Latest Offenders

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Former Bristol City goalkeeper Alhaji Sesay has been jailed after being convicted of rape.

Sesay was a very talented footballer who had achieved his dream to make it as a professional, Bristol Crown Court heard.

But a jury heard how he subjected a woman to a serious sexual assault in the female toilet of a nightclub in Bristol.

And, after being arrested and released under police investigation, he targeted a second woman in the female toilet of a nightclub in London.

The 22-year-old, of Barnfield Gardens in London, denied wrongdoing.

But after a three-week trial at Bristol Crown Court a jury convicted him of attempted rape of the woman in Bristol, and the attempted rape and rape of the woman in London.

Judge Michael Cullum jailed him for ten years.

He told Sesay: "In some ways you are a brazen sexual predator.

"To that extent you are dangerous.

"There's a risk, if you are released today, of you acting in a similar way.

"But you are not going to be released today.

"You are not going to be released for many years."

The judge ordered Sesay to notify his whereabouts to police for life.

He was barred from working with children and vulnerable adults.

James Tucker, prosecuting, said Sesay groped a woman's private parts in the female toilets of a Bristol nightclub in 2019.

Having been arrested, interviewed and released, he went on to attempt to rape, and orally rape, a woman in a London nightclub last year.

The first complainant said it felt like she left her own body when Sesay abused her, and she had suffered significant trauma as a result.

In an impact statement she said: "I am left in a constant state of hyper-vigilance.

"I see the worst of people when I used to see the best."

The second complainant stated she suffered an anxiety disorder before Sesay abused her which was made worse by his abuse of her.

She stated: " I look at men differently now.

"I wonder if they are dodgy and what they are capable of?

"Anything can happen, anywhere."

Sophie Shotton, defending, said: "This is a young man whose career is now in tatters.

"Football has been all he's known from a very young age.

"It was the only career choice because of his limited education.

"He came to the UK with the intention of furthering his education and furthering his career in football and the intention of making his mother proud and supporting her financially."

DC Toby Hayes of Bristol CID, said: "Alhaji Sesay is a predatory sexual offender who would brazenly target women at random at nightclubs.

"CCTV footage gathered during the police investigations showed him going into female toilets, where he carried out his attacks.

"The victims have all been through a harrowing experience. I want to pay tribute to their incredible bravery and courage for reporting the offences committed against them, for giving crucial evidence in court and for supporting our investigation, which has resulted in this dangerous sexual offender being brought to justice.

"I would also like to thank the many members of the public who assisted with our enquiries and helped to ensure justice was served.

"Due to the nature of Sesay's offending, it's possible there are other victims out there who haven't yet reported incidents to us.

"I would encourage them to place their faith and confidence in the police and come forward. You will be listened to, believed and respected. If you don't want to speak to the police, please speak to someone."

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A Derby man who has been found guilty of raping a young woman while taking her home from a party has been jailed.

Sudesh Kumar, of Carsington Crescent, Allestree, had been accused of raping the victim in his car after leaving a party at the pub where he worked as a manager in August 2018.

During the trial, Derby Crown Court heard the victim woke up the next morning and "felt something was wrong", before telling her mother who called the police.

The 41-year-old was charged after forensic experts found traces of his semen on the complainant's tampon.

Kumar, who was known to many as Bobby, denied any wrongdoing, but was found guilty of rape by a jury at Derby Crown Court on Tuesday, March 16.

Over the course of the trial, the court heard how the woman, who is in her 20s, had spent the afternoon and evening drinking at the Pear Tree Inn, in Derby, where Kumar worked as a pub manager on August 3, 2018.

Following this, the woman, Kumar and other people went to a house party in Sunny Hill in the early hours of next morning.

Opening the trial last week, Jonathon Dee, prosecuting, told the hearing the Crown's case is that Kumar raped the drunk young woman as he gave her a lift home from the party in Sunny Hill.

He said the prosecution say he took advantage of the complainant's state to carry out the sex attack wich she cannot remember owing to how much alcohol she had drunk.

During the trial, the jury heard testimony from one witness who saw Sudesh offer to take the woman home and the last time she had seen the victim was when she left in his car.

The trial heard the victim said the last thing she remembered was playing with the dogs belonging to the host of the party, before waking up in her home the next morning.

She sensed something was wrong and told her mother, who rang the police. When Kumar was linked to semen found on the woman's tampon, he was spoken to by police.

Mr Dee, prosecuting, said: "He was interviewed about the matter three months later and gave a prepared statement. Basically it said 'I took her home, I did not rape her, I did not do anything to her'."

He said Kumar claimed he had touched himself sexually while at the party in Sunny Hill and one explanation may be his semen transferred from hand-to-hand.

Kumar's denial meant the victim was forced to take to the stand to give evidence before the jury.

When being cross-examined by Kumar's defence barrister Alisdair Smith, the victim said Kumar had a history groping her.

Mr Smith said to her: "You said in your police interview Bobby must have had something to do with it.

"You said he was 'a bit touchy-feely' and touched your bottom sometimes in the pub. I am going to suggest to you that is not something he did."

