Latest Offenders

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A PREDATORY sex offender lured an underage girl into his home before raping her, a court was told. Robert Anthony Ryan, who was on bail for sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl at the time, met the rape victim at a bus stop before using a pretext of seeking her assistance to persuade her to go with him to his nearby home. Durham Crown Court heard that once inside the attack took place, despite the girls protests and telling him how old she was. Robin Patton, prosecuting, said following the attack, Ryan told the shaken girl not to say anything about it, and escorted her back to the bus stop, where she was physically sick. Despite informing a family member of the incident three years later, the victim did not report it to police for several years, and only after she had begun counselling due to the anxiety she still suffered long after the attack. Mr Patton said when arrested in 2020, Ryan said the girl willingly had sex with him, and maintained that lie through the court process until the day of his trial, shortly before Christmas. It was only then that the now 42-year-old defendant, of Lawson Street, Trimdon Colliery, admitted the rape. The court heard he has other sex offences on his record from 2009 and 2016. Sentence was adjourned until yesterday to allow for preparation of a background report on Ryan by the Probation Service. His sentencing hearing was told of the long-term effect the incident has had on the victim, who moved away from the North East when she reached 16, as a result. Her victim statement outlined the mistrust she now has in other people, generally, but with men, in particular, and the anxiety she has suffered since. The court heard the probation report classes Ryan as posing a significant risk to the public, generally, but specifically to young females. Robert Mochrie, for Ryan, said two of his past offences were committed close in time to each other and indicate, there was something going on in his life when these events occurred, but with nothing of this nature in recent years. But Judge James Adkin said he considers Ryan as being a dangerous offender, particularly to younger females. Theres a pattern of targeting children for sex and the author of the report points to him behaving in an unpredictable, uncontrolled, predatory way. Judge Adkin imposed a prison sentence of eight years and one month, of which Ryan must serve at least two-thirds before being eligible to be considered for release by the Parole Board, but he may have to serve the full term behind bars. On release he will then be subject to four years extended licence period. He was also made subject of lifetime conditions of both a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and notification requirements as a sex offender. A lifetime restraining order also prohibits contact with the rape victim.

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A St Neots sex offender has been jailed after breaching the terms of his order.

Robert Swinden, 46, wiped his internet history, declined to share information about his devices, and hid two bank cards from police.

He was handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) in 2019 with conditions to monitor his behaviour for 10 years.

As part of routine checks, officers visited his home on March 2, 2020 and inspected his mobile phone and home computer, Cambridgeshire Constabulary said.

Checks revealed there was no internet history on the phone, which breached the terms of his SHPO.

When asked to hand over all other devices that belonged to him, he refused twice, which was another breach of his order, and was arrested.

A search was carried out at his home where two bank cards were found which Swinden failed to tell police about, and thus breached his sex offender register notification requirements.

Swinden, of Russell Court, St Neots, was charged with two counts of breaching a SHPO and failing to comply with the sex offenders register.

He later pleaded guilty to the charges and, in committing these offences, breached a suspended sentence previously given to him.

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Keith Brookes has been sentenced to 3 years imprisonment, he must sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order is in place for life.

The details of this case are sensitive and have not been made public.

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A man who sexually abused a four-year-old boy has been jailed for a total of 11 years at Northampton Crown Court.

Matthew David Stephen Benson, previously of Aylesbury, abused the boy in Isham on May 19, 2019, when, as a trusted adult, he took advantage of being left alone with the child for just 15-minutes.

The boy disclosed the offence to a parent, who called the police, and 25-year-old Benson was subsequently arrested and charged with sexual activity with a child under 13 and with causing a child to watch a sexual act.

At his trial in September 2021, a jury found Benson guilty of both offences and on Thursday, January 27, he returned to the crown court where he was sentenced to a total 11 years in prison.

He received seven years and four years on extended licence for sexual activity with a child under 13, and 16-months for causing a child to watch a sexual act, to run concurrently. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Lead Investigator, Detective Constable Kirstie Brooks, said: I am pleased with this sentencing result. Benson is a dangerous man who used the opportunity to abuse a very young child. He is now where he belongs behind bars and where he cannot hurt anyone anymore.

I would like to thank the young boy and his family who have been incredibly brave and strong throughout the investigation and court proceedings. Speaking up takes a huge amount of courage and strength and they should be commended for this.

Northamptonshire Police takes reports of sexual assault very seriously and will always treat reports of this nature with the confidentiality and sensitivity they deserve.

