Latest Offenders

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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."

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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

Description

A man communicated with two young girls unsupervised in the street despite being banned from having contact with children under the terms of his sexual risk order (SRO).

Serial offender Patrick Cunnington, 24, admitted a ninth breach of the SRO which was granted in 2018 and prohibits him from communicating with anyone under the age of 16 at Swindon Magistrates Court this morning (8 September).

The defendant, who was on bail for two other breaches of his order, was brought before the court after being arrested on Tuesday (7 September) and remanded in police custody overnight. He was supported in the courtroom by his girlfriend of eight months.

Crown prosecutor Pauline Lambert said Cunnington, of Prospect Hill, Old Town, was living in a shared house and whilst outside the property, he would talk to his neighbour who was unaware of his offending history and her two children aged 9 and 11.

In the mothers statement, she described him as very friendly as he always took the time to speak with her children, asking about what they did over the school holidays and about their new hamster. She estimated hed spoken to the children on around 30 occasions between April and 5 September this year.

He added his new neighbour on Facebook on 21 August, and she accepted. When the woman posted a photograph of her girls on the social platform wearing their school uniform, Cunnington left a comment saying Awh, have fun, along with laughing emojis.

The womans ex-partner contacted her and asked why she was friends with him on Facebook, but she was completely unaware of his history. Immediately Googling him, she said the results made her feel sick and she contacted Wiltshire Police to report his behaviour.

For most of the occasions he communicated with her children, she was present in the background, but for many others, they were alone and Cunnington was unsupervised with them.

When police attended this address armed with this new information, he lunged at them with his fists clenched. He was restrained and handcuffed to prevent any assaults. After hed calmed down, his handcuffs were removed and he was transported to custody.

Ms Lambert asked magistrates to refuse the defendant bail due to the fact this new offence was committed whilst on bail ahead of sentencing on 21 September. She also asked that the case was sent to the crown court for sentencing, concerned the benchs powers would be insufficient.

He does not comply with this order, the current order, and does not comply with his bail conditions, she told the court.

Adding: There are no bail conditions which could be in place to stop him re-offending. He should be remanded in custody for fear of further offending.

The court heard how Cunnington is categorised as a high risk of harm to children.

Charlotte Frizzell, defending, opposed the remand application made by the prosecution, saying sending her client to prison would not help him.

Every day in passing, he says hello, and he does converse with them.

He admits hes seen them on their own and would say hello. He feels it would be odd that he does not speak to them when their mother is not around, he feels it would make them think theres something wrong with them.

There is no underlying cause, he was being neighbourly, they spoke a lot.

She [the childrens mother] has been around and asked his girlfriend to babysit her children. He told his girlfriend, who is in court supporting him, that it could not happen.

Hes quite immature for his age and he has significant trust issues with people in authority.

Magistrates, after retiring for a few minutes to discuss the matter, decided to remand Cunnington into custody. They committed the case for sentence at Swindon Crown Court in October.

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A graphic designer has been jailed for more than five years for terrorising six women in an online abuse campaign.

Shaquille Williams, 26, blackmailed one woman by threatening to send private sexual photographs of her to her family and friends unless she sent him more images which he tried to direct.

The victim had already been targeted by sadistic blackmailer and paedophile Abdul Hasib Elahi, 26 – one of the worst online sexual offenders the National Crime Agency has ever investigated.

Elahi is currently awaiting sentencing after admitting 158 sickening online offences in a separate NCA investigation.

Elahi, of Sparkhill, Birmingham, masqueraded as a businessman or stockbroker on sugar daddy websites and conned victims into sending him sexual images of themselves.

He then blackmailed them into filming themselves performing increasingly degrading acts and sending him the footage.

Elahi posted the footage online where Williams, of Hartness Road, Clifton, Nottingham, acquired some of it.

Today, at Nottingham Crown Court, Williams was jailed for five years and three months after being convicted at trial of blackmailing the victim between 10 January 2019 and 10 May 2019.

He was also convicted of three counts of harassing three women and putting them in fear of violence between 18 April 2019 and 21 May 2019, and convicted of two counts of sending grossly offensive messages to two other women.

Using various social media accounts, university graduate Williams sent the women horrendous abuse including pictures of acid attack victims.

