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A Newcastle pervert caught with more than 1,000 sex abuse images of children as young as two was an elected councillor.

David Besag was last week given a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, after admitting to child porn offences. The 50-year-old, of Glenthorn Road in Jesmond, had previously been a Liberal Democrat councillor in the city’s Walkergate ward from 2004 to 2010.

The party said that Besag, who stood as a Lib Dem candidate as recently as 2018, was no longer a member and “would never have been selected” to stand for office if his crimes had been known at the time. Besag, a self-confessed porn addict, avoided a stint in jail after pleading guilty to three counts of making indecent images of a child, one of possessing a prohibited image of a child, and one of possessing extreme porn.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that police uncovered 34 images and 23 videos of the most serious category A, 17 photos and 10 videos of category B, and 1,031 pictures and 39 videos of category C, after seizing Besag’s laptop, mobile phone, computer tower, and a hard drive. The collection involved children aged between two and 17.

There were also four prohibited images of a child and 200 extreme porn videos and five extreme porn pictures on Besag's devices, the latter involving animals and adult males. Besag downloaded the pictures and videos over an 18-year period from 2002 to 2020, which includes his six-year spell on the city council.

A Newcastle Lib Dem spokesperson said: "He was a hard-working elected member during his time as a councillor for Walkergate. It goes without saying that if we had the slightest inkling of the criminal behaviour that has now come to light then he would never have been selected as a candidate or stayed as a party member. Our thoughts are with the children and families affected. He is no longer a member of the party."

The ex-councillor was first elected in the Walkergate ward when the Lib Dems took control of the council in 2004 and was returned by voters for a second time in 2006. Besag, who has no previous convictions, claimed he had only been downloading the indecent material since 2012 and had no sexual interest in children, although he was addicted to adult porn.

The court heard he also suffered from post traumatic stress disorder and dyspraxia. As well as the suspended sentence, Besag was made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for seven years and must sign the Sex Offenders' Register for the same period.

Record details

A man who stole the childhood of a girl, abusing her for over 10 years, before moving onto a younger victim has been jailed for his sickening actions.

Christian Wood, 43, received an extended sentence of 13 years at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday (24 February) to serve 10 years in prison and three years on licence - for the abuse he inflicted on two young girls for over a decade.

Wood was found guilty of sexual assault of a child under 13, three counts of sexual activity with a child, assault by penetration and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity by a jury on 3 February following a one-week trial.

The court heard how Wood groomed one of his victims over a period of years, touching her inappropriately, before engaging in sexual activity with her. As she got older, Wood moved on to another younger victim, subjecting her to online grooming and asking her for sexual favours.

Woods abuse was reported to the police after the victims both found the courage to speak to someone they trusted.

One of the victims personal impact statements, read in court, explains how Woods actions ruined her life. It said: I have lost my childhood. My memories have been overtaken by the sickening abuse I experienced, the abuse you put me through. I dont remember the good times. You damaged my mental health, my mood, and my motivation.

I have made several attempts to end my life because of the abuse and trauma I was subjected to.

You abused your power of trust and because of that I now have severe trust issues. This has impacted my ability to form different types of relationships, including family and friends. I am constantly on edge, searching for the negatives, risks and threats in all situations. Things I once used to enjoy have now become triggers and reminders of the disgusting abuse that you put me through.

The relationship that has been destroyed the most is the one with myself.

Investigating Officer PC David Beck said: At the heart of this investigation are two victims who have had their childhood stolen and lives affected forever.

Woods offending was sinister and manipulative, distancing his victims from family and loved ones one of the victims recalled how he alienated her from her father.

No child should experience what Woods two victims have suffered, no child should suffer abuse. Their bravery and courage throughout this investigation has been incredible. They have showed that they have a voice and theyre no longer afraid.

Wood showed no remorse for his actions, and even after inflicting abuse on the victims for years, still pleaded not guilty and subjected them to relive every experience at trial.

He is a vile human being who will now spend years in prison. I hope the sentencing of Wood provides the victims with some sort of closure and helps them rebuild their lives.

The victims impact statement continued: This is me gaining my power and voice back. I am going to learn how to deal with this. I am free. I am going to thrive, and you are going to rot.

Wood, formerly of Havant, Hampshire, was also handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Record details

A paedophile who repeatedly abused a girl has been jailed. Dylan Alfie Cullen, 19, was locked up for more than nine years after admitting to a number of sexual offences against a child.

