Latest Offenders

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A fairground security guard slapped and groped the bottoms of two teenage girls in "sinister" attacks.

Former doorman Paul Long worked at a temporary funfair when it came to Birkenhead Road in Seacombe.

But the "large and physically imposing" 59-year-old preyed on two children in separate incidents on the same evening.

He slapped the bottom of a 15-year-old girl while giving her first aid, then laughed in her face and followed after her.

Liverpool Crown Court heard he then trapped a second girl, 14, on a Waltzer ride and grabbed her bottom, before squaring up to her dad when he arrived.

Long was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault after a trial, when the girls had to go through the ordeal of giving evidence and reliving the attacks.

Judge Brian Cummings, QC, today said the factual basis upon which he would sentence Long was "one I am myself sure of, having heard the evidence".

He said Long "took advantage" of the access to children he had as a funfair security guard to commit the crimes.

Judge Cummings added: "I also note that you are a large and physically imposing man."

Long, now 61, of Huddleston Close, Woodchurch, Birkenhead, struck twice on Thursday, March 28, 2019.

Judge Cummings said the first girl "cut her foot quite badly getting off one of the rides" and was told to go and see Long, who she asked for a plaster.

The cut continued to bleed so she went back for a second plaster, this time alone, when she accepted Long's offer to help by putting it on her foot.

The judge said: "You then slapped her on the bottom and started laughing."

The girl walked back to a group of friends, but Long followed after her, stopping if she looked at him, and only left when she reached her friends.

Judge Cummings said: "It was rather sinister."

The second girl went on the Waltzers with her male cousin, but when they sat down in a car, Long got in and sat between them for no apparent reason.

Judge Cummings said she felt "uncomfortable" and wanted to get off, but he wouldn't let her and the ride started.

The judge told Long she was "struggling to breathe and nearly started crying", but he asked her age and when she said 14, "you expressed surprise and said you would kiss her if she were older".

The pervert asked if she wanted him to kiss her before grabbing her bottom, when her cousin saw she was crying.

Long held a safety bar down "to prevent her getting away" - during which time the judge said she was "trapped in" - but the girl managed to squeeze out and the two children ran off.

"Very upset and hyperventilating", she called her dad, who drove immediately to the fair.

Judge Cummings said: "You approached in an aggressive manner. You had the effrontery to get in his face so to speak and push him back."

The judge said "surprisingly" Long didn't face a separate charge over that "physical confrontation", but it was an aggravating feature.

He said: "It highlights, I'm afraid, your complete absence of remorse."

Judge Cummings said Long denied any wrongdoing in his police interviews and at trial.

He told him: "You said the witnesses were all lying. They weren't - you were."

David Birrell, prosecuting, said the girls described the impact of the attacks in video interviews in the autumn of 2019.

The first girl said she had "pushed it to the back of her mind".

However, she said: "I do get a bit wary when I'm walking around, when I'm on my own. I'll have people walk me home."

The second girl said the attack made her feel "crap", adding: "I don't like going out. I go out with my mum and dad, but I have only been out twice."

Long has 10 previous convictions for 13 offences, mainly for dishonesty in his youth.

He was last convicted in January 2017 of causing death by careless driving, when he had tried to help a drunk man.

Long pulled over after seeing Aso Azzizi collapsed outside The Crown pub in Birkenhead, at around 2am, on January 31, 2015.

He checked the 30-year-old was okay, who started walking off down Conway Street, and got back in his Ford Mondeo, parked on the other side of the road.

Long decided to do a U-turn, but "didn't look properly" in his mirrors to check it was safe and failed to indicate.

Renault Megane driver Kieran Platt - speeding at around 60mph in the 30mph zone - came up behind and clipped the front of the Mondeo.

The impact sent the Megane spinning to the opposite side of the road, where it hit Mr Azzizi, throwing him into metal railings.

Platt, then 21, from Prenton, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and was jailed for four years.

Long received a community order with unpaid work for the lesser offence.

John Weate, defending, said that case had "a lasting effect" on Long.

He told the court his client continued to deny the sex attacks.

Mr Weate said there were "troubles" in Long's family background, which led to his offending as a youth.

He said Long then worked until 2017 without any convictions and as part of his job in the security industry, stopped many illegal activities.

The lawyer said: "He's a man who can become very emotional at times.

"He's suffered difficulties through the break-up of relationships, there's been estrangements from his children, who are now adults, albeit he has a close and loving relationship with one of his sons."

Mr Weate said despite "strain" on his current relationship of nearly a decade, his partner had remained "supportive".

He said Long was considered a "low risk of further offences" and argued it would be of benefit to society if he was rehabilitated, rather than jailed.

Judge Cumming said there was a "breach of trust" as Long's job was to ensure the safety of visitors to the fair.

He said he was "the very person that the victims in this case should have been able to turn to if sexually assaulted in the fairground, not the person committing these assaults".

The judge jailed Long for eight months, who looked at his girlfriend in the public gallery and shook his head.

Long must sign the Sex Offenders Register and comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.

