Latest Offenders

Description

Norman Smith from Airdrie was found guilty of sexual assault and rape on two girls aged 9 & 10 years old.

He was sentenced to 6 years in prison backdated from the 16th May 2022. He was also placed on the sex offenders register for life.

Description

Dr Strange actress Zara Phythian has been jailed for eight years at Nottingham Crown Court for the historical sexual abuse of a young girl.

Phythians husband Victor Marke was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment for jointly abusing the same victim - who was aged between 13 and 15, as well as the indecent assault of a second girl.

Zara Phythian, who is 37-years-old, is known for Accident Man 2 (2022), Tribal Get Out Alive (2020) and Marvel's Doctor Strange (2016) where she starred with Benedict Cumberbatch.

The child was given rum and asked if she wanted to play a game of dare, the trial heard

The alleged abuse began when the child was given rum and Phythian, of Taurus Close, Mansfield, asked her if she wanted to play a game of "dare".

Phythian, an experienced martial artist, dared the child to join in a sex act with her and her husband Victor, 59, of Mavis Avenue, Ravenshead, the trial heard.

The victim, who cannot be named, told the court Marke made threats against her and ordered her to film some of the abuse at the hands of the "Jekyll and Hyde" couple.

Phythian denied having any sexual contact with the victim, who was able to describe a Chinese calligraphy tattoo the actress has near her private parts.

The victim was abused at least 20 times as the offences continued until she was 16, Nottingham court hears

The victim, who came forward after a separate complaint in 2016, described how Marke pretended to be asleep before joining in what she believed was pre-planned abuse alongside Phythian.

Passing sentence, Judge Mark Watson told the couple he believed the start of the sexual abuse of the joint victim had been pre-planned.

The judge told Marke: I regard you as the driving force behind the abuse. You were clearly aware of the first incident but pretended to be asleep.

"This could only have been a ruse agreed in advance."

During the sentencing, the judge also said that Phythians "deviance" was shaped by the influence that Marke had on her from an early age.

Addressing Phythian, the judge added: "Whilst you denied in cross-examination that you were besotted with Victor Marke, on the evidence I have heard I am in no doubt that your deviance was shaped by the influence that he had upon you from an early age.

"I cannot ignore that it started at a time when you were still young."

But the judge added: Having said that, none of this excuses what you did these were choices you made.

"You were by then successful in your own right. You chose to play your part."

As she was led away to the cells, Phythian waved at the public gallery, where a woman shouted: "I love you, Zara."

The 37-year-old, from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, and Marke, 59, were told they will have to serve at least half their sentences before being considered for parole.

Description

"You are a liar. You are a rapist."

These were the words a judge spoke to a man who claimed he was the victim, after he submitted a Bristol woman to a terrifying sexual assault. Though he denies wrongdoing, Haithum Alsuliman was not believed and a jury convicted him.

The 35-year-old, of Nags Head Hill in St George, was found guilty of rape following the attack early last year. He was produced for sentence today at Bristol Crown Court. (May 16, 2022)

The recorder Mr Neil Millard jailed him for eight years. He told him: "It is an offence to suggest that you were the victim here...It is an offence for you to say she lied about what happened.

"Mr Alsuliman, listen very carefully to what I am about to say to you. You are a liar. You are a rapist."

Alsuliman was handed an indefinite restraining order banning all contact with the victim. He was ordered to register his whereabouts to police indefinitely and was barred from working with children and vulnerable adults.

Nikki Coombe, prosecuting, said the woman had been drinking with friends and was intoxicated when she caught the bus to her Bristol home. She became aware of Alsuliman near a crossing, the court heard.

Miss Coombe said: "She doesn't remember his exact first words to her but he said something that caused her to stop to speak with him. He said 'Do you want help home because you seem wobbly?' She said 'no'."

With that Alsuliman kissed her on the mouth and neck and, thinking he would leave her alone, she walked on. But as she continued Alsuliman followed her and directed her off the pavement and behind a wall, to which he pinned her, the court heard.

Miss Coombe described how Alsuliman then pulled down her lower clothing and raped her. A car then pulled up nearby, causing him to stop.

The victim said during the ordeal her mind and body were doing different things. She said her mind said she should do something to make the man stop, while her body simply froze in shock.

After the attack Alsuliman asked the woman if she wanted him to walk her home and she again told him "no", the court heard. She arrived "inconsolable" at home, police were called in, and she underwent forensic tests which linked Alsuliman to her.