One victim received messages including the name of her home town, a picture of hydrochloric acid and a message featuring her road name.

NCA Senior Investigating Officer Andy Peach said: "Williams inflicted extreme terror on these victims – they have been exceptionally brave in coming forward to ensure he faced justice and went to jail.

"Williams is a coward and a twisted, callous, sexual deviant.

"Some of his crimes were made possible because of Abdul Elahi whose sadistic depravity and scale of offending horrified the investigative team.

"There are a series of other inquiries into Elahi's associates."

Elahi will be sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on a date to be confirmed.

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The conviction of a dangerous sex offender caught by paedophile hunters encouraged two victims from 40 years ago to come forward to ensure he did not ruin other lives, a court heard.

Lee Vincent, 54, was caught by a paedophile hunter group after having sexual conversations with a girl he thought was 12, but in fact was an adult decoy working for the group, Norwich Crown Court heard.

William Carter, prosecuting, said the group posted footage online of them confronting Vincent in March 2019 about his online sexual grooming and this was seen by two victims he sexually abused 40 years ago.

They also found out that Vincent had a previous conviction for indecent exposure in Great Yarmouth, in February 2019, which Mr Carter said prompted them to finally come forward to police.

Mr Carter said one victim said Vincent raped her as a child and indecently assaulted her and the second victim had also been indecently assaulted by Vincent, when she was about 10.

In victim impact statements, the court heard the abuse had a profound effect on both victims and they hoped this would bring closure and prevent other lives being ruined by Vincent.

Vincent, of Canterbury Way, Thetford, admitted rape, attempted rape and indecent assault on one victim and indecent assault on a second victim back in the 1980s.

He also admitted attempting to incite a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity between January and March 2019.

Jailing him for seven and half years, Judge Anthony Bate described Vincent as a dangerous offender and said: "You continue to pose a high risk of serious harm to girls."

He said Vincent had a sexual preoccupation with young girls and committed the online offences while on bail and on community service for the indecent exposure offence.

Vincent was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and is on the sex offender register for life.

Danielle O'Donovan, for Vincent, said he was ashamed of what he had done. She said as an evangelical Christian he was struggling to come to terms with everything. "He is a man deeply confused."

Description

Vincent Douglas, 53, was jailed at Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday, September 7, after he pleaded guilty to a series of sex offences against the youngsters committed a number of years ago.

His offending later came to light when one of his victims told staff at her college what he had done to her.

Douglas originally denied matters, including after the case was sent to the crown court.

But he confessed to six counts before a trial took place. He admitted two counts of sexual assault of a child, two of assault of a child by penetration and two of sexual activity with a child.

Douglas was sentenced to a total of nine years and five months in prison.

Police have welcomed the sentence saying it sends a clear message to abusers that they have nowhere to hide.

Judge Timothy Stead said: “This is multiple repeat offending.”

Referring to an impact statement made by one of the victim’s Judge Stead said: “She speaks of panic attacks and flashbacks and she herself feeling guilty.

"Of course she shouldn’t feel guilty, but that I’m afraid is a common consequence, phenomenon, of offending of this nature.”

The second victim talked about not trusting people or wishing to go out on her own because of what happened.

A Cleveland Police spokesperson said: “We welcome the sentence handed to Douglas; it sends a very clear message that those who abuse children have nowhere to hide.

“Our specially trained officers will always investigate thoroughly any form of abuse against children, no matter how long ago it happened.

"Victims and their families will also receive specialist support from police and other agencies throughout the entire process while we do all we can to bring perpetrators before the courts.

“We hope today’s sentence brings comfort and a degree of closure to the victims and their families.”

Douglas, of Greenwood Road, Hartlepool, will be on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

He was also given one year’s extended licence for when he is released.

Anyone experiencing any form of abuse, or has concerns about someone you believe to be at risk, is urged to contact Cleveland Police on 101, available 24 hours a day.