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Mark Jacobson, of Washington Parade, Bootle was also made to sign the sex offender's list and hit with a restraining order A monster who raped a child and forced them to watch sexual acts has been jailed for 16 years. Mark Jacobson, 44, of Washington Parade, Bootle, was found guilty of 16 counts of serious child sex offences. These include two counts of rape, two counts of attempted rape and multiple counts of sexual activity with a child, causing a child to watch a sexual act and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child. Today, at Liverpool Crown Court, he was sentenced to 16 years in prison. Jacobson was also given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) and was issued with a restraining order and sex offender notification requirement. Detective Constable Lucy Emmett said: Jacobson is a dangerous individual and he will now spend a significant amount of time behind bars where he can no longer pose a risk to children. Merseyside Police is committed to protecting children from sexual exploitation and those who seek to do them harm. I would urge anyone who has been a victim of child abuse, or thinks a child is being abused, to contact police immediately, where a report can be made in confidence. Similarly if you have suffered a sexual offence and can find the courage to come forward, we will take your report extremely seriously and investigate it thoroughly.

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A man has been jailed for more than 13 years after kidnapping and threatening to kill a 19-year-old woman in a park.

Jeremy Blake Simmons, 20, attacked a woman at about 2.15am on August 4, 2020 as she walked along Leigh Road in Eastleigh.

Simmons told his victim he had a gun, before he began punching and kicking her to stop her from screaming.

He then dragged her into the recreation ground which is alongside the road.

Prosecution barrister, Christopher Wing, said how the woman was left feeling anxious, depressed and suffering nightmares following the attack.

The court heard Simmons, of no fixed address, said he had been trying to rob the woman, who was completely oblivious to his presence.

Before the attack started, the victim was able to call 999 meaning the whole ordeal was heard over the phone.

A CCTV operator alerted the police, who subsequently rescued the "distraught" victim.

Simmons previously pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing actual bodily harm, one count of threats to kill and one count of kidnap at Southampton Crown Court on September 9, 2020.

Following a three-day trial at Southampton Crown Court, on Wednesday, March 10, Simmons was also found guilty of kidnap with intent to commit a sexual offence.

He also pleaded guilty to a separate incident of robbery and four counts of fraud, in which Simmons stole a handbag from a woman who had been separated from her friends in East Park, Southampton.

Defending, Elisabeth Bussey-Jones said her client's life had spiralled out of control following the death of his mother in 2019.

She argued he had been subject to severe abuse and neglect as a child.

However, Judge Christopher Park QC branded him a danger to the public and gave him an extended sentence following the two attacks.

He was jailed for a total of 13 years and four months at Southampton Crown Court on Wednesday (May 12).

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Sean Owens from Hampshire Constabulary's Amberstone team, said: "This was a truly harrowing and unprovoked attack on a vulnerable woman late at night.

"At a time where she should feel safe walking home within her local community, she was subjected to a serious assault.

"I would like to commend the victim for her courage that she has shown throughout the whole investigation.

"This was no doubt an awful ordeal which she was faced to re-live; but we must praise her for doing so, as it is not always easy to do so.

"I would also like to say thank you to the CCTV operator who alerted police to the attack – undoubtedly their quick thinking ensured that the victim was not subjected to a more severe and violent attack."

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A 60-year-old man has been sentenced to a minimum of 14 years for the murder of Mary McLaughlin who was killed in Glasgow in 1984.

Graham McGill was arrested on Wednesday, 4 December, 2019, following a case review by officers from Police Scotland’s Homicide Governance Review Team.  He was found guilty by a unanimous verdict on 9 April 2021.

Mary McLaughlin was last seen in the company of a man in the Partick area of Glasgow on Wednesday, 26 September, 1984. She was never seen alive again and was found dead in her home, in Laurel Street, six days later. 

The post mortem examination established Mary had been strangled and her death had occurred at least five days prior to when she was found. Despite extensive enquiries being carried out at the time, no-one was ever identified as being responsible for Mary’s death and family members were denied justice for their loved one.

Detective Superintendent Suzanne Chow said: “Despite crimes occurring years ago, there is always hope of solving them one day, they are never forgotten. Mary’s family has waited a long time for justice and I hope today’s verdict provides some form of resolution for them. It is fitting to know that despite the passage of time, justice has finally been served. In all case reviews, families are uppermost in our minds and we work hard to present the best evidential case to ensure successful convictions.”

DNA has proved to be a powerful tool in the fight against crime. During the case review, a number of items from the original investigation were identified for priority examination. Unidentified samples taken at the time of the murder, were re-examined and they matched Graham McGill. 

SPA Forensic Scientist Joanne Cochrane said: "The SPA Forensic Services Cold Case Review Team carried out a full forensic review of this case which identified a number of items for further DNA analysis using the very latest technologies available. This analysis resulted in finding DNA attributable to Graham McGill on several items, including a cigarette end, the ligature around Mary McLaughlin’s neck, and on the dress she had been wearing."

McGill did not feature in the 1984 investigation. Officers then discovered that McGill had been on weekend release from prison at the time Mary was murdered. Over the coming months, officers re-examined paperwork, revisited several original witnesses at the time and utilised updated technology to gather the evidence needed to arrest Graham McGill.

