Latest Offenders

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This is the 24-year-old man who escaped a jail sentence after grooming an underage girl before going on to sexually abuse her.

Winchester Crown Court heard the victim was left 'ashamed' and 'sick to her stomach' after predator Shane Kieron Illsley persisted even when she told him to stop.

The Bramley man sent her explicit messages to the girl then told her to delete them, saying that if anyone found out he could go to prison.

He then sexually abused her on two occasions and persisted when she told him to stop. On the second occasion, the court heard, the victim did not ask him to stop as she knew that he would not listen.

There was outrage from the public gallery in court on Friday when Judge Jane Miller QC handed Illsley a suspended prison sentence.

The 24-year-old told the girl, who was below the legal age of consent, that she was perfect and beautiful, prosecutor Andy Houston told Winchester Crown Court on Friday.

There was a grooming process, he continued. Various suggestive messages were exchanged, they referred to masturbation and ejaculation.

Mr Houston added that the defendant indicated he wanted to progress things, before he then touched her sexually.

Defending, Adrienne Knight said that Illsley was embarrassed by what he has done.

He had initially denied the charges but later changed his plea to guilty.

Ms Knight said this was because he [could not] take the embarrassment of admitting what had happened to his family.

This morning, he still started getting really upset and crying because he cant face admitting to it, she continued.

He is so terrified by coming to court and the prospect of prison that he will do everything in his power to not be before the courts again.

He doesnt feel that he is a sex offender, but he knows that is now his label.

He was never going to hurt her. He wasnt trying to groom her, he wasnt using it as an excuse to have sex with her.

However, Judge Miller disagreed with Ms Knight, saying: I hope you know full well the extent of the offences you have committed. You knew that this was all entirely inappropriate.

I cannot accept the messages were not grooming, and you used the messages to your own purpose.

[The victim] said she felt stick to her stomach. She of course ended up blaming herself for letting it happen, where it was nothing to do with her and all you.

Judge Miller told Illsley that she would be sending him to prison for a total of ten months, suspended for two years., which caused his family members and friends in the public gallery to let out cries.

They could even still be heard in the courtroom after they had left the public gallery.

But the judge angrily addressed the remaining members: May I suggest that some of you wait and hear what I am about to do.

She suspended the prison sentence for two years, in which time he must also complete 200 hours of unpaid work.

It is a great pity that your friends and family are not able to be as composed as you Mr Illsley.

The judge said: This is a chance that you are getting. Please dont throw that away. Please dont let us see you here again.

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A pensioner who subjected a boy and girl to sexual abuse over a decade has been jailed for 11 years.

David Gardner, 65, of Alderley, Skelmersdale, molested a boy and girl between 2000 and 2010.

He was found guilty of sexual activity with a child and causing and inciting sexual activity with a child. He had pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images of children.

Gardner was jailed for 11 years during a hearing at Preston Crown Court on July 2.

Police have now revealed more disturbing details about the case.

A spokesman for the force said that Gardner made one of his victims watch videos of older men raping children.

Although the victims were too young to fully understand what the defendant was doing to them, one did question what he was doing. In response, Gardner said it was all just fun.

When Gardner was arrested, officers seized his electronic devices, they found thousands of images of indecent images of children, as well as extreme pornography.

DC Dawn Croucher, of West Lancs CID, said: First and foremost I want to praise the victims in this case for the bravery they have shown in coming forward and disclosing the horrendous offences Gardner committed against them.

Gardner is a despicable individual who abused children to satisfy his own perverted sexual interests. Although no sentence will ever reflect the damage a defendant has caused, I am pleased Gardner will now spend a considerable amount of time behind bars.

I would encourage anyone who has been the victim of sexual offending no matter how long ago it occurred to contact Lancashire Police. You will be listened to and we will do all we can to bring the perpetrator to justice.

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A man who travelled to try to meet someone he thought was a teenage girl for sex in Crawley after online contact, has now been given a prison sentence.

Richard White, 44, unemployed, of Timberlands, Storrington, was sentenced to 26 months imprisonment at Lewes Crown Court on Thursday 1 July, having pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to attempting to arrange a child sexual offence.