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Detectives hunting on the run rapist Daniel Hassan were able to pinpoint his exact whereabouts when he placed his fast food order. Northumbria Police detectives tracked down a wanted rapist after he ordered a 19 kebab from Just Eat. Sexual predator, Daniel Hassan, met his victim on an online dating site and arranged to meet for a date. The pair met up but Hassan became violent when a comment from the victim sparked an unexpected reaction. Hassan, 43, repeatedly punched and kicked his victim to the head and body before raping her. Despite her cries for help, he attacked her again causing more injuries to her face and chest and a laceration to her head. Hassan left the address as the victim reported him to police and an investigation was launched by the Northumbria Police Safeguarding unit. The victim could only identify the man as 'Danny' and that he was originally from Manchester but that proved enough for the specialist investigators to track him down. Despite deleting his dating profile, officers were still able to recover a photo of the suspect and using state-of-the-art technology, the image was a match for Hassan and was believed to be located in the village of Hauxley, County Durham. There was not a precise location of his whereabouts at that time but it was the moment Hassan ordered a takeaway through Just Eat, that officers were able to pinpoint his exact location and arrest him on suspicion of rape and assault. During the interview he denied committing any offences and refused to answer any further questions but he was subsequently charged with two counts of assault and one count of rape. Hassan was remanded in custody and a trial was set for January 17, at Newcastle Crown Court. However with continued enquiries carried out by the team, Hassan was presented with irrefutable evidence and pleaded guilty on the first day of his trial. Leading the investigation was Detective Constable Dayna McNally who has praised the victim for her bravery and hopes the outcome gives a strong reassuring message that we will find those committing violent sexual crimes and put them before the courts. DC McNally said: "I can't imagine how much of a traumatic experience this has been for the victim and she absolutely did the right thing reporting it to police. "Even with the limited information we knew about Hassan, we have been able to track him down and provide strong evidence of his crimes to the point he has been unable to deny it any more. "All the victim wanted was to find someone to connect with but this was the vile man she was faced with. "But now, women are safe from Hassan as he remains in custody awaiting sentence and will no longer be a risk to those looking for companionship." Hassan of Hessewelle Crescent, Haswell, County Durham has been remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced on March 11.

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A pervert has been jailed after trying to meet a schoolgirl for sexual activity.

Liam Williamson made contact with a profile called Laurie on a dating app called Skout and was told she was 14, rather than 18 as advertised.

Despite this, he engaged in sexual chat with her and went on to arrange to meet her at McDonald's in Blyth.

The Laurie profile was actually being run by vigilante group Guardians of the North, who were waiting to confront Williamson and rang the police.

Now the 28-year-old, of Langley Avenue, Blyth, Northumberland, who has some additional learning needs, has been locked up for 13 months at Newcastle Crown Court for attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming.

Omar Ahmad, prosecuting, said Williamson contacted the profile in May 2019 and the chat moved onto WhatApp.

Mr Ahmad said: "The defendant, on multiple occasions, suggested to Laurie she should go to his house in Blyth, telling her to get the bus and he would meet her at the bus-stop and sent her a picture of bus times.

"He acknowledged she was underage and he would get into trouble for touching her and said 'I would not touch you unless you wanted to be touched'."

He also said: "I could show you how to touch yourself but don't tell your mam or anyone, okay?"

He asked her to send him pictures in her bra and knickers and of her genitals and then arranged to meet her.

When arrested, he said he would not have touched her unless she wanted him to.

As well as the prison sentence, Williamson, who has no previous convictions will be subject to sex offender registration and a sexual harm prevention order for ten years.

Peter Schofield, defending, said Williamson is vulnerable and had an appropriate adult with him when interviewed by police.

He added: "When he became involved in this offending he was at an all time low and had recently lost his employment.

"He worked for two-and-a-half years in a hotel and is not workshy.

"He was isolated and the reality is what happened here is he let the situation spiral out of control when he should have known better, he being the adult.

"Custody fills him with dread, he is very worried and concerned about the effect custody will have on him. He will be vulnerable in custody."