On Wednesday, 4 December, 2019, the investigation culminated in the arrest of Graham McGill. He was arrested and charged in connection with the death of Mary McLaughlin and at the High Court in Glasgow he was finally been held to account.

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The "danger to women" pretended to comfort the child just after she had been sick then raped her A predatory paedophile raped a little girl who had just been sick when he was pretending to comfort her. Philip Jones was branded a "danger to women" after he made thousands of searches on internet rape sites, then spiked a victim's drink. The former soldier was caught by a doorman at a Wirral pub putting powder into a woman's drink so he could sexually assault her in 2013. Jones, who also downloaded child sex abuse images, was jailed for five years, with an extended three years on licence, in 2014. Last December he was sent back to prison for hiding a mobile phone from police, after secretly working as a maintenance man in family homes. But today it emerged that the 59-year-old had also raped and molested a little girl prior to his arrest in 2013. That abuse only came to light when the child revealed last May that she had been living with the trauma for nearly a decade. She sat with her mum holding her hand at Liverpool Crown Court this afternoon, when Jones was produced on a video link from prison. Eric Lamb, prosecuting, said: "She explained that she wanted to disclose the offending for several years and she felt the burden of carrying the secret. "The defendant told her she must not say anything to her mother and she was scared of being reprimanded so chose to say nothing. "But it had been on her mind for many years and she said she wanted to 'get this off my chest'." The court heard the girl was "confused" when first sexually assaulted by Jones and on a second occasion she had just vomited. Jones pretended to comfort the child but raped her, when she cried and said he was hurting her, so he stopped. Mr Lamb said Jones also raped her on another occasion and in a fourth incident he performed a sex act on her. When interviewed last July, he gave a prepared statement and denied any of the abuse. However, after several court hearings, Jones pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and two counts of sexual assault. The girl said at first she didn't want to write a victim statement and just wanted to concentrate on her education. Summarising a statement, Mr Lamb said she worried about "everyone at school" finding out what happened. He said if the girl smelled the same body wash that Jones wore, memories of her abuse came flooding back. Sometimes if stressed she said it would "pop into her mind" and she would start crying. The girl said: "It makes me feel really sad." The victim added she was "confused and scared" because Jones told her not to tell anyone. Jones, of Poulton Road, Seacombe, and formerly of Trafalgar Road, Birkenhead, has previous convictions including wounding in 1990. He became a HGV driver after leaving the Army and in 1996, for a sexual offence now classed as rape, he was jailed for three and a half years. Jones targeted the 24-year-old woman at The Tap in Charing Cross, Birkenhead in February 2013, using nitrazapam - prescribed for insomnia and related to date rape drug Rohypnol. When the then 52-year-old's computer was seized and examined, 183 indecent images of children were found, along with extreme porn. He had searched the internet using the term "date rape" on 52 occasions and visited a rape site 23,500 times. Jones admitted administering noxious substances for facilitating sexual activity and 15 offences involving downloading and possessing indecent images and extreme porn. He was jailed for 20 months in December for failing to comply with the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Register and breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO). Police raided his home on November 4, when they found a secret phone hidden behind a kitchen cupboard. He has since been recalled on the licence of his 2014 sentence, which isn't due to expire until June 2022. Rebecca Smith, defending, today said Jones accepted he would receive a long prison sentence. She said: "He understands the difficulties, embarrassment, the distress and the misery his offending has caused." Ms Smith added: "He knows now that his behaviour on these occasions was selfish and he hadn't considered the wider impact of his behaviour." The barrister said Jones had undertaken courses to address his offending, recognised the "demons" he had to live with and apologised to his victim. Judge David Swinnerton said the girl had been "scared" to disclose the "disgraceful abuse" committed against her. The judge said Jones now said he recognised the distress he caused and apologised, but in all the courses he had attended due to his earlier sexual offending, he didn't disclose these crimes and when the child did, he initially denied them, "so your remorse doesn't appear to have been very strong at that point". He said the girl described her distress at remembering the pain of the abuse and added: "I have no doubt that as a memory that will not go away, no matter how well she manages to cope with it." Judge Swinnerton said one rape was when the girl was "particularly vulnerable" after being ill. He said: "You acted as a predatory paedophile when the opportunity presented itself to you." Judge Swinnerton jailed him for 13 and a half years, with an extended five years on licence. Jones must serve at least nine years behind bars before he can apply for parole and will only be released then if he is no longer considered to be a risk. He must sign on the Sex Offenders Register and comply with a SHPO for life. Judge Swinnerton turned to the girl after Jones was sent down and said: "Thank you for your bravery in coming forward and in coming [to court] today."

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Robert Oakley exposed himself to two women out walking their dogs on separate occasions, a court heard.

The 51-year-old, of Lyons Street, Southampton, followed his victims before pleasuring himself in front of them in Frog Lane, Fordingbridge.

Both were left "badly frightened".

