Latest Offenders

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A MAN has been jailed for eight-and-a-half years after being found guilty of raping and assaulting a sex worker in Southampton.

Christian Hingarau attacked the 36-year-old woman in the early morning incident at an address in Empress Road, Bevois.

The 30-year-old pleaded not guilty but was convicted by a jury during his trial at Southampton Crown Court.

Hingarau had pleaded guilty to a second count but denied the rape, which happened on January 23.

Hampshire Constabulary said there is often a reluctance for sex workers to come forward and the brave woman in this case initially felt the same.

When asked following conviction if there is anything she would say to other working women, the victim, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: "We can get justice, we deserve it, we are valued.

"If you have been hurt - come forward, get help, you will be listened to."

Hingarau was sentenced to eight years and six months in prison and placed on the sex offenders register for life.

He was also given a sexual harm protection order for 15 years.

Detective Sergeant Janine Bradley, Senior Investigating Officer, said the victim didnt want to report this crime at first as she thought she would not be believed.

He added: "There is often a reluctance to come forward, but this case shows how seriously we take such crimes.

"We want to encourage sex workers in the future to report these crimes. If you report it, you will be listened to."

The investigation is part of Operation Hem, which is Hampshire Constabulary's long-term response to issues around street prostitution in the city.

It sees the force work with other partner agencies to develop routes out of prostitution while safeguarding those street workers who are at significant risk of harm.

It targets those people who abuse, exploit or are violent towards sex workers.

If you have information about the exploitation or abuse of sex workers or if you have suffered abuse, violence or exploitation yourself, please report it to the police on 101 (or 999 in an emergency).

If you are involved in sex work and would like support or advice to keep yourself safe, we can help direct you to the appropriate agency.

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A dangerous and manipulative man, who had already been convicted of rape on other women, has been jailed for raping another woman four times in the late 1990s.

Richard Green, 48, of HMP Parkhurst on the Isle of Wight, has been sentenced to 13-and-a-half years in prison.

In 2012, Greens victim reported how she has been abused by him at their home in Chingford between 1997 and 1999.

During those years, when the woman was just 19, she was raped four times and subject to false imprisonment and ABH. The victim also suffered a miscarriage.

Snaresbrook Crown Court heard how Green had already been convicted and imprisoned for rapes on two separate occasions against other women and was jailed for ten years in 2000 with a concurrent sentence of six years and three months in 2012 after being found guilty of rape again.

Green was sentenced on Friday after pleading guilty to four counts of rapes and multiple incidents of false imprisonment and ABH.

Detective Constable Chris Sains who led the investigation said: "This is an historic case stemming back 20 years, but despite the length of time since the incidents Green has been convicted of his crimes.

"The victim has shown a great degree of courage, persistence and determination in securing the conviction, having persevered with the allegation and supporting the police investigation.

"The victim has had to live with this trauma and the absolutely horrendous violence she endured for the years she was under the control of Green and will have to live with these memories of the abuse for the rest of her life.

"Green is a dangerous, controlling and manipulative individual who has been convicted twice previously for rape. He will continue to spend a substantial period his life in prison where an individual of his heinous character should be.

"Given Green's history of abusing women it cannot be discounted that there are other victims of his - I would urge anyone who has been a victim of Richard Green to contact police - specially trained officers are there to support you."

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A man from Wandsworth has been jailed for eight years for raping a 12-year-old girl four decades after the crime took place.

A jury at Croydon Crown Court unanimously found 64-year-old Colin Hudson of Geraldine Road guilty earlier this year. He received his sentence this Friday (27 July).

The court heard that in March 2015, the victim, who is now in her fifties, reported to Dorset Police that as a 12-year-old child she had been groomed and raped by Hudson when he lived in Croydon.

She described how he had ingratiated himself into her family and convinced her that he was her boyfriend in a secret relationship in 1978.

Before the day of the attack, Hudson pressured the victim to visit his home. Hudson then instructed his victim to get into his bed and undress, before he raped her.

