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An ice skating enthusiast took advantage of a trusting 15-year-old girl after their budding friendship turned into a completely unsuitable relationship.

Rhys Burton showered her with compliments and they gradually became closer before he moved in on her and kissed her, making her feel uncomfortable. The law was there to protect vulnerable young girls from getting into difficult sexual situations that they could not control or "extricate" themselves from, Hull Crown Court heard.

Burton, 24, of Kingsley Drive, Willerby, admitted two offences of sexual activity with a child in 2018. He originally denied the matter but changed his pleas on the day of a scheduled trial.

Michael Greenhalgh, prosecuting, said that Burton got to know the teenage girl through an interest in ice skating in Hull and he complimented her during conversations with her and social gatherings in May 2018. "He was friendly to her," said Mr Greenhalgh.

Burton hugged her and later kissed the girl. He knew that she was only 15. The girl was "upset" after sexual contact from Burton, Mr Greenhalgh said.

Rachel Scott, mitigating, said that Burton had no previous convictions and the sexual activity took place nearly five years ago. "He fully accepts his behaviours and he hasn't tried to hide from his behaviour at all," said Miss Scott.

Burton did the wrong thing but did later end the relationship because he knew it was not right, the court heard. "He realises just how stupid his behaviour was and how much harm that he has caused," said Miss Scott. "He thought he was in love with her.

"He thought his feelings were genuine. He accepts that it was a relationship that he should never have entered into in the first place."

The girl was willingly involved with Burton and it was not a case of him grooming her. Burton started taking cocaine at the age of 16 to cope with his emotions. He had been working full-time.

Judge Kate Rayfield told Burton: "The law is there to protect young people from engaging in sexual activity. Even though she went along with the sexual activity, she felt uncomfortable.

"Young people get into situations that they don't know how to handle or control or how to extricate themselves from and that was exactly what happened to her. These instances have stayed with her and had an impact on her.

"Ultimately, you did the right thing and called off the relationship. She did not feel in control of what was happening to her and that was because of the differences in your ages."

Burton was given a 22-month suspended prison sentence, 20 days' rehabilitation and a sex offender treatment programme. He was given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and will have to register as a sex offender for 10 years.

Record details

A SOUTHAMPTON man left a woman feeling “nervous and anxious” after sexually assaulting her at a shop.

Sean McCarthy went into the store in Southampton but then put his hand between the woman's legs and pressed hard.

Prosecuting, James Kellam said that 57-year-old McCarthy then moved his hand up and over her breast before she told him to leave.

In a statement read out in court, the woman said: “For the last six months I have suffered with the mental, physical, and financial effects.

“I feel nervous, anxious and worried. I have been unable to do my job.

“I feel extremely unsafe on my own.”

She added that she used to be a sociable person but now she is unable to do those things, making her depressed.

McCarthy of Norfolk Road, Southampton, who previously pleaded guilty to sexual assault, appeared at Southampton Crown Court on Monday for sentencing.

He was said to be “remorseful and apologetic” when interviewed by police.

Defending, Christopher Gaiger said that the offence was out of character.

He said that his client "is not a man likely to come back in future before the courts".

The court heard how McCarthy was last week diagnosed with skin cancer.

Judge Brian Forster KC described the attack as a “serious offence”.

“You must understand that people who work in shops are vulnerable”, he added.

“Your actions were totally unnecessary. [There is] clearly a problem in his approach to people of the opposite sex.”

But he said there is a “possibility of rehabilitation”.

McCarthy was handed a 14-month prison sentence - suspended for 18 months.

He must also attend 31 days on an accredited programme, 30 rehabilitation activity days and was given a five-year restraining order.

He must register as a sex offender for ten years.

Judge Forster added: “Don’t put yourself in this position again.”

Record details

Da Vinci rapist Robert Greens was attacked in his ex-wife’s home by a family member who discovered him hiding in a cupboard.

The 44-year-old sex offender is said to have grown close to former wife Angela Gibson since his release from prison last year. But enraged relatives were fuming when they found him in her Penicuik home on Friday night and a fight broke out.