Oakley still denies two charges of indecent exposure he was accused of, however, following a three day trial at Southampton Crown Court, he was found guilty.

Prosecuting, Siobhan Linsley said the offences were aggravated by his antecedence.

Defending, Gaylene Coles said that her client had suffered a number of traumatic events as a child.

She mentioned that he had issues with alcoholism in the past.

During sentencing, Judge Gary Burrell QC said that Oakley "seemed quite belligerent and arrogant" during his trial.

He said: "This sort of offence can sometimes lead to contact offences.

"You badly frightened both of these women. One was quite robust about it but the other was clearly frightened and scared by your behaviour. She was upset."

He added: "You have exposed yourself to women before, but these offences are still aggravating factors.

"They were alone and where no one was around, and they were therefore vulnerable."

For the offences which happened on January 25 and 28 last year, he was jailed for six months and made the subject of a five-year restraining order against one of his victims.

He must sign on as a sex offender for seven years.

Commenting on an earlier occasion, PC Sarah Taylor said: "We would like to thank those women who came forward and told us what happened to them. Being subjected to something like this can be very distressing and shocking, sometimes leaving a victim unsure of what to do or how to report this kind of thing to us. We absolutely want to receive your call and bring offenders like Oakley to justice. If it's happening now, always call 999. These incidents rightly concerned the community in Fordingbridge at the time and we're pleased to be able to say now that we were able to put a stop to this, with the community's help."

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A student who sold paedophiles images of children being sexually abused in order to fund his addiction to drugs, drink and gambling has been sent to prison.

Oliver Jenkins was found in possession of thousands of illegal images and videos when police searched his accommodation in Leeds.

Leeds Crown Court heard Jenkins committed the offences in 2019 while studying in Leeds.

West Yorkshire Police officers seized mobile phones and computer equipment from the property he was living at on Belle Vue Road, Woodhouse.

They contained evidence of him sending abusive child images to others.

The court heard Jenkins had accessed the images and then stored them in files which were sent to paedophiles for payment.

Jenkins also sent 'customers' advice on how to open and view the images.

Payments were made via a Paypal.

Jenkins was found in possession of 73 movies and 126 still images at category A - the most serious level of offending.

He also had more than 6,000 moving and still images at category C.

Jenkins, of Bannister Green, Essex, pleaded guilty to eight counts of distributing an indecent image of a child and three counts of making an indecent image of a child.

Nawaz Hussain, mitigating, said the offence was unusual because Jenkins' offending was financially, not sexually, motivated.

Mr Hussain said the defendant has no sexual interest in children and committed the offences to fund his addiction to drugs, alcohol and gambling.

The barrister said Jenkins comes from a supportive family. His girlfriend had stood by him since his arrest and they are still together.

Mr Hussain said: "His father had a distinguished career in The City. When he learned that his son had gone down this dark and disgusting path for just a few hundred pounds he could not make sense of it.

"If his son had come and told him the situation he was in he could have made it go away,"

The court was told Jenkins lost his place at university as a result of the convictions.

Describing the offending, Mr Hussain added: "He was caught up in the lap of addiction. For reasons he finds difficult to comprehend he saw this as potentially a way out for him.

"He pushed aside his moral compass, ethics and everything his family had taught him to walk down this dark road."

Jailing Jenkins for 20 months, Judge Andrew Stubbs QC said: "You were profiting from the images you had collected then parcelled up into files for onward sale.

"I accept you had no sexual interest in the images yourself. I instead have to sentence you for your decision to monetise those images.

"You were increasing their circulation and feeding the illegal habit of those you sold them on to.

"Despite all the privileges and advantages you have had in your life, your lifestyle of drug taking, drinking and gambling has put you here."

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Appearing at Salisbury Crown Court for a plea and case management hearing today (May 7), Nicholas John Wells, of Eyres Way, Salisbury, admitted to a charge of Section 2 Assault by penetration.

The court heard how he sexually assaulted a woman in her 30s just after midnight on May, 19 2019 in Hudson's Field.

Shortly after the incident an e-fit drawing of the suspect was released, and the appeal was renewed in May 2020, a year after the assault.

However a breakthrough came in the form of developments in DNA evidence sampling technology which meant that Wells, a suspect in the case, was matched to samples taken from the victim. He was subsequently charged and remanded in custody.

DC Hannah Milburn, the Wiltshire Police officer leading the investigation for CID South, said: "We are very pleased with today's result which means that Wells' victim will not have to endure having to revisit her horrific ordeal by being involved in a court trial.

"I'm sure that the public will be reassured that a dangerous sex offender has been taken off the streets and will face justice for his crimes."

Her sentiments were echoed by DI Dean Garvin who said: "This was a horrific crime.

"Nicholas Wells attacked a young lady and sexually assaulted her. I would like to pay testimony to her courage, both in reporting this and throughout the process.

"This has been a long and complex investigation.

"DC Hannah Milburn never gave up on her efforts to bring the victim justice. I want people to know that we never give up on these cases, even if they take years, we will continue to work on them and try to solve them.

"The offenders should live with that. They should always look over their shoulder. That is what they do to their victims."