She described feeling overwhelmed and in a state of shock following the attack and unable to tell anyone at the time what had happened. She felt unable to report the allegation to the authorities until after her father died in 2012 when she had greater confidence that her allegation would be believed by the authorities. Officers charged Hudson with rape on 22 June 2016.

During the trial, Hudson continued to deny any responsibility, however a jury found him guilty following a nine-day trial.

Detective Constable Gregg Nicol from the Mets Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Unit (CASO) said, This was a complex investigation into a 40-year historical allegation of rape in which Hudson probably thought he would escape justice after so many years. I praise the victim's bravery in reporting her allegation and her determination in seeking a conviction.

Detective Inspector Simon Dowling from the same team said, The victim has waited a long time to get the justice she deserves. I hope this result will mean other victims will have the confidence to come forward to report rape no matter when it happened in their lives.

The victim has had to live her life after suffering at the hands of Hudson 40 years ago and although this result will never give her back that time, I hope it will provide some closure and she can now put this behind her.

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A judge told control freak Kevin Adiar "You were, are and will remain a danger to any woman".

A rapist who inflicted a catalogue of hurt, misery and degradation on women has been jailed for nine years after treating victims like "a cat playing with a mouse".

Kevin Adair, 34, was found guilty of a catalogue of sexual and violent offences against five former partners last month.

At a sentencing hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh on Wednesday, a judge told Adair: "You were, are and will remain a danger to any woman with whom you have a relationship and perhaps women at large."

Michael O'Grady QC said: "I therefore require not only to punish you for the hurt, misery and degradation you have visited upon the complainers but also, so far as this court can, to afford some measure of protection to women who may encounter you in the future, albeit the distant future."

The judge imposed a further six year term on Adair when he will be under supervision and on licence.

He told Adair: "This in my view is necessary given the risk you represent."

Judge O'Grady said that a background report prepared on the rapist revealed that he accepted little responsibility for his crimes and showed "neither insight nor remorse".

Adair, formerly of Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, assaulted five women and subjected two to sex attacks, including rape, between 2004 and 2014.

His first victim was flicked and punched on the face by him and molested on various occasion before being subjected to a serious indecent assault at a house in Dumbarton, West Dunbartonshire, a week before Christmas in 2007 during which he restrained her.

During an earlier trial when he denied a string of charges the court heard that Adair called her names and checked her intimately to make sure she was not cheating on him.

He was described as a "very controlling" man but one who could also be "very charming".

Another woman was headbutted and kicked on the body in an attack in Dumbarton in 2005.

The sex abuser hounded a third victim, bombarding her with texts checking on her whereabouts and attacked her at a flat in Helensburgh, in Argyll and Bute, in 2011. He pushed her on the body resulting in her falling down stairs.

A fourth victim was subjected to assaults by Adair at addresses in Greenock, Inverclyde. She was punched in the face while she held a baby and was grabbed by the throat and pinned against a wall and slapped and kicked.

Jurors heard that the scared woman lied to the police and a midwife to cover up her ordeal at the hands of Adair.

Adair subjected his last victim to a rape ordeal at a flat in Greenock days before Christmas in 2014 when he took off her clothing and carried out sex acts on her.

He told the woman that he would not delete naked photos of her from his mobile phone unless she had intercourse with him.

Prosecutor Duncan McPhie told jurors: "She understood that he had photographs of her - compromising photographs. She told you that she had sex with Adair only in return for him deleting them from his phone. You might think that he had a hold over her because of these photographs."

Judge O'Grady said: "In some aspects of his behaviour it was akin to watching a cat playing with a mouse."

Defence counsel Mark Stewart QC said Adair had never previously served a prison sentence and added: "He understands the court will impose a substantial custodial sentence."

Detectives have thanked Adair's victims for their bravery in testifying against him.

Detective Sergeant Iain Renfrew, from the Domestic Abuse Taskforce (West), said: "Kevin Adair is an extremely dangerous individual who poses a real threat to women.

"He subjected five former partners to horrific abuse and it is only as a result of their bravery that he is finally facing the consequences of his actions.

