Latest Offenders

Description

A south London NHS midwife who downloaded and shared hundreds of pornographic images of children has been spared jail.

Scott Butler, 39, from Lambeth, who worked at Tooting's St George's Hospital, was found to have more than 400 indecent images of male and female children between the ages of four and 13.

Yesterday, at Inner London Crown Court, Butler was sentenced to 12 months in custody suspended for 18 months, having previously pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent photographs of a child and two counts of possessing extreme pornographic images.

The CPS applied for a sexual harm prevention order and the details of this will be set out at a further hearing.

Butler was arrested on December 3, 2020, at St George’s Hospital.

His phone and laptop were seized from his home address and found to contain around 360 indecent moving images of children and 77 still images.

Kate Shilton, from the CPS, said:

“Scott Butler was a registered NHS midwife who came into contact with young children every day in a London hospital.

"But unknown to anyone, he had a large collection of pornographic images of children as young as four years old.

“Butler was caught out after uploading images to a social networking website, which police were able to trace back to him.

"He was arrested while working. The prosecution case included evidence from a forensic analysis of Butler’s devices, which showed the extent of his interest in preadolescent children.

“Crimes against children are abhorrent and the CPS will always seek to bring to justice those who fuel the sexual exploitation of children.”

Description

A disgraced former boxer has been found guilty of sexually assaulting other amateur athletes throughout the 80s.

David Davidson, 57, carried out attacks on young fighters nearly 40 years ago and was finally brought to justice 24 years after one of his victims first went to police to report the abuse.

Davidson, who now lives in England and runs his own company, and carried out his attacks between 1981 and 1984.

One of his attacks occurred after a boxing fundraiser to raise money for the Doyle family who were victims of a fatal house fire amidst the height of Glasgow’s notorious Ice Cream Wars, the Daily Record reports.

The former fighter denied all wrongdoing at the High Court in Paisley.

A jury heard he attacked his first victim between 1981 and 1983, when Davidson was aged between 17 and 19, at a property in Glasgow’s Ruchill.

He went on to abuse a second victim on a number of occasions in 1984, when the victim was 18, in the Kildrum area of Cumbernauld and different areas of Glasgow.

He said that the man had told police a different version of events in 1997 when he first reported the accused.

Defence advocate Mark Moir asked the jury to acquit Davidson, saying his client claimed the sexual interactions had been consensual.

Moir argued it was “young men of 18, 19, 20 exploring their sexuality – deciding they don’t want to go that way or want to go this way”.

But the jury rejected the claims and convicted Davidson of both indecent assault charges.

Sentencing was adjourned until next month for background reports and for Davidson “to put his affairs in order” due to the prospect of receiving a custodial sentence.

It emerged Davidson was also convicted of a sexual offence in a separate case in 1985.

During the Ice Cream Wars, James Doyle, 53, his sons James, 23, Andrew, 18, Tony, 14, and their sister Christina Halleron, 25, and her 18-month-old son Mark died after a fire ripped through their home in Glasgow’s Ruchazie at about 2am on April 16, 1984.

Thomas “TC” Campbell and Joe Steele were convicted of murder over the blaze but were later cleared.

Description

A "disgusting" retired driver who arranged to meet a girl he met online and thought was 14 years old was snared by paedophile hunters who set him up, a judge has heard.

Timothy Hobbs, 61, travelled from Taunton in Somerset to Bournemouth, Dorset, expecting to meet the girl who he said he would like to see in a swimsuit.

Hobbs even told the "girl" she would recognise him because he would be wearing a West Ham football shirt.

A court heard that this description made him easy to spot by the paedophile hunters who intercepted him and handed him over to the police.

Judge Anthony Barnett, sitting at Winchester Crown Court, heard how Hobbs had fallen for the hunter's bait in 2019.

Hobbs, who now lives in Torquay, admitted causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and arranging to meet a child, he committed both offences in September 2019.

Prosecuting, Francisca da Costa told the court a man from a paedophile hunter group caught Hobbs when he arranged to meet the girl in Bournemouth, saying he would be in a West Ham shirt.

When he arrived in the shirt, he was easily identifiable to the hunter group.

Ms da Costa said: "On September 4, 2019 the civilian set up an online profile on the app Oasis called Megan, the defendant used the profile Hannahs1234.

"Hobbs made contact saying 'hello, my name is Tim' and continued 'how old are you, can I see your photo please?' The defendant said 'you are so gorgeous' and 'you don't look 14'."

Hobbs asked for the girl's number and began communicating with her on WhatsApp.

The court heard how the defendant said he would like to see her in a swimsuit and on September 21, 2019, arranged to meet her in Bournemouth.

Defence counsel Robin Leach said the defendant lived alone in Torquay without contact with his ex-wife and children.

