Latest Offenders

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A "predatory and manipulative" carer who sexually abused seven boys over an 11-year-period has been jailed for 17 years.

Benjamin Mercer, 41, abused boys as young as five years old in Hornsea, East Yorkshire, and another in Newquay, Cornwall, during the 1990s and 2000.

He was found guilty of 13 charges including rape, which he denied, following a trial at Hull Crown Court.

Police believe there may be more victims and urged them to come forward.

The court heard how Mercer, of Seafield Road, Hove, East Sussex, took sexual advantage of two boys while they slept.

He systematically raped a boy, who reported "terrible pain", up to three times a week for almost four years.

Mercer, who grew up in Hornsea, started abusing boys from the age of 15.

He was known as "cool Ben" because of his clothes and would take the boys to the park and the beach, as well as on fishing and clay pigeon shooting trips, the jury was told.

'Sleeping with a knife'

The jury heard how the carer had "groomed" one of his victims, giving him cannabis at age of 12 and then alcohol at the age of 13.

Sentencing him, Judge Tremberg told Mercer: "You have been predatory and manipulative and viewed your victims as objects, putting your needs and desires over their welfare.

"You exhibited a capacity to act with premeditation and opportunistically. You tested these young boys to see how vulnerable they were.

The judge described how one of the victims "ended up sleeping with a knife under his pillow and contemplated suicide".

"He bore the secret and shame of what you did, which has been ruinous. It caused deep-seated emotional suffering and physical harm."

'Sexual predator'

Mercer was arrested in Hornsea in 1998 but police said there was "insufficient evidence to charge him with any offences at that time".

He continued to abuse again, the court heard.

After his arrest he moved to Newquay and then to the Brighton area in 2000.

It was only after further reports of abuse that police carried out a full investigation in March last year.

Det Insp Emma Heatley, of Humberside Police, said: "He is clearly a sexual predator and we believe there may be more victims of Mercer over the last 20 years.

"We would encourage any further victims of Mercer... to come forward and call the police, so that we can ensure he is brought justice for all his offending."

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A former council senior planning officer, convicted of downloading child abuse images, is re-considering appealing his dismissal.

Kingsley Drinkwater (51), was fined 1000 and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for five years after he pleaded guilty in February to the charge.

After he was later dismissed by Midlothian Council for failing to inform his manager of the charge he originally appealed.

He told the Advertiser: I did appeal. They seemed to take none of my personal circumstances into it.

But my circumstances have changed now. I dont know if I would gain much from it. I had thought I had nothing to lose. But to be honest the stress of the wait has come back to me.

It probably looks worse than it is. There is a whole lot more to this.

Its something I still dont understand why I did it.

Im in a difficult situation. Im trying to get myself back together. I have had a terrible time since 2008.

It doesnt look good and I know it. But it was a minor offence that I have been fined for and thats it.

In February this year Mr Drinkwater pleaded guilty to downloading indecent photographs of children on August 23, 2013, at his home in Edinburgh.

He told the Advertiser that his life had been hell when he committed the offence.

He said: I have lost my daughter, I get limited access.

Im trying to put my life back together. I have lost pretty much everything. Its been hell. My house was repossessed. And at the moment I cant afford to pay the rent on my current house.

I have been climbing mountains for the last 10 years, particularly the last four years. Every time I think I think I have got clear something else happens.

And right now you have presented me with another mountain to get over.

I have dreaded it since February that something would happen, but there is a lot more to it than just what it says on the charge sheet.

There is people that deserve to be handled in this way. But I havent been involved in anything, just looking at stuff on the internet.

There was no offence against any person, just looking at stuff and deleting it.

Because I was at such a ridiculously low point at the time I wasnt thinking about what I was doing.

Believe it or not Im a decent person who tries to help others and always does the right thing, but I was so low at the time. My mind wasnt with it. I could have done anything.

A spokesperson for Midlothian Council said: Midlothian Council does not comment on individual disciplinary matters.

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A VIOLENT rapist who launched a terrifying attack on a young student before beating a brave stranger who came to her rescue is today behind bars thanks to a selfie.

Shumel Ahmed hid in bushes ready to pounce on the 19-year-old who he subjected to a severe beating before raping her and threatening to kill her as she screamed desperately for help.

It was only thanks to the bravery of another student walking past who rushed to her rescue having heard her blood-curdling screams that she was able to get away.

But little did 21-year-old Ahmed know that a selfie he had taken on his own phone would be the key to getting him jailed.

