Latest Offenders

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A MAN Who sexually abused a 13-year-old girl over a four month period has been jailed for two years and eight months today. Henry Scott, 24, of Bagpath, Tetbury, pleaded guilty at Gloucester Crown Court to three charges of having penetrative sex with the girl, engaging in sexual communications with a child and possessing indecent images of the girl in all three categories of seriousness. The court heard a statement from the girl, now 17, describing how Scott's abuse has left her suffering panic attacks, poor sleep and problems with concentrating on GCSE studies at school. She said she felt like a 'bomb had gone off' in her life. The court was told that when arrested Scott denied any sexual activity with the girl. The offences occurred between February 2018 and May 2018. In a statement, the girl said: This is something that has caused a ripple effect throughout my entire family. This past year has been so difficult that I have not been able to focus on anything because I knew this case was pending. I used to be happy, confident but I became so withdrawn that I doubted my own ability that I would be unable to succeed at anything in life. I am standing up for myself so this cannot happen to another child. This kind of crime ruins lives and I feel that my teenage years have been tainted by what he has done. I am lucky to have a supportive family and I hope we all get through this together in time. Katherine Blackwell, defending, said: Scott should have known better. He had been warned about socialising with people under the age of 16. Scott has been diagnosed with having autism spectrum disorder which causes problems with social interaction and communication. He has also been diagnosed with pathological demand disorder which means he is unable to understand boundaries. He is unaware what is, and what isnt acceptable." Judge Ian Lawrie QC told Scott: You were aged 21/22 when these offences were committed. These nine offences were regular and consistent while the victim was aged between 13 and 14. "One of my concerns is that you were cautioned seven months prior to these offences for meeting up with a 13-year-old girl on a number of occasions and being warned not to do so in April 2016. I accept that you have been diagnosed with a number of medical problems which means you have borderline cognitive function which leads you to being child-like and immature. The judge sentenced Scott to two years and eight months imprisonment and subjected him to a sexual harm prevention order for seven years as well as a order to sign the sex offenders register for the same period.

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A paedophile groomed a vulnerable young boy and subjected him to rapes and repeated sexual assaults.

Jason Evans would ply the child with gifts including sweets, toys, and rugby boots, Swansea Crown Court heard.

Evans subjected the boy, who was under 12 at the time, to repeated sexual assaults and rapes with the offences taking place in the 2000s.

The child did not feel able to report the abuse at the time and it is only in recent years now he himself is a father that he went to the police.

Prosecutor John Hipkin QC read a statement from the victim in which he described the impact the abuse has had on him.

He said the sexual assaults made him an aggressive boy who got into trouble at school and he eventually left education with no qualifications. He said he went on to abuse drink and drugs, was not able to control his emotions, and ended up in trouble with the police.

The man said he still suffers flashbacks to the abuse, has regular suicidal thoughts, and has found it hard to hold down jobs but he said his family have helped him through the "dark times".

He added: "I hope Jason Evans being found guilty will be the start of my recovery but my life will never the same, it will always live with me... I hope it will be the first step in me getting on with my life."

Evans, aged 45, of Morfydd Street, Morriston, Swansea, was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault and two of rape following a trial.

Stephen Rees, for Evans, said the defendant maintained his innocence but the court would no doubt be trying to fathom why he had offended in the way he had during the period in question offending he had not carried out before or since.

He said his client had led an industrious life and since the offending had gone on to form a stable relationship and become a father.

Recorder Mark Powell QC told Evans he had taken advantage of his vulnerable victim to satisfy his "perverted desires" to have sex with a young boy.

He said the defendant had "destroyed" the boy's formative years and "took away his youth" and the impact the abuse had had was clear not just from the statement read to court but from the victim himself as he stood in the dock in a distressed state giving evidence during the trial.

The recorder said it was right Evans should be considered an offender of particular concern and be given an extended sentence as a result.

Evans was given a 13-year extended sentence comprising 12 years in custody and an extended one-year licence period. The defendant can apply for release at the two-thirds point of the custodial element but it will be for the Parole Board to decide if he is safe to be released. The defendant was made the subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order to control his access to children and will be on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life.

Speaking after the sentencing South Wales Police detective inspector Carl Price said: "Reporting rape or a serious sexual offence is big decision to make but victims welfare is our priority. Don't forget both men and women can be offenders and victims of sexual assault.

