Latest Offenders

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A drunken and aggressive sex pest forced himself on a shocked 17-year-old girl and made "unwanted sexual advances" to her - including leaving a blood-stained palm print on her T-shirt after he smashed a bottle of wine.

Heavy drinker Ashley Wilcock turned nasty when the girl asked him to stop what he was doing and he kissed her and intimately touched her during a frightening and "unsavoury" confrontation lasting 30 to 45 minutes. He seemed to have a "problem with women" and broke the wrist of a woman after becoming involved in a later fight between two women, Hull Crown Court heard.

Wilcock, 25, from Goole, admitted sexually assaulting the girl on June 13, 2018. A charge of trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence was dropped.

Jeremy Evans, prosecuting, said that Wilcock sent a text message to the girl saying that he would be passing her home in Goole and asking her if she wanted to share a cigarette with him. He had been drinking and he went into her home. He was "coming on" to her and she asked him to leave but he became argumentative and challenged her.

In his aggressive state, Wilcock smashed a bottle of wine and cut his hand after picking up pieces of broken glass. He tried to kiss the girl on her neck, leaving a mark, and touched the top of her thighs and her chest over her clothes, leaving a blood-stained hand print on her T-shirt.

The incident lasted 30 to 45 minutes. "She kept asking the defendant to leave and that he should stop making advances towards her," said Mr Evans.

"The defendant would follow her, refusing to leave the property and coming back in. She attempted to use her mobile phone to contact the police. The defendant took it from her and threw it on a nearby chair.

"The defendant eventually left by climbing over a rear garden and leaving the property. This was clearly a prolonged and sustained incident." Wilcock went to the girl's workplace the next day and apologised.

Wilcock has, since the incident, been convicted of assaulting a policeman, causing criminal damage to a girlfriend's light and, in November 2019, a violence offence involving breaking the wrist of a woman after getting involved in a fight involving two women.

Nick Peacock, mitigating, said: "It was an unsavoury incident, no doubt about it, very unsavoury. He fully accepts it. This all happened four years ago now.

"It happened at a time when this young man clearly had a problem with alcohol, although he appears to be dealing with it now. Alcohol was the problem and, if he can deal with that, there will be no issues.

"He has cut down greatly. He barely drinks and he barely goes out." Wilcock's girlfriend was due to have a baby shortly and he had been working for two years.

Judge Mark Bury told Wilcock: "You made unwanted sexual advances to her. You were not just making advances, you were aggressive and you were drunk. She tried for three-quarters of an hour to avoid you by going out into the garden.

"In your favour, you did try to apologise the next day when you had sobered up." The incident and some of Wilcock's later convictions seemed to show that he "may have a problem with women".

Wilcock, recently of Margaret Road, Fairfield, Barnsley, was given a one-year suspended prison sentence, a sex offender programme, 55 days' rehabilitation and an alcohol abstinence requirement. He was ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years.

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A child rapist subject to notification requirements failed to sign on at a police station because it was "a bit difficult" to travel from Barry to Cardiff. He had previously breached court orders numerous times.

David Riseborough, 37, also known as Dafydd Riseborough, was convicted of two counts of raping a child under 13, indecent assault and gross indecency with a child in 2008. He was sentenced to five-years imprisonment and was made subject to sex offender notification requirements and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for life, preventing him from having contact with girls under 16.

Upon his release from prison, he was was told he would have to abide by the requirements but he continually breached the orders. His last conviction saw him sentenced to 56 months imprisonment for burglary and an order breach, of which he served half in prison and the rest on licence.

 A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday heard Riseborough was required to attend Cardiff Bay police station on May 15 per the notification requirements. But two days before he was due to attend, he messaged his supervising officer asking if he could attend a day early, but he failed to turn up the following day and thereafter.

Prosecutor Thomas Stanway said the defendant remained at large for month until he was arrested on June 13 in Hansen Street. During his police interview, he admitted he failed to sign on and missed his probation appointment. He said he was in Barry but it was "a bit difficult in getting back to Cardiff to sign on".