Southampton Crown Court heard how the Southampton University student was walking home from a night out with friends in Southampton when she was grabbed round the neck and dragged backwards into some bushes on Portswood Road, at around 1am, on February 26.

Just yards from his own home, Ahmed punched her in the head repeatedly as she screamed for help and then threatened to kill her if she didnt stop.

Prosecutor Rachel Robertson said: She knew if she struggled it would get worse. She lay there praying for help. She said I wont tell anyone, just dont kill me.

She added: Her prayers to some degree were answered when she heard someone saying whats going on.

That was another student from the university who was also on his way home after a night out.

As he came to her aid, Ahmed started beating him, giving the teenager a chance to make her escape.

Ahmed, of Portswood Road, demanded money and a mobile phone from his male victim, who managed to get up, hit his attacker and fled.

She suffered several injuries including a hairline fracture to her jaw and the male suffered a chipped tooth, concussion and a black eye.

Officers were quickly on the scene, having been alerted to residents who had heard her scream and set up a cordon.

But within just 90 minutes of the attack Ahmed had been arrested after he was spotted returning to the scene by the officer guarding the cordon.

When officers searched through his phone they found a selfie of Ahmed wearing the same baseball cap found at the scene, giving officers enough evidence before forensic came back to charge him and keep him off the streets.

The court heard how forensic tests later found both Ahmeds and the rape victims DNA on the hat (see below) and her DNA in his underpants.

Ms Robertson also told how shortly before the attack, a couple driving on Portswood Road had seen a man, matching Ahmeds description chasing another woman, who was running. They felt so concerned they stopped to offer her a lift home.

Ms Robertson added: We can say the running lady was extremely fortunate.

Defending Ahmed, Christopher Bauer said the defendant, who had no previous convictions for sexual assault, did show remorse and had pleaded guilty early on.

Sentencing Ahmed to 14 years in prison -10 years for rape and four years to run consecutively for assault with intent to rob, Judge Gary Burrell said it was frightening attack which has had a physical and psychological effect on both victims.

Speaking about the student who intervened, he added: Goodness knows what would have happened if he hadnt because you were beating that girl up very badly and she sustained some very bad injuries.

Stating the importance of the selfie after the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Paul Harrison, said: This was a pivotal piece of evidence that allowed us to charge him before forensic evidence became available, making the streets of Southampton a safer place to be within 24 hours.

I would like to pay tribute to the bravery of our female victim, who was subject to the worst possible ordeal but still found the strength and courage to keep shouting and screaming which alerted witnesses to what was happening.

We are also very grateful to our male victim who didnt think twice before stepping in and confronting Ahmed during the horrifying attack.

The work of all involved in this investigation has resulted in this dangerous man being taken off our streets.

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HE WAS the man who was supposed to protect her from harm but he stole her childhood in the most terrifying way.

Caroline* was just 11 years old when her depraved dad John Farmer raped her in the family home.

He subjected her to a catalogue of vile crimes including sneaking into her room to assault her while she slept and forcing her to perform sex acts on him.

When he had finished with her, he would call her his special princess and tell her she could tell nobody otherwise she would be taken away.

When she was 12, Caroline raised the alarm at her school, but though it put an end to the abuse, the schoolgirl was not believed and authorities failed to take action.

It was only decades later that Caroline plucked up the courage to report what happened and bring her dad to justice.

The mum-of-four was in court to see the 71-year-old, pictured below, sentenced to 12 years in jail for rape and sexual assaults over a two-year period.

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Echo, Caroline said: It is your dad, the one man in the whole world you should have 100 per cent trust in and who you believe would never hurt you.

When I was finally able to speak out, it was like a huge dark cloud had been lifted off my shoulders. It was no longer a dirty secret that was swept under the carpet.

Caroline, who has an older sister and two brothers, said family life had always been normal.

We were just a normal family doing normal family things. Like any other kids, we would jump into bed with mum and dad in the morning. Youd think nothing of it at that age.

However one morning, her innocent care-free life ended.

I had woken up and climbed into mum and dads double bed like any other time. Mum was downstairs making breakfast at the time. Dad pulled me towards him and started play fighting with me but all of a sudden, he put his hands under my nightie and touched me.

I felt complete disbelief and fear. Afterwards you just freeze, you become numb.

Terrified, Caroline hoped the abuse by her controlling father would never happen again, but it did, and it got worse.

I was in his bed one morning having cuddles and he started tickling my back.

The next thing I knew, he forced himself on top of me and raped me.

I just wanted it to stop. It was painful.