"South Wales Police is committed to investigating such offences in order to help victims move their lives forward and bring offenders to justice.

"If you or someone you know has been raped or sexually assaulted we encourage you to report it to us so you can get the support you need."

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A grandad of 24 offered a '14-year-old boy' a trip to McDonald's in exchange for a seedy hotel stay.

Trevor Griffiths wanted to take a child for a McDonald's and to the cinema and planned on sexually abusing him in a hotel in Belfast.

The 61-year-old started speaking to 'Mark' on Chatiw in 2019 but didn't realise it was actually an undercover police officer.

In sickening messages Griffiths said he wanted to 'kiss and cuddle' the 'schoolboy' before performing sex acts on each other, which he described in graphic detail.

When officers went to his address they discovered his vile collection of child sex abuse images, which included an image of a 12-month-old baby being raped.

Martyn Walsh, prosecuting at Liverpool Crown Court, explained the messages took place between January 10 and January 17, 2019 on platform Chatiw.

Griffiths used the name Tom and began speaking to the undercover officer who "presented as a 14-year-old boy, Mark".

Mr Walsh said: "Mr Griffiths talked of him going to Belfast, taking Mark for a McDonalds, going to the movies and staying in a hotel together."

Griffiths detailed in the disgusting messages how he first wanted to shower with the boy before performing sex acts on each other.

The grandad then told the 'boy' to "tell his mum he was staying with friends".

On January 14 'Mark' asked Griffiths if he had booked flights which he confirmed he had.

Mr Walsh explained how Griffiths detailed that he wanted to "get in bed and have a cuddle".

On January 15, Griffiths said the boy "made him feel good inside and he feels happy and wants to know whether Mark loves him".

Two days later Mr Walsh explained the conversation about flights continued with Griffiths stating what flight his time is due to leave.

Mr Walsh said: "He asks Mark what he'll be wearing, Mark says he'll have his school uniform because he'll have nowhere to get changed."

The court heard on the same day Griffiths blocked the undercover police officer, after which a second officer created an account under the name 'Jess', pretending to be a 17-year-old girl.

Mr Walsh explained Griffiths gave the decoy profile his full name and mobile number.

On April 30, 2019, police attended his address and recovered three mobile phones on which they found a total of 63 indecent images of children including 47 images of child rape.

The court heard he had also failed to comply with notification requirements while he was on bail.

Griffiths has no previous convictions.

Carmel Wilde, defending, explained that Griffiths had pleaded guilty and had expressed "confusion" and "shame" for his behaviour.

Ms Wilde said: "Perhaps the biggest step in offences of this nature is that acceptance there is an attraction to children."

She explained Griffiths is keen to engage with the probation service adding it is "certainly a fall from grace for a 61-year-old man with no previous convictions".

The court heard his marriage had broken down following 25 years together.

Ms Wilde added that Griffiths was "confused about his sexuality" to which the judge commented "he's a little bit old for that" adding "he's got 24 grandchildren".

She added: "He is beginning that process of opening up to professionals. He wants to get his life back on track and receive help from people in that forum."

Ms Wilde added that it was a relatively short period of time during which the messages had been exchanged and explained that no meeting with a real child ever took place.

She said: "He finds himself very suicidal at the moment and suffering from depression."

Ms Wilde explained that there was a "realistic prospect of rehabilitation" and asked the judge to consider the current impact of the pandemic on prisoners.

Griffiths, of Ajax Avenue in Orford, Warrington, admitted attempting to engage in sexual activity with a boy between 13 and 15, failing to comply with notification requirements, possessing indecent images of children, possession of extreme pornography and three counts of making an indecent photograph of a child.

The judge, Recorder Ian Harris, said: "The facts of this case are just... They will appal right thinking members of society.

"The titles of some of those photographs, or descriptions I should say, are just horrific. We're talking babies and seven-year-old children."

The judge added that there were "numerous scraps of paper seized from your address" which has names of other website users including "shockeddad" and "pedomeetwithkids".

The judge said there were no previous convictions adding that some of the offences were aggravated as they were committed whilst on bail "despite attempts to make you comply by police".

Recorder Harries noted that in a pre sentence report Griffiths was described as "predatory" and a "immediate risk of harm to children".

Griffiths was jailed for 20 months and ordered to comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 15 years.

