Latest Offenders

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A "high risk sex offender" started a relationship with a mum and befriended her three daughters.

Darren Duncan, 36, was once jailed for sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl in Scotland.

But he has repeatedly breached court orders and is described as continuing to live "a life of lies and deceit".

A court today heard he started dating a mum-of-four in St Helens, who has three girls and a boy, all aged under 16.

Before long he was staying at their home, playing with the children, and even took one girl out shopping "just the two of them".

Duncan is subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), which bans him from having contact with any female under the age of 16, apart from when it's "inadvertent or unavoidable".

Liverpool Crown Court heard Duncan breached the SOPO by failing to inform his offender manager he was in a relationship with the woman, between May 2019 and February 2020.

Peter Killen, prosecuting, said Duncan also stayed at the family's address, which continued until he was jailed in June 2019 for four unsanctioned trips to Amsterdam.

While in jail, Duncan maintained phone contact with the woman and kept in touch with her children by letter, before returning to their home.

Mr Killen said relatives saw him "playing out in the garden with the children" and he once took one of the girls shopping "just the two of them".

When police searched Duncan's home they found letters including one from one of the girls, who called him her "stepdad".

Mr Killen said this girl talked about how much she was "missing" him and signed off with kisses.

Another one of the girls wrote to Duncan thanking him for Christmas presents including an iPhone and said she couldn't wait to hug him.

The third girl wrote to him when he was in jail, when she referred to not knowing what to write in prison letters, said she was "missing" him, and couldn't wait until he was "home".

However, other family members learned Duncan was a convicted sex offender and told social services.

Mr Killen said the children are no longer living with their mum and are now being cared for by relatives.

When arrested and interviewed, Duncan denied being in a relationship with the mum and said he had never visited her home.

Duncan, of Bridge Street, Nairn, near Inverness, admitted two counts of breaching his SOPO just a week before a trial.

In a basis of plea he admitted staying overnight at her home about 10 times and had met the children though they were not always there, before also claiming he was "hugely sorry".

The pervert, who has 17 past convictions for 29 offences, was previously convicted of "lewd, indecent and libidinous behaviour" in Scotland in November 2012, when he received a three-year probation order.

In June 2014, he was jailed for two and a half years for a penetrative sexual offence with a 15-year-old girl in Scotland.

In 2014, Duncan was convicted of stalking, then in January and April 2018 he was twice convicted of breaching his SOPO in Scotland, when he was "admonished" and later fined 400.

He was jailed for eight months in September 2018 for breaching his SOPO by giving a lift to three teenage girls, then locked up for eight months in June 2019 for breaching his notification requirements by travelling abroad four times without telling police.

Judge Neil Flewitt, QC, said a pre-sentence report caused him "some concern".

Callum Ross, defending Duncan, said: "He understands he finds himself in exceptionally hot water before this court today and he must be sentenced for what he now accepts is totally unacceptable behaviour".

However, he said his client asked for "one final chance to retain his liberty by receiving a suspended prison sentence".

Mr Ross accepted the girls were put at risk, but said "there was no actual harm caused perhaps".

He said "strong personal mitigation" included that Duncan lived with and cared for his elderly mum, who would "no doubt struggle without his help".

The lawyer said Duncan worked as an offshore mechanic on oil rigs in the North Sea, earning 376 a day.

He said his client was on medication for anxiety and depression, brought about by his prison sentence in 2014 and his "feelings of regret and remorse", but Duncan understood "he only has himself to blame".

Mr Ross suggested there was "a prospect of rehabilitation" because Duncan was remorseful and wanted to get help.

However, Judge Flewitt told Duncan: "You clearly ignore court orders."

He said the report contained "deeply concerning observations", including that Duncan continued to contact the mum "even after" he was arrested for these latest breaches.

Judge Flewitt said the author of the report also spoke to the police officer who had supervised Duncan since 2013.

The judge said: "Throughout that time you continued to breach restrictions put in place to protect members of the public and innocent children.

"The view of the author is you chose instead to totally disregard court orders and to lead a life of lies and deceit."

He said the author concluded Duncan couldn't be managed in the community.

Judge Flewitt said: "This was a very serious and persistent breach of the order."

He accepted there was no evidence of actual harm, "but the risk of harm of putting somebody with your record into a household with young female children is obvious and in my judgement very serious".

The judge said: "It seems to me that any remorse you may have now is concern for yourself rather than for other people.

"It seems to me if I were to take any other step than imposing immediate imprisonment, the likelihood is you would ignore the terms of that order and breach it, and the very least I can do is to protect the public by sending you immediately to prison."