I looked at him and no longer saw my dad. Instead of guarding me from the monsters, dad was a monster.

Caroline, pictured below as a child, describes losing interest in life as her living hell continued for two years in the family home in Fritham Road, Harefield, as well as in Wales when her dad abused her on a family holiday.

Farmer, who worked as a labourer, often abused his daughter after tucking her in at bedtime and once even sneaked into the bedroom she shared with her sister at night and sexually assaulted her while she slept.

Every time he would just get up, walk away and carry on as if everything was just totally normal. Hed never say a word about it, as if it never happened.

It was at school in February 1979 that Caroline plucked up the courage to tell her teacher what had happened to her.

She explained: I was sent home with mum and remember feeling so frightened, I was clinging on to her hand. When we got back I was sent up to my bedroom.

"There was a heated conversation downstairs between her and dad. He admitted to her hed touched me as if a kiss and a cuddle and that was it.

"I was called downstairs, but I didnt say anymore. Mum said it had been a misunderstanding and walked me back to school.

Knowing what I know now, I feel so let down by the school.

Carolines mum and dad divorced shortly after Farmer had an affair and though initially hurt that her mother did not protect her, she now feels she too was brainwashed by his lies.

For years, the horrific abuse took its toll on every aspect of Carolines life.

She married four times and at one stage became so depressed she became alcohol dependant, lost her job and unable to cope with the mental trauma, got in trouble with the police and became so low she even tried to take her own life before a stint in rehab.

I remember one time my daughter asked me did I remember when I lost my virginity and I couldnt answer her. I felt sick.

It was her husband and the support of her older brother Steve that finally gave her the strength to report her dads evil crimes two years ago.

Caroline, now 48, contacted Hampshire charity Southampton Rape Crisis who supported her to get justice.

Farmer, of Bye Road, Swanwick, was arrested and charged with rape and indecent assault, but he pleaded not guilty and Caroline had to prepare herself not only for a trial, but also to be cut off from family members.

I was 100 per cent frightened to speak out. When I did, it felt like I was finally free, but it wasnt easy.

On Facebook Ive had abuse from family members I was called a prostitute, a drama queen, a liar.

It did really hurt me but it makes me appreciate the people who do love me.

In May, the trial began at Southampton Crown Court and adamant to look her abuser in the eye, Caroline took to the witness stand where she relived every detail of her nightmare.

Five days later the jury found him guilty of one count of rape and seven counts of indecent assault.

Earlier this month, Farmer was sentenced to 12 years in prison and is on the sex offenders register for life.

Caroline explained: There was no remorse on his face at all. I didnt care if he got a year or a hundred years, I just wanted justice. After months of sleepless nights and seeing his face in nightmares, I felt like I could finally breathe again.

As the victim of a serious sexual crime, Caroline was entitled to lifelong anonymity, but in an act of incredible bravery, she has decided to waive that right in order to give others hope that there is life after rape.

It takes so much courage at any age to speak out to know if you are going to be believed but not talking about it, means it festers inside.

If you do nothing, it will eat away at you and it will destroy you.

Once you make that first little contact, you feel like you have taken control of your life again.

Ive become a strong person now. I feel empowered.

I cant call him my dad. I say I dont have a dad if anyone asks. John Farmer saw me as a victim but he didnt count on me being a survivor.

Investigating officer DC Alison Humby, from Western CID, told the Daily Echo: Hampshire Constabulary will always endeavour to investigate all reports of non-recent sexual abuse in a thorough and compassionate manner.

The victim in this case is an extremely brave person. She has shown strength of character and Ive seen how, over the last two years, she has been able to move on in her life.

Farmer committed a series of appalling sexual offences against his daughter when she was aged between 10 and 12 years old.

"The breach of trust in this case is immeasurable. His conviction demonstrates that sex offenders can and will be brought to justice regardless of the length of time it takes for their crimes to be brought to light.

*The victims surname has not been used to protect her identity.

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A rape victim was forced to play dead in a desperate attempt to survive a sex attack by a predator, a court was told.

Vile Jason Sedgwick was convicted of a string of sex assaults after pleading guilty to rape at Derby Crown Court.

He was jailed for 16 years after the court heard how in one sex attack he ripped his victim's clothes off and put his hands around her throat.

The victim then played dead, which police claim is the only reason she survived the ordeal.

Derby Crown Court heard Sedgwick, 30, also sexually assaulted two other women - attacking all three in the space of eight months.

Sedgwick stalked one of his victims to her home and then went inside uninvited to sexually assault her while her mother and son slept upstairs.