He will be a registered sex offender for ten years and was given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, also for ten years, severely restricting his access to children and computers, both to last until further court notice.

The prosecution, authorised by the CPS, followed an intelligence-led investigation by the Sussex Police Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT), working closely with the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU).

Communications devices were seized when POLIT officers arrested White in a car park at Crawley in December 2019.

Detective Sergeant Lisa Heaton from SEROCU, said: "This was a successful operation where the extensive and strong collaboration between Sussex Police's Online Investigation Team and the South East Regional Crime Organised Unit ensured White was brought to justice. It also shows the lengths of depravity that White would go to in an attempt to conduct child sex abuse. Law enforcement operates across the internet, and we will relentlessly seek to bring to justice individuals who use the web to facilitate the abuse of children."

POLIT Detective Inspector Andy Harbour said; "This arrest followed a proactive, intelligence-led investigation, part of our continuing priority to protect children from sexual exploitation from those who seek to do them harm."

"If you have been a victim of child sexual abuse, or have information about anyone else who has, please contact us either online or by calling 101. We will always follow up allegations of abuse, no matter when they occurred. Victims can talk in confidence to experienced Investigators and we can also help them get access to a range of other support services."

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A PAEDOPHILE who posed as a young girl online was found with 550 child abuse images.

Officers from the Essex Police Online Investigation Team (POLIT) raided the address of Scott Chapman in Hume Close, Tilbury back on December 4, 2019.

The team, which investigates online child abuse, had received intelligence that the internet at the address had been used to view indecent images of children.

Following searches there and at another address, officers seized a mobile phone which could be attributed to Chapman on which they found more than 550 indecent images of children.

They also found several social media applications on which Chapman had posed as a young girl or sent indecent images to others.

The 24-year-old was charged with three counts of making indecent images of children and three counts of distributing indecent images of children.

He admitted the offences and at Basildon Crown Court and was jailed for seven years.

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He had warned officers he would 'he would commit suicide before he reached prison' A 76-year-old man who had threatened to take his own life before he reached prison slashed his neck with a craft blade in court. Leslie Marrs produced the blade and slashed the right side of his neck moments after Judge Stuart Driver, QC, had warned the dock officer about the defendant. Judge Driver had had just warned the dock officer before that Marrs had told probation that he would commit suicide before he reached prison." The judge added: "He needs to be handled with particular care today." However seconds later Marrs, who was appearing off-bail, produced a craft blade from his suit and twice slashed his neck, before the dock officer wrestled the weapon from him. The officer then pressed paper towels to the wound while urgently calling for assistance for the former soldier and the court was cleared of most of those present which included the shocked mum of Marrs teenage victim. Security staff arrived to administer first aid and paramedics and an ambulance rushed to Liverpool Crown Court to attend to him in the cells. Marrs, of Dunkeld Close, Kensington, Liverpool, had just been sentenced to 32 months imprisonment after admitting sexual assault and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life. Anya Horwood, prosecuting, had told the court that the incident came to light when the victim, who was in her mid-teens, confided in her youth worker that some months earlier she had been sexually assaulted by Marrs who had also previously made inappropriate remarks. When interviewed Marrs claimed that they had been discussing pubic hair and in that context touched her vaginal area. A photograph of his penis was found on his mobile phone and he admitted the girl, who was vulnerable, might have seen it but he had not shown it to her. In an impact statement the victims mum told how the girl had suffered nightmares and self-harmed after the assault and had displayed out of character challenging behaviour. She said she realised now that Marrs had been grooming her daughter. I believe he knew exactly what he was doing. The court heard that he has previous convictions but none for sexual offences. Paul Lewis, defending, said that Marrs has chronic lung issues and heart problems and some mental health problems relating to his Army service. Sentencing Marrs earlier today ( Monday) the judge said that he had caused significant psychological harm to his victim and described her mums statement as moving. After Marr sliced his neck the court was closed for a while to allow for it to be thoroughly cleaned. Marrs was taken to hospital for treatment and no injuries were sustained to officers during the incident.

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This is the face of a Derbyshire rapist who took advantage of a young woman - paralytic on drink and drugs - to sexually attack her.

