Latest Offenders

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A man who admitted raping an 18-year-old woman after being on the run for eight years has been jailed. Remus Covaciu, 28, attacked the teenager outside a club in Aberdeen in January 2013. A European Arrest Warrant was granted in July 2020 and the Romanian national was extradited from France to Scotland in April last year. Covaciu was jailed for three years and nine months at the High Court in Edinburgh on Friday. He admitted rape, failing to show for an earlier hearing, and breaching bail. Seen on CCTV Prosecutor John McElroy had previously told the High Court in Glasgow that the victim went to a friend's birthday party and then to Institute nightclub in Aberdeen's Bridge Street. After leaving the club, she was seen on CCTV sitting on the pavement as Covaciu approached. Covaciu, who lived in the Torry area of the city at the time, was seen talking to the teenager before raping her. A CCTV operator alerted police to the victim in the street. Mr McElroy said: "When officers arrived, she was intoxicated, in a dishevelled state and had no recollection [of being attacked]. "Covaciu was traced to a nearby shop by police." He was held in custody that night and appeared in court days later. 'Prolonged her suffering' Covaciu failed to turn up to his trial at the High Court in Edinburgh in November 2013 and failed to sign in at a police station twice while on bail. A warrant was issued for his arrest. He was later traced to France, where he had settled with his partner and two children. Defence solicitor advocate Iain McSporran QC said: "He hopes upon his release he will be able to continue his family life. He accepts he must be punished." Judge Lady Drummond told Covaciu: "You are a first offender and were 19 when this offence occurred. You raped a young woman while she was so intoxicated as to be incapable of refusing or giving consent. "This young woman was a stranger to you before you committed this offence. You took advantage of her vulnerability for your own sexual gratification." She added: "I have read the victim impact statement from the complainer. It is apparent from that that your crime has had a profound impact on her. The delay caused by your departure has prolonged her suffering." Covaciu was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

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A paedophile who had sex parties with children has been allowed to change his name.

Steven Sullivan was jailed for six years in 2009 after the then 18-year-old hosted sick events attended by boys and girls aged as young as 12. Between 10 and 20 kids would attend each sordid gathering and were plied with drink and drugs.

The pervert would arrange for taxis to pick his victims up, and indecent pictures and videos of children were found on computers and mobile phones when police raided his home. Officers also discovered disturbing chat logs where Sullivan groomed girls and asked other twisted adults to send him images of five-year-olds.

He was subsequently convicted a string of sexual offences but was released on licence in January 2012. Just over a year later, in April 2013, he was arrested on suspicion of raping a 15-year-old girl - but charges were ultimately dropped "due to weaknesses in the case".

However, Sullivan was recalled for breaching his licence conditions and remained in prison until November 2014. The sex offender continued with his despicable behaviour though, playing with himself in front of a camera while talking to a 14-year-old girl online.

He also bought two mobile phones without telling police - against the terms of his sexual offences prevention order - and used one of them to send the teenager sexually charged texts during 2015.

Sullivan, then of Damwood Road in Speke, admitted engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and breaching his SOPO. He was locked up for three years aged 27 in July 2016.

The aforementioned order was extended at this point, and it now runs indefinitely. Today, Friday, Sullivan appeared back before Liverpool Crown Court in a bid to have its conditions amended in order to allow him to change his name.

Wearing a white 2007/08 Liverpool away shirt in court, he submitted that he had struggled to gain and keep employment in the past due to the publicity of his crimes in the media. He also claimed that he had been subjected to harassment at his home address on several occasions.

Judge Denis Watson approved a change to the SOPO which will allow Sullivan to change his name by deed poll in the next 10 weeks. He must also notify Lancashire Police, the Probation Service, the Crown Prosecution Service and Liverpool Crown Court of his new identity within 48 hours of this alteration.