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A PROLIFIC sex predator has been jailed for 10 years for the "utterly appalling" abuse of two victims he subjected to repeated rape ordeals. David Ferguson, 67, preyed on one victim when she was a teenager and subjected the other to sex assaults as a child. Ferguson, who was first convicted of a sex crime in 1973, is currently serving another 10-year sentence jail imposed on him in 2015 for similar offences. A judge told him at the High Court in Edinburgh: "You have been convicted following trial of four charges of the sexual abuse of two women." Lord Richardson said both victims had been subjected to "sustained abuse" by the rapist. The judge said: "It is difficult to find words to describe the utterly appalling nature of what you have done." He said it was clear from victim impact statements prepared by the women that Ferguson's crimes had "a profound impact" on them. The judge told Ferguson that in sentencing him, he took into account his age and mental and physical health problems. Lord Richardson said it was apparent to him that Ferguson was not in good health and had mobility difficulties. But he told Ferguson: "However, a lengthy period in custody is the only appropriate sentence I can impose on you to reflect your appalling conduct." The judge told him his latest 10-year prison term would begin from when his trial ended. During the trial, Ferguson had denied a string of charges but was found guilty of four offences three of rape and one of attempted murder committed between October 1988 and August 2010 in Fife. The first rape occurred at a house in Ballingry when he attacked a victim who was asleep when he began raping her and continued with the sex assault when she woke up. He subsequently attacked and molested the woman again at a property in Cowdenbeath. Ferguson attacked his second victim when she was aged six or seven at a house in Cowdenbeath when he tried to rape the child. He later went on to subject her to rape attacks committed in Cowdenbeath and Crossgates. One victim told the court that he had made her feel "scared" as a child. Ferguson was placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely. Detectives from Police Scotlands Public Protection Unit in Fife carried out the investigation into Ferguson and reported him to the procurator fiscal in February 2019. Detective Sergeant Graeme Dursley said: Ferguson subjected his victims to sustained violent abuse over the years and his sentencing sends a clear message that anyone found to be involved in this type of behaviour will be brought to justice. I would like to thank his victims for their assistance during our inquiry. It is very difficult to speak about these types of crimes and they have showed immense courage during this investigation. "My thoughts remain with the victims and their families, and I hope that Fergusons sentencing can bring them some solace in that the person responsible for these despicable actions has been held to account, and they can now move forward with their lives. Police Scotland is resolutely committed to supporting victims of sexual crimes and investigating those responsible by bringing them to justice, no matter how much time has passed. I urge people to come forward to police and report it. They can be assured of being fully supported by officers and partner agencies.