A judge told Simon Sowden what he did to the brave victim was "a horrific incident" for her.

In her own victim impact statement she told how she did not even want to look at herself in the mirror because of what the 32-year-old did to her.

She and her family showed huge courage to come to Derby Crown Court earlier this week to see Sowden jailed for 10 years and nine months.

But her attacker could not even begin to muster the same courage, choosing instead to turn away from the public gallery and shield his face from her during the hearing.

Now, after consulting with the victim, Derbyshire police has released a custody photograph of Sowden.

Sarah Phelan, prosecuting, said the sex attack happened in the early hours of the morning one day in April 2019.

She said Sowden met the victim in a pub in Chesterfield and the two of them drank heavily and took cocaine.

Miss Phelan said: "He took advantage of her when she was heavily intoxicated, took her back to his flat under the guise of protecting her when she was paralytic through drink and drugs and was not capable of consenting.

"Two taxis refused to take them and it was only a third taxi, driven by a female, who was prepared to take them.

"They arrived at his flat and she recalls taking her false eyelashes off.

"She said she then recalls feeling she was being (touched sexually) and then felt him inside her and could hear him moaning and breathing.

"She got to the bathroom, grabbed her things and left.

"There is CCTV of her trying to flag down an ambulance."

Miss Phelan said the victim rushed home and told her mother she had been raped and the police were called.

She said the defendant was arrested at around 9.45am in a van in Chesterfield and answered "no comment" to questions he was asked in two police interviews.

Sowden, of Chatsworth Road, Chesterfield, pleaded guilty to rape, assault by penetration and sexual assault but only on the day his trial was due to begin.

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Sick Marc Stokes-Denson claimed he was acting as a paedophile hunter himself A paedophile said he wanted to repeatedly rape a girl, aged 12, as her mum watched. Marc Stokes-Denson tried to claim he was in fact acting as a paedophile hunter and continued the chat because he was "concerned", but a jury didn't believe his lies. The 45-year-old was actually talking to an undercover police officer who posed as 'Becky'. David Polglase, prosecuting at Liverpool Crown Court, said Stokes-Denson had used the name 'KinkDomM_UK on Chat Avenue and live:d***stokes on Skype. Judge Anil Murray said over two months Stokes-Denson "developed a relationship" with 'Becky'. He told her he was sexually interested in her 12-year-old daughter, Lizzie and in vile chats spoke about the two of them sexually abusing the 'child' together. Mr Polglase said: "On one specific day, Becky allowed Lizzie onto the computer to chat with the defendant, and he engaged in sexual communication with Lizzie'." Stokes-Denson was arrested on Sunday, September 2019, and in a police interview claimed he had reported 'Becky' to an online admin, despite having no evidence he had done so. He claimed he "continued to chat with Becky as he was concerned and wanted to find out more". He denied being sexually attracted to children and said he carried on so he would have "evidence" to show police. Stokes-Denson, of The Close, Walton, was convicted by a jury of arranging to commit an offence of penetrative sexual activity with a child between May 28 and August 6, 2019. He was also convicted of attempting sexual communication with a child between the same dates. Stephen Tettey, defending, said: "The defendant makes clear he is sorry for the position he places himself and his family in. "He is ashamed of his conduct and realises the hardship which members of the jury must have endured in listening to a case of this nature." Mr Tettey said there was a "prospect of rehabilitation" and Stokes-Denson had undergone treatment "by way of counselling" and had a "willingness to cooperate". Mr Tettey said: "A rehabilitated defendant is better than one who is only punished." He said Stokes-Denson is "not the person he was in 2019" and his family "continue to support him". Mr Tettey stressed there was no actual child involved and that he sent a message to say he was "no longer prepared to meet". Judge Murray, sentencing, noted Stokes-Denson had a "good work record" and had suffered "some physical illness in 2017" as well as financial problems which "caused stress". In February 2019 Stokes-Denson had also separated from his wife. A doctor said Stokes-Denson showed signs of an adjustment disorder which meant he was "unlikely to consider the full consequences" of his actions. The judge rejected the suggestion and said: "The way you acted was quite deliberate." Judge Murray added Stokes-Denson was a "danger of causing serious harm to children". The judge said he was not sure if Stokes-Denson's claim he was "ashamed and sorry" was an admission of guilt, but said he did not accept remorse. Judge Murray said: "You have shown not a shred of remorse." Stokes-Denson was jailed for five years and six months and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life. He was also ordered to adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life. Speaking after the case, Detective Chief Inspector Bev Hyland said: "Were pleased to see Stokes-Denson dealt with at court today after his plans to abuse a child. "Unbeknownst to him, Stokes-Denson was speaking to an undercover officer, and he was swiftly arrested. We are absolutely committed to protecting children, from those who seek to cause them harm. Our Merseyside Police Online Child Abuse Investigation Team works tirelessly and will use all available powers to identify offenders who pose a risk towards children and bring them to justice. Anyone that has been a victim of a sexual offence, is concerned for the safety of someone they know or suspects someone to be engaging in this criminal activity, should come forward and speak to us. "We have a team of dedicated staff who will expertly and compassionately deal with your reports and we will do everything we can to continue to bring offenders to justice.