Judge Flewitt jailed Duncan for three years and four months.

He asked for the Scottish authorities to be notified, so they can consider extending Duncan's SOPO, which runs until October 2022.

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A dad-of-two arranged to meet a 13-year-old girl at McDonald's so he could take her back to his house for sex.

Gareth Rogers wanted "Lily" to be his "friend with benefits" when his wife was at work and his children were in day care.

The married 41-year-old even told the child he wouldn't need to wear a condom because he'd undergone a vasectomy.

But the paedophile, of Easton Road, New Ferry, was actually talking to an undercover police officer the whole time.

And when he turned up at the McDonald's restaurant in Hunts Cross, the pervert was stopped in his car and arrested.

Liverpool Crown Court heard an officer created the decoy profile on messaging app Kik Messenger on November 15, 2019.

David Watson, prosecuting, said Lily received a message from GDR1980 on January 22, 2020, who said he was 39 and from Wirral.

Rogers said: "Looking to chat, flirt, maybe more, hoping to hear from you soon, Gareth."

They exchanged messages as Rogers went on to say he wanted to swap nude photos, he worked from home for a software company and Lily should delete their chats.

Mr Watson said Rogers asked Lily "if she did anything to herself" - "suggestive the prosecution say of sexual behaviour" - and the officer noted he had already been a member of Kik Messenger for 441 days.

On January 23, Lily reiterated she was 13, but Rogers requested a photo of her, which was declined, then sent a headshot of himself.

Mr Watson told the court: "He said he was looking for someone to help him out of the rut his wife had created."

On January 27, Rogers told Lily because of their ages he had to be "careful" and on January 30 said she had been a "tease".

On February 18 he told her he was "looking for a friend with benefits", before asking what type of sex she was prepared to have, specifying three different types.

The prosecutor said: "He suggested meeting Lily, who told him she was off school. He specified the dates that were best for him as his wife was in work and his children were in day care."

On February 19, Rogers made an arrangement to meet her two days later at McDonald's, between 9.30am and 10am.

Mr Watson said: "The defendant said it if was going to be her first time they could do as little or as much as she wished.

"The defendant told Lily he had a vasectomy and therefore a condom would not be required."

Rogers also reassured Lily he would be "gentle" and requested nude photos, which he said would help prepare her to get over the "hurdle".

On February 20 he asked whether she was a police officer or connected to police, but he went ahead with the meet.

He was arrested in Hunts Cross the following morning, when his phone was seized before he was interviewed.

Mr Watson said: "He claimed he was going to meet Lily to tell her that nothing would happen between them.

"In fact, say the prosecution, the last message he sent suggested she order some food so they could eat it in his car on the way back to his house."

Rogers then confessed he thought Lily was 13, said he was "stupid" and he "didn't know why he hadn't stopped sooner".

Rogers admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming and attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

He also admitted taking, possessing and distributing one Category C indecent image of a child.

Cheryl Mottram, defending, said her client, who has no previous convictions, was "genuinely remorseful".

She said: "He can offer no real explanation as to why he engaged in the chat that he did during the period of time that he did and he finds it difficult in his own mind to reconcile his behaviour during this period of time with the man he's been up to that point."

Ms Mottram said "fortunately" the girl wasn't real, but his actions had "far reaching consequences, not just for himself".

She said Rogers' wife had suffered "taunts" from people in the community who were aware of what he was in court for.

The lawyer said his partner had been left to struggle on her own with two young children and found it "very emotionally draining" as a single mum, but Rogers "has only himself to blame".

Ms Mottram said her client was no longer working, but as the main "breadwinner", was now borrowing money from his dad to cover their mortgage and bills.

She said Rogers hoped to "put this behind him", "address deficits in his thinking" by undertaking courses in prison and when released from jail, be reunited with his family and his wife, who "remains supportive of him".

Judge Anil Murray said Rogers believed he was talking with a 13-year-old girl when he arranged to meet and told Lily he was "throbbing for her".

He said: "I understand the devastation this must have on your family, but as Ms Mottram says, I'm afraid that is your fault.

"You've left your wife struggling with the children."

However, the judge said he had read a letter from Rogers' wife "to say she has forgiven you" and "otherwise you're a wonderful father".

Jailing him for two years and four months, Judge Murray said Rogers must sign on the Sex Offenders Register and comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.

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A convicted sex offender who abused a 13-year-old girl after offering her a lift home has been jailed again, just seven years on from his first sentence.