Riseborough, of Hollybush Estate, Whitchurch, pleaded guilty to failing to comply with notification requirements. The court heard this was his ninth breach of the order and 14 of his 22 previous convictions were for sexual offences. As a result of the latest offence, he was recalled to prison for the burglary offence and will serve the remainder of his sentence.

In mitigation, the court heard the defendant had made "minimal effort" to contact his supervising officer. It was said he wished to apologise to the court and understands the "precarious position" he has put himself in.

Sentencing, Judge David Wynn Morgan said: "You know better than anyone what your notification requirements are for and you breached them. The reasons for you breaching them are far from satisfactory."

Risborough was sentenced to a total of 20 months imprisonment. He will serve this sentence consecutively with the sentence for the robbery offence.

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A Huddersfield man has been jailed for 17 years after being found guilty of historic sexual offences against a child.

Timothy Bird, 44, was found guilty in August of non-recent offences which included attempted rape, sexual assault and inciting a young child to engage in sexual activity. The offences took place between 2008 and 2009, reports West Yorkshire Police.

The female victim was a small child at the time and reported the offences as an older teenager, leading to an investigation by child safeguarding detectives at Kirklees Police.

Timothy Bird was arrested in 2020 following this investigation. He was then jailed earlier today (October 5, 2022). DC Suzanne Clark, who led enquiries in the case, said: "Bird richly deserves his sentence for committing very serious sexual offences against a young victim who was very much at his mercy.

"Her courage in coming forward years later and reporting what he did allowed detectives to fully investigate this case and bring this devious and predatory man to justice.

"We continue to urge anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence to contact us.

"No matter how long ago the offending took place, police will always investigate, always listen, and do all we can to achieve justice for victims.”

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The court heard how the incident occurred on August 5, 2020, after the victim had been out with friends at Tribeca bar on Sackville Street, Manchester and they stayed chatting until 6am. 

The victim, who is in her 20s, had logged onto the Uber app at the end of a night out to get her back to her home.

She ordered an Uber as her friends believed she would be safer inside a cab, after she was raped by a stranger in 2019.

But when Mahamud arrived to pick her up to take her to her apartment on the outskirts of Manchester city centre, he forced himself on the woman.

He refused to let her out of his taxi and instead subjected her to a 12 mile terror trip to his own home whilst he repeatedly molested her at the wheel.

The victim, who has since moved away from the UK, later told police: 'What happened to me in 2019 changed the way I lived my life on a regular basis in that I no longer felt safe to walk home alone.

'I put my trust in a company like Uber who I thought would keep me safe from harm, but this man did the opposite of that.

'Now I don't feel safe walking and I don't feel safe getting taxis. He has completely broken my trust in what should be a safe method for everyone to get where they're going.

'I feel like it's basically taken away my freedom of choice as I am always relying on the fact that someone else is available to come home with me, I don't feel safe going anywhere alone anymore.

'I now only used three Ubers a week to get around, whereas I used to book one a day. Whenever drivers do something unexpected, even something innocent, it still scares me.'

Mark Kellet, prosecuting, said that in 2019 the complainant was the victim of a violent rape by a stranger as she walked home through the city centre.

He told the court: 'That offence has nothing to do with the defendant in this case but it was present in the mind of the complainant's friend who enjoined her not to walk home but to book an Uber for her safety - serving to illustrate the trust placed in taxi drivers.

'And it was present in the mind of the complainant during the defendant's offending and afterwards, as she feared she was going to be raped again - such that the previous offence is, it is submitted, relevant to the harm which he caused to her.'

Speaking about the incident, Mr Kellett said: 'Whilst driving, he (Mahamud) began to make conversation with her and started talking about his girlfriend, saying she wouldn't have sex with him and this naturally made the complainant feel uncomfortable.

'But whilst thinking she would be home in a few minutes, she humoured the defendant by saying such a state of affairs was regrettable.

'The defendant stopped the car near to where the complainant lived but then told her she was lovely, asked her for her telephone number, and demanded a kiss.'

