Latest Offenders

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A PAEDOPHILE from Basingstoke who watched "grotesque" live footage of children being sexually abused and tortured in the Philippines has been jailed for 11 years.

Thomas Sloman was found guilty by a jury of 19 counts at Winchester Crown Court relating to making thousands of indecent images of children, and attempting to commission sexual offences against children.

The court heard that the 43-year-old, of Cairngorm Close, Buckskin, asked the people running the commercial operation to "punish" and "torture" the children for his own sexual gratification.

Chat logs showed he actively solicited for images online and arranged to view abuse over the internet.

He asked what ages the children were and requested to see girls as young as four or five, and also tried to arrange contact with the young victims.

Sloman, whose wife is Filipino, had visited the Philippines on a number of occasions, and chat room records showed he referred to repeatedly raping a young girl.

Defending Sloman, Nick Tucker said: "He does claim to have had young girls before in the Philippines and says he has had sex with them."

He added: "One way which he's seeking gratification is to boast about what he may or may not have already done in the past."

Mr Tucker described the offences as "monstrous" adding: "I don't shy away from that."

Referring to Sloman's two young sons, he said: "There's no suggestion that he's been anything but a good and loving father to them. It's mystifying how someone can compartmentalise their life in such a way to be a devoted father and then commit these offences to other people's children."

Officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA) raided Sloman's home in January 2015, seizing a number of computers and electronic devices.

Forensic analysis showed they contained around 12,000 indecent images, including more than 2,000 classed as category A, indicating the worst forms of abuse.

Many of the images were screen-grabs taken from live webcam streams.

There were also records or more than 110,000 online chats, many of which were encrypted.

Sloman was charged with 10 counts of making indecent images of children and nine counts of commissioning or attempting to commission sexual offences against children, between 2008 and 2014.

In court he denied the charges, claiming that his computer had been hacked, but on May 26 at Winchester Crown Count a jury found him guilty of all charges following a four day trial.

He was sentenced on Friday, September 9 to 11 years in prison, with a further two-and-a-half years supervision order.

He will also stay on the sex offenders' register for life.

Judge Nigel Lickley QC said: "The exploitation of children for sexual gratification is not only rightly regarded by all right thinking people as extremely serious in terms of criminal offending it's also repellent."

He added: "I have been reminded today that I described your criminal activity as grotesque and that's an apt word to use."

The judge said the offences were "evil" and reflected the "depths the poor members of the worldwide society will go to make a few dollars".

He said the victims were probably being subjected to abuse by their own relatives.

Referring to the victims, he said: "Their young lives and bodies are irreparably damaged. They have done nothing wrong but live in a world where people like you have access to the internet and you can prey on their vulnerability for a few minutes of sexual gratification."

He added: "You have no regard or care for the children, their lives and how they are affected. You have a callous disregard for their welfare and wellbeing."

Judge Lickley said Sloman posed a "significant risk to members of the public", adding: "In my view, young female children worldwide are at risk of you from serious harm in relation to your devious interest in children for sexual gratification. You are in denial which in itself is a concerning matter. My conclusion is that you are a dangerous offender."

Referring to Sloman's own children, he said: "They will have to grow up with the realisation of the other life their father lived under the same roof."

Following the sentencing, Jason Booth, from NCA, said: Thomas Sloman is a dangerous child sex offender who arranged the abuse of vulnerable children.

The fact he was thousands of miles away makes no difference to his guilt it was all done for his personal gratification.

The NCA is actively targeting offenders who pay for live streaming of abuse, because our priority is protecting children, whether they are in the UK or abroad.

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A man who sexually abused and shared indecent images of children has been sentenced to 18 years in prison.

43-year-old Duncan Hogben, of Cranfield, was convicted of 11 counts relating to the sexual abuse of children and charges associated with taking, distributing and making indecent photographs of children.

After being convicted on 29 June, Hogben was sentenced at Luton Crown Court to a total of 18 years behind bars.

Hogbens dark secret transcended the cyber world into reality, involving the direct abuse of children. His online offending contributed to the worldwide cycle of child abuse, which is the scourge of our society.