An additional requirement was also added to the order, requiring him to inform the authorities of the details of any planned foreign travel at least seven days before his scheduled departure. Giving his judgement, the QC said: "In short, Mr Sullivan's offending was reported with his name prominent in the reporting such that a general search of his name and this area leads very quickly to a detailed report of some of the facts that underline the convictions - which has led to a numbers of issues for Mr Sullivan, including the loss of employment where he has performed his job well and without complaint.

"But when employers find out about his past, which he did not have to disclose because it didn't involve working with children, he has been summarily dismissed and his accommodation has been targeted by those hostile with him by reason of his previous convictions. He is clear in his application that he does not seek to alter the other prohibitions.

"However, he does say he is unable effectively to function and continue his rehabilitation - which he is trying to do - while the public and employers are able to read of his past, because it prevents him from obtaining work or retaining work and because of the risks to him from others. He now wishes to try and protect himself by changing his name.

"The protections of the system are still in place, because they will have responsibility for checking up on him. They will know precisely where he is and what name he is going under."

No parties objected to the amendments passed. The SOPO also limits Sullivan's use of electronic devices capable of accessing the internet and his contact with children, while he is banned from keeping any image of an under 18 without the permission of their parent or guardian.

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A SHAMED police constable who resigned days before pleading guilty to owning extreme pornography won a Thames Valley Police award for his community work. Craig Finch, 38, was described as a reliable, highly respected and an invaluable colleague when he topped the Oxfordshire category in the forces Community Policing Awards in 2020. The St Aldates police station-based constable was decorated for his work with the citys homeless. He was said to have built up trust with those who feel injustice or have a lack of confidence in the police. The citation was removed from the force's website following his conviction, a spokesman said. Finch, from Banbury, appeared before High Wycombe Magistrates Court today, pleading guilty to a single count of possession of extreme pornographic material. By law, extreme pornography is material that is grossly offensive, disgusting or otherwise of an obscene character. It can include videos or images showing acts that threaten a persons life, depictions of rape, sexual acts that involve serious injury, intercourse with a corpse or sexual activity between a person and animal. Court documents show Finch had been charged with possession on November 24 last year in Banbury of an SD memory card containing five videos that portrayed in an explicit and realistic way an act which resulted or was likely to result in serious injury to a persons private parts. Any reasonable person would think that the person in the image was real, the charge added. The offence with which he has been charged carries a maximum sentence of three years imprisonment. A defendant is only placed on the sex offender register if they receive a jail sentence of more than two years. Finch will be sentenced on September 19 at High Wycombe Magistrates Court. Thames Valley Police said the officer had resigned on Wednesday, two days before his court appearance. He had been suspended from duty since November last year. A misconduct hearing was held behind closed doors on Thursday in front of Chief Constable John Campbell. The chief constable found Finch guilty of gross misconduct and would have fired him had the officer not resigned. He will be placed on the National Police Chief Council's barred list. Following Finchs conviction at High Wycombe Magistrates Court, Deputy Chief Constable Jason Hogg said: Whenever an officer is accused of breaking the law we will investigate thoroughly and where evidence is found it will be presented it to the Crown Prosecution Service. It is entirely unacceptable to myself, to the force, as well as to the public for someone who is supposed to uphold the law and protect others, to have committed such an offence and remain an officer.

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A man who committed a series of rapes and sexual assaults across Edinburgh has been jailed. Emmanuel Anoliefo was previously convicted at the High Court in Edinburgh in July of four charges of rape, involving three different women, two charges of sexual assault, three of threatening and abusive behaviour and one of stalking. The 39 year old carried out the crimes between November 2018 and August 2020. At the High court in Glasgow on Friday, Anoliefo was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Detective Sergeant Mark Seymour said: Anoliefo preyed on women, some of whom he already knew. He deliberately decided to exploit others who he approached in the street and tried to befriend. He was ruthless, dangerous and cruel and has shown no remorse for his crimes. He claimed to have been brought up to respect women but his victims were left terrified and distraught and are still trying to come to terms with what has happened. I commend the bravery of every woman who came forward, some of whom testified in court, and hope that the sentencing gives them some kind of closure. I would also like to thank the public for their response to our appeal for information in August 2020, as this assisted with our investigation which led to Anoliefo being apprehended and being brought to justice. Police Scotland is committed to bringing those responsible for sexual crimes to justice and anyone wishing to report this kind of crime, no matter when it happened, should contact us.