She replied: "He did."

However, the jury spent eight hours and 59 minutes deliberating before returning a majority verdict he was guilty.

He was sentenced by Recorder Adrian Reynolds to eight years imprisonment and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely, immediately after the verdict was announced.

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Richard Crook who volunteered as a Scout leader started a sexual relationship with a teenage girl from Southampton, a court heard.

Postman abused boy in Royal Mail van - and even befriended victim's father

The 41-year-old formerly of Vine Road claimed they had even planned the pregnancy.

Prosecution barrister, Gary Rutter said that Crook knew his victim was 14-years-old and would have seen her wearing her school uniform.

He added: The defendant would take her to hotels for the purpose of sex.

CCTV was even recovered showing him and his victim at Sutton Scotney services on the A34, according to Mr Rutter.

Crook, who installs CCTV security systems for a living was eventually arrested after raising suspicions.

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However, he was released on bail and the sexual relationship resumed.

He was arrested again after the girl told a teacher she was five weeks pregnant.

Appearing before Southampton Crown Court, he was charged with four counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child.

He pleaded guilty to the offences which took place between July and December last year.

Mitigating, Richard Tutt said: Mr Crook has asked me on his behalf to apologise to both the victim and to her family.

Mr Tutt told how his clients marriage had been deteriorating and that he had been drinking heavily.

Judge Christopher Parker QC said there had been an element of grooming.

Former Bank of England employee took out 300 to pay for sex with '11-year-old girl'

'I was terrified he was going to kill me': Paedophile raped girl in ca r

And the judge heard how a report - which he agreed with - had concluded that Crook represents a continued danger to young girls from the age of 13 and up.

However, Judge Parker said that Crook had not used his position as a Scout leader to abuse or take advantage of the girl.

He was jailed for 14-years and will be released on licence.

He will have to register as a sex offender for life.

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Michael Wort aged 69, of no fixed abode, committed the offences against the three children between 1971 and 2019.

All of these took place at addresses in the New Forest.

At Southampton Crown Court yesterday, he was sentenced to five years behind bars afte a jury found him guilty of one count of sexual assault of a girl under 13 (by touching), and two counts of indecent assault of a girl under 16.

He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and given an indefinite Restraining Order against contacting his victims.

The court heard that the offences took place over a 48-year period aganist three seperate children. One took place against a child in 1971, three offences that took place against another child between 1985 and 1986 and two offences that took place against a further child between 2018 and 2019. All of these took place at addresses in the New Forest.

Detective Sergeant Oliver Battersby said: "We would like to commend the women who have shown incredible bravery and courage in coming forward.

"These are extremely difficult times for these women and it would not have been easy, both emotionally and physically, to have to re-live their ordeals from when they were younger.

"We know how hard it is to come forward and report these offences, whether they have taken place recently or in the past.

"We are committed to getting justice for victims and have specially trained officers to support them through the process.

"We would encourage anyone who has been a victim of child sexual abuse to contact police on 101 where you can speak with our specialist detectives in confidence."

Two of the victims also came forward to say: "We would like to thank all the officers involved in the case and Hampshire Constabulary's witness care team, for all their support through this most difficult time. They made the whole experience of coming forward so comforting, and while it was hard, we now have closure. We would recommend anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse to come forward."

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A Devon paedophile who twice groped a teenage girl in her own Co Armagh home was handed a 12 month sentence on Friday.

In addition to the sentence with half to be spent in jail and half on licence, 34-year-old William Pope was also ordered to sign the police sex offenders register for ten years and banned from working with children.

Pope, from Stonelands Park, Dawlish in Devon, had entered guilty pleas to two counts of sexual assault on a date unknown between December 5, 2018 and May 1, 2021 by touching his young victim sexually.

Prosecuting counsel Nicola Auret told Craigavon Crown Court how the offences came to light in December 2021 when the teenager disclosed to a counsellor that Pope had twice abused her.

That disclosure lead to a police investigation with the victim describing to detectives how she had been 14 when Pope was at her home and when he “pulled her in for a cuddle,” he stuck his hand up her top, felt her breasts, moved over her stomach and then put his hand in her pants.

Pope asked her “do you like it when I touch you there,” said Ms Auret but the victim “kept telling him that she needed the toilet, he got frustrated and told her to leave.”

Turning to events in April 2021, the barrister said there was a party in the teenager’s house and she had been drinking alcohol when Pope “carried her up to bed,” seizing the opportunity to grope her breasts again.

Arrested and questioned by police, Pope denied doing anything wrong, a stance he maintained until 12 days before his trial was due to start.

Ms Auret submitted there were multiple aggravating features to the offending including the fact the girl was twice abused in her own home where “she should have felt safe.”

Defence counsel Joel Lindsay said while he accepted the aggravating features, he submitted there were also mitigating factors including Pope’s clear record, guilty plea and genuine remorse, “recognising the pain that he has caused this young lady.”

He also conceded that although the custody threshold had been crossed, there was also a possibility that Pope could be put on an intensive probation programme designed to address the underlying causes of his offending.