The court was told how he groped a third woman in the street, putting his hand down her top.

Judge John Burgess told him he was "a danger to women" as he jailed him for 16 years.

He said: "Looking at all the offences together, it is a very disturbing pattern, because what you were doing was loitering outside pubs and clubs, waiting to find a vulnerable, lone female who had been seriously affected by drink.

"And on three occasions you exploited their situation for your sexual gratification."

He said the offences were "planned, purposeful and predatory".

Sedgwick, of Long Eaton, Derbys, admitted the rape charge on the first day of his trial held in March.

While the rapist denied the two sexual assaults, which were committed in the months leading up to the rape, a jury found him guilty on both counts.

Grace Hale, prosecuting, said of Sedgwick's final attack that he approached the woman after she became separated from friends in the early hours of July 6 last year after leaving a nightclub in Long Eaton.

She said: "He kept picking her up like a baby and she told him to put her down. He did it a few times. He put her down eventually and she said she needed to ring her friend."

Her friends however we unable to find her until after the attack had taken place, the court heard.

Sedgwick was arrested after police put out an appeal and a witness came forward and identified him.

Kath Goddard, for Sedgwick, said he had no recollection of the rape, but when he had become aware of what he had done, he was "truly appalled and ashamed" that he was capable of doing such a thing.

Sedgwick was told he would be on licence in the community from when he was released until 2036. He will be on the sex offenders' register for life.

Following the sentencing Detective Inspector Donna Sisson said: "This could have been a murder investigation."

She added the three victims had been "incredibly brave in coming forward and going through the judicial process".

Investigating officer Detective Constable Ritchie Parkins said: "I'm pleased all three of the victims have got justice and hope they can take some comfort that this dangerous man has now been taken off the streets."

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A man has been remanded in custody after he admitted sexually assaulting two girls and later causing a commotion in the Lerwick court building.

Owen Haughian, 32, of the towns Hoofields admitted two separate sex offences one on 1st August and another on 24th January when he appeared in the dock today.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said Haughian committed the sex crimes after befriending the girls over social media.

The case against Haughian was initially set down for trial yesterday . But he turned up late and behaved obnoxiously outside the court room.

He had drunk a bottle of vodka before attending, and was refused access to the courtroom because of his drunken behaviour.

The upshot was that Haughian was arrested. In court this morning a rather contrite-looking Haughian also admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, shouting, swearing and being disorderly while child witnesses were waiting in the nearby witness room.

Sentence was deferred until 23rd July for Haughian to be dealt with by sheriff Philip Mann, by which time background reports will be compiled by social workers.

Defence agent Tommy Allan urged honorary sheriff Sandy Cluness to release Haughian on bail. He said Haughian feared losing his job and his tenancy if he was remanded.

However, Mr MacKenzie opposed bail. He highlighted Haughians previous convictions, with a number of offences that were of an unpleasant nature.

The situation for him is that he has backed the court into a corner and left the court without any discretion, the fiscal said.

Honorary sheriff Cluness told Haughian: Ive listened carefully to what your solicitor has said, but these are serious charges so serious that sheriff Mann has decided to deal with them himself.

In view of all that has been said and the seriousness of the charges I will defer sentence until 23rd July, and you will be remanded in custody.

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A charity supporter and former vicar who volunteered at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, the British Legion and was part of the Isle of Wight Music Dance & Drama Festival Committee, has been jailed for 7 years and 2 months after being found guilty of historic indecent assault, including abusing an altar boy.

John Charles Hibberd, 77, was found guilty of six counts of indecent assault dating back as far as 1967 when he appeared at Kingston Crown Court in London yesterday (Friday).

Hibberd, originally from Chiswick in London, worked as a priest in the area before joining the staff of the Diocese of London as finance secretary. He was there for 12 years before retiring to the Isle of Wight when he moved into a bungalow at Lake. He worshiped at the Church of the Good Shepherd in the town.

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Hibberds sentencing has come after one of his victims contacted the police in 2013 to make a allegation of sexual abuse dating back decades. The unnamed victim became an altar boy and Hibberd targeted him for abuse. During the investigation, two other victims were identified and contacted by the Police.

After gathering evidence, officers arrested 77-year-old Hibberd at his home in Lake and charged him in March 2014 with six counts of indecent assault on a boy under 14 between 1967-1982. He categorically denied all the offences put to him and refused to admit any wrong doing against the victims of his crimes.