Mr Kellett told the court that Mahamud grabbed the victim by the the shirt and pulled her towards him, removing both their Covid-masks before kissing her on the lips.

He said Mahamud then asked her to come back to his house. He told the court: 'She replied by telling him that she needed to go home but he ignored her and wouldn't take no for an answer. 

'Instead, he began to drive, making no effort to take her home. She tried to open the rear passenger door but it had evidently been locked.

'She felt unsafe being driven to an unknown location against her will and used her phone to send messages and images to her friend repeatedly expressing her fear, she was being taken against her will, that she couldn't get out of the car because it had been locked, that the defendant was sexually touching her.

'She said she needed help and that she feared being raped again.

'The friend called police whilst the complainant was still in the car and during that call he disclosed "She was attacked last year as well and it is bringing all that up". 

The court heard the victim used her phone to take pictures and video of Mahamud, including some clips in which he can be seen sexually assaulting her. In one video, she is heard asking Mahamud to let her out.

Mahamud was heard replying: 'You enjoy and then I drop you' before eventually pulling over and getting to open the passenger door. She managed to slip passed him and sought help from a passer-by.

Mahamud was later arrested but initially denied any incident took place until shown the video footage but claimed any sexual activity was instigated by his passenger.

The court heard his wife was currently six months pregnant with their child and she had been unaware of the charges against him until the day of his sentencing.

His lawyer Mark Fireman said in mitigation: 'He had misjudged the situation entirely.'

Sentencing Mahamud, Judge Angela Nield said: 'Those who use taxi services like Uber are entitled to feel safe in their cabs and this was a clear abuse of trust.

'Whilst it is clear the defendant could not have known about the victim's history it is clear her previous trauma has magnified this incident significantly. If it wasn't for the victim's accompanying videos and images we might not be here today.

'What happened to her strikes against the principle that many women hold in that in order to keep themselves safe they must take a taxi home rather than walk. One does not bear to think about the anguish and fear she suffered during the period she was in that car.'

Mahamud was also ordered to sign the Sex Offender Register and was made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

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 A SUSPENDED jail sentence has been handed to a train passenger who exposed himself to two 17-year-old students.

Carlisle’s Rickergate court heard a disturbing account of the journey during which 33-year-old Liam Cairns behaved appallingly while drunk as he travelled on the Carlisle-bound Northern Rail train from Newcastle.

It happened on February 18.

Cairns pleaded guilty to exposure, being drunk and disorderly, and four counts of assault, including two against police officers.

The court heard that two students – a male and a female – first became aware of Cairns shortly after the train left Newcastle because he was sitting in the seat immediately behind them.

The defendant was being verbally abusive towards a group of men who were sitting opposite him, shouting and swearing at them. They eventually moved away to another seat.

A short time later, Cairns moved to the seat opposite the two students, who heard him say that he would kill 'him', though it was unclear whom this was reference to. Cairns then touched the male student’s stomach.

The female student immediately protested about this and Cairns responded by 'lightly' slapping her face with the back of his hand. Shouting and slurring his speech, Cairns then exposed himself.

He was arrested when the train arrived at Carlisle’s Citadel Railway Station, and this was when he assaulted two police officers. Cairns told police he had no recollection of the events due to being drunk.

But he did apologise for his behaviour.

He blamed his drinking that day on the anniversary of a child’s death. The court heard that Cairns, of Bairstow Street, Blackpool, had 40 offences on his criminal record, including a previous exposure.

Magistrates imposed a 12-week jail term, suspended for a year.

They said the sentence was justified because the offending was drink-fuelled, there was a similar past offence on Cairns’ record, and his teenage victims had been “physically trapped” when the defendant exposed himself.

The sentence includes up to 25 days of rehabilitation and 150 hours of unpaid work. Magistrates also ruled that Cairns will be on the Sex Offender Register for the next seven years.

He must pay £200 compensation to the female student and to one of the two police officers he assaulted. 