He must also sign the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

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He once tried to rape a boy and a girl A paedophile who once tried to rape a boy and girl was caught worming his way into a child's home. Jordan Duckworth was locked up for 30 months for two attempted rapes when he was aged just 17 in January 2011. He has been on the Sex Offenders Register and subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) ever since. The order prevented Duckworth from contacting any child under 16 without the written approval of social services. But the pervert kept flouting the ban and after being caught with a 13-year-old boy this year he tried to blame the child's mum. Liverpool Crown Court heard Duckworth, 27, of Needham Road, Kensington, first breached the order on February 4, 2017. Michael Stephenson, prosecuting, said: "His partner and her child had visited him and they had all three shared a double bed." Duckworth admitted the breach on February 6, 2017 when he was sentenced to eight weeks in jail, suspended for 12 months. However, just two days later he met with another woman and headed to her home, where her then nine-year-old son lived. Mr Stephenson said it was revealed Duckworth "dropped in" on the woman "most days" and he was jailed for 12 weeks for the breach. Social services attended the same woman's home in Wavertree on February 15 this year for a "risk assessment" and "welfare check". She was there with her now 13-year-old son, but so was Duckworth, who "lied initially about who he was". Police were informed and arrested Duckworth at his home, when he became "upset" and said: "I've breached my SOPO." He was so distressed officers had to abandon an interview, but he admitted the breach before magistrates on February 19. Desmond Lennon, defending, told the court it had been four years since his client's last breach. He said Duckworth accepted going to the woman's home "on a number of occasions, but on each occasion this youngster wasn't there". Mr Lennon said Duckworth didn't expect the boy to be there on February 15 and there was no suggestion the child was in fear or at risk of harm. The lawyer said: "He gave a false name, panicked and ran off, but he clearly wasn't going to go very far. "He was traced and detained by police. The first thing he said was 'I've breached the order and I'm going to go to prison." Mr Lennon said Duckworth accepted it was inevitable he would now be jailed, as his client cried on a video link from HMP Altcourse. He said: "The defendant is sorry and ashamed for what has happened - he hadn't given any real thought to the seriousness of the position he was putting himself in. "He now sadly recognises the seriousness of it having been in custody for the past four weeks. "He's found prison very, very difficult. It's been a completely overwhelming experience for him." Mr Lennon said Duckworth was "very distressed" and showed "troubling behaviour" when interviewed, when it dawned on him he would be jailed again. He said his client had been diagnosed with anxiety and depression, had struggled with self-harm and attempted suicide in 2011. Mr Lennon said Duckworth had also undergone the "trauma" of seeing his mum and grandad die in 2014 and in 2019, when working on a railway, he saw a colleague killed, which was "a dreadful experience for him". Duckworth sobbed as the judge, Recorder Ciaran Rankin, passed sentence. He told Duckworth: "You were in that house in the company of a young boy, a boy you had shown some interest in in the past. "You actually lied about your identity and attempted to flee the scene, no doubt because you knew just how much trouble you had placed yourself in." Recorder Rankin said Duckworth pleaded guilty at the first opportunity, but initially took "limited responsibility" for his behaviour. He said: "In fact you continue to blame and divert the blame onto the mother of the child, of this 13-year-old boy. "You said you were invited to that address and it was only when you got there you discovered the young boy was there, expecting him to be at school. "If that is correct Mr Duckworth, you should have immediately turned on your heels and left the address, putting some distance between yourself and the boy. You did not do that."

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A 38-year-old 'dangerous predator' from Bedford attempted to meet someone he believed was a 12-year-old girl for sex.

After striking up a conversation on an instant messaging app Andrew Jeffery sent sexually explicit messages and images to the 'girl' and tried to persuade her to come to his house in Chillingham Green, Bedford.

Investigators became increasingly concerned after Jeffrey described how he could get her "high" on drinks and drugs and, two days later, police executed a warrant at his home address in Bedford, Bedfordshire.

While there on January 30, 2019, they seized a number of electronic devices and arrested him.

Jeffrey pleaded guilty to three counts of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence and one count of attempting sexual communication with a child.

Following his guilty plea he was jailed for two and a half years.

Emma Shipton, investigation officer from Bedfordshire Police's Internet Child Abuse Investigation team, said: "Jeffrey is a dangerous predator and I'm pleased that he will now spend the next two-and-a-half years in prison.