John Brook, 68, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child and breaching his sexual harm prevention order at Bradford Crown Court on Friday, September 10.

The court heard how Brook, of Huddersfield Road in Ravensthorpe, had been asked to pick the 13-year-old girl up and drop her off at home on May 2 this year.

 For more news from Bradford Crown Court, click here. 

But Brook instead told the girl that he did not have enough fuel to get her home and suggested she spend the night at his house.

After they arrived, Brook sexually assaulted the child victim.

The girl was able to escape after making an excuse to go to the toilet and ran to a nearby petrol station, where she called the police.

Officers arrested Brook that same night.

The 68-year-old has now been sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison. He will be on the sex offenders' register for life.

It comes just over seven years after Brook was arrested for sexually abusing a teenage girl who 'functioned at the level of an eight or nine year old.'

Brook commited various sex offences against a teenage girl with a low IQ and then sickeningly encouraged his brother Christopher to do the same.

Commenting on the sentence handed to Brook at Bradford Crown Court on Friday (September 10, 2021), Detective Olivia Connor, from West Yorkshire Police, said: "Brook's actions were horrific and calculated. He abused the trust he had built with the victim's family for his own gratification.

"I would like to commend the young victim for speaking out and contacting us as soon as she could. Her bravery has seen this man jailed for his actions, and I’m very pleased with the result.

"Offences of this nature are always taken extremely seriously, and we hope his sentence will provide reassurance to the public that we will do our utmost to bring those committing these horrible crimes to justice, and we will be on hand to support victims every step of the way."

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A grandad confronted by paedophile hunters on Facebook Live said only death would cure his sexual interest in children.

Alan Cherry, 64, formerly of Akenside Court, Bootle, keeps getting caught trying to talk to underage girls on the internet.

The former window cleaner has twice been convicted of sexual offences and last year was jailed for eight months.

But after yet more sick online chats this summer, he was confronted outside his new home at Holley Court, Rainhill.

Liverpool Crown Court heard Cherry confessed to sending filthy messages to two 'girls' he thought were aged 12 and 13.

He said: "I have a problem, there is no cure for me. The only way I can be cured is if I'm not alive."

Cherry was first caught having sex chats with an undercover police officer, who he believed to be a 13-year-old girl, in 2017.

When his home was raided, a stash of indecent images - including children as young as three - was discovered.

He was handed a three-year community order, so he could attend a sex offenders treatment programme, in 2018.

However, in October 2019 he was back online, using Kik Messenger to send photos of his penis to a decoy profile of a girl aged 14, created by paedophile hunters.

Cherry was jailed for eight months and hit with a new five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) in March 2020.

In July this year, a member of the group "Shatter the Silence" created a fake profile of a girl called Isla on the dating app Tagged.

Jamie Baxter, prosecuting, said the profile said Isla was 25, but when Cherry contacted her on July 27, she said she was actually 13.

Cherry, who said he was 64, asked if she had seen boys' "willies" or her dad's penis and what size her breasts were.

Mr Baxter said Cherry also asked whether she did "naughty stuff" with boys and would like to see their "willies", and when she said "no", told her she should.

Cherry also asked her to show him her "private bits" on camera and to see her breasts, before saying he would perform a sex act.

Another member of Shatter the Silence created a second decoy profile, Darcy, who Cherry started talking to on August 1.

She said she was 12 but he asked her about "willies", whether she knew where they went and whether she had seen her mum naked.

Shatter the Silence contacted another paedophile hunters group, Fleetwood Enforcers, who went to see Cherry on August 12.

After streaming his confession on Facebook Live they called the police, who arrested and interviewed Cherry.

Mr Baxter said: "He said he tried to stop but couldn't help himself."

The court heard Cherry's sex offender manager also visited him, when he admitted talking to someone who told him they were 13.

Cherry pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and one count of attempting to breach a SHPO.

Jonathan Keane, defending, said his client had been "open and very honest" with the Probation Service in a pre-sentence report.

He said: "He's a lonely, isolated man and the report does note he hasn't had a partner for over 20 years."

Mr Keane said rather than seeking help for his problems, Cherry had engaged in this behaviour, but he had since told him he was "sorry" and "how disgusted he is by his actions".

Recorder Heather Williams, QC, said she was not going to read out the messages Cherry sent to two people he thought were girls aged 12 and 13.

However, the judge said they were "overtly sexual messages that were wholly inappropriate" and if they had been received by a girl of that age, "it could have been extremely damaging for her".