The Met Police was called in March 2022 to an address in Kingston after the girls family called the force. Cullen was arrested and taken into custody but declined to answer any questions when interviewed.

Cullen carried out his offending over an 18-month period, Met Police said. The girl he abused was known to him.

Cullen was charged and pleaded guilty on October 28 to the rape of a child under 13, two counts of sexual assault and two counts of encouraging a child to engage in sexual activity. All the offences relate to one female child.

Cullen, from Kingston, appeared at Harrow Crown Court on Thursday (February 23) for sentencing. He was jailed for nine and a half years with a further year to be served on licence.

Police praise 'strength' of victim and family

Detective Constable Annabel Leslie-Miller, of the Met Police, said: This has been an extremely challenging investigation but the successful outcome has only been possible thanks to the strength the girl and her family have shown throughout this process. I hope now that Cullen has been convicted and sentenced, they can begin to move on with their lives.

"I also hope it encourages anyone who has been the victim of sexual abuse to come forward and speak to police. We have specially trained officers who can support you and investigate what has happened."

Record details

Cambridge paedophile Peter Jarvis told police he was 'disgusting' after admitting he was a paedophile. The 48-year-old sexually assaulted a teenage girl three times in June and July 2022.

He was arrested and initially denied the offence when interview. However he eventually admitted the offences before pleading guilty to three counts of sexual assault on a girl.

Jarvis, of Sawston, Cambridge, was sentenced to four years in prison at a hearing at Huntingdon Law Courts on Tuesday (February 21). He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely and handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) to run until further notice, which means he will be closely monitored by officers.

DC Terry Bandoo, of Cambridgeshire Police, said: Jarvis abuse has had a huge impact on the victim. I am pleased he is now behind bars and once he is released he will be very closely monitored by specialist officers.

"Anyone who is concerned someone may have been convicted of a sex offence, and could be posing a risk to a child, can apply for disclosure information through Sarahs Law.

"Anyone who looks out for the welfare of a child can make an enquiry. This can include parents, carers, guardians, extended family, friends and neighbours."

Record details

A MONSTROUS predator has been locked up for a sickening sexual attack on a young woman as she screamed for help.

Evil sex fiend Gyulhan Hyusein was repeatedly told ‘no’ by the victim, but he cruelly ignored her and assaulted her sexually a number of times.

The 25-year-old pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault and appeared to be sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday, February 23.

He was put behind bars for 10 years through a sentence which has been welcomed by police who branded the defendant a sexual predator and praised the victim for her bravery.

The court heard how the victim, a woman in her late teens, was walking to her partner’s home at around 3am on Sunday, October 16, last year following a night out with friends.

As the woman walked along Orford Lane, she was approached by Hyusein who put his arm around her and his hand down her back.

The victim pushed him away and told him ‘no’.

However, Hyusein continued his attack, putting his hand down her trousers and touching her inappropriately.

Once again, the woman pushed him away and told him ‘no’. She then attempted to walk away from him.

Hyusein followed the woman, and as she entered Orford Avenue he again put his hands down her trousers and touched her inappropriately.

As the woman screamed for help, he dragged her into an alleyway and pushed her against a wall, where he continued to touch the woman inappropriately with his fingers.

The victim continued to push Hyusein away and attempted to call for help, but he grabbed her phone and threw it away.

Hyusein eventually retreated and the victim sought refuge at a nearby house, while police were called to the scene.

The predator was arrested just hours after the attack after officers reviewing CCTV footage in a control room spotted him on live CCTV cameras in Warrington town centre.

Following sentencing, DC Laura Sandbach, who led the investigation, said: “Gyulhan Hyusein is a sexual predator.

“He attacked an innocent woman who was simply walking home, despite repeatedly being told to stop.

“This was an absolutely terrifying experience for the victim, and I would like to praise her for the courage and bravery that she has shown.

“While she will never be able to forget what Hyusein did to her that night, I hope the fact that he is now behind bars where he belongs will provide her with some closure.

“I would also like to thank the eagle-eyed officer who spotted Hyusein walking in Warrington town centre on live CCTV cameras as they were reviewing the footage from the attack.

“Thanks to their diligence, we were able to remove Hyusein from the streets of Warrington, and he is now facing the consequences of his actions in the form of a 10-year prison sentence.”

In addition to his custodial sentence, Hyusein, of Longford Street in Orford, has been ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for life.