I would like to pay tribute to the brave testimony of the victims and witnesses in this case, as without their support we would not have achieved the result we have today. I am pleased that the courts recognised the severity of his sickening activities and passed a long sentence though in my eyes no jail term will be long enough for Hogben to accept what hes done and truly pay for the lives he has ruined.

Detective Constable Paul Fitzharris from the Cyber Hubs Internet Child Abuse Investigation Team (ICAIT)

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A Chinese medicine practitioner who raped one of his patients at a shop in Camden and sexually assaulted two others has been jailed for seven years.

Dr Hongbin Liu, 53 of the Peabody Estate, Vauxhall Bridge Road in London pleaded guilty at Wood Green Crown Court on 8 January to one count of rape, one count of assault by penetration and two counts of sexual assault.

In February 2015, an unnamed woman in her forties attended the Chinese Traditional Medicine Centre on Haverstock Hill in Camden and as her usual therapist was not at the premises, she agreed to see Liu instead. During the acupuncture and massage consultation, Liu raped and assaulted the victim. On leaving the premises, the victim went straight to a police station to report the offences.

Liu was subsequently arrested, interviewed and provided a prepared statement denying the offences. He was bailed pending further enquiries. In March 2015, two more women reported two further offences to police. Both took place at the Shu Jun Healthcare Centre on Wells Street, Westminster. In each case, the defendant sexually assaulted his victims.

Jane Tunnicliff, detective constable at the Metropolitan Police sexual offences, exploitation and child abuse command, said: "Dr Liu prayed on the vulnerabilities of his patients. It is important that each and every one of us feel safe to seek treatment when we are ill or in pain. As police officers we strive to make our community safer for everyone – even behind closed doors."

One of the victims thought that while giving her a massage, Liu took a picture of her with his phone. However, officers were unable to recover the photographs.

Detective inspector Lee Davison added: "People who abuse their position of trust damage the fabric of our society and the impact of their actions on their victims can be great. We will pursue all such offenders to bring them to justice."

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A "HORRIFIC" sex offender who presents an "unquestionable danger" to the public has been handed a life sentence.

David Francis Shepherd was convicted of a string of offences involving young girls in the Philippines, including four offences of rape of a child under 13 and must serve a minimum of 14 years in prison.

Evidence emerged after police received information that an individual identified as Shepherd had been in contact over the internet with someone who was facilitating the sexual abuse of children.

Shepherd was arrested on November 10 last year at the Loders Arms near Bridport where he was living as pub landlord.

After the defendant was cautioned and various equipment was seized he said: "I know what youre talking about, Ive been chatting on the internet but Ive never followed it through."

Prior to the trial, he had pleaded guilty to inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, four counts of making indecent photographs of a child, four charges of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence and one count of paying for sexual services of a child.

Shepherd, aged 60, was found guilty of 13 counts, including four offences of rape of a child under 13, attempted rape, three counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, two of taking indecent photographs of a child, assault of a child under 13 by penetration and arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.

Following the verdicts in the first trial and further legal arguments, Shepherd pleaded guilty to nine further charges of arranging or facilitating the commission of child sex offences and two counts of making indecent photos of a child.

An extensive examination of his computers and digital storage devices uncovered hundreds of thousands of indecent images and videos of children.

It also revealed his involvement in directing at least 76 live sex shows involving Filippina children and that the full extent of his offending had been going on since 2007.

Chat logs revealed Shepherd had expressed an interest in children as young as six with one involving the discussion of a 17-month old baby.

The court heard that during police interviews Shepherd denied visiting and meeting the children in the Philippines, despite evidence including videos of him abusing children, travel tickets and financial records indicating otherwise.

It was established that between April 20 2011 and September 9 2015 Shepherd transferred 18,510.87 to the Philippines. In total 12,014.01 was transferred to the facilitators of child sex. The prosecution considered this a minimum figure.

In interview Shepherd had said he knew it was wrong but "just couldn't stop [himself]" when it came to looking an indecent images.

Judge Peter Johnson said: "This was a long period of cynical exploitation. I reject your claim that you believed the children were aged 13 or over. I reject all your evident in relation to the children you abused. Your claim about checking to ensure children were above the age of consent was nonsense.

"You have no moral boundaries. You have shown no remorse.

"Your performance shows you as an intelligent, arrogant and devious man.

"It is grotesquely false that the girls were willing sex workers.