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The paedophile later fantasised about the abuse in sick chats with other men online A paedophile admitted raping a girl after police discovered his sick conversations with men fantasising about the abuse. David Harvey groomed then repeatedly molested the young child, after telling her: "Sometimes you have to do things you don't want to." The 59-year-old later went online and told one man he could impersonate his victim in twisted sex games - referring to him by the girl's name - but claimed this was just "role play". Harvey, of Blackcap Walk, Birchwood, Warrington, showed no emotion as Judge Andrew Menary, QC, slammed his "corrupt and depraved behaviour". Liverpool Crown Court heard the abuse came to light in June 2020, when the victim's mum received a text from one of her daughter's friends at school. This girl told the mum her daughter had text her, saying: "I was sexually assaulted for years and wanted to say something, but I was scared." Robert Dudley, prosecuting, said the mum spoke to her child, who confirmed Harvey had made her touch him, and the police were informed. The court heard the abuse included Harvey making the victim get undressed, before lying on top of her and rubbing his penis against her. He made her perform sex acts on herself, saying he wouldn't touch her if she did them, so she did, because she didn't want him to touch her. Mr Dudley said Harvey also performed sex acts on her, made her perform sex acts on him, and on one occasion raped her. The victim said: "He was bigger and stronger than me and if I didn't do it, he'd hold me in place." When arrested and interviewed by police in July 2020, Harvey denied sexually abusing his victim and said her allegations were "not true". He was interviewed again in March this year, when police confronted him with evidence of the conversations he had online with other men, including a person called "Andrew". The court heard in one chat he told Andrew: "You can be [victim's name] and I can f*** you." Harvey continued to address this man using the name of his child victim and talked about needing them "to come service him soon". He admitted sending Andrew three images of his erect penis but claimed the chats were just "role play" and a scenario being acted out by two men. Harvey, who had no previous convictions, later admitted rape, three counts of sexual assault and two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity. Mr Dudley said his child victim now struggles to sleep, gets anxious when talking about her ordeal and just "wants to forget about it". In a victim statement, the girl's mum said she too suffers from raised levels of anxiety and stress, and worries about her daughter. Paul Wood, defending, said his client expected to receive a long prison sentence and asked for 25% credit for his guilty pleas. The barrister said: "He does show some insight into his offending behaviour, repeatedly in the pre-sentence report referring to his disgust." He added: "He's ashamed of his behaviour." Mr Wood told the court it would be Harvey's first time in prison and said: "The defendant knows his life will never be the same again." The lawyer said Harvey had a good work history but "that employment clearly now has had to cease". Judge Menary told Harvey: "Essentially during this period you used her as your sexual partner or sexual plaything, asking her if she wanted to have some fun and engaging in very intimate sexual activity. This was thoroughly corrupt and depraved behaviour." The judge said the chats with the man Andrew online were "very significant incriminating evidence". He said: "In interview you denied all of the allegations, even though the police by then had obtained details of chat conversations you had with men online about fantasies involving having sex with an adult dressed as a schoolgirl and using the same name as your victim." Judge Menary added: "I've no doubt what you did to your victim will haunt her for many years, if not for the rest of her life. "It's likely to affect her relationships as she grows up and the effect is likely to be profound." He said it was too soon to properly assess the impact of his "appalling" abuse on the child, but noted the crimes involved planning and grooming behaviour. Judge Menary said Harvey was an "offender of particular concern" and jailed him for 10 and a half years, with an extended one year on licence. This type of sentence means he must serve at least half of the term in prison before he can apply to the Parole Board for his release. He will only be released before the end of the 10 and a half years if he is no longer considered to be a risk. Judge Menary ordered Harvey to sign on the Sex Offenders Register and to comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life.

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former doctor has been sentenced to life imprisonment for a series of sexual offences against five young people in Brighton, West Sussex, Hampshire and the West Midlands between 19 and 25 years ago.

Robert Cameron Wells, 69, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 years, at Hove Crown Court on Monday 6 September.

He had been convicted in July of two counts of indecency with a boy aged eight, and attempting to possess an indecent image of a child, all in West Sussex in 1998.

He had previously pleaded guilty to 16 other offences:

- One offence of indecent assault on a 15-year-old girl in West Sussex in 1998, while supposedly conducting a 'pre-abortion' examination of her at his surgery in Portslade:

- One offence of indecent assault on a woman known to him, aged 18 in 2002 in Coventry;

- Two offences of rape, and seven offences of indecent assault on a girl aged nine in 2001, one in the West Midlands, the rest in Brighton, and four offences of taking an indecent photograph of a child, all against the same girl, one in the West Midlands, the others in the Brighton area

- One offence of indecent assault on a woman aged 18 in Southampton in 2002. He had already been convicted of sexual offences against her in 2004 in Hampshire, but the Sussex Police investigation uncovered new video evidence of him assaulting her, accessible because of new technical developments since then.

All the offences involved evidence that Wells used drugs to help ensure compliance in his victims.

Wells was sentenced at the same court on 6 September.

In relation to the three offences to which he had pleaded not guilty the court heard that that Wells drugged the boy at a birthday party, took him to another location and forced him to abuse a girl as she appeared sedated on a bed.

The prosecution, authorised by the CPS, followed an investigation by detectives from the West Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit.

Wells was already serving two sentences for sexual offences against other young people in Hampshire and South Wales as a result of separate investigations by those police forces.

Wells was a GP in Brighton and Hove until his arrest in 2003 and subsequent conviction and sentencing in 2004 to 15 years for sexual offences against young girls in Hampshire. He was struck off as a doctor after that case.

In April 2017 at Cardiff Crown Court he was sentenced to seven years for four indecent assaults against three young girls.

In sentencing Wells on 6 September, Judge David Rennie called him a monster and said; "You turned out to be the stuff of and the creator of nightmares... You have done incalculable harm to a lot of people who trusted you, and your abuse went on for years.

What you chose to do to these survivors shows you have not the slightest concern for other people or the harm that you inflicted when you decided to carry out these crimes. Lives have been devastated. Your perverted sexual appetite appears to know no bounds."