"I would like to thank the victims for coming forward and helping us unravel the true extent of Adair's crimes and helping us ensure he is not free to harm other women.

"Adair may have thought he was untouchable and that none of his victims would ever have the courage to speak out - but he was very wrong.

"With the support of our specialist officers in the Domestic Abuse Taskforce and other services, they stood up and testified against him in court and helped bring us to today's conclusion.

"I would urge anyone suffering domestic abuse, or who may have concerns about a friend or family member, to contact Police Scotland via 101 and we will do everything in our power to bring perpetrators to justice."

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A former primary school headteacher has been locked up for more than seven years after admitting to grooming and committing sexual offences with a teenage boy in Derbyshire.

Robin Scott, 53, was in charge of Woodlesford Primary School in Leeds at the time of the offences when he preyed on the vulnerable youngster in Glossop.

The offences were committed in the Glossop area against the youngster - who cannot be named for legal reasons - and do not relate to anyone at the school.

Scott appeared before Derby Crown Court on Monday, July 23, where he pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual activity with a child and one of meeting a child following sexual grooming.

After the case, Detective Sergeant Steve Bruce, who led the investigation said: Robin Scott groomed a young man and then engaged in sexual activity with him on a number of occasions.

Im pleased we have been able to get this result in court and hope it shows just how seriously we treat offences like this.

Scott was initially charged with ten counts of sexual activity with a child and one of sexual grooming, between February 2017 and June 2018, when he appeared before Chesterfield magistrates court in June.

He later pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual activity with a child and one of meeting a child following sexual grooming which was accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service and he was dealt with for these charges alone.

The 53-year-old, of Wycar, Bedale, North Yorkshire, was sentenced to seven years and four months of custody.

Prosecuting solicitor Becky Allsop told a previous Chesterfield magistrates court hearing offences came to light when Scott was spotted with the 15-year-old victim and police were contacted.

The defendant had been accused of initially being in contact with the youngster via social media from when the boy was 13-years-old, according to Mrs Allsop.

Mrs Allsop added that when matters allegedly became more sexual the youngster was allegedly taken by Scott, who is a headteacher, to a Travelodge.

Defence solicitor Julie Page had told the magistrates court hearing Scott had spoken to the youngster who had complained about family issues.

Ms Page said Scott accepted he knew the complainant and that they met through a chatroom.

Scott also claimed it had been a difficult time because his own mother has dementia and she has been living in a home and his father was struggling to cope, according to Ms Page.

The magistrates court had heard Scott was also having to make redundancies at his school.

Ms Page said Scotts initial contact with the teenager had not been sexually motivated.

She said: He had met a young boy and put himself in a vulnerable position and he compromised his own position by providing guidance and support.

Following the case, Det Sgt Bruce added: It doesnt matter how old a victim is, what the circumstances are, or how much time has passed. I would urge anyone who may be a victim of sexual abuse to contact the police, or one of our partner agencies.

When we receive reports like this, we put all of our efforts into safeguarding vulnerable people and making sure people like Robin Scott face justice for their crimes.

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A sex attacker known as the 'rush hour prowler' has been jailed for six years after carrying out a string of "shocking" and "disturbing" assaults.

Married father-of-two Kevin Bond, a former nightclub owner and operations manager at South Bank University, targeted victims as young as eight across southeast London.

The 52-year-old man from Chislehurst, Bromley, usually attacked lone women or young girls in pairs before running off.

His targets would often be travelling to or from work and school.

Bond's offending was so prolific that police conducted a campaign with schools and parents across the boroughs of Southwark, Bexley, Lewisham and Bromley to make sure young girls travelled in groups or with an adult.

He first struck on 6 October 2016 but was not tracked down until November a year later when CCTV images were released in a public appeal.

Bond admitted 11 counts of sexual assault and three counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 after his DNA was found on the crotch of a victim's jeans.

Multiple other victims picked him out of identity parades.

Ben Lloyd, prosecuting, told Woolwich Crown Court: "The defendant's typical offending involved following unsuspecting women and girls in public places, often on their way to and from work during typical commuting hours.