“Society I know could yell an objection to that and say that’s outrageous, that probation programme is not an easy option,” argued Mr Lindsay.

Judge Patrick Lynch KC said he accepted that Pope’s guilty plea had spared his victim the ordeal of testifying in a public arena and also that Pope had not offended before or since but that given the offences, “a custodial sentence is appropriate.”

In addition to the 12 month sentence, the judge also imposed a five year Sexual Offences Prevention Order which bars the pervert from contacting his victim, prohibits him from loving anywhere without permission and compels him to make verifiable disclosure of his convictions to any new partner.

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A "dangerous sexual predator" has been jailed after undercover police officers lured him into thinking he was meeting a teenage girl for sex at Guildford Cathedral.

Mark Crampton, 57, of Richmond-upon-Thames, has been sentenced to 44 months in prison after pleading guilty to arranging to meet who he thought was a child for sex.

He had pleaded guilty to arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence; attempting to meet a girl under 16 years of age following grooming; and two counts of an adult attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child at an earlier hearing.

Crampton was arrested after communicating with two undercover police officers from the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit between April 18 and May 21, 2020.

On April 18, Crampton sent a private message to one of the officers, who he believed was a 13-year-old girl. Communication continued, with him sending sexually explicit messages using Kik Messenger.

This led to his arrest on May 21 in the grounds of Guildford Cathedral, where he had travelled with the intention of carrying out sexual acts with who he thought was the child.

It later transpired that Crampton had travelled to Guildford Cathedral the previous day to establish where he could engage in the sexual activity, Surrey Police said.

Crampton was subsequently arrested by two officers from Surrey Police on suspicion of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.

During the sentencing hearing at Guildford Crown Court on Friday, March 5, Crampton was additionally handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Detective Constable Steve Branch, who investigated the incident, said: "The sentence and the indefinite SHPO given to Crampton reflect the serious nature of his offending and have meant that a dangerous sexual predator will now be behind bars and will not be able to pose a threat to vulnerable teenagers.

"Crampton communicated with who he thought was a teenage girl for several weeks and these messages were extremely sexual in nature, culminating in him arranging to meet her for sex.

"This case demonstrates our commitment to targeting sex offenders within our communities and ensuring they are held to account for their reprehensible behaviour."

Detective Inspector Lisa Heaton, from the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit, said: "The arrest of Crampton was part of a proactive, intelligence-led investigation relating to child sexual offences. It forms part of our continued priority to protect children from sexual exploitation and from those who would see do them harm.

"If anyone has been the victim of child sexual abuse, I would encourage them to report it to their local police force via 101. We will always follow up allegations and law enforcement work together to bring to justice individuals who use the internet to facilitate the abuse of children.

"Victims can talk in confidence to experienced investigators and we will also help them get access to a range of support services."

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A paedophile who molested a little girl was extradited from New Zealand to face justice but refused to say a single word.

Cecil John Thorn, 48, has exercised a "vigil of silence" ever since he stepped off a plane in February last year.

That included not saying anything in his defence at a trial when the brave victim described how he repeatedly abused her.

Thorn, from Wirral, was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault and three counts of causing or inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity at a trial last month.

Liverpool Crown Court today heard this is the second time he has been convicted of molesting a child, after previously being jailed for eight years in 2013 for similar offences, also in Wirral.

But after serving just three years in prison for those crimes - and when police were already aware of his second victim's allegations - he was deported back to his native New Zealand, under an early release scheme.

That meant the authorities then had to go through a long extradition process to drag him back to the UK and lock him up all over again.

Thorn, who has been held in custody since his extradition on February 24, 2020, appeared in court via video link from prison.

The clerk asked him to identify himself and Judge Brian Cummings, QC, said: "He doesn't respond, he never has during these proceedings."

Thorn, with a bald head, long black beard and wearing a face mask, then sat in silence, with his eyes closed.

Judge Cummings gave him the opportunity to address the court on any of the matters being discussed or to offer any mitigation on his behalf, but Thorn, who didn't have legal representation, refused to speak.

The court heard he had even refused to talk with the Probation Service for the purpose of a pre-sentence report.

Judge Cummings told Thorn: "You have maintained what has been termed a vigil of silence."

He said at a previous hearing, a determination was made that Thorn's silence "was not the result of any medical or mental health incapacity, but rather was voluntary".

The judge said this was confirmed when shortly before the trial last month, Thorn spoke to staff in the cells to ask whether the trial was going ahead.

Charlotte Kenny, prosecuting, said Thorn was jailed for eight years in July 2013 after he admitted four sexual assaults against a teenage girl.

The predator had confessed in full, after that vulnerable child's parents discovered that she had been abused by him.

He was deported back to his New Zealand and set free in Wellington in December 2016.

However, his second victim had already come forward to the police in February 2016, around 10 months beforehand.

She told a teacher at school and her mum that she was sexually abused by Thorn, leading to officers being informed.

The second girl revealed Thorn performed a sex act on her and made her perform a sex act on him on multiple occasions.