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A scheming convicted sex offender pretended to be a teenage boy in online conversations with young girls in a perverted bid to try to get them to send revealing and intimate photographs of themselves to him, Hull Crown Court heard.

Obsessed and cunning Jamie Agnew used a decoy picture of a boy and even installed special software to disguise the identification of his phone. He used a virtual private network (VPN) in an attempt to prevent police being able to monitor his online activities.

But the children, including a 15-year-old girl, were "savvy enough" not to get drawn into the sexual traps he was laying for them. Agnew was then stopped after a routine police safeguarding check, the court heard.

Agnew, 40, of Wainfleet Road, Skegness, admitted three offences of breaching a sexual harm prevention order and breaching a two-year suspended prison sentence. Amber Hobson, prosecuting, told the Hull court that the suspended sentence and sexual harm prevention order were imposed at Leicester Crown Court last year for offences of making, possessing and distributing indecent images of children.

Police made an unannounced risk management visit to Agnew's Skegness home on February 16 this year and he threw himself to the floor and claimed that he needed to go to hospital. His mother handed over one mobile phone before leaving the room and shoving other mobiles into a pillow case under a duvet, but she did later hand them over. A laptop was also seized.

Agnew was asked for the password to the mobiles but he did not provide it. Police discovered that Agnew had been communicating with children under 16 on Snapchat and making requests for images of them.

He had also made sexual comments and described sexual activities but had no response to them. Agnew had a conversation with a 15-year-old girl and told her that he was a child. "The defendant deceived the child into having conversations with him," said Miss Hobson. "The risk of harm to her was very serious."

The children seemed to have not been taken in by the deception, but there was potential for severe harm. Agnew had installed software on his phone that allowed him to hide his IP address and had a virtual private network which allowed him to change the IP address and anonymise his online activities, in breach of the order. His internet activity history had to be available under the order so that checks could be made by police.

Cathy Kioko-Gilligan, mitigating, said that Agnew had made admissions and pleaded guilty. He had been in custody on remand.

Recorder Peter Makepeace QC told Agnew: "You were using Snapchat to contact girls under 16. You pretended to be a child yourself. You furnished a photo of a child under 16 and were requesting pictures of the victims to be sent through to you."

Agnew sent suggestive text messages and had discussions of a personal and intimate nature and was chatting with a 15-year-old girl. He used the decoy photograph of a child "to lend some credibility to your claim to be a child" during his chats. "It's extremely fortunate that all the children seemed to be savvy enough not to have engaged too far with you," said Recorder Makepeace.

Agnew was jailed for three years and nine months. The sentence included a consecutive 18 months for breaching the suspended sentence.