He said he had worked as a driver for 40 years but had to stop due to physical reasons and was a very solitary man.

Judge Barnett described the behaviour as "disgusting" and sentenced Hobbs to 12 months for arranging to meet a child and eight months for inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

The sentences, which were to be served concurrently, were suspended for two years.

Hobbs was given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, meaning any device he owns capable of accessing the internet must be notified to the authorities and he is not allowed to hide from the authorities.

He was also ordered to carry out 20 rehabilitation requirement days.

Description

Paedophile Simon Hammerton was caught with a bag of booze and condoms as he went to meet an '11-year-old girl'.

The 33-year-old was apprehended by paedophile hunters - adults posing as young girls online - after he attempted to meet what he thought was a child in Greater Manchester in July.

Detectives seized Hammerton's laptop and found he was also chatting to 'girls' from Southampton and Leicestershire - believing both were 12 years old.

He would regularly tell them he wanted to kiss them and one one occasion asked a girl for a picture in her school uniform or underwear.

Hammerton was also in contact with two other girls he believed were 11 and 13.

During both conversations, Hammerton would speak sexually and sent them images and videos of him naked, including one video he sent to the 11-year-old girl of him masturbating and ejaculating.

Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester heard Hammerton's undoing came in July, when he arranged to meet a 'girl' he had been speaking to online.

However when he arrived at Ashton-under-Lyme bus station, he was met by a group of adults and placed under citizen's arrest.

He was then handed over to Greater Manchester Police who discovered his bag contained condoms and alcohol.

It was then his laptop was seized and the full extent of his offending came to light.

Hammerton, of Hyde, has now been jailed for five years and four months and made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

He admitted five counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming, attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act and two counts of attempting to cause a child to engage in penetrative sexual activity.

Detective Constable Sue Masheter from Greater Manchester Police, said: "Child Sexual Exploitation takes place in many forms and in this case Hammerton engaged in online communications with what he believed were very young children, not sparing any thought for the lasting damage his actions could have.

"Unknown to Hammerton, the 'children' he thought he was communicating with were actually adults and thankfully we have now been able to remove a dangerous individual from our community and ensure that he is not able to inflict any further abuse.

"I would like to thank the members of the online safety group, namely STOP for their cooperation throughout this investigation."

Description

A KFC worker groped a colleague's breasts then claimed she was racist when she reported his sexual assault.

Joseph Puravady followed the woman to a staff room, where he knew she would be alone, in a "predatory" attack.

The married dad later had his own adult daughter send a text apologising to the victim and asking for her forgiveness.

But the 59-year-old, of Clearwater Close, Kensington, then denied any wrongdoing and accused the woman of racism.

Even after being found guilty of sexual assault by a jury, he moaned she was a "bully" who held a "grudge" against him.

Judge Anil Murray today said: "The complainant went upstairs to the staff room and you followed her within a minute.

"You told the jury that was a coincidence and you didn't see her leaving her work station.

"I'm sure it was not a coincidence and that you deliberately followed her upstairs, to where you knew she would be alone.

"Your work station was very near to hers and you must have seen her leaving to go upstairs.

"Once upstairs, you approached her from behind, rubbed her breasts over her clothing and tried to kiss her neck.

"The incident ended because she ran away in distress.

"You later had a message sent saying you were really sorry about what happened and hoped for forgiveness."

The woman outlined in a victim statement at Liverpool Crown Court how the attack impacted on her physical and mental health.

She struggled emotionally, had difficulty sleeping, lost trust in others, suffered from anxiety and went to see her GP for help.

Puravady was assisted by an interpreter in the dock and supported by his wife and daughter sitting in the public gallery.

Brendan Carville, defending, urged the judge to suspend any prison sentence given to Puravady, who was sacked by KFC.

He said: "I wasn't trial counsel but I know a lot about the case. I know there were certain elements that were unattractive from the defendant's point of view - a suggestion the defendant's daughter sent an apologetic text message..."

Judge Murray interjected: "And the defendant in his evidence said this was a false allegation, that was in part racist."

Mr Carville said: "As I say, that's not an attractive part of the case."

The lawyer said Puravady was in "poor health" and on a waiting list for heart surgery.

He said prior to this attack he was a man of "good character" and a "family man".

Mr Carville said: "Following his conviction he was photographed outside court by the local press, of course there's the shame and embarrassment that goes with that, not just to himself but to his immediate family and distant family..."

He said the author of a pre-sentence report believed Puravady could be helped in the community.

Mr Carville said his client was unable to do unpaid work because of his heart condition.

He said: "He's been unemployed - he was released from his employment by KFC and he hasn't worked since. His wife works as a nurse, she is the family breadwinner."

He added that while it was an "unpleasant" and "nasty" attack, it was short lived and it was hoped the victim would recover with time.