"This case shows the importance of the work that our officers do in gathering vital evidence to arrest and charge these offenders in what can be a very difficult online space to enter.

"This time Jeffrey was speaking to our officers, but people who commit these types of offences online can often go on to abuse children in the offline world, which is why it is vital we investigate them thoroughly and put safeguarding measures in place."

She added: "It is important that we educate children on how they can protect themselves online. This includes not talking to anyone who they don't know in real life, not sharing any personal information, and keeping privacy settings as high as possible.

"We'd advise parents to have a conversation with their children about online safety, and make sure that they feel comfortable in speaking about anything they see online which makes them feel uncomfortable."

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A rapist who targeted a teenage girl from Derbyshire has been jailed for 14 years.

Derby Crown Court heard how Anthony Langham befriended the victim before grooming and sexually attacking her.

The 56-year-old kissed, sexually assaulted and then finally raped the terrified girl, who finally plucked up the courage to disclose what happened to her years later.

The girl, now in her 20s, had to give evidence in court as her made her re-live her ordeal by pleading not guilty.

In a victim impact statement, read to the court by prosecutor Robert Underwood, the woman said: "Every day I ask myself 'why me?' and 'will he do it again?'

"That is why I came forward so he will not be able to do to anyone what he did to me.

"It has affected every aspect of my life.

"I cannot get a job because I cannot trust men, I feel very angry at everything and everyone."

The trial heard how the grooming began in the Ilkeston area.

Langham, a father and grandfather of Pasture Road, Stapleford, Nottingham, got to know the girl, gaining her trust and then cruelly abusing it to sexually assault her.

Jailing him, Judge Jonathan Bennett said: "She was under the age of 16 when you carried this out and she had to come to court and give evidence which she found very traumatic.

"She started smoking and you saw that as a opportunity to supply her with cigarettes and groom her.

"During that time you made her life an absolutely misery, she had no-one to turn to and no-one to tell.

"That's because you said to her 'you can't tell anyone or we will both get into trouble'.

"It was only later in life that she built up the courage to tell anyone what took place."

Langham was found guilty of 10 offences by a jury.

They were rape, attempted rape, a number of counts of sexual assault and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Michael Stradling, mitigating, said his client has three grown-up children and eight grandchildren.

He said: "His ex-wife is in court and thinks enough of him to come and support him.

"The defendant has COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and has been on oxygen for the past two years and is also on anti-depressants having suffered from depression for a number of years.

"He has a supportive family and he would like there to be some light at the end of the tunnel for him when he is finally released from what will be a lengthy custodial sentence."

Langham will serve a minimum of two-thirds of his sentence behind bars before being eligible to apply for parole and released on licence.

He will be on the Sex Offender Register for life.

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A CONVICTED sex offender was jailed for breaching a court order imposed to protect women from his offending.

Peter Barney, of Verwood Road, Three Legged Cross, appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court on Wednesday, March 17 and was sentenced to 21 months in prison for breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The 59-year-old was previously sentenced in March 2013 to three years in prison for an offence of assault by penetration and was made the subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for an indefinite period.

The offence had been committed while he was carrying out work as a gardener and the order imposed by the court stated he could not be alone in the course of his employment with any female not related to him in any property or garden.

On Wednesday, March 11, last year a woman was alone at her Wimborne home when Barney knocked on the front door and asked if she wanted any gardening work done.

As they spoke in the porch and the front garden, initially the woman did not recognise him but she came to realise that she did know him and had been made aware previously of the order he was subject to.

She said during their interaction Barney made her feel very uncomfortable and made comments about her "beautiful eyes".

As the woman went to call her husband, Barney left her garden and she heard a vehicle drive away. She reported the matter to police and Barney was arrested the following day.

At court he admitted breaching the order, but denied making a comment about her eyes and claimed much of the interaction took place on the pavement outside her property rather than in her garden. After hearing evidence, a judge dismissed Barney's version of events.

At sentencing, Barney was also made subject to a new Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a restraining order was put in place to protect the victim. Both orders will run until further notice.

Investigator Bill Nixon, of Dorset Police's Management of Sexual Offenders and Violent Offenders (MOSOVO) team, said: "The court imposed the order when Barney was sentenced in 2013 to protect women from Barney's sexual offending.

"This breach showed a complete disregard for that order and I would like to thank the victim for reporting this to us and supporting us during the investigation, as well as giving evidence in court."