Police went to speak to Thorn in jail about those allegations, but he made no reply and later that year was flown to the South Pacific.

When arrested by officers in New Zealand in February 2020 and interviewed, Thorn, formerly of Wirral but now of Favona Road, Auckland, again remained silent.

However, Judge Cummings said his "parting words" to a detective "were to the effect that you were now embarking on a vigil of silence".

The second girl today said Thorn's abuse had a "devastating effect" on her and it was difficult to put this into words.

Ms Kenny said in a victim statement the child outlined how she lost her self-confidence, had "self-worth issues" and "started to hate her own body".

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Woman kidnapped on Liverpool city centre street by sex attackerliverpoolecho

The girl self-harmed, couldn't stop thinking about her ordeal and found it very difficult having to relive it when she gave evidence during the trial.

Ms Kenny said the girl felt "incredibly embarrassed" about what happened to her, even though it wasn't her fault, adding: "It made her feel worthless."

The prosecutor said: "She couldn't understand why it was that it was done to her."

The girl's mum, who was present in court with her daughter today, also made a statement, in which she said her child had become "withdrawn".

Ms Kenny said she described her daughter trying to take an overdose and how concerned she was about leaving the girl on her own as a result.

The prosecutor said the trial was a constant worry for the family, but now the mum "expresses the hope that they can move on".

Judge Cummings said: "As do I."

The judge said Thorn could have disclosed his abuse of the second girl when in prison for the abuse of the first girl.

He told him any "additional strain" that may have resulted from what happened since was "entirely of your own making".

Judge Cummings said: "You have blighted the lives of two young girls. The consequences for you must inevitably be severe."

The judge said he was an "offender of particular concern" and jailed him for 10 years, with an extended one year on licence.

This means Thorn will spend at least five years in prison, before he can apply for parole.

Judge Cummings said: "You will serve somewhere between five and 10 years actually in prison."

Thorn showed no emotion and did not speak or move on the video link.

He must sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

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A paedophile raped a young boy and offered him 'rewards' like ice cream or 50p to stay silent about the horrifying abuse.

Paul Mannion, 63, of Warrington was sent down for eight years yesterday at Liverpool Crown Court for the campaign of vile abuse, which took place in Widnes in the 1970s.

Mannion had pleaded guilty to eight counts including sexual assault, inciting a child under 13, and one of rape.

The pleas were entered on February 12 when his victim was imminently due to give evidence under cross-examination for the scheduled trial, which was then abandoned.

His victim described certain types of abuse happening regularly and on at least 10 occasions each - all while he was well under the age of 10.

Nicholas Williams, prosecuting, recounted harrowing details of how the teenage Mannion preyed on his young victim over several years, warning him not to tell anyone what was happening because they wouldnt believe him and they would go mad.

He also offered rewards such as 50p or ice cream to seal the boys silence.

Mannion, who abused the child while he himself was a teenager and while he was both under and over the age of 18, instigated the abuse by asking the infant if he wanted to play tiddies.

His victim kept quiet about his ordeal for decades and buried his trauma in drink until he spoke out to police two years ago.

A victim personal statement said he had been afraid as a boy that his friends would laugh at him or avoid him if he divulged being abused.

He said Mannion had "robbed my childhood" and had a "grimy smell as though he hadn't showered" that "will never go away" from his memory.

Describing the trauma, Mr Williams said: He felt like he was a fraud, his life was a big lie - he had his secret.

It made him feel like he wasnt a man - I know I was a child but its been with me since.

He had nightmares.

He couldnt get the smell of the defendant out of his head.

The court heard Mannion was imprisoned in the late 1980s for raping a separate young child, having pleaded guilty.

Jo Maxwell, appearing for the defence, said Mannions guilty pleas meant his victim and other witnesses were spared the ordeal of giving evidence, and she cited the Manning principle of reducing sentences to account for the harsher incarceration conditions during the pandemic.

She added he was in ill health having suffered heart failure, type-2 diabetes, as well as spells of suicidal ideation, and had not committed any offences since the period of abuse decades ago.

Miss Maxwell expressed no objections to the terms of the proposed - and subsequently approved - Sexual Harm Prevention Order on Mannion, which was made to last for life.

She said Mannion had a difficult upbringing and had been "emotionally unstable".

Judge Stuart Driver, QC, presiding, sentenced Mannion to eight years in prison and placed him on the sex offenders register for life.

He said the victim was particularly vulnerable because of his extreme youth.

Sending Mannion down, Judge Driver said: One aggravating feature is the severe ongoing, indeed lifelong impact that your offending had upon your victim.

But that count (of rape) is not an isolated offence, it was the culmination of years of abuse.

The judge also ordered a victim surcharge.

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A danger to women dragged his victim from a city centre street and towards a secluded alley so he could sexually assault her.

Dhanji Punja claimed he only wanted to kiss his victim, but a judge didn't believe him and ruled he had intended to sexually assault her.

The 42-year-old preyed on the lone woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, as she walked on Lord Street on July 12 last year.

He grabbed her and forced her across towards Dorans Lane, calling her a "f****** b****", and only letting go when faced with three security guards.