It’s the second time in a week Greens has been assaulted after he was punched by a member of the public at Hogmanay after a night of drinking in the Midlothian town

A family source said: “This family member was furious when they found out Greens was in Angie’s house. Greens and Angie have been seen around town together and her family are not happy. She’s been away from him since he was convicted and nobody can believe she is putting herself at risk being with him again.”

In the earlier incident, it's understood Greens was assaulted outside a pub as he was making his way home after celebrating the New Year Prior to the attack he was in a local sports bar and angered other customers when he refused to leave. Greens was said to have been with Angela.

Sources said Greens was being “loud and cheeky” in the Crescent sports bar before being asked to leave the premises. When he refused he became involved in an altercation with another man before angrily leaving and claiming he would return with relatives. He was then punched in the town’s John Street.

The source said: “He was hit outside the pub. Folk couldn’t believe the brass neck of him being in the club acting like any normal person instead of a notorious sex offender who’s just done 17 years in prison. We don’t know what the hell he’s playing at. He should be keeping a low profile, not sitting celebrating New Year in a club and annoying other customers. He needs to get out of Penicuik. People are still angry at what he did and nobody has forgotten or forgiven.”

Greens sparked angry protests in October when residents in Danderhall, Midlothian, discovered he was living among them. It’s understood he is no longer living in the flat in Neatoune Court. The beast was dubbed the Da Vinci rapist for his horrific attack in 2005 on a student near Rosslyn Chapel in Midlothian, a key ­location in the book The Da Vinci Code. The 19-year-old suffered horrific injuries, which were initially thought to have come from a car smash.

Greens was freed from prison in 2012, having served two-thirds of his sentence. The following year, he was returned to jail after he broke one of the conditions of his release by visiting the home town of his former wife. He was again released in 2017 but hauled back to prison after another breach.

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A sex offender shared indecent images of children with other paedophiles using Play Station devices in breach of his registration requirements.

Durham Crown Court was told police executed a search warrant at David Roberts’ home in Peterlee, in October, having received information he may have been involved in sexual communication with a child.

Christopher Bevan, prosecuting, said although police have since confirmed they are not pursuing the alleged sexual communication matters, officers located several devices, including a number of Play Stations, plus bank cards, in a search of Roberts’ home.

Mr Bevan said one of the bank cards was in the name of an alias not registered with the police, putting Roberts in breach of his sex offenders’ registration requirements.

Roberts also used aliases on the Play Stations, none of which he registered with the police.

Analysis of the contents of the Play Stations revealed 281 indecent images of children, 70 in the most serious category, plus 39 others classed as prohibited images.

Mr Bevan said it emerged Roberts had used the alias 'Sandy Sorebottom' to communicate in, “a sexually unpleasant way” with one user and discussing children with another, conversations initiated by him between July 11 and October 14, last year.

Some of the indecent and prohibited images were sent to that profile.

When interviewed, Roberts largely gave “no comment” replies to police, but he did concede the use of the alias to acquire the bank card constituted an offence.

The 50-year-old defendant, of Stafford Place, Peterlee, admitted three charges of possessing indecent images of children, one of possessing prohibited images of children, two counts of failing to comply with registration requirements as a sex offender and one of distribution of an indecent photo of a child.

Mr Bevan said the defendant has five convictions for 16 previous offences, five of them of a sexual nature.

The last of those was in 2005 for which he received jail sentences totalling 84 months for offences of sexual activity with a child and taking indecent photographs of a child.

He was also made subject of indefinite notification requirements as a sex offender when sentenced.

Shada Mellor, in mitigation, said it had to be acknowledged his past conviction aggravated the sentence Roberts would receive.

Miss Mellor said the bank card which breached the notification requirements was in the name of Roberts’ now late mother, over whom he had power of attorney, and which he had failed to register with the police.

“He understands he should have registered that but his intention in having it was merely to go to the shops to buy groceries for himself and his mother, who died very recently.

“He understands, given his previous convictions, as well as the offences he falls to be sentenced for, that a custodial sentence is inevitable in this case.

“The previous offence was in 2005, and this is his first offence in 17 years.