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AN EASTLEIGH man has been jailed for five years after he attempted to meet a person he thought was a child. Simon Patrick Westwood exchanged messages, often of a highly sexual nature, with children over a nine-month period, a court heard. The 46-year-old from Eastleigh also made arrangements and travelled to an agreed location to meet with who he believed was a child. The child was not real. Westwood admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and arranging and or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence. The offences took place between January 2021 and October 2021. He was jailed for five years at Southampton Crown Court on Monday. Westwood was also ordered sign onto the sex offenders register as well as being made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Angela Smith-Jones said: In a day and age where social media is so prevalent in young peoples lives, and the ease in which messages can be sent by people unknown to them, it is incredibly important that we, as the police, are in a position to investigate if we believe that criminal offences have taken place during these exchanges. During this investigation, we have worked closely with the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU) in order to develop evidence against an individual who had every intention of meeting who they believed to be a child in order to commit sexual offences against them. We want to continue to protect any vulnerable people, including young children, against possible sexual exploitation and I hope that this conviction shows the lengths that we will go to investigate any such claims. DC Smith-Jones added she hopes this sentence will alert others to the "dangers of the digital world" and encourage victims of child sexual abuse to come forward. Detective Inspector James Oxley, of the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit, said: By working in collaboration with Hampshire Constabulary, officers were able to carry out a thorough investigation, demonstrating the lengths we continue to go to disrupt sexual exploitation and keep children safe from harm.

Description

A registered sex offender has been jailed after police found indecent images of children on his tablet.

James Bainbridge, 26, of Hartslock Drive, Bexley, was sentenced to three years imprisonment at Woolwich Crown Court on Wednesday, January 27.

He pleaded guilty to breaching a sexual harm prevention order, one count of distributing an indecent image of a child and one count of making an indecent image of a child.

Bainbridge was previously given a two-year suspended prison sentence in October 2020 after he attempted to meet a teenage girl he had been speaking to online.

As part of the sentence, he was also given an order which restricted his use of technology and stopped him from having unsupervised access to children.

On July 6, 2021, officers from a specialist unit responsible for monitoring registered sex offenders in Bexley were made aware of suspicious activity on a tablet belonging to Bainbridge.

They visited his home and found evidence that Bainbridge had breached his sexual harm prevention order. He was arrested and the device was seized.

A forensic examination revealed Bainbridge had used the tablet to view indecent images of children as young as 10.

Police Constable Jemma Morgan, from the Mets South East Jigsaw Unit, said: Bainbridge was being closely monitored by officers due to previous offending and it was through this monitoring that this offending came to light.

This type of crime is completely unacceptable and we take strong action when we receive reports of this nature, to protect children and young people from harm.

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Police have praised the bravery of two victims after the man who raped them was jailed. Jakub Bondalski was convicted of a number of sex offences after his victims came forward to report what had happened. This first victim told officers she had been raped by him in late 2019 and an investigation was launched. During this time, a further victim also came forward to report she had been subjected to multiple rapes, naming Bondalski as the offender. When questioned, the 20 year-old denied all allegations put to him, but was charged with a string of sexual offences. Bondalski, of Roslin Park, Bedlington, stood trial at Newcastle Crown Court in November last year where a jury found him guilty of five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. Last Tuesday (January 18) he was handed a nine-year sentence at the same court. And lead investigators, Detective Constable Nick Heywood and Detective Constable Laura O'Neil, have praised the bravery of the victims who spoke out against him. Det Con Heywood said: "Jakub Bondalski is a vile predator and it is thanks to the immense bravery of the victims that he is now behind bars. He has shown no remorse throughout this case. "I not only hope this gives the victims a sense of justice but also hope it encourages others who have been subjected to such offences to speak out. "I'd urge you to report it to police it's never too late. We will listen, we will support you and we are committed to bringing offenders to justice." Bondalski will also have to sign the Sex Offenders' Register indefinitely.

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Predatory paedophile Harley Palmer, 27, targeted the young boys and molested them when they were alone.

He would buy his terrified victims gifts in order to buy their silence.

He was described at Taunton Crown Court as a dangerous and 'manipulative' abuser with a sexual interest in young boys.

His victims, aged nine and 13, were initially too scared to tell anyone what had happened and feared they would not be believed.

When the offences did come to light earlier this year Palmer initially denied doing anything wrong and described himself as a 'cuddly person' who would just tickle the children. But police found naked images of a child on his phone and he pleaded guilty to four offences.

Palmer was jailed five years and three months with an extra extended licence period of four years imposed due to the danger he poses to children.

The parents of one of the victims said in a statement they were 'devastated' by what he had done and he had destroyed their son's childhood.

The teenage victim said he still had nightmares.

Mr Harry Ahuja, defending, said Palmer was immature for his age, anxious, confused about his sexuality and sorry.

Palmer, of Friarn Avenue, Bridgwater, pleaded guilty to two offences of sexual activity with a child under 13 and two charges relating to the indecent pictures.