The woman told police she recalled giving the attacker her phone number, to make him go away. It later transpired both her and Alsuliman's phone histories had been deleted - but forensic analysis of Alsuliman's device showed it had called the woman's device around the time of the attack.

When Alsuliman was arrested he denied wrongdoing. He was then picked out from an identity parade.

Emily Lauchlan, defending, said her client had suggested he was a virgin before the incident. She said her client came from Syria to the UK in 2016, and had been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder.

Miss Lauchlan told the court: "Up to this point he had tried to be an upstanding member of the community. He could do in-depth work on a one-to-one basis; that will ensure victim empathy can be dealt with and to reduce the likelihood of reoffending further."

PC David Stevenson said: I would like pay tribute to victim in this case for the bravery she has shown.

Having experienced the trauma of the incident, Alsuliman then put her through the further ordeal of a trial even though the evidence clearly pointed to him being the offender.

She has shown great courage and bravery in standing up to him and supporting our investigation and I hope she is able to find some comfort in the knowledge that her attacker is now behind bars for some time.

Victims of rape or sexual assault, recent or non-recent, can self-refer to The Bridge, a Sexual Assault Referral Centre available 24/7 365 days a year. Visit their website at www.thebridgecanhelp.org.uk or call 0117 342 6999.

Description

A pot-bellied paedophile who showed not one iota of remorse blinked in shock as he was caged for 15 years. Dad-of-two Martin Holmes, 36, was more than twice his victims age when he began abusing his nine-year-old victim in the mid-2000s. The abuse, which began with the then teenager touching his younger victim, escalated until the boy was in his mid-teens. Holmes had denied molesting the boy but was found guilty last month of 14 offences, including sexual assault of a child under-13 by penetration and sexual activity with a child. Jailing him for 15 years at Oxford Crown Court on Friday afternoon, Judge Michael Gledhill QC told the bespectacled defendant: You have denied the offences from the moment you were confronted with them until this very day. You do not accept that youve done anything wrong. You do not accept youve committed any criminal offences let alone sexually abusing this boy over these years. You say he is a complete liar and has made this all up. Youve shown not one iota of remorse for what you did. In March, jurors at Oxford Crown Court heard how Holmes, who was said to have been bullied at school, struck up a friendship with his victim after befriending the boys parents in the south Oxfordshire village where they lived. Prosecutor Laura Blackband told the jury that Holmes singled out his victim and groomed him. He was accused of experimenting on the boy, using him as a sexual outlet. The offending stopped when the defendant moved away from the area. The victim tried to bury what happened but spoke to his mother and then girlfriend about his seven-year ordeal after Holmes got in touch with the mans father via social media to ask about a car for sale. Lawrence Henderson, mitigating on Friday afternoon, reminded the judge that his client had no previous convictions and had two children of his own. He asked that Holmes was given a sentence that would provide light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. Sending him to prison, Judge Gledhill said Holmes had been regarded as something of an oddball by his contemporaries in the village. The fact you were bullied at school is absolutely no excuse for what you did, but may indicate the sort of inadequate man in some respects that you are, he said. Turning to the victims family, who packed the public gallery for the sentencing hearing, Judge Gledhill said: I see his parents and his family in court, no doubt blaming themselves for not doing what they now realise they ought to have done because they trusted you. They are not to be blamed for that. They didnt commit these offences. They just trusted you and you have breached their trust as well as that of your so-called friend, the victim. Holmes, of Bluebell Avenue, Peterborough, will serve half of his 15 year sentence before he is eligible for release. A restraining order prevents him from contacting his victims family and he will be a sex offender for life.

Description

Robert Humble was jailed for a second time in 2021 after police found out he had files named naughty boys on his laptop. An elderly paedophile has been handed a fine for failing to inform authorities about a gold credit card. Robert Humble was sent to prison for two years and six months in 2019 for causing or inciting a male under 16 to engage in sexual activity, making indecent images of children and possessing illegal images. The 72-year-old, was jailed again in 2021 after police found out he had files named naughty boys on his laptop. Humble appeared back in court on Friday May 13 for sentencing for failing to comply with Sex Offender Register notifications. According to Teesside Live, he admitted not telling police about his new Visa Gold Credit card despite a requirement to do so as part of being on the register. Teesside Magistrates Court heard how police attended Humbles home in Beaufort Close, Guisborough, on January 18 this year to speak the pensioner about unrelated alleged offences. Prosecutor Saba Shan told the court that during a police interview the officers found the credit card and asked Humble if he had notified the authorities, to which he replied Im sure I have. However it was later confirmed that it had not been registered, which Humble accepted. Helen Sabiston, mitigating, said it has been an oversight by Humble, who suffers from Parkinsons disease, and the first time he had breached notification requirements. However the court was told Humble had twice previously breached a Sexual Harm Prevention Order in 2021. On that occasion his computer was checked as part of the order. Two files were found in the recycling bin which were named naughty boys and naughty boys 2. The court was told how Humble said he deleted them to avoid being the old me and being a sexual predator. Humble was fined 80 by magistrates for the breach of notification requirement over the credit card. He was also told to pay 119 in costs and a victim surcharge.