Detective Constable Owen Watkins of Sussex Police said; "Wells was clearly a systematic and serial sexual abuser of young people, using his charm and air of professional distinction to lure them into a sense of false security, for his own gratification.

"Only one of the victims was abused by Wells acting in his official capacity as a doctor, but the others came to know him, whether through family or work, because of his role and were clearly influenced by his status.

"These convictions, and his previous convictions, show how his appalling record goes over many years and it is reassuring for his victims, and for the wider community to know that he is going to be in no position to continue preying upon innocent people for many years to come.

"His victims in this case have given full support to the investigation. One of them, now in his thirties, gave evidence in court, and the others were ready to do so. We admire the strength and bravery shown by all of them, which was so crucial in ensuring that justice was done.

"We are also grateful to our colleagues in the Hampshire Constabulary for the assistance they have given us in this complex investigation.

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A Derby doctor has been jailed for his attempts to have sex with underage teen girls.

Branded "arrogant" and "hypocritical" by a judge, Dr Jamil Rehman lied repeatedly about a four-hour journey he took with the intention of meeting an underage girl for sex.

The married father-of-two will be in prison for the birth of his third child and is likely to be deported to Pakistan on his release.

The trainee GP was found guilty in August of two counts of attempted sexual grooming of underage girls after travelling from Derby to west Wales to meet a 15-year-old girl called Kayla in 2019.

When he arrived he was met by self-styled paedophile hunters, with red roses and pills designed to delay orgasm found in the boot of his car.

Police also found further messages between the 35-year-old and a 13-year-old girl named Sienna, who was also a decoy.

Rehman, of Gilling Close, Littleover, Derby, claimed that he had no desire to engage in sexual activity and wanted "Kayla" to be his tour guide on his first visit to Wales.

But his defence was labelled as "frankly laughable" and "ludicrous" by Judge Paul Thomas QC at Swansea Crown Court, after Rehman tried to tell the jury that he had mistaken the words "hotel" and "restaurant", despite booking a room with a double bed.

The judge said: "You came to west Wales from the Derby area where you were practicing as a doctor.

"You came down here which, on my calculation, is a four-hour journey for one purpose and that purpose was to have full sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old girl.

"Your intentions were to have sexual intercourse with her.

"You claimed in the course of the trial to be concerned for the welfare of vulnerable girls. You did believe them to be vulnerable, which is why you targeted and attempted to groom them.

"As a man who was training to be a general practitioner, you would have known full well the potential impact of what you attempted to do.

"You were a married man, you simply wanted to use these underage girls for sexual purposes. You did lie about your age online and you did so deliberately."

Rehman was sentenced to 20 months in prison and placed on the Sex Offender's Register for 10 years, with the details of a sexual harm prevention order to be set.

He met who he thought were the underage girls in a chatroom called Meet4U, before having private conversations on WhatsApp.

He then travelled from Derby to Carmarthen, a journey of around 220 miles.

Eugene Egan, defending, told the court that Rehman, who is expecting a third child in December, was in the UK on a work visa and thus will likely have to return to his native Pakistan upon his release.

However he acknowledged that his client had fabricated much of his defence in his trial.

He said: "What he told the jury was concocted and a pack of lies.

"Perhaps for the first time now, on the day of sentencing, there is a genuine acknowledgement of what he has done.

"He has thrown away his career. The consequences for him will be harsh and substantial. He has thrown all that away through gross stupidity on his behalf."

Tracy Harrison, chief executive of Safe and Sound, a Derbyshire charity which supports young people who are victims of child exploitation including online grooming as well as their families, had previously voiced concern over the case.

She said: "This is a deeply disturbing case and highlights the increased dangers facing young people of online grooming.

"This particular case thankfully did not put a young person in danger but, for every instance that a perpetrator is trapped in a sting operation, there are countless others who fall victim to online predators.