"You were prepared to say anything, no matter how absurd to save your own skin.

"Your acts will haunt your victims for the rest of their days. Their innocence has been taken from them.

"You have a deeply engraved sexual interest in young children.

"You are unquestionably a danger.

"This life sentence reflects the public abhorrence for your shocking crimes."

An NSPCC spokesperson for South West England said: This extremely distressing case involved horrendous sexual abuse of numerous children in the Philippines.

Not only did Shepherd own and share these despicable images and videos, but he also personally arranged, financed and photographed the abuse himself.

The youngsters in these pictures and films are the victims of unspeakable abuse and the harrowing experiences they endured for the sexual gratification of Shepherd and other offenders should not be underestimated.

His appalling crimes have only helped fuel this disgusting trade in images which destroys children's lives, wherever in the world it takes place.

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A "PREDATORY" ice skater from Oxford who groomed and abused two vulnerable young girls has failed in a bid to get his jail term slashed.

Rapist Joseph Tsang, of Sandy Lane, Oxford, was sentenced in his absence to 15 years behind bars at Oxford Crown Court on October 20 last year.

But it was not until February this year that the 32-year-old, who had fled to Hong Kong, was caged.

Tsang was a 'well-known' ice skater, Mr Justice Jeremy Baker told London's Appeal Court.

He got in contact with a 15-year-old girl on Facebook. They later met at a hotel where he assaulted her and twice raped her.

She has since suffered with depression, nightmares and self-harming, said the judge.

Tsang met a 14-year-old girl at an ice rink before keeping in touch via social media.

When she came to his home, he took her into his bedroom and locked the door.

He kissed her and she pushed him away.

But he went onto molest her before removing his clothing and making her engage in a sex act.

Police also found 28 indecent images of children on Tsang's computer.

In August last year, while still on the run, he was found guilty of two counts of rape and two of sexual assault.

He was previously found guilty of three counts of sexual activity with a child and two of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Tsang was also convicted of making indecent images of children.

The judge who jailed him said he had a "predatory sexual fascination with adolescent girls".

He had 'groomed' them to the point of them becoming 'infatuated' with him, as a result of the interest that he, a well-known ice skater, had shown in them.

Tsang was extradited to the UK from Hong Kong in February and was handed an extra six months for failing to surrender to custody the following month.

He had no previous convictions, the court heard.

Lawyers for Tsang argued his jail term was far too tough.

But Mr Justice Jeremy Baker, sitting at London's Appeal Court yesterday with Lord Justice McCombe and Sir Alistair MacDuff, said the Crown Court judge had taken account of the overall length of the sentence.

"We are satisfied that the sentence of 15 years properly reflects Tsang's sexual criminality in respect of these two vulnerable girls," he concluded.

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A sex beast who repeatedly raped a woman as his girlfriend slept in the next room has been jailed for 12 years.

Twisted Darren Nesbitt, 44, of Dorridge , invited the victim to stay at the Solihull house he shared with his partner after a leak left her without running water.

But police said the heavy drinker plied her with booze and groped her as they smoked cigarettes in the garage.

He then forced himself on the 49-year-old victim in a spare bedroom as his partner slept.

Nesbitt was arrested when she confided in a colleague and then told police about the attack, which happened on August 22, 2014.

He claimed the allegation was false but detectives traced another woman who said Nesbitt sexually assaulted her at his home in the same year.

He was jailed at Birmingham Crown Court after being found unanimously guilty by a jury of three counts of rape and one of attempted rape.

Nesbitt must also sign the sex offender register for life.

Investigating officer, Det Con Jon Barker, of West Midlands Polices public protection unit, said: Nesbitt invited the woman into his home and offered her his hospitality by cooking and plying her with alcohol.

Then he attacked the woman while his partner retired to bed.

Its a shocking breach of trust and left the victim hugely distressed and struggling to come to terms with what happened.

She did the right thing in disclosing the offences to us.

The victim was a very credible witness at court and conducted herself impeccably.

Nesbitt, on the other hand, kept changing his story and this clearly struck the jury.

This case should act as reassurance to anyone who has been raped or sexually assaulted that we take all reports seriously and allegations will be thoroughly investigated.