“After the 2005 sentence he did make attempts to rehabilitate himself, passing his driving test and being involved in a relationship with an adult female from 2012 to 2016.

“But six or seven years ago he became full-time carer for his mother, who had dementia and who, unfortunately, passed away on December 28.”

Miss Mellor said the emotional distress, isolation and strain all contributed to him committing the latest offences.

She added that he hopes, in due course, to be able to address his behaviour.

Judge Jo Kidd said she has seen descriptions of the images shared by the defendant, including the rape of children as young as three, while the use of the Play Station platform to communicate with like-minded individuals, “significantly aggravated” his position.

She said despite his past conviction, the defendant appeared to have maintained his sexual interest in children.

Imposing a 32-month prison sentence, she said the existing indefinite requirement to register as a sex offender would remain in place.

She also adjourned for inquiries as to the further prohibitions she could put in place under the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

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A former special police officer who was jailed for a sexual chat online with a child has been jailed again for breaching a court order.

Jack Baxter, now 27, was on duty when he sent sexual messages in 2016 to what he thought was a 13-year-old girl.

Baxter was jailed for 15 months in 2017 and made subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

He has been jailed again for another six months after admitting unlawfully deleting his web browsing history.

Baxter was originally caught in an online sting by Lancashire Police, the force he was working for, in November 2016, Carlisle Crown Court heard.

At Preston Crown Court the following October, he was jailed after admitting two offences of attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act and misconduct in public office.

'Rehabilitation prospect unrealistic'

Baxter, previously of Ulverston and Manchester and latterly of Highgate, Kendal, was also made subject to the SHPO which imposed strict restrictions on his online activities.

He was back in the dock in 2019 for unlawful possession of electronic equipment as he sought to contact females using social media and was ordered to complete 24 months' rehabilitation work under probation service supervision.

However, the latest court hearing was told that twice in October last year he unlawfully deleted web history after using the male-only Grindr social media site.

In mitigation, Anthony Parkinson, said the latest offending had not involved his client coming into contact with females in a way the SHPO was designed to prevent.

Mr Parkinson said Baxter had previously studied criminology at university in Lancaster and then obtained the position of a special constable with a view to joining the force.

He said the defendant had suffered personal trauma and needed support for his "mental health and emotional well-being".

But the judge, Nicholas Barker, said it was a "deliberate breach" and agreed with the observations of the probation service who said there "cannot really [currently] be a realistic prospect of rehabilitation".

The SHPO will continue to run its course.

Record details

Paedophile pensioner David Jenkins claims his interest in children 'comes from a place of kindness'

A child sex offender has been given an extended sentence as a dangerous offender after a court ruled he posed a significant risk to youngsters. Concerns had been raised by members of the public about pensioner David Jenkins loitering in a leisure centre changing room, giving sweets to children, and setting up a computer gaming room in his house before he went on to sexually assault a young boy.

The 70-year-old denies he has any sexual interest in children and insists his behaviour towards them "comes from a place of kindness" but a probation officer has concluded he is a "predatory" sex offender. Swansea Crown Court heard that last summer year a boy returned home after meeting friends in a park and told his mother he had been engaged in sexual conversation by a man, had a penis shown to him, and been hugged. The police were alerted to the incident and Jenkins was identified and arrested.

Georgina Donohue, prosecuting, said in his subsequent interview 70-year-old Jenkins accepted he had talked about "erections and masturbation" with a young boy but denied getting any sexual gratification from it. Jenkins has a previous conviction for sexually assaulting a child in the 1980s.

The court heard that though it had not resulted in any charges concerns had previously been raised by local parents while Jenkins was living in Morriston. Police had been told that the defendant was giving sweets to children and engaging them in conversations and it was later found he had installed a large TV and a computer games console in a room in his house with the apparent intention of encouraging youngsters to visit. Concerns had also been raised about the defendant loitering around the showers and changing rooms of a Swansea leisure centre. The court heard police had been considering applying for a stand lone sexual harm prevention order against Jenkins to help control his behaviour when he went on to sexually assault the young boy.