"Having followed them along the street or into buildings, he would surprise them, grab them on their private parts and then run off."

Bond attacked three people - a 13-year-old girl and two adults - in the space of less than an hour in Greenwich in last October, the court heard.

The eight-year-old was attacked on 13 November 2017 after she became separated from her friends on her journey to school.

Several of Bond's victims used personal statements to say how they were now afraid to venture out on their own and were nervous of lone men.

John Blanford, defending, said Mr Bond's life had started to fall apart after the suicide of his mother in 2016.

His marriage broke down and he started abusing cocaine, ecstasy and watching pornography before he began his campaign of assaults, the court heard.

Judge Nicholas Heathcote Williams QC said: "From October 2016 you started assaulting young girls and young women - waiting until they were alone or became detached from the group they were with.

"Or you attacked them when they were isolated - in parks, in stairwells and in a lift - then you sexually assaulted them by grabbing their crotch area or the breast area."

He continued: "What you did was deeply shocking, violating, frightening, distressing and disturbing for your victims."

Bond was also ordered to sign on to the sex offenders register for life and barred from living with, or having unsupervised contact with, girls under the age of 18 unless with the knowledge and consent of social services and the child's parent or guardian.

The defendant appeared in the dock in a white shirt and dark tie and did not react as his sentence was read out.

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A dangerous sex predator who raped two women has had his sentence slashed by top judges.

Manipulative, deceitful and sex-obsessed Chiron Hutchinson got 20 years detention in a young offender institution at Maidstone Crown Court on October 25 last year.

Branded a danger to the public, he was ordered to serve an extra eight years on licence after his release.

The 20-year-old, of Mount Pleasant, Uckfield, East Sussex, admitted two counts of sexual activity with a child.

He was convicted of three counts of rape but acquitted of other sex offences, Mr Justice Kerr told London's Appeal Court today.

Hutchinson gave a 14-year-old girl five glasses of Champagne, which made her feel dizzy, before molesting her.

He had sex with the teenager in a park when there was borderline consent, said the judge.

A second victim had drunk a large quantity of alcohol when she met Hutchinson at a Tunbridge Wells nightclub.

He drove the extremely intoxicated 17-year-old to a wooded area where he twice raped her.

A 24-year-old woman had been drinking and smoking some cannabis and was walking home alone when she encountered Hutchinson.

He gave her a lift in his car and, when she realised he was not taking her home, she asked where they were going.

He gave no reply and stopped the car in a wooded area, opened the door and pushed her out.

[An] opportunist who engineered situations to enable him to take advantage of young females... - Judge

She tried to fend him off, but he told her he would punch her if she continued, before raping her.

A probation officer's report described Hutchinson as highly manipulative and having a sense of entitlement.

The judge who locked him up said he was an opportunist who engineered situations to enable him to take advantage of young females.

He singled out victims who were vulnerable because of their age, trusting nature or being drunk.

Hutchinson would then force himself upon them for his own sexual gratification.

The Crown Court judge said Hutchinson was a manipulative, deceitful individual, obsessed with sex.

He had prolifically viewed pornography and used the search term forced sex.

A fantasist and a narcissist, his conduct was predatory and there were fundamental flaws in his character.

Michael Haynes, for Hutchinson, argued his sentence was far too tough and that he had wrongly been labelled dangerous.

It was more a case of an opportunistic young man with a lack of understanding of sexual boundaries than a dangerous sexual predator, he said.

The barrister pointed to Hutchinson's relative youth, having no previous convictions and the short time span of his offending.

Mr Justice Kerr, who was sitting with two other judges, said the Crown Court judge was entitled to make a finding of dangerousness and to impose an extended sentence.

But he added: Grave though the offending was, we agree that the overall sentence was too high given his age, the lack of any previous convictions and the short duration of the offending.

Allowing the appeal, the judge reduced the custodial term from 20 years to 16 years, and the extended licence period from eight years to four years.

