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Louis Alexander Szasz never considered the fact that children were being abused, a judge was told.

The 41-year-old "just stumbled across" the photos and "didn't know why he downloaded them".

Prosecution barrister, Rose Burns told how police had found a large number of files on a MacBook and external hard drive belonging to Szasz.

These included 683 category A images - the most serious category - as well as extreme pornography involving animals.

Ms Burns told how officers had gone to his home address in Bridge Road, on May 18, 2019.

During a police interview the next day he said he did not look at images often and was not addicted to them.

Appearing before Southampton Crown Court, the water cooler engineer faced six charges with the offences taking place between August 2016 and May 2019.

These included making indecent photographs of a child and distributing indecent images.

The court heard how Szasz had used the "black" or dark web to download files.

Some of these had then been distributed via a sharing application.

Defending, Peter Asteris said that his client had never been before a court before.

He described him as extremely vulnerable and suffering from extremely low self-esteem.

Mr Asteris argued that Szasz cares for his terminally ill father and had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

During sentencing, Mr Recorder Richard Smith QC said that the offences had crossed the custody threshold.

However, he said how Szaz had sought to address his behaviour and that there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

He was given a 30-month community order, must complete 40 days of rehabilitation and 150 hours of unpaid work.

Szasz will be the subject of a ten-year sexual harm prevention order.

Mr Smith warned if Szasz failed the order he would have no one to blame but himself.

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A SEX offender put himself at risk of a third spell behind bars in less than ten years after flying to Poland to visit a girlfriend without informing police. Frank Smith also breached a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and his notification requirements by changing his bank details and adopting aliases while using the internet, again without telling a police monitoring officer. The now 37-year-old served a three-year prison sentence, imposed at Teesside Crown Court, in May 2012, for grooming and having sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl, as well as for downloading indecent images of children. He was also made subject to lifetime registration as a sex offender and an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Within months, however, he moved from the family home in Blackhall Colliery, County Durham, to Town End Farm, Sunderland, after finding work at the nearby Nissan motor manufacturing works, but failed to tell monitoring officers. He also uploaded 17 indecent images of children to be viewed by internet chat room site users. In conversations with those users, recovered by police, Smith boasted of having had sexual relations with girls aged 13 and 15, the latter being the reason for his 2012 prison sentence. Smith was jailed for 32 months for those offences at Durham Crown Court, in November 2016. Laura Doherty, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court, police became aware he had travelled to Gdansk, in Poland, in October 2020, without notifying police. It was also discovered he had used online alias names, one for an Xbox profile, and changed his bank account. When interviewed he admitted having visited his girlfriend in Poland and said he had not used any of the aliases for more than three days but conceded he had not informed police of any of them. Smith, of High Street East, Sunderland, admitted three counts of failing to comply with a SHPO. Barry Robson, for Smith, said a probation report recommended the defendant should be subject to a rehabilitative course, which would serve the public better than a short prison sentence, during which he would not receive the same assistance. Recorder Richard Wright QC agreed, saying the alternative would be a short custodial sentence. He told Smith: The effect is I couldnt order you to do the work that I can on a community sentence. Imposing the 18-month order, he said Smith should undergo a 40-day programme with the Probation Service. But he told the defendant: I make this clear. I have, effectively, given you an opportunity because I consider it in the best interests of the public to deal with you in this way. Should you fail to comply, there wont be any further chances.

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A man from the West Midlands travelled nearly 90 miles to Bedford with the intention of sexually abusing an 11-year-old child.

He was handed five years in prison at Luton Crown Court on Thursday, January 21.

Jamie Macpherson, 46, from Walsall was arrested at Bedford Train Station by police soon after arriving in Bedford, Bedfordshire, on June 18 last year.

He was found with two hard drives containing "huge" amounts of indecent images of children.

The images included category A images which means: "Images involving penetrative sexual activity, images involving sexual activity with an animal or sadism."

These were described by investigators as "some of the worst and most abhorrent child sexual abuse material" they had ever seen.

Following his arrest Macpherson pleaded guilty to facilitating and arranging the commission of a child sexual offence, possession to show or distribute indecent images of children, and possession of indecent images of children.