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A MAN who looked up a mothers skirt in a Poole supermarket has avoided an immediate jail term. Michal Ireneusz Kowalski was found guilty of committing an act outraging public decency at the Tower Park Tesco store last summer. The 38-year-old, described as a menace to woman, denied looking up the womans skirt, despite being caught on CCTV, instead claiming he bent down to pick up a 20 note. This was a change to the account he gave police, where he claimed he squatted down to relieve pain caused by internal haemorrhoids. CCTV also caught Kowalski looking up another womans skirt just moments after the first incident. Judge Robert Pawson described his account as nonsense and sentenced Kowalski, of Aspen Gardens, Poole, to eight months imprisonment suspended for two years. The judge said this would give the defendant the opportunity to complete a sex offenders programme he wouldnt be eligible for in custody. Judge Pawson said: You went to Tesco where you were seen looking up the skirt of a mother, a single woman with her daughter, when CCTV was looked at, she was not the only victim that day. It was clearly relevant evidence which was heard by the jury. I have no doubt that you planned this offence. From all the evidence, you had one aim to obtain some form of sexual gratification. The suggestion of remorse I take with a pinch of salt, you maintain there was no sexual motivation, you have not shown any insight. You were shocked by the reading of the victim statement, believing your actions were harmless. The jury, which deliberated for less than three hours before reaching their verdict on Friday, June 17, had earlier been told during the prosecutions case that the complainant was alerted to the defendants actions by her young daughter. Prosecutor Ryan Murray presented CCTV evidence to the court which showed Kowalskis behaviour in the store on the afternoon of the incident in July 2021. The footage showed the defendant go around a retail module before going low down to the ground as the woman was bending over to look at something on the shelf in front of her. The complainant told the jury she was very upset and panicking after the incident. She called her parents for help, and they rushed to the store to support her. Her mother told the court her daughter had never contacted her before sounding so scared. Mitigating, Philomena Murphy said a suspended sentence was a window of opportunity to prevent Kowalski from coming back to these courts. The defendant had two previous convictions, sexual assault on a female in 2013 and an act outraging public decency in 2011. Judge Pawson ordered Kowalski completed the sex offenders treatment programme, carry out 10 rehabilitation requirement days, 100 hours of unpaid work and pay 3,000 in costs.

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A paedophile was found with a hoard of sickening indecent images of children - some of which were as young as three years old.

Scott Broadbent was found with over 1,300 indecent images and videos, as well as over 2,000 prohibited images, and extreme pornography involving animals. The 37-year-old was caught after police raided his home and he admitted he'd been downloading the illegal material.

Former Nissan worker, Broadbent, of Philip Square, Plains Farm, Sunderland, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on Thursday to be sentenced for three counts of making indecent images, possession of extreme porn, and possession of a prohibited image of a child. He had pleaded guilty to the charges at a previous hearing.

The court heard that police executed a warrant at Broadbent's home address on September 25, 2019 and searched his bedroom before he told them: "I've downloaded some stuff, I know I shouldn't have deleted it all." He then directed them to a computer monitor and a number of electronic devices were seized, including laptops, phones and storage devices.

On three devices, a total of 711 category A videos and 37 images were found, along with 212 category B videos and 55 images, and 101 category C videos and 247 images. A total of 2,011 prohibited images and three videos were also discovered, as well as 212 extreme porn videos and 212 images.

The court heard that four devices contained "searches and key works" relating to indecent images and one device contained peer-to-peer file sharing. The ages of the children depicted in the indecent material were between the ages of three and 16, the court heard.

Susan Hirst, defending, said Broadbent had committed no further offences since he was first arrested and had pleaded guilty early to the offences. The court was told that he had lost his job at Nissan when his offences came to light and was "afraid of getting further work" due to his conviction.

Judge Adams, sentencing Broadbent, said the fact that he had downloaded a "large number of videos" aggravated the offence, but said he had been deemed as being at a low risk of reoffending. He said: "You have expressed remorse and lost your job." He added that apart from a previous conviction for assault, he was of "previous good character".

Broadbent was given a 12 month prison sentence, suspended for two years and must complete 40 rehabilitation days and 100 hours unpaid work. He will be on the sex offender's register for 10 years and a 10 year sexual harm prevention order was made.

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A man who groped a woman and told her "I want to feel your f***y up" was found looking dishevelled and asking strangers for food at East Midlands Airport in the early hours of the morning. Abubaker Mubiru had only been bailed at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court hours before he was spotted in the departure lounge on Tuesday (August 16).

On that earlier occasion he had pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a total stranger when she was on a night out with friends in Derby city centre. The 27-year-old's sentencing date had been set for later this month and the defendant was released from custody.

But the same court was told that within hours he had broken his bail conditions. Peter Bettany, prosecuting, said: "He was released on bail and he was simply not wanted at his previous accommodation.

"And at 3.45am (on Tuesday, August 16), officers at East Midlands Airport were called over to the passenger departure board because somebody, this defendant, was acting in a strange way. This defendant was found asleep on a bench in the hall looking dishevelled having been asking people for food.