Description

James Thomas was convicted of 21 counts of rape of a girl under 13, sexual assault, and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. A man who spent years sexually abused two young vulnerable girls has been made the subject of an extended sentence as a dangerous offender. James Thomas carried out a prolonged "campaign of rape" against one young girl and sexually assaulted another over a six-year period. The abuse started when one of the victims was aged just five. Thomas, aged 42, denied a total of 21 offences including oral, anal, and vaginal rape but was convicted following a trial at Swansea Crown Court. The court heard victim statements from the two young girls he abused in which they detailed the psychological impact the sexual offending has had on their lives including feeling scared around men, feeling isolated, suffering with nightmares and flashbacks, and resorting to self-harming to mask the emotional pain. As victims of sexual offences the females have lifelong legal anonymity. James Thomas, of Mansel Street, Carmarthen, had previously been convicted of nine counts of rape of a child under 13, two of inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and 10 of sexual assault of a child under 13 at trial in March when he returned to the dock for sentencing on Monday. He has no previous convictions. Ian Ibrahim, for Thomas, said the dad-of-two faced a sentence that would change his life forever. He said the defendant had always worked hard, mainly in the car industry, to provide for his family and in recent years had experienced the deaths of both parents. Judge Catherine Richards told Thomas he had targeted and manipulated two young and vulnerable girls and subjected one to what could properly be called a "campaign of rape". She said having heard all the evidence in the case and having read a pre-sentence report on the defendant she was satisfied that he posed a significant risk of committing further sexual offences against young girls and that an extended sentence was necessary to protect the public. Thomas was given a 24-year extended sentence comprising 22 years in custody followed by a two-year licence period. He must serve two-thirds of the custodial element of the sentence before he can apply for release but it will be for the Parole Board to determine if he is safe to be returned to the community. He will be a registered sex offender for the rest of his life. Speaking after the sentencing Mandy Tobias, district crown prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "Rape is a harrowing crime that has a devastating effect on the victim. Thomas repeatedly abused two children to satisfy his own desires and now he will answer for his crimes thanks to the courage the children have shown in speaking out."

Description

Read More

Description

A WARRANT has been issued for the arrest of a man convicted and given a custodial sentence in his absence this week for sexually assaulting an underage girl. Craig Elliott, 32, was found guilty of two counts of sexual assaulting a girl under 13 by touching on the third day of his trial at Durham Crown Court. The trial began on Monday afternoon as the court as given no good reason for the absence of the defendant, among suggestions that he may be in Ireland. Both offences are said to have taken place in early October last year and Elliott, formerly of West Crescent, Easington Colliery, but living while on remand at an address in East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, in Scotland, denied them both at a plea hearing at the court, on November 2. The case was adjourned for trial this week, although there have been further mentions, a ground rules hearing and the pre-recording of cross-examination of the victim, in the meantime. Following the jurys guilty verdicts, Judge James Adkin imposed a 40-month prison sentence on Elliott and said the defendant should be subject of registration as a sex offender, indefinitely. The Crown will also seek the imposition of further restrictions by way of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, as well as a restraining order, for the protection of his victim, as and when the defendant is arrested and brought before the court. In the meantime, Judge Adkin issued a bench warrant not backed by bail for the arrest of Elliott.