Additionally, he also pleaded guilty to distributing indecent images of children, in relation to offences committed in the West Midlands.

His five-year sentence was comprised of three years for the Bedfordshire offences and a further two years, to run consecutively, for the West Midlands offences.

He was also served with an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Macpherson's plans to travel to Bedford were uncovered as a result of a proactive operation by the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit.

Once Macpherson was arrested, the investigation team worked with digital media investigators, who were instrumental in securing the evidence from the hard drives in his possession.

Investigation Officer Paul Baddeley, from Bedfordshire Police's Cyber Hub, said: "Macpherson is an extremely dangerous offender who has travelled a long way from his home with a clear intent to sexually abuse a child.

"Following his arrest, he was found in possession of huge amounts of indecent images of children. Some of these have been described as some of the worst and most abhorrent child sexual abuse material the investigation team have ever seen.

"Thanks to close collaboration with our colleagues at West Midlands Police and the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit, this horrific offender will be locked up away from our communities and children he could pose a risk to."

He added: "We are seeing an ever increasing amount of referrals of this nature, we would like to take this opportunity to remind parents and guardians of how important it is to ensure their children know how to keep themselves safe online.

"Any child can become the victim of grooming, no matter what their gender, ethnicity or background. If you think that this might be happening to you or someone you know then it's important you speak out and tell someone you trust."

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Tyrell Robinson and his friend Korie Berman met three 14-year-olds at his flat in Bradford in August 2018. Bradford Crown Court heard the 23-year-old knew the girls' ages and had discussed the fact with Berman, 22. Both men admitted sexual activity with a child. Robinson was jailed for three-and-a-half years and Berman for six. Gillian Batts, prosecuting, said the player had met the victims at a social event he had been told not to attend by Bradford City's management. The court was also told the club had given all players safeguarding training regarding young and vulnerable people, which included guidance about not giving under-18s their contact details.

'Violently ill'

However, Robinson later sent one of the girls a message saying: "I think you are stunning, but your age is a killer." Robinson, from South Ockendon, Essex, admitted having sex with one of the girls in his bedroom after he and Berman met up with them. He also took a photo of Berman in bed with the two other girls and shared it with him. Berman admitted to police he had sex with them, although the court heard the girls, who had been given alcohol, had "little or no recollection" of events and had been "violently ill" afterwards. The court also heard Berman, from Thurrock in Essex, had sex on two other occasions with one of the girls at Robinson's flat while the footballer was away. Robinson was suspended by Bradford City days after the attack in August 2018 and was later sacked by the club. Judge Richard Mansell QC said the teenagers had been "immature, typical 14-year-olds who were sexually inexperienced, naive and vulnerable to grooming and sexual exploitation by adult men". All three girls and their families suffered considerable harm, he added. In addition to their sentences, both men will be on the sex offenders' register for life.

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A MAN from Merseyside has been jailed after he admitted two counts of engaging in sexual communications with a child in Northwich.

Kieran Mark Thomas, of Blackhurst Road in Lydiate, has been sentenced to 15 months behind bars for the offences, which took place between November 22 2019 and January 18 last year.

The 27-year-old also admitted to making an indecent image of the girl, who was under the age of 16, on March 1 last year with the judge handing him a three month concurrent sentence for that particular offence.

Thomas first appeared before Magistrates on August 26 last year, where he entered no plea, but was given his prison sentence at Chester Crown Court on Monday, January 25.

As well as being jailed, Thomas will also have to sign the sex offenders register for the next ten years and be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the same period.