Liverpool Crown Court heard he has previously sexually assaulted a woman on a train and lay on a shop floor to look up a woman's skirt.

The judge, Recorder Tom Gilbart, said: "She was out in Liverpool city centre and was with several others in a bar drinking.

"She left to make her way home. As she made her way alone through the city centre she was looking at her mobile phone.

"You appeared and took hold of her with both of your hands. You moved the victim against her will across the street.

"You moved in the direction of a smaller darker street of passageway which was away from the main thoroughfare.

"As you did so you called the victim b**** or a f****** b****.

"Your intention was to commit a sexual assault on her once you had her in a more secluded place."

Recorder Gilbart added: "In her statement she described trying to fight to get away but being unable to do so.

"She was shocked and frightened and feared for her safety."

Fortunately three security guards nearby saw what was happening and intervened - at which point Punja let go of his victim, and when police arrived he was arrested.

Recorder Gilbart said: "Police officers who arrived at the scene described her as looking very distressed and shocked. It's no wonder."

Gerald Baxter, prosecuting, detailed how In a victim personal statement the woman said she was now too frightened to go out on her own.

Mr Baxter said: "She can't go into Liverpool on her own because she thinks about 'walking down Lord Street and past the alley where the man tried to pull me towards'."

The woman said she "couldn't imagine seeing that street again", adding "I just couldn't go to Liverpool city centre".

The court heard the woman has been unable to sleep and "lies awake thinking about what happened."

Mr Baxter said she is "unable to be independent and go to the shops on her own".

Punja, of Stanley Street, Liverpool city centre, has four previous convictions for four offences.

Recorder Gilbart, outlining the offences, said: "In 2005 you were convicted of outraging public decency when you lay on the floor of a shop in an effort to look up a woman's skirt."

"In 2012 you were convicted of sexually touching a woman whilst she was travelling on a train. As a result of that conviction you were made the subject of notification requirements. You breached these requirements and were cautioned for that."

Stuart Nolan, defending, asked the judge to consider the amount of partial credit that should be awarded for Punja's guilty pleas.

Mr Nolan added: "Without alcohol misuse he appears not to be of significant risk."

Recorder Gilbart noted that following his previous conviction for sexual assault Punja said he would "reduce his use of alcohol and address it" but he has gone on to commit another sexual offence eight years later.

Mr Nolan said: "It is also important to state at this point the previous conviction is some distance away - there have been elements of control over alcohol misuse."

He asked the judge to consider the time Punja has served in custody during the pandemic and that he "indicates his remorse".

Pujna admitted kidnap and kidnap with intent to commit a sexual offence.

Recorder Gilbart, sentencing, said: "This was a frightening and quite an outrageous attack on a woman on a street.

"You felt entitled to use force to kidnap her and you did so with the intention of committing a sexual offence. Your act was only foiled because of others."

The judge added: "This was a predatory act by you, seizing an opportunity to try and take advantage of this victim.

"The victim was more vulnerable than she might have been because she was a lone woman at night who had drunk alcohol. This was a disgraceful offence."

Referring to the victim's personal statement Recorder Gilbart said: "She can't face walking past the place where you did this.

"She struggles to sleep and spends time at her mother's house because she feels unsafe in her own home.

"She feels she has lost the feeling of being an independent adult and she suffered from anxiety."

The judge explained there was an issue with Nolan's basis of plea, forcing the victim to relive the events in a Newton hearing - a form of mini trial based on the facts of a case which is also referred to as a 'trial of issue'.

Recorder Gilbart said: "The crown's case was you kidnapped the victim with the intent of raping her, your case was you kidnapped her with the intention of kissing her."

The judge said: "The victim was upset in parts of evidence and couldn't bring herself to watch CCTV footage of the incident."

Following the hearing the judge accepted neither the prosecution case nor Punja's but said there was an intent to commit a sexual offence.

The judge noted that the case is "mitigated by the fact you suffer from an identified mental disorder of alcohol misuse" and "to a small extent by your expressions of regret to the author of the psychiatric report".

Judge Gilbart said Punja was a "dangerous" offender and jailed him for five years, with an extended two years on licence.

This type of sentence means he will spend at least two thirds of the custodial term behind bars.

Punja will then only be released before the end of his five-year sentence if a parole board considers he is no longer a risk.

He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

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A disgraced former Royal Navy commander, who was once honoured by the Queen, has avoided jail after being caught on camera by paedophile hunters posing as a 14-year-old boy.

Lieutenant Commander Graham Trewhella, from Gosport in Hampshire, blamed 'loneliness' after being arrested for using dating app Grindr to meet someone he thought was a teenage boy, a court heard.

But when he arrived to meet 'George', the 62-year-old was instead greeted by a man from vigilante paedophile hunting group Trap, an online organisation with more than 241,000 likes on Facebook.

Hampshire Police were called by the group and later found more than 1,000 indecent images of children on his computer.

Trewhella was arrested by officers on October 28, 2017, before retiring from his position in the Navy.