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AN aspiring actor has been ordered to stay away from dogs after starring in a home movie featuring him having sex with his pet. Cops found a video appearing to show depraved Ewan Cole, 20, in a compromising position with a German Shepherd. Perth Sheriff Court earlier heard a stash of vile child abuse images was also found on his iPhone. Cole has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register and ordered to stay away from dogs and any children under the age of 16. Unemployed Cole admitted having an "unnatural connection with a dog" at his then home in Manse Crescent, Stanley, in December 2019. He also possessing "extreme pornographic images depicting in an explicit and realistic way" a man having sex with a dog and performing a sex act with a dog. In addition, he pled guilty to having indecent photos of children between 12 December 2019 and 3 March 2020. Defence solicitor Steve Lafferty said: "He has consulted with his doctor and he realises he has a problem. "He thinks there may be some kind of psychiatric disorder." He was bailed pending sentencing but put on the sex offenders register and banned from going near kids or dogs. Sheriff Wood told Cole: "The court is very concerned about the nature of these charges."

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A 60-year-old grandad from Luton who raped a young girl at a party has been jailed for eight years.

The court heard that Trevor Smith plied the teen, who had been drinking white wine and lemonade, with more alcohol before subjecting her to a "sordid and degrading" sexual act.

Smith is the second sex offender to be jailed in recent weeks, after a man from Shefford was jailed for sexually assaulting a young girl and downloading thousands of child sex abuse images.

At Luton Crown Court, prosecutor David Povall said the girl went to a bedroom because she was feeling drunk, but Smith appeared and encouraged her to return to the party.

Mr Povall said: "He pressed against her and rubbed her leg. She felt very uncomfortable. His hand moved up her leg. His behaviour was flirtatious."

She returned to the party where Smith poured her another vodka, which she exchanged for water before she went back to the bedroom.

The court heard that Smith reappeared in the room and pretended to express concern before trying to coax her back to the party.

Mr Povall said: "He became predatory and violent. He told her to stand up and face him."

He raped the victim from behind before subjecting her to a sordid and degrading sexual act. The teenager used social media to tell friends she had been raped before reporting it to a member of her family.

Smith, a carpenter and kitchen fitter, appeared for sentence having pleaded guilty to the rape and sexual assault of the girl last year.

Defending, Kevin Molloy said: "He is a 60-year-old man of positive good character with 14 grandchildren. He is a devoted family man. There is no excuse for something that was wholly uncharacteristic.

"The defendant made an immediate admission to his son and the police heard that. He is totally to blame and she is blameless. He has a real sense of shame and embarrassment and is genuinely remorseful."

Recorder Patrick Fields told the defendant: "This event has had a devastating effect on the victim. Her life has been derailed by your violations of her."

Smith must abide by the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and register as a sex offender for life. He must serve two-thirds of the eight-year sentence before he can be considered for parole.

The judge told the victim, who was in court for the hearing, that he hoped she would now be able to move on in her life.

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A Brighton man has been given a five-and-a-half-year prison sentence after being convicted of sexual assault on a girl then aged under 13, more than six years ago.

Jason Lineker, 34, of Mouslecoomb Way, Brighton, had been found guilty by a unanimous jury verdict at Lewes Crown Court on 27 August after a five-day trial which included evidence from witnesses and the girl herself.

On Friday 3 September he was sentenced to four and a half years plus one year on additional prison licence.

He will be a registered sex offender for life, and was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) to last until further court order, severely restricting his access to children.

This was a re-trial after a previous jury had failed to agree on a verdict in November last year.

Detective Constable Angela Harvey of the Brighton Safeguarding Investigations Unit said: "The victim, a young child, was very brave, having to give evidence in two trials as a result of the hung jury outcome in November 2020"

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A paedophile who repeatedly tried to rape a girl was arrested after she wrote "I want to die" on a school computer.

Gregory Witham molested his young victim on multiple occasions leaving her with "severe psychological harm".

Liverpool Crown Court today heard she started self-harming as a result of the abuse, which was spotted by teachers.

But the predator denied any wrongdoing and forced the child to endure a trial, when he blamed her for what happened.

The ex-Navy serviceman, 39, formerly of Walton, shook his head when he was today jailed for 16 years.

Judge David Swinnerton said Witham's attempts to blame his vulnerable victim showed "a complete lack of remorse".

He said: "Of course she is not to blame in the slightest. It's appalling that you seek to suggest that she was."

