Latest Offenders

Description

A purely evil and dangerous sexual predator who repeatedly raped a young girl has been jailed. Darren Shillito, of Victoria Park in Dover, was convicted of three counts of rape after a trial at Canterbury Crown Court. The 40-year-old was today jailed for 18 years and wont be eligible for early release until the parole board deem him safe. The victims mum told how she has lost her happy smiling little girl, who has since suffered suicidal thoughts. She said: The whole situation has devastated our family - there are no words to explain. My little girl, my miracle baby who had to endure the relentless horrors, I have lost my happy smiling little girl. This man is a dangerous sexual predator capable of pure evil. 'These allegations were before the jury and they were sure, as am I, that she gave a reliable account of what happened.' Shillito could be seen with his head in his hands as the statement was read, then called out inaudibly as his sentence was discussed. Cutting him short, Judge Catherine Brown said: If you continue to mutter and call out you will be taken to the cells and this hearing will continue without you. You maintained and still maintain this abuse did not occur. These allegations were before the jury and they were sure, as am I, that she gave a reliable account of what happened. She added Shillito was remorseless for his actions and, after deeming him dangerous, ruled he will be prohibited from being alone with children after his release. The defendant had no previous convictions at the time of the jurys verdict - he had a good work record... Simon Taylor QC explained Shillito still contested the guilty verdict, adding: The mitigation Im able to advance will focus on the principle of totality. The defendant had no previous convictions at the time of the jurys verdict - he had a good work record. Supported by his family in court, Shillito shouted Im not guilty mum as he was led to the cells. Shillito was convicted in July of three counts of raping a girl under 13 and sexual assault, with the jury undecided on a further count of sexual assault. He will serve a year on licence following his release, be subjected to notification requirements and a life-long Sexual Harm Prevention Order. "Shillito appears unrepentant about these serious crimes and his repeated denials have further worsened the ordeal his victim has been through..." After sentencing Det Sgt Daniel Hall, of the Kent Police's vulnerability investigation team, said: "This was a very troubling case and I would like to praise the courage of the young victim and her family who have supported the investigation. "Shillito appears unrepentant about these serious crimes and his repeated denials have further worsened the ordeal his victim has been through. "I am pleased our investigation led to these guilty verdicts and the resulting sentence will see this dangerous man jailed for a considerable amount of time. "I urge anyone who is being sexually abused or suspects someone they know is being mistreated to contact police as soon as possible. We will safeguard anyone at risk and work to bring abusers before the courts."

Description

A drunken pervert was caught loitering at a bus station where he has a history of leering at schoolgirls.

Kim Rampley has been on the Sex Offenders Register since 2002 and was jailed in 2006 for sexually assaulting a girl.

Since then he has harassed women and children at bus stops and train stations across Merseyside and Cheshire.

Liverpool Crown Court heard the 68-year-old was hit with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) in June 2015.

But he breached this on August 21 this year, when he "loitered" at Warrington Bus Station while drunk.

Simon Duncan, prosecuting, said a PCSO attended the bus interchange at around 1pm, after receiving a call from security about "a heavily intoxicated male loitering there, having been refused permission to travel".

Mr Duncan said: "He observed the defendant for some 10 minutes, staggering around, clearly heavily drunk, having soiled his trousers with urine."

Police were called to the scene and arrested Rampley, who wasn't interviewed because of his drunken state.

Rampley, of Grange Avenue, Latchford, Warrington, admitted breaching his SHPO and a suspended sentence.

Mr Duncan said Rampley had an "extensive history" of non-compliance with court orders, drunkenness and sexual offences including exposure, outraging public decency and indecent assaults.

Rampley, formerly of Frank Street, Widnes, was jailed for eight months in May 2006 for sexually assaulting a girl under 15.

He was given a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) - the old version of the SHPO - which banned him from approaching females on public transport or at stations.

Within an hour of being released from prison for that sentence, he targeted five females.

He was spotted by police blowing kisses and staring at two frightened 17-year-olds on a bus to Warrington, then pestered and called out to two 13-year-old girls in school uniform at the bus station.

Rampley then approached a woman at the town's nearby railway station and stared at her and pointed at her breasts.

For those breaches he was jailed for two years in October 2007.

In 2010 he was jailed for three years for trying to start a sexual conversation with a teenage girl on a train from Liverpool Lime Street Station.