"He was not travelling (anywhere), gave his details to an officer and said he was wanted for breach of bail and so was arrested." Solicitor Nick Wenden, who just the day before had represented Mubira at his previous hearing, told the court: "He has refused to speak to me and the mental health team at all."

District Judge Andrew Meaching asked Mubiru: "I dealt with you yesterday and now you don't want to speak to him (Mr Wenden)?" The defendant replied: "Yeah."

The judge said: "The situation I find myself in is whether to put you into custody until the end of August (when Mubiru is due to be sentenced)." Mubiru replied: "No, thank you."

Judge Meachin said: "Would you like me to keep you in prison?" He replied: "No, thank you."

The judge asked: "Would you like to speak to your solicitor now?" The defendant said: "Yes please."

But after being given the opportunity to speak to Mr Wenden, the judge decided to remand Mubiru into custody. Monday's earlier hearing was told how on the evening of the offence, Mubiru walked over to the victim and told her "I want to feel your f***y up" before grabbing her crotch.

Freddie Sail, prosecuting, said the sexual offence took place in Friar Gate on May 28, this year. He said the victim was out with two friends and as they were walking down the street they saw Mubiru urinating against the wall of a public house. The prosecutor said: "The defendant then came over to the group and said to the victim 'I want to feel your f***y up' and used his left hand to touch her intimate area and squeezed it. She did not consent to him touching her intimate area and used some expletives and said she was going to call the police.

"He responded by getting in the face of one of her friends puffing his chest out. He was still urinating on the floor as he walked in her direction making the girls feel very uncomfortable and made a grab towards one of the friend's intimate areas." Mr Sail said the police arrived and arrested Mubira and took him into custody. He said: "There was one significant comment he made to the police when he asked them if there was any CCTV of the incident. When he was told there wasn't he said he was not going to say anything."

Mubira, of no fixed address but who is currently being housed by the local authority at a hotel in Derby city centre, pleaded guilty to sexual assault. The hearing was told he has seven previous convictions for 12 offences but nothing of a sexual nature. Mr Wenden, mitigating on Monday, said between the offence in May and this week's court hearing, his client had spent time in a secure unit having been sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

He said: "He has nothing of a similar nature (on his criminal record) and it is quite out of character for him. He was drunk at the time and that is what caused him to act in this way and there has been no repeat of this kind of behaviour since."

Judge Meachin told the defendant he must sign on the sex offender register, the length of which will be determined at the sentencing hearing on August 31.

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A Rothwell paedophile was caught asking ‘underage girls’ for naked pictures – two weeks AFTER admitting to police that he had been ‘doing bad things’.

Lloyd Bishop was already under investigation when he sent sexual messages to the Facebook profiles of young girls, including one who said she was aged just 12.

But all along he was speaking to paedophile hunters and on Monday (August 8) he was jailed for 44 weeks.

Northampton Crown Court heard the 29-year-old was initially taken into custody on April 13 over an unrelated matter and was asked to give police his mobile phone.

But he refused, telling officers: “I have been doing bad things.”

He said he talked to underage girls but then gave a prepared statement where he denied sexual communication with children. Bishop, formerly of Bridge Street in Rothwell, was released under investigation while his phone was examined.

But just two weeks later, on April 27, police were informed that he had sent explicit messages to people who he thought were children. They were in fact decoy profiles set up by those trying to snare online child sex offenders.

Prosecutor Wayne Cleaver said that Bishop first contacted a profile for ‘Rosie’, who said she was 12, on Facebook Messenger. At 7.45am on April 25 she told him she was doing school work. Bishop said she was cute and that if she was older he would ‘ask her out’.

When she asked if he wanted to be her boyfriend he said: “Yeah, you can trust me. It stays between us, no-one need know.”

Bishop promised that one day they would meet up before the messages gradually became more sexual in content. He told her he would like to perform a sex act on her, sent her a lewd picture of himself and asked for naked pictures of her in return.