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Michael Roberts - previously known as Brooke-Feather - was back in court for offences committed when he was a teenager A paedophile who has admitted that hell have a lifelong attraction to children has been sentenced for touching a young girl when he was a teenager. Michael Roberts, formerly known as Michael Brooke-Feather, 38, was jailed in 2017 for a sickening collection of child abuse images that included babies being raped, hung upside down and burnt with a blow torch. Roberts, of Mevagissey, has since been released from prison but was back in the dock at Truro Crown Court to be sentenced after being found guilty after a trial of the indecent assault of a girl under 14. After hearing all the evidence the jury ruled that when he was aged between 15 and 17 in the 1990s Roberts touched the girl on numerous occasions by running his hand up and down her leg. During the sentencing hearing, Judge Simon Carr commented how Roberts admits having a sexual interest in children since he was a teenager, to which his barrister Emily Cook replied: Its not going to go away, its how it's best managed. Ms Cook told the court that the best way to manage Roberts is by punishing him in the community and making him take rehabilitation courses that he hadnt previously been eligible for. The offence was said to have blighted the victims life for many years with her only finding the courage to report it many years later. Roberts, Ms Cook added, now has an address, work and the support of his parents. Sentencing Roberts, Judge Carr said: The abuse happened on at least three occasions. You put your hand on her leg and moved it up and down. She was terrified and it took her a long time to process the abuse that happened to her. No doubt this had a devastating psychological impact and that will be lifelong. You were 15 to 17 but this isnt teen curiosity getting out of hand, it was the first step in your offending against children. You are now 38 and the reality is you will never change and will pose a threat to children until your death. Its how it is managed. In 2012 you were convicted of sexual assault against a child. An aggravating feature was that you filmed yourself doing it so you could replay it again and again for sexual gratification. You were sent to prison and given a sexual harm prevention order. You twice breached it and received sentences. In 2017 you were found with indecent images of children including images of the most serious level and sent back to prison. After some serious consideration of the guidelines and how Roberts would have been sentenced at the time of the offences, Judge Carr gave Roberts a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years. He must complete the horizons programme to address his perversions and a rehabilitation activity requirement. Roberts was also made subject of a 12-month GPS tracking system allowing the authorities to know where he is, every minute of every day.

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Benjamin Middlemiss, 25, of Oxcroft, Kirkbymoorside, was released on prison licence in July last year, halfway through his sentence for indecent assault, York Crown Court heard.

As part of his licence conditions, Middlemiss was given an exemption under his bail curfew to work at a Tesco store in York, but the authorities suspected he had not been going to work and not been residing at his bail address in keeping with the provisos.

In fact, this was an “administrational error” and Middlemiss had been working at the supermarket, but when police tried to contact him to inform him that he was wanted for prison recall, he didn’t reply, said prosecutor Rob Galley.

An officer went looking for Middlemiss and stopped him in his Ford Ka in York on December 15, when it was discovered that he only had a provisional driving licence.

The officer told him he was wanted for prison recall and took him by the arm, but as he was being led to the cells in York, Middlemiss shoved her backwards and she let go of him.

He ran off and despite an exhaustive search, police couldn’t find him. The fugitive vanished for a week but finally returned to his bail hostel on December 22, where he was arrested.

Middlemiss admitted escaping from lawful custody and driving with only a provisional licence. He was recalled to Hull Prison to serve the remainder of his original sentence and appeared via video link for sentence on the new offences on Monday.

The court heard he had previous convictions for arson, theft from vehicles, criminal damage and making off without payment. He received the nine-year sentence for sexual offences in December 2013.

Defence barrister Alex Menary said Middlesmiss’s current sentence would expire in four years’ time, but there were moves to release him “sooner rather than later” because of the progress he had been making in prison.

He said Middlemiss had “shrugged off” the officer following his arrest for the driving matter and prison recall, after “panicking because he thought he had done nothing wrong and had been to work”.

Judge Andrew Stubbs QC said that following Middlemiss’s release on licence last summer, it appeared that he was getting his life back on track and “doing everything expected of you”.

But escaping from custody and evading capture “for about seven days” was so serious that it could only be met with another prison sentence.

Middlemiss was handed a new four-month jail term. His existing sentence for the sex offences is due to expire in January 2023, but it’s likely he could be released before then.

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He came to police attention after using an online account discuss child abuse.

An Isle of Wight man has been jailed for sexually abusing a child and being found in possession of thousands of indecent images.

Michael Anthony Henderson, 32, of Ventnor, was found with a number of indecent images on his devices after a police investigation.

Appearing at Isle of Wight Crown Court for sentencing on Friday (January 15), Mr Henderson was jailed for ten years.

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He came to police attention when they identified accounts he was using to discuss child abuse on online forums.

The Internet Child Abuse Team for Hampshire Constabulary then carried out an investigation which led to the seizure of laptops, phones and a kindle.