During his time on the Island, Hibberd volunteered at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, the British Legion and was a committee member for the Isle of Wight Music Dance & Drama Festival.

*John Hibberd did not have any connection with the Medina Marching Band

There is no evidence or suggestion that any crimes were committed during his time on the Island or as part of these organisations, or that any organisation failed to safeguard.

DC Nikki Honey of the Metropolitan Polices Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command says it is not inconceivable that he may have abused more boys. She said:

Hibberd preyed on vulnerable young boys who didnt really understand what was happening to them at the time.

As in many cases of this nature, the victims did not complain, due to the fact that the assailant was a vicar. This coupled with the embarrassment, and the belief that they themselves would be in trouble.

It is not inconceivable that he may have abused more boys and I would urge any other victims to contact the police via 101.

Description

A Thanet man has been given a 12-year extended sentence for a string of child sex offences going back many years.

Mark Lloyd, 47, of Westgate on Sea, sat passively in the dock as one of his victims watched from the public gallery at Canterbury Crown Court just a few feet away.

Lloyd, of Victoria Road, Westgate On Sea had been found guilty of nine child sex offences after a trial at Canterbury Crown Court last month.

The court also heard that when police raided his home they discovered he was growing 72 cannabis plants in three rooms.

The pervert pleaded guilty to cultivating the drug but denied the sex offences.

He was given a 12-year extended sentence made up of a nine-year jail term and an extra three years on licence.

Judge Heather Norton told him he wont be eligible for parole until 2021 and will have to serve up to six years on licence when released.

The judge told him that he posed a significant risk of committing future sex offences against children and the public needed protecting.

Judge Norton said his victims are suffering and will continue to suffer from some years to come.

She added: You have shown no pity or remorse, no insight whatsoever for your offences.

The offences relate to three young victims and took place more than 10 years ago.

Lloyd declined to comment when officers interviewed him about the abuse which took place after he had been drinking and also failed to take to the stand in court at his trial.

The court heard how, following the report of the assaults to Kent Police, officers searched Lloyds home in September 2014 and found 72 cannabis plants growing in the spare room, bedroom and loft.

Also seized from his house were two books on horticulture and how to grow cannabis, two sets of scales, a safe, numerous clear plastic bags, latex gloves and various fertilisers.

"You have shown no pity or remorse, no insight whatsoever for your offences" - Judge Heather Norton

Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Paul Deslandes of Kent Police said: "I would like to commend the victims in this case for their bravery in coming forward to disclose their abuse, in what has been a very emotional time for them all.

"Lloyds abuse has not only affected the victims but also their families and I hope that all those involved can finally begin to move on with their lives, knowing that Lloyd will be behind bars for the foreseeable future."

Lloyd was told he will be on the Sex Offenders' Register for life and was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order to stop him being alone or working with children.

After Lloyd left to start his sentence, Judge Norton praised the victim for her courage and thanked her for attending the sentencing.

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Sick Stanley Gibbs, 35, set up devices to film his female friend - who trusted him like family - in her Glasgow flat without her knowing.

He then uploaded various pictures, including naked photos of her getting out of the shower, on to the internet.

Using the username Psycho Stan he wrote that he got sexual gratification from the pictures and that she had no idea she was being filmed.

But, he was snared when a concerned friend of the girl spotted the pictures on the internet.

Gibbs, from Erskine, pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to using electronic devices to record the female in a state of undress.

He also admitted uploading indecent footage of her on to the internet and recording her without her knowledge between October 2012 and June 2014.

Yesterday sheriff Andrew Mackie jailed Gibbs for 12 months, reduced from 18 because of his guilty plea.

He told Gibbs: Your behaviour as you know was deplorable and appalling.

It was a gross breach of trust and it was a gross invasion of your victim. The sheriff also put Gibbs on the Sex Offenders register for 10 years and granted a non-harassment order for the same length of time.

The court heard Gibbs and the female had been friends for a number of years and that he regularly visited the flat where she stayed.

In June, last year, a friend of the woman was online when they came across various pictures and recognised her from them.

Procurator fiscal depute Claire Whyte said there was a number of still images that showed the female in a state of undress.

She said Perhaps in the process of getting changed. She added that there was also pictures showing the female getting out of the bath and shower.

Knowing that the victim - who cannot be identified for legal reasons - was uncomfortable with having her picture taken, her friend thought it would be out of character to allow pictures of this nature to be online.

The person who uploaded the images used the name Psycho Stan and claimed that the girl was unaware they had been taken.

The friend saved everything that they found on to a USB stick and contacted the girl to advise her she should leave her flat.