The following day he messaged the profile of ‘Stacy’, who he thought was another underage girl.

Mr Cleaver said that Bishop asked if she would send naked pictures, bragged about having sex with a 14-year-old girl when he was 18 and sent a topless picture of himself in his room.

The court heard he had saved Stacy’s number in his contacts as ‘best mate’.

Bishop, who appeared over videolink from HMP Peterborough, later admitted two charges attempted sexual communication with a child. He had been given a suspended sentence on April 16 for possessing a knife.

Mitigating, Pree Brada said that Bishop had mental health difficulties, a personality disorder, ADHD and lifelong DiGeorge Syndrome. She said he moved to supported living accommodation in Rothwell in 2020 after spending nine years as an inpatient, that there was a ‘breakdown in support’ and that he had been taken advantage of by other residents.

She said: "The court can give him another chance by passing a non-custodial sentence.”

But Recorder John Benson QC said the offences were so serious that he could not impose a community order.

Bishop will serve half of his 44-week sentence in custody before being released on licence.

A sexual harm prevention order was made for 10 years, restricting his use of the internet and contact with children, and he will be on the register for sex offenders for 10 years.

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A pervert was caught with a digital paedophile manual advising readers on how to abuse children of different ages; and how to avoid detection by their mothers.

Daryl Stokes, 41, was paid a visit at his Middlesbrough home by police after they'd received intelligence about his online use. When they told Stokes that they were going to carry out a thorough search, he admitted he had an undeclared mobile phone in his loft.

Stokes had been released from prison in August 2021 after being jailed for earlier offences of making indecent images of children. He was given a 17-month sentence in December 2020, and was released under supervision and under a sexual harm prevention order - meaning he had to declare all of his online devices to his offender manager and had restrictions on his internet use.

But on Friday August 27, 2021, police uncovered hours of graphic video footage showing young children being sexually abused on Stokes' online devices. Judge Anthony James Brown said they showed distressing clips of babies and children as young as six.

Prosecutor Christopher Baker told Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday that the online paedophile manual that was found contained a four-minute slide show with graphic content on how to abuse children of different age groups, and also contained details of how to avoid mothers detecting such horrific abuse.

Stokes was also caught with:

- 574 of the most serious category A images, which included 211 videos showing 42 hours of footage.

- 1,500 category B images, which included 51 videos showing seven hours of footage.

- 1,843 category C images, which included 62 videos showing nine hours of footage.

Stokes' phone also showed that he had opened accounts on Twitter and Discord under the name "Ben P"; he had a Google Cloud account and was using private browser software - all of which broke the terms of his sexual harm prevention order.

Stokes, of Springfield Road, Whinney Banks, Middlesbrough, who has one previous conviction for making indecent images of children, pleaded guilty to:

- three counts of making indecent images of children,

- six counts of the breach of a sexual harm prevention order,

- possession of the paedophile manual.

Robert Mochrie, mitigating, said his client "had been candid to this extent - that he has a sexual interest in children. He found himself trawling the internet and delving into dark corners of it where he ought not to go.

"It's clear that the defendant needs help - hopefully he will get that, all be it in a custodial setting."

Mr Mochrie said that Stokes' cited his failed marriage as an explanation for his behaviour.

Judge Anthony James Brown told Stokes: "The sexual harm prevention order was put in place when you committed similar offences in 2020. It is clear to me that you were fully aware of the terms of your sexual harm prevention order when you were released from prison.

"You have breached the order in an utterly calculated way. The category A images depicted children as young as six...with the most appalling degradation inflicted upon them and abuse that was physically painful to them.

"To cap it all - the digital paedophile manual. It's hard to fathom the level of depravity required to create such a publication. I regard you, I'm afraid, as a committed paedophile."