Detective Inspector Sarah Gillion, of MOSOVO, added: "Thanks to the victim's support, Barney is now facing the consequences of ignoring the court order, with a further prison sentence, and he will continue to be closely managed by the MOSOVO team on his release.

"Our team is committed to working with our partners to ensure offenders who pose a risk to women and other members of our communities abide by any restrictions that are in place. If they fail to do so, we will ensure appropriate action is taken."

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An Edinburgh pensioner who sexually abused a string of schoolgirls over a 15-year period has been jailed. Frank Boyd, 73, repeatedly molested the youngsters by touching their breasts and genitals when the girls visited his home in Edinburgh. Boyd also climbed into bed with the girls and rubbed his body against them after being left alone with them on occasions between 2004 and last year. The elderly predator even groped one girl while his wife slept in the next room and was eventually caught when a victim told a teacher what had been happening to her during the visits to his home. During the police investigation two more victims then came forward to reveal they had also been sexually assaulted by the OAP while in his home. Boyd - who served in the British Army for 25 years - pleaded guilty to six sexual offences against the three girls when he appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last month. He returned to the dock for sentencing on Friday where Sheriff Kenneth McGowan jailed Boyd for 27 months and placed on the sex offenders register for ten years. Prosecutor Aidan Higgins read a written narration to the court stating Boyd targeted the first victim in 2004 when she was just 11-years-old. The girls police statement described how Boyd sexually assaulted her on various occasions over a three-year period while his wife was either in the kitchen or having a nap. She said he would encourage her to lie on top of him and abused her by putting his hands under her clothing and touching her genitals. The girl added she didnt ever tell anyone about the attacks as she was stressed about upsetting anyone. The second victim also visited the perverts home and said the abuse began around 2008 when she was 11-years-old. She described to police one occasion when Boyd, of Broomhouse, Edinburgh, climbed into bed with her and she was forced to push him off her after he had touched her genitals. The girl also said Boyd had a fixation on my boobs as from 11 to 12 I began to develop and that he would regularly brush my boobs with his elbow in the passing. She added: I began asking people to chum me to the kitchen so I wouldn't have to be alone with him. I never told anyone about this at the time because of how well respected he was. He previously had a career in the army and he was a very social man. I was sure I wouldn't have been believed as it was my word against [his]. This behaviour went on for years. The third victim was just seven when Boyd began sexually abusing her in a campaign that lasted three years. The court heard Boyd routinely sought out opportunities to be alone with the youngster in his kitchen or his bedroom. The fiscal said Boyd would pull her towards him, place his hands over and under her clothing, and grope her private parts. The fiscal added: On some occasions the accused would get into bed with the complainer and rub his body against her back.

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A teacher has been banned from teaching indefinitely after sending sexual messages to a girl he thought to be 13 and possessing indecent images of children.

Daniel Butterfield, 36, of Portland Road, Kingston , sent sexually explicit messages on an online messenger app between June and August 2018.

What he didn't realise though was that he was really talking to a police officer.

Butterfield sent explicit images of himself, and requested indecent images in return. He also made arrangements to meet with the girl.

Butterfield was first charged last October 2019 at Kingston Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to 13 sexual offences. He was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for two years. He was also subjected to a 10 year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the Sex Offender Register.

The Teaching Regulations Agency met to discuss the crime and announced earlier this month (May 6) that it concluded Butterfield is banned from teaching indefinitely in schools, sixth form colleges, relevant youth accommodation and childrens home in England.

There will be no opportunity for a review of this decision.

Butterfield was employed as assistant head teacher at Tidemill Academy from September 1, 2013 until he resigned on July 28, 2019. Within his role Mr Butterfield also taught Year 6 classes English and Maths.

A spokesperson for REAch2, the parent organisation of Tidemill Academy, said: We can confirm that the individual in question last taught at Tidemill in July 2018. As the Metropolitan Police made clear, the offences did not involve any children from the academy.

"At REAch2 we take safeguarding extremely seriously in all of our academies, and we can confirm that all safeguarding processes were followed in full when this individual was appointed. The checks revealed no recorded history of any safeguarding concerns.

The panel was satisfied that the conduct of Butterfield fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession. They noted that while Butterfield showed remorse, the seriousness of the offence and the public interest overrides this consideration.