Portsmouth Crown Court heard that the father of three, who used his own photos for his Grindr profile, spent two days messaging someone he believed to be a 14-year-old boy called 'George'.

Following his arrest, police found nearly 1,100 indecent images of children on his Dell computer - including 329 of the most severe category - with analysis suggesting searches for the images dated back to 2015.

Trewhella pleaded guilty to charges of attempting to arrange or facilitate a child sex offence, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, and three charges of making indecent images.

Prosecutor Nicholas Hall told the court the disgraced naval officer at one point said he wanted 'maybe (sex) later'.

Mr Hall said: 'The person posing as George made it plain that he was only 14 and asked whether the defendant would be happy with that and he said that he was.

'This went on for certainly two days.'

In a video uploaded to Trap's social media pages, a shocked Trewhella stands in a hat and grey Rab coat, and is challenged by a man who tells him: 'You've thrown your life away'.

Struggling for words, Trewhalla replies: 'I don't do anything outside' and 'I wasn't going to do anything'.

When he later spoke to probation, Trewhella admitted his actions were 'absolutely wrong' and 'unbelievably irresponsible'.

'When I look at what I've done now it horrifies me - I'm incredibly remorseful.'

Trewhella had been named on the New Year's honours list in 2009 for services to the Royal Navy.

In mitigation, Phillip Allman told the hearing that Trewhella's three children had remained supportive of their father.

He added that his actions came as 'a result of loneliness' after splitting with his wife 15 years ago, saying: 'This is the most remarkable stain on his character.

'It's something he will ultimately have to live with for the rest of his life,' Mr Allman said.

Sentencing, Recorder Simon Levene handed him a 17 month jail sentence suspended for two years, commenting that putting him behind bars would do 'nothing towards he rehabilitation'.

Mr Levene said: 'You are deeply ashamed and very, very embarrassed - not just at being caught but at what you realise you've been up to over the last few years.

'I accept that this is a case where I can suspend the sentence because I think that you fall into that category of offender who can be helped.'

He added that in jailing him there was a risk that sex criminals in prison could make him an even worse offender.

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A lot of SICK city pervert who had vile sexual images of children as young as two being raped is now behind bars after costing taxpayers 'thousands'.

Depraved Joshua Bone of Worcester dragged his heels, admitting downloading the 'ghastly' images from the 'dark web' before attempting to deny responsibility, even instructing 'experts' in a cynical attempt to escape justice.

As a result, it has taken four years from the date of his offences to his final admissions and sentence at Worcester Crown Court yesterday, prevarication which has cost the taxpayer 'thousands' and at a time when the public purse is already under huge strain during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Judge Nicolas Cartwright, who jailed him for 50 weeks, said Bone's actions in the 'protracted history' of the case showed his lack of remorse and that he could not be rehabilitated in the community, sending him straight to jail instead.

The 29-year old of Toulouse Drive, Norton, Worcester admitted making 21 indecent images of children at category A, the worst kind, between February 17 and April 17, 2017.

He also admitted making two indecent images at category B and three at category C. All but two images were videos rather than stills, an aggravating feature of the case as were the number of children being abused and the ages of the children, described as 'so desperately young and vulnerable' by the judge.

Judge Cartwright described some of the films in open court, details which are too graphic to report in full. He told the court some of the videos were around an hour long with titles like 'Lolita' and 'four-year-old' and showed children suffering penetrative sexual abuse.

One video recorded the rape of a two-year-old girl and another showed a girl of 10 tied to a bench and being sexually assaulted. Some showed children being abused by more than one adult and others displayed compilations of different children being molested.

The children being abused were aged two, four, six, 10, 11 and 13 years old.

The defendant, who showed no emotion when he learned he was going to prison, said himself in interview: "It's the dark web for a reason - it's horrible."

Judge Cartwright said: "The offences relating to the viewing, making or distribution of these sorts of images is always regarded as so serious because these are real children against whom the most dreadful sexual offences, such as those I have just described, are actually being carried out and filmed so that these films can be circulated to people who have an interest in viewing such things."

The judge also spoke of the physical and psychological harm caused to children by such abuse. He told Bone they grow up knowing the 'ghastly offences committed against them will be out there on the internet for all time, for the whole of the rest of their lives and beyond'.

He also said that without men like Bone downloading these images there would be no demand and it was the demand which drove the supply and therefore fuelled the abuse.

Andrew Wilkins, prosecuting, said the matter came to court following a search of Bone's home in July 2017 following a police investigation into a website known as Paradise Village.

During that search officers seized a Dell computer tower where the images were found. Mr Wilkins said: "He was interviewed about the matter in July and October 2017. The proceedings started in April 2018. It has taken a very long time to get to this stage."

The starting point in the sentencing guidelines is a year's custody with a range available to the sentencing judge of between 26 weeks and three years.

Daniel Oscroft, defending, asked Bone to be given credit for his guilty pleas. "I concede on his behalf that it's late" he said.

He said: "At that time the defendant's life was falling apart. He was abusing drink and drugs. He had a poisonous relationship with his family and his partner left him."