He was also handed a lifetime restraining order preventing him from contacting the victim.

DS Joe Davies added: “I would like to commend DC Sandbach for her dedication and commitment throughout this investigation.

“No-one should have to experience what Gyulhan Hyusein’s victim has gone through.

“I hope this case and the sentence that he has received encourages other victims of sexual offences to come forward and report what has happened to them.

“We treat all reports of sexual offences extremely seriously, and any allegation will be thoroughly investigated, with the wishes and needs of the victim as our main priority.”

Record details

A sex offender, who was previously snared by paedophile hunters, has been hauled before a court just months after being released from prison.

Matthew Hodgkiss, was jailed in July 2021 after asking who be believed was a 14-year-old girl for sexual pictures. He was ordered to sign the sex offenders register and abide by a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.

However, Teesside Magistrates' Court heard this week that the 45-year-old, who was released from prison in August, last year, was found to have breached the prevention order and failed to comply with the sex offenders register when police visited his home address.

Tyler Plunkett, prosecuting, said: "On January 11 police attended the defendant's address to carry out their regular reviews." He said looking at his mobile phone officers found a new Instagram account, which had a username he had failed to register.

Mr Plunkett said police also found that he had applied to both Facebook and Instagram for accounts, then deleted them. He said the defendant said he had wanted them to communicate with other people.

Mr Plunkett said: "When asked why he had deleted them, he said it was because he didn't want the police to know he was using them."

Nick Ayres, mitigating, said: "The defendant was very candid in his interview to answering questions to the police, probably to his detriment. It was a deliberate breach."

Hodgkiss was initially snared by Guardians of the North when he started engaging in sexual conversation with a decoy, posing as a 14-year-old girl in June 2020. The court heard at the time he had asked her to carry out an indecent act and send him images of her genitals.

They began to contact each other over WhatsApp and Hodgkiss encouraged her to carry out an indecent act and send him photographs of her breasts and "lower down". The decoy tracked Hodgkiss to an address in Stockton, police attended and arrested him.

He was ordered to serve 26 months behind bars. Hodgkiss, of Hartington Road, Stockton pleaded guilty to both the breach of the sexual harm prevention order and failing to comply with the sex offenders register.

Hodgkiss was granted unconditional bail and the case was adjourned for sentencing at Teesside Crown Court on March 21.

Record details

A 34-year-old sex offender who posed a ‘serious danger’ to young girls has been captured by police.

Ryan Bufton was a wanted man after failing to comply with his sex offender notification requirements following his release from prison.

With his whereabouts unknown, a police search was launched and an appeal issued warning that he should not to be approached.

The public were asked to report any immediate sightings to 999 and Lancashire Police believed he might have travelled to the Blackpool area.

“Just to update you, Bufton was arrested in Lincolnshire yesterday.

“Thank you to everybody who shared and supported our appeal.”

He was jailed for three and a half years in 2017 after preying on a 15-year-old runaway who he plied with alcohol and took advantage of in a woodland area.

Bufton was arrested and pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child aged under 16.

He also has previous convictions for sex offences dating back to his own teenage years.

At his sentencing, Judge Sara Dodd described Bufton as posing a ‘serious danger’ to young girls and sentenced him to 40 months in prison, with an extra three years on licence.

Record details

A 51-year-old man from Wirral has been jailed for sex offences after indecent images and messages he sent to a teenage girl were found on his phone.

Karl Waterhouse of Audlem Avenue, Oxton was sentenced to 18 months at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday 22 February) after pleading guilty to causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, sexual communication with a child and possessing a number of Category C indecent photographs of a child.

In December 2021 indecent photos of a teenage girl and messages of a sexual nature were found on Waterhouse’s phone dating back to December 2019.

Waterhouse was also issued a restraining order for five years and a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.

Detective Inspector Philip Ryan said: “For years Waterhouse groomed his victim by sending her messages and storing disturbing images on his personal phone. 

“His deplorable behaviour caused great psychological harm to his victim and we welcome the sentences given out by the court.

“I hope this result gives his victim some sort of closure and allows them to move on with their lives knowing he cannot harm them or anyone else.

“Merseyside Police is completely committed to protecting children from sexual abuse and those who seek to do them harm.  I would like to take this opportunity to reassure anyone who has suffered a sexual offence that if you can find the courage to come forward please speak to us as soon as you can. Our specially trained officers will treat you with sensitivity and compassion.”