He was put on the sex offender register for life

Recorder Philip Mott QC told the defendant: "What took place was classic grooming behaviour by you.

"You are described as a manipulative person and a high risk of causing serious harm to pre-pubescent boys."

Palmer must serve two-thirds of his five years and three months sentence in jail before he can be considered for release by the parole board.

Recorder Mott said: "It is quite clear from the victim personal statements that there has been a serious psychological effect on the children.

He added: "It is very important to say to the two victims you are not to blame for anything that happened. It was not your fault.

"To your parents this is perhaps your worst nightmare and what your children need now is calmness, and above all love. For you to be strong and not to allow fear and anger to turn into a prison for your children."

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A Suffolk man who sexually abused a young girl has been jailed for 10 years.

Ross Smith, 33, of Banham Road, Beccles, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court for sentence on Monday having previously been convicted of three offences.

Smith had denied three counts of causing or inciting a girl under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity but was found guilty by a jury at trial.

The offending took place between 2018 and 2019.

The court heard that Smith had no previous similar convictions.

At the sentencing hearing, the victim's mother described Smith's offending as "despicable" and outlined the impact it had had on her daughter and their family in a statement read by prosecutor Andrew Thompson.

Judge Emma Peters jailed Smith for 10 years, with an extended licence period of five years.

Smith must serve at least two thirds of the 10-year sentence in custody before he will be eligible for parole.

The judge also ordered Smith to sign the sex offenders' register for life, and imposed a indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

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A man who raped a woman while she slept has been jailed for 12 years.

Bahman Razvani, 31, met her in Leicester city centre in the early hours of 25 July. Despite her being heavily intoxicated at the time, he took her to an address in Glebe Street where he had sex with her while she was unconscious.

She awoke the following morning to find him touching her inappropriately. She immediately got her clothes and left the address to make a report to police. She told officers she believed she had been raped.

Subsequent CCTV enquiries identified Razvani formerly of Glebe Street taking her to his address. He was arrested by police and claimed that she had consented to having sex with him.

But, at Leicester Crown Court on 9 December, he pleaded guilty to one count of rape and one count of sexual assault.

At the same court yesterday (Monday 24 January) he was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment.

Razvani was also placed on the sex offenders register for life and is subject to a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Detective Constable Kristina Page-Brown was the investigating officer. She said: Despite claiming in interview that he had consensual sex with her, he pleaded guilty to two serious sexual offences at court he knew what hed done. His behaviour was predatory and he took advantage of her after she had been on a night out.

This was a traumatic incident for his victim and I am pleased she didnt have to relive the ordeal in front of a jury. I hope yesterdays result can provide a degree of closure and allow her to move on with her life.

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A 72-year-old man has been sent to prison for three years and six months after he breached the conditions of his sexual harm prevention order and notification requirements.

Peter Butt, previously of Northampton, was convicted in May 2021 of possessing and distributing indecent images of children.

As part of his sentence, he was handed a sexual harm prevention order, meaning he has to notify police of any new electronic devices and accounts.

However, when DC Sophie Duffree from Northamptonshire Polices MOSOVO (Management of Sexual Offenders and Violent Offenders) Team visited him in December 2021, alongside his probation officer, she found three phones and a laptop that he had not declared.

He had also created a new Twitter account, which again he had failed to notify police of, alongside two other names used online.

He was subsequently arrested for the breaches and charged.

At Northampton Crown Court last week (January 21) he was sentenced to 18 months in prison, in addition to the previously suspended 24 month sentence.

Following the sentencing, DC Duffree said: Registered sex offenders like Peter Butt are very closely monitored by our team and we take a zero-tolerance approach to breaches such as these there is absolutely no room for second chances or pleading ignorance.

"Breaches of a sexual harm prevention order are serious, and Im pleased that that has been recognised here with a custodial sentence.

"The facts of this case have shown Peter Butt to be a manipulative and deceitful individual who has shown a complete disregard for the orders placed upon him. I hope he takes this time in custody to reflect on his actions.

"In cases like these we will look to immediately arrest and charge these offenders, thereby protecting the public.