Description

A SEX offender was caught messaging a 'child' in an undercover police sting. Ashley Mark Yard, 38, thought he was messaging a 13-year-old girl called Holly. He sent a picture of himself and made various sexual references between April 6 and April 8 last year. Yard, of Cocklands, Charminster, was in fact communicating with a police officer who was pretending to be the teenage girl. Judge Stephen Climie said it was "good fortune rather than design" that no actual child suffered harm as a result of Yard's "serious" offending. Yard previously pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. He appeared in the dock for sentencing on Tuesday, May 10. Prosecuting, Hannah Williams said the defendant started messaging the 'girl' online. The undercover officer wrote in messages that Holly was 13 years old and from Derby. Ms Williams said the conversation continued with Yard writing that "he wants a long-term relationship" and asking her about what she was wearing. The communication moved to WhatsApp, where the defendant made references to sexual behaviour and whether the girl would like it. Officers attended an address in Poole where he was staying at the time in June last year. He identified himself and he was arrested. In interview, Yard made full admissions and expressed his remorse, Ms Williams said. The court heard the defendant was jailed for 18 months in 2010 for a series of convictions relating to making and distributing indecent images of children in 2007 and 2008. Mitigating, Amber Athill said her client "appreciates the seriousness of the offence", adding that he was "extremely anxious" ahead of the sentencing hearing. She described the offence as a "momentary slip up when he was using cocaine heavily". Ms Athill said the drug use made him act "impulsively" and he "forgot all he had learned and all he had achieved in those 14 years" since his previous criminality. The defendant was "disgusted and ashamed" after reading the conversation he had with the 'girl'. The court heard the offence carried a maximum sentence of two years. Judge Climie said the appropriate starting point was 15 months imprisonment before reducing this by a third to 10 months due to his guilty plea at an early stage. He decided against sending the defendant to prison. He said he would have only served a short time behind bars and then not be under supervision. "The public would be concerned for the future as am I," said Judge Climie. After hearing of the defendant's compliance with the previous 10-year sexual harm prevention order, Yard was made subject to a new indefinite order, which will likely run for the rest of his life. The judge sentenced Yard to a three-year community order, which would keep the offender under the "court and probation service's control for the next three years". He was placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

Description

A predatory paedophile who admitted a litany of child sex offences has been jailed for 14 years after an unprecedented sting on a dark-web site saw our Online Child Abuse Investigation Team uncover his prolific offending, which included blackmailing his victims who were as young as 14.

Kyle Lees (21) was sentenced today (Friday 13 May) at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court after admitting a total of 35 offences – including making indecent images of a child, possessing extreme pornography, blackmail and causing child pornography.

The court heard how Lees’ depraved and sickening campaign of abuse was exposed by an international operation that was undertaken by law enforcement agencies across Europe that aimed to takedown an online chatroom on the dark-web that was used by suspected paedophiles to exchange extreme images and plot how to contact children to try to engage them in sexual acts.

A co-ordinated global strike was executed in a number of countries to target suspects, which included Lees who we arrested at his home in Tameside in June 2021 after he was believed to be behind one of the user accounts on the site – prompting one of the operation’s most significant investigations.

Detectives from our Online Child Abuse Investigation Team questioned Lees, of Ann Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, and embarked on a comprehensive 10-month-long investigation to collate and analyse the full-scale of his offending.

We found that he had created several fake online male and female personas when contacting his victims – who were all girls aged between 14 and 16 at the time – with analysis of his online accounts revealing he had attempted contact around 3,500 profiles on several social media and chat room sites.

Lees would prey on vulnerabilities by obtaining material from victims and use it as blackmail to get more; threatening them by saying he would release the pictures to his family or on the internet.

Some victims were even subjected to the extremity of being coerced into sexual activity with animals, which Lees would ask for content of for his own sexual gratification.

We’ve identified a number of the most vulnerable victims for safeguarding alongside international law enforcement partners – largely from the United States which Lees would target due to the time zone difference meaning his victims would be awake while he was online during the night in the UK.

The victims also included one teenage girl from Greater Manchester who we have worked with local specialist partners to ensure she has the necessary safeguarding to support her and her family.

After being arrested, Lees made admissions when presented with a wealth of evidence over the course of a three-day period of questioning before he was charged and admitted 35 offences.

Lees pleaded guilty to the following: nine counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity; three counts of causing child pornography; three counts of making indecent images of a child; one count of possession of extreme pornography; three counts of attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity; 11 counts of attempting to cause sexual exploitation of a child; five counts of blackmail.

He has been ordered to serve 14 years behind bars and a further five years on licence and indefinitely been signed to the sex offenders’ register. He was also given a lifetime sexual harm prevention order.

Detective Inspector Suzanne Keenaghan, of our Online Child Abuse Investigation Team, said:

“Kyle Lees is an abhorrent, calculated and manipulative sexual predator who was a significant danger to teenage girls online and it’s of great satisfaction that he will now begin a significant spell behind bars for his sickening crimes.

“Lees would hunt out vulnerability and blackmail his victims into doing unthinkable acts purely for his own sexual pleasure, and it is clear he got braver over time when he was sat behind his computer screen embarking on this depraved campaign which ruined the lives of innocent children.