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The woman was left bruised and crying after Andrew Matthews attacked her A sex offender told his victim he was a 'black belt' in attacking women. After making the vile comment, Andrew Matthews grabbed the woman's genitals with such force she was left bruised and crying. The woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was left suffering "anxiety" and "panic attacks" after the horrific incident. Kate Morley, prosecuting at Liverpool Crown Court, said Matthews had "forcibly grabbed her over clothing" after which she "screamed" and "began to cry". Judge Louise Brandon said Matthews had "grabbed and squeezed her vagina causing pain and bruising" in the attack earlier this year, which left the victim "feeling depressed" and "unhappy in her own skin". He had also "grabbed her by the neck with one hand" and spat in her face before punching her. Ms Morley said there was "no physical injury" from the punch. Matthews has 19 previous convictions for 24 offences including battery against a woman and a non-domestic violence related battery. William Staunton, defending, said the offences "should cause him to feel shame" and to "reflect upon the way in which he behaves". He stressed he had "no previous for sexual offending" and added he has completed a 12-step programme to address his drinking while in custody. Mr Staunton said: "He will have time from today to sit at Her Majesty's Pleasure to sit and contemplate what he has done." Matthews, of O'Leary Street, Warrington, was convicted of sexual assault and common assault following a trial. Judge Brandon, sentencing, said a "particularly disgusting aspect of this offence" was his spitting at the woman. Matthews was jailed for 18 months and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

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A Bristol-based member of the Salvation Army and former National Crime Agency employee has been jailed after being convicted of having sex with a schoolgirl.

James Bryant "moulded and manipulated" the youngster from when she was aged 13, Bristol Crown Court was told.

It was claimed he persuaded her to send him photos of her private parts he told her to touch herself when he phoned her.

They went on to have sex on numerous occasions, in Bristol and in a hotel, and on one occasion together with a adult woman, a jury heard.

Bryant, 40, of Charter House Close in Nailsea, denied three charges of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

He denied 12 charges of sexual activity with a child but admitted three sexual activity with a child charges.

He also denied sexual assault of a woman by touching her bottom.

After 12 hours' deliberation a jury convicted him of all counts barring one charge of causing or inciting a chilld to engage in sexual activity, three of sexual activity with a child and the sexual assault.

The Recorder of Bristol His Honour Judge Peter Blair QC jailed Bryant for ten years.

He was told to register as a sex offender indefinitely, was barred from working with children and was handed a 16-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order designed to stop him re-offending.

At Bryant's trial David Sapiecha, prosecuting, said Bryant worked for the NCA and was a "rising" member of a Salvation Army branch.

Mr Sapiecha told the court: "The prosecution says the defendant was feeding his own sexual appetite and using a girl for that puropse, a girl too young, to achieve his own sexual desires.

"He manipulated and moulded the victim into his own sex toy, willing to do what he wanted, and he did so in the context of a gross breach of trust."

Mr Sapiecha told the court: "She said at the time she thought she loved him.

"She thought that he loved her.

"She was clearly impressionable.