In April 2012 he was jailed for three years for trying to engage three teenage girls in sexually explicit conversations at Sandbach train station.

Mr Duncan said he counted Rampley had breached both types of the order 11 times in total.

He said Rampley was handed 26 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, in March 2020 for breaching his SHPO in "circumstances almost identical at Warrington Bus Station, when drunk".

Rampley was given a community order in February for another breach "that involved exactly the same circumstances, at exactly the same bus station".

Kate Morley, defending, said: "The simple solution to the problem of Mr Rampley is to keep him in prison."

She said this was perhaps "the only realistic option" and her client didn't seek to persuade the judge to spare him jail.

Ms Morley said Rampley's recent breaches were for "public nuisance rather than sexual nuisance", he was a "chronic alcoholic" and "at 68 it's unlikely that's going to change".

She told the court he was "not a well man" but rather than get medical treatment, he had decided to "take his chances".

The lawyer said: "The sad fact is drinking alcohol is his only real pleasure in life.

"He has no family to speak of. He was extremely close to his mother, he described her as his rock. She passed away in 1995 and he lost his way in life."

Ms Morley said she didn't want to embarrass Rampley, but after 1995 he had his "one and only sexual relationship" and when that ended, he turned to drink "as a coping mechanism".

He committed his first offence in 1999, at the age of 46.

Ms Morley said: "Mr Rampley is embarrassed by his criminal record and he wants the court to know he has good intentions for the future."

The court heard Rampley wouldn't lose his home while in jail and has stopped drinking and is considering medical treatment.

Ms Morley said when he is next released his lawyers may have to consider asking for his SHPO to be amended, because his public nuisance breaches, as opposed to sexual offence breaches, were not what was intended when the order was made.

The judge, Recorder Ian Unsworth, QC, told Rampley: "You must be under no illusion that the SHPO in respect of which you have come before this court remains in place and when you're released from custody, you're still subject to it."

He said the pervert had a "terrible" record for non-compliance and an "extremely poor record" of convictions.

The judge jailed Rampley for 30 weeks - nearly seven months - in total.

Description

Manipulative Farzad Shabani's despicable behaviour exposed in powerful court speech by the student he left devastated A rapist continued his attack through the tears of a student before waging a campaign of manipulation to prevent her from seeking justice. Farzad Shabani fought through her efforts to push him away then shamelessly became angry at her devastation following the assault. He then tried to convince her the assault was her fault before putting her through the ordeal of hearing him lie through a trial. Shabani carried out his attack in the early hours of the morning at a university halls of residence in Liverpool. Nicola Daley, prosecuting, said: "He had sexual intercourse with her at a time that she was not consenting... even when she was telling him to stop and pushed him away with her arms he carried on regardless." Ms Daley added: "She described how the defendant didn't even seem to notice when she was crying when the sexual intercourse was continuing. She indicated how the defendant appeared to get cross with her for being upset afterwards." In a brave statement to Liverpool Crown Court, the student told how she pushed her family away because she was too ashamed to tell them, while she said Shabani "gaslighted and manipulated" her, adding: "He convinced me that I deserved it, that it was my fault." The 30-year-old's crime had a severe impact psychologically and physically, with the court hearing she initially existed solely in "survival mode". She said: "I considered dropping out of university and I think a lot of people expected me to. "There were days I could not get out of bed because I did not want to face anyone." In the aftermath, Shabani launched a vindictive social media campaign that included the creation of a fake Instagram profile through which he sought to provoke the student in an attempt to make her write responses he could use to undermine her. Meanwhile she became paranoid and scared, fearing he would have her followed. Her powerful speech told of the strength she had mustered to report her attacker to police and reach the realisation she was not to blame: "I still felt almost guilty for telling my truth... It took a while for me to come to terms with the fact he had put himself in this position and what had happened to me was his fault despite what he had conditioned my mind to believe." Peter Killen, defending, told the court: "Any offence of this type always inflicts serious harm on any victim... The sole mitigating factor is the defendant is a man of previous good character." Passing sentence, Judge Brian Cummings, QC, described Shabani's attack and following behaviour as "appalling". He told the court : "I make it clear that I sentence you on the basis of [the student's] evidence. The jury plainly accepted it. So do I. "The factual basis on which I sentence you is one of which I am sure." The judge continued: "You have shown an utter disregard for anyone but yourself. "You have presented as manipulative and controlling and for having an inflated regard for your own personal dignity yet none for anyone else's." Shabani, of Rectory Road, in the Crumpsall area of Manchester, was sentenced to six and a half years in jail and made the subject of a restraining order for life.