Judge Cartwright ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the computer tower which contained the images. He also ordered Bone to pay a 2,000 contribution towards costs because of the large number of hearings, caused because the defendant declined to admit his guilt.

The judge told him: "This represents only a small fraction of the total cost to the taxpayer because the court has obviously been involved on all these occasions and a significant sum has been expended upon what turned out to be totally unnecessary expert reports that have been pursued and pursued by you despite the fact that, when you were first interviewed about this matter, you admitted that you had viewed the images on your computer."

This amount must be paid back over two years. Judge Cartwright also imposed a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years. This restricts Bone's use of the internet and devices and his contact with children.

For example he must make any devices available to a monitoring police officer on request for inspection, must not delete his search history or install anti-forensic software or use social media to contact any child under the age of 16.

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Gary Ewing has been jailed for 16 years after being convicted of abuse dating back almost 30 years against two victims, who were then both under 13, in the Norwich area. - Credit: Norfolk Constabulary A victim of historic sexual abuse has bravely spoken out to urge others who have been abused in the past to "never give up". Gary Ewing, 57, has been jailed for 16 years after being convicted of abuse dating back almost 30 years against two victims, who were both under 13, in the Norwich area. One of the victims, who is now an adult, has spoken out about the abuse she suffered after Ewing was jailed last month to try and help other potential victims find the courage to come forward. She said: "To anybody that this has happened to please never give up. "It has taken me years to come to terms with what happened to me as a child and in the end I just couldnt take the pain anymore. "For years nobody listened to what I had to say but in the end somebody listened and did believe in me and what I said was the truth and did happen. "Please don't be scared to speak up. Whoever hurt you took away things from you that will never be replaced. Please dont let them take away anything else from you." Both victims have been praised by detective constable Holly Beevis for the bravery they showed in standing up in court and describing what they suffered to help secure Ewing's conviction. She said: "It does show that justice can prevail despite several years passing and should assure victims that they will be listened to if they come forward and the police will take their allegations seriously and investigate them fully." Ewing, formerly of Hercules Road, Hellesdon, was jailed after being convicted following a trial at Norwich Crown Court. He was found guilty of multiple offences against the two victims dating back to between 1992 and 1997, including one count of rape, two counts of sex with a girl under 13 and six counts of indecency with a child. Sentencing Ewing, Judge Stephen Holt said his actions were calculated and planned adding that what he did to the victims "stayed with them into their adult life and affected them greatly. Andrew Oliver, for Ewing, said he had not offended prior to these matters or since but knew he was going to serve a substantial custodial sentence.

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A couple who raped a little boy offered his mum cash afterwards.

David Bradbury, 55, would film the horrific abuse performed by William Gamble, 65, before offering to pay the little boy's mum 30.

Their sickening acts were only discovered after they uploaded an image of child abuse, not involving the same boy, to Facebook.

When police raided their St Helens home they discovered the horrific pictures and videos, in which Bradbury would encourage Gamble as he abused the child.

They also found toys, sweets and games they would use to groom the boy.

Judge Rachel Smith, sentencing today at Liverpool Crown Court, said: "You embarked on a course of grooming and sexually abusive behaviour."

The court heard the couple "exploited" the boy and groomed him before Gamble would commit "physical acts" of abuse while Bradbury would film them, sometimes engaging in physical abuse.

The judge said: "You acted as a team".

In one of the indecent images discovered the boy is naked lying on his back on a rug.

In one video the boy is seen performing a sex act on Gamble and in another Gamble is seen raping the child.

Judge Smith said Bradbury "commented on the quality of the recording you were making at the time", which the judge said is "clear evidence of Bradbury encouraging Gamble to continue with the rape".

Even when Gamble and Bradbury were told they shouldn't contact the boy they continued to try.

Judge Smith said: "You persisted with it in the face of involvement of the police."

Both Gamble and Bradbury were arrested on October 26 last year after the true extent of their crimes had been discovered when an indecent image, not of this child, was uploaded to Facebook.

In total officers found 14 category A images, which are the most serious and include child rape, four category B images and three category C images, on devices found at the men's home on Pigot Street, many of which were images of the boy.

John Wyn-Williams, prosecuting, said police "seized a notebook which contained a list of about 500 names" which are believed to be Facebook contacts, and the court heard "many are foreign names".

The judge added that the notebook showed "extensive contact with an all male group on the internet", adding that there was no evidence of distribution of images of this child.

In an interview the boy, when asked about the abuse, said he "wanted to keep secrets from himself" and "not remember it".

The court heard in a victim impact statement the child's father said: "Every single day I worry about the time [his son] will be old enough to fully realise what happened to him. I dread this and know it will be a terrible day."

Jim Smith, defending Gamble, asked the judge to take into consideration his guilty plea and said Gamble had an "evolving" understanding of the impact of his behaviour on the victim.

Mr Smith explained that it was Gamble's first period of custody and asked the judge to consider the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on inmates.

The judge, citing a medical report, noted that Gamble "falls in the learning disability range" and is "more vulnerable to manipulation and coercion than others".

The court heard that speaking in a pre-sentence report, Bradbury had said: "No I don't want to talk about it, I don't see how it will help".