The court heard that the investigation found a large number of indecent images on Henderson's devices, many of which had been accessed on the internet. Among the images were a number that showed Henderson engaging in the sexual abuse of a child.

Hampshire Constabulary confirmed they identified the victim and provided support to them and their family.

Henderson was charged with four counts of sexual assault on a child, five of taking indecent images of a child, three of distribution of indecent images, four of possession of indecent images, one of possession of prohibited images of children and one of possession of extreme pornography.

He pleaded guilty to the three counts of distribution of indecent images, four of possession of indecent images, one of possession of prohibited images of children and one of possession of extreme pornography.

After a trial, the 32-year-old was convicted of the four counts of sexual assault on a child and five of taking indecent images of a child.

Investigating officer DS Claire Lyons said: "The images found on Henderson’s devices are unquestionably amongst the worst I have seen while working within the Internet Child Abuse Team, and this sentence takes a dangerous offender off the streets.

"The sexual abuse of children causes unfathomable damage, and I hope that this sentence provides some justice for the victim and their family, who will continue to receive support from partner services.

"We take all reports of sexual assault extremely seriously, and will do everything in our power to bring those responsible to justice.

"It is so important to us that people have the confidence to report these incidents to us, whether they have happened to you or somebody you know.

"It is also important to us that survivors and their families are provided with the support they need, and we work in partnership with other organisations to ensure this happens."

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A man convicted of raping one woman and sexually assaulting another in Bristol city centre has been jailed.

A judge concluded that Ian Ochieng, a paranoid schizophrenic, targeted two women three days apart in June 2019.

He took his first victim to a secluded spot and forced himself on her in an assault lasting some 30 minutes.

And he approached his second, equally vulnerable victim and touched her inappropriately, Bristol Crown Court heard.

Ochieng, 27, of Saltmarsh Drive in Lawrence Weston, denied wrongdoing.

But a jury convicted him of rape and sexual assault by penetration.

Judge William Hart handed him a 16-year extended sentence, comprising of 12 years' custody and four years' extended licence.

Ochieng has to serve two-thirds of the custodial term before the parole board considers his fitness for release.

The judge told him: "I regard you as a dangerous, predatory individual and a threat to women."

Ochieng was barred from working with vulnerable adults and children and ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely.

A jury heard the first victim left her friends and was in Horsefair when Ochieng took her behind Poundland and raped her.

In interview she said: "All I remember is that it really hurt and then I ended up running off and I was trying to put my clothes back on, but I couldn't because it was raining."

As she walked home in a state of partial undress she encountered four friends who came to her aid, the court heard.

They called an ambulance and she ultimately gave an account of being sexually assaulted.

An examination at the Bridge noted injuries and DNA matched the profile of Ochieng.

Three days later Ochieng approached a second woman who either passed out or fell asleep outside a Bristol nightclub.

The jury heard he put his hand in her underwear and groped her.

Sarah Regan, prosecuting, read an impact statement from the first complainant, who outlined the serious anxiety and relationship difficulties she suffered as a result of her ordeal and asked: "I'd like to know what right this person thought he had to take me off the street and rape me?"

The second complainant pondered: "I ask myself if he was attracted by drunken women; I did not lead him on at all."

Miss Regan said other woman had reported sexual assaults by Ochieng - but he was either acquitted of wrongdoing or matters were not pursued.

Jennifer Tallentire, defending, said her client is a paranoid schizophrenic, who had undergone mental health treatment, and whose sexual inhibition is less prevalent when he is well.

She told the court in June 2019 his mental health deteriorated, however.

Miss Tallentire said that during that time he was suffering from "paranoid feelings" which included fears someone was going to shoot him and a belief he had a GPS device in his stomach.

She conceded that her client was smoking cannabis when he assaulted the second complainant.

Acting Detective Inspector Mark Newbury said: "In 22 years of policing I think this is one of the most important convictions I have been involved in.

"Ian Ochieng is every woman's worst nightmare. He's an extremely dangerous individual and the public are without doubt much safer with him behind bars.

"He actively searched the streets of Bristol looking for women to target before subjecting them to quite horrific ordeals.

"Both victims demonstrated immense bravery and courage in giving evidence at court and I'd like to thank them for helping us to ensure Ochieng no longer poses a threat to others.