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Danny Tiplady has been jailed for sharing the sexual images of children with people all over the world

A Maidstone man has been jailed for sharing extreme videos of sexual abuse, violence and torture.

Daniel Tiplady, 31, of Kent Avenue, admitted possessing more than 150 extreme images and sharing them with people all over the world through chat groups.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Tiplady's behaviour was uncovered when he shared explicit images of a woman on Facebook.

Police were called and later found 15 indecent images of videos of children and 145 videos of extreme pornography.

Further storage devices found at his home contained more indecent images of children, along with numerous videos showing extreme violence.

Many of these images were shared by Tiplady over a mobile messaging application which had recipients all over the world sharing the content.

Tiplady pleaded guilty to six counts of making an indecent photograph of a child, three counts of possessing extreme pornographic images and one count of disclosing private sexual photographs with intent to cause distress.

At Maidstone Crown Court yesterday (July 9), he was sentenced to 20 months behind bars.

Police Constable Edward Stenzil, the investigating officer for this case, told Kent Live: "Tipladys electronic devices were filled with depraved videos and images of the most extreme kinds of violence, which included real life torture and sexual abuse.

"He actively distributed these images and shared them with people around the world.

"He has proven that he has a disturbed mind which presents a very real danger to the wider public and the sentence he has received is entirely justified."

'Awful material is not unique'

An NSPCC spokesperson said: "Sadly the type of child abuse images possessed by Tiplady and the methods used to share this awful material to a wider audience are not unique.

"That's why it's imperative that social media companies and the government continue to work together to rid the internet of these vile crimes against children."

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Chris Hatherley viewed live streams of the indecent material as he chatted to other users of an online application and requested videos of children crying due the sexual assaults they were subjected to.

In some instances, the child being abused was a baby and in others was aged between two and three-years-old, Southampton Crown Court heard.

Police searched the 35-year-old's home following online information, seizing his computers and mobile phone.

Although no indecent images were found, Jane Terry, prosecuting, told the court a disturbing set of communications with other users of apps such as 'Kick' were present.

In some of the conversations, Miss Terry said, Hatherley would comment on how much he enjoyed the material and also what acts he wanted to carry out on the abused himself.

He was subsequently arrested.

Miss Terry added: "In his interview Hatherley said he had a huge problem and was crying. He said at the time he was under the influence of drugs. He explained he did not know why it started."

Joanne Chester, mitigating, told the court at the time of his offending, which took place between January and March 2017, Hatherley was in the depths of drug addiction.

She said Hatherley was "ashamed by his clearly depraved behaviour" and had sought help to stop his drug addiction and his offending.

The moment Hatherley opted to turn his life around was when he woke up in London in a flat with people he did not know, Miss Chester said.

Judge Nicholas Rowland said: "These images represent dreadful abuse of babies and children. It's serious.

"And it's because of people like you that they are made because an audience wants to watch it."

Hatherley, of Arnheim Road, Bassett, pleaded guilty to encouraging or assisting the commission of an either way offence.

He was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, which includes the requirement to complete at least 45 days rehabilitation activity requirements and 150 hours unpaid work.

A sexual harm prevention order was made, which banned Hatherley from using a chat room for 10 years.

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A "predator" who forced a 16-year-old to the ground and attacked her while she was walking home has been jailed.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been in a bar in Rayleigh on the night of January 5 when she got in to a conversation with 20 year-old Bradley Boyd.

During the evening Boyd had made advances towards the victim which she rebuffed.

She left the bar at around 3am with her friends, before leaving them and walking with Boyd along Eastwood Road at the junction of High Street where the victim told Boyd she would make the rest of the journey home on her own.

Shortly after they parted, she began walking down an alleyway near to M&S when a man approached her from behind, forced her to the ground, and assaulted her.

He ran off when her phone rang.

The victim identified her attacker as wearing the same distinctive black Adidas jacket that Boyd was wearing and had the same build.

Boyd, of Woodside Avenue, Benfleet, was arrested at 7.25am on Saturday, January 6, and charged with assault be penetration.