Recorder Williams told Cherry that when he was confronted by the paedophile hunters "you were frank about your interests in young girls, but regrettably appeared to see no reason to change your behaviour".

She said: "In your police interview again you were at least frank about what you had done, but you said that you couldn't stop if you tried."

The judge quoted the author of the pre-sentence report, who said: "Though he is fully aware of the devastating effect on children who are subject to sexual abuse, he continues to commit offences in order to satisfy his own sexual pleasure."

Recorder Williams jailed Cherry for three years and two months.

She said he would now have to sign on the Sex Offenders Register and comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life.

The judge said: "It is because you have essentially said you will continue to behave in this way unless there is some impediment put in your path to stop it."

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Phomnarin Harawan, 20, pinned his victim down during the attacks, Southampton Crown Court was told.

Prosecution barrister Nick Tucker said the defendant promised her money not to report the abuse.

The girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, reportedly tried to kick out at Harawan, 20, of Portchester Road, when he launched his sexual attacks.

He was arrested in January last year and during a police interview told officers he assumed his victim was "fine" with what happened.

Harawan denied having any sexual gratification from the offences and claimed it was a way of expressing the anger he felt about various aspects of his life.

He was charged with rape, assault by penetration and two counts of attempted rape.

Harawan, who had no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to all offences.

Defending, barrister, Gemma White, told the court that her client had admitted to his crimes and should be given appropriate credit in his sentence.

She added there had been a delay of 18 months for the case to be dealt with.

Ms White also said Harawan's early days at school had been difficult, with the experience impacting his social development.

The court recorder, Adam Feest QC, said that Harawan's victim had shown remarkable courage and strength of character.

Harawan was jailed for eight years. He will serve at least two-thirds of this sentence and will be on licence when he is released.

He has been made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order until a further order is made.

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A former headteacher described by a judge as "a highly dangerous predatory paedophile" has been jailed after admitting child sex abuse offences. Duggie Speight, 44, sexually abused a teenage boy and secretly filmed young boys naked in a changing room. Bradford Crown Court heard that Speight, head of a school in Yorkshire, began grooming the boy by inviting him over to his flat during lockdown. He was jailed for 12 years, with an extended licence of eight years. Passing sentence, Judge Richard Mansell QC said 44-year-old Speight had used his position of trust to "cynically manipulate" the boy and his family. "Your public persona hid a very dark secret, that you are a highly dangerous, predatory, manipulative paedophile," the judge said. Judge Mansell said the offending was at the highest category of harm and that his victim would have to "live with the mental scars of what you did to him for the rest of his life". Prosecutor Tom Storey said Speight became friends with the boy's family and offered tutoring. He would give the boy alcohol and take him out and buy him expensive presents, including clothes and a laptop. Mr Storey said that after one shopping trip in April the boy took an overdose and when recovering in hospital told one of his friends about the abuse. The friend told his parents who contacted the police. When initially interviewed by the police Speight denied the allegations, but officers searched his home and discovered mobiles phones and a tablet hidden behind a wall. The court was told the devices contained footage of Speight having sex with the teenager filmed with a hidden camera. There was also a video of young boys changing at a swimming pool. 'Stolen innocence' In an impact statement, the boy's mother said Speight had "destroyed my happy family life". "He used my friendship and trust and twisted it, "she said. "He stole my son's innocence and we can never get it back."

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A paedophile has been jailed for 22 years after he sexually abused four children over a number of years.

Anthony Hulme subjected the four youngsters - some of them as young as two - to 'horrific' abuse over a seven-year period in the 1980s.

The 57-year-old, of London Road, Nantwich, was convicted following an eight-day trial at Chester Crown Court.

He was found guilty of:

- Two counts of gross indecency with a girl under the age of 14;

- Six counts of gross indecency with a boy under the age of 14;

- A serious sexual offence involving a boy under the age of 16;

- Two counts of indecent assault on a boy under the age of 16;

- Two counts of indecent assault on a boy under the age of 14.

Following the case, Detective Sergeant Paul Nolan, from Cheshire Police, said: "Hulme subjected each of his victims to horrific abuse, both physically and sexually, over a long period of time when they were babies or young children.

"It has taken great courage for them to disclose what happened and to go through the process to ensure justice was served.

"The conviction and sentence is testament to their bravery in coming forward and providing such difficult, upsetting and harrowing evidence.

"I hope it now provides them with a form of closure and although they will never forget what happened, they can begin a new chapter in their lives."

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Michael John Edward Bunker was caught with 11,710 still images and 427 video clips of children.

These ranged from category A - the most serious - to category C.