David Jenkins, now of Neath Road, Rhos, Pontardawe, admitted engaging in sexual communications with a child under 13 and to sexual assault of a child. The court heard that in 2010 he was jailed for 42 for five counts of sexually assaulting a girl in the 1980s.

Andrew Evans, for Jenkins, said the defendant accepted his behaviour had been "completely inappropriate and wrong". He said given the contents of the pre-sentence report into his client it would be difficult to argue for any sentence other than one of immediate custody and he said it was to be hoped the defendant would spend his time in prison "fruitfully" by reflecting in his conduct.

Judge Christopher Vosper KC said he had carefully read the pre-sentence report, which had been written by a very experienced probation officer. He said the report concluded Jenkins was a "predatory and calculated sexual offender". He noted the report said the defendant denied having any sexual interest in children and claims his behaviour towards youngsters "comes from a place of kindness" but the probation officer had concluded he poses a high risk to children.

The judge said he was satisfied an extended sentence was necessary to protect the public but he said the sentence he was about to pass was an unusual one as, given the relevant sentences for the offences before the court, the extended element would be significantly longer than the custodial term. Jenkins was given an extended sentence of six years and eight months comprising one year and eight months in custody followed by an extended five-year licence period. The defendant must serve two-thirds of the custodial element of the sentence before he can apply for release but it will be for the Parole Board to decide if he is safe to be released. Jenkins will be a registered sex offender for the rest of his life and was made the subject of a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.

Record details

A man who distributed indecent images of children must register as a sex offender.

Alun Topp pleaded guilty to seven offences – six of which related to youngsters – when he appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (4 January).

The 48-year-old admitted three counts of making an indecent image of a child between December 2010 and February 2022.

He also admitted three counts of distributing an indecent image of a child between September 2021 and February 2022.

A further charge of possessing an extreme pornographic image – namely depicting a person performing an act of intercourse with a live or dead unknown animal – was also accepted.

Magistrates declined jurisdiction over the case, sending it to Swindon Crown Court for sentence.

The defendant, of Bexley Walk, Park South, Swindon, will next appear on 3 February. He was released on unconditional bail.

Topp was ordered to register as a sex offender. The time he will spend on the register will be determined by the judge during his sentencing hearing.

Record details

David Fletcher, of Conygar Road, Tetbury, admitted five charges of sexual communication with a child and three of making indecent images when he appeared at Cheltenham Magistrates Court yesterday, Thursday.

Prosecutor Sue Gethin said Gloucestershire policereceived information that Fletcher had been chatting with a 12-year-old girl in a sexual manner on social media.

It is clear that the girl explained to Fletcher numerous times that she was aged 12," said the prosecutor.

"Fletcher correctly revealed that he was aged 61 at the time.

"The conversation continued between them in a sexual manner over a two month period, during which he sent her pictures of his genitalia and videos of him masturbating. He also sent her normal pictures of himself in the area in which he lives.

Fletcher admitted that between January 7, 2021 and March 13, 2021 in Tetbury, he intentionally attempted to communicate with a 12-year-old girl in a sexual manner which included sending videos of himself masturbating and encouraged her to engage in sexual activity.

He also admitted that on November 12, 2020, he sent a picture of male genitalia to a 13-year-old girl and on April 17, 2021 he chatted to a 13-year-old girl about sexual acts and sent a picture of male genitalia.

On April 21, 2021, he communicated with 10-year-old and the conversation included his desire to experience sexual activity with a 10-year-old and an 11-year-old child at the same time.

Additionally, on the same date, he communicated with a 15-year-old in a sexual manner and sent a picture of a male genitalia.

Fletcher also admitted making indecent images of a child between December 31, 2019 and April 17, 2021, namely 310 images at category A, 177 at category B and 46 at category C.

The case was sent to Gloucester Crown Court where committed Fletcher will be sentenced on January 27.

Fletcher was placed on the sex offenders register and released on unconditional bail.

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An evil Scots rapist has been jailed for 'despicable' sex attacks against a number of victims.

Stephen Whyte was caged for 15 years following a sentencing at the High Court in Edinburgh on Thursday, January 5. The 47-year-old was convicted of a number of sexual and violent offences, including rape.