Description

A CONVICTED paedophile who admitted to repeatedly visiting a house while children were present - breaching a court order - has avoided a jail sentence.

Robert Nutbeam was jailed in July 2018 after he was caught by 'paedophile hunters' attempting to meet a boy under the age of 16 for sexual purposes. He admitted the offence and was jailed at Southampton Crown Court.

A sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) was put in place, but earlier this year police were told that Nutbeam, of Andover Road, Winchester, had broken a requirement. The order prevents him from entering and remaining in a household where a male under the age of 16 is present.

The 36-year-old appeared at Winchester Crown Court on Thursday after he pleaded guilty to breaching the SHPO on three occasions - July 8, July 27 and August 3, this year.

The court was told that Nutbeam had been helping a woman with DIY, but her son and his friend – both aged under 16 – were present.

Prosecutor William Saunders said: "The communication was normal and didn't cause any concern".

Mr Saunders said the offending came to light after concerns were raised by another child. He added: "It was one of the parents of other children that contacted the police."

The woman told police that she was "aware that Robert was a registered sex offender" and that she never left him alone with the children.

She added: "If I would have known about the court order or restrictions placed on Robert I would never have let him in my home."

Mr Saunders argued that it was "a deliberate breach", adding that there were "questions as to where this was leading".

In mitigation, Russell Pyne said that Nutbeam self-referred to the Winchester Wellbeing Centre for support, but his case was closed last year due to Covid.

He continued: "Certainly it shows he was keen to have support for the various difficulties that he has."

Mr Pyne said that Nutbeam was briefly remanded into custody which gave him an "opportunity to reflect on what he has done".

In sentencing, Mr Recorder Malcolm Gibney said that he believed that the breaches were "deliberate" but said there was "a level of naivety" from Nutbeam.

He added: "You know what you are doing, you are intelligent and perfectly capable of understanding the contents of the order."

Nutbeam was handed an 18-month community order, 100 hours unpaid work and 10 rehabilitation days.

Description

A man who subjected his partner to systematic, sexual, physical, mental, and emotional abuse has been jailed.

Paul Thomas, 49, of Sidcup, Kent was sentenced to 19 years at Croydon Crown Court today (September 22), he was also made subject to Notification Requirements for life and issued with a restraining order.

He was previously found guilty of eight counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, threats to kill, actual bodily harm, and coercive controlling behaviour by the same court in June.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Nichola Buckley said:

“Thomas allowed the victim to believe she was living in a happy relationship until he increasingly coerced her into an ever more submissive role.

“He went on to abuse her mentally, physically and controlled her through fear.

“She submitted to him in bed – this is not consent – she was not free to say no.

“I want to praise the victim for the courage and strength she showed to fully assist the police in obtaining this conviction and ensuring this dangerous man has now been put behind bars.”

Thomas met his widower victim in 2017, preying on her good nature and using his status as a bereaved single dad to emotionally blackmail her.

He then became violent, throwing her down the stairs, pulling her hair, punching her in the stomach, and raping her.

The victim feared him so much she recorded his behaviour which included goading her into arguments, accusing her of cheating, and blaming her for his violent outbursts.

She also photographed her injuries and filmed him as he tried to stop her leaving, all the while he was tracking her phone and threatening her and her family.

The final horrific incident came between the November 7 and 9, 2019 when Thomas went to her home in Penge uninvited to violently and sexually assault her for two days, giving her death threats and strangling her until she passed out - eventually she managed to call police.

Thomas was arrested as he left the address and later charged with multiple offences.

DC Buckley added:

“Thomas is a highly dangerous individual who had been quite rightly jailed for a significant period of time.

“He subjected the victim to significant violence and has shown no remorse for his actions."

She said it was a priority for the Met to stop domestic abuse and sexual assault by putting offenders behind bars, and she encouraged victims to get in contact so specially trained officers can offer advice and support them in getting justice.