"I'd also like to praise the work of my team in securing this conviction. Their determination and commitment to obtain justice for both victims was truly outstanding and they are a credit to the police force and the communities they work so hard to protect."

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A Southampton man has been jailed for 13 years after he attempted to rape a woman while she slept.

Amro Badawi, age 28, of Mandela Way, Southampton denied the offences which included one count of rape, one count of attempted rape and one count of sexual assault.

After a five day trial in December, a jury at Southampton Crown Court found him guilty of attempted rape and sexual assault by penetration.

During the trial, the court heard that a woman went out with work colleagues to a Southampton bar.

At around 3.30am, she got a taxi back to her flat where she went to sleep.

Sometime between 4am and 5am, the woman awoke to a man lying behind her, sexually assaulting her. The court heard that the woman froze in fear before the man then attempted to rape her.

She managed to shout and push the man away to get him off her before he left the room. The woman then reported the incident to the police.

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On 18 December 2020, Mr Badawi was convicted of the attempted rape and sexual assault by penetration by a jury at Southampton Crown Court.

He was found not guilty of rape.

On Thursday (January 21) he appeared at Southampton Crown Court for sentencing where he was jailed for 13 years.

Detective Constable Sue Hampton from Operation Amberstone commended the victim for having the courage to come forward.

She said: "Badawi is an opportunist and a danger to women and I would like to commend the victim for her courage in disclosing what happened that night and for giving evidence in court so that he could be brought to justice.

"I welcome today's sentence and hope that it brings some closure to the victim and allows her to move on in her life.

"I also hope it encourages other victims of rape and serious sexual offences to come forward and report what happened.

"In cases such as these, we work in partnership with Independent Sexual Violence Advocate Services to ensure adequate support is available victims throughout investigations.

"We hope that the strength of this partnership working alongside convictions like this, encourage victims to come forward and report their experiences to us."

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A MAN instigated online grooming exercises with what he thought were underage girls, a court was told.

In reality, John Taylor, then 59, fell for decoy social media profiles posted by different paedophile-hunting groups and the girls, Natalie, 14, and Ellie, 13, did not exist.

Durham Crown Court was told the unemployed lorry driver sent them hundreds of messages, initially appearing kind and friendly, asking them about school and relationships with their parents, warning one to be careful when communicating with young lads, as they would try to, get her into bed.

He became more romantic, sending heart, cuddly animal and bouquet emojis, telling them he considered them to be his girlfriend.

But in each case the messaging became more sexualised, asking for photographs, and he tried to arrange to meet one, suggesting a car park rendezvous, but urging her to, keep it quiet.

Paul Newcombe, prosecuting, said both vigilante groups, Action for Kids North-West and Guardians of the North, informed police and Taylor was arrested.

In interview he gave no comment answers to relevant questions.

Taylor was charged with three counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, two involving one of the profiles as it included three phone calls.

Now aged 62, the defendant, of Dean Street, Shildon, admitted all three counts.

He was said to have nine previous offences on his record, but none since 2006.

A probation report said Taylor requires specific programme work to address the risk he poses of reoffending.

Judge James Adkin said due to the sexualised nature of some messages, it, crosses the custody threshold.

Amrit Jandoo, for Taylor, said it was accepted it could result in a prison sentence, but urged Judge Adkin to go along with the recommendation of the probation report.

Agreeing, Judge Adkin said he would suspend a nine-month prison sentence, for two years, but Taylor must attend 40 probation-led rehabilitation activity days to address his behaviour.

Taylor must observe a six-month 7pm to 7am home curfew, while he will also be subject to restrictions under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and registration as a sex offender, both for ten years.

Judge Adkin told him if he complies with the orders that would be the end of the matter, after two years, but any breaches would see him back before the court, facing an immediate prison sentence.

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A predatory rapist who targeted children as young as three was dragged back to court after a new victim came forward.

John Phillips, now 50, was previously locked up for 22 years at Liverpool Crown Court in 2018, after raping and sexually assaulting eight young victims.

But another man, who was repeatedly assaulted and raped by Phillips from the ages of three until around 14, did not feel able to come forward until after that case concluded.