"He was in control., she was much less robust than somebody of an adult age."

On one occasion Bryant and the girl engaged in a sexual threesome with a woman, the court heard.

The prosecutor told the jury Bryant's case was that the girl and woman spontaneosly engaged in sexual behaviour and he joined in on the spur of the moment.

Matters were reported to police after the girl told her mum and sister what had been going on, the court heard.

Bryant denied a charge that he touched a woman's bottom around New Year's Eve in 2011.

A spokesperson for the NSPCC in the South West said: "This is an awful case where a child was victim to a campaign of sexual abuse.

"Bryant manipulated and exploited a young teenage girl for his own sexual gratification and it is right he now faces justice for his crimes.

"The victim has shown huge courage in coming forward and it is crucial she now receives the appropriate support."

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A sex offender was found to have breached his order by downloading indecent child images and distributing them on a secret phone after struggling in lockdown, a court heard.

Shaun Turrell, 56, who was subject to checks by police officers, was suspected of having a phone which he kept hidden from the authorities, Norwich Crown Court was told on Friday.

Marc Brown, prosecuting, said as a convicted sex offender Turrell had to disclose if he had any devices which could access the internet. Mr Brown said that Turrell claimed he did not have a smartphone and only had a basic phone, without internet access.

However acting on a tip-off, police carried out a search of Turrell's home and found a smart phone hidden in a drawer in his bedroom.

Mr Brown said when analysed, the device showed that Turrell had downloaded indecent images, including some in the most serious category, and had shared images with another person on a chatroom site which he had been using.

Mr Brown said it was not the first time that Turrell had breached court orders and downloaded indecent child images.

The court heard Turrell had previous convictions for possession and distribution of indecent images of children and was also in breach of an eight week suspended sentence given to him.

Turrell, formerly of Old Hunstanton Road, Hunstanton, admitted distribution and downloading indecent images and breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order and was jailed for 33 months.

He was also placed on the sex offenders register for life.

Isobel Ascherson, for Turrell, said that he had re-offended during a particularly difficult time in lockdown.

She said he had been thrown out of the family home but had then had to help care for his elderly mother, who ended up in hospital in Norwich.

Ms Ascherson said although not an excuse, the stress of what was happening and the rigours of lockdown made him re-offend.

She said that 2020 had been a particularly difficult year for him.

Sentencing Turrell, Recorder Simon Taylor said he accepted lockdown and his family difficulties had made it harder for Turrell, but said: "These are very serious matters indeed."

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He later told the person she disclosed it to "you f***ing rat, you're f***ing dead" A "horrible monster" raped a woman then tried to intimidate the person she disclosed the attack to. Barry Worrall entered a room when his victim was sleeping and started kissing her, before she woke up and told him to stop. But when the woman went back to sleep, she woke again to find Worrall, 36, of Gleneagles Drive, Haydock, raping her. Judge Robert Trevor-Jones today said: "She pleaded with you to stop. She attempted to struggle physically with you, but you carried on regardless." A trial at Liverpool Crown Court heard how Worrall simply walked off after the rape and smoked a cigarette. The woman disclosed the attack to a female relative, which led to a complaint being made to the police. The victim later told officers: "I told him to get off me, and he wouldn't, he was just carrying on. And all I could smell was sweat. "I was trying to get him off me but I just... I couldn't, I just could not get him off me cos he had that much force onto the top." Worrall was arrested by police, but gave a no comment interview and was released on bail. Robert Dudley, prosecuting, said the rapist then intimidated the woman's relative, who was a prosecution witness. He did this by driving past her home, rolling down the window of his car and shouting: "You f***ing rat, you're f***ing dead." When arrested again, he denied driving past her home and said he couldn't have done because he had been in a crash, which meant his car had been written off. However, detectives spoke to his insurers, who confirmed the only crash they were aware of happened after the alleged intimidation. Worrall denied the rape but was found guilty after a trial. He pleaded guilty to witness intimidation shortly before the trial began. Mr Dudley today read a statement from his rape victim, in which she described Worrall as a "horrible monster". The woman said she struggles with "daily flashbacks", has had nightmares every night since the attack and is now undergoing counselling. The victim said she was given different types of medication but none helped and what he did to her "makes me feel anxious and weak". She described how she "blacks out" a lot, little things trigger memories of the rape, she can't relax, is anxious around men and suffers from panic attacks. The court heard Worrall has 40 previous convictions, including possession of offensive weapons, criminal damage, public order offences, shoplifting, harassment and breaching court orders. Ben Jones, defending, accepted a psychiatric report didn't show any link between his client's mental health issues and the rape, but said it did identify a mental health background "some of it self-inflicted, some of it long term in origin". Judge Robert Trevor-Jones said he had to consider whether Worrall's mental health problems affected his responsibility for the rape and therefore the length of sentence he would impose. He said the psychiatric report dealt with his "long term drug use, cannabis and cocaine", referred to him being diagnosed with anxiety and depression and receiving antidepressants, which "appears to be cannabis related", but found no link between this and his attack. The judge added: "I notice of course you still maintain your innocence." He said the psychiatrist diagnosed him with "mild learning problems" and "paranoia induced by cannabis misuse", but concluded his sentence shouldn't be adjusted to reflect this. Judge Trevor-Jones said Worrall had caused his victim "very significant" psychological harm as he jailed him for seven years for the rape. Worrall, who appeared via video link from jail, showed no emotion and appeared to tell a prison officer the hearing had finished, when the link was then switched off. However, the judge then handed him a further two months in prison for the witness intimidation, to be served consecutively, and said he must sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