Description

A bio-medical scientist from Sheffield has been jailed for three years for attempting to sexually abuse children online by engaging them in explicit conversations.

Paul Bower, AKA 'Paulguy10', was identified as part of a covert National Crime Agency investigation targeting offenders who used the internet to forge a sexual relationship with children, then manipulated them into sending indecent images.

Evidence showed he entered into sexualised conversations with who he believed to be two 13-year-old girls online, and then sent a photo of his erect penis.

However, Bower had in fact been talking to undercover NCA officers.

The 33-year-old, who worked at a local hospital, was arrested in October 2019 after investigators tracked him down as the man behind the online moniker.

Officers seized a number of digital devices from his home and when analysed, they discovered nearly 350 indecent images of children (IIOC).

Bowers was charged with making IIOC, two counts of attempting to incite a female child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, and two counts of attempting to cause a child under 13 to look at an image of sexual activity.

He pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced this week at Sheffield Crown Court to three years in prison.

He was also made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the Sex Offender register for life.

Neil Baxter, Operations manager at the National Crime Agency, said: "Sexual predators like Bower prey on vulnerable young children and abuse them for their own sick gratification.

"Offenders often hide behind online profiles in an attempt to mask their identities. As we have seen with this case, these people are not protected.

"Identifying and disrupting individuals with a sexual interest in children is an absolute priority for the NCA.

"This time, we know it was our officers Bower was speaking to, but next time could have been a different story. He also had a significant collection of indecent images of children on his devices.

"The amount of distress and trauma this abuse can cause young people is immeasurable. It is only right that Bower is jailed for his crimes where he no longer poses a risk to children."

Description

Jamie Mobbs, 27, claimed he was lonely and had been looking for a girlfriend. He told the 'girl', with whom he chatted on Facebook and Instagram, his real name, age and profession – before peppering her with sexual topics and asking her to send explicit images of herself.

Sentencing him to two years' imprisonment suspended for two years, Judge Michael Gledhill QC told Mobbs he should be 'thoroughly ashamed' of himself.

He said: "You are a rather pathetic character who lives a very lonely, isolated life. You may very well want a normal life and to meet somebody to have a proper relationship with and I fully understand that. You do not go about that by seeking out 13-year-old girls."

Prosecutor Isobel Delamere told Oxford Crown Court that Mobbs had begun chatting to the 'girl' on Facebook on February 6, 2020.

The 'girl' – actually a decoy account operated by a so-called paedophile hunter vigilante group – told him she was 13 and from Watford. Mobbs said he was 27, a factory cleaner and asked for a photograph of her in her school uniform.

Later in the day, he turned the conversation to relationships and asked her to send pictures of her underwear. He also sent her pornographic images.

He continued to send explicit messages and even asked offered to pay her £500 to 'cuddle and kiss me and suck my w***y'. He offered to show her his genitals but warned her against telling others. Mobbs also sent three videos of himself performing a sex act.

The defendant spoke about coming to Watford to have sex with the girl and sent a link to Google Maps showing how long the journey down would take.

He was confronted at his home in Banbury on February 9 by members of the vigilante group and the police were called.

Interviewed by officers, Mobbs claimed he'd been trying to explain to her 'how relationships work' and said the video of him performing the sex act on himself was 'more educational'. There were no indecent images of children on his phone, but he had searched for terms including 'how old do you have to be to wear a thong'.

Mitigating, Gordanna Austin said her client had a number of learning difficulties including autism and Asperger's Syndrome that would make an immediate prison sentence particularly difficult. He was remorseful and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

Mobbs, of School View, Banbury, admitted attempted sexual communication with a child, attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity, attempted sexual activity in the presence of a child and attempting to arrange the commission of a child sex offence. He had no previous convictions.

He was ordered to pay £1,000 costs, carry out up to 50 rehabilitation days and abide by a 10 year sexual harm prevention order. He will be a registered sex offender for 10 years.

Description

Christopher Carey used social media apps and platforms to detail the things he wanted them to do.

The 43-year-old, from Bedlington, Northumberland, was arrested as the people he had been contacting were in fact police officers.

He pleaded guilty to a number of sexual offences and was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court.

Carey thought he had befriended three girls, aged 12 and 13, between January and May this year, Northumbria Police said.