The judge jailed Stokes for five-years-and three-months and made him subject to notification requirements and an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

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A serial rapist who groomed a schoolgirl before going onto sexually abuse her in Burnley has been given a further 12 years in custody. Shaun Collins, formerly known as Shaun Greenwood, is already serving a life sentence after being convicted of three separate rape offences against three different victims in 2006. After reading about Collins conviction, a fourth victim wrote a letter to a now retired Lancashire Police Detective Sergeant in 2006 outlining how her life had been affected by the defendants sexual offending, but at that time she was not ready to make a formal complaint. In 2020 the victim, now in her 50s, was recontacted by the police where it was established that Collins, who used to perform as a busker in Burnley, had raped her on more than one occasion when she was under the age of 16. Such was the impact on the victim, she had to seek counselling years after the attack due to ongoing nightmares. Collins, 58, of no fixed address, was charged with rape but denied any wrongdoing. He was found guilty of rape following a trial at Burnley Crown Court, and appeared at the court today (August 17) to be sentenced for 11 counts of rape and one count of indecent assault. Collins was told that he would have to serve two thirds of the 12-year sentence before he is eligible to go before the Parole Board, where he will have to demonstrate that he no longer poses a risk to the public or will remain in jail. DC Kyle Hazelaar, of the East MOSOVO (Management of Sexual or Violent Offender) Team, said: Collins is a dangerous individual who carried out a sickening campaign of sexual violence against women over many years. I am pleased he has had his time in custody increased. Not only did he carry out these appalling crimes for his own perverted sexual motives, he also made the victim re-live her ordeal by having to give evidence. She has shown incredible bravery in the case and I want to place on record my admiration for the incredible bravery she has shown throughout this process. Collins carried out his abuse over several decades and I am convinced there could be more victims who have not yet come forward. I would encourage anyone who has been the victim of a sexual offence to make contact with the police knowing they will be listened to and believed. No matter how historic the case may be, we will investigate it and do everything in our power to put the perpetrator before the courts. In a statement, the victim said: First, I would like to commend Detective Constables Treena Peel and Kyle Hazelaar of Lancashire Police. They have supported me throughout this process from the early stages of the investigation right through to the conclusion of the trial. They have been a huge source of support and I could not have wished for more. Secondly, I would like to implore any victim of sexual violence or abuse, whether recent or historic, to come forward to report the crimes against you to seek justice. I never imagined I would have my case heard and believed after more than three decades. Collins has previously been ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

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A MARRIED man asked a woman to perform in an adult movie with him in exchange for buying her watch, a court heard.

Aaron Maguire went to the woman's home in Southampton after seeing she was advertising a watch for sale on Facebook Marketplace.

The 52-year-old posed as his wife by using her Facebook account and agreed to buy and collect the watch.

However, his victim was left shocked when he turned up at his victim's door.

Prosecuting, Ed Warren, told how once inside Maguire commented on her nails and physical features.

He asked to kiss her, to which she said no, the court heard.
 
Maguire then said he would like to see her body and said he would buy the watch if he could perform a sex act on her.

He then even offered her £130 for the watch adding that she could “make up the rest” if she took part in an adult movie with him.

Mr Warren said that during the visit, Maguire touched his victim's arm and said he would be back the next day for the watch.

But after he left, the woman called the police, and Maguire was arrested.

He told officers he didn’t act the way he had for sexual gratification but said he was there to “comfort [the woman]”.

Mr Warren added that he had even sent her £10 after their encounter on December 2, 2020, because he felt he had “wasted her time”.

Appearing at Southampton Crown Court on Monday, Maguire, of Kingsfield, Bursledon was charged with sexual assault.

But mitigating, Chris Gaiger said: “He accepts full responsibility for his actions and regrets the harm he has caused.”

He added that there is a “realistic prospect of rehabilitation”.

Judge Christopher Parker QC said the incident had been a “frightening experience for a young woman who didn’t have any support on the scene”.

“You had visited the complainant on purpose having seen her picture on your wife’s account. That by itself was predatory behaviour,” he said.

 He added that the offence was so serious that an immediate custodial sentence is the only option.

Maguire was jailed for 12 months and handed an indefinite restraining order.