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A grandad who confessed he was attracted to children after asking a man posing online as a schoolgirl to strip naked for him has been locked up. Married man Kenneth Rock was duped into thinking he was sending 'highly sexualised' messages to a 13-year-old girl but he was actually talking to a man hunting for criminals.

The 71-year-old told her she was 'cute' before boasting about kissing another teenager at a social club. The convicted fraudster also had a 'long-standing habit' of scouring the internet for vile child sex abuse pictures and was caught with a secret stash in his Black Country home.

But the paedophile blamed his sick offending on his 'sexless' marriage after telling police he had been 'bored' at home. Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how a man from an online child protection group was running a decoy account pretending to be a schoolgirl on social media platform Twoo. 

Rock made contact with the profile in December 2020, with the girl telling him she was 13 and the defendant replying "wow you look good". He asked if she had a boyfriend before telling her she looked 'cute' in her profile picture and requesting more photographs.

Prosecutor Jamie Scott said: "[Rock said] he doubted her mother would allow them to meet because he would be perceived, in his own words, as a pervert." The sex offender said he would teach the girl how to kiss and that it would be their 'secret' before asking about sex education and whether he could be her teacher.

He claimed he kissed other girls of a similar age, including a 14-year-old girl at his local social club. The defendant, of Hinchliffe Avenue Coseley, went on to say he wanted her to wear shorter skirts and continued to ask for photographs, including in her uniform.

Rock also made lewd comments and said he wanted to be the 'first guy'. The court heard how the convict told the girl he wanted to meet but Coronavirus restrictions at the time meant he could not travel.

Rock cancelled a meeting the pair had arranged as he was living in a Tier 3 area during the pandemic but continued with his sexualised comments.

He said he could not stop thinking about them being together and suggested picking the girl from her school. Rock - who has a 20-year-old conviction for benefit fraud - messaged the girl over a three-month period.

He was caught when the child protection group conducted 'impressive amateur detective work' and confronted Rock at his then-home in Parry Road, Wolverhampton, on November 11 last year. His wife answered the door before Rock admitted his offending, the court heard on September 29.

Mr Scott added: "He admitted he had been talking to the girl. He admitted that it was wrong for him to do and he admitted that he was attracted to children."

Police arrested the sex offender, who then claimed he only messaged the girl because he was 'bored' and denied having any intention to meet up with her. Officers searched his home and discovered a mobile with Twoo messages, along with a PC tower in a garage shed which contained 476 indecent images within a folder called "Ken's pics".

They later discovered he had been searching for child pornography - featuring children as young as two - for seven years from 2013 until just two months before his arrest, Mr Scott said. Simon Hans, defending, said Rock has been impotent since 2017.

His wife has kicked him out of the family home but the estranged couple is still in contact and could reconcile. Rock has lost most of his friends, while his children and grandchildren have 'walked away' from him.

Mr Hans added: "He appears to have turned towards this type of conduct as a result of the fact that his marriage became sexless. It first became sexless because his wife was no longer interested.

Rock admitted attempting to engage in sexual activity with a child, attempting to cause or incite a girl aged between 13 and 15 to engage in sexual activity and three counts of making indecent photographs of children.

Sentencing, Judge Barry Berlin said Rock's messages were 'highly sexualised' and jailed the defendant for 16 months for his 'awful offending'. 

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A Fife man caught with a stash of sick child abuse images and videos has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register.

Scott Menzies, 30, previously admitted having the vile content on his phone and tablet devices.

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A paedophile who was on bail for trying to meet a 'schoolboy' for sex was later caught grooming another 'child', a court heard.

Andrew McClean, from Southport, sent messages to what he believed was a 13-year-old and arranged to have sex with him in a public toilet near Southport station. The 39-year-old was in fact communicating with an adult member of a local ‘paedophile hunters’ group who was using an online decoy.

On February 15 this year, McLean arrived at the station with the intention of meeting the boy. However he was instead met by members of the group who alerted police.

McLean told them: “I confess I was in the wrong and I accept the punishment.”