Following a six day trial at Chelmsford Crown Court, he was found not guilty of assault by penetration but guilty of actual bodily harm on Monday, July 9.

He has been sentenced to 40 months in prison.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Leon Pezzuolo said: “Bradley Boyd assault on the victim was sexually motivated and his advances had been rebuffed by her several times during the evening.

“He had been told to leave her alone several times but refused to, attacking her as she went home.

“His actions were totally unacceptable and he acted in a predatory fashion.

“This was a very serious case which was emphasised by the fact the judge went beyond the guidelines when considering Boyd’s sentence.”

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A DEVIOUS rapist has been jailed for six years after he tricked a woman into thinking they were old school friends.

Noormal Nazari, 31, of Charlville Drive, Calcot, met his victim, a woman in her 30s, for the first time on August 19, 2016 in Reading.

However, after striking up a conversation with her managed to convince her that they had met 17 years earlier.

The 31-year-old was sentenced today (Friday, 6 July) at Winchester Crown Court following what the court heard was a deliberate act of deception.

After saying they had met 17 years earlier, his victim said she thought she recognised him and believed the defendant to be someone she knew from school.

Nazari played along and arranged to meet the woman for a catch up, despite knowing that he had not only never met her but had not even been in the UK when she was at school.

The day following the pairs first meeting, Nazari picked the woman up and took her to Basingstoke where they spent the evening drinking in a pub.

The court heard that the pair later moved on to a club, during which time the victim was bought so much alcohol that she began to feel unwell and asked Nazari to drive her home.

In another act of dishonesty, Nazari claimed he too was too drunk to drive and took the victim to a Holiday Inn on Grove Road in the early hours of August 21, 2016 where he raped her.

Nazari was found guilty of rape following a unanimous jury verdict, and was jailed the same day for six years.

Following the court hearing, DC Clare Hughes, leading the investigation, said: Nazari is a devious sexual predator who thought he could get away with plying the victim with so much alcohol that she would become too vulnerable to protect herself from him.

From the moment he saw the victim he began planning his despicable attack. She thought she was going out for a catch up with an old friend from school. She hadnt seen this person for so long that she did not realise the man in front of her was in fact not the person he was purporting to be.

I am pleased with the outcome of todays hearing and that Nazari is now behind bars.

I want to thank the victim for her unwavering bravery and courage, and the fact that in the face of adversity she has remained strong through what was no doubt a very difficult two year period. .

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A MAN from Lerwick who got into a bed naked with a sleeping woman has been placed under supervision for three years and given 300 hours of unpaid work to complete.

Adam Wood, of Robertson Crescent, previously admitted a sexual assault charge which saw him get into the bed at an address in Lerwick without the womans knowledge or consent following a night out on 8 October last year.

Lerwick Sheriff Court previously heard that the 22 year old had gone to a flat where the woman was staying the night, after she had earlier rebuffed his attempt to kiss her in a night club.

Returning to the flat from the club shortly before 3am, the victim had left the door of the ground floor property open so that her female friend who lived there could get back in after she had been to a party.

On wakening the next morning, she had been shocked to find Wood, who had taken his clothes off, sleeping beside her and contacted her friend who had still not returned home.

After her friend returned and Wood was put out, the police were called. Wood continued to send remorseful messages to the complainer on social media.

The court had heard that there was no suggestion of sexual contact other than the victim becoming aware of Woods body hair when she awoke beside him.

At Lerwick Sheriff Court on Thursday, defence agent Tommy Allan said that the elephant in the room was the contact between the pair in the club, but he said there was no evidence of intentional, deliberate touching in the bed.

The solicitor added that alcohol and drugs had affected his clients memory of the incident.

Allan said that Wood fully realised the distress he would have caused the woman and had accepted responsibility.

Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood said that he was persuaded by the smallest scintilla against sending Wood to prison as he had to be sure custody was the only option.

Instead, he gave the man a community payback order, with Wood also placed on the sex offenders register for three years.

He was also made to take part in the Moving Forward Making Changes project, a behavioural programme designed to provide treatment for men who commit sexual offences.