Wells is due to appear before Salisbury Crown Court on July 2 for sentencing.

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A sex attacker who molested and photographed a sleeping friend had his arm snapped in "retribution".

Lee Monaghan, now 48, targeted the woman, who was in her 20s, after she had earlier come to his aid.

She woke to find him sexually assaulting her, when he brazenly claimed he thought she had consented.

But after he confessed in texts the next day and begged for forgiveness, the victim's sister and others went to his home.

Monaghan suffered a broken arm, which both his own lawyer and a judge today remarked many people would say he "deserved".

Liverpool Crown Court heard the attack happened at Monaghan's home in Smollett Street, Bootle late one night in 2017.

Arthur Gibson, prosecuting, said the victim had come across Monaghan "arguing furiously" with another man.

She defused the situation and took Monaghan back to his home, before leaving, only to later return to check he was okay.

Mr Gibson said they chatted, drank a significant amount of alcohol and likely both took drugs, before the woman fell asleep on a settee.

The court heard he sexually assaulted her by pulling down her lower clothing, touching her and photographing her naked body.

The victim was totally unaware of this until police discovered the photos when they seized his mobile phone.

Mr Gibson said Monaghan committed a further more serious sexual assault, which caused her to wake up.

She demanded to know what he thought he was doing and Monaghan said he thought she wanted him to do it, even though she had been "fast asleep".

The angry and upset victim walked home but bumped into a friend and through tears said: "I told him I didn't want it but he done it anyway."

The following morning the crying woman rang another friend and said "I didn't want him to do it", adding: "Jugsy done things to me."

The friend went to her house and found her in the bath crying, saying "I didn't want him to do it" over and over again, so called her mum, who rang the police.

Mr Gibson said Monaghan effectively admitted what he had done in a series of texts from 9.30am, after first asking the victim if she was "alright".

She replied "are u messing after u touch me why I was asleep" adding "thats's called rape you do now that".

Monaghan replied: "I no. am so sorry plz forgive me x"

He then begged "plz av said am sorry", "let me come an c ye plz am so sorry", "soz sorry sorry **** plz am so sorry" and "plz don't hate me now x".

Mr Gibson said the victim's sister and a number of friends went to see Monaghan, who was physically assaulted.

He fled his home and went to a friend's house, where he was arrested, but first had to be taken to hospital due to his fractured arm.

When interviewed the next day, he admitted having a "little play with her below" but denied anything else, until confronted with the photos in a second interview in 2019, when he admitted putting his hand in her underwear but denied any further sexual assault.

Monaghan, of Linacre Road, Litherland, admitted assault by penetration on the opening day of a trial, having previously admitted sexual assault.

The court heard he had previous convictions for assault, but nothing for sexual offences.

Trevor Parry-Jones, defending, said Monaghan had a "big problem with alcohol" but had since attended drug and alcohol courses.

He said his client quit using any "hard drugs" and while he still smoked cannabis, also "greatly reduced his alcohol consumption".

Mr Parry-Jones said Monaghan's girlfriend sitting in the public gallery knew of his crimes but was prepared to help him.

He said: "Obviously they have great respect for each other and she will assist him and hopes he can come home."

The lawyer said Monaghan was "ashamed" and "horrified" by his actions, for which he had already been "punished".

He said Monaghan had to have his arm set at hospital following what was a "proper fracture" and a "proper beating".

Mr Parry-Jones added: "Many would say he deserved it."

He said following that "retribution" Monaghan was "fearful" and moved away from the area.

The barrister said Monaghan's dad died in 2015, his sister died in 2016, one of his brothers lives in America, and his other brother has cancer.

Urging the judge to spare him jail, he added that his mum was 84 and Monaghan "does everything for her".

Judge Trevor-Jones said the victim was a friend of Monaghan's but "nothing more than that" who had tried to help him.

He said Monaghan sexually assaulted her "as she lay there clearly quite defenceless and unaware".

The judge said the victim blamed herself, was left more reserved socially and it worsened her mental health issues.

Judge Trevor-Jones told Monaghan people "understandably angry" went to his home when "it seems you were then the subject of an assault".

He said he took account of these "violent consequences", but added: "Many will say you probably thoroughly deserved that."

The judge said from a starting point of 30 months he deducted six months because of the "considerable delay", some of which was of Monaghan's making, and the fact he had no previous relevant convictions.

Giving him credit for his guilty plea, he further reduced the sentence to 21 months, then deducted two months to take account of the "retribution", and a further one month for the effect of serving a prison term during the pandemic.

Jailing him for 18 months, he said a case involving "the sexual exploitation of a vulnerable woman who was asleep" demanded immediate custody.

Judge Trevor-Jones told him to sign the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years and made a four-year restraining order.

Speaking after the case, Detective Constable Julia Jennings said: "Monaghan consistently lied to police about what took place in his home in the early hours of that morning and has forced his victim to relive her ordeal by denying that he sexually assaulted her.

"I would like to pay credit to her as she has shown immense courage and strength throughout the whole of this investigation.