The crimes took place in the Fife area between 2006 and 2020. Officers say Whyte 'took advantage' of his victims, who were praised for their immense courage in reporting his abhorrent actions.

The outcome of the trial should "encourage survivors of sexual abuse to get in touch with police as reports are sure to be rigorously probed, regardless of their historic nature", cops added.

Detective Inspector Frank Keegan of Police Scotland said: Stephen Whyte took advantage of his victims over a number of years and he will now face the consequences of his despicable actions in prison.

His victims were incredibly brave to come forward and report Whyte, then give evidence in court. Our thoughts remain with them and I hope that todays sentencing will give them some comfort and help them move forward.

We remain committed to supporting victims of sexual crimes and thoroughly investigating those responsible by bringing them to justice, no matter how much time has passed. I would urge people to come forward to police and report it. They can be assured of being fully supported by officers and partner agencies.

Record details

A perverted sex offender who thought that he was chatting on Facebook to two young girls aged 13 and 14 was trapped by a "self-styled paedophile hunter" who met up with police and showed them where the online predator lived.

Luke Lindley later brazenly tried to pretend that his Facebook account has been hacked and he turned violent when he was confronted and arrested by the police, Hull Crown Court heard.

Lindley, 28, of Sharp Street, Wyke, Hull, admitted two offences of attempting to arrange or facilitate the commission of a child sex offence between November 20 and 29, 2020 as well as two offences of assaulting a police officer as an emergency worker and another of possessing cannabis on December 1, 2020.

Julia Baggs, prosecuting, said that police went to Cottingham Road, Hull, at 8.20pm to meet with a man who had travelled from the Rotherham area. He had been working as a "self-styled paedophile hunter" and had set up decoy girls, supposedly aged 13 and 14, online. He directed the police to Lindley's home.

Lindley had chatted to the fake girls on Facebook Messenger and had said that he wanted to have sex with one of them. "He had been sending videos of himself committing sex acts," said Miss Baggs.

Lindley told police: "It wasn't me. My Facebook has been hacked." He was arrested but pushed a police officer away and resisted. Other police helped by taking hold of Lindley. One of them ended up on the floor, with Lindley on top of him. The officer's hand was bleeding.

While Lindley was in custody, three hand-rolled cannabis cigarettes were found on him. He later admitted during police interview that he believed that both fake girls were children.

He had convictions for 29 previous offences between 2012 and 2020, including two of arson, eight for violence and others for public disorder, criminal damage and possessing cannabis.

He had a conviction for a serious assault on his father, causing a fractured skull and two of assaulting police. At the time of the latest offences, Lindley was subject to a suspended prison sentence.

Connor Stuart, mitigating, said that Lindley did not now own a mobile phone. He had been on bail until the day of the court case and had been receiving help.

Sentence was adjourned for reports until February 13 and Lindley was remanded in custody because of the "high risk of offending" that he posed and the fact that the offences were committed while a suspended sentence was in force. A prison sentence was likely to be imposed at the next hearing for the "very serious" offences, the court heard.

Record details

A sex offender pulled a drunk woman into a nightclub unisex toilet cubicle and attempted to rape her. The victim was unable to overpower the man who pulled down her underpants and tried to penetrate her with his penis.

Olaf Koranteng, 27, grabbed the victim's hand and pulled her into a toilet cubicle in Pulse nightclub in Cardiff on July 3 last year. He imprisoned her inside the cubicle and despite her protestations he refused to let her go.

The victim, who has lifelong anonymity, said she felt "disgusting" after the attack and is now petrified of strangers. Koranteng remained in the club and later appeared "confused" when he was arrested by police.

A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday heard the defendant had arrived in the UK from Ghana less than a month before he carried out the attempted rape. On the night of the attack, the married man had been searching the internet for casual sex and had used the search term "local slags".

The victim attended Pulse with her boyfriend, arriving at 3am. They both went to the unisex toilets at the club, and Koranteng made a comment to the couple. After using the toilets, the victim was unable to find her boyfriend.