Thanks to the man's bravery, Phillips was re-investigated by Cheshire Police and hit with a new 18 count indictment including nine charges of rape, some of which incorporated multiple incidents.

The paedophile was also charged with one count of attempted rape, six counts of indecent assault, and two of indecency with a child.

He pleaded guilty to all offences.

Judge Rachel Smith, sentencing, said under current legislation several of the indecent assault counts would have been classified as rape of a child - starting from when the victim was just four.

Phillips, who was living in Winsford at the time of his original arrest but who has links with Widnes and Runcorn, appeared via video-link from HMP Parkhurst.

The paedophile sat with his head bowed as the court heard he groomed his victims by showering them with gifts and money, but also used violence and threats to keep them quiet.

The abuse began when the child was three and dominated almost his entire childhood, leaving him isolated and withdrawn.

Judge Smith described how the first rape occurred when Phillips coaxed the boy, then aged nine, into his flat by saying he had bought a present.

However when the child arrived Phillips, who was drunk, told him he could only have it after they "had sex".

The abuse continued for several years and included a rape in an office where Phillips worked.

The court heard as the victim got older, Phillips began offering him money after he raped him, as part of a pattern of grooming.

The abuse eventually ended when Phillips moved on to younger children, who formed part of the 2018 case.

Iain Johnstone, defending, said his client had been abused by his own father when he was child and was "sickened" he had done the same thing.

Mr Johnstone, describing the contents of a letter written by his client, told the court: "Mr Phillips did not have a very good upbringing from a family point of view.

"He says he was subjected to abuse as he was growing up. He says he just wanted to be loved and tried to kill himself so many times, as he didn't feel good enough.

"He says 'I always said I would never turn out like my dad. To be here today charged with what I have been charged with sickens me. I am grateful [the victims] were strong enough to speak out.

"I am so very sorry, I wish it didn't happen, I wish I could turn back time'."

Judge Smith said that although the abuse happened at the same time as some of the victims involved in the 2018 case, she would have passed a harsher sentence had these offences been revealed.

Phillips' sentence was increased by seven years to a total of 29 years - of which Phillips must serve at least two thirds before he can be considered for release by a parole board.

Due to the severity of his crimes even if he serves the full 29 years in prison he will be subject to an extra four years on licence upon his release.

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A couple living in Hampshire have been jailed for a total of nearly 25 years for a series of child sex abuse crimes.

Kevin and Nicola Hitt from Gosport have been brought to justice for the string of appalling offences a little over a year after police raided a home they were living in at the time in the Midlands.

That raid took place in Tamworth, Staffordshire in October 2019 and saw officers seize video footage of abuse and pornographic images, Birmingham Live reports.

Now Kevin Hitt, 56, has admitted 21 charges, seven of engaging in a sexual act in the presence of a child, ten of causing a boy or girl to engage in a sexual act without penetration, and four of causing a child to watch sex.

His wife, 53, admitted five counts of causing a boy or girl to engage in sexual activity without penetration and four counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

Kevin Hitt was jailed for jailed for sixteen and a half years at Stafford Crown Court on January 18.

He was given a sexual harm prevention order and placed on the sex offenders register for life.

Nicola Hitt was jailed for eight years and three months.

She was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order and added to the register for life.

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The couple gave an address in Gosport during the hearing.

Detective Constable Kat Middleton of Staffordshire Police said: "I want to thank the witnesses for coming forward and having the bravery to speak about the harm they suffered, allowing us to bring Kevin and Nicola Hitt before the courts.

"I hope these jail sentences demonstrate that we will always do whatever it takes to bring offenders to justice, while ensuring victims and their families are offered the support they need."

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Sex offender Nathan Totton has been hit with a six-month jail sentence - after staying overnight with his mum-of-three girlfriend.

The 26-year-old is banned from having unsupervised contact with under-16s due to him being on the Sex Offenders' Register and subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

It comes after he was jailed for three years in 2017 after being convicted of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and sexual activity with a child.

But Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard he breached his court orders after meeting the woman on a dating website last summer.

Totton breached the Sex Offenders' Register by:

- Failing to notify the police that he was staying for more than 12 hours where children were residing;

- Staying overnight at his partner's home and coming into contact with her children;

- Failing to complete his annual registration on time.