"Unfortunately because of the Covid pandemic this case has been repeatedly delayed so I am pleased that Monaghan has now been put before the courts and sentenced for his crime and I hope it now affords his victim the chance to get on with her life.

"I also hope that this will encourage other victims to come forward and speak to us.

"We take issues such as this extremely seriously and specialist officers are on hand to offer support and guidance through the courts process."

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A PAEDOPHILE who preyed on a teenage girl with autism was jailed for six years by an Isle of Wight Crown Court judge. Ashley Holness, of Carlton Road, Ryde, was told by Judge Susan Evans he had groomed his victim and his behaviour had been so appalling, it was likely the victim will suffer 'serious emotional damage'. The head chef admitted seven counts of intentional sexual touching of a child, two of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and one of taking indecent photographs of a child, all against a girl aged under 16, between August 12 and December 23 last year. An application to have Holness's sentenced reduced for pleading guilty at a later hearing, was rejected by the judge on the grounds he "knew full well what he had done" when he appeared before Island magistrates. During his depraved acts against the young teen, Holness, 36, warned her to be quiet, and groomed her by rewarding her with cash, said John Farmer, prosecuting, at the Isle of Wight Crown Court on Tuesday. Holness also made her undress so he could take photographs of her naked, the judge was told. When arrested, police discovered the photographs on his mobile phone. For Holness, Thomas Horder said: "There is very little I can say in mitigation that can take away from the serious nature of the offences. "He makes no attempt to play down or cast out any aspect of the allegations made." Referring to a letter his client wrote to the court, Mr Horder said Holness had showed remorse. "It captures how sorry he is. He knows the impact his behaviour has had on the girl," said Mr Horder. "At the time, he was dealing with his wife's illness, a bitter dispute with a neighbour, drinking alcohol, in a way he had never done before, and taking cannabis." Character references for Holness were handed to the judge. On top of his jail term, Holness was placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for life and made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Judge Evans said: "The victim was someone made all the more vulnerable because she has autism. "I accept you developed depression and anxiety in the weeks leading up to your offending, but none of that provides any excuse for the shocking manner in which you behaved."

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A cyber pervert who was snared in an online sting told some pretending to be a 13-year-old girl she was a young woman now and ready for sex.

Paul Pickerill, 65, of Lockgate West, Windmill Hill, Runcorn, was sent down today at Chester Crown Court after appearing by videolink and having pleaded guilty previously in magistrates court to attempting to incite a child aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity and attempting to engage a child in sexual communication.

Philip Clemo, prosecuting, recounted how a volunteer with the paedophile hunter group Net Justice became involved with a conversation on March 11 with Pickerill via the Twoo social media website, where he was using the name Paul55StokeOnTrent.

They quickly switched to the encrypted chat app WhatsApp and the decoy - which was really an adult - told Pickerill she was 13.

Pickerill claimed he was younger than he really was, and said he was 55 years old.

When he asked if shed had her first period and she replied yeah, he said she was a young woman now and ready for sex, adding they could keep it a secret and use condoms and the morning-after pill.

Over a spell of nearly three weeks until March 30, cyber creep Pickerill made various sexual suggestions to the fake girl, and sent her pictures of his car and of him with his dog, plus indecent pictures of himself and a video clip of him performing a sex act on himself.

Pickerill, who asked for pictures of the girl and asked her to perform a sex act on herself, also referred to waiting for her grandmother to fall asleep, so he could slip into her bed while she was asleep.

When the "girl" told him she was a child, he retorted you wont be when we have sex, adding dont worry, Ill be gentle.

Net Justice held an intervention and Pickerill was arrested.

He made no comment during his interview with Cheshire police.

Pickerill had three non-relevant convictions for four offences from the 1970s and had never spent time behind bars before being remanded into custody to await sentencing.

Jeremy Rawson, appearing for the defence, pleaded mitigation for his clients prompt guilty pleas, which he said showed remorse, and he referred to the latest court of appeal case law for offences involving decoys, which ruled that sentences should be set to the sentencing starting point for the intended harm then adjusted downwards to reflect that an act did not occur and there was no real child.

He said a pre-sentence report suggested Pickerill could be managed via a non-custodial sentence.

Pickerill, who appeared via videolink from prison, also suffered depression and was hard of hearing, and no longer worked due to a road traffic collision in 2011, Mr Rawson said.

Judge Michael Leeming, presiding, cast doubt on Pickerills supposed remorse, noting how he sought to minimise his behaviour during his pre-sentence report probation interview.

Placing the cyber pervert on the sex offenders register for 10 years alongside a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, the judge said the offences were too serious for a suspended sentence, and sentenced Pickerill to one year and eight months in prison to be served immediately.

Sending him down, Judge Leeming said: You didnt seek to hide the fact you were far older than she was.

You lied about your age, you told her you were 55 - you were 65.

He added: Its clear you sought to minimise your behaviour throughout the probation officers report, telling her you had done nothing wrong and were only conversing through boredom and isolation., and had only pleaded guilty on legal advice.

Pickerill will also have to pay a victim surcharge.