Appearing before Southampton Crown Court he was charged with three counts of making indecent photographs of children and a single count of possessing to show indecent photographs of a child.

The 57-year-old of Leigh Road, Eastleigh, pleaded guilty to the offences that happened between 2018 and 2020.

He was jailed for two years, suspended for 24-months.

He must complete 40 rehabilitation activity days and 100 hours of unpaid work.

Bunker has been made the subject of a ten-year sexual harm prevention order and will have to register as a sex offender for the same period

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A man communicated with two young girls unsupervised in the street despite being banned from having contact with children under the terms of his sexual risk order (SRO).

Serial offender Patrick Cunnington, 24, admitted a ninth breach of the SRO which was granted in 2018 and prohibits him from communicating with anyone under the age of 16 at Swindon Magistrates Court this morning (8 September).

The defendant, who was on bail for two other breaches of his order, was brought before the court after being arrested on Tuesday (7 September) and remanded in police custody overnight. He was supported in the courtroom by his girlfriend of eight months.

Crown prosecutor Pauline Lambert said Cunnington, of Prospect Hill, Old Town, was living in a shared house and whilst outside the property, he would talk to his neighbour who was unaware of his offending history and her two children aged 9 and 11.

In the mothers statement, she described him as very friendly as he always took the time to speak with her children, asking about what they did over the school holidays and about their new hamster. She estimated hed spoken to the children on around 30 occasions between April and 5 September this year.

He added his new neighbour on Facebook on 21 August, and she accepted. When the woman posted a photograph of her girls on the social platform wearing their school uniform, Cunnington left a comment saying Awh, have fun, along with laughing emojis.

The womans ex-partner contacted her and asked why she was friends with him on Facebook, but she was completely unaware of his history. Immediately Googling him, she said the results made her feel sick and she contacted Wiltshire Police to report his behaviour.

For most of the occasions he communicated with her children, she was present in the background, but for many others, they were alone and Cunnington was unsupervised with them.

When police attended this address armed with this new information, he lunged at them with his fists clenched. He was restrained and handcuffed to prevent any assaults. After hed calmed down, his handcuffs were removed and he was transported to custody.

Ms Lambert asked magistrates to refuse the defendant bail due to the fact this new offence was committed whilst on bail ahead of sentencing on 21 September. She also asked that the case was sent to the crown court for sentencing, concerned the benchs powers would be insufficient.

He does not comply with this order, the current order, and does not comply with his bail conditions, she told the court.

Adding: There are no bail conditions which could be in place to stop him re-offending. He should be remanded in custody for fear of further offending.

The court heard how Cunnington is categorised as a high risk of harm to children.

Charlotte Frizzell, defending, opposed the remand application made by the prosecution, saying sending her client to prison would not help him.

Every day in passing, he says hello, and he does converse with them.

He admits hes seen them on their own and would say hello. He feels it would be odd that he does not speak to them when their mother is not around, he feels it would make them think theres something wrong with them.

There is no underlying cause, he was being neighbourly, they spoke a lot.

She [the childrens mother] has been around and asked his girlfriend to babysit her children. He told his girlfriend, who is in court supporting him, that it could not happen.

Hes quite immature for his age and he has significant trust issues with people in authority.

Magistrates, after retiring for a few minutes to discuss the matter, decided to remand Cunnington into custody. They committed the case for sentence at Swindon Crown Court in October.

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A graphic designer has been jailed for more than five years for terrorising six women in an online abuse campaign.

Shaquille Williams, 26, blackmailed one woman by threatening to send private sexual photographs of her to her family and friends unless she sent him more images which he tried to direct.

The victim had already been targeted by sadistic blackmailer and paedophile Abdul Hasib Elahi, 26 – one of the worst online sexual offenders the National Crime Agency has ever investigated.

Elahi is currently awaiting sentencing after admitting 158 sickening online offences in a separate NCA investigation.

Elahi, of Sparkhill, Birmingham, masqueraded as a businessman or stockbroker on sugar daddy websites and conned victims into sending him sexual images of themselves.

He then blackmailed them into filming themselves performing increasingly degrading acts and sending him the footage.

Elahi posted the footage online where Williams, of Hartness Road, Clifton, Nottingham, acquired some of it.

Today, at Nottingham Crown Court, Williams was jailed for five years and three months after being convicted at trial of blackmailing the victim between 10 January 2019 and 10 May 2019.

He was also convicted of three counts of harassing three women and putting them in fear of violence between 18 April 2019 and 21 May 2019, and convicted of two counts of sending grossly offensive messages to two other women.