Record details

A Kennington man, who posed as a minicab driver to rape a woman who fell asleep in his car months after carrying out a violent attack on another woman near his home, was sentenced to 19 years in prison today (Thursday, February 24).

The court was told how 38-year-old Michael Mehari stalked the streets of Kennington to attack vulnerable women on their way home from a night out.

The first attack took place on Sunday, December 29, 2019, as the victim, in her twenties, was making her way home from a night out with friends. She was hit on the head before being dragged into a secluded pathway in the Kennington Park Road area.

He remained at large before striking again in the early hours of March 20 last year. The court heard the second victim, also in her twenties, had ordered an Uber to King Cross and she got into Mehari’s car, believing it was her taxi. She dozed off in the back of the vehicle and awoke to find Mehari attacking her.

He had taken her to a quiet side street in Kennington. She confronted him, left the vehicle and reported the incident to transport staff at a nearby tube station who called police.

An investigation was launched and enquiries led to the arrest of Mehari. A DNA sample, taken in custody, linked him to both the 2019 and 2022 attacks.

Detective Constable Tristan Jones of the Met’s Central South Command said: “Mehari is a dangerous opportunist who actively sought lone women.

“Identifying and apprehending those who commit violence against women and girls is a priority to which we are absolutely committed.

“I applaud the bravery of the victims in this case. I sincerely hope that the sentence handed to Mehari provides them with a degree of closure and a sense that justice has been done.

“I urge anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault to contact police or a support agency. Please don’t suffer in silence.”

Mehari must serve at least two thirds of his prison sentence before being considered for release. He will also be subject to sex offender notifications for life.

Record details

An Edinburgh man appeared in court after sending explicit videos to '13-year-old Josh' on social media site dedicated to street hockey and tried to arrange a meeting.

A predator used a street hockey Facebook group to groom a ‘schoolboy’ who turned out to be anundercover cop.

Spirit Traum was the administrator of a social media group dedicated to the sport and was contacted by ‘13-year-old Josh’ who wished to join.

Traum, 22, started sending explicit photos and videos of himself to ‘Josh’ along with obscene messages.

But the youngster was actually a police officer tasked with catching perverts online by using fake accounts, as the Daily Record reports.

Police swooped on Traum hours after he tried to arrange to meet ‘Josh’ near his Edinburgh address.

Traum appeared at the city’s sheriff court on Tuesday and pled guilty to attempting to communicate indecently with an older child.

He also admitted attempting to meet someone he believed was an older child with the intention of engaging in unlawful sexual activity.

Fiscal depute Alan Wickham said the officer posing as Josh sent a request to join a Facebook group on street hockey where Traum was one of the administrators.

Mr Wickham said: “Josh was pretending to be interested in learning the game.”

Traum began sending explicit images to Josh over the course of seven days, the court heard, and stated he was the person in the photos, including one where he was naked and tied up.

Mr Wickham said Josh told the accused he was 13 and “regularly reminded” him of his age during their conversations.

Trauma asked the ‘teenager’ if he was “smooth or hairy”, later adding: “I like boys smooth.”

Mr Wickham said Traum continued to send explicit images and videos and asked for nudes of Josh to be sent in return.

The prosecutor said: “It was suggested by the accused that they meet. The accused stated he wanted to meet Josh to play hockey but went on to state, ‘You might get f****ed after’.”

Police detained Traum at his home in the city’s Fountainbridge area on September 28 2021, and he was taken to Dalkeith police station.

Record details

35-year-old Joshua Pelling, a highly predatory paedophile turned drug dealer from Sandown, has been sentenced to 8 years in prison for over 20 sexual offences and possession of Class B drugs with intent to supply.

Pelling, previously of Avenue Road, admitted the 21 sexual charges – which included inciting a 10-year-old girl to engage in penetrative sexual activity and indecent images of children – back on 31st October last year.

The court heard back then graphic details of Pelling’s paedophilic offending, which dated between April 2015 and March 2019. It was detailed how some of the girls were asked to complete sexual tasks and send sexual images or videos of themselves. The victims included real girls in Dorset, Lancashire, Humberside and across the pond in America.

The 35-year-old was given bail but soon found himself back before the courts. On 20th December, Pelling admitted possession of a Class B drug with intent to supply and to a breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) after officers raided his Sandown home and found a large quantity of cannabis worth around £3,100. They also found a phone logged into Discord that held a username not registered with the Police.