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A sex offender has been sent to prison more than two decades after he abused a girl under the age of ten. David Wilson was locked up for two and a half years after pleading guilty to indecent assault. Wilson, 47, was aged in his 20s when he committed the offence. The victim read a statement to the court describing the years of physiological torment she had suffered since her ordeal. Judge Graham Reeds QC told Wilson, of Spittal Hardwick Lane, Castleford, that he must go on the sex offender register for life. He told Wilson that he had caused the victim "significant psychological harm." The judge also praised the victim for her bravery and the dignity she had shown.

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He had 'extremely disturbing' chats and shared child rape videos and images on WhatsApp A paedophile had sick online chats in which he fantasised about being a dad raping his own baby. Kyle Griffiths, 23, took part in "extremely distributing" conversations with other perverts on WhatsApp. And he also used the messaging service to share some of his vile collection of child rape videos. Liverpool Crown Court heard his disgusting stash included clips of babies and toddlers being raped. Police acting on information about the uploading of indecent images raided his home in Middleton Drive, Prescot, on July 6 last year. His Samsung mobile phone was seized and found to contain 47 Category A indecent images - the most serious category showing child rape - including 13 videos. Christopher Hopkins, prosecuting, said these files, along with 41 Category B and 28 Category C indecent images, plus 1,616 prohibited (cartoon) images of children, were all downloaded between October 2019 and July 2020. Analysis of the phone showed Griffiths had also distributed Category A, B and C indecent images on WhatsApp. The court heard he sent a Category A video, two Category B photos and a Category C photo to one person on April 2, then on April 5 sent two Category A photos and one Category C photo to a different person. Mr Hopkins said: "I should also highlight a conversation which was sent by the defendant... I'm not going to read it out." He added: "It's extremely disturbing. It's a conversation where the defendant sets out a narrative of raping a baby as if he were the father of the baby." Mr Hopkins said: "There are other conversations which I'm not going to refer to, but I think it's fair to say that in summary the conversations with other users do talk about very young children." One Category A video showed a baby aged between four to six months being raped and another a girl aged three or four being raped. Griffiths admitted three counts of downloading, one count of possessing and three counts of distributing indecent photos of children, plus one count of possessing prohibited images of children. Jeremy Rawson, defending, said his client, who had no previous convictions, had references from his mum and stepdad, sitting in the public gallery. He said Griffiths was single, with no children and in full time work, having lost a previous job as a result of the police investigation, but gained another. Mr Rawson said a pre-sentence report showed his "regret and remorse" and full acceptance of responsibility and his "sexual motivation". He said: "I'm not going to rehearse in full the detail of the pre-sentence report, but your honour will be aware that he himself was subject to abuse of the type which he then went on to view and that's had a significant effect upon him. "He's deeply ashamed, not just for the fact that the offence has been committed, but the fact his family have undergone the indignity of a search of their premises, they had their electronic items, laptops, iPads, phones, seized and searched." Mr Rawson added: "They have taken some considerable time to come to terms with what has happened to him as a result of this. "They stand by him, your honour can see they're sat at the back of the court today in support of him, and are anxious he's dealt with appropriately." The lawyer said the report identified the substantial "immaturity" of Griffiths, who was 21 at the time, and that his remorse was "genuine". He said Griffiths was undergoing therapy with child sex abuse prevention charity The Lucy Faithfull Foundation to address his issues. Mr Rawson said sentencing guidelines suggested a starting point of three years in prison. He urged the judge to reduce this because of his client's mitigation and full one third credit for his guilty plea to a sentence less than two years, which could then be suspended, so he could be rehabilitated in the community. Judge Denis Watson, QC, said he bore in mind all that he had read in the report and the references about Griffiths, "which tells me you come from a good family, that you have been successful in obtaining work and there is genuine remorse and shame". He also acknowledged that Griffiths had actively sought help and noted his age and immaturity. However, the judge said aggravating features of the case included the "extreme youth" of the children, the detail of Griffiths' conversation and the fact he distributed Category A images to two different people. Judge Watson said although there was a prospect of rehabilitation, the distribution of those images was the "dominant factor" in him deciding the only appropriate punishment was immediate custody. Griffiths started breathing heavily in the dock as he was jailed for 18 months. The judge ordered Griffiths to comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and sign on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