Paul Treble, prosecuting, asked for a restraining order on behalf of the victim, which Judge Murray made for four years.

Judge Murray said he saw Puravady, the victim and witnesses give evidence, meaning he was "in a much better position" to assess him, his mitigation and the harm and culpability involved.

The judge said he saw the "serious effect" of Puravady's attack on the victim when she gave evidence.

He said: "She was very distressed when asked to recall your behaviour towards her.

"At trial you suggested to the complainant and to the complainant's witness that they held a grudge against you for reasons connected to your race, and other reasons, and that the allegation had been fabricated. The jury found that not to be the case.

"I do not pass a longer sentence because you ran an unattractive defence, however, it's something that I must take into account when deciding whether you're someone who has a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

"You blamed your victim and accused her of racism. It's clear that you cannot accept responsibility for your actions."

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

The judge said there was "some planning" as Puravady followed his victim to where he knew she would be alone.

He added: "It took place at her place of work where she was entitled to be respected and well-treated by her co-workers."

Judge Murray said: "I've read the pre-sentence report, in which you describe the complainant as a bully.

"The author of the pre-sentence report found your version of events to be implausible, as did the jury.

"Your actions are described by the author of the pre-sentence report as predatory.

"You say you're remorseful, but deny that you are guilty so I cannot accept that you're remorseful."

The judge said Puravady had "some strong personal mitigation", but said: "Rehabilitation does not just mean no further offending.

"I find there is not a realistic prospect of rehabilitation in this case. You cannot bring yourself to accept responsibility and blame others."

Judge Murray jailed Puravady for eight months and told him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

Description

A former swimming coach has been sentenced to nine years in prison for sexually assaulting three children.

Tom Piggot, 21, from Welshpool, was convicted of a total of 10 offences, all of which he had denied, including two counts of rape, at a trial at Mold Crown Court in July.

The convictions also included possessing indecent videos and and images of children, many of which were in the most serious category.

He claimed his devices had been hacked.

Following his trial, Det Con Steve Williams, from Dyfed Powys Police, said it would not have been possible to secure the conviction without the "strength and bravery" of the victims in coming forward.

He added that some of the images found on his devices were "among the worst" he had ever seen.

Following his sentencing on Monday, Sandra Subacchi of the Crown Prosecution Service said: "Tom Piggott claimed he had not had any sexual contact with his child victims, and that his electronic devices had been hacked. Claims that the jury rejected.

"Rape is a devastating crime which the CPS is committed to tackling, and we were able to do so in this instance by these courageous children speaking up."

Description

A woman was left suicidal after being raped and sexually abused by a man decades ago, a court has heard.

The victim was in her 50s when she "plucked up the courage" to report the sexual abuse she had been subjected to by Robert Reynolds when she was a child.

Norwich Crown Court heard the offences were committed over almost a decade, between July 1972 and March 1982.

Duncan O'Donnell, prosecuting, said the sexual offending started when the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was just eight.

Reynolds, 80, of Shortthorn Road, Stratton Strawless, appeared in court for sentence on Monday (September 13) having previously been found guilty following a trial earlier this month of four counts of rape, three counts of indecent assault and another of sexual intercourse with a girl under 13.

Before Reynolds was sentenced an impact statement was read out on behalf of the victim who said she had "never been able to tell my story of sexual abuse as a child" but had "thought of suicide" at her lowest point.

She said she had thought sex "was about control" and that she has "never made anything of my life".

The victim said: "It will never be over for me. It will with me until I die".

She said following Reynolds' conviction earlier this month she wanted to "ask that a custodial sentence is given" adding that he has "had his freedom".

Sentencing Reynolds to a total of 14 years, made up of 13 years in prison and an extra year on licence, Judge Alice Robinson said the offences, committed over "a number of years" have had a "serious impact" on the victim.

Ian James, mitigating, said mitigation was rather limited and accepted the seriousness of the offending he had been convicted of and the fact a custodial sentence was "inevitable".

Mr James said the fact he had "stayed out of trouble for the majority of his 80 years should be taken into consideration" as well as his age when sentencing.

He said there was no suggestion that other than the victim in this case that "this sort of behaviour has been repeated with anyone else".

He added: "Its something that has lain dormant literally for decades now."

Reynolds was put on the sex offenders' register for life

Description

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Judge Flewitt jailed Duncan for three years and four months.

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

Description

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Description

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

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

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

 For more news from Bradford Crown Court, click here. 

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

After they arrived, Brook sexually assaulted the child victim.

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

Officers arrested Brook that same night.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Description

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Recorder Williams jailed Cherry for three years and two months.

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

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

Description

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Description

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

Description

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

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

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

He was found guilty of:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Description

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

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

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

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

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

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

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