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A 39-year-old father has been jailed for having sex with a schoolgirl who was less than half his age.

John Baines had an eight-month sexual relationship with the vulnerable 15-year-old girl.

He plied her with the alcopop WKD and other alcohol and took her for treats at McDonalds before the girl realised the relationship was wrong and ended it.

Baines’ infatuation with the teenager led to the break up of his own marriage and she started sneaking away from her home to spend time with him when he set up home on his own.

The victim later told police that meeting him secretly made her feel ‘weird and cringy’, Exeter Crown Court was told.

Car valeter Baines, of Churchill Road, Bideford, admitted four counts of sexual activity with a child and was jailed for three years and four months by Judge David Evans.

He told him: ”You took advantage of the trust which you had generated in her to engage in sexual acts with her. She knew and you knew that what was happening was wrong. It was not just immoral, but illegal.

“You told her you loved her, bought her trainers and took her to McDonalds, you were treating someone who was more than half your age as if you were in a proper adult relationship.

“You treated her in a way in which you should never treat a child, on occasions drinking alcohol with her. You knew she was at a rather vulnerable stage of her life and took advantage of that.”

Mr Richard Crabb, prosecuting, said the sexual activity started when the girl visited Baines’ home and stayed up late with him drinking.

She trusted him as a father figure but the physical contact, which started with kissing and cuddling, developed into sexual acts.

The relationship lasted for about nine months and in that time sexual activity took place at his family home when there was no one else around, and at his new home when his marriage broke up.

On one occasion it progressed as far as full intercourse. She ended the relationship but he carried on contacting her and trying to meet her.

Mr Nicolas Gerasimidis, defending, said Baines was less mature emotionally than his physical age and now regrets what he has done.

He said:”He has lost everything. He has lost his relationship with his wife. He is estranged from his family and particularly his daughter.

"He recognises the damage he has done because of a foolish decision which he now regrets.”

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GROOMED by her stepfather from the age of 13, Shannon felt forced into keeping the abuse he carried out as a dark secret known only to them.

Such was Alan Stanhope’s perverted influence on Shannon, now 21, he insisted that she call him dad and legally change her surname to his.

For years she was too scared to speak out to anyone.

But today she is planning for the future after bravely telling her mum, police and ultimately facing her abuser in court at a trial.

Alan Stanhope, who had threatened her, was jailed for 10 years after being convicted of nine charges of sexual activity with a child.

Now with him behind bars Shannon is much happier – she has a boyfriend and is pregnant expecting a girl.

Speaking to The News after waiving her anonymity, she said: ‘The reason I came forward and reported the crime, as well as protecting my family and myself, was that I had to fight for my life.

‘The life I knew deep down I was supposed to have – happiness without judgement.

‘And the feeling of “walking on eggshells” to go away as soon as I walk through the door. The future, of being married with children – that was never going to happen because Alan never accepted me moving on, or living. He wanted to run away with me.’

For years Shannon was bombarded with sexually explicit messages from her stepfather, who tried to find reasons to be alone with her and carry out the abuse.

He got together with Shannon’s mum when Shannon was just 13 – and spent years ingratiating himself into the Portsmouth family.

‘I felt I couldn’t live life any more and I got really down,’ Shannon said.

‘I was screaming out for help but nobody could.

‘It wasn’t until November 2016 when my mum found out, she became suspicious.

‘I just told her to look at his phone and see what he’s been sending me and she saw everything, all of the messages saying that he loved me and he wanted to do stuff with me.’

Stanhope, 39, of Spenlow Close, Buckland, denied all the charges, claiming his phone sent messages by mistake, but was found guilty.

Shannon added: ‘I want to get this out there, not to be malicious, but to raise awareness.

‘Even though I am still embarrassed over what happened to me for during the seven years he was in my life,

‘I do not want this to happen to another child.

‘What I experienced was horrific, and it was against my will to keep it “our little secret” and make everything seem fine between us to family and friends.’

Predator talked his way into family life

SICK Alan Stanhope told young Shannon the abuse he carried out was just ‘us time’.