But three months later, after being released on bail, he once again began sending online messages of a sexual nature to what he believed was another 13-year-old boy, and arranged to meet him at Formby station on May 18, the ECHO reports.

Again, he was met with members of the paedophile hunters group, who had created the decoy profile as part of an “online child protection effort to apprehend child sex offenders”.

He appeared at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday (October 4) after pleading guilty to arranging a child sex offence, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, and attempting to meet a child following grooming.

Judge Louise Brandon said: "While these cases are attempts, they are only attempts because the child in question did not actually exist. Had Josh been a real child, the offences would have been committed."

The court heard that McClean was developmentally disabled, and did not understand the consequences of his actions.

However, experts agreed that his disability did not impact his ability to make decisions or understand right from wrong. 

Judge Brandon said: "You have been described as vulnerable and you have a limited understanding of intercourse, and in your offending you made no attempt to hide your identity. But you knew what you were doing, and you knew that what you were doing was wrong."

McClean was sentenced to three years in prison, and must serve half of this term before being released on licence. He was also subject to a sexual harm prevention order.

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A paedophile from west Dorset has been jailed for 32 months after offending over a 17 year period.

Timothy Brian Lovegrove, whose address was given as Black Lane, in Evershot, appeared before Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday, September 30 for sentencing.

Lovegrove, 68, had pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent photographs and pseudo photographs of a child and one count of possessing extreme pornographic images portraying an act of intercourse with a live animal.

He had made 24 Category A, 17 Category B and 2,194 Category C moving and still indecent images of children at Evershot, over a 17-year period between April 10, 2004 and June 24, 2021.

He also admitted during the same 17-year period to possessing 27 extreme pornographic images depicting, in an explicit and realistic way, a person performing an act of intercourse with a live animal.

Lovegrove was issued with four concurrent jail sentences totalling 32 months in prison. He has also been ordered to sign the sex offenders register indefinitely and will be subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

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Tom Lundgren also had extreme animal pornography and other indecent images, court hears.

A man who secretly filmed people in bathrooms on hidden cameras has been jailed.

Tom Lundgren, 24, was also found to have more than 7,500 indecent images and dozens of extreme pornographic pictures on his electronic devices.

He was jailed for 18 months at Leeds Crown Court on Friday after admitting a string of offences.

Police officers found the indecent images on his devices when they went to his home in Gomersal, West Yorks., in May 2020.

Among them were 1,855 pictures in the most serious category as well as images of victims he had recorded using devices hidden in bathrooms.

There were also 1,507 category B images and 4,461 category C images as well as 35 extreme pornography images, West Yorkshire Police said.

The force said said it had “worked hard” to track down the people Lundgren had recorded without consent.

He pleaded guilty to charges including making indecent pictures of a child, possessing an extreme pornographic image involving an animal, and eight charges of voyeurism.

He has been jailed for 18 months and given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.

Speaking after sentencing, PC Simon Meakin of West Yorkshire Police, said: “On seizing his devices, we found over 1,800 of the most serious category A images as well as images of victims he had recorded for his own gratification using hidden recording devices.

“Any act of voyeurism represents the most appalling invasion of a person’s privacy, and we have worked hard to locate victims of these offences.”

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A manipulative sex offender, who targeted a ‘generous, smart and witty’ young girl in a ‘horrendous’ rape, has been sent to prison for 12 years. Adam Campbell, 35, left a "tragic legacy" on the girl, who was younger than 13 at the time of the attack, according to the judge.

An investigation into Campbell began in May 2021, following his arrest, after a young girl was raped in Braintree. Specialist officers from Essex Police supported the victim throughout the investigation.

Detective Constable Eden Quinn from Essex Police described Campbell, of no fixed abode, as a "coercive controller". He said: "I am so pleased with this result. The hard work of the investigation team and the ISVA as well as the strength of the victim has meant that a dangerous man is in jail. 

“Our number one priority throughout these investigations is the victim. As a force, we have invested a lot of time and training into better understanding how to safeguard victims as well as understand the behaviour of sexual offence perpetrators.