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A PROLIFIC sexual offender travelled across the country from Hampshire in the hope of grooming what he thought was a 13-year-old girl, only to find out he had been stung by a vigilante group.

David Hodges made contact with what he thought was a youngster on Chat Avenue using the username Hubblebubble99, a court heard.

The decoy, from the group Confronted and Caught, made clear she was 13.

Hodges told the account she made him feel "tingly" and she said she "doesn't know how to kiss and has no experience."

Hodges proceeded to say he thought about touching her on her breasts and between her legs.

He went on to send her pictures of his genitals and videos of him engaged in sexual activity.

In one of the pictures sent a letter could be seen which revealed his identity and his address in Portsmouth.

He went on to arrange a visit to Oldham last month when he was told the girl's father was working a night shift.

While there he was stung by the vigilantes and reported to the police.

He was found to have two mobile phones, which he was banned from having without permission from previous sexual harm prevention orders.

When taken to Ashton Police Station he made a full confession and admitted having a sexual interest in children.

He appeared at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court to be sentenced for sexual communication with a child, grooming and two breaches of a sexual harm prevention order.

Prosecutor Peter Malone revealed his previous convictions for sexual offences.

He said: "At Portsmouth Crown Court in July 2017 he was convicted of possession of indecent images of children, extreme pornography and prohibited images of children.

"In Cardiff Crown Court in May 2018 he admitted attempting to meet a girl under 16 following sexual grooming."

He said he was jailed for more than two years for the second offence.

Representing the 57-year-old, defence counsel William Donnelly said his client was realistic in accepting a jail sentence was inevitable.

He read from a letter which Hodges had written to the judge, in which he said: "I am here for the abhorrent thoughts and actions that I have.

"I do want help, I can't continue like this.

"I do not see myself as the victim, other people are the victims, I apologise to them."

Imposing a sentence, judge Sophie McKone said his intentions were obvious.

She said: "You are determined to have sexual activity with a child.

"Your attempts have been thwarted until now.

"It seems no court order or prison sentence can deter you from your ultimate goal to have sexual activity with a real child."

She jailed him for 40 months, but also ruled that after his release he must be subject to an extended period of licence for two years.

Hodges, whose address was given as Western Parade in Swansea, was also placed on the sex offenders' register for life.

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A man who sexually assaulted 18 women and girls in Swansea parks has been sentenced to three years in prison.

Oliver Smith, 27, rode around a popular Swansea park and nearby street on his bicycle wearing black or dark clothing with a hood pulled over his head causing "widespread terror", randomly touching women and girls.

Swansea Crown Court heard that he told police "he gets angry about females wearing Lycra". His 18 victims ranged in age from 12 to 45, and included lone joggers, university students, and mothers playing with their young children. A judge said he had no doubt the defendant was a dangerous offender, but said he was not able to make him subject to an extended sentence for public protection.

Swansea Crown Court heard most of the attacks took place around Swansea's Singleton and Brynmill parks, and nearby streets as well as the seafront prom.

Dean Pulling, prosecuting, said over the course of February 12 and 13 this year Smith attacked a series of women. He said Smith approached women from behind and "forcefully" grabbed their buttocks before riding off.

He said some of the victims were students heading for the nearby university, some were lone joggers, some were mothers who had taken their children to the park, and some were women out walking with friends enjoying some exercise in lockdown.

He said: "The offences were committed during lockdown and when the victims were taking permitted exercise or essential business, such as going to work or the shop.

"The fact they were assaulted at that time when there were heightened concerns regarding coronavirus and social distancing only served to increase the stress and fear that they felt at the time.

"The attacks that weekend received significant media publicity and these sexual assaults committed in public places, seemingly random attacks against women and girls, brought widespread fear and anger amongst females in Swansea."

He added: "He told police he gets angry about females wearing Lycra. He claimed he targeted females who had short jackets on and whose bottoms were visible. In his view it wasn't fair that men had to see that.

"He said he felt bad seeing some of his victims crying and felt that all females dressed to entice men."

Mr Pulling said one victim, a jogger, was assaulted twice within a short time - Smith first grabbed her bottom as she ran through Brynmill Park, and then again a few minutes later as she ran home through Singleton Park.

The court heard the defendant also sexually assaulted girls - one aged just 12 - in Bishopston on February 13, and tried to attack a 45-year-old woman walking home from the Bishopston Co-op store.

Police launched an investigation into the assaults, and on February 13 put out a press release to the media which included a CCTV image of a man on a bicycle they wanted to trace. A number of members of the public came forward with information, and these leads led police to an address on Sandy Lane in Parkmill on Gower, and to a converted garden shed where the defendant was living.

Mr Pulling said Smith initially denied carrying out the assault but later made admissions. He told officers he though it was "not fair" for women to "dress to entice men".

He added he masturbated every day, something which he says he found "exhausting", and that if he touched women he found he no longer needed to do that.

The court heard he also told police he had carried out other sexual assaults.

The court heard the attacks had left the victims feeling anxious, shocked, scared to go out, and "violated".