Pelling was remanded in custody at HMP Lewes to appear at the Isle of Wight Crown Court for sentencing today (Thursday) – well aware that he would most likely receive a lengthy prison sentence.

Standing before the court in an all grey tracksuit earlier this afternoon, Pelling uttered practically inaudible remarks of ‘yes’ to all of the 23 charges put to him.

Prosecutor, Barry McElduff, told the court that the offences were committed on Omegle, LiveMe and TikTok and that Pelling had tried his best to evade the authorities by connecting to his neighbour’s internet routers instead of his own. Police wrongly arrested 1 person after an email trail led back to their address rather than Pelling’s – that individual was subsequently released from custody.

He was finally caught by Hampshire Constabulary’s Internet Child Abuse Team (ICAT) after they received information from a number of agencies – including the FBI in America.

Pelling posed under numerous aliases on all 3 sites in attempts to conceal his identity including ‘Kitty Rain’, ‘Unicorn Strikeforce’ and ‘Unsub’, to name just a few. He would pretend to be a young girl – like those he was talking with. He would then blackmail the victims by threatening to expose the explicit content he had secured if the children didn’t give in to his continued demands.

Mr McElduff added that it was ‘serious, targeted and strategic offending’ and that Pelling took advantage of children.

Defending, Jim Osborne said that his client fully sympathised with the children that his actions had affected.

Recorder Malcolm Gibney said that the children were persuaded by Pelling to engage in a games-like dare and that the offences were of a nature that any right-thinking person would find disgusting and wholly unacceptable.

Joshua Pelling received a sentence of 8 years in prison with a further 2 years to be served thereafter on extended licence.

Detective Constable Martin Timmis, who led the investigation, said:

“The level of depravity that Pelling reached to torment these poor children for his own sick gratification is utterly despicable.

“The tasks that these girls were forced to perform were shocking and degrading, and has understandably traumatised them.

“Pelling is evil and twisted and belongs in prison. The lives of children have been shattered by his actions, and an innocent man was brought into custody as a result of Pelling’s warped deflection tactics.

“These young girls have shown immense bravery by reporting this abuse to the authorities, and I am grateful to our partners including our overseas counterparts in America who have pulled together to safeguard these children, and put a stop to vile Pelling’s horrific cycle of offending.”

Record details

A FORMER soldier who volunteered to support the Ukraine war effort has been prosecuted after police discovered he had a collection of extreme pornography and indecent cartoons of children.

Michael Lee, 27, who was one of the first former British servicemen to volunteer to fight in the war, has been put on the Sex Offender Register after he pleaded guilty to several indecent image offences.

All involved cartoons, Carlisle Crown Court was told.

Prosecutor Brendan Burke said that the offences - which were committed over a six year period - came to light when police searched the defendant’s address in Workington and seized two digital devices.

Both contained illegal indecent child images. Lee, whose address is now Westminster Street, Gateshead, admitted the following offences:

• Possessing 317 extreme pornographic images, involving bestiality.
• Downloading indecent child images – all of them cartoons, including 12 which were the worst Category, A; 7 which were Category B; and 32 which were Category C.
• And possessing a prohibited image of a child.

Kim Whittlestone, defending, handed the court a character reference from the Ukrainian platoon commander who served with Lee.

One of the first foreigners to volunteer for the war effort, Lee had uses his own military experience to help train other recruits to “Nato standard” and had taken part in operations. He was well-liked by his comrades.

“He’s been an industrious young man," said Miss Whittlestone.

“This defendant had a very difficult upbringing. He had alcoholic parents and there was [Social Services] intervention.” Lee had begun consuming alcohol when he was 13. Drinking heavily, he had described himself as a “functioning alcoholic.”

The barrister said: “Since July of last year, he’s been totally alcohol free. He volunteered in Ukraine and, in essence, says that saved him.”

Volunteering had given him focus, helping him to stop drinking.

Miss Whittlestone said Lee, like many such offenders when first confronted by such offending, had denied having a sexual interest in children. “He understands that is unrealistic,” said the barrister.

He was resolved to apply himself to the proposed sexual offender treatment programme.

Judge Nicholas Barker noted the prolonged period of the offending, which happened between November 2015, and March, 2021. But it was right to take into account the defendant’s challenging upbringing and his volunteering in Ukraine.