“Perpetrators are often coercive controllers, and they will groom and isolate their victims. This is exactly what Campbell did and his manipulating behaviour almost made the victim feel as if they were to blame for the horrendous crimes he committed.

“I hope that the victim finds some peace with this result and is able to move beyond this chapter. Her bravery and strength so far has been incredible, and I have every faith that she will grow into an incredible woman. I will never forget her.

“I also hope that this case may highlight to other survivors of sexual violence or abuse, that there is help available to them and that they are not alone. There is more to police investigations than people may first think and it’s never too late to get support.”

Toni Jones, from the Rape and Sexual Abuse Specialist Service, worked as the Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) for the investigation alongside DC Eden.

They said: "In this case, as with many, the survivor of sexual abuse was groomed into a false reality. The offender manipulates them into thinking that this is their world now and this is what they are worth.

"I hope that the victim in this case knows how proud Essex Police and I are of her, and the strength she has demonstrated has been nothing short of admirable. Since she was subjected to this horrendous abuse, this victim has had her childhood stripped away from her and she will never get back those years she had to carry this around with her.

"Spending time with her as reiterated just how the impact of trauma can be everlasting. My wish is for her to travel through life, being the person, she is inside, artistic, generous, smart and witty. This experience of sexual violence does not define her as a person. One day the weight of this will begin to lift and support will always be available to her."

Synergy Essex provides support and guidance for survivors of sexual and sexual abuse across Essex. The Essex Rape Crisis Partnership is formed of three organisations: Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse (mid and north-Essex); Rape and Sexual Abuse Specialist Service (south and west-Essex), SOS Rape Crisis (Southend, Castle Point and Rochford).

Survivors can self-refer and receive emotional support, specialist sexual violence and abuse counselling and or specialist advocacy services, no matter when the sexual violence or abuse occurred. In addition to this, they also offer support to survivor’s loved ones. 

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A “depraved” sexual predator from Chorley who abused two young children under the age of ten has been jailed.

Damon Townsend, 35, raped his first victim when she was under the age of 10.

That victim said she is now scared to be around boys and men.

Townsend sexually assaulted his second victim when she was also under the age of 10 and told her to keep what he had done a secret.

While those offences were being investigated information came to light that Townsend might have pornographic images on his phone.

Townsend’s phone was seized and an examination discovered the device contained a number of indecent images of children and other prohibited images.

He was subsequently charged with a number of sexual offences and remanded into custody.

Townsend, now of no fixed address but formerly of Cornflower Close, Chorley, pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images of children, however denied any offences relating to the victims of his sexual abuse.

Following a trial at Preston Crown Court, Townsend was found guilty of raping a child under 13 and indecently assaulting a child under 13.

He was deemed to be a dangerous offender and given an immediate custodial sentence of 16 years with a further four years extended licence.

Townsend will have to go before the Parole Board who will assess whether he remains a risk to the public. It will only be after that assessment that Townsend could be released.

He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and was made subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

DC Louise Dutton, of South CID, said: “Townsend is a manipulative individual with an abhorrent and warped sexual interest in children.

“Not only did he target his victims because of their vulnerability, he also forced them to relive their harrowing ordeals by taking the case to trial.

She added: “I am glad this dangerous sexual predator has now been given a substantial custodial sentence. The associated court orders will also mean Townsend will be monitored by the authorities once he is eventually released from the custodial element of his sentence.

“I want to place on record my admiration at the bravery displayed by both victims during the criminal justice process and beyond.

“I know these offences have understandably had a significant and ongoing impact on them and I hope they can take some comfort in knowing that their abuser will be behind bars for some time.

“I hope the outcome of this case will encourage other victims of sexual abuse to come forward, knowing that they will be believed and we will do everything in our power to put the perpetrators before the courts.”

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Andrew Maund, of Hebburn, thought he was talking to two 14-year-olds but they were decoy profiles set up by paedophile hunters.

A pervert who engaged in sex chats with what he thought were two 14-year-old girls online has been spared prison.