'Continued to offend'

He began by sharing non-explicit selfies and messages before changing the tone of conversations and describing how he wanted to "kiss and cuddle" the youngsters, as well as give details of sexual acts he wanted them to perform.

Carey, of Elmfield Court, was sentenced on Monday having previously admitted inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual acts, four counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child and breaching a sexual offences prevention order which had been issued in 2017.

Commenting after the sentencing, Det Insp Rachel Lewis said Carey had been "completely undeterred" by the 10-year order preventing him engaging with youngsters in such a way and "continued to offend".

She added the strong evidence presented to the court meant he had no choice but to plead guilty.

Carey must also sign the sex offenders register for life and was given a lifetime sexual harm prevention order.

Description

AN unqualified masseur who sexually assaulted a number of clients is behind bars.

Callum Urquhart, 38, assaulted women in either their own homes or his own. He was living in Bristol but visited clients in Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.

He touched intimate parts of his victims' bodies under their clothes as well as removing the towel and exposing them while they were alone and on the massage table.

He also massaged their arms, moving their hands to touch him underneath his shorts.

The 38-year-old of Keptie Road, Arbroath, was jailed for three years for four counts of sexual assault and a further six months for another two cases of sexual assault at the hearing at Winchester Crown Court.

After the sentencing, DC Simon Rogers from Melksham CID said:

“I would like to thank the victims and witnesses for their bravery in coming forward and reporting these crimes.

“Each victim should have felt safe enough to receive a massage, but he took advantage of this and went on to sexually assault them.

“Urquhart had no formal qualifications but advertised under the company name of ‘Simple massage Bristol’.

“Although he advertised mainly in the Bristol area, he also visited clients in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and that’s how he came to our attention.

“Crimes of this nature are taken extremely seriously by Wiltshire Police so I’d urge anyone to come to us if they are victim of a sexual assault.”

Sentencing Urquhart, Judge Angela Morris told him: “None of these women had agreed to receive anything apart from a conventional massage and on each occasion, they were vulnerable and exposed.

“You exploited the situation for your own sexual gratification.”

Description

A sex offender was jailed for 16 months after being found with 76 of the most serious child abuse images.

Matthew Dunn, 24, was caught when police were told he had uploaded images of children.

Additional images were also uploaded by a third party to a Dropbox account linking back to Dunn.

DC Paul Baysting said:

“Dunn clearly didn’t learn his lesson following an initial conviction and continued downloading and distributing this horrendous material.”

In November police raided his home in Swaynes Lane, Comberton.

Two phones were seized and found to contain 377 indecent or prohibited images and videos of children. Of these, 76 were classed as category A – the most severe.

Failing to give officers access to his Dropbox account represented a breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) handed to Dunn in December 2016 when he was convicted of making and possessing indecent images of children.

He admitted distributing an indecent photo of a child, three counts of making an indecent photo of a child, possessing a prohibited image of a child and breaching his SHPO.

On September 7 at Cambridge Crown Court, he was jailed.

Description

Police praise victim for her bravery as family speak of their harrowing ordeal

Relatives of the victim of a child sex abuser have spoken of the harrowing impact of his actions as they attempt to rebuild their lives.

Richard Hall, 36, is behind bars after being given a five years’ jail term with an Indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order also imposed.

Hall, 36, whose address was given as Stockport Road, Ashton, was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court last week.

A former student at Egerton Park in Denton before going on to serve in the army, he was found guilty following a trial of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and four counts of sexual activity with a child.

The judge said Hall had groomed his victim and had displayed no remorse, stating he was a dangerous man to society.

This week relatives of his victim, who remain anonymous to protect their identity, said they welcomed the sentence and justice had been done, but the victim and family members will have to face the lifetime impact of his actions.

They spoke out following the trial in the hope it will encourage other victims of child sexual abuse, sexual assault or rape to have the courage to come forward.

In a statement they said: “Paedophiles purposely take the child mentally, emotionally and physically despite knowing that it is wrong. They lure them and lie and prey on the most vulnerable children in our society. They are calculated and manipulative.

“They adopt a personality that we often find charming, trustworthy and likeable. They search out children like a predator stalking prey and they hurt everyone in their path.

“We want people to realise and be aware of how a predator can so easily infiltrate a family; Richard Hall didn’t just groom his victim but an entire family who are all his victims.