Prosecutor Peter McCartney said: "He stayed overnight at least seven times within a month after they met. In a determined attempt to conceal his actions he breached the sex offenders' notification requirements."

The defendant told police he did not comply with the notification requirements because he did not want to go through a risk assessment or have his relationship messed up.

Mr McCartney added: "He said, 'I have done my sentence. Why should I be punished for the rest of my life'?"

Totton, of William Street, Biddulph, pleaded guilty to three offences of failing to comply with the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders' Register.

Robert Holt, mitigating, said: "There is no suggestion that the children were placed in any great risk whatsoever. He wants to move on. He has spent time in custody and has not enjoyed it. He intends to avoid dating sites."

Totton has also been hit with a five-year restraining order to stay away from the woman.

Judge David Fletcher said: "You felt your life was being controlled by the requirements placed upon you. Any further breach of the notification requirements can result in a more onerous sentence being imposed on you."

Description

A VILE paedophile raped and sexually abused girls as young as one then bragged about what he had done in messages to other perverts. Ian Story was caught when police arrested him on suspicion of possessing and distribution of indecent images of children. But when the images were examined, horrified officers realised Story was in several videos and pictures abusing children himself. He was easily identifiable by a tattoo and jewellery he was wearing. When questioned about his behaviour Story told police he did it because he had not had adult sex for 10 years. Michael Maher, prosecuting, told Bolton Crown Court: "The case concerns a 55-year-old defendant with a sexual interest in very young children. "Over the course of a decade he has harvested a large collection of indecent images of toddlers and, indeed, generated his own collection." The court heard that five young girls, including toddlers, were sexually assaulted, with Story sometimes filming himself committing the crimes and distributing them to other perverts. In total Story pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, 14 counts of making indecent images of children, seven of sexually assaulting a child, two of assault by penetration of a child and one of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. Mr Maher said that, when he was arrested and police searched his bedroom Story pointed out his phone and provided the pass code. The court heard that Story's wife asked him if the allegations against him were true and he admitted they were. Investigators found 15 videos on the phone including some which show a toddler performing a sex act on Story whilst he was "variously praising, encouraging and cajoling that little girl". "There was powerful evidence of his identification as the defendant's tattoo was seen on the videos and, indeed, he had a distinctive watch and jewellery which were being worn by him," said Mr Maher. On all Story's electronic devices police found he had downloaded a total of 904 of the most serious category A images, including 36 videos, 1,466 category B images and 21,795 category C images. "This defendant had a profound interest in very young children as the majority of images show children between the ages of six months and eight years. Mr Maher said Story, of Gordon Street, Leigh, was also distributing images to multiple individuals using email, WhatsApp and Telegram, an encrypted messaging service. "Sexualised online chat with other sexual miscreants show the defendant bragging about the sexual abuse," said Mr Maher. Police managed to identify victims in the videos and pictures produced by Story. "He admitted he was sexually gratified by what the children did, said Mr Maher. "The bizarre explanation he gave for this predilection was, 'I think I missed out on not having any sex for about 10 years'." In statements to the court the families of Story's victims described it like being in "a nightmare". Paul Becker, defending, stressed that married Story was previously a man of good character and has shown some remorse. Jailing Story for an extended sentence of 18 years plus a further five years on licence Judge Graeme Smith told him: "It is impossible to listen to the graphic details of that abuse without feeling disbelief that someone could treat any child in such an appalling way. "You considered only your own depraved interests." He added that Story's "deeply engrained desire" to abuse children means he poses a "high risk of serious harm" to them. Speaking after the sentencing DC Philip Kelley of Greater Manchester Police said: These offences were heinous and despicable, and I am glad we have been able to take this man off the streets and put him behind bars. Storys abuse was purely for his own perverted sexual gratification and he did not spare a minutes thought for the devastating and lasting impact crimes such as this can have on the lives of victims. Ensuring that victims are safeguarded and offenders are brought to justice is one of GMPs highest priorities. I hope todays sentencing serves as a stark reminder that the abuse of children will never be tolerated and you could face a lengthy jail sentence. There are a number of specialist services available to help prevent offending.