Andrew Maund believed he was talking to genuine schoolgirls but he had been duped by vigilantes Guardians of the North. Newcastle Crown Court heard Maund, posing as "Steven", contacted both decoy profiles within three days in June 2020.

The first one, who was on the Meetme app purporting to be an 18-year-old called Lou, went on to say she was 14 but that didn't put him off. He said he would like to kiss her and asked what she was wearing, telling her she was sexy and asking for photographs in her bra, which she refused.

The second decoy profile, on dating app Badoo, also told Maund she was 14 and he said he wanted to kiss and cuddle her. When told she was home alone as her mum was at work, he said he would like to visit her.

He then outlined sexual acts he wanted to partake in with her, asked for pictures and sent a photograph of his genitals and made suggestive remarks about it.

Maund, 37, of St Rollox Street, Hebburn, South Tyneside, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted sexual communication with a child, one of attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity and possessing a small number of indecent images. He was sentenced to 21 months suspended for two years with rehabilitation and must do a sex offenders treatment programme. He will also be subject to a sexual harm prevention order and sex offender registration for ten years.

Robin Turton, defending, said: "He is remorseful and feels shame. He says he had difficulties at home and a sense of loneliness. He has now lost his job at Amazon."

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A Southampton man has been jailed for 10 years and three months for committing child sex offences.

George Gibbs, 55, of Harefield Road, Southampton, appeared at Southampton Crown Court today (Tuesday 4 October), having previously been found guilty of two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13.

The offences related to two girls and took place in Southampton between July 2018 and when it was reported to us on 27 September, 2020.

Since that first report was made to police, specialist officers conducted a thorough investigation which led to Gibbs’ arrest and him being subsequently charged.

Appearing at Southampton Crown Court for a sentencing hearing, George Gibbs was jailed for 10 years and three months.

T/DC Dawn Capper from the Child Abuse Investigation Team said: “Gibbs continually denied the offences, forcing his young victims to relive these traumatic experiences in the trial. To make matters worse, he refused to attend, with the verdict being reached in his absence.

“By doing so, Gibbs has shown complete distain for his victims and not a shred of remorse.

“In contrast to his cowardice, these two victims have demonstrated such bravery throughout the investigation and I would like to commend them for their actions, which have made Southampton a safer place by removing a dangerous predator from the streets.

“If you or a loved one has experienced a similar situation, then I hope reading this encourages you to report what has happened to us. We will take your report seriously, support you every step of the way and do our best to ensure you receive justice.”

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A man who sexually abused a four-year-old girl while working as a childminding assistant has been jailed for 10 years.

The girl used dolls to illustrate to the jury how Stephen Walker, from Walton Cardiff, near Tewkesbury, abused her when taking her to the toilet.

The 56-year-old was found unanimously guilty of assaulting a child aged under thirteen.

The nursery has ceased trading as a result of the allegations.

Judge Ian Lawrie KC praised the young victim for the way she gave her "compelling evidence" via video link to Gloucester Crown Court on Friday.

He said she had been "clear and precise" and had spoken without hesitation as she told the jury what Walker had done to her on "lots of days" last year.

In his police interview Walker denied the allegations and said he did not take girls to the toilet "to prevent allegations such as this", but said the victim would often seek cuddles from him.

Prosecutor Tabby Macfarlane said the child had "complained to her mother that her 'middle hurt' - middle being the four-year-old's term for her genitals".

She told both her mother and her grandmother that Walker had hurt her while taking her to the toilet.

Charlotte Surley, defending, suggested that Walker did not touch the girl in the way that was alleged. She said he believed that what she had told people was a "misunderstanding".

'Compelling evidence'

The young victim was interviewed by officers at a special child-friendly location with support workers in attendance.

Mr Lawrie told Walker he had been convicted on the "compelling evidence of a four-year-old girl".

Walker is also barred from having any contact with children under the age of 18 for an indefinite period and will have to sign the sex offender's register for life.

Det Con David Escolme from Gloucestershire Police praised the victim and their family for showing "amazing strength and courage" during the trial.