The police were then alerted and a search warrant was granted for Gibbs house.

Miss Whyte told the court that when officers arrived Gibbs said Whatever you need I will give you.

He was detained and interviewed by police before being cautioned and charged.

Electronic equipment was seized including a laptop, hard drive, mobile phone and tablet, as well as a digital camera.

They were analysed and 60,000 moving images found which were taken covertly.

The court heard much of the footage was of day to day business, as well as indecent footage captured.

It was heard that the girl was shocked and disgusted and that "she trusted the accused like family.

Defence lawyer Neil McCulloch said his client has shown genuine remorse for his victim.

He said Gibbs accepts his crimes were unacceptable and inexcusable.

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A MAN who spent more than three years on bail before being charged has pleaded guilty to child pornography offences.

Jonathan Barclay, of Chadborn Close, Brighton, has been given a 24-month community order and will be a registered sex offender for five years.

His estranged husband has spoken of his upset at learning through this newspaper that his partner had been charged with such serious offences.

Barclay, 51, co-founder of a Brighton events management company, pleaded guilty to five counts of downloading indecent images of children and one count of distributing an indecent image of a child.

He had been arrested in October 2011 but not charged until January this year due to what police described as a very exceptional series of complex legal and technical issues.

His case was used by the chief constable Giles York as an example of why a cap should not be put on the length of time people could be on police bail, arguing some cases were too complex.

Mr Barclay had pleaded not guilty to causing or inciting a child between 13 and 17 years old to be involved in pornography and refusing an order to disclose a computer password. The court did not proceed with those charges but they will remain on file.

His estranged husband, William Underwood, pictured right, who has changed his name to Christopher Clayton, said he was shocked to learn of the offences through The Argus when the paper first covered the story in January.

The 21-year-old, who now lives in London, said Barclay had told him he was on bail after they moved in together but not what for, and he had not pressed the issue.

The pair married in April, 2013 after meeting via a dating website that Christmas. They separated shortly after, before Barclay was charged.

Mr Clayton said: I did not know how serious it was until I saw it in the paper.

I was completely in love with him at the start. Since I got off the train there was a spark with him and I fell in love. He was a lovely guy when it was nice. When it was nice, it was lovely.

But when I first found out about the case I felt violated.

Now I think my whole wedding and everything with him was based on a lie from the beginning.

Under the name Jon Philips, Barclay was featured on the website of Brighton events management company Showbizz, in Cheapside, earlier this year, as a co-founder. He no longer has anything to do with the company, a spokesman said.

BACKGROUND

The Home Secretary Theresa May is planning to limit the amount of time suspects can spend on police bail to an initial 28 days.

Any time beyond that, up to three months, would need to be authorised by a superintendent. A magistrate would have to approve anything beyond three months.

Under the changes set to go through Parliament, there would also be a presumption to release without bail during investigations.

Sussex Police chief constable Giles York has argued against statutory time limits, saying rushed investigations would see more cases failing at court.

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A chef has been jailed for 15 months after abducting a 15-year-old girl and fleeing to the Isle of Wight with her.

Michael Britten sparked a huge police manhunt when he ran off with the teen in August last year.

The 33-year-old admitted to a judge that he ran off with the girl, which the court heard was 'sexually motivated'.

The girl's mother pleaded for her to come home during the manhunt, before police found them on the island.

A court today heard Britten, of Southampton, was seen on CCTV buying the teenager a ring from Cash Recycle in Newport, Isle of Wight.

The pair later spent the night at a hotel in nearby Shanklin, and were captured on a CCTV camera kissing.

The chef's semen was also found on her underwear, however prosecutors could not be sure how it got there.

In court today they accepted his defence that sexual activity between them amounted to no more than kissing.

Judge Nicholas Rowland described his actions as 'sexually motivated' and today jailed Britten for 15 months after he admitted abducting a child.

Britten was also handed a 12-month sentence after admitting a charge of sexual activity with a child, namely kissing, and 12 months for admitting possessing indecent images of the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

These sentences will run concurrently.

Southampton Crown Court also heard the girl moved out of her family home to live with a friend of her mother before the pair ran away.

Britten, who worked as a chef in Yates's pub in Southampton, was also lodging at the house.

Christopher Stopa, prosecuting, said: "Britten pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child on the basis the activity was not to do with the semen but related to the kissing on the bus.

"In July 2014, she chose to move out of her family home and stay with her mother's friend.

"On Friday, August 8, the pair travelled to the Isle of Wight and on Friday night they stayed with a friend of the defendant's brother.