Mr Barker said Nesbitts victim was supported by specialist officers and RSVP in Birmingham a charity that offers support and help to sexual violence survivors.

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A primary school head teacher who used a spy pen to film pupils in the toilets at his school has been jailed for two years and eight months.

Ashley Yates, 45, of Filton, used the device to record images in the toilets of The Tynings Primary School in Staple Hill, South Gloucestershire.

He admitted six counts of voyeurism and three of making indecent images of children at Bristol Crown Court.

The offences relate to seven girls, two boys and six adults.

'Sexual monster

They came to light after a child found a pen inside a disabled toilet at the school and handed it in to a caretaker.

The court heard that in total the married father filmed 22 adults and nine children and had confessed to his wife that he was a "sexual monster".

The judge accepted that Yates' main sexual interest was in adults urinating, but said he must have realised that children were also going to be caught on his camera.

Judge Michael Longman described Yates' behaviour as "devious" and as a "significant" breach of trust.

During the investigation, additional adult victims were identified by police.

'Lasting impact'

Det Insp Louise Boyce, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: "Yates totally abused his position of trust to feed his own personal desires.

"He set up the recording device in a toilet knowing that both children and adults would be using the facilities."

She added she had "no doubt" that Yates' crimes will have "a lasting impact on his victims and their parents".

A letter to parents on the school's website said: "These victims came to light after items were seized by police during the course of the investigation.

"If any further victims are identified during the course of the investigation they will be notified immediately."

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Three men who lured a 17-year-old into prostitution have been jailed for a combined total of 13 years.

Alistair Spagnoletti, Curtis Walker and Callum Ward were arrested in November 2014 after police attended a house in Rickmansworth and found a missing girl.

Describing it as the worst case of child exploitation ever seen, officers found the girl in a vulnerable state and said the house was littered with sexual paraphernalia including used condoms.

Harrow Crown Court this week heard the investigation uncovered evidence showing the men had been subjecting the victim to significant child sexual exploitation in various locations in Hertfordshire and London.

In March 2016, whilst on bail in relation to this case, Spagnoletti was stopped in a vehicle in Watford with a 15-year-old.

He was issued with a child abduction warning notice that stated if he had anything further to do with this teenager he could be arrested for child abduction.

On two occasions in the weeks following this notice being issued the girl was seen leaving Spagnolettis home address and he was arrested for child abduction.

Alistair Spagnoletti, who is 21 years old and from Williton Road in Luton, was today given six years and eight months in prison for controlling the child sexual exploitation of the first victim and abducting the second.

Curtis Walker, who is 23 years old and from Lord Street, Watford, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for controlling the child sexual exploitation of the first victim.

Callum Ward, who is 19 years old and from The Thrums, Watford, was sentenced to two years in prison for controlling the child sexual exploitation of the first victim.

Detective Sergeant Iain MacPherson from HALO said: This is one of the most damaging cases of child sexual exploitation we have encountered in Hertfordshire.

It has also been an extremely complex case. These men had groomed their 17-year-old victim into having sex with men for money which they took, she believed that by providing her with food, drink, drugs, they were looking after her and they were people she could trust.

"The power they wielded over her was so great that she felt she could not support police action against them.

"Sadly may never recover from what they have done to her.

Spagnoletti was also charged with the offence of abduction and I am in no doubt that he would have gone on to sexually exploit this victim had officers not intervened.

These acts are deplorable and I am in no doubt these men pose a risk to other children. It is right they are now serving time in prison.

He added: One of the elements of Child Sexual Exploitation sees the person being groomed to the point where they genuinely believe they are not a victim and therefore can become extremely difficult to bring offenders to justice.

"However, I hope this sends a clear message to those involved in these disgusting crimes that in Hertfordshire we will do everything in our power to protect young people and to bring offenders to justice. We do not need a complaint from a victim in order to prosecute.

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A Catholic priest and former children’s home worker has been jailed for 12 years after admitting the sexual abuse of 13 children dating back to the 1970s.

Philip Temple, 66, was sentenced at Woolwich crown court after pleading guilty to 20 charges of sexual assault in April and a further seven charges this week.

Temple twice stood trial in the late 1990s. In the first case the jury was unable to reach a verdict and Temple was acquitted in a retrial.