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A teacher who raped and sexually abused his younger brother when they were children has been jailed for eight and a half years. Graham Daly (37) was a big brother who should have protected his younger brother, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor said. Instead, Daly abused his brother Thomas over a four-year period from when the boy was 10 years old. Daly, of Clonree, Newport, Co Tipperary, was found guilty by a jury of seven counts of raping and sexually abusing his brother on dates between January 1998 and December 2002 following a Central Criminal Court trial last December. Most of the abuse took place in the family home in Co Limerick, the trial heard. Daly does not accept the verdict of the jury and continues to maintain his innocence, the court heard. His younger brother waived his right to anonymity, meaning Daly can be named. Sentencing him on Monday, Ms Justice O'Connor noted Daly denied the charges vociferously at all times and raised a number of motives as to why his brother would accuse him of sexual abuse. Daly suggested his brother was lying because he was jealous of his achievements and that the younger man wanted to destroy his older brother's life because Daly disclosed to his parents that his younger brother is gay, the court heard. The men's parents have sided with Daly against their younger son. Ms Justice O'Connor paid tribute to Thomas Daly, who she said conducted himself in a dignified manner throughout the trial process. She noted the abuse has had a devastating impact on his life and on his family life. Sentence Handing down an eight-and-a-half year sentence, Ms Justice O'Connor said that had Daly been an adult at the time of the offending, she would have imposed a longer sentence. However, she noted she had to treat Daly as a juvenile because the abuse of his brother ended around the time he turned 18. She backdated the sentence to when he went into custody last month. In a victim impact statement which he read out in court last week, Thomas Daly described how his parents initially supported him when he confided in his father about the abuse in 2015. Mr Daly said he had kept the abuse a secret for 18 years and it was such a relief to share the burden. His father accompanied him when he went to garda early in 2016. However, he said it soon emerged that his parents were only prepared to support him if he kept the abuse among ourselves. Why should I stay silent? he said, adding: I was happy for everyone to know, but said this proved detrimental to his family life. (My parents) blamed me, took the side of my brother and I was forced out of the family home. Mr Daly said he used to have sympathy for his parents, but not any more. I was telling the truth and I have proved it, he said. It's easier for them to believe that I'm a liar than believe their oldest son is a paedophile rapist. He paid tribute to his partner, whom he met a year after he disclosed the abuse and who has supported him throughout the entire process. He added he has constant nightmares and has struggled with depression, insomnia, PTSD and suicidal thoughts. There's no happy ending for me, he said, adding that no matter what sentence his brother receives, it will change nothing for him. I lost 18 years of my life, he said. It's no longer justice I seek - It is vindication. The parents were in court for the sentencing hearing, sitting apart from their younger son, holding hands. The court heard the case was listed for trial five or six times before it was eventually heard at Croke Park late last year. Sergeant Paul Crowley told Patrick McGrath SC, prosecuting, that the abuse began when Daly started inappropriately touching his younger brother, then aged 10. The abuse then progressed to rape, the court heard, and ended when the older brother left home. The older brother holds a degree and a masters and has had a successful career in teaching, the court heard. He has no previous convictions. Mr McGrath told the court Daly should be treated as a juvenile as the offending occurred up until the time he turned 18. Colman Cody SC, defending, said his client is adamant he is innocent and he does not accept the verdicts of the jury. He said he has a history of mental health issues and was diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder and would find prison particularly difficult. Mr Cody said that while there has been stress, trauma and division in the family, they are also close-knit and supportive. Mr Cody urged Ms Justice O'Connor to hand down a proportionate sentence, bearing in mind his client was a juvenile at the time.

Description

A 'depraved' 34-year-old man from Felixstowe has been jailed for arranging to meet a 14-year-old for sex.

Aaron Morrison, of High Street, was jailed for 35 months at Ipswich Crown Court on Monday, January 24, after he pleaded guilty to arranging or facilitating commission of a child sex offence.

He was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

It centred on communication he had with a person purporting to be 14 years old in December 2020 via a mobile phone and saw Morrison make several attempts to meet them to have sex.

Morrison was first arrested in December 2020 following police investigations into his mobile phone.

It was established that he was sending sexual messages to a 14-year-old.

Morrison attended different locations in Essex to meet the victim to carry out the intended act, say police.

In June last year Morrison was subsequently charged with two offences under the Sexual Offences Act 2003. He later pleaded guilty to arranging or facilitating the commission of a sexual offence, which happened at the start of December 2020.

Detective Constable James Lait said: Although the victim and Morrison never met, the sentence handed down reflects the depraved nature of Morrison.

"I hope the outcome of this case reassures members of the public that we take such allegations of online predatory behaviour on the young and vulnerable extremely seriously and work to safeguard victims as quickly as possible.

"We will do everything in our power to bring offenders to justice.