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Matthew Peter Wood sent a young girl intimate images as well as videos showing him touching himself.

Using Facebook Messenger, the 19-year-old of Old Redbridge Road, asked the girl called Sophie to send him naked photos.

However, Wood was speaking with a decoy account using the name of a fictional person which had been set up to snare paedophiles.

Prosecution barrister, Jonathan Underhill, told how Wood was later confronted by a group of paedophile hunters who travelled to Southampton.

He initially denied the accusations against him and claimed his phone had been hacked.

However, he was then shown screenshots of his interactions with Sophie and admitted to what he had done.

Appearing before Southampton Crown Court he was charged with intentionally attempting to communicate with a person under 16 who he did not reasonably believe to be 16 or over, the communication being intended to encourage her to make a communication that was sexual. He was also charged with intentionally attempting to cause a child to look at an image of himself engaging in sexual activity.

He pleaded guilty to the offences which happened between April and July last year at an earlier hearing.

Defending, Mark Florida-James, said his client has had depression since he was 12 years old when his girlfriend at the time died.

Mr Florida-James said: "Put quite bluntly Mr Wood is still a young man. He is terrified of what might happen to him."

At sentencing, Judge Peter Henry, said "I make it clear also that I have concerns about the ways of these so-called paedophile hunters because there is a narrow line between people who really are doing it for virtuous reasons and those who do it for recognition on Facebook."

He jailed him for six months, suspended for two years. Wood must complete 60 rehabilitation activity days and 120 hours of unpaid work.

Furthermore, he has been made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for seven years and must register as a sex offender for the same period.

He warned: "Had this been a real child, you would be going down those steps behind you."

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The general manager of a tipi hire company has admitted committing fraud and sex offences ahead of a trial for further voyeurism charges.

Gareth Fearnley Edwards, 40, pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by abuse of position at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on June 29.

Edwards was the general manager of Big Chief Tipis, based in Bolton, where he falsified freelancers' invoices before paying the fees to himself, heard the court.

The manager, of Willand Close in Breightmet, also pleaded guilty to one count of recording a person doing a private act and one count of making an indecent picture of a child at a plea and trial preparation hearing in Bolton Crown Court today (July 5).

He pleaded not guilty to two counts of attempts to possess indecent pictures of a child, another count of recording a person doing a private act and another count of making an indecent picture of a child.

Edwards will go on trial for the offences he denies.

The case has been adjourned until the trial is scheduled to begin on June 6, 2022.

Edwards has been released on bail.