“People need to learn how to recognise grooming behaviour, it really is the absolute unthinkable and the ultimate betrayal.”

The victim and family members have been left with a range of mental health difficulties as a result of their ordeal, being diagnosed with social anxiety, depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder with difficulties forming relationships, ultimately with one of the victims even threatening to take their own life.

In a victim impact statement Hall’s victim said: “Sexual abuse isn’t murder but it is like killing someone inside... they are alive to feel that pain forever and watch what the abuser has done to the surrounding people - that applies to all of my family because they were mentally abused... we all have to live with this.”

The relative continued: “We have very special thanks and gratitude to Norfolk Constabulary, especially the investigating officer, CPS with our outstanding barrister and of course the Judge himself. We do feel as though we have justice despite the ongoing, lifetime impact that this has had.

“We hope our story might give victims courage to speak out and we send a clear message that child sexual abuse, sexual assault and rape is and will continue to be tackled and stamped out.”

The case against Hall was brought following an investigation by Norfolk and Suffolk Police.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Natalie Riseborough said: “First and foremost I would like to commend the courage of the victim in this case. I can only imagine the ordeal she has been through and the enormous impact that this has had on her life.

“She has been incredibly brave in speaking out and breaking the cycle of abuse and preventing it from happening to others. I hope this court result will bring some kind of closure for both her and her family and allow them to start to heal from what has happened.”

Description

Police who responded urgently to a tip that a man had online discussion about the rape of a child had uncovered extremely concerning and depraved offences, a court heard today.

Andrew Baugh, 41, of Gresford Road, Llay, Wrexham, an engineer with no previous convictions, was jailed for seven years at Mold crown court. He admitted indecent images charges and causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

Prosecuting barrister Dafydd Roberts said 150,000 pictures or movies that had been discovered on devices werent categorised by police, but there was a large amount of child sexual abuse material. Distressed youngsters had been tortured.

Baugh told police he had entered into online chat on Kik of a fantasy nature.

Oliver King, defending, said there was a letter of apology from Baugh who had received counselling from a psychotherapist.

On any view these are deeply, deeply unpleasant offences and the defendant is entirely realistic about the sentence hes going to receive, the barrister said.

He wants me to convey his remorse to the court. Hes deeply ashamed of what hes done.

Judge Nicola Jones told Baugh there were real victims in the case and the offences were extremely concerning and depraved.

A sexual harm prevention order, with a string of conditions, will last indefinitely. He must also register as a sex offender.

Description

A man who was shot in the head by a friend five years ago became involved in sexual conversations with a police officer he thought was a 12-year-old girl.

Benjamin Merrifield, 36, came to the attention of police after the defendant logged into an internet site and started chatting online to someone he thought was a 12-year-old girl.

But Norwich Crown Court heard the child was an "undercover law enforcement officer".

Lori Tucker, prosecuting, said the defendant was made well aware that the person he thought he was talking to was a 12-year-old girl.

But Miss Tucker said the chats, which began in March this year, soon became "sexualised conversation".

Merrifield, of Mousehold Avenue, off Gurney Road, Norwich, asked the officer for images of herself and what underwear she was wearing.

Merrifield appeared at court on Monday (September 20) having admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child under 16.

The defendant, who has eight convictions for 12 offences, but nothing of a sexual nature, also admitted two counts of attempting to incite a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity.

Sentencing him to a total of three years and four months in custody Judge Katharine Moore said it was "sheer good fortune" the victim turned out to be an undercover police officer and that "no harm was caused to a child".

Andrew Oliver, mitigating, said he had no prior convictions for this type of offending and should be given credit for his pleas.

He said Merrifield has a number of problems, some going back to his childhood, including him being "accidentally shot by a friend of his in the side of his head about five years ago".

It has led to problems, including forgetfulness.

The defendant has also used illicit drugs, including cannabis, to help deal with his issues.

He insisted the judge must take into account the fact there was no actual victim.

Merrifield was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) indefinitely to protect children from sexual harm from him. as well as having to sign on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Description

Daniel Turnbull breached a sexual harm prevention order by having a teenager in his car.

The 33-year-old of High Road pleaded guilty to the offence which happened in South Street, Titchfield, earlier this month.

According to documents from Portsmouth Magistrates' Court, the incident was a deliberate breach of a crown court order.