Using various social media accounts, university graduate Williams sent the women horrendous abuse including pictures of acid attack victims.

One victim received messages including the name of her home town, a picture of hydrochloric acid and a message featuring her road name.

NCA Senior Investigating Officer Andy Peach said: "Williams inflicted extreme terror on these victims – they have been exceptionally brave in coming forward to ensure he faced justice and went to jail.

"Williams is a coward and a twisted, callous, sexual deviant.

"Some of his crimes were made possible because of Abdul Elahi whose sadistic depravity and scale of offending horrified the investigative team.

"There are a series of other inquiries into Elahi's associates."

Elahi will be sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on a date to be confirmed.

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The conviction of a dangerous sex offender caught by paedophile hunters encouraged two victims from 40 years ago to come forward to ensure he did not ruin other lives, a court heard.

Lee Vincent, 54, was caught by a paedophile hunter group after having sexual conversations with a girl he thought was 12, but in fact was an adult decoy working for the group, Norwich Crown Court heard.

William Carter, prosecuting, said the group posted footage online of them confronting Vincent in March 2019 about his online sexual grooming and this was seen by two victims he sexually abused 40 years ago.

They also found out that Vincent had a previous conviction for indecent exposure in Great Yarmouth, in February 2019, which Mr Carter said prompted them to finally come forward to police.

Mr Carter said one victim said Vincent raped her as a child and indecently assaulted her and the second victim had also been indecently assaulted by Vincent, when she was about 10.

In victim impact statements, the court heard the abuse had a profound effect on both victims and they hoped this would bring closure and prevent other lives being ruined by Vincent.

Vincent, of Canterbury Way, Thetford, admitted rape, attempted rape and indecent assault on one victim and indecent assault on a second victim back in the 1980s.

He also admitted attempting to incite a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity between January and March 2019.

Jailing him for seven and half years, Judge Anthony Bate described Vincent as a dangerous offender and said: "You continue to pose a high risk of serious harm to girls."

He said Vincent had a sexual preoccupation with young girls and committed the online offences while on bail and on community service for the indecent exposure offence.

Vincent was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and is on the sex offender register for life.

Danielle O'Donovan, for Vincent, said he was ashamed of what he had done. She said as an evangelical Christian he was struggling to come to terms with everything. "He is a man deeply confused."

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Vincent Douglas, 53, was jailed at Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday, September 7, after he pleaded guilty to a series of sex offences against the youngsters committed a number of years ago.

His offending later came to light when one of his victims told staff at her college what he had done to her.

Douglas originally denied matters, including after the case was sent to the crown court.

But he confessed to six counts before a trial took place. He admitted two counts of sexual assault of a child, two of assault of a child by penetration and two of sexual activity with a child.

Douglas was sentenced to a total of nine years and five months in prison.

Police have welcomed the sentence saying it sends a clear message to abusers that they have nowhere to hide.

Judge Timothy Stead said: “This is multiple repeat offending.”

Referring to an impact statement made by one of the victim’s Judge Stead said: “She speaks of panic attacks and flashbacks and she herself feeling guilty.

"Of course she shouldn’t feel guilty, but that I’m afraid is a common consequence, phenomenon, of offending of this nature.”

The second victim talked about not trusting people or wishing to go out on her own because of what happened.

A Cleveland Police spokesperson said: “We welcome the sentence handed to Douglas; it sends a very clear message that those who abuse children have nowhere to hide.

“Our specially trained officers will always investigate thoroughly any form of abuse against children, no matter how long ago it happened.

"Victims and their families will also receive specialist support from police and other agencies throughout the entire process while we do all we can to bring perpetrators before the courts.

“We hope today’s sentence brings comfort and a degree of closure to the victims and their families.”

Douglas, of Greenwood Road, Hartlepool, will be on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

He was also given one year’s extended licence for when he is released.

Anyone experiencing any form of abuse, or has concerns about someone you believe to be at risk, is urged to contact Cleveland Police on 101, available 24 hours a day.