Prosecutor Jason Howells said it was at this point Koranteng grabbed hold of her and forcefully pulled her into a cubicle against her will before locking the door. He pushed her against the back wall, put his hands around her neck and tried to kiss her. He tried to grab her hand and put it on his penis but she fought against him.

Koranteng then grabbed her underpants and pulled them down before rubbing his penis on her vagina. She said "What are you doing, get off me" and told the defendant she was with her boyfriend. She managed to unlock the door and escape. She then broke down in tears and told her boyfriend about the attack, before notifying a member of staff.

The victim described Koranteng as "larger, taller and stronger" than her and said the incident left her feeling scared. She told police "It's wrong, it's absolutely wrong."

The defendant, who returned to the dancefloor, was arrested at the club and told police he was having a "fun night meeting white people". During his interview, he said: "Am I going to get away with this? I have learnt my lesson".

Swabs were taken from Koranteng on which the victim's DNA was discovered and he was seen on CCTV approaching a number of women in the nightclub. The defendant, of Lower Cathedral Road, later pleaded guilty to attempted rape. The prosecution did not proceed with two counts of sexual assault in respect two women in the nightclub the same night.

In a victim personal statement read out to the court, the victim said: "In the beginning just after what happened I was unable to shower having to go to the sexual assault referral centre. I felt gross with the man's germs all over me. I felt disgusting and wanted a shower. I felt disgusting having swabs taken and not being able to have a shower before the examination was awful and humiliating.

"Following what happened I wouldn't go out on my own. I was petrified strangers would come up to me as I didn't know what they were capable of. I thought they were going to rape me like the man in Pulse. I don't know how anyone could do that. I will never have trust in anyone again.

"I was blaming myself a lot and would think if I could have done anything differently but I just know I couldn't have got him off me. I am now going to the gym to become stronger. I have been struggling mentally and I am still suffering now. I think I am fine and all of a sudden it will hit me."

The victim said she would never use mixed toilets again and is scared someone will drag her into the toilets.

In mitigation, the court heard Koranteng had come to the UK on his wife's Visa, which he viewed as a "golden opportunity". Defence barrister Josh Scouller said his client wished to apologise to the victim and was "ashamed" and "remorseful" for the distress he had caused her. The defendant claimed he was "drunk and tired" and "misread the signals in a major way". Mr Scouller said he failed to appreciate "cultural differences" in the UK and "took his behaviour too far".

Sentencing, Recorder Bilal Siddique said: "You have nearly managed to rape the victim having isolated her, overpowered her, removed her underwear, took your penis out and pressed your erect penis against her vagina, coming very close to penetrating her. At the last moment the attempt failed.

"You were clearly looking for women that night searching for, in your words, 'local slags' and spent the night alone in the club effectively trying it on with various women. You were looking for casual sexual encounters that night but that is not what this was. This was a stranger rape case."

Koranteng was sentenced to four years and one month imprisonment, with an extended three years on licence. He faces automatic deportation upon his release from prison.

Record details

A convicted paedophile arranged to meet a 13-year-old ‘boy’ in a park after telling him he was looking for a ‘regular f*** buddy’.

David Cox, 57, began chatting with the ‘child’ online and immediately asked his age, where he was from and his sexual preferences. When the ‘boy’ said he was 13, from Manchester and didn’t like girls, Cox suggested they meet at Queens Park, off Rochdale Road, before adding that he was ‘looking for a regular f*** buddy’.

Over the next few days he sent vile sexual messages asking if the boy was “horny” and said he would teach him how to commit sexual acts. In July this year, Cox went to the park but was met by a vigilante group, and it became clear he had actually been speaking to an adult decoy.

The police were called and his bag was searched. It was found to contain lube and a torch, Manchester Crown Court heard.

Cox, of Monsall, had previously been stung in 2017, when he arranged to meet a 12-year-old boy in a children’s park, but again was met by a paedophile hunter group. Today (December 22), after pleading guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to meet a boy following grooming, he has been jailed.

Prosecuting, Charlotte Rimmer said Cox began chatting with the ‘boy’, who was actually a member of the group, Saving Our Children.