Judge Smith explained that the author of the report said Bradbury had a "failure to take full responsibility for his actions".

Paul Becker, defending Bradbury, asked the judge to consider his history of anxiety and depression and his guilty pleas.

Gamble and Bradbury both admitted four counts of rape, two sexual assaults and two assaults by penetration, plus the taking of indecent videos associated to each act.

The court heard Gamble had no relevant previous convictions while Bradbury has a conviction for exposure in 1995.

Judge Smith said both Bradbury and Gamble were "dangerous" offenders and jailed each of them for 16 years, with an extended one year on licence.

This type of sentence means they will spend at least two thirds of the custodial term behind bars.

They will then only be released before the end of the sentence if a parole board considers they are no longer a risk.

Detective Constable Craig Doyle of Merseyside Police said: Both of these men are very dangerous individuals.

They acted as a team to exploit and carry out this horrendous abuse over a period of time and both men deserve to spend the rest of their lives behind bars.

Merseyside Police is committed to protecting victims of sexual offences, and anyone who reports an incident to us will be safeguarded and supported throughout the investigation.

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This Derby rapist filmed himself subjecting a woman to a horrific three-hour ordeal of sexual assaults.

Matthew Hemmings used a variety of sex toys on the woman who he handcuffed, trussed up, humiliated and degraded at his city centre flat.

The 41-year-old later told police "I worry about myself sometimes" when they discovered his hideous recordings of the disgusting abuse.

The prosecutor at Derby Crown Court called the case "the most extreme rape" he had ever dealt with in court.

And even the defendant's own barrister described what his client did as "a catalogue of horrors".

Jailing Hemmings for 20 years and six months, Judge Nirmal Shant QC, Derby's most senior judge, said: "In every way possible you humiliated her and recorded what you were doing to her over a prolonged period of some three hours.

"You targeted her because she was vulnerable, approaching her she lay in the doorway of a shop and enticing her back to your flat.

"(There) you had laid out sex toys and outfits on your bed your had bought from Amazon.

"She was vulnerable and a heavy Mamba user and once inside your flat you took photos of her and recorded her.

"You raped and sexually assaulted her while she was helpless. There was a pause and you re-emerged in a full face mask and with a machete.

"Mercifully you did not use it on her, but one cannot imagine how frightening an incident this was."

James Varley, prosecuting, said the sex attacks took place at the defendant's flat, in Carrington Street, on November 24.

He said Hemmings filmed the woman as she lay in the doorway of a city centre shop and then coaxed her to his address with the promise of warmth and shelter.

Mr Varley then went on to describe some of the acts he forced her to do for him and on him while he recorded and photographed it.

Most are too shocking for publication.

He said: "I would say this is the most extreme rape I have ever prosecuted, it was an ordeal that went on for three hours.

"After his arrest the defendant even told the police 'I worry about myself sometimes'. It was clearly degrading, it was prolonged, he filmed it and violence was threatened.

"It involved a number of sex toys which he had laid out on a bed and on his own account she was particularly vulnerable."

Mr Varley said at one stage the victim had handcuffs put on her from behind by Hemmings, after encouraging her to smoke more drugs.

He said: "She was incapacitated, that must have been terrifying, he used her as he pleased."

Mr Varley said at the end of the poor woman's ordeal, the defendant let her out in the street where she was found by a support worker "walking around in circles crying".

Hemmings was arrested and the videos he made of his sex attacks were discovered by the police.

He told them the victim was "compliant throughout". But he later pleaded guilty to rape and sexual assault.

He has no previous convictions of any kind.

William Bennett, mitigating, said his client had pleaded guilty and spared the victim having to come to court and relive her ordeal at trial.

He said: "Any right-thinking person will say this is a catalogue of horrors."

The victim is afforded lifetime anonymity.

Hemmings' sentence is made up of a minimum of 13-and-a-half years custody and an extended licence of a further seven years.

He will be on the sex offender register for life.

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A pervert who filmed girls in toilets at a leisure centre and fast food restaurant has been jailed.

Luke Murdoch, 26 from the Worthing area, was found guilty of three counts of voyeurism in Guildford.

Guildford Crown Court heard the first of the offences occurred on May 20, 2019 when officers were called to Spectrum Leisure Centre following reports of a man in the female toilets who was filming under the cubicles.

The victim, a 15 year-old girl, saw a camera phone being placed beneath the stall and ran to tell her sister. They reported the incident to staff, who called the police.

The second incident on October 23, 2019 saw officers called to Burger King at Ladymead Retail Park after an 11-year-old girl was followed into the bathrooms and photographed while on the toilet.

The matter was again reported to staff and police were called.

Murdoch was identified after an appeal with CCTV footage circulated to the public via the media media and on Surrey Police's social media channels.

He was arrested on December 17, 2019 and subsequently charged with voyeurism.

Forensic examination of his phone post-arrest uncovered further voyeuristic images of adult women that appeared to have been taken in various public toilets.

On March 11 he was sentenced to nine months behind bars and given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order lasting 10 years.