Witham was found guilty of two counts of attempted rape, which the court heard reflected "repeated attempts" to rape his victim.

He was convicted of eight counts sexual activity with a child, which included four counts involving repeatedly touching the girl's genitalia under her clothing, and one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, which was an attempt to get her to perform a sex act on him.

Gareth Roberts, prosecuting, said the abuse came to light after an incident at the girl's school.

He said: "It was suggested she had written 'I want to die' on a school computer."

Mr Roberts told the jury teachers were concerned and spoke to the victim, who initially denied writing the words, but said she was unhappy and harming herself, and the reason was because she was being sexually abused by Witham.

The prosecutor today said: "The defendant asserted during the trial and has repeated in his pre-sentence report that she was sexualised and had essentially attempted to come on to him if I can use that phrase, which the Crown would say is a deliberate attempt to impugn her character."

Mr Roberts said there was also "a degree of degradation", because Witham would become angry with his victim and tell her she was "useless".

Six members of the girl's devastated family attended the sentencing hearing this morning.

The court heard a victim statement written by the girl's mum, who said her daughter had tried to write it herself, but became "very distressed and broke down in tears".

The mum said: "She said to me she thinks about what happened every single day."

She told the court she believed her daughter would benefit from counselling, but the girl didn't want it because she doesn't like to talk about the abuse, which brings it all back to her.

The mum said: "She is putting on a brave face, but I know as her mother deep down she is hurting."

Witham, now of Manor Road, Blackpool, who has no previous convictions, was supported by three people sitting in the public gallery.

Jimmy Vakil, defending, said: "I cannot mitigate on the facts and I would not seek to minimise the seriousness your honour of these offences."

He added: "It's always sad when someone of good character, indeed someone who has represented their country, falls in this way.

"On his behalf I ask for an element of mercy in the sentencing process. There is a genuine wish on his behalf to become a better person."

Mr Vakil said his client wanted to undertake any courses available in prison "to make himself that better person".

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A paedophile caught with child rape videos and extreme porn involving a dead dog also shared twisted files online.

Jamie Martin collected 129 indecent images of young sex abuse victims, which he amassed over a six-year period.

Liverpool Crown Court heard the 34-year-old lost his job as a result of the ECHO reporting his sickening convictions.

Martin had pleaded guilty to three counts of downloading and one count of possessing indecent images of children.

He also admitted one count of possessing a prohibited image of a child and one count of possessing extreme pornography.

According to the latter charge, the extreme porn portrayed a person "performing an act of intercourse with a dead animal, namely a dog", which was "grossly offensive, disgusting or otherwise of an obscene character".

Martin, of Eastbank Street, Southport, wasn't charged with distributing indecent images of children.

But at a previous hearing, the court was told Martin was "active" in a "network" of sex offenders and "candidly admits to having shared images".

At his sentencing hearing last week, prosecutors said Martin readily admitted he was a paedophile and that he had exchanged files online.

Nardeen Nemat, prosecuting, said the indecent images of children included 22 Category A images - the most serious category, involving child rape - of which nine were videos.

She said there were 13 Category B images, of which four were videos, and 90 Category C files, of which nine were videos.

Ms Nemat said aggravating features of his case included that the Category A collection included videos and the long period of time over which they were possessed, with Martin having downloaded the files between January 14, 2014 and May 12, 2020.

Martin's case was twice adjourned because he was unrepresented, to give him the opportunity to obtain legal representation, after he told the court he couldn't "afford" a solicitor or barrister.

When he appeared in the dock for sentencing he was represented by Stella Hayden, who highlighted his lack of previous convictions and the prospect of him being rehabilitated in the community.

Judge Brian Cummings, QC, said because of the "extensive" aggravating features in the case, sentencing guidelines indicated a starting point of two and a half years in prison.

Giving him full one third credit for his early guilty pleas, he then reduced the sentence to 20 months in prison.

Judge Cummings said he had considered whether Martin's sentence could be suspended, following guidelines on whether offenders can be spared jail.

However, he concluded that despite the prospect of rehabilitation, because of the risk Martin posed to the public, only an immediate prison sentence was appropriate.

The judge ordered Martin to sign on the Sex Offenders Register and to comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order indefinitely.