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A PROLIFIC sex predator has been jailed for 10 years for the "utterly appalling" abuse of two victims he subjected to repeated rape ordeals. David Ferguson, 67, preyed on one victim when she was a teenager and subjected the other to sex assaults as a child. Ferguson, who was first convicted of a sex crime in 1973, is currently serving another 10-year sentence jail imposed on him in 2015 for similar offences. A judge told him at the High Court in Edinburgh: "You have been convicted following trial of four charges of the sexual abuse of two women." Lord Richardson said both victims had been subjected to "sustained abuse" by the rapist. The judge said: "It is difficult to find words to describe the utterly appalling nature of what you have done." He said it was clear from victim impact statements prepared by the women that Ferguson's crimes had "a profound impact" on them. The judge told Ferguson that in sentencing him, he took into account his age and mental and physical health problems. Lord Richardson said it was apparent to him that Ferguson was not in good health and had mobility difficulties. But he told Ferguson: "However, a lengthy period in custody is the only appropriate sentence I can impose on you to reflect your appalling conduct." The judge told him his latest 10-year prison term would begin from when his trial ended. During the trial, Ferguson had denied a string of charges but was found guilty of four offences three of rape and one of attempted murder committed between October 1988 and August 2010 in Fife. The first rape occurred at a house in Ballingry when he attacked a victim who was asleep when he began raping her and continued with the sex assault when she woke up. He subsequently attacked and molested the woman again at a property in Cowdenbeath. Ferguson attacked his second victim when she was aged six or seven at a house in Cowdenbeath when he tried to rape the child. He later went on to subject her to rape attacks committed in Cowdenbeath and Crossgates. One victim told the court that he had made her feel "scared" as a child. Ferguson was placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely. Detectives from Police Scotlands Public Protection Unit in Fife carried out the investigation into Ferguson and reported him to the procurator fiscal in February 2019. Detective Sergeant Graeme Dursley said: Ferguson subjected his victims to sustained violent abuse over the years and his sentencing sends a clear message that anyone found to be involved in this type of behaviour will be brought to justice. I would like to thank his victims for their assistance during our inquiry. It is very difficult to speak about these types of crimes and they have showed immense courage during this investigation. "My thoughts remain with the victims and their families, and I hope that Fergusons sentencing can bring them some solace in that the person responsible for these despicable actions has been held to account, and they can now move forward with their lives. Police Scotland is resolutely committed to supporting victims of sexual crimes and investigating those responsible by bringing them to justice, no matter how much time has passed. I urge people to come forward to police and report it. They can be assured of being fully supported by officers and partner agencies.

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The paedophile later fantasised about the abuse in sick chats with other men online A paedophile admitted raping a girl after police discovered his sick conversations with men fantasising about the abuse. David Harvey groomed then repeatedly molested the young child, after telling her: "Sometimes you have to do things you don't want to." The 59-year-old later went online and told one man he could impersonate his victim in twisted sex games - referring to him by the girl's name - but claimed this was just "role play". Harvey, of Blackcap Walk, Birchwood, Warrington, showed no emotion as Judge Andrew Menary, QC, slammed his "corrupt and depraved behaviour". Liverpool Crown Court heard the abuse came to light in June 2020, when the victim's mum received a text from one of her daughter's friends at school. This girl told the mum her daughter had text her, saying: "I was sexually assaulted for years and wanted to say something, but I was scared." Robert Dudley, prosecuting, said the mum spoke to her child, who confirmed Harvey had made her touch him, and the police were informed. The court heard the abuse included Harvey making the victim get undressed, before lying on top of her and rubbing his penis against her. He made her perform sex acts on herself, saying he wouldn't touch her if she did them, so she did, because she didn't want him to touch her. Mr Dudley said Harvey also performed sex acts on her, made her perform sex acts on him, and on one occasion raped her. The victim said: "He was bigger and stronger than me and if I didn't do it, he'd hold me in place." When arrested and interviewed by police in July 2020, Harvey denied sexually abusing his victim and said her allegations were "not true". He was interviewed again in March this year, when police confronted him with evidence of the conversations he had online with other men, including a person called "Andrew". The court heard in one chat he told Andrew: "You can be [victim's name] and I can f*** you." Harvey continued to address this man using the name of his child victim and talked about needing them "to come service him soon". He admitted sending Andrew three images of his erect penis but claimed the chats were just "role play" and a scenario being acted out by two men. Harvey, who had no previous convictions, later admitted rape, three counts of sexual assault and two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity. Mr Dudley said his child victim now struggles to sleep, gets anxious when talking about her ordeal and just "wants to forget about it". In a victim statement, the girl's mum said she too suffers from raised levels of anxiety and stress, and worries about her daughter. Paul Wood, defending, said his client expected to receive a long prison sentence and asked for 25% credit for his guilty pleas. The barrister said: "He does show some insight into his offending behaviour, repeatedly in the pre-sentence report referring to his disgust." He added: "He's ashamed of his behaviour." Mr Wood told the court it would be Harvey's first time in prison and said: "The defendant knows his life will never be the same again." The lawyer said Harvey had a good work history but "that employment clearly now has had to cease". Judge Menary told Harvey: "Essentially during this period you used her as your sexual partner or sexual plaything, asking her if she wanted to have some fun and engaging in very intimate sexual activity. This was thoroughly corrupt and depraved behaviour." The judge said the chats with the man Andrew online were "very significant incriminating evidence". He said: "In interview you denied all of the allegations, even though the police by then had obtained details of chat conversations you had with men online about fantasies involving having sex with an adult dressed as a schoolgirl and using the same name as your victim." Judge Menary added: "I've no doubt what you did to your victim will haunt her for many years, if not for the rest of her life. "It's likely to affect her relationships as she grows up and the effect is likely to be profound." He said it was too soon to properly assess the impact of his "appalling" abuse on the child, but noted the crimes involved planning and grooming behaviour. Judge Menary said Harvey was an "offender of particular concern" and jailed him for 10 and a half years, with an extended one year on licence. This type of sentence means he must serve at least half of the term in prison before he can apply to the Parole Board for his release. He will only be released before the end of the 10 and a half years if he is no longer considered to be a risk. Judge Menary ordered Harvey to sign on the Sex Offenders Register and to comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life.