"They then went to spend the following night at a hotel in Shanklin, Isle of Wight.

"He was arrested by police on the Sunday and she was taken back into care.

"CCTV footage shows Britten with his arm around her and her with her head on his shoulder.

"Other CCTV footage from Cash Recycle on August 8, 2014, shows Mr Britten buying a ring for her and she can be seen putting it on her finger."

Peter Asteris, defending, said: "Mr Britten is now 33 years old and is someone with difficulties in learning.

"He found himself going down a road and started to panic when the situation became serious.

"He will never go down that road again."

Judge Nicholas Rowland said: "You have pleaded guilty to three counts.

"You kissed the girl as shown on the CCTV from the bus and you accept you shared a bed, which indicates there was a sexual motivation for the child abduction.

"You were 33 and she was 15 - she was troubled and remains a troubled child.

"You went away for three days and went to a hotel and shared a bed, which shows this child abduction was sexually motivated."

Judge Rowland also ordered Britten to sign a sexual harm prevention order for the next 10 years which prevents him being alone with a child under 16.

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A paedophile, branded "calculating and predatory", has been jailed for 15 years for a string of sex attacks on girls as young as six years old.

Andrew Hocking, 57, of West Sussex, sexually assaulted four girls, aged between six and 12, from 1976 to 1990 in Gloucestershire and Hampshire.

He was found guilty of one count of rape and six indecent assaults following a trial at Lewes Crown Court.

Sussex Police said Hocking showed "no genuine remorse" for his actions.

"Hocking stands out as cold, calculating, predatory and ruthless," said Det Con Chris Smith.

"Despite the strong evidence against him, he put the victims through the ordeal of having to recount their episodes of abuse."

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Detectives discovered records of allegations of indecent assaults on a seven-year-old girl at his home in Alveston, Gloucestershire in 1976 and 1977, while they were investigated him over the making of indecent images of children.

Police were contacted by three woman claiming they had been attacked, when they were aged six, seven and 12, by Hocking at his address in Fareham, Hampshire, in the 1980s and 1990, following an appeal for information.

Following a trial, Hocking was convicted of one count of rape and six indecent assaults and cleared of one indecent assault.

The 57-year-old admitted making indecent images of children and possession of extreme pornography at an earlier hearing.

He was ordered to be put on the sex offenders register for life.

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A HAMPSHIRE man has been jailed for having sex with a 15-year-old girl on school premises.

Sam Dickety slept with the teenager at Henry Beaufort School in Winchester.

The 23-year-old was jailed for four years as his girlfriend, pregnant with his child, wept in the public gallery.

The citys crown court heard that the teenager had a crush on him and pursued him with notes and messages.

Dickety, of Tadburn Road, Romsey, gave her his phone number and email address. In a message he said he wished she wasn't 15.

They arranged to meet on several occasions and first had sex in an area known as The Harbour which only teachers could access, and again two days later in the same place.

This continued until Dicketys birthday, when the girl asked another pupil to deliver a birthday card to him.

It was intercepted by her mother, who thought it was provocative and reported it to the school.

The card said: I love you so much and you mean everything to me, you are my handsome Sam. Ps, youll get your present on Thursday haha.

Claire Marlow, prosecuting, said: The headmistress spoke to Mr Dickety who at that stage said that nothing had happened in any way. He was reminded of the safeguarding rules and warned not to have one-to-one contact with her thereafter.

But they continued to meet in The Harbour to have sex for another two months, the court heard.

Ms Marlow said: This came to light during the school holidays because there was a message on Facebook, which is the parents because they will not allow her to have her own, from him asking whether she was going to be in a particular location that day.

Dickety pleaded guilty to five of six charges relating to sexual activity with a child.

Mitigating, Rina-Marie Hill said: I proceed with caution that for every good thing I can say on Mr Dicketys behalf theres a downside to it. This is a 15-year-old girl, soon to be woman, at the time who was sensibly consenting to the sexual activity.

She added: The impact of this will stay with him for the rest of his life and he will pay the consequences for the rest of his life.

Sentencing, Judge Susan Evans QC said it was a significant and serious abuse of trust and Dickety would have been aware of the girls vulnerability - she had previously been sexually assaulted.

You took advantage of your 15-year-old victim, you groomed her, the judge said.

The location is an aggravating factor because it was on school property and most seriously you failed to respond to the warning you were given.

He was jailed for four years and will be released on licence after two years.

Dickety will also be on the sex offenders register for life and disqualified from working with children and vulnerable people.