After contacting the boy on July 22 this year, he queried his sexual preferences and told him he was 45. He then suggested meeting up.

He gave the boy his number and suggested messaging him on WhatsApp, before telling him he was ‘very handsome’, and asking if he smoked or drank.

“At around midnight, the defendant asked whether he felt horny, whether he was erect and said he would show him how to get [an erection],” Ms Rimmer said.

Cox then told the boy he would show him how to carry out sexual acts before telling him to ‘keep it a secret’.

“He also said he got caught out before with a younger guy. When asked what happened, he said he got away with it and said the other person was 12 and was about to [perform a sex act upon him] when he left,” the prosecutor said.

“The conversation continued and the defendant suggested they could be boyfriends. He also asked if his mum had put a tracker in his phone.”

On July 25, Cox agreed to meet the boy at Queens Park, in Harpurhey, but when he arrived he tried to run away after seeing members of the group waiting for him. It was then he was caught.

The court heard he had 19 previous convictions, one of which included similar offences of attempting to meet a boy following grooming.

“The defendant engaged in conversation on Grindr - this was with another decoy. He said he wanted to have sex and said he brought alcohol, poppers and lubricant,” Mr Rimmer said.

It was said he was HIV positive at the time.

Defending, Adrian Palmer said his client was expecting to get more time in prison for the offences. He said he was on medication which has seen the HIV become ‘undetectable’, meaning it cannot be passed on, and added that Cox had recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

In sentencing, Recorder Neil Usher said his only mitigation was his early guilty plea.

“You thought you were communicating with a 13-year-old boy, and you attended the meeting with lubricant,” he said.

“I am satisfied that you took that with you because you were intending to engage in sexual acts with the child.”

Cox, of Keyhaven Walk, was jailed for 28 months with an extended period of three years on licence after the judge found him to be a dangerous offender under the sentencing provisions. That means he must serve a full seven months in prison, then two thirds of the 28 month sentence before he is considered for release by the parole board.

He was also made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and must sign onto the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.

Record details

A woman did not know she was sexually assaulted until she was told by police after passing out on a train, a court has heard.

The victim took prescription drugs that rendered her unconscious on a Metro train from Gateshead to South Shields on the evening of April 19 last year.

During the journey she was preyed upon by Leon Clarkson, 21, who told witnesses he was her boyfriend and has now been spared jail.

They saw him repeatedly putting his hand down her leggings while she was totally unconscious and unable to sit up.

A woman who saw what Clarkson, from Houghton, Sunderland, was doing felt uncomfortable and messaged her boyfriend who called police.

He told the witness that she was just a bit dizzy, but when he got her to her feet and led her off the train at Four Lane Ends the onlooker messaged her boyfriend who called police.

Another passenger saw him carrying her and asked what was happening, but Clarkson said the victim had had a joint and her mother was going to pick her up.

When police arrived she was very drowsy from taking three diazepam tablets so she was taken to hospital.

The victim told Newcastle Crown Court: ‘I had taken medication before I got on the Metro and I have no recollection of what happened to me.

‘The police investigating the crime told me what happened. This made me feel ill and very anxious.

‘I didn’t know who this man was. I didn’t even know what was happening to me. I was very vulnerable at that point and I think it’s terrible he could do that on a Metro in front of other people.

‘I’m very worried he will do this again to a vulnerable woman or girl. When I see a drunk girl or woman I now always tell them to get home safe and I worry about them.

‘I truly believe if he is capable of doing this in front of witnesses on a busy Metro train he could do something worse to someone else.’

Clarkson, who was previously convicted for committing a sex act on a bus, admitted sexual assault.

Recorder Tahir Khan KC told him: ‘The complainant was completely at your mercy and you took advantage of her by touching her when she clearly could not be consenting.’

He ordered him to take part in a sex offender programme and was put on the sex offenders’ register for five years.

Defending him, Jamie Adams said that he was a vulnerable man and had apologised for what happened.

He said: ‘The unfortunate complainant didn’t know just how vulnerable this young man is. He has mental health problems and he was taking lots of cannabis at the time.’