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former doctor has been sentenced to life imprisonment for a series of sexual offences against five young people in Brighton, West Sussex, Hampshire and the West Midlands between 19 and 25 years ago.

Robert Cameron Wells, 69, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 years, at Hove Crown Court on Monday 6 September.

He had been convicted in July of two counts of indecency with a boy aged eight, and attempting to possess an indecent image of a child, all in West Sussex in 1998.

He had previously pleaded guilty to 16 other offences:

- One offence of indecent assault on a 15-year-old girl in West Sussex in 1998, while supposedly conducting a 'pre-abortion' examination of her at his surgery in Portslade:

- One offence of indecent assault on a woman known to him, aged 18 in 2002 in Coventry;

- Two offences of rape, and seven offences of indecent assault on a girl aged nine in 2001, one in the West Midlands, the rest in Brighton, and four offences of taking an indecent photograph of a child, all against the same girl, one in the West Midlands, the others in the Brighton area

- One offence of indecent assault on a woman aged 18 in Southampton in 2002. He had already been convicted of sexual offences against her in 2004 in Hampshire, but the Sussex Police investigation uncovered new video evidence of him assaulting her, accessible because of new technical developments since then.

All the offences involved evidence that Wells used drugs to help ensure compliance in his victims.

Wells was sentenced at the same court on 6 September.

In relation to the three offences to which he had pleaded not guilty the court heard that that Wells drugged the boy at a birthday party, took him to another location and forced him to abuse a girl as she appeared sedated on a bed.

The prosecution, authorised by the CPS, followed an investigation by detectives from the West Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit.

Wells was already serving two sentences for sexual offences against other young people in Hampshire and South Wales as a result of separate investigations by those police forces.

Wells was a GP in Brighton and Hove until his arrest in 2003 and subsequent conviction and sentencing in 2004 to 15 years for sexual offences against young girls in Hampshire. He was struck off as a doctor after that case.

In April 2017 at Cardiff Crown Court he was sentenced to seven years for four indecent assaults against three young girls.

In sentencing Wells on 6 September, Judge David Rennie called him a monster and said; "You turned out to be the stuff of and the creator of nightmares... You have done incalculable harm to a lot of people who trusted you, and your abuse went on for years.

What you chose to do to these survivors shows you have not the slightest concern for other people or the harm that you inflicted when you decided to carry out these crimes. Lives have been devastated. Your perverted sexual appetite appears to know no bounds."

Detective Constable Owen Watkins of Sussex Police said; "Wells was clearly a systematic and serial sexual abuser of young people, using his charm and air of professional distinction to lure them into a sense of false security, for his own gratification.

"Only one of the victims was abused by Wells acting in his official capacity as a doctor, but the others came to know him, whether through family or work, because of his role and were clearly influenced by his status.

"These convictions, and his previous convictions, show how his appalling record goes over many years and it is reassuring for his victims, and for the wider community to know that he is going to be in no position to continue preying upon innocent people for many years to come.

"His victims in this case have given full support to the investigation. One of them, now in his thirties, gave evidence in court, and the others were ready to do so. We admire the strength and bravery shown by all of them, which was so crucial in ensuring that justice was done.

"We are also grateful to our colleagues in the Hampshire Constabulary for the assistance they have given us in this complex investigation.