The decision maker, Alan Meyrick, on behalf of the Secretary of State said: The panel was not provided with sufficient information to determine whether or not the allegations took place outside the education setting, although it acknowledged that this was likely to be the case.

In any event, the panels view was that the findings of misconduct were of a serious nature, and the conduct displayed would be likely to have a negative impact on the individuals status as a teacher, potentially damaging the public perception.

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A man jailed for the sexual abuse of nine children has had his sentence extended on appeal.

Jonathan Richard Maertens, 35, of Freshwater, recorded himself abusing the girls, aged between four and 17.

Following an investigation, during which almost 2,500 pieces of footage and 12,000 indecent images detailing his direct offending were found on hard drives, he pleaded guilty to 34 separate indictments:

• 10 multiple incident counts of rape of a child under 13

• Three counts including two multiple incident counts of assault of a child under 13 by penetration

• Five counts of sexual assault of a child under 13

• Three counts including one multiple incident count of rape of a child

• Two multiple incident counts of assault by penetration of a child

• Three counts of sexual assault of a child

• Three counts of taking indecent photographs of a child

• One count of making indecent photographs of a child

• Three counts including two multiple incident counts of administering a substance with intent

• One count of possessing a paedophile manual

Maertens was subsequently jailed for life with a minimum of 16 years at Isle of Wight Crown Court on November 23, last year.

However, the court's decision was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) Scheme.

At a hearing today (Friday 19 March 2021), the court found Maertens' sentence was unduly lenient and extended the minimum term to be served to 25 years.

Following the hearing, Detective Sergeant Damon Kennard said: "We welcome the Court of Appeal decision today to extend the sentence of Jonathan Maertens.

"I hope this provides further justice to the girls and their families, who continue to receive support from services as they seek to move on with their lives.

"We take all reports of sexual assault extremely seriously and will do everything we can to bring those responsible to justice.

"It is vital for us that people have the confidence to report incidents to us.

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A sex offender has been jailed for having contact with children in breach of a banning order.

Craig Beddows, 55, befriended two mothers in breach of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order imposed by a court to protect children.

He should have told the women about his past but ignored the order and was in regular contact with four boys.

He did not commit any sexual offence against them and was never left alone with the youngsters but a judge at Exeter Crown Court said he was guilty of persistent and wilful breaches of his order. He would give the children presents and liked to be called 'Uncle Craig'.

Beddows, of Wolborough Street, admitted four breaches of the order and was jailed for 20 months.

The court was told he led a lonely existence having been shunned by his family due to his previous behaviour which started with a conviction for indecent assault against girls under 16 back in 2003.

The court was told the defendant befriended a woman and over a period of about a year came into contact with her children.

"There was nothing inappropriate in the way he behaved towards them but she wasn't aware he was subject to a SHPO," said prosecutor Mr Ian Graham.

Beddows also made friends with another mother. There was no suggestion he behaved inappropriately to her children but did not reveal the contact to his offender manager.

When the women were told about his past they felt 'betrayed' and upset, the court was told.

Mr Barry White, defending, said Beddows previous offending had been against girls and he did not pose a risk to boys.

Recorder Timothy Kenefick said: "You have a number of previous convictions for sexual offences involving children under 16 and breaching notification orders.

"The probation report says there is a clear pattern of befriending mothers with young children and having contact with these children knowing full well you're not permitted to do that."

He said he accepted that Beddow led a solitary life and endured a considerable amount of loneliness but it was not the first breach and there was no alternative to immediate prison.