“I must pay tribute to the survivors of this abuse and their families for their bravery and support during this investigation and I hope that seeing Lees put behind bars brings some element of closure.

“This has been a gruelling but highly-rewarding investigation and has demonstrated the strength of our collaboration with partners around the world in working together to identify suspects and do all we can to bring them to justice, while protecting victims and ensuring we can do all we can to help them and their families move on with their lives.

“Today Lees has been starkly reminded – in case he needed it – that his actions in the digital world have real world consequences, and for too long he thought he was able to commit such grave acts of criminality without punishment; let this serve as a warning for any offenders out there that police and partners worldwide continue to work tirelessly to target suspects and ultimately bring them to justice.”

Description

A MAN from Alderley Edge described as 'a dangerous predator' has been found guilty of rape following a trial at Chester Crown Court.

Daniel Exley, of Beech Close, was jailed for seven-and-a-half years by Recorder Simon Killeen on Friday, May 6.

The 37-year-old had been found guilty of two counts the previous day.

He had taken advantage of a 26-year-old woman who, at the time of the offences, was described as being in a state of vulnerability.

However, rather than admit to his crimes, Exley denied assaulting the woman and raping her.

The victim has been praised by the police officer who led the investigation for her courage in providing evidence that led to Exley's downfall.

As well as being handed a 90-month prison sentence, Exley must also sign the sex offenders register for the rest of his life.

The horrific incidents happened between June 26 and 29, 2020.

The court also imposed an indefinite restraining order, barring Exley from contacting the woman in any way whatsoever.

Detective constable Catherine Hudson, who led the investigation, said: "Exley is a dangerous predator who took advantage of the woman at a time of vulnerability.

"The fact that he made his victim endure a trial and recount what he did to her was extremely distressing, but thanks to the bravery and courage that she has shown, Exley is now behind bars.

"The sentence handed to him reflects the severity of his crimes and I hope that this conviction sends a clear message that Cheshire Police takes all reports of sexual offences extremely seriously and will do all that we can to bring offenders to justice."

Description

Gavin Sloan has been sentenced to 21 years for a string of sexual offences, including the rape of a child.

Sloan formerly of Briar Close in Minsterley near Shrewsbury pleaded guilty to more than 30 offences last month including the rape of a child, possessing indecent images of children and sexual assaults against children.

The 46-year-old was sentenced yesterday (Thursday 12 May) alongside Louise Smith and Jenna Ball who assisted Sloan and were given an 11 year sentence and two year suspended sentence respectively.

Sloan was arrested in May 2021 after officers from West Mercia Police carried out a warrant at his home address. The warrant was granted as it was believed he may have been in possession of indecent images of children.

Following searches of his home, officers discovered numerous videos containing indecent images of children, including a video of Sloan himself sexually assaulting a young child.

The images found were taken between 2013 and 2021.

The discovery of these images then led officers to arrest and later charge Smith aged 42 and Ball aged 37 in connection.

Smith, formally of Cheshire, was charged with 12 counts of sexual activity in the presence of a child and causing a child to commit a sexual act.

Ball, of Sutton Road, Kidderminster was charged with three counts of arranging child sex offences, causing a child to commit a sexual act and possession of indecent images.

All three were previously found guilty at Shrewsbury Crown Court.

Detective Inspector Jo Delahay said: “This investigation has been one of the most harrowing for all involved and we welcome the sentence that has been handed to Sloan. We also welcome the sentences handed to Ball and Smith for their part in assisting Sloan.

“He is a highly dangerous individual who preyed on young and vulnerable victims, and it is incomprehensible that he would commit such crimes against children and young people. Our thoughts remain with the victims and those close to them.”