Before passing sentence on Wednesday, the judge, Christopher Hehir, apologised to one of Temple’s victims that “justice was not done when you came to court in 1998 and 1999”.

The court heard that the victim had become a self-harming recluse and had attempted suicide following the trials.

“I can only imagine the damage he has caused to other victims. We can never escape from what he did and we can never be free of it,” the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court. Temple was “an extremely skilled liar and manipulator with sociopathic qualities”, the victim added.

The judge said there had been another missed opportunity to bring Temple to justice when the youngest known victim, who was six or seven when abused by Temple when he worked for Wandsworth council in south London, began civil proceedings against the council in 1991.

According to Jonathan Polnay, prosecuting, the civil case “appeared to be settled with no payment” and police did not investigate when the victim reported the alleged abuse four years later.

Temple sexually assaulted boys and one girl when working for Wandsworth and Lambeth councils in the 1970s. He became a priest in 1988 and abused two altar boys while serving at Christ the King monastery, Vita Et Pax in Cockfosters, north London, in the 1990s.

The judge said he viewed Temple’s move to become ordained as a Catholic priest as an “aggravating factor”.

Hehir said: “You of course exploited the opportunities your deceit as to your character had afforded you, not only by sexually abusing children but, as a priest, by lying on oath to deny the truthful accusations brought against you by one of your victims.

“Your actions as a priest demonstrated that in truth you were a wolf in shepherd’s clothing.”

Detectives from the Metropolitan police’s sexual offences, exploitation and child abuse (SOECA) command launched an investigation after receiving information that implicated Temple in multiple offences. He was arrested on 6 July last year.

Lambeth council said it was cooperating with the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse (IICSA). “We hope the outcome provides some solace to the victims of these dreadful crimes,” said a spokesman.

In a statement, the diocese of Westminster said it was “aware of the sentencing of Philip Temple, a member of the Monte Oliveto Benedictine order. The diocese has fully cooperated with the statutory authorities throughout the investigation.”

The statement added: “The diocese of Westminster has robust safeguarding policies in place and rigorous selection procedures for candidates for the priesthood.”

Temple, of no fixed address, also admitted two counts of perjury relating to his earlier trials.

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A Birmingham rapist, who told two girls that his sick assaults were their secret so he could continue to sexually abuse them, has been jailed for 16 years.

Paedophile Dwayne Kesto, of Parkfield Avenue, Harborne, assaulted the girls over a number of years.

The 40-year-olds reign of terror continued until one of them confided in a teacher.

As soon as he had been exposed, Kesto went on the run for three years, but he was eventually snared by police in March.

Kesto was convicted of the non-recent offences at Wolverhampton Crown Court after an eight-day trial and was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court to the lengthy prison term.

Det Sgt Jayne Killoch, of West Midlands Police Public Protection Unit, said: Kesto told the girls it was their secret, so that he could continue his predatory behaviour.

Kesto evaded arrest for three years, but we caught up with him in March and he was remanded into custody while a meticulous investigation was carried out.

He will be deported to Jamaica upon his release from prison.

Det Sgt Killoch added: Both girls gave evidence in court, acting with dignity and courage throughout the trial and I commend their bravery.

I hope that seeing their abuser brought to justice goes some way to help them overcome the nightmare they must surely have suffered.

I hope that their story helps other young girls find the courage to report abuse, even if it happened many years ago.

We have specially trained officers who can help survivors of sexual assault through every step of the process, from initial reporting to the court procedure.

We work with a raft of other agencies who also provide support and comfort.

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A man who sexually assaulted women while they slept has  been jailed.

At the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday, Justin Lovell was sentenced to seven in prison for the rape of two victims and the sexual assault of another at various addresses across the Capital.

Officers from the city’s Public Protection Unit initially began their investigation into 25-year-old Lovell after a 19-year-old female reported that she woke to find herself being attacked following a party in the west of the city in January 2015.

Further offences were then uncovered after detectives spoke with more women who disclosed similar offences, all of which occurred while they slept, having attended parties.

Lovell was detained on 29th July and was convicted last month.

Detective Constable Richard Johnston from the PPU at Fettes Police Station said: “I would firstly like to thank the women who came forward to report his offences to police.