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An obsessed ex-soldier started touching up and kissing a teenage girl after pulling her towards him while he was sitting in the opened-up side area of his camper van.

Sexual predator James Dyson parked up at St Andrew's Quay and grabbed the girl and cuddled her after they had arranged to meet following earlier online contact. But little did he know that he was being watched on CCTV by an eagle-eyed security guard who became suspicious and alerted the police to what was going on, Hull Crown Court heard.

Dyson, 36, of James Reckitt Avenue, Hull, admitted sexual assault on August 7, 2020. Daniel Penman, prosecuting, said that a security guard at St Andrew's Quay, Hull, saw a white camper van in the car park, with Dyson sitting inside the opened side door area of it.

Two girls were nearby and the guard zoomed in the pictures to see what was going on. Dyson pulled a 14-year-old girl towards him, kissed and cuddled her, put his arm around her and put his hand on her leg.

"She tried to get off him but he pulled her towards him," said Mr Penman. "The defendant remained sitting inside the van."

The security guard noted the van's registration number and the police were alerted. Dyson was found a short distance away and he was arrested. It transpired that the girl had met him a few times before via Snapchat.

"She felt scared about what was happening," said Mr Penman. "She couldn't sleep afterwards due to constantly thinking about it."

The girl's details were on Dyson's phone. He had looked at the websites of paedophile hunters to see if he was being tricked.

He claimed that he thought the girl was 16 when they arranged to meet up but he admitted that he knew that she was really 14. He admitted grabbing the girl and cuddling and kissing her while she was sitting on his knee.

"He said that he couldn't believe what he had done and that he had really f***ed up," said Mr Penman. "There was a significant degree of planning, given the Snapchat chat."

Dyson had convictions for drink-driving and theft. Rachel Scott, mitigating, said that Dyson had been in the Army between the ages of 16 and 23 and served in Northern Ireland, Canada and Germany before leaving to start a family. He had a 10-year-old son.

"He is extremely remorseful for his actions," said Miss Scott. "He is disgusted in himself. He knows that his reputation is in tatters. It was a disgraceful offence.

"Clearly, the victim was extremely vulnerable in this case, given her age. There was contact on Snapchat beforehand. They did arrange to meet. He does not want a repeat of this offending."

Dyson was given a 16-month suspended prison sentence, 200 hours' unpaid work, 30 days' rehabilitation and a 35-day programme. He was given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and must register as a sex offender for 10 years.

Description

A pervert who repeatedly exposed himself to women near a school has been jailed. Serial flasher Iskren Ganchev tormented villagers in Otford, near Sevenoaks, over a 10-day period in June. Between June 2 and June 11 he exposed himself to three woman in the village, off Pickmoss Lane, before performing indecent acts. During one incident the 35-year-old called a woman over and grabbed her arm. Another victim was able to take a photo of the suspect as she made her way to safety. Ganchev, of no fixed address, was caught after investigating officers noticed he was carrying the same shopping bag and watched CCTV from a store which had the same branding. Footage was examined and the offender was arrested on June 19 in Halstead after a media appeal was sent out. "His appalling behaviour was carried out in an area very close to a school..." Searches at the address he was found at uncovered the same clothing and shoes he was described as wearing during the offences. During a police interview Ganchev accepted he was present during the allegations but denied any wrongdoing, claiming there had been a "misunderstanding". He went on to admit guilt at Medway Magistrates' Court to a charge of outraging public decency and two counts of indecent exposure. On Friday, August 12, he was sentenced to a year in prison and was placed on the sex offenders' list for five years. Detective Sergeant Alan Poulton, of the West Kent Vulnerability Investigation Team, said: "Ganchevs disturbing actions will have had a significant and detrimental impact on each of his victims. "His appalling behaviour was carried out in an area very close to a school and would have also caused significant alarm and anxiety within the wider community. "In passing a custodial sentence, the courts have recognised the threat that Ganchev would have continued to pose, and we remain determined that everyone should feel safe to walk the streets whenever they choose to, and will continue to do everything in our power to keep it that way."