Description

A former Gogglebox star has been jailed for a sex attack on a teenage boy. Andrew Bennett took selfies with his victim, then cornered him on a sofa, gave him a love bite and tried to lure him to a bedroom for sex, Newcastle Crown Court was told. He has now admitted one charge of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and two charges of sexual activity with a child. The 47-year-old, of Gleneagles Road, Sunderland, was jailed for 29 months. Judge Tim Gittins also ordered him to sign the sex offenders register and abide by a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years. Prosecutor Glenn Gatland said Bennett, who had been drinking, told the teenager he was gay and asked if his victim was, and he replied he was not. Mr Gatland said: "The defendant started to put his hands down his pants again then told him to turn away from him and started kissing him on the back of his neck and gave him a love bite." 'Slimming drugs' The teenager then reminded him he was a child and Bennett told him: "Stop, you are making me feel bad." He continued to pursue him, before the teenager left the house "in tears". The victim said in a statement that he had suffered "flashbacks". He said: "I looked up to Andrew. I was interested in what he did. I am aware he was on Gogglebox a while ago. "What happened in that few hours will be with me for a very long time. I felt frightened and very uncomfortable. I didn't know what to do." Bennett initially denied all the charges, blaming his behaviour on "slimming drugs", but pleaded guilty after DNA linked him to the teenager. 'Unwanted attentions' Gavin Doig, mitigating, said Bennett "could not be more remorseful" for what he had done and handed in "multiple" references from people who spoke highly of him. He added that his client posed a low risk of re-offending and had "lost his good name forever", as well as his employment. Judge Gittins told Bennet the love bite was a "clear injury and unwanted, painful reminder of your unwanted attentions that night". He said: "I acknowledge this was an aberration in your behaviour, it was unplanned and only occurred because you were intoxicated."

Description

A sex offender who was jailed for grooming teenage girls has been back in court for breaking rules imposed on his release. Liam Proudman was sentenced to three years in a young offenders institution in 2018 for having sexual online chats with the three victims - and subsequently warning one girl to 'drop the charges' against him.

Having been released, he set up six social media accounts in false names and sent unwanted sexual videos and photos of his genitals to a male 'acquaintance' on Snapchat.

Proudman, now aged 23, also started a new relationship without telling police, which brought him into contact with a three-year-old girl. He is banned from doing either under the restrictions placed on him following his previous conviction.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard Proudman sent sexual photos and videos after contacting an acquaintance on Facebook. Prosecutor Rosemary Proctor said: "The defendant contacted the male using an account in the name of Liam Smith. The two exchanged messages.

"The conversation moved to Snapchat. The defendant started to send masturbation videos and photos of his penis. It was reported to the police."

In October, police carried out a check at Proudman's home and found he had two mobile phones. Miss Proctor said: "He told police a Sony phone was his girlfriend's. It transpired he had been in a relationship for a week.

"He had attended a meal with her and her family at a pub restaurant and a three-year-old female relative had been present. The defendant had not notified the police that he had entered into a relationship."

Proudman, of Yarnbrook Grove, Norton, pleaded guilty to two breached of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order and failing to comply with the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Register.

Stuart Muldoon, mitigating, said: "The defendant wants to comply with the orders and be clear of offending. They are causing issues where he lives. He has already served the equivalent of a 14-month sentence on remand."

Due to the length of time Proudman has been in custody on remand, Recorder Francesca Levett decided to sentence him to a community order. She said: "There was a clear and deceitful attempt to breach your notification requirements. The fact you had six Facebook accounts in false names is clearly an aggravating factor.

"You have served longer in prison than you would have done had you been sentenced in November. I'm sorry that matters could not be dealt with sooner.

"If I were to impose a suspended sentence on you today, the most I could impose would be 24 weeks. You have already served that, so there's no benefit in you having that hanging over your head.

"The most important thing is to give you some structure. It will make the community a safer place and hopefully you and your family can put this behind you."

Proudman was handed an 18-month community order with a six-month monitoring requirement and a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

Description

A County Durham pervert has been jailed for having sexual activity with a child and sexually assaulting a woman.

Paul Bell denied the offences but was found guilty following a three-day trial at Durham Crown Court last week. The 41-year-old appeared back in front of a judge at the court on Thursday to be sentenced for sexual assault, sexual activity with a child, and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

The court heard Bell, who appeared at the court via link from HMP Durham, carried out the offences while drunk.

Shaun Dodds, prosecuting, read from victim statements of both victims, who described what impact Bell's offending had had on them. One said it had affected her mental health and left her feeling nervous whenever around anyone who has been drinking. She added she did not think she would ever be able to forget her experience.

The younger victim said she had feared not being believed and had been left unable to sleep. She added her education had suffered as a result.

Ian West, defending, said Bell was of previous good character but added that he was "limited" with what he could say on his behalf due to him being found guilty after a trial.

Judge James Adkin told Bell, of Yewtree Avenue, Shildon, he had left his victims suffering with trauma and anxiety. He said: "One victim suffered significant trauma after what you did when you were drunk."

He added that Bell could "not control your attraction to a child" and sentenced him to 46 months in prison. Bell will also be on the sex offender's register for life and a restraining order was also imposed. A life time sexual harm prevention order was also made.