Oliver James Smith, of Glandrydan Avenue, Uplands, Swansea, had previously pleaded guilty to 11 counts of sexual sexual assault by touching - including one on a girl under 13 - and one count of attempted sexual assault. He asked for another seven sexual assaults to be taken into consideration. In total there were 18 victims.

Gerard Cullen, for Smith, said it was apparent from a number of conferences he had held with his client that the defendant demonstrated "very bizarre ideology and thinking". He said Smith "suffers from very rigid thinking, very off ideas about how females should dress in public".

The advocate said the defendant's mother had been concerned about her son's mental health and his interest in conspiracy theories for a considerable length of time, and had encouraged him to get help - but Smith had refused to co-operate.

Judge Geraint Walters said Smith had carried out what could only be described as a "campaign" of sexual offending.

"It really has to be described as a campaign of sexual offending, which caused widespread terror at the time to women in and around the Swansea area," he said.

He said he agreed with a pre-sentence report that Smith was a dangerous offender but the nature of the sentence he was able to impose did not allow him to pass an extended sentence.

Giving the defendant a one-third discount for his guilty pleas the judge sentenced the defendant to three years in prison for each offence, the sentences to all run concurrently making an overall sentence of three years. Smith will serve up to half that period in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community. He will be a registered sex offender for the rest of his life.

Speaking after sentence South Wales Police detective inspector Gareth Jones said: "Oliver Smith's offending has caused his victims significant fear and distress, and I hope this sentencing brings them some comfort and shoes the seriousness of his actions.

"Everyone has the right to go about their life without being harassed or assaulted.

"I praise these women and teenagers for coming forward and speaking to police. South Wales Police will not tolerate sexual abuse in any form, and we will do all we can do to bring perpetrators to justice."

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A BOLTON man has been jailed for three years after he admitted sexually abusing a young girl.

Andrew Walsh, 55, who was known to his victims family, sneaked into the girls bedroom and touched her while he thought she was asleep.

Bolton Crown Court heard similar abuse occurred over a two-year period.

David Toal, prosecuting, said Walshs crimes were uncovered when his 11-year-old victim told a friend what had been happening in June 2019.

Phone messages describing the abuse were then shown to the victims mother, who confronted Walsh about the allegations, he told the court.

He said he didnt remember doing it but that he was sorry.

A day later she confronted him again and secretly recorded their conversation in which he admitted the offences and blamed them on his heavy drinking.

He also asked her not to get the police involved but Walsh, of Hughes Street, Bolton, was arrested on June 8.

The girl told police that Walsh came into her room and touched her over her pyjamas while performing a sex act on himself.

When she woke up he offered to get her some biscuits with the victim telling officers the same thing had happened every month for two years.

She also said he had taken the girls mobile phone, put it in the waistband of his shorts and asked her to grab it.

Mr Toal added that Walsh, who pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault on a child under 13, had no previous convictions.

Michael Goldwater, defending, said Walsh had lost his job as a breakdown recovery driver after the allegations became public.

He now lived at home with his elderly parents. Mr Goldwater told the court.

Above all he is very sorry for this, added Mr Goldwater. He can barely understand it but accepts it is a result of his excessive consumption of alcohol.

The drink caused him to behave in ways that he did not otherwise imagine he was capable.

Sentencing Walsh, Judge John Edwards, said: You were drinking heavily which doubtless numbed your inhibitions to indulge yourself in this dreadful way.

It has left your victim anxious and confused at a pivotal time of her life and any child should be completely safe in their bedroom

"It should be a place of happiness.

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A Metropolitan Police officer from Fleet, Hampshire who tried to send "highly sexualised" messages to what he thought was a 13-year-old girl has been jailed after he was caught in an undercover sting.

Detective Constable Mark Collins, 58, admitted one count of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and six counts of attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child.

He has been jailed for more than two years.

The Old Bailey heard Collins, from Fleet, in Hampshire, thought he was talking to a 13-year-old girl when he sent pictures of his privates over the Kik Messenger app while he was on holiday in Malta.

He also commented on her "body developing" and talked about "naughty urges" and "being horny" in November 2019 in conversations that he said should be deleted.

But Collins, who joined the force in 1991, was in fact communicating with an undercover officer and was arrested at work in Bromley police station on November 26.

The court heard some of the messages were sent when Collins's shift pattern suggests he was on duty, but prosecutor David Povall said it could not be proved to the criminal standard.

Jailing him for two years and four months on Friday, Judge Mark Lucraft QC described the messages as being of a "highly sexualised nature".

"It is clear many of the messages you sent are explicit, setting out what you were imagining, your sexual feelings towards her naked body," the judge told Collins.

"It is clear from the content and tone that the messages were sent for the purposes of obtaining sexual gratification."

Collins, who resigned from the Met after his arrest, was found to have committed gross misconduct at a disciplinary hearing last week and the force said he would have been sacked if he were still a serving officer.

Karen Robinson, defending, said the father-of-two's offending had "no connection to his role or his duties as a police officer".

"It is, for someone who held his position, a spectacular fall from grace," she said.

"He must live with the shame and indignity his conduct has brought upon himself and others."