It was deemed so serious only a custodial sentence could be justified.

Turnbull was jailed for six months and ordered to pay a £128 victim surcharge.

Description

A man sexually assaulted a woman then begged her not to tell the police in text messages the next day.

James Navickas performed a sex act on his victim, which she previously told him she found the idea of "abhorrent".

A judge said the 28-year-old, of Joules Close, Walton, sexually assaulted her when she was "particularly vulnerable".

Judge Stuart Driver, QC, said: "Because she was so drunk, she was incapable of giving informed consent."

Liverpool Crown Court heard Navickas and the woman had both gone out drinking together before the attack.

Frank Dillon, prosecuting, said witnesses described her as being eight or nine out of 10 on a scale of drunkenness.

He said the woman had made plain to him previously that she found the idea of a type of sex "abhorrent".

Mr Dillon said they went to Navickas' home but she felt "very drunk" and went to bed, only to wake the next day in pain, with a "hazy" memory.

The court heard she remembered Navickas performing sex acts on her and her saying to him: "What the hell are you doing?"

The victim reported what happened to a friend and a family member, before she and Navickas exchanged text messages. He said the woman had made plain to him previously that she found the idea of a type of sex "abhorrent".

Mr Dillon said they went to Navickas' home but she felt "very drunk" and went to bed, only to wake the next day in pain, with a "hazy" memory.

The court heard she remembered Navickas performing sex acts on her and her saying to him: "What the hell are you doing?"

The victim reported what happened to a friend and a family member, before she and Navickas exchanged text messages.

Navickas said "I hope you're feeling better" and she replied "I remember what you did, don't deny it".

He replied: "I'm so sorry, f***ing idiot me."

The woman said "that's absolutely disgusting" and he responded: "I know, I don't even know what came over me, can't even say anything because there was no reason for me to do it."

She replied "it's like rape, just putting it bluntly like", to which he said: "There's no other way to put it, I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry."

The woman continued "I don't know what to say, like what the actual f***", before adding: "It's not like rape, it is rape."

Navickas replied "I know, I don't know what came over me" before the woman told him she was "scared" of him.

The woman later said: "You sexually assaulted me and I will be taking it further. You're dangerous and me keeping it quiet is making it acceptable."

Navickas said: "Please, I'm asking you, as the last thing I will ever say to you, please can you not take it further, I'm looking to get help as soon as possible and speak to a therapist."

Mr Dillon said Navickas was arrested and gave a "no comment" interview when first spoken to by the police, at which stage the text messages were not available.

However, the texts were put to him in a second interview, when he "by and large admitted his wrongdoing", but denied performing the sex act she found abhorrent and denied that his victim was so drunk she didn't know what she was doing.

He later admitted sexual assault and two counts of assault by penetration.

Mr Dillon summarised a victim personal statement, in which the woman explained how she suffered from anxiety, depression and panic attacks, feels "she is not in control of anything anymore", and has "a feeling of shame that won't go away".

He said: "She has thoughts of not being here anymore - in other words, suicidal thoughts."

The woman, who regularly broke down and cried, said she felt like "a nervous wreck", which affected her social life and work.

Mr Dillon said the victim still suffers from anxiety and that she explained: "It's really hard. It never goes away - it's always on my mind."

Anthony O'Donohoe, defending, said Navickas indicated guilty pleas at the earliest opportunity and made "substantial admissions" in the second interview.

He said alcohol had been a "disinhibitor" for Navickas, who on that night had been drinking to excess and had "deficits in his consequential thinking skills".

Mr O'Donohoe said: "Had he stepped back, I daresay he never would have engaged in the activity that he did."

The barrister said Navickas, of previous good character, had a job and was working towards a managerial position.

He urged the judge to impose a sentence of two years or less in prison, which could be suspended, accompanied by "stringent" requirements to address his client's problems.

Mr O'Donohoe said: "This man clearly has the highest prospects of rehabilitation and is unlikely to ever darken the door of a court again."

Judge Driver said mitigating features of Navickas' case included his "previous good character", references which spoke "highly" of him, and his good employment record.

Jailing him for three and a half years, he said: "You showed genuine remorse by immediately confessing in text messages afterwards."

Judge Driver told Navickas to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life and also made a restraining order to protect his victim.