Lee was the “very example” of a defendant suitable for an alternative sentence to custody, focused on rehabilitation, said the judge. 

Judge Barker imposed a three-year community order, with 25 rehabilitation activity days. Lee must take part in the Sex Offender Treatment Programme.

Lee will be on the Sex Offender Register for five years. As punishment, he must complete 120 hours of unpaid work.

Record details

A CARLISLE man who sexually assaulted a woman while she and he were drunk has been put on the Sex Offender Register.

James Greenwood, 39, with neither preamble nor warning, began removing the shocked woman’s clothing as she lay on the floor in her pyjamas. As she resisted, he apologised, telling her: “You need to understand you’re a beautiful woman.”

At the city’s crown court, a barrister outlined how the late-night incident had caused the woman severe psychological harm.

The experience left her suffering panic attacks and an “enormous sense of dread” while also damaging her self-confidence and her sense of self-worth. Greenwood, of Sybil Street, Carlisle, admitted a sexual assault.

Brendan Burke, prosecuting, outlined the facts.

He said the defendant and the woman had spent an evening together, both drinking heavily. “They were both very drunk,” said Mr Burke. During the evening, Greenwood told the woman he wanted their relationship to develop.

Mr Burke said: “She repeatedly told him that she wasn’t interested; and ultimately, in frank terms, told him: ‘I don’t fancy you.’”

By 11pm, said Mr Burke, both the woman and the defendant were “very drunk” and there came a point when she was lying on the floor in the property’s living room, in her pyjamas.

Initially, she was unaware of what happened next but then realised that Greenwood had started to remove her clothing. She immediately resisted, flailing around and demanding to know what he was doing.

“I can’t believe that you’ve done that,” she told Greenwood, who said he was sorry. The woman then started recording what happened on her phone.

“She asked him why he did it,” said Mr Burke. “He said: ‘I just cracked. Sorry. I love you.” Mr Burke continued: “She was asking him leave.

“He initially didn’t want to; he was asking her not to call the police.” He then did leave, telling his victim as he did so: 'I think you have a problem. I hope things are okay between us.'”

The prosecutor went on to read from the woman’s victim impact statement, in which she described the lasting effects of the sexual assault. She had been left feeling socially isolated and panic-stricken.

She needed counselling as a result of what happened. She added: “I don’t want to be seen as a victim… but I don’t want anybody else to be a victim of [the defendant] or hurt by what he is capable of.”

Jeff Smith, for Greenwood, said the defendant was immediately “overwhelmed with guilt” when the woman reacted to the assault. He was apologetic "in the extreme,” said the lawyer.

“There was a huge mistake made after both parties had consumed significant amounts of alcohol and were lying on the floor together.” Now supported by an alcohol charity, the defendant had been alcohol free for 30 days.

Mr Smith added: “He knows now that she didn’t appreciate his attentions and very much regrets the distress and harm caused to this lady and hopes that she can recover and move on.”

Judge Nicholas Barker accepted that Greenwood had not gone to the woman’s property with the intention of assaulting her. But what happened caused “severe psychological harm” to the victim, said the judge.

Judge Barker added: “She’d made it clear she wasn’t interested… You knew even in your drunken state that you were doing something you shouldn't have done. That's why you were so apologetic to her.

“You had absolutely no justification for doing what you did.”

The court heard that Greenwood’s only previous conviction was for a drink driving offence in 2013, prompting the judge to remark that the defendant clearly had an inappropriate relationship with alcohol.

But, given the absence of previous offending, Judge Barker said he could suspend the two year jail term he imposed for two years. Greenwood must complete 20 rehabilitation activity days and 200 hours unpaid work.

As well as putting the defendant on the Sex Offender Register for a decade, the judge imposed an indefinite restraining order which bans the defendant from having any contact with the victim.

Record details

A dangerous sex offender who sexually assaulted and robbed a woman as she walked home from a night out has been jailed for 10 years.

Aaron Burns, 31, followed his victim as she walked through Lancaster city centre at around 2am on November 14, 2019. When she got to her home the victim felt somebody put a hand over her face and a hand around her waist.

Burns then said: Youre coming with me or Ill murder you. Burns pulled her onto a canal towpath, before asking what money she had and going through her handbag.

He then sexually assaulted her in a harrowing ordeal. The victim pushed Burns away and shouted for him to leave her alone. But he then grabbed her mobile phone and threw it into the canal, telling her she wasnt using it.

