 48, made secret recordings of his victims who came to him for portfolio shoots over at least four years and cataloged them on his computer, Peterborough Crown Court heard.

After admitting five counts of voyeurism concerning 35 women identified by police, Glover was jailed for 20 months.

One of his victims, who waived her right to anonymity, said it made her "skin crawl" to think she had trust the defendant, to take photographs of her baby.

Francesca Rowden told the court that she no longer worked in the modelling industry.

Another victim, breaking down in tears, said: "I thought about how this could affect my career now if they [the images] ever got leaked."

In a statement to court another woman said she felt "utterly violated" and another said "the guy is an absolute creep".

Glover, 48, of Tallington in Lincolnshire, admitted at an earlier hearing to five counts of voyeurism concerning 35 women identified by police, but prosecutors said a further "70 or so" women were in footage that police found on Glover's electronic devices.

Thomas Brown, prosecuting, said these women had not been identified and Glover was not being sentenced over images of these further women - but could face further proceedings if any of them came forward.

Glover, who also worked as a wedding photographer, was "well thought of" said prosecutors. He would shoot in his home and sometimes hired studio space.

"There was private space provided by the studio for people to change from their outdoor, everyday clothing into whatever they were wearing for the shoot," said the prosecutor.

"As a private space, it was used for exactly that purpose by people who were to be photographed."

His voyeurism was uncovered by a woman's partner who investigated the changing room to find "an alarm clock that looked remarkably out of context".

He investigated further and found it was a covert camera, and that the memory card in it had footage of his partner getting changed on it.

After a police investigation was triggered, more women came forward.

Judge Matthew Lowe said: "Following the breakdown of his marriage in 2011, this defendant sought to turn what had been a hobby into a business and began working as a professional photographer."

He said the offending took place over at least four years, was "clearly planned offending" and some of the women in the footage appeared "completely naked".

Glover was jailed for 20 months for his offending, and was also ordered to sign the sex offenders' register, and made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.