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He previously filmed a toddler and said he wanted to have sex with him A paedophile used the popular children's video game Fortnite to try and groom boys. Adam Syers previously filmed a toddler and made vile sexual comments before posting the video on Facebook. The 23-year-old - who recorded the sick clip from the window of his home - walked free from court last September. But within hours of being spared jail he was back online, trying to snare children playing Fortnite and Roblox on Xbox. Using the username JuicyGamer, he let a 12-year-old boy spend 200 on his credit card and got the child to send him a photo of himself in shorts. He then targeted a seven-year-old boy, asking him whether he wanted to go on a date with him and be his boyfriend. Liverpool Crown Court heard Syers, aka Adam Shipley, was handed 10 weeks in jail, suspended for two years, on September 2. He admitted sending an indecent communication after filming a mum and little boy walking down the street outside his then address in Orford, Warrington last May and saying he wanted "sex" with the child. Magistrates gave Syers a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) - banning him from contacting boys online -and told him to comply with the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Register for the same period. Later that day the pervert began communicating with a 12-year-old boy via Xbox Live, before their chats progressed onto Instagram. The boy's mum noticed a credit card on her son's Xbox gaming account registered to AG Shipley and Tully Avenue - Syers' new address in Newton-le-Willows - over a month later. Louise McCloskey, prosecuting, said her son explained the card belonged to "Adam", whom he had become friends with online. The mum asked to chat to then 22-year-old Syers on the Xbox, who explained he let her son buy a game for 7.99. He had actually allowed 200 of purchases, but claimed he wasn't good with numbers, was autistic and considered her son to be a friend. The boy revealed Syers asked him not to tell his parents and to send a picture of himself wearing shorts, which he did. He said during chats Syers asked him to turn his camera on and sent messages saying he missed him and loved him. Texts downloaded from the Xbox showed Syers asked him to play Fortnite and Roblox and join Xbox party chats. Syers had also begun talking to a seven-year-old boy via Xbox Live and TikTok on September 6. That child's mum discovered a string of "inappropriate messages" between the two on October 5. Syers gave the little boy his mobile number and asked "can I meet you?" before asking him to call and sending the message: "I love you." The boy said they played Fortnite together and when he told the man he was seven, he asked if he wanted to go to his house to play football or Fortnite, and to change his Xbox name because he would get in trouble if anyone found out. Ms McCloskey said: "The man also asked whether he wanted to go on a date with him and be his boyfriend. He had also commented that he was fit." The mum investigated Syers' account and found a picture of a man in his 20s and noted his TikTok was "full of videos of young boys, none more than 10-years-old". Syers had also failed to provide police with his personal details within the necessary period. Officers were informed he was adding girls under 16 to his Instagram account and visited his home on September 15. They found he had been accessing Pornhub, Grindr, Chaturbate, Snapchat and Instagram on his phone. On Instagram he sent messages to a third unidentified boy - thought to be under 11 - who Syers denied knowing. Screenshots revealed he had a photo of the boy, asked his age, whether his mum was there, said he loved him, told him "this is our secret", and had live chats with him. When arrested and interviewed, Syers answered "no comment" to questions about the first two boys, but claimed he thought the third was an adult. He admitted three counts of breaching his SHPO, failing to comply with notification requirements and breaching his suspended sentence. A report said he hadn't attended any rehabilitation appointments since November, showed "no insight", denied a sexual attraction to children and there were "significant risk concerns". Syers has a conviction for sexual assault on a child and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity from November 2012. He received a warning for this offence, when he was aged just 14. Natalia Cornwall, defending, said Syers only had "himself to blame" for not taking the chance given to him last year. She said he now accepted he had a "problem" and "a sexual interest in children". Ms Cornwall said Syers was immature and diagnosed with ADHD, autism, learning and speech difficulties, and struggled to put on weight because of stomach ulcers. She said: "He himself has had a difficult upbringing. He was taken into care from a relatively young age, he himself has suffered abuse whilst in foster care and he also had to deal with the death of his mother. "He now has no contact at all with any of his family members and is effectively isolated within the community." Judge Rachel Smith accepted Syers was himself a "vulnerable individual" and there was "some prospect of rehabilitation". However, she said: "Only immediate custody will follow for the range of offences that you have committed in this case." The judge said it was a "persistent breach risking serious harm" and jailed him for two years and eight months. She made a new seven-year SHPO, told him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely, and ordered the destruction of his iPhone and Xbox.

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Following an investigation by West Mercia Police, a man has been sentenced to 12 years in jail for historic charges of child sexual offences, that took place in Worcester.

Simon Clancy, aged 44 previously of Teme Road, Worcester was sentenced at Worcester Crown Court on Thursday 11 March. He was found guilty of nine sexual offences during a two week trial that finished on Thursday 10 December 2020, he was found guilty by jury of:

Seven counts indecent assault on a boy under the age of 14-years-old.

Two counts gross indecency with a boy under the age of 14-years-old.

The offences on three boys all occurred in 1992. Clancy was originally interviewed in April 2019.

He has also been registered as a sex offender.

 Following the sentence Detective Constable Nerys Stevens said: "I am pleased that the sentence reflects the severity of these crimes and hope this helps provide some closure to the victims of these horrific crimes."