“Their bravery and continued assistance during our inquiries undoubtedly led to Lovell’s conviction and means he cannot carry out further crimes against women as he serves a custodial sentence.

“Justin Lovell has shown himself to be an opportunistic predator, who targeted woman while they were at their most vulnerable and left them deeply traumatised as a result of these attacks.

“He will now spend several years in prison for his crimes and we would like to assure all survivors of sexual offences that their reports will be handled with the utmost seriousness.

“Whenever such reports are made to us we will investigate thoroughly and work closely with our partners at the Crown Office to bring those responsible to justice and ensure they are removed from our communities.

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31 MAR 2020

Within months of his release the evil pervert tried to meet a 14-year-old girl for sex.

Jon Womack was found guilty by a majority verdict of raping a woman at Reading Crown Court in July

A 'serious sexual offender' from Southcote has been imprisoned for six years after being convicted of rape.

Jon Womack raped a woman in her 30s in Southcote on Wednesday, June 25 in 2014.

He was found guilty by a majority verdict of rape at Reading Crown Court on Friday, July 15, following a 10-day trial.

The 37-year-old, of Coronation Square, was sentenced at the same court on Friday, August 5.

Investigating officer detective Gary Tull said: "Since the incident in June 2014 the emotional impact on the victim has been substantial.

"The victim has had to relive the fear and indignity of the assault when recounting her experience in court."

He added: "This conviction will help her move on with her life and will protect the public from a serious sexual offender.

At the same trial Mr Womack was acquitted of another count of rape and one count of assaulting a female 13 years of age or over by penetration.

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A vicious sex fiend who emotionally controlled three women before raping them has been jailed for 11 years. 

Ryan Kennedy, 29, controlled the women by emotional manipulation and eroded their self confidence before raping them over a seven-year period.

He made one of his victims apologise for 'ruining his fun' after she  'screamed and cried' as he raped her. 

Another traumatised partner was brutally raped her as 'punishment', with Kennedy threatening to hurt her more if she screamed.

A third woman said she submitted to his unwanted sexual advances after he threatened to leave her if she did not have sex with him. 

Kennedy, an office worker from Bristol, smiled as he was led from court after his sentencing at Gloucester Crown Court.

Judge Jamie Tabor QC said: 'The phrase coercive control was coined to describe a situation where one person in a relationship, over a period of time, overshadows and eventually takes over control of the other person.

'The premiere feature is that the victims are made to feel guilty if they don't do as they are told.'

He added: 'Coercive controllers are often highly narcissistic and inevitably selfish.

'If told by other that is how they are viewed, they are always abrupt.

'You are a controller, and like most controllers you pick on members of the opposite sex and those that are vulnerable.'

Kennedy faced 14 charges - including 11 rapes - but after a two-week trial was acquitted of three counts and eight were left to lie on file.

But the jury found him guilty of raping three women between 2008 and last year.

'These rapes took place within the context of what was described as controlling, abusive and manipulative relationships,' prosecutor Fiona Elder said.

She said Kennedy, from Bristol, attacked one woman after she said she did not want to have sex with him, despite her asking him to stop.

Ms Elder said: 'She described herself as screaming and crying during the intercourse.

'She said that it hurt. She asked him to stop.

'He criticised her for ruining his fun and made her apologise to him. She limped off to the bathroom.'

Another woman 'submitted' to his advances when she did not want to have sex after having had surgery.

'She gave the reasons why she did not want to have sex at that time but she said it was a case of submission,' Ms Elder said.

'He threatened to leave her if she did not submit to his sexual advances.'

Kennedy also raped another woman as a punishment, threatening that if she made too much noise he was 'really going to hurt her'.

The court heard the pair initially had a consensual sadomasochistic relationship, but as it progressed it became 'more and more one-sided'.

Ms Elder told the court: 'He used it as a punishment. She can't remember what she had done for him to get angry.

'He engaged in very aggressive intercourse which caused her to bleed.

'She tried not to make too much noise. She was told that if she screamed he was really going to hurt her.'

Defending Kennedy, Dominic Thomas claimed the accused 'misunderstood what was meant by consent'.

He added that his client's sister and grandmother had died while he was in custody, and that he was teaching other prisoners how to read.

Kennedy was sentenced to two terms of four years and one of three years to all run consecutively.