The school, a mixed comprehensive in Harestock, and the county council, were asked to comment but had not replied by the time the Daily Echo went to press.

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A VIOLENT and sadistic paedophile who 'pranced and posed' semi-naked in ladies underwear while sexually abusing two children has been jailed for 15 years.

Derrick Hooley, 69, dressed up in black suspenders, a basque and French knickers to degrade and humiliate his young victims.

He was labelled 'a thoroughly nasty deviant' by the judge sentencing him last Thursday.

Hooley, a retired coach painter with Keighley and District Buses, was unanimously convicted of all 17 charges against him by a jury at Bradford Crown Court.

They involved the 'sustained, routine and relentless' sexual abuse of a boy three decades ago and the similar abuse of a girl over the same period.

The boy, now a man in his 30s, had been 'wholly destroyed' by Hooley, Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC said.

Hooley, who wore dark glasses and earphones during the trial, remained impassive in the dock as the jury's verdicts were returned.

A victim statement by the male victim said he had been robbed of his childhood and had recurring nightmares.

He still leapt out of bed taking swings at the man 'as though fighting him off'.

Hooley, of Main Street, Farnhill, abused the children in Skipton in the mid to late 1980s.

He was convicted of 12 offences of indecent assault and indecency with a child, relating to the boy, and five charges involving the girl, including indecent assault, indecency with a child, and taking an indecent photo of her.

During the trial the jury saw photographs of Hooley 'prancing and posing' semi-naked in women's underwear and male pouches.

His passion for photography cemented his downfall when the police seized pictures of him in what the judge described as 'a variety of fairly interesting positions'.

"This case is about a thoroughly nasty, deviant man who happened, inappropriately and cruelly, to parade naked and in women's clothing," he said.

Hooley told a pack of lies to the police and the jury when the evidence against him was overwhelming.

He told the court he was posing in frilly pants and bras to see if they fitted for 'a fancy dress do'.

Another outfit, of skeleton body paint, French knickers and a white cape, was to wear at a Halloween party, he claimed.

Hooley, who was born in Ilkley, had never been in trouble with the police before, his barrister Robin Frieze said.

He had been a self-employed sign writer and then worked at Airedale General Hospital, in Steeton.

During the trial, the male victim said he went to the police when Jimmy Savile's sexual abuse was made public in 2013.

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A FORMER engineering student who raped a prostitute in a graveyard has been jailed for eight years.

Emmanuel Mutandi had denied raping his victim, and maintains that the two had consensual sex.

However, the 22-year-old was convicted of the "violent rape" in the early hours of Saturday, August 2 2014 at the conclusion of a three-day trial at Bournemouth Crown Court.

Mutandi had originally agreed to pay his victim 40 for full sexual intercourse, but after the pair walked from Southcote Road to St Clements Church in Boscombe, said he only had a 20 note.

The woman - who had returned to prostitution after three years in a desperate bid for money - performed a sex act on him.

However, as she attempted to leave afterwards, he grabbed her and told her he wanted full sex, viciously battering her after the rape.

She suffered injuries including bruising and damage to her teeth in the assault, which Zimbabwean Mutandi admitted at an earlier hearing before a judge.

The not guilty plea forced the woman to relive her ordeal during the trial, and she told jurors she had begged the defendant to kill her quickly.

Fern Russell, mitigating for Mutandi, said: "This was a business transaction that went wrong and Mr Mutandi reacted in a way which plainly caused damage to [the victim].

"He is not a man who has engaged in this kind of behaviour before."

Mutandi, of Walnut Walk, Kempston in Bedfordshire, has been living in the UK since he was nine.

He is currently training to become a pastor in custody, and was studying at Bournemouth University before being charged with rape.

Sentencing the defendant, Judge John Harrow said: "You are intelligent and from a good family, and you have brought shame and disgrace on yourself and, no doubt, you have upset all of your family."

He added: "You went to a cash machine and accompanied [the victim] to a churchyard.

"It was a secluded and dark area. The you made clear to her you were not prepared to pay the agreed price for full sexual intercourse. What happened then is that she submitted. She felt threatened, she felt afraid, she felt she had to agree to sex because she had no option."

Speaking after the sentence, Hayley Porter-Straw, senior crown prosecutor for the CPS Rape and Serious and Sexual Offences Unit, said: We would like to thank the victim who had the immense courage to report the crime to the police and who supported the prosecution.

Our thoughts are with the victim and hope that she will be able to move on from this terrible ordeal.