Burns then ran off and the victim sought help. Burns, of no fixed address, was arrested and linked to the offence from CCTV footage recovered by Lancashire Constabulary's investigation team.

He denied any wrongdoing but was found guilty of sexual assault, kidnap and robbery following a trial at Preston Crown Court. He was sentenced at the same court earlier this month.

Having deemed Burns to be dangerous, the Judge told him that he must serve at least two thirds of his sentence before he is eligible for parole. Burns was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

DI Dylan Hrynkow, of Lancaster CID, said: This was an appalling offence committed against a young woman as she walked home from a night out with friends. This crime has understandably had a profound impact on her made all the worse by the fact Burns forced her to relive the ordeal by running a trial.

"He did this in the full knowledge that he was responsible for this despicable crime. I would like to commend the bravery of the victim. Burns is a dangerous offender who poses a risk to the public by his appalling offending and I am glad he has been given a significant custodial sentence. The notification requirements mean he will be monitored by the authorities for the remainder of his life.

Chief Supt Karen Edwards, our Divisional Commander for the West of the county, said: The persistence and determination of the diligent investigation team has led to a dangerous offender being taken off the streets of Lancaster. We are committed to protecting women and girls from all form of violence and where we identify this type of abhorrent behaviour we will do everything we can to put the perpetrators before the courts.

I hope the outcome of this case will encourage other victims of sexual offences to come forward, knowing they will be believed, listened to and we will do everything in our power to put the perpetrator before the courts.

Record details

Police have released a picture of a man who has been banned from every women's toilets in the UK. Asere Shumba has been jailed after breaching a court order when he was found in the women's toilets at a McDonald’s in Derby.

Derby Crown Court heard how Shumba, of Shakespeare Street, Sinfin, was caught by a female staff member in the cubicles of the ladies' toilet in the St Peter's Street branch just after 6pm on December 28, 2022.

Shumba was already serving a ban for previously taking photographs of women in the lavatories in the Sinfin branch as well as in the former Walkabout bar in the Market Place. His photograph was sent to staff members at the restaurant, which led to his recent arrest and sentence.

The 27-year-old was spotted heading into the women's toilets at the St Peter's Street branch and officers were called. Shumba was arrested at his home address later that evening.

In December, when Shumba was arrested, a different court heard a statement from a female member of staff in St Peter's Street. In it, she said "I recognised him and he followed me upstairs and made some conversation with me. I thought he was going to sit down and order some food but instead, I watched as he walked into the female toilets."

That staff member said there was a woman in the toilets and when they entered she said 'I think there's a male in one of the cubicles acting suspiciously' so she banged on the door and the defendant replied 'what do you want?' They said to him 'you are in the female toilets, you need to get out' and he replied 'I thought this was the male toilets?'."

Serena Varatharajay, prosecuting, said: "He was convicted on June 9, 2021, of voyeurism and that offence was for him hiding in a toilet and taking photographs of a female in cubicle next door. His phone was seized and on it was found images of people.

"On December 28, last year, the defendant was in McDonald's in Derby and was seen entering the female toilets by a female staff member. She asked him to leave and he replied that he thought it was the male toilets."

In January 2021 Shumba had been handed a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) after being convicted of two counts of voyeurism. On two occasions he had filmed women using the female toilets, once at a McDonald’s restaurant in Surrey and then he was caught again at the former Walkabout bar in Derby.

Shumba was banned from entering any women’s toilets or changing rooms but breached the conditions of the order when he once again entered the female toilets late last year. At that hearing, the same court heard how Shumba locked himself in cubicles then filmed the victims as they went to use the facilities.

On the first occasion, he was spotted and ran out the fast-food outlet, chased by the woman who told how she felt “violated” by what happened to her. And the second time, in Derby, he was identified, arrested by police, slipped his handcuffs and ran off.

Chasing officers caught him and seized his mobile phone on which almost 400 upskirt-style photographs were discovered. Jailing him for 20 weeks, Recorder Graham Huston said: "You now understand that the breaching of that order leads to custody and you have now been remanded for the last eight weeks.

"You will then be on a 12-month licence after that and should you be arrested in similar circumstances you can expect to be returned to custody."

Lauren Fisher, mitigating, said her client had pleaded guilty to breaching a sexual harm prevention order at the earliest opportunity. She said he had completed all of the unpaid work, treatment programmes and probation service requirements from his last sentence.