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A ROLLERCOASTER enthusiast who used an online theme parks forum to groom children was finally stopped in his tracks by a "paedo hunter".

Andrew Sealey, 39, Milborne Port, Somerset, was today jailed for three years and four months after being caught in a sting.

Sealey pleaded guilty at Southampton Crown Court to eight charges of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and one of attempting to meet a child after sexual grooming.

He was arrested after he was caught by Shane Brannigan at Hampshire theme park Paultons Park, which incorporates Peppa Pig World, where he had arranged to meet a 15-year-old "girl" for sex in a toilet cubicle.

The group behind the sting are known as 'Not Of Criminal Element', which is run by a man called Shane Brannigan, who confronted him in the car park on May 28 this year.

As well as the prison sentence, Judge Peter Henry also made him subject to a sexual harm prevention order and ordered the destruction of his mobile phone and laptop.

But he went on to say that relying on self-styled paedophile hunters for criminal prosecutions is "fraught with danger" as he jailed the married pervert who sent sordid sexual texts to three kids he thought were 14-year-olds.

The judge said: "I have concerns about these types of stings.

"On the one hand I can fully understand the obvious concerns of the public and people who may therefore have been abused.

"On the other hand, to rely upon this activity of self-styled paedo hunters as a base for criminal prosecutions is fraught with dangers.

"In particular, there is a thin line between someone being entrapped or evidence not being admissible for some reason and a legitimate inquiry."

The court heard that Sealey's behaviour had raised concerns with an adult man, Gary Rogers Brennan, with whom he had been in contact with through the theme park forum.

After Sealey began chatting about performing sex acts, Mr Rogers Brennan set up a fake profile of a 15-year-old boy he called James.

Sealey began sexualised conversations with this fake profile and tried to arrange for the "boy" to meet him at Aldershot Football Club where the defendant worked as a steward but the meeting did not happen.

I have concerns about these types of stings.

Judge Peter Henry

As Mr Rogers Brennan became increasingly concerned, he contacted self-styled "paedo hunter" Shane Brannigan, and created further profiles in the names of Alice and Jilly, who were aged about 14 or 15.

During the chats through Facebook Messenger, Sealey would encourage the youngsters to perform sex acts and he sent them pictures of his penis.

Simon Edwards, prosecuting, said: "The defendant ran an internet forum on theme parks and it was through that forum he had the ability to chat with people of both genders and all ages and that was the initial point of contact."

During his chat with Jilly, the "girl" that he arranged to meet at Paultons Park, Sealey said to her: "I said it's OK you being a virgin and 15, I don't mind."

There was never any risk to children at Paultons Park.

Rob GriffithsDefence lawyer

It was at the theme park entrance that Mr Brannigan confronted Sealey, who had attended with his wife, and he was arrested by police.

Rob Griffiths, defending, said Sealey, who had no previous convictions, was "highly over-sexed" but added: "There was never any risk to children at Paultons Park.

"There was never any risk to any child because no child turned up or could have turned up."

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A paedophile rapper who groomed schoolgirls on social media before filming himself having sex with them has been jailed for 16 years.

Daniel Rodriguez, also known as Grymey D, used Instagram, Facebook and Blackberry Messenger to contact girls who he invited to his home.

Videos found on devices in his bedroom at his parents' house showed Rodriguez engaging in sex with young girls.

The 28-year-old of Hackney, north London, wore a casual shirt and had his long hair in a plait during the sentencing at Wood Green Crown Court on Friday.

Sentencing him for 15 counts, Judge Joanna Greenberg QC said he deliberately targeted young girls in order to carry out "deviant sexual fantasties".

In one encounter, Rodriguez filmed himself having sex with a 14-year-old girl who had arrived at his house wearing her school uniform.

Judge Greenberg told him:

"Your modus operandi makes it clear to me that your desire for them was because they were young girls. Your expressions of remorse ring hollow. You cannot have failed to be aware just how seriously the sexual exploitation of children is dealt with. You do present a significant risk of causing serious psychological harm to young girls."

An spokesman for children's charity the NSPCC said:

"Daniel Rodriguez committed appalling offences towards vulnerable young people, and his deplorable activities have highlighted yet again the dangers young people face online from grooming by predators."