Record details

A judge wants to know how dangerous a paedophile is before he sentences him for sexually assaulting a woman on her own in the countryside.

It is the second time Nathan McCracken has been convicted of such an attack. He also has a previous conviction for a sexual crime against a child.

In 2020, he was jailed for driving up to a 16-year-old girl walking on her own in the countryside in Ryedale, getting out of his car, grabbing her from behind and sexually assaulting her.

He had been on parole at the time having been released partway through a prison sentence passed in April 2019 for attempting to incite a child to commit sexual acts.

McCracken initially denied sexually assaulting the woman east of York and maintained his denials up to the day he was due to stand trial at York Crown Court But after she attended court to give evidence against him, he changed his plea.

McCracken, 29, of Commercial Street, Norton, pleaded guilty in front of Judge Simon Hickey to sexually assaulting the woman and two breaches of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) made in August 2020.

The same judge had made the order when sentencing McCracken for the sexual attack on the girl in an attempt to stop him committing more offences. It included a clause banning him from approaching any lone woman in public. McCracken admitted breaching the clause.

The judge said he remembered the details of the offences for which he had sentenced McCracken in 2020.

He ordered probation officers to prepare a report on McCracken.

"I want to know if the probation service has any view of whether he is dangerous," he said.

The judge told the sex offender. "I also want to hear from the young lady (the latest victim). No doubt it has had a great effect on her. People are entitled to go about in North Yorkshire and not be molested by people like you."

Prosecuting, Simon Reevell said the second breach of the SHPO related to a computer. The SHPO had a condition that every time McCracken obtained a device by which he could access the internet he had to tell police about it within three days. But he had not done so.

The computer was not used by the defendant before police got their hands on it and examined it.

McCracken was remanded in custody. He will return to York Crown Court on February 7 to learn his punishment.

McCracken faced a second charge of sexual assault which he had previously denied. Following discussions between his barrister Michael Forrest and Mr Reevell, the prosecution decided not to try him on it alone and it was left on file, meaning it will appear on his police record but is not a criminal conviction.

Record details

A 55-year-old man from Latvia has been jailed for sexually assaulting 2 young girls on the Isle of Wight back in 2011, more than 4 years after his victims reported their ordeal to Police.

Sergeis Jakobovskis, formally of Batchelor’s Barn Road in Andover, first appeared before the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court back in August 2020. He stood accused of 2 counts of sexual assault on a girl under 13 and 1 count of sexual assault on a female aged 16 or over.

It’s said that Jakobovskis intentionally touched the 2 girls, the youngest of which was just 8 years old. The matters only came to light when the victims, both now adult women, courageously reported the crimes to Police in 2018.

The case was sent up to the Isle of Wight Crown Court where it was heard for the first time in February 2021 – with an interpreter present. A plea and trial preparation hearing followed in April 2021, followed by another hearing in June. The trial got underway in February of last year but was halted in March, followed by a further case management hearing in early October.

It was later in October 2022 that Jakobovskis was found guilty of all 3 charges against him and he was remanded in custody.

The 55-year-old, who has been in the United Kingdom for over 11 years, was initially due to be sentenced on 12th December but it was only today (Tuesday) that he was finally sent down.

Appearing at the Isle of Wight Crown Court earlier today, Judge Mousley handed Sergeis Jakobovskis an immediate prison sentence of 4 years and ordered him to sign as a registered sex offender. He was also made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

He was sentenced to 6 months in prison for sexual assault and 4 years in prison for each of the 2 counts of assaulting a girl under the age of 13 by touching. Each sentence will be served concurrently totalling a 4-year prison term.

DC Dave Widger of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary has said:

“Finding the confidence to report sexual abuse takes an incredible amount of bravery on behalf of the victim. I want to commend these two young women for their courage and patience throughout this investigation.

“For any victim, going through the criminal justice process is effectively being made to relive the trauma of what happened to you. I am so pleased that both victims got some very hard earned justice.

“Protecting children is a duty we take extremely seriously as police officers, and we will do everything in our power to bring child sex offenders like Jakobovskis to justice.”