The 39-year-old spent years taking advantage of the trust he had been given when he met Shannon’s mum.

But while portraying himself as the ‘perfect stepfather’ he was secretly stealing his stepdaughter’s childhood.

Shannon said: ‘It became an evening thing, every now and again when my mum went up to the bath and that left us alone – he called it “us time”.

‘The first time it happened, it happened so quick I couldn’t believe it. All he said was “did you enjoy it?” and I said “no”.

‘After that time it was on a weekly basis, up until I was 19, and more towards the end.

‘He said that he was in love with me.’

The pervert would message Shannon while she was out with friends and tried stopping her from going out.

‘He was pestering me to do sexual things – and he didn’t like it when I said no, and there were times he would even when I said no,’ she said.

‘It got to the point where I felt I wasn’t being left alone, I felt like I was just being harassed and I couldn’t move forward with me life.’

But now Shannon has relief that Stanhope was jailed.

She faced her abuser in court, giving evidence to jurors who returned unanimous guilty verdicts.

She said: ‘I do feel better now he’s in jail – I feel much safer. I feel like I got justice although it was nerve-wracking, before I went to the stand I was having a panic attack.’

Gilian Finch, from charity CISters, said: ‘Abusers are skilled manipulators which is how they stay undiscovered for so many years. They manipulate not only their child victims but also adults around the child too.’

She added: ‘I would urge anyone (male or female) who lives in the Portsmouth area and has experienced sexual abuse to reach out for help.’

n Portsmouth Abuse and Rape Counselling Service on the women’s helpline on (023) 9266 9511 or the men’s helpline on (023) 9266 9516. Lines open Monday 1pm-3pm; Wednesday and Friday 7pm-10pm.

n Treetops Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Cosham 24 hours a day on 0300 123 6616.

n Women in Hampshire who are over 18 and were abused as children by immediate or extended family can call CISters on (023) 8033 8080 [email protected]

‘There is plenty of support available for abuse victims’

NEVER feel unable to report sex abuse that took place years ago.

That is Shannon Stanhope’s message to others who may be suffering in silence. She said: ‘I waited too long to report this. I have missed out on my childhood. I would urge anyone who is in a situation like this, to disclose it. I have come out on the other side now. I am now 21 and I am with an amazing partner and we have a baby girl on the way. My life has completely turned around and it was worth it 100 per cent. There is plenty of support.’

Det Con Nicola Cupper said: ‘These non-recent cases are really damaging to people. Even though it hasn’t happened yesterday what they say is taken seriously, no matter how long ago something happened – it’s never too late to report it.’

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A man who sexually assaulted a five-year-old girl and left her suffering from nightmares has been locked up for two years.

Roger Laughton, who smirked in his police mugshot after being arrested, sexually abused the youngster but then, after being charged, denied he had done anything wrong.

The 33-year-old of Chestnut Grove in Grantham left his victim shocked and confused, a court was told.

Despite pleading not guilty to a charge of sexual assault as a result of what happened in January 2017, he was found guilty by a jury following a trial in which the girl gave evidence against him at Lincoln Crown Court .

Laughton was also given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

Judge Andrew Easteal, passing sentence, told Laughton: "It is plain she was shocked, confused and distressed at what you were doing to her.

"It is quite clear that this has had an enormous effect on her.

"There is no knowing how long and how deeply it will affect her but it was an awful thing that you did to her. It was deplorable.

"You continue to dispute the verdict in the face of overwhelming evidence. You have not expressed any remorse towards her."

Dawn Pritchard, prosecuting, said: "A statement from the victim's mother explains the effect she has seen on her daughter.

"Before this she was happy go lucky and confident. She would speak to anyone.

"That disappeared after the incident. She changed overnight and stopped talking to people.

"She has begun to fall behind on her school work and she has nightmares."

Michael Cranmer-Brown, for Laughton, said: "The jury found him guilty of what was alleged. He still denies that.

"There is very little more that I can say at the end of a trial when he has denied the matter and continues to do so."