"The victims have all been extremely brave throughout the process in providing evidence during interviews and in court proceedings. Hopefully, this serves as a reminder and deterrent to offenders that we are absolutely committed to bringing those responsible of crimes to justice, even when it is some 10+ years later, like in this instance."

Description

A depraved Iraq War veteran who trawled the internet for child sex abuse images involving girls as young as one has been jailed by a sheriff who branded the material appalling and extreme. Thomas Brankin whose lucrative post-military career as a private bodyguard in war-torn countries lies in tatters today has also been placed on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years. The Inverclyde dad-of-two was noted in a pre-sentencing background report as having limited recognition of the victims of the sickening sexual abuse he downloaded over a seven-year period. Brankin, 44, used depraved terms in internet searches as he deliberately sought sexual abuse photos and videos of underage girls being molested and raped, a jury trial had heard last month. The material was found stored on a laptop computer that he hid under his bed in his locked room at the upmarket villa home he shared with his unwitting sister and adult niece in Wemyss Bay. Brankin claimed during his trial that others including close relatives whom he named used his room when he was away and could easily have accessed the disgusting material because the laptop was not password protected. The jury found him guilty by majority verdict of both taking, or permitting to be taken, and possession of indecent images or pseudo images of children between March 16 in 2011 and February 11 in 2018. Advocate Mr MacLeod said there was scope not to jail Brankin, a former RAF infantryman and veteran of the second Iraq War, adding: I would urge the court to deal with him as leniently as possible given the circumstances. Sheriff Joseph Hughes noted the deliberate internet searches that had been made to locate indecent images. The sheriff told Brankin: Ive reflected very carefully on the criminal justice social work report. The report says you are unable to recognise the seriousness of the offences Only a custodial sentence is proportionate for the seriousness of the offences. Sheriff Hughes imposed a 16-month prison sentence.

Description

A man who sexually assaulted two teenage girls and then filmed himself putting his hands around a third girl's throat without her knowledge has been jailed.

Oliver King, prosecuting, told Chester Crown Court, Adam Connolly, 30, of Frederick Street, Widnes, groped the first victim below her top, whilst she slept. However she jumped up and when she asked what he was doing Connolly replied he thought she liked it.

The following year, Connolly covered the face of a second girl and ran his hand over her. Connolly asked if she wanted a cuddle and she said no.

When arrested, he denied assaulting them and claimed his first victim was unreliable and that he inadvertently touched the second girls shoulder.

His phone revealed he had been looking at pictures of his second victim on the day of the assault - but he had also saved pictures of his first victim.

Magistrates' court documents said the offences happened in Runcorn.

The court heard Connolly was also in possession of indecent video of a third girl.

Mr King said the footage showed him placing his hands around her neck and appearing to strangle her

Connolly had two previous convictions for mainly carrying weapons.

In a victim impact statement read out to the court, his first victim said the effects of the assault included loss of sleep and appetite, and diminished relationships.

His second victim said she began to push myself away from people after the assault and had stopped going out as much as she used to.

Her life had changed forever, she said, adding she feels disgusted and angry over what happened.

A statement from his third victim was not provided.

Connollys two younger victims both underwent cross-examination as the cases approached trial before he pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault and to a third count of making a Category A indecent video of a child.

Jo Maxwell, appearing for the defence, cited Connollys guilty pleas and the principle of totality in mitigation.

She added Connolly had backtracked on his attempts to minimise his offending and perhaps now realises how stupid it sounded when he tried to inform the author of the pre-sentence report that any contact was innocent and accidental.

Miss Maxwell said there was no objection to the terms of the indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order proposed and granted by the court.

Judge Patrick Thompson, presiding in Chester on Friday, made restraining orders in respect of the two younger victims and placed Connolly on the sex offenders register for life.

He imposed consecutive sentences on each offence to reflect separate incidents and the time elapsed between them, with 18 months for each sexual assault and five years for the indecent video, totalling eight years.

Sending the defendant down, Judge Thompson said: It seems to me, having read everything I have about you and the circumstances of these offences, and having seen the victims in counts one and two cross-examined, that you have an unhealthy sexual interest in children and I notice in the pre-sentence report you are assessed as a danger to children under the age of 18.

A victim surcharge was also ordered.

None of the victims can be named for legal reasons.

Cheshire police were unable to provide a mugshot of Connolly in time for publication, five days after the hearing.